This is, uh, bullshit. Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, chairman of the Judiciary Committee, and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a senior committee member, told the Justice Department they had reason to believe that a former British spy, Christopher Steele, lied to federal authorities about his contacts with reporters regarding information in the dossier, and they urged the … Read More
New York Times With More Info On Trump-Russia Scandal and Comey Firing
Although much of the media is focussed on the allegations in Michael Wolff’s new book Fire and Fury, the New York Times let loose with an important article last night. Michael S. Schmidt’s report in the New York Times contains so many blockbusters that it’s hard to know where to begin. Here are the most critical claims: Special counsel Robert S. Mueller … Read More
Firestorm Over Fire And Fury Book
Katy Tur has a warning: A note of caution on Fire and Fury pic.twitter.com/o9OzV7ltWm — Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) January 3, 2018 Author Note 1/3 pic.twitter.com/555fXUyc4W — Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) January 3, 2018 2/3 pic.twitter.com/5dSpVmLB80 — Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) January 3, 2018 3/3 pic.twitter.com/YkhreQpEpA — Katy Tur (@KatyTurNBC) January 3, 2018 That is good to keep in mind. However, that is … Read More
Manafort Sues Mueller
This day continues to be bizarre. Manafort is suing the Department of Justice, and names Rosenstein and Mueller as defendants, claiming that Mueller acted outside his authority by indicting him. This is an extremely unusual move. If an indictment can be challenged legally, typically the defendant files a motion to dismiss the indictment as part of the criminal case. It’s … Read More
Bannon Turns On Trump In Russia Scandal… And Other Related News From A New Trump Tell-All
Two big developments in Trump-Russia scandal world: (1) In a New York Times op-ed, the CEOs of Fusion GPS (the opposition research firm that did oppo research on Trump resulting in the Steele dossier) made it clear that the FBI investigation into Trump did NOT come about as a result of the dossier, giving lie to the propaganda pushed by … Read More
Trump Takes To Twitter And Causes 25th Amendment Discussions
He doesn’t drink, but Trump was in his cups last night. There was this: And the natural almost universal response was (to put it mildly)… “Is THIS your job?” Then, THIS appeared on Fox News… … and TWO MINUTES LATER, Trump takes to Twitter to tweet a nuclear threat, plus make veiled references to his dick: The latter tweet has … Read More
Congressional Republicans Are Working To Bury Trump-Russia Investigations
Aside from the saber-rattling with North Korea, and the attempts to delegitimize institutions, perhaps the most troubling trend to come from the Trump Administration so far are the efforts by many Republicans in Congress to prevent a full accounting of Russia’s interference in our election and any possible Trump campaign conspiracy with it. This is particularly true in he House … Read More
Trump Cavalcade of Crazy Continues
It’s the week between Christmas and New Year’s, normally a down time everywhere. A lot of people are on vacation, Congress is out, etc. But Trump seems to have time on his hands. He’s not WORKING… President Trump is at his Florida golf club this morning, marking his 88th day at a Trump golf property and his 114th day at … Read More
Can Conservatism Survive Trump?
The working title for this essay by David Frum is entitled “Conservatism is What Conservatives Think Say And Do”. It’s a good read if you want to know the huge schism among the right. Even among anti-Trumpers, there are now two types: those who condemn him constantly, and those who give him a pass (over and over again) because he … Read More
Why Trump Won’t Fire Mueller
Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, write this in today’s WaPo: Those investigations [of Manafort and Flynn] would go on even if Mueller leaves. When the Justice Department initiates an investigation, it can’t be closed without following a set of procedures that ensure cases aren’t shut down for improper reasons. If a case is opened, it can’t be “declined” — … Read More
Trump’s Battle With Mueller: Fox’s Complicity
Over the weekend, as CNN’s Brian Stelter recaps, Fox seized on anti-Trump texts sent by a Mueller investigator — which, while newsworthy, are being appropriately handled by Mueller — to launch attacks on federal law enforcement that are truly hallucinatory. We were told by one on-air figure that this is “potentially one of the biggest scandals in American history.” Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway insisted “the fix is in” … Read More
Politifact’s Lie Of The Year
2017 Lie of the Year: Russian election interference is a ‘made-up story’ No, it’s not. We don’t know the extent of Russian interference, or whether anyone in the Trump campaign colluded in the interference, but it is not a “made up story”. Politifact has made this assertion the “lie of the year”: A mountain of evidence points to a single … Read More
Jones Beats Moore In Close Result
Moore has not conceded, but the margin of victory is high enough to ensure no automatic recount. African-American turnout played an important role in Jones’ victory. Race played a bigger factor than education as white men AND WOMEN(!) preferred Moore. Of the 20 counties that saw their turnout rise in comparison to the 2014 midterm elections in Alabama, an election … Read More
All Eyes On Alabama Senator Elections
Roy Moore literally rides in on a horse to vote: WATCH: Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore arrives to vote on horseback pic.twitter.com/crp2cfsfNA — NBC News (@NBCNews) December 12, 2017 Moore’s final event/rally last night included a speaker who said he and Moore accidentally went to a brothel with child prostitutes, and a speech by his wife addressing charges of antisemitism … Read More
Sexual Harassment Allegations Come To Doorstep of White House
This morning, three women who have accused Trump of sexual assaulting them appeared on Megyn Kelly’s talk show, sharing new details of what they say was abuse at the hands of the president. They are among at least 14 women who accuse Trump of sexual assault. In response, the White House issued a statement claiming these women are lying. Notably, the White House claims … Read More