CBS News: A CBS News investigation has uncovered a possible pay-for-play scheme involving the Republican National Committee and President Donald Trump’s nominee for ambassador to the Bahamas. Emails obtained by CBS News show the nominee, San Diego billionaire Doug Manchester, was asked by the RNC to donate half a million dollars as his confirmation in the Senate hung in the … Read More
Trump’s Mysterious Visit To Walter Reed
Trump spent more than two hours at Walter Reed National Medical Center on Saturday for what the White House said were medical tests as part of his annual physical. The appointment wasn’t on Trump’s weekend public schedule, and his last physical was in February. Press secretary Stephanie Grisham said the 73-year-old president was “anticipating a very busy 2020” and wanted … Read More
Document Dump: Depositions of Jennifer Williams and
As Special Advisor to VP Pence on Europe and Russia, Williams testified that the President’s requests were ‘unusual and inappropriate’ and shed light on ‘possible other motivations behind a security assistance hold.’ She also confirmed, like Lt. Col. Vindman, that the Ukrainian President specifically mentioned ‘Burisma’ during the call, even though the White House call record does not reflect that. Importantly, Ms. Williams also testified … Read More
Impeachment Deposition: Opening Statement of David Holmes
David Holmes, the guy who overheard Trump when he called Sondland in a restaurant, spilled a lot more than that. Holmes says he clearly heard the President’s voice and Sondland made clear he was talking to the President. Sondland told Holmes the President didn’t “give a shit about Ukraine” and only cared about the “big stuff” like the “‘Biden investigations’ that Mr. … Read More
Verdict in Roger Stone Case:
Hectic news day. During a break in the Ukraine Impeachment hearings, we got news of Roger Stone’s verdict. A jury has now found Stone guilty of committing crimes to hide the Trump campaign’s efforts to optimize the release of emails stolen by Russia. — emptywheel (@emptywheel) November 15, 2019 Guilty on all counts. Russia hoax? I think not. REUTERS: TRUMP … Read More
Live Impeachment Hearings: Day 2
WE start with a Trump tweet: He makes a rare point about the Foreign Minister of Ukraine’s statement (the President did not say anything). This is what he was referring to: Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Vadym Prystaiko said on Thursday that U.S. ambassador Gordon Sondland did not explicitly link military aid to Kiev with opening an investigation into former Vice President … Read More
News Organizations That Ought To Know Better Cover Impeachment Hearings Like “Dancing With The Stars’
Analysis: The first two witnesses called Wednesday testified to President Trump’s scheme, but lacked the pizzazz necessary to capture public attention. https://t.co/1UfkaeZ3I4 — NBC News (@NBCNews) November 14, 2019 That’s a story by Jonathan Allen, where he pitched yesterday’s events this way, as a measure of whether Democrats had achieved their goal of ousting the president. But at a time … Read More
House Impeachment Inquiry Live Hearings: Day One
This is the fourth time in history that Congress has seriously looked into impeaching a president. TODAY: Bill Taylor and George Kent. FRIDAY: Marie Yovanovitch. NEXT WEEK’S WITNESSES: Tuesday: Pence aide Jennifer Williams … Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman … Kurt Volker … Timothy Morrison. Wednesday: Gordon Sondland … Laura Cooper … David Hale. Thursday: Fiona Hill. Today on the dais: George Kent, the deputy assistant secretary of state for … Read More
A Random Look A Trump’s Bizarre Tweets
I will be releasing the transcript of the first, and therefore more important, phone call with the Ukrainian President before week’s end! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 12, 2019 This makes no sense. Why is it more important because it was the first? It was a perfunctory phone call taking place in April, just after Zelensky was elected, and … Read More
Will The Media Get Distracted By The Release Of The Horowitz Report?
Prior to the launch of the public impeachment hearings on Wednesday, Margaret Sullivan has some sage advice for the media. She highlighted four things they should keep in mind when covering this important story. Stress substance, not speculation. Don’t let stunts hijack the coverage. Avoid Barr-Letter Syndrome. Beware mealy-mouthed and misleading language. That first one captures one of my biggest pet peeves … Read More
House Impeachment Committee Transcript Release
Laura Cooper, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, Eurasia: The full testimony of Deputy Assistant Secretary Laura Cooper can be found here.
The GOP Defenses
Team MAGA has already sunk to promoting propaganda and disinformation from a Russian-inspired effort designed to exonerate Russia’s role in interfering with the 2016 elections. Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Fla.) is the ranking Republican on the House Intelligence Committee. He has made clear he plans to shrug off Trump’s endangering national security and possible violations of law as justified by Trump’s … Read More
Vindman Fired
As expected, retaliation.Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, who gave a bombshell testimony in the House impeachment investigation last month on President Donald Trump’s Ukraine scheme, will be removed from his post at the White House National Security Council.https://t.co/tVmWffAcCA — Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) November 10, 2019 A lesson and a warning.
Don Jr. Triggered By… The Right?!? Heh!
Here’s a little bit of fun: Donald Trump Jr ventured on to the University of California’s overwhelmingly liberal Los Angeles campus on Sunday, hoping to prove what he had just argued in his book – that a hate-filled American left was hell-bent on silencing him and anyone else who supported the Trump presidency. But the appearance backfired when his own … Read More