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
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?
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
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
Breaking: Emoluments Lawsuit Is Back, Baby
This emoluments-clause lawsuit against Trump — claiming he violates the Constitution by doing business with foreign governments — was dead. Now, it’s alive again, thanks to the Second Circuit. UPDATE: Hey, a bonus! Seth Rich lawsuit against Fox News also revived on appeal!
Dem Debate: The Top Ten — A Wrapup
I did not the see the ABC Democratic Debate last night, so I have no original impressions. It was billed as a matchup between Biden and Warren, which struck me as a bit unfair to the others. But this seems to be a good substantive summary: The top 10 Democratic presidential candidates sparred on health care, criminal justice, gun control, … Read More
White House Chief Of Staff Gave The Order To Override Weather [UPDATE: TRUMP Ordered It]
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
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
Bolton Gone
And of course, we learn this by tweet: ….I asked John for his resignation, which was given to me this morning. I thank John very much for his service. I will be naming a new National Security Advisor next week. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 10, 2019 I suspect this may have something to do with all the leaks … Read More
Trump Destroying National Security Apparatus As CIA Loses Critical Asset Due To Trump
The Washington Post has the goods on the spy who came out of the cold: In 2017, the United States extracted from Russia an important CIA source who had provided information about the Kremlin’s interference in the 2016 presidential election, according to current and former officials. The operation, known as an exfiltration, followed mounting concerns among U.S. officials that the individual could be … Read More
Nothing To Do With Me?
NYT: WASHINGTON — Back in 2014, soon after acquiring a golf resort in Scotland, Donald J. Trump entered a partnership with a struggling local airport there to increase air traffic and boost tourism in the region. The next year, as Mr. Trump began running for president, the Pentagon decided to ramp up its use of that same airport to refuel … Read More
This Won’t Fly
Not the answer: The White House is considering a controversial proposal to study whether mass shootings could be prevented by monitoring mentally ill people for small changes that might foretell violence. Former NBC Chairman Bob Wright, a longtime friend and associate of President Trump’s, has briefed top officials, including the president, the vice president and Ivanka Trump, on a proposal to create … Read More
I Got Nothing
Sometimes Trump does shit that is so alarming that you just can’t get your head around it. Here are Trump’s tweets on… well, read them. Unbeknownst to almost everyone, the major Taliban leaders and, separately, the President of Afghanistan, were going to secretly meet with me at Camp David on Sunday. They were coming to the United States tonight. Unfortunately, … Read More
Trump Turnberry Resort Brings Emoluments Clause Back Into Focus
Hmmmmm: The U.S. Air Force has ordered a world-wide review of how it chooses overnight accommodations on long flights following revelations that air crews had occasionally stayed at President Donald Trump’s Scotland resort while refueling at a small commercial airport nearby. The review comes as additional instances of military personnel staying at Trump properties have been uncovered. The C-17 crew’s … Read More
Whither Weather
Last week, I largely avoided the controversy about Trump and Hurricane Dorian, mostly because it was such a small thing that I didn’t believe it would turn into a big thing. But that, of course, is why the Hurricane Dorian controversy — or “Sharpiegate” — is actually relevant: it shows the chaotic and psychotic nature of Trump, who was unwilling … Read More