Lewandowski Testifies

Ken AshfordL'Affaire Russe, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Why is he relevant? Because according to the Mueller Report, Trump instructed Lewandowski to tell then Attorney General Jeff Sessions to unrecuse himself. Lewandowski did not deliver that message. But a White House letter sent out a couple days ago directed him not to testify to anything beyond the Mueller Report, because of executive privilege. The obvious problem is that … Read More

What’s This? No Seriously, What’s This?

Ken AshfordCongress, L'Affaire Ukraine, Political Scandals, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

This is a confusing and bizarre story but I think it may be one of those escalations that could wind up being an important moment. Talking Points Memo lays out the story: What’s there to hide? That’s what a congressional panel investigating a potentially urgent whistleblower complaint from the intelligence community wants to know. On Friday, House Intelligence Committee chair … Read More

Manhattan DA Subpoenas Trump’s Income Tax Returns

Ken AshfordStormy Daniels & Karen McDougal Affairs, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

NY Times: State prosecutors in Manhattan have subpoenaed President Trump’s accounting firm to demand eight years of his personal and corporate tax returns, according to several people with knowledge of the matter. The subpoena opens a new front in a wide-ranging effort to obtain copies of the president’s tax returns, which Mr. Trump initially said he would make public during the 2016 campaign … Read More

Our Next Conflict In The Middle East?

Ken AshfordIran, Middle East, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

Two oil fields in Saudi Arabia were attacked on Saturday. In short, A drone strike was said to have knocked out half of the Saudis’ daily oil production. The Houthi rebel group in Yemen assumed responsibility, but many were doubtful. Trump, exhibiting an embarrassing toadie-ism, tweeted: Saudi Arabia oil supply was attacked. There is reason to believe that we know … Read More

Kavanaugh Barely Vetted By FBI

Ken AshfordSex Scandals, Supreme Court, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

As Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh prepares for his second year on the Supreme Court, new reporting has detailed how the limits ordered by the White House and Senate Republicans last year constrained the FBI investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct when he was a college freshman. The FBI was informed of allegations that Kavanaugh, while drunk during his freshman year … Read More

Weekly List 148

Ken AshfordWeekly ListLeave a Comment

As Congress returned to session, House Democrats had conflicting messages on impeachment. The Trump regime’s Justice Department seized on the divergence, saying lawmakers were not entitled to see the full Mueller report or grand jury information — the rationale used for seeking the documents. The emboldened regime also said it would pursue criminal charges against Trump opponent former FBI deputy director Andrew … Read More

Breaking News From CNN

Ken AshfordBreaking NewsLeave a Comment

New York prosecutors recently interviewed Michael Cohen in their investigation of the Trump Organization's handling of hush money payments https://t.co/SNco8XYEgI pic.twitter.com/Y3O2fQGvwc — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 11, 2019

Breaking News From CNN

Ken AshfordBreaking NewsLeave a Comment

Trump confirms late al Qaeda leader's son Hamza bin Laden killed in US operation. He did not give a time period for the death https://t.co/1YwZ9amtpn pic.twitter.com/EvTCULQLIg — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 14, 2019

Taxing The Rich

Ken AshfordClass Warfare, Economy & Jobs & Deficit, Occupy Wall StreetLeave a Comment

Read this. You’re smarter than I am: The authors here estimated (very roughly) that a 2% wealth tax limited to top 0.1% (net worth over ~$43 million) would raise $2.6 trillion over ten years, assuming a 15% avoidance rate and no other behavioral responses…. or… … a 2% wealth tax limited to top 1% (net worth over ~$10 million) would … Read More

The NC GOP Lies And Cheats

Ken AshfordLocal Interest, Republicans, Voter Suppression & Voter SecurityLeave a Comment

Since June, Republicans in the North Carolina House have been searching for the votes necessary to override Democratic Governor Roy Cooper’s veto of the state’s budget. Republicans hold 65 of the chambers 120 seats but need the backing of two-thirds of state representatives for a veto override.  The Republicans failed to attract the necessary support. So they decided to cheat.  … Read More

Breaking News From CNN

Ken AshfordBreaking NewsLeave a Comment

A Chinese woman who was arrested at Mar-a-Lago, President Trump's private Florida club, is found guilty of unlawful entry and making false statements to a federal officer https://t.co/nVIsvCpua2 pic.twitter.com/jwLh6mKpYp — CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) September 11, 2019

White House Chief Of Staff Gave The Order To Override Weather [UPDATE: TRUMP Ordered It]

Ken AshfordDisasters, Political Scandals, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

NY Times: The White House was directly involved in pressing a federal scientific agency to repudiate the weather forecasters who contradicted President Trump’s claim that Hurricane Dorian would probably strike Alabama, according to several people familiar with the events. Mick Mulvaney, the acting White House chief of staff, told Wilbur Ross, the commerce secretary, to have the National Oceanic and … Read More

9/11 Commemoration: Trump Edition

Ken AshfordHistory, Trump & AdministrationLeave a Comment

While speaking at the Pentagon on the anniversary of 9/11, President Trump brings up his canceled peace talks with Taliban leaders at Camp David. And Rudy’s 9/11 tribute is a tribute to fascism: Classy, as always. 🤮 https://t.co/4gMH4cOBao — Daily Trix (@DailyTrix) September 11, 2019 No one can desecrate hallowed ground like Trump. At the Pentagon 9/11 memorial, doing a … Read More