A longtime personal attorney for President Trump said Tuesday that he paid $130,000 to an adult-film star who had told people she had an affair with Trump a decade before he won the presidency (and while Trump’s wife Melania was several months pregnant). Michael Cohen, who had previously dismissed reports about the payment, said he paid Stormy Daniels — whose real name … Read More
Knives Are Out For Chief Of Staff John Kelly, They Say
The media seems to be in a frenzy about the Rob Porter-wife beating scandal, as the White House enters Day 7 of being unable to explain the timeline of events about Porter’s firing, and why he was allowed to stay on as the right-hand man to President Trump even though he couldn’t get a security clearance. To recap….. Rob Porter, … Read More
National Threat Assessment
It may not be in the news much today, but there is an important open hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where the directors of the all the intelligence agencies testify: Director Daniel R. Coats – Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Director Michael Pompeo – Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director Admiral Michael Rogers – Director of the National Security Agency (NSA) Director Lieutenant General Robert Ashley – Director of … Read More
Rachel Brand Out At DOJ
Associate Attorney General Rachel Brand was the third most powerful person in law enforcement, right behind Attorney General Jeff Session and Deputy AG Rod Rosenstein. And since Sessions had recused himself from any actions related to the Trump-Russia investigation, Brand was much more high profile, especially since reports were being floated that Trump was seeking to remove Rosenstein. That all … Read More
Will Trump Allow The Release Of The Dem Memo?
I know it is old in terms of Trump scandal cycle — like a week or so — but not too long ago, Devin Nunes (R-Ca) wrote a self-serving and ultimately incorrect — memo (he had to admit its central tenet was wrong) regarding how the FISA warrant application against Carter Page was conducted. Nunes said, among other things, that … Read More
The Dumbest Shutdown Ever
Most people slept through it, but yes, the United States government shutdown for several hours last night. Yesterday, in something of a throwback, the two parties struck a deal and came out with a bi-partisan spending bill. Great news, right? But Republican and libertarian Rand Paul had to make a point: Republicans no longer care about deficit spending. Rand wanted … Read More
Newest White House Scandal: Covering Up For Wife Abusers
White House staff secretary Rob Porter resigned Wednesday after his two ex-wives came forward with abuse allegations. The allegations: Porter’s first wife, Colbie Holderness, alleged in an interview published Wednesday by the Daily Mail that he kicked her on their honeymoon, progressing to choking and punching her in the face. She provided pictures that were published with the story. Porter’s second wife, … Read More
The New NEW Russia Probe Pushback
Moments ago, Trump tweeted this: NEW FBI TEXTS ARE BOMBSHELLS! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 7, 2018 Oh, Lord. What is Fox feeding him now? Newly revealed text messages between FBI paramours Peter Strzok and Lisa Page include an exchange about preparing talking points for then-FBI Director James Comey to give to President Obama, who wanted “to know everything we’re doing.” … Read More
Trump’s Toy Soldiers
The order from Trump was “I want a military parade” The parade would be modeled after the Bastille Day parade that Trump spectated last year during a visit to France. “The marching orders were: I want a parade like the one in France,” one military official told The Washington Post, which broke the story. Trump was openly admiring of the Bastille … Read More
Trump Wants Stock Market To Take A Loyalty Pledge
What the… In the “old days,” when good news was reported, the Stock Market would go up. Today, when good news is reported, the Stock Market goes down. Big mistake, and we have so much good (great) news about the economy! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 7, 2018 Actually, it is not a “mistake”; most economists agree that it … Read More
CFPB Is All But Committing Malpractice
Equifax (EFX.N) said in September that hackers stole personal data it had collected on some 143 million Americans. Richard Cordray, then the CFPB director, authorized an investigation that month, said former officials familiar with the probe. But Cordray resigned in November and was replaced by Mulvaney, President Donald Trump’s budget chief, who was once quite vocal about eliminating the agency. … Read More
Republican Support Of Failed Nunes Memo Shows Their Cowardice
Sure, Nunes loved his memo. And Trump loved it because Nunes was doing his bidding. But where were the principled Republicans? Nowhere. Michael Gersen: With the blessing of Republican leaders, the lickspittle wing of the GOP is now firmly in charge. The existence of reckless partisans such as Nunes is hardly surprising. The nearly uniform cowardice among elected Republicans is … Read More
FEMA Response To Puerto Rico Even Worse That We Thought
In November, The Associated Press found that after Hurricane Maria, FEMA awarded more than $30 million in contracts for emergency tarps and plastic sheeting to a company that never delivered the needed supplies to Puerto Rico. And now this: The mission for the Federal Emergency Management Agency was clear: Hurricane Maria had torn through Puerto Rico, and hungry people needed food. Thirty … Read More
Trump’s Lawyers Think Trump Shouldn’t Submit To Mueller Interview
Yes, well… I don’t think you need a legal degree to come to this conclusion. Trump, who wouldn’t know the truth if it landed in his pants, would perjure himself. Greg Sargeant points out the real fear: President Trump’s lawyers are urging him to avoid an interview with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III because he is a pathological liar … Read More
Volatile Dow
After plunging a few hundred points on Friday, the Dow dropped a record-breaking 1175 points yesterday. That the most points, but fortunately, the 4.6% drop was not the highest percentage-wise. All in all, 1 trillion dollars in net worth was lost. It probably was a correction, but it raised fresh anxieties among Americans who have seen their retirement savings and household … Read More