"I would give myself an A+, is that enough? Can I go higher than that?"
November 25, 2018 7:46 PM Subscribe
After the President escalated an extraordinary dispute with the Supreme Court's Chief Justice, he settled in for a hectic Thanksgiving morning of tweeting, asking perplexing questions of military officers, and pronouncing himself thankful for himself. As the nation woke up to Black Friday, the administration quietly released the Fourth National Climate Assessment, a grim warning of the ongoing and future impacts of climate change on the nation. Moving into the weekend, there was word of a deal to require asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their cases are considered, followed by the closure of the San Ysidro Port of Entry as US authorities fired tear gas across the border.
The US Government released the Fourth National Climate Assessment on Black Friday. The report warns that the United States is already feeling the effects of climate change, that vulnerable communities will experience greater impacts to health, quality of life, nature, and the economy, and of devastation from heat-related deaths, sea level rise, and infrastructure damage. The report predicts that US can expect hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic loses from climate change. 3 big takeaways from the major new US climate report (Vox). The President, for his part, ignored the report, but tweeted out his confusion between local weather and global climate change. Trump Administration’s Strategy on Climate: Try to Bury Its Own Scientific Report (NYT). GOP Shrugs Off Bombshell Climate Report (HuffPost). CNN's Brian Stelter: "On Friday, when the government's newest climate change report came out, Fox News spent more time talking about @Ocasio2018's shoes than climate change". On the Blue, see also the open climate change FPP: Life on a shrinking planet.
The US reportedly reached a tentative deal with Mexico to require asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their cases are processed (Washington Post), and Trump was quick to tweet about the arrangement, but a series of conflicting statements from the incoming Mexican government (Daily Beast) leaves much room for uncertainty as to whether a deal even exists. We still don't know much of how the arrangement would work (Vox) legally or in practice.
As confusion over the deal brewed, the San Ysidro Port of Entry was closed Sunday (BuzzFeed) as a group of migrants bypassed a blockade setup by the Mexican authorities and approached the border crossing and US authorities fired tear gas across the border: "'We ran, but when you run the gas asphyxiates you more,' [Ana Zuniga] told the AP while cradling her 3-year-old daughter Valery in her arms." The morning began with a peaceful march to urge US authorities to speed up the asylum process.
HEADLINE ROUNDUP:
• Ukraine Breaking News: Ukraine, After Naval Clash With Russia, Considers Martial Law (NYT). While Donald Trump tweeted earlier today about Europe having to pay "Military Protection" for NATO, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has now called for an emergency Security Council meeting for tomorrow at 11:00am. The Associated Press is tracking the unfolding events.
• Horserace/Invisible Primary: The 2020 Presidential Horserace Has Officially Begin (WaPo) ; New entrants—West Virginia State Sen. Richard Objeda (CNBC); Rep. Eric Swalwell(Politico); Sen. Sherrod Brown? (Cleveland Plain Dealer); Hilary Clinton? (Mark Penn, WSJ); 2020 Election Odds: Who Can Beat Donald Trump After 2018 Midterm Elections? (Newsweek)
• House Investigations Round-up: House Democrats Will Investigate Trump's Response To Khashoggi Murder—Incoming intelligence committee head Adam Schiff plans ‘deep dive’ into US-Saudi Arabia ties, report says (Guardian); House Intelligence Panel Hiring Money-Laundering Sleuths (Daily Beast) {n.b. re-upped from last thread}; House Democrats Pile on to Scrutinize DeVos (Politico); The President's Company Braces for Democratic Investigations (CNN) Why House Democrats Must Vigorously investigate Trump (CNN); Upcoming House Investigations: Maxine Waters Wants to Investigate Trump, But Her Party May Resist (Politico)
• Census Round-up: As the trial over the Census citizenship question wraps up, the Justice Department was again stymied in their attempts to halt the trial (Washington Post) as they await a Supreme Court case next year over Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross can be deposed. Documents in a different Census lawsuit revealed that DOJ crafted an intentionally vague answer (NPR) when asked for policy about the confidentiality of census data because the issue could "come up later for renewed debate."
IN OTHER HEADLINES:
• 60 Minutes investigates the chaos behind Donald Trump's policy of family separation at the border—the separations that dominated headlines this summer began earlier and were greater in number than the Trump administration admits. (@realDonaldTrump calls the report "phony" and the program "Fake 60 Minutes", but the Toronto Star's Daniel Dale calls out his lies: "Obama did not have the same policy, and family separation was not mandated by law. Trump chose a policy of routinely criminally prosecuting people found crossing illegally, which resulted in routine separations.") More than 14,000 Immigrant Children Are In U.S. Custody, an All-Time High (SF Chronicle)
• Despite last-minute efforts to put the case on hold, Judge orders Papadopoulos to report to prison on Monday (CNN) for his 14 day sentence for lying to investigators in the Mueller investigation.
• The President continued to reject the conclusions of intelligence agencies about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, as several Republican senators have spoken out. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) took to television to pronounce that Trump's statements are "inconsistent with the intelligence I’ve seen."
• The Mississippi Senate run-off election is on Tuesday, as some companies that donated to the Hyde-Smith campaign request refunds.
• Trump demands action to reduce deficit, pushes new deficit spending (Washington Post), in which the President thinks the the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has a $5 million salary and suggests he should receive a large raise, citing the number of stars on his uniform.
• Marcy Wheeler has begun a running post of the many reasons why Matt Whitaker is not qualified to be Acting Attorney General: Big Dick Toilets and Sasquatch Dolls: Matt Whitaker’s Qualifications to Be Dog-Catcher (Emptywheel.net)
• Arkansas’s Medicaid experiment has proved disastrous (Catherine Rampell, Washington Post op-ed) Locked out of Medicaid Arkansas's work requirement strips insurance from thousands of working people (Benjamin Hardy, Arkansas Nonprofit News Network)
• How Trump administration pressure to dump 4-H's LGBT policy led to Iowa leader's firing (Des Moines Register)
• After Years of Taking Up Too Much Space, Trump Is Finally Small: "As the president’s lies and bullying get bolder and bolder, we can finally see him for what he is: boring." (Slate, Dahlia Lithwick)
• It’s Easy to Fact Check Trump’s Lies. He Tells the Same Ones All the Time. (Daniel Dale, Washington Post); Margaret Sullivan on the art of the follow-up question, an endangered species (Washington Post); see also: Truth Sandwiches: George Lakoff explains how the media should respond to Trump’s lies (MeFi)
• ‘Nothing on this page is real’: How lies become truth in online America (Eli Saslow, Washington Post): "What viral insanity should we spread this morning?...The more extreme we become, the more people believe it." Why Social Media’s Misinformation Problem Will Never Be Fixed (Will Oremus, Slate): "A network built on encouraging people to spontaneously broadcast anything that strikes their fancy, and amplifies those messages based on their propensity to spark gut reactions in others, can’t fully root out sensationalism or misinformation without undermining its own core business."
• On Thanksgiving weekend Sunday, Donald Trump spent part of his day re-tweeting Fox News stories, Media Matters's Matthew Gertz shows.
Today is the 674th day of the Trump administration (NBC calculates, Trump has spent about 1/3 of his days as president at Trump properties, and about 1/4 of his days at a Trump golf club). There are 708 days left until the 2020 elections.
Keeping Track: The Weekly List (Amy Siskind); What The Fuck Just Happened Today?; Lest We Forget the Horrors: A Catalog of Trump’s Worst Cruelties, Collusions, Corruptions, and Crimes; The “Everything Terrible The Trump Administration Has Done So Far” Omnibus
Previously in U.S. Politics Megathreads: No One Is Above the Law
Megathread-Adjacent Posts and Sites: Save me from tomorrow (US Election Day, cont.); Fighting fascism and building a movement (AskMe); Boycott Fox News; Truth Sandwiches (George Lakoff, framing, etc.); OnceUponATime's Active Measures site; and Chrysostom's 2018 Election Ratings & Results Tracker
Elsewhere in MetaFilter: On MeTa, what Mefites are doing to improve things; and on AskMe, nonpolitical volunteering from home.
As always, please consider MeFi chat and the unofficial PoliticsFilter Slack for hot-takes and live-blogging breaking news, the new MetaTalk venting thread for catharsis and sympathizing, and funding the site if you're able. Also, for the sake of the ever-helpful mods, please keep in mind the MetaTalk on expectations about U.S. political discussion on MetaFilter. Thanks to Doktor Zed, box, and ragtime for helping to create this thread. U.S. Politics FPPs are generally collaborative, and a draft post can usually found on the MeFi Wiki.
The US Government released the Fourth National Climate Assessment on Black Friday. The report warns that the United States is already feeling the effects of climate change, that vulnerable communities will experience greater impacts to health, quality of life, nature, and the economy, and of devastation from heat-related deaths, sea level rise, and infrastructure damage. The report predicts that US can expect hundreds of billions of dollars in annual economic loses from climate change. 3 big takeaways from the major new US climate report (Vox). The President, for his part, ignored the report, but tweeted out his confusion between local weather and global climate change. Trump Administration’s Strategy on Climate: Try to Bury Its Own Scientific Report (NYT). GOP Shrugs Off Bombshell Climate Report (HuffPost). CNN's Brian Stelter: "On Friday, when the government's newest climate change report came out, Fox News spent more time talking about @Ocasio2018's shoes than climate change". On the Blue, see also the open climate change FPP: Life on a shrinking planet.
The US reportedly reached a tentative deal with Mexico to require asylum seekers to remain in Mexico while their cases are processed (Washington Post), and Trump was quick to tweet about the arrangement, but a series of conflicting statements from the incoming Mexican government (Daily Beast) leaves much room for uncertainty as to whether a deal even exists. We still don't know much of how the arrangement would work (Vox) legally or in practice.
As confusion over the deal brewed, the San Ysidro Port of Entry was closed Sunday (BuzzFeed) as a group of migrants bypassed a blockade setup by the Mexican authorities and approached the border crossing and US authorities fired tear gas across the border: "'We ran, but when you run the gas asphyxiates you more,' [Ana Zuniga] told the AP while cradling her 3-year-old daughter Valery in her arms." The morning began with a peaceful march to urge US authorities to speed up the asylum process.
HEADLINE ROUNDUP:
• Ukraine Breaking News: Ukraine, After Naval Clash With Russia, Considers Martial Law (NYT). While Donald Trump tweeted earlier today about Europe having to pay "Military Protection" for NATO, US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has now called for an emergency Security Council meeting for tomorrow at 11:00am. The Associated Press is tracking the unfolding events.
• Horserace/Invisible Primary: The 2020 Presidential Horserace Has Officially Begin (WaPo) ; New entrants—West Virginia State Sen. Richard Objeda (CNBC); Rep. Eric Swalwell(Politico); Sen. Sherrod Brown? (Cleveland Plain Dealer); Hilary Clinton? (Mark Penn, WSJ); 2020 Election Odds: Who Can Beat Donald Trump After 2018 Midterm Elections? (Newsweek)
• House Investigations Round-up: House Democrats Will Investigate Trump's Response To Khashoggi Murder—Incoming intelligence committee head Adam Schiff plans ‘deep dive’ into US-Saudi Arabia ties, report says (Guardian); House Intelligence Panel Hiring Money-Laundering Sleuths (Daily Beast) {n.b. re-upped from last thread}; House Democrats Pile on to Scrutinize DeVos (Politico); The President's Company Braces for Democratic Investigations (CNN) Why House Democrats Must Vigorously investigate Trump (CNN); Upcoming House Investigations: Maxine Waters Wants to Investigate Trump, But Her Party May Resist (Politico)
• Census Round-up: As the trial over the Census citizenship question wraps up, the Justice Department was again stymied in their attempts to halt the trial (Washington Post) as they await a Supreme Court case next year over Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross can be deposed. Documents in a different Census lawsuit revealed that DOJ crafted an intentionally vague answer (NPR) when asked for policy about the confidentiality of census data because the issue could "come up later for renewed debate."
IN OTHER HEADLINES:
• 60 Minutes investigates the chaos behind Donald Trump's policy of family separation at the border—the separations that dominated headlines this summer began earlier and were greater in number than the Trump administration admits. (@realDonaldTrump calls the report "phony" and the program "Fake 60 Minutes", but the Toronto Star's Daniel Dale calls out his lies: "Obama did not have the same policy, and family separation was not mandated by law. Trump chose a policy of routinely criminally prosecuting people found crossing illegally, which resulted in routine separations.") More than 14,000 Immigrant Children Are In U.S. Custody, an All-Time High (SF Chronicle)
• Despite last-minute efforts to put the case on hold, Judge orders Papadopoulos to report to prison on Monday (CNN) for his 14 day sentence for lying to investigators in the Mueller investigation.
• The President continued to reject the conclusions of intelligence agencies about the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, as several Republican senators have spoken out. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) took to television to pronounce that Trump's statements are "inconsistent with the intelligence I’ve seen."
• The Mississippi Senate run-off election is on Tuesday, as some companies that donated to the Hyde-Smith campaign request refunds.
• Trump demands action to reduce deficit, pushes new deficit spending (Washington Post), in which the President thinks the the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has a $5 million salary and suggests he should receive a large raise, citing the number of stars on his uniform.
• Marcy Wheeler has begun a running post of the many reasons why Matt Whitaker is not qualified to be Acting Attorney General: Big Dick Toilets and Sasquatch Dolls: Matt Whitaker’s Qualifications to Be Dog-Catcher (Emptywheel.net)
• Arkansas’s Medicaid experiment has proved disastrous (Catherine Rampell, Washington Post op-ed) Locked out of Medicaid Arkansas's work requirement strips insurance from thousands of working people (Benjamin Hardy, Arkansas Nonprofit News Network)
• How Trump administration pressure to dump 4-H's LGBT policy led to Iowa leader's firing (Des Moines Register)
• After Years of Taking Up Too Much Space, Trump Is Finally Small: "As the president’s lies and bullying get bolder and bolder, we can finally see him for what he is: boring." (Slate, Dahlia Lithwick)
• It’s Easy to Fact Check Trump’s Lies. He Tells the Same Ones All the Time. (Daniel Dale, Washington Post); Margaret Sullivan on the art of the follow-up question, an endangered species (Washington Post); see also: Truth Sandwiches: George Lakoff explains how the media should respond to Trump’s lies (MeFi)
• ‘Nothing on this page is real’: How lies become truth in online America (Eli Saslow, Washington Post): "What viral insanity should we spread this morning?...The more extreme we become, the more people believe it." Why Social Media’s Misinformation Problem Will Never Be Fixed (Will Oremus, Slate): "A network built on encouraging people to spontaneously broadcast anything that strikes their fancy, and amplifies those messages based on their propensity to spark gut reactions in others, can’t fully root out sensationalism or misinformation without undermining its own core business."
• On Thanksgiving weekend Sunday, Donald Trump spent part of his day re-tweeting Fox News stories, Media Matters's Matthew Gertz shows.
Today is the 674th day of the Trump administration (NBC calculates, Trump has spent about 1/3 of his days as president at Trump properties, and about 1/4 of his days at a Trump golf club). There are 708 days left until the 2020 elections.
Keeping Track: The Weekly List (Amy Siskind); What The Fuck Just Happened Today?; Lest We Forget the Horrors: A Catalog of Trump’s Worst Cruelties, Collusions, Corruptions, and Crimes; The “Everything Terrible The Trump Administration Has Done So Far” Omnibus
Previously in U.S. Politics Megathreads: No One Is Above the Law
Megathread-Adjacent Posts and Sites: Save me from tomorrow (US Election Day, cont.); Fighting fascism and building a movement (AskMe); Boycott Fox News; Truth Sandwiches (George Lakoff, framing, etc.); OnceUponATime's Active Measures site; and Chrysostom's 2018 Election Ratings & Results Tracker
Elsewhere in MetaFilter: On MeTa, what Mefites are doing to improve things; and on AskMe, nonpolitical volunteering from home.
As always, please consider MeFi chat and the unofficial PoliticsFilter Slack for hot-takes and live-blogging breaking news, the new MetaTalk venting thread for catharsis and sympathizing, and funding the site if you're able. Also, for the sake of the ever-helpful mods, please keep in mind the MetaTalk on expectations about U.S. political discussion on MetaFilter. Thanks to Doktor Zed, box, and ragtime for helping to create this thread. U.S. Politics FPPs are generally collaborative, and a draft post can usually found on the MeFi Wiki.
For all your email forwarding needs, here are The everlasting BLORT’s astonishing Trump archives, all in one place
posted by growabrain at 8:11 PM on November 25, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 8:11 PM on November 25, 2018 [22 favorites]
It is fitting that someone with a narcissistic personality would choose to thank himself on Thanksgiving.
The real question is why does Trump still get so much support? I could have chosen the Thanksgiving holiday to ask certain relatives this question, but chose to keep the peace instead.
I have a strong feeling that the well oiled propoganda machines of Fox News and a large number of websites are carefully and quickly recasting bad news in a good light every time it pops up. People are always looking for excuses to keep holding strong emotional beliefs, and will accept all the talking points and excuses they are given to help them do this. They will not read this website.
posted by eye of newt at 8:11 PM on November 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
The real question is why does Trump still get so much support? I could have chosen the Thanksgiving holiday to ask certain relatives this question, but chose to keep the peace instead.
I have a strong feeling that the well oiled propoganda machines of Fox News and a large number of websites are carefully and quickly recasting bad news in a good light every time it pops up. People are always looking for excuses to keep holding strong emotional beliefs, and will accept all the talking points and excuses they are given to help them do this. They will not read this website.
posted by eye of newt at 8:11 PM on November 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Echoing Etrigan... I get that it's A-OK to use chemical weapons against your own citizens (at least up until the point it becomes a talking point for neocon warhawks), but launching them into another country has to contravene the Geneva Conventions, no?
posted by 7segment at 8:31 PM on November 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by 7segment at 8:31 PM on November 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
They would if it were legally classed as war, but that name is only used when politically convenient. (That particular pecadillo is essentially universal, FWIW)
posted by wierdo at 8:54 PM on November 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by wierdo at 8:54 PM on November 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
I mean... we're not just tear-gassing refugees, we're shooting into another country to do it. This is a real "Hans, are we the baddies?" moment, or at least it should be. But of course, the cruelty is the point.
posted by Etrigan at 12:05 PM on November 26 [10 favorites +] [!]
My last heavily excerptive comment got deleted by the mods, fair, but I still want to make one more stab at this to say Mexico has been putting up with our shit forever, and there's a solid case to be made that American businesses themselves designed the illegal immigrant paradigm despite an attempt at legalization in the Bracero program. This is important history to know if you wonder hence & whence the psycho "illegals" conversation today. We have been persecuting citizens and legal residents for a long time.
First there were mass deportations of citizens by conquest (90 years after the fact. not immediately.), then there was a legitimization program of laborers (would-be citizen) hijacked by American businesses. Mexico has had ample reason to declare war for ages, they have not done so because they are saner than that, although you will see time and again that they tried to mitigate harm and advocate for their people.
It's not right or precedented that we tear-gas refugees, but it's built on a long official tradition that is known on both sides. Your objections should not begin or end at the violence shown yesterday.
I also want to add a personal note to this. I don't live in the US anymore, but my mom does, in the southwest corner of Minnesota, in a tiny pork processing town that got profiled in Vox, and well, back in the day she lived in a house for a family, but since the divorce and the kids becoming adults, she's renting rooms, as one does. The renters are Hispanic. From the plant. I go home for Thanksgiving/Christmas/[#HOLIDAY] and it's mom and the pork plant people. The neighbors, also, labor there, and have married Dusty's mom. Dude is the coolest. Mom raised me liberal, so no biggie, but I mean, I live in China (but I pay US taxes, so), and when I think America, it's mom and the house I think about. Mom and me help with the paperwork for said people. Most of them are already US citizens, but at least one I know of is illiterate.
The America the Republicans want to destroy is the one in my mother's house. Fuck them. I'm an infinitely better person for knowing those mostly-Hispanic renters, and I will stand until my death to see them made citizens of my country. I would rather live with them than voters for Trump. Whoever you are, look around you, and stand up for the immigrants around you doing good things. It's as simple as knowing they like you too. Stand up for them. We're Americans, and this is what we do.
posted by saysthis at 9:18 PM on November 25, 2018 [153 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 12:05 PM on November 26 [10 favorites +] [!]
My last heavily excerptive comment got deleted by the mods, fair, but I still want to make one more stab at this to say Mexico has been putting up with our shit forever, and there's a solid case to be made that American businesses themselves designed the illegal immigrant paradigm despite an attempt at legalization in the Bracero program. This is important history to know if you wonder hence & whence the psycho "illegals" conversation today. We have been persecuting citizens and legal residents for a long time.
First there were mass deportations of citizens by conquest (90 years after the fact. not immediately.), then there was a legitimization program of laborers (would-be citizen) hijacked by American businesses. Mexico has had ample reason to declare war for ages, they have not done so because they are saner than that, although you will see time and again that they tried to mitigate harm and advocate for their people.
It's not right or precedented that we tear-gas refugees, but it's built on a long official tradition that is known on both sides. Your objections should not begin or end at the violence shown yesterday.
I also want to add a personal note to this. I don't live in the US anymore, but my mom does, in the southwest corner of Minnesota, in a tiny pork processing town that got profiled in Vox, and well, back in the day she lived in a house for a family, but since the divorce and the kids becoming adults, she's renting rooms, as one does. The renters are Hispanic. From the plant. I go home for Thanksgiving/Christmas/[#HOLIDAY] and it's mom and the pork plant people. The neighbors, also, labor there, and have married Dusty's mom. Dude is the coolest. Mom raised me liberal, so no biggie, but I mean, I live in China (but I pay US taxes, so), and when I think America, it's mom and the house I think about. Mom and me help with the paperwork for said people. Most of them are already US citizens, but at least one I know of is illiterate.
The America the Republicans want to destroy is the one in my mother's house. Fuck them. I'm an infinitely better person for knowing those mostly-Hispanic renters, and I will stand until my death to see them made citizens of my country. I would rather live with them than voters for Trump. Whoever you are, look around you, and stand up for the immigrants around you doing good things. It's as simple as knowing they like you too. Stand up for them. We're Americans, and this is what we do.
posted by saysthis at 9:18 PM on November 25, 2018 [153 favorites]
The real question is why does Trump still get so much support? I could have chosen the Thanksgiving holiday to ask certain relatives this question, but chose to keep the peace instead.
Well, I went down that rabbithole, so that you don't have to. It's because he's keeping the brown people out. That's literally it, at least that I can tell. Everything else is window-dressing and showmanship as far as his supporters (voting, not financial; I presume the big-money supporters have other goals) that I ran into are concerned.
I'm dead serious; the last few weeks worth of "migrant caravan" stuff has really got people het up. My conclusion is there are a non-trivial percentage of people in the US who see non-English-speaking immigrants as a bona fide existential threat to the continued existence of the Republic. FWIW, these are predominantly not non-college-educated or "low information voters". They're educated, professional-class people. At least several are people who I know campaigned for Clinton back in the 90s and are probably registered as Democrats. Go figure.
It's unclear how exactly this will play out in thePits of Corruption Republican Party, given that—as others have noted—the current immigration status quo is heavily favored by big agribusiness interests, who lean strongly R in their financial contributions. There's a vast disconnect between the money side and voting side of the Republican party, and while I would have expected it to close before the election—when they would have needed to appeal to business for contributions—that doesn't seem to have happened. Maybe Trump really doesn't give a shit about what Conagra et al want. That's what the MAGA crowd seems to be hoping for. But my guess is that if anything happens that actually starts to affect the situation on the ground insofar as the labor market can feel it, like causing salaries to go up, the rank-and-file Congressional Rs will find some way to pull the punch.
As always, I think Trump's supporters are the ones getting played, although I'm not sure if it's actually by Trump. He's not that clever.
Warning: Results may vary, your family members are not my family members, side effects may include shouting, cursing, extreme sideeye, and pie-throwing. Not valid in all states, particularly in those southern ones. Store away from religion. Consult your doctor if symptoms persist, but there's a good chance he's a Trump fan too, so maybe don't bother.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:35 PM on November 25, 2018 [33 favorites]
Well, I went down that rabbithole, so that you don't have to. It's because he's keeping the brown people out. That's literally it, at least that I can tell. Everything else is window-dressing and showmanship as far as his supporters (voting, not financial; I presume the big-money supporters have other goals) that I ran into are concerned.
I'm dead serious; the last few weeks worth of "migrant caravan" stuff has really got people het up. My conclusion is there are a non-trivial percentage of people in the US who see non-English-speaking immigrants as a bona fide existential threat to the continued existence of the Republic. FWIW, these are predominantly not non-college-educated or "low information voters". They're educated, professional-class people. At least several are people who I know campaigned for Clinton back in the 90s and are probably registered as Democrats. Go figure.
It's unclear how exactly this will play out in the
As always, I think Trump's supporters are the ones getting played, although I'm not sure if it's actually by Trump. He's not that clever.
Warning: Results may vary, your family members are not my family members, side effects may include shouting, cursing, extreme sideeye, and pie-throwing. Not valid in all states, particularly in those southern ones. Store away from religion. Consult your doctor if symptoms persist, but there's a good chance he's a Trump fan too, so maybe don't bother.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:35 PM on November 25, 2018 [33 favorites]
Hey, I was just in that SW MN town a few weeks ago for my aunt’s burial. The family farm is just up the road in Heron Lake.
Oddly enough, my cousin was talking proudly about how his son (an agent at a local insurance broker) hired a Spanish-speaking assistant and is selling insurance policies to the plant workers. It was a weird, bass-ackward route towards tolerance, but I guess it’s something? Several cousins mentioned that the immigrants were doing work that others weren’t willing to do.
Which is saying something because they’re all farmers, so it’s not like they don’t know how to work hard. That said, my dad only needed to work a summer unloading chickens at the old Campbell’s soup plant in Worthington to motivate him into joining the army.
If there is any hope for the rural Midwest, it is that the locals need to recognize how critical those immigrants are in keeping their communities viable. Economic interdependence is the key to mutual understanding, right?
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:54 PM on November 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
Oddly enough, my cousin was talking proudly about how his son (an agent at a local insurance broker) hired a Spanish-speaking assistant and is selling insurance policies to the plant workers. It was a weird, bass-ackward route towards tolerance, but I guess it’s something? Several cousins mentioned that the immigrants were doing work that others weren’t willing to do.
Which is saying something because they’re all farmers, so it’s not like they don’t know how to work hard. That said, my dad only needed to work a summer unloading chickens at the old Campbell’s soup plant in Worthington to motivate him into joining the army.
If there is any hope for the rural Midwest, it is that the locals need to recognize how critical those immigrants are in keeping their communities viable. Economic interdependence is the key to mutual understanding, right?
posted by Big Al 8000 at 9:54 PM on November 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
Well, I went down that rabbithole, so that you don't have to. It's because he's keeping the brown people out. That's literally it, at least that I can tell. Everything else is window-dressing and showmanship as far as his supporters (voting, not financial; I presume the big-money supporters have other goals) that I ran into are concerned.
I'm dead serious; the last few weeks worth of "migrant caravan" stuff has really got people het up. My conclusion is there are a non-trivial percentage of people in the US who see non-English-speaking immigrants as a bona fide existential threat to the continued existence of the Republic.
I'm sorry to say I got you as far as I need to get you. Your description of the struggles is the same as we all face. BUT. At some point, you need to sit down with these immigrants-as-threat people and point out how wrong they are. Because they're just wrong, especially, stupidly, are-there-therapists-for-this wrong.
If I know these people, I will surprisingly say they're not malicious racist, they're racist by default. We may, if it is congenial to the concerned speaking parties, need to find immigrants who are willing to speak to these mooks. Now, I've said I live in China, and I know quite a few who would rhetorically uppercut the migrant-wary. Also case for quite a few Korean, Japanese, and Indonesian-Americans who have looked at things realistically and had it with white supremacy.
But apparently I'm a white guy and it's my job to find a venue for them. FFs. If they haven't been heard by America by now, PEOPLE AIN'T LISTENING.
(but if someone would like to offer a publishing venue by god I have content)
Trump and the stupids need a counternarrative yesterday. Let's give them one.
posted by saysthis at 10:01 PM on November 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
I'm dead serious; the last few weeks worth of "migrant caravan" stuff has really got people het up. My conclusion is there are a non-trivial percentage of people in the US who see non-English-speaking immigrants as a bona fide existential threat to the continued existence of the Republic.
I'm sorry to say I got you as far as I need to get you. Your description of the struggles is the same as we all face. BUT. At some point, you need to sit down with these immigrants-as-threat people and point out how wrong they are. Because they're just wrong, especially, stupidly, are-there-therapists-for-this wrong.
If I know these people, I will surprisingly say they're not malicious racist, they're racist by default. We may, if it is congenial to the concerned speaking parties, need to find immigrants who are willing to speak to these mooks. Now, I've said I live in China, and I know quite a few who would rhetorically uppercut the migrant-wary. Also case for quite a few Korean, Japanese, and Indonesian-Americans who have looked at things realistically and had it with white supremacy.
But apparently I'm a white guy and it's my job to find a venue for them. FFs. If they haven't been heard by America by now, PEOPLE AIN'T LISTENING.
(but if someone would like to offer a publishing venue by god I have content)
Trump and the stupids need a counternarrative yesterday. Let's give them one.
posted by saysthis at 10:01 PM on November 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations on the US-Mexico border was early and honest in talking about how the border functions -- like all borders, as a crossing point between what is permitted and what is not -- and how the American restaurant industry functions. The San Ysidro / Tijuana crossing exists for college partiers and Americans who want cheap prescriptions and dental work and nachos, just as the state line to South Carolina exists for people who want to buy the kind of fireworks that will put them in hospital.
On the "why?" question -- I've said before that this is the final round of the Boomer argument, the argument of the (white) generation that got chrome-plated appliances and suburban childhoods and cheap college and tax cuts under Reagan, and was told they earned it by themselves for themselves; the generation that argues about Vietnam while voting for people who dodged Vietnam. This is the generation attuned to worry about inflation and deficits and the gas pumps running dry but not about climate change. (hashtag notallboomers) This is also the (white) generation that incorporated white euro-Catholicism -- Southern Protestants didn't give a shit about abortion until it became politically advantageous to find common cause with suburbanite Catholics -- but loses its shit about the candle-lighting Catholicism of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.
Just as the Brexit generation never really experienced the Second World War but grew up with a bullshit mythology around it -- from The Dam Busters to Dad's Army to Allo! Allo! -- the Boomer generation has recapitulated a myth of the circumstances that created its childhood for as long as it had the political power to do so. And that leads to Republican GenXers like Cruz and Rubio and Sasse and Cotton living their political lives as cosplay Boomers.
The fundamental political question in large parts of the developed world is how badly the seventysomething generation (again, collectively; #notallseventysomethings) gets to fuck over everybody younger than them.
posted by holgate at 10:15 PM on November 25, 2018 [97 favorites]
On the "why?" question -- I've said before that this is the final round of the Boomer argument, the argument of the (white) generation that got chrome-plated appliances and suburban childhoods and cheap college and tax cuts under Reagan, and was told they earned it by themselves for themselves; the generation that argues about Vietnam while voting for people who dodged Vietnam. This is the generation attuned to worry about inflation and deficits and the gas pumps running dry but not about climate change. (hashtag notallboomers) This is also the (white) generation that incorporated white euro-Catholicism -- Southern Protestants didn't give a shit about abortion until it became politically advantageous to find common cause with suburbanite Catholics -- but loses its shit about the candle-lighting Catholicism of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe.
Just as the Brexit generation never really experienced the Second World War but grew up with a bullshit mythology around it -- from The Dam Busters to Dad's Army to Allo! Allo! -- the Boomer generation has recapitulated a myth of the circumstances that created its childhood for as long as it had the political power to do so. And that leads to Republican GenXers like Cruz and Rubio and Sasse and Cotton living their political lives as cosplay Boomers.
The fundamental political question in large parts of the developed world is how badly the seventysomething generation (again, collectively; #notallseventysomethings) gets to fuck over everybody younger than them.
posted by holgate at 10:15 PM on November 25, 2018 [97 favorites]
If there is any hope for the rural Midwest, it is that the locals need to recognize how critical those immigrants are in keeping their communities viable. Economic interdependence is the key to mutual understanding, right?
posted by Big Al 8000 at 1:54 PM on November 26 [1 favorite −] Favorite added! [!]
Ya know, I heard locals say the things, and then (China expat, spaced visits is key here), went back now and again, and I would meander down to Wal-Mart at night, and literally be thanked, twice by counter staff three years apart, at 3 in the morning, for being "the right kind of people coming back", both by retirees. I was thanked for being white in Worthington at Walmart twice 3 years apart in the last decade. I say this a lot on this site, but I'll say it again, I live in China, so I know migrant from migrant. I don't harp on China but on comments on this site, but I mean, China. Beijing for 15 years. I would know.
Fuck. You. (not you Big Al 8000, just the general you) Factory workers slept in my bed while I slept on the couch. My mom taught at the county college until the R-led state senate eliminated her position (but not her pension, from which there were lawyer fees for a certain Nicaraguan spent). Real Americans give a fuck about migrants with every room and dollar they have. Real Americans do not give a fuck what color your skin is, they stand by you if you're in trouble. Anyone else? Any bigots? Well the American passport is quite diverse in its visa-free fuck-off options, and if you have one and would like to not pay income tax, there's a whole thing for that, so like, go away.
Seriously. My mom kicked ass, and continues to in that town. America makes it easy to leave if you don't want to be a part of it. Real Americans want immigrants. As an American, the real kind, I can think of many I'd sponsor. What about you, opposition Republican-nativist-knows-nothing-blindly-pays-taxes douche? How you been?
posted by saysthis at 10:18 PM on November 25, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by Big Al 8000 at 1:54 PM on November 26 [1 favorite −] Favorite added! [!]
Ya know, I heard locals say the things, and then (China expat, spaced visits is key here), went back now and again, and I would meander down to Wal-Mart at night, and literally be thanked, twice by counter staff three years apart, at 3 in the morning, for being "the right kind of people coming back", both by retirees. I was thanked for being white in Worthington at Walmart twice 3 years apart in the last decade. I say this a lot on this site, but I'll say it again, I live in China, so I know migrant from migrant. I don't harp on China but on comments on this site, but I mean, China. Beijing for 15 years. I would know.
Fuck. You. (not you Big Al 8000, just the general you) Factory workers slept in my bed while I slept on the couch. My mom taught at the county college until the R-led state senate eliminated her position (but not her pension, from which there were lawyer fees for a certain Nicaraguan spent). Real Americans give a fuck about migrants with every room and dollar they have. Real Americans do not give a fuck what color your skin is, they stand by you if you're in trouble. Anyone else? Any bigots? Well the American passport is quite diverse in its visa-free fuck-off options, and if you have one and would like to not pay income tax, there's a whole thing for that, so like, go away.
Seriously. My mom kicked ass, and continues to in that town. America makes it easy to leave if you don't want to be a part of it. Real Americans want immigrants. As an American, the real kind, I can think of many I'd sponsor. What about you, opposition Republican-nativist-knows-nothing-blindly-pays-taxes douche? How you been?
posted by saysthis at 10:18 PM on November 25, 2018 [36 favorites]
"The White House turned away several foreign students from a New Jersey school who were on a class tour after braving the harsh weather conditions during the recent nor'easter, according to reports.
The group of seventh-graders from Henry Hudson Regional School in Highlands plowed through a snowstorm on Nov. 15 for their bus trip to Washington DC, according to The New York Post. But Secret Service agents stopped three who didn't have their passports or other identification required for non-US citizens.
Henry Hudson administrators apparently did not verify that the students had the right ID before heading out on the trip, parents told The Post. Beforehand, the school had to send the White House a list of all students and adults expected to take the tour.
The students are in the US on visas, but didn't bring their documentation. Without the verification, White House "boarding passes" sent to visitors in advance would be no good, according to Daily Voice."
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:40 PM on November 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
The group of seventh-graders from Henry Hudson Regional School in Highlands plowed through a snowstorm on Nov. 15 for their bus trip to Washington DC, according to The New York Post. But Secret Service agents stopped three who didn't have their passports or other identification required for non-US citizens.
Henry Hudson administrators apparently did not verify that the students had the right ID before heading out on the trip, parents told The Post. Beforehand, the school had to send the White House a list of all students and adults expected to take the tour.
The students are in the US on visas, but didn't bring their documentation. Without the verification, White House "boarding passes" sent to visitors in advance would be no good, according to Daily Voice."
posted by jenfullmoon at 10:40 PM on November 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
That's on the school. It's not new. At least since 2001, non-citizens have to agree to a background checks and have very strict ID requirements for White House tours and also for the more extensive Capitol tours / chamber gallery passes provided by members, as opposed to the baby tour offered through the Capitol Visitor Center.
posted by holgate at 11:06 PM on November 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by holgate at 11:06 PM on November 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
That's on the school. It's not new.
It may not be new, but it’s only a good security measure if you happen to be Gerard Butler in Olympus Has Fallen.
posted by Etrigan at 11:33 PM on November 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
It may not be new, but it’s only a good security measure if you happen to be Gerard Butler in Olympus Has Fallen.
posted by Etrigan at 11:33 PM on November 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
> Daily Beast, Ackerman, Trump Ramped Up Drone Strikes in America’s Shadow Wars: "In his first two years, Donald Trump launched 238 drone strikes in Yemen, Pakistan, and Somalia—way beyond what the ‘Drone President’ Barack Obama did."
Is it just me or do drone strikes now get less media coverage than they did during Obama's presidency? There is some coverage, but you have to be keeping an eye out for it. Here are a few articles from this year:
Motherboard, David Axe, Jun 22: While No One Is Looking, Trump Is Escalating America’s Drone War: In expanding US drone strikes in Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan, Trump has "shredded" Obama-era safeguards to minimizing the risk of civilian casualties.
The Atlantic, August 10: Trump’s Secret War on Terror: Drone strikes continue and spread—away from public scrutiny or congressional oversight. President Donald Trump has dramatically expanded the War on Terror. But you—and perhaps he—would never know it.
NY Times, September 9:C.I.A. Drone Mission, Curtailed by Obama, Is Expanded in Africa Under Trump
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, October 11: US strikes causing civilian casualties more than double in Afghanistan: The UN has found civilian casualties from strikes have risen by 39 per cent, with the US responsible for over half of these
The Associated Press, November 14: The hidden toll of American drones in Yemen: Civilian deaths. The United States has waged a drone war in Yemen for 16 years, trying to suppress al-Qaida’s branch here. But the campaign has had a hidden cost: civilians cut down by the drones’ missiles.
ThinkProgress analysis of the AP report: Under the Trump administration an increasing number of civilians are being killed by U.S. drone strikes.
posted by homunculus at 12:26 AM on November 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
Is it just me or do drone strikes now get less media coverage than they did during Obama's presidency? There is some coverage, but you have to be keeping an eye out for it. Here are a few articles from this year:
Motherboard, David Axe, Jun 22: While No One Is Looking, Trump Is Escalating America’s Drone War: In expanding US drone strikes in Yemen, Somalia, and Afghanistan, Trump has "shredded" Obama-era safeguards to minimizing the risk of civilian casualties.
The Atlantic, August 10: Trump’s Secret War on Terror: Drone strikes continue and spread—away from public scrutiny or congressional oversight. President Donald Trump has dramatically expanded the War on Terror. But you—and perhaps he—would never know it.
NY Times, September 9:C.I.A. Drone Mission, Curtailed by Obama, Is Expanded in Africa Under Trump
The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, October 11: US strikes causing civilian casualties more than double in Afghanistan: The UN has found civilian casualties from strikes have risen by 39 per cent, with the US responsible for over half of these
The Associated Press, November 14: The hidden toll of American drones in Yemen: Civilian deaths. The United States has waged a drone war in Yemen for 16 years, trying to suppress al-Qaida’s branch here. But the campaign has had a hidden cost: civilians cut down by the drones’ missiles.
ThinkProgress analysis of the AP report: Under the Trump administration an increasing number of civilians are being killed by U.S. drone strikes.
posted by homunculus at 12:26 AM on November 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
While Obama used drones a lot -- in many cases where earlier presidents might have sent in Marines or special forces -- his administration put in place protocols that drastically reduced the number of civilian collateral victimes.
There's a complicated argument about whether using drones vs. boots on the ground is worse, assuming a country is going to use what or the other. But of course Trump threw out all the protections, going back to the high civilian death rate also seen under Bush Jr.
posted by msalt at 12:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
There's a complicated argument about whether using drones vs. boots on the ground is worse, assuming a country is going to use what or the other. But of course Trump threw out all the protections, going back to the high civilian death rate also seen under Bush Jr.
posted by msalt at 12:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
saysthis: "We may, if it is congenial to the concerned speaking parties, need to find immigrants who are willing to speak to these mooks."
Alternatively, you could sit them down with a "native American" to discuss immigration and its discontents.
posted by chavenet at 12:56 AM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Alternatively, you could sit them down with a "native American" to discuss immigration and its discontents.
posted by chavenet at 12:56 AM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Mary Sue's Week in Reproductive Justice recap: Ohio Republicans are now considering a bill that would criminalize abortion; We’re thankful for Planned Parenthood and women’s health care clinics; Judge stands up for women in ruling against an anti-choice Mississippi law
posted by homunculus at 3:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 3:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
LA Times: Mexico denies deal with U.S. to keep asylum seekers south of the border while cases are decided
"Mexico’s incoming leadership is denying a [Washington Post] report that it had agreed to a Trump administration proposal requiring asylum seekers arriving at the southwest border to wait in Mexico as U.S. authorities consider their claims for safe haven. […] “There is no agreement of any sort between the future Mexican federal government and the U.S.,” the incoming interior minister [Olga Sanchez Cordero] said in a statement. Moreover, she said Mexico’s new government had rejected any deal in which Mexico would be considered “a safe third country” for U.S. asylum applicants."
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:51 AM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
"Mexico’s incoming leadership is denying a [Washington Post] report that it had agreed to a Trump administration proposal requiring asylum seekers arriving at the southwest border to wait in Mexico as U.S. authorities consider their claims for safe haven. […] “There is no agreement of any sort between the future Mexican federal government and the U.S.,” the incoming interior minister [Olga Sanchez Cordero] said in a statement. Moreover, she said Mexico’s new government had rejected any deal in which Mexico would be considered “a safe third country” for U.S. asylum applicants."
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:51 AM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
And that leads to Republican GenXers like Cruz and Rubio and Sasse and Cotton living their political lives as cosplay Boomers.
Noah Smith: "'Nixonland' has taught me that America has invented essentially no new political ideas since the late 1960s. We just took all the 60s ideas, recycled them for a generation that mostly didn't know how old they were, and spread them over social media."
posted by kliuless at 5:06 AM on November 26, 2018 [35 favorites]
Noah Smith: "'Nixonland' has taught me that America has invented essentially no new political ideas since the late 1960s. We just took all the 60s ideas, recycled them for a generation that mostly didn't know how old they were, and spread them over social media."
posted by kliuless at 5:06 AM on November 26, 2018 [35 favorites]
saysthis, thank you for your passionate and articulate commentary and insights.
posted by infini at 5:09 AM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by infini at 5:09 AM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Politico: White House lacks lawyers to deal with empowered Democrats
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:24 AM on November 26, 2018 [36 favorites]
The White House counsel’s office is down to a skeletal staff, potentially leaving them unprepared to deal with a flood of subpoenas for documents and witnesses when Democrats take control of the House.Team Trump's legal strategy appears to be complain about "harassment of the president", claim executive privilege, and stall their way to the Supreme Court. Still, their present situation does raise the question of why Don McGahn was so eager to leave that he didn't wait for his replacement to come on board and instead left Emmet Flood holding the bag.
The office has been without a permanent leader since ex-White House senior attorney Don McGahn left the administration in mid-October. His replacement, Pat Cipollone, is caught up in an extended background check that’s prevented him from starting. And in the coming weeks, deputy counsel Annie Donaldson, who served as McGahn’s most trusted aide and as the office’s chief of staff, is expected to leave the administration, according to two Republicans close to the White House. Donaldson is moving to Alabama with her husband, Brett Talley, whose nomination for a federal judgeship the White House withdrew in December 2017.
Amid the leadership tumult, the counsel’s office has shrunk to about 25 lawyers, according to a second Republican close to the administration. That’s lower than its recent high point of roughly 35 attorneys and well short of the 40 people that some expect it will need to deal with a reinvigorated Democratic party eager to investigate the president’s tax returns and business dealings in foreign countries, reopen probes into Russian election meddling and explore the behavior of a bevy of Cabinet officials.
“They only have roughly 20 dedicated White House lawyers and a bunch of detailees who could leave at any time,” one former White House official told POLITICO. “I don’t think anyone who is paying attention thinks they are prepared for a Democratic takeover.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:24 AM on November 26, 2018 [36 favorites]
The San Ysidro border crossings have been reopened.
For those not familiar with it, this is a massive border crossing, one of the largest in the world, with people commuting daily between San Diego and Tijuana, with Americans visiting their relatives or their second homes on the Mexican coast or cheap dentists and auto body work, etc. It can't really sustain being closed for very long as the two economies here are tightly interlinked.
Everyone losing their shit about a few thousand poor, dispossessed people in a country of millions is a sign of the times I suppose. Focus on the poor migrants instead of the systemic problems. Governments (US and Mexico) are happy to promote it as it absolves them and distracts everyone from whatever pocket-lining activity is currently in play.
posted by vacapinta at 5:38 AM on November 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
For those not familiar with it, this is a massive border crossing, one of the largest in the world, with people commuting daily between San Diego and Tijuana, with Americans visiting their relatives or their second homes on the Mexican coast or cheap dentists and auto body work, etc. It can't really sustain being closed for very long as the two economies here are tightly interlinked.
Everyone losing their shit about a few thousand poor, dispossessed people in a country of millions is a sign of the times I suppose. Focus on the poor migrants instead of the systemic problems. Governments (US and Mexico) are happy to promote it as it absolves them and distracts everyone from whatever pocket-lining activity is currently in play.
posted by vacapinta at 5:38 AM on November 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
homunculus: Is it just me or do drone strikes now get less media coverage than they did during Obama's presidency?
I suspect there is less attention to drone strikes under Trump than there was under Obama because (1) the Obama ones felt like "a story" in a Nixon-goes-to-China way, given the controversy among his own supporters (especially if the news sources you followed were left-leaning) and (2) there's so much other awfulness now, each instance of which tends to transcend "politics as usual", (of which drone attacks are unfortunately an example), so that's what takes center stage.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 5:48 AM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
I suspect there is less attention to drone strikes under Trump than there was under Obama because (1) the Obama ones felt like "a story" in a Nixon-goes-to-China way, given the controversy among his own supporters (especially if the news sources you followed were left-leaning) and (2) there's so much other awfulness now, each instance of which tends to transcend "politics as usual", (of which drone attacks are unfortunately an example), so that's what takes center stage.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 5:48 AM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Crooked Media's Dan Pfeiffer makes a case for Beto O'Rourke.
posted by nangar at 6:12 AM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by nangar at 6:12 AM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Yeah, there’s so very, very much that it’s hard to keep track of all the terrible things at once, and so the drone strikes fall off the radar, unfortunately.
posted by corb at 6:12 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by corb at 6:12 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
I feel like when we look back on the failures of journalism this decade, someone will need to address the reality that treating twitter as both vox populi and source of record set them up to be manipulated as channels for propaganda.
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 6:17 AM on November 26, 2018 [59 favorites]
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 6:17 AM on November 26, 2018 [59 favorites]
Greed set them up as channels for propaganda. On that we can agree with Trump.
(I expect Drone policy and a lot more will pierce the Trump cloud as Democrats ramp up the oversight and seek to create a news storm of their own.)
posted by notyou at 6:29 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
(I expect Drone policy and a lot more will pierce the Trump cloud as Democrats ramp up the oversight and seek to create a news storm of their own.)
posted by notyou at 6:29 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Crooked Media's Dan Pfeiffer makes a case for Beto O'Rourke.
When Obama ran in 2008, I thought about his slight resume. Like his hero Abraham Lincoln, Obama was pretty inexperienced in national politics. Lincoln was the best president and Obama was a good president. Lincoln's predecessor, James Buchanan, was one of the most experienced and qualified presidents, and one of the worst. So I believe the quality of the person can matter more than the resume.
I'd prefer to see a more experienced person, and a woman, get the nomination (Kamala Harris and/or Amy Klobuchar), but I will support whoever the Democratic nominee is.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:43 AM on November 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
Political pundits, campaign reporters, and seasoned operatives are speculating, with most political elites cynically looking down their noses at the prospect of a Beto O’Rourke 2020 campaign. “He hasn’t paid his dues;” “He is a creation of the media;” “It’s not his time.” The whole conversation around Beto has been eerily familiar to me, because these are the exact arguments people made to me when I told them I was considering working for Barack Obama 10 years ago.Those criticisms were even more true of Trump in 2016 and he won.
When Obama ran in 2008, I thought about his slight resume. Like his hero Abraham Lincoln, Obama was pretty inexperienced in national politics. Lincoln was the best president and Obama was a good president. Lincoln's predecessor, James Buchanan, was one of the most experienced and qualified presidents, and one of the worst. So I believe the quality of the person can matter more than the resume.
I'd prefer to see a more experienced person, and a woman, get the nomination (Kamala Harris and/or Amy Klobuchar), but I will support whoever the Democratic nominee is.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:43 AM on November 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
Greed is a part of it, but the failure of the news media to treat twitter as performative marketing puts the press into a particularly credulous position. Trump can create nonexistent policy slapfights when he has neither the authority or the political power to follow up on his statements, and that's primarily about playing to voters.
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 6:56 AM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 6:56 AM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
I was thinking this morning that I am going to stop trying to appeal to my conservative relatives' decency about Not Fearing Brown People; that fear is too well-defended and entrenched. Instead I'm going to start asking them if they really think the 1% care about their welfare as much as they care about that of the 1%. If the billionaires who run Fox News would even blink an eye if they and their kids lost everything.
I mean, I have to keep trying. Many of my relatives are just too scared to talk about politics and are either disengaged or already voting against Trump; a few are still throwing Fox talking points at me and of course those are the ones who I have to deal with when I visit.
posted by emjaybee at 6:59 AM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
I mean, I have to keep trying. Many of my relatives are just too scared to talk about politics and are either disengaged or already voting against Trump; a few are still throwing Fox talking points at me and of course those are the ones who I have to deal with when I visit.
posted by emjaybee at 6:59 AM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
There's a complicated argument about whether using drones vs. boots on the ground is worse, assuming a country is going to use what or the other.
I knew a JAG whose job it was to characterise the range, effectiveness and failure rates of weapons systems in order to ensure that informed decisions could be made as to when it was legal or illegal to use them - if you were to fire Missle A at a ten mile range towards a target where there also civilians present, would that be within the rules?
Which gives you some idea of how complex and detailed the decision making process can be, and that it is well worth asking hard questions when things go wrong. (The fact that the JAG in question wasn't trained in that sort of technical analysis and was very unhappy about having to do it, also shows that questions should be detailed and specific about the whole process...) I know 45 doesn't give a fig about breaking laws or killing people, but he can and should be made accountable. There are ways.
posted by Devonian at 7:05 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
O’Rourke/Gillum 2020. No 2016 PTSD, no inconvenient voting records or weird corporate connections, both pre-vetted, both of them telegenic political stars, and they’re from Texas and Florida.
This isn’t rocket science.
(And AOC will be the first female president. Just not quite yet, because fucking men.)
Re: war crimes against immigrants at the border: I’m increasingly concerned with the narrative we put together and how this gets cemented in the public consciousness. I think we’ll manage to beat back the Trumpian strain of fascism in the immediate future, but I think the narrative that goes with it will set the stage for the next flare up. And that flare up will come when migration starts to happen at the scale and with the urgency demanded by climate change and its attendant catastrophes.
Trump could be the infection that weakens us or that inoculates us. I figure we’ve got like 10-15 years. We have to show this cruelty for what it is, and we’ve got to regulate the propaganda machines that are driving people towards genocidal paranoia, and we’ve got to get everyone on board with a common sense of purpose. WW2 gave us that the last time. Maybe fighting climate change can do it this time.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:14 AM on November 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
This isn’t rocket science.
(And AOC will be the first female president. Just not quite yet, because fucking men.)
Re: war crimes against immigrants at the border: I’m increasingly concerned with the narrative we put together and how this gets cemented in the public consciousness. I think we’ll manage to beat back the Trumpian strain of fascism in the immediate future, but I think the narrative that goes with it will set the stage for the next flare up. And that flare up will come when migration starts to happen at the scale and with the urgency demanded by climate change and its attendant catastrophes.
Trump could be the infection that weakens us or that inoculates us. I figure we’ve got like 10-15 years. We have to show this cruelty for what it is, and we’ve got to regulate the propaganda machines that are driving people towards genocidal paranoia, and we’ve got to get everyone on board with a common sense of purpose. WW2 gave us that the last time. Maybe fighting climate change can do it this time.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:14 AM on November 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
(And AOC will be the first female president. Just not quite yet, because fucking men.)
Also because she'll be only 31 in 2020.
posted by explosion at 7:33 AM on November 26, 2018 [55 favorites]
Also because she'll be only 31 in 2020.
posted by explosion at 7:33 AM on November 26, 2018 [55 favorites]
Lol sadly I meant she might be the only woman with the star power to overcome the misogyny, and she won’t be able to run for quite a while. But yeah, same thing.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:39 AM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by schadenfrau at 7:39 AM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm down for Beto O'Rourke or Andrew Gillum (both great) paired with Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, or Stacey Abrams. Because I really do want a woman on the ticket, and I think that a woman not HRC has a chance that she didn't. But as long as it's not Biden or Sanders, I'm fine.
A "Green New Deal" like what AOC and others have proposed would fill the bill nicely for helping combat climate change, providing jobs, and providing Americans with a sense of common purpose.
I really hope that Trump is an inoculation, because he is a symptom, not a cause. The ugliness that he brought to the surface has been burbling underneath for a long time (Chauncey De Vega argues since 9/11, and I'm inclined to agree. His podcasts are here.) He better be an inoculation, because we really got lucky that Trump is so obviously inept and corrupt and has done such a good job at motivating the resistance. The next "Trump" might be much more smooth-talking and capable of fooling us until it's too late. But on the whole, the Blue Wave has been energizing and inspiring. I haven't felt so good and so optimistic since October 2016.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:41 AM on November 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
A "Green New Deal" like what AOC and others have proposed would fill the bill nicely for helping combat climate change, providing jobs, and providing Americans with a sense of common purpose.
I really hope that Trump is an inoculation, because he is a symptom, not a cause. The ugliness that he brought to the surface has been burbling underneath for a long time (Chauncey De Vega argues since 9/11, and I'm inclined to agree. His podcasts are here.) He better be an inoculation, because we really got lucky that Trump is so obviously inept and corrupt and has done such a good job at motivating the resistance. The next "Trump" might be much more smooth-talking and capable of fooling us until it's too late. But on the whole, the Blue Wave has been energizing and inspiring. I haven't felt so good and so optimistic since October 2016.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 7:41 AM on November 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
Well men wrote the rule in the constitution so I think your point still stands.
posted by LizBoBiz at 7:41 AM on November 26, 2018
posted by LizBoBiz at 7:41 AM on November 26, 2018
Why was the romaine outbreak so bad? Well our entire food system is exploitative and terrible and possibly killing us. (Twitter)
posted by The Whelk at 7:52 AM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 7:52 AM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
Mod note: Folks, pre-litigating 2020 is not a good idea. We have lots and lots of time to discuss that.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 7:55 AM on November 26, 2018 [46 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 7:55 AM on November 26, 2018 [46 favorites]
And that leads to Republican GenXers like Cruz and Rubio and Sasse and Cotton living their political lives as cosplay Boomers.
Noah Smith: "'Nixonland' has taught me that America has invented essentially no new political ideas since the late 1960s. We just took all the 60s ideas, recycled them for a generation that mostly didn't know how old they were, and spread them over social media."
The complete and utter paucity and sterility of the American politicial imagination is not an accident, but a deliberate long term plan. The politics of there is no alternate.
For Christ’s sakes we basically have to reinvent the idea of public spending and people think it’s a revolutionary act.
posted by The Whelk at 7:55 AM on November 26, 2018 [60 favorites]
Noah Smith: "'Nixonland' has taught me that America has invented essentially no new political ideas since the late 1960s. We just took all the 60s ideas, recycled them for a generation that mostly didn't know how old they were, and spread them over social media."
The complete and utter paucity and sterility of the American politicial imagination is not an accident, but a deliberate long term plan. The politics of there is no alternate.
For Christ’s sakes we basically have to reinvent the idea of public spending and people think it’s a revolutionary act.
posted by The Whelk at 7:55 AM on November 26, 2018 [60 favorites]
Trump could be the infection that weakens us or that inoculates us.
Thanks so much for this mental model. I've long been thinking of Trump's ascendance as an opportunistic infection but yes, let's make of ourselves the immune system that renders him prophylactic. The man really is just a mass of dead virus particles in a suit.
posted by contraption at 7:56 AM on November 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
Thanks so much for this mental model. I've long been thinking of Trump's ascendance as an opportunistic infection but yes, let's make of ourselves the immune system that renders him prophylactic. The man really is just a mass of dead virus particles in a suit.
posted by contraption at 7:56 AM on November 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
I mean, I have to keep trying. Many of my relatives are just too scared to talk about politics and are either disengaged or already voting against Trump; a few are still throwing Fox talking points at me and of course those are the ones who I have to deal with when I visit.
I think you're on the right path; it pains me to say it, but pushing any social issues with a lot of "these people" is a lost cause. The racism is so deep that any appeal to reason falls on deaf ears. What they say (I don't hate minorities) and what policies they support directly contradict each other. And they're not all being dishonest; some of them deep down really think (or try to tell themselves) they really don't hate brown people, they don't have any problem with skin color, but they do believe in "security." Because they're so blinded by their racism they can't acknowledge that skin color is absolutely playing into their mindset.
And we all know the conservatives have been exploiting these socials fears the last generation(+) to trick people into supporting their economic agenda. And some are fooled into thinking the economic policies might work, and others just don't care. Because that terrible Bill Moyers quote is painfully accurate; the white working class is happy to be ruled by the elites and make less money as long as they can feel good about "their place" in society, above the minorities.
We need to find a way to drive more of a wedge between the hard-right capitalists and the hard-right working class base. It defies irony that the former group makes up the "elite" that the latter group loves to rally against. But when the elites are white and on your side socially, it all becomes ok somehow.
And here's where it gets morally dicey, and some compromises I've made that I'm not happy about. But it's the only time I've had Trump supporters agree with me. I've said something like "y'know, we may not agree on all the social issues. But deep down, we want the same economic goals! We want a strong national economy, we want to take care of our workers, we want to protect our country by protecting our working class. The republican globalists are LYING to you. They'll say they support your economic policies but they're really not; they cut their own taxes and continue to ship jobs overseas. You may not like some of the social policies democrats support, but none of those affect you NEARLY AS MUCH as the globalists picking your pocket."
And I swear to you, this is the only time I've found support with fans of the current president. And I HATE it because I feel like I'm saying "forget about all the minorities and gays, let's just focus on economic policy!" Which hopefully all of you know I'm not trying to do...but when all hope is lost and these people continue to push their racist bullshit, I see it as the only way I can reach them. They still think that Trump is the "defender" of American interests, but they agree that the McConnell/Koch faction of the party DOES NOT HAVE THEIR ECONOMIC INTERESTS AT HEART. They can admit that....just aren't strong enough to leave the cult of personality which is our asshole president.
But to me, that's a start. Keep driving the wedge between social and economic conservatives. Maybe in time, we can peel off a few racist votes. People who still want to live in the past, but aren't stupid enough to keep shooting themselves in the foot.
Maybe.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:03 AM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
I think you're on the right path; it pains me to say it, but pushing any social issues with a lot of "these people" is a lost cause. The racism is so deep that any appeal to reason falls on deaf ears. What they say (I don't hate minorities) and what policies they support directly contradict each other. And they're not all being dishonest; some of them deep down really think (or try to tell themselves) they really don't hate brown people, they don't have any problem with skin color, but they do believe in "security." Because they're so blinded by their racism they can't acknowledge that skin color is absolutely playing into their mindset.
And we all know the conservatives have been exploiting these socials fears the last generation(+) to trick people into supporting their economic agenda. And some are fooled into thinking the economic policies might work, and others just don't care. Because that terrible Bill Moyers quote is painfully accurate; the white working class is happy to be ruled by the elites and make less money as long as they can feel good about "their place" in society, above the minorities.
We need to find a way to drive more of a wedge between the hard-right capitalists and the hard-right working class base. It defies irony that the former group makes up the "elite" that the latter group loves to rally against. But when the elites are white and on your side socially, it all becomes ok somehow.
And here's where it gets morally dicey, and some compromises I've made that I'm not happy about. But it's the only time I've had Trump supporters agree with me. I've said something like "y'know, we may not agree on all the social issues. But deep down, we want the same economic goals! We want a strong national economy, we want to take care of our workers, we want to protect our country by protecting our working class. The republican globalists are LYING to you. They'll say they support your economic policies but they're really not; they cut their own taxes and continue to ship jobs overseas. You may not like some of the social policies democrats support, but none of those affect you NEARLY AS MUCH as the globalists picking your pocket."
And I swear to you, this is the only time I've found support with fans of the current president. And I HATE it because I feel like I'm saying "forget about all the minorities and gays, let's just focus on economic policy!" Which hopefully all of you know I'm not trying to do...but when all hope is lost and these people continue to push their racist bullshit, I see it as the only way I can reach them. They still think that Trump is the "defender" of American interests, but they agree that the McConnell/Koch faction of the party DOES NOT HAVE THEIR ECONOMIC INTERESTS AT HEART. They can admit that....just aren't strong enough to leave the cult of personality which is our asshole president.
But to me, that's a start. Keep driving the wedge between social and economic conservatives. Maybe in time, we can peel off a few racist votes. People who still want to live in the past, but aren't stupid enough to keep shooting themselves in the foot.
Maybe.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:03 AM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
none of those affect you NEARLY AS MUCH as the globalists picking your pocket
You may not know this, but when you say “globalist”, it is heavily coded these days as “Jew”. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t talk about economic issues, but as a person of good intent, I’d probably try to find other language to do so.
posted by corb at 8:07 AM on November 26, 2018 [99 favorites]
You may not know this, but when you say “globalist”, it is heavily coded these days as “Jew”. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t talk about economic issues, but as a person of good intent, I’d probably try to find other language to do so.
posted by corb at 8:07 AM on November 26, 2018 [99 favorites]
MAGA
General Motors (GM) will lay off 14,700 workers in North America and put up to five plants up for possible closure as it restructures to cut costs.
posted by adamvasco at 8:18 AM on November 26, 2018 [27 favorites]
General Motors (GM) will lay off 14,700 workers in North America and put up to five plants up for possible closure as it restructures to cut costs.
posted by adamvasco at 8:18 AM on November 26, 2018 [27 favorites]
The complete and utter paucity and sterility of the American politicial imagination is not an accident, but a deliberate long term plan. The politics of there is no alternate.
It's also a politics of not-invented-here. One cynical take: it's advantageous to leave people vulnerable from inadequate healthcare and workers' rights and the rest of the social safety net even when it's easy to assess which models work best elsewhere. Another perspective: white America collectively can't even expand the post-WW2 individuated-redistribution model to include non-white people. (I wish there were not something to the Bannonite argument that generous social safety nets tend to work better in more homogeneous populations, though the counterargument is that heterogeneous populations are okay with generous provisions during periods of economic improvement for median- and below-median earners.)
posted by holgate at 8:21 AM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's also a politics of not-invented-here. One cynical take: it's advantageous to leave people vulnerable from inadequate healthcare and workers' rights and the rest of the social safety net even when it's easy to assess which models work best elsewhere. Another perspective: white America collectively can't even expand the post-WW2 individuated-redistribution model to include non-white people. (I wish there were not something to the Bannonite argument that generous social safety nets tend to work better in more homogeneous populations, though the counterargument is that heterogeneous populations are okay with generous provisions during periods of economic improvement for median- and below-median earners.)
posted by holgate at 8:21 AM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Corb, you're right that I should find another word to use. I'm using the term they themselves seem to love and respond to, but that word in particular is highly problematic.
It really sums up everything I hate about my "Thanksgiving appeal" to relatives; I sort of had that little schtick prepared because I wanted to keep finding a way to reach them. And I was happy that it worked, and at least a few minds had to dwell on the fact they were supporting policies that hurt them. (Someone even admitted "maybe Trump does just care about money!" I thought I was making progress).
But I was not happy about the fact that I used codewords and dogwhistles to support this. Because I tried a similar speech a few months ago using different terms, and it didn't work as well. But for whatever reason, I found support talking to them in the language they know.
I don't know how to morally rectify this; perhaps I did something terrible by indulging them here. I didn't say anything outwardly racist, didn't mention minorities/Jews or say they were to blame. But I did use terms (WHICH THEY SAY REGARDLESS OF ME) to push economic policy over social reforms, because I knew it would reach them. And I'm not sure I'm happy I was right.
I get some here would say "Don't bother trying to use their language; give up on these people, they're lost," but what if they're not and maybe can yield some democratic votes in 2020? These people live in Michigan for chrissakes; what is it worth to flip their vote? Of course not overt racism, but can we "trick them" just as the republicans tricked them?
It all just makes me feel terrible.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:24 AM on November 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
It really sums up everything I hate about my "Thanksgiving appeal" to relatives; I sort of had that little schtick prepared because I wanted to keep finding a way to reach them. And I was happy that it worked, and at least a few minds had to dwell on the fact they were supporting policies that hurt them. (Someone even admitted "maybe Trump does just care about money!" I thought I was making progress).
But I was not happy about the fact that I used codewords and dogwhistles to support this. Because I tried a similar speech a few months ago using different terms, and it didn't work as well. But for whatever reason, I found support talking to them in the language they know.
I don't know how to morally rectify this; perhaps I did something terrible by indulging them here. I didn't say anything outwardly racist, didn't mention minorities/Jews or say they were to blame. But I did use terms (WHICH THEY SAY REGARDLESS OF ME) to push economic policy over social reforms, because I knew it would reach them. And I'm not sure I'm happy I was right.
I get some here would say "Don't bother trying to use their language; give up on these people, they're lost," but what if they're not and maybe can yield some democratic votes in 2020? These people live in Michigan for chrissakes; what is it worth to flip their vote? Of course not overt racism, but can we "trick them" just as the republicans tricked them?
It all just makes me feel terrible.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:24 AM on November 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
General Motors (GM) will lay off 14,700 workers in North America and put up to five plants up for possible closure as it restructures to cut costs.
The Independent buries the lede: "The company has said tariffs on imported steel, imposed earlier this year by the Trump administration, have cost it $1 billion." (Reuters)
(Steel tariffs have helped make GM's slow-selling gas-powered sedan models that much less profitable, and the Trump administration has opposed economic policies that would help/induce the auto industry to shift to electricity-powered vehicles).
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:28 AM on November 26, 2018 [42 favorites]
The Independent buries the lede: "The company has said tariffs on imported steel, imposed earlier this year by the Trump administration, have cost it $1 billion." (Reuters)
(Steel tariffs have helped make GM's slow-selling gas-powered sedan models that much less profitable, and the Trump administration has opposed economic policies that would help/induce the auto industry to shift to electricity-powered vehicles).
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:28 AM on November 26, 2018 [42 favorites]
andruwjones26: Can I suggest "billionaire looter/moocher [pick your favorite] class"? It's accurate, it doesn't have antisemitic connotations, and it directly challenges the false narrative that billionaires have earned the money they are hoarding.
posted by sotonohito at 8:29 AM on November 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by sotonohito at 8:29 AM on November 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
> And I swear to you, this is the only time I've found support with fans of the current president. And I HATE it because I feel like I'm saying "forget about all the minorities and gays, let's just focus on economic policy!" Which hopefully all of you know I'm not trying to do...but when all hope is lost and these people continue to push their racist bullshit, I see it as the only way I can reach them.
If someone's socialism depends on their nationalism, they're likely going to end up as a national socialist.
basically, the storyline you push when you appeal to the economic benefit of the nativist working class is precisely the storyline that Ernst Röhm and the other OG nazis sold. It's something that's compelling to a lot of voters… but in the long run, it's even more dangerous than trumpism. Really the one lucky break we've had in the past three years is that Trump and the gang are too stupid and shortsighted and venial to really run the "herrenvolk socialism" strategy effectively. It's what Steve Bannon was trying for — it's one of the reasons he identified, perversely, as a "Leninist" — but thankfully he became too obviously influential for 45 to abide his presence.
(am I implying that Saturday Night Live saved the world with their "President Bannon" sketches? Why yes, I am implying that.)
I don't think the shaky antifascist alliance needs to appeal to the people who love trump but would prefer real herrenvolk socialism, especially since if you're seen making those appeals, people in the antifascist base — a multicultural, multiethnic, multifaith, multitendency coalition — will, justifiably, start to get the impression that you prefer the herrenvolk to them. That you'll start claiming that immigrants and refugees commit more crimes than native citizens. That you'll threaten to kick out immigrants and refugees if they don't speak English to your satisfaction. That you'll maybe, when put to the question, consider Black lives less important than herrenvolk lives, trans lives less important than cis lives, and so forth. The trick is, once you get elected by the multi-everything antifascist coalition — like the 40 new democratic party house members got elected by the multi-everything antifascist coalition — you can put in place material measures to improve the lives of everyone in the working class, even the white nativists. And that's how you start peeling 'em away from fascism — not by catering to their racism and nativism, but by just straight-up making their lives better.
He gets a bad rap these days, but one historical American politician to look toward might be Huey P. Long. It's been a while since I've read the doorstop biography I linked back there, but the short of it is that he applied all the rhetorical moves and underhanded parliamentary strategies of the southern populist demagogues, but in the service of an antiracist, antifascist policy platform aimed at lifting up the entire working-class south. He wasn't entirely successful, but he was successful enough at it to end up catching bullets for his trouble.
(there's a reason Huey P. Newton's mom gave her radical Black son that name. Huey Long was an icon and an inspiration to working-class left southerners for decades after his murder)
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 8:30 AM on November 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
If someone's socialism depends on their nationalism, they're likely going to end up as a national socialist.
basically, the storyline you push when you appeal to the economic benefit of the nativist working class is precisely the storyline that Ernst Röhm and the other OG nazis sold. It's something that's compelling to a lot of voters… but in the long run, it's even more dangerous than trumpism. Really the one lucky break we've had in the past three years is that Trump and the gang are too stupid and shortsighted and venial to really run the "herrenvolk socialism" strategy effectively. It's what Steve Bannon was trying for — it's one of the reasons he identified, perversely, as a "Leninist" — but thankfully he became too obviously influential for 45 to abide his presence.
(am I implying that Saturday Night Live saved the world with their "President Bannon" sketches? Why yes, I am implying that.)
I don't think the shaky antifascist alliance needs to appeal to the people who love trump but would prefer real herrenvolk socialism, especially since if you're seen making those appeals, people in the antifascist base — a multicultural, multiethnic, multifaith, multitendency coalition — will, justifiably, start to get the impression that you prefer the herrenvolk to them. That you'll start claiming that immigrants and refugees commit more crimes than native citizens. That you'll threaten to kick out immigrants and refugees if they don't speak English to your satisfaction. That you'll maybe, when put to the question, consider Black lives less important than herrenvolk lives, trans lives less important than cis lives, and so forth. The trick is, once you get elected by the multi-everything antifascist coalition — like the 40 new democratic party house members got elected by the multi-everything antifascist coalition — you can put in place material measures to improve the lives of everyone in the working class, even the white nativists. And that's how you start peeling 'em away from fascism — not by catering to their racism and nativism, but by just straight-up making their lives better.
He gets a bad rap these days, but one historical American politician to look toward might be Huey P. Long. It's been a while since I've read the doorstop biography I linked back there, but the short of it is that he applied all the rhetorical moves and underhanded parliamentary strategies of the southern populist demagogues, but in the service of an antiracist, antifascist policy platform aimed at lifting up the entire working-class south. He wasn't entirely successful, but he was successful enough at it to end up catching bullets for his trouble.
(there's a reason Huey P. Newton's mom gave her radical Black son that name. Huey Long was an icon and an inspiration to working-class left southerners for decades after his murder)
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 8:30 AM on November 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
And I HATE it because I feel like I'm saying "forget about all the minorities and gays, let's just focus on economic policy!" Which hopefully all of you know I'm not trying to do...but when all hope is lost and these people continue to push their racist bullshit, I see it as the only way I can reach them.
It would only take one more sentence to extend what you already said and say that one of the ways McConnel, Koch, Mercer, etc. motivate people against their economic interests is by stirring up racial fear and resentment.
posted by duoshao at 8:34 AM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
It would only take one more sentence to extend what you already said and say that one of the ways McConnel, Koch, Mercer, etc. motivate people against their economic interests is by stirring up racial fear and resentment.
posted by duoshao at 8:34 AM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Danger of Trump’s Foreign Policy Corruption - Josh Marshall, TPM Editorial
With a highly dangerous situation unfolding between Russia and Ukraine over the weekend, it’s important to return to a basic point about President Trump and the danger he represents to the United States. This is as relevant to the crisis in relations with Saudi Arabia as it is with Russia and Ukraine.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:36 AM on November 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
…
The problem in both cases is that Trump appears to be pursuing some definition of his own personal interests over national interests. It’s not always clear just what that personal interest is, whether it is a narrow financial interest or some kind of threat-influence or whether he’s just been buttered up by the strongman in question. But it makes the conduct of US policy almost impossible to predict or trust.
…
As a country we remain in a state of shadow paralysis, not even able to adequately discuss or devise responses to critical foreign policy because the President’s actions are opaque and almost certainly corrupt.
I was under the impression that Long's rhetoric was pretty racist and his "Every Man a King" platform explicitly excluded black citizens. Wasn't it an example of the threateningly successful herrenvolk strategy?
posted by Selena777 at 8:37 AM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Selena777 at 8:37 AM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
" CampFire is contained. With more than 80 ppl dead, 100s still missing & scientific consensus that this was a climate change fueled disaster, there's no choice: dem leaders must support a Select Committee on a #GreenNewDeal. Make sure they follow through https://t.co/AlY6WPMl70 https://t.co/iaJy1aiqvd"
posted by The Whelk at 8:40 AM on November 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:40 AM on November 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
I appreciate everyone's feedback, as this is something I really want to do right. My wife's family (who I've been talking about) is a pretty good example of the suburban right centrist voter who never says "outright" racist things, but I can tell by their language and how they act they're conservative.
Sonohito, that is a good suggestion. I see the problems in using the word globalist and will make sure not to do it anymore; just because I'm selling my soul to reach these people doesn't mean I have to play by their terms.
I still treat how I talk to them about this as a last-gasp effort to help Michigan and swing 10 republican votes to 10 democratic votes. This is far larger than me and my in-laws, it's going to take everything we've got (up against likely more foreign interference) to win in 2020.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Sonohito, that is a good suggestion. I see the problems in using the word globalist and will make sure not to do it anymore; just because I'm selling my soul to reach these people doesn't mean I have to play by their terms.
I still treat how I talk to them about this as a last-gasp effort to help Michigan and swing 10 republican votes to 10 democratic votes. This is far larger than me and my in-laws, it's going to take everything we've got (up against likely more foreign interference) to win in 2020.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Steel tariffs have helped make GM's slow-selling gas-powered sedan models that much less profitable
Ford got ahead of things by taking most of its passenger cars off the US market. This is a shitty reprise of the late 90s and early 00s when GM bet on trucks and SUVs and buying a Hummer for your small business made sense because of the tax break. The revealed preferences here are not great.
Although, a double impeachment seems unlikely.
A constitutional framework that prevents the presidency changing party between elections absent a double impeachment is unfit for purpose. In case of resignation or impeachment, there should be a new election.
posted by holgate at 8:44 AM on November 26, 2018
Ford got ahead of things by taking most of its passenger cars off the US market. This is a shitty reprise of the late 90s and early 00s when GM bet on trucks and SUVs and buying a Hummer for your small business made sense because of the tax break. The revealed preferences here are not great.
Although, a double impeachment seems unlikely.
A constitutional framework that prevents the presidency changing party between elections absent a double impeachment is unfit for purpose. In case of resignation or impeachment, there should be a new election.
posted by holgate at 8:44 AM on November 26, 2018
Beto O’Rourke Was Just the Beginning - Tim Murphy, Mother Jones
Democrats didn’t take back Texas this year—but they showed how they could.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:49 AM on November 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
…
Last fall, as Democrats in other tough races supported sending troops to fend off asylum-seekers, backed Trump’s wall, or hedged on birthright citizenship, O’Rourke ran as an unabashed fronterizo, an ambassador of the borderlands, not just in El Paso and Eagle Pass but everywhere, and he almost won, not in spite of that but because of it.
He set out to redefine what it meant to run in Texas in a way that pushed to the foreground another kind of Texas, one that was every bit as Texan—bluer, yes; crunchier, sometimes; but also younger and browner, rural and urban—and that the people who run the state, and the people who talk about the state from afar, can no longer afford to write off. That Texas has always been there, but it has never been this organized, and those Texans have never felt as if they were on the precipice of power like they did in November 2018. They didn’t get all the way there—they might not for a while—but Democrats aren’t afraid anymore.
Selena777: I wish I had something better than that doorstop to refer you to. the short answer is, roughly, "opinions differ." "Every Man a King" as he explained it in his radio speech , was not restricted on racial lines. Black people were welcome at Share Our Wealth clubs, and white supremacists used that to claim that Long was secretly registering Blac people to vote
Williams (author of the doorstop) argues that Long was just as interested in uplifting the Black people of Louisiana as he was the white folks; other biographers note that Long could have done more to break down Jim Crow so that Black Louisianans could vote. The thing that makes me tend toward suspecting he was flawed-but-decent instead of being the father coughlin figure that he's often presented as these days was that he focused his massive infrastructure and development projects on the poorest parishes, which also not by chance happened to be the Blackest parishes.
Well, and I trust Huey P. Newton's mom's judgment.
There were politically-minded white people in the South who were better than him on ending the subjugation of Black people… but most of them were members of socialist and communist organizations that could have never achieved his level of success. Incidentally, one thing that confounds attempts to get a handle on what Long was up to is that many of the people who are interested in writing about him are socialists, and organized socialist antipathy for Long runs deep.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 8:49 AM on November 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
Williams (author of the doorstop) argues that Long was just as interested in uplifting the Black people of Louisiana as he was the white folks; other biographers note that Long could have done more to break down Jim Crow so that Black Louisianans could vote. The thing that makes me tend toward suspecting he was flawed-but-decent instead of being the father coughlin figure that he's often presented as these days was that he focused his massive infrastructure and development projects on the poorest parishes, which also not by chance happened to be the Blackest parishes.
Well, and I trust Huey P. Newton's mom's judgment.
There were politically-minded white people in the South who were better than him on ending the subjugation of Black people… but most of them were members of socialist and communist organizations that could have never achieved his level of success. Incidentally, one thing that confounds attempts to get a handle on what Long was up to is that many of the people who are interested in writing about him are socialists, and organized socialist antipathy for Long runs deep.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 8:49 AM on November 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
Via TPM:
While arguing Monday that the use of tear gas on hundreds of migrants and asylum-seekers near the U.S. border the previous day was justified, a Fox News commentator asserted: “It’s natural. You could actually put it on your nachos and eat it.”posted by lazaruslong at 8:51 AM on November 26, 2018 [29 favorites]
“So it’s a good way of deterring people without long-term harm,” the commentator, Border Patrol Foundation President Ron Colburn, told “Fox & Friends.” Colburn is the former national deputy chief of U.S. Border Patrol, according to an online bio.
The comment recalled when then-Fox News host Megyn Kelly called pepper spray “a food product, essentially” after a police officer at UC Davis pepper sprayed seated student protesters in 2011, leading to some creative Amazon reviews.
Fox News wants you to be very afraid of what’s happening at the border - Emily Stewart, Vox
Seems to be Trump standard practice now - sow fear, distract opponents, maintain control over base. Change topics as needed to keep everyone off balance.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:55 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Seems to be Trump standard practice now - sow fear, distract opponents, maintain control over base. Change topics as needed to keep everyone off balance.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:55 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump complains that Mueller hasn’t questioned campaign staffers who didn’t collude with Russia... (CW: linkage to Mr. T's twitter feed)
posted by growabrain at 8:58 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 8:58 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
I would put every penny i had into a gofundme for a fired restaurant worker who literally put some pepper spray in Ron Coburn's nachos.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:58 AM on November 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:58 AM on November 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
Megyn Kelly called pepper spray “a food product, essentially”
"One squirt and you're south of the border!"
posted by Paul Slade at 9:00 AM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
"One squirt and you're south of the border!"
posted by Paul Slade at 9:00 AM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Can we get someone to ask him for a list of all of those campaign staffers who didn't collude with Russia? Just so we can compare it to the list of all campaign staffers, period?
Asking for a friend.
posted by delfin at 9:03 AM on November 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
Asking for a friend.
posted by delfin at 9:03 AM on November 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
CNBC : Right-wing conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi said he was offered a plea deal on 1 count of perjury — but added that he would "rather sit in prison and rot" than say he lied to special counsel Robert Mueller. (Full story here.)
Corsi's been energetically peddling this latest narrative to the media this morning, including The Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand and CNN. He also admits to Politico that he had unidentified "sources" about Democratic Party's computer security but that he only guessed from this that Assange had Podesta's e-mails—"I connect the dots." (And rightwing conspiracy Twitter is also circulating rumors Corsi will even file a criminal complaint against Mueller.)
The Special Counsel's office won't comment, of course, but the real question is if his media blitz is intended to send smoke signals to Trump's legal team or his pet AAG. At the very least, it helps reinforce @realDonaldTrump's latest "NO Collusion" tweets this morning about Mueller's final report (which is not happening any time soon), "hundreds of people closely involved with my campaign who never met, saw or spoke to a Russian during this period", and "all of the crimes of many kinds from those ‘on the other side’".
And that last item may be Trump's own signal to Whitaker to that maybe he should start charging Hilary Clinton…
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:04 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Corsi's been energetically peddling this latest narrative to the media this morning, including The Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand and CNN. He also admits to Politico that he had unidentified "sources" about Democratic Party's computer security but that he only guessed from this that Assange had Podesta's e-mails—"I connect the dots." (And rightwing conspiracy Twitter is also circulating rumors Corsi will even file a criminal complaint against Mueller.)
The Special Counsel's office won't comment, of course, but the real question is if his media blitz is intended to send smoke signals to Trump's legal team or his pet AAG. At the very least, it helps reinforce @realDonaldTrump's latest "NO Collusion" tweets this morning about Mueller's final report (which is not happening any time soon), "hundreds of people closely involved with my campaign who never met, saw or spoke to a Russian during this period", and "all of the crimes of many kinds from those ‘on the other side’".
And that last item may be Trump's own signal to Whitaker to that maybe he should start charging Hilary Clinton…
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:04 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
CW: linkage to Mr. T's twitter feed
please let us refrain from using the sobriquet "Mr. T" for anyone other than Laurence Tureaud.
donald trump is a fool beyond pitying and has no right to that name
posted by murphy slaw at 9:10 AM on November 26, 2018 [142 favorites]
please let us refrain from using the sobriquet "Mr. T" for anyone other than Laurence Tureaud.
donald trump is a fool beyond pitying and has no right to that name
posted by murphy slaw at 9:10 AM on November 26, 2018 [142 favorites]
US authorities fired tear gas across the border
How is firing chemical weapons across the border not an act of war?
posted by kirkaracha at 9:11 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
How is firing chemical weapons across the border not an act of war?
posted by kirkaracha at 9:11 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
How is firing chemical weapons across the border not an act of war?
once again, we are in the world of norms and not laws. it's not an act of war until Mexico treats it as an act of war, and the US is betting they won't, for obvious reasons.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:12 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
once again, we are in the world of norms and not laws. it's not an act of war until Mexico treats it as an act of war, and the US is betting they won't, for obvious reasons.
posted by murphy slaw at 9:12 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
The only reason it's not an act of war is that Mexico is used to our bullshit (we have shot their citizens through the fence more than once) and mostly has no desire to provoke our head shitgibbon with a military response.
posted by emjaybee at 9:13 AM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 9:13 AM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
please let us refrain from using the sobriquet "Mr. T" for anyone other than Laurence Tureaud.
donald trump is a fool beyond pitying and has no right to that name
One pities the foolish, the other fools the pitiable.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 9:14 AM on November 26, 2018 [85 favorites]
donald trump is a fool beyond pitying and has no right to that name
One pities the foolish, the other fools the pitiable.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 9:14 AM on November 26, 2018 [85 favorites]
Well, and I trust Huey P. Newton's mom's judgment.
I mean. This is a complicated statement, but I’d probably feel more comfortable in general if people stopped lionizing gleeful rapists.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:15 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
I mean. This is a complicated statement, but I’d probably feel more comfortable in general if people stopped lionizing gleeful rapists.
posted by schadenfrau at 9:15 AM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
I know it's not important compared to everything else, but...another event, another sign that Trump people (well, Melania this time) are more interested in bolstering their personal brands than doing the boring jobs.
(They KNOW it's creepy, ok??)
posted by grandiloquiet at 9:16 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
(They KNOW it's creepy, ok??)
posted by grandiloquiet at 9:16 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Etrigan: "I mean... we're not just tear-gassing refugees, we're shooting into another country to do it. This is a real "Hans, are we the baddies?" moment, or at least it should be."
$Deity on a rubber crutch, can you imagine the uproar south of the border if Canada was firing tear gas into the US to deter refugees entering Canada from the US?
Rosie M. Banks: "He better be an inoculation, because we really got lucky that Trump is so obviously inept and corrupt and has done such a good job at motivating the resistance. The next "Trump" might be much more smooth-talking and capable of fooling us until it's too late."
I'm not sure the GOP can pull back from saying the quiet bits out loud and still get their vote out.
andruwjones26: "(Someone even admitted "maybe Trump does just care about money!" I thought I was making progress).
"
The problem is The Cheeto is an unabashed full on racist. His policies, such as they are, are full on racist not only as an appeal to the horribles but because he believes in racist rhetoric. 20 years from now, if the US doesn't end up full on Nazi, his presidency will be seen in the same light as Thurmonds' fillibuster of the Civil Rights Act.
posted by Mitheral at 9:16 AM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
$Deity on a rubber crutch, can you imagine the uproar south of the border if Canada was firing tear gas into the US to deter refugees entering Canada from the US?
Rosie M. Banks: "He better be an inoculation, because we really got lucky that Trump is so obviously inept and corrupt and has done such a good job at motivating the resistance. The next "Trump" might be much more smooth-talking and capable of fooling us until it's too late."
I'm not sure the GOP can pull back from saying the quiet bits out loud and still get their vote out.
andruwjones26: "(Someone even admitted "maybe Trump does just care about money!" I thought I was making progress).
"
The problem is The Cheeto is an unabashed full on racist. His policies, such as they are, are full on racist not only as an appeal to the horribles but because he believes in racist rhetoric. 20 years from now, if the US doesn't end up full on Nazi, his presidency will be seen in the same light as Thurmonds' fillibuster of the Civil Rights Act.
posted by Mitheral at 9:16 AM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
He also admits to Politico that he had unidentified "sources" about Democratic Party's computer security but that he only guessed from this that Assange had Podesta's e-mails.
The "I worked it out myself" argument makes no sense to anybody who understands the timeline of the hack-and-leak operation and the role of the DCLeaks / Guccifer 2.0 persona before Wikileaks got directly involved. It's pretty clear from the GRU indictment that Mueller's team understands this timeline better than anyone not in Mueller's team.
It is, however, a signal to the people who were collating Clinton/Dem-related emails from Wikileaks [WSJ, sub. req.]-- Peter Schweizer, Alexander Nix, Rebekah Mercer -- and the people involved in the summer project to track down the "missing" Clinton server emails.
Corsi has little value to the special counsel as a cooperating witness, given that he's a whackjob conspiracy theorist. A plea would lock in a statement of facts that has value to other parts of the investigation.
posted by holgate at 9:23 AM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
The "I worked it out myself" argument makes no sense to anybody who understands the timeline of the hack-and-leak operation and the role of the DCLeaks / Guccifer 2.0 persona before Wikileaks got directly involved. It's pretty clear from the GRU indictment that Mueller's team understands this timeline better than anyone not in Mueller's team.
It is, however, a signal to the people who were collating Clinton/Dem-related emails from Wikileaks [WSJ, sub. req.]-- Peter Schweizer, Alexander Nix, Rebekah Mercer -- and the people involved in the summer project to track down the "missing" Clinton server emails.
Corsi has little value to the special counsel as a cooperating witness, given that he's a whackjob conspiracy theorist. A plea would lock in a statement of facts that has value to other parts of the investigation.
posted by holgate at 9:23 AM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
ALERT: Please ignore the Huey discussion at the moment and call/fax/write your senator to ask them to vote against confirmation of Thomas Farr as federal judge. We need 2 (I think) Republican senators to join Democratic senators to stop this particular nightmare. Feel free to encourage your friends and family with Republican senators (and Democratic ones as well, why not?) to vote against him.
For good reason, his nomination has earned universal opposition from the civil rights community.
A couple of weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "filed cloture on a pair of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, Jonathan Kobes and Thomas Farr. This is not great news.
"The pair are up for spots on the U.S. District Court and McConnell’s actions yesterday mean they are now one Senate vote away from lifetime appointments. Kobes isn’t much of a known entity; his nomination is being opposed by liberal and progressive groups in part because of his sheer inexperience. But the years-long opposition that’s been built up against Farr is one rooted in the acknowledgement that Farr has spent a lifetime defending and aiding outright racist campaigns and legislation. He is what you would call a Bad Lawyer.
"After the infamous Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruling opened the door for state legislatures to more efficiently suppress minority voters, Farr was tapped by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2013 to help them draw up their Voter ID law legislation. Te General Assembly was being run by a supermajority of conservative ghouls, so the law was drafted specifically to target out poor and minority citizens, which is did magnificently."
Not convinced? A protégé of Jesse Helms wrote a law targeting minority voters with ‘surgical precision’ in North Carolina. His nomination is part of a plan to pack the courts with extremists.
Previously.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:37 AM on November 26, 2018 [48 favorites]
For good reason, his nomination has earned universal opposition from the civil rights community.
A couple of weeks ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell "filed cloture on a pair of President Donald Trump’s judicial nominees, Jonathan Kobes and Thomas Farr. This is not great news.
"The pair are up for spots on the U.S. District Court and McConnell’s actions yesterday mean they are now one Senate vote away from lifetime appointments. Kobes isn’t much of a known entity; his nomination is being opposed by liberal and progressive groups in part because of his sheer inexperience. But the years-long opposition that’s been built up against Farr is one rooted in the acknowledgement that Farr has spent a lifetime defending and aiding outright racist campaigns and legislation. He is what you would call a Bad Lawyer.
"After the infamous Shelby County v. Holder Supreme Court ruling opened the door for state legislatures to more efficiently suppress minority voters, Farr was tapped by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2013 to help them draw up their Voter ID law legislation. Te General Assembly was being run by a supermajority of conservative ghouls, so the law was drafted specifically to target out poor and minority citizens, which is did magnificently."
Not convinced? A protégé of Jesse Helms wrote a law targeting minority voters with ‘surgical precision’ in North Carolina. His nomination is part of a plan to pack the courts with extremists.
Previously.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:37 AM on November 26, 2018 [48 favorites]
Trump complains that Mueller hasn’t questioned campaign staffers who didn’t collude with Russia...
posted by kirkaracha at 9:38 AM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
So many campaign workers, people inside from the beginning, ask me why they have not been called (they want to be).Trump was asked to answer questions in person and avoided it. Since he's claiming that people who weren't colluding with Russia want to talk to Mueller, doesn't that mean he did collude with Russia?
posted by kirkaracha at 9:38 AM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
The vote on Farr was scheduled for today but I think it has been pushed to later this week. Regardless, kindly call/write/whatever today, please, if you can. /Begging over.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:40 AM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 9:40 AM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
20 years from now, if the US doesn't end up full on Nazi, his presidency will be seen in the same light as Thurmonds' fillibuster of the Civil Rights Act.
you mean, the filibuster that had such vicious political consequences that he remained in the Senate for another 47 years and picked up a brief crown as the longest-serving senator in US history, not so much retiring as dying in office
ah yes
that filibuster
posted by sciatrix at 9:41 AM on November 26, 2018 [50 favorites]
you mean, the filibuster that had such vicious political consequences that he remained in the Senate for another 47 years and picked up a brief crown as the longest-serving senator in US history, not so much retiring as dying in office
ah yes
that filibuster
posted by sciatrix at 9:41 AM on November 26, 2018 [50 favorites]
The 2018 White House Christmas Theme Is Apparently 'The Shining'
Another year in the Trump White House, another opportunity to add a touch of holiday magic to the banality of evil!posted by kirkaracha at 9:46 AM on November 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
...
We are so excited for you to bring your children, kicking and screaming, into this year's display. To put you in the holiday mood we've chosen to go a little on-the-nose by using so much red it looks like the walls of the White House are bleeding. After all, what is Christmas with the Trumps if not a horror movie full of tired clichés?
...
Is this a wreath made out of sharpened Be Best pencils or a bottomless pit of despair? Can't it be both?! It's the holidays, after all. We were particularly struck by the metaphor of taking a tool that has an established educational use and shellacking it within an inch of its life and throwing it on the wall. We thought that would be best for it.
The irony of this elaborate display about a refugee family seeking protection from persecution is completely lost on us.
Buzzfeed's Zoe Tillman: "NEW: Remember how there was that court filing with the name "Assange" in it, causing speculation that there might be a sealed criminal case against Julian Assange? Per new filing, the gov't is neither confirming nor denying that charges exist" (PDF: Government’s Opposition to Reporters Committee’s Application To Unseal Criminal Prosecution of Julian Assange)
It is, however, a signal to the people who were collating Clinton/Dem-related emails from Wikileaks [WSJ, sub. req.]-- Peter Schweizer, Alexander Nix, Rebekah Mercer -- and the people involved in the summer project to track down the "missing" Clinton server emails.
Exactly—Laura Rozen is wondering about the implications of Corsi's admission for Schweizer, as well how it matches up with the timeline of Guccifer 2.0's Podesta e-mail dump on June 15 and Corsi's trip to Italy a month later, which was just before the Wikileaks DNC e-mail dump. (See Just Security's Timeline of Roger Stone, Russia’s Guccifer 2.0, and Wikileaks.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:46 AM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
It is, however, a signal to the people who were collating Clinton/Dem-related emails from Wikileaks [WSJ, sub. req.]-- Peter Schweizer, Alexander Nix, Rebekah Mercer -- and the people involved in the summer project to track down the "missing" Clinton server emails.
Exactly—Laura Rozen is wondering about the implications of Corsi's admission for Schweizer, as well how it matches up with the timeline of Guccifer 2.0's Podesta e-mail dump on June 15 and Corsi's trip to Italy a month later, which was just before the Wikileaks DNC e-mail dump. (See Just Security's Timeline of Roger Stone, Russia’s Guccifer 2.0, and Wikileaks.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:46 AM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
oooh but maybe history will frown on him
I mean he got zero political consequences when he was alive but maybe future historians will make frowny faces
assuming we don't just get Daughters of the Confederacy 2, Electric Boogaloo, anyway
history is political; fuck rosy visions of "what history will think." we write the stories now, and we won't get to tell them without waging war and emerging as victors. it's not just the now that lies in the balance: the history of the now does, too. write the damn stories later, when we have a victory to get complacent about (and maybe, if we're lucky, to use to inspire future victories).
posted by sciatrix at 9:47 AM on November 26, 2018 [35 favorites]
I mean he got zero political consequences when he was alive but maybe future historians will make frowny faces
assuming we don't just get Daughters of the Confederacy 2, Electric Boogaloo, anyway
history is political; fuck rosy visions of "what history will think." we write the stories now, and we won't get to tell them without waging war and emerging as victors. it's not just the now that lies in the balance: the history of the now does, too. write the damn stories later, when we have a victory to get complacent about (and maybe, if we're lucky, to use to inspire future victories).
posted by sciatrix at 9:47 AM on November 26, 2018 [35 favorites]
In the United States, right-wing violence is on the rise, Wesley Lowery, Kimberly Kindy and Andrew Ba Tran, Washington Post
Over the past decade, attackers motivated by right-wing political ideologies have committed dozens of shootings, bombings and other acts of violence, far more than any other category of domestic extremist, according to a Washington Post analysis of data on global terrorism. While the data show a decades-long drop-off in violence by left-wing groups, violence by white supremacists and other far-right attackers has been on the rise since Barack Obama’s presidency — and has surged since President Trump took office.posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:57 AM on November 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
This year has been especially deadly. Just last month, 13 people died in two incidents: A Kentucky gunman attempted to enter a historically black church, police say, then shot and killed two black patrons in a nearby grocery store. And an anti-Semitic loner who had expressed anger about a caravan of Central American refugees that Trump termed an “invasion” has been charged with gunning down 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue, the deadliest act of anti-Semitic violence in U.S. history.
This year has been especially deadly. Just last month, 13 people died in two incidents: A Kentucky gunman attempted to enter a historically black church, police say, then shot and killed two black patrons in a nearby grocery store. And an anti-Semitic loner who had expressed anger about a caravan of Central American refugees that Trump termed an “invasion” has been charged with gunning down 11 people in a Pittsburgh synagogue, the deadliest act of anti-Semitic violence in U.S. history.
Not to mention some right wing yo-yo sending mail bombs to a fistful of media figures and Democratic politicians, including an ex-president, that aren't part of the body count just because none of them went off.
posted by Gelatin at 10:17 AM on November 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
Not to mention some right wing yo-yo sending mail bombs to a fistful of media figures and Democratic politicians, including an ex-president, that aren't part of the body count just because none of them went off.
posted by Gelatin at 10:17 AM on November 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
Well, at least they said it in the article:
The uptick in right-wing terrorism comes amid a renewed national focus on hate-driven violence.
Maybe someday they will refer to terrorism as terrorism in the actual headline.
posted by triggerfinger at 10:21 AM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
The uptick in right-wing terrorism comes amid a renewed national focus on hate-driven violence.
Maybe someday they will refer to terrorism as terrorism in the actual headline.
posted by triggerfinger at 10:21 AM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
@emptywheel [citations behind the link]: LOLOLOLOLOL. Jerome Corsi now claims he's The Smoking Gun and the right wing hoaxstersphere is buying it. Here's Guccifer, using the alias of Stephan Orphan, offering that link to The Smoking Gun.
Corsi is an enormous liar, and it's honestly hard for me to believe he only lied to the Special Counsel just once. In any event, the only reason to publicly announce that you're expecting to be indicted is to fish for a pardon.
posted by zachlipton at 10:26 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Corsi is an enormous liar, and it's honestly hard for me to believe he only lied to the Special Counsel just once. In any event, the only reason to publicly announce that you're expecting to be indicted is to fish for a pardon.
posted by zachlipton at 10:26 AM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
ProPublica has partnered with Frontline on a series called Documenting Hate. They don't shy away from calling this white supremacist terrorism. The piece on Atomwaffenand what law enforcement has ignored is chilling.
posted by gladly at 10:29 AM on November 26, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by gladly at 10:29 AM on November 26, 2018 [20 favorites]
The only reason it's not an act of war is that Mexico is used to our bullshit (we have shot their citizens through the fence more than once) and mostly has no desire to provoke our head shitgibbon with a military response.
"The best distillation of the Trump Doctrine I heard came from a senior White House official with direct access to the president and his thinking. [...] “The Trump Doctrine is ‘We’re America, Bitch.’ That's the Trump doctrine.” - extracted from this article in The Atlantic attempting to distill Trump's view of foreign relations.
posted by Paul Slade at 10:34 AM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
"The best distillation of the Trump Doctrine I heard came from a senior White House official with direct access to the president and his thinking. [...] “The Trump Doctrine is ‘We’re America, Bitch.’ That's the Trump doctrine.” - extracted from this article in The Atlantic attempting to distill Trump's view of foreign relations.
posted by Paul Slade at 10:34 AM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Remember that the Judiciary Committee passed Farr's nomination on party lines. That means any one of Jeff "The Flakiest" Flake, Ben "More Like Asshole Amirite" Sasse, and Mike "The Konztitooshunal Skolar" Lee could all have voted against this guy and killed his nomination for this Congressional session, but instead supported straight-up Jim Crow policies. And yet they're still being defended by so-called "sane" and "moderate" NeverTrumpers as being principled conservatives.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 10:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [28 favorites]
what law enforcement has ignored is chilling
i would further call these things in which law enforcement is directly and enthusiastically complicit.
posted by poffin boffin at 10:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [29 favorites]
i would further call these things in which law enforcement is directly and enthusiastically complicit.
posted by poffin boffin at 10:42 AM on November 26, 2018 [29 favorites]
Regarding the border, a critical point from Todd Schulte on Twitter:
The *goal* of some of those shutting ports of entry *is* to get footage of people in large numbers at the border. Because an orderly process is boring b-roll. Over 100k people legally cross the border each day; an orderly asylum process is a tiny fraction.posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:57 AM on November 26, 2018 [108 favorites]
But if you close ports of entry and deny people their legal right to apply for asylum—or functionally do the same by “metering” where you manufacture massive wait times—you’re going to encourage some of those fleeing for their lives to cross through the desert, while others...
Are going to wait...and wait...and wait...along the border. There are no current plans to handle these people. Conditions won’t be good. And THIS creates more b-roll. These people who previous might wait out asylum case in US with family and working now are portrayed as...
...the teeming masses. They’ll be called a hoarde. This will be used to justify even more attacks on the asylum process. It’s manufacturing a feedback loop where by stopping an orderly process, you create visuals of chaos to scare people to justify your goal
Its intentional.
Im writing something about 2014 and the extreme protests following the police murdering people in broad daylight and then facing no consequences absolutely helped create this moment
posted by The Whelk at 11:02 AM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:02 AM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Rev. Barber on Democracy Now about the asylum seekers.
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 11:38 AM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 11:38 AM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
In case anybody doesn't know about them, Postcards to Voters is a pretty great group to combine crafting/coloring with activism. They're doing cards for the Dec 4 runoff with John Barrow and Lindy Miller in Georgia right now.
posted by joannemerriam at 11:39 AM on November 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by joannemerriam at 11:39 AM on November 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
Megyn Kelly called pepper spray “a food product, essentially”
Jean Chretien as prime minister of Canada beat her to it in 1997. In reference to pepper spray being used on APEC protestors who were upset about Suharto : "For me, pepper I put it on my plate".
For bonus giggles he was being questioned by Narduar the human serviette. Keep on rockin' in the free world. doot doota loot doo.
posted by srboisvert at 11:43 AM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
Jean Chretien as prime minister of Canada beat her to it in 1997. In reference to pepper spray being used on APEC protestors who were upset about Suharto : "For me, pepper I put it on my plate".
For bonus giggles he was being questioned by Narduar the human serviette. Keep on rockin' in the free world. doot doota loot doo.
posted by srboisvert at 11:43 AM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
(Postcards to voters feels very lib and corny but i still do every one they have cause i can draw and it helps to do something ..also postcards to city council ppl)
posted by The Whelk at 11:45 AM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:45 AM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Better a praxis that’s “lib, corny,” and effective than one that flatters our chosen politics but is tantamount to handing out pamphlets to bored commuters or preaching to the choir.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:48 AM on November 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 11:48 AM on November 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: While CNN doesn’t do great in the United States based on ratings, outside of the U.S. they have very little competition. Throughout the world, CNN has a powerful voice portraying the United States in an unfair........and false way. Something has to be done, including the possibility of the United States starting our own Worldwide Network to show the World the way we really are, GREAT!
@lachlan: It'd be like America's voice, broadcast around the world. Hey, we could even call it...Voice of America
This was posted as a thread, without the usual 15+ minute gap between the two tweets, which makes me think it's a Scavino special. There were initial concerns in 2017 about what Trump would do to the US's international broadcasting operations, and I wonder if that subplot is going to return once he realizes that the network he's ranting about, er, already exists.
posted by zachlipton at 11:57 AM on November 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
@lachlan: It'd be like America's voice, broadcast around the world. Hey, we could even call it...Voice of America
This was posted as a thread, without the usual 15+ minute gap between the two tweets, which makes me think it's a Scavino special. There were initial concerns in 2017 about what Trump would do to the US's international broadcasting operations, and I wonder if that subplot is going to return once he realizes that the network he's ranting about, er, already exists.
posted by zachlipton at 11:57 AM on November 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
Barack Spinoza: Better a praxis that’s “lib, corny,” and effective than one that flatters our chosen politics but is tantamount to handing out pamphlets to commuters or preaching to the choir.
Sometimes the choir needs to be reminded to sing along, and commuters forgot that there's an election coming up. Don't discount even a small percentage bump in election turn-outs, particularly in close elections. See this [IMO] faulty coverage of political signs: Political signs have little impact on elections, expert says -- WHYY, Nov. 1, 2018, where the article notes that "On average, lawn signs increase vote share by 1.7 percentage points."
Meanwhile, EPA reconsidering biofuel targets after production goals are missed -- Balance between refiners' interests and corn states' interests has been delicate. (Megan Geuss for Ars Technica, Nov. 25, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 12:00 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Sometimes the choir needs to be reminded to sing along, and commuters forgot that there's an election coming up. Don't discount even a small percentage bump in election turn-outs, particularly in close elections. See this [IMO] faulty coverage of political signs: Political signs have little impact on elections, expert says -- WHYY, Nov. 1, 2018, where the article notes that "On average, lawn signs increase vote share by 1.7 percentage points."
Political scientist Donald Green of Columbia University has studied races where candidates ran out of money and didn’t put signs in every corner of their district. The lack of signs did not seem to make much of a difference, he said.How much of an impact was the author or editor hoping to see? Every vote counts, so anything above a zero percent impact is of some value. How much you invest, in terms of time and money, is left up to the individual or campaign.
“It doesn’t have an effect on voter turnout, but it does have an impact on vote share,” he said. “It won’t cause a candidate that is trailing by 10 points to have an astonishing comeback, but it would make a difference in a close election.”
Meanwhile, EPA reconsidering biofuel targets after production goals are missed -- Balance between refiners' interests and corn states' interests has been delicate. (Megan Geuss for Ars Technica, Nov. 25, 2018)
This week, two anonymous sources told Reuters that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering revising biofuel quotas downward after years of underperformance from the biofuel industry.Instead of doing anything to support the economies that could help meet those targets, let's just ratchet back the requirements. Also, let's punt it for a couple years, when Trump might be out of office.
Biofuel, which is predominantly made from corn in the US, is a political minefield in the Trump Administration.
On the one hand, biofuel processors have enjoyed years of subsidies from the US federal government. The EPA mandates that oil refiners must mix a certain amount of biofuel into their gas and diesel before it is sold in the US, reasoning that cutting oil with biofuel reduces the carbon footprint of fossil fuel use. The quota also helps politicians curry favor with heavy corn-producing midwest states like Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana, which supported Trump in the most recent presidential elections.
On the other hand oil refiners, another bastion of support for the Trump Administration, oppose having to blend ethanol into their product, arguing that it costs too much to buy ethanol or biofuel credits to come into compliance with federal rules.
In 2007, the US set progressively more ambitious biofuel targets in for oil refiners out to 2022. The Trump Administration tried to revise the targets in favor of oil refiners in 2017, but met staunch opposition and later said it wouldn't cut biofuel quotas.
Now, Reuters says that the EPA will move to reduce the biofuel targets for 2020, 2021, and 2022. "An EPA official confirmed the agency is working with stakeholders on a reset proposal, and aimed to finalize its plan by November 2019," Reuters wrote.
Part of the reasoning behind the attempts to revise targets downwards is that the biofuel industry seems to be lagging. Reuters notes that the EPA's Renewable Fuel Standards targets specify 36 billion gallons of biofuel should be sold in 2022. Biofuel producers only delivered about 20 billion gallons of biofuel to refiners in 2018, with advanced biofuels from algae and other low-impact feedstock falling particularly short of their individual goals.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:00 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
A worldwide network pumping out American propaganda? Sure. You could call it... oh, I don't know... America Today.
posted by delfin at 12:02 PM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by delfin at 12:02 PM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I guess I bristled at the dismissal of proven get-out-the-vote-efforts as “lib and corny.”
I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that the blowback against Postcards From Voters happens to feature a highly gendered target (“women writing postcards, how silly, why aren’t they manning (sic) the barricades”) that itself was the product of the Women’s March(es).
Just sick of the patriarchy, I guess. I’ll take it to the venting thread.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 12:07 PM on November 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
I also don’t think it’s a coincidence that the blowback against Postcards From Voters happens to feature a highly gendered target (“women writing postcards, how silly, why aren’t they manning (sic) the barricades”) that itself was the product of the Women’s March(es).
Just sick of the patriarchy, I guess. I’ll take it to the venting thread.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 12:07 PM on November 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
So I'm going to tell a little anecdote, inspired by the stories from Texas, and by other recent comments not least holgate's quoting Bourdain. Today, I was on a field trip to the border country between Denmark and Germany. There's a lot to see there, and some years ago I did extensive community work in the area with my then students.
Back then, there was an election where the liberal party lost half their votes to the nationalists. This is an area where the liberals were as solid as rock. But their main candidate, and probably a few more down ballot were corrupt as hell.
Everything is different here, because half of Denmark or more are Social Democrats or Socialists, so "liberal" is the right, and nationalists are the very far right. (But not at all so far right they think Steve Bannon is acceptable).
Still, the pundits and the politicians themselves interpreted this as a notion to build a fence between Denmark and Germany because the nationalists won. Which is absurd, tone deaf and also stupid because everyone on the border has business across the border, family across the border and friends across the border. They were voting against corruption, it was that simple. Their only alternative was to vote socialist, and that was too far a bridge. And now the nationalists have turned out to be corrupt too, hoarding EU funds while being anti-EU. I have no idea how this will end.
What I'm trying to say is that the usual categories only work if there are no alternatives. I'm thinking if someone turns up with a positive agenda for that region in 2019 (when we have both national and EU elections), things can change at a radical scale. (Note to self: maybe I should write my EU rep...)
posted by mumimor at 12:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
Back then, there was an election where the liberal party lost half their votes to the nationalists. This is an area where the liberals were as solid as rock. But their main candidate, and probably a few more down ballot were corrupt as hell.
Everything is different here, because half of Denmark or more are Social Democrats or Socialists, so "liberal" is the right, and nationalists are the very far right. (But not at all so far right they think Steve Bannon is acceptable).
Still, the pundits and the politicians themselves interpreted this as a notion to build a fence between Denmark and Germany because the nationalists won. Which is absurd, tone deaf and also stupid because everyone on the border has business across the border, family across the border and friends across the border. They were voting against corruption, it was that simple. Their only alternative was to vote socialist, and that was too far a bridge. And now the nationalists have turned out to be corrupt too, hoarding EU funds while being anti-EU. I have no idea how this will end.
What I'm trying to say is that the usual categories only work if there are no alternatives. I'm thinking if someone turns up with a positive agenda for that region in 2019 (when we have both national and EU elections), things can change at a radical scale. (Note to self: maybe I should write my EU rep...)
posted by mumimor at 12:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
I live about a mile from the arena where Trump is holding a rally tonight for the run-off election for the Mississippi Senate seat, it's been really odious to see the dudes parked out on the side of the road the last few days selling their assorted rally-paraphernalia--confederate flags, blue lives matter flags, trump flags, etc.
And the opportunity to vote *again* for the very milquetoast democratic candidate Mike Espy tomorrow is not really getting me too excited, it's the only time I'll ever have voted in a single candidate election, and he has a snowball's chance in hell, so it's not going to be a pleasant time.
posted by skewed at 12:13 PM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
And the opportunity to vote *again* for the very milquetoast democratic candidate Mike Espy tomorrow is not really getting me too excited, it's the only time I'll ever have voted in a single candidate election, and he has a snowball's chance in hell, so it's not going to be a pleasant time.
posted by skewed at 12:13 PM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
(Postcards to voters feels very lib and corny but i still do every one they have cause i can draw and it helps to do something ..also postcards to city council ppl)
I think you use the levers that work, and I think that historically people on the left who are committed have understood this. People may have disagreed over what works and what "work" means, but serious people are pragmatic about tactics.
I think that people coming from a...I dunno, a basically white middle class radical activist tradition are coming from a political culture where we don't really do pragmatism very well. We go from "I'm trying to help the peasants by being a doctor but there are more problems than I can solve" to "therefore we should invigorate the intelligentsia by assassinating the czar, this is obviously the only solution" on a dime.
Obviously, we have to think about the long-term effects and trade-offs of any given project, but we actually have to think about it, not just assume about it.
Sometimes I feel like we've all been taught to expect that there will be the Event (whether an election, the rev or whatever) and then there won't be any more capital-P Politics, everyone will be free to straightforwardly do what they believe in with no considerations of tactics or strategy. And as a result we're mystified when, eg, a politician criticizes another, gets something (important committee appointments, concessions on legislation, etc) and backs off. The whole point of being public with criticism is to get leverage, because the whole point is leverage - the whole point is levers. Getting leverage is what you do when you don't think "let's assassinate people" is the best next step. because it's a thing you can do.
Similarly, send your postcards and feel good about them (as long as you're confident in the relationship between the postcards and your end goals) because you're doing what you can do.
posted by Frowner at 12:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [58 favorites]
I think you use the levers that work, and I think that historically people on the left who are committed have understood this. People may have disagreed over what works and what "work" means, but serious people are pragmatic about tactics.
I think that people coming from a...I dunno, a basically white middle class radical activist tradition are coming from a political culture where we don't really do pragmatism very well. We go from "I'm trying to help the peasants by being a doctor but there are more problems than I can solve" to "therefore we should invigorate the intelligentsia by assassinating the czar, this is obviously the only solution" on a dime.
Obviously, we have to think about the long-term effects and trade-offs of any given project, but we actually have to think about it, not just assume about it.
Sometimes I feel like we've all been taught to expect that there will be the Event (whether an election, the rev or whatever) and then there won't be any more capital-P Politics, everyone will be free to straightforwardly do what they believe in with no considerations of tactics or strategy. And as a result we're mystified when, eg, a politician criticizes another, gets something (important committee appointments, concessions on legislation, etc) and backs off. The whole point of being public with criticism is to get leverage, because the whole point is leverage - the whole point is levers. Getting leverage is what you do when you don't think "let's assassinate people" is the best next step. because it's a thing you can do.
Similarly, send your postcards and feel good about them (as long as you're confident in the relationship between the postcards and your end goals) because you're doing what you can do.
posted by Frowner at 12:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [58 favorites]
ABC has inside info on the origin of Trump's bullshit figure on KSA military purchases from the US: Jared Kushner Pushed to Inflate Saudi Arms Deal to $110 Billion: Sources
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
President Donald Trump's reluctance to hold Saudi leadership accountable for the brutal murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi stemmed from a partly aspirational $110 billion arms deal between the U.S. and Saudia Arabia that was inflated at the direction of Trump's son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner, according to two U.S. officials and three former White House officials.Speaking of Jared Kushner, Maggie Haberman has some hints of the Trump Family's strategy for dealing with House Democrats' coming investigations: "Mr. Trump has told aides that he believes that Democrats have the potential to appear overly partisan in investigating his family and that voters may be sympathetic to efforts to rebuff them. [...] On the other hand, people close to [Jared and Ivanka] noted that they might be shielded by executive privilege in some instances, whereas the president’s adult sons, who do not serve in the administration, are not."
Kushner, in a bid to symbolically solidify the new alliance between the Trump administration and Saudi Arabia while claiming a victory on the president's first foreign trip to Riyadh, pushed State and Defense officials to inflate the figure with arms exchanges that were aspirational at best, the officials said. Secretary of Defense James Mattis supported Kushner's effort and ultimately endorsed the memorandum, according to a former NSC official familiar with the matter.
“We need to sell them as much as possible," Kushner told colleagues at a national security council meeting weeks before the May 2017 summit in Saudi Arabia, according to an administration official familiar with the matter.
Another U.S. official said there was a back and forth between Kushner and Department of Defense and State officials on how to get to a larger number because the officials initially told Kushner that realistically they had about $15 billion worth of deals in works, based on the Saudi government's interest in a THAAD system and maintenance of other systems.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is really bugging me. The Chief Justice does not answer to The President, and certainly not via Twitter. Given this, Trump shitposting in response to Roberts disagreeing with him isn't escalation or extraordinary. It's just Trump doing a marketing performance for his supporters. Trump's entire brand is based on shouting "wrong" at people (or clouds in the sky). It would be nice if the news media took a step back from it's dude vs. dude meta-narrative and recognized that many of Trump's shitposts are just marketing.
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
There were initial concerns in 2017 about what Trump would do to the US's international broadcasting operations
It could be that Putin has asked him to deal with Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
Particularly relevant at the moment is Christopher Miller's reporting on the situation in Ukraine. [twitter, frequently updated]
(Martial law passed, but in limited form - for those keeping up).
He's got a longer form explainer about the situation here.
posted by Buntix at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
It could be that Putin has asked him to deal with Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty
RFE/RL is registered with the IRS as a private, nonprofit Sec. 501(c)3 corporation, and is funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress through the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) as a private grantee. RFE/RL's editorial independence is protected by U.S. law.Who are doing some of the best anglophone journalism about the Russian oligarchy/expansionism out there.
Particularly relevant at the moment is Christopher Miller's reporting on the situation in Ukraine. [twitter, frequently updated]
(Martial law passed, but in limited form - for those keeping up).
He's got a longer form explainer about the situation here.
posted by Buntix at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
@sahilkapur: Trump tells reporters re: his administration's new report detailing the rising dangers of climate change: "Yeah, I don't believe it." "No. No. I don't believe it," he says.
Um, I don't think that's how peer review is supposed to work.
posted by zachlipton at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
Um, I don't think that's how peer review is supposed to work.
posted by zachlipton at 12:15 PM on November 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
Alternatively, you could sit them down with a "native American" to discuss immigration and its discontents.
I wouldn't recommend this rhetorical route. I see a lot of dumb Facebook stuff that apparently thinks it's very clever, drawing comparisons between the Pilgrims (or European colonists generally) and modern-day immigrants. I don't really get who they think it's going to convince. The idea that Central American refugees/migrants are basically colonists in disguise is exactly what conservatives are afraid of, and—on the extreme/alt-right end—what they are telling each other to psych each other up for a "race war". It's practically unintentional alt-right propaganda.
The European extermination of the native Americans fits neatly into the post-neocon Grimdark Zero-Sum Narrative: modern Americans own the country because we scraped the previous occupants off of it. And that's how everything works as far as they're concerned: if your group wants land, it must perforce take it from some other group, which is typically a fatal transaction (literally or culturally) on the receiving end. And so, having land, it must be defended strenuously against anyone who might be a crypto-colonist trying to set up an outpost of another civilization. (See also: antisemitism, "hyphenated Americans", etc.)
The idea that someone might be trying to do unto them as their antecedents did unto the Natives is exactly why they see immigrants as an existential threat. Because European colonists were. In this view, the failure of the Algonquian and Powhatan to kill the Europeans while their feet were still wet was their fatal mistake. (The counternarrative here, IMO, is more or less the thesis of Guns, Germs, and Steel—basically "because smallpox". Not Wille zur Macht.)
So, yeah. I am not a big fan of refugees = Pilgrims as a counterargument to xenophobia.
The only reason it's not an act of war is that Mexico is used to our bullshit (we have shot their citizens through the fence more than once) and mostly has no desire to provoke our head shitgibbon with a military response.
This is probably about it. I was watching the new Trevor Noah special on Netflix last night, and among the usual lol Trump stuff (not undeserved), he said, totally seriously, "Trump wants a war". I think you can't ignore this as a risk, particularly as he gets closer to 2020 and re-election. Plus, it's obvious that Trump has a Putin fetish, and invading Mexico would be the logical parallel to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Exactly what the win for the US would be down there, I'm not sure; there's no obvious Crimean peninsula equivalent. A naval base in the Gulf of California seems like it'd have questionable utility.)
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:16 PM on November 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
I wouldn't recommend this rhetorical route. I see a lot of dumb Facebook stuff that apparently thinks it's very clever, drawing comparisons between the Pilgrims (or European colonists generally) and modern-day immigrants. I don't really get who they think it's going to convince. The idea that Central American refugees/migrants are basically colonists in disguise is exactly what conservatives are afraid of, and—on the extreme/alt-right end—what they are telling each other to psych each other up for a "race war". It's practically unintentional alt-right propaganda.
The European extermination of the native Americans fits neatly into the post-neocon Grimdark Zero-Sum Narrative: modern Americans own the country because we scraped the previous occupants off of it. And that's how everything works as far as they're concerned: if your group wants land, it must perforce take it from some other group, which is typically a fatal transaction (literally or culturally) on the receiving end. And so, having land, it must be defended strenuously against anyone who might be a crypto-colonist trying to set up an outpost of another civilization. (See also: antisemitism, "hyphenated Americans", etc.)
The idea that someone might be trying to do unto them as their antecedents did unto the Natives is exactly why they see immigrants as an existential threat. Because European colonists were. In this view, the failure of the Algonquian and Powhatan to kill the Europeans while their feet were still wet was their fatal mistake. (The counternarrative here, IMO, is more or less the thesis of Guns, Germs, and Steel—basically "because smallpox". Not Wille zur Macht.)
So, yeah. I am not a big fan of refugees = Pilgrims as a counterargument to xenophobia.
The only reason it's not an act of war is that Mexico is used to our bullshit (we have shot their citizens through the fence more than once) and mostly has no desire to provoke our head shitgibbon with a military response.
This is probably about it. I was watching the new Trevor Noah special on Netflix last night, and among the usual lol Trump stuff (not undeserved), he said, totally seriously, "Trump wants a war". I think you can't ignore this as a risk, particularly as he gets closer to 2020 and re-election. Plus, it's obvious that Trump has a Putin fetish, and invading Mexico would be the logical parallel to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Exactly what the win for the US would be down there, I'm not sure; there's no obvious Crimean peninsula equivalent. A naval base in the Gulf of California seems like it'd have questionable utility.)
posted by Kadin2048 at 12:16 PM on November 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
Daily Beast, Centrist Group Behind Pelosi Holdouts Plotted to Make Her ‘Bogeyman’
@internethippo: Just got back from the centrist rally. Amazing turnout. Thousands of people holding hands and chanting “Better things aren’t possible”
posted by zachlipton at 12:19 PM on November 26, 2018 [50 favorites]
Internal communications reviewed by The Daily Beast show that early this year the group No Labels, a centrist advocacy organization, contemplated a plan to kneecap Pelosi’s political standing. In one exchange, a top official with the group even laid out the pros and cons of turning the California Democrat into a “bogeyman.”I don't know about you guys, but I think "bogeyman" sounds rather like a label to me. Of course:
...
Emails obtained by The Daily Beast show that No Labels leadership contemplated a campaign to attack Pelosi aggressively after the primary campaign of centrist Rep. Dan Lipinski, who faced a primary challenge this year from Marie Newman, a progressive political neophyte. Lipinski’s pro-life stance had alienated a number of Democrats, but he was a proud member of the No Labels-backed House Problem-Solvers Caucus, and the group worked through a network of allied super PACs to support his reelection bid.
“Nancy, I have been thinking about our using Pelosi as the chief bogeyman in our messaging post-Lipinski,” began one email, subject line: “Pelosi as bogeyman.”
...
According to the emails, No Labels chief strategist Ryan Clancy appears to have tried to talk Jacobson down. A direct confrontation with Pelosi would blow back on the group’s congressional allies, he explained. It would also be unprecedented; No Labels had never engaged in similar campaigns against congressional leaders of either party. Clancy instead proposed to make Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) the object of the group’s criticism. Unlike Pelosi, Sanders had actually endorsed Newman; had no procedural power to wield against members of the Problem-Solvers Caucus; and wasn’t even a Democrat.
@internethippo: Just got back from the centrist rally. Amazing turnout. Thousands of people holding hands and chanting “Better things aren’t possible”
posted by zachlipton at 12:19 PM on November 26, 2018 [50 favorites]
Something has to be done, including the possibility of the United States starting our own Worldwide Network to show the World the way we really are, GREAT!
Oh boy...
It would not have been possible for us to take power or to use it in the ways we have without the radio....It is no exaggeration to say that the German revolution, at least in the form it took, would have been impossible without the airplane and the radio. ...[Radio] reached the entire nation, regardless of class, standing, or religion. That was primarily the result of the tight centralization, the strong reporting, and the up-to-date nature of the German radio....Above all it is necessary to clearly centralize all radio activities, to place spiritual tasks ahead of technical ones,...to provide a clear worldview,*
So, who's up for Trump's casting call for Lord Haw-Haw? Taking bets now.
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:21 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh boy...
It would not have been possible for us to take power or to use it in the ways we have without the radio....It is no exaggeration to say that the German revolution, at least in the form it took, would have been impossible without the airplane and the radio. ...[Radio] reached the entire nation, regardless of class, standing, or religion. That was primarily the result of the tight centralization, the strong reporting, and the up-to-date nature of the German radio....Above all it is necessary to clearly centralize all radio activities, to place spiritual tasks ahead of technical ones,...to provide a clear worldview,*
So, who's up for Trump's casting call for Lord Haw-Haw? Taking bets now.
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:21 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Why was the romaine outbreak so bad? Well our entire food system is exploitative and terrible and possibly killing us. (Twitter)
Buried the lede: Dr. Sarah Taber's agriculture podcast is called Farm to Taber.
posted by Etrigan at 12:24 PM on November 26, 2018 [31 favorites]
Buried the lede: Dr. Sarah Taber's agriculture podcast is called Farm to Taber.
posted by Etrigan at 12:24 PM on November 26, 2018 [31 favorites]
dudes parked out on the side of the road the last few days selling their assorted rally-paraphernalia--confederate flags, blue lives matter flags, trump flags, etc.
Yeah they just found nooses and “hate signs” in the Mississippi State Capitol, so...
God I hope that idiot klan handmaid loses
posted by schadenfrau at 12:24 PM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
Yeah they just found nooses and “hate signs” in the Mississippi State Capitol, so...
God I hope that idiot klan handmaid loses
posted by schadenfrau at 12:24 PM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
PBS: Ukrainian Lawmakers Vote to Impose Martial Law In Wake of Standoff With Russia
"Ukraine’s parliament has voted to support the president’s motion to impose martial law in the country for 30 days. Martial law will include a partial mobilization and strengthening of the country’s air defense. The measures before parliament also included vaguely worded steps such as “strengthening” anti-terrorism measures and “information security.”" (This applies only to regions that border Russia or the Russian-backed Transnistria, not the whole country.)
Back at the UN, ABC's Matthew Bevan reports: "The UN Security Council meeting went pretty much as expected, with Western powers backing Ukraine's version of events, and Russia disputing it, saying that their actions are justified because the Ukrainian boats violated their territorial waters."
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:29 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
"Ukraine’s parliament has voted to support the president’s motion to impose martial law in the country for 30 days. Martial law will include a partial mobilization and strengthening of the country’s air defense. The measures before parliament also included vaguely worded steps such as “strengthening” anti-terrorism measures and “information security.”" (This applies only to regions that border Russia or the Russian-backed Transnistria, not the whole country.)
Back at the UN, ABC's Matthew Bevan reports: "The UN Security Council meeting went pretty much as expected, with Western powers backing Ukraine's version of events, and Russia disputing it, saying that their actions are justified because the Ukrainian boats violated their territorial waters."
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:29 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Yeah they just found nooses and “hate signs” in the Mississippi State Capitol, so...
Casual reminder that Jackson, MS is just about 80% Black.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:40 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Casual reminder that Jackson, MS is just about 80% Black.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:40 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
I just want to point out some approval/disapproval ratings (from RCP):
Pelosi 28.5/52
McConnell 21.8/48
And yet for some reason the media has not been attacking McConnell as being divisive etc...
posted by nolnacs at 12:43 PM on November 26, 2018 [61 favorites]
Pelosi 28.5/52
McConnell 21.8/48
And yet for some reason the media has not been attacking McConnell as being divisive etc...
posted by nolnacs at 12:43 PM on November 26, 2018 [61 favorites]
We need to find a way to drive more of a wedge between the hard-right capitalists and the hard-right working class base. It defies irony that the former group makes up the "elite" that the latter group loves to rally against. But when the elites are white and on your side socially, it all becomes ok somehow.
So...I was thinking along these lines the other day while in the tub (so, bathtub idea, take it with a grain of (bath) salt) and came up with a possible solution...let's let the republicans have everything they want...for republicans. Like, each bill in Congress gets to have a rider attached by the other party, just for that party. This would require mandatory voter registration (but not mandatory voting) by party (and I'm not sure how it would work for 3rd parties/independents).
So, for example the GOP Healthcare Reform bill (let's take the entire health budget and give it to these billionaires) affects only republicans, and the Dem rider (Medicare for all) means we all get healthcare. Or the tax bill (GOP:No moar taxes. Also, no more roads, schools, sewage, garbage pickup, or clean water. Dems:We'll pay taxes and enjoy civilization, thx) etc etc. And it would be so easy to talk the Rs into it by playing on their secessionist, us vs them mentality. Just let them have exactly what they want...and find out who the real villains are. I imagine the GOP would last, at most, 2 election cycles if left to their own devices.
And yes, this is (mostly) fantasy...but the more I think about it the more I see how it could work...like my example of roads. Oh, you're a republican? Ok all the roads are toll roads for you ($100/mile)...we'll bill you when you come to get your $1000 monthly driver's license at the DMV. That we paid for. With taxes. And then we put all that fee money in a social fund and go have aperol spritzes in our luxury gay space condo. I really have my best ideas in the tub.
posted by sexyrobot at 12:45 PM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
So...I was thinking along these lines the other day while in the tub (so, bathtub idea, take it with a grain of (bath) salt) and came up with a possible solution...let's let the republicans have everything they want...for republicans. Like, each bill in Congress gets to have a rider attached by the other party, just for that party. This would require mandatory voter registration (but not mandatory voting) by party (and I'm not sure how it would work for 3rd parties/independents).
So, for example the GOP Healthcare Reform bill (let's take the entire health budget and give it to these billionaires) affects only republicans, and the Dem rider (Medicare for all) means we all get healthcare. Or the tax bill (GOP:No moar taxes. Also, no more roads, schools, sewage, garbage pickup, or clean water. Dems:We'll pay taxes and enjoy civilization, thx) etc etc. And it would be so easy to talk the Rs into it by playing on their secessionist, us vs them mentality. Just let them have exactly what they want...and find out who the real villains are. I imagine the GOP would last, at most, 2 election cycles if left to their own devices.
And yes, this is (mostly) fantasy...but the more I think about it the more I see how it could work...like my example of roads. Oh, you're a republican? Ok all the roads are toll roads for you ($100/mile)...we'll bill you when you come to get your $1000 monthly driver's license at the DMV. That we paid for. With taxes. And then we put all that fee money in a social fund and go have aperol spritzes in our luxury gay space condo. I really have my best ideas in the tub.
posted by sexyrobot at 12:45 PM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Even if the spray was just plain old grocery-store hot sauce for your nachos, I'd like to know where it's legal to intentionally spray said nacho sauce in children's eyes. It's like, quit with the fucking sidestepping of the issue and acknowledge that you're harming children, you disgusting monsters.
posted by Rykey at 12:49 PM on November 26, 2018 [75 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 12:49 PM on November 26, 2018 [75 favorites]
> Trump tells reporters re: his administration's new report detailing the rising dangers of climate change: "Yeah, I don't believe it." "No. No. I don't believe it," he says.
Um, I don't think that's how peer review is supposed to work.
It's precisely how it does work, though. As in: I have seen, verbatim, "I don't believe this," as the entire text of a review, and the editor saw no problem with that and rejected the paper.
(of course the author was a woman, why do you need to ask?)
posted by automatronic at 12:49 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Um, I don't think that's how peer review is supposed to work.
It's precisely how it does work, though. As in: I have seen, verbatim, "I don't believe this," as the entire text of a review, and the editor saw no problem with that and rejected the paper.
(of course the author was a woman, why do you need to ask?)
posted by automatronic at 12:49 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
In other news, the InSight probe has landed safely on Mars, an enviable 90.82 million miles away from Donald Trump.
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:06 PM on November 26, 2018 [87 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 1:06 PM on November 26, 2018 [87 favorites]
basically, the storyline you push when you appeal to the economic benefit of the nativist working class is precisely the storyline that Ernst Röhm and the other OG nazis sold. It's something that's compelling to a lot of voters… but in the long run, it's even more dangerous than trumpism. Really the one lucky break we've had in the past three years is that Trump and the gang are too stupid and shortsighted and venial to really run the "herrenvolk socialism" strategy effectively.
I mean, it is true that herrenvolk socialism is dangerous as fuck and I am so glad Trump somehow never figured it out. But I do think it's possible to pitch storylines that appeal to the economic benefit of the nativist working class, that peel them away from nativism. Obviously, for me, I think that unions are a good way to do that, when you unite people against how shitty their boss is it tends to increase solidarity in the shop, and racial resentments tend to be lower in racially diverse unions. So you know, if you make, idk, like one big union or something...you are appealing to economic interests while still lessening racial tensions and anti-immigrant fervor.
But other people have other ideas about it and I don't object to them pursuing them as long as we all get to try our best shot together.
posted by corb at 1:27 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
I mean, it is true that herrenvolk socialism is dangerous as fuck and I am so glad Trump somehow never figured it out. But I do think it's possible to pitch storylines that appeal to the economic benefit of the nativist working class, that peel them away from nativism. Obviously, for me, I think that unions are a good way to do that, when you unite people against how shitty their boss is it tends to increase solidarity in the shop, and racial resentments tend to be lower in racially diverse unions. So you know, if you make, idk, like one big union or something...you are appealing to economic interests while still lessening racial tensions and anti-immigrant fervor.
But other people have other ideas about it and I don't object to them pursuing them as long as we all get to try our best shot together.
posted by corb at 1:27 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm really pissed at his coordinated attack on Pelosi.
Do you have a reference for this?
posted by contraption at 1:27 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Do you have a reference for this?
posted by contraption at 1:27 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
let's let the republicans have everything they want...for republicans. Like, each bill in Congress gets to have a rider attached by the other party, just for that party.
BZZT, 14th Amendment.
posted by rhizome at 1:39 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
BZZT, 14th Amendment.
posted by rhizome at 1:39 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trump's approval rating is currently 38%, with 60% disapproval.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:48 PM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 1:48 PM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
WSJ, Trump Blasts GM Plans to Cut Jobs and Shutter Plants
posted by zachlipton at 1:58 PM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
President Trump said he told General Motors Co. CEO Mary Barra that she should stop making cars in China and open a new plant in Ohio to replace the ones where the company is planning to end production.Does GM make up some lies so he can feel like he's "won," as companies liked to do in 2017, or do they just ignore him because you can't bully a car company into opening a factory?
“They better damn well open a new plant there very quickly,” Mr. Trump said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Monday. He said he had talked Sunday night with Ms. Barra, who discussed the company’s production cutbacks.
“I love Ohio,” Mr. Trump said. ‘I told them, ‘you’re playing around with the wrong person.’”
posted by zachlipton at 1:58 PM on November 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
The lack of signs did not seem to make much of a difference, he said.
Here's where yard signs DO make a difference-they signal to other people around you what your political positions are and whether you're a safe person to talk with. I live on a cul de sac in a very Republican part of town and we are (we thought) the only Dems on our street of 10 homes. No other houses put any sort of political sign out, but just in conversation, we knew that we were the only Dems. Until I was flagged down by the daughter of the neighbor on the corner, who told me how grateful and relieved she was to see my Gillum and Nelson signs in the yard. She is living in the house while trying to sell it after her parents' deaths, so she didn't feel that putting a sign in the yard would help with buyers. We talked for about half an hour about feeling alone as Dems on the street and we made concrete plans to attend meetings and canvass together. If I hadn't put the sign in my yard-I wouldn't have made a friend and we both would have continued to feel very alone.
Also, I still have my Hillary sticker on my car, much for the same reason. I WANT people to know on the road that they aren't alone or that they were the only votes for her. I also have a Thin Blue Line sticker on my car (my son is a police officer), so my son says that I probably give people whiplash when they look twice at a person who can vote Hillary and not hate cops.
posted by hollygoheavy at 2:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
Here's where yard signs DO make a difference-they signal to other people around you what your political positions are and whether you're a safe person to talk with. I live on a cul de sac in a very Republican part of town and we are (we thought) the only Dems on our street of 10 homes. No other houses put any sort of political sign out, but just in conversation, we knew that we were the only Dems. Until I was flagged down by the daughter of the neighbor on the corner, who told me how grateful and relieved she was to see my Gillum and Nelson signs in the yard. She is living in the house while trying to sell it after her parents' deaths, so she didn't feel that putting a sign in the yard would help with buyers. We talked for about half an hour about feeling alone as Dems on the street and we made concrete plans to attend meetings and canvass together. If I hadn't put the sign in my yard-I wouldn't have made a friend and we both would have continued to feel very alone.
Also, I still have my Hillary sticker on my car, much for the same reason. I WANT people to know on the road that they aren't alone or that they were the only votes for her. I also have a Thin Blue Line sticker on my car (my son is a police officer), so my son says that I probably give people whiplash when they look twice at a person who can vote Hillary and not hate cops.
posted by hollygoheavy at 2:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
So, who's up for Trump's casting call for Lord Haw-Haw? Taking bets now.
Nigel Farage has been doing it for a while, no?
posted by ocschwar at 2:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Nigel Farage has been doing it for a while, no?
posted by ocschwar at 2:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's (un) official: Beto's not not running!
@davidsiders . @BetoORourke acknowledges he has changed his answer on #2020 ... now not ruling it out
posted by scalefree at 2:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
@davidsiders . @BetoORourke acknowledges he has changed his answer on #2020 ... now not ruling it out
posted by scalefree at 2:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Sen. Bernie Sanders has a new book out, was on The View today, clearly interested in running for 2020. I'm really pissed at his coordinated attack on Pelosi.
OK, I'm confused. Here's his appearance on the show today, and there's not even a mention of Pelosi, let alone a "coordinated attack." In fact, I can't find anything from Sanders talking about Pelosi recently apart from a video that is titled "Sanders defends Pelosi: 'Nancy has done a good job'" where he actually calls out her critics for being sexist.
I'm not a fan of Sanders running in 2020, but this seems like smoke-but-no-fire drama.
posted by zombieflanders at 2:29 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
OK, I'm confused. Here's his appearance on the show today, and there's not even a mention of Pelosi, let alone a "coordinated attack." In fact, I can't find anything from Sanders talking about Pelosi recently apart from a video that is titled "Sanders defends Pelosi: 'Nancy has done a good job'" where he actually calls out her critics for being sexist.
I'm not a fan of Sanders running in 2020, but this seems like smoke-but-no-fire drama.
posted by zombieflanders at 2:29 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Mod note: We are not taking a hard turn into general law enforcement discussion, thanks.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 2:30 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 2:30 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
From Werner Twertzog:
Dear America: You are waking up, as Germany once did, to the awareness that 1/3 of your people would kill another 1/3, while 1/3 watches
posted by growabrain at 2:31 PM on November 26, 2018 [108 favorites]
Dear America: You are waking up, as Germany once did, to the awareness that 1/3 of your people would kill another 1/3, while 1/3 watches
posted by growabrain at 2:31 PM on November 26, 2018 [108 favorites]
Trump's approval rating is currently 38%, with 60% disapproval.
In one poll. The average is still roughly where it's been for months, which is near the top of his approval range.
posted by Justinian at 2:33 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
In one poll. The average is still roughly where it's been for months, which is near the top of his approval range.
posted by Justinian at 2:33 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
We have one of those by-now cliche all purpose liberal yard signs that we put out pretty soon after the election, and a few months later the father of a guy who lives up the street (a poc, though our neighborhood is pretty well integrated for our very segregated city) knocked on our door specifically to tell us that he appreciated our sign and it made him feel safer in our community. We've kept that sign out for two years and added a sign for Sara Innamorato (successful DSA supported primary challenger from the left for state assembly) at the primary and then the general because I wanted people to know that a household with our stated values was supporting her. In small ball local politics, I do think that matters.
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:35 PM on November 26, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 2:35 PM on November 26, 2018 [20 favorites]
BZZT, 14th Amendment.
Gahdamnitt...I guess I need a laminated constitution to bring in the tub with me :/
But hmm...interesting question of whether or not it's a violation of equal protection if you yourself chose which of the two 'governing styles' you subscribe to. But yeah, it would probably end up with the Dems bankrupting themselves with superfund cleanups after GOP deregulation ended up with nuclear waste dumped all over the fucking place.
posted by sexyrobot at 2:39 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Gahdamnitt...I guess I need a laminated constitution to bring in the tub with me :/
But hmm...interesting question of whether or not it's a violation of equal protection if you yourself chose which of the two 'governing styles' you subscribe to. But yeah, it would probably end up with the Dems bankrupting themselves with superfund cleanups after GOP deregulation ended up with nuclear waste dumped all over the fucking place.
posted by sexyrobot at 2:39 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Remember that the Judiciary Committee passed Farr's nomination on party lines. That means any one of Jeff "The Flakiest" Flake
@sahilkapur: .@JeffFlake tells me he’ll vote NO on the Thomas Farr nomination, holding to his threat to oppose all judges until the Mueller protection bill is brought up for a vote.
Still needs another Republican to oppose though.
posted by zachlipton at 2:46 PM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
@sahilkapur: .@JeffFlake tells me he’ll vote NO on the Thomas Farr nomination, holding to his threat to oppose all judges until the Mueller protection bill is brought up for a vote.
Still needs another Republican to oppose though.
posted by zachlipton at 2:46 PM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Trump's approval rating is currently 38%, with 60% disapproval.
Or else it's 44%. Depends who you ask.
This is why I try to go by the FiveThirtyEight average. Which is currently infuriatingly high at 42.5%
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:47 PM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Or else it's 44%. Depends who you ask.
This is why I try to go by the FiveThirtyEight average. Which is currently infuriatingly high at 42.5%
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:47 PM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I can't find anything from Sanders talking about Pelosi recently apart from a video that is titled "Sanders defends Pelosi: 'Nancy has done a good job'" where he actually calls out her critics for being sexist.
I wonder if folks are confusing the Problem Solvers caucus arguing over whether to launch a coordinated attack on Sanders or Pelosi with Sanders coordinating an attack on Pelosi.
posted by This time is different. at 2:48 PM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
I wonder if folks are confusing the Problem Solvers caucus arguing over whether to launch a coordinated attack on Sanders or Pelosi with Sanders coordinating an attack on Pelosi.
posted by This time is different. at 2:48 PM on November 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Back in the early days, even before he'd even taken office if I remember right, Trump could scare CEOs and rattle markets with a tweet. These people actually believed Trump would be able to hurt them if they got on his wrong side. Now he's yelling at the CEO of GM, and... nothing. Should be a doozy of a 3 am tweetstorm coming up.
posted by azpenguin at 2:48 PM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 2:48 PM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
First of all, Flake could have prevented Farr from ever coming to a floor vote by not voting him out of committee in the first place. And second, he's only promising not to vote on him over the Mueller issue, he otherwise seems totes cool with letting a Neo-Confederate fuckstick on one of the highest courts in the land. Given his reputation on the Hill, it's clear that all he's doing is posturing at this point, because he knows that no one on either side takes his wimpy bullshit seriously.
posted by zombieflanders at 2:52 PM on November 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 2:52 PM on November 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
Jeff Flake is only trying to pad his "mavericky" resume for his next career as a CNN contributor for the rest of his life. The time he could've done anything was a year ago, not 6 weeks before Republicans gain votes in the Senate.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:56 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:56 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
@ericawerner: Shelby says Trump has told them that $5b for Wall is a red line.
(D’s have agreed to $1.6b)
(Shutdown deadline Dec. 7)
welp.
posted by zachlipton at 2:58 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
(D’s have agreed to $1.6b)
(Shutdown deadline Dec. 7)
welp.
posted by zachlipton at 2:58 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
The back and forth re: 'globalist' was a ways upthread, but I'm curious if anyone has worked to reclaim it. 'Globalist' as a slur implies that considering the lives of others is bad: the 'globalist' is concerned with everybody, not just 'our' people, the people that matter. In that context, hell yeah I'm a 'globalist'. We all live here; our lives are entwined; people all around the globe are my people.
posted by wemayfreeze at 3:00 PM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by wemayfreeze at 3:00 PM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
I don't think the word globalist ever meant "someone who cares about people around the globe." Others please correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the original academic meaning of "globalist" was more like "a capitalist who benefits from and advances globalism by moving their business practices around the world to take advantage of local economic and political conditions and to access a world-wide market for their products", and then the right co-opted the word to mean "a Jew."
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 3:05 PM on November 26, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 3:05 PM on November 26, 2018 [35 favorites]
Wemayfreeze, you might be thinking of cosmopolitanism.
posted by This time is different. at 3:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by This time is different. at 3:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Politico: Watchdog Office to Probe Mar-a-Lago Members' Influence at VA
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:18 PM on November 26, 2018 [20 favorites]
The Government Accountability Office will investigate whether members of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Florida, improperly influenced the Department of Veterans Affairs, including over a $10 billion contract to modernize veterans’ health records, according to a letter from the watchdog office released by Democratic lawmakers Monday.Previously, from ProPublica: The Shadow Rulers of the VA—How Marvel Entertainment chairman Ike Perlmutter and two other Mar-a-Lago cronies are secretly shaping the Trump administration’s veterans policies.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) had requested an investigation in August following reports that Trump confidant Ike Perlmutter, chairman of Marvel Entertainment, and Bruce Moskowitz, a West Palm Beach doctor, used their access to the club — and the president — to delay and shape a plan to overhaul digital health records at the VA.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:18 PM on November 26, 2018 [20 favorites]
That awkward moment when you agree with Margaret Thatcher:
"The choice is clear. We can play a role in developming Europe, or we can turn our backs. By turning our backs we would forfeit our right to influence what happens. But what happens will inevitably affect us." - Thatcher, 1975
I'm whatever kind of -ist that is. I guess we didn't used to need a name for it, because it was the widely shared consensus of everybody across the political spectrum post World War II. We used to understand that nationalism leads to wars, because not every nation can be "first" and attempts to benefit your country at the expense of someone else's is inevitably going to cause conflict.
Now that the world war II generation is mostly gone, I guess we have forgotten that lesson. Now we have nationalists and "America First" again.
But Earth is a pretty small space ship to house 7 billion people, as it turns out. And it's crazy to imagine that what happens on the other side of it won't affect me, in this age of multinational companies and transoceanic airplanes and the internet and climate change and satellites and ICBMs.
Nationalism is a stupid destructive fantasy. The opposite of nationalism is just realism.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:21 PM on November 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
"The choice is clear. We can play a role in developming Europe, or we can turn our backs. By turning our backs we would forfeit our right to influence what happens. But what happens will inevitably affect us." - Thatcher, 1975
I'm whatever kind of -ist that is. I guess we didn't used to need a name for it, because it was the widely shared consensus of everybody across the political spectrum post World War II. We used to understand that nationalism leads to wars, because not every nation can be "first" and attempts to benefit your country at the expense of someone else's is inevitably going to cause conflict.
Now that the world war II generation is mostly gone, I guess we have forgotten that lesson. Now we have nationalists and "America First" again.
But Earth is a pretty small space ship to house 7 billion people, as it turns out. And it's crazy to imagine that what happens on the other side of it won't affect me, in this age of multinational companies and transoceanic airplanes and the internet and climate change and satellites and ICBMs.
Nationalism is a stupid destructive fantasy. The opposite of nationalism is just realism.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:21 PM on November 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
(Shutdown deadline Dec. 7)
welp.
YAY HE'S HOLDING HUGE SEGMENTS OF THE ECONOMY HOSTAGE TO PAY FOR HIS STUPID VANITY PROJECT
if he ever builds it I hope people block off the concrete trucks until the loads solidify, I hear timing is important on those
posted by sciatrix at 3:22 PM on November 26, 2018 [29 favorites]
welp.
YAY HE'S HOLDING HUGE SEGMENTS OF THE ECONOMY HOSTAGE TO PAY FOR HIS STUPID VANITY PROJECT
if he ever builds it I hope people block off the concrete trucks until the loads solidify, I hear timing is important on those
posted by sciatrix at 3:22 PM on November 26, 2018 [29 favorites]
@chrisgeidner: CENSUS CASE UPDATE: DOJ goes to #SCOTUS on the eve of closing arguments in the Census citizenship question trial and “suggests” it “may wish to reconsider” putting trial proceedings on hold while it considers the discovery question. Wild to see this filing coming from SG Noel Francisco only on late Monday — after DOJ received trial stay denials from the district court (11/20) and 2nd Cir (11/21) by last Wednesday.
Here's the filing.
@steve_vladeck: I _still_ don’t understand why the SG is pulling out every stop to try to stop the district court from entering a judgment in the (concluded) Census trial. As its own letter makes clear, there isn’t even a coherent reason why such a judgment would actually cause irreparable harm.
They just keep desperately appealing. It's madness.
posted by zachlipton at 3:27 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Here's the filing.
@steve_vladeck: I _still_ don’t understand why the SG is pulling out every stop to try to stop the district court from entering a judgment in the (concluded) Census trial. As its own letter makes clear, there isn’t even a coherent reason why such a judgment would actually cause irreparable harm.
They just keep desperately appealing. It's madness.
posted by zachlipton at 3:27 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
I don't think the word globalist ever meant …
I use the word 'reclaim' here to mean 'co-opt', in the way that marginalized groups have taken slurs used against them and re-used them for their own positive ends. The original meaning of the word isn't the issue, but rather what we can make of it moving forward.
posted by wemayfreeze at 3:43 PM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I use the word 'reclaim' here to mean 'co-opt', in the way that marginalized groups have taken slurs used against them and re-used them for their own positive ends. The original meaning of the word isn't the issue, but rather what we can make of it moving forward.
posted by wemayfreeze at 3:43 PM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
"Guess what, President Donald Trump is doing a campaign rally. It is in Tupelo, Mississippi. Tweets in this thread," writes Daniel Dale. Some highlights from this shorter, but not weirder, rally:
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:50 PM on November 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
—Trump complains that his "guys" didn't set up the room optimally, should have pushed the media back. He adds, "Sometimes my people let me down. That happens a little bit."Trump's doing another one at 9 PM, and Dale's going to cover that, too ("It's okay I'm at peace with my bad choices").
—Trump on the day of the GM cuts: "For years you watched as powerful forces in Washington shipped away your jobs. You saw that. You saw that. That's changing. You see what's coming in. So many companies coming in to Mississippi. And everyplace else, by the way."
—For the 33rd time as president, Trump lies that foreign governments put problem citizens into the U.S. green card lottery to get rid of them. This time, in Tupelo, he adds that the governments aren't putting Elvises into that lottery.
—Trump says he has brought a "star" to the rally: Sen. Lindsey Graham. He says Graham's "brilliant and beautiful" speech during the Kavanaugh hearings really helped their cause.
—Lindsey Graham: "If you like Kavanaugh, there's more coming."
—This speech is a bit weird because he's saying the same things he said over and over before the congressional midterms, which are over except for this race.
—Trump was winding up to his inspirational scripted conclusion but then said, "We have a lot of bad people. We have a lot of phony stuff. Like the Russian witch hunt garbage."
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:50 PM on November 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
The back and forth re: 'globalist' was a ways upthread, but I'm curious if anyone has worked to reclaim it. 'Globalist' as a slur implies that considering the lives of others is bad: the 'globalist' is concerned with everybody, not just 'our' people, the people that matter. In that context, hell yeah I'm a 'globalist'. We all live here; our lives are entwined; people all around the globe are my people.
I'm always overcome with giggles when I remember that Hyatt revamped their entire travel rewards program to include a top-level "Globalist" tier. It probably doesn't count as reclaiming, since I think they rolled it out a few months before conservatives started frothing at the mouth about those, uh, cosmopolitan types. That said, they haven't changed the name yet, so I guess multinational corporations don't regard the work as particularly toxic. (That's probably not what you had in mind, though.)
posted by grandiloquiet at 4:01 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm always overcome with giggles when I remember that Hyatt revamped their entire travel rewards program to include a top-level "Globalist" tier. It probably doesn't count as reclaiming, since I think they rolled it out a few months before conservatives started frothing at the mouth about those, uh, cosmopolitan types. That said, they haven't changed the name yet, so I guess multinational corporations don't regard the work as particularly toxic. (That's probably not what you had in mind, though.)
posted by grandiloquiet at 4:01 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
A reporter actually fact checked Trump in real time on border policy.
Paula Reid - CBS
posted by bluesky43 at 4:01 PM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
Paula Reid - CBS
posted by bluesky43 at 4:01 PM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
Mueller team says Manafort breached plea deal by lying to the FBI and the Special Counsels office
posted by bluesky43 at 4:05 PM on November 26, 2018 [38 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 4:05 PM on November 26, 2018 [38 favorites]
More on Manafort from Jim Scuitto
Breaking: Fmr Trump campaign Chmn Paul Manafort lied to the FBI and special counsel’s office “on a variety of subject matters” after pleading guilty, prosecutors say, and they would like him to be sentenced by a judge in DC, according to a new filing tonight
posted by bluesky43 at 4:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
Breaking: Fmr Trump campaign Chmn Paul Manafort lied to the FBI and special counsel’s office “on a variety of subject matters” after pleading guilty, prosecutors say, and they would like him to be sentenced by a judge in DC, according to a new filing tonight
posted by bluesky43 at 4:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
Here's the court filing. It's pretty vague, just that Manafort lied to the FBI and Special Counsel's Office "on a variety of subject matters" and they'd like him to go to jail now. Manafort's lawyers say he's told the truth and has been helpful.
We still don't entirely know what happened during the campaign, but it sure seems like everyone involved keeps getting caught lying about it.
posted by zachlipton at 4:11 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
We still don't entirely know what happened during the campaign, but it sure seems like everyone involved keeps getting caught lying about it.
posted by zachlipton at 4:11 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Here's the court filing
also linked in the original comment. Yes it's vague but Scuitto reports they want him sentenced now, which must mean the plea deal is off. I'd like to know what the lies were.
posted by bluesky43 at 4:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
also linked in the original comment. Yes it's vague but Scuitto reports they want him sentenced now, which must mean the plea deal is off. I'd like to know what the lies were.
posted by bluesky43 at 4:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
I think the plea deal is still on in the sense that he is required to cooperate but can’t get a lesser sentence. That’s my understanding from the filing at least?
posted by lazaruslong at 4:37 PM on November 26, 2018
posted by lazaruslong at 4:37 PM on November 26, 2018
"Guess what, President Donald Trump is doing a campaign rally. It is in Tupelo, Mississippi. Tweets in this thread"room Confederacy, Don.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:47 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Trump, campaigning for Cindy Hyde-Smith, calls the Republican Party "the home of Abraham Lincoln."Way to read the
posted by kirkaracha at 4:47 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
emptywheel points out that the "detailed sentencing submission … sett[ing] forth the nature of the defendant’s crimes and lies” will be a de facto public reporting of many/most details of the investigation, which will not be subject to approval from the Attorney General.
posted by contraption at 4:53 PM on November 26, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by contraption at 4:53 PM on November 26, 2018 [28 favorites]
NYT:
Prosecutors working for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, said Mr. Manafort’s “crimes and lies” about “a variety of subject matters relieve them of all promises they made to him in the plea agreement. But under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Manafort cannot withdraw his guilty plea.posted by triggerfinger at 4:58 PM on November 26, 2018 [29 favorites]
Instead, after at least a dozen sessions with him, federal prosecutors have not only decided Mr. Manafort does not deserve leniency, but also could seek to refile other charges that they had agreed to dismiss as part of the plea deal.
The prosecutors did not describe what Mr. Manafort lied about, saying they would set forth “the nature of the defendant’s crimes and lies” in an upcoming sentencing memo.
Mueller team says Manafort breached plea deal by lying to the FBI and the Special Counsels office
This is nuts, although one must admire Mueller's sang froid in sitting on this until after Trump handed in his open-book questionnaire.
Buzzfeed's tries to sum up Manafort's serial mendacity: "So, after being accused of a series of lies regarding his work, Paul Manafort was accused of trying to get others to lie, and then, after being convicted of some lies, he reached a plea agreement to avoid a trial on the other lies, after which he is accused of telling more lies."
MSNBC pundit/former DOJ spox Matthew Miller lays it out: "Manafort is either an incredibly stupid criminal or he's protecting some secret so big that he's willing to spend the rest of his life in jail to keep the world from discovering it" (With Team Trump, it always seems to be some of Column A, some of Column B.)
Seth Abramson adds a conspiratorial angle: "Mark my words: Trump witness-tampered with Manafort directly/indirectly. Manafort had nothing to lose by cooperating with Mueller—only gain—and Mueller was asking him about Trump, and Manafort lied. So he was expecting a pardon. Which means somebody let him think it could happen."
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:00 PM on November 26, 2018 [44 favorites]
This is nuts, although one must admire Mueller's sang froid in sitting on this until after Trump handed in his open-book questionnaire.
Buzzfeed's tries to sum up Manafort's serial mendacity: "So, after being accused of a series of lies regarding his work, Paul Manafort was accused of trying to get others to lie, and then, after being convicted of some lies, he reached a plea agreement to avoid a trial on the other lies, after which he is accused of telling more lies."
MSNBC pundit/former DOJ spox Matthew Miller lays it out: "Manafort is either an incredibly stupid criminal or he's protecting some secret so big that he's willing to spend the rest of his life in jail to keep the world from discovering it" (With Team Trump, it always seems to be some of Column A, some of Column B.)
Seth Abramson adds a conspiratorial angle: "Mark my words: Trump witness-tampered with Manafort directly/indirectly. Manafort had nothing to lose by cooperating with Mueller—only gain—and Mueller was asking him about Trump, and Manafort lied. So he was expecting a pardon. Which means somebody let him think it could happen."
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:00 PM on November 26, 2018 [44 favorites]
WSJ, Transcript of President Trump’s Interview With The Wall Street Journal in which " Small portions of the interview have been excluded from this transcript that were off the record or that have been withheld for future Wall Street Journal articles," because this newspaper is still run by garbage people even as it has produced some excellent work.
The big thing here is that he's threatening to raise tariffs yet more, but don't blame him when businesses are struggling as a result because "a lot of times people like to blame tariffs when they’re doing badly."
posted by zachlipton at 5:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
The big thing here is that he's threatening to raise tariffs yet more, but don't blame him when businesses are struggling as a result because "a lot of times people like to blame tariffs when they’re doing badly."
posted by zachlipton at 5:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
I know reality means nothing, and Trump's words mean even less, but I **REALLY** would like to see every Democrat who test to interact with Trump bring up his promise that Mexico would pay for the stupid fucking wall. And every reporter make it a centerpiece of their questions as well.
"I guess I'm just confused Mr. President, why do you need five billion dollars from Americans? You said Mexico would pay for the wall."
"Mr. President, what if we pledged to provide ten dollars for every dollar Mexico pays for the wall, would that be good?"
"If Mexico is paying for the wall, why are you trying to bill the American people Mr. President?"
Stuff like that. Just never letting it go and driving him even nuttier with the constant repetition. For bonus points have some of video of him saying Mexico would pay for the wall queued up on your phone so you can play it if he tries to claim he never promised Mexico would pay for it.
I realize of course that this will never happen. The media is totally cowed by Trump, and the Democrats have never had a spine to lose, but I can hope.
The idea of Trump being able to blackmail one single penny for his stupid fucking wall by shutting down the government is just enraging. And that the Democrats (yet fucking again) pre-negotiated with themselves and are offering $1.6 billion is even worse.
Seriously Democrats, WTF? This isn't rocket surgery, you don't start by giving the enemy close to half of what they want. You open with zero dollars for the fucking wall, and loud obnoxious questions about why Trump wants any of our money since Mexico is paying for the wall. Then, if you absolutely must, you let the Republicans negotiate that up from zero. But you don't fucking start at halfway.
posted by sotonohito at 5:19 PM on November 26, 2018 [115 favorites]
"I guess I'm just confused Mr. President, why do you need five billion dollars from Americans? You said Mexico would pay for the wall."
"Mr. President, what if we pledged to provide ten dollars for every dollar Mexico pays for the wall, would that be good?"
"If Mexico is paying for the wall, why are you trying to bill the American people Mr. President?"
Stuff like that. Just never letting it go and driving him even nuttier with the constant repetition. For bonus points have some of video of him saying Mexico would pay for the wall queued up on your phone so you can play it if he tries to claim he never promised Mexico would pay for it.
I realize of course that this will never happen. The media is totally cowed by Trump, and the Democrats have never had a spine to lose, but I can hope.
The idea of Trump being able to blackmail one single penny for his stupid fucking wall by shutting down the government is just enraging. And that the Democrats (yet fucking again) pre-negotiated with themselves and are offering $1.6 billion is even worse.
Seriously Democrats, WTF? This isn't rocket surgery, you don't start by giving the enemy close to half of what they want. You open with zero dollars for the fucking wall, and loud obnoxious questions about why Trump wants any of our money since Mexico is paying for the wall. Then, if you absolutely must, you let the Republicans negotiate that up from zero. But you don't fucking start at halfway.
posted by sotonohito at 5:19 PM on November 26, 2018 [115 favorites]
From The Guardian by Carole Cadwalladr: Parliament has used its legal powers to seize internal Facebook documents in an extraordinary attempt to hold the US social media giant to account after chief executive Mark Zuckerberg repeatedly refused to answer MPs’ questions.
A weird update here: BuzzFeed, New Court Filing Names Journalist To Explain How A Parliamentary Committee May Have Obtained Internal Facebook Documents, in which court documents indicate that Cadwalladr was the one who informed Parliament of the existence of the documents and may have tipped them off specifically to Kramer's location, though that's not been demonstrated for certain. Which kind of raises some pretty significant journalistic ethics concerns.
@MarkDiStef: Suggest there’s *a lot* of questions here for Carole Cadwalladr and The Guardian about their alleged involvement in the unprecedented seizure of Facebook’s internal documents in a London hotel
This is kind of petty of me, but I've been fuming for months over this tweet of Cadwalladr's from the Zuckerberg hearings in April is still up, and it's blatantly false (watch the tape, he does not say "to target you better"). She has straight-up added words to the end of the quote, in quotation marks, to claim the opposite of what Zuckerberg is saying. I can give her the benefit of the doubt that it wasn't deliberate, but it's sloppy at best and went uncorrected despite plenty of replies pointing out it was false.
posted by zachlipton at 5:23 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
A weird update here: BuzzFeed, New Court Filing Names Journalist To Explain How A Parliamentary Committee May Have Obtained Internal Facebook Documents, in which court documents indicate that Cadwalladr was the one who informed Parliament of the existence of the documents and may have tipped them off specifically to Kramer's location, though that's not been demonstrated for certain. Which kind of raises some pretty significant journalistic ethics concerns.
@MarkDiStef: Suggest there’s *a lot* of questions here for Carole Cadwalladr and The Guardian about their alleged involvement in the unprecedented seizure of Facebook’s internal documents in a London hotel
This is kind of petty of me, but I've been fuming for months over this tweet of Cadwalladr's from the Zuckerberg hearings in April is still up, and it's blatantly false (watch the tape, he does not say "to target you better"). She has straight-up added words to the end of the quote, in quotation marks, to claim the opposite of what Zuckerberg is saying. I can give her the benefit of the doubt that it wasn't deliberate, but it's sloppy at best and went uncorrected despite plenty of replies pointing out it was false.
posted by zachlipton at 5:23 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Facebook told Parliament to eat dirt and a UK paper threw them off a pier for it.
I'm not seeing the issue.
posted by Slackermagee at 5:30 PM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
I'm not seeing the issue.
posted by Slackermagee at 5:30 PM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
@annalecta [Open Secrets]: NEW: Tax return reveals Trump remained Trump Foundation president his whole first year in office. It was funded entirely by his business & a “reimbursement” by his golf club for a 5-yr-old payment under scrutiny by NY AG lawsuit as “improper self-dealing." New Trump Foundation tax return: 6-foot-tall “speed painter” oil portrait of Donald Trump his charity paid $10,000 to buy after Melania won it at a charity fundraiser auction at Mar-a-Lago was valued at $700 at the start of 2017 but dropped to Ø by the end
More details and the Form 990.
posted by zachlipton at 5:34 PM on November 26, 2018 [50 favorites]
More details and the Form 990.
posted by zachlipton at 5:34 PM on November 26, 2018 [50 favorites]
The same pundit class that says Beto has no heat because he didn't win in TX, are they waxing philosophical about how bizarre it is that the Republican POTUS makes it a priority to physically go down to Mississippi to salvage a Republican candidate?
posted by Selena777 at 5:38 PM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Selena777 at 5:38 PM on November 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
emptywheel points out that the "detailed sentencing submission … sett[ing] forth the nature of the defendant’s crimes and lies” will be a de facto public reporting of many/most details of the investigation, which will not be subject to approval from the Attorney General.
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti delves into the significance of Mueller's filing:
It will be interesting to see if Trump can keep himself together during tonight's rally (and we already know "the Russian witch hunt garbage" is on his mind).
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:54 PM on November 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti delves into the significance of Mueller's filing:
Today's filing indicates that Mueller believes he can prove that Manafort lied on multiple occasions. It's worth noting that we knew of at least one unusual issue with Manafort's cooperation--Trump's lawyers said Manafort's lawyers were updating them on Manafort's actions.It's only gradually sinking in with me how truly screwed Manafort is—he's facing a minimum sentence of 10 years now that the sentencing reduction is off the table, but all his obligations under the deal remain intact—and how well Mueller has turned this setback into an advantage, effectively creating a workaround for releasing his report to the public in case Trump's AAG/AG tries to sit on it.
That is very highly unusual, because typically flippers are completely on the government's team. Today's filing could mean that Manafort was trying to protect Trump, or he could be trying to shield another person or entity, or trying to hide wealth from prosecutors.[...]
Manafort is now in a worse position than if he didn't cooperate in the first place and just pleaded guilty. Mueller can now invalidate the cooperation deal and has indicated in the report that he *has* broken the deal.
So on top of pleading guilty, Mueller will "file a detailed sentencing submission" that "sets forth the nature of the defendant's crimes and lies, including those after signing the plea agreement." So the judge will learn of Manafort's efforts to deceive Mueller and the FBI.[...]
Could Manafort have been promised a pardon in exchange for lying to the special counsel? Sure, but offering anything of value to someone in exchange for the commission of a federal crime is itself a federal crime.
What if it wasn't a quid pro quo, and a pardon was hinted at by Trump's lawyers but not explicitly in exchange for anything? That would be a much harder case to prove as well as a case that might involve a legal challenge because it is, as far as I know, unprecedented.
Could Manafort have lied in the hopes of obtaining a pardon? Yes. Could he nonetheless receive a pardon? Sadly, yes. He would still be subject to state criminal prosecution, although lying to the FBI is not a state crime. There are relevant state crimes like tax evasion.
It will be interesting to see if Trump can keep himself together during tonight's rally (and we already know "the Russian witch hunt garbage" is on his mind).
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:54 PM on November 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
I think the apposite terms in the Cadwalladr article linked above were "hints" and "suggests". Kramer and his lawyers have zero proof that she tipped off Collins and the DCMS committee with his hotel address.
And please can we not go down the demonification route with another high profile female journalist, especially one who is fearlessly pushing ahead in investigating international conspirators connected to extraordinarily dangerous people.
OH NOES, a misquote! How very dare she.
posted by doornoise at 5:55 PM on November 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
And please can we not go down the demonification route with another high profile female journalist, especially one who is fearlessly pushing ahead in investigating international conspirators connected to extraordinarily dangerous people.
OH NOES, a misquote! How very dare she.
posted by doornoise at 5:55 PM on November 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
Seriously Democrats, WTF? This isn't rocket surgery, you don't start by giving the enemy close to half of what they want. You open with zero dollars for the fucking wall, and loud obnoxious questions about why Trump wants any of our money since Mexico is paying for the wall. Then, if you absolutely must, you let the Republicans negotiate that up from zero. But you don't fucking start at halfway.
Just because we all got a whole lot angrier and more radicalized in the last two years doesn’t mean our Democrats a) learned or b) got better at negotiating.
Go back and read all the threads on Obamacare and the 2011 debt ceiling showdowns where they tried desperately to get Republicans to agree to getting 70-90% of their stretch demands and were only rebuffed because Republicans kept demanding 110% and a pony. We’re all going to remember the reality of Democrat’s reluctance to actually wield power now that we’ve won it back for them.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:02 PM on November 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
Just because we all got a whole lot angrier and more radicalized in the last two years doesn’t mean our Democrats a) learned or b) got better at negotiating.
Go back and read all the threads on Obamacare and the 2011 debt ceiling showdowns where they tried desperately to get Republicans to agree to getting 70-90% of their stretch demands and were only rebuffed because Republicans kept demanding 110% and a pony. We’re all going to remember the reality of Democrat’s reluctance to actually wield power now that we’ve won it back for them.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:02 PM on November 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
@karentravers:
@ToluseO: CBP Commissioner contradicts Trump, saying none of his agents were seriously injured at the border Sunday. Trump just told the press pool: "Three border patrol people yesterday were very badly hurt, getting hit with rocks and stones."
posted by zachlipton at 6:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [38 favorites]
NEW: I asked Pres Trump how he felt seeing the images of women and children running from tear gas.So, um, he thinks the Border Patrol officers firing the tear gas were suffering more than the women and children being gassed. I suppose they could have offered to switch places if that was the case?
“I do say why are they there?...Why is a parent running up into an area where they know the tear gas is forming and it’s going to be formed. And they’re running up with a child” 1
“In some cases you know they’re not the parents. These are people they call them grabbers, they grab a child because they think they’re going to have a certain status by having a child.“ (2)
The president also said the tear gas is “very safe.”
“First of all the tear gas is a very minor form of the tear gas itself. It’s very safe. The ones that were suffering to a certain extent were the people that were putting it out.” (3)
@ToluseO: CBP Commissioner contradicts Trump, saying none of his agents were seriously injured at the border Sunday. Trump just told the press pool: "Three border patrol people yesterday were very badly hurt, getting hit with rocks and stones."
posted by zachlipton at 6:09 PM on November 26, 2018 [38 favorites]
There's another theory circulating on Twitter, multi-dimensional chess style. Sorry for lack of link...
That Mueller held out on revealing how little credence he put in Manafort's "assistance" until he had the matching lies in writing from Trump.
It's a nice thought.
posted by doornoise at 6:10 PM on November 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
That Mueller held out on revealing how little credence he put in Manafort's "assistance" until he had the matching lies in writing from Trump.
It's a nice thought.
posted by doornoise at 6:10 PM on November 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
There's another theory circulating on Twitter, multi-dimensional chess style
That's Marcy Wheeler's theory: that Manafort's "cooperation" allowed his lawyers to pass on inside information to the White House, and that it fed into the written answers. There was never any indication that the information-sharing agreement between Manafort and the White House had come to an end after the plea deal.
A weird update here: BuzzFeed
Buzzfeed has a really weird axe to grind with Cadwalladr. (See: her Twitter thread on an earlier profile.)
posted by holgate at 6:20 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
That's Marcy Wheeler's theory: that Manafort's "cooperation" allowed his lawyers to pass on inside information to the White House, and that it fed into the written answers. There was never any indication that the information-sharing agreement between Manafort and the White House had come to an end after the plea deal.
A weird update here: BuzzFeed
Buzzfeed has a really weird axe to grind with Cadwalladr. (See: her Twitter thread on an earlier profile.)
posted by holgate at 6:20 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Yup, if both testimonies are demonstrably false, and in the same particulars, then you have further evidence of conspiracy.
Mueller may have waited until after Trump handed in his "easy" homework to reveal that he already knew that the story they'd cooked up was total bullshit.
I bet Whittaker's phone is red hot right now.
posted by doornoise at 6:25 PM on November 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
Mueller may have waited until after Trump handed in his "easy" homework to reveal that he already knew that the story they'd cooked up was total bullshit.
I bet Whittaker's phone is red hot right now.
posted by doornoise at 6:25 PM on November 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
I don't think Manafort's behavior here was motivated by a desire to stay out of prison, nor did he hope for a presidential pardon. Instead I think it affirms many people's prior suspicions that he fears the Kremlin to a mortal degree.
When I first learned he would cooperate I was pretty confused because of the implication that he was no longer afraid for either himself or his family members, and I concluded that the Mueller people must have been able to offer credible assurance of protection. But now I suspect that his lying to them was either a delaying tactic or an attempt to send the team down the wrong investigative path, because he believes he simply cannot tell the truth.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:39 PM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
When I first learned he would cooperate I was pretty confused because of the implication that he was no longer afraid for either himself or his family members, and I concluded that the Mueller people must have been able to offer credible assurance of protection. But now I suspect that his lying to them was either a delaying tactic or an attempt to send the team down the wrong investigative path, because he believes he simply cannot tell the truth.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:39 PM on November 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
It's impossible to get a read on Mueller, but I think at this point we have A) Manafort's testimony and B) Trump's written answers.
Assuming they don't match up in material ways, ONE of them MUST be lying.
We have Manafort in custody, and he's already promised not to lie, let's throw the book at him, and see what happens next.
posted by mikelieman at 6:48 PM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Assuming they don't match up in material ways, ONE of them MUST be lying.
We have Manafort in custody, and he's already promised not to lie, let's throw the book at him, and see what happens next.
posted by mikelieman at 6:48 PM on November 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
He did business with real life Bond villain Oleg Deripaska.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:49 PM on November 26, 2018
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:49 PM on November 26, 2018
"the tear gas is forming"
"the tear gas is forming"
i just
his fucking use of the third-person passive voice style has somehow stirred up even more rage in me and i thought i'd already maxed out my rage capabilities
tear gas doesn't just fucking happen, it's not like the fucking weather
posted by halation at 6:50 PM on November 26, 2018 [95 favorites]
"the tear gas is forming"
i just
his fucking use of the third-person passive voice style has somehow stirred up even more rage in me and i thought i'd already maxed out my rage capabilities
tear gas doesn't just fucking happen, it's not like the fucking weather
posted by halation at 6:50 PM on November 26, 2018 [95 favorites]
That's Marcy Wheeler's theory: that Manafort's "cooperation" allowed his lawyers to pass on inside information to the White House, and that it fed into the written answers.
I love how this fits with Trump's "I'm only answering Russia questions, nothing on obstruction!" and Mueller's seeming big ol' shrug on pressing that point. In hindsight it looks like Trump blatantly saying "I'm only answering questions I can copy off this other guy's paper!" since Manafort wasn't involved in the obstruction, and Mueller knew what was going on the whole time and responded with a "Please proceed, Mr. President", letting Manafort and Trump think they're clever, letting Rudy think he's a big shot for negotiating terms on Trump's take home test, trying so very hard to keep the poker face on the whole time...
posted by jason_steakums at 7:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
I love how this fits with Trump's "I'm only answering Russia questions, nothing on obstruction!" and Mueller's seeming big ol' shrug on pressing that point. In hindsight it looks like Trump blatantly saying "I'm only answering questions I can copy off this other guy's paper!" since Manafort wasn't involved in the obstruction, and Mueller knew what was going on the whole time and responded with a "Please proceed, Mr. President", letting Manafort and Trump think they're clever, letting Rudy think he's a big shot for negotiating terms on Trump's take home test, trying so very hard to keep the poker face on the whole time...
posted by jason_steakums at 7:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
Assuming they don't match up in material ways, ONE of them MUST be lying.
Or both! They could try to double-cross each other by tweaking their testimony in their favor while pretending to get their stories straight!
Seriously, we know Manafort and Trump had a joint defense agreement that appears to have been maintained in some form after Manafort's plea deal. Giuliani seemed oddly confident about Manafort (WaPo): "Trump attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani said that Manafort’s legal team assured him as recently as Saturday — the day after Manafort struck a plea deal with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III — that he has no information that will incriminate the president or his family, including eldest son Donald Trump Jr."
And then there were Trump's tweets on November 15 about how "The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want." and how "These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller". Even taking into account Trump's penchant for exaggeration and projection, this was the day before Mueller asked Judge Berman Jackson for a 10-day delay in submitting his status report on Manafort's cooperation.
But even if Trump and Manafort were comparing notes the entire time, not only does Mueller have the cooperative testimony of Rick Gates and Michael Flynn (and Felix Sater) that they're not privy to, but the Special Counsel also has the files FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation and all the surveillance from the Five Eyes (remember Comey's NZ trip in April 2017, for instance).
Trump and Manafort can't even begin to guess at how much Mueller knows, but they're stupid and arrogant enough to underestimate this. While they think they're David Mamet characters, they're really in a Coen brothers movie.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:06 PM on November 26, 2018 [39 favorites]
Or both! They could try to double-cross each other by tweaking their testimony in their favor while pretending to get their stories straight!
Seriously, we know Manafort and Trump had a joint defense agreement that appears to have been maintained in some form after Manafort's plea deal. Giuliani seemed oddly confident about Manafort (WaPo): "Trump attorney Rudolph W. Giuliani said that Manafort’s legal team assured him as recently as Saturday — the day after Manafort struck a plea deal with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III — that he has no information that will incriminate the president or his family, including eldest son Donald Trump Jr."
And then there were Trump's tweets on November 15 about how "The inner workings of the Mueller investigation are a total mess. They have found no collusion and have gone absolutely nuts. They are screaming and shouting at people, horribly threatening them to come up with the answers they want." and how "These are Angry People, including the highly conflicted Bob Mueller". Even taking into account Trump's penchant for exaggeration and projection, this was the day before Mueller asked Judge Berman Jackson for a 10-day delay in submitting his status report on Manafort's cooperation.
But even if Trump and Manafort were comparing notes the entire time, not only does Mueller have the cooperative testimony of Rick Gates and Michael Flynn (and Felix Sater) that they're not privy to, but the Special Counsel also has the files FBI's Crossfire Hurricane investigation and all the surveillance from the Five Eyes (remember Comey's NZ trip in April 2017, for instance).
Trump and Manafort can't even begin to guess at how much Mueller knows, but they're stupid and arrogant enough to underestimate this. While they think they're David Mamet characters, they're really in a Coen brothers movie.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:06 PM on November 26, 2018 [39 favorites]
I think at this point we have A) Manafort's testimony and B) Trump's written answers.
And you have C) all the documentary evidence Mueller's team have recovered.
We know that Mueller can prove certain important statements in A represent non-cooperation, i.e. lies. I'd say the likelihood is he can also prove that B contains lies by omission (invoking non-existent privilege) or out-and-out lies.
(Edit: not a lawyer tho, so who knows?)
posted by doornoise at 7:06 PM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
And you have C) all the documentary evidence Mueller's team have recovered.
We know that Mueller can prove certain important statements in A represent non-cooperation, i.e. lies. I'd say the likelihood is he can also prove that B contains lies by omission (invoking non-existent privilege) or out-and-out lies.
(Edit: not a lawyer tho, so who knows?)
posted by doornoise at 7:06 PM on November 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
tear gas doesn't just fucking happen, it's not like the fucking weather
It was evening all afternoon.
Tear gas was forming
And it was going to form.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:07 PM on November 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
It was evening all afternoon.
Tear gas was forming
And it was going to form.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:07 PM on November 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
It's impossible to get a read on Mueller, but I think at this point we have A) Manafort's testimony and B) Trump's written answers.
Assuming they don't match up in material ways, ONE of them MUST be lying.
Yes but it is not an XOR. They can both be lying. The takeaway is that if Mueller is confident enough to formally accuse Manafort of lying that means he thinks he has unassailable independent evidence regarding the facts in question.
So if Trump coordinated with Manafort's lies in written testimony then he backed away from the verbal perjury mousetrap and instead jumped into an inescapable perjury buzzsaw. There is no way he can "locker room talk" or "verbal diarrhea" his way out of signed written testimony vetted by his own legal staff.
posted by srboisvert at 7:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
Assuming they don't match up in material ways, ONE of them MUST be lying.
Yes but it is not an XOR. They can both be lying. The takeaway is that if Mueller is confident enough to formally accuse Manafort of lying that means he thinks he has unassailable independent evidence regarding the facts in question.
So if Trump coordinated with Manafort's lies in written testimony then he backed away from the verbal perjury mousetrap and instead jumped into an inescapable perjury buzzsaw. There is no way he can "locker room talk" or "verbal diarrhea" his way out of signed written testimony vetted by his own legal staff.
posted by srboisvert at 7:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
some insight into manafort's motivations
posted by poffin boffin at 7:20 PM on November 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 7:20 PM on November 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
Let's check in with Daniel Dale to see how Trump's second rally went this evening in Biloxi. Some highlights:
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:42 PM on November 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
—Fake snow falls on Trump. He marvels at it and swats it away in dramatic fashion. He begins, "Look, snow, I didn't know what was going on, this is, I said, are you sure this is indoor, that beautiful snow looks so real, that's the end of my suit, that's the end of my hair..."And weirder than usual, frankly.
—Trump says what is happening is "frankly unprecedented," then tries and fails to say unprecedented again, saying something like, "What's happening is un-prentice."
—"We are respected like at no time before," Trump says. He says foreign leaders walk in and tell him, "Mr. President, it's incredible what's happened with your country in such a short time."
—Trump: "We had three seats even four seats that were so close. We almost won. In areas that a lot of people say don't bother contesting. We almost won in four states that a lot of people say don't bother, you can't win." This did not happen.
—Trump alleges "a little tricky business going on" in the midterms. He does not say what he's talking about.
—Trump: "You still have deep state, but one by one we're getting them out. You have deep state bad people. You have a lot of phony stuff going on. But you know what? One by one, we're winning. We're winning winning winning."
—Trump said win win win win and now the crowd is chanting win win win win.
—Trump has concluded. Like his rally this afternoon, this one was much shorter than usual.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:42 PM on November 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
He says foreign leaders walk in and tell him, "Mr. President, it's incredible what's happened with your country in such a short time."
"Mr. President, your country has lost all credibility in such a short time."
"Yes, I am incredible."
posted by jason_steakums at 7:47 PM on November 26, 2018 [68 favorites]
"Mr. President, your country has lost all credibility in such a short time."
"Yes, I am incredible."
posted by jason_steakums at 7:47 PM on November 26, 2018 [68 favorites]
@ericawerner: Shelby says Trump has told them that $5b for Wall is a red line.
(D’s have agreed to $1.6b)
(Shutdown deadline Dec. 7)
And note the timing between this and the Trump-generated crisis on the border. You can be sure that when the shutdown happens, the media is going to be filled with pictures ad video of the chaos along the border. All contributing to a "Look at Democrats dong nothing to stop the invasion!" rhetoric.this is going to be a perfect storm of nativism and racist fearmongerng, and it will probably work.
posted by happyroach at 8:02 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
(D’s have agreed to $1.6b)
(Shutdown deadline Dec. 7)
And note the timing between this and the Trump-generated crisis on the border. You can be sure that when the shutdown happens, the media is going to be filled with pictures ad video of the chaos along the border. All contributing to a "Look at Democrats dong nothing to stop the invasion!" rhetoric.this is going to be a perfect storm of nativism and racist fearmongerng, and it will probably work.
posted by happyroach at 8:02 PM on November 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
And weirder than usual, frankly.
C'mon, we can't let the very first tweet of that thread go unacknowledged.
C'mon, we can't let the very first tweet of that thread go unacknowledged.
-- They're playing YMCA at Trump's rally in Biloxi, Mississippi. I will tweet tweets in this thread when it stops and he starts.posted by mikelieman at 8:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
In case anybody doesn't know about them, Postcards to Voters is a pretty great group to combine crafting/coloring with activism. They're doing cards for the Dec 4 runoff with John Barrow and Lindy Miller in Georgia right now.
Vote Forward is doing letters for the Georgia runoff as well. There are still a little over 39,000 addresses available. (This is super quick and easy to do.)
posted by SisterHavana at 8:13 PM on November 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Mueller knew what was going on the whole time and responded with a "Please proceed, Mr. President", letting Manafort and Trump think they're clever, letting Rudy think he's a big shot for negotiating terms on Trump's take home test, trying so very hard to keep the poker face on the whole time...
And Mueller may have not only found a loophole for publicly releasing his report, but also effectively checkmated Trump's claims for executive privilege. By lying to the Special Counsel, Manafort could have actually shafted Trump worse than if he had cooperated.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
And Mueller may have not only found a loophole for publicly releasing his report, but also effectively checkmated Trump's claims for executive privilege. By lying to the Special Counsel, Manafort could have actually shafted Trump worse than if he had cooperated.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:14 PM on November 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
They're playing YMCA at Trump's rally in Biloxi, Mississippi.
For some reason, Trump constantly emphasizes to his audience how they can use the Village People's song as a mnemonic for his trade deal, as Daniel Dale has pointed out today and at other rallies:
—Trump again calls NAFTA a disaster and his USMCA, which is very NAFTA, incredible. He repeats, of the name USMCA, "like the song, YMCA, right."
—Trump on his new trade agreement: "The USMCA. Like YMCA. The song. YMCA." He sings: "Y-M-C-A."
—Trump on the USMCA trade deal: "Like the song, YMCA. If you have any problem - if you have any problem remembering, just think YMCA."
—Trump says that USMCA is "like YMCA, or United States Marine Corps with an A at the end. I liked the way it sounded."
Is this one of those times when Trump learned something that was otherwise obvious and now has to point it out to everyone? Or is he cognitively impaired to such an extent that he needs to remind himself???
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:21 PM on November 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
For some reason, Trump constantly emphasizes to his audience how they can use the Village People's song as a mnemonic for his trade deal, as Daniel Dale has pointed out today and at other rallies:
—Trump again calls NAFTA a disaster and his USMCA, which is very NAFTA, incredible. He repeats, of the name USMCA, "like the song, YMCA, right."
—Trump on his new trade agreement: "The USMCA. Like YMCA. The song. YMCA." He sings: "Y-M-C-A."
—Trump on the USMCA trade deal: "Like the song, YMCA. If you have any problem - if you have any problem remembering, just think YMCA."
—Trump says that USMCA is "like YMCA, or United States Marine Corps with an A at the end. I liked the way it sounded."
Is this one of those times when Trump learned something that was otherwise obvious and now has to point it out to everyone? Or is he cognitively impaired to such an extent that he needs to remind himself???
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:21 PM on November 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
CNN: Trump Refuses to Condemn Russian Aggression Against Ukraine—“When asked how he felt about the clash, Trump said, "not good. Not happy about it at all." He seemed reluctant to blame Russia, adding, "we do not like what's happening either way. And hopefully it will get straightened out."”
This ranks with Trump's Charlottesville equivocations about "blame on both sides" as presidential pusillanimity goes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:28 PM on November 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
This ranks with Trump's Charlottesville equivocations about "blame on both sides" as presidential pusillanimity goes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:28 PM on November 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
Hey President Marblemouth: “USMCA” does not scan to “YMCA.”
Try it and see how far you get: “It’s fun to stay at the U S MCA...”
posted by notyou at 9:16 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Try it and see how far you get: “It’s fun to stay at the U S MCA...”
posted by notyou at 9:16 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
theory: someone told trump that “YMCA” was a song about “rough trade” and he completely misinterpreted it
posted by murphy slaw at 9:41 PM on November 26, 2018 [74 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:41 PM on November 26, 2018 [74 favorites]
I love the theory that Mueller let Trump's team think he believed Manafort's lies, knowing they would repeat them and thereby be caught lying themselves.
But even if it's not true, I still think it's good news. This is the part of the tv show where the cop says "you lied, our agreement is off" and then the crook says "then why should I tell you the truth?" and then the cop says "because that's all you have left" and then the crook spills everything and doubles up in a pool of his own tears on the floor. At this point, Manafort's only play is to tell something absolutely damning to Mueller and hope the court finds this freely given, no strings attached information so helpful they give him a lesser sentence.
posted by xammerboy at 9:55 PM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
But even if it's not true, I still think it's good news. This is the part of the tv show where the cop says "you lied, our agreement is off" and then the crook says "then why should I tell you the truth?" and then the cop says "because that's all you have left" and then the crook spills everything and doubles up in a pool of his own tears on the floor. At this point, Manafort's only play is to tell something absolutely damning to Mueller and hope the court finds this freely given, no strings attached information so helpful they give him a lesser sentence.
posted by xammerboy at 9:55 PM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
A federal judge calls Trump's DC hotel business "unseemly, if not unethical," but not a violation of the city's anti-competition law, Court tosses D.C. wine bar’s suit against Trump alleging unfair competition (WaPo).
posted by peeedro at 10:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 10:03 PM on November 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
zombieflanders: "First of all, Flake could have prevented Farr from ever coming to a floor vote by not voting him out of committee in the first place."
I thought McConnell could bring nominees to the floor even if the Judiciary Committee voted against, unlike bills voted down in committee?
posted by Chrysostom at 11:01 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I thought McConnell could bring nominees to the floor even if the Judiciary Committee voted against, unlike bills voted down in committee?
posted by Chrysostom at 11:01 PM on November 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Have to pre-delete so much grrrar! because ... well, you know. Thankfully, you know. [Still, mods, please delete if this belongs in the Fuckalicious thread, or a therapy session, etc.]
So two quickish things: We need to fully support AOC--and more importantly, the people who support her--because as much as our more-senior Democratic leadership can maximize and leverage the making of the congressional priorities and sausage, it's AOC and her cohort that have the vision, ideas, energy, and moral clarity to push them and us to where we need to be. Without compromising. Full stop.
Second, on the pernicious point of cultural appropriation, these very non-Mexican people on Fox and elsewhere are suggesting it's safe to eat pepper and/or tear gas on nachos, a Mexican food. I.e., 'we don't want your people, but your food is our food and we'll tell you how to eat it.' This is such a full-on double (at least!) insult and call back to Plantation Mentality as to leave my mind and heart spinning. Fucking spinning.
Thank you each for your time, your energy, and your love MeFites! Keep leanin' into the gig!
posted by riverlife at 11:34 PM on November 26, 2018 [22 favorites]
So two quickish things: We need to fully support AOC--and more importantly, the people who support her--because as much as our more-senior Democratic leadership can maximize and leverage the making of the congressional priorities and sausage, it's AOC and her cohort that have the vision, ideas, energy, and moral clarity to push them and us to where we need to be. Without compromising. Full stop.
Second, on the pernicious point of cultural appropriation, these very non-Mexican people on Fox and elsewhere are suggesting it's safe to eat pepper and/or tear gas on nachos, a Mexican food. I.e., 'we don't want your people, but your food is our food and we'll tell you how to eat it.' This is such a full-on double (at least!) insult and call back to Plantation Mentality as to leave my mind and heart spinning. Fucking spinning.
Thank you each for your time, your energy, and your love MeFites! Keep leanin' into the gig!
posted by riverlife at 11:34 PM on November 26, 2018 [22 favorites]
I thought McConnell could bring nominees to the floor even if the Judiciary Committee voted against, unlike bills voted down in committee?
Absolutely. Which means that Flake’s “principled stand” in this case, as with all of the other times he’s taken one in the past, is meaningless. He leaves office as he has always served: feckless in his symbolic gestures, and, when not making a symbolic gesture, voting with the worst of the worst of his caucus far more often than not.
Good riddance. So glad to replace him with a Dem (albeit a now-centrist one).
posted by darkstar at 11:42 PM on November 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Buzzfeed has a really weird axe to grind with Cadwalladr. (See: her Twitter thread on an earlier profile.)
That's because Buzzfeed UK's political desk is now run by Alex Wickham who was previously at Guido Fawkes - a right wing, anti-EU, pro-Brexit outlet aimed pretty much at the UK a-hole demographic - which has a history of getting into dust ups with Cadwalladr.
posted by PenDevil at 11:43 PM on November 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
That's because Buzzfeed UK's political desk is now run by Alex Wickham who was previously at Guido Fawkes - a right wing, anti-EU, pro-Brexit outlet aimed pretty much at the UK a-hole demographic - which has a history of getting into dust ups with Cadwalladr.
posted by PenDevil at 11:43 PM on November 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
Quick transcript from Ezra Klein's interview with Whitney Phillips on trolls (including Trump etc.) and mainstream media (hat tip to xammerboy who posted the link in the last thread):
59:50 WP: Gamergate & Trumpism represents for so many for the first time in their lives, challenges to the ability to not have to consider consequences. Early trolls, they never had to think about how their behavior impacted others, never had to think about the [physical safety of] bodies of different others. . . . Decontextualized & fetishized thinking: You only see what is thru that little tiny pinprick [then] suddenly being told that you now have to take into account an entire world that u never had to think about once in your life! . . . that's been the source of a great deal of resentment & rage on behalf of a lot of people who never had to think that way . . .
1:22:00 WP: my 2015 book on trolls [described the] relationship between trolls & media [as] "a cybernetic feedback loop predicated on sensationalism." Trolls were paid in lulz. Journalists weren't after trolls' objective to harm & dehumanize readers, but journalists got paid in the financial equivalent of lulz. . . . 1:25:00 Trump is beneficiary of all this.
1:33:00 even if u push back against Trump's narrative, it buys into his worldview. Instead, so "No, I will take control of narrative, I am the central, I set the discursive frame, YOU are the bit actor, I am the protagonist." Must be a way to scale that, . . . to FORWARD A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE, take conversation down different path entirely, then u r creating yr own game , u r generating your own oxygen for that game & not so reliant on his oxygen tanks. Probably not enough for 1 journalist to do this but would need many many people to open up different lines of discourse, that didn't make everything revolve around him & his administration.
EK: "But 1:35:00 this runs up against business incentive. Don't feed the trolls is don't get the clicks. . . .
WP: That's not a failure of the system, it's a success of the system [capitalism] the whole point of the system is to amass capital. There is no incentive to stop doing it even as it destroys democracy. . . . 1:39:00 audiences are saying Yes please we want to read stories about hearts & minds of white supremacists. . . .
EK: advice for editors?
WP: listen to the writers? 1:41:00 there are power dynamics within orgs where u have a lot of homogeneity, predominantly white, predominantly male, creates a power dynamic where if u have less power cuz of your position (freelancer, contingent) or a woman (taken less seriously) or PoC (not treated with same respect as yr white colleagues)... All of that can create an environment where those who might be inclined to [point out that stories] that just hand microphones to Richard Spencer or white supremacists . . . pose embodied dangers for PoC and women, trans, disabled people, whomever else those ideals actively threaten, [those people aren't heard]. If you talk to & if listen to the bodies in the newsroom that understand those threats then different editorial decisions could be navigated. But as it is, if you have one kind of body w one kind of experience in life . . . calling all of the shots, there's gonna be lots of stuff that gets overlooked, lots of strategizing that doesn't happen cuz they themselves might be subject to the same kind of decontextualized fetishized thinking that is at the heart of trolling media manipulation to begin with.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 1:00 AM on November 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
59:50 WP: Gamergate & Trumpism represents for so many for the first time in their lives, challenges to the ability to not have to consider consequences. Early trolls, they never had to think about how their behavior impacted others, never had to think about the [physical safety of] bodies of different others. . . . Decontextualized & fetishized thinking: You only see what is thru that little tiny pinprick [then] suddenly being told that you now have to take into account an entire world that u never had to think about once in your life! . . . that's been the source of a great deal of resentment & rage on behalf of a lot of people who never had to think that way . . .
1:22:00 WP: my 2015 book on trolls [described the] relationship between trolls & media [as] "a cybernetic feedback loop predicated on sensationalism." Trolls were paid in lulz. Journalists weren't after trolls' objective to harm & dehumanize readers, but journalists got paid in the financial equivalent of lulz. . . . 1:25:00 Trump is beneficiary of all this.
1:33:00 even if u push back against Trump's narrative, it buys into his worldview. Instead, so "No, I will take control of narrative, I am the central, I set the discursive frame, YOU are the bit actor, I am the protagonist." Must be a way to scale that, . . . to FORWARD A DIFFERENT NARRATIVE, take conversation down different path entirely, then u r creating yr own game , u r generating your own oxygen for that game & not so reliant on his oxygen tanks. Probably not enough for 1 journalist to do this but would need many many people to open up different lines of discourse, that didn't make everything revolve around him & his administration.
EK: "But 1:35:00 this runs up against business incentive. Don't feed the trolls is don't get the clicks. . . .
WP: That's not a failure of the system, it's a success of the system [capitalism] the whole point of the system is to amass capital. There is no incentive to stop doing it even as it destroys democracy. . . . 1:39:00 audiences are saying Yes please we want to read stories about hearts & minds of white supremacists. . . .
EK: advice for editors?
WP: listen to the writers? 1:41:00 there are power dynamics within orgs where u have a lot of homogeneity, predominantly white, predominantly male, creates a power dynamic where if u have less power cuz of your position (freelancer, contingent) or a woman (taken less seriously) or PoC (not treated with same respect as yr white colleagues)... All of that can create an environment where those who might be inclined to [point out that stories] that just hand microphones to Richard Spencer or white supremacists . . . pose embodied dangers for PoC and women, trans, disabled people, whomever else those ideals actively threaten, [those people aren't heard]. If you talk to & if listen to the bodies in the newsroom that understand those threats then different editorial decisions could be navigated. But as it is, if you have one kind of body w one kind of experience in life . . . calling all of the shots, there's gonna be lots of stuff that gets overlooked, lots of strategizing that doesn't happen cuz they themselves might be subject to the same kind of decontextualized fetishized thinking that is at the heart of trolling media manipulation to begin with.
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 1:00 AM on November 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
on nachos, a Mexican food
Hate to burst your bubble, but nachos were invented in the 40’s because some US Army officers’ wives were just over the Texas border on a shopping trip when they became hungry. The restaurant they went to’s kitchen was closed, so the maitre’d scrounged up whatever was handy. They fucked up and assumed his name (Nacho, short for Ignacio) was the name of the dish he just threw together. So, nachos are definitely white people food. Or Tex-Mex if you want to get specific.
posted by sideshow at 1:01 AM on November 27, 2018 [27 favorites]
Hate to burst your bubble, but nachos were invented in the 40’s because some US Army officers’ wives were just over the Texas border on a shopping trip when they became hungry. The restaurant they went to’s kitchen was closed, so the maitre’d scrounged up whatever was handy. They fucked up and assumed his name (Nacho, short for Ignacio) was the name of the dish he just threw together. So, nachos are definitely white people food. Or Tex-Mex if you want to get specific.
posted by sideshow at 1:01 AM on November 27, 2018 [27 favorites]
Welp, looks like it's not yet an "act of war" but we're definitely in "international incident" territory:
Reuters: Mexico asks U.S. to investigate use of tear gas at border
Reuters: Mexico asks U.S. to investigate use of tear gas at border
MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexico’s foreign ministry presented a diplomatic note to the U.S. government on Monday calling for “a full investigation” into what it described as non-lethal weapons directed toward Mexican territory on Sunday, a statement from the ministry said.posted by murphy slaw at 1:16 AM on November 27, 2018 [25 favorites]
Bubble not burst. :) Pretty sure they were created by a Mexican, in Mexico, using Mexican staples, and then fairly instantly appropriated by the American ladies you mentioned. But whether we want to classify them as strictly Mexican or Tex-Mex, the larger point is that no one on Fox is suggesting putting pepper gas on a potroast. :)
posted by riverlife at 1:18 AM on November 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by riverlife at 1:18 AM on November 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
Mod note: aaand let's just leave this at "it's okay to be furious about ludicrous, baldfaced lies by a supposed news organization in order to minimize the psychopathic gassing of totally helpless kids and innocent others whether or not it's also cultural appropriation."
posted by taz (staff) at 1:26 AM on November 27, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 1:26 AM on November 27, 2018 [22 favorites]
He says foreign leaders walk in and tell him, "Mr. President, it's incredible what's happened with your country in such a short time."
Damn it, I just needed "crying" and "calling him sir" for bingo.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:56 AM on November 27, 2018 [48 favorites]
Damn it, I just needed "crying" and "calling him sir" for bingo.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:56 AM on November 27, 2018 [48 favorites]
Guardian liveblog of the UK Parliament committee meeting about the data they confiscated from Facebook is up and running or watch live on Youtube.
posted by PenDevil at 4:40 AM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 4:40 AM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
In case you weren't sure if there was a Blue Wave a few weeks ago: Democrats smash Watergate record for House popular vote in midterms (38 seats gained with two more pickups looking more likely)
posted by gwint at 6:02 AM on November 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by gwint at 6:02 AM on November 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
And yet for some reason the media has not been attacking McConnell as being divisive etc...
McConnell follows Newt Gingrich's advice on constantly demeaning Democrats and their policies -- "job-killing regulations," "Democrat party" -- and the media never calls him on it, possibly because he still uses the antiquated language of Senate comity as well. But McConnell is a divisive political figure, and more, unlike Trump he does it for political power and not to assuage his narcissistic vanity. McConnell doesn't care if people like him as long as his agenda prevails, and the media has no more idea how to cover him than they do about Trump.
posted by Gelatin at 6:21 AM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
McConnell follows Newt Gingrich's advice on constantly demeaning Democrats and their policies -- "job-killing regulations," "Democrat party" -- and the media never calls him on it, possibly because he still uses the antiquated language of Senate comity as well. But McConnell is a divisive political figure, and more, unlike Trump he does it for political power and not to assuage his narcissistic vanity. McConnell doesn't care if people like him as long as his agenda prevails, and the media has no more idea how to cover him than they do about Trump.
posted by Gelatin at 6:21 AM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
We had three seats even four seats that were so close. We almost won. In areas that a lot of people say don't bother contesting. We almost won in four states that a lot of people say don't bother, you can't win." This did not happen.
Technically it did happen, except when people were saying "don't bother, you can't win," they were saying it to Democrats. After all, Republicans did get really close in Orange County, UT-04, and throughout Arizona.
posted by jackbishop at 6:31 AM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
Technically it did happen, except when people were saying "don't bother, you can't win," they were saying it to Democrats. After all, Republicans did get really close in Orange County, UT-04, and throughout Arizona.
posted by jackbishop at 6:31 AM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
Guardian: Manafort held secret talks with Assange in Ecuadorian embassy
Exclusive: Trump ally met WikiLeaks founder months before emails hacked by Russia were published
Exclusive: Trump ally met WikiLeaks founder months before emails hacked by Russia were published
Manafort’s 2016 visit to Assange lasted about 40 minutes, one source said, adding that the American was casually dressed when he exited the embassy, wearing sandy-coloured chinos, a cardigan and a light-coloured shirt.posted by Eyebrows McGee at 6:37 AM on November 27, 2018 [59 favorites]
Visitors normally register with embassy security guards and show their passports. Sources in Ecuador, however, say Manafort was not logged.
Embassy staff were aware only later of the potential significance of Manafort’s visit and his political role with Trump, it is understood.
The revelation could shed new light on the sequence of events in the run-up to summer 2016, when WikiLeaks published tens of thousands of emails hacked by the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence agency. Hillary Clinton has said the hack contributed to her defeat.
The previously unreported Manafort-Assange connection is likely to be of interest to Mueller, who has been investigating possible contacts between WikiLeaks and associates of Trump including the political lobbyist Roger Stone and Donald Trump Jr.
The previously unreported Manafort-Assange connection is likely to be of interest to Mueller, who has been investigating possible contacts between WikiLeaks and associates of Trump including the political lobbyist Roger Stone and Donald Trump Jr.
Likely interested? I am sure Mueller knew about this meeting months ago.
posted by jasondigitized at 6:42 AM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Likely interested? I am sure Mueller knew about this meeting months ago.
posted by jasondigitized at 6:42 AM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
I literally cannot imagine Manafort wearing a cardigan.
posted by gucci mane at 6:44 AM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 6:44 AM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Guardian: Manafort held secret talks with Assange in Ecuadorian embassy
There are even more suspicious revelations in the Guardian's scoop:
Also, as if to confirm how badly Manafort's new legal jeopardy has rattled Team Trump—the NYT's Michael Schmidt reports, "The development stunned some people close to the White House, as well as legal experts."—this morning @realDonaldTrump went on a notably lengthy rant about the "Phony Witch Hunt" and "Mueller and his gang of Angry Dems", how "horribly & viciously they are treating people", with baseless accusations about Mueller "doing TREMENDOUS damage to our Criminal Justice System" and repeated complaints about "ruined lives". And then he tacitly calls for a purge of the Special Counsel's office—"Let these terrible people go back to the Clinton Foundation and “Justice” Department!"—just to add to the list of obstruction of justice charges. It's like he's publicly tweeting out his version of Nixon's late-period Watergate Tapes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [33 favorites]
There are even more suspicious revelations in the Guardian's scoop:
Sources have said Manafort went to see Assange in 2013, 2015 and in spring 2016 – during the period when he was made a key figure in Trump’s push for the White House.[...]The upheavals at the UK Ecuadorian embassy lately—the government just removed their pro-Assange ambassador—is clearly shaking loose a lot of information.
Manafort’s first visit to the embassy took place a year after Assange sought asylum inside, two sources said.
A separate internal document written by Ecuador’s Senain intelligence agency and seen by the Guardian lists “Paul Manaford [sic]” as one of several well-known guests. It also mentions “Russians”.
According to two sources, Manafort returned to the embassy in 2015. He paid another visit in spring 2016, turning up alone, around the time Trump named him as his convention manager. The visit is tentatively dated to March.[...]
According to sources, Manafort’s acquaintance with Assange goes back at least five years, to late 2012 or 2013, when the American was working in Ukraine and advising its Moscow-friendly president, Viktor Yanukovych.
Also, as if to confirm how badly Manafort's new legal jeopardy has rattled Team Trump—the NYT's Michael Schmidt reports, "The development stunned some people close to the White House, as well as legal experts."—this morning @realDonaldTrump went on a notably lengthy rant about the "Phony Witch Hunt" and "Mueller and his gang of Angry Dems", how "horribly & viciously they are treating people", with baseless accusations about Mueller "doing TREMENDOUS damage to our Criminal Justice System" and repeated complaints about "ruined lives". And then he tacitly calls for a purge of the Special Counsel's office—"Let these terrible people go back to the Clinton Foundation and “Justice” Department!"—just to add to the list of obstruction of justice charges. It's like he's publicly tweeting out his version of Nixon's late-period Watergate Tapes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [33 favorites]
Politico, The Pathetic Pelosi Putsch:
Dumping a historic figure like Pelosi, the first female speaker, after she weathered a Republican blitzkrieg to help her party win back the House, was always going to be a tall order... But Moulton’s operation has been, to borrow some military jargon, FUBAR. He’s poised to not only lose his battle with the party establishment, but to lose in such humiliating fashion that it could ruin his reputation and douse whatever presidential fires may be burning in his belly.posted by GrammarMoses at 7:17 AM on November 27, 2018 [29 favorites]
Regarding the Manafort-Assange meetings: This story would have the potential to inoculate Jr. and others with respect to “collusion,” wouldn’t it?
(See, it was all him, and he was only on the campaign for a couple of months, and not anyone of any consequence, besides.)
posted by notyou at 7:45 AM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
(See, it was all him, and he was only on the campaign for a couple of months, and not anyone of any consequence, besides.)
posted by notyou at 7:45 AM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
I know I posted it, but I think we should wait for some other news outlets to confirm the Guardian's reporting -- there's a lot of circumlocutions in the reporting, and not a lot of named sources. I'm not sure we can draw any conclusions from it yet.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:47 AM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:47 AM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
Reminder that Manafort is how we got Pence and that Mnuchin was finance chair of the campaign.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
CNN, Business Insider, HuffPost are all picking up Manafort Assange story.
posted by Harry Caul at 7:56 AM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 7:56 AM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
holgate: Ford got ahead of things by taking most of its passenger cars off the US market. This is a shitty reprise of the late 90s and early 00s when GM bet on trucks and SUVs and buying a Hummer for your small business made sense because of the tax break. The revealed preferences here are not great.
And trucks somehow have higher profit margins. Back in 2015, Ford could make as much as $13k profit for every F-150 (Chris Bruce for Auto Blog, Apr 30th 2015)
Doubtful, if increased profit is the driver: GM axes Volt, Cruze, and Impala for North America in cost-cutting move -- GM is cutting jobs and car models despite earning healthy profits. (Timothy B. Lee for Ars Technica, Nov. 26, 2018)
Also, a reminder that there's now (more) blood on the hands of car companies who decide to focus on making light trucks and SUVs over passenger vehicles in light of grim fuel efficiency numbers (Consumer Reports, Last updated: November 14, 2018). Some vehicles are down to the teens for fuel efficiency. I get it, there are definitely uses for trucks and SUVs, but cutting small car production because of "decreased demand" is pretty much saying "we're OK selling marked up trucks and pushing climate change just that much faster, sorry about your flooding, fires and famine. It's stakeholders first, long-term health of the planet ... last?"
[Now I long for AdBusters ads showing gas-guzzling SUVs with one passenger, driving past burnt-out California, and fleeing flooding coastal regions, but in that usual Car Ad Visual of smoothly driving along roads that are otherwise uninhabited. "Enjoy the view -- because it's on you." /enviro-rant]
posted by filthy light thief at 8:03 AM on November 27, 2018 [33 favorites]
And trucks somehow have higher profit margins. Back in 2015, Ford could make as much as $13k profit for every F-150 (Chris Bruce for Auto Blog, Apr 30th 2015)
However, AutoPacific analyst Dave Sullivan suggests these figures could be on the right track, if a bit high. "The rough guess has been $10,000. Obviously that is a little different for a $60k truck vs a regular cab 4x2 work truck, but $10,000 is the ball park that is used," he said to Autoblog.zachlipton: Does GM make up some lies so he can feel like he's "won," as companies liked to do in 2017, or do they just ignore him because you can't bully a car company into opening a factory?
If you ever wonder why Ford might be loathe to bring the smaller Ranger back to the US when it's available elsewhere, these huge profits are likely part of the answer. The Blue Oval has little reason to cut into the sales of a model that makes the brand billions.
Doubtful, if increased profit is the driver: GM axes Volt, Cruze, and Impala for North America in cost-cutting move -- GM is cutting jobs and car models despite earning healthy profits. (Timothy B. Lee for Ars Technica, Nov. 26, 2018)
... GM has positioned itself for these technological shifts by producing the all-electric Bolt and acquiring the startup Cruise (pricetag reported to be "more than $1 billion") to spearhead self-driving car efforts. In its Monday press release, GM positioned its plant closings and layoffs as another part of its modernization effort.And citing "market preference" for vehicles is weaksauce, otherwise why do they spend so much on advertising?
"The actions we are taking today continue our transformation to be highly agile, resilient, and profitable, while giving us the flexibility to invest in the future," GM CEO Mary Barra wrote.
But others had more caustic responses. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) denounced the plant closings—which includes the Lordstown plant in the northeast corner of Brown's state—as "corporate greed at its worst."
GM has been planning to reduce its workforce for several months. Last month, the company offered long-serving salaried employees the option to take a buyout package that was worth six months of pay.
But uptake of that offer was low, so now GM is turning to involuntary layoffs to help achieve the company's goal to reduce annual costs by $6 billion by 2020.
GM is de-emphasizing passenger cars
Along with its staff reductions, GM is also axing several of its passenger cars. According to a GM spokesman who talked to USA Today, GM is discontinuing the Chevy Volt, Impala, and Cruze vehicles for the North American market (the Cruze vehicle is not to be confused with the Cruise technology). The spokesman "declined to say whether the company would sell any of those products in markets outside North America."
GM is stealing a page from Ford's playbook here. Ford announced in August that it would eliminate a bunch of passenger car models and turn Ford into a company that mostly makes pickup trucks and SUVs. These larger vehicles tend to have higher profit margins.
The vehicle changes that GM has announced so far aren't quite as dramatic, but they're a step in the same direction.
Meanwhile, Ford is working on a cost-cutting plan of its own. The company announced last month that it would likely lay off workers, but it has yet to provide specifics about how many jobs would be lost.
Also, a reminder that there's now (more) blood on the hands of car companies who decide to focus on making light trucks and SUVs over passenger vehicles in light of grim fuel efficiency numbers (Consumer Reports, Last updated: November 14, 2018). Some vehicles are down to the teens for fuel efficiency. I get it, there are definitely uses for trucks and SUVs, but cutting small car production because of "decreased demand" is pretty much saying "we're OK selling marked up trucks and pushing climate change just that much faster, sorry about your flooding, fires and famine. It's stakeholders first, long-term health of the planet ... last?"
[Now I long for AdBusters ads showing gas-guzzling SUVs with one passenger, driving past burnt-out California, and fleeing flooding coastal regions, but in that usual Car Ad Visual of smoothly driving along roads that are otherwise uninhabited. "Enjoy the view -- because it's on you." /enviro-rant]
posted by filthy light thief at 8:03 AM on November 27, 2018 [33 favorites]
If Mueller has evidence of these meetings between Manfort and Assange he may well also have evidence that Don Jr. helped planned them and more explicitly was looking for dirt on Clinton or clearly states the quid-pro-quo or something just as damning (like, aside from the stuff Jr. just tweeted out what seems like decades ago.
What we've seen so far is that, as keeps getting quoted, these guys are not very bright and they got in over their heads. So I start with the base assumption that all of these goons are guilty AF and were not all that careful in planning it. They are exactly the kind of people who LOVE the idea of sitting around a darkened room sipping expensive booze and smoking cigars while discussing who they think should be whacked. If you're an idiot that has failed upwards your whole life it's pretty easy to convince yourself that you're smart and that, therefore, you've thought of everything and covered your tracks and you're such a badass little schemer.
I think Manafort was probably the most experienced criminal and was the most careful of the bunch and it seems the Mueller knows about ALL his dirty laundry. Given that Jr. almost certainly talked at length about their scheming in places/over methods of communication he should have known better than to be blab about how good they are at crimes I really doubt he'll fair any better than Manafort.
TL:DR: If they're as dumb as they seem the evidence exists and from what we've seen so far, if the evidence exists Mueller has it.
posted by VTX at 8:10 AM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
What we've seen so far is that, as keeps getting quoted, these guys are not very bright and they got in over their heads. So I start with the base assumption that all of these goons are guilty AF and were not all that careful in planning it. They are exactly the kind of people who LOVE the idea of sitting around a darkened room sipping expensive booze and smoking cigars while discussing who they think should be whacked. If you're an idiot that has failed upwards your whole life it's pretty easy to convince yourself that you're smart and that, therefore, you've thought of everything and covered your tracks and you're such a badass little schemer.
I think Manafort was probably the most experienced criminal and was the most careful of the bunch and it seems the Mueller knows about ALL his dirty laundry. Given that Jr. almost certainly talked at length about their scheming in places/over methods of communication he should have known better than to be blab about how good they are at crimes I really doubt he'll fair any better than Manafort.
TL:DR: If they're as dumb as they seem the evidence exists and from what we've seen so far, if the evidence exists Mueller has it.
posted by VTX at 8:10 AM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
Regarding the Manafort-Assange meetings: This story would have the potential to inoculate Jr. and others with respect to “collusion,” wouldn’t it?
Reminder. The leaders of the Trump Campaign ( Manafort, Junior, Kushner ) illegally met with Russian criminals ( 52 USC 30121 ) in Trump Tower. ( 18 USC 2, 18 USC 371 ), then lied about it ( 18 USC 1001 ).
This was the low-hanging fruit Mueller started with, and it's still relevant, although it appears he's continuing his deep-dive into Manafort, since this whole Manafort leaking false information planted by Mueller's team to Trump, who wrote them down in his written testimony, not to mention the whole Manafort < = > Assange thing is a surprise ( as is everything in the Mueller investigation, but really, I've been watching this close and -- out of nowhere -- this drops. )
I expect some of the hypothetical sealed indictments are for Junior and Kushner
posted by mikelieman at 8:11 AM on November 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
Reminder. The leaders of the Trump Campaign ( Manafort, Junior, Kushner ) illegally met with Russian criminals ( 52 USC 30121 ) in Trump Tower. ( 18 USC 2, 18 USC 371 ), then lied about it ( 18 USC 1001 ).
This was the low-hanging fruit Mueller started with, and it's still relevant, although it appears he's continuing his deep-dive into Manafort, since this whole Manafort leaking false information planted by Mueller's team to Trump, who wrote them down in his written testimony, not to mention the whole Manafort < = > Assange thing is a surprise ( as is everything in the Mueller investigation, but really, I've been watching this close and -- out of nowhere -- this drops. )
I expect some of the hypothetical sealed indictments are for Junior and Kushner
posted by mikelieman at 8:11 AM on November 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
A Wall Street Journal interview on trade shows Trump has no idea what he’s doing - Matthew Yglesias, Vox
Presumably referring to the interview zachlipton linked.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:12 AM on November 27, 2018 [21 favorites]
Presumably referring to the interview zachlipton linked.
He confuses tariffs and interest rates, and invents phantom new steel plants.Oh, joy.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:12 AM on November 27, 2018 [21 favorites]
And citing "market preference" for vehicles is weaksauce, otherwise why do they spend so much on advertising?
Also, a reminder that there's now (more) blood on the hands of car companies who decide to focus on making light trucks and SUVs over passenger vehicles in light of grim fuel efficiency numbers (Consumer Reports, Last updated: November 14, 2018). Some vehicles are down to the teens for fuel efficiency. I get it, there are definitely uses for trucks and SUVs, but cutting small car production because of "decreased demand" is pretty much saying "we're OK selling marked up trucks and pushing climate change just that much faster, sorry about your flooding, fires and famine. It's stakeholders first, long-term health of the planet ... last?"
[Now I long for AdBusters ads showing gas-guzzling SUVs with one passenger, driving past burnt-out California, and fleeing flooding coastal regions, but in that usual Car Ad Visual of smoothly driving along roads that are otherwise uninhabited. "Enjoy the view -- because it's on you." /enviro-rant]
None of this is wrong, per se, but every auto exec I know has been wishing for years for an increase in gas taxes (or some other force to put higher and more predictably priced gas in pumps). Otherwise the small cars built to keep the fleets within fuel efficiency standards end up being sold at a loss, if at all.
If gas is cheap, people buy trucks. You can make all the compact cars you want, but 1: environmentally-minded car-purchasers aren't as big a market as we'd like; 2: they tend to buy foreign; and 3: Americans fucking love gas guzzling trucks.
posted by TheProfessor at 8:13 AM on November 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
Also, a reminder that there's now (more) blood on the hands of car companies who decide to focus on making light trucks and SUVs over passenger vehicles in light of grim fuel efficiency numbers (Consumer Reports, Last updated: November 14, 2018). Some vehicles are down to the teens for fuel efficiency. I get it, there are definitely uses for trucks and SUVs, but cutting small car production because of "decreased demand" is pretty much saying "we're OK selling marked up trucks and pushing climate change just that much faster, sorry about your flooding, fires and famine. It's stakeholders first, long-term health of the planet ... last?"
[Now I long for AdBusters ads showing gas-guzzling SUVs with one passenger, driving past burnt-out California, and fleeing flooding coastal regions, but in that usual Car Ad Visual of smoothly driving along roads that are otherwise uninhabited. "Enjoy the view -- because it's on you." /enviro-rant]
None of this is wrong, per se, but every auto exec I know has been wishing for years for an increase in gas taxes (or some other force to put higher and more predictably priced gas in pumps). Otherwise the small cars built to keep the fleets within fuel efficiency standards end up being sold at a loss, if at all.
If gas is cheap, people buy trucks. You can make all the compact cars you want, but 1: environmentally-minded car-purchasers aren't as big a market as we'd like; 2: they tend to buy foreign; and 3: Americans fucking love gas guzzling trucks.
posted by TheProfessor at 8:13 AM on November 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
CNN, Business Insider, HuffPost are all picking up Manafort Assange story.
Note that those stories are all sourced to the Guardian report. None of those outlets has their own independent reporting to confirm this, nor have they been able to get the Guardian's sources to talk to them directly yet. So those stories are just a vote of confidence in the Guardian's reporting (which seem justified.) We don't have independent confirmation yet.
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:17 AM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Note that those stories are all sourced to the Guardian report. None of those outlets has their own independent reporting to confirm this, nor have they been able to get the Guardian's sources to talk to them directly yet. So those stories are just a vote of confidence in the Guardian's reporting (which seem justified.) We don't have independent confirmation yet.
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:17 AM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Disrupting Fox News Narrative, Geraldo Rivera Blasts Inhumane Treatment of Migrants at Border - Inae Oh, Mother Jones
“These are not invaders. Stop using these military analogies.”posted by ZeusHumms at 8:17 AM on November 27, 2018 [43 favorites]
If gas is cheap, people buy trucks. You can make all the compact cars you want, but 1: environmentally-minded car-purchasers aren't as big a market as we'd like; 2: they tend to buy foreign; and 3: Americans fucking love gas guzzling trucks.
In order to handle climate change, we need top-down regulations. You have to internalize the external costs. So, we need vehicle weight limits, stronger emissions standards, higher gas taxes, and lots of lower-and-middle-class tax incentives for smaller, more efficient vehicles. Also should probably impose lower inter-state speed limits again.
That's the stuff that might be achievable. But in my opinion, climate change isn't going to be resolved until governments start treating it like the crisis it is, which is going to look much more radical. War-time spending. Rationing. Nationalization of important industries. Universal provision of birth-control at no cost and public ad campaigns to reduce the birth rate.
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 8:24 AM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
In order to handle climate change, we need top-down regulations. You have to internalize the external costs. So, we need vehicle weight limits, stronger emissions standards, higher gas taxes, and lots of lower-and-middle-class tax incentives for smaller, more efficient vehicles. Also should probably impose lower inter-state speed limits again.
That's the stuff that might be achievable. But in my opinion, climate change isn't going to be resolved until governments start treating it like the crisis it is, which is going to look much more radical. War-time spending. Rationing. Nationalization of important industries. Universal provision of birth-control at no cost and public ad campaigns to reduce the birth rate.
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 8:24 AM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Mod note: If folks want to peel off a separate thread about GM, vehicle size and climate change, that'd probably be better -- better not to drive off onto that readily-separable subject in here.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:26 AM on November 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:26 AM on November 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
Jake Kanter, Business Insider: Secret Facebook documents show it was warned about a potentially huge data issue involving Russia back in 2014
A Facebook engineer warned in 2014 about a potentially huge data issue involving Russia, according to a lawmaker who reviewed a cache of sealed Facebook documents.posted by OnceUponATime at 8:30 AM on November 27, 2018 [30 favorites]
The engineer reportedly warned that entities with Russian IP addresses used a Pinterest API key to pull over three billion data points a day.
During a hearing on Tuesday, UK lawmaker Damian Collins asked Facebook policy chief Richard Allan if the potential data breach was reported. Allan did not answer.
Following the hearing, Facebook said it investigated the issue and "found no evidence of specific Russian activity."
TPM: We’ve Internalized That Trump Is Like a Mobster, Is a Mobster. A former federal public corruption prosecutor writes to them:
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:34 AM on November 27, 2018 [51 favorites]
Trump and his Congressional allies seem to be getting a pass from the media on his refusal to cooperate with the Mueller investigation by sitting for an interview and/or testifying to the grand jury. It is easy to chalk this up to yet another outrage that, over time, fades in our memories and seems to become the new normal for the pundit class. Instead, the “will he or won’t he” question has become the classic Trumpian reality show cliffhanger that has set the media narrative around this issue. But let’s be really clear about one thing: it is still an outrage and must be described as such. The man is President of the United States, not a mob boss. This should not be a “will he or won’t he” question. The real question should be “why the hell won’t the President of the United States agree to an interview with federal law enforcement”?[...]Trump, of course, has had ties to organized crime throughout his career (Politico) and has lied many, many times about his mobster associations (MoJo)—and that's before he took up with the Russian mafiya.
Instead, we have the President’s party doing nothing to call out the President’s unwillingness to speak to prosecutors and some actively seeking to discredit and derail the investigation. Chuck Todd et al. need to ask every Republican member of Congress, “yes or no, will you call upon the President to sit down for an interview with the Special Counsel or testify to the grand jury? What should Congress do if the President refuses?” We need to get them on the record on this.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:34 AM on November 27, 2018 [51 favorites]
Democrats Learn a Big Lesson for 2020 Vote About Taking on Trump - Sahil Kapur, Bloomberg News
The Democratic Party thinks it’s found a formula that will help it defeat Donald Trump in 2020 - Brad Reed, Raw Story via Salon
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:35 AM on November 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
The Democratic Party thinks it’s found a formula that will help it defeat Donald Trump in 2020 - Brad Reed, Raw Story via Salon
Democratic strategists argue that the best way to defeat President Donald Trump is to ignore him whenever possibleHeh. This reminds me of a song from Lisa Simpson and Paul Anka.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:35 AM on November 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
Things the New York Times thinks you need to know about the Mississippi runoff: "But the senator’s rhetorical gaffes gave Mr. Espy enough of an opening to spook Republicans and offer Democrats a dose of political hope in a state where they have not had much lately." (Emphasis mine)
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 8:38 AM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Flight Hardware, do not touch at 8:38 AM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Democratic strategists argue that the best way to defeat President Donald Trump is to ignore him whenever possible
when pressed, democrats should say "president trump is a matter for law enforcement" and return to talking about their policy agenda
posted by murphy slaw at 8:50 AM on November 27, 2018 [100 favorites]
when pressed, democrats should say "president trump is a matter for law enforcement" and return to talking about their policy agenda
posted by murphy slaw at 8:50 AM on November 27, 2018 [100 favorites]
Democratic strategists argue that the best way to defeat President Donald Trump is to ignore him whenever possible
Sometimes this is not a bad idea. I get so, so sick of all these headlines that say "OMG, the president doesn't know what he's doing! He's not acting presidential!"
posted by Melismata at 8:51 AM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Sometimes this is not a bad idea. I get so, so sick of all these headlines that say "OMG, the president doesn't know what he's doing! He's not acting presidential!"
posted by Melismata at 8:51 AM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
He’s poised to not only lose his battle with the party establishment, but to lose in such humiliating fashion that it could ruin his reputation and douse whatever presidential fires may be burning in his belly.
Good, he absolutely deserves every bit of it. Him being primaried because of it in 2020 (unlikely, I know) would be icing on the cake.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:57 AM on November 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
Good, he absolutely deserves every bit of it. Him being primaried because of it in 2020 (unlikely, I know) would be icing on the cake.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:57 AM on November 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
FOIA requests by the Sierra Club show that Fox provided Scott Pruitt interview questions ahead of time and submitted show scripts for approval, ‘Fox & Friends’ Fed Interview Script to Trump’s EPA Chief, Emails Show:
“Every American journalist knows that to provide scripts or articles to the government for review before publication or broadcast is a cardinal sin. It’s Journalism 101,” said David Hawkins, a CBS News and CNN veteran who teaches journalism at Fordham University. “This is worse than that. It would and should get you fired from any news organization with integrity.”posted by peeedro at 9:15 AM on November 27, 2018 [58 favorites]
"But the senator’s rhetorical gaffes gave Mr. Espy enough of an opening to spook Republicans and offer Democrats a dose of political hope in a state where they have not had much lately." (Emphasis mine)
They must have realized and edited further; at least when I just opened it, the article appears currently to use the word "worry" rather than "spook."
posted by solotoro at 9:20 AM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
They must have realized and edited further; at least when I just opened it, the article appears currently to use the word "worry" rather than "spook."
posted by solotoro at 9:20 AM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Chuck Todd et al. need to ask every Republican member of Congress, “
When this is the solution, we've already lost. Chuck Todd, the same Chuck Todd that has on 80%+ Republicans every single week, and brings on Erick Ericson to cover for school shooters after a school shooting, will never save us. He's explicitly paid not to even try, along with every other cable news host outside of the MSNBC late night lineup.
Cable news created Trump. They worked tirelessly to elect Trump. They're working to cover for Trump's crimes every day. They will work to reelect him and work to undermine and attack the 2020 Democratic nominee exactly like they did to Clinton. They want more Trump, and no one else but Trump to ever hold power. Trump sells ads. That's all they care about.
Changing that reality requires acknowledging that it is true.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:23 AM on November 27, 2018 [53 favorites]
When this is the solution, we've already lost. Chuck Todd, the same Chuck Todd that has on 80%+ Republicans every single week, and brings on Erick Ericson to cover for school shooters after a school shooting, will never save us. He's explicitly paid not to even try, along with every other cable news host outside of the MSNBC late night lineup.
Cable news created Trump. They worked tirelessly to elect Trump. They're working to cover for Trump's crimes every day. They will work to reelect him and work to undermine and attack the 2020 Democratic nominee exactly like they did to Clinton. They want more Trump, and no one else but Trump to ever hold power. Trump sells ads. That's all they care about.
Changing that reality requires acknowledging that it is true.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:23 AM on November 27, 2018 [53 favorites]
Likely interested? I am sure Mueller knew about this meeting months ago.
The world-wide intelligence community knew about this meeting, months ago.
I went to London for work this summer, and after stopping at Harrods (seriously, the most impressive shopping experience of my life, I've never a place like that in The States), I (apparently) walked by the Ecuadorian embassy, which is like a block over. I was actually lost on my way back to the Knightsbridge tube station.
I say "apparently" because I didn't realize I had walked by it at the time, and I looked up my route later. But what I did realize was that there was some cop looking dudes just kinda hanging around on a quiet street. There was some sort of minor terrorist incident that week (guy drove his car into the front gate of Parliament or something), so I thought it might have been some plain clothes dudes related to that.
Anyway, I'm just a SoCal techbro on my way from shopping to the Tottenham/Fulham match at Wembley, and I'm sure I'm in some report somewhere. If I were someone who had worked elections in Ukraine and had been an American lobbyist, I'd have to be a fucking moron to think no one would notice all the times I visited the embassy with a self-imposed exiled famous dude. If Manafort is getting popped for lying that that, I cannot believe that anybody could be so stupid.
posted by sideshow at 9:31 AM on November 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
The world-wide intelligence community knew about this meeting, months ago.
I went to London for work this summer, and after stopping at Harrods (seriously, the most impressive shopping experience of my life, I've never a place like that in The States), I (apparently) walked by the Ecuadorian embassy, which is like a block over. I was actually lost on my way back to the Knightsbridge tube station.
I say "apparently" because I didn't realize I had walked by it at the time, and I looked up my route later. But what I did realize was that there was some cop looking dudes just kinda hanging around on a quiet street. There was some sort of minor terrorist incident that week (guy drove his car into the front gate of Parliament or something), so I thought it might have been some plain clothes dudes related to that.
Anyway, I'm just a SoCal techbro on my way from shopping to the Tottenham/Fulham match at Wembley, and I'm sure I'm in some report somewhere. If I were someone who had worked elections in Ukraine and had been an American lobbyist, I'd have to be a fucking moron to think no one would notice all the times I visited the embassy with a self-imposed exiled famous dude. If Manafort is getting popped for lying that that, I cannot believe that anybody could be so stupid.
posted by sideshow at 9:31 AM on November 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
Cable news created Trump.
Did Fox News prompt Trump to have refugees tear gassed at the border? - Amanda Marcotte, Salon
Did Fox News prompt Trump to have refugees tear gassed at the border? - Amanda Marcotte, Salon
Fox News needs to be singled out here. Sure, most of the mainstream media is guilty of amplifying Trump's racist delusions about the refugees, reflexively giving the story undue levels of coverage because the president spent the weeks leading up to the midterm election strategically throwing public fits over a few thousand people seeking passage into a country of 326 million people. But with Fox News, there's reason to believe the causality flows in the other direction — Trump isn't manipulating them as much as they are manipulating him, and it's quite likely that helped lead to this human rights crisis.posted by ZeusHumms at 9:41 AM on November 27, 2018 [47 favorites]
Without Trump's meltdowns driving the story, most media outlets largely dropped the migrant caravan story after the election. But Fox News has kept up the pressure, devoting endless amounts of coverage in the weeks after the election to convincing viewers, including Trump, that these refugees are actually a criminal invading army out to destroy us all. On Saturday night, Ann Coulter even went so far as to appear on one of Trump's favorite Fox News shows and, knowing full well Trump was likely watching, argued that the government should "go one yard into Mexico" in order to shoot at migrants, in order to evade laws forbidding soldiers to shoot civilians on U.S. soil.
Within 24 hours, Trump's government fulfilled Coulter's request, firing tear gas into Mexico. It may not have been the bullets that Coulter was clearly asking for, but this is still beyond alarming. A Fox News personality asked for Trump to cross an international border to lash out violently at the refugees, and somehow her wish was (mostly) granted.
What You Do To Survive, Abigail Nussbaum
Wow. We’re really doing this? OK then.posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:50 AM on November 27, 2018 [195 favorites]
My grandfather, Herbert Nussbaum (1910-1970) was the son of a prosperous merchant in Dortmund, Germany. In 1937-8 he got into trouble fighting brown-shirts, and his father was advised to get the boy out of Germany.
Herbert and a friend made their way to Holland, presumably because that’s where they could get to. Not sure whether crossing the border was illegal, but working in Holland almost certainly was. But they had little money and no way out of Europe.
...
But the important point is: my grandfather lied, cheated, manipulated, and broke multiple laws in his efforts to get out of Europe before WWII. And if he hadn’t done that, he would have died, and I wouldn’t exist.
...
So if you’re trying to pretend that the survival of your relatives in the Holocaust had anything to do with them calmly obeying the law and abiding by immigration rules, I’d like to invite you, on behalf of all my ancestors, the ones who escaped and the ones who died, to fuck off
Could This Be the Week the Indictments Drop? - Ian Masters had a good conversation yesterday with David Halperin, a senior fellow at Republic Report who was a special assistant for national security affairs to President Clinton and counsel to the Senate Intelligence Committee. (After a 1 min. intro)
posted by growabrain at 9:59 AM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 9:59 AM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
“This is worse than that. It would and should get you fired from any news organization with integrity.”
I think I see your problem right there.
Democrats Learn a Big Lesson for 2020 Vote About Taking on Trump - Sahil Kapur, Bloomberg News
It's not just Trump. Frank Luntz lives on, and we, like the sheep we are, keep accepting his framing. saysthis's comment on another thread argues eloquently for overturning the framing that the GOP has used to beat us up for a couple of decades. One example is "job-killing regulations," a framing used frequently by not only Trump, but basically the entire GOP. You can't say "regulations" anymore without the phrase "job-killing" popping out of your subconscious. Same with "death taxes," "entitlements," "illegal aliens," and "radical Islam." They've burrowed into our collective brains without significant pushback.
So in addition to ignoring Donald, we need to expand that idea to ignoring all the emotional framing pushed by the GOP and using our own chosen framing with equal emotional impact, yet based on reality. For example, all regulations provide protection, generally to ordinary people. They prevent you from getting sick and injured, make it harder for criminals and unscrupulous businesses (but I repeat myself) to take your money, make sure your kids get a useful education, and protect your access to the commons like healthy food, clean air, safe roads, beautiful parks, and recreational waterways. They're protections, and we need to call them that every time we talk about regulations (and avoid that word). We also need to talk about what they do for "you," not about some vague entities like "citizens" or "folks."
LIkewise, not "entitlements," but "earned benefits." Not "death taxes," but "fair shares." Not "illegal aliens" or "undocumented immigrants," but simply "immigrants" and "refugees." Not "radical Islam," but "fellow religious people." Etc. We need to examine the emotional content that motivates our policies and philosophies and craft short, simple, clear statements of that impact directly addressing those who benefit. Then we need to discipline ourselves to use that framing every time we speak.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:36 AM on November 27, 2018 [65 favorites]
I think I see your problem right there.
Democrats Learn a Big Lesson for 2020 Vote About Taking on Trump - Sahil Kapur, Bloomberg News
It's not just Trump. Frank Luntz lives on, and we, like the sheep we are, keep accepting his framing. saysthis's comment on another thread argues eloquently for overturning the framing that the GOP has used to beat us up for a couple of decades. One example is "job-killing regulations," a framing used frequently by not only Trump, but basically the entire GOP. You can't say "regulations" anymore without the phrase "job-killing" popping out of your subconscious. Same with "death taxes," "entitlements," "illegal aliens," and "radical Islam." They've burrowed into our collective brains without significant pushback.
So in addition to ignoring Donald, we need to expand that idea to ignoring all the emotional framing pushed by the GOP and using our own chosen framing with equal emotional impact, yet based on reality. For example, all regulations provide protection, generally to ordinary people. They prevent you from getting sick and injured, make it harder for criminals and unscrupulous businesses (but I repeat myself) to take your money, make sure your kids get a useful education, and protect your access to the commons like healthy food, clean air, safe roads, beautiful parks, and recreational waterways. They're protections, and we need to call them that every time we talk about regulations (and avoid that word). We also need to talk about what they do for "you," not about some vague entities like "citizens" or "folks."
LIkewise, not "entitlements," but "earned benefits." Not "death taxes," but "fair shares." Not "illegal aliens" or "undocumented immigrants," but simply "immigrants" and "refugees." Not "radical Islam," but "fellow religious people." Etc. We need to examine the emotional content that motivates our policies and philosophies and craft short, simple, clear statements of that impact directly addressing those who benefit. Then we need to discipline ourselves to use that framing every time we speak.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:36 AM on November 27, 2018 [65 favorites]
AP: Desert detention camp for migrant kids still growing
By Monday, 2,349 largely Central American boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 17 were sleeping inside the highly guarded facility in rows of bunk beds in canvas tents...More people are detained than Tornillo’s tent city than in all but one of the nation’s 204 federal prisons, yet construction here continues. [...]
An Associated Press investigation has found that the camp’s rapid growth has created problems, including:
— Costs appear to be soaring more than 50 percent higher than the government has disclosed: What began as an emergency, 30-day shelter has transformed into a vast tent city that could cost taxpayers more than $430 million.
— The government is allowing the nonprofit running the tent city to sidestep mental health care requirements: Under federal policy, migrant youth shelters generally must have one mental health clinician for every 12 kids, but shelter officials told AP the facility has just one mental health clinician for every 50 kids.
— Federal plans to close Tornillo by New Years’ Eve will be nearly impossible to meet: There aren’t 2,300 extra beds in other facilities. A contract obtained by AP shows the project could continue into 2020 and planned closures have already been extended three times since this summer.
Tornillo’s teens were not separated from their families at the border this summer, but they’re held there because federal immigration policies have resulted in the detention of a record 14,000 migrant children, filling shelter beds around the country to capacity. Almost all came on their own from Central America hoping to join family members in the United States.[...]
The nonprofit social service agency contracted to run Tornillo says it is proud of its work. It says it is operating the facility with the same precision and care used for shelters put up after natural disasters.[...]
Annunciation House director Ruben Garcia, whose El Paso nonprofit works with recent immigrants, said Tornillo is far more secretive than other government shelters, where he and his staff are routinely allowed inside. At Tornillo workers must sign non-disclosure agreements and visitors are rarely allowed.
“What’s happening inside? Nobody knows. They cannot speak about what they see,” he said. “We’ve been doing this work for 20 years and we’ve never seen anything like this.” [...]
BCFS, a San Antonio nonprofit, runs Tornillo as it operates evacuation centers for hurricanes: there’s food, first aid, activities and rows of bunk beds, but no normal-life activities for stressed-out teens, like formal school or unsupervised stretches. [...]
BCFS confirmed that the current ratio of mental-health clinicians to children is 1 to 50, and said that each child sees a mental health specialist every day.
--------
So, a few things:
1. these children have committed no crime (not that it would all be ok if they had)
2. this facility is set up for emergency disaster relief, not long term housing. These kids don't have any educational structure in their life.
3. it is run by a non-profit, which is fucked up
4. each of these kids supposedly sees a mental health professional once a day, and there is one professional for every 50 kids. so if they put in an 8 hour work day, that's less than 10 minutes per kid on average.
5. at the end of the article, they basically say people have lost interest in this story and stopped protesting.
posted by Emmy Rae at 10:48 AM on November 27, 2018 [71 favorites]
By Monday, 2,349 largely Central American boys and girls between the ages of 13 and 17 were sleeping inside the highly guarded facility in rows of bunk beds in canvas tents...More people are detained than Tornillo’s tent city than in all but one of the nation’s 204 federal prisons, yet construction here continues. [...]
An Associated Press investigation has found that the camp’s rapid growth has created problems, including:
— Costs appear to be soaring more than 50 percent higher than the government has disclosed: What began as an emergency, 30-day shelter has transformed into a vast tent city that could cost taxpayers more than $430 million.
— The government is allowing the nonprofit running the tent city to sidestep mental health care requirements: Under federal policy, migrant youth shelters generally must have one mental health clinician for every 12 kids, but shelter officials told AP the facility has just one mental health clinician for every 50 kids.
— Federal plans to close Tornillo by New Years’ Eve will be nearly impossible to meet: There aren’t 2,300 extra beds in other facilities. A contract obtained by AP shows the project could continue into 2020 and planned closures have already been extended three times since this summer.
Tornillo’s teens were not separated from their families at the border this summer, but they’re held there because federal immigration policies have resulted in the detention of a record 14,000 migrant children, filling shelter beds around the country to capacity. Almost all came on their own from Central America hoping to join family members in the United States.[...]
The nonprofit social service agency contracted to run Tornillo says it is proud of its work. It says it is operating the facility with the same precision and care used for shelters put up after natural disasters.[...]
Annunciation House director Ruben Garcia, whose El Paso nonprofit works with recent immigrants, said Tornillo is far more secretive than other government shelters, where he and his staff are routinely allowed inside. At Tornillo workers must sign non-disclosure agreements and visitors are rarely allowed.
“What’s happening inside? Nobody knows. They cannot speak about what they see,” he said. “We’ve been doing this work for 20 years and we’ve never seen anything like this.” [...]
BCFS, a San Antonio nonprofit, runs Tornillo as it operates evacuation centers for hurricanes: there’s food, first aid, activities and rows of bunk beds, but no normal-life activities for stressed-out teens, like formal school or unsupervised stretches. [...]
BCFS confirmed that the current ratio of mental-health clinicians to children is 1 to 50, and said that each child sees a mental health specialist every day.
--------
So, a few things:
1. these children have committed no crime (not that it would all be ok if they had)
2. this facility is set up for emergency disaster relief, not long term housing. These kids don't have any educational structure in their life.
3. it is run by a non-profit, which is fucked up
4. each of these kids supposedly sees a mental health professional once a day, and there is one professional for every 50 kids. so if they put in an 8 hour work day, that's less than 10 minutes per kid on average.
5. at the end of the article, they basically say people have lost interest in this story and stopped protesting.
posted by Emmy Rae at 10:48 AM on November 27, 2018 [71 favorites]
argued that the government should "go one yard into Mexico" in order to shoot at migrants, in order to evade laws forbidding soldiers to shoot civilians on U.S. soil.
Of course, there's also the pesky little matter of what it means for one nation's military to enter another nation uninvited, but you do you, Ann Coulter.
posted by Rykey at 10:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
Of course, there's also the pesky little matter of what it means for one nation's military to enter another nation uninvited, but you do you, Ann Coulter.
posted by Rykey at 10:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
Who's the Mystery Man Behind the Latest Pelosi Putsch? It's Mark Penn
posted by octothorpe at 10:59 AM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 10:59 AM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
“What’s happening inside? Nobody knows. They cannot speak about what they see,” he said. “We’ve been doing this work for 20 years and we’ve never seen anything like this.”
Yes, it is unspeakable. All of it.
The concentration camps are becoming the concentration camps they were all along.
I am going to want names for every person responsible for this. I’m going to want to see them all in prison. Every single one.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:01 AM on November 27, 2018 [78 favorites]
Yes, it is unspeakable. All of it.
The concentration camps are becoming the concentration camps they were all along.
I am going to want names for every person responsible for this. I’m going to want to see them all in prison. Every single one.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:01 AM on November 27, 2018 [78 favorites]
At Tornillo workers must sign non-disclosure agreements
Then the question needs to be asked, repeatedly, what are they hiding?
If not the mere fact that they're keeping thousands of kids in a concentration camps, what are they hiding?
posted by Gelatin at 11:09 AM on November 27, 2018 [36 favorites]
Then the question needs to be asked, repeatedly, what are they hiding?
If not the mere fact that they're keeping thousands of kids in a concentration camps, what are they hiding?
posted by Gelatin at 11:09 AM on November 27, 2018 [36 favorites]
I am going to want names for every person responsible for this. I’m going to want to see them all in prison. Every single one.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:01 AM on November 27
[12 favorites +] [!]
1. I agree with this.
2. I think a barrage of postcards to the facility outlining the punishments meted out at the Nuremberg trials might also be an option.
3. Or like the plowshares protestors used to do, chain ourselves to the fences.
4. It’s harder and harder to be an American living abroad.
posted by From Bklyn at 11:22 AM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 11:01 AM on November 27
[12 favorites +] [!]
1. I agree with this.
2. I think a barrage of postcards to the facility outlining the punishments meted out at the Nuremberg trials might also be an option.
3. Or like the plowshares protestors used to do, chain ourselves to the fences.
4. It’s harder and harder to be an American living abroad.
posted by From Bklyn at 11:22 AM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Trump brags, ‘I blow Ronald Reagan away’
posted by kirkaracha at 11:24 AM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
President Trump believes that his long list of achievements in office make him “far greater than Ronald Reagan.”Ceterum autem censeo Trumpem esse delendam
In a new book out Tuesday about his “enemies,” the president said that while he feels “I blow Ronald Reagan away,” the “fake news” media is robbing him of bragging rights by ignoring his successes and focusing on his problems.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:24 AM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Obviously, the underlying problem here is that these children are being separated and detained, period
For clarity, the children in this tent city have not been separated from their parents. They arrived here alone planning to meet relatives already in the US.
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:25 AM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
For clarity, the children in this tent city have not been separated from their parents. They arrived here alone planning to meet relatives already in the US.
posted by Emmy Rae at 11:25 AM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
One example is "job-killing regulations," a framing used frequently by not only Trump, but basically the entire GOP. You can't say "regulations" anymore without the phrase "job-killing" popping out of your subconscious.”
I prefer “life-saving regulations” and “liberty-preserving regulations” and “common-sense regulations”. Make the other guy fight against life, liberty and common sense.
Also, I have many times specifically pushed back on the “death taxes” bullshit, along the lines of:
“There’s no such thing as a death tax. Dead people aren’t taxed, because dead people don’t have legal ownership of anything anymore. Do you mean the Aristocracy Tax? Because that’s what Estate and Inheritance Taxes are.
The federal Estate Tax taxes a residual estate — which, again, is not owned anymore by the deceased — and only on that value above a million dollars.
Or are you talking about state Inheritance Tax? Because that taxes living people on the money they receive from inheritances, and it only kicks in after the first two million.
Or do you prefer our country having a built-in hereditary aristocracy?”
posted by darkstar at 11:27 AM on November 27, 2018 [53 favorites]
I prefer “life-saving regulations” and “liberty-preserving regulations” and “common-sense regulations”. Make the other guy fight against life, liberty and common sense.
Also, I have many times specifically pushed back on the “death taxes” bullshit, along the lines of:
“There’s no such thing as a death tax. Dead people aren’t taxed, because dead people don’t have legal ownership of anything anymore. Do you mean the Aristocracy Tax? Because that’s what Estate and Inheritance Taxes are.
The federal Estate Tax taxes a residual estate — which, again, is not owned anymore by the deceased — and only on that value above a million dollars.
Or are you talking about state Inheritance Tax? Because that taxes living people on the money they receive from inheritances, and it only kicks in after the first two million.
Or do you prefer our country having a built-in hereditary aristocracy?”
posted by darkstar at 11:27 AM on November 27, 2018 [53 favorites]
Guardian:
The White House is preventing the CIA director, Gina Haspel, or any other intelligence official from briefing the Senate on the murder of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi.posted by Chrysostom at 11:30 AM on November 27, 2018 [50 favorites]
and only on that value above a million dollars.
One million certainly sounds reasonable, doesn't it?
But no! It was not enough for the rich.
It WAS well over five million.
Now it's ten.
That giant tax cut to the children of the ultra rich, paid for by capping state and local tax deductions! Middle class homeowners in California and New York get to pay for it!
I speculate (with no evidence) that that is part of why OC went blue.
posted by flaterik at 11:42 AM on November 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
One million certainly sounds reasonable, doesn't it?
But no! It was not enough for the rich.
It WAS well over five million.
Now it's ten.
That giant tax cut to the children of the ultra rich, paid for by capping state and local tax deductions! Middle class homeowners in California and New York get to pay for it!
I speculate (with no evidence) that that is part of why OC went blue.
posted by flaterik at 11:42 AM on November 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
The White House is preventing the CIA director, Gina Haspel, or any other intelligence official from briefing the Senate on the murder of Saudi dissident and Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi.
The proper response from the Senate -- to any president -- should be "oh, okay. Then we'll resume confirming your judges just as soon as you send Haspel over."
posted by Gelatin at 11:44 AM on November 27, 2018 [40 favorites]
The proper response from the Senate -- to any president -- should be "oh, okay. Then we'll resume confirming your judges just as soon as you send Haspel over."
posted by Gelatin at 11:44 AM on November 27, 2018 [40 favorites]
Middle class homeowners in California and New York get to pay for it!
Illinois too. Over here in IL-6 we managed to kick Peter Roskam* out of office over it.
* Roskam served on Ways and Means and helped write the SALT cap. Karma is a BITCH.
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:45 AM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Illinois too. Over here in IL-6 we managed to kick Peter Roskam* out of office over it.
* Roskam served on Ways and Means and helped write the SALT cap. Karma is a BITCH.
posted by JoeZydeco at 11:45 AM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
In case you weren't sure if there was a Blue Wave a few weeks ago: Democrats smash Watergate record for House popular vote in midterms (38 seats gained with two more pickups looking more likely)
Update: 39
posted by gwint at 11:47 AM on November 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Update: 39
posted by gwint at 11:47 AM on November 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Carl Bernstein, writing for CNN: Mueller Investigating 2017 Meeting Between Manafort and Ecuador's President "Special counsel Robert Mueller's team has been investigating a meeting between former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno in Quito in 2017 and has specifically asked if WikiLeaks or its founder, Julian Assange, were discussed in the meeting, a source with personal knowledge of the matter tells CNN."
TMP's Josh Marshall notes "Manafort arrived in Ecuador the same Day Trump Fired Comey!" and "Before traveling to Ecuador to meet with the president elect Moreno on May 9 2017, Manafort set up a cell phone and email address, both under an alias."
Incidentally, Giuliani was on CNN this morning, for some reason. Basically, he tried to amplify @realDonaldTrump's latest talking points while reassuring Paulie that Donnie "has been upset for weeks about what he considers the un-American, horrible treatment of Manafort." Rudy also told the NY Daily News that “Pardons are never really ruled out” as far as Trump and Manafort go.
And Wikileaks has started a GoFundMe project to sue the Guardian over their Manafort-Assange scoop, which they claim is an "entirely fabricated story", which is presumably their translation from the Trumpian "fake news".
@nycsouthpaw points out that The Guardian has softened its story somewhat since publication. (This is mainly to reflect their sourcing and confirmation thereof.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
TMP's Josh Marshall notes "Manafort arrived in Ecuador the same Day Trump Fired Comey!" and "Before traveling to Ecuador to meet with the president elect Moreno on May 9 2017, Manafort set up a cell phone and email address, both under an alias."
Incidentally, Giuliani was on CNN this morning, for some reason. Basically, he tried to amplify @realDonaldTrump's latest talking points while reassuring Paulie that Donnie "has been upset for weeks about what he considers the un-American, horrible treatment of Manafort." Rudy also told the NY Daily News that “Pardons are never really ruled out” as far as Trump and Manafort go.
And Wikileaks has started a GoFundMe project to sue the Guardian over their Manafort-Assange scoop, which they claim is an "entirely fabricated story", which is presumably their translation from the Trumpian "fake news".
@nycsouthpaw points out that The Guardian has softened its story somewhat since publication. (This is mainly to reflect their sourcing and confirmation thereof.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
For clarity, the children in this tent city have not been separated from their parents. They arrived here alone planning to meet relatives already in the US.
This is a distinction without a difference. There are relatives that they are trying to meet and being kept separate from because they are being detained.
posted by runcibleshaw at 11:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
This is a distinction without a difference. There are relatives that they are trying to meet and being kept separate from because they are being detained.
posted by runcibleshaw at 11:49 AM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
LIkewise, not "entitlements," but "earned benefits." Not "death taxes," but "fair shares." Not "illegal aliens" or "undocumented immigrants," but simply "immigrants" and "refugees." Not "radical Islam," but "fellow religious people." Etc. We need to examine the emotional content that motivates our policies and philosophies and craft short, simple, clear statements of that impact directly addressing those who benefit. Then we need to discipline ourselves to use that framing every time we speak.
If we have to talk about their topics, it is best to use our own framing and locutions. But in a larger sense, if we're battling to reframe, we've lost the first war already. Agenda setting is more powerful than framing: instead of pushing "earned benefits" vs "entitlements," we should be shifting the agenda altogether -- eg, to debates about whether universal healthcare is a fundamental right, or just pragmatically cheaper than the current system. Reframing is a rear-guard action since you're still debating their chosen issues, and they've usually chosen those issues because they are inherently beneficial to their side. Much better to instead attack on an entirely different flank and change the whole conversation to topics where they are fighting to reframe your ideas.
posted by chortly at 11:54 AM on November 27, 2018 [41 favorites]
If we have to talk about their topics, it is best to use our own framing and locutions. But in a larger sense, if we're battling to reframe, we've lost the first war already. Agenda setting is more powerful than framing: instead of pushing "earned benefits" vs "entitlements," we should be shifting the agenda altogether -- eg, to debates about whether universal healthcare is a fundamental right, or just pragmatically cheaper than the current system. Reframing is a rear-guard action since you're still debating their chosen issues, and they've usually chosen those issues because they are inherently beneficial to their side. Much better to instead attack on an entirely different flank and change the whole conversation to topics where they are fighting to reframe your ideas.
posted by chortly at 11:54 AM on November 27, 2018 [41 favorites]
@pdmcleod: Mitch McConnell says he will continue to block the Senate bill to protect the Mueller investigation. "This is a solution in search of a problem. The president is not going to fire Robert Mueller."
This comes a few hours after McConnell's #2, whip Cornyn said it was possible the Senate could vote on the bill.
posted by zachlipton at 12:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
This comes a few hours after McConnell's #2, whip Cornyn said it was possible the Senate could vote on the bill.
posted by zachlipton at 12:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
> I speculate (with no evidence) that that is part of why OC went blue.
It didn't help, but I don't recall much being made of it around here. I believe Rohrbacher voted against the tax bill, but it wasn't enough to save him.
posted by Horselover Fat at 12:09 PM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
It didn't help, but I don't recall much being made of it around here. I believe Rohrbacher voted against the tax bill, but it wasn't enough to save him.
posted by Horselover Fat at 12:09 PM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
> "This is a solution in search of a problem. The president is not going to fire Robert Mueller."
And of course, after he fires Mueller, Shitstain McTurtle will be quoted with something like "This bill is no longer relevant because why would you want to lock the barn doors now?"
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:09 PM on November 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
And of course, after he fires Mueller, Shitstain McTurtle will be quoted with something like "This bill is no longer relevant because why would you want to lock the barn doors now?"
posted by RedOrGreen at 12:09 PM on November 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
@pdmcleod: Mitch McConnell says he will continue to block the Senate bill to protect the Mueller investigation. "This is a solution in search of a problem. The president is not going to fire Robert Mueller."
I wonder, if the President of the United States had made 211 arguments that Mitch McConnell should have a pie thrown in his face, whether Mitch McConnell would be so determined to block the Do Not Throw a Pie in Mitch McConnell's Face Bill.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 12:40 PM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
I wonder, if the President of the United States had made 211 arguments that Mitch McConnell should have a pie thrown in his face, whether Mitch McConnell would be so determined to block the Do Not Throw a Pie in Mitch McConnell's Face Bill.
posted by J.K. Seazer at 12:40 PM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Jim Acosta reports "Manafort:“This story is totally false and deliberately libelous. I have never met Julian Assange or anyone connected to him. I have never been contacted by anyone connected to Wikileaks either directly or indirectly. I have never reached out to Assange or Wikileaks on any matter""
posted by Devonian at 12:40 PM on November 27, 2018
posted by Devonian at 12:40 PM on November 27, 2018
I believe Rohrbacher voted against the tax bill, but it wasn't enough to save him.
He actually managed to vote both ways on it -- he was an Aye on the House bill that went to the Senate (spending bills have to start in the House), but was a No on the compromise bill that came back.
posted by notyou at 12:45 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
He actually managed to vote both ways on it -- he was an Aye on the House bill that went to the Senate (spending bills have to start in the House), but was a No on the compromise bill that came back.
posted by notyou at 12:45 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
"This is a solution in search of a problem. The president is not going to fire Robert Mueller."
And of course, after he fires Mueller, Shitstain McTurtle will be quoted with something like "This bill is no longer relevant because why would you want to lock the barn doors now?"
He might go with his Garland tactic and just refuse to acknowledge that there ever was a special counsel.
posted by Etrigan at 12:46 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
And of course, after he fires Mueller, Shitstain McTurtle will be quoted with something like "This bill is no longer relevant because why would you want to lock the barn doors now?"
He might go with his Garland tactic and just refuse to acknowledge that there ever was a special counsel.
posted by Etrigan at 12:46 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
I have never met Julian Assange or anyone connected to him. I have never been contacted by anyone connected to Wikileaks either directly or indirectly
Roger Stone is connected to WikiLeaks, and Manafort used to run a lobbying firm with him!
posted by OnceUponATime at 12:47 PM on November 27, 2018 [39 favorites]
Roger Stone is connected to WikiLeaks, and Manafort used to run a lobbying firm with him!
posted by OnceUponATime at 12:47 PM on November 27, 2018 [39 favorites]
I wonder, if the President of the United States had made 211 arguments that Mitch McConnell should have a pie thrown in his face, whether Mitch McConnell would be so determined to block the Do Not Throw a Pie in Mitch McConnell's Face Bill.
It's important to remember that Mitch McConnell isn't arguing in good faith -- and deliberately so, as a demonstration of power. Here he's signalling that he will continue to participate in Trump's cover-up by withholding, himself, any protection for the Mueller probe. I'm sure he hopes to keep his caucus in line with this demonstration of power. I suspect, though, that such tactics will work less well in Federal prison.
Jim Acosta reports "Manafort:“This story is totally false and deliberately libelous.
Public complaints about libel are easy. Winning a case is hard.
posted by Gelatin at 12:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
It's important to remember that Mitch McConnell isn't arguing in good faith -- and deliberately so, as a demonstration of power. Here he's signalling that he will continue to participate in Trump's cover-up by withholding, himself, any protection for the Mueller probe. I'm sure he hopes to keep his caucus in line with this demonstration of power. I suspect, though, that such tactics will work less well in Federal prison.
Jim Acosta reports "Manafort:“This story is totally false and deliberately libelous.
Public complaints about libel are easy. Winning a case is hard.
posted by Gelatin at 12:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
I have never met Julian Assange or anyone connected to him. I have never been contacted by anyone connected to Wikileaks either directly or indirectly
Sarah Kendzior: "Off the top of my head, people with whom Manafort met who are connected with Assange and/or Wikileaks: Donald Trump Jr, Roger Stone, Jared Kushner, Oleg Deripaska, Dana Rohrabacher..."
Roger Stone is connected to WikiLeaks, and Manafort used to run a lobbying firm with him!
And, per the Daily Beast, Roger Stone Convinced Trump to Hire Paul Manafort, Former Officials Say—The former Trump adviser, who disliked first campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, helped seal the deal to get Paul Manafort on board in 2016, according to former Trump officials.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:54 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Sarah Kendzior: "Off the top of my head, people with whom Manafort met who are connected with Assange and/or Wikileaks: Donald Trump Jr, Roger Stone, Jared Kushner, Oleg Deripaska, Dana Rohrabacher..."
Roger Stone is connected to WikiLeaks, and Manafort used to run a lobbying firm with him!
And, per the Daily Beast, Roger Stone Convinced Trump to Hire Paul Manafort, Former Officials Say—The former Trump adviser, who disliked first campaign manager Corey Lewandowski, helped seal the deal to get Paul Manafort on board in 2016, according to former Trump officials.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:54 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Please delete if a double. This is from the Leopards Eating their Faces Dept. "Saved GM & this is the thanks we get."
posted by yoga at 12:55 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by yoga at 12:55 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hahaha holy shit Jared is definitely on tape somewhere discussing, with lots of foreknowledge, that particular murder
I've been watching David Ignatius' columns because he's stayed on the Khashoggi beat and he's a conduit for CIA leaks, and today's was a doozy. It's all palace intrigue about the power struggle within the Saudi royal family, but he does bring up Kushner and the suspicious timing of his visit to MBS and the internal coup of MBS's enemies being imprisoned in the Ritz-Carlton. Ignatius paints a picture of extreme paranoia within the kingdom where royals are spying on each other, hacking cell phones, and "surveillance devices hidden in ashtrays and other items were scattered around palaces in Riyadh to pick up political plots and gossip," so lordy there might be tapes. Ignatius closes out with an ominous comparison between Riyadh under MBS and Bagdad under Saddam Hussein; he carries a lot of water for the CIA (eg Iraq War) so I'm guessing he didn't come up with that assessment on his own.
Also, along those lines, negotiations continue for the Saudis to buy US nuclear reactors, but the hitch according to the NYTimes is that they want control over the fuel production which would allow them to divert it to a covert weapons project.
posted by peeedro at 12:59 PM on November 27, 2018 [23 favorites]
I've been watching David Ignatius' columns because he's stayed on the Khashoggi beat and he's a conduit for CIA leaks, and today's was a doozy. It's all palace intrigue about the power struggle within the Saudi royal family, but he does bring up Kushner and the suspicious timing of his visit to MBS and the internal coup of MBS's enemies being imprisoned in the Ritz-Carlton. Ignatius paints a picture of extreme paranoia within the kingdom where royals are spying on each other, hacking cell phones, and "surveillance devices hidden in ashtrays and other items were scattered around palaces in Riyadh to pick up political plots and gossip," so lordy there might be tapes. Ignatius closes out with an ominous comparison between Riyadh under MBS and Bagdad under Saddam Hussein; he carries a lot of water for the CIA (eg Iraq War) so I'm guessing he didn't come up with that assessment on his own.
Also, along those lines, negotiations continue for the Saudis to buy US nuclear reactors, but the hitch according to the NYTimes is that they want control over the fuel production which would allow them to divert it to a covert weapons project.
posted by peeedro at 12:59 PM on November 27, 2018 [23 favorites]
@ABCPolitics [video]: John Bolton says he has not listened to Khashoggi recording. "What do you think I'll learn from it?" he asks. "Everybody who says 'Why don't you listen to the tape'—unless you speak Arabic, what are you going to get from it?
“You…don’t have access to a translator?” an incredulous reporter asked.
I would think that dealing with things in foreign languages you don't speak would be a routine part of the National Security Advisor's job. Anyway, yes, read David Ignatius's column.
posted by zachlipton at 1:02 PM on November 27, 2018 [68 favorites]
“You…don’t have access to a translator?” an incredulous reporter asked.
I would think that dealing with things in foreign languages you don't speak would be a routine part of the National Security Advisor's job. Anyway, yes, read David Ignatius's column.
posted by zachlipton at 1:02 PM on November 27, 2018 [68 favorites]
A lot of people are looking for some kind of personal story where Trump is covering for MBS because of Kushner's corruption, but this whole time I've suspected that this is really just another case of the US getting Saudi Arabia's back because they cut us a good deal on oil. Trump is just a lot clumsier than usual about papering over the grimmer aspects of this relationship.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 1:13 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 1:13 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Whew, great news, everybody, we can all heave a collective sigh of relief: Jim Comey is feeling confident that the institutions of government will prevent the worst case scenario from coming to pass.
posted by contraption at 1:18 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by contraption at 1:18 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is a distinction without a difference. There are relatives that they are trying to meet and being kept separate from because they are being detained.
I think this is an interesting distinction, because a relative in the US may have an immigration status that could move a child from potential asylee to another immigration category. When I worked with newcomers we had a couple of cases like these, we used to call them reunification cases. Usually a grandparent back in their country would care for the child for a few years. Then they would send her off to the US. After arrival, the child would eventually adjust status and receive a green card.
I 100% agree that asylum is a legal process and we should not be detaining asylum claimants in the first place, but if some of these children have parents/guardians in the US, we are essentially detaining future US citizens whose claims are much more straightforward. I don't trust Trump's administration to corroborate the existence of each of the children's relatives, and I don't expect the relatives are too excited about approaching ICE, even if they are legally here.
posted by Tarumba at 1:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
I think this is an interesting distinction, because a relative in the US may have an immigration status that could move a child from potential asylee to another immigration category. When I worked with newcomers we had a couple of cases like these, we used to call them reunification cases. Usually a grandparent back in their country would care for the child for a few years. Then they would send her off to the US. After arrival, the child would eventually adjust status and receive a green card.
I 100% agree that asylum is a legal process and we should not be detaining asylum claimants in the first place, but if some of these children have parents/guardians in the US, we are essentially detaining future US citizens whose claims are much more straightforward. I don't trust Trump's administration to corroborate the existence of each of the children's relatives, and I don't expect the relatives are too excited about approaching ICE, even if they are legally here.
posted by Tarumba at 1:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
Also, along those lines, negotiations continue for the Saudis to buy US nuclear reactors, but the hitch according to the NYTimes is that they want control over the fuel production which would allow them to divert it to a covert weapons project.
I guess it isn't mentioned in the NYT article because it was more Trumpaciously ambiguous than I remember but around the time Trump was proposing giving South Korea and Japan nuclear weapons he appeared to sort of propose providing the KSA with nukes too. From Wikipedia:
In March 2016, Anderson Cooper asked, "Saudi Arabia, nuclear weapons?" Trump answered: "Saudi Arabia, absolutely." Cooper then asked, "You would be fine with them having nuclear weapons?" Trump responded, "No, not nuclear weapons, but they have to protect themselves or they have to pay us."posted by XMLicious at 1:26 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
...just another case of the US getting Saudi Arabia's back because they cut us a good deal on oil.
The US produces the most oil in the world. If there's some sort of a deal, it's shady.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:29 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
The US produces the most oil in the world. If there's some sort of a deal, it's shady.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:29 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
@mkraju
Sen. Chuck Schumer tells reporters at his on-cam presser that Democrats’ position is $1.6 billion for wall funding - far less than the $5 billion Trump wants - but he won’t say if Democrats are shutting the door on anything more, saying he’s not going to negotiate in public.
posted by Artw at 1:36 PM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sen. Chuck Schumer tells reporters at his on-cam presser that Democrats’ position is $1.6 billion for wall funding - far less than the $5 billion Trump wants - but he won’t say if Democrats are shutting the door on anything more, saying he’s not going to negotiate in public.
posted by Artw at 1:36 PM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
NBC News, Anna Schecter, Mueller has emails from Stone pal Corsi about WikiLeaks Dem email dump
posted by zachlipton at 1:38 PM on November 27, 2018 [75 favorites]
Two months before WikiLeaks released emails stolen from the Clinton campaign, right-wing conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi sent an email to former Trump campaign adviser Roger Stone anticipating the document dump, according to draft court papers obtained by NBC News.This, um, would appear to be collusion.
"Word is friend in embassy plans 2 more dumps," Corsi wrote on Aug. 2, 2016, referring to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, according to the draft court papers. "One shortly after I'm back. 2nd in Oct. Impact planned to be very damaging."
The email was revealed in a draft court document, known as a statement of the offense, sent to Corsi by special counsel Robert Mueller's office. Mueller also sent Corsi a draft plea agreement stipulating that the special counsel would not oppose Corsi requesting a sentence of probation if he agreed to plead guilty to one count of lying to federal investigators.
As NBC News reported on Monday, Corsi said he has rejected the deal. He has described Mueller's team as "thugs" and insisted that he did not "intentionally lie" about his communications related to WikiLeaks.
...
The interviews began on Sept. 6 when Corsi told investigators that an associate, identified by Corsi as Stone, asked him in the summer of 2016 to get in touch with an organization, identified by Corsi as WikiLeaks, about unreleased materials relevant to the presidential campaign, the draft court papers say.
"Get to (Assange) [a]t Ecuadorian Embassy in London and get the pending (WikiLeaks) emails," read the email to Corsi dated July 25, 2016, according to the draft court documents.
Corsi said he declined the request and made clear to Stone that an attempt to contact WikiLeaks could put them in investigators' crosshairs, according to the draft court documents.
But Mueller's team said that was a lie.
Instead of turning down the request, Corsi in fact passed it along to a person in London, according to the draft court documents. Corsi said that person was conservative author Ted Malloch. Eight days later, Corsi sent the email to Stone saying that WikiLeaks possessed information that would be damaging to Hillary Clinton's campaign and planned to release it in October.
...
Mueller's team says in the court papers that Corsi scrubbed his computer between Jan. 13, 2017, and March 1, 2017, deleting all email correspondence that predated Oct. 11, 2016, including the messages from Stone about WikiLeaks and Corsi's email to Malloch.
posted by zachlipton at 1:38 PM on November 27, 2018 [75 favorites]
Donald Trump Drives Off A Cliff In Biting New York Daily News Cover
posted by kirkaracha at 1:47 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by kirkaracha at 1:47 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
President Trump believes that his long list of achievements in office make him “far greater than Ronald Reagan.”
For everybody who's wondered just what Trump would have to do to get his base to turn on him. They totally won't, but it probably comes the closest.
posted by Rykey at 1:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
For everybody who's wondered just what Trump would have to do to get his base to turn on him. They totally won't, but it probably comes the closest.
posted by Rykey at 1:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Naw, Reagan wasn’t as openly racist as Trump, so that alone vaults Trump onto the top of the podium for them.
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:03 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 2:03 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
The US produces the most oil in the world. If there's some sort of a deal, it's shady.
We are a net exporter at this point, mostly due to the developments of long-lateral horizontal drilling, geosteering, and fracking back in the 90's. These technologies made drilling, completing and producing shale beds economical.
So when do we say to KSA: "So long, and thanks for all the oil?"
posted by ZenMasterThis at 2:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
We are a net exporter at this point, mostly due to the developments of long-lateral horizontal drilling, geosteering, and fracking back in the 90's. These technologies made drilling, completing and producing shale beds economical.
So when do we say to KSA: "So long, and thanks for all the oil?"
posted by ZenMasterThis at 2:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is a long but helpful Trump/Russia explainer for your friends who have the patience for long reads but haven't been following along...
Conspiracy Against the United States: The Story of Trump and Russia
By Max Bergmann, Jeremy Venook, and the Moscow Project Team
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [35 favorites]
Conspiracy Against the United States: The Story of Trump and Russia
By Max Bergmann, Jeremy Venook, and the Moscow Project Team
posted by OnceUponATime at 2:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [35 favorites]
So, every person involved in the Unitarian sunday school down the street in my town has to get a background check to be allowed to take part in a children's activity that's one morning a week, in a building with the rest of the congregation just a shout away...
... while hundreds of teenagers under lock and key are being watched by people who have no background checks. Just lovely.
posted by ocschwar at 2:22 PM on November 27, 2018 [29 favorites]
... while hundreds of teenagers under lock and key are being watched by people who have no background checks. Just lovely.
posted by ocschwar at 2:22 PM on November 27, 2018 [29 favorites]
WaPo, Rucker, Dawsey, Trump slams Fed chair, questions climate change and threatens to cancel Putin meeting in wide-ranging interview with The Post
posted by zachlipton at 2:34 PM on November 27, 2018 [61 favorites]
“I’m doing deals and I’m not being accommodated by the Fed,” Trump said. “They’re making a mistake because I have a gut and my gut tells me more sometimes than anybody else’s brain can ever tell me.”*starts drinking at 2:30 in the afternoon*
He added, “So far, I’m not even a little bit happy with my selection of Jay. Not even a little bit. And I’m not blaming anybody, but I’m just telling you I think that the Fed is way off-base with what they’re doing.”
Trump also dismissed the federal government’s landmark report released last week that found damages from global warming are intensifying around the country. The president said “I don’t see” climate change as man-made and he does not believe the scientific consensus.
“One of the problems that a lot of people like myself, we have very high levels of intelligence but we’re not necessarily such believers,” Trump said. “You look at our air and our water and it’s right now at a record clean.”
The president added of climate change, “As to whether or not it’s man-made and whether or not the effects that you’re talking about are there, I don’t see it.”
itting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Trump also threatened to cancel his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a global summit later this week because of Russia’s maritime clash with Ukraine. He said he was awaiting a “full report” from his national security team Tuesday evening about Russia’s capture of three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews in the Black Sea on Sunday.
“That will be very determinative,” Trump said. “Maybe I won’t have the meeting. Maybe I won’t even have the meeting . . . I don’t like that aggression. I don’t want that aggression at all.”
posted by zachlipton at 2:34 PM on November 27, 2018 [61 favorites]
NBC News, Anna Schecter, Mueller has emails from Stone pal Corsi about WikiLeaks Dem email dump
Stone's still trying to pitch modified limited hangouts on the Trump-Wikileaks connection, telling Vice in an e-mail today, "In fact I don’t think we ever discussed wiki leaks [sic] at all during the time [Manafort] was with the campaign."
That could be technically true, since Manafort left the Trump campaign in August, but Stone has been confirmed to have been in contact with Wikileaks in October 2016—which was not only when Manafort was unofficially advising the campaign, but also when Trump was praising Wikileaks in his stump speeches.
However, the fact is, @realDonaldTrump first tweeted about WikiLeaks on July 23rd, which makes Stone's claim look like bullshit from the start.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Stone's still trying to pitch modified limited hangouts on the Trump-Wikileaks connection, telling Vice in an e-mail today, "In fact I don’t think we ever discussed wiki leaks [sic] at all during the time [Manafort] was with the campaign."
That could be technically true, since Manafort left the Trump campaign in August, but Stone has been confirmed to have been in contact with Wikileaks in October 2016—which was not only when Manafort was unofficially advising the campaign, but also when Trump was praising Wikileaks in his stump speeches.
However, the fact is, @realDonaldTrump first tweeted about WikiLeaks on July 23rd, which makes Stone's claim look like bullshit from the start.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
We've got them to (occasionally) use the word 'lie', the next frontier is to describe these "wide-ranging" interviews as what they are, deranged and incoherent.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
"wide-ranging interview" is the nice way to say "frothing rant" now, i guess?
posted by murphy slaw at 2:38 PM on November 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:38 PM on November 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
> It's (un) official: Beto's not not running!
Cramped Calves 2020!
Background.
posted by homunculus at 2:55 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Cramped Calves 2020!
Background.
posted by homunculus at 2:55 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
So when do we say to KSA: "So long, and thanks for all the oil?"
When the rest of the world also no longer needs their oil and thus we don’t need them to price everything in dollars anymore, because that ship has already, presumably, sailed, and we are enjoying — for certain values of “enjoying” — the consequences of no longer being the world’s reserve currency?
posted by schadenfrau at 2:56 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
When the rest of the world also no longer needs their oil and thus we don’t need them to price everything in dollars anymore, because that ship has already, presumably, sailed, and we are enjoying — for certain values of “enjoying” — the consequences of no longer being the world’s reserve currency?
posted by schadenfrau at 2:56 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Sitting behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office, Trump also threatened to cancel his scheduled meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at a global summit later this week because of Russia’s maritime clash with Ukraine. He said he was awaiting a “full report” from his national security team Tuesday evening about Russia’s capture of three Ukrainian naval ships and their crews in the Black Sea on Sunday.
This posturing is transparently bullshit. There's already enough on record for Nikki Haley to have demanded Russia "immediately cease its unlawful conduct" in the Azov Sea and for Mike Pompeo to issue a statement condemning "this aggressive Russian action" (the tell, however, is that at this afternoon's press conference, Bolton punted to Haley's censure). Trump's stalling for time until the G20 meeting, where he'll meet with Putin for Helsinki 2.0.
The 2018 White House Christmas Theme Is Apparently 'The Shining'
Fun fact: Ukraine renamed the area around the Chernobyl reactor disaster site “Red Forest” after lethal radioactivity turned the green pine trees there red-brownish in 1986. (WaPo)
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
This posturing is transparently bullshit. There's already enough on record for Nikki Haley to have demanded Russia "immediately cease its unlawful conduct" in the Azov Sea and for Mike Pompeo to issue a statement condemning "this aggressive Russian action" (the tell, however, is that at this afternoon's press conference, Bolton punted to Haley's censure). Trump's stalling for time until the G20 meeting, where he'll meet with Putin for Helsinki 2.0.
The 2018 White House Christmas Theme Is Apparently 'The Shining'
Fun fact: Ukraine renamed the area around the Chernobyl reactor disaster site “Red Forest” after lethal radioactivity turned the green pine trees there red-brownish in 1986. (WaPo)
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
“You…don’t have access to a translator?” an incredulous reporter asked.
An English-language transcript of this apparent recording right now would be swell. Russia, if you're listening.
posted by petebest at 3:11 PM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
An English-language transcript of this apparent recording right now would be swell. Russia, if you're listening.
posted by petebest at 3:11 PM on November 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
The European extermination of the native Americans fits neatly into the post-neocon Grimdark Zero-Sum Narrative: modern Americans own the country because we scraped the previous occupants off of it. And that's how everything works as far as they're concerned: if your group wants land, it must perforce take it from some other group, which is typically a fatal transaction (literally or culturally) on the receiving end. And so, having land, it must be defended strenuously against anyone who might be a crypto-colonist trying to set up an outpost of another civilization. (See also: antisemitism, "hyphenated Americans", etc.)
"Once upon a time, we elbowed our way onto and into this continent by giving small pox infected blankets to native Americans. Yes, that was biological warfare! And we used every other weapon we could get our hands on to grab this land from whomever. And we grew prosperous. And, yes, we greased the skids with the sweat of slaves.posted by non canadian guy at 3:13 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
And so it goes with most nation states, which, feeling guilty about their savage pasts, eventually civilize themselves out of business and wind up invaded, and ultimately dominated by the lean, hungry and up and coming who are not made of sugar candy."
Missouri GOP already trying to stymie the anti-gerrymandering amendment voters just passed.
posted by Chrysostom at 3:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 3:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
If you were baffled by those Post interview excerpts, you can now baffle yourself further with the full transcript, which they're working on annotating with fact checking. Notably:
There's also the point where Rucker just turns to him and says "But you’re the president, sir" because what else do you say to this kind of nonsense?
posted by zachlipton at 3:30 PM on November 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
DAWSEY: Last night, Mr. President, the special counsel’s team charged Paul Manafort with saying, they accused him at least of saying more lies, and ended his plea deal. People around you have told me you’re upset about the way he’s been treated. Are you planning to do anything to help him?The section after the President pronounces the air and water to be "at a record clean" is also interesting, in that he is now blaming Asia for garbage on our beaches:
TRUMP: Let me go off the record because I don’t want to get in the middle of the whole thing.
[Trump speaks off the record.]
DAWSEY: Is there any version of that you're willing to give us on the record in answer to that question?
TRUMP: I'd rather not. At some point, I'll talk on the record about it. But I'd rather not.
[Trump speaks off the record.]
But when you look at China and you look at parts of Asia and when you look at South America, and when you look at many other places in this world, including Russia, including – just many other places -- the air is incredibly dirty. And when you're talking about an atmosphere, oceans are very small. And it blows over and it sails over. I mean, we take thousands of tons of garbage off our beaches all the time that comes over from Asia. It just flows right down the Pacific, it flows, and we say where does this come from. And it takes many people to start off with.He has more to say about raking forests too. It seems like he saw firefighters creating firelines during the fire and decided that "if that was raked in the beginning, there’d be nothing to catch on fire." Which is not how anything works.
There's also the point where Rucker just turns to him and says "But you’re the president, sir" because what else do you say to this kind of nonsense?
posted by zachlipton at 3:30 PM on November 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
The Conspiracy Against the United States: The Story of Trump and Russia, that OnceUponATime linked to above is very thorough and is available as a pdf, as well.
Also, probably because everything, this story from July got past me: Senate confirms Justice Department nominee with ties to Russian bank
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Brian Benczkowski to lead the Justice Department's criminal division on a near party-line vote over Democratic objections to his nomination due to ties to a prominent Russian bank.
The Senate confirmed Benczkowski 51-48. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat to vote yes.
Benczkowski's nomination was controversial because of his work for Alfa Bank, which has been scrutinized by FBI counterintelligence. Benczkowski, a former lead staffer to Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the Senate and a Trump transition official, has faced criticism from Democrats since he was nominated last year over his past private-practice work on behalf of Alfa Bank, one of Russia's largest financial institutions.
... In a statement Tuesday night, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, lamented Benczkowski's refusal to recuse himself permanently from matters involving the ongoing Mueller probe, saying his nomination presented "glaring conflicts of interest."
Cripes.
posted by petebest at 3:31 PM on November 27, 2018 [32 favorites]
Also, probably because everything, this story from July got past me: Senate confirms Justice Department nominee with ties to Russian bank
The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Brian Benczkowski to lead the Justice Department's criminal division on a near party-line vote over Democratic objections to his nomination due to ties to a prominent Russian bank.
The Senate confirmed Benczkowski 51-48. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia was the only Democrat to vote yes.
Benczkowski's nomination was controversial because of his work for Alfa Bank, which has been scrutinized by FBI counterintelligence. Benczkowski, a former lead staffer to Attorney General Jeff Sessions in the Senate and a Trump transition official, has faced criticism from Democrats since he was nominated last year over his past private-practice work on behalf of Alfa Bank, one of Russia's largest financial institutions.
... In a statement Tuesday night, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, lamented Benczkowski's refusal to recuse himself permanently from matters involving the ongoing Mueller probe, saying his nomination presented "glaring conflicts of interest."
Cripes.
posted by petebest at 3:31 PM on November 27, 2018 [32 favorites]
Give me your poor, your weak and hungry....blah blah blah....
Families Are Still Being Separated at the Border, Months After “Zero Tolerance” Was Reversed.
Immigration lawyers say border agents are again removing children from their parents. The explanation? They’re protecting kids from criminal dads and moms. Immigration advocates say it’s zero tolerance by another name.
posted by adamvasco at 3:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
Families Are Still Being Separated at the Border, Months After “Zero Tolerance” Was Reversed.
Immigration lawyers say border agents are again removing children from their parents. The explanation? They’re protecting kids from criminal dads and moms. Immigration advocates say it’s zero tolerance by another name.
posted by adamvasco at 3:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
In today's wtf department:
Mexico to grant highest honor to Jared Kushner
posted by Omon Ra at 4:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Mexico to grant highest honor to Jared Kushner
posted by Omon Ra at 4:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Corsi gave the entire draft plea agreement from Mueller (since rejected) to the Daily Caller (link to scribd upload by Chuck Ross).
posted by pjenks at 4:27 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by pjenks at 4:27 PM on November 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Lies Corsi Told (By Robert Mueller):
posted by pjenks at 4:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [25 favorites]
- CORSI said he declined the request from Person 1 [(Stone)] and made clear to Person 1 that trying to contact Organization 1 [(Wikileaks)] could be subject to investigation. CORSI also stated that Person 1 never asked CORSI to have another person try to get in contact with Organization 1, and that CORSI told Person 1 that they should just wait until Organization 1 released any materials.
- CORSI further stated that after that initial request from Person 1, CORSI did not know what Person 1 did with respect to Organization 1, and he never provided Person 1 with any information regarding Organization 1, including what materials Organization 1 possessed or what Organization 1 might do with those materials.
- CORSI did not decline the request as he stated in the interview. Instead, CORSI contacted an individual who resided in London, England (“overseas individual”) to pass on Person 1’s request to learn about materials in Organization 1’s possession that could be relevant to the presidential campaign.
- On or about August 2, 2016, CORSI responded to Person 1 by email. CORSI wrote that he was currently in Europe and planned to return in mid-August. CORSI stated: “Word is friend in embassy plans 2 more dumps. One shortly after I’m back. 2nd in Oct. Impact planned to be very damaging.... Time to let more than [the Clinton Campaign chairman] to be exposed as in bed w enemy if they are not ready to drop HRC [Hillary Rodham Clinton]. That appears to be the game hackers are now about. Would not hurt to start suggesting HRC old, memory bad, has stroke -- neither he nor she well. I expect that much of next dump focus, setting stage for Foundation debacle.”
posted by pjenks at 4:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [25 favorites]
Apparently that plea agreement was actually linked in the earlier NBC story posted by zachlipton. No need to click through the DC. Apologies for not reading!
posted by pjenks at 4:50 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by pjenks at 4:50 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Trump also dismissed the federal government’s landmark report released last week that found damages from global warming are intensifying around the country. The president said “I don’t see” climate change as man-made and he does not believe the scientific consensus.Oh man, I think I know where this is coming from, other than his usual willful ignorance. Anyone else of a certain age (I'm in my late 50s) may remember that 45-50 years ago the big environmental issue wasn't climate change but pollution. I remember media reports where the most commonly used images used to illustrate the extent of the problem would be huge factories belching noxious smoke clouds from their chimneys and streams of fouled cooling water into scum-covered rivers and lakes, with plenty of diseased and dead fish washed ashore. So, as far as the Fuckhead-in-Chief is concerned, since the steel mills have now all closed and the air in the cities isn't quite as brown, it means that this whole pollution/climate/environment thing must be solved already, at least in the USA. He literally can't tell the difference between carbon (soot) and carbon dioxide (colourless gas). More importantly, he doesn't give a shit.
“One of the problems that a lot of people like myself, we have very high levels of intelligence but we’re not necessarily such believers,” Trump said. “You look at our air and our water and it’s right now at a record clean."
posted by hangashore at 4:57 PM on November 27, 2018 [56 favorites]
@rgoodlaw: Bingo! Nugget in Mueller draft doc has significant legal implications. Shows coordinating campaign messaging with Wikileaks: Corsi to Stone: “Would not hurt to start suggesting HRC old, memory bad, has stroke...I expect that much of next dump focus”
@oneunderscore__: These are, no exaggeration, the top 3 talking points hammered home on InfoWars in the months before the election. One extremely viral, extremely ridiculous Paul Joseph Watson/InfoWars video suggested Hillary had "Parkinson’s disease, syphilis, brain damage, a brain tumor, autism, a degenerative disease that is giving her seizures and/or strokes, and a blood clot." That Paul Joseph Watson video about Hillary's health, which was insane and was completely wrong, has 6.7 million views. (InfoWars was banned from YouTube, but PJW remains.) For people who think this foreign influence campaign didn't sway the American electorate, look at the data. The second-most Googled "Hillary Clinton" topic on 8/8/2016: "Is Hillary having health problems?"
posted by zachlipton at 5:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [50 favorites]
@oneunderscore__: These are, no exaggeration, the top 3 talking points hammered home on InfoWars in the months before the election. One extremely viral, extremely ridiculous Paul Joseph Watson/InfoWars video suggested Hillary had "Parkinson’s disease, syphilis, brain damage, a brain tumor, autism, a degenerative disease that is giving her seizures and/or strokes, and a blood clot." That Paul Joseph Watson video about Hillary's health, which was insane and was completely wrong, has 6.7 million views. (InfoWars was banned from YouTube, but PJW remains.) For people who think this foreign influence campaign didn't sway the American electorate, look at the data. The second-most Googled "Hillary Clinton" topic on 8/8/2016: "Is Hillary having health problems?"
posted by zachlipton at 5:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [50 favorites]
New WaPost article (Leonnig, Helderman, and Roig-Franzia) on the Corsi draft plea agreement has whiny statements from Trump's legal team:
The draft statement of offense describes Stone as “Person 1” and someone that Corsi “understood to be in regular contact with senior members of the Trump Campaign, including with then-candidate Donald J. Trump.”posted by pjenks at 5:15 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
The inclusion of Trump by name infuriated Trump’s legal team, which obtained a copy of the draft the week before Thanksgiving. In response, the president’s attorneys delayed submitting his written answers to Mueller and formally complained to both the special counsel’s office and the Justice Department, according Giuliani.
“It’s gratuitous. It’s not necessary,” he said. “If you read out of context, it creates a misimpression that they were in contact with the president during this critical time. And I believe that was done deliberately.”
Bingo! Nugget in Mueller draft doc has significant legal implications. Shows coordinating campaign messaging with Wikileaks: Corsi to Stone: “Would not hurt to start suggesting HRC old, memory bad, has stroke...I expect that much of next dump focus”
That right there is "conspiracy to defraud the United States." Soon it will be Roger Stone's time in the barrel, as he might put it.
posted by Justinian at 5:16 PM on November 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
That right there is "conspiracy to defraud the United States." Soon it will be Roger Stone's time in the barrel, as he might put it.
posted by Justinian at 5:16 PM on November 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
> Who's the Mystery Man Behind the Latest Pelosi Putsch? It's Mark Penn
The 'Problem Solvers Caucus' Would Solve a Lot of Problems By Sitting Down and Shutting Up. Nancy Pelosi is under no obligation to "reach across the aisle." And who are these people, anyway?
posted by homunculus at 5:16 PM on November 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
The 'Problem Solvers Caucus' Would Solve a Lot of Problems By Sitting Down and Shutting Up. Nancy Pelosi is under no obligation to "reach across the aisle." And who are these people, anyway?
posted by homunculus at 5:16 PM on November 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
> Chuck Todd et al. need to ask every Republican member of Congress,
When this is the solution, we've already lost. Chuck Todd, the same Chuck Todd that has on 80%+ Republicans every single week, and brings on Erick Ericson to cover for school shooters after a school shooting, will never save us. He's explicitly paid not to even try, along with every other cable news host outside of the MSNBC late night lineup.
Stop Letting Republicans Lie on TV About Climate Science: Conservatives have been repeating the same handful of absurd talking points for years. Why aren't reporters calling them out?
Meet The Press Booking a Denier to Discuss Climate Change Is a Portrait of Our Dangerously Dumb Times: Our nation's leading political news programs routinely host propagandists to spread nonsense about climate change.
posted by homunculus at 5:18 PM on November 27, 2018 [27 favorites]
When this is the solution, we've already lost. Chuck Todd, the same Chuck Todd that has on 80%+ Republicans every single week, and brings on Erick Ericson to cover for school shooters after a school shooting, will never save us. He's explicitly paid not to even try, along with every other cable news host outside of the MSNBC late night lineup.
Stop Letting Republicans Lie on TV About Climate Science: Conservatives have been repeating the same handful of absurd talking points for years. Why aren't reporters calling them out?
Meet The Press Booking a Denier to Discuss Climate Change Is a Portrait of Our Dangerously Dumb Times: Our nation's leading political news programs routinely host propagandists to spread nonsense about climate change.
posted by homunculus at 5:18 PM on November 27, 2018 [27 favorites]
He literally can't tell the difference between carbon (soot) and carbon dioxide (colourless gas).
Yup. He's hung up on the visuals of 50-year-old environmentalism. If the rivers aren't on fire, things must be ok.
His other comments about the Camp Fire are horrifying: he thinks that digging firebreaks should be done in advance. He really has no idea how fucking huge this country is, does he?
posted by suelac at 5:19 PM on November 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Yup. He's hung up on the visuals of 50-year-old environmentalism. If the rivers aren't on fire, things must be ok.
His other comments about the Camp Fire are horrifying: he thinks that digging firebreaks should be done in advance. He really has no idea how fucking huge this country is, does he?
posted by suelac at 5:19 PM on November 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Apologies for derailng this Mueller train but FURFUCKSAKES SCHUMER! Pelosi gets dragged around the block for the sake of new leadership and Schumer is promising 1.6 billion? Schumer has to go and not just for new leaderships sake but because what he does best is to cave to the GOP.
Sen. Chuck Schumer tells reporters at his on-cam presser that Democrats’ position is $1.6 billion for wall funding - far less than the $5 billion Trump wants - but he won’t say if Democrats are shutting the door on anything more, saying he’s not going to negotiate in public.
posted by Artw at 1:36 PM on November 27
posted by bluesky43 at 5:32 PM on November 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Sen. Chuck Schumer tells reporters at his on-cam presser that Democrats’ position is $1.6 billion for wall funding - far less than the $5 billion Trump wants - but he won’t say if Democrats are shutting the door on anything more, saying he’s not going to negotiate in public.
posted by Artw at 1:36 PM on November 27
posted by bluesky43 at 5:32 PM on November 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Every argument for removing Pelosi goes twice for Schumer, and with no downsides to removing him from power.
posted by The Whelk at 5:35 PM on November 27, 2018 [48 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 5:35 PM on November 27, 2018 [48 favorites]
What do we hear from the magnolia state? GIMMIE EXIT POLL DATA YEAH!
posted by vrakatar at 5:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by vrakatar at 5:37 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
NYT continuous update on Mississippi
posted by bluesky43 at 5:43 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bluesky43 at 5:43 PM on November 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Post added a new detail to its interview story:
Trump considered reappointing Yellen to the post, and she impressed him greatly during an interview, according to people briefed on their encounter. But advisers steered him away from renominating her, telling him that he should have his own person in the job.posted by zachlipton at 5:55 PM on November 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
The president also appeared hung up on Yellen’s height. He told aides on the National Economic Council on several occasions that the 5-foot-3-inch economist was not tall enough to lead the central bank, quizzing them on whether they agreed, current and former officials said.
Discussing his decision to tap Powell, Trump said Monday: “Look, I took recommendations. I’m not blaming anybody.”
“Look, I took recommendations. I’m not blaming anybody.”
The buck stops ... over there, somewhere.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 5:57 PM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
The buck stops ... over there, somewhere.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 5:57 PM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Every argument for removing Pelosi goes twice for Schumer, and with no downsides to removing him from power.
As a constituent, he's out in the primaries. Gillibrand can be my Sr. Senator just fine.
posted by mikelieman at 6:00 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
As a constituent, he's out in the primaries. Gillibrand can be my Sr. Senator just fine.
posted by mikelieman at 6:00 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
The anti-Schumer movement, while having far (far!) more justification than the anti-Pelosi movement, suffers from one of the same problems; there isn't anyone running against him. It's not enough to say "NOT SCHUMER", you have to find somebody to run.
posted by Justinian at 6:01 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 6:01 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Every argument for removing Pelosi goes twice for Schumer
More than double. Even if she's not Speaker, Pelosi is a fine and experienced Congresswoman with a long record of success. She'd be an asset behind the scenes even if she wasn't the one leading. Schumer has done nothing to earn his position and brings nothing positive to the party whatsoever. The one election cycle he led, his hand picked candidates under performed Clinton significantly. His "leadership" against Trump has been laughable when it hasn't been outright cooperative. He has no significant legislative achievements like Pelosi does, and his policy positions are the median of the party, at best. He doesn't propose actual solutions or direction for the party and has no control over his own caucus. He's entirely reactive without any vision whatsoever. It's a very fair question to ask what the fuck Chuck Schumer has ever led anyone to do other than make him Minority Leader.
He shouldn't just be voted out of Leadership, we don't need him in the party as the Senior Senator from New York, one of our only two leading liberal states. He needs to be primaried out of the party. There's nothing more important on a national level for New York Democrats and Leftists to do over the next 4 years than lay the groundwork to get Chuck Schumer out of Congress and let someone, literally any other Senate Democrat not named Joe Manchin, lead the party.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [26 favorites]
More than double. Even if she's not Speaker, Pelosi is a fine and experienced Congresswoman with a long record of success. She'd be an asset behind the scenes even if she wasn't the one leading. Schumer has done nothing to earn his position and brings nothing positive to the party whatsoever. The one election cycle he led, his hand picked candidates under performed Clinton significantly. His "leadership" against Trump has been laughable when it hasn't been outright cooperative. He has no significant legislative achievements like Pelosi does, and his policy positions are the median of the party, at best. He doesn't propose actual solutions or direction for the party and has no control over his own caucus. He's entirely reactive without any vision whatsoever. It's a very fair question to ask what the fuck Chuck Schumer has ever led anyone to do other than make him Minority Leader.
He shouldn't just be voted out of Leadership, we don't need him in the party as the Senior Senator from New York, one of our only two leading liberal states. He needs to be primaried out of the party. There's nothing more important on a national level for New York Democrats and Leftists to do over the next 4 years than lay the groundwork to get Chuck Schumer out of Congress and let someone, literally any other Senate Democrat not named Joe Manchin, lead the party.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [26 favorites]
The anti-Schumer movement, while having far (far!) more justification than the anti-Pelosi movement, suffers from one of the same problems; there isn't anyone running against him. It's not enough to say "NOT SCHUMER", you have to find somebody to run.
Dick Durbin, current Minority Whip.
Done.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
Dick Durbin, current Minority Whip.
Done.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:04 PM on November 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
I got more calls, postcards and texts for this runoff (7 texts just today) than I did for the regular election by far. I think the country finally started paying attention to us here in Mississippi. I signed up to drive voters to the polls (thanks, Metafilter. I would not have done that without all of y'all) and got my little family all there despite some hurdles. It doesn't look great, but things get incrementally better here. Maybe we can get a little more help from the national party leadership in the next campaign.
posted by thebrokedown at 6:05 PM on November 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 6:05 PM on November 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
The anti-Schumer movement, while having far (far!) more justification than the anti-Pelosi movement, suffers from one of the same problems; there isn't anyone running against him.
Well, that and he's not up for re-election until 2020.
Give us Noo Yawkers a couple years.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:05 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Well, that and he's not up for re-election until 2020.
Give us Noo Yawkers a couple years.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:05 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
NYT (Haberman and Schmidt): Manafort’s Lawyer Said to Brief Trump Attorneys on What He Told Mueller As usual, Giuliani the bullshitter-cum-attorney is quoted as an authoritative source of information, with his version of events creeping into the reporting, but there's still useful information to be gleaned from the article:
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:08 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
A lawyer for Paul Manafort, the president’s onetime campaign chairman, repeatedly briefed President Trump’s lawyers on his client’s discussions with federal investigators after Mr. Manafort agreed to cooperate with the special counsel, according to one of Mr. Trump’s lawyers and two other people familiar with the conversations.Too bad for Manafort that the civil forfeiture in his plea deal is not contingent on the status of his criminal conviction.
The arrangement was highly unusual and inflamed tensions with Mr. Mueller’s office when prosecutors discovered it after Mr. Manafort began cooperating two months ago, the people said. Some legal experts speculated that it was a bid by Mr. Manafort for a presidential pardon even as he worked with the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, in hopes of a lighter sentence.
Rudolph W. Giuliani, one of the president’s personal lawyers, acknowledged the arrangement on Tuesday and defended it as a source of valuable insights into the special counsel’s inquiry and where it was headed. Such information could help shape a legal defense strategy, and it also appeared to give Mr. Trump and his legal advisers ammunition in their public relations campaign against the special counsel’s office.[...]
Even if the pact was mostly informal at that point, law enforcement experts said it was still highly unusual for Mr. Manafort’s lawyers to keep up such contacts once their client had pledged to help the prosecutors in hope of a lighter punishment for his crimes.
Mr. Manafort must have wanted to keep a line open to the president in hope of a pardon, said Barbara McQuade, a former United States attorney who now teaches law at University of Michigan. “I’m not able to think of another reason,” she said.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:08 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Done.
I didn't say you couldn't find somebody you want to replace Schumer, I said that person has to want to run against him. It doesn't matter if Durbin would be acceptable to us if he has no interest in knocking off Schumer.
posted by Justinian at 6:08 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
I didn't say you couldn't find somebody you want to replace Schumer, I said that person has to want to run against him. It doesn't matter if Durbin would be acceptable to us if he has no interest in knocking off Schumer.
posted by Justinian at 6:08 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Well, that and he's not up for re-election until 2020.
2022. He was just reelected in 2016 at the same time his Senate slate was getting asswhipped. And he hoarded money for his own reelection in an noncompetitive race until belatedly transferring some late in the campaign.
There's enough time to find someone else. 4 years is a long time, and we're stuck with him that long.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:10 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
2022. He was just reelected in 2016 at the same time his Senate slate was getting asswhipped. And he hoarded money for his own reelection in an noncompetitive race until belatedly transferring some late in the campaign.
There's enough time to find someone else. 4 years is a long time, and we're stuck with him that long.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:10 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
I can think of exactly five senators from the west coast who'd make great senate minority leaders / eventual senate majority leaders.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 6:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 6:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
I was gonna ask why 5 and not 6. Then I realized... poor Diane Feinstein.
posted by Justinian at 6:15 PM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 6:15 PM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Meanwhile, Stone and Corsi appear to be having difficulty keeping their stories to the media straight after Corsi leaked the draft of his plea deal.
CNN's Marshall Cohen: "BIG NEWS: Days after the DNC leaks in July 2016, Roger Stone asked his pal Jerome Corsi to "get to [Assange]" and "get the pending [Wikileaks] emails, according to draft court filings obtained by CNN. The docs come from Corsi's possible plea arrangement."
The Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand: "This is weird—yesterday Corsi told me that he was the one who told Stone to get to Assange.[...]"
(And the Daily Caller's reporting about Corsi's claim of a secret joint defense agreement with Trump strains credulity, especially since the only corroboration of this comes from Roger Stone.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:28 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
CNN's Marshall Cohen: "BIG NEWS: Days after the DNC leaks in July 2016, Roger Stone asked his pal Jerome Corsi to "get to [Assange]" and "get the pending [Wikileaks] emails, according to draft court filings obtained by CNN. The docs come from Corsi's possible plea arrangement."
The Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand: "This is weird—yesterday Corsi told me that he was the one who told Stone to get to Assange.[...]"
(And the Daily Caller's reporting about Corsi's claim of a secret joint defense agreement with Trump strains credulity, especially since the only corroboration of this comes from Roger Stone.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:28 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
> I was gonna ask why 5 and not 6. Then I realized... poor Diane Feinstein.
hey maybe I got beef with maria cantwell you don't know me.
(honestly? If the pick-a-senate-leader fairy comes to me and says "reclusive novelist thomas pynchon! I grant you the power to pick the democratic party senate leader!," I'd probably blurt out "Patty Murray!" without thinking too hard about it. well-established, fantastic voting record, has a low-key master-of-the-senate reputation, doesn't seem like she wants to run for president, isn't a dude)
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 6:36 PM on November 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
hey maybe I got beef with maria cantwell you don't know me.
(honestly? If the pick-a-senate-leader fairy comes to me and says "reclusive novelist thomas pynchon! I grant you the power to pick the democratic party senate leader!," I'd probably blurt out "Patty Murray!" without thinking too hard about it. well-established, fantastic voting record, has a low-key master-of-the-senate reputation, doesn't seem like she wants to run for president, isn't a dude)
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 6:36 PM on November 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
I'd go Hirono, but we can probably play Fantasy Senate Coups outside of this thread.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:40 PM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 6:40 PM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
I would vote for an actual chimpmunk before I vote for Schumer. I hope he resigns before 2022 but we could do so, so much better,
Literally Anyone Else 2022
posted by The Whelk at 6:41 PM on November 27, 2018
Literally Anyone Else 2022
posted by The Whelk at 6:41 PM on November 27, 2018
Chance Schumer resigns from office before 2022: 0.000001% (I mean, unless he has a stroke or develops terminal leukemia or something)
Chance Schumer resigns as Minority Leaer: I don't know, 0.5%.
People don't give up these gigs.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:44 PM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Chance Schumer resigns as Minority Leaer: I don't know, 0.5%.
People don't give up these gigs.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:44 PM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
More on the Art of the Deal as practiced by Mr. "I would give myself an A+":
NYT: Despite Tough Talk on Trade, Trump Could Seek a Truce with Xi Jinping at G-20
posted by RedOrGreen at 6:46 PM on November 27, 2018 [24 favorites]
NYT: Despite Tough Talk on Trade, Trump Could Seek a Truce with Xi Jinping at G-20
President Trump has signaled a fresh willingness to make a deal with President Xi Jinping of China, whom he will meet over dinner at the summit meeting.Leaking that you're desperate to strike a deal is how you get maximum negotiating leverage, right?
The gyrations in the stock market, the rise in interest rates and thousands of layoffs announced by General Motors this week have all rattled Mr. Trump, officials said, fueling his desire to emerge from his meal with Mr. Xi with something he can claim as a victory.
posted by RedOrGreen at 6:46 PM on November 27, 2018 [24 favorites]
I also get tired of Schumer's statements and hope that he faces a liberal primary challenge in 2022, but:
It can be worth remembering that any time we see one of these deals with his name attached to it, it's almost-but-not-quite certainly going to be a unanimous consent agreement. Which is to say that Harris approved it. And Sanders, and Gillibrand, and Durbin, and Klobuchar, and, and, and. Any one of them could have nixed it by objecting and didn't.
This not to pour gasoline on the ALL THE DEMS ARE POOP fire because it's a silly fire, but to remind myself that, yeah, they're playing with a bad hand and maybe I should be a leedle beet more generous in my first-glance assessments of actual tactics (as opposed to some of the dumb shit he says which is yeah just ugh).
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:47 PM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
It can be worth remembering that any time we see one of these deals with his name attached to it, it's almost-but-not-quite certainly going to be a unanimous consent agreement. Which is to say that Harris approved it. And Sanders, and Gillibrand, and Durbin, and Klobuchar, and, and, and. Any one of them could have nixed it by objecting and didn't.
This not to pour gasoline on the ALL THE DEMS ARE POOP fire because it's a silly fire, but to remind myself that, yeah, they're playing with a bad hand and maybe I should be a leedle beet more generous in my first-glance assessments of actual tactics (as opposed to some of the dumb shit he says which is yeah just ugh).
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 6:47 PM on November 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
@kashanacauley
Bully: I’m going to kick you in the nuts.
Chuck Schumer: A true, bipartisan solution would be for you to only kick me in the nuts halfway.
7:09 PM - 27 Nov 2018
posted by bluesky43 at 6:47 PM on November 27, 2018 [24 favorites]
Bully: I’m going to kick you in the nuts.
Chuck Schumer: A true, bipartisan solution would be for you to only kick me in the nuts halfway.
7:09 PM - 27 Nov 2018
posted by bluesky43 at 6:47 PM on November 27, 2018 [24 favorites]
The news that Manafort was, as Justin Miller quipped, "cooperating with Trump" is not really news:
posted by pjenks at 6:53 PM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Reuters (22 Oct 2018) Trump lawyer: Manafort said nothing damaging in Mueller interviewsAnd Marcy Wheeler has been banging the drum for the past couple days that Mueller knew that Manafort was a mole for Trump all along.
posted by pjenks at 6:53 PM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
How much of an asshole do you have to be to get subtweeted by the Auschwitz Museum? Apparently Lindsey Graham asshole amounts.
posted by Justinian at 6:55 PM on November 27, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 6:55 PM on November 27, 2018 [37 favorites]
On the ground in Mississippi: Group Made Its Way Through Mississippi Before Senate Runoff to Get Black People to Register to Vote—and to Understand Their Political Power (The Root)
posted by Tiny Bungalow at 6:56 PM on November 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by Tiny Bungalow at 6:56 PM on November 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
WP: GOP divided over appointing McSally to McCain seat.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:02 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 7:02 PM on November 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
I didn't say you couldn't find somebody you want to replace Schumer, I said that person has to want to run against him. It doesn't matter if Durbin would be acceptable to us if he has no interest in knocking off Schumer.
I don't want to pre-litigiate NY Senate 2020, but give AOC 2 good years in the House, and I'd vote for her for Senate.
posted by mikelieman at 7:03 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't want to pre-litigiate NY Senate 2020, but give AOC 2 good years in the House, and I'd vote for her for Senate.
posted by mikelieman at 7:03 PM on November 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
on the one hand AOC is a goddamned phenomenon and we're lucky to have her. On the other hand, the best lesson to learn from AOC's successful run is probably a little bit less "AOC is phenomenal!" and a little bit more "get out there and run for something! You might be phenomenal!"
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 7:09 PM on November 27, 2018 [64 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 7:09 PM on November 27, 2018 [64 favorites]
Mod note: Honestly just as a general thing, if everybody could basically embrace the idea that "I don't want to pre-litigiate X, but..." is a good reason to just skip a comment, it would enormously reduce the amount of time-filling arguing that happens in here.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:23 PM on November 27, 2018 [23 favorites]
Dave Wasserman:
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Preliminary highest turnout CDs (based on House votes/adult citizens):We really, really disliked Comstock.
1. #MN03 - 73%
2. #CO02 - 73%
3. #VA10 - 71%
4. #WA07 - 71%
5. #CO04 - 69%
6. #MN05 - 69%
7. #MN02 - 69%
8. #FL04 - 68%
9. #WA01 - 68%
10. #MI11 - 68%
11. #GA06 - 68%
12. #CO06 - 67%
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Jim Comey is feeling confident
Surely there is an unoccupied blue curtain somewhere that this man can quietly fade into, never to be heard from again?
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 8:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [38 favorites]
Surely there is an unoccupied blue curtain somewhere that this man can quietly fade into, never to be heard from again?
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 8:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [38 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Brenda Snipes, in charge of voting in Broward County, Florida, was just spotted wearing a beautiful dress with 300 I VOTED signs on it. Just kidding, she is a fine, very honorable and highly respected voting tactician!
I don't usually post his every twitter insult in the thread just so we can gawk at how unpresidential they are. So what's the point here? This tweet appears to be based on an 17-day-old /r/the_Donald post. That reddit cesspool that was a favorite of Russian propaganda operations.
The deeply alarming pipeline from the chans/reddit to Scavino/Trump to Trump's Twitter is still alive and well.
posted by zachlipton at 8:26 PM on November 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
I don't usually post his every twitter insult in the thread just so we can gawk at how unpresidential they are. So what's the point here? This tweet appears to be based on an 17-day-old /r/the_Donald post. That reddit cesspool that was a favorite of Russian propaganda operations.
The deeply alarming pipeline from the chans/reddit to Scavino/Trump to Trump's Twitter is still alive and well.
posted by zachlipton at 8:26 PM on November 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
The anti-Schumer movement, while having far (far!) more justification than the anti-Pelosi movement, suffers from one of the same problems; there isn't anyone running against him. It's not enough to say "NOT SCHUMER", you have to find somebody to run.
Dick Durbin, current Minority Whip.
Done.
I would be all for this. I am still aggravated that Schumer leapfrogged Durbin to become Minority Leader in 2016, after Reid retired. Durbin would be a zillion times better.
posted by SisterHavana at 8:31 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
And Marcy Wheeler has been banging the drum for the past couple days that Mueller knew that Manafort was a mole for Trump all along.
To be fair, she's been wondering about this since Giuliani bragged about the Trump-Manafort joint defense agreement to Reuters late last month: Who Is Paying Kevin Downing’s Bills To Serve As Trump’s Mole?
She also brings up again:
Besides, former Assistant US Attorney Mary Shannon Little comments: "When I was a prosecutor working for Rudy Giuliani, if a defense lawyer representing a cooperating witness continued to participate in a joint defense agreement, he would have investigated that lawyer and others in the joint defense for obstruction of justice." And obstruction of justice is the main area that Mueller's been working on about which Trump appears to know as much as we do.
On the topic of obstruction of justice, this evening @realDonaldTrump continued his recent series of attacks on Mueller, calling "Mueller Witch Hunt […] a total disgrace" and ranting about the "Emails that Hillary DELETED & acid washed AFTER getting a Congressional Subpoena!" If he can't drop the hint to Whitaker to sabotage the Special Counsel investigation, he'll settle for the DoJ bringing charges against his former political opponent.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:39 PM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
To be fair, she's been wondering about this since Giuliani bragged about the Trump-Manafort joint defense agreement to Reuters late last month: Who Is Paying Kevin Downing’s Bills To Serve As Trump’s Mole?
She also brings up again:
Another detail to remember: Mueller could have, but did not, gag Manafort (he gagged Gates).All in all, it seems that while the Special Counsel's office prepared in good faith for Manafort to become a cooperating witness, Mueller trusted him not even as far as he could throw him and set up contingency plans in case he stayed secretly loyal to Team Trump—which he could leverage in a worst case scenario.
So he could have prevented those briefings.
*Chose* not to.
Besides, former Assistant US Attorney Mary Shannon Little comments: "When I was a prosecutor working for Rudy Giuliani, if a defense lawyer representing a cooperating witness continued to participate in a joint defense agreement, he would have investigated that lawyer and others in the joint defense for obstruction of justice." And obstruction of justice is the main area that Mueller's been working on about which Trump appears to know as much as we do.
On the topic of obstruction of justice, this evening @realDonaldTrump continued his recent series of attacks on Mueller, calling "Mueller Witch Hunt […] a total disgrace" and ranting about the "Emails that Hillary DELETED & acid washed AFTER getting a Congressional Subpoena!" If he can't drop the hint to Whitaker to sabotage the Special Counsel investigation, he'll settle for the DoJ bringing charges against his former political opponent.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:39 PM on November 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
All those "I voted" stickers are obviously shopped. They didn't even bother to change any of the aspect ratios or shading.
posted by M-x shell at 8:40 PM on November 27, 2018
posted by M-x shell at 8:40 PM on November 27, 2018
All in all, it seems that while the Special Counsel's office prepared in good faith for Manafort to become a cooperating witness, Mueller trusted him not even as far as he could throw him and set up contingency plans in case he stayed secretly loyal to Team Trump—which he could leverage in a worst case scenario.
Worst case scenario for anyone under investigation. Frankly, I'm once again amazed at how competent Mueller's team is. He's chewing through these nitwits like a wood-chipper.
posted by mikelieman at 8:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Worst case scenario for anyone under investigation. Frankly, I'm once again amazed at how competent Mueller's team is. He's chewing through these nitwits like a wood-chipper.
posted by mikelieman at 8:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
It feels as if the shit and the fan are getting closer to each other.
posted by perhapses at 8:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by perhapses at 8:49 PM on November 27, 2018 [27 favorites]
If you were baffled by those Post interview excerpts, you can now baffle yourself further with the full transcript, which they're working on annotating with fact checking.
Trump’s Washington Post interview shows a presidency that’s beyond satire - Matthew Yglesias, Vox
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:24 PM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
Trump’s Washington Post interview shows a presidency that’s beyond satire - Matthew Yglesias, Vox
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:24 PM on November 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
You Are Going to Want to Watch This Horrifying Footage of Stephen Miller in High School That Hasan Minhaj Dug Up - Matthew Dessem, Slate
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:31 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:31 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
While Mueller's team has maintained a professional silence, I get the sense that those prosecutors really do not like Manafort and Stone on account of their decades of making American politics shittier, then exporting that shittiness around the world -- while getting rich with apparent impunity. The Manafort indictment and subsequent plea agreement was structured in a way to both lock him up and take all of his money. It was a fuck-you from the career prosecutors on GS salaries to the filthy influence peddlers whose northern Virginia McMansions were bought with other people's blood. When they finally drop the hammer on Stone, it's going to be from a great height.
posted by holgate at 10:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by holgate at 10:12 PM on November 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
WSJ, Jerome Corsi Says Roger Stone Sought ‘Cover Story’ for 2016 Tweet: "Former ally says Trump adviser asked for his help to create ‘alternative explanation’ for tweet foreshadowing 2016 release of Clinton emails." The main story here is over Stone's August 21st "Trust me, it will soon the Podesta’s time in the barrel" tweet. Corsi is claiming that Stone called him nine days later and asked for help creating an "alternative explanation" for it and that Corsi helped write a memo about Podesta that they could use as a cover story. Stone says this is nonsense.
So it's two massive liars competing to publicly throw each other under the bus as Mueller circles. There's also this interesting detail:
posted by zachlipton at 10:19 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
So it's two massive liars competing to publicly throw each other under the bus as Mueller circles. There's also this interesting detail:
In another twist, Mr. Giuliani said a member of the president’s legal team, Jay Sekulow, received a packet of court papers two weeks ago relating to Mr. Corsi that included the draft plea document. The sender was anonymous, Mr. Giuliani said.I'm going to assume Mueller's office didn't anonymously send the documents to Trump's team, but it sure sounds like something Corsi would do. Per the reporter on Twitter, Trump's legal team also "complained that Trump was named in the draft."
The president’s legal team notified the Justice Department that it had received the documents, Mr. Giuliani said.
posted by zachlipton at 10:19 PM on November 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
Fox News legal analyst stunned at how Mueller made it impossible for Trump to save Manafort: Napolitano explained that Mueller designed the plea agreement in such a way that it is “pardon proof.”
“The guilty plea is 175 pages long. In my career, I have never seen one like this. It was so carefully crafted by Bob Mueller and signed by Paul Manafort, that at the time he pleaded guilty to the charges he was indicted for — which was basically bank fraud, money laundering, and some form of commercial bribery of foreign officials in federal court. He also pleaded guilty to uncharged state crimes in New Jersey, in Virginia and in California.”posted by homunculus at 10:21 PM on November 27, 2018 [65 favorites]
He added, “Why did they do that? To make it pardon proof so if President Trump, which he can do, does pardon him for the federal crimes the state prosecutors in those states already have his guilty plea.”
You Are Going to Want to Watch This Horrifying Footage of Stephen Miller in High School That Hasan Minhaj Dug Up - Matthew Dessem, Slate
The Stephen Miller bit starts around 9:15.
posted by St. Oops at 10:44 PM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Stephen Miller bit starts around 9:15.
posted by St. Oops at 10:44 PM on November 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
> Trump’s Washington Post interview shows a presidency that’s beyond satire - Matthew Yglesias, Vox
This is worth reading. I mean, just the raw quotes... Feel free to add your own record scratch sounds:
posted by RedOrGreen at 10:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
This is worth reading. I mean, just the raw quotes... Feel free to add your own record scratch sounds:
One of the problems that a lot of people like myself — we have very high levels of intelligence, but we’re not necessarily such believers.My fellow R-voting Americans, this is the man you selected to be our President.
... when you’re talking about an atmosphere, oceans are very small. And it blows over and it sails over. I mean, we take thousands of tons of garbage off our beaches all the time that comes over from Asia. It just flows right down the Pacific, it flows, and we say where does this come from. And it takes many people to start off with.
... it was very interesting, I was watching the firemen and they’re raking brush — you know the tumbleweed and brush and all this stuff that’s growing underneath. It’s on fire and they’re raking it working so hard, and they’re raking all this stuff. If that was raked in the beginning, there’d be nothing to catch on fire. It’s very interesting to see. A lot of the trees, they took tremendous burn at the bottom, but they didn’t catch on fire. The bottom is all burned but they didn’t catch on fire because they sucked the water, they’re wet. You need forest management, and they don’t have it.
... Don’t forget we’re still up from when I came in 38 percent or something. You know, it’s a tremendous — it’s not like we’re up — and we’re much stronger. And we’re much more liquid. [...] It’s easy to make money when you’re not doing any pay-downs, so you can’t — and despite that, the numbers we have are phenomenal numbers.
posted by RedOrGreen at 10:48 PM on November 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
My fellow R-voting Americans, this is the man you selected to be our President.
I understand what is up with Trump. It's Dunning-Kruger. He is too dumb and incompetent to realize he's dumb and incompetent. Ok, fine. Given he has access to the nuclear launch codes that's less than ideal. But I get what's happening.
His supporters, though? They still insist he's super smart. Can nearly half the country be so unintelligent that they are literally unable to identify intelligence? Like... I may not be the most brilliant person to ever walk the earth but I can tell if somebody is very smart after spending some time with them. I might not be able to tell you if they're in the 82nd percentile or the 94th percentile or whatever, but I sure as shit can tell you if they're dumb as a bag of hammers or not.
How can they not do that? Some of them must know he's dumb and are lying about it to justify their vote, right? Right?
posted by Justinian at 11:20 PM on November 27, 2018 [69 favorites]
I understand what is up with Trump. It's Dunning-Kruger. He is too dumb and incompetent to realize he's dumb and incompetent. Ok, fine. Given he has access to the nuclear launch codes that's less than ideal. But I get what's happening.
His supporters, though? They still insist he's super smart. Can nearly half the country be so unintelligent that they are literally unable to identify intelligence? Like... I may not be the most brilliant person to ever walk the earth but I can tell if somebody is very smart after spending some time with them. I might not be able to tell you if they're in the 82nd percentile or the 94th percentile or whatever, but I sure as shit can tell you if they're dumb as a bag of hammers or not.
How can they not do that? Some of them must know he's dumb and are lying about it to justify their vote, right? Right?
posted by Justinian at 11:20 PM on November 27, 2018 [69 favorites]
step 1: assess social status on factors other than intelligence (hey, that's probably a good idea! because we don't live in a smartsocracy and really that's probably for the best)
step 2: decide that the features that give someone high social status are the possession of inherited wealth, a dangerous sense of self-entitlement, narcissistic self-regard, and a willingness to eagerly shame the lil people. this might even be an accurate way to assess someone's genuine social status, because people like that tend to get rewarded by our extant politico-economic systems, more's the pity.
step 3: (this is where it gets fun) your heuristic selects the people with high social status. the people with social status must be good, otherwise the world would not be just. the world is just. therefore good people have good features, like intelligence, good looks, a functioning moral sense, and so forth. therefore the people with exceptionally high social status necessarily have all the good features anyone could name.
step 4: You now are prepared to insist that donald trump is smart, good-looking, pleasant, witty, ethical, whatever.
step 5: oh yeah? you disagree? well if you're so smart how come you ain't rich?
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 11:42 PM on November 27, 2018 [24 favorites]
step 2: decide that the features that give someone high social status are the possession of inherited wealth, a dangerous sense of self-entitlement, narcissistic self-regard, and a willingness to eagerly shame the lil people. this might even be an accurate way to assess someone's genuine social status, because people like that tend to get rewarded by our extant politico-economic systems, more's the pity.
step 3: (this is where it gets fun) your heuristic selects the people with high social status. the people with social status must be good, otherwise the world would not be just. the world is just. therefore good people have good features, like intelligence, good looks, a functioning moral sense, and so forth. therefore the people with exceptionally high social status necessarily have all the good features anyone could name.
step 4: You now are prepared to insist that donald trump is smart, good-looking, pleasant, witty, ethical, whatever.
step 5: oh yeah? you disagree? well if you're so smart how come you ain't rich?
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 11:42 PM on November 27, 2018 [24 favorites]
After Months of Threats, Christine Blasey Ford Closes Her GoFundMe Campaign With a Heartfelt Message of Gratitude: "I am grateful to have had the opportunity to fulfill my civic duty."
posted by homunculus at 12:16 AM on November 28, 2018 [42 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 12:16 AM on November 28, 2018 [42 favorites]
How can they not do that? Some of them must know he's dumb and are lying about it to justify their vote, right? Right?Some of them are trapped in a phenomenon I've witnessed firsthand when, once upon a time, I was unfortunate enough to cross career paths with a malignant narcissist with Trump-like properties (fortunately on a much smaller scale, but still something I took years to recover from.)
At least some of the people who are showing signs of cult-like devotion to Trump's increasingly unhinged claims are people who bought in early on claims he made that were attractive to them because they were what they wanted to hear. People around them may have warned that the claims were not true but they chose to believe him because they wanted them to be true and at least at that point they weren't being asked to believe that up is down, the sky is green, etc. As his demands upon his believers became greater and greater, some people slipped away -- unable to commit to the latest ridiculous belief they were asked to adopt -- but not nearly as many as you would perhaps think, because for anyone who swallowed the easier lies to disavow him later meant admitting -- to themselves at least, but also likely to those around them -- how thoroughly they were taken in. There are many, many people who simply cannot countenance that sort of loss of face. And as a result they're trapped by their own pride into believing more and more ludicrous things.
It is a terrifying cycle, especially since they know at some level that they are trapped but the very nature of their problem renders them unable to focus their fear and rage on the person who has trapped them. Many will find other outlets for it.
[If you're curious: I talked about my fear of this very thing a bit in this post from August 2016 in the run-up to the election.]
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:19 AM on November 28, 2018 [51 favorites]
The Assange story, already questioned upthread is heavily torpedoed by Craig Murray which in itself is a bit dodgy but he should know about standard Embassy procedures having been an Ambassador.
posted by adamvasco at 3:33 AM on November 28, 2018
posted by adamvasco at 3:33 AM on November 28, 2018
DAWSEY: Last night, Mr. President, the special counsel’s team charged Paul Manafort with saying, they accused him at least of saying more lies, and ended his plea deal. People around you have told me you’re upset about the way he’s been treated. Are you planning to do anything to help him?
TRUMP: Let me go off the record because I don’t want to get in the middle of the whole thing.
The Post's answer here should have been, "No, this is an on-the-record interview. If you don't wish to comment for the record, we can move on."
With some sources, there is value in sharing information with a reporter that is for background or not for attribution. With the President of the United States during an on-the-record interview, such cases should be rare indeed, and with Trump there's no value at all.
Besides, I bet if they had said they didn't want to hear it off the record, Trump would have wound up saying whatever he wanted to say anyway.
posted by Gelatin at 3:44 AM on November 28, 2018 [59 favorites]
TRUMP: Let me go off the record because I don’t want to get in the middle of the whole thing.
The Post's answer here should have been, "No, this is an on-the-record interview. If you don't wish to comment for the record, we can move on."
With some sources, there is value in sharing information with a reporter that is for background or not for attribution. With the President of the United States during an on-the-record interview, such cases should be rare indeed, and with Trump there's no value at all.
Besides, I bet if they had said they didn't want to hear it off the record, Trump would have wound up saying whatever he wanted to say anyway.
posted by Gelatin at 3:44 AM on November 28, 2018 [59 favorites]
Question as a not-journalist: What was the value for Trump in even going off the record momentarily? Like, what kinds of things are said during these asides that would help him set the terms of the interview, or be better understood or whatever? As opposed to just saying, "I'm not going to answer that" or "I can't comment" or something? Going off the record just seems unusual for Trump, who has no problem not answering, lying, changing the topic, or drowning his response in word salad. I don't understand how this works.
posted by Rykey at 4:40 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 4:40 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Mod note: A couple deleted. We've gone over the "do Trump supporters really not realize how dumb he is" (and variations) so many times it's just automatic space-filling at this point.
posted by taz (staff) at 5:11 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 5:11 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Okay, jury may be out on his supporters, but he... he is abysmally stupid.
From the annotated interview transcript:
I really wish one reporter or interviewer had the guts to ask him to explain himself - just a little polite "excuse me, I don't quite follow, could you explain the in layman's terms?"
posted by PontifexPrimus at 5:35 AM on November 28, 2018 [40 favorites]
From the annotated interview transcript:
TRUMP: One of the problems that a lot of people like myself — we have very high levels of intelligence, but we’re not necessarily such believers. You look at our air and our water, and it’s right now at a record clean. But when you look at China and you look at parts of Asia and when you look at South America, and when you look at many other places in this world, including Russia, including — just many other places — the air is incredibly dirty. And when you’re talking about an atmosphere, oceans are very small. And it blows over and it sails over. I mean, we take thousands of tons of garbage off our beaches all the time that comes over from Asia. It just flows right down the Pacific, it flows, and we say where does this come from. And it takes many people to start off with.What even the fuck?
TRUMP: Number two, if you go back and if you look at articles, they talked about global freezing, they talked about at some point the planets could have freeze to death, then it’s going to die of heat exhaustion. There is movement in the atmosphere. There’s no question. As to whether or not it’s man-made and whether or not the effects that you’re talking about are there, I don’t see it — not nearly like it is.It's not just that he is ignorant, he is unwilling to learn even the tiniest bit beyond soundbites he snaps up somewhere and then repeats, embellishing them as he goes.
I really wish one reporter or interviewer had the guts to ask him to explain himself - just a little polite "excuse me, I don't quite follow, could you explain the in layman's terms?"
posted by PontifexPrimus at 5:35 AM on November 28, 2018 [40 favorites]
And when you’re talking about an atmosphere, oceans are very small. And it blows over and it sails over. I mean, we take thousands of tons of garbage off our beaches all the time that comes over from Asia. It just flows right down the Pacific, it flows, and we say where does this come from. And it takes many people to start off with.
Can the FDA declare this word salad as contaminated and have it recalled?
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:40 AM on November 28, 2018 [71 favorites]
Can the FDA declare this word salad as contaminated and have it recalled?
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 5:40 AM on November 28, 2018 [71 favorites]
So, tear gas and border closings in the US, meanwhile this on Vox:
Why Colombia has taken in 1 million Venezuelans
Colombia isn’t closing its doors.
In addition to Germany and Syrians, remember that Bangladesh also took in something close to a million refugees from Myanmar this year. The video goes on to detail how Colombians are taking Venezuelans into their homes, and how the government has granted the all the refugees 2 years to reside legally in the country, including the right to work and access social services.
The contrast with Republican and US government policies speaks for itself. Ethnic conflict and resource strife are not inevitable, they are manmade.
posted by saysthis at 6:04 AM on November 28, 2018 [59 favorites]
Why Colombia has taken in 1 million Venezuelans
Colombia isn’t closing its doors.
In addition to Germany and Syrians, remember that Bangladesh also took in something close to a million refugees from Myanmar this year. The video goes on to detail how Colombians are taking Venezuelans into their homes, and how the government has granted the all the refugees 2 years to reside legally in the country, including the right to work and access social services.
The contrast with Republican and US government policies speaks for itself. Ethnic conflict and resource strife are not inevitable, they are manmade.
posted by saysthis at 6:04 AM on November 28, 2018 [59 favorites]
I was just in Bogotá for a week shooting a travel story and the admission of refugees came up a few times – including among more upper class types you'd think would be more Republican-esque – and while I'm sure there are people who think different, the feeling among the people I met was it was a good thing. And they also hated Trump and what he stood for. It was refreshing, though I guess not surprising since my experience with Colombians is that they are amazingly friendly, helpful and protective. /anecdata
posted by chris24 at 6:16 AM on November 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 6:16 AM on November 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
After going off the record with the WaPo yesterday when asked directly about the Special Counsel investigation, @realDonaldTrump started the day with still another attack on Mueller and the wave of media coverage of his legal moves against Manafort, Corsi, and Stone:
"While the disgusting Fake News is doing everything within their power not to report it that way, at least 3 major players are intimating that the Angry Mueller Gang of Dems is viciously telling witnesses to lie about facts & they will get relief. This is our Joseph McCarthy Era!"
Which, coming from a protégé of Roy Cohn, demonstrates an absolute lack of self-awareness that guarantees Donald Trump's authorship of this tweet.
The account then switched to re-tweeting anti-immigrant noise from "The Trump Train 🚂 🇺🇸" (@The_Trump_Train).
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:17 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
"While the disgusting Fake News is doing everything within their power not to report it that way, at least 3 major players are intimating that the Angry Mueller Gang of Dems is viciously telling witnesses to lie about facts & they will get relief. This is our Joseph McCarthy Era!"
Which, coming from a protégé of Roy Cohn, demonstrates an absolute lack of self-awareness that guarantees Donald Trump's authorship of this tweet.
The account then switched to re-tweeting anti-immigrant noise from "The Trump Train 🚂 🇺🇸" (@The_Trump_Train).
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:17 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
I can't help but wonder how much of Trump's rage at the media is pure narcissism, and how much of it is shock and a justified feeling of betrayal that the media that once feted him, quashed negative stories about him, failed to investigate or report on his numerous crimes, and basically helped puff up his own lies about himself and his wealth is now being ever so slightly critical.
His entire life the media, especially the New York establishment media and most especially the New York Times, had done nothing but amplify his latest lies, give him free advertising for his various scams, and run puff pieces on his tasteless interior decorating.
I hate to sympathize with him, but I can see how it'd be a shock going from that to a media even as cowed, submissive, and differential in its very mild criticism of him as the current media is.
Obviously any narcissist will feel betrayed by any criticism, they see themselves as perfect after all, but in Trump's case there really is some kernel of truth to that narrative of betrayal. The media, and especially the NYT, used to be his buddies, and now they're sometimes gently critical of him. Even a neurotypical person would feel betrayed in that sort of situation.
Again, we're seeing why the future of both America and our species will require the media to stop being nice to billionaires and the government to start treating white collar crimes the way it currently treats minor drug offenses committed by black people. If the media and law enforcement had done its job, Trump would never have been in a position to run for President because he'd be broke, in prison, and a national byword for corruption.
Ask yourselves this: which is more likely, that Trump is uniquely corrupt for a billionaire, or that he's uniquely stupid in the way he flaunts his corruption? I'm betting the latter. What stories on Zuckerburg, Gates, Musk, Bezos, etc have been quietly quashed, never investigated? How many crimes have they committed that law enforcement never even knew about because they don't investigate billionaires?
Our two tiered system of justice depends on a compliant media as much as it does a judicial system geared to prosecuting poor minorities. Trump was a beneficiary of a media environment that catered to his every whim and helped build him up for his entire life.
posted by sotonohito at 6:31 AM on November 28, 2018 [38 favorites]
His entire life the media, especially the New York establishment media and most especially the New York Times, had done nothing but amplify his latest lies, give him free advertising for his various scams, and run puff pieces on his tasteless interior decorating.
I hate to sympathize with him, but I can see how it'd be a shock going from that to a media even as cowed, submissive, and differential in its very mild criticism of him as the current media is.
Obviously any narcissist will feel betrayed by any criticism, they see themselves as perfect after all, but in Trump's case there really is some kernel of truth to that narrative of betrayal. The media, and especially the NYT, used to be his buddies, and now they're sometimes gently critical of him. Even a neurotypical person would feel betrayed in that sort of situation.
Again, we're seeing why the future of both America and our species will require the media to stop being nice to billionaires and the government to start treating white collar crimes the way it currently treats minor drug offenses committed by black people. If the media and law enforcement had done its job, Trump would never have been in a position to run for President because he'd be broke, in prison, and a national byword for corruption.
Ask yourselves this: which is more likely, that Trump is uniquely corrupt for a billionaire, or that he's uniquely stupid in the way he flaunts his corruption? I'm betting the latter. What stories on Zuckerburg, Gates, Musk, Bezos, etc have been quietly quashed, never investigated? How many crimes have they committed that law enforcement never even knew about because they don't investigate billionaires?
Our two tiered system of justice depends on a compliant media as much as it does a judicial system geared to prosecuting poor minorities. Trump was a beneficiary of a media environment that catered to his every whim and helped build him up for his entire life.
posted by sotonohito at 6:31 AM on November 28, 2018 [38 favorites]
Eric Idle came to my town to promote his new autobiography. In an interview here he quoted a section of it:
posted by adept256 at 6:36 AM on November 28, 2018 [143 favorites]
I pay taxes in three countries and I can vote in none of them. I wasn’t even allowed to vote against Brexit. The Russians had more say than I did. And of course, I can’t vote in the States, though they coined the phrase “No taxation without representation.” I was once coming home through LAX when a steely- eyed immigration officer peered suspiciously at me.It may be a bit mean spirited to say so, with those desperate people needing to get in so badly, but no-one with better options wants to be American. Remember when trump lamented he'd like more Norwegian immigrants than people form shithole countries? From 2007-2016, less than 1,000 Norwegians naturalized as US citizens, according to US Department of Homeland Security data. That's an average of 100 Norwegians a year -- less than .000001 percent of Norway's population. No-one in Norway wants to become American. Norway is civilised.
“How long have you been a green card holder?”
“Oh, I have had it for ages,” I said. “More than twenty years.”
“Then why aren’t you an American?”
“Erm. Er . . . Well . . .” I hesitated. What should I say? What was the correct thing to say?
“Because, sir, I am an Englishman. Born and raised in England under the bombs of Hitler. A member of one of its most prestigious universities, from a college founded in 1347. A man who watched England win the World Cup at Wembley in 1966 and Manchester United lift the European trophy in 1968. An Englishman, a proud Elizabethan, heir to the traditions of Shakespeare, Chaucer, Wilde, Wordsworth, Coleridge, and Dickens, a cricket- loving survivor of the Sixties and a member of one of the most admired comedy groups in the world. Is it not enough I live in your fair country and pay my taxes? Now you wish me to put my hand on my heart and pledge allegiance to a self- righteous, lying, tax- avoiding moron, and his racist, gay- bashing, environmentally dangerous, greedy- bastard, science- denying cronies, who reject evolution and the rights of women, and plunder the planet for profit to please their powerful funders, stealing the very air and clean water of their children, while tweeting insanely and lying through their teeth on propaganda TV channels that would have shamed Joseph Goebbels? No, sir! The French do not shrug at me sardonically and ask me why I am not French. The Norwegians do not stop me on their shores and insist I wear thick knitwear and a large red anorak and retire into the countryside suffering from Ibsen and ennui. The Australians don’t force me into baggy swim pants to stand on planks in orange sunscreen hurtling across their shark- infested waters singing ‘Advance Australia Fair.’ No, sir. Enough, sir. I am a tax payer, a member of your Academy, a Grammy winner, a Tony winner, a father of an American, a lover of America, married to an American wife with an American child, but not, sir, an American!”
posted by adept256 at 6:36 AM on November 28, 2018 [143 favorites]
There’s no way Trump wrote that tweet, which is quite odd.
That's a re-tweet, from "The Trump Train 🚂 🇺🇸" (which uses Trump's twitter profile pic for its own).
As ever, Trump's morning tweets combine "Message of the Day" signals to his followers with cathartic exercise of his own obsessions and fears. (He's scheduled for lunch with NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo today, so he has to get this out of his system before then.)
Now @realDonaldTrump just re-tweeted flattery/Hilary-bashing from a vice presidential "fan account", @MikePenceVP, and has moved on to re-circulating month-old tweets from the odious Charlie Kirk and sycophant Dan Bongino.
If executive time has started this early, today could be interesting.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:37 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
That's a re-tweet, from "The Trump Train 🚂 🇺🇸" (which uses Trump's twitter profile pic for its own).
As ever, Trump's morning tweets combine "Message of the Day" signals to his followers with cathartic exercise of his own obsessions and fears. (He's scheduled for lunch with NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo today, so he has to get this out of his system before then.)
Now @realDonaldTrump just re-tweeted flattery/Hilary-bashing from a vice presidential "fan account", @MikePenceVP, and has moved on to re-circulating month-old tweets from the odious Charlie Kirk and sycophant Dan Bongino.
If executive time has started this early, today could be interesting.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:37 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
cjelli: A Totally Normal Morning In America: (via Daniel Dale) the President retweeting a meme of Rod Rosenstein (among others, including Obama and Hillary Clinton) imprisoned for treason.
I think I see Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez behind bars with the rest of them? Someone who has yet to spend a day in elected office of any kind? What, did she commit "treason" while getting her econ degree or bartending?
Or is she able to direct the asteroid that got named after her directly into a major American city. That last one is probably already a Qanon belief.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:50 AM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
I think I see Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez behind bars with the rest of them? Someone who has yet to spend a day in elected office of any kind? What, did she commit "treason" while getting her econ degree or bartending?
Or is she able to direct the asteroid that got named after her directly into a major American city. That last one is probably already a Qanon belief.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:50 AM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
There’s no way Trump wrote that tweet, which is quite odd.
---
That's a re-tweet, from "The Trump Train 🚂 🇺🇸" (which uses Trump's twitter profile pic for its own).
I think odinsdreams is referring to this:
posted by chris24 at 6:52 AM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
---
That's a re-tweet, from "The Trump Train 🚂 🇺🇸" (which uses Trump's twitter profile pic for its own).
I think odinsdreams is referring to this:
"While the disgusting Fake News is doing everything within their power not to report it that way, at least 3 major players are intimating that the Angry Mueller Gang of Dems is viciously telling witnesses to lie about facts & they will get relief. This is our Joseph McCarthy Era!"And I think he's right. No way Trump uses intimating. And the grammar/sentence structure is basically comprehensible.
posted by chris24 at 6:52 AM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
It's not just that he is ignorant, he is unwilling to learn even the tiniest bit beyond soundbites he snaps up somewhere and then repeats, embellishing them as he goes.
He's exceptional at working as little as possible for maximum returns.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:54 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
He's exceptional at working as little as possible for maximum returns.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:54 AM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
> Can the FDA declare this word salad as contaminated and have it recalled?
I think we should start using the word "articulate" as a passive-aggressive insult for Republican politicians.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:56 AM on November 28, 2018 [20 favorites]
I think we should start using the word "articulate" as a passive-aggressive insult for Republican politicians.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:56 AM on November 28, 2018 [20 favorites]
No way Trump uses intimating. And the grammar/sentence structure is basically comprehensible.
The Trump or Not Bot rates that tweet with an 82% chance of being authored by Trump himself, but as we know, @realDonaldTrump is the work of many hands (especially since Bill Shine got his grabby mitts on it). Although "intimating" is indeed a word he's never tweeted before, I surmise this tweet originates with Trump, right down to the McCarthy reference, even if it's clearly been processed by his comms team.
Meanwhile, @realDonaldTrump has tweeted a couple of times to complain about GM, plant closings, and vehicle tariffs—and to threaten, "Get smart Congress. [...] The President has great power on this issue - Because of the G.M. event, it is being studied now!" These tweets sound a lot more authentically Trump-y, but the subject matter is so far outside his capabilities—Trump has never before referred to the US's so-called “chicken tax” on small truck imports—they almost certainly originate with an aide.
Trump's either trying to stir up shit this morning or has nothing but executive time on his hands.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:21 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Trump or Not Bot rates that tweet with an 82% chance of being authored by Trump himself, but as we know, @realDonaldTrump is the work of many hands (especially since Bill Shine got his grabby mitts on it). Although "intimating" is indeed a word he's never tweeted before, I surmise this tweet originates with Trump, right down to the McCarthy reference, even if it's clearly been processed by his comms team.
Meanwhile, @realDonaldTrump has tweeted a couple of times to complain about GM, plant closings, and vehicle tariffs—and to threaten, "Get smart Congress. [...] The President has great power on this issue - Because of the G.M. event, it is being studied now!" These tweets sound a lot more authentically Trump-y, but the subject matter is so far outside his capabilities—Trump has never before referred to the US's so-called “chicken tax” on small truck imports—they almost certainly originate with an aide.
Trump's either trying to stir up shit this morning or has nothing but executive time on his hands.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:21 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump's either trying to stir up shit this morning or has nothing but executive time on his hands.
I keep in mind that Trump's ENTIRE shtick is campaigning. All he CAN do is say stuff that gets the campaign event attendees ( his base ) enthusiastic. Dunning-Krueger, ( or Krueger-Dunning, as Dunning once said.. )
posted by mikelieman at 7:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
I keep in mind that Trump's ENTIRE shtick is campaigning. All he CAN do is say stuff that gets the campaign event attendees ( his base ) enthusiastic. Dunning-Krueger, ( or Krueger-Dunning, as Dunning once said.. )
posted by mikelieman at 7:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
I remember when Dick Cheney used the word "qualitative" in an interview, and I thought "You know, Bush would never use that word. He probably doesn't know that word. Cheney is so much smarter than Bush. He must have Bush wrapped around his little finger. Dammit, Cheney is the real president, isn't he?"
(And nothing has happened since to really convince me otherwise.)
So I spent the first few months of the Trump administration wondering who the "real president" in this case. At first I thought Bannon. Then I thought Sessions. Now that both are gone, I've been afraid maybe we just don't HAVE a real president, which is worse, maybe?
But if Fox News's Bill Shine is the one who put the word "intimating" into that tweet, maybe the truth is that the Real President has been Fox News all along.
posted by OnceUponATime at 7:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [52 favorites]
(And nothing has happened since to really convince me otherwise.)
So I spent the first few months of the Trump administration wondering who the "real president" in this case. At first I thought Bannon. Then I thought Sessions. Now that both are gone, I've been afraid maybe we just don't HAVE a real president, which is worse, maybe?
But if Fox News's Bill Shine is the one who put the word "intimating" into that tweet, maybe the truth is that the Real President has been Fox News all along.
posted by OnceUponATime at 7:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [52 favorites]
I think I see Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez behind bars with the rest of them? Someone who has yet to spend a day in elected office of any kind? What, did she commit "treason" while getting her econ degree or bartending?
I'm pretty sure that's Huma Abedin, although I'm sure AOC will have her photoshop-day behind bars if she hasn't already.
posted by gladly at 7:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm pretty sure that's Huma Abedin, although I'm sure AOC will have her photoshop-day behind bars if she hasn't already.
posted by gladly at 7:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
America: Trump's either trying to stir up shit this morning or has nothing but executive time on his hands.
posted by notyou at 7:37 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by notyou at 7:37 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
maybe the truth is that the Real President has been Fox News all along.
Media consolidation and the defanging of antitrust laws led to a cable news company being the president.
What a timeline.
Anyway the lunch with Coumo seems weird unless you remember they’re both extremely petty, vainglorious outer brougho con men. I hope it’s a friendly chat among sociopaths and not part of some revenge plot cause NYS Andy’s cooked up cause he had to face a primary and that’s not fair.
posted by The Whelk at 7:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
Media consolidation and the defanging of antitrust laws led to a cable news company being the president.
What a timeline.
Anyway the lunch with Coumo seems weird unless you remember they’re both extremely petty, vainglorious outer brougho con men. I hope it’s a friendly chat among sociopaths and not part of some revenge plot cause NYS Andy’s cooked up cause he had to face a primary and that’s not fair.
posted by The Whelk at 7:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
But if Fox News's Bill Shine is the one who put the word "intimating" into that tweet, maybe the truth is that the Real President has been Fox News all along.
As Daily Beast e-in-c Noah Schachtman put it when the news broke about Shine's ongoing multi-million-dollar Fox payout:
"Forget state-sponsored TV. This is a TV-sponsored state."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:44 AM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
As Daily Beast e-in-c Noah Schachtman put it when the news broke about Shine's ongoing multi-million-dollar Fox payout:
"Forget state-sponsored TV. This is a TV-sponsored state."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:44 AM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
Maybe Trump will convince Cuomo to renege on his deal with Bezos.
posted by notyou at 7:44 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by notyou at 7:44 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
If Pelosi Returns As Speaker, So Would The GOP Playbook Against Her (NPR, November 28, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:45 AM on November 28, 2018 [35 favorites]
For nearly a decade, Nancy Pelosi was the GOP's not-so-secret weapon.Emphasis mine -- well-played, NPR. Well played.
Tying a congressional candidate to the Democratic leader and raising the specter of another would-be speakership was a Republican's silver bullet for much of the past decade.
But in 2018, that strategy failed — badly. Democrats flipped control of the House and are on pace to pick up as many as 40 seats with their biggest popular-vote margin since the Watergate scandal, and Pelosi is hoping to become speaker of the House again as her fellow Democrats take a first vote Wednesday.
"I still think she's a toxic figure and and an unpopular figure to definitely tie Democrats to," said GOP strategist Andrea Bozek, a former communications director at the National Republican Congressional Committee. "That's why you had a lot of Democrat incumbents and candidates during the campaign say that they weren't going to vote for her, which is sort of unprecedented."That's so kind of NPR to allow GOP talking points to air for free. Such blatant political ads can cost serious money to spread. But I guess you might feel obliged to give then a few free pot-shots and stage-setting, after that comparison of Trump and Nixon, and what follows...
Pelosi has once again shown her political prowess in wooing even skeptical lawmakers and wavering freshmen to her side. A formal vote for speaker won't be held until January, but enough possible defections have now petered out that it looks as if the California Democrat will claim the gavel again.Emphasis mine, because these points are all true, and it's good to hear them as counters to the GOP spin. Why is she toxic? Why is she unpopular? What, you only have those soundbites to throw out? Hmm, it's like your betting on misogyny to carry this one, GOP.
Coalescing support
On Tuesday, a group of 20 freshmen — including some who were lukewarm about her on the campaign trail — released a letter (PDF) explaining their rationale for backing the 78-year-old Pelosi now.
"The incoming class of first-term members is younger and more diverse than ever before. A proven leader like Leader Pelosi will be a valuable resource as we, ourselves, step up to lead, and as we work to make life better for the people we represent," the letter reads.
One of those signatories, Rep.-elect Angie Craig of Minnesota, admitted that she campaigned saying she would consider new leadership but said Tuesday during a panel discussion on bipartisanship that "you can't beat something with nothing" and that she was supporting Pelosi after meeting with her and talking about taking action on several issues she stressed during her campaign.
...
Rep.-elect Lauren Underwood of Illinois was one of those on the fence [about supporting Pelosi]. But she also said Tuesday that she eventually realized that people in Washington were focused on Pelosi but said flatly "people at home don't care."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:45 AM on November 28, 2018 [35 favorites]
From our mouths to their ears.
MSNBC declines to allow Sarah Sanders to dictate its programming
MSNBC declines to allow Sarah Sanders to dictate its programming
It had been nearly a month since Sarah Sanders had held what was once known as a “daily” briefing. So when the White House press secretary — along with White House officials Larry Kudlow and John Bolton — took the podium on Tuesday afternoon, cable-news channels jumped right on the proceedings. Well, most of them, anyway.posted by scalefree at 7:50 AM on November 28, 2018 [91 favorites]
While CNN and Fox News carried the tripartite briefing from the very beginning, MSNBC stayed away — until it had blown off the entire session.
In doing so, it had missed a chance to beam a live presentation of Kudlow saying, “We’ll see what happens. … Our economy’s in very good shape right now”; of Bolton saying he hadn’t listened to the audio recording of the killing of Jamal Khashoggi (“I guess I should ask you, why do you think I should, what do you think I’ll learn from it?”); of Sanders saying this about Trump and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s Russia investigation: “I don’t think the president has any concerns about the [Mueller] report because he knows that there was no wrongdoing by him and that there was no collusion.”
Instead of all that, MSNBC carried segments on the following topics: Trump’s trade wars; the state of the auto industry, in light of GM’s announced plant closings; the stock market and the welfare of the U.S. worker; a deadly attack on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan; a Guardian report that Paul Manafort, the former Trump campaign chairman, had met with Julian Assange; and the U.S. Senate election in Mississippi. After the press briefing concluded, MSNBC plowed ahead with more on GM, including an interview with Hamtramck, Mich., Mayor Karen Majewski, a segment on the Mueller investigation, a politics roundup, a mention of “giving Tuesday.”
Mod note: Couple comments deleted. Sorry, as always nobody's doing anything wrong, but "here's my nightmare scenario of what will happen if he stays in office" and "which is better Trump or Pence" are both really well-trod lines of discussion that basically always go the same way, and it's better to just not get started on them.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:09 AM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:09 AM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
“We are far off course,” the development guru Jeffrey Sachs laments in his new book. The curmudgeonly geo-strategist John Mearsheimer agrees: “Something went badly wrong.” So does Stephen Walt, the dissenting realist at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. “Pursuing liberal hegemony did not make the United States safer, stronger, more prosperous, or more popular,” Walt concludes. “On the contrary, America’s ambitious attempt to reorder world politics undermined its own position, sowed chaos in several regions, and caused considerable misery in a number of other countries.”
In their new books, all three of these heretics pronounce American foreign policy a failure. They assert that the drive for “full-spectrum dominance,” on which we have been embarked since the Cold War ended a quarter-century ago, has destabilized the world and undermined our own security.
posted by infini at 8:13 AM on November 28, 2018 [19 favorites]
In their new books, all three of these heretics pronounce American foreign policy a failure. They assert that the drive for “full-spectrum dominance,” on which we have been embarked since the Cold War ended a quarter-century ago, has destabilized the world and undermined our own security.
posted by infini at 8:13 AM on November 28, 2018 [19 favorites]
Marketing 101
In an interview with Foreign Policy, Goldfein said Colombia and other Latin American countries risked being locked out of U.S. and allied operations if they stopped buying military hardware from the United States and turned to other markets instead.
posted by infini at 8:15 AM on November 28, 2018
In an interview with Foreign Policy, Goldfein said Colombia and other Latin American countries risked being locked out of U.S. and allied operations if they stopped buying military hardware from the United States and turned to other markets instead.
posted by infini at 8:15 AM on November 28, 2018
People around them may have warned that the claims were not true but they chose to believe him because they wanted them to be true and at least at that point they weren't being asked to believe that up is down, the sky is green, etc. As his demands upon his believers became greater and greater, some people slipped away -- unable to commit to the latest ridiculous belief they were asked to adopt -- but not nearly as many as you would perhaps think, because for anyone who swallowed the easier lies to disavow him later meant admitting -- to themselves at least, but also likely to those around them -- how thoroughly they were taken in.
Cognitive dissonance is a hell of a drug.
posted by Gelatin at 8:15 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Cognitive dissonance is a hell of a drug.
posted by Gelatin at 8:15 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
gladly: I'm pretty sure that's Huma Abedin
Oops! Yes, you are correct.
Insight from Alexdra Erin about vocabulary, excerpted from a long tweet thread of last March, referring to a tweet that said "So much Fake News. Never been more voluminous or more inaccurate. But through it all, our country is doing great!"
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:18 AM on November 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
Oops! Yes, you are correct.
Insight from Alexdra Erin about vocabulary, excerpted from a long tweet thread of last March, referring to a tweet that said "So much Fake News. Never been more voluminous or more inaccurate. But through it all, our country is doing great!"
Okay. So. Anyway.So with that in mind, don't rule out Trump saying "intimating". If anything, it's only suspect for being an unusual word without being a "big" one, not for being "too big" a word.
I'm seeing a lot of people asking "Who wrote this tweet? Trump wouldn't say voluminous." And I have to say, I think there's a trap we're falling into there, as a culture.
When it becomes an article of faith that Trump doesn't use big words, we throw out any time he does as an anomaly that proves it's not him, thus preserving the record of Trump not using big words, thus "proving" that we were right all along.
Trump uses big words. Especially words like "voluminous", which, to be honest, is a little out of place in that sentence not because it's him saying it, but because it's hardly the most natural fit.
Which is part of how he uses them.
Remember Trump saying he has the best words? He latches onto words that are particularly euphonious to his ear.
What sorts of words? Well, if someone told him that his speech was euphonious, we'd hear him repeating it, I'm pretty sure.
If you think I'm making this up... I'm pretty sure I've heard Trump say the word "braggadocious" way more times than I've heard anyone else who wasn't quoting him or talking about him saying it has.
I've heard and read "braggadocio", the Italian word at the root of it, all over the place. But "braggadocious"? That one stuck with him.
So I read a tweet where he's saying "voluminous" and it's slightly out of place but not technically incorrect and I don't think, "His lawyer wrote this." It's Trump, "being his own best spokesman". Trying to channel a bit of the Don King hype and evoke an air of erudition.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:18 AM on November 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
Frustrated by lack of influence and disheartened by U.S. President Donald Trump’s rhetoric, Department of Defense civilians are heading for the door, leaving key positions unfilled in a Pentagon increasingly run by active-duty or retired military officers.
[...]
The attrition has caused concern outside the Defense Department as well. An independent, congressionally mandated review of the National Defense Strategy released this week highlighted the “relative imbalance of civilian and military voices” on critical national security issues, and urged the department to reverse this “unhealthy” trend. source
posted by infini at 8:22 AM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
[...]
The attrition has caused concern outside the Defense Department as well. An independent, congressionally mandated review of the National Defense Strategy released this week highlighted the “relative imbalance of civilian and military voices” on critical national security issues, and urged the department to reverse this “unhealthy” trend. source
posted by infini at 8:22 AM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
lunch with Coumo seems weird
Not if you’re trying to avoid prosecution for yourself and your family in NYS it doesn’t
This is why getting rid of Cuomo and his entire slate was important. I guess now we see how Tish James handles it.
I say we burn the political career of anyone who doesn’t go after the Trumps like they’ve been infected with a very Trump-specific fast-moving zombie virus.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:23 AM on November 28, 2018 [27 favorites]
Not if you’re trying to avoid prosecution for yourself and your family in NYS it doesn’t
This is why getting rid of Cuomo and his entire slate was important. I guess now we see how Tish James handles it.
I say we burn the political career of anyone who doesn’t go after the Trumps like they’ve been infected with a very Trump-specific fast-moving zombie virus.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:23 AM on November 28, 2018 [27 favorites]
In their new books, all three of these heretics pronounce American foreign policy a failure.
This is now considered a heretical position?
Guess I missed the memo.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:23 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is now considered a heretical position?
Guess I missed the memo.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 8:23 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
So I spent the first few months of the Trump administration wondering who the "real president" in this case. At first I thought Bannon. Then I thought Sessions. Now that both are gone, I've been afraid maybe we just don't HAVE a real president, which is worse, maybe?
Bush (G.W.) was the elitist presidency; he did the aw-shucks Texas thing, and spoke Spanish with what was apparently not an awful accent, but either he was consciously playing the yokel lobby, or he was himself being played. Hard to say. But yeah, the real power was Cheney et al. And really that's about the best thing you can say about that administration. They were evil, but they were competent. (Much of what people allege as incompetence isn't, in my accounting anyway; it's just stuff they didn't care about doing well. Like setting up governments in places after retooling them with high explosives.) I wouldn't go so far as to saw "lawful evil", but... competent villany.
Trump is the crowdsourced presidency. He doesn't have the iron-fist-velvet-glove power-behind-the-throne person, at least as far as can be discerned. (Maybe it'll turn out to have been Ivanka all along? We're not that lucky.) Instead he has a revolving-door cavalcade of resume-burnishing morons with otherwise limited career prospects as a staff, probably doing the day-to-day legwork of policymaking, and then he has the continuous howling chasm of Twitter.
There are no adults in the room.
posted by Kadin2048 at 8:26 AM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
Bush (G.W.) was the elitist presidency; he did the aw-shucks Texas thing, and spoke Spanish with what was apparently not an awful accent, but either he was consciously playing the yokel lobby, or he was himself being played. Hard to say. But yeah, the real power was Cheney et al. And really that's about the best thing you can say about that administration. They were evil, but they were competent. (Much of what people allege as incompetence isn't, in my accounting anyway; it's just stuff they didn't care about doing well. Like setting up governments in places after retooling them with high explosives.) I wouldn't go so far as to saw "lawful evil", but... competent villany.
Trump is the crowdsourced presidency. He doesn't have the iron-fist-velvet-glove power-behind-the-throne person, at least as far as can be discerned. (Maybe it'll turn out to have been Ivanka all along? We're not that lucky.) Instead he has a revolving-door cavalcade of resume-burnishing morons with otherwise limited career prospects as a staff, probably doing the day-to-day legwork of policymaking, and then he has the continuous howling chasm of Twitter.
There are no adults in the room.
posted by Kadin2048 at 8:26 AM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
From the No shit Sherlock Dept.:
The near-certain guilt of President Trump:
At this point, we can say with near certainty that Trump conspired at some level with Russian sources to win the presidential election and has tried over and over to cover it up. It's obvious
posted by growabrain at 8:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
The near-certain guilt of President Trump:
At this point, we can say with near certainty that Trump conspired at some level with Russian sources to win the presidential election and has tried over and over to cover it up. It's obvious
posted by growabrain at 8:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
"Fox isn't state-run media. The state is run by Fox." — Nicole Wallace
posted by kirkaracha at 8:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 8:28 AM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
A Totally Normal Morning In America: (via Daniel Dale) the President retweeting a meme of Rod Rosenstein (among others, including Obama and Hillary Clinton) imprisoned for treason.
From the WaPo's article Senate Panel Delays Vote on Trump Pick to Lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement: "One issue they raised in a letter to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is [Ronald D. ] Vitiello apparently sharing images of Trump on Twitter that compare the president to the cartoon character Dennis the Menace."
Totally normal.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:31 AM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
From the WaPo's article Senate Panel Delays Vote on Trump Pick to Lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement: "One issue they raised in a letter to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is [Ronald D. ] Vitiello apparently sharing images of Trump on Twitter that compare the president to the cartoon character Dennis the Menace."
Totally normal.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:31 AM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
> Trump is the crowdsourced presidency. He doesn't have the iron-fist-velvet-glove power-behind-the-throne person, at least as far as can be discerned. (Maybe it'll turn out to have been Ivanka all along? We're not that lucky.) Instead he has a revolving-door cavalcade of resume-burnishing morons with otherwise-limited career prospects as a staff, probably doing the day-to-day legwork of policymaking, and then he has the continuous howling chasm of Twitter.
There are no adults in the room.
We are sort of not stating the obvious / dancing around the depressing elephant in the room. 45 is not a subtle man, and he's not a smart man, and he is owned lock-stock-and-barrel by Vladimir Putin, and he is terrible at hiding it.
(gods, remember back during the conventions, when his team gave precisely zero fucks about the republican party platform oh except for this one little change they wanted to make about Ukraine? and how we were like "well that's a tell" but didn't panic because we didn't think he'd ever be president?)
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 8:37 AM on November 28, 2018 [40 favorites]
There are no adults in the room.
We are sort of not stating the obvious / dancing around the depressing elephant in the room. 45 is not a subtle man, and he's not a smart man, and he is owned lock-stock-and-barrel by Vladimir Putin, and he is terrible at hiding it.
(gods, remember back during the conventions, when his team gave precisely zero fucks about the republican party platform oh except for this one little change they wanted to make about Ukraine? and how we were like "well that's a tell" but didn't panic because we didn't think he'd ever be president?)
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 8:37 AM on November 28, 2018 [40 favorites]
Miami Herald: How a future Trump Cabinet member gave a serial sex abuser the deal of a lifetime
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:47 AM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:47 AM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
and how we were like "well that's a tell" but didn't panic
Eh, that’s not...super accurate. Even people on MF were treating talk of a Russian conspiracy like it was on par with chemtrails and faked moon landings, and pretty much the only mainstream leftward media person sounding the alarm was Josh Marshall at TPM.
And reality has turned out to be worse than anything any of us was willing to say out loud.
Yay.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:48 AM on November 28, 2018 [22 favorites]
Eh, that’s not...super accurate. Even people on MF were treating talk of a Russian conspiracy like it was on par with chemtrails and faked moon landings, and pretty much the only mainstream leftward media person sounding the alarm was Josh Marshall at TPM.
And reality has turned out to be worse than anything any of us was willing to say out loud.
Yay.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:48 AM on November 28, 2018 [22 favorites]
I didn't panic, and sadly to be honest still am not panicking over the change to the Republican platform, because there is so much more pressing shit going on. Trump is the most perfect Gish Gallop ever devised at the moment. I distinctly remember a debate in August 2015 where I was sure Trump was about to be finished as a candidate. That's the last time I remember not feeling this eternal fatigue.
Another thing I remember is how it was totally obvious Manafort was bought and paid for by foreign powers when the convention thing came up, there was reporting and it's been gratifying to know that was completely accurate. I eagerly await the fact that he picked Mike Pence to mean something tangible.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 8:50 AM on November 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
Another thing I remember is how it was totally obvious Manafort was bought and paid for by foreign powers when the convention thing came up, there was reporting and it's been gratifying to know that was completely accurate. I eagerly await the fact that he picked Mike Pence to mean something tangible.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 8:50 AM on November 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
>> and how we were like "well that's a tell" but didn't panic
> Eh, that’s not...super accurate. Even people on MF were treating talk of a Russian conspiracy like it was on par with chemtrails and faked moon landings, and pretty much the only mainstream leftward media person sounding the alarm was Josh Marshall at TPM.
if you're capable of reading megathread material from the before time (I can only take it in small doses), hit up this thread and search for "ukraine" and "russia."
iirc the only thing that we were like "okay that might be interesting but perhaps this is getting a little tinfoil hat?" about that in retrospect we should have gotten more tinfoil hat about was the server that only talked to alfa bank.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 9:01 AM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
> Eh, that’s not...super accurate. Even people on MF were treating talk of a Russian conspiracy like it was on par with chemtrails and faked moon landings, and pretty much the only mainstream leftward media person sounding the alarm was Josh Marshall at TPM.
if you're capable of reading megathread material from the before time (I can only take it in small doses), hit up this thread and search for "ukraine" and "russia."
iirc the only thing that we were like "okay that might be interesting but perhaps this is getting a little tinfoil hat?" about that in retrospect we should have gotten more tinfoil hat about was the server that only talked to alfa bank.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 9:01 AM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
The Miami Herald's superb long-form investigation into billionaire pedophile—and friend of Donald Trump and Bill Clinton—Jeffrey Epstein reveals an ugly coverup in all but name by one of Trump's cabinet secretaries:
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:09 AM on November 28, 2018 [77 favorites]
In 2007, despite ample physical evidence and multiple witnesses corroborating the girls’ stories, federal prosecutors and Epstein’s lawyers quietly put together a remarkable deal for Epstein, then 54. He agreed to plead guilty to two felony prostitution charges in state court, and in exchange, he and his accomplices received immunity from federal sex-trafficking charges that could have sent him to prison for life.The only rule with Trump is that no matter how bad it appears, it's always worse than imagined when examined.
He served 13 months in a private wing of the Palm Beach County stockade. His alleged co-conspirators, who helped schedule his sex sessions, were never prosecuted.
The deal, called a federal non-prosecution agreement, was sealed so that no one — not even his victims — could know the full scope of Epstein’s crimes and who else was involved. The U.S. attorney in Miami, Alexander Acosta, was personally involved in the negotiations, records, letters and emails show.
Acosta is now a member of President Donald Trump’s Cabinet. As U.S. secretary of labor, he has oversight over international child labor laws and human trafficking and has recently been mentioned as a possible successor to former U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who resigned under pressure in early November.[...]
Documents nevertheless show that Acosta not only buckled under pressure from Epstein’s lawyers, but he and other prosecutors worked with them to contain the case, even as the FBI was uncovering evidence of victims and witnesses in other states, FBI and federal court documents show.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:09 AM on November 28, 2018 [77 favorites]
In a live interview with Andrea Mitchell just now on MSNBC a congressman (i have it on in the background but missed who it was) just said they have elected Hakeem Jeffries as Caucus leader of the Dems in the House.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:12 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:12 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
The only rule with Trump is that no matter how bad it appears, it's always worse than imagined when examined.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:09 AM on November 29 [1 favorite +] [!]
I was typing a comment to say essentially that. Yes. Holy crap put them all in jail forever, and if #metoo organizations have any powder they're keeping dry, this is the one to use it on. Everyone who knew Epstein should be under investigation for years. Holy shit. 80 underage victims that they know about, model agencies to bring in 13+ year-olds and house them at his property, a jet named the "Lolita Express" with lots of mysterious female passengers in the logs...
posted by saysthis at 9:17 AM on November 28, 2018 [43 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:09 AM on November 29 [1 favorite +] [!]
I was typing a comment to say essentially that. Yes. Holy crap put them all in jail forever, and if #metoo organizations have any powder they're keeping dry, this is the one to use it on. Everyone who knew Epstein should be under investigation for years. Holy shit. 80 underage victims that they know about, model agencies to bring in 13+ year-olds and house them at his property, a jet named the "Lolita Express" with lots of mysterious female passengers in the logs...
posted by saysthis at 9:17 AM on November 28, 2018 [43 favorites]
The Jeffrey Epstein thing should be a gigantic story and I don’t understand why it isn’t.
posted by gucci mane at 9:19 AM on November 28, 2018 [41 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 9:19 AM on November 28, 2018 [41 favorites]
Metafilter is not a monolith. Every thread had a little "OMG Trump is a Russian agent," and a little " Don't be ridiculous" and a little "the whole Russia thing is just a distraction." What was maddening was the occasional denials that Russia even had anything to do with the DNC hacking -- the insistence that Julian Assange was credible and he said it was an inside job. That was never the consensus around here, but a few people insisted on it, and it is frustrating even to remember. It's such a relief that basically everyone now acknowledges what Russia did, and we are now just trying to understand Trump's role in it.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:22 AM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:22 AM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
Here’s the Senate Math You Need to Memorize for 2020
If Democrats win the White House, they will need a net of three pickups to control the chamber (since the vice president can break 50-50 ties in the Senate). But if they lose the White House, they will need to net four seats for control.posted by kirkaracha at 9:22 AM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
The early Senate battlegrounds for 2020: Alabama (D), Arizona (R), Colorado (R), Georgia (R), Iowa (R), Maine (R), Michigan (D) and North Carolina (R).
To counter the NPR bullshit, here's an interview with New York Times Magazine journalist Robert Draper on FreshAir
In the midterms that we just saw, I think she was the Republican's favorite target. I mean, they clearly - their messaging and polling convinced them that attacking Nancy Pelosi was a way to beat the Democrats. How did she get in this position?
ROBERT DRAPER: Well, I think it starts with the fact that she is a woman who lives in San Francisco, who is wealthy and who is a liberal. All this makes her the quintessence of California limousine liberalism. In other words, she is very, very easy to caricature. The fact that she is a woman of a certain age has caused these caricatures to be particularly unkind and with more than an aroma of sexism to them, I think. But nonetheless, it remains a fact that she is a progressive. She is wealthy, and therefore, seemingly, the very picture of the out-of-step Democratic politician.
.....near the end of it all in February, let's say, of 2010, there were a lot of people saying to Speaker Pelosi, let's settle for, you know, a fifth of a loaf, even a tenth of a loaf. Let's just get in and get out to, you know, pass something like on pre-existing conditions and call it a day. And Pelosi said, nope. We were here to do something major. We're going to do something major.
And yet the major thing to do was not going to include the public option hybrid of managed health care and single-payer that, for a lot of progressives, was the draw to health care legislation to begin with. She had enough street cred to convince them that this was a still worthwhile thing. And she had enough street cred and enough just tenacity to convince blue dog moderates and others that they needed to do something big, not something small. And as you say, it passed in the House by a margin of three. It is widely understood in the Obama administration as well as amongst her colleagues that that legislation simply would not have been passed but for the efforts of Nancy Pelosi.
....Nancy Pelosi really knows how to count votes. And that's the secret to her success. But that's a really reductive way of saying that, in fact, Pelosi understands the substance of legislation, understands what that substance means to various constituent parts, understands the leverage that she has to commit to those constituent parts and then finally, understands the number 218 and how to get there.
... the other thing that Pelosi actually managed to do and did it through the Trump administration was to obtain one concession after the next in budget fights, like increase spending for community health centers, freezing the number of deportation officers, that sort of thing. And it would leave House Republicans infuriated, but she was simply a better negotiator by dint of the fact that she knew she had a unified caucus who would vote for whatever she was negotiating at. And she just simply knew the legislative substance better than her Republican counterparts did.
posted by bluesky43 at 9:25 AM on November 28, 2018 [63 favorites]
In the midterms that we just saw, I think she was the Republican's favorite target. I mean, they clearly - their messaging and polling convinced them that attacking Nancy Pelosi was a way to beat the Democrats. How did she get in this position?
ROBERT DRAPER: Well, I think it starts with the fact that she is a woman who lives in San Francisco, who is wealthy and who is a liberal. All this makes her the quintessence of California limousine liberalism. In other words, she is very, very easy to caricature. The fact that she is a woman of a certain age has caused these caricatures to be particularly unkind and with more than an aroma of sexism to them, I think. But nonetheless, it remains a fact that she is a progressive. She is wealthy, and therefore, seemingly, the very picture of the out-of-step Democratic politician.
.....near the end of it all in February, let's say, of 2010, there were a lot of people saying to Speaker Pelosi, let's settle for, you know, a fifth of a loaf, even a tenth of a loaf. Let's just get in and get out to, you know, pass something like on pre-existing conditions and call it a day. And Pelosi said, nope. We were here to do something major. We're going to do something major.
And yet the major thing to do was not going to include the public option hybrid of managed health care and single-payer that, for a lot of progressives, was the draw to health care legislation to begin with. She had enough street cred to convince them that this was a still worthwhile thing. And she had enough street cred and enough just tenacity to convince blue dog moderates and others that they needed to do something big, not something small. And as you say, it passed in the House by a margin of three. It is widely understood in the Obama administration as well as amongst her colleagues that that legislation simply would not have been passed but for the efforts of Nancy Pelosi.
....Nancy Pelosi really knows how to count votes. And that's the secret to her success. But that's a really reductive way of saying that, in fact, Pelosi understands the substance of legislation, understands what that substance means to various constituent parts, understands the leverage that she has to commit to those constituent parts and then finally, understands the number 218 and how to get there.
... the other thing that Pelosi actually managed to do and did it through the Trump administration was to obtain one concession after the next in budget fights, like increase spending for community health centers, freezing the number of deportation officers, that sort of thing. And it would leave House Republicans infuriated, but she was simply a better negotiator by dint of the fact that she knew she had a unified caucus who would vote for whatever she was negotiating at. And she just simply knew the legislative substance better than her Republican counterparts did.
posted by bluesky43 at 9:25 AM on November 28, 2018 [63 favorites]
If I'm reading correctly, the Miami article (credited to Emily Michot and Julie K Brown) says this deal not only granted immunity to suspected co-conspirators, but to any potential ones.
One example of context for how huge that is: the article lists Prince Andrew, Duke of York among Epstein's friends. He has been accused by a woman named Virginia Roberts of having sex with her when she was 17 (which he basically denies, but they have been publicly photographed together). She claims that she wouldn't have done it if she hadn't felt threatened by Epstein's other connections. So we're talking about multiple powerful people, men either involved in committed sex crimes themselves, or abetting them by threats.
Ever since I first heard about the anonymous woman claiming that, while she was a child in Epstein's slavery ring, Trump raped her... nothing I've seen has caused me to doubt it, except maybe when she dropped her lawsuit a little before the election. It's definitely an extraordinary claim, and the evidence may not yet be extraordinary, but it is absolutely compelling.
gucci mane: The Jeffrey Epstein thing should be a gigantic story and I don’t understand why it isn’t.
It's not a gigantic story because it's much too gigantic.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 9:25 AM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
One example of context for how huge that is: the article lists Prince Andrew, Duke of York among Epstein's friends. He has been accused by a woman named Virginia Roberts of having sex with her when she was 17 (which he basically denies, but they have been publicly photographed together). She claims that she wouldn't have done it if she hadn't felt threatened by Epstein's other connections. So we're talking about multiple powerful people, men either involved in committed sex crimes themselves, or abetting them by threats.
Ever since I first heard about the anonymous woman claiming that, while she was a child in Epstein's slavery ring, Trump raped her... nothing I've seen has caused me to doubt it, except maybe when she dropped her lawsuit a little before the election. It's definitely an extraordinary claim, and the evidence may not yet be extraordinary, but it is absolutely compelling.
gucci mane: The Jeffrey Epstein thing should be a gigantic story and I don’t understand why it isn’t.
It's not a gigantic story because it's much too gigantic.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 9:25 AM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
From the must-read, outraging excellent Miami Herald report discussed above (emphasis below mine): In 2011, Epstein petitioned to have his sex offender status reduced in New York, where he has a home and is required to register every 90 days. In New York, he is classified as a level 3 offender — the highest safety risk because of his likelihood to re-offend.
A prosecutor under New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance argued on Epstein’s behalf, telling New York Supreme Court Judge Ruth Pickholtz that the Florida case never led to an indictment and that his underage victims failed to cooperate in the case. Pickholtz, however, denied the petition, expressing astonishment that a New York prosecutor would make such a request on behalf of a serial sex offender accused of molesting so many girls.
The Miami Herald has several interactive reports that go with the main investigative story. Vitally important reading as well as deeply discouraging reading for fans of the rule of law. The newspaper has done amazing reporting here. About to go throw some money at it.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:26 AM on November 28, 2018 [27 favorites]
A prosecutor under New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance argued on Epstein’s behalf, telling New York Supreme Court Judge Ruth Pickholtz that the Florida case never led to an indictment and that his underage victims failed to cooperate in the case. Pickholtz, however, denied the petition, expressing astonishment that a New York prosecutor would make such a request on behalf of a serial sex offender accused of molesting so many girls.
The Miami Herald has several interactive reports that go with the main investigative story. Vitally important reading as well as deeply discouraging reading for fans of the rule of law. The newspaper has done amazing reporting here. About to go throw some money at it.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:26 AM on November 28, 2018 [27 favorites]
The Miami Herald's superb long-form investigation into billionaire pedophile—and friend of Donald Trump and Bill Clinton—Jeffrey Epstein reveals an ugly coverup in all but name by one of Trump's cabinet secretaries:
The preponderance of evidence in Doe v. Trump and Epstein shows that in 1994, Donald J. Trump raped a 13 year old girl. Recruited by Epstein's madam... At the bus station. All the filings in Doe v. Trump and Epstein The details are beyond belief.
SPOILER: At the same time Trump's fixer Michael Cohen was paying women for their silence, Doe voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit -- when the preponderance of evidence was trending her way.
tl;dr: Donald J. Trump is a child rapist. His supporters do not consider that a show-stopper.
posted by mikelieman at 9:27 AM on November 28, 2018 [71 favorites]
The preponderance of evidence in Doe v. Trump and Epstein shows that in 1994, Donald J. Trump raped a 13 year old girl. Recruited by Epstein's madam... At the bus station. All the filings in Doe v. Trump and Epstein The details are beyond belief.
SPOILER: At the same time Trump's fixer Michael Cohen was paying women for their silence, Doe voluntarily withdrew the lawsuit -- when the preponderance of evidence was trending her way.
tl;dr: Donald J. Trump is a child rapist. His supporters do not consider that a show-stopper.
posted by mikelieman at 9:27 AM on November 28, 2018 [71 favorites]
Jeffrey Epstein's scandals were coveredly extensively by Gawker back in the day. They always had Jared Kushner's number too, even before he had anything to do with the Trumps. I know it didn't get a lot of love on here, but Gawker employed some of the sharpest, most insightful, writers and editors while it was going. I think it's shady takedown by Peter Thiel will go down as the beginning of the death of any actual anti-establishment journalism in this country.
posted by aiglet at 9:31 AM on November 28, 2018 [46 favorites]
posted by aiglet at 9:31 AM on November 28, 2018 [46 favorites]
>
on the one hand AOC is a goddamned phenomenon and we're lucky to have her. On the other hand, the best lesson to learn from AOC's successful run is probably a little bit less "AOC is phenomenal!" and a little bit more "get out there and run for something! You might be phenomenal!"
I got a really neat e-mail last week for National Run for Office Day, encouraging me to run. I went ahead and signed up and will be in on a conference call sometime in the next week to navigate the process. I am not sure I will run and I doubt I will run for anything higher than a city position, but I am sharing the link specifically because I 100% agree with the recluse. If everyone in these megathreads ran for something, I think we would be a whole lot better off.
The specific group behind this, from what I could gather from e-mail confirmation is runforsomething. I have not looked through much of their materials, but at first glance they seem pretty cool.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 9:35 AM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
on the one hand AOC is a goddamned phenomenon and we're lucky to have her. On the other hand, the best lesson to learn from AOC's successful run is probably a little bit less "AOC is phenomenal!" and a little bit more "get out there and run for something! You might be phenomenal!"
I got a really neat e-mail last week for National Run for Office Day, encouraging me to run. I went ahead and signed up and will be in on a conference call sometime in the next week to navigate the process. I am not sure I will run and I doubt I will run for anything higher than a city position, but I am sharing the link specifically because I 100% agree with the recluse. If everyone in these megathreads ran for something, I think we would be a whole lot better off.
The specific group behind this, from what I could gather from e-mail confirmation is runforsomething. I have not looked through much of their materials, but at first glance they seem pretty cool.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 9:35 AM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
There are some good reasons that Trump/Epstein child rape story was not picked up by the media, mostly related to who as promoting it TO the media. This Vox explainer has some good background and good links.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
A transgender woman who died in the custody of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency appeared to have been physically abused before her death in May from dehydration, along with complications from H.I.V., according to an independent autopsy released this week.
posted by adamvasco at 9:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by adamvasco at 9:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
“The media” could still heavily scrutinize the evidence and the connections and make it a big story again. There’s still a story there, even if they don’t want to outwardly say what we’re talking about. Bill Clinton is in on it too.
And yes, this is something that has always bothered me about Pizzagate: you have Hillary’s husband on the flight logs of a pedophile’s creepy private jet with the names of girls on there and you don’t pounce on that? Wtf. I know it’s obviously a combo of misogyny plus the fact that Trump’s name is on those flight logs, too, but regardless...
posted by gucci mane at 9:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
And yes, this is something that has always bothered me about Pizzagate: you have Hillary’s husband on the flight logs of a pedophile’s creepy private jet with the names of girls on there and you don’t pounce on that? Wtf. I know it’s obviously a combo of misogyny plus the fact that Trump’s name is on those flight logs, too, but regardless...
posted by gucci mane at 9:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
Mod note: Friendly reminder, let's bring it back to signal, less "ugh these fuckers" reaction stuff, even though that feeling is fully understandable.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:44 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:44 AM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Another action to pile onto resistance fatigue: Another Net Neutrality Day of Action Draws Fewer Big Names (Klint Finley for Wired, Nov. 28, 2018)
TIME IS RUNNING out for Congress to restore net neutrality protections this year.posted by filthy light thief at 9:49 AM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
The Federal Communications Commission last year voted to jettison Obama-era rules prohibiting broadband internet providers from blocking or otherwise discriminating against lawful internet content. Earlier this year, the Senate passed legislation to restore those protections. But the Senate used an unusual legislative maneuver that requires the House of Representatives to pass the same bill by Dec. 10.
In a final push to restore the FCC rules, internet activists plan to hold a "day of action" Thursday, with celebrities like Ant-Man and Wasp star Evangeline Lilly and electronic musician Bassnectar joining internet companies like Etsy and Tumblr encouraging citizens to call their representatives and demand a vote on the legislation.
It's a long shot. Net neutrality advocates need to win over more than 20 Republicans, as well as every Democrat in the House. Even if they succeed, they'll need to get President Donald Trump to sign it.
Then again, every part of the fight for net neutrality has been a long shot, from efforts in 2014 and 2015 to pass rules at the FCC, to the recent push to approve the legislation in the Senate. As net neutrality has become a more mainstream issue, more Republicans are at least paying lip service to the idea, and three Senate Republicans voted to restore the Obama-era rules this year. There's even some hope for support from Trump, who has not historically been a fan of net neutrality: earlier this year, Politico reported that Earl Comstock, a top Commerce Department official, has pushed Trump to support the effort.
A Ghanaian friend got mad at Trump yesterday and tweeted at him in all caps that Trump was sadder than the fart that dies in the butt. I don't know if that insult is a Ghanaian thing or my friend's personal Dorothy Parker, but I share it here for your amusement.
posted by angrycat at 9:52 AM on November 28, 2018 [89 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 9:52 AM on November 28, 2018 [89 favorites]
I am fairly confident living in Iowa now that Joni Ernst will be a one term senator. She just doesn't have a good image here from what I gathered, and Iowa is pretty fired up on a lot of fronts. Though we did lose the governor race to Kim Reynolds who was appointed by Terry Branstad when he became an ambassador... the rest was a pretty good sweep. Steve King barely held on in a district he should have won by 20.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:55 AM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 9:55 AM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
I think there's still a lot of question what effect the Russians actually had on the outcome of the election. Not that there was both meddling (by Russia) and collusion (by Team Trump). The former has been known since the election and the latter isn't exactly surprising to anyone except the FNC crowd, to whom it will always be mysteriously controversial no matter how much proof there is.
But separate from that is whether the meddling actually changed the outcome of the election, and further beyond that is how much of the change was luck. Even if the meddling did change the outcome, it's not like the Russians would have known which states were going to swing and thus needed to be pushed on. It's more likely that they were pushing Trump for the sake of hurting Clinton (who Putin apparently fears or at least dislikes), and ended up spectacularly overachieving. It's very likely to be a non-repeatable performance.
Trump should be investigated and insofar as possible punished, pour encourager mostly—we don't want cozying up to foreign governments to become an established part of campaigning. But it would be bad, particularly for Democrats, if the dominant narrative about 2016 was "the Russians did it", and not something that encourages a greater degree of self-reflection on how exactly they let so many formerly-blue states go red. Perversely, I think the Republicans (sans Trump) would actually benefit from blaming everything 2016-2020 on Russia. It gives them an excuse for Trump, and a way to paint him as an outlier and not the logical conclusion of their platform, when they finally need to dispose of him.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:12 AM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
But separate from that is whether the meddling actually changed the outcome of the election, and further beyond that is how much of the change was luck. Even if the meddling did change the outcome, it's not like the Russians would have known which states were going to swing and thus needed to be pushed on. It's more likely that they were pushing Trump for the sake of hurting Clinton (who Putin apparently fears or at least dislikes), and ended up spectacularly overachieving. It's very likely to be a non-repeatable performance.
Trump should be investigated and insofar as possible punished, pour encourager mostly—we don't want cozying up to foreign governments to become an established part of campaigning. But it would be bad, particularly for Democrats, if the dominant narrative about 2016 was "the Russians did it", and not something that encourages a greater degree of self-reflection on how exactly they let so many formerly-blue states go red. Perversely, I think the Republicans (sans Trump) would actually benefit from blaming everything 2016-2020 on Russia. It gives them an excuse for Trump, and a way to paint him as an outlier and not the logical conclusion of their platform, when they finally need to dispose of him.
posted by Kadin2048 at 10:12 AM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
andrew kaczynski, CNN
posted by Brainy at 10:13 AM on November 28, 2018 [32 favorites]
Donald Trump told Robert Mueller in writing that Roger Stone did not tell him about WikiLeaks, nor was he told about the 2016 Trump Tower, according to two sources familiar with the matter.Oh, in writing you say.
posted by Brainy at 10:13 AM on November 28, 2018 [32 favorites]
it's not like the Russians would have known which states were going to swing and thus needed to be pushed on.
wasn't this the whole Cambridge Analytica deal
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:14 AM on November 28, 2018 [45 favorites]
wasn't this the whole Cambridge Analytica deal
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:14 AM on November 28, 2018 [45 favorites]
You are in Melania Trump’s nightmare forest. Keep to the path. (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
Listen to me. The trees in the White House were all green when I got here. They were all green as recently as Monday. But the trees have turned.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:16 AM on November 28, 2018 [81 favorites]
Walk faster.
Don’t be afraid. The trees would smell it.
Things are wrong here. Little details are wrong. The attorney general is different. He hasn’t been confirmed by the Senate. We go nearly a month between daily press briefings. The trees are red. The phrase “Be Best” is everywhere. “Be Best.” As though to “be best” is grammatical and not the clumsy articulation of a child. But there are no children in the forest. This forest is no place for children.
Last year the trees were a hideous, ghastly white. It was always winter and never Christmas.
This year everything is red. It is perfectly natural that the trees are red. The trees are red (the Internet says) as a handmaid’s cloak. Do not think of blood. Keep walking.
Perversely, I think the Republicans (sans Trump) would actually benefit from blaming everything 2016-2020 on Russia.
I would have bought this a year ago, but the Republican Party fully hitched itself to Trump during the midterms. They don’t get to decouple now and if we grant them that rhetorical victory, that’s our failure.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 10:17 AM on November 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
I would have bought this a year ago, but the Republican Party fully hitched itself to Trump during the midterms. They don’t get to decouple now and if we grant them that rhetorical victory, that’s our failure.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 10:17 AM on November 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
I am fairly confident living in Iowa now that Joni Ernst will be a one term senator.Ooof. I wish I felt as confident. She's a nightmare, but she's a very effective campaigner, and she plays really well in rural communities, which turn out to vote like nobody's business. I think it's going to be really hard to beat her, although we'll certainly try.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 10:18 AM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
You are in Melania Trump’s nightmare forest. Keep to the path. (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
This is the best part:
Outside the White House you will hear the great murmuring, the women in their hats, crying, “Mueller shall deliver us.” The litany goes up. The supplication echoes. “Mueller is coming to change everything. Everything will be Revealed. Nothing will be suffered to be hidden. The trees will crackle and burn in his magnifying glass’s purifying flame.”
posted by bluesky43 at 10:34 AM on November 28, 2018 [20 favorites]
This is the best part:
Outside the White House you will hear the great murmuring, the women in their hats, crying, “Mueller shall deliver us.” The litany goes up. The supplication echoes. “Mueller is coming to change everything. Everything will be Revealed. Nothing will be suffered to be hidden. The trees will crackle and burn in his magnifying glass’s purifying flame.”
posted by bluesky43 at 10:34 AM on November 28, 2018 [20 favorites]
The Jeffrey Epstein thing should be a gigantic story and I don’t understand why it isn’t.
We've discussed not only Trump's ties to Epstein many times in the megathreads, but also specifically how Acosta's sweetheart prosecution deal with Epstein should have been a scandal when he was nominated to as Secretary of Labor—the head of the very government department that combats human trafficking. And I still had to look up the particular megathread comments because, like the RNC platform scandal, one practically needs an eidetic memory to retain all the Trump-related outrages of the past three years. The possibility of Acosta heading the DoJ, potentially as a quid pro quo for his negotiations with Epstein, is the only thing that keeps this scandal from sinking out of the collective memory (at the very least mine).
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:35 AM on November 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
We've discussed not only Trump's ties to Epstein many times in the megathreads, but also specifically how Acosta's sweetheart prosecution deal with Epstein should have been a scandal when he was nominated to as Secretary of Labor—the head of the very government department that combats human trafficking. And I still had to look up the particular megathread comments because, like the RNC platform scandal, one practically needs an eidetic memory to retain all the Trump-related outrages of the past three years. The possibility of Acosta heading the DoJ, potentially as a quid pro quo for his negotiations with Epstein, is the only thing that keeps this scandal from sinking out of the collective memory (at the very least mine).
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:35 AM on November 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
Some research has been done on what effect the Russian active measures actually had on the election results, and I've collected links to that research here with a short summary for those who are interested.
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:41 AM on November 28, 2018 [39 favorites]
Seconding OnceUponATime's fantastic site for All Things Russian.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:03 AM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:03 AM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
I think there's still a lot of question what effect the Russians actually had on the outcome of the election.
Sure, but working with the Russians is still a crime even if it didn't actually work. Conspiracy to commit murder is a crime. Attempted robbery is a crime. And so on.
But it would be bad, particularly for Democrats, if the dominant narrative about 2016 was "the Russians did it", and not something that encourages a greater degree of self-reflection on how exactly they let so many formerly-blue states go red.
Partially agree but I don't want to overreact to and overcorrect for the loss. Clinton got 3,000,000 more votes nationwide and lost because a football stadium's worth of people over three states voted for Trump. And many of those states returned to blue in the midterms.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:05 AM on November 28, 2018 [23 favorites]
Sure, but working with the Russians is still a crime even if it didn't actually work. Conspiracy to commit murder is a crime. Attempted robbery is a crime. And so on.
But it would be bad, particularly for Democrats, if the dominant narrative about 2016 was "the Russians did it", and not something that encourages a greater degree of self-reflection on how exactly they let so many formerly-blue states go red.
Partially agree but I don't want to overreact to and overcorrect for the loss. Clinton got 3,000,000 more votes nationwide and lost because a football stadium's worth of people over three states voted for Trump. And many of those states returned to blue in the midterms.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:05 AM on November 28, 2018 [23 favorites]
Perversely, I think the Republicans (sans Trump) would actually benefit from blaming everything 2016-2020 on Russia.
Only insofar as a lot of their own political donations have been properly laundered.
posted by srboisvert at 11:06 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Only insofar as a lot of their own political donations have been properly laundered.
posted by srboisvert at 11:06 AM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
there is a distinction to be drawn between "the trump org worked with russia to help them win the election" and "the trump org is working for russia." The point I was making upthread wasn't that 45 won due to russian interference. it was that the person who counts as "the adult in the room" — the person who all these nitwits are working for, the person they're taking guidance from — is Putin.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 11:09 AM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 11:09 AM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
The Year the Clock Broke: How the world we live in already happened in 1992 (John Ganz for The Baffler). I think it's worth reading if you have the stomach--he argues that the '80s split between neoconservatives and paleoconservatives led to the rise of Pat Buchanan, and then the rise of Trump.
posted by box at 11:13 AM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by box at 11:13 AM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
Exceptional_Hubris: "In a live interview with Andrea Mitchell just now on MSNBC a congressman (i have it on in the background but missed who it was) just said they have elected Hakeem Jeffries as Caucus leader of the Dems in the House."
This is the #5 slot in leadership, Jeffries defeated Barbara Lee 123-113. He's seen as a real up and comer, especially since most of the leadership ahead of him is on the elderly side.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:15 AM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is the #5 slot in leadership, Jeffries defeated Barbara Lee 123-113. He's seen as a real up and comer, especially since most of the leadership ahead of him is on the elderly side.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:15 AM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is the best part:
Outside the White House you will hear the great murmuring, the women in their hats, crying, “Mueller shall deliver us.” The litany goes up. The supplication echoes. “Mueller is coming to change everything. Everything will be Revealed. Nothing will be suffered to be hidden. The trees will crackle and burn in his magnifying glass’s purifying flame.”
You stopped before the scary bit!
Do not listen to the forest, which whispers that in the end he is only a man telling people what they already know. Keep to the path.
The scenario whispered by the forest is, Mueller will show collusion and lawbreaking, and then we will switch to a new battle between the courts and White House to extract penalties, and nothing will be different.
posted by chortly at 11:20 AM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
Outside the White House you will hear the great murmuring, the women in their hats, crying, “Mueller shall deliver us.” The litany goes up. The supplication echoes. “Mueller is coming to change everything. Everything will be Revealed. Nothing will be suffered to be hidden. The trees will crackle and burn in his magnifying glass’s purifying flame.”
You stopped before the scary bit!
Do not listen to the forest, which whispers that in the end he is only a man telling people what they already know. Keep to the path.
The scenario whispered by the forest is, Mueller will show collusion and lawbreaking, and then we will switch to a new battle between the courts and White House to extract penalties, and nothing will be different.
posted by chortly at 11:20 AM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
The Problem Solvers have reportedly reached a deal with Pelosi for their support. The "Never Nancy" reps, headed by Rep. Rice (D-NY) remain opposed, which I guess shouldn't be a surprise given that always remaining opposed is literally their name (though we all know how flexible Never Trump turned out to be):
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
“Moments ago we met with Leader Pelosi and tried to engage her in a reasonable conversation about leadership transition,” Rep. Kathleen Rice (N.Y.) said in a statement. “Unfortunately, our concerns were dismissed outright. We remain united behind our goal of new leadership and intend to vote against Leader Pelosi in Caucus and on the Floor of the House.”Since nobody is running against Pelosi, it's not really a question that she wins the caucus vote that's coming up shortly, but she'll need enough votes to win on the floor in January.
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
NYPost - Trump says pardon for Paul Manafort still a possibility
Short Oval Office interview, usual bargain bucket of outrage salad.
posted by Devonian at 12:05 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Short Oval Office interview, usual bargain bucket of outrage salad.
posted by Devonian at 12:05 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
@jaketapper: After briefing senators, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells reporters there is “no direct reporting” connecting the crown prince to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
A bunch of weasel words to be sure. This is exactly the kind of politicization of intelligence to match whatever happens to already be in Trump's head that has been the concern all along. It's going over poorly in the Senate though:
White House Muzzled C.I.A. on Khashoggi Slaying, Mattis and Pompeo Say: "The secretaries of state and defense went to Capitol Hill to shore up support for Saudi Arabia. It backfired."
posted by zachlipton at 12:07 PM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
A bunch of weasel words to be sure. This is exactly the kind of politicization of intelligence to match whatever happens to already be in Trump's head that has been the concern all along. It's going over poorly in the Senate though:
White House Muzzled C.I.A. on Khashoggi Slaying, Mattis and Pompeo Say: "The secretaries of state and defense went to Capitol Hill to shore up support for Saudi Arabia. It backfired."
The White House blocked CIA Director Gina Haspel from attending a highly anticipated Senate briefing on Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Defense Secretary James Mattis told senators on Wednesday.The Senate just might have the votes—it only needs 50 and it's looking good—, but there's zero chance Ryan allows a vote in the House.
“The most persuasive presence at this briefing was an empty chair—a chair that should have been occupied by Gina Haspel, head of the Central Intelligence Agency,” Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) told reporters. “We were told at this briefing that it was at the direction of the White House that she not attend.”
...
That absence contributed to the exact opposite result their briefing was meant to accomplish—to shore up support for the bloody U.S.-backed Saudi-Emirati war in Yemen. As Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Mike Lee (R-UT) are set to force a vote on ending Washington’s support for the conflict, previously undecided senators left the briefing indicating they will join an effort that would deliver a forceful rebuke to President Donald Trump and two key authoritarian Mideast allies.
...
“The White House can fix this this afternoon. They can fix it in an hour. The secretary of state can fix it in an hour,” Corker added. “... It’s like we’re dancing on the head of a pin to keep from—look, [MBS] is responsible for this death.”
posted by zachlipton at 12:07 PM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
Here's what Pelosi promised the Problem Solvers. From what I can see, I would call these "minor, but unobjectionable changes" but I'm open to feedback from parliamentary procedure folks.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:09 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 12:09 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
While I'm frustrated by the "Problem Solvers," I agree with your assessment - It doesn't seem to be like much of the nonsense we've seen bandied about in the name of "bipartisanship."
The "Never Nancy" group of traitors, however, makes absolutely no fucking sense any way you look at it. As far as I can tell it's going something like this:
"We don't like her."
"Why not?"
"I don't want to get into specifics. We just need someone new."
"Do you have anyone lined up?"
"No."
"So you'll vote for her anyways, to ensure that we have a Democratic speaker of the house, one of the most powerful positions in the nation, thus giving your party as a whole more power?"
"No."
"Then what do you propose instead?"
"....."
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:14 PM on November 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
The "Never Nancy" group of traitors, however, makes absolutely no fucking sense any way you look at it. As far as I can tell it's going something like this:
"We don't like her."
"Why not?"
"I don't want to get into specifics. We just need someone new."
"Do you have anyone lined up?"
"No."
"So you'll vote for her anyways, to ensure that we have a Democratic speaker of the house, one of the most powerful positions in the nation, thus giving your party as a whole more power?"
"No."
"Then what do you propose instead?"
"....."
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:14 PM on November 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
@jaketapper: After briefing senators, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tells reporters there is “no direct reporting” connecting the crown prince to the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
If memory serves me correctly, "no direct reporting" was the same weasel words they used to get us into a war with Iraq. I mean, yeah, in neither case to they have a confession by the head of state. And the intelligence we have comes indirectly thru our own agencies. It's still evidence, and loyal Americans -- which excludes the likes of Mike Pompeo -- see the truth.
posted by Gelatin at 12:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
If memory serves me correctly, "no direct reporting" was the same weasel words they used to get us into a war with Iraq. I mean, yeah, in neither case to they have a confession by the head of state. And the intelligence we have comes indirectly thru our own agencies. It's still evidence, and loyal Americans -- which excludes the likes of Mike Pompeo -- see the truth.
posted by Gelatin at 12:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Deseret News: Sen. Mike Lee blocks effort to vote on bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller
posted by Chrysostom at 12:19 PM on November 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 12:19 PM on November 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
Here's a Facebook video of Mike Lee doing that after Coons, Booker, and Flake painstakingly state the obvious need for this legislation.
posted by OnceUponATime at 12:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 12:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
For two years, Donald Trump had fun amidst the mess. He reveled in stage-managing a reality-television version of an executive branch staffed by weak-willed and morally vacant appointees selected more for their ass-kissing skills than for any remote talent in governing or even any talent at all. He consumed every ounce of scenery, and his every desire, whim, and impulse were carried out by White House minions unable to say no. Republican Members of Congress may as well have sported “Property of Donald Trump” forehead tattoos.
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During those halcyon days, the power of the Republican House was used to obstruct justice, block the Mueller probe into Russia’s pro-Trump efforts, and to attack the intelligence community in order to protect Team Putin. They were a blocking force against investigations into his taxes, finances, and his administration's misdeeds. Trump has never displayed even the most cursory interest in governing or leadership, but he loves the roar of the crowd, the high-fructose smell of the MAGA set jammed into arenas, his long-running pissing match with the media, and trolling the known universe on Twitter. A supine House was his shield.
Donald Trump, a princeling who was raised in luxury, never held accountable for any of his countless personal and business betrayals and failures, and who literally lived in a golden tower for most of his life, is not good with stress. His rage-tweeting shows us that he knows he can’t juggle all the crises steaming toward him, that he knows his astounding power to distort reality for his followers won’t shield him from the political, legal, and personal perils closing in on him.
Playtime is over, and Donald doesn't like it.
posted by growabrain at 12:26 PM on November 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
Advertisement
During those halcyon days, the power of the Republican House was used to obstruct justice, block the Mueller probe into Russia’s pro-Trump efforts, and to attack the intelligence community in order to protect Team Putin. They were a blocking force against investigations into his taxes, finances, and his administration's misdeeds. Trump has never displayed even the most cursory interest in governing or leadership, but he loves the roar of the crowd, the high-fructose smell of the MAGA set jammed into arenas, his long-running pissing match with the media, and trolling the known universe on Twitter. A supine House was his shield.
Donald Trump, a princeling who was raised in luxury, never held accountable for any of his countless personal and business betrayals and failures, and who literally lived in a golden tower for most of his life, is not good with stress. His rage-tweeting shows us that he knows he can’t juggle all the crises steaming toward him, that he knows his astounding power to distort reality for his followers won’t shield him from the political, legal, and personal perils closing in on him.
Playtime is over, and Donald doesn't like it.
posted by growabrain at 12:26 PM on November 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
NYT op-ed, Ken "Popehat" White, Why Did Manafort Cooperate With Trump Over Mueller?
Some analysts speculate that Mr. Mueller intended this result — that he knew that Mr. Manafort would lie to him, knew that Mr. Manafort’s lawyers would brief Mr. Trump on those lies, and knew that Mr. Trump would foolishly repeat those lies in his written statement to Mr. Mueller, thus committing a new federal crime.posted by zachlipton at 12:29 PM on November 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
That’s a good plot for a legal thriller, but it’s not how real federal prosecutors work. Mr. Mueller is a by-the-book sort of prosecutor, not one to indulge in such ploys. To the extent he trusted Mr. Manafort and revealed details of his investigation, he made a mistake. Of course, the president’s team — never a font of shrewd criminal defense strategy — may have made a mistake, too, if they incorporated Mr. Manafort’s lies into their own written responses to Mr. Mueller’s questions. That could expand the scope of Mr. Mueller’s investigation to include new false statements to the F.B.I., the downfall of several of his targets.
Mr. Mueller’s mistake is understandable. Mr. Manafort’s lawyers’ communications with Mr. Trump’s lawyers are shocking and unprecedented, a brazen violation of criminal defense norms notable even in an investigation full of them. They are consistent with only one conclusion: Mr. Manafort and his lawyers seek a presidential pardon, not a reduced sentence through sincere cooperation.
McSally has a "why I lost" memo out which fingers factionalism in the AZ GOP. She's not wrong, but saying it would seem to increase the chance of a strong primary challenge in 2020, if she's appointed to the seat.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:33 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 12:33 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
@aterkel: 32 Dems voted against Pelosi for speaker today. Note that in 2016, she had 63 no votes. This time she was unopposed, and then, Tim Ryan was challenging her. But with all the hoopla this time, that’s far fewer no votes
@jamisonfoser: Congratulations to Seth Mouton & Tim Ryan for cutting opposition to Nancy Pelosi in half in just two years.
Also, as Thomas Farr's nomination advances over Sen. Flake's objection (Sen. Scott hung around in the cloakroom for 45 minutes as the deciding vote before he finally showed up to vote yes on the cloture vote), with the final vote coming soon, @steve_vladeck: In all of American history, there has _never_ been a federal judge whose final confirmation vote was determined by a vice-presidential tiebreaker...
Only need one GOP defection here; this would be a good one to call your Senators about.
posted by zachlipton at 12:36 PM on November 28, 2018 [31 favorites]
@jamisonfoser: Congratulations to Seth Mouton & Tim Ryan for cutting opposition to Nancy Pelosi in half in just two years.
Also, as Thomas Farr's nomination advances over Sen. Flake's objection (Sen. Scott hung around in the cloakroom for 45 minutes as the deciding vote before he finally showed up to vote yes on the cloture vote), with the final vote coming soon, @steve_vladeck: In all of American history, there has _never_ been a federal judge whose final confirmation vote was determined by a vice-presidential tiebreaker...
Only need one GOP defection here; this would be a good one to call your Senators about.
posted by zachlipton at 12:36 PM on November 28, 2018 [31 favorites]
Also, as Thomas Farr's nomination advances over Sen. Flake's objection (Sen. Scott hung around in the cloakroom for 45 minutes as the deciding vote before he finally showed up to vote yes on the cloture vote)
Will Tim Scott be the Jeff Flake of Susan Collins's?
posted by zombieflanders at 12:39 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Will Tim Scott be the Jeff Flake of Susan Collins's?
posted by zombieflanders at 12:39 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Argh.. apostrophes are not for pluralization. Susan Collinses or (if you're a snarky MeFite) Susans Collins.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:42 PM on November 28, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:42 PM on November 28, 2018 [24 favorites]
If I'm reading Popehat correctly his theory is that Mueller didn't intend for what happened to be a trap but it may have ended up a trap anyway? I suppose that matters ethically speaking (since "traps" aren't really how prosecutors should be operating in an investigation rather than a prosecution) but I don't think it makes a difference practically. Give somebody enough rope to hang himself and it doesn't matter much if you were hoping he'd hang; dude is dead anyway.
posted by Justinian at 12:42 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:42 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
If memory serves me correctly, "no direct reporting" was the same weasel words they used to get us into a war with Iraq.
Sorta, but in reverse. With Iraq, the CIA used the phrase no "direct evidence" to contradict the the Bush administration's cherry picking and deliberate mischaracterization of Iraqi weapons programs intel to push for war. Here, the Trump administration is using "no direct reporting" to undercut the CIA's high confidence assessment that MBS directed Khashoggi's murder. Pompeo is being evasive to the point of dishonesty:
posted by peeedro at 12:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
Sorta, but in reverse. With Iraq, the CIA used the phrase no "direct evidence" to contradict the the Bush administration's cherry picking and deliberate mischaracterization of Iraqi weapons programs intel to push for war. Here, the Trump administration is using "no direct reporting" to undercut the CIA's high confidence assessment that MBS directed Khashoggi's murder. Pompeo is being evasive to the point of dishonesty:
That denial leans heavily on the words “direct reporting.” CIA assessments are not criminal documents laying out irrefutable evidence. They are conclusions based upon the best American intelligence. That intelligence has concluded that Mohammed was behind Khashoggi’s killing, according to The Washington Post’s reporting. By citing “direct reporting,” Pompeo is basically saying there is no smoking gun.But you don't need a smoking gun for an intel assessment to conclude that MBS has a journalist's blood on his hands. That's the only reason to keep Haspel from speaking to senators.
posted by peeedro at 12:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
as i understand it, the outcome of all of this skullduggery is that, once manafort copped a plea, the normal expectation would be that his joint defense agreement with trump was void (because the justification for that agreement, that trump and manafort had "common interests" in their defense, was no longer operative).
however, manafort's counsel acted as if the agreement was still in place, sharing privileged information with trump's counsel.
ken is saying that mueller has a slam-dunk case that those communications should not be privileged, and therefore are subject to subpoena by the special counsel.
nothing contained in those communications is likely to look good for trump or manafort.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:47 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
however, manafort's counsel acted as if the agreement was still in place, sharing privileged information with trump's counsel.
ken is saying that mueller has a slam-dunk case that those communications should not be privileged, and therefore are subject to subpoena by the special counsel.
nothing contained in those communications is likely to look good for trump or manafort.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:47 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
good one to call your Senators about
Useless because I know how they'll vote anyway, but I am going to call McCaskill's office out of premature nostalgia.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:47 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Useless because I know how they'll vote anyway, but I am going to call McCaskill's office out of premature nostalgia.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:47 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
That’s a good plot for a legal thriller
Predicting that Manafort would lie and that the information would find its way to Trump is a plot twist worthy of the Hardy Boys, not a legal thriller. If Mueller didn't have a hedge in place for that situation, he'd be failing to do his job.
posted by Candleman at 12:54 PM on November 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
Predicting that Manafort would lie and that the information would find its way to Trump is a plot twist worthy of the Hardy Boys, not a legal thriller. If Mueller didn't have a hedge in place for that situation, he'd be failing to do his job.
posted by Candleman at 12:54 PM on November 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
@jerome_corsi: I have retained attorney Larry Klayman to assist David Gray in my defense. In a memo to my attorneys, I have instructed Klayman and Gray to file with Acting AG Whitaker a criminal complaint against Mueller's Special Counsel and the DOJ for prosecutorial misconduct in my case.
I'd ordinarily say good luck with that because it's crazy, but given the circumstances, I fear any opportunity that invites Whitaker to interfere is pretty frightening right now.
posted by zachlipton at 12:56 PM on November 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
I'd ordinarily say good luck with that because it's crazy, but given the circumstances, I fear any opportunity that invites Whitaker to interfere is pretty frightening right now.
posted by zachlipton at 12:56 PM on November 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
Donald Trump told Robert Mueller in writing that Roger Stone did not tell him about WikiLeaks, nor was he told about the 2016 Trump Tower, according to two sources familiar with the matter.
CNN's exclusive rests, of course, from unnamed sources (more than likely Rudy G. and Jay Sekulow, but maybe, just maybe a DoJ leak): "President Donald Trump told special counsel Robert Mueller in writing that Roger Stone did not tell him about WikiLeaks, nor was he told about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting between his son, campaign officials and a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Hillary Clinton, according to two sources familiar with the matter.[...] One source described the President's answers without providing any direct quotes and said the President made clear he was answering to the best of his recollection."
The article re-ups one detail that missed the megathreads: "Before the answers were submitted, Mueller had asked Trump's lawyers for call logs and visitor logs related to Stone from Trump Tower, CNN reported earlier this month. The request this late in the investigation surprised Trump's legal team."
Marcy Wheeler points out, "Since Trump is officially on the sworn record that Stone didn't talk to him about WikiLeaks, remember that in response to GRU indictment, Stone first claimed, then reversed, that he ONLY talked to Trump on campaign."
Otherwise, the "best of my recollection" is a presidential strategy for dodging that harkens back to Reagan's numerous "I don't recall"'s during his Iran-Contra affair testimony.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:00 PM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
CNN's exclusive rests, of course, from unnamed sources (more than likely Rudy G. and Jay Sekulow, but maybe, just maybe a DoJ leak): "President Donald Trump told special counsel Robert Mueller in writing that Roger Stone did not tell him about WikiLeaks, nor was he told about the 2016 Trump Tower meeting between his son, campaign officials and a Russian lawyer promising dirt on Hillary Clinton, according to two sources familiar with the matter.[...] One source described the President's answers without providing any direct quotes and said the President made clear he was answering to the best of his recollection."
The article re-ups one detail that missed the megathreads: "Before the answers were submitted, Mueller had asked Trump's lawyers for call logs and visitor logs related to Stone from Trump Tower, CNN reported earlier this month. The request this late in the investigation surprised Trump's legal team."
Marcy Wheeler points out, "Since Trump is officially on the sworn record that Stone didn't talk to him about WikiLeaks, remember that in response to GRU indictment, Stone first claimed, then reversed, that he ONLY talked to Trump on campaign."
Otherwise, the "best of my recollection" is a presidential strategy for dodging that harkens back to Reagan's numerous "I don't recall"'s during his Iran-Contra affair testimony.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:00 PM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
I have retained attorney Larry Klayman
FWIW Larry Klayman is the lawyer equivalent of Trump Doctor Leo Spaceman. I know that's not his real name but you know who I mean, don't you.
posted by Justinian at 1:01 PM on November 28, 2018 [42 favorites]
FWIW Larry Klayman is the lawyer equivalent of Trump Doctor Leo Spaceman. I know that's not his real name but you know who I mean, don't you.
posted by Justinian at 1:01 PM on November 28, 2018 [42 favorites]
i was trying to find a good quote to sum up larry klayman and i think i have to go with
posted by murphy slaw at 1:11 PM on November 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
An October 2016 opinion by a federal appellate court noted 12 cases "in which Klayman’s ability to practice law in an ethical and orderly manner was called into question."and also that his wikipedia page has an entire section on "Sanctions and Discipline Imposed"
posted by murphy slaw at 1:11 PM on November 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
I have retained attorney Larry Klayman to assist David Gray in my defense.
Larry Klayman, the founder of the right-wing rabid attack dog group Judicial Watch before he fell out with them, warrants his own profile page as an extremist on the SPLC's web site: "Larry Klayman is a pathologically litigious attorney and professional gadfly notorious for suing everyone from Iran’s Supreme Leader to his own mother. He has spent years denouncing Barack Obama as a crypto-Communist Muslim, convening meaningless “citizens grand juries,” and railing against an endless list of enemies. [...] Convinced that the Clinton administration was up to its ears in conspiracies and corruption, he filed at least 18 lawsuits between 1992 and 2000 against the president, first lady, and other administration officials." (During the Obama administration, he represented a birther conspiracist in a Florida primary ballot case in 2012 and petitioned the DHS to deport Obama in 2014, to name only a couple of his many, many conspiracy-flavored lawsuits.)
Fun fact: "In 2011, acting on behalf of publisher and friend Joseph Farah, who runs WorldNetDaily, Klayman sued Esquire magazine for more than $120 million over a satirical piece claiming that Farah had decided to destroy 200,000 copies he published of Jerome Corsi’s Where’s The Birth Certificate? The Case that Barack Obama is not Eligible to be President, which was about to go on sale when the president released his birth certificate. That suit was dismissed in June 2012."
In short, he's exactly the kind of attorney Corsi would hire for maximum media-circus rat-fuckery.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:14 PM on November 28, 2018 [37 favorites]
Larry Klayman, the founder of the right-wing rabid attack dog group Judicial Watch before he fell out with them, warrants his own profile page as an extremist on the SPLC's web site: "Larry Klayman is a pathologically litigious attorney and professional gadfly notorious for suing everyone from Iran’s Supreme Leader to his own mother. He has spent years denouncing Barack Obama as a crypto-Communist Muslim, convening meaningless “citizens grand juries,” and railing against an endless list of enemies. [...] Convinced that the Clinton administration was up to its ears in conspiracies and corruption, he filed at least 18 lawsuits between 1992 and 2000 against the president, first lady, and other administration officials." (During the Obama administration, he represented a birther conspiracist in a Florida primary ballot case in 2012 and petitioned the DHS to deport Obama in 2014, to name only a couple of his many, many conspiracy-flavored lawsuits.)
Fun fact: "In 2011, acting on behalf of publisher and friend Joseph Farah, who runs WorldNetDaily, Klayman sued Esquire magazine for more than $120 million over a satirical piece claiming that Farah had decided to destroy 200,000 copies he published of Jerome Corsi’s Where’s The Birth Certificate? The Case that Barack Obama is not Eligible to be President, which was about to go on sale when the president released his birth certificate. That suit was dismissed in June 2012."
In short, he's exactly the kind of attorney Corsi would hire for maximum media-circus rat-fuckery.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:14 PM on November 28, 2018 [37 favorites]
WaPo, Trump administration expected to extend military mission along border through the holidays
posted by zachlipton at 1:17 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
The Trump administration is expected to extend the military mission along the U.S. border with Mexico, a White House official said Wednesday, likely keeping troops away from their normal posts through the holidays.Oh good. Another never-ending US military operation.
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been announced, said the assignment was expected to last at least 45 days beyond its scheduled end date of Dec. 15.
posted by zachlipton at 1:17 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
Oh good. Another never-ending US military operation.
I hope they're getting their HDIP since it's so dangerous and fraught, per the President.
posted by phearlez at 1:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
I hope they're getting their HDIP since it's so dangerous and fraught, per the President.
posted by phearlez at 1:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
Update on the above-mentioned Yemen vote in the Senate: it moved quickly.
@johnmdonnelly: The #Senate, in an ongoing procedural vote, is poised to overwhelmingly agree to allow floor debate (probably next week) on a measure that would end most U.S. military aid to #SaudiArabia's war in #Yemen--a milestone sign of U.S. disaffection with the Saudi regime.
@lex_samuels: Vote still open for S J Res 54, but already 60+ in favor.
The administration really pissed off the Senate with today's briefing.
posted by zachlipton at 1:31 PM on November 28, 2018 [50 favorites]
@johnmdonnelly: The #Senate, in an ongoing procedural vote, is poised to overwhelmingly agree to allow floor debate (probably next week) on a measure that would end most U.S. military aid to #SaudiArabia's war in #Yemen--a milestone sign of U.S. disaffection with the Saudi regime.
@lex_samuels: Vote still open for S J Res 54, but already 60+ in favor.
The administration really pissed off the Senate with today's briefing.
posted by zachlipton at 1:31 PM on November 28, 2018 [50 favorites]
Charles Pierce: We Bear Responsibility for the Conditions in Honduras Causing Its People to Flee: The question is how much of the turmoil we own—and how we're going to make good on our moral debts.
Dana Frank: In Honduras, “We’re Supporting the Axe Murderers.” The United States has long danced with dictators in Central America. US support for Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández is no different.
Dana Frank on Democracy Now: Brother of Honduran President Is Arrested for Cocaine Trafficking as Migrants Flee Violent Drug War
“It Is Not a Natural Disaster”: Dana Frank on How U.S.-Backed Coup in Honduras Fueled Migrant Crisis
Honduras: As Berta Cáceres Murder Trial Nears End, Will True Perpetrators Be Brought to Justice?
posted by homunculus at 1:33 PM on November 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
Dana Frank: In Honduras, “We’re Supporting the Axe Murderers.” The United States has long danced with dictators in Central America. US support for Honduran president Juan Orlando Hernández is no different.
Dana Frank on Democracy Now: Brother of Honduran President Is Arrested for Cocaine Trafficking as Migrants Flee Violent Drug War
“It Is Not a Natural Disaster”: Dana Frank on How U.S.-Backed Coup in Honduras Fueled Migrant Crisis
Honduras: As Berta Cáceres Murder Trial Nears End, Will True Perpetrators Be Brought to Justice?
posted by homunculus at 1:33 PM on November 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
The official, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not yet been announced, said the assignment was expected to last at least 45 days beyond its scheduled end date of Dec. 15.
Well, of course. The President's team likely wants there to be an incident on or shortly after the Government Funding vote on the 7th. When Trump shuts the government down because of lack of wall funding, he can create a crisis at the border to suggest there's an otherwise non-existent need for a wall.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:36 PM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
Well, of course. The President's team likely wants there to be an incident on or shortly after the Government Funding vote on the 7th. When Trump shuts the government down because of lack of wall funding, he can create a crisis at the border to suggest there's an otherwise non-existent need for a wall.
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:36 PM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
Daily Beast: Stormy Daniels: Michael Avenatti Sued Trump For Defamation Against My Wishes—The porn star also says her lawyer refused to give her information about how her crowdfunding money was being spent, and launched a second crowdfund without her knowledge.
Looks like Avenatti: American Crime Story has officially moved into the "downfall" phase.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:36 PM on November 28, 2018 [43 favorites]
Looks like Avenatti: American Crime Story has officially moved into the "downfall" phase.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:36 PM on November 28, 2018 [43 favorites]
Though as best as I can tell nothing really came from his arrest the other week?
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:39 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:39 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Well, of course. The President's team likely wants there to be an incident on or shortly after the Government Funding vote on the 7th. When Trump shuts the government down because of lack of wall funding, he can create a crisis at the border to suggest there's an otherwise non-existent need for a wall.
I'm not sure they're coordinated enough/smart enough to pull that off or even conceive of it. It may well just be a way for him to blame Dems (of course) for those soldiers not getting to come home. We wanted to bring them all home but without wall funding we need to secure blah blah blah. I'd wager these poor folks aren't even getting to rise to the level of a component in a scheme; they're still just a prop.
posted by phearlez at 1:39 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm not sure they're coordinated enough/smart enough to pull that off or even conceive of it. It may well just be a way for him to blame Dems (of course) for those soldiers not getting to come home. We wanted to bring them all home but without wall funding we need to secure blah blah blah. I'd wager these poor folks aren't even getting to rise to the level of a component in a scheme; they're still just a prop.
posted by phearlez at 1:39 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug: Though as best as I can tell nothing really came from his arrest the other week?
I'd say "nothing came from it" in the sadly usual way that things don't come from domestic abuse allegations. Charges were dropped, but probably because the evidence is tricky beyond the accuser's testimony. She is seeking a restraining order and it would not surprise me if she got it.
A thread or two ago, I had suggested the possibility this was Jacob Wohl just inventing things as he did regarding Mueller, and that even the LAPD might have been in on the act by simply accepting some anonymous tip from "Surefire Intelligence" as grounds to arrest someone.
However, it turned out that the accuser Mareli Miniutti is not a fabrication (like, say, "Caroline" the fashion designer whose name spelling Wohl and his partner in dumbassery couldn't agree on). She's a very real actress, with no apparent motive to lie.
Furthermore, Avenatti is not actually denying his relationship with her (with an age gap just outside the half-plus-seven rule for creepiness), which in my view multiplies the credibility even more (it's one thing to suppose a stranger got bribed, but another to successfully persuade an actual current acquaintance, which is the most common victim of violence anyway).
posted by InTheYear2017 at 2:00 PM on November 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'd say "nothing came from it" in the sadly usual way that things don't come from domestic abuse allegations. Charges were dropped, but probably because the evidence is tricky beyond the accuser's testimony. She is seeking a restraining order and it would not surprise me if she got it.
A thread or two ago, I had suggested the possibility this was Jacob Wohl just inventing things as he did regarding Mueller, and that even the LAPD might have been in on the act by simply accepting some anonymous tip from "Surefire Intelligence" as grounds to arrest someone.
However, it turned out that the accuser Mareli Miniutti is not a fabrication (like, say, "Caroline" the fashion designer whose name spelling Wohl and his partner in dumbassery couldn't agree on). She's a very real actress, with no apparent motive to lie.
Furthermore, Avenatti is not actually denying his relationship with her (with an age gap just outside the half-plus-seven rule for creepiness), which in my view multiplies the credibility even more (it's one thing to suppose a stranger got bribed, but another to successfully persuade an actual current acquaintance, which is the most common victim of violence anyway).
posted by InTheYear2017 at 2:00 PM on November 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'd say "nothing came from it" in the sadly usual way that things don't come from domestic abuse allegations. Charges were dropped, but probably because the evidence is tricky beyond the accuser's testimony
That's a great point. Thanks.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 2:07 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
That's a great point. Thanks.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 2:07 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
“It Is Not a Natural Disaster”: Dana Frank on How U.S.-Backed Coup in Honduras Fueled Migrant Crisis
Climate change has arguably made this situation even less tenable. (WaPo Op-ed) (“It didn’t rain this year. Last year it didn’t rain,” a caravan migrant from Honduras named Jesús Canan told the Guardian. “My maize field didn’t produce a thing. With my expenses, everything we invested, we didn’t have any earnings. There was no harvest.”)
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
Climate change has arguably made this situation even less tenable. (WaPo Op-ed) (“It didn’t rain this year. Last year it didn’t rain,” a caravan migrant from Honduras named Jesús Canan told the Guardian. “My maize field didn’t produce a thing. With my expenses, everything we invested, we didn’t have any earnings. There was no harvest.”)
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
Mnuchin retweeted a @The_Trump_Train tweet last night attacking GM. He's now removed it and is claiming his account was accessed by an unauthorized person, which just does not strike me as a credible story that someone would hack the Secretary of the Treasury's Twitter account and all they would do is a single retweet of the kind of thing that comes out of Trump's mouth all the time; indeed, it's the same anti-GM tweet that Trump retweeted.
Mnuchin can now go sit with Ajit Pai in the "government officials who stupidly claim they were hacked" corner.
posted by zachlipton at 2:32 PM on November 28, 2018 [36 favorites]
Mnuchin can now go sit with Ajit Pai in the "government officials who stupidly claim they were hacked" corner.
posted by zachlipton at 2:32 PM on November 28, 2018 [36 favorites]
You can't really believe in climate change w/o believing that there are going to be climate refugees. I wish there was a way we could talk about how to address this problem without about a 1/3 of white guys just freaking out about their end of their empire or whatever. Thinking about this was one reason I didn't get angry at HRC's comments the other day, because I wasn't sure about the context, and the left really needs to say this is our plan for immigration reform w/r/t refugees from any environment.
posted by angrycat at 2:37 PM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 2:37 PM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
@ZoeTillman: Senate Judiciary Committee has cancelled a meeting scheduled for tomorrow to vote on a long list of federal court nominees — cancellation comes as Sen. Flake is pledging to vote no on all nominees until McConnell puts a Mueller protection bill up for a vote
Did...did Jeff Flake just sort of do something?
posted by zachlipton at 2:43 PM on November 28, 2018 [41 favorites]
Did...did Jeff Flake just sort of do something?
posted by zachlipton at 2:43 PM on November 28, 2018 [41 favorites]
Another Daily Beast scoop: Unkempt, Heavily Bearded Julian Assange No Longer Has Embassy Cat For Company—WikiLeaks founder is living in isolation with limited human contact. Even his cat found it too lonely.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:45 PM on November 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
The Ecuadorian embassy staff have apparently grown tired of hosting their global persona non grata, and are essentially trying to squeeze him out by forcing him into what amounts to isolation. They’ve cut off his internet—his lifeline, and won’t let most visitors in to see him. Those who try to leave messages, like Trump presidential adviser Roger Stone, who left his card earlier this year, are apparently turned away. Not even former Baywatch star Pamela Anderson, his ardent supporter who was a frequent guest and suspected paramour, can get past the guards.Strange how this sympathy-tugging profile comes out right after the accidental revelation of the US's sealed indictment—the Italian journalists write that Assange let his cat go because he “preferred to spare the cat an isolation which has become unbearable and allow it a healthier life” and not because he told the embassy their requests he clean up after it were "denigrating."
But last week, journalists from the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, who have visited Assange annually for the last six years, were able to once again gain access—on the condition that they do not print an interview that might provoke even more pressure on Ecuador to kick him out.[...]
They say Assange’s cramped quarters at the embassy do not allow him access to the garden, which means he does not go outside—something even prisoners serving life sentences in isolation are afforded. He only speaks to his lawyer and the security guards, he has limited phone service, and his mail is strictly monitored.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:45 PM on November 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
Did...did Jeff Flake just sort of do something?
Even if he did it's important to remember that he would be delaying the nominees for a month, not stopping them. Since he's leaving.
His leverage was always Kavanaugh. And he refused to use it, saying it would be inappropriate.
posted by Justinian at 2:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
They say Assange’s cramped quarters at the embassy do not allow him access to the garden, which means he does not go outside—something even prisoners serving life sentences in isolation are afforded.
I sure hope Assange's life improves to that of a life sentence in solitary.
posted by M-x shell at 3:02 PM on November 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
I sure hope Assange's life improves to that of a life sentence in solitary.
posted by M-x shell at 3:02 PM on November 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
That Vox piece linked above w/r/t the alleged Trump rape of a 13-year old (CW, obvs) is interesting for a couple of reasons.
One, it was published on November 5th, 2016. Which, for those of you who haven't let your Repressitol™ prescription lapse, was a mere four days before the world produced a loud snapping sound and rattled into our current event-timeline. It has that kind of Oswald-in-the-parking-garage quality to it. It finishes with due reporting on the Clinton campaign's post-pussygate advertisements and other curios. And its reporting of the allegations seems more consistent with the Klown we've grown to know than the author could have foreseen - before all our fears were so fully, fully grounded. It's almost irrationally even-handed, even apologetic.
Two, the gist of the article is that the case isn't believable because two men - a Jerry Springer producer and a right-wing spammer - got the story first.
In conclusion, it's fucking believable and 2016 was a more innocent, gentler time. Even if there is no plaintiff (and there are a few credible people who say there is), we are watching a Predisent commit and get-away-with crime on 300 channels in real-time. 2016, man. Good times.
posted by petebest at 3:17 PM on November 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
One, it was published on November 5th, 2016. Which, for those of you who haven't let your Repressitol™ prescription lapse, was a mere four days before the world produced a loud snapping sound and rattled into our current event-timeline. It has that kind of Oswald-in-the-parking-garage quality to it. It finishes with due reporting on the Clinton campaign's post-pussygate advertisements and other curios. And its reporting of the allegations seems more consistent with the Klown we've grown to know than the author could have foreseen - before all our fears were so fully, fully grounded. It's almost irrationally even-handed, even apologetic.
Two, the gist of the article is that the case isn't believable because two men - a Jerry Springer producer and a right-wing spammer - got the story first.
In conclusion, it's fucking believable and 2016 was a more innocent, gentler time. Even if there is no plaintiff (and there are a few credible people who say there is), we are watching a Predisent commit and get-away-with crime on 300 channels in real-time. 2016, man. Good times.
posted by petebest at 3:17 PM on November 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
Did...did Jeff Flake just sort of do something?
You know the rule. Flake always flakes.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
You know the rule. Flake always flakes.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 3:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
For Papadopoulos’s third day in prison, Natasha Bertrand has bombshell: "George Papadopoulos allegedly told a confidant in 2016 that he was pursuing a business deal in Russia that would result “in large financial gains” for him and Trump. The House Intel Committee and FBI are now investigating."
The Atlantic: Papadopoulos’s Russia Ties Continue to Intrigue—The former foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign boasted of a Russia business deal even after the election, according to a new letter under review.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [25 favorites]
The Atlantic: Papadopoulos’s Russia Ties Continue to Intrigue—The former foreign policy advisor to the Trump campaign boasted of a Russia business deal even after the election, according to a new letter under review.
The letter, obtained last week by The Atlantic, was sent to Democratic Representative Adam Schiff’s office on November 19 by an individual who claims to have been close to Papadopoulos in late 2016 and early 2017. The letter was brought to the attention of Schiff and House Intelligence Committee staff, according to an aide who requested anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. The letter was also obtained by federal authorities, who are taking its claims “very seriously,” said two U.S. officials who also requested anonymity due to the sensitivities of the probe.It seems as though Papadopoulos was jumping on board the same bandwagon as Jared Kushner, Michael Flynn, and Erik Prince to start striking under-the-table deals with overseas interests as soon as the election results came in.
The statement makes a series of explosive but uncorroborated claims about Papadopoulos’s alleged coordination with Russians in the weeks following Trump’s election in November 2016, including that Papadopoulos said he was “doing a business deal with Russians which would result in large financial gains for himself and Mr. Trump.” The confidant said they were willing to take a polygraph test “to prove that I am being truthful” and had come forward now after seeing Papadopoulos “become increasingly hostile towards those who are investigating him and his associates.” A lawyer for Papadopoulos declined to comment.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [25 favorites]
The teen girls Jeffrey Epstein allegedly sexually abused will get their day in court
The paper found 80 of Epstein’s alleged victims, reached out to 60 of them, and interviewed eight. This is the first time some of their stories have been told publicly. The girls who accused him of sexual assault over a decade ago were not notified by Acosta and his team of the non-prosecution agreement crafted for Epstein before he was sentenced. They never appeared in court. Epstein, a former Bear Stearns banker, may have provided federal prosecutors with information about the global investment bank, which failed during the subprime crisis, the Herald suggests.posted by homunculus at 3:24 PM on November 28, 2018 [30 favorites]
The teens who say Epstein paid them for nude massages, and sometimes sex, at his mansion in Palm Beach will finally be able to publicly testify against him, however. On Dec. 4, a jury trial for the first of two civil lawsuits filed in relation to the long-running legal battle between Epstein and Bradley Edwards, the top attorney for Epstein’s accusers, begins in a Palm Beach court. The trial is “the first time that Epstein’s victims will have their day in court, and several of them are scheduled to testify,” the Herald says.
> The Jeffrey Epstein thing should be a gigantic story and I don’t understand why it isn’t.
The Herald's story came out today, so the rest of the news world hasn't had much time to digest it. I assume it will show up on MSNBC's evening shows. Also, the amount of attention the rest of the mainstream media pays to it may depend on the scale of the social media reaction to it.
posted by homunculus at 3:34 PM on November 28, 2018
The Herald's story came out today, so the rest of the news world hasn't had much time to digest it. I assume it will show up on MSNBC's evening shows. Also, the amount of attention the rest of the mainstream media pays to it may depend on the scale of the social media reaction to it.
posted by homunculus at 3:34 PM on November 28, 2018
It seems as though Papadopoulos was jumping on board the same bandwagon as Jared Kushner, Michael Flynn, and Erik Prince to start striking under-the-table deals with overseas interests as soon as the election results came in.
Don’t forget the President’s very own lawyer (and “fixer”) Michael Cohen!
posted by notyou at 3:42 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Don’t forget the President’s very own lawyer (and “fixer”) Michael Cohen!
posted by notyou at 3:42 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
So he just...what, let the cat outside to go free?
One of Assange's lawyers tweeted: "In the same document in which Ecuador threatened to hand Assange over for arrest, Ecuador also threatened to put Assange's cat in the pound. Insensed at the threat, he asked his lawyers to take his cat to safety. The cat is with Assange's family. They will be reunited in freedom."
Somehow, it seems exactly in keeping with Assange's character that he'd force his relatives to take care of his pet rather than clean out its litter box regularly.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
One of Assange's lawyers tweeted: "In the same document in which Ecuador threatened to hand Assange over for arrest, Ecuador also threatened to put Assange's cat in the pound. Insensed at the threat, he asked his lawyers to take his cat to safety. The cat is with Assange's family. They will be reunited in freedom."
Somehow, it seems exactly in keeping with Assange's character that he'd force his relatives to take care of his pet rather than clean out its litter box regularly.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
David Nir (DailyKos)
My god. This is just so typical of the @NYTimes. Pelosi won *more* votes and had *fewer* "nos" than Ryan in 2015, but Ryan won "overwhelming support" while Pelosi had "significant defections"
SCREENSHOT OF ARTICLES
posted by chris24 at 3:50 PM on November 28, 2018 [98 favorites]
My god. This is just so typical of the @NYTimes. Pelosi won *more* votes and had *fewer* "nos" than Ryan in 2015, but Ryan won "overwhelming support" while Pelosi had "significant defections"
SCREENSHOT OF ARTICLES
posted by chris24 at 3:50 PM on November 28, 2018 [98 favorites]
Republican Members of Congress may as well have sported “Property of Donald Trump” forehead tattoos.
Advertisement
I see no ads for Trump facial tattoos. I am disappointed.
posted by homunculus at 3:52 PM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Advertisement
I see no ads for Trump facial tattoos. I am disappointed.
posted by homunculus at 3:52 PM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Pelosi won *more* votes and had *fewer* "nos" than Ryan in 2015, but Ryan won "overwhelming support" while Pelosi had "significant defections"
"In a secret-ballot vote that dramatized rifts among Democrats only weeks after midterm elections handed them House control..." Rifts! Dems in disarray!
Compare and contrast:
"In a secret-ballot vote that dramatized rifts among Democrats only weeks after midterm elections handed them House control..." Rifts! Dems in disarray!
Compare and contrast:
To become speaker, she must win 218 votes in a House floor vote on Jan. 3, so the tally will touch off what promises to be an intensive period of arm-twisting and cajoling to reach her goal.Versus:
Although Mr. Ryan was short of the 218 votes needed to win Thursday's floor vote, supporters said he would pick up backers now that he is the nominee.posted by kirkaracha at 4:01 PM on November 28, 2018 [39 favorites]
Did...did Jeff Flake just sort of do something?
Even if he did it's important to remember that he would be delaying the nominees for a month, not stopping them.
And McConnell could put these nominees to the floor without a committee vote if he wanted to, but there's no reason with Flake gone in a month, and there's other priorities on the limited lame duck calendar. Flake deserves less than zero credit for this. He only took even this useless action when he knew with 100% certainty that it would have no detriment to McConnell's plans. Every other time he voted for Trump. Every single time that it mattered. Even when he promised he wouldn't.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:01 PM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
Even if he did it's important to remember that he would be delaying the nominees for a month, not stopping them.
And McConnell could put these nominees to the floor without a committee vote if he wanted to, but there's no reason with Flake gone in a month, and there's other priorities on the limited lame duck calendar. Flake deserves less than zero credit for this. He only took even this useless action when he knew with 100% certainty that it would have no detriment to McConnell's plans. Every other time he voted for Trump. Every single time that it mattered. Even when he promised he wouldn't.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:01 PM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
Just in time for Leak O'Clock, ABC reports: Mueller asked Trump about 2016 RNC platform change regarding Ukraine: Sources
Essentially, now that Manafort's cooperation deal with the Special Counsel is dead, Team Trump appears to be confident it can leak to the press about some of the major subjects on which he could have flipped.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:09 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
The list of questions special counsel Robert Mueller submitted to President Donald Trump included a query about a controversial change to the Republican party’s convention platform in July 2016 regarding the U.S. providing arms to Ukraine, according to sources familiar with the president’s responses.ABC also confirms CNN's story about Mueller asking about the Trump Tower 2016 meeting and Roger Stone.
Trump submitted his answers to special counsel Mueller last week after months of negotiating over how the questions would be handled. ABC News has previously reported that the questions, which were divided into five sections, focused mostly on whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia during the presidential campaign cycle, according to sources.[...]
Sources tell ABC News the president told Mueller he was not aware of the platform change to the best of his recollection. That would be consistent with his answer to a question about the matter to ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos during the summer of 2016.
“I wasn't involved in that. Honestly, I was not involved,” Trump said at the time.
In addition to the platform change question, sources tell ABC News the president was also asked about the now-infamous Trump Tower meeting between Donald Trump Jr., Jared Kushner, Paul Manafort and a Russian attorney in hopes of obtaining dirt on Hillary Clinton. According to sources, the President’s written response said he was unaware of the June 2016 meeting before and after it happened.
Essentially, now that Manafort's cooperation deal with the Special Counsel is dead, Team Trump appears to be confident it can leak to the press about some of the major subjects on which he could have flipped.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:09 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Daily Beast, Will Sommer, Roger Stone and Jerome Corsi Pushed Seth Rich Lie After Privately Admitting Hackers Stole DNC Emails, in which Corsi acknowledged in a 2016 email to Stone that that hackers stole the DNC emails, not Seth Rich, but he kept on with the conspiracy theories anyway.
It's not exactly surprising that the WorldNetDaily and InfoWars guy kept on with baseless conspiracy theories, but I still find this notable. First, it shows a level of depravity to keep doing this to the Rich family when you know full well that you're lying, and I hope this email is useful to them in their lawsuit. But beyond that, I've been trying to get a handle of just how much Corsi has been getting high on his own supply of nonsense. There are plenty of signs that he's lost it, like hiring Larry Klayman and saying he's going to file a "criminal complaint," but also stories like these that show he's had some kind of a grasp on reality and is acting.
posted by zachlipton at 4:11 PM on November 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
It's not exactly surprising that the WorldNetDaily and InfoWars guy kept on with baseless conspiracy theories, but I still find this notable. First, it shows a level of depravity to keep doing this to the Rich family when you know full well that you're lying, and I hope this email is useful to them in their lawsuit. But beyond that, I've been trying to get a handle of just how much Corsi has been getting high on his own supply of nonsense. There are plenty of signs that he's lost it, like hiring Larry Klayman and saying he's going to file a "criminal complaint," but also stories like these that show he's had some kind of a grasp on reality and is acting.
posted by zachlipton at 4:11 PM on November 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
A Totally Normal Morning In America: (via Daniel Dale) the President retweeting a meme of Rod Rosenstein (among others, including Obama and Hillary Clinton) imprisoned for treason.
He went on to tell the New York Post that Rosenstein's inclusion wasn't an accident:
posted by zachlipton at 4:13 PM on November 28, 2018 [73 favorites]
He went on to tell the New York Post that Rosenstein's inclusion wasn't an accident:
When asked during an interview with The Post: “Why do you think he belongs behind bars?” Trump responded: “He should have never picked a Special Counsel.”The President thinks that people who investigate him should be jailed. Believe him.
posted by zachlipton at 4:13 PM on November 28, 2018 [73 favorites]
Fox News Isn't A Normal Media Company. We Have To Stop Treating It Like One.
posted by The Whelk at 4:15 PM on November 28, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:15 PM on November 28, 2018 [33 favorites]
Is there a definite consenus on whether Pelosi would win even if all Democrats who had promised not to vote for her stick to that promise? I assume it would take 38+ defectors to stop her; are there that many?
Also, what happens if nobody secures a majority of the chamber -- do they just keep holding elections until someone manages it?
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:16 PM on November 28, 2018
Also, what happens if nobody secures a majority of the chamber -- do they just keep holding elections until someone manages it?
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:16 PM on November 28, 2018
Defense One, White House Seeks Alternatives to Independent Space Force
posted by zachlipton at 4:16 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
For months, Pentagon officials have been rushing to prepare plans for an independent Space Force, a sixth branch of the military ordered up by President Trump. But since Oct. 26, they have been marching to new White House orders: go back and look at different ways to reorganize the military’s space operations.Trump's been campaigning on this for months, and I see the actual planning phase has advanced to precisely nowhere.
One of the four new options is an old one, defense officials said: a space corps that would be part of the Air Force, the way the Marine Corps is part of the Department of the Navy. The proposed structure is similar to a bipartisan proposal that passed in the House but failed in the Senate last year.
Why the second thoughts? The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, suggested that some in the Trump administration fear that the proposed independent Space Force might not make it through Congress.
...
The four options, according to one of the officials, include: 1) an Air Force-owned space corps that includes only Air Force assets, 2) an Air Force-owned space corps that also takes space-related troops and assets from the Army and Navy, 3) an independent service that takes from the Air Force, Army, and Navy, and 4) an independent service that takes from the three services plus parts of the intelligence community.
posted by zachlipton at 4:16 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
I assume it would take 38+ defectors to stop her; are there that many?
There's 235 Democrats (projected), she needs 218 floor votes to become Speaker. She can lose 17. If all 34 of those defectors stick to that position in the floor vote, which is unlikely, she's done. There were 16 signatories on the anti-Pelosi letter, that's probably the core of the floor vote dissenters, and it's not enough, but she can't lose any more than that.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
There's 235 Democrats (projected), she needs 218 floor votes to become Speaker. She can lose 17. If all 34 of those defectors stick to that position in the floor vote, which is unlikely, she's done. There were 16 signatories on the anti-Pelosi letter, that's probably the core of the floor vote dissenters, and it's not enough, but she can't lose any more than that.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
Maybe we could call it Air Force Space Command. Shoot, just change the logo graphic to Space Force Command and call it a day.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 4:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Thanks, T.D. Strange. That makes sense. (I was mixing up the number of seats gained in November with the margin over the halfway mark).
I suppose that, for any given Democrat who made some sort of pledge, voting against her in the caucus could also be seen as fulfilling it, yes? Unless some were so specific as to say "Even on the floor vote, I'd abstain".
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:28 PM on November 28, 2018
I suppose that, for any given Democrat who made some sort of pledge, voting against her in the caucus could also be seen as fulfilling it, yes? Unless some were so specific as to say "Even on the floor vote, I'd abstain".
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:28 PM on November 28, 2018
Because one horrible propagandist news network isn't enough.
Sinclair Group reportedly required over 100 TV stations to air 'must run' segment that defends use of tear gas on migrants at the border
Sinclair Group reportedly required over 100 TV stations to air 'must run' segment that defends use of tear gas on migrants at the border
Reports on Tuesday said Sinclair Broadcast Group gave over 100 of its local news outlets a "must run" segment that included a defense of the US's use of tear gas against a group of migrants, including children, at the US-Mexico border on Sunday.posted by scalefree at 4:32 PM on November 28, 2018 [40 favorites]
Sinclair Broadcast Group, a right-leaning broadcasting company based in Maryland, is the largest TV-station owner in the United States. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer reported that "the company distributes 'must-run' segments to its newsrooms, requiring they air them within 48 hours." They often appear in the middle of otherwise objective local news broadcasts and "typically feature conservative commentary, including a recurring segment" from Boris Epshteyn, a former Trump administration official who now serves as Sinclair's chief political analyst.
According to Media Matters for America, a nonprofit that monitors conservative media, Sinclair forced about 100 local news networks to air Epshteyn's defense of US Customs and Border Protection agents' using tear gas on the migrants, many of whom are part of a caravan traveling to the US to seek asylum.
Manafort Lied About Business Dealings, Mueller’s Team Believes
Paul Manafort’s alleged misstatements to special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigators include comments about his personal business dealings and about his contacts with a former associate in Ukraine, say people familiar with the matter.posted by BungaDunga at 5:03 PM on November 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
...
In interviews with Mr. Mueller’s team, Mr. Manafort allegedly made inaccurate statements about his communications with Konstantin Kilimnik...
Mr. Mueller has long been interested in the relationship between Messrs. Manafort and Kilimnik. He has questioned witnesses about a boat trip that Mr. Manafort took with Tom Barrack, a longtime friend of Mr. Trump, after Mr. Manafort was ousted from the Trump campaign in August 2016, say people familiar with the matter. Witnesses believed investigators were seeking to determine whether Mr. Manafort ever met with Mr. Kilimnik on that trip.
In his conversations with Mr. Mueller’s team, Mr. Manafort also allegedly misrepresented information about payments he received related to his lobbying work, the people familiar with the matter said.
Mueller seems to have become awfully leaky of late. Wonder what the trigger was - Sessions being resigned? 45 getting his homework in?
I dream of a Mueller Advent Calendar, a fresh indictment behind each door, leading up to the big one just before the big day...
posted by Devonian at 5:09 PM on November 28, 2018 [20 favorites]
I dream of a Mueller Advent Calendar, a fresh indictment behind each door, leading up to the big one just before the big day...
posted by Devonian at 5:09 PM on November 28, 2018 [20 favorites]
Mueller seems to have become awfully leaky of late.
Not Mueller's team, Manafort's lawyers and, by extension through his joint defense agreement, Trump's.
Now that Manafort's plea deal is deader than disco, the attorneys have nothing to lose by leaking to the press as a way of signalling about his meetings with the Special Counsel's group to everyone else on Team Trump who's prohibited from finding out through "ethical" channels.
Speaking of Manafort's lawyers, the NYT's Kenneth Vogel reports, "NEW FILING: PAUL MANAFORT, who arrived for his last court appearance in a wheelchair with his foot wrapped in a white bandage, tells the judge he won't appear at a Friday hearing related to his alleged breach of his plea agreement", because of the time involved in being transported to court. This maybe the lamest (literally) sympathy ploy we've seen since Julian Assange's weight loss.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:33 PM on November 28, 2018 [23 favorites]
Not Mueller's team, Manafort's lawyers and, by extension through his joint defense agreement, Trump's.
Now that Manafort's plea deal is deader than disco, the attorneys have nothing to lose by leaking to the press as a way of signalling about his meetings with the Special Counsel's group to everyone else on Team Trump who's prohibited from finding out through "ethical" channels.
Speaking of Manafort's lawyers, the NYT's Kenneth Vogel reports, "NEW FILING: PAUL MANAFORT, who arrived for his last court appearance in a wheelchair with his foot wrapped in a white bandage, tells the judge he won't appear at a Friday hearing related to his alleged breach of his plea agreement", because of the time involved in being transported to court. This maybe the lamest (literally) sympathy ploy we've seen since Julian Assange's weight loss.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:33 PM on November 28, 2018 [23 favorites]
a boat trip that Mr. Manafort took with Tom Barrack
Tom Barrack always seemed like one of the few of Klownwig's Kronies who knew how wrong things were, and that they'd likely be discovered. Too bad he took all that dirty money.
posted by petebest at 5:35 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Tom Barrack always seemed like one of the few of Klownwig's Kronies who knew how wrong things were, and that they'd likely be discovered. Too bad he took all that dirty money.
posted by petebest at 5:35 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
B. Obama, speaking at Rice University’s Baker Institute yesterday (via The Independent):
The former president said Americans can no longer “agree on a common set of facts” due to the current media environment, describing how the news cycle was previously “governed by the stories that were going to be filed by the AP, Washington Post, maybe New York Times, and the three broadcast stations”.Also:
“Whether people got their news from Walter Cronkite or David Brinkley, they tended to agree on a common set of facts. That set a baseline around which both parties had to adapt and respond to,” he continued. “What you increasingly have is a media environment in which, if you are a Fox News viewer, you have an entirely different reality than if you are a New York Times reader.”
“Not only did I not get indicted, nobody in my administration got indicted — which, by the way, was the only administration in modern history that can be said about... In fact nobody came close to being indicted. Partly because the people who joined us were there for the right reasons.”posted by Iris Gambol at 5:38 PM on November 28, 2018 [55 favorites]
Dear Beto and Julián, please don't run for president.
I can't say I disagree. I'd much rather have Beto resting or picking up his old momentum for a run at Cornyn, and maybe Julián getting up off his ass and tackling an actual run at a lesser office for a change. There are an awful lot of Texan progressives pissed at him for being so quiet since 2016; he is not going to get a warm send-off if he launches himself at a Presidential run now.
Poor Beto I think is more likely to a) be exhausted and b) is definitely smart enough to know the whole "man, Texas needs you" thing cold. His political star will honestly rise a lot farther, with more love, if he sticks around in the state for a while longer. Texas is a big state, and Beto is the biggest star in Texas since Ann Richards. If he can cement himself as a candidate with Texas' unwavering support among Democrats, given the excellent campaign he just ran--well, hell, that seems to me like... like being easily the biggest progressive beacon in a state whose economy and population are eclipsed only by California, and a state who is growing in population as Cali shrinks besides.
Beto's a resource we need badly. I hope he conserves it. We can ill afford to lose him.
posted by sciatrix at 5:41 PM on November 28, 2018 [27 favorites]
I can't say I disagree. I'd much rather have Beto resting or picking up his old momentum for a run at Cornyn, and maybe Julián getting up off his ass and tackling an actual run at a lesser office for a change. There are an awful lot of Texan progressives pissed at him for being so quiet since 2016; he is not going to get a warm send-off if he launches himself at a Presidential run now.
Poor Beto I think is more likely to a) be exhausted and b) is definitely smart enough to know the whole "man, Texas needs you" thing cold. His political star will honestly rise a lot farther, with more love, if he sticks around in the state for a while longer. Texas is a big state, and Beto is the biggest star in Texas since Ann Richards. If he can cement himself as a candidate with Texas' unwavering support among Democrats, given the excellent campaign he just ran--well, hell, that seems to me like... like being easily the biggest progressive beacon in a state whose economy and population are eclipsed only by California, and a state who is growing in population as Cali shrinks besides.
Beto's a resource we need badly. I hope he conserves it. We can ill afford to lose him.
posted by sciatrix at 5:41 PM on November 28, 2018 [27 favorites]
I mean, yeah, I get it. But if he’s the guy who can get it done, the rest of us need him, too.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:45 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 5:45 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Between pissing me off with what I consider to be mealy-mouthed centrist views on various issues, the guys on Pod Save America made the point that 2020 may be the only time that Beto has a chance of becoming president. Much of what is being said about Beto waiting to run now was said about Obama before he ran. Make of that what you will.
posted by runcibleshaw at 5:49 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by runcibleshaw at 5:49 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
I should maybe also mention that the past three years or so have utterly drained whatever buffer I had against cynicism and I would vote for a markov chain and a hologram on the Dem ticket if people seemed excited about it.
Unless it had run in 2016. Then I might have to be sedated first.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:49 PM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
Unless it had run in 2016. Then I might have to be sedated first.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:49 PM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
> I should maybe also mention that the past three years or so have utterly drained whatever buffer I had against cynicism and I would vote for a markov chain and a hologram on the Dem ticket if people seemed excited about it.
oh god though the arguments between supporters of hatsune miku and supporters of tupac would be brutal, though. it'd tear this site apart.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 5:52 PM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
oh god though the arguments between supporters of hatsune miku and supporters of tupac would be brutal, though. it'd tear this site apart.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 5:52 PM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
Gene Kelly/Vacuum 2020
posted by schadenfrau at 5:54 PM on November 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 5:54 PM on November 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
Trump’s night-owl calls to Roger Stone in 2016 draw scrutiny in Mueller probe
The calls almost always came deep into the night.Jerome Corsi: I lied and I'm ready to die in jail [video]
Caller ID labeled them “unknown,” but Roger Stone said he knew to pick up quickly during those harried months of the 2016 presidential campaign. There would be a good chance that the voice on the other end of the line would belong to his decades-long friend — the restless, insomniac candidate Donald Trump — dialing from a blocked phone number.
Those nocturnal chats and other contacts between the man who now occupies the Oval Office and an infamous political trickster have come under intensifying scrutiny as special counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation bores into whether Stone served as a bridge between Trump and WikiLeaks as the group was publishing hacked Democratic emails.
Mueller’s keen interest in their relationship was laid out in a draft court document revealed this week in which prosecutors drew a direct line between the two men — referring to Stone as someone understood be in regular contact with senior Trump campaign officials, “including with then-candidate Donald J. Trump.”
In a blockbuster interview, key Mueller witness and Roger Stone associate Jerome Corsi admits to MSNBC’s Ari Melber that he lied to Congress, that he tried to get stolen Clinton emails back to the Trump campaign in 2016, that he “absolutely” intended to help the Trump campaign by doing so, that he told Roger Stone about John Podesta’s emails and that his lawyers are still communicating with Trump’s legal team “as if” there is a joint legal defense. Ari Melber also presses Corsi on being a leader of the “birther movement” which Ari describes as a “total and complete lie” and asks him whether he is auditioning for a Trump pardon by bringing the subject of pardons up during the interview.posted by BungaDunga at 6:05 PM on November 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
Pew Research Center: U.S. Unauthorized Immigrant Total Dips to Lowest Level in a Decade
- The number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in more than a decade, according to new Pew Research Center estimates based on 2016 government data.
- There were 10.7 million unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. in 2016, down from a peak of 12.2 million in 2007, according to the new estimates.
- Overall, between 2007 and 2016, the unauthorized immigrant population shrank by 13%. By contrast, the lawful immigrant population grew 22% during the same period, an increase of more than 6 million people. In 2016, the U.S. was home to a total of 34.4 million lawful immigrants, both naturalized citizens and noncitizens on permanent and temporary visas.
- The new Pew Research Center estimates indicate that not only is the total number of unauthorized immigrants shrinking, but that population includes markedly fewer people who arrived in the previous five years. Only 20% of all unauthorized immigrants (including both adults and children) in 2016 had arrived in the previous five years, compared with 32% in 2007.
- All estimates in this report supersede previously published estimates.
The Independent: The population of illegal immigrants in the United States has fallen to its lowest level since 2004, new research has found. The figures have declined steadily since peaking at 12.2 million in 2007 and the number is now sitting at 10.7 million, according to the Pew Research Centre.
The findings contradict the regular statements made by US president Donald Trump who has made immigration enforcement a focus for his administration.
On preview -
Gene Kelly/Vacuum 2020
What did Lamppost ever do to you?
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:06 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
- The number of unauthorized immigrants in the U.S. fell to its lowest level in more than a decade, according to new Pew Research Center estimates based on 2016 government data.
- There were 10.7 million unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S. in 2016, down from a peak of 12.2 million in 2007, according to the new estimates.
- Overall, between 2007 and 2016, the unauthorized immigrant population shrank by 13%. By contrast, the lawful immigrant population grew 22% during the same period, an increase of more than 6 million people. In 2016, the U.S. was home to a total of 34.4 million lawful immigrants, both naturalized citizens and noncitizens on permanent and temporary visas.
- The new Pew Research Center estimates indicate that not only is the total number of unauthorized immigrants shrinking, but that population includes markedly fewer people who arrived in the previous five years. Only 20% of all unauthorized immigrants (including both adults and children) in 2016 had arrived in the previous five years, compared with 32% in 2007.
- All estimates in this report supersede previously published estimates.
The Independent: The population of illegal immigrants in the United States has fallen to its lowest level since 2004, new research has found. The figures have declined steadily since peaking at 12.2 million in 2007 and the number is now sitting at 10.7 million, according to the Pew Research Centre.
The findings contradict the regular statements made by US president Donald Trump who has made immigration enforcement a focus for his administration.
On preview -
Gene Kelly/Vacuum 2020
What did Lamppost ever do to you?
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:06 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Dear Beto and Julián, please don't run for president.
I'll add them to the list (with Clinton, Biden, and Warren) of "Democrats who we're begging not to run."
Personally I hope all of them run. Then we can have some votes and some polls, and decide which one has the most people behind them, and then whoever that is -- regardless of how much I thought they shouldn't run -- they have my vote.
posted by mmoncur at 6:08 PM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
Trump’s night-owl calls to Roger Stone in 2016 draw scrutiny in Mueller probe
The timeline here is particularly important:
posted by zachlipton at 6:16 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
The timeline here is particularly important:
New details about Stone’s interest in WikiLeaks’ plans emerged this week after one of his associates, conspiracy theorist Jerome Corsi, announced that he had rejected a plea deal offered by Mueller’s team. He provided The Post and other news organizations with a draft filing by prosecutors describing his interactions with Stone — including an Aug. 2, 2016, email in which the right-wing author alerted Stone that he heard WikiLeaks was planning a major release of “very damaging” material.Corsi told Stone that WikiLeaks was dropping documents, Stone wouldn't shut up about WikiLeaks publicly, and Stone then spoke to Trump the next day, but he insists they never discussed it. That strikes me as suspicious.
The next day, Stone had one of his private talks with Trump, Stone said on a 2016 Infowars broadcast first reported by CNN.
In an interview, Stone insisted that the topic of hacked emails was never broached in the Aug. 3 phone call — or in any other communication with Trump.
“It just didn’t come up,” Stone said. “I am able to say we never discussed WikiLeaks. I’m not sure what I would have said to him anyway because it’s all speculation . . . I just didn’t know if it’s true or not.” Stone, however, sounded much more certain in his public pronouncements at the time, stating confidently that Assange would reveal material that would hurt Clinton’s campaign.
posted by zachlipton at 6:16 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
mmoncur, I respectfully disagree -- you could win the Democratic primary (especially with a lot of competitors) and have no chance at winning over the country. For example, I think that people who love Elizabeth Warren (and I love her too) maybe don't quite understand how other people see her (I personally think she might have trouble in a general election, but I'm only offering her as an example). So (without weighing in on Beto or Biden or Bernie in particular), I think it's fair to strategize.
posted by uosuaq at 6:16 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 6:16 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Cory Booker condemned the tear gas used on migrants in Tijuana as "ugly, cruel & cowardly."
What Booker didn't mention is that he's accepted thousands in contributions from the tear gas manufacturer's owner, who also hosted a private fundraiser for him
posted by growabrain at 6:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
What Booker didn't mention is that he's accepted thousands in contributions from the tear gas manufacturer's owner, who also hosted a private fundraiser for him
posted by growabrain at 6:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
NBC, Veterans Affairs Dept. tells congressional staffers it won't repay underpaid GI Bill benefits recipients, sources say
posted by zachlipton at 6:19 PM on November 28, 2018 [36 favorites]
For weeks, student veterans across the country have raised an alarm about delayed or incorrect GI Bill benefit payments, which the Department of Veterans Affairs has blamed on computer issues.They say apparently say there's no way to fix it without auditing 2 million past claims, so damn the law and they'll just screw over vets.
But on Wednesday, the department told congressional staffers that it would not reimburse those veterans who were paid less than they were owed, two committee aides told NBC News.
The news conflicts with a promise VA officials made to a House committee earlier this month that it would reimburse those veterans who received less than the full amount they were due.
According to the aides, however, the VA said it could not make retroactive payments without auditing its previous education claims, which it said would delay future claims. The aides asked not to be identified because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
posted by zachlipton at 6:19 PM on November 28, 2018 [36 favorites]
I'll add them to the list (with Clinton, Biden, and Warren) of "Democrats who we're begging not to run."
Make room for John Kerry.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Make room for John Kerry.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Cory Booker condemned the tear gas used on migrants in Tijuana as "ugly, cruel & cowardly."
Cory Booker condemned using the tear gas on children as "ugly, cruel & cowardly behavior".
posted by Etrigan at 6:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Cory Booker condemned using the tear gas on children as "ugly, cruel & cowardly behavior".
posted by Etrigan at 6:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
We have another off-year election in ~12 months and primaries/caucuses start roughly three months later. Can we wait on the "who should/who shouldn't run"? It is not news that op-ed writers are saying "x [won/lost] race and now is [r/d] best chance of winning [y] race."
We can actually spend our energy on tangible, in our eyes stuff, is what I think I am getting at.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 6:27 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
We can actually spend our energy on tangible, in our eyes stuff, is what I think I am getting at.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 6:27 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
"Key Mueller witness" Jerome Corsi. Heh. That's adorable. We'll let Rick Gates and Felix Sater know.
Seriously, why is the media bestowing all this attention on Corsi? He's even less reliable than Sam Nunberg, even if his all-in/flame-out PR strategy looks familiar.
Just Security editor Julian Sanchez is baffled, both by Corsi and his interviewers:
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:27 PM on November 28, 2018 [19 favorites]
Seriously, why is the media bestowing all this attention on Corsi? He's even less reliable than Sam Nunberg, even if his all-in/flame-out PR strategy looks familiar.
Just Security editor Julian Sanchez is baffled, both by Corsi and his interviewers:
I cannot fathom what Corsi thinks he’s doing.Because you can bet Mueller asked him, then tripped him up when he lied.
I mean, yes, hoping a public profile ups his chances of a pardon. But you don’t do Ari Melber’s show to win Trump’s favor, and there are a whole bunch of self-inflicted wounds in there as well.
Things I would ask Corsi if I had him in a chair for a 20 minute interview, in case any cable hosts feel like taking suggestions:
1. Why did you write “word is...” in your correspondence with Stone if you were merely offering your own speculation?
2. Walk me through, in detail, how you “figured out” that Podesta, as opposed to any number of other Clinton associates, would be the subject of the next hacked email dump?
3. Walk me through, in detail, your reasoning behind the prediction that a subsequent dump would contain material that could be used to cast doubt on the state of Hillary’s health.
4. Did you ask Roger Stone why he wanted you to help him fabricate an explanation for his Podesta comments? Why did you agree to help him by lying to Congress, instead of testfying that it had been your own theory?
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:27 PM on November 28, 2018 [19 favorites]
There have been just under 2,000 United States Senators in American history.
Just 10 of them - 10! - have been black.
Only 52 - 52! - have been women
posted by growabrain at 6:29 PM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
Just 10 of them - 10! - have been black.
Only 52 - 52! - have been women
posted by growabrain at 6:29 PM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
Cory Booker condemned the tear gas used on migrants in Tijuana as "ugly, cruel & cowardly."
What Booker didn't mention is that he's accepted thousands in contributions from the tear gas manufacturer's owner, who also hosted a private fundraiser for him
Circular firing squad, take your positions...
posted by ocschwar at 6:32 PM on November 28, 2018 [36 favorites]
NBC, Veterans Affairs Dept. tells congressional staffers it won't repay underpaid GI Bill benefits recipients, sources say
There are so many vets out there who are months behind on rent and bills and who can't register for classes. So many who are losing out on other stuff because of that inability to register. And that money can mean an awful lot to (legitimate) schools out there, too, not to mention how many landlords and whatever were taking those promises that the money would be paid up given time.
They're not gonna catch up on those late payments because it's too much work? It's not the worst thing this administration has pulled, not by a longshot when they're literally caging kids and letting Puerto Ricans die in thousands, but this still has my jaw on the floor. This is going to fucking bankrupt so many vets.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:39 PM on November 28, 2018 [47 favorites]
There are so many vets out there who are months behind on rent and bills and who can't register for classes. So many who are losing out on other stuff because of that inability to register. And that money can mean an awful lot to (legitimate) schools out there, too, not to mention how many landlords and whatever were taking those promises that the money would be paid up given time.
They're not gonna catch up on those late payments because it's too much work? It's not the worst thing this administration has pulled, not by a longshot when they're literally caging kids and letting Puerto Ricans die in thousands, but this still has my jaw on the floor. This is going to fucking bankrupt so many vets.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 6:39 PM on November 28, 2018 [47 favorites]
> NBC, Veterans Affairs Dept. tells congressional staffers it won't repay underpaid GI Bill benefits recipients, sources say
Under different circumstances, this travesty would lead to a political opportunity for Democrats to run hard on restoring these benefits (with interest), but with vets (even IAVA types) generally holding "a pox on both their houses" attitudes after being routinely fucked over by both Democratic and Republican administrations/Congresses and with voters clinging to outdated notions of the GOP being the party of "supporting the troops", this is sadly going to be one of those things that they'll just have to settle for doing it because it's the right thing to do.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:58 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Under different circumstances, this travesty would lead to a political opportunity for Democrats to run hard on restoring these benefits (with interest), but with vets (even IAVA types) generally holding "a pox on both their houses" attitudes after being routinely fucked over by both Democratic and Republican administrations/Congresses and with voters clinging to outdated notions of the GOP being the party of "supporting the troops", this is sadly going to be one of those things that they'll just have to settle for doing it because it's the right thing to do.
posted by tonycpsu at 6:58 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Circular firing squad, take your positions...
As long as we're here ...
David Sirota
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:02 PM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
As long as we're here ...
David Sirota
Reminder: the guy running against progressive champion @RepBarbaraLee for House Democratic Caucus Chair is @RepJeffries — who has spent much of the last two years publicly demonizing progressives, while he rakes in corporate PAC money.more on that in Democrats Knife the Left Yet Again (Paul Blest, Splinter)
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:02 PM on November 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
Taking money from corporations is bad precisely because it leads to politicians not saying or doing anything against corporate interests. So I'm glad if Cory Booker is a big ol' hypocrite about this. Yes, ideally he wouldn't take the money. (Well, ideally ideally, he'd take a bunch of their money and betray them maximally by supporting laws against the sale of tear gas to police and military or whatever. Is there a good example from history of any politician doing that? Someone who "betrayed" lobbyists, ripped them off?)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:02 PM on November 28, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:02 PM on November 28, 2018 [23 favorites]
Much though we might not like it, it seems pretty reasonable to be discussing who should run for 2020 given that the candidates themselves (such as Beto or Julian Castro) are actually deciding at this very moment. And much though some folks hate it, talking about the policy positions and past behaviors of the proto-candidates is in fact the only substantive aspect of those discussions. We can defer discussion of any candidate X until after they have formally declared, but that ignores the fact that there is a clear and active political process going on right now -- although it certainly makes sense to only raise the topic when something new develops.
Such as the Booker thing. I myself don't care about the hypocrisy (I'd rather he denounce tear gas than not), but I didn't know about the donations from the CEO of Safariland, which supplied some of the tear gas and other crowd control devices to ICE, the Ferguson police, and the Standing Rock police -- including the TranZport Hood. He maxed out his donations to Booker in 2013-14, co-hosted a Booker fundraiser, exclusively donated to Republicans prior to that, and it seems was sufficiently toxic that when he donated $2,700 to Clinton in 2015 it was quietly returned. So it's not just any old corporate donation. Overall it's still fairly minor and certainly wouldn't change any vote intention of mine, but it's still relevant and new information in a currently active (god help us) pre-primary season.
posted by chortly at 7:05 PM on November 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
Such as the Booker thing. I myself don't care about the hypocrisy (I'd rather he denounce tear gas than not), but I didn't know about the donations from the CEO of Safariland, which supplied some of the tear gas and other crowd control devices to ICE, the Ferguson police, and the Standing Rock police -- including the TranZport Hood. He maxed out his donations to Booker in 2013-14, co-hosted a Booker fundraiser, exclusively donated to Republicans prior to that, and it seems was sufficiently toxic that when he donated $2,700 to Clinton in 2015 it was quietly returned. So it's not just any old corporate donation. Overall it's still fairly minor and certainly wouldn't change any vote intention of mine, but it's still relevant and new information in a currently active (god help us) pre-primary season.
posted by chortly at 7:05 PM on November 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
(Well, ideally ideally, he'd take a bunch of their money and betray them maximally by supporting laws against the sale of tear gas to police and military or whatever.)
There are legitimate uses for tear gas. This wasn't one of them. Booker is not being a hypocrite. He'd be more effective if after condemning the CBP he turned around and demanded an "amen" from the company that makes the stuff.
posted by ocschwar at 7:08 PM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
There are legitimate uses for tear gas. This wasn't one of them. Booker is not being a hypocrite. He'd be more effective if after condemning the CBP he turned around and demanded an "amen" from the company that makes the stuff.
posted by ocschwar at 7:08 PM on November 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
And much though some folks hate it, talking about the policy positions and past behaviors of the proto-candidates is in fact the only substantive aspect of those discussions
@chortly, I do not disagree with you. I believe it is outside the scope of this thread, though. (And, I deleted Beto's name at least 6 times in my last comment to keep in the scope of the thread, because I see a derail coming and our mods have earned a happy quonsar.)
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:17 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
@chortly, I do not disagree with you. I believe it is outside the scope of this thread, though. (And, I deleted Beto's name at least 6 times in my last comment to keep in the scope of the thread, because I see a derail coming and our mods have earned a happy quonsar.)
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:17 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
There are legitimate uses for tear gas.
Please elaborate...
posted by runcibleshaw at 7:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Please elaborate...
posted by runcibleshaw at 7:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Booker taking a stance on tear gas even as he got contributions from the industry is not an example of corruption, in fact probably just the opposite.
posted by M-x shell at 7:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 7:18 PM on November 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
Also, in 2020, I don't think we need charisma to win. We will still have the blue wave and it will be even stronger. Trump is our wedge issue against the other side. For once we have one and we will be splitting rock.
posted by M-x shell at 7:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by M-x shell at 7:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Going back to the post from BungaDunga:
Trump’s night-owl calls to Roger Stone in 2016 draw scrutiny in Mueller probe
Jerome Corsi: I lied and I'm ready to die in jail [video]
These are both links to the WaPo article about calls to Stone. I think the second was meant to link here, to MSNBC.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Trump’s night-owl calls to Roger Stone in 2016 draw scrutiny in Mueller probe
Jerome Corsi: I lied and I'm ready to die in jail [video]
These are both links to the WaPo article about calls to Stone. I think the second was meant to link here, to MSNBC.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:22 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
There are legitimate uses for tear gas.
Please elaborate...
Coercing angry mobs to move away from a public place. Same as always.
posted by ocschwar at 7:31 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
New Proud Boy Rules: Less Fighting, Less Wanking. The far-right outfit is trying to escape its violent rep with new prohibitions on head punches, self-love, and cargo shorts.
Proud Boys Failed to Redact Their New Dumb Bylaws and Accidentally Doxxed Their 'Elders'
posted by homunculus at 7:32 PM on November 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
Proud Boys Failed to Redact Their New Dumb Bylaws and Accidentally Doxxed Their 'Elders'
posted by homunculus at 7:32 PM on November 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
Booker taking a stance on tear gas even as he got contributions from the industry is not an example of corruption, in fact probably just the opposite.
He should still give back the money. And demand the manufacturer both denounce what happened and restrict/halt future sales until a thorough investigation is made and steps are taken to prevent it from happening again.
posted by downtohisturtles at 7:32 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
He should still give back the money. And demand the manufacturer both denounce what happened and restrict/halt future sales until a thorough investigation is made and steps are taken to prevent it from happening again.
posted by downtohisturtles at 7:32 PM on November 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
> Fox News Isn't A Normal Media Company. We Have To Stop Treating It Like One.
This is long overdue.
posted by homunculus at 7:34 PM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is long overdue.
posted by homunculus at 7:34 PM on November 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
New Proud Boy Rules: Less Fighting, Less Wanking
so wait, is /r/nofap part of the neo-fascist nexus on reddit now?
posted by murphy slaw at 7:41 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
so wait, is /r/nofap part of the neo-fascist nexus on reddit now?
posted by murphy slaw at 7:41 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
John Steinbeck (via The Rude Pundit): There Are Always Migrants; They've Always Been Treated Like Garbage in the U.S.
posted by homunculus at 7:47 PM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 7:47 PM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
Coercing angry mobs to move away from a public place. Same as always.
posted by ocschwar at 10:31 PM on November 28 [1 favorite +] [!]
I won't say that's never happened, but I'm struggling to remember a time when I saw it being used in that manner rather than to suppress legitimate peaceful protest.
posted by runcibleshaw at 8:00 PM on November 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by ocschwar at 10:31 PM on November 28 [1 favorite +] [!]
I won't say that's never happened, but I'm struggling to remember a time when I saw it being used in that manner rather than to suppress legitimate peaceful protest.
posted by runcibleshaw at 8:00 PM on November 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
the Fraternal Order of Alt Knights.
omg fuuuuck offffff
There is a lack of self-awareness goddamn crisis in this country.
so wait, is /r/nofap part of the neo-fascist nexus on reddit now?
Wasn't it kind of always? I am no expert but my impression was that it's been a fertile (ahem) recruitment zone for radicalizing sad and angry young men.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:06 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
omg fuuuuck offffff
There is a lack of self-awareness goddamn crisis in this country.
so wait, is /r/nofap part of the neo-fascist nexus on reddit now?
Wasn't it kind of always? I am no expert but my impression was that it's been a fertile (ahem) recruitment zone for radicalizing sad and angry young men.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:06 PM on November 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
sciatrix: "and maybe Julián getting up off his ass and tackling an actual run at a lesser office for a change. "
He *really* should have run for TX AG this year.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:09 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
He *really* should have run for TX AG this year.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:09 PM on November 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
sciatrix: "and a state who is growing in population as Cali shrinks besides. "
Do you mean shrinks relatively? Because California grew an estimated 5.4% from 2010 to 2016, and is projected to continue to grow.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:11 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Do you mean shrinks relatively? Because California grew an estimated 5.4% from 2010 to 2016, and is projected to continue to grow.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:11 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
InTheYear2017: "Also, what happens if nobody secures a majority of the chamber -- do they just keep holding elections until someone manages it?"
Yes. In 1855 this took two months and 133 ballots.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:16 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Yes. In 1855 this took two months and 133 ballots.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:16 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Also, in 2020, I don't think we need charisma to win.
That's what I thought in 2016.
It's nice to be reminded of how optimism felt, though, so thanks for that.
posted by mmoncur at 8:19 PM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
That's what I thought in 2016.
It's nice to be reminded of how optimism felt, though, so thanks for that.
posted by mmoncur at 8:19 PM on November 28, 2018 [16 favorites]
Do you mean shrinks relatively? Because California grew an estimated 5.4% from 2010 to 2016, and is projected to continue to grow.
The "California is losing people!!!!1" stories always leave out immigration since that part doesn't fit the narrative of "CaLIFORniA's LibERAL poLICies ArE DriVing People TO the CONSeRVAtIVE UTopIA ofTExAS!". Seriously, the point is to attempt to show that we're actually fucking everything up. That seems to working great since we have a whole 7 GOP Congress Reps and no Republicans in state wide office and Dem supermajorities in both state chambers, yet people from all over the US and the world are still pouring in.
posted by sideshow at 8:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
The "California is losing people!!!!1" stories always leave out immigration since that part doesn't fit the narrative of "CaLIFORniA's LibERAL poLICies ArE DriVing People TO the CONSeRVAtIVE UTopIA ofTExAS!". Seriously, the point is to attempt to show that we're actually fucking everything up. That seems to working great since we have a whole 7 GOP Congress Reps and no Republicans in state wide office and Dem supermajorities in both state chambers, yet people from all over the US and the world are still pouring in.
posted by sideshow at 8:23 PM on November 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
Also an economy a tad over a trillion dollars larger than Texas. Which puts us just behind one struggling hellhole and just ahead of another; those being Germany and the UK.
posted by Justinian at 8:28 PM on November 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 8:28 PM on November 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
Along with the "legitimate" uses of tear gas I guess I also don't understand what anyone (Democrats, the country, me personally) lose if a popular candidate runs for President right now? What is the thinking there? Beto, for instance (since so much of this ire seems focused on his possible presidential ambitions), lost his senate race but seem pretty popular. How would him running hurt more local races? I understand that he's not everyone's preferred candidate, but what is it about him or Julian running that upsets or worries people?
posted by runcibleshaw at 8:42 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by runcibleshaw at 8:42 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think the thought is that a highly fractured primary can produce subpar nominees in a first-past-the-post system.
I don't know why such an idea would be on everyone's mind.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [46 favorites]
I don't know why such an idea would be on everyone's mind.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [46 favorites]
Reminder: the guy running against progressive champion @RepBarbaraLee for House Democratic Caucus Chair is @RepJeffries — who has spent much of the last two years publicly demonizing progressives, while he rakes in corporate PAC money.
Jeffries is my congressman. I follow him on Twitter and Facebook, and I haven't noticed any progressive bashing. I'm genuinely curious what this is about, although it seems like it might be a Sanders/Clinton thing.
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:48 PM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Jeffries is my congressman. I follow him on Twitter and Facebook, and I haven't noticed any progressive bashing. I'm genuinely curious what this is about, although it seems like it might be a Sanders/Clinton thing.
posted by maggiemaggie at 8:48 PM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
I just wanna this out here right now: I will fight the Proud Boys at any moment they decide to mobilize. They’ve come to my city so many times, and harmed so many people. Find me there fighting back.
posted by gucci mane at 8:52 PM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 8:52 PM on November 28, 2018 [34 favorites]
I think the thought is that a highly fractured primary can produce subpar nominees in a first-past-the-post system.
I don't know why such an idea would be on everyone's mind.
About this: is it within the DNC's power to determine the voting methods used in Democratic presidential primaries, or is that state-by-state? And if it were within their power, have they already settled on rules for 2020, or could they be persuaded to adopt something like Approval (or IRV, I guess) to avoid the coordination problems inherent in FPTP?
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:59 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't know why such an idea would be on everyone's mind.
About this: is it within the DNC's power to determine the voting methods used in Democratic presidential primaries, or is that state-by-state? And if it were within their power, have they already settled on rules for 2020, or could they be persuaded to adopt something like Approval (or IRV, I guess) to avoid the coordination problems inherent in FPTP?
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:59 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think the thought is that a highly fractured primary can produce subpar nominees in a first-past-the-post system.
I don't know why such an idea would be on everyone's mind.
Subpar he may be, but he was without a doubt the most preferred candidate among Republicans and beat out a number of challengers in 1-on-1 pairings as various other contenders rose and fell during the primary season. We may not like it, but that primary was actually a pretty effective way of sequentially testing out a bunch of candidates in an otherwise ill-suited FPTP system -- effective in the sense that it discovered that Republicans actually like and prefer Trump.
posted by chortly at 9:01 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
I don't know why such an idea would be on everyone's mind.
Subpar he may be, but he was without a doubt the most preferred candidate among Republicans and beat out a number of challengers in 1-on-1 pairings as various other contenders rose and fell during the primary season. We may not like it, but that primary was actually a pretty effective way of sequentially testing out a bunch of candidates in an otherwise ill-suited FPTP system -- effective in the sense that it discovered that Republicans actually like and prefer Trump.
posted by chortly at 9:01 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Border Patrol’s Use Of Tear Gas On Civilians Is A Grim Warning About America’s Future: Tear gas provides a smokescreen for governments suppressing popular movements, from civilians protesting police brutality to refugees seeking asylum.
posted by homunculus at 9:08 PM on November 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 9:08 PM on November 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
The idea that Trump came in and "stole" the nomination somehow is a complete myth. He was the frontrunner from the moment he entered the race. He was leading some polls in 2011 before deciding not to run. He had played with running before as far back as the 80s and built a (racist) political platform since 2010. He had unique advantages that no one candidate on either side can replicate, 100% name ID and limitless self-funding through the primary stage, and a national media who knew him personally and was invested in (they thought) exploiting him for their own benefit. And took advantage of a strong anti-incumbent environment.
There's no "Democratic Trump". There's no clamoring for Oprah or Kanye or Sean Penn like there was for Trump. No leftist celebrity is spending their time fomenting a self-funded media insurgency, as if such a thing would even be allowed to exist on cable TV. There's precious few Democratic billionaires and none of them except Bloomberg (not a Democrat) are buying up air time for themselves. Democrats are not primed to respond to naked authoritarianism like the right is and has cultivated for 40 years.
The way we decide who is the best candidate to represent our ideals is a primary. Trump was unquestionably the candidate who best represented the Republican Party, from the moment he stepped in the race.
We shouldn't be afraid of the process of democracy, because we're not them.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:55 PM on November 28, 2018 [67 favorites]
There's no "Democratic Trump". There's no clamoring for Oprah or Kanye or Sean Penn like there was for Trump. No leftist celebrity is spending their time fomenting a self-funded media insurgency, as if such a thing would even be allowed to exist on cable TV. There's precious few Democratic billionaires and none of them except Bloomberg (not a Democrat) are buying up air time for themselves. Democrats are not primed to respond to naked authoritarianism like the right is and has cultivated for 40 years.
The way we decide who is the best candidate to represent our ideals is a primary. Trump was unquestionably the candidate who best represented the Republican Party, from the moment he stepped in the race.
We shouldn't be afraid of the process of democracy, because we're not them.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:55 PM on November 28, 2018 [67 favorites]
About this: is it within the DNC's power to determine the voting methods used in Democratic presidential primaries, or is that state-by-state?
Both. The state parties determine the voting methods, but the national party can refuse to count a state's delegates when determining the nominee. So the national party could theoretically lay down the law at the risk of fomenting an internecine struggle.
posted by Justinian at 10:26 PM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Both. The state parties determine the voting methods, but the national party can refuse to count a state's delegates when determining the nominee. So the national party could theoretically lay down the law at the risk of fomenting an internecine struggle.
posted by Justinian at 10:26 PM on November 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Having just watched a good bit of that Corsi interview on MSNBC, I'm again struck by the hubris of these old white asshole men. He's not at all remorseful, he did this interview because he STILL wants to tell "his side" of the story as if this whole thing is just a big misunderstanding and he's a fucking martyr, going to jail for His Principles, his steadfast refusal to "lie" to a judge (in reality: to plead guilty to the actual crimes he committed).
Oh, he is John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord 45. "in my heart, I did not lie" and "others may call it a lie, I call it politics". If you are sincere in your falsehood, you'll bring in people who want to believe in the same falsehoods.
One of those people has the power of pardon, so hey.
posted by Devonian at 10:31 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh, he is John the Baptist preparing the way for the Lord 45. "in my heart, I did not lie" and "others may call it a lie, I call it politics". If you are sincere in your falsehood, you'll bring in people who want to believe in the same falsehoods.
One of those people has the power of pardon, so hey.
posted by Devonian at 10:31 PM on November 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
“With so much happening today, this didn't get enough attention. The voting rights complaint filed in federal court yesterday by @staceyabrams new group #FairFightGeorgia is truly impressive. It lays out the network and choreography of voter suppression in the state. 1“
posted by The Whelk at 10:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [63 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:46 PM on November 28, 2018 [63 favorites]
Yeah, here's the Rick Hasen piece on the Abrams litigation.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:51 PM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:51 PM on November 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
Politico: Trump may finally be undermining Obamacare
Administration policies may be contributing to a decline in sign-ups.
Apparently new signups are down 9.2% and "Just 1 in 4 Americans who buy their own health insurance or are uninsured are aware that the deadline for enrolling in coverage is Dec. 15, according to the latest polling data from the Kaiser Family Foundation."
posted by saysthis at 10:54 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Administration policies may be contributing to a decline in sign-ups.
Apparently new signups are down 9.2% and "Just 1 in 4 Americans who buy their own health insurance or are uninsured are aware that the deadline for enrolling in coverage is Dec. 15, according to the latest polling data from the Kaiser Family Foundation."
posted by saysthis at 10:54 PM on November 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
To Get Back at G.M., Trump Threatens to Punish Any American Who Buys an Electric Car
posted by PontifexPrimus at 2:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [38 favorites]
[...]Which is why, instead of saying that he was disappointed about the news but understood that G.M. was in a tough position and, hey, maybe in retrospect it was silly to promise auto-manufacturing jobs were “coming back,” or to pass a tax bill that incentivized companies to send jobs and factories abroad, Trump told a reporter that G.M. “better damn well open a new plant there very quickly,” that the company is “playing around with the wrong person,” and that Barra will have “a problem” if she doesn’t immediately open a new facility. And then on Tuesday, still foaming at the mouth, he came out with this:He has really no idea how anything works, does he?Very disappointed with General Motors and their CEO, Mary Barra, for closing plants in Ohio, Michigan and Maryland. Nothing being closed in Mexico & China. The U.S. saved General Motors, and this is the THANKS we get! We are now looking at cutting all @GM subsidies, including....Obviously, the president of the United States threatening to punish a private company for making a decision based on market realities that are partially his fault is . . . really something! But the whole thing takes on some extra hilarity when you realize, for the 927th time this year, what this not-at-all-smart guy is unintentionally proposing. As Dan Primack points out, subsidies for G.M.-specific electric vehicles do not exist. Rather, there are industry-wide federal tax credits of up to $7,500 available for purchasers of U.S. electric cars, with “aggregate caps of 200,000 vehicles per manufacturer.” In other words, getting rid of the subsidy in its current form would hurt both American consumers and other auto manufacturers.
...for electric cars. General Motors made a big China bet years ago when they built plants there (and in Mexico) - don’t think that bet is going to pay off. I am here to protect America’s Workers!
posted by PontifexPrimus at 2:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [38 favorites]
Not to threadsit OR double-post, but there seem to be a chunk of stories on Politico right now that may be relevant to future discussion here. All of them would, in a less cramped news cycle, be worthy of their own posts.
Pro-Bernie group hacked in quarter-million dollar email scam
posted by saysthis at 2:51 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Pro-Bernie group hacked in quarter-million dollar email scam
The political nonprofit launched by Sen. Bernie Sanders in 2016 lost nearly a quarter-million dollars to an email scam that year, according to new tax documents obtained by POLITICO.Pelosi shuts down critics in tense meeting
Our Revolution “was the victim of a Business E-Mail Compromise scam that took place in December 2016 but was not discovered until January 2017, resulting in the loss of approximately $242,000 via an electronic transfer of funds to an overseas account,” the group disclosed in its tax forms covering the year 2017, which were filed earlier this month.
Pelosi and her three biggest critics are talking past each other — and it appears unlikely that they can bridge that divide.U.N. ambassador hunt drags on as top candidate fades
The rebels, led by Democratic Reps. Kathleen Rice of New York, Seth Moulton of Massachusetts and Tim Ryan of Ohio, want her to go, or at the very least commit to passing the gavel by a certain deadline. But Pelosi doesn’t feel like she needs to and isn’t even considering such a concession.
The hunt for a new United Nations ambassador — a job for which State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert was once considered a lock but is now out of contention — has faced repeated delays and is running up against Nikki Haley’s end-of-year departure date.How U.S. and Chinese firms are outmaneuvering Trump in trade war
Meanwhile, a raft of new candidates has emerged, but no one has grabbed the front-runner mantel, raising the possibility that President Donald Trump could tap someone at the 11th hour who has already been passed over. The White House Counsel’s office has not yet been asked to vet anyone for the role, further indicating the president may not have settled on a finalist.
President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Chinese imports are having the desired effect of driving production out of China — but not to America.No personal comment on any except the last, which...good. I don't agree with much Trump does, and I don't agree with the trade war at all, but the more manufacturing goes global and decentralized, the more invested the world becomes in a functioning global community, and the more China becomes dependent on other countries doing its grunt work for its economic well-being. Vietnam is a smart customer that will happily take extra investment but won't get shoved around by global powers, unlike certain Cambodias and Koreas I can think of. May the Vietnamese chew up and spit out both the American and Chinese overtures of stupidity both will inevitably make as Vietnam grows in supply chain importance. Especially the bit about recliners now being manufactured in Vietnam's soon-to-be largest furniture factory. Fuck yeah for tariff-free recliners, he types from a Lay-Z-Boy.
posted by saysthis at 2:51 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
But Pelosi doesn’t feel like she needs to and isn’t even considering such a concession.
Why in heck would she make a concession like that, in exchange for nothing?
She should offer Moulton exactly that: Nothing. Not even the fee for the gaming license, which she should insist Moulton put up personally.
posted by Justinian at 2:56 AM on November 29, 2018 [27 favorites]
Why in heck would she make a concession like that, in exchange for nothing?
She should offer Moulton exactly that: Nothing. Not even the fee for the gaming license, which she should insist Moulton put up personally.
posted by Justinian at 2:56 AM on November 29, 2018 [27 favorites]
I think legal twitter needs more defense attorneys who've advised people who can expect presidential pardons if they protect the President, bc Corsi's batshit crazy and Klayman may be worse but the ploy may well work. writes Marcy Wheeler, outlining a pessimistic case:
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:20 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
For starters, because of protections all journalists enjoy, with Corsi, Matt Whitaker will get two bites at the obstructive apple, as Mueller supervisor and as the guy who has to approve stuff w/"journalists."None of this would work at a functioning DoJ, but that's not a luxury we enjoy any longer. Asking a follow-up question about Whitaker's two-week-old promise he'd consult with DoJ ethics officials about recusing from the Mueller investigation, NBC's Ken Dilanian reports: DoJ spokeswoman Kerri Kupec replies: "Decline to comment, thanks"
And if Corsi can give Whitaker some bogus excuse to exercise more oversight of Mueller? All the better for Trump (and no, I don't agree with Comey that Whitaker gives a flying shit about history -- he believes in time travel remember, Corsi's perfect champion).
Now consider the possibility that with his antics Corsi could have fucked up 9 months of work towards indicting Stone and proving foreknowledge of GRU/Wikileaks releases, foreknowledge shared with Trump? That's a key part of the story Mueller would like to lay out.
Most importantly, not only could Trump give Corsi a meaningful pardon (unlike, as far as we know, Manafort), but it would be a lot easier to pardon a batshit 72 year old loved by GOPers than to pardon a sleazy crook like Manafort.
I hope the Riches and add Corsi to their suits, and I hope HJC spends a lot of time looking into whether he knew, on November 2 when he blew up his cooperation, that Whitaker would be appointed 5 days later.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:20 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Meanwhile, Randy Credico wants in on the Corsi-Stone media frenzy, per MoJo's Daniel Schulman: Randy Credico tells us that he “bullshitted” Roger Stone about his knowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans. That means everyone involved in this saga now claims he was lying—Credico (to Stone), Jerome Corsi (also to Stone), Stone (to the world)
Full article: Roger Stone and Randy Credico Claimed Access to WikiLeaks. Both Now Say They Were Bluffing.—They’ve called BS on themselves. Now it’s Mueller’s problem.
@Credico2016 also went on a now-deleted Twitter-reply rampage to @realDonaldTrump that's trolling on so many levels it's impossible to trust anything any of these clowns say (yet impossible to dismiss them outright).
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:34 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Full article: Roger Stone and Randy Credico Claimed Access to WikiLeaks. Both Now Say They Were Bluffing.—They’ve called BS on themselves. Now it’s Mueller’s problem.
@Credico2016 also went on a now-deleted Twitter-reply rampage to @realDonaldTrump that's trolling on so many levels it's impossible to trust anything any of these clowns say (yet impossible to dismiss them outright).
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:34 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
mmoncur, I respectfully disagree -- you could win the Democratic primary (especially with a lot of competitors) and have no chance at winning over the country. For example, I think that people who love Elizabeth Warren (and I love her too) maybe don't quite understand how other people see her (I personally think she might have trouble in a general election, but I'm only offering her as an example). So (without weighing in on Beto or Biden or Bernie in particular), I think it's fair to strategize.
Personally, I am opposed to letting Fox News, scandal manufacturers, propagandists, independents who are actually Republicans or the New York Times pick the next Democratic candidate. One of the greatest problems of triangulating democratic candidates is that one of the triangle's corners is a lie.
posted by srboisvert at 4:07 AM on November 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
Personally, I am opposed to letting Fox News, scandal manufacturers, propagandists, independents who are actually Republicans or the New York Times pick the next Democratic candidate. One of the greatest problems of triangulating democratic candidates is that one of the triangle's corners is a lie.
posted by srboisvert at 4:07 AM on November 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
So, let me get this straight, Pelosi is unopposed to be the Dem nom because they have nobody to run against her but they're threatening to vote against her when the speakership vote is held? What, are they threatening to install a GOP Speaker?
posted by fullerine at 4:08 AM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by fullerine at 4:08 AM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Lobbyists have paid five of the Senators who shot down Yemen bill (AJ)
At least five of the 37 Republican Senators who voted against advancing a resolution limiting the United States' involvement in the war in Yemen have received campaign contributions from pro-Saudi lobbying groups.
Roy Blunt, John Boozman, Richard Burr, Mike Crapo and Tim Scott all received financial contributions from firms representing Saudi interests between 2016 and 2017, according to a recent investigation by the Centre for International Policy (CIP).
All five Republicans voted on Wednesday against advancing the resolution, which, if passed, would force the US to limit its support for the Saudi-UAE war in Yemen.
The Trump administration has threatened to veto the resolution if it passes.
posted by stonepharisee at 4:31 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
At least five of the 37 Republican Senators who voted against advancing a resolution limiting the United States' involvement in the war in Yemen have received campaign contributions from pro-Saudi lobbying groups.
Roy Blunt, John Boozman, Richard Burr, Mike Crapo and Tim Scott all received financial contributions from firms representing Saudi interests between 2016 and 2017, according to a recent investigation by the Centre for International Policy (CIP).
All five Republicans voted on Wednesday against advancing the resolution, which, if passed, would force the US to limit its support for the Saudi-UAE war in Yemen.
The Trump administration has threatened to veto the resolution if it passes.
posted by stonepharisee at 4:31 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
What, are they threatening to install a GOP Speaker?
Basically. They're afraid of not having a voice (because Pelosi, unlike Ryan, knows how to treat small factions that are puffed up on their importance), and they've bought into GOP bullshit about her.
posted by NoxAeternum at 4:33 AM on November 29, 2018 [15 favorites]
Basically. They're afraid of not having a voice (because Pelosi, unlike Ryan, knows how to treat small factions that are puffed up on their importance), and they've bought into GOP bullshit about her.
posted by NoxAeternum at 4:33 AM on November 29, 2018 [15 favorites]
Stephen Colbert to sue Donald Trump for stealing his bit, proving we're in hell - Dennis Perkins, AV Club
[fake lawsuit, real comedy bit]
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:45 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
[fake lawsuit, real comedy bit]
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:45 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
From the Abrams lawsuit:
The lawsuit attacks the strict voter purges, which the complaint says were timed with former Secretary of State and now Gov.-elect Brian Kemp’s own elections; its strict “exact match” policy which has kept thousands of voters off the registration rolls for discrepancies on voting forms and driving records as minor as a missing hyphen; its outdated voter registration database and voting machinery, which are insecure, vulnerable to hacking, and lacking in backup paper records; its closing and moving of polling places; its inaccurate voter registration rolls; its inadequate oversight over the casting of provisional ballots; and its problems with the dissemination, processing, and counting of absentee ballots—including the state’s failure to notify voters of problems with their ballots which could have been cured in time for the vote to be counted.
Because Pissing Matches With Nancy are not the main issue Democrats should be discussing. This is an example of the real, proven, democracy-defeating campaign by the GOP, and we won't get anywhere until these Jim Crow tactics are once again buried (thanks Cheef Justice Roberts)!
Although, I'm not sure if Florida rises to the level of Jim Crow. What's a colorful expression for "smash and grab"? Oh. Ibid.
posted by petebest at 4:56 AM on November 29, 2018 [33 favorites]
The lawsuit attacks the strict voter purges, which the complaint says were timed with former Secretary of State and now Gov.-elect Brian Kemp’s own elections; its strict “exact match” policy which has kept thousands of voters off the registration rolls for discrepancies on voting forms and driving records as minor as a missing hyphen; its outdated voter registration database and voting machinery, which are insecure, vulnerable to hacking, and lacking in backup paper records; its closing and moving of polling places; its inaccurate voter registration rolls; its inadequate oversight over the casting of provisional ballots; and its problems with the dissemination, processing, and counting of absentee ballots—including the state’s failure to notify voters of problems with their ballots which could have been cured in time for the vote to be counted.
Because Pissing Matches With Nancy are not the main issue Democrats should be discussing. This is an example of the real, proven, democracy-defeating campaign by the GOP, and we won't get anywhere until these Jim Crow tactics are once again buried (thanks Cheef Justice Roberts)!
Although, I'm not sure if Florida rises to the level of Jim Crow. What's a colorful expression for "smash and grab"? Oh. Ibid.
posted by petebest at 4:56 AM on November 29, 2018 [33 favorites]
I'm again struck by the hubris of these old white asshole men
One of the few bright spots in this massive, unending shitticane which otherwise blocks out the fucking sun is that finally, finally, the true incompetence and idiocy of so many white men is laid bare. In public. It’s no longer something we have to argue abstractly; there is very visible evidence that everything is rigged in their favor, that standards are different for them, and that most of them, as a result, are total candyasses.
Good luck getting anyone to believe this society is a meritocracy anymore, assholes. We’ve seen your merit, and we are not impressed.
Capitalism won’t fully recover from this press tour.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:28 AM on November 29, 2018 [39 favorites]
One of the few bright spots in this massive, unending shitticane which otherwise blocks out the fucking sun is that finally, finally, the true incompetence and idiocy of so many white men is laid bare. In public. It’s no longer something we have to argue abstractly; there is very visible evidence that everything is rigged in their favor, that standards are different for them, and that most of them, as a result, are total candyasses.
Good luck getting anyone to believe this society is a meritocracy anymore, assholes. We’ve seen your merit, and we are not impressed.
Capitalism won’t fully recover from this press tour.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:28 AM on November 29, 2018 [39 favorites]
Biographer David Cay Johnston:
Trump May Have Just Lied His Way to Prison
posted by growabrain at 5:37 AM on November 29, 2018 [24 favorites]
Trump May Have Just Lied His Way to Prison
posted by growabrain at 5:37 AM on November 29, 2018 [24 favorites]
This morning's breaking news is that Deutsche Bank, Trump's favorite lender* and Manafort's money-launderer, has been raided by German authorities in a money-laundering investigation related to the Panama Papers. Their Frankfurt headquarters is being searched right now, and two employees have been named as suspects.
* NYT: Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December (4/10/18) "In early December, President Trump, furious over news reports about a new round of subpoenas from the office of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, told advisers in no uncertain terms that Mr. Mueller’s investigation had to be shut down. The president’s anger was fueled by reports that the subpoenas were for obtaining information about his business dealings with Deutsche Bank, according to interviews with eight White House officials, people close to the president and others familiar with the episode." [emphasis added, because I'd forgotten about that little detail among all Deutsche Bank's financial scandals]
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [68 favorites]
* NYT: Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December (4/10/18) "In early December, President Trump, furious over news reports about a new round of subpoenas from the office of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, told advisers in no uncertain terms that Mr. Mueller’s investigation had to be shut down. The president’s anger was fueled by reports that the subpoenas were for obtaining information about his business dealings with Deutsche Bank, according to interviews with eight White House officials, people close to the president and others familiar with the episode." [emphasis added, because I'd forgotten about that little detail among all Deutsche Bank's financial scandals]
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [68 favorites]
Mmmhmm. And don't forget that Trump's dude @ Deutsche was suddenly retiring justice Anthony Kennedy's son. So much fucking smoke, I hope Mueller's team has ventilators.
posted by lazaruslong at 5:44 AM on November 29, 2018 [45 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 5:44 AM on November 29, 2018 [45 favorites]
More wishful morning perusing, from Digby:
Trump’s band of losers is getting more desperate as Mueller closes in
posted by growabrain at 5:52 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump’s band of losers is getting more desperate as Mueller closes in
posted by growabrain at 5:52 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
From the David Cay Johnston link above, maybe the most realistic supposition I've heard yet about what the hell Mueller might be up to:
The idea that Mueller’s extraordinary team was clueless about the sincerity of Manafort’s conduct after he claimed to have flipped to the prosecution’s side seems preposterous.
More likely the prosecutors quickly figured out that Manafort was insincere and exploited the hubris of two con artists, Manafort and Trump, letting them walk down their own primrose path [See Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3].
If Trump and his lawyer relied on what Downing passed on from meetings with Team Mueller, using it to shape the written answers to Mueller’s questions, this double-agent legal game may blow up in Trump’s face.
Police and prosecutors are allowed to lie to suspects. They do it all the time, planting fake facts to draw out criminal conduct and establish conspiracies. If they had indeed figured out that Manafort was not being straight with them they could easily frame questions to mislead, offer fake facts, withhold real facts and imply ignorance to flush out Trump.
posted by From Bklyn at 5:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
The idea that Mueller’s extraordinary team was clueless about the sincerity of Manafort’s conduct after he claimed to have flipped to the prosecution’s side seems preposterous.
More likely the prosecutors quickly figured out that Manafort was insincere and exploited the hubris of two con artists, Manafort and Trump, letting them walk down their own primrose path [See Hamlet, Act I, Scene 3].
If Trump and his lawyer relied on what Downing passed on from meetings with Team Mueller, using it to shape the written answers to Mueller’s questions, this double-agent legal game may blow up in Trump’s face.
Police and prosecutors are allowed to lie to suspects. They do it all the time, planting fake facts to draw out criminal conduct and establish conspiracies. If they had indeed figured out that Manafort was not being straight with them they could easily frame questions to mislead, offer fake facts, withhold real facts and imply ignorance to flush out Trump.
posted by From Bklyn at 5:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
God, I will be so happy to see Deutsche Bank go down. If Anthony Kennedy’s retirement gets exposed for the corrupt piece of treason it most likely was I might just spontaneously turn into a being of light.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:59 AM on November 29, 2018 [85 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 5:59 AM on November 29, 2018 [85 favorites]
Sigh, about the whole who's running in 2020, but if anybody was thinking about Elizabeth Warren, well, here's a thing:
Elizabeth Warren Illuminates the Left’s Foreign-Policy Divide
Also, just... here's a song. The best way to scare a Tory (Republican) is to read and get rich.
posted by saysthis at 6:02 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Elizabeth Warren Illuminates the Left’s Foreign-Policy Divide
Warren is no hawk: She wants to reduce the defense budget, end the war in Afghanistan, and end U.S. support for the war in Yemen. But she’s more comfortable with a foreign policy of us-versus-them, in which America bolsters its allies and contains its foes. Unlike Sanders, she doesn’t mention the United Nations, which Wallace saw as the vehicle for transcending great-power conflict. In a forthcoming Foreign Affairs essay, she instead calls for “strengthening crucial alliances like those with NATO, South Korea and Japan.” And Warren goes easier on America’s allies. In his Johns Hopkins speech, Sanders chastised Saudi Arabia by name 13 times. Warren mentions it only three times. Sanders devoted a paragraph to rising authoritarianism in Israel, something Warren ignores.The article just contrasts Bernie's vision, which is basically just "withdraw", to this. If the US is to have a Dem president in 2020, I propose that the speech by Warren today is likely to be the vision against which foreign policy is measured. The poles by which to measure Dem foreign policy will be how hard they will push democracy among our not-allies, and how hard they will push against Chinese expansionism, although not their government itself or their military development. There will not likely be many other foreign policy contentious poles by 2020, unless Trump starts a war.
Most significantly, Warren acknowledges that “the United States is entering a new period of competition,” with China and Russia, which she calls “would-be rivals” that “hope to shape spheres of influence in their own image,” and “are working flat out to remake the global order to suit their own priorities.”
She’s not Trump. Warren wants to work with Beijing, in particular, against climate change. But she also wants America to maintain the international order that it has dominated, and prevent a rising China from establishing a sphere of influence. In this way, she’s closer to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, who tried to contain China and cooperate with it at the same time, than Sanders, who doesn’t describe it as a rival at all. If her vision is less radical, it may also be more realistic; more inclined to see the world as it is, rather than as we might wish it to be.
Also, just... here's a song. The best way to scare a Tory (Republican) is to read and get rich.
posted by saysthis at 6:02 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Too many tweets to link from my phone but Michael Cohen is currently in a surprise court appearance to plead guilty to a count of making false statements about “the Moscow Project”
posted by Brainy at 6:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Brainy at 6:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
And while Deutsche Bank was being raided, @realDonaldTrump started the day with further Twitter attacks on "Mueller and the Angry Democrats", "this illegal Joseph McCarthy style Witch Hunt", "atrocious, and perhaps subversive, crimes that were committed by Crooked Hillary Clinton and the Democrats", "NO Collusion with Russia", " A total disgrace!", "So Ridiculous!". Almost comically, he rhetorically asks, "Did you ever see an investigation more in search of a crime?" (Trey Gowdy's Benghazi hearings? Kenneth Starr's Whitewater enquiry?)
The account then switched over to complaining about China and tariffs on the eve of the G20 meeting, but the borderline-incoherent tweet was noticeably low energy. (Trump or Not Bot rates the Mueller attacks as 92%/98% chance of Trump authorship, but only 9% for the China one.)
But what's really the point of Trump's Twitter account, which he's used from Day 1 to attack his (perceived) enemies and rail at the world?
The answer, according to the Washington Post, won't surprise you: How Donald Trump Appeals to Men Secretly Insecure About Their Manhood
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:17 AM on November 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
The account then switched over to complaining about China and tariffs on the eve of the G20 meeting, but the borderline-incoherent tweet was noticeably low energy. (Trump or Not Bot rates the Mueller attacks as 92%/98% chance of Trump authorship, but only 9% for the China one.)
But what's really the point of Trump's Twitter account, which he's used from Day 1 to attack his (perceived) enemies and rail at the world?
The answer, according to the Washington Post, won't surprise you: How Donald Trump Appeals to Men Secretly Insecure About Their Manhood
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:17 AM on November 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
Via TPM: Michael Cohen To Plead Guilty To Lying To Congress As Part Of Mueller Deal
Michael Cohen on Thursday made an unscheduled appearance at a Manhattan courtroom to plead guilty to making false statements to Congress as part of a new plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller, ABC News reported.posted by lazaruslong at 6:30 AM on November 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
ABC's scoop: Michael Cohen expected to plead guilty to lying to Congress in collusion probe; gave 70 hours of interviews to special counsel: Sources
"Sources familiar with the special counsel’s proposed agreement with Cohen told ABC News that the 52-year-old New Yorker will admit to making multiple misstatements to two congressional intelligence committees investigating alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. It was not immediately clear what Cohen told the congressional committees in the fall of 2017 that he will now say was false. [...] He has been determined to tell Mueller’s team, other federal prosecutors and the New York State Attorney General’s Office all that he knows -- and his testimony poses a potentially serious threat to the president, sources told ABC News. They also say Cohen’s voluntary cooperation has been crucial to the special counsel’s case."
In less than an hour, Trump will be flying off to the G20 meeting for the weekend. There's a precedent for Mueller timing an indictment bombshell for when Trump's traveling overseas...
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:36 AM on November 29, 2018 [36 favorites]
"Sources familiar with the special counsel’s proposed agreement with Cohen told ABC News that the 52-year-old New Yorker will admit to making multiple misstatements to two congressional intelligence committees investigating alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election. It was not immediately clear what Cohen told the congressional committees in the fall of 2017 that he will now say was false. [...] He has been determined to tell Mueller’s team, other federal prosecutors and the New York State Attorney General’s Office all that he knows -- and his testimony poses a potentially serious threat to the president, sources told ABC News. They also say Cohen’s voluntary cooperation has been crucial to the special counsel’s case."
In less than an hour, Trump will be flying off to the G20 meeting for the weekend. There's a precedent for Mueller timing an indictment bombshell for when Trump's traveling overseas...
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:36 AM on November 29, 2018 [36 favorites]
Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December
can you even imagine Watergate, except that the Washington Post and the NYT ran bi-monthly stories titled "Nixon Seeks To Fire Cox" for 18 months before the Saturday Night Massacre?
in a sane timeline, trump having these discussions with his lawyers would be impeachable. madness.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [52 favorites]
can you even imagine Watergate, except that the Washington Post and the NYT ran bi-monthly stories titled "Nixon Seeks To Fire Cox" for 18 months before the Saturday Night Massacre?
in a sane timeline, trump having these discussions with his lawyers would be impeachable. madness.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [52 favorites]
Michael Cohen expected to plead guilty to lying to Congress in collusion probe; gave 70 hours of interviews to special counsel
Wow, looks like he was serious when he said he was putting country and family first. I guess this makes Michael Cohen the John Dean of Stupid Watergate.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 7:09 AM on November 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
Wow, looks like he was serious when he said he was putting country and family first. I guess this makes Michael Cohen the John Dean of Stupid Watergate.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 7:09 AM on November 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
NBC: Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty to Lying About Trump Tower Project In Moscow "Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former longtime attorney and fixer, pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan on Thursday to making false statements to Congress about the project to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Appearing in a navy suit and white shirt, Cohen told the court that he lied when he told the Senate that work on a Moscow Trump Tower deal stopped in early 2016. In fact, discussion for the Trump Moscow project continued until 2017, he said, and named the president in open court."
Natasha Bertrand: "From the court docs, per CNN: The Trump Tower Moscow negotiations went on through June 2016. The deal was discussed more than 3 times with Trump. Cohen briefed Trump’s family members within the org & took steps in contemplation of Trump’s possible travel to Russia in 2016."
Court filing: United States of America vs. Michael Cohen (PDF)
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:10 AM on November 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
Natasha Bertrand: "From the court docs, per CNN: The Trump Tower Moscow negotiations went on through June 2016. The deal was discussed more than 3 times with Trump. Cohen briefed Trump’s family members within the org & took steps in contemplation of Trump’s possible travel to Russia in 2016."
Court filing: United States of America vs. Michael Cohen (PDF)
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:10 AM on November 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
@jimsciutto Breaking: Michael Cohen says discussions of Trump Tower Moscow project continued into June 2016, briefed Trump and family members multiple times - court documents
10:54 AM - 29 Nov 2018
posted by bluesky43 at 7:11 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
10:54 AM - 29 Nov 2018
posted by bluesky43 at 7:11 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Trump Sought to Fire Mueller in December
can you even imagine Watergate, except that the Washington Post and the NYT ran bi-monthly stories titled "Nixon Seeks To Fire Cox" for 18 months before the Saturday Night Massacre?
in a sane timeline, trump having these discussions with his lawyers would be impeachable. madness.
posted by murphy slaw at 10:39 PM on November 29 [13 favorites +] [!]
Yes. People elected Nixon. How tf did you not know it would get there if you were a Nixon voter? It was pretty obvious you were getting...Nixon.
posted by saysthis at 7:12 AM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
can you even imagine Watergate, except that the Washington Post and the NYT ran bi-monthly stories titled "Nixon Seeks To Fire Cox" for 18 months before the Saturday Night Massacre?
in a sane timeline, trump having these discussions with his lawyers would be impeachable. madness.
posted by murphy slaw at 10:39 PM on November 29 [13 favorites +] [!]
Yes. People elected Nixon. How tf did you not know it would get there if you were a Nixon voter? It was pretty obvious you were getting...Nixon.
posted by saysthis at 7:12 AM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Haha. Because this is Michael Cohen, there are probably “tapes” of his Moscow Project status meetings with Trump et al. The denials later today should be fun!
posted by notyou at 7:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by notyou at 7:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
The Cohen seems to related to this year old story that I somehow managed missed.
A top executive from Donald Trump’s real estate company emailed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s personal spokesman during the U.S. presidential campaign last year to ask for help advancing a stalled Trump Tower development project in Moscow, according to documents submitted to Congress on Monday.
The request came in a mid-January 2016 email from Michael Cohen, one of Trump’s closest business advisers, who asked longtime Putin lieutenant Dmitry Peskov for assistance in reviving a deal that Cohen suggested was languishing
posted by rdr at 7:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
A top executive from Donald Trump’s real estate company emailed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s personal spokesman during the U.S. presidential campaign last year to ask for help advancing a stalled Trump Tower development project in Moscow, according to documents submitted to Congress on Monday.
The request came in a mid-January 2016 email from Michael Cohen, one of Trump’s closest business advisers, who asked longtime Putin lieutenant Dmitry Peskov for assistance in reviving a deal that Cohen suggested was languishing
posted by rdr at 7:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Also came to quote the David Cay Johnson article linked above. The crux of which is:
That Mueller’s team knew enough to say it can prove Manafort lied repeatedly and committed new crimes in doing so had to vex Trump.
Now jump forward to the days after this fall’s congressional elections, when the White House revealed that Trump was working with his own lawyers to answer written questions submitted by Mueller’s team.
The day after the election, Trump forced the resignation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general and installed Matt Whitaker, an Iowa lawyer deeply involved in an investment scam who had repeatedly said he favored shutting down the Russia investigation and disbanding the Mueller team. Two days after Sessions’ removal, multiple news reports appeared about “Manafort’s apparent lack of cooperation” resulting in “increasingly tense” talks with Mueller’s team.
So prosecutors know Manafort lied, what he lied about, that he communicated with Trump, and that Trump then repeated that/those lie(s) on his written answers, as a stable genius would.
posted by petebest at 7:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
That Mueller’s team knew enough to say it can prove Manafort lied repeatedly and committed new crimes in doing so had to vex Trump.
Now jump forward to the days after this fall’s congressional elections, when the White House revealed that Trump was working with his own lawyers to answer written questions submitted by Mueller’s team.
The day after the election, Trump forced the resignation of Jeff Sessions as attorney general and installed Matt Whitaker, an Iowa lawyer deeply involved in an investment scam who had repeatedly said he favored shutting down the Russia investigation and disbanding the Mueller team. Two days after Sessions’ removal, multiple news reports appeared about “Manafort’s apparent lack of cooperation” resulting in “increasingly tense” talks with Mueller’s team.
So prosecutors know Manafort lied, what he lied about, that he communicated with Trump, and that Trump then repeated that/those lie(s) on his written answers, as a stable genius would.
posted by petebest at 7:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
Expanding upon my earlier comment on Another Net Neutrality Day of Action Draws Fewer Big Names (Klint Finley for Wired, Nov. 28, 2018) -- Congress has refused to restore net neutrality as Dec. 10 deadline nears -- There's almost no Republican support for forcing vote to restore net neutrality. (Jon Brodkin for Ars Technica, Nov. 29, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:24 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
In the House, 218 members (a majority) would have to sign a discharge petition to force a floor vote, but only 177 have signed it (176 of them are Democrats). The discharge petition must be filed by December 10.Even if voted through, it would still require Trump's support, which is uncertain.
Technically, the House could vote on reversing the repeal until its session ends on January 3. But the House's Republican leadership almost certainly would not bring the measure to a vote voluntarily. Advocates are thus centering their efforts around the December 10 discharge petition deadline.
While Republicans are almost universally opposed to the effort, there are also 18 Democrats in the House that haven't signed the petition. Motherboard reviewed campaign finance filings and found that "each of the [Democratic] representatives has taken thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from one or more major telecom companies, including AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, and the National Cable Television Association (NCTA), an ISP trade group." (Rep. Joseph Morelle (D-N.Y.), who was sworn in this month after a special election, intends to sign the petition, according to Motherboard.)
Lawmakers who haven't supported the petition are listed here. Advocates are urging Americans to call, write to, or tweet at those lawmakers.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:24 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
saysthis: Politico: Trump may finally be undermining Obamacare
Administration policies may be contributing to a decline in sign-ups.
Related? Number Of U.S. Kids Who Don't Have Health Insurance Is On The Rise (NPR, November 29, 2018)
And for a tagline: "this rising tide hasn't lifted all boats equally."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:28 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
Administration policies may be contributing to a decline in sign-ups.
Related? Number Of U.S. Kids Who Don't Have Health Insurance Is On The Rise (NPR, November 29, 2018)
After years of steady decline, the number of U.S. children without health insurance rose by 276,000 in 2017, according to a Georgetown University report released Thursday.Can we summarize this as "Donald Trump and Republicans want more dead American children"?
While not a big jump statistically — the share of uninsured kids rose to 5 percent in 2017 from 4.7 percent a year earlier — it is still striking. The uninsured rate typically remains stable or drops during times of economic growth. In September, the U.S. unemployment rate hit its lowest level since 1969.
And for a tagline: "this rising tide hasn't lifted all boats equally."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:28 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
it would please me to a degree much more than it deserves if Metafilter adopted the term 'Individual 1' to refer to trump.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 7:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
Trump on Cohen’s new guilty plea: “Just because I’m running for President doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to do business.” This is, for all intents and purposes, an admission that when he told the American people that he had no business dealings with Russia, he was lying, and he was concealing the fact that he was working on a Trump Tower Moscow deal, and had sought and received aid from Vladimir Putin.
Maybe Republicans should do something to protect the Mueller investigation idk
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:44 AM on November 29, 2018 [56 favorites]
Maybe Republicans should do something to protect the Mueller investigation idk
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:44 AM on November 29, 2018 [56 favorites]
The saga of Michael Cohen, Donald "Individual 1" Trump, and the Trump Tower Moscow (the "Moscow Project"), with special appearance by the Steele Dossier:
January 2017:
@realDonaldTrump (1/7/17) "Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only "stupid" people, or fools, would think that it is bad!"
@realDonaldTrump (1/11/17): "Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is "A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE." Very unfair!"
@realDonaldTrump (1/11/17): "Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA - NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!"
August 2017:
Michael Cohen to SSCI and HPSCI, August 28, 2017: "Based on my business determinations, the [Company] abandoned the [Moscow Project] proposal. . . . To the best of my knowledge, [Individual 1] was never in contact with anyone about this proposal other than me on three occasions. . . . I did not ask or brief [Individual 1], or any of his family, before I made the decision to terminate further work on the proposal.” (c.f. Daily Beast: Read the Letter Trump’s Attorney Michael Cohen Sent Investigators About the ‘Golden Showers’ Dossier—PDF)
Today:
United States of America v. Michael Cohen (PDF):
January 2017:
@realDonaldTrump (1/7/17) "Having a good relationship with Russia is a good thing, not a bad thing. Only "stupid" people, or fools, would think that it is bad!"
@realDonaldTrump (1/11/17): "Russia just said the unverified report paid for by political opponents is "A COMPLETE AND TOTAL FABRICATION, UTTER NONSENSE." Very unfair!"
@realDonaldTrump (1/11/17): "Russia has never tried to use leverage over me. I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA - NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!"
August 2017:
Michael Cohen to SSCI and HPSCI, August 28, 2017: "Based on my business determinations, the [Company] abandoned the [Moscow Project] proposal. . . . To the best of my knowledge, [Individual 1] was never in contact with anyone about this proposal other than me on three occasions. . . . I did not ask or brief [Individual 1], or any of his family, before I made the decision to terminate further work on the proposal.” (c.f. Daily Beast: Read the Letter Trump’s Attorney Michael Cohen Sent Investigators About the ‘Golden Showers’ Dossier—PDF)
Today:
United States of America v. Michael Cohen (PDF):
In truth and in fact, and as COHEN well knew, COHEN’s representations about the Moscow Project he made to SSCI and HPSCI were false and misleading. COHEN made the false statement s to (1) minimize links between the Moscow Project and Individual 1 and (2) give the false impression that the Moscow Project ended before “the Iowa caucus and . . . the very first primary,” in hopes of limiting the ongoing Russia investigations. COHEN attempted to conceal or minimize through his false statements the following facts:posted by Doktor Zed at 7:54 AM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]a) The Moscow Project was discussed multiple times within the Company and did not end in January 2016.[…]
b) COHEN agreed to travel to Russia in connection with the Moscow Project and took steps in contemplation of Individual 1’s possible travel to Russia.[…]
c) COHEN did recall that in or around January 2016, COHEN received a response from the office of Russian Official 1, the Press Secretary for the President of Russia, and spoke to a member of that office about the Moscow Project.[…]
Trump repeatedly says Cohen is lying, but then adds: "Even if he was right, it doesn’t matter because I was allowed to do whatever I wanted during the campaign."
posted by zombieflanders at 7:56 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 7:56 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
Cohen's plea includes a cooperation agreement with Mueller, which Twitter thinks means he's given (or will give) Mueller useful stuff.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:58 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 7:58 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trump repeatedly says Cohen is lying, but then adds: "Even if he was right, it doesn’t matter because I was allowed to do whatever I wanted during the campaign."
Was allowed, past tense. Honestly, if he had lost, it wouldn't have been such a controversy, because his machinations with the Russians would have failed.
But they didn't, so he's a compromised, treasonous and illegitimate presidents. We're in the present, where it matters very much what he did during his campaign that lead him to his current position of power.
(And he wasn't so much allowed, as he was not caught -- despite the whole "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing").
posted by filthy light thief at 8:01 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Was allowed, past tense. Honestly, if he had lost, it wouldn't have been such a controversy, because his machinations with the Russians would have failed.
But they didn't, so he's a compromised, treasonous and illegitimate presidents. We're in the present, where it matters very much what he did during his campaign that lead him to his current position of power.
(And he wasn't so much allowed, as he was not caught -- despite the whole "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 emails that are missing").
posted by filthy light thief at 8:01 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Trump repeatedly says Cohen is lying, but then adds: "Even if he was right, it doesn’t matter because I was allowed to do whatever I wanted during the campaign."
We're like this far *holds fingers together* from the "You're goddammed right I ordered a code red!!" moment.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:07 AM on November 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
We're like this far *holds fingers together* from the "You're goddammed right I ordered a code red!!" moment.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:07 AM on November 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
“ But it is a certainty there will be another financial crisis at some point — indeed, the recent deregulation package increases the likelihood in the near term. So far I see no evidence (the economy page on his campaign website is laughably thin) he has reckoned with the lessons of the Obama administration's disastrous failures on the previous crisis, and hence no reason he wouldn't repeat the same bad decisions. He better start cracking some books, or perhaps just run for Senate again. America can't afford a repeat of the 2008-10 bungling.“ The Beto 2020 Problem
posted by The Whelk at 8:14 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:14 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
zombieflanders: Trump repeatedly says Cohen is lying, but then adds: "Even if he was right, it doesn’t matter because I was allowed to do whatever I wanted during the campaign."
I'm inclined to think that's not just his usual id-speak, but in fact another instance of his tendency to spill the internal talking points outward. Either he or someone in his circle raised a "Wait, are we actually allowed to do this stuff?" question, and someone else responded with something like "Look, it's a campaign. All's fair in presidential campaigns."
octobersurprise: We're like this far *holds fingers together* from the "You're goddammed right I ordered a code red!!" moment.
That already happened in the May 2017 interview with Lester Holt. What might, might move the needle is "Yes, I colluded." I really think it would because that specific word has spilled out his mouth a ludicrous number of times.
Consider how it's apparent to almost everyone that he wants "the wall" to be part of the federal budget. This is an implicit admission that Mexico won't pay for it. But being implicit, it has only a bit of political punch. What would really lose some supporters is him saying "Mexico will not pay for the wall" or "We will never build one, ever". Likewise, him tweeting "SOME COLLUSION!!" would look like an admission of guilt (and/or knuckling under the terrible Mueller witch hunt) even to low-info voters, where "Hey, it's just business" doesn't.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:15 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'm inclined to think that's not just his usual id-speak, but in fact another instance of his tendency to spill the internal talking points outward. Either he or someone in his circle raised a "Wait, are we actually allowed to do this stuff?" question, and someone else responded with something like "Look, it's a campaign. All's fair in presidential campaigns."
octobersurprise: We're like this far *holds fingers together* from the "You're goddammed right I ordered a code red!!" moment.
That already happened in the May 2017 interview with Lester Holt. What might, might move the needle is "Yes, I colluded." I really think it would because that specific word has spilled out his mouth a ludicrous number of times.
Consider how it's apparent to almost everyone that he wants "the wall" to be part of the federal budget. This is an implicit admission that Mexico won't pay for it. But being implicit, it has only a bit of political punch. What would really lose some supporters is him saying "Mexico will not pay for the wall" or "We will never build one, ever". Likewise, him tweeting "SOME COLLUSION!!" would look like an admission of guilt (and/or knuckling under the terrible Mueller witch hunt) even to low-info voters, where "Hey, it's just business" doesn't.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:15 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
I will say, my full faith in the Special Counsel and Justice is slowly being restored. Even though the wheels grind exceedingly slow, they are grinding. They said on MSNBC before that Mueller was slowly connecting his bridge from Russia (with the indictments earlier this year) to people in the campaign. I still hate it's taking this long with the unprecedented threat we face every day, but it seems like they're doing it right. My hope is that regardless of the speed of justice, enough of this shit is thrown at him that he's forced from power suddenly instead of a long legal process. But that's pretty stupid to expect at this point.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
He really does not seem to ever see a difference between 'I am sure I can get away with this somehow' and 'this is an ethically and legally permissible thing to do.'
He's always been oblivious to the law; that's how he wound up with six bankruptcies - because the concept of, "you have to pay the people you hire" is alien to him. He really doesn't think there's a difference between "what I can get away with" and "what's legal." And he's always been able to buy his way out of legal problems.
...the more corporate bailouts I see, the more I want corporate debt to act like student loans: You can get a deferment, but that debt gets assigned to people - maybe anyone who had "how to spend money" authority in the company, including the board - and it follows you forever. (Not the individuals who were assigned a budget, but the upper managers who decided how corporate income got allocated.)
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:20 AM on November 29, 2018 [37 favorites]
He's always been oblivious to the law; that's how he wound up with six bankruptcies - because the concept of, "you have to pay the people you hire" is alien to him. He really doesn't think there's a difference between "what I can get away with" and "what's legal." And he's always been able to buy his way out of legal problems.
...the more corporate bailouts I see, the more I want corporate debt to act like student loans: You can get a deferment, but that debt gets assigned to people - maybe anyone who had "how to spend money" authority in the company, including the board - and it follows you forever. (Not the individuals who were assigned a budget, but the upper managers who decided how corporate income got allocated.)
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:20 AM on November 29, 2018 [37 favorites]
John Santucci @Santucci, ABC News "NEW - President Trump was asked about the Trump Tower Moscow project among a list of written questions by special counsel Robert Mueller, sources familiar with the president’s responses tell @ABC News. No details about his response."
I still hate it's taking this long
I'm no particular expert on this but every commentator that I've heard who is an expert on the DoJ say that, comparatively speaking, Mueller is going at a very quick march. Getting everything lined up so it can stand up in court takes a lot of time. A misstep that allows a skeptical judge to rule against him on anything substantive could doom the whole thing.
the concept of, "you have to pay the people you hire" is alien to him
I think it's more "you only have to pay if you lose in court, which you won't, because you're buying stuff from subcontractors who can't afford not to settle for a fraction"
posted by BungaDunga at 8:22 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
I still hate it's taking this long
I'm no particular expert on this but every commentator that I've heard who is an expert on the DoJ say that, comparatively speaking, Mueller is going at a very quick march. Getting everything lined up so it can stand up in court takes a lot of time. A misstep that allows a skeptical judge to rule against him on anything substantive could doom the whole thing.
the concept of, "you have to pay the people you hire" is alien to him
I think it's more "you only have to pay if you lose in court, which you won't, because you're buying stuff from subcontractors who can't afford not to settle for a fraction"
posted by BungaDunga at 8:22 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
Trump repeatedly says Cohen is lying, but then adds: "Even if he was right, it doesn’t matter because I was allowed to do whatever I wanted during the campaign."
[Fomer FBI Special Agent/Yale senior lecturer Asha Rangappa] made an important point just now on @CNNnewsroom: Yes, Mr. Trump was allowed to do business with Russia while a candidate. But he lied about it, which gave the Kremlin leverage over him, since Putin could have exposed Trump’s lie during the campaign. (via Paul Begala)
And: Keep in mind that with every lie that has been told by members of the campaign to the FBI and Congress, Russia has been able to hold the truth like a sword of Damocles over Trump’s head.
Speaking of which, UPI: Trump, Putin will meet at G20 summit in Argentina, Kremlin says
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:26 AM on November 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
[Fomer FBI Special Agent/Yale senior lecturer Asha Rangappa] made an important point just now on @CNNnewsroom: Yes, Mr. Trump was allowed to do business with Russia while a candidate. But he lied about it, which gave the Kremlin leverage over him, since Putin could have exposed Trump’s lie during the campaign. (via Paul Begala)
And: Keep in mind that with every lie that has been told by members of the campaign to the FBI and Congress, Russia has been able to hold the truth like a sword of Damocles over Trump’s head.
Speaking of which, UPI: Trump, Putin will meet at G20 summit in Argentina, Kremlin says
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:26 AM on November 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
He really doesn't think there's a difference between "what I can get away with" and "what's legal."
I'm starting to think we need to put this in the megathread disclaimer:
I'm starting to think we need to put this in the megathread disclaimer:
Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protectes [sic] but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect. -- Frank Wilhoitposted by Etrigan at 8:26 AM on November 29, 2018 [54 favorites]
the more corporate bailouts I see, the more I want corporate debt to act like student loans
If you just don't bail corporations out with public money, the people holding the bag are always going to be the creditors, which is as it should be. Creditors take on the risk of default- that's why they get to charge interest. If the loans are owed by the board and management, creditors might be able to bankrupt a few rich guys but eventually that well will run dry before creditors are made whole.
posted by BungaDunga at 8:27 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
If you just don't bail corporations out with public money, the people holding the bag are always going to be the creditors, which is as it should be. Creditors take on the risk of default- that's why they get to charge interest. If the loans are owed by the board and management, creditors might be able to bankrupt a few rich guys but eventually that well will run dry before creditors are made whole.
posted by BungaDunga at 8:27 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Hoo boy. All this time Trump was avoiding having to answer obstruction questions because, one assumes, he’s pinned there, and agreed to answer Russia related stuff because he felt he had some room to maneuver, and now it appears maybe not so much.
Wonder what German authorities are finding at Deutsche Bank. I bet Trump is wondering, too. (Maybe he can ask Merkel herself in a couple of hours.)
The G20 is going to be a gong show.
posted by notyou at 8:31 AM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
Wonder what German authorities are finding at Deutsche Bank. I bet Trump is wondering, too. (Maybe he can ask Merkel herself in a couple of hours.)
The G20 is going to be a gong show.
posted by notyou at 8:31 AM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
Consider how it's apparent to almost everyone that he wants "the wall" to be part of the federal budget. This is an implicit admission that Mexico won't pay for it.
This has been driving me crazy; the question needed is "Mexico has said all along they won't pay for the wall (before or after) it's built. Now you want to build the wall and make us pay them back later. If they won't pay before we build the wall, why would they pay after?"
Again, it's BS because of course he knows they'll never pay...but it's the stupidest negotiating position ever. I want a fence between me and my neighbor because I don't trust him; the rest of the neighborhood doesn't really see them as a threat but doesn't have the power to stop me. But I tell everyone "Neighbor's paying for the fence! They'll pay" and demand they do so, but they refuse. So I build the fence anyway, thinking all along they'll pay me back.
This is the type of logic we're supposed to accept. Idiots all the way down.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:31 AM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
This has been driving me crazy; the question needed is "Mexico has said all along they won't pay for the wall (before or after) it's built. Now you want to build the wall and make us pay them back later. If they won't pay before we build the wall, why would they pay after?"
Again, it's BS because of course he knows they'll never pay...but it's the stupidest negotiating position ever. I want a fence between me and my neighbor because I don't trust him; the rest of the neighborhood doesn't really see them as a threat but doesn't have the power to stop me. But I tell everyone "Neighbor's paying for the fence! They'll pay" and demand they do so, but they refuse. So I build the fence anyway, thinking all along they'll pay me back.
This is the type of logic we're supposed to accept. Idiots all the way down.
posted by andruwjones26 at 8:31 AM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
John Santucci @Santucci, ABC News "NEW - President Trump was asked about the Trump Tower Moscow project among a list of written questions by special counsel Robert Mueller, sources familiar with the president’s responses tell @ABC News. No details about his response."
Somebody needs to keep track of how many times any host or guest on Fox News says "perjury trap" today.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:34 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Somebody needs to keep track of how many times any host or guest on Fox News says "perjury trap" today.
posted by uncleozzy at 8:34 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
(Also, note to self: if Robert Mueller is sitting on the other side of the negotiation table, leave.)
posted by notyou at 8:36 AM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by notyou at 8:36 AM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin. I look forward to a meaningful Summit again as soon as this situation is resolved!
posted by scalefree at 8:37 AM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 8:37 AM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
I'm hoping that the Deutsche Bank investigation re Panama Papers incidentally turns up evidence related to Trump/Kennedy, or is even a feint to get at the Russia receipts.
posted by M-x shell at 8:37 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 8:37 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
I called my Republican US Senator Joni Ernst's DC Office to ask whether she had yet followed through on her repeated and televised promise, back in April, that she would read the Special Counsel Independence and Integrity Act and say whether she supported it. I was informed that she had not.I suggested that the reason she had not was that she was a craven coward, so terrified of a criminal President that she is willing to enable a criminal conspiracy to obstruct an investigation which, notwithstanding the Senator's false claim that it has accomplished absolutely nothing, is convicting more and more of All the President's Henchmen, and is snapping at the President's heels. I asked the Senator to stop undermining the Constitution, the Rule of Law, and betraying the country, and to turn to the path of good and away from the path of evil, and I asked the staffer to think about her life choices. I was thanked and my message will be passed along
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [103 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:39 AM on November 29, 2018 [103 favorites]
There's been a lot of discussion about how the media should treat Trump. I think it would be interesting if they just assumed they're not going to get anything useful and treated it as a way of pointing out how inane his comments often are by being ridiculous (in a pointed way) on their own. Examples:
A few days ago you claimed that your gut was better than any intelligence. Do you think the FBI should be renamed the Federal Bureau of Intestines?
The other day, you retweeted a photo that included Rod Rosenstein in jail. Are there any other members of your staff that you also believe belong in jail?
Then, if he calls them out for asking stupid questions, they could respond by saying that since he believes they're fake news, why does he care if the questions are stupid.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 8:41 AM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
A few days ago you claimed that your gut was better than any intelligence. Do you think the FBI should be renamed the Federal Bureau of Intestines?
The other day, you retweeted a photo that included Rod Rosenstein in jail. Are there any other members of your staff that you also believe belong in jail?
Then, if he calls them out for asking stupid questions, they could respond by saying that since he believes they're fake news, why does he care if the questions are stupid.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 8:41 AM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin. I look forward to a meaningful Summit again as soon as this situation is resolved!
Because they know another Helsinki suckup pander to Putin after this new Cohen info will be damaging. And they know if they let him meet him, it'll definitely be a suckup pander shitshow.
posted by chris24 at 8:41 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Because they know another Helsinki suckup pander to Putin after this new Cohen info will be damaging. And they know if they let him meet him, it'll definitely be a suckup pander shitshow.
posted by chris24 at 8:41 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Mmmhmm. And don't forget that Trump's dude @ Deutsche was suddenly retiring justice Anthony Kennedy's son. So much fucking smoke, I hope Mueller's team has ventilators.
In our worst nightmares about how deep this rot goes, and all the outrageous things, no, all the 'sounds like a crackpot conspiracy theory' things we've been inured to in the past century, or 2+ years, or just plain subjective hell, are coming to be proven true.
Imagine how Mueller feels. He spends his whole life being a Marine, and a Cop, and a Prosecutor, and he gets handed this -- worst case scenario -- hitherto undreamed of, and until now, so outrageous a story you couldn't sell it to a publisher.
And every week, he needs a new bulletin board, and a new ball of yarn.
And every week, he gets more and more furious about the rot and how far it's gone.
I know it's foolish to count on the establishment, but if any establishment isn't full of shit, I just can't believe it wouldn't be Mueller and his team.
posted by mikelieman at 8:42 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
In our worst nightmares about how deep this rot goes, and all the outrageous things, no, all the 'sounds like a crackpot conspiracy theory' things we've been inured to in the past century, or 2+ years, or just plain subjective hell, are coming to be proven true.
Imagine how Mueller feels. He spends his whole life being a Marine, and a Cop, and a Prosecutor, and he gets handed this -- worst case scenario -- hitherto undreamed of, and until now, so outrageous a story you couldn't sell it to a publisher.
And every week, he needs a new bulletin board, and a new ball of yarn.
And every week, he gets more and more furious about the rot and how far it's gone.
I know it's foolish to count on the establishment, but if any establishment isn't full of shit, I just can't believe it wouldn't be Mueller and his team.
posted by mikelieman at 8:42 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
Forty-five minutes ago, Trump was waxing lyrical about what he might discuss with Putin. Now he says the meeting is off, due to Russia not allowing the Ukrainian ships and their crews to return home. What has changed this morning, regarding these ships and their crews? Nothing. What has changed is that Trump's lawyers have told him that it is very, very important that he takes a break from publicly meeting with the Russian President, the man whom the American President repeatedly and falsely denied to be his business partner, and have politely suggested a convenient excuse.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:42 AM on November 29, 2018 [59 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:42 AM on November 29, 2018 [59 favorites]
Wonder what German authorities are finding at Deutsche Bank. I bet Trump is wondering, too. (Maybe he can ask Merkel herself in a couple of hours.)
But Putin most of all. Panama Papers may not name him directly, but they're practically his rolodex of kleptocratic cronies.
What has changed is that Trump's lawyers have told him that it is very, very important that he takes a break from publicly meeting with the Russian President
But what about privately during the summit, say, at a closed event such as an official dinner… like last time?
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:52 AM on November 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
But Putin most of all. Panama Papers may not name him directly, but they're practically his rolodex of kleptocratic cronies.
What has changed is that Trump's lawyers have told him that it is very, very important that he takes a break from publicly meeting with the Russian President
But what about privately during the summit, say, at a closed event such as an official dinner… like last time?
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:52 AM on November 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
Does anyone NOT expect the oncoming tax season to be a complete shitshow?
And it will be conveniently blamed on the Democrats that took the House. It's not in the DNC's blood to explain otherwise. But one can hope, and make it a driving issue into 2020.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:53 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
And it will be conveniently blamed on the Democrats that took the House. It's not in the DNC's blood to explain otherwise. But one can hope, and make it a driving issue into 2020.
posted by JoeZydeco at 8:53 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trump on Cohen’s new guilty plea: “Just because I’m running for President doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to do business.” This is, for all intents and purposes, an admission that when he told the American people that he had no business dealings with Russia, he was lying, and he was concealing the fact that he was working on a Trump Tower Moscow deal, and had sought and received aid from Vladimir Putin.
What's more, it shows -- as if it weren't obvious -- that he had no intention of avoiding even the appearance of conflict of interest, because conflict of interest was more lucrative for him.
posted by Gelatin at 8:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
What's more, it shows -- as if it weren't obvious -- that he had no intention of avoiding even the appearance of conflict of interest, because conflict of interest was more lucrative for him.
posted by Gelatin at 8:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Chuck Schumer Is Greatly Overestimating Trump’s Popularity - Jamelle Bouie, Slate
The midterms were a stunning referendum. Democratic leaders should act accordingly.I wonder if Schumer is counting on Trump to support some Democratic initiatives down the road.
…
The Democrats’ record-breaking victory [in the 2018 midterms] and the public’s clear exhaustion with Donald Trump should prompt a full re-evaluation of this political moment. Instead, when faced with Trump’s demand for $5 billion in funding for his border wall with Mexico, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer offered the $1.6 billion that Democrats had previously agreed on. This may not constitute support for “the wall” itself, but it does miss how the landscape has changed. … Schumer had political space to make a lower bid, or no bid at all. But he doesn’t seem to grasp the extent of his party’s political advantage or understand the value of opposition. He seems stuck in a past where voters rewarded compromise and bipartisanship, unable to see how this doesn’t apply to the Democrats’ relationship with Donald Trump.
In the news media, likewise, there’s still a preoccupation with Trump’s most dedicated supporters, as if they constitute a barometer for public opinion or say anything meaningful about the larger state of American politics. More illuminating—and more interesting, for that matter—would be an examination of the groups who drove the midterm results: black women, young people, and suburban white women. Those Americans and their communities are still under-covered, even as they shape and change the direction of national politics. That under-coverage is likely the result of many complicated factors, but it’s certainly tied to our continued faulty impression of the president’s standing.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:58 AM on November 29, 2018 [58 favorites]
...
With that in mind, let’s make the present political situation as clear as possible. Donald Trump and his party suffered substantial losses in the midterm elections, including significant erosion in traditionally Republican areas of the country. Indeed, if one took the Democrats’ popular vote performance and mapped it onto the Electoral College, you would have a solid Democratic win, underscoring the president’s electoral vulnerability.
...
Perhaps now is the time to start treating Trump like what he is—a failing president, unable and unwilling to change course. Put simply, the public doesn’t need (or want) Democrats to be conciliatory and bipartisan, it wants them to be an opposition.
From Doktor Zed's link, an important reminder of why it is so important for the American President to be able to meet in person with the man he has repeatedly denied being his business partner, the Russian President, instead of merely making a phone call:
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:58 AM on November 29, 2018 [30 favorites]
Bremmer said Trump got up from his seat halfway through dinner and spent about an hour talking “privately and animatedly” with Putin, “joined only by Putin’s own translator.”Donald Trump knows that there is only one circumstance in which he can converse with Vladimir Putin without another United States citizen, a citizen who might be subject to a Congressional or Special Counsel subpoena, being aware of what is discussed. He requires an in-person meeting in which he is joined only by Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Putin's translator, and, presumably, Vladimir Putin's tape recorder.
The lack of a U.S. translator raised eyebrows among other leaders at the dinner, said Bremmer, who called it a “breach of national security protocol.”
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:58 AM on November 29, 2018 [30 favorites]
I'm now imagining an airport-bookstore techno-thriller in which a rebel CIA agent has to covertly bug the clothing of the US President. I'm now wondering whether this story might be the story of our reality.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:07 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:07 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times reports: Federal Agents Show Up At Ald. Ed Burke’s City Hall Office, Paper Over Windows (pic)
Fun fact flashback: A law firm headed by Ald. Edward M. Burke, one of Chicago’s most powerful Democrats, has helped Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and investors in his luxury downtown hotel cut their property taxes by 39 percent over seven years, saving them $11.7 million, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis has found. (May 2016)
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:07 AM on November 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
Fun fact flashback: A law firm headed by Ald. Edward M. Burke, one of Chicago’s most powerful Democrats, has helped Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and investors in his luxury downtown hotel cut their property taxes by 39 percent over seven years, saving them $11.7 million, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis has found. (May 2016)
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:07 AM on November 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
Imagine how *furious* Trump must be at all these ongoing and by now longstanding efforts to hold him accountable for his actions. He’s probably also still in denial about it to some extent because it’s never been like this for him before and as such he has no frame of reference for what’s happening.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:09 AM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:09 AM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
“Maybe we don’t need Oprah.” Early-state Dems sound off on 2020 - Katie Glueck, McClatchy DC
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:14 AM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
...And here I thought that triangulation was only a Clinton thing. Also, namechecking Oprah like this is not a good idea.
[A] debate is raging over what kind of messenger they need.
In New Hampshire earlier this month, veteran Democratic strategist Judy Reardon took stock of the midterm results and concluded that the party needs someone whose style is more calm and conciliatory than combative counter-puncher.
“Before this election, I had been of the mind that the Democratic nominee to beat Trump had to be somebody with a big personality,” she said. “...I now think that very well might not be the case. Maybe somebody like Steve Bullock, actually, has the best chance of beating Donald Trump. Somebody who’s less flashy.
“Maybe we don’t need Oprah,” she continued.
Indeed, the Democratic Party is poised for pitched battles over both personality and ideology in their quest for someone who can defeat Trump in the general election. Does the party need a nominee with a big persona to match Trump’s brashness, or a lower-key figure who exudes stability? A progressive firebrand who thrills party activists or a centrist from the business world who can appeal to Republicans?
Some argue that the 2018 candidates who energized the base most came from the unapologetically progressive wing of the party—and reflected its diversity. Contenders such as Stacey Abrams of Georgia, Andrew Gillum in Florida, and O’Rourke in Texas didn’t win, the argument goes, but the competitiveness of their campaigns in challenging states demonstrates where the party is moving.
“Sometimes the theory among Democrats, particularly in the Southeast, is to go for a centrist who won’t create much of a ripple, see if you can pull over some Republicans,” said Brady Quirk-Garvan, the chair of the Charleston County Democratic Party in South Carolina. “I think the base of the Democratic Party, even here in South Carolina, is not really feeling that at the moment. They want someone who’s going to meet them at their excitement level, engage them, who in their eyes is going to lead them into battle.”
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:14 AM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Schumer has generously volunteered the $1.6 billion of our money to pay for Trump's reelection campaign.
posted by LarsC at 9:15 AM on November 29, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by LarsC at 9:15 AM on November 29, 2018 [26 favorites]
He requires an in-person meeting in which he is joined only by Vladimir Putin, Vladimir Putin's translator, and, presumably, Vladimir Putin's tape recorder.
If there are not lots of others present with concealed directional microphones then everything I have ever read about international spycraft has been a complete lie.
Also if Bad Lip Reading did a video of Donald Trump talking would it then make sense?
posted by srboisvert at 9:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
If there are not lots of others present with concealed directional microphones then everything I have ever read about international spycraft has been a complete lie.
Also if Bad Lip Reading did a video of Donald Trump talking would it then make sense?
posted by srboisvert at 9:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Imagine how *furious* Trump must be at all these ongoing and by now longstanding efforts to hold him accountable for his actions. He’s probably also still in denial about it to some extent because it’s never been like this for him before and as such he has no frame of reference for what’s happening.
Trump's consciousness sees the truth of our reality as merely one of over fifty shades of grey, shades which can be painted by his words and his imagination. He has an idiot non-savant's preternatural ability to translate Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle from the world of the quantum to the classically mechanical world of the human experience. Today, his problem is that the fact of his crimes, the coming revelations of his crimes, and his being very much out of his depth, are all facts which are, every single day, being rendered a darker shade of grey.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:17 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Trump's consciousness sees the truth of our reality as merely one of over fifty shades of grey, shades which can be painted by his words and his imagination. He has an idiot non-savant's preternatural ability to translate Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle from the world of the quantum to the classically mechanical world of the human experience. Today, his problem is that the fact of his crimes, the coming revelations of his crimes, and his being very much out of his depth, are all facts which are, every single day, being rendered a darker shade of grey.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:17 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Cohn celebrated his 52nd birthday at Studio 54. ... The investigative reporter Wayne Barrett, who covered the scrum from the sidewalk for the Village Voice, noted that, among the usual Warhol celebrity crowd, politicians, and fixers, was a “surprise” attendee — “newcomer Chuck Schumer, a ‘reform’ assemblyman from Brooklyn who insisted he was just the date of a gossip columnist.”
...
Trump would also give to (among others) Schumer, Eliot Spitzer, and Andrew Cuomo, who took Trump as a client even as his father was governor and Trump was conniving to develop the West Side yards and build a domed football stadium in Queens.
Schumer for a long time has been the #1 recipient of Financial/Real Estate money in the Senate. He's been hanging around NY real estate developers for decades. I would not be surprised if Trump has dirt on him (Roy Cohn, Trump's "fixer", seems to have blackmailed everyone he ever came in contact with).
posted by benzenedream at 9:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
This photo from above brings joy to my heart
posted by growabrain at 9:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by growabrain at 9:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Am I tin-foil hat crazy, or does all this breaking news feel coordinated?
- Cohen court appearance
- Deutsche Bank office raid
- Ald. Burke office raid
- Meeting w/ Putin canceled after Kremlin confirms location and duration
- Trump heads out of the country to the G20
posted by gladly at 9:19 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
- Cohen court appearance
- Deutsche Bank office raid
- Ald. Burke office raid
- Meeting w/ Putin canceled after Kremlin confirms location and duration
- Trump heads out of the country to the G20
posted by gladly at 9:19 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
The first three could have been coordinated with the 5th, but the 4th feels more like a surprised response to the first three events.
posted by filthy light thief at 9:21 AM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by filthy light thief at 9:21 AM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
to be honest I doubt he will be able to go through the whole thing without meeting with Putin, no matter what he says today.
posted by lazaruslong at 9:24 AM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 9:24 AM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
Am I tin-foil hat crazy, or does all this breaking news feel coordinated?
There are two possibilities. Either Mueller is beginning to show his hand because he is soon going to release his report. Or, as I suspect, he is beginning to show his hand because he is already being obstructed from having the ability to show his hand, by Purported Daycare Manager, Purported Gigantic Cock Toilet Patent Promoter and Purportedly Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker. He wants to show that the steamroller of truth is coming down the road, and anyone choosing to obstruct it is in danger of going squish.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:25 AM on November 29, 2018 [33 favorites]
There are two possibilities. Either Mueller is beginning to show his hand because he is soon going to release his report. Or, as I suspect, he is beginning to show his hand because he is already being obstructed from having the ability to show his hand, by Purported Daycare Manager, Purported Gigantic Cock Toilet Patent Promoter and Purportedly Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker. He wants to show that the steamroller of truth is coming down the road, and anyone choosing to obstruct it is in danger of going squish.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:25 AM on November 29, 2018 [33 favorites]
@normative puts these events into context with a timeline that hints at where we're going:
Some dates. Early May 2016: Cohen discusses business travel to Russia with Trump, Sater, and a “senior campaign official”. He agrees to make a trip himself the following month, and says Trump might do so after being formally nominated.posted by zachlipton at 9:26 AM on November 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
June 3: Trump Tower meeting arranged.
June 9: Trump Tower meeting occurs.
June 14: First public report that suspected Russian hackers broke into the DNC network. The same day, two days before he is scheduled to leave for Moscow, Cohen bails on the trip.
July 22: Wikileaks releases hacked DNC e-mails.
Obvious question: what changed between May, when Cohen agreed to make a trip to Moscow, seemingly with Trump’s approval, and June 14, when Cohen bailed on that trip at the last minute? Did Trump or the campaign decide that obvious links to Russia were suddenly undesirable? Because for some reason or other, it’s clearly OK with everyone for Cohen to schmooze at the “Russian Davos” in May, but by June 14 is sufficiently unacceptable that Cohen has to back out of a business trip related to an important deal, long in the works, on two days notice.
The long-sought Trump Tower Moscow deal is seemingly abandoned following the last-minute June 14 cancellation of Cohen’s trip. On face, it looks like Trump is quite abruptly keen to avoid overt ties to Russia that had not been considered a problem just weeks earlier. Conceivably this is an almost immediate response to the public attribution of the DNC hack to Russians—an attribution Trump will publicly continue to doubt for many months. But if so, it would be an awfully drastic and rapid response to a single news story. But it also sounds like Cohen was dodging Sater’s efforts to nail down the trip for a couple weeks prior to the 14th. So there’s potentially a period of waffling, and then something puts the nail in the coffin.
Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun-Times reports: Federal Agents Show Up At Ald. Ed Burke’s City Hall Office, Paper Over Windows (pic)
Fun fact flashback: A law firm headed by Ald. Edward M. Burke, one of Chicago’s most powerful Democrats, has helped Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and investors in his luxury downtown hotel cut their property taxes by 39 percent over seven years, saving them $11.7 million, a Chicago Sun-Times analysis has found. (May 2016)
It would be a lovely two-fer if this was Trump connected but I think Burke is plenty dirty enough to dig his own deep holes. He is definitely part of a pretty regressive group of Chicago democratic party members who actively hurt everyone in the city who isn't wealthy or clouted up. He also led the openly racist and disgusting 'council wars' revolt against Harold Washington, Chicago's first black mayor and last genuinely progressive one. He is also party to some incredibly ridiculous and even vindictive ward level gerrymandering.
posted by srboisvert at 9:26 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
My husband just took one for the team and looked at Fox’s website. Surprise! No mention on front page and very little about it on the politics page. They really should not be able to use the word “news” anywhere ever.
posted by Bacon Bit at 9:32 AM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Bacon Bit at 9:32 AM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
The speculative poop I've read says that Mueller is pinning Trump, in this case dropping the Manafort plea deal and Cohen's admission right in the time between Trump turning in his "only about Russia" answers and (being scheduled for) meeting Putin, and that is why he cancelled. Perhaps Putin demanded it now that the lines are tapped, but that's a distinction without a difference. The less Trump can do, the more that Twitter is his only activity, the better. Of course his henchmen are still razing everything, but...baby steps.
posted by rhizome at 9:33 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 9:33 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
My husband just took one for the team and looked at Fox’s website. Surprise! No mention on front page and very little about it on the politics page.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, my Google News page suddenly shows no links to Fox News updates.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:35 AM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Perhaps unsurprisingly, my Google News page suddenly shows no links to Fox News updates.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 9:35 AM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
...our worst nightmares about how deep this rot goes...
I find comfort in the fact that Trump is so disruptively stupid that he's unintentionally shining a light on all the filth that was there to begin with. He did not somehow corrupt pure public servants. These were corrupt, immoral individuals who were getting away with it all this time, only they put their eggs in the wrong basket with Trump, and now they will be dragged with him, their names forever tainted.
posted by Tarumba at 9:41 AM on November 29, 2018 [52 favorites]
I find comfort in the fact that Trump is so disruptively stupid that he's unintentionally shining a light on all the filth that was there to begin with. He did not somehow corrupt pure public servants. These were corrupt, immoral individuals who were getting away with it all this time, only they put their eggs in the wrong basket with Trump, and now they will be dragged with him, their names forever tainted.
posted by Tarumba at 9:41 AM on November 29, 2018 [52 favorites]
In New Hampshire earlier this month, veteran Democratic strategist Judy Reardon took stock of the midterm results and concluded that the party needs someone whose style is more calm and conciliatory than combative counter-puncher.>
I suggest that veteran Democratic strategists be ignored.
posted by jetsetsc at 9:44 AM on November 29, 2018 [69 favorites]
I suggest that veteran Democratic strategists be ignored.
posted by jetsetsc at 9:44 AM on November 29, 2018 [69 favorites]
If Trump does go down, Fox will probably play Wagner's "Twilight of the Gods" for three days.
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:47 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:47 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Imagine how *furious* Trump must be at all these ongoing and by now longstanding efforts to hold him accountable for his actions. He’s probably also still in denial about it to some extent because it’s never been like this for him before and as such he has no frame of reference for what’s happening.I've been meaning to post this: I think it's a reasonable summation of what we can expect to see over the next few weeks. (Full thread from @HoarseWhisperer, edited for typos and formatting):
Super quick one on what we're seeing from Trump and what's likely to come next.posted by Bora Horza Gobuchul at 9:49 AM on November 29, 2018 [86 favorites]
He's entering a different phase on the narcissistic cycle that tends to be extra unhinged, so [we] might as well talk about it and prepare for it. It's perhaps the most bonkers part of the cycle.
As I've written countless times, severe narcissists like Trump are utterly controlled by only two primary, driving impulses:That's it. Everything else is derivative of those two. Those two drive the bus.
- Avoid shame
- Seek admiration and esteem
People naturally say "Shame?! The guy has no conscience and is incapable of shame!"
Yes and no. Trump has no moral compass. He has no sense of right or wrong. His entire existence focuses on how OTHER PEOPLE feel about him. He has no internal life. No insight.
So, yes, it is true that Trump doesn't independently feel shame about his behavior and has no internal conscience.
However, he is entirely controlled by what others think of him. He can't handle being looked down on.
To a narcissist, the knowledge that others are poised to see them in a very negative light - to see them as unworthy of admiration, or worse, worthy of contempt - is absolutely excruciating.
It's utterly excruciating to them to see that train coming and not be able to stop it.
It is literally the worst possible thing that could happen to them. Trump is right there in that spot now. He absolutely knows that the walls are closing in on the worst public shaming of his life. And he can't escape it.
This is worse than a boiling death to a narcissist.
When put in that position, narcissists absolutely lose it. They flail wildly. They entirely lose the little emotional regulation they had and just swing wildly trying to beat away what's coming. They say utterly insane things. They accuse, attack, lie. It's a freaking spectacle.
Trump is right there.
He is right at that moment where the narcissist goes entirely off the rails and blurts out endless craziness. Unhinged lunacy. Utterly devoid of reasoning or thought or logic. It's like a drunken man swinging wildly in the dark.
At the end of the day, it changes nothing. It doesn't stop the Shame Train from coming. It only makes them look utterly unhinged.
It creates a major scene but you needn't do more than step back and watch. There's no point engaging. Just observe with detachment.
In this state, the narcissist is extra-bad at forethought. They can't think ahead. They're just mega-tantruming.
So, Trump couldn't hatch a cogent scheme of any kind right now if he wanted to. He's on tilt. Right now - at this moment - just sit back and watch.
We're in for a barn burner of a meltdown....and then...
- He'll flail like a loco lawn sprinkler
- He'll lash out at an endless array of targets
- None of it will make any sense
- He'll contradict even himself
He'll go dark when he has punched himself out.
For today, and until there's reason to do otherwise, sit back and watch the unhinged scene we're about to see in full technicolor…
…and remember as you're watching it:
This is what a narcissist does when they know they're caught and know that's about to come out.
To me, this phase is actually oddly comfortable and comforting. It signals that narcissist knows he is entirely busted and can't escape it. If there was any even potential escape, he'd be trying to manipulate his way out.
When they're melting down, they know they've lost.
It's easy to be freaked out by how volatile and out of control this all seems. It's like the collapse of an old stadium they're tearing down. It's an implosion. It falls in on itself.
We're OK. Just watch the show. The full nuttiness will be wild.
We're OK. Just watch the show. The full nuttiness will be wild.
This sentiment may more easily apply to narcissists who lack the ability to immediately launch a massive nuclear arsenal on a whim
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [76 favorites]
This sentiment may more easily apply to narcissists who lack the ability to immediately launch a massive nuclear arsenal on a whim
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [76 favorites]
If Trump does go down, Fox will probably play Wagner's "Twilight of the Gods" for three days.
Just not on Twitter, where they are in their 3rd week of not posting. Presumably in protest but they never told anyone so it's more just plan odd than effective.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Just not on Twitter, where they are in their 3rd week of not posting. Presumably in protest but they never told anyone so it's more just plan odd than effective.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 9:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
When they're melting down, they know they've lost.
I'd hope so, but that sure feels a bit overstated. Trump may flail, but he'll still get support from his base and if that base is loud enough and seems big enough to matter to those Republicans that also pander to them and to Fox news, there doesn't seem like much of a guarantee that Mueller alone will turn the tide on the Trump era as there still needs to be some action taken by the other branches of government to turn fact into action. I"m just not convinced the Republicans will see that as the right answer and will instead cling to the Trump legacy and continue to tear down the constitution. I'm concerned the conclusion of the Mueller investigation could as much signal we've entered freefall as provide grounds for the end of the Trump era.
posted by gusottertrout at 9:59 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
I'd hope so, but that sure feels a bit overstated. Trump may flail, but he'll still get support from his base and if that base is loud enough and seems big enough to matter to those Republicans that also pander to them and to Fox news, there doesn't seem like much of a guarantee that Mueller alone will turn the tide on the Trump era as there still needs to be some action taken by the other branches of government to turn fact into action. I"m just not convinced the Republicans will see that as the right answer and will instead cling to the Trump legacy and continue to tear down the constitution. I'm concerned the conclusion of the Mueller investigation could as much signal we've entered freefall as provide grounds for the end of the Trump era.
posted by gusottertrout at 9:59 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
There has not been one moment during this Presidency when Putin didn't have complete leverage over Trump. We should regard the foreign policy of the United States for the last two years to have been entirely directed by Putin.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:00 AM on November 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:00 AM on November 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
@John_Hudson: AP: ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — White House: Formal meetings with Turkey, S Korea canceled; Trump will instead speak informally with leaders at G-20.
The man simply can't do the job. Is this so cancelling the Putin meeting doesn't look as bad or is he just incapable of having these meetings?
posted by zachlipton at 10:00 AM on November 29, 2018 [55 favorites]
The man simply can't do the job. Is this so cancelling the Putin meeting doesn't look as bad or is he just incapable of having these meetings?
posted by zachlipton at 10:00 AM on November 29, 2018 [55 favorites]
Is this so cancelling the Putin meeting doesn't look as bad or is he just incapable of having these meetings?
At this stage I wouldn't be surprised if Putin had picked up the red telephone and suggested that Trump cancel the other meetings.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:08 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
At this stage I wouldn't be surprised if Putin had picked up the red telephone and suggested that Trump cancel the other meetings.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:08 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Shorter, paraphrased Paul Ryan: 'I don't understand why California bothers to count every vote, and Republicans should have won despite not getting enough votes to win.'
Also strangely weak on the notion of State rights in the way Republicans always are when states don't do Republican things.
posted by srboisvert at 10:08 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Also strangely weak on the notion of State rights in the way Republicans always are when states don't do Republican things.
posted by srboisvert at 10:08 AM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
We should regard the foreign policy of the United States for the last two years to have been entirely directed by Putin.
This is largely true, but Putin's primary target, the battery of sanctions against his oligarchic criminal network, remains in place. Putin has learned that having control of an incapable and deeply unpopular US President does not lead to unlimited control over US foreign policy. It appears that even a Congress run by the most craven sycophants is as yet unwilling to proactively introduce and vote for absolute surrender to Putin.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is largely true, but Putin's primary target, the battery of sanctions against his oligarchic criminal network, remains in place. Putin has learned that having control of an incapable and deeply unpopular US President does not lead to unlimited control over US foreign policy. It appears that even a Congress run by the most craven sycophants is as yet unwilling to proactively introduce and vote for absolute surrender to Putin.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:16 AM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Yes, much, much more of this please:
Dave Weigel: It begins... I just talked to a Democratic activist who's putting together a challenge to a safe-seat Democrat who's opposing Pelosi. One of many to come.posted by T.D. Strange at 10:26 AM on November 29, 2018 [53 favorites]
There are two possibilities. Either Mueller is beginning to show his hand because he is soon going to release his report. Or, as I suspect, he is beginning to show his hand because he is already being obstructed from having the ability to show his hand, by Purported Daycare Manager, Purported Gigantic Cock Toilet Patent Promoter and Purportedly Acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker.
Third option (or, if you like, a modified second option): Marcy Wheeler was right that Mueller was never planning to write a Ken Starr-style report because the White House has shown it will gladly bury/burn such things, and the idea was always to release whatever facts he wants the public at large to know via court filings.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:30 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Third option (or, if you like, a modified second option): Marcy Wheeler was right that Mueller was never planning to write a Ken Starr-style report because the White House has shown it will gladly bury/burn such things, and the idea was always to release whatever facts he wants the public at large to know via court filings.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:30 AM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
@John_Hudson: AP: ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — White House: Formal meetings with Turkey, S Korea canceled; Trump will instead speak informally with leaders at G-20.
Just yesterday the WaPo, working from White House and diplomatic sources, published a this time it will be different article noting how much Trump hates informal gatherings and that his staff has worked to make sure "every minute of the president’s schedule" would be filled with bilateral meetings.
posted by peeedro at 10:30 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Just yesterday the WaPo, working from White House and diplomatic sources, published a this time it will be different article noting how much Trump hates informal gatherings and that his staff has worked to make sure "every minute of the president’s schedule" would be filled with bilateral meetings.
posted by peeedro at 10:30 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
In retrospect, Trump's behavior on Wednesday night really was weird… Crooks and Liars: Trump Ran Away From Tree Lighting Ceremony Without Warning—Trump ditched the Press Pool and fled from the White House tree lighting ceremony without warning. Did he get news of Cohen on his phone?
Incidentally, it won't be wheels down on AF1 until 8:50PM EST when Trump arrives in Buenos Aires.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:30 AM on November 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
Incidentally, it won't be wheels down on AF1 until 8:50PM EST when Trump arrives in Buenos Aires.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:30 AM on November 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
Vox: Corsi claims God, not Assange, provided him with foreknowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans. Seriously.
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:48 AM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 10:48 AM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Last night at the tree lighting Zinke introduced Trump as "The man who brought Christmas back to America." Seriously. Since it's continuing the Christmas theme from his rally for Cindy Hyde-Smith in Biloxi, I guess we have another month of Trump-infused holiday cheer to look forward to.
posted by peeedro at 10:50 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 10:50 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
@mattzap: We are told that, as per special counsel/Justice Department policies, Acting AG Matt Whitaker was notified in advance of Cohen's plea. Remember, he doesn't have to approve, but he can veto.
This is interesting to me because Whitaker was supposed to be getting an ethics opinion on whether he needed to recuse himself. That doesn't seem to have happened. Yesterday, a reporter called up DOJ to ask what was going on with that: "Decline to comment, thanks". If Whitaker was notified, it would mean that he hasn't recused himself.
But Whitaker's promise was sneaky:
@MLevineReports: They never said that. They basically said he would consult with ethics officials when “appropriate,” and didn’t mention Mueller. I asked repeatedly if he would consult on Mueller specifically, and DOJ wouldn’t answer.
If you don't think interfering with the investigation would be "inappropriate," there's never a need to consult ethics officials, huh?
posted by zachlipton at 10:53 AM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
This is interesting to me because Whitaker was supposed to be getting an ethics opinion on whether he needed to recuse himself. That doesn't seem to have happened. Yesterday, a reporter called up DOJ to ask what was going on with that: "Decline to comment, thanks". If Whitaker was notified, it would mean that he hasn't recused himself.
But Whitaker's promise was sneaky:
@MLevineReports: They never said that. They basically said he would consult with ethics officials when “appropriate,” and didn’t mention Mueller. I asked repeatedly if he would consult on Mueller specifically, and DOJ wouldn’t answer.
If you don't think interfering with the investigation would be "inappropriate," there's never a need to consult ethics officials, huh?
posted by zachlipton at 10:53 AM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
The man who brought Christmas back to America
OK, that's it. I can't take this War on Christmas bullshit anymore. If I know someone celebrates Christmas, I say "Merry Christmas." If someone says "Merry Christmas" to me, I say it back. If I don't know someone's religion or preferred term for the holidays, I say "Happy holidays." I say it to be polite and inclusive, not because I'm required to. Seasons Grrrrrrrrreeetings!
posted by kirkaracha at 11:01 AM on November 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
OK, that's it. I can't take this War on Christmas bullshit anymore. If I know someone celebrates Christmas, I say "Merry Christmas." If someone says "Merry Christmas" to me, I say it back. If I don't know someone's religion or preferred term for the holidays, I say "Happy holidays." I say it to be polite and inclusive, not because I'm required to. Seasons Grrrrrrrrreeetings!
posted by kirkaracha at 11:01 AM on November 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
Julian Sanchez (@normative) offers some commentary about Cohen's testimony to HPSCI and the Nunes-athorized final report:
@realDonaldTrump Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin's playing coy about this. The FT's Max Seddon reports: “Looks like Trump canceled his meeting with Putin without telling the Kremlin. Peskov: "We've only seen the tweet and reports. We don't have any official information. If that's the case, the president will have a couple extra hours in his schedule for useful meetings."”
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:02 AM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Here’s the section on Trump Tower Moscow from the HPSCI report on Russian interference. Cohen has just admitted that many of the critical claims the report accepts as fact here were lies. [pic]What we next is a cross-reference of Cohen's testimony and Donald Jr's to see where the lies match up.
Note the report references “documents produced to the committee”, suggesting Cohen not only lied, but deliberately hid e-mails he now acknowledges receiving from Russian government officials from HPSCI.
Cohen’s admissions today strongly imply that Sater’s testimony to HPSCI was also false. Cohen acknowledges a Russian government official had, via Sater, invited Cohen to meet in Moscow in June 2016 in connection with the project, suggesting he might introduce Cohen to Putin.
Cohen bailed on this meeting in Moscow just days before it was supposed to occur in June 2016. That would seem to make Sater’s denial that any Russian officials were involved in the project false, and his claim to be unaware of any meetings at best highly misleading.
@realDonaldTrump Based on the fact that the ships and sailors have not been returned to Ukraine from Russia, I have decided it would be best for all parties concerned to cancel my previously scheduled meeting in Argentina with President Vladimir Putin.
The Kremlin's playing coy about this. The FT's Max Seddon reports: “Looks like Trump canceled his meeting with Putin without telling the Kremlin. Peskov: "We've only seen the tweet and reports. We don't have any official information. If that's the case, the president will have a couple extra hours in his schedule for useful meetings."”
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:02 AM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
> [Fomer FBI Special Agent/Yale senior lecturer Asha Rangappa] made an important point just now on @CNNnewsroom: Yes, Mr. Trump was allowed to do business with Russia while a candidate. But he lied about it, which gave the Kremlin leverage over him, since Putin could have exposed Trump’s lie during the campaign. (via Paul Begala)
Former FBI Agent: Trump ‘Dangling a Pardon’ to Influence Manafort Could be ‘Evidence of Obstruction’
Former FBI agent tells CNN Trump’s lies show Russia has kompromat over president: ‘This is a national security issue’
posted by homunculus at 11:04 AM on November 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
Former FBI Agent: Trump ‘Dangling a Pardon’ to Influence Manafort Could be ‘Evidence of Obstruction’
Former FBI agent tells CNN Trump’s lies show Russia has kompromat over president: ‘This is a national security issue’
posted by homunculus at 11:04 AM on November 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
WSJ, Stephanie Armour, Trump Administration Details Health-Law Waivers for States
The Trump administration on Thursday outlined ways states will be allowed to waive parts of the Affordable Care Act, a move that has been welcomed by conservatives, spurred rebukes from Democrats and risks legal action.posted by zachlipton at 11:10 AM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which implements the health law, released four templates detailing how states may use waivers. States will get significantly more leeway to change the way they distribute and structure ACA premium subsidies that now go to almost nine million people.
...
Under the new approach, states can let consumers use their premium subsidies under the ACA to buy cheaper health plans that don’t comply with the law or offer some benefits such as maternity care. They can funnel public subsidies into defined-benefit accounts that consumers can draw from for their own health-care costs.
CMS in October announced new guidance on waivers, replacing guidelines from the Obama administration. The specific templates released Thursday show the administration is pushing ahead with actions that will allow and even encourage states to go in their own direction on health care. The waiver concepts are to be used as a springboard for innovation, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said Thursday. She said waivers that allow states to initiate defined contributions for health costs would restrain premium growth.
That approach will likely increase the divide between states that retain the health law and those looking to roll it back. And it sets up a clash with Democrats, who plan to use their midterm-election wins to protect the ACA from the administration’s moves to weaken it.
"Evidence of obstruction"? It is the obstruction. The logic of "the President would never be dumb enough to commit crimes in broad daylight, therefore the things he is doing in broad daylight are not crimes" is going to kill us all.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:12 AM on November 29, 2018 [70 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:12 AM on November 29, 2018 [70 favorites]
Sorry if this has been addressed here during the many previous threads, but can anyone say or direct me to a decent article on what concretely we can expect to happen once Mueller issues his final report? That is, assume the maximal outcome and that Whitaker doesn't just suppress 99% of the report -- that the report shows collusion, obstruction, and lying, plus various actions that violate campaign and other laws, including maybe tax and financial lawbreaking. What happens next? I don't mean for Trump's sanity (which is already gone), Republican Senators (who will never vote to impeach) or public opinion (which is already entirely polarized). Independent of those things, on the institutional or legal fronts, what concretely happens after Mueller in terms of direct effects on the White House?
[Btw, this isn't meant to belittle the importance of finding the truth independent of its political effects, nor to belittle the importance of prosecuting everyone else who richly deserves it. I fully support every aspect of the investigation, I just realized I don't know enough of the institutional or legal landscape to know what to expect afterwards.]
posted by chortly at 11:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
[Btw, this isn't meant to belittle the importance of finding the truth independent of its political effects, nor to belittle the importance of prosecuting everyone else who richly deserves it. I fully support every aspect of the investigation, I just realized I don't know enough of the institutional or legal landscape to know what to expect afterwards.]
posted by chortly at 11:18 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
@ZoeTillman: DAG Rod Rosenstein's prepared remarks at a cybercrime conference today begin with a parable about a parrot and include a line that feels remarkably on-point for today: "And the moral of the story is, if you don’t talk when you get the chance, don’t complain later!"
@dnvolz: Rosenstein just now during a speech at Georgetown: "Just because people are quick to criticize you does not mean that you are doing the wrong thing. Take it from me." Chuckles from the audience.
@ZoeTillman: "Take it from me" was not in the prepared version, fwiw
The speech is at the "35th International Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act," which does seem fitting.
@emptywheel: I do hope someone is tracking the Easter Eggs in Rosenstein's prepared speeches of late bc he has been the goddamned Easter Bunny.
posted by zachlipton at 11:20 AM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
@dnvolz: Rosenstein just now during a speech at Georgetown: "Just because people are quick to criticize you does not mean that you are doing the wrong thing. Take it from me." Chuckles from the audience.
@ZoeTillman: "Take it from me" was not in the prepared version, fwiw
The speech is at the "35th International Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act," which does seem fitting.
@emptywheel: I do hope someone is tracking the Easter Eggs in Rosenstein's prepared speeches of late bc he has been the goddamned Easter Bunny.
posted by zachlipton at 11:20 AM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
an anyone say or direct me to a decent article on what concretely we can expect to happen once Mueller issues his final report?
What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Mueller Report covers the immediate series of actions related to the release of the report and the ways in which information could be made public.
posted by zachlipton at 11:23 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Mueller Report covers the immediate series of actions related to the release of the report and the ways in which information could be made public.
posted by zachlipton at 11:23 AM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
By the way, WaPo stresses an important detail about today's plea deal: But this matter is only what Cohen is admitting to in exchange for his cooperation with Mueller. It tells us nothing about what else he has told Mueller, and on what subjects.
The same goes for Jerome Corsi, even though we've seen only a leaked draft of a plea deal (and who knows if he modified his limited hangout).
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:25 AM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
The same goes for Jerome Corsi, even though we've seen only a leaked draft of a plea deal (and who knows if he modified his limited hangout).
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:25 AM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
What to Expect When You’re Expecting a Mueller Report covers the immediate series of actions related to the release of the report and the ways in which information could be made public.
Thanks -- but that article really only covers the release of information contained in the various reports, and furthermore at least half of it is related to either a separate "Rosenstein Report" (which I don't think we can expect much of now) or a separate "Impeachment Report," of which they say "Mueller won’t prepare an Impeachment Report without Rosenstein’s authorization" -- so I doubt we can expect much from that either.
But regardless of all that, my question was about what happens after all the reports are issued. That is, even if we get a strong, unredacted Mueller report, and maybe somehow an AG and Impeachment Report -- what really happens next, apart from Congress holding various hearings it is planning to hold anyway? What legally or institutionally happens that will directly impact the White House in ways that aren't already happening?
posted by chortly at 11:35 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Thanks -- but that article really only covers the release of information contained in the various reports, and furthermore at least half of it is related to either a separate "Rosenstein Report" (which I don't think we can expect much of now) or a separate "Impeachment Report," of which they say "Mueller won’t prepare an Impeachment Report without Rosenstein’s authorization" -- so I doubt we can expect much from that either.
But regardless of all that, my question was about what happens after all the reports are issued. That is, even if we get a strong, unredacted Mueller report, and maybe somehow an AG and Impeachment Report -- what really happens next, apart from Congress holding various hearings it is planning to hold anyway? What legally or institutionally happens that will directly impact the White House in ways that aren't already happening?
posted by chortly at 11:35 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
(If you can put them in the mail by Friday postcards from voters/Tony The Democrat is doing GOTV cards for the LA sec of State runoff which could have big implications for voter rights and access in the south.)
posted by The Whelk at 11:43 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:43 AM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
I have wanted to do postcards for voters for a while now, since I have some artistic skill and have been practicing my calligraphy. But, I don't understand exactly what I'm supposed to write and the whole thing kind of intimidates me.
posted by runcibleshaw at 11:48 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by runcibleshaw at 11:48 AM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Bear in mind, the emphasis on the Special Counsel's final report lately comes from mostly from Rudy Giuliani and Trump's lawyers*. From public interviews to unattributed leaks, they've been trying to build up anticipation for it as a pretext to complaining that Mueller's been taking too long with the investigation and needs to wrap it up (so Team Trump can bury it).
In contrast, Mueller, as odinsdream points out, has been communicating everything about the investigation through indictments and court filings. His team doesn't leak, and his spokesperson refuses to comment on almost every inquiry from the press. He hasn't been treating this assignment as a political task in any way, shape, or form. Instead, he's been going after Trump & Co. like an FBI task force taking down an organized crime syndicate.
* Hilariously, they're now telling the NYT's Haberman and Schmidt that Trump’s Recall of Moscow Deal Matches Cohen’s (Suffice to say, it's all about Giuliani's version of events.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:50 AM on November 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
In contrast, Mueller, as odinsdream points out, has been communicating everything about the investigation through indictments and court filings. His team doesn't leak, and his spokesperson refuses to comment on almost every inquiry from the press. He hasn't been treating this assignment as a political task in any way, shape, or form. Instead, he's been going after Trump & Co. like an FBI task force taking down an organized crime syndicate.
* Hilariously, they're now telling the NYT's Haberman and Schmidt that Trump’s Recall of Moscow Deal Matches Cohen’s (Suffice to say, it's all about Giuliani's version of events.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:50 AM on November 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
an anyone say or direct me to a decent article on what concretely we can expect to happen once Mueller issues his final report?
According to emptywheel, "the indictments are the report, effectively."
The Purpose of a Mueller Report: for Referral to Congress If He Gets Fired
According to emptywheel, "the indictments are the report, effectively."
The Purpose of a Mueller Report: for Referral to Congress If He Gets Fired
I said some weeks ago that I had finally figured out the point of the report that the Mueller investigation is doing. I lay that out in this TNR piece on what would happen if Democrats win the House but he is fired. While a report would not be necessary if Mueller continues to speak, as he has done, in indictments, it would serve as a vehicle to transfer grand jury information to the House Judiciary Committee rooted in the Watergate precedent.Mueller Just Guaranteed He Can Issue a Public Report
...Mueller’s team appears to have no doubt that Manafort was lying to them. That means they didn’t really need his testimony, at all. It also means they had no need to keep secrets — they could keep giving Manafort the impression that he was pulling a fast one over the prosecutors, all while reporting misleading information to Trump that he could use to fill out his open book test. Which increases the likelihood that Trump just submitted sworn answers to those questions full of lies.posted by kirkaracha at 11:53 AM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
And that “detailed sentencing submission … sett[ing] forth the nature of the defendant’s crimes and lies” that Mueller mentions in the report?
There’s your Mueller report, which will be provided in a form that Matt Whitaker won’t be able to suppress. (Reminder: Mueller included 38 pages of evidence along with Manafort’s plea agreement, which I argued showed how what Manafort and Trump did to Hillary was the same thing that Manafort had done to Yulia Tymoshenko.)
Other than indictments, there's not much else Mueller is meant to do. Indictments are his job. An indictment of Trump Jr. naming the President as an unindicted co-conspirator is probably the strongest possible thing.
Institutionally, Mueller might give a press conference. Like the Comey press conferences, this would be a barn-burner of an event. There might be information in a report (or indictments) that state prosecutors would be able to go after people with. The content of the hearings that the Dems hold after January might look different, as they would be able to question people in public about the information contained in the report and/or indictments, information nobody other than Mueller's team currently has.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:53 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Institutionally, Mueller might give a press conference. Like the Comey press conferences, this would be a barn-burner of an event. There might be information in a report (or indictments) that state prosecutors would be able to go after people with. The content of the hearings that the Dems hold after January might look different, as they would be able to question people in public about the information contained in the report and/or indictments, information nobody other than Mueller's team currently has.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:53 AM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
It creates a major scene but you needn't do more than step back and watch. There's no point engaging. Just observe with detachment.
...And collect details, because his flailing will include a lot of name-dropping and insistence that "X activity was totally not a crime!"
(I am so looking forward to the Garbage Pail Kids card of Trump called "Colludin' Cofveve.")
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:54 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
...And collect details, because his flailing will include a lot of name-dropping and insistence that "X activity was totally not a crime!"
(I am so looking forward to the Garbage Pail Kids card of Trump called "Colludin' Cofveve.")
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:54 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
What Is a Speaking Indictment? Mueller Deploys Key Tool in Russia Investigation
Special counsel Robert Mueller appears to be deploying an uncommon legal tool to shine a light on information around Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.posted by kirkaracha at 11:55 AM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
As The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant has pointed out, Mueller appears to have used "speaking indictments," or indictments that provide more details on a case than are required by law, in his handling of the investigation.
...
However, Mueller's indictments appear to go far beyond the requirements, with the special counsel providing detailed accounts that paint a fuller picture of the stories surrounding accusations.
What legally or institutionally happens that will directly impact the White House in ways that aren't already happening?
(I agree with the people who say there won't be a report as such, just a lot more "speaking indictments.")
If the evidence is clear (Manafort, Stone, Cohen, and a stack of documents point the finger at Trump, who can't be indicted. But maybe Jr or Kushner is)...
The Democratic House passes articles of impeachment, and a trial begins in the Senate, at which point we see whether there are 19 Republicans in the Senate who will put country before party when confronted with clear evidence of criminal conduct. He either gets impeached (and we have president Pence) or he doesn't (and the US government has effectively no legitimacy in the eyes of half the population or the rest of the world.) We limp along for two years with effectively no government, and probably experience economic and foreign policy consequences for that. Tensions and political violence in the US escalate.
The chances of there being 19 senate Republicans willing to vote for impeachment probably go up if Trump reacts to being accused by firing Mueller and pardoning everyone, thus precipitating a constitutional crisis. On the other hand, the consequences in terms of crippling the US government get a lot worse if that happens and Republicans choose NOT to remove him from office anyway, so I'm not sure what to hope for in that regard.
It's also possible that Trump just resigns, flees, or has a heart attack. All of those become more likely if he can be convinced that jail is waiting in 2020 even if he is not impeached right now. A resignation would probably only happen with polls showing his popularity dropping to less than 50% AMONG REPUBLICANS.
There's also the possibility that he just tries to order the marshals or the military to arrest all of his enemies, including Robert Mueller. He either succeeds, in which case he serves as dictator for life, or fails, in which case we've had a military or law enforcement coup. Either way we are talking about re-establishing the institutions of democracy in the US from scratch.
The stakes are fricking high, here.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:56 AM on November 29, 2018 [56 favorites]
(I agree with the people who say there won't be a report as such, just a lot more "speaking indictments.")
If the evidence is clear (Manafort, Stone, Cohen, and a stack of documents point the finger at Trump, who can't be indicted. But maybe Jr or Kushner is)...
The Democratic House passes articles of impeachment, and a trial begins in the Senate, at which point we see whether there are 19 Republicans in the Senate who will put country before party when confronted with clear evidence of criminal conduct. He either gets impeached (and we have president Pence) or he doesn't (and the US government has effectively no legitimacy in the eyes of half the population or the rest of the world.) We limp along for two years with effectively no government, and probably experience economic and foreign policy consequences for that. Tensions and political violence in the US escalate.
The chances of there being 19 senate Republicans willing to vote for impeachment probably go up if Trump reacts to being accused by firing Mueller and pardoning everyone, thus precipitating a constitutional crisis. On the other hand, the consequences in terms of crippling the US government get a lot worse if that happens and Republicans choose NOT to remove him from office anyway, so I'm not sure what to hope for in that regard.
It's also possible that Trump just resigns, flees, or has a heart attack. All of those become more likely if he can be convinced that jail is waiting in 2020 even if he is not impeached right now. A resignation would probably only happen with polls showing his popularity dropping to less than 50% AMONG REPUBLICANS.
There's also the possibility that he just tries to order the marshals or the military to arrest all of his enemies, including Robert Mueller. He either succeeds, in which case he serves as dictator for life, or fails, in which case we've had a military or law enforcement coup. Either way we are talking about re-establishing the institutions of democracy in the US from scratch.
The stakes are fricking high, here.
posted by OnceUponATime at 11:56 AM on November 29, 2018 [56 favorites]
odinsdream: Based on the actions Mueller's taken thus far, it seems like they might issue criminal indictments for everyone they think they have a case against in court, which is likely everyone except the President, by virtue of there being this weird-ass obsession with whether or not the sitting president can be indicted or not.
Yes. Of course it's hard not to hope that he and his team will break through the nonsense and just file charges against Individual 1. But that's just the sort of "not done" thing that I would expect them to not do.
(Part of my frustration is that the sole actual "precedent" is the opinion of Leon Jaworski when he investigated Watergate, which overruled the pro-indictment view of all 19 members of that particular grand jury. I don't think any judge has made an opinion or ruling on the subject at all, and what would be the harm in a special counsel at least trying? But again, it's simply... not done.)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 11:58 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes. Of course it's hard not to hope that he and his team will break through the nonsense and just file charges against Individual 1. But that's just the sort of "not done" thing that I would expect them to not do.
(Part of my frustration is that the sole actual "precedent" is the opinion of Leon Jaworski when he investigated Watergate, which overruled the pro-indictment view of all 19 members of that particular grand jury. I don't think any judge has made an opinion or ruling on the subject at all, and what would be the harm in a special counsel at least trying? But again, it's simply... not done.)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 11:58 AM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
a stack of documents point the finger at Trump, who can't be indicted
...before January 20, 2021.
The crimes don't go away when he leaves office. It would be worth prosecuting to the full extent of the law just to let future grifters know that "get away with it if you can dodge long enough" is not one of the long-term options, and besides, we're supposed to prosecute people who commit crimes.
I want him found guilty of collusion and stealing the election, and open up a unique legal situation where he can be personally sued for damages for every bit of harm he caused during his administration. (I know, it can't happen that way. I'm going to enjoy my fantasies; it's going to be a long couple of years.)
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
...before January 20, 2021.
The crimes don't go away when he leaves office. It would be worth prosecuting to the full extent of the law just to let future grifters know that "get away with it if you can dodge long enough" is not one of the long-term options, and besides, we're supposed to prosecute people who commit crimes.
I want him found guilty of collusion and stealing the election, and open up a unique legal situation where he can be personally sued for damages for every bit of harm he caused during his administration. (I know, it can't happen that way. I'm going to enjoy my fantasies; it's going to be a long couple of years.)
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Mueller is required by law to "provide the Attorney General with a confidential report explaining the prosecution or declination decisions reached by the Special Counsel." Then it'd be up to the attorney general to release it publicly, deliver it to Congress, or sit on it.
This is a good overview, although acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has since replaced Rosenstein:
American public might never see final Mueller report on Russian election interference
Ceterum autem censeo Trumpem esse delendam
posted by kirkaracha at 12:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is a good overview, although acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker has since replaced Rosenstein:
American public might never see final Mueller report on Russian election interference
Under the current regulations, which were written to shift power to the Justice Department, giving the agency more oversight of future special counsels, in the wake of Kenneth Starr’s years-long investigation of President Bill Clinton, Mueller would be required to provide his final report to Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein, the acting attorney general for this matter.So Mueller has to give a report to Whitaker, and pretty much everyone thinks Whitaker will try to sit on it.
Rosenstein is required by regulation to notify the top Republicans and Democrats on the House and Senate Judiciary Committee at the end of the investigation and provide them with an explanation of any instance where he blocked a proposed action by Mueller’s team.
He could also release Mueller’s report to the public if he determines that the release “would be in the public interest,” according to the regulation, but considering Trump’s tumultuous relationship with the Justice Department and its leaders, Rosenstein might not be in a position to make those decisions when Mueller finishes his work.
Ceterum autem censeo Trumpem esse delendam
posted by kirkaracha at 12:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
I don't think any judge has made an opinion or ruling on the subject at all, and what would be the harm in a special counsel at least trying? But again, it's simply... not done
Mueller is probably bound by the DoJ's Office of Legal Opinion's memo that says that, in their opinion, a sitting President can't be indicted. Usually the DoJ follows its own lawyers' advice on what is legal, even if it's debatable. The Attorney General is not bound by that rule, and could set it aside, but that AG is currently either Whittacker or Rosenstein (depending on whether the former's appointment is even valid), neither of which seem, ah, keen to do that.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:04 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Mueller is probably bound by the DoJ's Office of Legal Opinion's memo that says that, in their opinion, a sitting President can't be indicted. Usually the DoJ follows its own lawyers' advice on what is legal, even if it's debatable. The Attorney General is not bound by that rule, and could set it aside, but that AG is currently either Whittacker or Rosenstein (depending on whether the former's appointment is even valid), neither of which seem, ah, keen to do that.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:04 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
But, I don't understand exactly what I'm supposed to write and the whole thing kind of intimidates me. They give you sample scripts and options.
posted by The Whelk at 12:05 PM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 12:05 PM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
The chances of there being 19 senate Republicans willing to vote for impeachment probably go up if Trump reacts to being accused by firing Mueller and pardoning everyone, thus precipitating a constitutional crisis.
He's not pardoning anyone who has dirt on him; pardoned people can't take the 5th to dodge out of testifying. Also, he doesn't extend himself for people who aren't useful to him; he won't pardon anyone he thinks is a "loser."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:06 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
He's not pardoning anyone who has dirt on him; pardoned people can't take the 5th to dodge out of testifying. Also, he doesn't extend himself for people who aren't useful to him; he won't pardon anyone he thinks is a "loser."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:06 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Charles Pierce: Robert Mueller Needs to Draw a Straight, Bright Line. Otherwise, Republicans can wiggle out of another scandal on the basis it's too complicated.
Mueller has the capacity to excise a good deal of the damage done by the prion disease carried into the body politic by this small universe of crackpots without whom modern conservatism—and the Republican Party—would have very little life force at all. But I'd like him to do it in as clear and direct a way as possible. As interesting as side-trips down the multifarious tributaries of the conservative River Styx might be, the initial response to every major political scandal of my lifetime, at least from the Republican side, has been that the scandal was too complicated for us ordinary unfrozen caveman citizens to understand. This generally prefaced the argument that some entity called The American People is too tender and delicate a flower to be troubled by how demonstrably crooked their leaders are.Trump Can't Control the Process Anymore. It's Unraveling on Him. Michael Cohen's latest plea is a sign Robert Mueller is turning the screw.
The Republicans tried this on Watergate, and the only reasons they didn't succeed were John Dean's memory and the White House tapes. They had much better luck with Iran-Contra, arguably a more serious set of crimes, because of all the foreigners involved in the scandal, and all the money and weapons laundering involved in the scandal, and because their stonewalling tactics had improved over the intervening years. They also had a future president—Poppy Bush—to protect, so they were not inclined to toss the rapidly failing Ronald Reagan overboard.
So, inevitably, This Is All Too Complicated led to This Has Gone On Too Long, which led to The American People Need Closure. The Watergate cover-up, thank God, failed between steps two and three. Iran-Contra succeeded because people were not inclined to learn who the Sultan of Brunei was, nor did they care to learn the difference between Manucher Ghorbanifar and a hole in the ground.
See? This is what I'm talking about. A nice, straight, bright line, beginning in one place and ending in another, easily seen through the foul murk of the president*'s public career.posted by homunculus at 12:09 PM on November 29, 2018 [34 favorites]
It would be worth prosecuting to the full extent of the law just to let future grifters know that "get away with it if you can dodge long enough" is not one of the long-term options, and besides, we're supposed to prosecute people who commit crimes.
Depends what kind of President we elect in 2020. Obama chose not to prosecute anyone over his predecessor's torture program in the interest of, well, not being accused of prosecuting his political enemies. If President Warren wins and immediately is seen to be prosecuting DJT (even if it's coming out of Mueller or elsewhere in the DoJ) it will be a political reckoning that could distract from her policy goals.
That said we should still do it.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:11 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Depends what kind of President we elect in 2020. Obama chose not to prosecute anyone over his predecessor's torture program in the interest of, well, not being accused of prosecuting his political enemies. If President Warren wins and immediately is seen to be prosecuting DJT (even if it's coming out of Mueller or elsewhere in the DoJ) it will be a political reckoning that could distract from her policy goals.
That said we should still do it.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:11 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
New President needs to announce, "I'm appointing an Attorney General who's smart, skilled, and dedicated to justice. I don't tell them who or what to investigate or prosecute; that's not my job. I tell them, go enforce the law as best serves the American people."
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:15 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:15 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Special counsel Robert Mueller appears to be deploying an uncommon legal tool to shine a light on information around Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
As The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant has pointed out, Mueller appears to have used "speaking indictments," or indictments that provide more details on a case than are required by law, in his handling of the investigation.
Mueller is a ninja warrior.
posted by bluesky43 at 12:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
As The Hill’s Morgan Chalfant has pointed out, Mueller appears to have used "speaking indictments," or indictments that provide more details on a case than are required by law, in his handling of the investigation.
Mueller is a ninja warrior.
posted by bluesky43 at 12:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
I'd like to see a double whammy: Trump gets impeached and removed from office, then prosecuted and jailed for his crimes. It wouldn't be double jeopardy because according to Article 1, Section 3, "...the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment."
Which is what should have happened to Nixon. Ford pardoned him instead and every Republican president since has been a criminal and/or traitor.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [37 favorites]
Which is what should have happened to Nixon. Ford pardoned him instead and every Republican president since has been a criminal and/or traitor.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [37 favorites]
pardoned people can't take the 5th to dodge out of testifying
No, but they could just refuse to answer questions, get held in contempt, and then be pardoned for that. It's quite possible (though I'm not sure entirely certain) that the President can just pardon criminal or civil contempt.
However it turns out that Congress can hold someone in contempt and have them arrested and held in the Capitol cells, which is not a criminal procedure at all. Literally, the House can send its sergeant at arms to arrest someone and haul them into a cell in the Capitol, and has done so before. It would be an incredible showdown, but they could do it, and clap Trump Jr in irons- I don't think he could be pardoned out of that, but who knows.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
No, but they could just refuse to answer questions, get held in contempt, and then be pardoned for that. It's quite possible (though I'm not sure entirely certain) that the President can just pardon criminal or civil contempt.
However it turns out that Congress can hold someone in contempt and have them arrested and held in the Capitol cells, which is not a criminal procedure at all. Literally, the House can send its sergeant at arms to arrest someone and haul them into a cell in the Capitol, and has done so before. It would be an incredible showdown, but they could do it, and clap Trump Jr in irons- I don't think he could be pardoned out of that, but who knows.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
Mueller is a ninja warrior.
Close: he's a Marine.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:17 PM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
Close: he's a Marine.
posted by BungaDunga at 12:17 PM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
If President Warren wins and immediately is seen to be prosecuting DJT (even if it's coming out of Mueller or elsewhere in the DoJ) it will be a political reckoning that could distract from her policy goals.
That said we should still do it.
Counterpoint: Burning the Republican Party to the ground is the most important policy goal anyone on this side of the line can have. Without that, all other victories are built on a foundation of sand, as you can see by looking at the Obama administration's climate-change policies.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:18 PM on November 29, 2018 [46 favorites]
That said we should still do it.
Counterpoint: Burning the Republican Party to the ground is the most important policy goal anyone on this side of the line can have. Without that, all other victories are built on a foundation of sand, as you can see by looking at the Obama administration's climate-change policies.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:18 PM on November 29, 2018 [46 favorites]
Counterpoint: Burning the Republican Party to the ground is the most important policy goal anyone on this side of the line can have. Without that, all other victories are built on a foundation of sand, as you can see by looking at the Obama administration's climate-change policies.
so much this. I don't want to see a president pence. I wanna see Donald trump twist agonizingly in the wind for two more years along with all of his cronies while the republican party crashes and burns.
posted by bluesky43 at 12:23 PM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
so much this. I don't want to see a president pence. I wanna see Donald trump twist agonizingly in the wind for two more years along with all of his cronies while the republican party crashes and burns.
posted by bluesky43 at 12:23 PM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
it will be a political reckoning that could distract from her policy goals.
Not if her policy goals include excising systemic corruption. Going after bribery, self-enrichment, and fraud agnostically would likely cripple the Republicans and most of their backers (and hit a few Dems/backers that need to be in jail too).
posted by benzenedream at 12:25 PM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
Not if her policy goals include excising systemic corruption. Going after bribery, self-enrichment, and fraud agnostically would likely cripple the Republicans and most of their backers (and hit a few Dems/backers that need to be in jail too).
posted by benzenedream at 12:25 PM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
@NihadAwad Breaking news
DC commission just passed resolution 6:0 to designate the street in front of the Saudi embassy Jamal Khashoggi way.
I testified before the commission and urged them to adopt it.
Thank you for good words @mdedora
#JusticeForJamal
#JamalKhashoggi
@KarenAttiah
posted by scalefree at 12:30 PM on November 29, 2018 [119 favorites]
DC commission just passed resolution 6:0 to designate the street in front of the Saudi embassy Jamal Khashoggi way.
I testified before the commission and urged them to adopt it.
Thank you for good words @mdedora
#JusticeForJamal
#JamalKhashoggi
@KarenAttiah
posted by scalefree at 12:30 PM on November 29, 2018 [119 favorites]
@PressSec To be clear - the meetings with S. Korea and Turkey are still on the schedule and have not been canceled.
posted by scalefree at 12:33 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by scalefree at 12:33 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
But regardless of all that, my question was about what happens after all the reports are issued.
My somewhat cynical baseline is: nothing. Maybe some more subordinates get indicted and/or convicted, probably Don Jr. gets a pardon, massive protests follow but ultimately the problem is solved at the ballot box in 2020 (this assumes that that election continues the blue wave trend beyond the ability of the GOP to cheat it's way out of it).
But that depends on how far the rot has spread.
I think that the publically available evidence suggests that the NRA, most of the GOP (both it's officials and it's politicians), along with the Trump org and nearly everyone in it have been laundering money for Russian oligarchs for years. Some of it is getting funnelled into campaigns and PACs in addition to everyone's cut at what goes back to those oligarchs. If so then I think Mueller might end up indicting a bunch of senators and congresspersons along with everyone else. If that fantasy scenario comes to pass then I don't really know what happens but I think it's the best outcome with can hope for. I know that there is some thought that a sitting president cannot be indicted but nothing like that applies to Senators right? If Mueller has the evidence to indict a sitting Senator, can he just do it? Or if Mueller needs approval from Whitaker can NYS arrest a sitting Senator?
Maybe all those vacant seats and the few GOP pols that somehow kept their hands clean change the political landscape enough that they impeach Trump, maybe we have to wait for a bunch of special elections to see how things shake out.
Another possible scenario is that Trumps crimes are so obvious and egregious and the evidence so clear that even if no GOP Senators are involved enough of them find their spines (or their donors force them to find it) that they turn on Trump and support impeachment or reach an agreement where Trump resigns Nixon style. I don't see that as likely given what they've ignore thus far but my feeling has been that at the least they've been using the ongoing Mueller investigation as a fig leaf for why they haven't done anything. That's probably because they'll just find the next fig leaf regardless of what Mueller's investigation uncovers but maybe they've just been using the investigation as an excuse to delay what they feel is an inevitable vote to impeach.
In any case, I think it pretty much hangs on what happens in the Senate.
posted by VTX at 12:38 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
My somewhat cynical baseline is: nothing. Maybe some more subordinates get indicted and/or convicted, probably Don Jr. gets a pardon, massive protests follow but ultimately the problem is solved at the ballot box in 2020 (this assumes that that election continues the blue wave trend beyond the ability of the GOP to cheat it's way out of it).
But that depends on how far the rot has spread.
I think that the publically available evidence suggests that the NRA, most of the GOP (both it's officials and it's politicians), along with the Trump org and nearly everyone in it have been laundering money for Russian oligarchs for years. Some of it is getting funnelled into campaigns and PACs in addition to everyone's cut at what goes back to those oligarchs. If so then I think Mueller might end up indicting a bunch of senators and congresspersons along with everyone else. If that fantasy scenario comes to pass then I don't really know what happens but I think it's the best outcome with can hope for. I know that there is some thought that a sitting president cannot be indicted but nothing like that applies to Senators right? If Mueller has the evidence to indict a sitting Senator, can he just do it? Or if Mueller needs approval from Whitaker can NYS arrest a sitting Senator?
Maybe all those vacant seats and the few GOP pols that somehow kept their hands clean change the political landscape enough that they impeach Trump, maybe we have to wait for a bunch of special elections to see how things shake out.
Another possible scenario is that Trumps crimes are so obvious and egregious and the evidence so clear that even if no GOP Senators are involved enough of them find their spines (or their donors force them to find it) that they turn on Trump and support impeachment or reach an agreement where Trump resigns Nixon style. I don't see that as likely given what they've ignore thus far but my feeling has been that at the least they've been using the ongoing Mueller investigation as a fig leaf for why they haven't done anything. That's probably because they'll just find the next fig leaf regardless of what Mueller's investigation uncovers but maybe they've just been using the investigation as an excuse to delay what they feel is an inevitable vote to impeach.
In any case, I think it pretty much hangs on what happens in the Senate.
posted by VTX at 12:38 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
@betsy_klein
GUILTY PLEASures is parked blocks from the WH today with free treats. Featuring flavors such as “Southern District of NY Cheesecake” & “Mo’challusion,” it is sponsored by @MoveOn and calls itself “the only ice cream truck defending the independent investigation by Robert Mueller”
posted by bluesky43 at 12:45 PM on November 29, 2018 [51 favorites]
GUILTY PLEASures is parked blocks from the WH today with free treats. Featuring flavors such as “Southern District of NY Cheesecake” & “Mo’challusion,” it is sponsored by @MoveOn and calls itself “the only ice cream truck defending the independent investigation by Robert Mueller”
posted by bluesky43 at 12:45 PM on November 29, 2018 [51 favorites]
Nutty Waffle Cohen, please
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:52 PM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:52 PM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
runcibleshaw: I have wanted to do postcards for voters for a while now, since I have some artistic skill and have been practicing my calligraphy. But, I don't understand exactly what I'm supposed to write and the whole thing kind of intimidates me.
They really make it quite easy. They give you VERY explicit instructions (seriously, they're some of the clearest directions I've ever seen). There are a few things you MUST include on every postcard ("The election is on x date." "This candidate is your Democratic Dream Date." or whatever) plus optional talking points you can add in if you want.
They have a pretty great FAQ that probably answers other questions you may have.
(Just as a note, lots of us use pre-printed postcards, so your artistic skill and calligraphy are wonderful, but not required for less-artistic folks.)
Once you get started, it's easy to jump in again when there's a new campaign you want to help with. The folks there are very friendly and helpful (and probably less overwhelmed than they were a month ago). Give it a try and see how easy it is!
posted by kristi at 12:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
They really make it quite easy. They give you VERY explicit instructions (seriously, they're some of the clearest directions I've ever seen). There are a few things you MUST include on every postcard ("The election is on x date." "This candidate is your Democratic Dream Date." or whatever) plus optional talking points you can add in if you want.
They have a pretty great FAQ that probably answers other questions you may have.
(Just as a note, lots of us use pre-printed postcards, so your artistic skill and calligraphy are wonderful, but not required for less-artistic folks.)
Once you get started, it's easy to jump in again when there's a new campaign you want to help with. The folks there are very friendly and helpful (and probably less overwhelmed than they were a month ago). Give it a try and see how easy it is!
posted by kristi at 12:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
@NihadAwad Breaking news
DC commission just passed resolution 6:0 to designate the street in front of the Saudi embassy Jamal Khashoggi way.
Every Trump property should be on Jamal Kashoggi Square.
posted by ocschwar at 12:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
DC commission just passed resolution 6:0 to designate the street in front of the Saudi embassy Jamal Khashoggi way.
Every Trump property should be on Jamal Kashoggi Square.
posted by ocschwar at 12:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
I was a youth during the Nixon presidency. I recall the taint of the label "Unindicted Co-conspirator", as it was applied to him. At the time, his part in the criminal enterprise that was his presidency was insufficient to get him charges. The label, however, was a blight on his presidency, and he lost influence and prestige.
I look forward to His Trumpness getting painted with the same sort of brush. It will just drive him mad, won't it?
posted by Midnight Skulker at 12:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
I look forward to His Trumpness getting painted with the same sort of brush. It will just drive him mad, won't it?
posted by Midnight Skulker at 12:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Harry Litman / WaPo: Agreement between Manafort and Trump attorneys to share info may have doomed president: Next in the hot seat - Manafort counsel Kevin Downing
posted by growabrain at 12:59 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 12:59 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Boy, that Epstein article shot by quick, eh?
posted by petebest at 1:12 PM on November 29, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by petebest at 1:12 PM on November 29, 2018 [34 favorites]
Mueller has the capacity to excise a good deal of the damage done by the prion disease carried into the body politic by this small universe of crackpots without whom modern conservatism—and the Republican Party—would have very little life force at all.
I have mixed feelings about the prion disease metaphor. When I think about prion disease, the first thing I think of is UNIFORMLY AND RAPIDLY FATAL. I wish that this disease was going to be uniformly and rapidly fatal for the above-mentioned body politic but I'm not that optimistic.
Also when I think of prions I think of thorough, harsh, no-holds-barred decontamination. Again, one can dream, but I think that's a bit optimistic to hope for.
Counterpoint: Burning the Republican Party to the ground . . .
counterpoint PUT THEM IN THE FUCKING AUTOCLAVE
posted by robotdevil at 1:15 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
I have mixed feelings about the prion disease metaphor. When I think about prion disease, the first thing I think of is UNIFORMLY AND RAPIDLY FATAL. I wish that this disease was going to be uniformly and rapidly fatal for the above-mentioned body politic but I'm not that optimistic.
Also when I think of prions I think of thorough, harsh, no-holds-barred decontamination. Again, one can dream, but I think that's a bit optimistic to hope for.
Counterpoint: Burning the Republican Party to the ground . . .
counterpoint PUT THEM IN THE FUCKING AUTOCLAVE
posted by robotdevil at 1:15 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
@johnnyers: BREAKING: California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman has resigned in the wake of serious allegations of misconduct.
Good.
posted by zachlipton at 1:17 PM on November 29, 2018 [41 favorites]
Good.
posted by zachlipton at 1:17 PM on November 29, 2018 [41 favorites]
What we next is a cross-reference of Cohen's testimony and Donald Jr's to see where the lies match up.
Senate Committees Scouring Testimony For Misleading Statements In Russia Probe—"This is a reason people shouldn't lie when they're in front of a congressional investigation," said GOP senator Richard Burr.
"Senate committees investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election are combing through witness testimony for possible misleading or untruthful statements, according to three people familiar with the effort. [...] The special counsel does have access to a select number of transcripts from witness interviews conducted by the Senate Intelligence Committee, though [Sen. John] Warner would not specify which ones or how many. Mueller's office reviewed the transcript of Cohen's testimony with the consent of Cohen's lawyer, according to a Senate Intelligence Committee official familiar with the process."
On the GOP side, Republican senators are trying to shrug off today's news, CNN's Manu Raju reports: "Asked Lindsey Graham about Cohen news, and he called it a “process crime.” Most Republicans downplaying the news, saying they haven’t followed it or saying it’s all about Cohen lying to Congress, while dismissing Trump’s knowledge of Trump Tower Moscow project"
Marcy Wheeler suggests there's more at work than Mueller simply filing a "process crime" at this stage:
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:18 PM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
Senate Committees Scouring Testimony For Misleading Statements In Russia Probe—"This is a reason people shouldn't lie when they're in front of a congressional investigation," said GOP senator Richard Burr.
"Senate committees investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 election are combing through witness testimony for possible misleading or untruthful statements, according to three people familiar with the effort. [...] The special counsel does have access to a select number of transcripts from witness interviews conducted by the Senate Intelligence Committee, though [Sen. John] Warner would not specify which ones or how many. Mueller's office reviewed the transcript of Cohen's testimony with the consent of Cohen's lawyer, according to a Senate Intelligence Committee official familiar with the process."
On the GOP side, Republican senators are trying to shrug off today's news, CNN's Manu Raju reports: "Asked Lindsey Graham about Cohen news, and he called it a “process crime.” Most Republicans downplaying the news, saying they haven’t followed it or saying it’s all about Cohen lying to Congress, while dismissing Trump’s knowledge of Trump Tower Moscow project"
Marcy Wheeler suggests there's more at work than Mueller simply filing a "process crime" at this stage:
As @Popehat has laid out, today's plea deal was legally superfluous (bc Mueller could have just laid out his cooperation in next week's sentencing), but critical for public story telling.We've reached a turning point when "Individual 1" and "the President of Russia" now appear in the same legal filing. We've already learned how Jay Sekulow complained on behalf of his boss to the DoJ about Mueller even mentioning Trump by name in the Corsi plea draft, so imagine how he'll take it when he's officially linked to Putin in the paperwork.
BUT
But it may serve another purpose: Whitaker did not veto a plea that names Trump & Putin as co-conspirators in close proximity in the criminal information.
That is, he has ALREADY signed off on a more inflammatory charge than Rosenstein has yet done. The first real collusion one. {Pic}
From a regulation stand point, there was NO WAY Whitaker could have vetoed this. Cohen has already pled, it's just a "process crime" (says Lindsey). Cohen still faces a longer sentence on his money laundering crimes than the perjury charge would ever amount to.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:18 PM on November 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
Hilariously, they're now telling the NYT's Haberman and Schmidt that Trump’s Recall of Moscow Deal Matches Cohen’s
BBC reporter just now had an excellent point. The White House is saying that Trump's testimony matches Cohen's. But they also say that Cohen is lying.
What are the things both of them are lying about under oath, then?
posted by msalt at 1:19 PM on November 29, 2018 [46 favorites]
BBC reporter just now had an excellent point. The White House is saying that Trump's testimony matches Cohen's. But they also say that Cohen is lying.
What are the things both of them are lying about under oath, then?
posted by msalt at 1:19 PM on November 29, 2018 [46 favorites]
Knowledge of the Trump Tower meeting, I thought.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:43 PM on November 29, 2018
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:43 PM on November 29, 2018
Bloomberg, Billy House (America's best named Congressional reporter), ‘Investigations – My Plan to Counter’: A Trump Ally's Secret Plan to Fight House Democrats
posted by zachlipton at 1:47 PM on November 29, 2018 [47 favorites]
"Investigations -- My Plan to Counter" is one of the featured topics contained in a 28-page document prepared by Representative Mark Meadows of North Carolina, each page bearing a "confidential" watermark.I feel like there should be something more substantive to say about this, but I can't get over how much "Investigations -- My Plan to Counter" sounds like the title of a 4th grader's school project.
...
The document lists three areas Meadows plans to attack Democrats’ moves on subpoenas and investigations:
Describe the Democrats’ subpoenas as unreasonable, overly broad, onerous and designed to embarrass Trump. The document calls for “encouraging less-severe means of conducting investigations, like briefings, bipartisan letters, etc.”
Argue that Democrats’ investigations raise concern over separation of powers. He wrote that he’d assert that “the Democrats are interfering too much with presidential duties and have encroached too far on the fundamental powers of the executive branch.”
Create a GOP task force. Meadows said the expected overlap of Oversight, Judiciary and Intelligence Committee investigations by Democrats calls out for an informal Republican task force made up of members of those panels and party leaders, "for purposes of information sharing and strategy."
...
The document lists "anticipated Democratic activity," derived from what it says is a list kept by Meadows’s office of the 64 subpoena requests denied to Democrats during GOP control. The list includes: Democratic efforts to obtain administration documents the separation of migrant children from their undocumented parents at the Mexican border; the White House withholding documents on personal email used by top aides; and alleged conflicts of interest by Trump family members.
The Meadows document also argues that the committee’s minority staff structure needs to be changed to better engage in battle. It emphasizes the need to add more lawyers -- to go beyond one minority general counsel -- and instead "create a General Counsel’s office to ensure we are best suited to take on the volume and nature of the challenges Democrats will present."
posted by zachlipton at 1:47 PM on November 29, 2018 [47 favorites]
I can't get over how much "Investigations -- My Plan to Counter" sounds like the title of a 4th grader's school project.
To me it reads more like an automatically translated movie or novel title. Maybe in the original Conservative it made a bit of sense.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:49 PM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
To me it reads more like an automatically translated movie or novel title. Maybe in the original Conservative it made a bit of sense.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:49 PM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
Or the original Russian, perhaps.
I don't want to be all "surely this" but ..... surely this ..... peek into the Mueller strategy is heartening news.
posted by Rumple at 1:57 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't want to be all "surely this" but ..... surely this ..... peek into the Mueller strategy is heartening news.
posted by Rumple at 1:57 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Greg Sargent, Trump talked up Russia during now-revealed secret Moscow project talks. Sargent compiles some clips of what Trump was saying about Russia during the time he was running for President and simultaneously trying to secretly (to the extent his lawyer committed a crime trying to cover it up) do business in Russia:
Because David French—don't say it—fine—*through gritted teeth* makes a good point *turns three times and spits*: "Let's just be clear -- there is now evidence that Trump was pursuing a substantial personal business relationship with our chief geopolitical foe long after he wrapped up the GOP nomination. Regardless of the legality of his actions, this is not acceptable."
I do think Democrats need to figure out how to have that conversation and how to message this now. This is not a "let's figure out who broke the law" situation, because there are things that are unequivocally wrong regardless of their legality, and selling out US foreign policy for cash is surely one of them. We need to figure out how to shout that from the rooftops.
WaPo, ‘We will be in Moscow’: The story of Trump’s 30-year quest to expand his brand to Russia has a good history of Trump's repeated efforts to do business in Russia.
Also, please enjoy this WSJ correction: "Vladimir Putin is president of Russia. An editing mistake erroneously identified him as Vladimir Trump in an earlier version of this article"
posted by zachlipton at 2:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [67 favorites]
In January 2016, Trump tried to absolve Putin of blame after a British inquiry found that Putin had probably ordered the 2006 poisoning of a Russian dissident. “I don’t think they’ve found him guilty,” Trump said, adding that “he hasn’t been convicted of anything,” as well as “he says he didn’t do it” and “who knows who did it.”Trump's defense of Putin about Litvinenko came less than a week after Cohen had his call requesting help from the Russian government.
In February 2016, Trump said it would be “good if we actually got along” with Russia, adding: “I think I’d have a good relationship with Putin.”
In April 2016, Trump said that Putin had been “very nice to me,” adding that if we can “get along with Russia, that would be a tremendous thing. I would love to try it.”
Also in April 2016, Trump said: “We’re going to have a great relationship with Putin and Russia.”
In May 2016, Trump said that Russia wants “to be friendly with the United States. Wouldn’t it be nice if we actually got with somebody?”
Trump also repeatedly praised Putin throughout 2015, during the earlier period of negotiations over the project (which we now know continued deep into 2016).
Because David French—don't say it—fine—*through gritted teeth* makes a good point *turns three times and spits*: "Let's just be clear -- there is now evidence that Trump was pursuing a substantial personal business relationship with our chief geopolitical foe long after he wrapped up the GOP nomination. Regardless of the legality of his actions, this is not acceptable."
I do think Democrats need to figure out how to have that conversation and how to message this now. This is not a "let's figure out who broke the law" situation, because there are things that are unequivocally wrong regardless of their legality, and selling out US foreign policy for cash is surely one of them. We need to figure out how to shout that from the rooftops.
WaPo, ‘We will be in Moscow’: The story of Trump’s 30-year quest to expand his brand to Russia has a good history of Trump's repeated efforts to do business in Russia.
Also, please enjoy this WSJ correction: "Vladimir Putin is president of Russia. An editing mistake erroneously identified him as Vladimir Trump in an earlier version of this article"
posted by zachlipton at 2:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [67 favorites]
So now when he executes this....uh, "strategy" is I guess a word that could apply, broadly speaking...Democrats can hold up a copy of the document and point out that he's just reading off a script he wrote before the new Congress even started. That sounds fun.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 2:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
@bradheath: Former FBI Director James Comey has asked a federal court to quash a House subpoena that would force him to sit for a closed-door deposition. (He has said he would testify publicly.) Comey says he doesn't have a security clearance and was "read out" of the programs the House might want to ask him about. The House Oversight Committee proposed to give him a temporary clearance. Comey says he wants a court to quash the House subpoena to prevent lawmakers "from using the pretext of a closed interview to peddle a distorted, partisan political narrative about the Clinton and Russia investigations through selective leaks."
Here's the brief, which seeks to quash the subpoena entirely, though he's said he wants to testify publicly.
posted by zachlipton at 2:06 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Here's the brief, which seeks to quash the subpoena entirely, though he's said he wants to testify publicly.
posted by zachlipton at 2:06 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
how to message this now
I think Evan McMullin did a pretty pithy job: (Facebook link)
I think Evan McMullin did a pretty pithy job: (Facebook link)
Today, we learned that while the Kremlin was in the middle of a major information warfare attack on America in support of Donald Trump’s 2016 candidacy, he was trying to line his pockets in Moscow. This is precisely the type of corruption and betrayal of which the Founders warned and a clear threat to the nation. No matter who we supported in 2016, now is a time for us to come together in the defense of our sovereignty and government that is accountable to us, not foreign tyrants.posted by OnceUponATime at 2:07 PM on November 29, 2018 [55 favorites]
Woah! Scott to oppose Farr nomination to federal bench in NC, ending chances of confirmation
Sen. TIm Scott said Thursday he will oppose the nomination of Thomas Farr to the federal bench, assuring the controversial pick will not be confirmed.posted by zachlipton at 2:09 PM on November 29, 2018 [66 favorites]
The South Carolina Republican was the deciding vote in determining whether Farr, widely accused of efforts to disenfranchise black voters, would be confirmed.
...
“I am ready and willing to support strong candidates for our judicial vacancies that do not have lingering concerns about issues that could affect their decision-making process as a federal judge,” Scott said in his statement. “This week, a Department of Justice memo written under President George H.W. Bush was released that shed new light on Mr. Farr’s activities. This, in turn, created more concerns. Weighing these important factors, this afternoon I concluded that I could not support Mr. Farr’s nomination.”
...
On Wednesday, Scott was signaling an openness to vote for Farr, but told reporters on Capitol Hill he was bothered that his party was “not doing a very good job of avoiding the obvious potholes on race in America and we ought to be more sensitive when it comes to those issues.
“There are a lot of of folks that can be judges, in states including North Carolina, besides Tom Farr,” Scott added.
each page bearing a "confidential" watermark.
Oh
Oh I needed this today
posted by schadenfrau at 2:12 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Oh
Oh I needed this today
posted by schadenfrau at 2:12 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
It emphasizes the need to add more lawyers -- to go beyond one minority general counsel -- and instead "create a General Counsel’s office to ensure we are best suited to take on the volume and nature of the challenges Democrats will present."
This sounds as though Meadows is tacitly admitting that Trump White House's understaffed Office of Legal Counsel will not be up to the job of dealing with the incoming Democrats' legal requests and/or subpoenas.
Incoming White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, is expected to report to work at the White House sometime next week, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN, i.e. not until December. This means that his two dozen new hires probably won't be starting until sometime January (even if Emmet Flood has been trying to accelerate the process in his absence). Cipollone's delay was due to "a combination of unwinding business from legal clients and a lengthy background check", according to CNN's sources, and one can't imagine his subordinates having a similarly difficult time of it.
Still, one has to credit Meadows for understanding the House GOP needs a wartime consiglieri. It would have been nice if Adam Schiff had realized this himself instead of expressing surprise and disappointment with his HPSCI colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:13 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
This sounds as though Meadows is tacitly admitting that Trump White House's understaffed Office of Legal Counsel will not be up to the job of dealing with the incoming Democrats' legal requests and/or subpoenas.
Incoming White House counsel, Pat Cipollone, is expected to report to work at the White House sometime next week, two sources familiar with the matter tell CNN, i.e. not until December. This means that his two dozen new hires probably won't be starting until sometime January (even if Emmet Flood has been trying to accelerate the process in his absence). Cipollone's delay was due to "a combination of unwinding business from legal clients and a lengthy background check", according to CNN's sources, and one can't imagine his subordinates having a similarly difficult time of it.
Still, one has to credit Meadows for understanding the House GOP needs a wartime consiglieri. It would have been nice if Adam Schiff had realized this himself instead of expressing surprise and disappointment with his HPSCI colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:13 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Gee, if Trump is so totally innocent I wonder why Billy House thinks that blocking investigations is important?
More seriously: we need to make broad, sweeping, anti-corruption investigations the new normal including (and perhaps especially) into members of our own Party. Let justice be done lest the heavens fall.
And we need massive new anti-corruption laws passed on the federal level that apply to all elected officials nationwide. The idea that it is possible for a politician to do business while being a politician needs to end. Politics or business, pick one. You can't do both.
Looking at how terrified the Republicans, and how reluctant many of the Democrats, are I'm confident that a **LOT** of politicians are deeply involved in corruption and enriching themselves at taxpayer expense.
We need to completely ban politicians owning businesses, getting involved in real estate speculation, or anything else along those lines. No business dealings, period. If they have money and want to do more with it than stick it in a savings account they can buy US Savings Bonds. I don't think we should even allow theoretically blind investment in mutual funds because I can just bet there's some way for a sufficiently devoted person to game that.
Even candidates should be prohibited from being in business, the instant a person declares they want to run for office they should be forced to liquidate all their business holdings and pick a savings account or Savings Bonds.
The whole situation with business is too complicated, has too many opportunities for cheating, and we'd drive ourselves nuts trying to pass little laws covering every contingency if we took a less sweeping approach, so screw it. Total separation of politicians from business.
As a bonus, it'd keep every Zuckerburg, Trump, and Bezos away from politics because they'd never become a candidate if they had to liquidate to do it.
posted by sotonohito at 2:15 PM on November 29, 2018 [26 favorites]
More seriously: we need to make broad, sweeping, anti-corruption investigations the new normal including (and perhaps especially) into members of our own Party. Let justice be done lest the heavens fall.
And we need massive new anti-corruption laws passed on the federal level that apply to all elected officials nationwide. The idea that it is possible for a politician to do business while being a politician needs to end. Politics or business, pick one. You can't do both.
Looking at how terrified the Republicans, and how reluctant many of the Democrats, are I'm confident that a **LOT** of politicians are deeply involved in corruption and enriching themselves at taxpayer expense.
We need to completely ban politicians owning businesses, getting involved in real estate speculation, or anything else along those lines. No business dealings, period. If they have money and want to do more with it than stick it in a savings account they can buy US Savings Bonds. I don't think we should even allow theoretically blind investment in mutual funds because I can just bet there's some way for a sufficiently devoted person to game that.
Even candidates should be prohibited from being in business, the instant a person declares they want to run for office they should be forced to liquidate all their business holdings and pick a savings account or Savings Bonds.
The whole situation with business is too complicated, has too many opportunities for cheating, and we'd drive ourselves nuts trying to pass little laws covering every contingency if we took a less sweeping approach, so screw it. Total separation of politicians from business.
As a bonus, it'd keep every Zuckerburg, Trump, and Bezos away from politics because they'd never become a candidate if they had to liquidate to do it.
posted by sotonohito at 2:15 PM on November 29, 2018 [26 favorites]
Chicago, for example, has for far too long been a millstone the Republicans hang around the necks of Democrats. "Look, those Democrats are corrupt too, look at Chicago, see, see?"
So solve it in one single, simple, sure to be widely hated, step: ban politicians from being involved in business at all. No politicians, or politicians spouses, in business? No corruption problems.
Make minimum wage for any elected official $100,000 a year, and give any politician making more than that a 30% raise so they can't claim that being denied business will impoverish them.
posted by sotonohito at 2:18 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
So solve it in one single, simple, sure to be widely hated, step: ban politicians from being involved in business at all. No politicians, or politicians spouses, in business? No corruption problems.
Make minimum wage for any elected official $100,000 a year, and give any politician making more than that a 30% raise so they can't claim that being denied business will impoverish them.
posted by sotonohito at 2:18 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Make minimum wage for any elected official $100,000 a year,
As a recently re-elected (and unpaid) Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, I approve this message.
posted by Cookiebastard at 2:22 PM on November 29, 2018 [90 favorites]
As a recently re-elected (and unpaid) Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor, I approve this message.
posted by Cookiebastard at 2:22 PM on November 29, 2018 [90 favorites]
Make minimum wage for any elected official $100,000 a year
... I don't think city council is gonna vote for that big a raise, but if they did, I'd quit my day job and help the public works staff with sidewalk maintenance during my down time as planning commissioner. (This year I'll have earned $200.)
posted by asperity at 2:23 PM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
... I don't think city council is gonna vote for that big a raise, but if they did, I'd quit my day job and help the public works staff with sidewalk maintenance during my down time as planning commissioner. (This year I'll have earned $200.)
posted by asperity at 2:23 PM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
the instant a person declares they want to run for office they should be forced to liquidate all their business holdings
Nah, they don't have to liquidate until after the primaries.
More seriously, though - I'm not sure if I want to discourage someone who has a home business from running for school board. Divesting candidates of business holdings seems extreme, especially since a great many small/local political jobs pay basically nothing. "Business holdings" includes copyrights and publishing contracts, for authors, and while I'd look askance at someone like Steven King running for office and getting a huge bump in book sales because of it, I don't want everyone who's got a couple of self-published sci-fi short stories on Amazon to have to lose that in order to get involved in their local elections board.
I'm not sure how to describe a rule that would allow people to have a job to return to, and prevent the grifting that's being done by rich white Republicans.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:23 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
Nah, they don't have to liquidate until after the primaries.
More seriously, though - I'm not sure if I want to discourage someone who has a home business from running for school board. Divesting candidates of business holdings seems extreme, especially since a great many small/local political jobs pay basically nothing. "Business holdings" includes copyrights and publishing contracts, for authors, and while I'd look askance at someone like Steven King running for office and getting a huge bump in book sales because of it, I don't want everyone who's got a couple of self-published sci-fi short stories on Amazon to have to lose that in order to get involved in their local elections board.
I'm not sure how to describe a rule that would allow people to have a job to return to, and prevent the grifting that's being done by rich white Republicans.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 2:23 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
Craig Unger, author of "House of Trump, House of Putin" just did a AMA.
His takeaway: 'Most of the GOP leadership has been compromised’ by Russian money.
I hope that after Trump is being taken away for treason, the clean up will include his co-conspirators
posted by growabrain at 2:26 PM on November 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
His takeaway: 'Most of the GOP leadership has been compromised’ by Russian money.
I hope that after Trump is being taken away for treason, the clean up will include his co-conspirators
posted by growabrain at 2:26 PM on November 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
There's now an FPP on Jeffrey Epstein's 2007 plea deal, courtesy of Mr. Know-it-some.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:27 PM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:27 PM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
Re: GM layoffs: Trump didn’t know the GOP tax bill incentivizes business to offshore jobs. "The president is not one to take responsibility for his own issues."
CNN Clip: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told CNN's John Berman that when he spoke to President Trump on the phone, Trump seemed "unaware" of the tax incentives to move jobs overseas in the tax bill he supported.
posted by homunculus at 2:31 PM on November 29, 2018 [27 favorites]
CNN Clip: Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) told CNN's John Berman that when he spoke to President Trump on the phone, Trump seemed "unaware" of the tax incentives to move jobs overseas in the tax bill he supported.
posted by homunculus at 2:31 PM on November 29, 2018 [27 favorites]
And we need massive new anti-corruption laws passed on the federal level that apply to all elected officials nationwide
I think more is needed. I've been thinking that we are (at least) in the midst of an internet-driven global business coup against the people. Multinational companies are shaping the laws and policies, wherever the sun touches them, to provide continuing benefits, financial leeway, and power over those laws and policies. The people who don't control these companies are the enemy, and while income disparity gets larger and larger, the role of business in manufacturing corrupt governments gets stronger and stronger. An empty bag cannot make campaign contributions.
This is being done in concert with leaders of compromised nations, where corruption leaves an open door for deeper integration between the business world and the political one that has capabilities to shape and possibly limit their behavior. Business involvement in the legislative process is designed to remove personal responsibility from the leaders who allow it so that they can say "it's just the way things work."
posted by rhizome at 2:31 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
I think more is needed. I've been thinking that we are (at least) in the midst of an internet-driven global business coup against the people. Multinational companies are shaping the laws and policies, wherever the sun touches them, to provide continuing benefits, financial leeway, and power over those laws and policies. The people who don't control these companies are the enemy, and while income disparity gets larger and larger, the role of business in manufacturing corrupt governments gets stronger and stronger. An empty bag cannot make campaign contributions.
This is being done in concert with leaders of compromised nations, where corruption leaves an open door for deeper integration between the business world and the political one that has capabilities to shape and possibly limit their behavior. Business involvement in the legislative process is designed to remove personal responsibility from the leaders who allow it so that they can say "it's just the way things work."
posted by rhizome at 2:31 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Craig Unger, author of "House of Trump, House of Putin" just did a AMA.
His takeaway: 'Most of the GOP leadership has been compromised’ by Russian money.
I hope that after Trump is being taken away for treason, the clean up will include his co-conspirators
That's the assumption I'm going on. Remember that quaint little (probably Russian funded) PAC in Annapolis that got raided? We haven't heard anything about it in a long time, but I suspect it will be back in the news soon. Also, no doubt that PAC or others also gave to Democrats too, to muddy the water. But I agree, sweep them all away to jail.
posted by M-x shell at 2:33 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
His takeaway: 'Most of the GOP leadership has been compromised’ by Russian money.
I hope that after Trump is being taken away for treason, the clean up will include his co-conspirators
That's the assumption I'm going on. Remember that quaint little (probably Russian funded) PAC in Annapolis that got raided? We haven't heard anything about it in a long time, but I suspect it will be back in the news soon. Also, no doubt that PAC or others also gave to Democrats too, to muddy the water. But I agree, sweep them all away to jail.
posted by M-x shell at 2:33 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
MSNBC reports Rosenstein is still in charge of the Mueller investigation, not Whitaker. Preet Bharara noted earlier that someone had to sign off on today’s plea agreement.
posted by lowest east side at 2:37 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by lowest east side at 2:37 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
From the New Yorker Swamp Chronicles: Michael Cohen raises serious questions about Donald Trump and his business interests.
posted by adamvasco at 2:42 PM on November 29, 2018
posted by adamvasco at 2:42 PM on November 29, 2018
MSNBC reports Rosenstein is still in charge of the Mueller investigation, not Whitaker.
This doesn't jibe the Washington Post's reporting: "Justice Department policies and special counsel regulations call for the attorney general to be notified of significant events in such investigations, and a person familiar with the case said Whitaker was notified ahead of time about Cohen’s plea."
MSNBC's Ari Melber passes along his colleague's reporting on Whitaker vs. Rosenstein and the Mueller probe:
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
This doesn't jibe the Washington Post's reporting: "Justice Department policies and special counsel regulations call for the attorney general to be notified of significant events in such investigations, and a person familiar with the case said Whitaker was notified ahead of time about Cohen’s plea."
MSNBC's Ari Melber passes along his colleague's reporting on Whitaker vs. Rosenstein and the Mueller probe:
NEW: @NicolleDWallace reports AG Rod Rosenstein appears to be still overseeing Mueller probe...Former Obama DOJ official Eric Columbus suggests an explanation: "The DAG oversees everyone in DOJ except the AG. Rosenstein overseeing Mueller isn’t inconsistent with Whitaker having ultimate oversight."
"I'm told that Matt Whitaker as of this moment has not involved himself yet in any of the machinations of the Special Counsel Probe"[...]
"The charge brought against Michael Cohen today" has "Special Counsel Mueller's signature on it, that went through the same office that all of the indictments" have gone through, "that's the Deputy AG's office" - @NicolleDWallace
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Note to Trump: The Mueller Probe Costs Roughly $0.00 – Not $40 Million
As of September, the fiscal cost of the Mueller investigation was roughly $0.00. By that point, the probe had spent roughly $26 million. But, by striking a plea agreement with Paul Manafort for his myriad white-collar crimes — an agreement that required Trump’s former campaign manager to forfeit five multi-million-dollar properties, a life-insurance policy, and the contents of multiple bank accounts — Mueller’s investigation had acquired somewhere between $26 million and $42 million worth of revenue for the federal treasury.posted by homunculus at 2:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [87 favorites]
The Mueller probe’s (apparent) profitability is indicative of more than just Donald Trump’s mendacity: It also reflects the fact that there are few forms of law enforcement more cost-efficient than cracking down on super-rich tax cheats and money launderers. And yet, for some strange reason, the federal law enforcement has not made punishing the financial malfeasance of the super-rich a top-tier priority.
No politicians, or politicians spouses, in business? No corruption problems.
I get the impulse, but
1. No, not really. We still have Citizens United to contend with.
and
2. There’s literally no way to enforce this, ever. How long do you plan to ban them from business? Is it forever? No? Ways around it. Forever? Still ways around it. All of which would make the politicians more dependent on the criminal elements helping them do these things. It would backfire.
There isn’t an inherent problem with our current approach that doesn’t also exist for all other explicitly elucidated regulatory approaches; they all depend on consistent, rigorous, and principled enforcement.
That’s what we’re missing. The will to fund and enable a true enforcement apparatus, and the culture to care about that.
I think the culture is coming around. What we need to do is seriously, seriously go back to enforcing the laws we already have. It’s not the law’s fault, in the end. It’s just words on a paper. It’s only got force if we give it one.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:56 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
I get the impulse, but
1. No, not really. We still have Citizens United to contend with.
and
2. There’s literally no way to enforce this, ever. How long do you plan to ban them from business? Is it forever? No? Ways around it. Forever? Still ways around it. All of which would make the politicians more dependent on the criminal elements helping them do these things. It would backfire.
There isn’t an inherent problem with our current approach that doesn’t also exist for all other explicitly elucidated regulatory approaches; they all depend on consistent, rigorous, and principled enforcement.
That’s what we’re missing. The will to fund and enable a true enforcement apparatus, and the culture to care about that.
I think the culture is coming around. What we need to do is seriously, seriously go back to enforcing the laws we already have. It’s not the law’s fault, in the end. It’s just words on a paper. It’s only got force if we give it one.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:56 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
"costing more than $40,000,000..." of Trump's money, profits lost from his Griftomancy...
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:57 PM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:57 PM on November 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Any chance anybody has a spare even to can't for this story? BuzzFeed, Anthony Cormier and Jason Leopold, The Trump Organization Planned To Give Vladimir Putin The $50 Million Penthouse In Trump Tower Moscow
President Donald Trump’s company planned to give a $50 million penthouse at Trump Tower Moscow to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the company negotiated the luxury real estate development during the 2016 campaign, according to four people, one of them the originator of the plan.posted by zachlipton at 3:00 PM on November 29, 2018 [41 favorites]
Two US law enforcement officials told BuzzFeed News that Michael Cohen, Trump’s personal lawyer at the time, discussed the idea with a representative of Dmitry Peskov, Putin’s press secretary.
...
The two men worked furiously behind the scenes into the summer of 2016 to get the Moscow deal finished – despite public claims that the development was canned in January, before Trump won the Republican nomination. Sater told BuzzFeed News today that he and Cohen thought giving the Trump Tower’s most luxurious apartment, a $50 million penthouse, to Putin would entice other wealthy buyers to purchase their own. “In Russia, the oligarchs would bend over backwards to live in the same building as Vladimir Putin,” Sater told BuzzFeed News. “My idea was to give a $50 million penthouse to Putin and charge $250 million more for the rest of the units. All the oligarchs would line up to live in the same building as Putin.” A second source confirmed the plan.
1. No, not really. We still have Citizens United to contend with.
Yeah. The issue is "Money is not speech" AND "If you don't have a vote, you should not have a voice in elections."
posted by mikelieman at 3:00 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Yeah. The issue is "Money is not speech" AND "If you don't have a vote, you should not have a voice in elections."
posted by mikelieman at 3:00 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Fox News Isn't A Normal Media Company. We Have To Stop Treating It Like One.
To follow that, from WaPo's media columnist Margaret Sullivan, When Fox News staffers break ethics rules, discipline follows — or does it? [no, it does not]
posted by peeedro at 3:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
To follow that, from WaPo's media columnist Margaret Sullivan, When Fox News staffers break ethics rules, discipline follows — or does it? [no, it does not]
The Trump administration and Fox News are so deeply intertwined that it’s hard to know where one ends and the other begins. At a Missouri rally early this month, the jubilant high-five between Hannity and his former Fox boss Bill Shine, now White House communications czar, said it all: Go, team!From Vox, Fox News keeps breaking its own rules:
That kind of explicit political intervention, which Fox News executives have allowed to go on for months without consequences, means Fox isn’t just a right-wing news network anymore. It’s evolving into a massive, highly influential get-out-the-vote operation, one that’s going to play a growing role in Republican politics for years to come.Also, Data Shows Tucker Carlson Is The Daily Stormer’s Favorite Pundit (BuzzFeed), which is might have something to do with how Fox News' Tucker Carlson echoes white nationalists, white supremacists, and neo-Nazis (Media Matters).
posted by peeedro at 3:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
That's the assumption I'm going on. Remember that quaint little (probably Russian funded) PAC in Annapolis that got raided?
Never mind quaint little PACs, the NRA is swimming in rubles.
posted by PenDevil at 3:03 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Never mind quaint little PACs, the NRA is swimming in rubles.
posted by PenDevil at 3:03 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
“Maybe we don’t need Oprah,” she continued.
Here's what happened in Illinois. We had Rauner for governor. He was, if anything, worse than Trump, stubbornly refusing to sign any budget plan as Illinois slowly accrued over 1 billion dollars in penalties. It's like he burned the money.
When it came time to select a candidate, the Democratic Party chose Pritzker, a candidate with absolutely zero experience, and less charisma than a ham sandwich. His only experience doing anything politically was making a multi-million dollar donation to a breakfast for children's charity. That is the sum total of anything worthwhile he has done ever as a human being.
Why choose Pritzker as your candidate? Why not choose, say, Daniel Biss with six years experience as an Illinois Senator who had a detailed and progressive plan for the state? Because... we had to ensure a win. Only someone as rich as Rauner could ensure a win.
Needing to ensure the win was nonsense. Anyone. Anyone could have beaten Rauner. The ham sandwich would have beaten Rauner. In the meantime, it's come out that Pritzker is a major tax cheat. Voting for him was an easy choice, but it still made me sick to my stomach.
We have a very good chance of beating Trump. No, I don't believe in sure things, but no one should be talking about the need to run some mealy mouthed millionaire celebrity candidate to win. Don't talk yourself into needing to run Pritzker against Rauner. 2020 will probably be our best shot to have the best possible candidate win.
posted by xammerboy at 3:35 PM on November 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
Here's what happened in Illinois. We had Rauner for governor. He was, if anything, worse than Trump, stubbornly refusing to sign any budget plan as Illinois slowly accrued over 1 billion dollars in penalties. It's like he burned the money.
When it came time to select a candidate, the Democratic Party chose Pritzker, a candidate with absolutely zero experience, and less charisma than a ham sandwich. His only experience doing anything politically was making a multi-million dollar donation to a breakfast for children's charity. That is the sum total of anything worthwhile he has done ever as a human being.
Why choose Pritzker as your candidate? Why not choose, say, Daniel Biss with six years experience as an Illinois Senator who had a detailed and progressive plan for the state? Because... we had to ensure a win. Only someone as rich as Rauner could ensure a win.
Needing to ensure the win was nonsense. Anyone. Anyone could have beaten Rauner. The ham sandwich would have beaten Rauner. In the meantime, it's come out that Pritzker is a major tax cheat. Voting for him was an easy choice, but it still made me sick to my stomach.
We have a very good chance of beating Trump. No, I don't believe in sure things, but no one should be talking about the need to run some mealy mouthed millionaire celebrity candidate to win. Don't talk yourself into needing to run Pritzker against Rauner. 2020 will probably be our best shot to have the best possible candidate win.
posted by xammerboy at 3:35 PM on November 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
Robert Mueller filling in for Christopher Walkin, Fatboy Slim edition
posted by bluesky43 at 3:46 PM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 3:46 PM on November 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
TPM: WaPo Explains How Kavanaugh Basketball Coaching Story Was Labeled ‘Public Safety.’ "The Washington Post on Wednesday said an article on Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s little league basketball coaching career was inadvertently published in the paper’s 'Public Safety' section."
Wonkette: Brett Kavanaugh Back To Boofing With Little Girls Or Whatever
posted by homunculus at 3:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
Wonkette: Brett Kavanaugh Back To Boofing With Little Girls Or Whatever
posted by homunculus at 3:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
zachliption: Any chance anybody has a spare even to can't for this story? BuzzFeed, Anthony Cormier and Jason Leopold, The Trump Organization Planned To Give Vladimir Putin The $50 Million Penthouse In Trump Tower Moscow
Reaching into my depth for a reaction and the best I can manage is that of Leela from Futurama: "Oh Lord."
But one question all of this raises is: Exactly how did the Trump Organization and the Russian plutocrats intend to complete and unveil a building whose very development they'd all been publicly claiming had ceased? Like, what could the endgame have been? It's one thing to commit big stupid crimes and assume you won't get caught. But after there's a giant structure named after the man himself, how could they expect to wriggle out from the lies-to-congress and so forth?
Even at the level of appealing to the political base, I can't conceive how they explain themselves: "In the end, we didn't build a border wall... but look, a tall tower with my name on it in a country none of you will ever visit!"
posted by InTheYear2017 at 3:55 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Reaching into my depth for a reaction and the best I can manage is that of Leela from Futurama: "Oh Lord."
But one question all of this raises is: Exactly how did the Trump Organization and the Russian plutocrats intend to complete and unveil a building whose very development they'd all been publicly claiming had ceased? Like, what could the endgame have been? It's one thing to commit big stupid crimes and assume you won't get caught. But after there's a giant structure named after the man himself, how could they expect to wriggle out from the lies-to-congress and so forth?
Even at the level of appealing to the political base, I can't conceive how they explain themselves: "In the end, we didn't build a border wall... but look, a tall tower with my name on it in a country none of you will ever visit!"
posted by InTheYear2017 at 3:55 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
@drvox:
There's an extremely important climate-policy story going on in the Senate right now & it's not getting enough attention. Everyone's focused on the House & the Green New Deal, but the Senate is where dreams go to die, especially if this goes the wrong way. Long story short: it looks like Sen. Joe Manchin (WV) may become the ranking member of the Energy & Natural Resources Committee. If that happens, he'd become chair of the cmte when/if Dems take the Senate in 2020. That would be a DISASTER for climate policy.posted by zachlipton at 4:01 PM on November 29, 2018 [74 favorites]
I can't think of a single thing Senate Dems could do more likely to crush the bright new climate ambition in the House than having Manchin as chair of ENR. ENR is likely where climate legislation will happen in the Senate & the chair is the one who writes legislation. Manchin, you will recall, literally shot the last climate bill that came out of the House -- and that bill was a fraction as ambitious as what climate activists want out of the House today. He is the single worst Senate Dem on this issue.
What's going on? Well, Senate cmte appointments generally run on seniority. The gavel falls to the next most senior member (as long as they don't run another cmte -- can't run two). Sen. Bill Nelson (Fla) lost this year; he was ranking member in Commerce. So ... Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA), who is now ranking on ENR, is expected to move over & become chair of Commerce. Who will take her place? Next ranking member on ENR is Wyden (OR), but he chairs Finance & wants to keep it. After him comes a young fellow named Bernard Sanders.
Sanders has been making lots of noise about climate change lately, issuing ambitious policy ideas. He's hosting a big televised town hall about it on Monday. Taking top spot on ENR would be a way for him to really get his hands dirty & do the work. But it appears Sanders intends to keep his slot on the Budget Cmte, even if it means Manchin gets ENR. After all, ENR is a lot of work & Sanders has a presidential campaign to run. Next in line after Sanders is Debbie Stabenow (MI), but she is ranking member on Ag, which writes the Farm Bill -- a powerful spot, significant for her state. So she'll stay put. And next after her? Manchin. The guy who shoots climate bills.
It will be an utter betrayal if Senate Dems allow their most important climate-policy committee to fall into the hands of their single most climate-hostile member. I can't figure out why climate activists aren't up in arms about this. It could happen as soon as tomorrow! Cantwell could stay. Bernie could move beyond a life of campaigns & message bills & actually get some work done on climate. Schumer could bypass the seniority system & simply skip over Manchin to the next in line, Martin Heinrich (NM), who would be great. Anyone but Manchin.
...
The Democratic Party is moving left on climate change. So is the American public. Manchin is moving in the opposite direction, as his state clings desperately to coal. If Senate Dems care a shred about climate change: Anyone but Manchin.
Hey, that was the Trump Organization, not Trump, and Trump is not organized.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:02 PM on November 29, 2018
posted by kirkaracha at 4:02 PM on November 29, 2018
"Why choose Pritzker as your candidate? Why not choose, say, Daniel Biss with six years experience as an Illinois Senator who had a detailed and progressive plan for the state? Because... we had to ensure a win. Only someone as rich as Rauner could ensure a win. "
Except that Pritzker has a long history of involvement with progressive politics in Illinois -- just not as an officeholder -- and Biss had a piss-poor record on pensions, especially teachers' pensions, and would NEVER be able to get teachers' union endorsements. He spent his years in the GA advocating for Illinois teachers to take big haircuts on their pensions to bail out the state -- pensions that are a contractual obligation for work the teachers ALREADY PERFORMED and that are guaranteed in the state constitution, and (as many people don't know) Illinois teachers give up their Social Security to participate in the Illinois Teachers Retirement System and are never eligible for Social Security again because Illinois guaranteed the federal government that its pension scheme for teachers would be as good as or better than social security. So EVEN IF you could manage to amend the Illinois constitution to reduce those pensions AND avoid the problem of contractual non-performance by the state, you'd be looking at either a huge fucking bill from the feds that would be bigger than the failed pension obligations AND/OR impoverishing hundreds of thousands of women who devoted their lives to teaching children. So progressive of Biss! So feminist! Such an ally of women, children, and families!
I mean, look, we're fucked on pension costs no matter what, but Biss spent his time in the GA pushing a harsh and extremely right wing set of solutions that would hit women extremely hard, and advocating for approaches that the Illinois Supreme Court has OVER AND OVER struck down as illegal or unconstitutional. With pensions as the biggest crisis in Illinois politics, Biss's progressive bona fides on other issues hardly matter when set against his ultra-right pension solutions, and politicians who KEEP PROPOSING THE SAME SHIT that's already been struck down repeatedly piss me the fuck off. It's wasting time and money we can't afford to waste.
I like Daniel Biss, but the pension crap meant he would never get my vote, or the vote of any teacher in Illinois. I wish Pritzker had elected experience, but people who are active in progressive politics in Illinois have known him for years and years. He was snapping up top-notch Democratic staffers the day he declared -- really good people who know their way around the statehouse (like chief of staff for the state treasurer kind of people), and whose willingness to work for his campaign, especially so early on, spoke really well of their belief in Pritzker's ability to learn the job.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:03 PM on November 29, 2018 [42 favorites]
Except that Pritzker has a long history of involvement with progressive politics in Illinois -- just not as an officeholder -- and Biss had a piss-poor record on pensions, especially teachers' pensions, and would NEVER be able to get teachers' union endorsements. He spent his years in the GA advocating for Illinois teachers to take big haircuts on their pensions to bail out the state -- pensions that are a contractual obligation for work the teachers ALREADY PERFORMED and that are guaranteed in the state constitution, and (as many people don't know) Illinois teachers give up their Social Security to participate in the Illinois Teachers Retirement System and are never eligible for Social Security again because Illinois guaranteed the federal government that its pension scheme for teachers would be as good as or better than social security. So EVEN IF you could manage to amend the Illinois constitution to reduce those pensions AND avoid the problem of contractual non-performance by the state, you'd be looking at either a huge fucking bill from the feds that would be bigger than the failed pension obligations AND/OR impoverishing hundreds of thousands of women who devoted their lives to teaching children. So progressive of Biss! So feminist! Such an ally of women, children, and families!
I mean, look, we're fucked on pension costs no matter what, but Biss spent his time in the GA pushing a harsh and extremely right wing set of solutions that would hit women extremely hard, and advocating for approaches that the Illinois Supreme Court has OVER AND OVER struck down as illegal or unconstitutional. With pensions as the biggest crisis in Illinois politics, Biss's progressive bona fides on other issues hardly matter when set against his ultra-right pension solutions, and politicians who KEEP PROPOSING THE SAME SHIT that's already been struck down repeatedly piss me the fuck off. It's wasting time and money we can't afford to waste.
I like Daniel Biss, but the pension crap meant he would never get my vote, or the vote of any teacher in Illinois. I wish Pritzker had elected experience, but people who are active in progressive politics in Illinois have known him for years and years. He was snapping up top-notch Democratic staffers the day he declared -- really good people who know their way around the statehouse (like chief of staff for the state treasurer kind of people), and whose willingness to work for his campaign, especially so early on, spoke really well of their belief in Pritzker's ability to learn the job.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:03 PM on November 29, 2018 [42 favorites]
Mueller both turns a profit and has great hair. He’s the Antitrump walking and trump seethes with envy at the respect he commands.
All glory to the Mueller!
But seriously, for me it's that he's a Marine. With a hard-on for JUSTICE!
And he's right where he needs to be to do the job G-d gave him. Fighting Crime -- Wherever it is.
I joke, but seriously, the marine thing "Adapt, Improvise, Overcome" makes me all sorts of enthusiastic for "Yeah, there's no actual RULE saying thata dog can't play basketball a president* can't be indicted, and him just superseding the indictments with [Individual-1] replaced with Donald J. Trump.
Indict the motherfucking co-conspirator.
posted by mikelieman at 4:12 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
All glory to the Mueller!
But seriously, for me it's that he's a Marine. With a hard-on for JUSTICE!
And he's right where he needs to be to do the job G-d gave him. Fighting Crime -- Wherever it is.
I joke, but seriously, the marine thing "Adapt, Improvise, Overcome" makes me all sorts of enthusiastic for "Yeah, there's no actual RULE saying that
Indict the motherfucking co-conspirator.
posted by mikelieman at 4:12 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
WSJ, Cohen Says Trump Stayed Involved in Moscow Tower Project During Campaign. They confirm BuzzFeed's reporting about the penthouse, but this is another useful detail; there are EmAiLs:
posted by zachlipton at 4:13 PM on November 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
The government said Mr. Cohen lied in part to conceal discussions he’d had with Trump family members about the project.Speaking of confirming reporting, has anybody anywhere confirmed The Guardian's Manafort/Assange blockbuster? That whole story disappeared pretty quickly, and I, for one, would still like to know what happened there.
Investigators obtained emails about the project from late 2015 and January 2016, according to people familiar with the matter, in which Mr. Cohen communicated with or copied Mr. Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., and his daughter, Ivanka Trump, both of whom were executives at Trump Organization. Ms. Trump recommended an architect, the people said. She left the company after the election to advise her father at the White House.
posted by zachlipton at 4:13 PM on November 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
Speaking of confirming reporting, has anybody anywhere confirmed The Guardian's Manafort/Assange blockbuster? That whole story disappeared pretty quickly, and I, for one, would still like to know what happened there.
Not that I've seen & I think I know why. It looks like the whole thing may have been a false flag operation put together by MI6. British diplomat-turned-activist Craig Murray wrote it up here: Assange Never Met Manafort. Luke Harding and the Guardian Publish Still More Blatant MI6 Lies. It's reasonably persuasive, though it does delve into less credible waters with an alternate narrative for the DNC hack as a side note.
posted by scalefree at 4:27 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Not that I've seen & I think I know why. It looks like the whole thing may have been a false flag operation put together by MI6. British diplomat-turned-activist Craig Murray wrote it up here: Assange Never Met Manafort. Luke Harding and the Guardian Publish Still More Blatant MI6 Lies. It's reasonably persuasive, though it does delve into less credible waters with an alternate narrative for the DNC hack as a side note.
posted by scalefree at 4:27 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Craig Unger, author of "House of Trump, House of Putin" just did a AMA.
His takeaway: 'Most of the GOP leadership has been compromised’ by Russian money.
Please, Please, PLEASE let McConnell be in that net.
posted by yoga at 4:34 PM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
His takeaway: 'Most of the GOP leadership has been compromised’ by Russian money.
Please, Please, PLEASE let McConnell be in that net.
posted by yoga at 4:34 PM on November 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
Is Craig Murray credible? Some quotes (all bolding mine):
"Now [Harding and the Guardian] follow this up with more documents aimed to provide fictitious evidence to bolster Mueller’s pathetically failed attempt to substantiate the story that Russia deprived Hillary of the Presidency."
"I knew the US security services were conducting a fake investigation the moment it became clear that the FBI did not even themselves look at the DNC servers, instead accepting a report from the Clinton linked DNC “security consultants” Crowdstrike."
"But I fear that state control of propaganda may be such that this massive “Big Lie” will come to enter public consciousness in the same way as the non-existent Russian hack of the DNC servers."
"Assange is not a whistleblower or a spy – he is the greatest publisher of his age, and has done more to bring the crimes of governments to light than the mainstream media will ever be motivated to achieve. That supposedly great newspaper titles like the Guardian, New York Times and Washington Post are involved in the spreading of lies to damage Assange, and are seeking his imprisonment for publishing state secrets, is clear evidence that the idea of the “liberal media” no longer exists in the new plutocratic age. The press are not on the side of the people, they are an instrument of elite control."
posted by reductiondesign at 4:36 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
"Now [Harding and the Guardian] follow this up with more documents aimed to provide fictitious evidence to bolster Mueller’s pathetically failed attempt to substantiate the story that Russia deprived Hillary of the Presidency."
"I knew the US security services were conducting a fake investigation the moment it became clear that the FBI did not even themselves look at the DNC servers, instead accepting a report from the Clinton linked DNC “security consultants” Crowdstrike."
"But I fear that state control of propaganda may be such that this massive “Big Lie” will come to enter public consciousness in the same way as the non-existent Russian hack of the DNC servers."
"Assange is not a whistleblower or a spy – he is the greatest publisher of his age, and has done more to bring the crimes of governments to light than the mainstream media will ever be motivated to achieve. That supposedly great newspaper titles like the Guardian, New York Times and Washington Post are involved in the spreading of lies to damage Assange, and are seeking his imprisonment for publishing state secrets, is clear evidence that the idea of the “liberal media” no longer exists in the new plutocratic age. The press are not on the side of the people, they are an instrument of elite control."
posted by reductiondesign at 4:36 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
mr murray, this is a wendy's
posted by delfin at 4:45 PM on November 29, 2018 [78 favorites]
posted by delfin at 4:45 PM on November 29, 2018 [78 favorites]
He is a former Ambassador, familiar with embassy routines & procedures. Manafort's absence in the logs is inexplicable otherwise & the leak is frightfully on the nose. You can discount the rest (& I do too) without calling into question his main assertion that the leak fails to account for the available evidence. Although no direct evidence is offered, MI6 is certainly a plausible candidate.
posted by scalefree at 4:45 PM on November 29, 2018
posted by scalefree at 4:45 PM on November 29, 2018
His link for "it is impossible the DNC servers were hacked" says "Freitas lays out several scenarios in which the DNC could have been hacked from the outside"
Murray doesn't seem very credible to me. He seems like he decided he loves Assange and therefore nothing that shows Assange did wrong can be correct.
posted by flaterik at 4:46 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Murray doesn't seem very credible to me. He seems like he decided he loves Assange and therefore nothing that shows Assange did wrong can be correct.
posted by flaterik at 4:46 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Yeah, the DNC server stuff mentioned in that Craig Murray blog post is the exact same nonsense that was debunked last year. I don't know whether or not Assange and Manafort actually met, but anyone who's still trying to peddle that theory has exactly zero credibility.
(For those who don't remember: the entire theory rests on the claim that it's "effectively impossible" for data to have been downloaded from the DNC servers at a rate of ~200 megabits per second, because nobody in the world has an internet connection that fast, and therefore it must have been an inside job. Yes, they seriously claimed this with a straight face.)
posted by teraflop at 4:46 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
(For those who don't remember: the entire theory rests on the claim that it's "effectively impossible" for data to have been downloaded from the DNC servers at a rate of ~200 megabits per second, because nobody in the world has an internet connection that fast, and therefore it must have been an inside job. Yes, they seriously claimed this with a straight face.)
posted by teraflop at 4:46 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Is Craig Murray credible?
That would be a "no"; he clearly has an axe to grind here. (And his bullshit about "Guardian, NYT, Washington Post going after this great and brave truth-teller, my good friend Julian"? That was after said newspapers coordinated with Wikileaks in releasing diplomatic cables, taking care that they were edited to protect confidential sources and potentially vulnerable informants; Assange didn't care if his actions got people killed and unilaterally released them unredacted.)
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 4:49 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
That would be a "no"; he clearly has an axe to grind here. (And his bullshit about "Guardian, NYT, Washington Post going after this great and brave truth-teller, my good friend Julian"? That was after said newspapers coordinated with Wikileaks in releasing diplomatic cables, taking care that they were edited to protect confidential sources and potentially vulnerable informants; Assange didn't care if his actions got people killed and unilaterally released them unredacted.)
posted by Pseudonymous Cognomen at 4:49 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Some other false flags of which Murray has accused MI6: Forcing him to have sex with young girls in his office in trade for visas to the UK.
posted by sideshow at 4:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by sideshow at 4:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
"Although no direct evidence is offered, MI6 is certainly a plausible candidate."
The other theory I've seen floated is that the Guardian story accords suspiciously well with the Ecuadoran government's desires (elected in 2017 and much less friendly to Assange), and that Ecuadoran intelligence agencies are trying to get Assange off Ecuador's plate as peacefully and quietly as possible and be done with the complications he presents to Ecuador's geopolitical goals and alliances. (Everyone's said they're just speculating, tho)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
The other theory I've seen floated is that the Guardian story accords suspiciously well with the Ecuadoran government's desires (elected in 2017 and much less friendly to Assange), and that Ecuadoran intelligence agencies are trying to get Assange off Ecuador's plate as peacefully and quietly as possible and be done with the complications he presents to Ecuador's geopolitical goals and alliances. (Everyone's said they're just speculating, tho)
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 4:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
What we next is a cross-reference of Cohen's testimony and Donald Jr's to see where the lies match up.
In the context of Cohen's claim about Trump Moscow that he
In the context of Cohen's claim about Trump Moscow that he
"briefed family members...within the Company about the project"Ryan Goodman (Just Security) tweeted a portion of Don Jr's testimony to the Senate Judiciary. Here's the full transcript, with a few excepts:
Q. You mentioned a Moscow project that didn't come into — never came to fruition with Mr. Sater in 2006 I think you said? ... Was there ever another effort by Mr. Sater to bring together a development in Moscow?posted by pjenks at 4:53 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
A. I believe in 2015 he worked on something to that effect with Mike Cohen.
...
Q. Tell us about that. How did that — do you know anything about that deal?
A. Very little.
...
Q. Do you have any idea who was the potential counterparty on that deal?
A. I don't, no.
Q. But it was somebody connected to Felix Sater?
A. I don't know if they're connected to Felix Sater or if they knew Felix. He was involved as a broker. I don't know if he's a principal. I wasn't involved.
...
Q. It's been reported I believe on CNN that Mr. Cohen had reached out to an e-mail box at the Kremlin that was a generic mailbox for Dmitry Peskov. Were you aware of that before the public reporting?
A. No, I was not.
Q. Did you have any involvement in this potential deal in Moscow?
A. Like I said, I was peripherally aware of it, but most of my knowledge has been gained since as it relates to hearing about it over the last few weeks.
Craig Murray is still citing William Binney's belief that it's impossible the DNC servers were hacked. The guy behind that claim turned out to be a troll and Binney changed his mind, though he never retracted his actual conclusion.
I have plenty of questions about the Guardian's report, but Murray's not remotely credible. It's entirely possible that Manafort never met Assange without clinging to the idea, one based on fabricated evidence, that the DNC leak was an inside job.
posted by zachlipton at 4:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
I have plenty of questions about the Guardian's report, but Murray's not remotely credible. It's entirely possible that Manafort never met Assange without clinging to the idea, one based on fabricated evidence, that the DNC leak was an inside job.
posted by zachlipton at 4:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Some other false flags of which Murray has accused MI6: Forcing him to have sex with young girls in his office in trade for visas to the UK.
What. The. Fuck. So he's a sex offender who blames his offences on MI6? WOW.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 4:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Looking at Murray's activities as listed on Wikipedia, he seems like a Greenwald. Either a useful idiot or a willing accomplice.
posted by doornoise at 4:55 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by doornoise at 4:55 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
> Sen. Bill Nelson (Fla) lost this year; he was ranking member in Commerce. So ... Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA), who is now ranking on ENR, is expected to move over & become chair of Commerce.
Is it plausible that Cantwell could be persuaded to stay on ENR rather than moving to Commerce? Is this a thing her constituents could be calling her about?
Like, she’s the second-best senator from Washington, but she’s also a good egg.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 4:56 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Is it plausible that Cantwell could be persuaded to stay on ENR rather than moving to Commerce? Is this a thing her constituents could be calling her about?
Like, she’s the second-best senator from Washington, but she’s also a good egg.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 4:56 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Is Craig Murray credible?
These days, not even the tiniest bit. Even anything based on what he should know from previous experience is dubious as he is working to an agenda.
He went vociferously full in on denying that Russia was responsible for the attempted Skripal assassination, his arguments becoming ever more detached from even the slightest plausible reality as reality and evidence mounted.
He's almost up to timecube on the H-R diagram of conspiracy crazy and from his actions probably a Putin asset (meaning he got leveraged skelingtons).
posted by Buntix at 4:56 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
These days, not even the tiniest bit. Even anything based on what he should know from previous experience is dubious as he is working to an agenda.
He went vociferously full in on denying that Russia was responsible for the attempted Skripal assassination, his arguments becoming ever more detached from even the slightest plausible reality as reality and evidence mounted.
He's almost up to timecube on the H-R diagram of conspiracy crazy and from his actions probably a Putin asset (meaning he got leveraged skelingtons).
posted by Buntix at 4:56 PM on November 29, 2018 [10 favorites]
Murray sounds like a shit, but the lack of log entries is troubling. I remember sending up a red flag about that when I first read it lo almost half a Scaramucci ago.
posted by M-x shell at 5:01 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 5:01 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Actual headline in Jerusalem Post (via RawStory):
Russia rejects Trump's canceled meeting, Kremlin ready for contact
By REUTERS
November 29, 2018 23:48
MOSCOW - The Kremlin regrets US President Donald Trump's decision to cancel a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Argentina and said Moscow is ready for contact with Trump, RIA news agency cited spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday.
Trump on Thursday said he was canceling a planned meeting with Putin at the G20 summit, citing the crisis in Ukraine.
This is what some people might call a "plot thickener"....
posted by pjsky at 5:11 PM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
Russia rejects Trump's canceled meeting, Kremlin ready for contact
By REUTERS
November 29, 2018 23:48
MOSCOW - The Kremlin regrets US President Donald Trump's decision to cancel a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Argentina and said Moscow is ready for contact with Trump, RIA news agency cited spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday.
Trump on Thursday said he was canceling a planned meeting with Putin at the G20 summit, citing the crisis in Ukraine.
This is what some people might call a "plot thickener"....
posted by pjsky at 5:11 PM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
Politico, GOP unloads on Flake. A sampler:
posted by zachlipton at 5:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Hatch: Senators “irritated”Ah, Ted Cruz, that famously productive Senator.
Cruz (!): “it is not productive”
Tillis: “you can’t not be frustrated”
posted by zachlipton at 5:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
The Trump Organization is now pushing out a cover story for Don Jr and Ivanka through anonymous sources to the Washington Post and Yahoo News:
posted by pjenks at 5:20 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
The source also confirmed that both Ivanka and Don Jr. were aware of Cohen’s attempts to build in Moscow. According to the source, Ivanka’s role was limited to recommending an architect and Don Jr. was only “peripherally” aware of the plan.I wonder if the "architect" detail is in response to the WSJ story or if the Trump Org sourced them as well. And it's funny that Jr's "peripheral" involvement is exactly how he described it to Congress.
posted by pjenks at 5:20 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Trump made a career of not paying his debts if he just didn't feel like it. Just apply that pattern to his dealings with Russia. He never gave Russia the relief from sanctions Putin and Co. wanted. This may be his personal definition of "no collusion".
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:22 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 5:22 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
NYT, Mike McIntire, Megan Twohey and Mark Mazzetti, How a Trump Lawyer, a Felon and a Russian General Chased a Moscow Deal
posted by zachlipton at 5:24 PM on November 29, 2018 [26 favorites]
To get the project off the ground, Mr. Sater dug into his address book and its more than 100 Russian contacts — including entries for President Vladimir V. Putin and a former general in Russian military intelligence. Mr. Sater tapped the general, Evgeny Shmykov, to help arrange visas for Mr. Cohen and Mr. Trump to visit Russia, according to emails and interviews with several people knowledgeable about the events.So if I have this right, Sater, who had a business card identifying himself as Trump's "senior advisor," was in contact during the campagn with a former general in Russian military intelligence who speaks only in riddles. Nothing suspicious here at all.
...
Contacted by The Times, Mr. Shmykov declined to answer questions, but directed a reporter to photos of his time in the military, including one in which he appears with Mr. Sater, saying, “In these photographs are answers to all your questions.” Mr. Sater declined to comment.
Mr. Sater enlisted Mr. Shmykov in late 2015, when, with the United States presidential race well underway, he was making his latest push for a Trump Tower deal in Moscow. Mr. Sater had been exchanging emails and phone calls with Mr. Cohen about resurrecting plans for the tower. The two men were friends, and Mr. Sater seemed almost giddy as he explained to Mr. Cohen how he would use his connections to “get all of Putin’s team to buy in on this.”
“Buddy,” Mr. Sater wrote, “our boy can become President of the USA and we can engineer it.” Mr. Cohen emailed Mr. Sater in December 2015, linking to a news story about Mr. Putin praising Mr. Trump. In the email, Mr. Cohen said: “Now is the time. Call me.”
A couple of days later, according to copies of emails reviewed by The Times, Mr. Sater emailed Mr. Cohen with an urgent request. He said that he had Mr. Shmykov on the phone, and that he needed passport information for Mr. Cohen and Mr. Trump so they could receive visas. Mr. Sater explained that the Kremlin could not issue them for diplomatic reasons, and that they would instead come from VTB bank as part of “a business meeting not political.”
posted by zachlipton at 5:24 PM on November 29, 2018 [26 favorites]
Russia rejects Trump's canceled meeting, Kremlin ready for contact
Pretty sure this is a typo as the actual text says "regrets."
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:25 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Pretty sure this is a typo as the actual text says "regrets."
posted by waitingtoderail at 5:25 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Trump on Thursday said he was canceling a planned meeting with Putin at the G20 summit, citing the crisis in Ukraine.
It's still unclear whether Trump's other meetings, with South Korea & Turkey, are on as well. He canceled them from AF1 but Sarah Sanders has uncanceled them.
posted by scalefree at 5:27 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's still unclear whether Trump's other meetings, with South Korea & Turkey, are on as well. He canceled them from AF1 but Sarah Sanders has uncanceled them.
posted by scalefree at 5:27 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
King Baby has landed in Argentina
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:28 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:28 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Um, wouldn't it be in the interest of a variety of intelligence agencies, supported by the Ecuadorean Embassy for reasons mentioned by Eyebrows McGee above, to allow Manafort plus "Russians" to visit Assange so their conversations could be monitored?
Another example of the conspirators thinking they were being oh-so-terribly-clever? Then this deliberately vague leak - to allow the Ecuadoreans plausible public deniability - comes out in the Guardian at this very specific time to let them know that they're even more in the shit than they imagined?
posted by doornoise at 5:28 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Another example of the conspirators thinking they were being oh-so-terribly-clever? Then this deliberately vague leak - to allow the Ecuadoreans plausible public deniability - comes out in the Guardian at this very specific time to let them know that they're even more in the shit than they imagined?
posted by doornoise at 5:28 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Pretty sure this is a typo as the actual text says "regrets."
Yep. TASS: "The Kremlin regrets the US administration’s decision to cancel a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said."
Reuters: "The Kremlin regrets U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Argentina and said Moscow is ready for contact with Trump, RIA news agency cited spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday."
posted by reductiondesign at 5:29 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yep. TASS: "The Kremlin regrets the US administration’s decision to cancel a meeting between the presidents of Russia and the United States, Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said."
Reuters: "The Kremlin regrets U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to cancel a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Argentina and said Moscow is ready for contact with Trump, RIA news agency cited spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday."
posted by reductiondesign at 5:29 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
REJECTS / REGRETS ... it's a pretty great typo! Also -- I bet no one who read the headline as "Russia REJECTS Trump's canceled meeting" had a hard time believing it after all that's happened today!
posted by pjsky at 5:32 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by pjsky at 5:32 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
Um, wouldn't it be in the interest of a variety of intelligence agencies, supported by the Ecuadorean Embassy for reasons mentioned by Eyebrows McGee above, to allow Manafort plus "Russians" to visit Assange so their conversations could be monitored?
Or, more simply -- the previous Ecuadorean administration supported Assange and let him have visitors unrecorded in log books. However, the staff knew about it, and the new, less friendly administration -- or just one disgrunteled employee -- leaked that information. I imagine the staff there is pretty tired of Assange at this point, given reports about him not cleaning up and generally being a bad roommate.
posted by msalt at 5:51 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Or, more simply -- the previous Ecuadorean administration supported Assange and let him have visitors unrecorded in log books. However, the staff knew about it, and the new, less friendly administration -- or just one disgrunteled employee -- leaked that information. I imagine the staff there is pretty tired of Assange at this point, given reports about him not cleaning up and generally being a bad roommate.
posted by msalt at 5:51 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Speaking of confirming reporting, has anybody anywhere confirmed The Guardian's Manafort/Assange blockbuster?
So far, I'm seeing only journalists covering the controversy without coming down either way, e.g. Vanity Fair (“It Might Be the Biggest Get This Year”: How The Guardian’s Bombshell Set Off Its Own Little Media World War) and Politico (Did Someone Plant a Story Tying Paul Manafort to Julian Assange?). It's weird to see rightwing outlets like the Washington Times and Accuracy in Media team up with Russia Today and Sputnik News, however, in attacking Luke Harding. Harding's covered Putin's Russia extensively and done solid work on the Steele Dossier and Assange/Wikileaks—and it looks like he has reliable contacts in the Ecuadorian embassy. It would be a surprise if he were snookered or slipped up on a major story like this (but it's not like 2018 has been short on unpleasant surprises).
As for Ecuador, its new president started showing signs this summer of wanting to rid his UK embassy of this "inherited problem". (Someone with Ecuadorian connections has been leaking embassy confidential info to the Guardian, too.) Recalling his pro-Assange ambassador last week may be the final straw.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:11 PM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
So far, I'm seeing only journalists covering the controversy without coming down either way, e.g. Vanity Fair (“It Might Be the Biggest Get This Year”: How The Guardian’s Bombshell Set Off Its Own Little Media World War) and Politico (Did Someone Plant a Story Tying Paul Manafort to Julian Assange?). It's weird to see rightwing outlets like the Washington Times and Accuracy in Media team up with Russia Today and Sputnik News, however, in attacking Luke Harding. Harding's covered Putin's Russia extensively and done solid work on the Steele Dossier and Assange/Wikileaks—and it looks like he has reliable contacts in the Ecuadorian embassy. It would be a surprise if he were snookered or slipped up on a major story like this (but it's not like 2018 has been short on unpleasant surprises).
As for Ecuador, its new president started showing signs this summer of wanting to rid his UK embassy of this "inherited problem". (Someone with Ecuadorian connections has been leaking embassy confidential info to the Guardian, too.) Recalling his pro-Assange ambassador last week may be the final straw.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:11 PM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
He's an Ecuadorian citizen now. They do have some responsibilities towards him.
posted by doornoise at 6:22 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by doornoise at 6:22 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
All this Cohen / Don Jr. "Moscow Project" stuff reminds me of a conversation I was having with my brother the other day. We were commiserating about how fucked up and confusing all this is, and he said he is looking forward to reading the definitive book on it in a few years, to learn exactly what the hell was going on between the 2016 campaign and, like, now.
I agreed but I said you know, Trump is at the middle of it, so you know the most banal, stupid explanation will end up being the right one. And now I wonder if literally the entire Russia collusion thing is that he wanted, and still wants, to build a Trump Tower Moscow? Like, there is no kompromat beyond that - he has just literally been trying to butter up Putin to let him put up an apartment building and also move into the best penthouse to be his neighbor and attract other rich tenants.
I mean... sure it might be something else, something more, but after all we've been through do you really think anything else is necessary to explain Trump's behavior? He would totally do it all just for that, wouldn't he?
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 6:31 PM on November 29, 2018 [39 favorites]
I agreed but I said you know, Trump is at the middle of it, so you know the most banal, stupid explanation will end up being the right one. And now I wonder if literally the entire Russia collusion thing is that he wanted, and still wants, to build a Trump Tower Moscow? Like, there is no kompromat beyond that - he has just literally been trying to butter up Putin to let him put up an apartment building and also move into the best penthouse to be his neighbor and attract other rich tenants.
I mean... sure it might be something else, something more, but after all we've been through do you really think anything else is necessary to explain Trump's behavior? He would totally do it all just for that, wouldn't he?
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 6:31 PM on November 29, 2018 [39 favorites]
Formerly-esteemed law professor Alan Dershowitz on Fox:
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:36 PM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
I think the weakness of Mueller’s substantive findings are suggested by the fact that he has to resort to false statement prosecutions, which really shows that he didn’t start with very much, and that the very fact that he’s conducting an investigation has created these crimes,” Dershowitz said. “These are not crimes that had been committed prior to his appointment, they’re crimes that were committed as the result of his appointment.”I am not a lawyer, and Professor Dershowitz is a lawyer. But I apparently have one advantage over Professor Dershowitz: I am familiar with the concept of a plea agreement in which co-operative defendants are rewarded by not being prosecuted for certain crimes. Professor Dershowitz has never heard of such a thing.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 6:36 PM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
A fascinating divide just opened up between Trump’s Supreme Court appointees and Bush’s. Roberts still has a lingering fear of judicial power. Gorsuch, not so much.
posted by homunculus at 6:42 PM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 6:42 PM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
News from Pennsylvania: "Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor is setting up a 15-member commission to look for ways to improve the state’s redistricting process....Wolf's executive order says the commission will look into what other states have done, gather public comment and recommend ways to make the process fairer." Predictable yowling ensues. (Both links PennLive.)
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:46 PM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:46 PM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
Joey Buttafoucault: I mean... sure it might be something else, something more, but after all we've been through do you really think anything else is necessary to explain Trump's behavior? He would totally do it all just for that, wouldn't he?
It's never one thing. As Twitter's Alexandra Erin says often enough to be a catchphrase: "The simplest person in the world (who may well be Donald Trump) contain multitudes." Sometimes adding "Horrible people contain horrible multitudes." In short, the motivations of Individual-1 are complex -- there's definitely a money factor, a crime-coverup factor, a desire for power, some Freudian stuff about the love withheld by his father, etc.
And speaking of both horrible multitudes and Alan Dershowitz... when we were discussing Jeffery Epstein, I don't believe anyone pointed out that he is not just an Epstein associate and legal representative but another one of the people accused of rape / forcible sex in the context of that slavery ring. Specifically by the same survivor I mentioned earlier (Virginia Roberts). Just keeping the thumbtack string updated.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:48 PM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
It's never one thing. As Twitter's Alexandra Erin says often enough to be a catchphrase: "The simplest person in the world (who may well be Donald Trump) contain multitudes." Sometimes adding "Horrible people contain horrible multitudes." In short, the motivations of Individual-1 are complex -- there's definitely a money factor, a crime-coverup factor, a desire for power, some Freudian stuff about the love withheld by his father, etc.
And speaking of both horrible multitudes and Alan Dershowitz... when we were discussing Jeffery Epstein, I don't believe anyone pointed out that he is not just an Epstein associate and legal representative but another one of the people accused of rape / forcible sex in the context of that slavery ring. Specifically by the same survivor I mentioned earlier (Virginia Roberts). Just keeping the thumbtack string updated.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:48 PM on November 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
I am not a lawyer, and Professor Dershowitz is a lawyer. But I apparently have one advantage over Professor Dershowitz: I am familiar with the concept of a plea agreement in which co-operative defendants are rewarded by not being prosecuted for certain crimes. Professor Dershowitz has never heard of such a thing.
Add to that the fact that as part of the plea deal, and the guilty plea on the 18 USC 1001 count, the defendant stipulates that all the underlying facts in the indictment are true. So, while Manafort hasn't been found or plead guilty to particular charges, he did admit that all the facts in the indictment are true.
posted by mikelieman at 6:55 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Add to that the fact that as part of the plea deal, and the guilty plea on the 18 USC 1001 count, the defendant stipulates that all the underlying facts in the indictment are true. So, while Manafort hasn't been found or plead guilty to particular charges, he did admit that all the facts in the indictment are true.
posted by mikelieman at 6:55 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
there's definitely a money factor, a crime-coverup factor, a desire for power, some Freudian stuff about the love withheld by his father, etc.
Sure, all that stuff is in play now, but I'm not talking about the cover-up factor, obstruction of justice, etc. - I'm talking about the original crime, the one for which all this cover-up is necessary. And I'm just saying, that event isn't necessarily very complicated at all, it need not be some kind of King Lear-level tragedy. It might just be a greedy attempt to make a banal property deal, a corruption "so simple that the mind is repelled." Like... all this, just for that? And the answer will be yes. Because Trump.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 7:01 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Sure, all that stuff is in play now, but I'm not talking about the cover-up factor, obstruction of justice, etc. - I'm talking about the original crime, the one for which all this cover-up is necessary. And I'm just saying, that event isn't necessarily very complicated at all, it need not be some kind of King Lear-level tragedy. It might just be a greedy attempt to make a banal property deal, a corruption "so simple that the mind is repelled." Like... all this, just for that? And the answer will be yes. Because Trump.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 7:01 PM on November 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Separated by travel ban, Iranian families reunite at border library
posted by homunculus at 7:24 PM on November 29, 2018 [42 favorites]
Estahbanati and her family had agreed to meet around 9 a.m. at the library, which through a historic anomaly straddles the U.S.-Canada border – and today has been thrust into an unlikely role as the site of emotional reunions between people separated by the administration’s immigration policies.A library straddling the Canadian border has become a haven from Trump’s travel ban
posted by homunculus at 7:24 PM on November 29, 2018 [42 favorites]
Yeah. The issue is "Money is not speech" AND "If you don't have a vote, you should not have a voice in elections."
Just my regular reminder to people that there are more than 13 million fully legal resident aliens living and working in the United States. We don't get to vote but we should at least damn well get to have a voice.
posted by srboisvert at 7:25 PM on November 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
Just my regular reminder to people that there are more than 13 million fully legal resident aliens living and working in the United States. We don't get to vote but we should at least damn well get to have a voice.
posted by srboisvert at 7:25 PM on November 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
Add to that the fact that as part of the plea deal, and the guilty plea on the 18 USC 1001 count, the defendant stipulates that all the underlying facts in the indictment are true. So, while Manafort hasn't been found or plead guilty to particular charges, he did admit that all the facts in the indictment are true.
"That was all just locker-room lawyering".
[does this have to happen for me to get to eat cake?]
posted by srboisvert at 7:28 PM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
"That was all just locker-room lawyering".
[does this have to happen for me to get to eat cake?]
posted by srboisvert at 7:28 PM on November 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Just my regular reminder to people that there are more than 13 million fully legal resident aliens living and working in the United States. We don't get to vote but we should at least damn well get to have a voice.
I thought of that, hence my qualification "in elections". Only people with the right to vote should participate in any way IN ELECTIONS. As long as it's not electioneering, advocate for whatever you want to.
posted by mikelieman at 7:34 PM on November 29, 2018
I thought of that, hence my qualification "in elections". Only people with the right to vote should participate in any way IN ELECTIONS. As long as it's not electioneering, advocate for whatever you want to.
posted by mikelieman at 7:34 PM on November 29, 2018
It really looks like there were serious shenanigans in North Carolina's 9th district, a congressional seat that the Republican won by 905 votes. And by shenanigans, I mean coordinated voter fraud involving absentee ballots:
The sad thing is that this was done by a Republican and couldn't have been prevented with voter ID laws, but it's still going to strengthen Republican attempts at voter suppression.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:38 PM on November 29, 2018 [56 favorites]
Wallace [a Democratic spokesperson] went on to say a review of public records “confirms that serious irregularities and improprieties may have occurred.” Bladen County had the highest percentage of absentee ballot requests in the state. There, 7.5 percent of registered voters requested absentee ballots. In most counties it was less than 3 percent.The Democrats have collected affidavits from voters who say that a woman knocked on their door and said that she was assigned to collect absentee ballots, and they gave her their unsealed ballots. It's illegal for a third party to collect absentee ballots in North Carolina.
An analysis by Catawba College political scientist Michael Bitzer suggested more aberrations.
In seven of the eight counties in the 9th District, for example, McCready won a lopsided majority of the mailed-in absentee ballots. But not in Bladen County. There, Republican Mark Harris won 61 percent even though registered Republicans accounted for only 19 percent of the county’s accepted absentee ballots.
Unaffiliated voters accounted for 39 percent. Bitzer said Harris’ margin “could potentially come from all those unaffiliated voters.”
“But to have each and every one of those unaffiliated voters vote Republican, that’s pretty astonishing,” he added. “If that’s the case, there’s a very concerted effort to use that method to one candidate’s advantage. . . . But at that level there’s something else beyond a concerted effort that could be at work.”
The sad thing is that this was done by a Republican and couldn't have been prevented with voter ID laws, but it's still going to strengthen Republican attempts at voter suppression.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:38 PM on November 29, 2018 [56 favorites]
NYT, Federal Employees Are Warned Not to Discuss Trump ‘Resistance’ at Work
posted by zachlipton at 7:43 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Generally, federal employees have been free to express opinions about policies and legislative activity at work as long as they do not advocate voting for or against particular candidates in partisan elections. But in a guidance document distributed on Wednesday, the independent agency that enforces the Hatch Act, a law that bars federal employees from taking part in partisan political campaigns at work or in an official capacity, warned that making or displaying statements at work about impeaching or resisting Mr. Trump is likely to amount to illegal political activity.You can read the new guidance, which instructs employees on whether strong criticism or praise of administration activities, advocacy for/against impeachment, and anything to do with "the Resistance" is considered political activity under the Hatch Act.
The guidance was issued by the Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency that enforces the Hatch Act, including by investigating complaints of improper political activity and recommending discipline — like a reprimand or firing — for violators. The agency also enforces the Hatch Act against state and local government officials whose salaries come from federal grants.
...
Several legal specialists raised concerns about the new guidance, warning that it would intimidate people into avoiding even casual discussions with colleagues that should not be deemed banned by the statute.
“A large number of federal employees voted for Trump, but even they may disagree with him on specific policies and want to express that,” said J. Ward Morrow, assistant general counsel for the American Federation of Government Employees, a union that represents about 700,000 such workers. He added, “If they are going to go after anyone who mentions the word ‘impeachment’ in emails to co-workers, that will be overreach.”
Daniel Jacobson, who fielded Hatch Act questions as a White House lawyer in the Obama administration, called the new interpretation “overly broad,” collapsing expressions of opposition or support for Mr. Trump’s actions into campaign activity, even when the speaker is not thinking about the 2020 campaign.
posted by zachlipton at 7:43 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
I mean... sure it might be something else, something more, but after all we've been through do you really think anything else is necessary to explain Trump's behavior? He would totally do it all just for that, wouldn't he?
Don't forget the years of money laundering Trump was doing for the oligarchs. It saved Trump, and put him into Putin's pocket in the first place.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:51 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Don't forget the years of money laundering Trump was doing for the oligarchs. It saved Trump, and put him into Putin's pocket in the first place.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:51 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
I haven't read this anywhere per se, but the obvious deal seems to have been: Russia(n oligarchs/mobsters) launder lots of money through Deutsche Bank, in return for the Bank agreeing to finance Trump when no legit bank would agree to do so.
Can anyone verify or refute this? (at least as a theory, I realize there is no solid proof out there). Thx
posted by msalt at 7:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Can anyone verify or refute this? (at least as a theory, I realize there is no solid proof out there). Thx
posted by msalt at 7:54 PM on November 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
How could Trump even hope to build in Moscow? The idea is absurd! The whole point of Russians financing his operation and buying his condos is to get their money OUT of Russia. Can you imagine the laughs they have behind his back? (In addition to every other reason.)
posted by M-x shell at 7:59 PM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 7:59 PM on November 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
NYT, Federal Employees Are Warned Not to Discuss Trump ‘Resistance’ at Work
Oh, so now they care about the Hatch Act?
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:00 PM on November 29, 2018 [46 favorites]
Oh, so now they care about the Hatch Act?
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:00 PM on November 29, 2018 [46 favorites]
I'll be making a point to wear some resist-type flair to my job at a federal agency tomorrow.
posted by runcibleshaw at 8:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by runcibleshaw at 8:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [36 favorites]
I think it's more likely Trump went to DB because it was the bank laundering Russian mob money, which Trump was also laundering and soliciting. Not any explicit quid quo pro. At least not for the banking.
Also let's never forget Anthony Kennedy's son was a Vice President of Deutsche Bank. Seems legit.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [33 favorites]
Also let's never forget Anthony Kennedy's son was a Vice President of Deutsche Bank. Seems legit.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [33 favorites]
You can read the new guidance, which instructs employees on whether strong criticism or praise of administration activities, advocacy for/against impeachment, and anything to do with "the Resistance" is considered political activity under the Hatch Act.
I expect that this will be in court like, tomorrow.
posted by mikelieman at 8:48 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
I expect that this will be in court like, tomorrow.
posted by mikelieman at 8:48 PM on November 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
How could Trump even hope to build in Moscow? The idea is absurd! The whole point of Russians financing his operation and buying his condos is to get their money OUT of Russia. Can you imagine the laughs they have behind his back? (In addition to every other reason.)
But soaking him for permits and construction and everything else and actually forcing him to pay up for once with kompromat, only to leave him holding a failing project, would be icing on the cake.
posted by jason_steakums at 9:00 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
But soaking him for permits and construction and everything else and actually forcing him to pay up for once with kompromat, only to leave him holding a failing project, would be icing on the cake.
posted by jason_steakums at 9:00 PM on November 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
But soaking him for permits and construction and everything else and actually forcing him to pay up for once with kompromat, only to leave him holding a failing project, would be icing on the cake.
I did not think it would be possible, but the apparent narrative -- that it was all about just another totally fucked up real-estate deal -- actually makes me breath easier. It's still all fucked up, but it's not fucked up in unimaginable ways any longer.
N.B.: I've worked in Insurance and Finance in NY long enough to really KNOW these personality types. This is grounding for me. "Donnie from Queens, you're on the line."
posted by mikelieman at 9:15 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
I did not think it would be possible, but the apparent narrative -- that it was all about just another totally fucked up real-estate deal -- actually makes me breath easier. It's still all fucked up, but it's not fucked up in unimaginable ways any longer.
N.B.: I've worked in Insurance and Finance in NY long enough to really KNOW these personality types. This is grounding for me. "Donnie from Queens, you're on the line."
posted by mikelieman at 9:15 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Renee DiResta on the digital maginot line:
>This particular manifestation of ongoing conflict was something the social networks didn’t expect. Cyberwar, most people thought, would be fought over infrastructure — armies of state-sponsored hackers and the occasional international crime syndicate infiltrating networks and exfiltrating secrets, or taking over critical systems. That’s what governments prepared and hired for; it’s what defense and intelligence agencies got good at. It’s what CSOs built their teams to handle.
...
>The entities best suited to mitigate the threat of any given emerging tactic will always be the platforms themselves, because they can move fast when so inclined or incentivized. The problem is that many of the mitigation strategies advanced by the platforms are the information integrity version of greenwashing; they’re a kind of digital security theater, the TSA of information warfare. Creating better reporting tools, for example, is not actually a meaningful solution for mitigating literal incitements to genocide. Malignant actors currently have safe harbor in closed communities; they can act with impunity so long as they don’t provoke the crowd into reporting them — they simply have to be smart enough to stay ahead of crowd-driven redressal mechanisms. Meanwhile, technology companies have plausible denial of complicity because they added a new field to the “report abuse” button.
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 9:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
>This particular manifestation of ongoing conflict was something the social networks didn’t expect. Cyberwar, most people thought, would be fought over infrastructure — armies of state-sponsored hackers and the occasional international crime syndicate infiltrating networks and exfiltrating secrets, or taking over critical systems. That’s what governments prepared and hired for; it’s what defense and intelligence agencies got good at. It’s what CSOs built their teams to handle.
...
>The entities best suited to mitigate the threat of any given emerging tactic will always be the platforms themselves, because they can move fast when so inclined or incentivized. The problem is that many of the mitigation strategies advanced by the platforms are the information integrity version of greenwashing; they’re a kind of digital security theater, the TSA of information warfare. Creating better reporting tools, for example, is not actually a meaningful solution for mitigating literal incitements to genocide. Malignant actors currently have safe harbor in closed communities; they can act with impunity so long as they don’t provoke the crowd into reporting them — they simply have to be smart enough to stay ahead of crowd-driven redressal mechanisms. Meanwhile, technology companies have plausible denial of complicity because they added a new field to the “report abuse” button.
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 9:16 PM on November 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
The favour that Cohen did 12 years ago was to hook him up to grubby ex-USSR money. That reply this morning was kidding on the square. We're at the point right now where the walls are closing in and he's simultaneously daring everyone to state the obvious: that after his utter failure with the casino business, which involved something approximating (or simulating) legitimate business activities, he threw himself at the Russian mob and has been in hock to it ever since.
posted by holgate at 9:56 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by holgate at 9:56 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
The idea is absurd! The whole point of Russians financing his operation and buying his condos is to get their money OUT of Russia.
The Baku operation was a dirty money exercise. As Adam Davidson, the author of that piece, said today, any significant Moscow development is "almost by definition, part of a money laundering scheme." Laundering can include extracting money from public (or private!) sources for personal profit; it isn't just about crossing borders and jurisdictions.
posted by holgate at 10:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
The Baku operation was a dirty money exercise. As Adam Davidson, the author of that piece, said today, any significant Moscow development is "almost by definition, part of a money laundering scheme." Laundering can include extracting money from public (or private!) sources for personal profit; it isn't just about crossing borders and jurisdictions.
posted by holgate at 10:02 PM on November 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
There is a front-page post on the "Digital Maginot Line" article.
posted by Nerd of the North at 10:23 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Nerd of the North at 10:23 PM on November 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
FWIW, NC-09 and some other late breaking election stuff still getting updated in Election Day Thread #2.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:24 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:24 PM on November 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Fun fact: Of the seven top jobs in Dem House leadership, only one is filled by a straight white guy.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:30 PM on November 29, 2018 [59 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:30 PM on November 29, 2018 [59 favorites]
In 2010, there were about 1.5 progressives for each Blue Dog. In 2019: 4 to 1.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:42 PM on November 29, 2018 [44 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:42 PM on November 29, 2018 [44 favorites]
Doktor Zed: " The possibility of Acosta heading the DoJ, potentially as a quid pro quo for his negotiations with Epstein, is the only thing that keeps this scandal from sinking out of the collective memory (at the very least mine)."
Acosta now out of the running for DOJ.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:44 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
Acosta now out of the running for DOJ.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:44 PM on November 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
Two from the WaPo about inspectors general investigations that have been put to bed:
Interior watchdog clears Zinke in probe of Utah national monument. The Interior IG found no evidence that the borders of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument were improperly redrawn to favor pro-Trump Utah state Rep Mike Noel.
EPA watchdog closes two probes into Scott Pruitt’s conduct, citing his resignation. The EPA IG rules two investigations "inconclusive" because Pruitt quit before being interviewed. The two investigations were into his sweetheart condo rental from a lobbyist and misuse of his staff including his wife's job search, mattress shopping, his security detail running errands for him, and searching for new housing.
posted by peeedro at 10:51 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Interior watchdog clears Zinke in probe of Utah national monument. The Interior IG found no evidence that the borders of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument were improperly redrawn to favor pro-Trump Utah state Rep Mike Noel.
EPA watchdog closes two probes into Scott Pruitt’s conduct, citing his resignation. The EPA IG rules two investigations "inconclusive" because Pruitt quit before being interviewed. The two investigations were into his sweetheart condo rental from a lobbyist and misuse of his staff including his wife's job search, mattress shopping, his security detail running errands for him, and searching for new housing.
posted by peeedro at 10:51 PM on November 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
EPA watchdog closes two probes into Scott Pruitt’s conduct, citing his resignation. The EPA IG rules two investigations "inconclusive" because Pruitt quit before being interviewed. The two investigations were into his sweetheart condo rental from a lobbyist and misuse of his staff including his wife's job search, mattress shopping, his security detail running errands for him, and searching for new housing.
Apparently it is ok to break the law at work as long as you quit before you get caught. I am going to keep this in mind.
posted by Literaryhero at 11:55 PM on November 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
Apparently it is ok to break the law at work as long as you quit before you get caught. I am going to keep this in mind.
posted by Literaryhero at 11:55 PM on November 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
I am going to keep this in mind.
Wait, are you both white and rich?
(if so, I have an alt-coin investment opportunity for you that is guaranteed to blow up 1000% after launch!!)
posted by aramaic at 11:58 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Wait, are you both white and rich?
(if so, I have an alt-coin investment opportunity for you that is guaranteed to blow up 1000% after launch!!)
posted by aramaic at 11:58 PM on November 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump Oh, I get it! I am a very good developer, happily living my life, when I see our Country going in the wrong direction (to put it mildly). Against all odds, I decide to run for President & continue to run my business-very legal & very cool, talked about it on the campaign trail....Lightly looked at doing a building somewhere in Russia. Put up zero money, zero guarantees and didn’t do the project. Witch Hunt!
posted by scalefree at 2:06 AM on November 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 2:06 AM on November 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
Lightly looked at doing a building somewhere in Russia....
Is that like doing some light treason?
posted by PenDevil at 2:09 AM on November 30, 2018 [95 favorites]
Is that like doing some light treason?
posted by PenDevil at 2:09 AM on November 30, 2018 [95 favorites]
It's 5am on his body (7am in Argentina), so he's clearly having a very normal one. Of course, this was all so "very legal & very cool" that his lawyer committed a crime by trying to cover it up, and it was so talked about on the campaign trail this incredibly unconfident piece of video is what happened when his campaign chair was asked about it.
@brianbeutler: Getting comically/uncomfortably close to 'may have committed some light treason.'
posted by zachlipton at 2:09 AM on November 30, 2018 [55 favorites]
@brianbeutler: Getting comically/uncomfortably close to 'may have committed some light treason.'
posted by zachlipton at 2:09 AM on November 30, 2018 [55 favorites]
We're at the point right now where the walls are closing in and he's simultaneously daring everyone to state the obvious: that after his utter failure with the casino business, which involved something approximating (or simulating) legitimate business activities, he threw himself at the Russian mob and has been in hock to it ever since.
This is a good moment to link to this comment made here back in May, which refers to Trump's recent spending on loss-making properties, particularly on two golf courses in Ireland and Scotland. There's also this article from January, covering US Congress questions about the links between the golf courses and Russian money.
As an aside, on the day that the metafilter comment was posted, I was at the Doonbeg golf course attending a wedding.
posted by daveje at 2:52 AM on November 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is a good moment to link to this comment made here back in May, which refers to Trump's recent spending on loss-making properties, particularly on two golf courses in Ireland and Scotland. There's also this article from January, covering US Congress questions about the links between the golf courses and Russian money.
As an aside, on the day that the metafilter comment was posted, I was at the Doonbeg golf course attending a wedding.
posted by daveje at 2:52 AM on November 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Put up zero money, zero guarantees" ... add something assault something abuse and that's the very essence of Trumpism, from the snake's own mouth.
Who wouldn't jump at the chance to do a deal with/vote for/marry/lightly collude with such a fellow!
posted by riverlife at 4:21 AM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Who wouldn't jump at the chance to do a deal with/vote for/marry/lightly collude with such a fellow!
posted by riverlife at 4:21 AM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
That is a super weird tweet from @realDonaldTrump, which is saying something. The Trump or Not Bot rates only 80%/43% probability of authorship. (On the flight over, @realDonaldTrump was devoted to shilling sycophantic books and reiterating reliably reassuring Fox commentators such as Alan Dershowitz and Gregg Jarrett.)
CNN's Michelle Kosinski “Source: Trump headed to the G20 in a "terrible mood," "spooked and completely distracted." Has downgraded some bilateral meetings that he didn't want to do in the first place, feeling "there's nothing in them for him."”
"Spooked" is a good description of that tweet.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:43 AM on November 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
CNN's Michelle Kosinski “Source: Trump headed to the G20 in a "terrible mood," "spooked and completely distracted." Has downgraded some bilateral meetings that he didn't want to do in the first place, feeling "there's nothing in them for him."”
"Spooked" is a good description of that tweet.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:43 AM on November 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Washington Post: [DC] Metro was willing to work with Jason Kessler to provide special treatment for ‘Unite the Right’ rallygoers, emails show
posted by zombieflanders at 4:50 AM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 4:50 AM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
OMG.
I just had a thought about Manafort's plea agreement.
Section 12 (Forfeiture) subsection e reads,
Happy Friday, everybody!
posted by mikelieman at 5:37 AM on November 30, 2018 [35 favorites]
I just had a thought about Manafort's plea agreement.
Section 12 (Forfeiture) subsection e reads,
e) Your client understands that the United States may institute civil or administrative forfeiture proceedings against all forfeitable property [emphasis mine] in which your client has an interest, including the Forfeited Assets...Not just the 46 million dollars of assets, the "Forfeited Assets", but ALL forfeitable assets. Which can't be pardoned. Instead of protecting his families assets, he just gave them all to the Feds.
Happy Friday, everybody!
posted by mikelieman at 5:37 AM on November 30, 2018 [35 favorites]
This Just In, Something We've Known For Years (but is still fun to see blow up)
Trump Gave Russia Leverage Over His Presidency (Atlantic)
Shortly after President Donald Trump was inaugurated, he gave a combative press conference at which he was asked by a reporter, “I was just hoping that we could get a yes or no answer on these questions involving Russia. Can you say if you are aware that anyone who advised your campaign had contacts with Russia during the course of the election?”
In reply, Trump lied to the American public. “Russia is a ruse. I have nothing to do with Russia. Haven’t made a phone call to Russia in years. Don’t speak to people from Russia,” he said. “… I have nothing to do with Russia. To the best of my knowledge, no person that I deal with does.
As it would turn out, that was merely the beginning of their leverage. In September 2017, Donald Trump Jr. gave sworn Senate testimony that may be contradicted by Thursday’s revelations, raising the prospect that the Russians have been in possession of evidence suggesting that the president’s son may have committed a felony. And once Cohen lied to Congress about the matter, the Russians were in a position to expose the unlawful behavior of Trump’s personal attorney.”
posted by petebest at 5:46 AM on November 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
Trump Gave Russia Leverage Over His Presidency (Atlantic)
Shortly after President Donald Trump was inaugurated, he gave a combative press conference at which he was asked by a reporter, “I was just hoping that we could get a yes or no answer on these questions involving Russia. Can you say if you are aware that anyone who advised your campaign had contacts with Russia during the course of the election?”
In reply, Trump lied to the American public. “Russia is a ruse. I have nothing to do with Russia. Haven’t made a phone call to Russia in years. Don’t speak to people from Russia,” he said. “… I have nothing to do with Russia. To the best of my knowledge, no person that I deal with does.
As it would turn out, that was merely the beginning of their leverage. In September 2017, Donald Trump Jr. gave sworn Senate testimony that may be contradicted by Thursday’s revelations, raising the prospect that the Russians have been in possession of evidence suggesting that the president’s son may have committed a felony. And once Cohen lied to Congress about the matter, the Russians were in a position to expose the unlawful behavior of Trump’s personal attorney.”
posted by petebest at 5:46 AM on November 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
Laundering can include extracting money from public (or private!) sources for personal profit; it isn't just about crossing borders and jurisdictions
Sure but they don't need the Donald for that. So all he'd be doing is selling his name for the sign at the top, and is that something they'd even want?
posted by M-x shell at 5:51 AM on November 30, 2018
Sure but they don't need the Donald for that. So all he'd be doing is selling his name for the sign at the top, and is that something they'd even want?
posted by M-x shell at 5:51 AM on November 30, 2018
More from the Post: No talk of ‘the Resistance’ or opinions about impeachment at work, federal employees are warned
As noted in the article, this almost certainly exceeds the legal scope of the Hatch Act, and has the potential to be used to purge the federal workforce.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:58 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
As noted in the article, this almost certainly exceeds the legal scope of the Hatch Act, and has the potential to be used to purge the federal workforce.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:58 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
The way seemingly everyone in Trump's administration seems to have (predictably) hit the ground running and gone amok when it comes to corruption and venality after his election reminds me of a quote by Russian hockey goalie Ilya Bryzgalov after Canada crushed his team in the Vancouver winter Olympics semi-final: “They came like gorillas coming out of a cage.”
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:10 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:10 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
A giant Trump baby blimp that the president says makes him 'feel unwelcome' has followed him to the G20 summit in Argentina (Business Insider)
Meanwhile, actual giant baby Donald Trump formally signed the new NAFTA agreement with the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Daniel Dale live-tweets/fact-checks Trump's remarks. e.g. “Trump reads from his text: “All of our countries will benefit greatly." Trump ad-libs a lie: "It is probably the largest trade deal ever made, also.” It is way smaller than the TPP, which included these three countries and nine others.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:12 AM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Meanwhile, actual giant baby Donald Trump formally signed the new NAFTA agreement with the leaders of Canada and Mexico. Daniel Dale live-tweets/fact-checks Trump's remarks. e.g. “Trump reads from his text: “All of our countries will benefit greatly." Trump ad-libs a lie: "It is probably the largest trade deal ever made, also.” It is way smaller than the TPP, which included these three countries and nine others.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:12 AM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
.. and but the worst part seems to me that the Resistors and impeachment talkers are already well identified in offices and workplaces most likely..
posted by bird internet at 6:14 AM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by bird internet at 6:14 AM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
.. and but the worst part seems to me that the Resistors and impeachment talkers are already well identified in offices and workplaces most likely..
In any other administration, guidance like this is like Dad shouting up the stairs "EVERYBODY STOP CLOMPING AROUND UP THERE!" -- Dad knows that not everybody is clomping around up there but doesn't want the other kids to pile on that one with "Ooooh, Timmy's in trooouuuble...".
In this administration, guidance like this is like Dad shouting "EVERYBODY HAS PERMISSION TO PILE ON TIMMY NOW!"
posted by Etrigan at 6:27 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
In any other administration, guidance like this is like Dad shouting up the stairs "EVERYBODY STOP CLOMPING AROUND UP THERE!" -- Dad knows that not everybody is clomping around up there but doesn't want the other kids to pile on that one with "Ooooh, Timmy's in trooouuuble...".
In this administration, guidance like this is like Dad shouting "EVERYBODY HAS PERMISSION TO PILE ON TIMMY NOW!"
posted by Etrigan at 6:27 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
The document lists "anticipated Democratic activity," derived from what it says is a list kept by Meadows’s office of the 64 subpoena requests denied to Democrats during GOP control. The list includes: Democratic efforts to obtain administration documents the separation of migrant children from their undocumented parents at the Mexican border; the White House withholding documents on personal email used by top aides; and alleged conflicts of interest by Trump family members.
I love the way this article comes right out and says "here are three reprehensible and possibly illegal things Meadows has been helping Trump cover up."
posted by Gelatin at 6:51 AM on November 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
I love the way this article comes right out and says "here are three reprehensible and possibly illegal things Meadows has been helping Trump cover up."
posted by Gelatin at 6:51 AM on November 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Oh, so now they care about the Hatch Act?
The Hatch act has always been selectively-enforced unconstitutional trash that purports to solve a problem that could simply be dealt with via normal HR mechanisms. Making political calls on company time from your desk? You're derelict in duty and should simply be fired for that. Unfortunately it's also an example of criminal law that, once on the books, nobody has the political will to go to bat for removing.
posted by phearlez at 7:06 AM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Hatch act has always been selectively-enforced unconstitutional trash that purports to solve a problem that could simply be dealt with via normal HR mechanisms. Making political calls on company time from your desk? You're derelict in duty and should simply be fired for that. Unfortunately it's also an example of criminal law that, once on the books, nobody has the political will to go to bat for removing.
posted by phearlez at 7:06 AM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
So now when he executes this....uh, "strategy" is I guess a word that could apply, broadly speaking...Democrats can hold up a copy of the document and point out that he's just reading off a script he wrote before the new Congress even started.
And I should hope to kiss a duck they do, because otherwise the so-called "liberal media" will pretend Meadows' complaints are made in good faith, and amplify them in the name of "balance."
posted by Gelatin at 7:08 AM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
And I should hope to kiss a duck they do, because otherwise the so-called "liberal media" will pretend Meadows' complaints are made in good faith, and amplify them in the name of "balance."
posted by Gelatin at 7:08 AM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
PIC Naco, Arizona - 1979. Volleyball game between Mexican and U.S. citizens, using the border fence as a net.
posted by adept256 at 7:14 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 7:14 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
zachlipton: Describe the Democrats’ subpoenas as unreasonable, overly broad, onerous and designed to embarrass Trump.
Protip: to avoid being embarrassed by others, don't do "embarrassing" things ... like being a Russian stooge and a traitor to your country, while denigrating and jailing minorities, particularly minority children.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:19 AM on November 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
Protip: to avoid being embarrassed by others, don't do "embarrassing" things ... like being a Russian stooge and a traitor to your country, while denigrating and jailing minorities, particularly minority children.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:19 AM on November 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
maybe the truth is that the Real President has been Fox News all along.
Corporations are people, my friends.
Rosalind Helderman is asking questions about another Cohen-Sater entanglement and its relation to Michael Flynn, due to be sentenced next week:
Corporations are people, my friends.
Rosalind Helderman is asking questions about another Cohen-Sater entanglement and its relation to Michael Flynn, due to be sentenced next week:
In Jan 2017, Sater arranged for Cohen to meet in New York with a Ukrainian lawmaker who gave Cohen a secret peace proposal for Ukraine, which just happened to include a path for Russia to gain longterm control of Crimea (and get sanctions lifted).posted by octobersurprise at 7:22 AM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
What happened to that plan, which Sater gave Cohen in an envelope? An interesting question. Cohen told @thamburger and me that he took the unopened envelope to his New York apartment and threw it in the trash.
But the New York Times said Cohen told them he brought it to Washington and left it in the office of one Michael Flynn, just days before Flynn resigned. And Sater told us likewise that Cohen had told him that he planned to get the plan to Flynn.
That conflict has always bugged me. Mueller certainly explored it. The Ukrainian lawmaker said earlier this year that he was questioned extensively about it in front of the Mueller grand jury in June. So maybe we'll learn more next week.
REAL
@realDonaldTrump @AgalarovAras I had a great weekend with you and your family. You have done a FANTASTIC job. TRUMP TOWER-MOSCOW is next. EMIN was WOW!
10:39 AM - 11 Nov 2013
posted by scalefree at 7:26 AM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump @AgalarovAras I had a great weekend with you and your family. You have done a FANTASTIC job. TRUMP TOWER-MOSCOW is next. EMIN was WOW!
10:39 AM - 11 Nov 2013
posted by scalefree at 7:26 AM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
adept256: "PIC Naco, Arizona - 1979. Volleyball game between Mexican and U.S. citizens, using the border fence as a net."
Apparently an annual thing.
posted by Mitheral at 7:26 AM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Apparently an annual thing.
posted by Mitheral at 7:26 AM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Yesterday, Playboy WH correspondent Brian Karem: “From a WH source: "I really believed POTUS didn't have Russian business ties - until today."” and “Also from a WH Source: "Resumes and subpoenas are probably circulating."”
Moscow Project fellow Max Bergmann observes: “Most in the Nixon WH didn’t believe he did it until the tapes came out. This is why relying on WH sources for their take on a criminal conspiracy they aren’t involved in s/d be avoided. It’s not like the WH has all staff meetings to debrief on Trump’s criminal conspiracy.”
The New Yorker's Adam Davidson offers a thread on new coverage of old Trump scandals, shifting opinions, and the approaching endgame:
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:27 AM on November 30, 2018 [51 favorites]
Moscow Project fellow Max Bergmann observes: “Most in the Nixon WH didn’t believe he did it until the tapes came out. This is why relying on WH sources for their take on a criminal conspiracy they aren’t involved in s/d be avoided. It’s not like the WH has all staff meetings to debrief on Trump’s criminal conspiracy.”
The New Yorker's Adam Davidson offers a thread on new coverage of old Trump scandals, shifting opinions, and the approaching endgame:
The last 24 hours of Cohen coverage feels like strong evidence for the idea that Trump's vulnerability doesn't [lie] in some bombshell new information.* emphasis added, because what's old news in the megathreads is breaking news for the mainstream.
He is most vulnerable when the things we already know grab the nation's attention.*
Nearly every piece of information about Cohen and the Trump Tower Moscow was revealed by @BuzzFeed's @a_cormier_ and @JasonLeopold months ago. But it took the plea deal for the news to pop. There are many other such already known items out there that WILL pop one day.
Anyone engaging @ProPublica's and @WNYC's Panama coverage can't help but see the Trump Tower Moscow as part of a likely criminal enterprise. The bombshell @nytimes report on Trump and Tax's is more devastating than almost anything, revealing the whole business was fraud. My own work on other international deals shows that it was more than poor due diligence. Trump worked with truly dangerous, scary people.
My sense is most reporters who focus on Trump's business see him as incredibly vulnerable once the things we already know truly land. DC reporters--White House reporters, intel reporters--seem to be far more cautious. They are more skeptical of the importance of these revelations and doubt that anything substantive will happen to Trump. Among reporters, it's NY Vs. DC.
I'm siding with NY, with the people who think that the next few months will be devastating for Trump. And I think we--the NY-based Trump business reporters--know much more about the actual material concerns that scare Trump. Though, to be fair, the DC folks know more about how such concerns actually make their way through Congress and what range of actions are possible.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:27 AM on November 30, 2018 [51 favorites]
Politico Congressional correspondant Kyle Cheney:
Biggest news of the morning: Prosecutors are considering retrying Manafort on the 10 charges that resulted in a hung jury in Virginia in August.posted by murphy slaw at 7:27 AM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
They’re also still weighing whether to file new charges based on what they say is Manafort’s breach of the plea agreement.
“Until today”? Willful ignorance is a hell of a drug.
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:28 AM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:28 AM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
Speaking of Rosalind Helderman, this WaPost profile of Felix Sater from May 17, 2016 that she wrote with Tom Hamburger is stunning given yesterday's news.
Based on the Michael Cohen plea documents and Buzzfeed's reporting based on Cohen-Sater texts, May 17th falls directly between Sater passing on an invitation to Cohen (from Peskov) to attend "Russian Davos" (phone call May 3rd), and Sater telling Cohen that he is prepping visa documents for the both of them (May 19th).
All the while, Sater is spilling his guts to the Washington Post about the failed Trump Tower Moscow deal of 2005-2008.
Sorry, edited, pressed post too soon.
posted by pjenks at 7:33 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Based on the Michael Cohen plea documents and Buzzfeed's reporting based on Cohen-Sater texts, May 17th falls directly between Sater passing on an invitation to Cohen (from Peskov) to attend "Russian Davos" (phone call May 3rd), and Sater telling Cohen that he is prepping visa documents for the both of them (May 19th).
All the while, Sater is spilling his guts to the Washington Post about the failed Trump Tower Moscow deal of 2005-2008.
Sorry, edited, pressed post too soon.
posted by pjenks at 7:33 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
“Until today”? Willful ignorance is a hell of a drug.
Willful ignorance is doubtless the drug of the Trump White House rank and file and his Capitol Hill allies (or at least what they'll cop to). They'll keep denying and denying until the facts are incontrovertible and unavoidable. The problem, however, is that Fox News, wingnut Twitter/Facebook, and all the rest of the rightwing epistemic closure enablers will prop up Trump for much, much longer than Nixon survived in similar circumstances.
Meanwhile, Mueller will continue to attempt to bypass their signal-jamming by concentrating on "speaking indictments" and other court filings.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:42 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Willful ignorance is doubtless the drug of the Trump White House rank and file and his Capitol Hill allies (or at least what they'll cop to). They'll keep denying and denying until the facts are incontrovertible and unavoidable. The problem, however, is that Fox News, wingnut Twitter/Facebook, and all the rest of the rightwing epistemic closure enablers will prop up Trump for much, much longer than Nixon survived in similar circumstances.
Meanwhile, Mueller will continue to attempt to bypass their signal-jamming by concentrating on "speaking indictments" and other court filings.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:42 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
“This is the first and only proposal before Congress to mandate they create a plan to transition our economy and society to stop climate change on a timeline that doesn’t condemn my generation to a chaotic and unstable future.” - @LaurenMaunus
posted by The Whelk at 7:42 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 7:42 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
There's no saving coal from ... itself: Trump tried to rescue coal. Instead, coal capacity retirements doubled in 2018 -- Coal consumption around the world is the next big problem to tackle. (Megan Geuss for Ars Technica, Nov. 29, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:42 AM on November 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
In 2018, 14.3 gigawatts (GW) of coal-fired capacity was retired, up from 7GW retired in 2017. That constitutes the second-biggest year for coal-fired capacity retirement since 2015, according to new research from S&P Global Market Intelligence. In 2015, 14.7GW of coal-fired capacity was retired.2020 Dems: buy out coal companies and retrain the miners and related employees (WaPo Op Ed by Stephen L. Kass, June 3, 2016) -- and maintain whatever coal mining is necessary for U.S. steel production, but with better safety regulations (CDC.gov).
The Trump administration campaigned on its ability to save coal by cutting back Obama-era regulations. But in 2017, a Department of Energy-commissioned report gave the administration some bad news: environmental regulations aren’t what’s killing coal—economics are. According to a recent report from market research firm Lazard on the leveled cost of energy, building new renewable energy is currently cheaper than paying marginal costs for many coal plants. And innovations in fracking have dropped the cost of US natural gas far below that of coal.
As the US coal fleet ages, utilities and energy companies are incentivized to replace old coal plants with natural gas plants and renewable energy.
S&P Global says that an additional 23.1GW of coal plant capacity has been announced to be retired between 2019 and 2024, for a total of 71.9GW of retirements or planned retirements between 2014 and 2024. "The analysis shows about 245.6GW of current operating coal plant capacity in the US," S&P Global wrote.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:42 AM on November 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
I'm siding with NY, with the people who think that the next few months will be devastating for Trump. And I think we--the NY-based Trump business reporters--know much more about the actual material concerns that scare Trump.
My quibble here is how we define devastating. Because will this make Trump anxious, prone to lash out, upset, etc? Sure. Will it turn into actual consequences for him between now and 2020? I'm not sure. Two years ago Iwould might have believed there might be a point at which the Senate would actually take action. Now I'm more firmly in the camp of thinking that the Senate Rs have the same problem with Trump supporters that they've had for a number of years with their abortion/evangelical/christianist camp - they might not actually want to embrace their more extreme adherents, but they can't win an election without them. This has been a millstone around their Presidential neck for a long time but it's come to be one at the state level too. Maybe a Senator could get elected in the general without that extremist bunch in the reddest of states, but they wouldn't survive a primary. In less red states you subsequently lose to a Dem.
Now they have that issue with Trumpists too. Take any action against Trump before his adherents turn on him and you're doomed.
So what's the vulnerability? I guess state level stuff he can't pardon his way out of, but then we set up a fight about whether anyone can do anything to him before he leaves. Obviously he'll have the Senate on his side in that fight because see above. With less than two years till the next election and given the speed the courts work it seems to me like it's not a reach to think they keep spinning the plates till then.
“Until today”? Willful ignorance is a hell of a drug.
The view from inside the cult is way different than from outside. I don't have any sympathy left for anyone still hooked to that wagon train but I don't find it all that surprising or even enraging that they can have such a different view from there. Abusers/gaslighters spin a pretty comprehensive illusion for the people they have inside their orbit. Anyone who has ever dated a toxic person has probably experienced it too - no matter what you're hearing from other folks about what's really going on, when you've bought into the help help I'm being oppressed lie from the craphound it's easy to just dismiss anything contrary as hateful nonsense.
posted by phearlez at 7:44 AM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
My quibble here is how we define devastating. Because will this make Trump anxious, prone to lash out, upset, etc? Sure. Will it turn into actual consequences for him between now and 2020? I'm not sure. Two years ago I
Now they have that issue with Trumpists too. Take any action against Trump before his adherents turn on him and you're doomed.
So what's the vulnerability? I guess state level stuff he can't pardon his way out of, but then we set up a fight about whether anyone can do anything to him before he leaves. Obviously he'll have the Senate on his side in that fight because see above. With less than two years till the next election and given the speed the courts work it seems to me like it's not a reach to think they keep spinning the plates till then.
“Until today”? Willful ignorance is a hell of a drug.
The view from inside the cult is way different than from outside. I don't have any sympathy left for anyone still hooked to that wagon train but I don't find it all that surprising or even enraging that they can have such a different view from there. Abusers/gaslighters spin a pretty comprehensive illusion for the people they have inside their orbit. Anyone who has ever dated a toxic person has probably experienced it too - no matter what you're hearing from other folks about what's really going on, when you've bought into the help help I'm being oppressed lie from the craphound it's easy to just dismiss anything contrary as hateful nonsense.
posted by phearlez at 7:44 AM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
I like Daniel Biss, but the pension crap meant he would never get my vote, or the vote of any teacher in Illinois. I wish Pritzker had elected experience, but people who are active in progressive politics in Illinois have known him for years and years.
I regret using Pritzker as my example. I would love to continue the conversation. I have strong feelings about Biss being a better candidate as well as Pritzker being wanting, but I won't derail the thread further.
My larger point was that Democrats are in a strong position in 2020, and should run the candidate they want. There's no reason to run a compromise quasi conservative candidate. I would prefer a candidate that does triangulate in the sense that Obama did, speaking to conservative issues in a way that signals he's hasn't dismissed them, but we should run a strong progressive candidate without fear. There will never be a better time. That candidate should have experience, which may come with warts. Experience means they will have made mistakes, but at least they can hit the ground running.
posted by xammerboy at 7:45 AM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
I regret using Pritzker as my example. I would love to continue the conversation. I have strong feelings about Biss being a better candidate as well as Pritzker being wanting, but I won't derail the thread further.
My larger point was that Democrats are in a strong position in 2020, and should run the candidate they want. There's no reason to run a compromise quasi conservative candidate. I would prefer a candidate that does triangulate in the sense that Obama did, speaking to conservative issues in a way that signals he's hasn't dismissed them, but we should run a strong progressive candidate without fear. There will never be a better time. That candidate should have experience, which may come with warts. Experience means they will have made mistakes, but at least they can hit the ground running.
posted by xammerboy at 7:45 AM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Russia rejects Trump's canceled meeting, Kremlin ready for contact
It turns out that headline's typo was right…
Kremlin Says Putin and Trump Will Have Impromptu Meeting at G20: RIA (Reuters)
"Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a brief impromptu meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Argentina just as he will with other leaders at the G20 summit, RIA news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:45 AM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
It turns out that headline's typo was right…
Kremlin Says Putin and Trump Will Have Impromptu Meeting at G20: RIA (Reuters)
"Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a brief impromptu meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Argentina just as he will with other leaders at the G20 summit, RIA news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:45 AM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Wow, look who's in charge...
posted by xammerboy at 7:47 AM on November 30, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 7:47 AM on November 30, 2018 [37 favorites]
Nearly every piece of information about Cohen and the Trump Tower Moscow was revealed by @BuzzFeed's @a_cormier_ and @JasonLeopold months ago. But it took the plea deal for the news to pop. There are many other such already known items out there that WILL pop one day.
this is important and has parallels to the unfolding of Watergate. A lot of the stuff that came out in the hearings and in the WaPo reporting was known before the re-election of Nixon. It only burst into the nation's consciousness with the Watergate hearings*, and those riveted the nation. I think the new session of congress will be a game changer and I really hope they subpoena the tax returns.
*notice that 'Individual One' has started stressing this in his comments. He thinks he's insulated by the prior reporting, but noooooooo.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:47 AM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
this is important and has parallels to the unfolding of Watergate. A lot of the stuff that came out in the hearings and in the WaPo reporting was known before the re-election of Nixon. It only burst into the nation's consciousness with the Watergate hearings*, and those riveted the nation. I think the new session of congress will be a game changer and I really hope they subpoena the tax returns.
*notice that 'Individual One' has started stressing this in his comments. He thinks he's insulated by the prior reporting, but noooooooo.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:47 AM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Congress: Amazon didn’t give “sufficient answers” about facial recognition -- "Does Amazon Rekognition contain a mechanism for… deleting unused biometric data?" (Cyrus Farivar for Ars Technica, Nov. 29, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:50 AM on November 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Seven members of the House of Representatives and one United States senator have now sent a second letter to Amazon's CEO, asking for more clarification about the company's use of facial-recognition technology.Other signatories were Luis V. Gutiérrez (D-IL), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Judy Chu (D-CA), and John Lewis (D-GA). Huh, not an R among them.
Although two House members in the group sent a similar letter to CEO Jeff Bezos back in July, the larger group now says that Amazon "failed to provide sufficient answers" about its commercial facial-recognition program, known as Rekognition. Prior to the July letter, the American Civil Liberties Union used the service in a demonstration of its inadequacy—the service falsely matched 28 members of Congress with mugshots.
The new letter, issued on Thursday, was signed by Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), Rep. Jimmy Gomez (D-Calif.), and others. The document states that the legislators have "serious concerns that this type of product has significant accuracy issues, places disproportionate burdens on communities of color, and could stifle Americans' willingness to exercise their First Amendment rights in public."
posted by filthy light thief at 7:50 AM on November 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Kremlin Says Putin and Trump Will Have Impromptu Meeting at G20: RIA (Reuters)
Wait, how can you plan an "impromptu" meeting?
This could be the inconsistency that BRINGS THE WHOLE THING DOWN!
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:52 AM on November 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Wait, how can you plan an "impromptu" meeting?
This could be the inconsistency that BRINGS THE WHOLE THING DOWN!
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:52 AM on November 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
A lot of the stuff that came out in the hearings and in the WaPo reporting was known before the re-election of Nixon.
it makes me wonder what the midterms would have looked like if this had all come to a head on october 15th. of course the republicans would have accused mueller of meddling in the election, and it's no guarantee that all the sound and fury would have worked out worse for trump than what he actually did.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:55 AM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
it makes me wonder what the midterms would have looked like if this had all come to a head on october 15th. of course the republicans would have accused mueller of meddling in the election, and it's no guarantee that all the sound and fury would have worked out worse for trump than what he actually did.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:55 AM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I fully belive the scope of the corruption makes it too big to enforce and aside from some low level fall guys (no Republican is gonna quit over a corruption scandal c’mon) nothing will happen substantively.
posted by The Whelk at 7:57 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 7:57 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Kremlin Says Putin and Trump Will Have Impromptu Meeting at G20: RIA (Reuters)
"Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a brief impromptu meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Argentina just as he will with other leaders at the G20 summit, RIA news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday."
Also, that 2013 tweet is a sight to behold. Gods this man is so fucking stupid.
posted by lazaruslong at 7:58 AM on November 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
"Russian President Vladimir Putin will have a brief impromptu meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Argentina just as he will with other leaders at the G20 summit, RIA news agency cited Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Friday."
to be honest I doubt he will be able to go through the whole thing without meeting with Putin, no matter what he says today.Called that shit. Ugh.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:24 PM on November 29
Also, that 2013 tweet is a sight to behold. Gods this man is so fucking stupid.
posted by lazaruslong at 7:58 AM on November 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
It really looks like there were serious shenanigans in North Carolina's 9th district, a congressional seat that the Republican won by 905 votes. And by shenanigans, I mean coordinated voter fraud involving absentee ballots:
It's worth noting that while in-person voter fraud is vanishingly rare, voter fraud by absentee ballot is much more common, and it's a tell that Republicans' obsession with the topic is all about voter suppression that their draconian laws tend not to be aimed at absentee ballots, which can often trend Republican.
posted by Gelatin at 8:01 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
It's worth noting that while in-person voter fraud is vanishingly rare, voter fraud by absentee ballot is much more common, and it's a tell that Republicans' obsession with the topic is all about voter suppression that their draconian laws tend not to be aimed at absentee ballots, which can often trend Republican.
posted by Gelatin at 8:01 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
I fully belive the scope of the corruption makes it too big to enforce and aside from some low level fall guys (no Republican is gonna quit over a corruption scandal c’mon) nothing will happen substantively.
posted by The Whelk at 7:57 AM on November 30
You may be right but I'm a let's wait and see kind of person.....
posted by bluesky43 at 8:02 AM on November 30, 2018
posted by The Whelk at 7:57 AM on November 30
You may be right but I'm a let's wait and see kind of person.....
posted by bluesky43 at 8:02 AM on November 30, 2018
The Whelk: the scope of the corruption makes it too big to enforce and aside from some low level fall guys nothing will happen substantively.
bluesky43: You may be right but I'm a let's wait and see kind of person.....
Well, look, the haruspex (haruspices?) among us (Justinian, I'm looking at you) would tell us that the circumstances today are at their most propitious:
It's a Friday, check.
There isn't a Federal election in the offing, check.
Trump is out of the country, check.
The Russians are stirring shit up, check.
Trump has been rage-tweeting, check.
So buckle up, buttercup. Nothing may come of it (probably nothing will) but these animal entrails are dripping light treason today.
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:12 AM on November 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
bluesky43: You may be right but I'm a let's wait and see kind of person.....
Well, look, the haruspex (haruspices?) among us (Justinian, I'm looking at you) would tell us that the circumstances today are at their most propitious:
It's a Friday, check.
There isn't a Federal election in the offing, check.
Trump is out of the country, check.
The Russians are stirring shit up, check.
Trump has been rage-tweeting, check.
So buckle up, buttercup. Nothing may come of it (probably nothing will) but these animal entrails are dripping light treason today.
posted by RedOrGreen at 8:12 AM on November 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
from The Daily 202 today, we have a charming story of campaign finance violations.
Wearing black cowboy boots during a panel discussion yesterday, Kemp regaled the crowd of suits with stories from the trail. He talked about how his daughter Lucy, who is in high school, would walk around his rallies with an empty diesel fuel can asking people to chip in for gas money for her dad’s bus tour. “We raised $150,000 in that fuel can,” he said.
posted by phearlez at 8:19 AM on November 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
Wearing black cowboy boots during a panel discussion yesterday, Kemp regaled the crowd of suits with stories from the trail. He talked about how his daughter Lucy, who is in high school, would walk around his rallies with an empty diesel fuel can asking people to chip in for gas money for her dad’s bus tour. “We raised $150,000 in that fuel can,” he said.
posted by phearlez at 8:19 AM on November 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
On MSNBC, former Federal prosecutor Glenn Kirschner notes that the most important witnesses in the RICO cases he has prosecuted gave about 7 hours of closed-door testimony.
Michael Cohen has given 70 hours of closed-door testimony.
It's probably nothing.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:31 AM on November 30, 2018 [75 favorites]
Michael Cohen has given 70 hours of closed-door testimony.
It's probably nothing.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:31 AM on November 30, 2018 [75 favorites]
Kremlin Says Putin and Trump Will Have Impromptu Meeting at G20: RIA (Reuters)
CNN's Kaitlan Collins: Despite reports from the Kremlin, a White House official tells the pool there is no scheduled pull-aside for President Trump and Vladimir Putin right now.
And: Quite a statement that the press secretary issued just now. “The Russian Witch Hunt Hoax, which is hopefully now nearing an end, is doing very well. Unfortunately, it probably does undermine our relationship with Russia. However, the reason for our canceled meeting is Ukraine. Hopefully, that will be resolved soon so that productive conversations can begin” (pic)
WTF is going on at the G20?
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:35 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
CNN's Kaitlan Collins: Despite reports from the Kremlin, a White House official tells the pool there is no scheduled pull-aside for President Trump and Vladimir Putin right now.
And: Quite a statement that the press secretary issued just now. “The Russian Witch Hunt Hoax, which is hopefully now nearing an end, is doing very well. Unfortunately, it probably does undermine our relationship with Russia. However, the reason for our canceled meeting is Ukraine. Hopefully, that will be resolved soon so that productive conversations can begin” (pic)
WTF is going on at the G20?
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:35 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
I doubt there’s any subject I could talk about for 70 hours, but then I probably don’t know as much about anything as Michael Cohen knows about Donald J. Trump.
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:36 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:36 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
Also, I imagine Mueller gave Cohen the occasional prompt. To jog his memory. To keep things interesting.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:38 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:38 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm sure I could spend 70 hours talking about details of a job where I worked for 12 years and kept copious notes.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:39 AM on November 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:39 AM on November 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
As noted in the article, this almost certainly exceeds the legal scope of the Hatch Act, and has the potential to be used to purge the federal workforce.
I'm concerned about this, because -- how to phrase this? -- the administration is pushing out many policies and directives which are difficult to comply with and still remain on the correct side of the law. There's one particular interpretation of environmental law that they implemented that all our lawyers, and the lawyers at DOD, think is bullshit: if you go with the administration's interpretation, you open yourselves up to litigation risk.
This new Hatch Act interpretation could, I think, be used to punish federal employees who are talking about new administration rules and figuring out how to work with or around them as part of their statutory duties. In fact I was on a conference call this week in which I may have referred to the new environmental rule above as "bullshit"; am I now in trouble under the Hatch Act because someone could interpret that as "resistance"?
ARGH.
posted by suelac at 8:41 AM on November 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
I'm concerned about this, because -- how to phrase this? -- the administration is pushing out many policies and directives which are difficult to comply with and still remain on the correct side of the law. There's one particular interpretation of environmental law that they implemented that all our lawyers, and the lawyers at DOD, think is bullshit: if you go with the administration's interpretation, you open yourselves up to litigation risk.
This new Hatch Act interpretation could, I think, be used to punish federal employees who are talking about new administration rules and figuring out how to work with or around them as part of their statutory duties. In fact I was on a conference call this week in which I may have referred to the new environmental rule above as "bullshit"; am I now in trouble under the Hatch Act because someone could interpret that as "resistance"?
ARGH.
posted by suelac at 8:41 AM on November 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
Also, I imagine Mueller gave Cohen the occasional prompt. To jog his memory. To keep things interesting.
I imagine flipping Cohen was the "let's confirm everything we've accumulated over the prior year", and yeah, it's comprehensive.
There probably isn't one damn deal Donald Trump ever made that doesn't have chargeable elements to it.
posted by mikelieman at 8:41 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
I imagine flipping Cohen was the "let's confirm everything we've accumulated over the prior year", and yeah, it's comprehensive.
There probably isn't one damn deal Donald Trump ever made that doesn't have chargeable elements to it.
posted by mikelieman at 8:41 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
In fact I was on a conference call this week in which I may have referred to the new environmental rule above as "bullshit"; am I now in trouble under the Hatch Act because someone could interpret that as "resistance"?
Are you in a union? If so, have you shared your concern with your "shop steward" or whomever is your contact with them? They, I think, could advise you best.
posted by mikelieman at 8:42 AM on November 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Are you in a union? If so, have you shared your concern with your "shop steward" or whomever is your contact with them? They, I think, could advise you best.
posted by mikelieman at 8:42 AM on November 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
There's one particular interpretation of environmental law that they implemented that all our lawyers, and the lawyers at DOD, think is bullshit: if you go with the administration's interpretation, you open yourselves up to litigation risk.
Environmental law nerd here: Care to elaborate?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:44 AM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Environmental law nerd here: Care to elaborate?
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:44 AM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
“Until today”? Willful ignorance is a hell of a drug.
Similarly, a lot of mainstream access journalists are caught up in this since they can't alienate their insider sources by calling bullshit on Trump's falsehoods or reporting on his scandals candidly.
Instead, they have to report regularly on non-stories like Trump's current mood, e.g. from the NYT's D.C.-based Mark Leibovich: On the Trump-Mood Beat — But Why?
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:53 AM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Similarly, a lot of mainstream access journalists are caught up in this since they can't alienate their insider sources by calling bullshit on Trump's falsehoods or reporting on his scandals candidly.
Instead, they have to report regularly on non-stories like Trump's current mood, e.g. from the NYT's D.C.-based Mark Leibovich: On the Trump-Mood Beat — But Why?
There had been a heavier-than-usual spate of Breaking Mood stories. He was “privately fuming,” went the evergreen assessment, according to multiple sources familiar with the president’s private fumes. He was alternately “bristling,” “emboldened” and “embittered”; “lashing out,” “exploding in rage” and “increasingly isolated.”Leibovich is so close to the obvious revelation, but he shies away. Instead, he returns to the status quo: "We are stuck trying to produce new insights, not because there necessarily are new insights to be had, but because he is the president, everywhere and nowhere."
You become numb to these mood stories after a while.[...]
The Trump-mood-story genre has, by now, acquired its own conventions. Print articles inevitably rely on several interviews with “sources close to the president” who spoke “on the condition of anonymity in exchange for their candor discussing the president.” (To state the obvious, any on-the-record source inside the White House willing to discuss the president with any meaningful level of candor would almost certainly not keep her or his job.) The emotional landscape they describe can be divided into three basic submoods: Trump is commonly described as “bristling” over unflattering assessments (often from the media); “chafing” (related to efforts to control him, e.g., Chief of Staff John Kelly’s early efforts to restrict access to the Oval Office); or “increasingly isolated” (always “increasingly,” never just “isolated”; not really a mood, but close enough).[...]
Maybe a better question for these stories to ask is how knowable Donald Trump’s inner self actually is, or even whether it is worth knowing — whether anyone could really speak with authority about someone whose moment-to-moment state rests somewhere between the tweetably obvious and an incoherent jumble of boasts, rants and impulses.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:53 AM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Despite reports from the Kremlin, a White House official tells the pool there is no scheduled pull-aside for President Trump and Vladimir Putin right now.I mean, we're probably at the point now that he's gonna either try to meet with Putin on the down low or meet with him and lie about it—THE FAILING NYT SAYS I MET WITH PUTIN! I DID NOT BUT ALL VERY LEGAL & VERY COOL IF I DID!—when everyone does notice it.
posted by octobersurprise at 8:53 AM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
There probably isn't one damn deal Donald Trump ever made that doesn't have chargeable elements to it.
And it speaks to the inherent, longterm and bipartisan corruption in New York City, New York State, New Jersey and Florida that he has never been convicted of any felony. Trump "is not the disease, he is merely a symptom", although comparable to cardiac arrest as a symptom.
I had forgotten a joke my New York-based cousin (a moderately notable architectural designer) made the last time I talked to him, over 20 years ago. He said there were "certain high profile developers" he didn't work with because he didn't want to design around where they were burying mob hit victims in the foundations. In retrospect, I'm now certain he was talking about Trump.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:54 AM on November 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
And it speaks to the inherent, longterm and bipartisan corruption in New York City, New York State, New Jersey and Florida that he has never been convicted of any felony. Trump "is not the disease, he is merely a symptom", although comparable to cardiac arrest as a symptom.
I had forgotten a joke my New York-based cousin (a moderately notable architectural designer) made the last time I talked to him, over 20 years ago. He said there were "certain high profile developers" he didn't work with because he didn't want to design around where they were burying mob hit victims in the foundations. In retrospect, I'm now certain he was talking about Trump.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:54 AM on November 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
Let's take a moment to note that yesterday, the President made the claim that Michael Cohen was a serial liar, undoubtedly one of the most accurate things the President has said in his life. He went on to say that Michael Cohen's testimony was a lie fabricated to protect Michael Cohen from a jail sentence, which surely constitutes the President's most persuasive argument against Cohen's testimony.
And then, the President chose to say that the key allegation from Cohen's testimony, that the President had been lying since before his nomination in order to conceal his business dealings with a hostile foreign autocrat, was in fact completely accurate. But, said the President, it doesn't matter, because "just because I'm running for President, doesn't mean I'm not allowed to do business".
I'd like to imagine that at the moment the President chose to admit this, his legal team was not already so crushed and so jaded as to be unable to respond with the appropriate intensity of emotion.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:58 AM on November 30, 2018 [47 favorites]
And then, the President chose to say that the key allegation from Cohen's testimony, that the President had been lying since before his nomination in order to conceal his business dealings with a hostile foreign autocrat, was in fact completely accurate. But, said the President, it doesn't matter, because "just because I'm running for President, doesn't mean I'm not allowed to do business".
I'd like to imagine that at the moment the President chose to admit this, his legal team was not already so crushed and so jaded as to be unable to respond with the appropriate intensity of emotion.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 8:58 AM on November 30, 2018 [47 favorites]
I guess they're hurrying to paint the strings behind Trump's back leading directly to Putin's fingers midnight black to blend in with the Argentinian night while they compose their next PR puff tweet.
Geesh, what a mess. Never thought to see that in my lifetime, Russia's President saying "will summon" the American one. Puts him in his place.
posted by infini at 8:58 AM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
Geesh, what a mess. Never thought to see that in my lifetime, Russia's President saying "will summon" the American one. Puts him in his place.
posted by infini at 8:58 AM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
WaPo: Whitaker continued promoting World Patent Marketing for years after being personally approached by victims who told him how they'd been defrauded.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:09 AM on November 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:09 AM on November 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
Matt Whitaker is a less accomplished, less rich, less inexplicably-charismatic version of Trump. Cabinet material for sure.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:20 AM on November 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:20 AM on November 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
> Quite a statement that the press secretary issued just now.
Looks like it's been deleted.
Collins's tweet is still up, and other outlets have reported SHS's statement (CNN, Business Insider, TPM). That statement may look nuttier than a squirrel turd, to use an Arkansas idiom, but it's legitimately from the office of the Press Secretary. My guess is that the longer someone has to work with Trump, the more they have to mimic him in order to appease him—or he simply drives them as crazy as he is.
> WTF is going on at the G20?
They're trying to cover up the fact that Trump HAS to meet with Putin to get his marching orders.
We're in agreement there. I'm just surprised that Team Trump didn't square away a better cover story with the Kremlin beforehand. (What special kind of incompetence does it take to fail to plan for that? The Trump administration is a clown car with a broken GPS.) Putin now has to humiliate Trump by publicly jerking his chain to establish dominance. That's no good for Trump's image, obviously, but while Putin may score points domestically for it in the short term, he'll lose out if he can't significantly influence US policy through his intelligence asset.
Anyroad, check out the side-eye Trump gave Putin when the G20 leaders assembled for their photo op. Also, via the NYT's Kenneth Vogel: VIDEO: All smiles, laughs & handshakes as MBS & PUTIN meet at the G20, with TRUMP approaching in the background.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:22 AM on November 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Looks like it's been deleted.
Collins's tweet is still up, and other outlets have reported SHS's statement (CNN, Business Insider, TPM). That statement may look nuttier than a squirrel turd, to use an Arkansas idiom, but it's legitimately from the office of the Press Secretary. My guess is that the longer someone has to work with Trump, the more they have to mimic him in order to appease him—or he simply drives them as crazy as he is.
> WTF is going on at the G20?
They're trying to cover up the fact that Trump HAS to meet with Putin to get his marching orders.
We're in agreement there. I'm just surprised that Team Trump didn't square away a better cover story with the Kremlin beforehand. (What special kind of incompetence does it take to fail to plan for that? The Trump administration is a clown car with a broken GPS.) Putin now has to humiliate Trump by publicly jerking his chain to establish dominance. That's no good for Trump's image, obviously, but while Putin may score points domestically for it in the short term, he'll lose out if he can't significantly influence US policy through his intelligence asset.
Anyroad, check out the side-eye Trump gave Putin when the G20 leaders assembled for their photo op. Also, via the NYT's Kenneth Vogel: VIDEO: All smiles, laughs & handshakes as MBS & PUTIN meet at the G20, with TRUMP approaching in the background.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:22 AM on November 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
TIL: impeachment and conviction does not imply that a person is disqualified from holding office in future. The Senate can choose to have a second vote subsequent to conviction by a 2/3rds majority, in order to disqualify the person from holding office in future. The disqualification vote requires a simple majority.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 9:26 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
> WTF is going on at the G20?
They're trying to cover up the fact that Trump HAS to meet with Putin to get his marching orders.
We're in agreement there. I'm just surprised that Team Trump didn't square away a better cover story with the Kremlin beforehand.
I find this genuinely frightening (that Putin very clearly is now in the driver's seat, leading the president of the USA around by the ear, with all due apologies for the mixed imagery). wow, just wow.
I wonder if Mueller had the G20 summit in mind when he dropped this last bomb.
posted by bluesky43 at 9:28 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
They're trying to cover up the fact that Trump HAS to meet with Putin to get his marching orders.
We're in agreement there. I'm just surprised that Team Trump didn't square away a better cover story with the Kremlin beforehand.
I find this genuinely frightening (that Putin very clearly is now in the driver's seat, leading the president of the USA around by the ear, with all due apologies for the mixed imagery). wow, just wow.
I wonder if Mueller had the G20 summit in mind when he dropped this last bomb.
posted by bluesky43 at 9:28 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
Putin now has to humiliate Trump by publicly jerking his chain to establish dominance. That's no good for Trump's image, obviously, but while Putin may score points domestically for it in the short term, he'll lose out if he can't significantly influence US policy through his intelligence asset.
Putin's intelligence asset and a Republican Congress didn't get Putin the repeal of the Magnitsky Act he wanted (and memo to an incoming Democratic House: take the Magnitsky Act and double it, at least). But Putin still benefits by undermining American institutions -- if tomorrow Putin presents incontrovertible evidence -- before Mueller does, that is -- that Trump has for decades been compromised by the Russians he laundered money for and the US Executive Branch has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Russian (and US, why not?) billionaires, Putin benefits from the chaos and loss of trust in US institutions.
Putin's op succeeded beyond their wildest dreams, but the Republican Party's embrace of Trump and Russian corruption will benefit Moscow for years to come.
Those Republican politicians and oligarchs responsible must be held to account.
posted by Gelatin at 9:30 AM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
Putin's intelligence asset and a Republican Congress didn't get Putin the repeal of the Magnitsky Act he wanted (and memo to an incoming Democratic House: take the Magnitsky Act and double it, at least). But Putin still benefits by undermining American institutions -- if tomorrow Putin presents incontrovertible evidence -- before Mueller does, that is -- that Trump has for decades been compromised by the Russians he laundered money for and the US Executive Branch has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Russian (and US, why not?) billionaires, Putin benefits from the chaos and loss of trust in US institutions.
Putin's op succeeded beyond their wildest dreams, but the Republican Party's embrace of Trump and Russian corruption will benefit Moscow for years to come.
Those Republican politicians and oligarchs responsible must be held to account.
posted by Gelatin at 9:30 AM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
Talking Points Memo, Josh Marshall:
That’s amazing. A TPM Reader points out that just yesterday Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein gave a speech at a big conference on … guess what? … enforcement of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act – the one President Trump, Michael Cohen, Felix Sater and the President’s criminal brood might have a problem with. It was the American Conference Institute’s 35th International Conference on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Long and august title. This was just yesterday over in Maryland. Here’s the text of Rosenstein’s speech.posted by ZeusHumms at 9:30 AM on November 30, 2018 [38 favorites]
Here’s a noteworthy quote …The rule of law is not simply about words written on paper. The culture of a society and the character of the people who enforce the law determine whether the rule of law endures.Unsurprisingly, President Trump, a career criminal, is a longtime and outspoken opponent of the FCPA.
One of the ways that we uphold the rule of law is to fight bribery and corruption. Until a few decades ago, paying bribes was viewed as a necessary part of doing business abroad. Some American companies were unapologetic about corrupt payments.
In 1976, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee revealed that hundreds of U.S. companies had bribed foreign officials, with payments that totaled hundreds of millions of dollars. The Committee concluded that there was a need for anti-bribery legislation. It reasoned that “[c]orporate bribery is bad business” and “fundamentally destructive” in a free market society. That was the basis for the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
A lot of people are confused by this new press statement, obviously authored by Individual-1, that the "Witch Hunt" is "doing very well". It seems like a contradiction, so is he being sarcastic? I don't believe so. I think it's a sincere assertion that the investigation is "doing well" at what Trump and his associates insist is its true purpose, namely targeting them politically.
That fits with "Oh, I get it!" from the new weird tweet. Both uses are... semi-sarcastic. Like mock-clapping a bully, not because they're unsuccessful at bullying, but because they're picking on people who don't deserve it, their mothers must be so proud. Or like that particular way people get angry with customer service. That's how his persecution complex is running now.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 9:34 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
That fits with "Oh, I get it!" from the new weird tweet. Both uses are... semi-sarcastic. Like mock-clapping a bully, not because they're unsuccessful at bullying, but because they're picking on people who don't deserve it, their mothers must be so proud. Or like that particular way people get angry with customer service. That's how his persecution complex is running now.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 9:34 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
More Whitaker: Acting AG Appears to Have Misled FTC Over Actions at Miami Firm
posted by Slothrup at 9:47 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by Slothrup at 9:47 AM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
Another thing Cohen’s plea yesterday did was signal unequivocally that Mueller was looking into TrumpCo’s business interests prior to Trump becoming President, which, you’ll recall, the President has said was a “red line” the Special Prosecutor ought not cross, else Trump himself would shut it down.
Mueller is Robert Conrad with a battery on his shoulder. Go ahead. I dare you.
posted by notyou at 9:54 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
Mueller is Robert Conrad with a battery on his shoulder. Go ahead. I dare you.
posted by notyou at 9:54 AM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
The NYT keeps updating the numbers from this Bret Stephens column after election night. Except the analysis doesn't seem to change.
Retroactively editing your story's facts but never budging from the original position proven incorrect by the updates, that's what they teach in journalism school right?
Or is that in the NYT style guide? Maybe the social media policy? Maybe we should ask the ombudsman...oh wait.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:55 AM on November 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
Retroactively editing your story's facts but never budging from the original position proven incorrect by the updates, that's what they teach in journalism school right?
Or is that in the NYT style guide? Maybe the social media policy? Maybe we should ask the ombudsman...oh wait.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:55 AM on November 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
Why Has It Taken California So Long to Count Ballots? Because It Actually Wants Every Vote to Count. - Pema Levy, Mother Jones
The fact is, every state has made a deliberate choice between election laws and policies that make it easy for voters to cast ballots—often at the expense of a speedy vote-counting process—and those that prioritize efficiency at a cost to inclusive democracy. There’s no clearer example than absentee ballot deadlines. In Florida, these ballots must be received by Election Day, forcing voters to mail them early and often putting them at the mercy of the state’s sometimes-unreliable postal facilities. (The situation was even worse in Mississippi ahead of the state’s Tuesday runoff election for US Senate, giving some voters as little as three days to get their absentee ballots notarized, mailed, and delivered.)posted by ZeusHumms at 10:07 AM on November 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
In California, by contrast, mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted, as long as they arrive at county election offices by the Friday following the election. Over the past few cycles, California has seen a significant increase in the number of people voting by mail. Widespread voting by mail increases turnout, but also the work that must be done when those ballots arrive on or after Election Day, as most do. By the Friday morning after Election Day this year, California counties still had around 3.7 million absentee ballots to count.
California county officials match the signatures on mail-in ballots to the ones on record to verify voters’ identity, and they give each voter no less than eight days to fix a mismatched signature. In Florida, voters with mismatched signatures can correct them up until the day before the election. After that, their votes are tossed—meaning that if their ballots arrive on or just before Election Day, they often have no recourse. (A federal judge extended that deadline by a few days during this month’s recount process, which included races for Senate and governor.)
> A giant Trump baby blimp that the president says makes him 'feel unwelcome' has followed him to the G20 summit in Argentina
I hope some photographer had the presence of mind to snap pictures of the other world leaders' faces when they first saw that balloon.
posted by homunculus at 10:33 AM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
I hope some photographer had the presence of mind to snap pictures of the other world leaders' faces when they first saw that balloon.
posted by homunculus at 10:33 AM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
What long-ago ‘favor’ made Trump keep Michael Cohen around? Here are my guesses. (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
One morning, many years ago, Michael Cohen found a young boy crying on a doorstep. His family had just been turned away from the place they hoped to live because of an illegal practice on the part of his landlord. “You’re a lawyer,” the boy said. “I have no money for you now, but if you can help me to get justice, I swear I will repay you many times over.” Michael Cohen refused to help. And wouldn’t you know? Donald Trump was that landlord.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:44 AM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Once, many years ago, Donald Trump was upset not to be on the cover of Time magazine when he so clearly deserved it. Michael Cohen was determined to make this right. He called Time magazine very angrily to order a copy and photoshopped Donald Trump onto the cover.
On Michael Cohen’s daughter’s wedding day, a man came to him with a simple request. “My daughter has been gravely insulted by a terrible man,” the man said. “Unspeakable, disgusting insults that beggar the imagination and haunt me every night. I have lost faith in America. I beg you to stand with me, against him. I will give you whatever you ask.” When Michael Cohen heard what the man had to say, he was so moved that he ran off immediately and volunteered to represent the terrible man. That was years ago. And, can you believe it? Donald Trump was that terrible man.
I'm sure I could spend 70 hours talking about details of a job where I worked for 12 years and kept copious notes.
I feel like it's 35h of Cohen talking about crimes and 35h of Mueller & Co saying "what? what the fuck? seriously?" a lot.
posted by poffin boffin at 10:55 AM on November 30, 2018 [38 favorites]
I feel like it's 35h of Cohen talking about crimes and 35h of Mueller & Co saying "what? what the fuck? seriously?" a lot.
posted by poffin boffin at 10:55 AM on November 30, 2018 [38 favorites]
Ryan Grim at The Intercept: Joe Crowley’s Parting Shot: Ousted by Ocasio-Cortez, He Undermined Barbara Lee in House Leadership Race.
There was a kernel of truth in the charge. Lee’s campaign did indeed cut a $1,000 check to the campaign of Ocasio-Cortez, but did so on July 10, two weeks after she beat Crowley. Since then, Reps. Steny Hoyer, Raúl Grijalva, and Maxine Waters, as well as the PAC for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, have all given money to Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign committee. It’s not an unusual phenomenon — a way to welcome an incoming colleague — but Crowley’s framing of it linked Lee to the growing insurgent movement, despite her decades of experience in Congress. Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Crowley did not respond to The Intercept’s questions about his involvement in the leadership race.posted by Rustic Etruscan at 10:55 AM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
After Wednesday’s election, in which Jeffries prevailed 123-113, The Intercept asked Lee if she had heard what Crowley had told other Democrats. “Those rumors took place and that was very unfair,” Lee said. “We’re moving forward now.”
She added, however, that the insinuation that she had supported Ocasio-Cortez during her primary against Crowley was patently false, because Lee wasn’t even aware of Ocasio-Cortez’s challenge. “I didn’t even know he had a primary,” Lee said of the under-the-radar contest that resulted in Crowley’s startling loss.
She added, however, that the insinuation that she had supported Ocasio-Cortez during her primary against Crowley was patently false, because Lee wasn’t even aware of Ocasio-Cortez’s challenge. “I didn’t even know he had a primary,” Lee said of the under-the-radar contest that resulted in Crowley’s startling loss.
I do so love the you and your dealings are pissant and beneath my daily attentions this reads like to me, even if it was meant in innocent earnestness.
posted by phearlez at 10:59 AM on November 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
I do so love the you and your dealings are pissant and beneath my daily attentions this reads like to me, even if it was meant in innocent earnestness.
posted by phearlez at 10:59 AM on November 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Joe Crowley’s Parting Shot: Ousted by Ocasio-Cortez, He Undermined Barbara Lee in House Leadership Race.
Like finding out you beat cancer and getting home to find the bill for chemo?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:04 AM on November 30, 2018
Like finding out you beat cancer and getting home to find the bill for chemo?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:04 AM on November 30, 2018
Back in 1981, Australia was playing cricket with New Zealand, and with one ball remaining, the Kiwis needed to hit a six. In baseball, this would mean hitting a home run on the last ball of the last innings*. They needed to hit the ball over the fence. So the Australian bowler rolled the ball along the ground to make it impossible to hit.
This was obviously unfair and tantamount to cheating, but there was nothing in the rules that said that you couldn't do that, so Australia won. Few Australians actually celebrated this, there wasn't much to be proud of, but for those fans that did, it was characterised as a pragmatic stroke of genius. Finding this slender gap in the rules, to win at all costs, regardless of shame or dignity.
I think that's actually Trump's endgame. Remember all the speculation about whether the president can pardon themselves or not? It was an ambiguous question because, like underarm bowling, no one who was playing fairly would ever do that, so no one bothered to make a rule saying you couldn't. It would be a nonsensical rule, because everyone knows that's just not cricket.
'Collusion is not a crime' I recall one in the parade of temp lawyers saying in Trump's defense. It sticks in my mind because it was repeated many times by their propaganda machine. They're setting up a defense that cheating wasn't against the rules.
They can win like this, and the true believers will see this as a brilliant strategy. Everyone else will be ashamed and embarrassed for their country. The president pardons himself for the crimes that got them the presidency, using the powers of the presidency? You should be embarrassed.
*The cricket match was at the end of it's third week, innings are far longer in cricket.
posted by adept256 at 11:08 AM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
This was obviously unfair and tantamount to cheating, but there was nothing in the rules that said that you couldn't do that, so Australia won. Few Australians actually celebrated this, there wasn't much to be proud of, but for those fans that did, it was characterised as a pragmatic stroke of genius. Finding this slender gap in the rules, to win at all costs, regardless of shame or dignity.
I think that's actually Trump's endgame. Remember all the speculation about whether the president can pardon themselves or not? It was an ambiguous question because, like underarm bowling, no one who was playing fairly would ever do that, so no one bothered to make a rule saying you couldn't. It would be a nonsensical rule, because everyone knows that's just not cricket.
'Collusion is not a crime' I recall one in the parade of temp lawyers saying in Trump's defense. It sticks in my mind because it was repeated many times by their propaganda machine. They're setting up a defense that cheating wasn't against the rules.
They can win like this, and the true believers will see this as a brilliant strategy. Everyone else will be ashamed and embarrassed for their country. The president pardons himself for the crimes that got them the presidency, using the powers of the presidency? You should be embarrassed.
*The cricket match was at the end of it's third week, innings are far longer in cricket.
posted by adept256 at 11:08 AM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
I really take Ryan Grim's interpretation of facts with a grain of salt since he declared Sen. Feinstein was refusing to share Dr. Blasey Ford's letter with her judiciary committee colleagues as opposed to preserving the confidentiality that Dr. Ford requested.
posted by gladly at 11:10 AM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by gladly at 11:10 AM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
She added, however, that the insinuation that she had supported Ocasio-Cortez during her primary against Crowley was patently false, because Lee wasn’t even aware of Ocasio-Cortez’s challenge. “I didn’t even know he had a primary,” Lee said of the under-the-radar contest that resulted in Crowley’s startling loss.
I guess it's possible Lee didn't know about AOC's primary campaign for Crowley's seat, although it seems unlikely given the amount of attention AOC was getting all winter and spring. It's nice of The Intercept journo to characterize that top-of-mind race as "under-the-radar" to help Lee out with her explanation, but that's The Intercept for you, always looking to stir shit up.
posted by notyou at 11:16 AM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
I guess it's possible Lee didn't know about AOC's primary campaign for Crowley's seat, although it seems unlikely given the amount of attention AOC was getting all winter and spring. It's nice of The Intercept journo to characterize that top-of-mind race as "under-the-radar" to help Lee out with her explanation, but that's The Intercept for you, always looking to stir shit up.
posted by notyou at 11:16 AM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
A lot of people are confused by this new press statement, obviously authored by Individual-1
That's the simplest explanation. It puts reporters in the awkward position of having to maintain the journalistic fiction attributing it to Sarah Sanders. (I miss having a president who was comfortable speaking on his own behalf instead of using his aides as ventriloquist dummies and leaking anonymously to the press as "a senior White House official".)
Nevertheless, there's a phenomenon at work of Trump's supporters mimicking him convincingly to fool the Trump or Not Bot when he re-tweets, e.g. 93% Trump-like for Charlie Kirk. The White House comms team has to do this professionally for @realDonaldTrump.
I think it's a sincere assertion that the investigation is "doing well" at what Trump and his associates insist is its true purpose, namely targeting them politically.
Like Trump's recent pronouncement that May's Brexit deal sounds like a "great deal for the EU", it's a reflection of his zero-sum worldview. If one party benefits from a deal or is otherwise doing well, then ipso facto, the other one is losing. Unfortunately, it's a Weltanschauung he shares with Vladimir Putin.
In order to balance his social scales at the G20, Trump was therefor ostentatiously rude to summit host Argentine President Mauricio Macri, even declaring, "I have been friends with Mauricio for a long time... People wouldn't know that he was a very young man, a very handsome man."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:19 AM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
That's the simplest explanation. It puts reporters in the awkward position of having to maintain the journalistic fiction attributing it to Sarah Sanders. (I miss having a president who was comfortable speaking on his own behalf instead of using his aides as ventriloquist dummies and leaking anonymously to the press as "a senior White House official".)
Nevertheless, there's a phenomenon at work of Trump's supporters mimicking him convincingly to fool the Trump or Not Bot when he re-tweets, e.g. 93% Trump-like for Charlie Kirk. The White House comms team has to do this professionally for @realDonaldTrump.
I think it's a sincere assertion that the investigation is "doing well" at what Trump and his associates insist is its true purpose, namely targeting them politically.
Like Trump's recent pronouncement that May's Brexit deal sounds like a "great deal for the EU", it's a reflection of his zero-sum worldview. If one party benefits from a deal or is otherwise doing well, then ipso facto, the other one is losing. Unfortunately, it's a Weltanschauung he shares with Vladimir Putin.
In order to balance his social scales at the G20, Trump was therefor ostentatiously rude to summit host Argentine President Mauricio Macri, even declaring, "I have been friends with Mauricio for a long time... People wouldn't know that he was a very young man, a very handsome man."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:19 AM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
'Collusion is not a crime' I recall one in the parade of temp lawyers saying in Trump's defense.
My understanding of this statement is that "collusion" is a (popular media?) catchall word for actual criminal statutes of, eg., conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to obstruct justice, etc.
So, yeah, there's no actual statute with "collusion" in its name or underlying text. Very clever, whoever came up with this one. But guess what: they're still going to jail.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:19 AM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
My understanding of this statement is that "collusion" is a (popular media?) catchall word for actual criminal statutes of, eg., conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to obstruct justice, etc.
So, yeah, there's no actual statute with "collusion" in its name or underlying text. Very clever, whoever came up with this one. But guess what: they're still going to jail.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 11:19 AM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
They can win like this, and the true believers will see this as a brilliant strategy.
c.f. Newt Gingrich’s entire existence.
posted by From Bklyn at 11:23 AM on November 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
c.f. Newt Gingrich’s entire existence.
posted by From Bklyn at 11:23 AM on November 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Trump says collusion isn’t a crime. He’s right. It’s actually many crimes., August 1, 2018
That term has come to be shorthand for the possibility that the Trump campaign, its advisers or the president himself coordinated with Russia, a hostile foreign power, to help Trump win the election. The argument that such coordination would be lawful is striking, including the fact that it follows 191 charges against 35 individuals and companies brought by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, which have yielded five guilty pleas. Taken together, that work spells out the many crimes Russia committed to attempt to affect the outcome of the 2016 election.posted by kirkaracha at 11:24 AM on November 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
That conduct was deeply illegal, and it logically follows that if the president or his campaign team actually worked with the Russians in connection with their efforts, they, too, could be liable. That is not only common sense: It is also the law, with a raft of specific “collusion” crimes implicated.
@WillieGeist: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe congratulates President Trump on his "historic victory in the midterm elections." World leaders all have figured out the Trump flattery game, even when it's not true.
Trump destroys the soul of everyone around him, part #94928.
posted by zachlipton at 11:29 AM on November 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Trump destroys the soul of everyone around him, part #94928.
posted by zachlipton at 11:29 AM on November 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
World leaders all have figured out the Trump flattery game, even when it's not true.
Oh, I think he may have been having some fun at Trump's expense.
posted by Candleman at 11:33 AM on November 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
Oh, I think he may have been having some fun at Trump's expense.
posted by Candleman at 11:33 AM on November 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
The WaPo's Philip Rucker has the full quote: "Classic: Japanese PM Abe tells Trump, “I would like to congratulate you on your historic victory in the midterm elections in the United States.”"
Please note the conditional tense, which is no doubt even subtler shade in the original.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:35 AM on November 30, 2018 [74 favorites]
Please note the conditional tense, which is no doubt even subtler shade in the original.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:35 AM on November 30, 2018 [74 favorites]
I guess it's possible Lee didn't know about AOC's primary campaign for Crowley's seat, although it seems unlikely given the amount of attention AOC was getting all winter and spring.
All of the coverage I remember of AOC before the night of the primary was "This is how pissed off [select one or two of: progressives, leftists, democratic socialists, young people, women, nonwhite people] are -- they're putting real effort into these zero-chance primaries in the safest districts." or "How will we keep [see above list] mobilized for the real elections in November after their darling candidates get crushed by the establishment Democratic voters?"
posted by Etrigan at 11:38 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
All of the coverage I remember of AOC before the night of the primary was "This is how pissed off [select one or two of: progressives, leftists, democratic socialists, young people, women, nonwhite people] are -- they're putting real effort into these zero-chance primaries in the safest districts." or "How will we keep [see above list] mobilized for the real elections in November after their darling candidates get crushed by the establishment Democratic voters?"
posted by Etrigan at 11:38 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
All the times Trump denied he had business in Russia
posted by kirkaracha at 11:41 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 11:41 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
It's Infrastructure Week Day in the Senate! Senate ‘Informational’ Hearing Seeks Solutions For Surface Transportation Infrastructure Needs (AASHTO, Nov. 30, 2018)
Meanwhile, a pre-allocated $900 Federal million annual grant program, INFRA, has yet to announce a new call for applications (the federal INFRA website still touts that the U.S. Department of Transportation Proposes Nearly $1.5 Billion in INFRA Grants ... for last year). Unofficially, this rebranded program (Official PDF that reads more as Republican talking points than a policy paper) was supposed to be announced in maybe by mid-September, or definitely October. Yes, it's the last day of November and *surprise!* nothing. /mini rant
posted by filthy light thief at 11:45 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works held an informational hearing on Nov. 28 that sought suggestions on how to generate funding to support U.S. surface transportation infrastructure needs now and into the future.I'd be interested to see the general fiscal health of those states, and how much of their transportation revenue comes from the Feds, compared to State funding. In other words: it's fine that States can "fill the gap," if they can afford it.
[Above photo left to right: AASHTO’s Braceras, AGC’s Lanham, SACG’s Corless.]
Carlos Braceras, executive director of the Utah Department of Transportation and president of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, testified along with Robert Lanham, vice president of the Associated General Contractors of America, and James Corless, executive director of the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.
All three stressed that fuel taxes need to be bolstered in the near-term while alternative funding mechanisms need to be explored in the future.
“Just to keep our current FAST [Fixing American’s Surface Transportation] Act funding levels, Congress has to find $90 billion in additional revenues for a five-year bill or $114 billion for a six-year bill,” Braceras noted in his written remarks. “At the same time, the purchasing power of [highway] trust fund revenues has declined substantially due to the flat, per-gallon motor fuel taxes that have not been adjusted since 1993, losing half of its value over the last quarter century.”
He said that ultimately means federal highway programs are expected to experience a 51 percent drop after the FAST Act expires in 2020, while federal transit programs would have to be “zeroed out” in 2021 and 2022.
“In the past, similar shortfall situations have led to cuts in federal reimbursements to states on existing obligations, leading to serious cash flow problems for states and resulting in project delays,” Braceras emphasized. “Simply put, this is a devastating scenario that we must do all we can to avoid.”
He noted that while federal investment has lagged, states have stepped up to “fill the gap,” with 31 states successfully enacting state-level transportation funding packages since 2012.
Meanwhile, a pre-allocated $900 Federal million annual grant program, INFRA, has yet to announce a new call for applications (the federal INFRA website still touts that the U.S. Department of Transportation Proposes Nearly $1.5 Billion in INFRA Grants ... for last year). Unofficially, this rebranded program (Official PDF that reads more as Republican talking points than a policy paper) was supposed to be announced in maybe by mid-September, or definitely October. Yes, it's the last day of November and *surprise!* nothing. /mini rant
posted by filthy light thief at 11:45 AM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Nearly every piece of information about Cohen and the Trump Tower Moscow was revealed by @BuzzFeed's @a_cormier_ and @JasonLeopold months ago. But it took the plea deal for the news to pop. There are many other such already known items out there that WILL pop one day.
As Ken White put it: "Cohen’s plea is only one shoe dropping in a boot warehouse."
FWIW, the WaPo's Trump whisperers had a story about Trump becoming "Individual 1" that ended with this:
As Ken White put it: "Cohen’s plea is only one shoe dropping in a boot warehouse."
FWIW, the WaPo's Trump whisperers had a story about Trump becoming "Individual 1" that ended with this:
In the White House, two aides said Trump had complained more in recent days about Mueller’s prosecutors and has kept close tabs on the comments of Corsi and Stone. Trump has praised his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort extensively for fighting Mueller’s team, which accused Manafort this week of breaching a plea agreement by lying repeatedly to prosecutors as part of his pledged cooperation in the Russia probe. Cohen had not been on the front of Trump’s mind, both of these aides said.posted by peeedro at 11:45 AM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Many in the White House try to avoid talking with the president about the Mueller probe, for fear they will be subpoenaed. And both of the aides said it was unclear why Trump was complaining more about the investigation recently. During the midterm campaign, the president occasionally told advisers that people had forgotten about the Mueller probe and remarked positively that it was no longer dominating TV headlines.
I guess it's possible Lee didn't know about AOC's primary campaign for Crowley's seat, although it seems unlikely given the amount of attention AOC was getting all winter and spring.
All of the coverage I remember of AOC before the night of the primary was "This is how pissed off [select one or two of: progressives, leftists, democratic socialists, young people, women, nonwhite people] are -- they're putting real effort into these zero-chance primaries in the safest districts." or "How will we keep [see above list] mobilized for the real elections in November after their darling candidates get crushed by the establishment Democratic voters?"
Lee didn't say she was unaware he had a credible challenger, she said she was unaware he had a primary.
posted by phearlez at 11:48 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
All of the coverage I remember of AOC before the night of the primary was "This is how pissed off [select one or two of: progressives, leftists, democratic socialists, young people, women, nonwhite people] are -- they're putting real effort into these zero-chance primaries in the safest districts." or "How will we keep [see above list] mobilized for the real elections in November after their darling candidates get crushed by the establishment Democratic voters?"
Lee didn't say she was unaware he had a credible challenger, she said she was unaware he had a primary.
posted by phearlez at 11:48 AM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
The many contradictions in Trump’s relationship with Russia is a great infographic about how Trump's statements on Russia-related topics changed over time.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:50 AM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 11:50 AM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Why the fuck anyone needs to defend a schmuck like Crowley is beyond me. Both him and Jeffries are buddy-buddy with Cuomo and his creepy mix of machine politics and Jim Crow-style voter fuckery, so the idea that he would pull a stunt like this on his way out the door to a nice comfy lobbying job shouldn't be unbelievable. Just because something was printed in the Intercept doesn't mean that a center-right white guy with connections to another center-right white guy would scuttle a progressive black woman so that a center-right black guy could take a position she worked for. If you don't want to believe Ryan Grim, why don't you listen to Lee and other Congresswomen of color themselves:
Reflecting on the race, Lee said she saw sexism and ageism at work. Jeffries is 48; Lee is 72.posted by zombieflanders at 11:53 AM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
“I absolutely think that that’s the case,” she told reporters after Jeffries was declared the winner. “That’s something that women, especially women of color, African American women, have to face.”
[...]
ee declined on Wednesday to describe the “institutional barriers” she said she confronted during the election. She said only that she received “very interesting” comments as she spoke with colleagues one-on-one.
“I think that you heard and saw what took place,” she told reporters.
Rep. Jackie Speier, a Lee supporter who represents a neighboring district, said she was “disappointed” that gender and age bias could have played a role in her defeat.
“I think Barbara Lee has shown extraordinary leadership in her career,” Speier said. “She appeals to young and old. She has shown the courage to stand when others aren’t willing to.”
Lee had no trouble winning support from the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), who has emerged as the face of a new generation of liberal politicians, called attention to her support for Lee on Wednesday using Instagram, posting a photo of her shoes on the carpet of a room where leadership elections took place.
“It is a rare and treasured opportunity to cast a vote that makes you want to cry — to have a choice that encompasses so many values, hopes, and aspirations . . . That’s how I felt today voting for @repbarbaralee,” she wrote over the photo.
Later, Ocasio-Cortez posted a short video of her sitting side-by-side with Lee and other liberal lawmakers.
“This is the Progressive Caucus in the building,” she said. “Women of color!”
Many members declined to say whom they supported for chair, citing the sensitivity of the contest.
Speier said Lee had entered the vote with the belief that she had enough support to win. She called for an end to the secret ballot in leadership contests, suggesting it allowed for duplicity.
“There’s this game that some of my colleagues play where they say one thing to one member and then say something to another member, and you count them and the count’s off,” Speier said.
mikelieman: "
There probably isn't one damn deal Donald Trump ever made that doesn't have chargeable elements to it."
I don't know whether the Cheeto can deal fair; but I'm pretty sure he never does if can possibly be underhanded because he sees business transactions (well all interactions really) as a dominance game and the best way to assert dominance in his world view is by cheating the other party. Whether he's sexually assault women or not paying his piano tuner it's all about showing them and everyone who is boss.
posted by Mitheral at 12:30 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
There probably isn't one damn deal Donald Trump ever made that doesn't have chargeable elements to it."
I don't know whether the Cheeto can deal fair; but I'm pretty sure he never does if can possibly be underhanded because he sees business transactions (well all interactions really) as a dominance game and the best way to assert dominance in his world view is by cheating the other party. Whether he's sexually assault women or not paying his piano tuner it's all about showing them and everyone who is boss.
posted by Mitheral at 12:30 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
During the midterm campaign, the president occasionally told advisers that people had forgotten about the Mueller probe and remarked positively that it was no longer dominating TV headlines.
AHAHAHAAAHhhh... omg, he believed that. He believed that, since Fox was putting its airtime toward the impending election, the investigation was on hold, or maybe would just evaporate as "yesterday's news." He has no concept of how the law works - that there can be serious activity going on without media attention.
He really thinks that, if nobody he watches is talking about his crimes, he's immune to prosecution for them.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:33 PM on November 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
AHAHAHAAAHhhh... omg, he believed that. He believed that, since Fox was putting its airtime toward the impending election, the investigation was on hold, or maybe would just evaporate as "yesterday's news." He has no concept of how the law works - that there can be serious activity going on without media attention.
He really thinks that, if nobody he watches is talking about his crimes, he's immune to prosecution for them.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:33 PM on November 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
"American hero" is a title I would generally reserve for non-politicians, but I'd be hard-pressed to find a single member of the House of Representatives I admire and respect more than Barbara Lee--the lone member of either chamber of Congress who voted against giving George W. Bush free rein to pretty much bomb anyone anywhere at any time in response to 9/11. She cast this vote on 9/14/01.
Moreover, she has repeatedly spearheaded efforts to repeal the authorization for the use of military force--which is still in use, 17 years later, with deadly consequences for civilians in 14 different countries. She has done this in spite of a ceaseless stream of death threats.
That some fucking middle aged white dude would sabotage her leadership in the House because he was having a temper tantrum about his fucking personal pride and his career prospects (which are doing just FINE, dude) says everything about what a small, sad man Joe Crowley is.
posted by duffell at 12:33 PM on November 30, 2018 [97 favorites]
Moreover, she has repeatedly spearheaded efforts to repeal the authorization for the use of military force--which is still in use, 17 years later, with deadly consequences for civilians in 14 different countries. She has done this in spite of a ceaseless stream of death threats.
That some fucking middle aged white dude would sabotage her leadership in the House because he was having a temper tantrum about his fucking personal pride and his career prospects (which are doing just FINE, dude) says everything about what a small, sad man Joe Crowley is.
posted by duffell at 12:33 PM on November 30, 2018 [97 favorites]
Barbara Lee lost to Jeffries because of ageism and sexism in the party, no doubt. I don't think Joe Crowley was the architect of that, and Grim certainly doesn't convince me in his piece. And it's not because I think Crowley deserves any credit for his decency. Grim and The Intercept like to sow their own flavor of Dems in Disarray stories.
posted by gladly at 12:38 PM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by gladly at 12:38 PM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
I don't know whether the Cheeto can deal fair; but I'm pretty sure he never does if can possibly be underhanded because he sees business transactions (well all interactions really) as a dominance game and the best way to assert dominance in his world view is by cheating the other party.
I am reminded of guys I knew who worked in real estate, who were not the most straight-laced and by-the-book dudes I knew, and yet who would complain about other real estate guys who did shady shit even when they didn't "need to" or when there wasn't any point. And I've known other people who act that way in plenty of other fields.
Some people are just shady as fuck out of habit. After a while it just becomes their way of doing business. And I feel like most of this White House and the cabinet fit that bill perfectly. They do this shady shit not just because they see an obvious profit, but because hey, it's how you get ahead, right?
...and there's a constituency out there that will vote for that mindset, because they share it.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:40 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
I am reminded of guys I knew who worked in real estate, who were not the most straight-laced and by-the-book dudes I knew, and yet who would complain about other real estate guys who did shady shit even when they didn't "need to" or when there wasn't any point. And I've known other people who act that way in plenty of other fields.
Some people are just shady as fuck out of habit. After a while it just becomes their way of doing business. And I feel like most of this White House and the cabinet fit that bill perfectly. They do this shady shit not just because they see an obvious profit, but because hey, it's how you get ahead, right?
...and there's a constituency out there that will vote for that mindset, because they share it.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:40 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
scaryblackdeath: I think the phrase you're looking for is "That makes me smart."
posted by Rykey at 12:52 PM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 12:52 PM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
> “From a WH source: "I really believed POTUS didn't have Russian business ties - until today."”
Source.
posted by homunculus at 12:57 PM on November 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Source.
posted by homunculus at 12:57 PM on November 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Grim and The Intercept like to sow their own flavor of Dems in Disarray stories.
This isn't "Dems in disarray," it's "right-wing Dems fuck over progressives again," and at this point it's a perfectly valid viewpoint to express. Also, if there's any Dem statae caucus that absolutely deserves the side-eye, it's those anti-democratic (and often anti-Democratic) fuckers up in New York.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:58 PM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
This isn't "Dems in disarray," it's "right-wing Dems fuck over progressives again," and at this point it's a perfectly valid viewpoint to express. Also, if there's any Dem statae caucus that absolutely deserves the side-eye, it's those anti-democratic (and often anti-Democratic) fuckers up in New York.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:58 PM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
Seems like some skullduggery, sure, but Crowley wasn't right-wing... or even centrist. He was actually quite progressive. AOC's win was more about fitting the district than policy.
posted by Justinian at 1:02 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:02 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
If you need a Cliffs Notes rundown of all the lies that Mueller has (publicly) documented, the Washington Post's invaluable Philip Bump is back with another one of his analysis/explainer pieces.
posted by martin q blank at 1:04 PM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by martin q blank at 1:04 PM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
Ranking member on the Natural Resources Committee Raúl Grijalva calls on Zinke to resign. Zinke responds by calling him an abusive drunk.
Also, Trump Said to Advance Seismic Surveys for Oil in Atlantic:
posted by peeedro at 1:06 PM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
Also, Trump Said to Advance Seismic Surveys for Oil in Atlantic:
The Trump administration is taking a major step toward allowing a first-in-a-generation seismic search for oil and gas under Atlantic waters, despite protests that the geological tests involve loud air gun blasts that will harm whales, dolphins and other animals.A 2014 study[pdf] by the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management estimated nearly 2.5 million dolphins and a half-million pilot whales would be harmed or possibly killed by acoustic sound blasts from Atlantic seismic surveys. NOAA recently warned that the Atlantic right whale is more threatened than ever with only about 400 remaining.
The National Marine Fisheries Service is set to issue “incidental harassment authorizations” allowing seismic surveys proposed by five companies that permits them to disturb marine mammals that are otherwise protected by federal law, according to three people familiar with the activity who asked not to be named before a formal announcement.
posted by peeedro at 1:06 PM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
Ranking member on the Natural Resources Committee Raúl Grijalva calls on Zinke to resign. Zinke responds by calling him an abusive drunk.
Smart move insulting someone who will have subpoena power over you in 5 weeks.
posted by chris24 at 1:08 PM on November 30, 2018 [40 favorites]
Smart move insulting someone who will have subpoena power over you in 5 weeks.
posted by chris24 at 1:08 PM on November 30, 2018 [40 favorites]
Paul Ryan is leaving Congress in the most fitting way possible (Matthew Yglesias/Vox)
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:22 PM on November 30, 2018 [35 favorites]
He’s doing what he does best: saying stuff about policy that’s not true.Added emphasis at end.
…
That started with Thursday’s bizarre exit interview with the Washington Post’s Paul Kane, in which Ryan claimed to regret congressional inaction on debt and immigration when he was, in fact, personally responsible for congressional inaction on debt and immigration.
Now comes a tweet in which he offers the view that the policy vision that made him famous — the Roadmap for America’s Future — has been enacted into law under the Trump administration.
One can see why Ryan would like to believe that this is true.
The Roadmap was, after all, the intellectual project of his lifetime. And in its pursuit, Ryan did a lot of things (like risking America’s role in the international financial system, harming the economy with ill-timed austerity budgets, and threatening the basic fabric of the American constitutional order by relentlessly covering for Trump) that earned him a lot of criticism. And in the end, basically none of what Ryan advocated for has come to pass.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:22 PM on November 30, 2018 [35 favorites]
. And in the end, basically none of what Ryan advocated for has come to pass.
Praise be.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:37 PM on November 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
Praise be.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:37 PM on November 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
Now comes a tweet in which he offers the view that the policy vision that made him famous — the Roadmap for America’s Future — has been enacted into law under the Trump administration.
While it certainly isnt the worst ratio to be produced by horrible conservatives spouting total nonsense on twitter, i do feel compelled to point out that in its first 5 hours of existence that tweet garnered 1.1k replies to only 84RTs and 630 Likes.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:43 PM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
While it certainly isnt the worst ratio to be produced by horrible conservatives spouting total nonsense on twitter, i do feel compelled to point out that in its first 5 hours of existence that tweet garnered 1.1k replies to only 84RTs and 630 Likes.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:43 PM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Justin Trudeau just humiliated Trump at the signing ceremony for the new NAFTA - Cody Fenwick, AlterNet
President Donald Trump has tried to claim renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement as a monumental achievement of his administration, but Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau coldly undermined the president's ploy on Friday at a signing ceremony for the new deal.posted by ZeusHumms at 2:28 PM on November 30, 2018 [42 favorites]
...
Obviously, the fact that only minor changes were made isn't satisfying for Trump, so he has taken to denying reality, saying that he's gotten rid of NAFTA, and dubbing the new deal the USMCA (United States, Mexico, and Canada.) He appears to hope that this new name will dupe his followers.
But instead of adopting Trump's nakedly transparent branding strategy on Friday, Trudeau referred to the deal in his remarks as the "new North American Free Trade Agreement," as the LA Times pointed out. This was a subtle but pointed rebuke to Trump.
Homeland Security chief asks several other Cabinet departments to send civilian police to the U.S.-Mexico border to stop migrant “caravans.” (Politico exclusive, memo confirmed by DHS source, presidential no-comment)
The request suggests that personnel with such assignments as guarding diplomats, patrolling national parks, and protecting nuclear weapons might effectively “become Customs and Border Protection personnel,” as one former Justice Department official put it, with the power to arrest border-crossers.posted by box at 2:31 PM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
....
The memo was sent to leaders of the departments of State, Labor, Energy, Transportation, Interior and Justice.
...suggestions on how to generate funding to support U.S. surface transportation infrastructure needs now and into the future.
Taxes?
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:44 PM on November 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
Taxes?
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:44 PM on November 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
...suggestions on how to generate funding to support U.S. surface transportation infrastructure needs now and into the future.
Stop wasting money on inefficient methods of transportation?
posted by entropicamericana at 2:51 PM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Stop wasting money on inefficient methods of transportation?
posted by entropicamericana at 2:51 PM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Homeland Security chief asks several other Cabinet departments to send civilian police to the U.S.-Mexico border to stop migrant “caravans.”
As crazy as this shit is, I feel like there's a point of relief to be found here:
The worrying thing, of course, is that this is also a sign of just how committed to the bit this White House is over creating a crisis at the border.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:52 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
As crazy as this shit is, I feel like there's a point of relief to be found here:
"The administration seems to recognize that under Posse Comitatus … the military can’t do something enforcement-wise. So they’re saying, ‘Let’s grab as many law enforcement people and bring them to the border,’” said Leon Fresco, former head of the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation under the Obama administration.All the talk about Kelly and/or Trump signing an order to give soldiers authorization to detain and use force, this new development feels significant. Like maybe they've realized they're not going to get around Posse Comitatus, and/or they've realized just how bad it would be for them to try.
The worrying thing, of course, is that this is also a sign of just how committed to the bit this White House is over creating a crisis at the border.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 2:52 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
During the midterm campaign, the president occasionally told advisers that people had forgotten about the Mueller probe and remarked positively that it was no longer dominating TV headlines.
---
Snorted my latte. More evidence that the man is dumb as a post.
O̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶ Investigation permanence is too complicated for him.
posted by chris24 at 2:56 PM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
---
Snorted my latte. More evidence that the man is dumb as a post.
O̶b̶j̶e̶c̶t̶ Investigation permanence is too complicated for him.
posted by chris24 at 2:56 PM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
So what's Nancy Pelosi up to this week (besides dealing with the media messaging about the Speaker vote)?
Why look, it's an opinion piece in the Washington Post (with Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes) promoting H.R. 1 (as in, "this is our first order of business when we start the new session"), focusing on three things:
* reducing the influence of money on politics (including overturning Citizens United)
* creating strong new ethics law
* reinvigorating the Voting Rights Act
I think I read about H.R. 1 before (there's a feature about it at NPR from a couple of weeks ago), but given the news cycle, I'd forgotten about it.
This is what we want our leaders to do: create bold legislation in the public interest (even if it's unlikely to pass), and then go talk about those efforts to the public (even if the media typically ignores them).
(Oh, and look: just yesterday she was issuing statements about the Trump Administration’s GI Bill Payment Failures and the the Latest Trump Administration Health Care Sabotage.)
I remain a fan of Nancy Pelosi.
posted by kristi at 3:03 PM on November 30, 2018 [108 favorites]
Why look, it's an opinion piece in the Washington Post (with Maryland Congressman John Sarbanes) promoting H.R. 1 (as in, "this is our first order of business when we start the new session"), focusing on three things:
* reducing the influence of money on politics (including overturning Citizens United)
* creating strong new ethics law
* reinvigorating the Voting Rights Act
I think I read about H.R. 1 before (there's a feature about it at NPR from a couple of weeks ago), but given the news cycle, I'd forgotten about it.
This is what we want our leaders to do: create bold legislation in the public interest (even if it's unlikely to pass), and then go talk about those efforts to the public (even if the media typically ignores them).
(Oh, and look: just yesterday she was issuing statements about the Trump Administration’s GI Bill Payment Failures and the the Latest Trump Administration Health Care Sabotage.)
I remain a fan of Nancy Pelosi.
posted by kristi at 3:03 PM on November 30, 2018 [108 favorites]
I think starting with a healthcare bill would have been a bolder statement, but an anti-corruption bill ain't bad either. Mainly I'm just glad they're going to be showing off big legislative efforts, I think that's the right strategy. Follow it up with a Medicare for All bill and a climate change bill and this socialist will be hesitantly pleased with Pelosi's opening act. If she really wants to win me over she can consider a workplace democracy bill.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 3:10 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 3:10 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Funny Colbert from last night
I avoid all audio-visual of Der Klownwig whenever possible - white text on a proud blue background *snif* is about all I can stands. So this was my first exposure to that painful panicked flooping by the helicopter as he high-tailed it out of town. WOW. That guy is guilty.
That's GUILTY! GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY!!
posted by petebest at 3:12 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
I avoid all audio-visual of Der Klownwig whenever possible - white text on a proud blue background *snif* is about all I can stands. So this was my first exposure to that painful panicked flooping by the helicopter as he high-tailed it out of town. WOW. That guy is guilty.
That's GUILTY! GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY!!
posted by petebest at 3:12 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
So what's Nancy Pelosi up to this week (besides dealing with the media messaging about the Speaker vote)?
Meanwhile in the anti-Pelosi clown show: Moulton calls out Ocasio-Cortez's tweet defending Pelosi as 'offensive'.
If Moulton is mad at being characterized as "the right"...maybe stop threatening to install Kevin McCarthy as Speaker.
Or better yet, resign, because you're a replacement level hack.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:12 PM on November 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
Meanwhile in the anti-Pelosi clown show: Moulton calls out Ocasio-Cortez's tweet defending Pelosi as 'offensive'.
If Moulton is mad at being characterized as "the right"...maybe stop threatening to install Kevin McCarthy as Speaker.
Or better yet, resign, because you're a replacement level hack.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:12 PM on November 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
More evidence that the man is dumb as a post.
The definition of narcissism that I use describes a condition where the person basically thinks they're living a movie, in which they force the people they interact with into roles that support the plot of the movie. In this case, I think we're seeing that instead of forcing people to adopt their roles, he has to try to force the world to adopt his plot. That is, in Trump's mental movie, Mueller is forgettable. This is because Trump is the protagonist, and Mueller holding sway would mean that there's a possibility that the protagonist is fallible.
posted by rhizome at 3:12 PM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
The definition of narcissism that I use describes a condition where the person basically thinks they're living a movie, in which they force the people they interact with into roles that support the plot of the movie. In this case, I think we're seeing that instead of forcing people to adopt their roles, he has to try to force the world to adopt his plot. That is, in Trump's mental movie, Mueller is forgettable. This is because Trump is the protagonist, and Mueller holding sway would mean that there's a possibility that the protagonist is fallible.
posted by rhizome at 3:12 PM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
@nycsouthpaw, How one accountant links Whitaker's nonprofit to network of dark money groups
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on November 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
Thomas Raymond Conlon, the Maryland accountant responsible for the tax returns filed by Whitaker’s former nonprofit, is also linked to other prominent conservative organizations funded by dark money and whose only public face as an organization is often a UPS box or virtual office in the Washington, D.C., area. Conlon, whose own accounting business has been penalized for failing to file tax returns, has created a paper trail with notable errors in his work for some of those groups, according to public records reviewed by Yahoo News.Numerous blatant errors in FACT's tax filings are discussed, the accountant has his own tax troubles, and the IRS just doesn't do any enforcement anymore after Republicans worked the refs in the 2013 IRS scandal.
...
But even in the opaque world of dark money, Conlon’s role as an accountant stands out. A review of public records reveals that Conlon, who filed tax returns for FACT, has also performed tax accounting services for a dizzying array of connected nonprofit organizations, both 501(c)(3)’s and 501(c)(4)’s. Some of those filings contain errors, which could open the door to scrutiny of those organizations.
It’s happened before. Another high-profile conservative nonprofit client of Conlon’s, the American Conservative Union (ACU), underwent a lengthy investigation and paid a hefty fine to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) over a transaction that came to light when ACU’s tax return, which Conlon had prepared, had to be amended because it had been contradicted by its annual audit, which he also conducted.
Conlon’s other clients include a number of 501(c)(4) organizations, including the Judicial Crisis Network (JCN), a group that has been involved in partisan Supreme Court battles; and the National Organization for Marriage (NOM), which has worked to roll back same-sex marriage; the Annual Fund; and the Catholic Association. Another client, the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast, which holds an annual event the president traditionally attends, is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3).
Additionally, Conlon prepared returns for tax-exempt subsidiaries of JCN and NOM, the Judicial Education Project and National Organization for Marriage Education Fund (NOMEF), each also a 501(c)(3).
posted by zachlipton at 3:15 PM on November 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
@bradheath [citations behind the link]: The Justice Department says in a new court filing that when it comes to FISA declassifciation, President Trump doesn't know what he's tweeting about. Also DOJ: When President Trump quotes somebody on Twitter accusing his government of wrongdoing, that "cannot be assumed to be his confirmation of the media reporting based on government information, and it is not evidence of government misconduct." DOJ also says that when President Trump comments on national security matters on Twitter, that doesn't mean his statements are accurate, or that he has any personal knowledge that they are correct. DOJ's argument that the president shouldn't be presumed to know what he's talking about is a pretty remarkable one, and it's not one I'd seen the government make before 2017. Now there's a fair amount of caselaw on it.
@gtconway3d: That the President doesn’t necessarily know what he’s talking about or isn’t necessarily telling the truth obviously *has* to be the government’s position, because, well, facts are facts.
posted by zachlipton at 3:17 PM on November 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
@gtconway3d: That the President doesn’t necessarily know what he’s talking about or isn’t necessarily telling the truth obviously *has* to be the government’s position, because, well, facts are facts.
posted by zachlipton at 3:17 PM on November 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
Party for Giuliani Nixed Because No One Wants to Go
(via)
Plans for a party celebrating the 25-year anniversary of Rudy Giuliani becoming the mayor of New York City are “fizzling out” because he is “too toxic,” the New York Daily News reports.
Said the source: “Rudy wanted it to appear to come together organically.”
How Rude.
posted by petebest at 3:22 PM on November 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
(via)
Plans for a party celebrating the 25-year anniversary of Rudy Giuliani becoming the mayor of New York City are “fizzling out” because he is “too toxic,” the New York Daily News reports.
Said the source: “Rudy wanted it to appear to come together organically.”
How Rude.
posted by petebest at 3:22 PM on November 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
Yahoo News: Take a number: Migrants, blocked at the border, wait their turn to apply for asylum (emphasis mine)
The Grupos Beta officers, who refer questions from reporters to their superiors, each clutch a clipboard holding several sheets of lined paper, which they appear to be double- and triple-checking meticulously. It’s unclear whether this version of the list contains the names of the migrants, each of whom has an identifying number written in black permanent marker on the inside of their wrists.posted by zombieflanders at 3:23 PM on November 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
Including children.
BuzzFeed, Hamed Aleaziz, One Reason The US And Mexico Can't Agree On Having Asylum-Seekers Wait In Mexico: The Trump Administration Itself Is Divided
Homeland Security and Justice Department officials are feuding over a controversial plan that would force asylum-seekers at the southwestern border to remain in Mexico until their cases are decided, according to sources close the administration.posted by zachlipton at 3:26 PM on November 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Department of Justice officials have been pushing for asylum-seekers at the border to be immediately returned to Mexico as they arrive at the border, instead of first undergoing screening for fear of persecution or torture if they are not allowed in.
Department of Homeland Security officials want asylum-seekers screened for persecution, torture, and fear, before being immediately returned to Mexico, to ensure that there are no serious concerns for their safety in Mexico.
DOJ also says that when President Trump comments on national security matters on Twitter, that doesn't mean his statements are accurate, or that he has any personal knowledge that they are correct.
DOJ: Trump's tweets are 'official statements of the President', November 2017
DOJ: Trump's tweets are 'official statements of the President', November 2017
“In answer to the Court’s question, the government is treating the President’s statements to which plaintiffs point — whether by tweet, speech or interview — as official statements of the President of the United States,” the Justice Department responded.posted by kirkaracha at 3:26 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
Today, Mike Pence posted a photo on Twitter with a Flordia law enforcement officer wearing a QAnon patch for sale on Amazon
posted by zombieflanders at 3:48 PM on November 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 3:48 PM on November 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
As crazy as this shit is, I feel like there's a point of relief to be found here:
"The administration seems to recognize that under Posse Comitatus … the military can’t do something enforcement-wise. So they’re saying, ‘Let’s grab as many law enforcement people and bring them to the border,’” said Leon Fresco, former head of the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation under the Obama administration.
All the talk about Kelly and/or Trump signing an order to give soldiers authorization to detain and use force, this new development feels significant. Like maybe they've realized they're not going to get around Posse Comitatus, and/or they've realized just how bad it would be for them to try.
I am not relieved. The police are so militarized at this point that they are a de-facto army anyway.
posted by srboisvert at 3:53 PM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
"The administration seems to recognize that under Posse Comitatus … the military can’t do something enforcement-wise. So they’re saying, ‘Let’s grab as many law enforcement people and bring them to the border,’” said Leon Fresco, former head of the Justice Department’s Office of Immigration Litigation under the Obama administration.
All the talk about Kelly and/or Trump signing an order to give soldiers authorization to detain and use force, this new development feels significant. Like maybe they've realized they're not going to get around Posse Comitatus, and/or they've realized just how bad it would be for them to try.
I am not relieved. The police are so militarized at this point that they are a de-facto army anyway.
posted by srboisvert at 3:53 PM on November 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
Sex, lies and videotape: If Trump's reign were a bad novel, what chapter would we be in? Still near the beginning? Somewhere around the middle? Drawing close to the end?
posted by growabrain at 3:57 PM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 3:57 PM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's a little petty, but apparently Prime Minister Trudeau is a little tired of Trump calling him "Justin" all the time. So when they were talking about tariffs today, he urged "Donald" to remove them.
I've also seen references to "CUSMA" in Canadian news reports, and I've heard Mexican authorities have their own name for it. Seems nobody but Trump wants to call it USMCA.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:59 PM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
I've also seen references to "CUSMA" in Canadian news reports, and I've heard Mexican authorities have their own name for it. Seems nobody but Trump wants to call it USMCA.
posted by GhostintheMachine at 3:59 PM on November 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Case in point about militarization, look at what the Sheriffs are wearing in zombieflanders' post linking to a picture of local law enforcement with Pence... Is that full on military wear? Is a war on there or something? I guess seeing cops in full military riot gear with QAnon patches is supposed to make us feel safer?
posted by xammerboy at 3:59 PM on November 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 3:59 PM on November 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
I am not relieved. The police are so militarized at this point that they are a de-facto army anyway.
I have to think there are local forces in play here that complicate things. The line from police unions and/or departments for a long time has been "we don't have enough officers," so it might be hard to square "hey can you send half your force to the border for a while? kthx" with reality.
posted by rhizome at 4:10 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have to think there are local forces in play here that complicate things. The line from police unions and/or departments for a long time has been "we don't have enough officers," so it might be hard to square "hey can you send half your force to the border for a while? kthx" with reality.
posted by rhizome at 4:10 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Seems nobody but Trump wants to call it USMCA
MUCAS
posted by rhizome at 4:11 PM on November 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
MUCAS
posted by rhizome at 4:11 PM on November 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
> He has more to say about raking forests too. It seems like he saw firefighters creating firelines during the fire and decided that "if that was raked in the beginning, there’d be nothing to catch on fire." Which is not how anything works.
The Trump Administration Wants to Roll Back Environmental Protections to Help Fight Fires. New farm bill provisions would eliminate environmental protections for forest management, without addressing the wildfires' biggest driver: climate change.
Pro-Logging Republicans See an Opening in the Farm Bill: The legislation is being held up by a debate over forest management and wildfires.
posted by homunculus at 4:19 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
The Trump Administration Wants to Roll Back Environmental Protections to Help Fight Fires. New farm bill provisions would eliminate environmental protections for forest management, without addressing the wildfires' biggest driver: climate change.
Pro-Logging Republicans See an Opening in the Farm Bill: The legislation is being held up by a debate over forest management and wildfires.
posted by homunculus at 4:19 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Today, Mike Pence posted a photo on Twitter with a Flordia law enforcement officer wearing a QAnon patch for sale on Amazon
They've since deleted the tweet and then reposted it with the Q guy cropped out of the photo.
I'm sure the Q-Anon folks are going to handle this with calm, cool aplomb.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:32 PM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
They've since deleted the tweet and then reposted it with the Q guy cropped out of the photo.
I'm sure the Q-Anon folks are going to handle this with calm, cool aplomb.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:32 PM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
They've since deleted the tweet and then reposted it with the Q guy cropped out of the photo.
Just like Stalin!
posted by kirkaracha at 4:44 PM on November 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
Just like Stalin!
posted by kirkaracha at 4:44 PM on November 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
Is that full on military wear? Is a war on there or something?
If you look at the original tweet, Pence is thanking that law enforcement that helped during his visit to Florida. The Vice President travels with a Secret Service counter assault team, which will coordinate with local law enforcement's SWAT teams for extra manpower and as a training/readiness exercise. He's in full military gear because that's what SWAT teams wear and he's wearing a QAnon patch because presumably he's a nutter and elite units usually a given some leeway with tactical cosplay patches (aka morale patches) to make themselves look cool.
posted by peeedro at 4:47 PM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
If you look at the original tweet, Pence is thanking that law enforcement that helped during his visit to Florida. The Vice President travels with a Secret Service counter assault team, which will coordinate with local law enforcement's SWAT teams for extra manpower and as a training/readiness exercise. He's in full military gear because that's what SWAT teams wear and he's wearing a QAnon patch because presumably he's a nutter and elite units usually a given some leeway with tactical cosplay patches (aka morale patches) to make themselves look cool.
posted by peeedro at 4:47 PM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm sure the Q-Anon folks are going to handle this with calm, cool aplomb.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:32 PM on November 30
[4 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
No. It's cool. They saw the wink. Mission accomplished.
posted by Mental Wimp at 4:50 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:32 PM on November 30
[4 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
No. It's cool. They saw the wink. Mission accomplished.
posted by Mental Wimp at 4:50 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Trump Administration Wants to Roll Back Environmental Protections to Help Fight Fires. New farm bill provisions would eliminate environmental protections for forest management, without addressing the wildfires' biggest driver: climate change.
For context, WaPo: How they survived: Owners of the few homes left standing around Paradise, Calif., took critical steps to ward off wildfires
posted by saysthis at 4:51 PM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
For context, WaPo: How they survived: Owners of the few homes left standing around Paradise, Calif., took critical steps to ward off wildfires
Meeting these standards doesn’t have to be costly. A report by Pohl released in November found that construction costs for a model “fire wise” single-family home with a nonflammable asphalt roof and fire-resistant tempered-glass windows were $2,000 less than for a typical house.Counterpoint: rakes.
...
Though the United States spends upwards of $2 billion each year on fire suppression and billions more helping communities recover, the current budget for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program is just over $200 million — and it must address hurricanes, earthquakes and a host of other natural hazards as well as fires. Cal Fire provides grants for forest management and tree removal, but not structure modification.
The budget for the University of California Cooperative Extension program, which conducts fire research and outreach to homeowners, has been cut by almost half since 2000. There are now fewer than 20 extension advisers in forestry and fire serving a state with 40 million people and 15 million acres of public lands.
In light of the recent National Climate Assessment, which predicts a massive increase in the frequency and severity of wildfire, Pohl said that funding preventive measures is a life-or-death question.
“The reality is we know how to do better,” she said. “But we are too slow to change.”
posted by saysthis at 4:51 PM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
“The reality is we know how to do better,” she said. “But we are too slow to change.”
See also: Monolithic concrete dome based construction in hurricane and tornado areas. We know how to build affordable, survivable housing; we're just hung up on using asphalt shingle, gypsum board, and pine 2x4's.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:00 PM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
See also: Monolithic concrete dome based construction in hurricane and tornado areas. We know how to build affordable, survivable housing; we're just hung up on using asphalt shingle, gypsum board, and pine 2x4's.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:00 PM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
zachlipton: Department of Justice officials have been pushing for asylum-seekers at the border to be immediately returned to Mexico as they arrive at the border, instead of first undergoing screening for fear of persecution or torture if they are not allowed in.
Department of Homeland Security officials want asylum-seekers screened for persecution, torture, and fear, before being immediately returned to Mexico, to ensure that there are no serious concerns for their safety in Mexico.
Huh, that's kind of the opposite of what I'd have guessed. DHS showing more compassion than DoJ?
posted by InTheYear2017 at 5:05 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Department of Homeland Security officials want asylum-seekers screened for persecution, torture, and fear, before being immediately returned to Mexico, to ensure that there are no serious concerns for their safety in Mexico.
Huh, that's kind of the opposite of what I'd have guessed. DHS showing more compassion than DoJ?
posted by InTheYear2017 at 5:05 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
As always the answer is that in America the idea of spending money to improve human lives still isn't an idea that has caught on.
posted by runcibleshaw at 5:06 PM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by runcibleshaw at 5:06 PM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
Huh, that's kind of the opposite of what I'd have guessed. DHS showing more compassion than DoJ?
DHS may also want screening first to identify potential "terrorists," and claim that it's for the asylum-seekers' safety.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:12 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
DHS may also want screening first to identify potential "terrorists," and claim that it's for the asylum-seekers' safety.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 5:12 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes, because the fact that a nonflammable roof and fire-resistant windows cost $2,000 less than the alternative in new construction doesn't help me at all if my house already exists so I'd have to replace the windows and roof I already have and I frankly don't have the money for that.Sure, but this isn't just an individual issue. The state could pass a law that said that all new construction had to meet fire-safe guidelines, and then they could provide credits to help people retrofit their existing homes. I bet it would save the state money in the long run.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:20 PM on November 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
I mean, yes, my California house is 100 years old and definitely needs a new roof soon, so nonflammable roofing is what I'll shop for, but I have no idea how I'm going to afford it, even if it's a less expensive alternative.
I’m a Californian renter (former homeowner) and I’d support any political efforts aimed at mitigating some of these costs for homeowners under the theory that it costs us all lot when 10,000 homes go up in smoke and 30,000 people are looking for a new place to live.
That’s the “we” the CalFire spokesperson had in mind, I think.
posted by notyou at 5:23 PM on November 30, 2018 [31 favorites]
I’m a Californian renter (former homeowner) and I’d support any political efforts aimed at mitigating some of these costs for homeowners under the theory that it costs us all lot when 10,000 homes go up in smoke and 30,000 people are looking for a new place to live.
That’s the “we” the CalFire spokesperson had in mind, I think.
posted by notyou at 5:23 PM on November 30, 2018 [31 favorites]
For what it's worth, when I bought my house, I qualified for a program that paid almost the whole cost of adding insulation to make my house more energy efficient, and I live in a state that is a lot less progressive than California. I don't think this is a particularly wild idea.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:32 PM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:32 PM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
nonflammable roofing is what I'll shop for, but I have no idea how I'm going to afford it, even if it's a less expensive alternative. That's why I'm "too slow."
Just joining the pile-on to say no, you're "too slow" because you live in a country that considers it your problem alone if your house burns down. You're a tax-paying citizen of this fine country, as well as trapped in the energy economy it built that causes global warming, and the fact that you don't have nice things like subsidized fire insurance and government staff banging down your door to install non-flammable roofing free of charge is why we, not you, are too slow.
At this point you may as well just get the most valuable fire insurance you can + a tarp and wait. $$$$$$$
posted by saysthis at 5:33 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Just joining the pile-on to say no, you're "too slow" because you live in a country that considers it your problem alone if your house burns down. You're a tax-paying citizen of this fine country, as well as trapped in the energy economy it built that causes global warming, and the fact that you don't have nice things like subsidized fire insurance and government staff banging down your door to install non-flammable roofing free of charge is why we, not you, are too slow.
At this point you may as well just get the most valuable fire insurance you can + a tarp and wait. $$$$$$$
posted by saysthis at 5:33 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
CNN, Cohen believed Trump would pardon him, but then things changed
It strikes me that there are broader constitutional questions about whether granting a pardon can be obstruction of justice, but offering a pardon in exchange for lying to investigators would presumably be a much simpler case: the President has essentially unlimited authority to grant pardons, but not to suborn perjury.
posted by zachlipton at 5:36 PM on November 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
Michael Cohen, the former personal attorney for President Donald Trump who is now a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation, was under the impression Trump would offer him a pardon in exchange for staying on message in support of the President in discussions with federal prosecutors, according to two sources.The details of exactly how these assurances were made could easily constitute an obstruction case against the President. And as emptywheel notes, ABC reported that Cohen spent his many hours with Mueller's team talking about "obstruction of justice and talk of possible pardons."
After a March 2018 visit to Mar-a-Lago, the President's private club in Florida, Cohen returned to New York believing that his former boss would protect him if he faced any charges for sticking to his story about the 2016 payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, according to one source with knowledge. Trump was also at Mar-a-Lago at the time of Cohen's visit.
Another source said that after the April 2018 FBI raid on Cohen's office and home, people close to the President assured Cohen that Trump would take care of him. And Cohen believed that meant that the President would offer him a pardon if he stayed on message. It is unclear who specifically reached out to Cohen.
It strikes me that there are broader constitutional questions about whether granting a pardon can be obstruction of justice, but offering a pardon in exchange for lying to investigators would presumably be a much simpler case: the President has essentially unlimited authority to grant pardons, but not to suborn perjury.
posted by zachlipton at 5:36 PM on November 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
It strikes me that there are broader constitutional questions about whether granting a pardon can be obstruction of justice
I've not seen anyone suggest that the mere fact that a pardon is granted could be prosecuted as obstruction, only surrounding actions like dangling the pardon in exchange for silence/lies. The problem is that Trump is so untrustworthy that nobody trusts he'll pardon them without assurances, and those assurances are criminal if found out.
posted by Justinian at 5:40 PM on November 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
I've not seen anyone suggest that the mere fact that a pardon is granted could be prosecuted as obstruction, only surrounding actions like dangling the pardon in exchange for silence/lies. The problem is that Trump is so untrustworthy that nobody trusts he'll pardon them without assurances, and those assurances are criminal if found out.
posted by Justinian at 5:40 PM on November 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Frankly it sounds like Cohen didn't trust Trump even with those assurances. Which is probably the smartest thing he's ever done.
posted by Justinian at 5:40 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:40 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
WaPo: Deportation may be worse than jail, a court just ruled. Why that’s a big deal.
New York’s highest court boldly ruled Tuesday that deportation may be a more severe consequence than even a few months behind bars.posted by saysthis at 5:48 PM on November 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
The divided decision created a situation where two individuals charged with the same low-level offense have vastly different trial rights — a noncitizen is entitled to a jury trial, while a U.S. citizen is not.
The case involved Saylor Suazo, an immigrant with an expired visa. For Suazo, who faced a maximum of six months in jail on misdemeanor domestic violence charges, the possibility of being deported to Honduras was more severe than any penalty the state could impose, his attorney argued.
Suazo asked for a trial by jury, rather than a judge.
...
The New York Court of Appeals agreed, overturning Suazo’s conviction.
In the decision, Judge Leslie Stein, writing for a 5-2 majority, said “the penalty of deportation is among the most extreme and that it may, in some circumstances, rival incarceration in its loss of liberty.”
...
Whether a crime is “deportable,” though broadly spelled out by statute, is specific to an individual’s immigration status. Now, if defendants ask for a jury trial, the criminal court judge will have to investigate the particular circumstances to determine whether they are entitled to one.
In June, the D.C. Court of Appeals reached a similar conclusion.
...
“The law kind of loses coherence when the court reaches a result like this. It seems to be a departure to the whole idea of ‘petty’ offenses to say that it’s ‘petty’ unless a noncitizen committed it,” said former New York Court of Appeals judge Robert Smith.
I imagine flipping Cohen was the "let's confirm everything we've accumulated over the prior year", and yeah, it's comprehensive.
For instance, Rick Gates has been cooperating under a plea agreement since February, and the latest status report said that the prosecutors weren't ready for the sentencing process to begin. I suspect that a chunk of Cohen's 70 hours has involved being presented with what Gates has already offered up. This week's plea deal shows how the "Moscow Project" ran alongside the campaign until the end of the primary and the public acknowledgement of the DNC hack, and Gates is the cooperating witness most likely to dish on that interaction.
posted by holgate at 5:51 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
For instance, Rick Gates has been cooperating under a plea agreement since February, and the latest status report said that the prosecutors weren't ready for the sentencing process to begin. I suspect that a chunk of Cohen's 70 hours has involved being presented with what Gates has already offered up. This week's plea deal shows how the "Moscow Project" ran alongside the campaign until the end of the primary and the public acknowledgement of the DNC hack, and Gates is the cooperating witness most likely to dish on that interaction.
posted by holgate at 5:51 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
Even if a still-in-power DJT woke in a whimsical mood and granted a pardon, Cohen's twisting on the hook for NYS crimes.
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:59 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:59 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Lobbyist Documents Reveal Health Care Industry Battle Plan Against “Medicare for All”
Now that the midterms are finally over, the battle against “Medicare for All” that has been quietly waged throughout the year is poised to take center stage.Medicare for All: As Healthcare Costs Soar, Momentum Grows to Guarantee Healthcare for All Americans
Internal strategy documents obtained by The Intercept and Documented reveal the strategy that private health care interests plan to use to influence Democratic Party messaging and stymie the momentum toward achieving universal health care coverage.
As Democrats prepare to take control of the House, pressure is growing on the Democratic leadership to embrace Medicare for All. Nearly 50 new Democratic members of Congress campaigned for Medicare for All. In the last year, 123 incumbent House Democrats also co-sponsored Medicare for All legislation, double the number who supported a Medicare for All bill in the previous legislative session. Meanwhile, pharmaceutical, insurance and hospital companies are paying close attention. As the Intercept’s Lee Fang reports, over the summer the groups formed a partnership to fight the growing support for expanding Medicare. We speak to three proponents of Medicare for All who have assembled in Burlington, Vermont, for a gathering of the Sanders Institute: Kelly Coogan-Gehr of National Nurses United, British anesthesiologist Dr. Hosnieh Djafari-Marbini and organizer Jo Beardsmore.posted by homunculus at 5:59 PM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
Speaking of the Hatch Act, Six White House officials reprimanded for violating the Hatch Act (WaPo):
The six White house employees, who included members of the press office, deleted their social media posts once they were told they had violated the Hatch Act, the Office of Special Counsel said[pdf]. As a result, federal investigators issued warning letters rather than taking disciplinary action and advised that similar social media activity in the future would be considered a willful violation of the law that could result in further action, according to Erica S. Hamrick, deputy chief of the Hatch Act unit.posted by peeedro at 6:03 PM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
The White House officials who were reprimanded were principal deputy press secretary Raj Shah; deputy director of communications Jessica Ditto; Madeleine Westerhout, executive assistant to the president; Helen Aguirre Ferré, former director of media affairs; Alyssa Farah, press secretary for Vice President Pence; and Jacob Wood, deputy communications director for the Office of Management and Budget.
As Democrats prepare to take control of the House, pressure is growing on the Democratic leadership to embrace Medicare for All.
Done with my comment storm after this, but I have to say that - THIS is a) the importance of Obamacare, and b) why you better not assume Blue Wave and then we're done. Obamacare was the chink in the armor, not the endgame, never was. We can change things, but you cannot cannot cannot give up pressuring your representatives or political engagement now. If we want to build a better country, we push, now, while everybody knows we can win and that the other side is morally bankrupt. The fight will continue long into the next administration. If we do this right, we get universal healthcare in 2023 I'd guess. Otherwise we have to wait another generation.
posted by saysthis at 6:05 PM on November 30, 2018 [48 favorites]
Done with my comment storm after this, but I have to say that - THIS is a) the importance of Obamacare, and b) why you better not assume Blue Wave and then we're done. Obamacare was the chink in the armor, not the endgame, never was. We can change things, but you cannot cannot cannot give up pressuring your representatives or political engagement now. If we want to build a better country, we push, now, while everybody knows we can win and that the other side is morally bankrupt. The fight will continue long into the next administration. If we do this right, we get universal healthcare in 2023 I'd guess. Otherwise we have to wait another generation.
posted by saysthis at 6:05 PM on November 30, 2018 [48 favorites]
Pool report #23, by the NYT's Peter Baker, is a journey:
Motorcade left the opera house at 10:10 pm local time to return to the RON for the night.posted by zachlipton at 6:14 PM on November 30, 2018 [41 favorites]
For POTUS, it was routine and uneventful.
For your pool, it was a bit of an adventure.
Your pool shuttle bus proved just a bit taller than the wooden structure erected outside the opera house entrance to cover world leaders as they left the building. The scraping sound as the bus plowed through the structure did not sound good. Neither did the bus air conditioning which then began making a loud and unhappy noise.
In the process, the bus lost the POTUS motorcade and almost got into Putin's motorcade by mistake. Once back on the right track, the bus then wandered the largely empty streets of Buenos Aires alone amid shouts of "Go! Go! Go!" as the driver was urged to race through red lights in a futile effort to catch up. "Jesus, take the wheel," we heard at one point. There was some balking at going the wrong way down a one-way street.
Even if a still-in-power DJT woke in a whimsical mood and granted a pardon, Cohen's twisting on the hook for NYS crimes.
Only if NYS prosecutes vigorously.
Trump just had lunch with Cuomo. I haven’t heard a peep out of the NYAG-elect, Leticia James, who was, unfortunately, on Cuomo’s slate / the machine candidate, but I haven’t gone looking very hard.
I would really like to hear something from James. Maybe I’ll call her office Monday.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:14 PM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
Only if NYS prosecutes vigorously.
Trump just had lunch with Cuomo. I haven’t heard a peep out of the NYAG-elect, Leticia James, who was, unfortunately, on Cuomo’s slate / the machine candidate, but I haven’t gone looking very hard.
I would really like to hear something from James. Maybe I’ll call her office Monday.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:14 PM on November 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
In the process, the bus lost the POTUS motorcade and almost got into Putin's motorcade by mistake. ... "Jesus, take the wheel," we heard at one point. There was some balking at going the wrong way down a one-way street.
Most succinct summary of 2016 I’ve read yet.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:17 PM on November 30, 2018 [70 favorites]
Most succinct summary of 2016 I’ve read yet.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:17 PM on November 30, 2018 [70 favorites]
Etrigan: ""How will we keep [see above list] mobilized for the real elections in November after their darling candidates get crushed by the establishment Democratic voters?""
It should be mentioned that exactly two (2) Democratic congressional incumbents were successfully primaried, both in very safe seats. AOC's win was impressive, but it remained pretty singular.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:21 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
It should be mentioned that exactly two (2) Democratic congressional incumbents were successfully primaried, both in very safe seats. AOC's win was impressive, but it remained pretty singular.
posted by Chrysostom at 6:21 PM on November 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
@harrisonjaime: .@NancyPelosi just announced that there will be 3 co-Chairs of the Steering and Policy Committee- @rosadelauro @RepSwalwell and a new co-chair @RepBarbaraLee ! The Congresswoman will be a member of House Leadership... very powerful internal caucus committee!
I am very glad they are creating a leadership position for Rep. Lee.
posted by zachlipton at 6:22 PM on November 30, 2018 [60 favorites]
I am very glad they are creating a leadership position for Rep. Lee.
posted by zachlipton at 6:22 PM on November 30, 2018 [60 favorites]
@jules_su (Jules Suzdaltsev): LMAO HOW DID WE MISS THIS (photo of Putin grinning and shaking hands with Mohammed bin Salman as frowning Trump looks on in the background) (Hello Darkness version)
posted by christopherious at 6:22 PM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by christopherious at 6:22 PM on November 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
people close to the President assured Cohen that Trump would take care of him. And Cohen believed that meant that the President would offer him a pardon if he stayed on message. It is unclear who specifically reached out to Cohen.
Witness tampering is a felony, no?
posted by vrakatar at 6:26 PM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Witness tampering is a felony, no?
posted by vrakatar at 6:26 PM on November 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
I actually have some faith in New York district prosecutors. Not because I believe in their integrity -- Christ no -- but there's enough ambition there that no one with political ambitions will want to be seen as caping for Trump. Cyrus Vance's name is already mud nationally for his past decisions about prosecuting Trump crimes. Cuomo is a disgusting weasel, but I don't think he'll want to look soft on Trump.
posted by grandiloquiet at 6:37 PM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by grandiloquiet at 6:37 PM on November 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
In case anybody had doubts about Trump's mood today.
@JuliaDavisNews I wonder what Trump's gut is telling him today.
#G20Summit #G20Summit2018
[image]
posted by scalefree at 6:47 PM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
@JuliaDavisNews I wonder what Trump's gut is telling him today.
#G20Summit #G20Summit2018
[image]
posted by scalefree at 6:47 PM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
ZeusHumms: "But instead of adopting Trump's nakedly transparent branding strategy on Friday, Trudeau referred to the deal in his remarks as the "new North American Free Trade Agreement," as the LA Times pointed out. This was a subtle but pointed rebuke to Trump."
He also pointed out that the Cheetos trade war is directly responsible for GM closing Canadian (and American) plants. It's no "worse things by better people" but it was definitely jabbing him where he's sensitive.
One Second Before Awakening: "I think starting with a healthcare bill would have been a bolder statement, but an anti-corruption bill ain't bad either. "
Heathcare is essentially evergreen; anti-corruption laws are going to be a lot easier to push while the current indict-o-rama is fresh in everyone's minds.
posted by Mitheral at 7:06 PM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
He also pointed out that the Cheetos trade war is directly responsible for GM closing Canadian (and American) plants. It's no "worse things by better people" but it was definitely jabbing him where he's sensitive.
One Second Before Awakening: "I think starting with a healthcare bill would have been a bolder statement, but an anti-corruption bill ain't bad either. "
Heathcare is essentially evergreen; anti-corruption laws are going to be a lot easier to push while the current indict-o-rama is fresh in everyone's minds.
posted by Mitheral at 7:06 PM on November 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
>CNN, Cohen believed Trump would pardon him, but then things changed
one does not bargain, as between equals, for a presidential pardon.
a trained and credentialed attack dog such as our hero knows this.
one behaves as a trained and credentialed attack dog must: loyally.
a loyal act is not rewarded. it is expected, required. loyalty is its own reward.
as to pardons? well, seeking assurance is not a very loyal behavior.
presuming to be in a position to bargain as though between equals
is downright disloyal: it is blackmail, twice, wrapped in an insult.
a dog who acts right (read: loyal) out of servile devotion's savoir-faire
is a happy dog who gets to come along and maybe from time to time enjoys
a treat or pardon for no discernible or particular reason, providence! delight!
a loyal dog does not doubt; a dog who has doubted is not loyal.
yours is a very silly story, cnn.
posted by 20 year lurk at 7:21 PM on November 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
one does not bargain, as between equals, for a presidential pardon.
a trained and credentialed attack dog such as our hero knows this.
one behaves as a trained and credentialed attack dog must: loyally.
a loyal act is not rewarded. it is expected, required. loyalty is its own reward.
as to pardons? well, seeking assurance is not a very loyal behavior.
presuming to be in a position to bargain as though between equals
is downright disloyal: it is blackmail, twice, wrapped in an insult.
a dog who acts right (read: loyal) out of servile devotion's savoir-faire
is a happy dog who gets to come along and maybe from time to time enjoys
a treat or pardon for no discernible or particular reason, providence! delight!
a loyal dog does not doubt; a dog who has doubted is not loyal.
yours is a very silly story, cnn.
posted by 20 year lurk at 7:21 PM on November 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
anti-corruption laws are going to be a lot easier to push while the current indict-o-rama is fresh in everyone's minds.
This a million times. If we don't fix the democracy anything else we pass will be dismantled when the Republicans cheat their way back into power.
posted by duoshao at 7:31 PM on November 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
This a million times. If we don't fix the democracy anything else we pass will be dismantled when the Republicans cheat their way back into power.
posted by duoshao at 7:31 PM on November 30, 2018 [32 favorites]
Vanity Fair's Gabriel Sherman dishes: “Trump Was Totally Caught Off Guard By The Cohen Plea”: Inside Trumpworld, Some Fear Mueller Has Laid A Perjury Trap
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:46 PM on November 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
Exactly what Michael Cohen told Robert Mueller has been among the most unnerving unknowns for those closest to the president ever since Trump’s longtime fixer began cooperating with the Russia probe in the summer. “If anyone can blow up Trump, it’s him,” a former West Wing official told me in June. The detonation began on Thursday, when Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress, accompanied by a detailed plea agreement, a new set of facts that begin to fill in a picture. To the Trump camp, it looked ominous. “The Cohen news is very bad,” a former White House staffer said.[...]If Rudy and Don Jr. want to broadcast their panic, I suppose that's their prerogative, but they're the ones looking "untethered".
In the days leading up to Cohen’s plea, Trump’s legal team had grown increasingly annoyed with the special counsel’s office for stonewalling. Giuliani vented to a friend that Mueller’s office stopped communicating with him after he delivered Trump’s answers. “They’ve gone dark,” the friend who spoke with Giuliani said. “Rudy is extremely frustrated. He thinks Mueller is acting like some junior U.S. attorney who’s got his panties in a wad and doesn’t want to talk to you.” Giuliani also complained that Mueller is delaying submitting his report to the Justice Department until the Democrats have taken control of the House of Representatives in January. (Giuliani did not respond to a request for comment.)
Cohen’s plea also re-ignited fears that the president’s son, Don Jr., will be next to be indicted. “Don’s been telling people he’s very worried after today,” a source said. (Don Jr.’s attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) Mueller now appears to be driving the West Wing agenda, with the principals in a reactive crouch; there’s a sense of loss of control. “It’s an untethered situation,” a person close to the president said.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:46 PM on November 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
@andrewsweiss:
Bears repeating: the Kremlin cares more about throwing the US into political chaos than covering up Trump’s misdeeds. Peskov just confirmed the gist of the Mueller/Cohen plea dealposted by zachlipton at 7:53 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Peskov rather curiously throws out an intriguing new tidbit: Cohen’s Jan16 email to the Kremlin about the Moscow Project contained a request for a meeting with Putin’s then chief of staff, Sergei Ivanov. Ivanov, a longtime Putin friend/associate from their KGB days in the late 1970s, was arguably the second most powerful person in Russia at the time of the 2016 election
...
Ivanov, a fluent English speaker, was sacked in Aug 2016 from the chief of staff job for unclear reasons. He has remained close to Putin ever since, incl via a seat on the Russia Security Council, which is somewhat of a latter-day version of the Politburo.
Key question: Did Cohen have any form of contact with Sergei Ivanov or members of his team? As is the case with Peskov, there are few people in the Putin circle who are closer to the boss or who are seen as near-peers. As best I can recall, Sergei Ivanov’s name has only cropped up previously in conjunction with the Steele dossieir
Perjury Trap
as someone here has said before, when you lie, all the time, under oath, that's just called perjury
posted by thelonius at 8:33 PM on November 30, 2018 [53 favorites]
as someone here has said before, when you lie, all the time, under oath, that's just called perjury
posted by thelonius at 8:33 PM on November 30, 2018 [53 favorites]
Michael Cohen's attorney's have filed a "Sentencing Memorandum" making an argument for a sentence of "time served" in his SDNY+Mueller charges.
Writing in regard to his "lying to Congress" offense, I think that these statements go a bit further than the information in the plea document yesterday:
Writing in regard to his "lying to Congress" offense, I think that these statements go a bit further than the information in the plea document yesterday:
He also stated that his communications with Client-1 [(Trump)] and others in the Trump Organization regarding the project were minimal and ceased at or about the same time. In fact, Michael had a lengthy substantive conversation with the personal assistant to a Kremlin official following his outreach in January 2016, engaged in additional communications concerning the project as late as June 2016, and kept Client-1 apprised of these communications. He and Client-1 also discussed possible travel to Russia in the summer of 2016, and Michael took steps to clear dates for such travel.posted by pjenks at 8:52 PM on November 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
CNN is reporting that former president George H.W. Bush has passed away at age 94.
posted by schmod at 8:56 PM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by schmod at 8:56 PM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
He was kind of an ass, but he was a statesmen and a diplomat. I miss that.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 9:00 PM on November 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 9:00 PM on November 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
NYT, CBS reporting the same.
posted by reductiondesign at 9:03 PM on November 30, 2018
posted by reductiondesign at 9:03 PM on November 30, 2018
He was also director of the cold-war-era CIA, so he wasn't exactly a good person, but at least you got the sense that he was smart and knowledgable. It's a very low bar.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:04 PM on November 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 9:04 PM on November 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Cohen also explains that he has been cooperating not only with SDNY and Mueller, but also:
- New York State Office of the Attorney General regarding their suit agains the Donald J. Trump Foundation and members of the Trump family, and
- New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
Mod note: Please don't fill a slow Friday night thread with one-liners about Bush Sr. If someone wants to put together a good obit thread, that's fine, but I'm going to be deleting the half-assed ones. There's no rush.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 9:06 PM on November 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 9:06 PM on November 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
Siri, what time should we drop our MBS-texted-the-murder-coordinator-a-dozen-times-in-the-hours-around-Khashoggis-killing story for minimum impact? Thanks, The WSJ Editors.
By Warren P. Strobelposted by pjenks at 9:30 PM on November 30, 2018 [44 favorites]
December 1, 2018 12:01 a.m. ET
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent at least 11 messages to his closest adviser, who oversaw the team that killed journalist Jamal Khashoggi, in the hours before and after the journalist’s death in October, according to a highly classified CIA report.
I just wanted to second the afore-cited Lobbyist Documents Reveal Health Care Industry Battle Plan Against “Medicare for All” -- it's a pretty great piece, laying out in great detail exactly how the battle over single-payer/medicare-for-all is likely to play out on the lobbying side. The lobbyist slides they got their hands on are worth a look, and are quite lucid in their strategizing and enumeration of past and future work. The whole article is basically like a good Playbill for what to expect between now and 2020, including a decent list of who the important players will be, from lobbyists and lobby groups, to newspaper editorial boards, to various Democratic members of Congress that they already consider to be on their side (eg, Manchin, Sinema, and the now-departed Donnelly and Nelson). Wherever you come down on the debate, it's a nice look at how high-level, multi-target persuasive strategy is crafted.
posted by chortly at 9:38 PM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by chortly at 9:38 PM on November 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
When the Republicans took power, in all three branches of government, they had absolutely no legislation prepared and seemed unable to come up with anything they could agree on at all. I don't know for sure how many Democrats are for H.R. 1, but it sure feels great that there is something immediately up for discussion that they can frame things around.
posted by Quonab at 9:46 PM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by Quonab at 9:46 PM on November 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Statement from President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the Passing of Former President George H.W. Bush
You can tell he didn't write it or even look at it, mainly because it's properly written, but also because it praises "a thousand points of light," which Trump likes to mock when he's off the prompter.
posted by zachlipton at 9:56 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
You can tell he didn't write it or even look at it, mainly because it's properly written, but also because it praises "a thousand points of light," which Trump likes to mock when he's off the prompter.
posted by zachlipton at 9:56 PM on November 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
I fully believe the scope of the corruption makes it too big to enforce and aside from some low level fall guys (no Republican is gonna quit over a corruption scandal c’mon) nothing will happen substantively.
It's easy to forget, but the backlash to Watergate included not only a wave of Democrats elected to Congress, but substantial and long-lasting governmental reforms of campaign finance, the CIA, and open government (such as the crucial Freedom of Information Act).
In 1970, Nixon set up an off-the-books slush fund ("the Townhouse project") to give to loyal Congressmen, most of which went to the late president Bush, then running for Senate. Nixon said at the time that Bush is "a total Nixon man. He’ll do anything for the cause."
In the 1971, milk producers literally (and secretly) just paid Nixon over $2 million in return for government subsidies that drove up the price of milk. All of this was entirely legal, until the 1976-7 post-Watergate reforms.
posted by msalt at 10:01 PM on November 30, 2018 [49 favorites]
It's easy to forget, but the backlash to Watergate included not only a wave of Democrats elected to Congress, but substantial and long-lasting governmental reforms of campaign finance, the CIA, and open government (such as the crucial Freedom of Information Act).
In 1970, Nixon set up an off-the-books slush fund ("the Townhouse project") to give to loyal Congressmen, most of which went to the late president Bush, then running for Senate. Nixon said at the time that Bush is "a total Nixon man. He’ll do anything for the cause."
In the 1971, milk producers literally (and secretly) just paid Nixon over $2 million in return for government subsidies that drove up the price of milk. All of this was entirely legal, until the 1976-7 post-Watergate reforms.
posted by msalt at 10:01 PM on November 30, 2018 [49 favorites]
What is ‘very legal’ and what is ‘very cool’ and what is both (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
[Venn diagram]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:37 PM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
[Venn diagram]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:37 PM on November 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Giuliani also complained that Mueller is delaying submitting his report to the Justice Department until the Democrats have taken control of the House of Representatives in January.
It's not like that even takes deliberate dragging of feet. Between the changes in Manafort's deal and Cohen's new plea, it could easily take a month just to write up the current situation - if nothing else changes. And mid-November through January is a very, very slow time in the legal world; half of everyone takes some vacation time, which means half of everyone else is working on projects that are waiting for those people to get back to the office.
I think it's possible that Mueller picked up the pace after the election - once he knew there'd be a congress that will act on the results of his report, he could stop focusing on widening the net and actually start closing it. Not that he's likely to ignore "little fish" while going after the big ones, but we know that the case for collusion was strong just based on public statements, and the case for obstruction is so solid any first-year law student could prosecute it.
But without a flipped House, he knew the report would need to be reinforced with vibranium spikes just to keep from being crushed and buried; now, he's got a stronger-than-normal case that can actually move forward.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:42 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's not like that even takes deliberate dragging of feet. Between the changes in Manafort's deal and Cohen's new plea, it could easily take a month just to write up the current situation - if nothing else changes. And mid-November through January is a very, very slow time in the legal world; half of everyone takes some vacation time, which means half of everyone else is working on projects that are waiting for those people to get back to the office.
I think it's possible that Mueller picked up the pace after the election - once he knew there'd be a congress that will act on the results of his report, he could stop focusing on widening the net and actually start closing it. Not that he's likely to ignore "little fish" while going after the big ones, but we know that the case for collusion was strong just based on public statements, and the case for obstruction is so solid any first-year law student could prosecute it.
But without a flipped House, he knew the report would need to be reinforced with vibranium spikes just to keep from being crushed and buried; now, he's got a stronger-than-normal case that can actually move forward.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:42 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Senate needs to vote for impeachment too, so the report still needs vibranium spikes.
If impeachment fails, there's always the state level investigations. Trump can still be the first president to run the country from a jail cell.
posted by xammerboy at 10:50 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
If impeachment fails, there's always the state level investigations. Trump can still be the first president to run the country from a jail cell.
posted by xammerboy at 10:50 PM on November 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
Is there really breaking news at 2:15 AM Eastern? Daily Beast seems to think so
Another bombshell lobbed by Michael Cohen exploded late Friday night: He says he told Donald Trump about a phone call to the Kremlin asking for the Russian government’s help to build a Trump Tower in Moscow in 2016posted by Brainy at 11:54 PM on November 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
And Cohen also claims he was talking to Trump’s lawyers and White House staff in 2017 while he crafted a misleading statement to Congress seeking to cover up the truth about the Moscow project and the level of Trump’s involvement.
I am looking forward to the fallout of Mueller comparing the president's written answers to Cohen's recent confessions. The plea deal mentions that one of the meetings with Cohen was on the 20th, the same day Trump's written answers were handed over. I'm assuming that Mueller had the sense to use whatever Trump said as a direct guide to questioning Cohen.
I am also looking forward (because in this atrocity of an administration, I'll take my pleasures where I can) to seeing more bizarre and incoherent presidential flailing on Twitter, as he attempts to simultaneously denounce everything Cohen said in detail, and claim to have no knowledge of what Cohen was talking about.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
I am also looking forward (because in this atrocity of an administration, I'll take my pleasures where I can) to seeing more bizarre and incoherent presidential flailing on Twitter, as he attempts to simultaneously denounce everything Cohen said in detail, and claim to have no knowledge of what Cohen was talking about.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 12:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
Don't forget to look at the photos of the story zombieflanders dragged into the thread. Don't overlook the imagery and the silent message, one for each side of the divide. Don't ignore what is going on there until it becomes an American Uighur crisis.
posted by infini at 12:55 AM on December 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by infini at 12:55 AM on December 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
I had to dust off my 10 year old account and come out of lurking to share this amazing segment by Rachel Maddow.
It's long, but worth watching. It's ties what was revealed this week, with Flynn's lies, and how it links with the GRUs interference with the election. There's a video of Maria Butina in 2015, seeding a question to then candidate Trump on Russian sanctions.
posted by arwulf at 3:07 AM on December 1, 2018 [80 favorites]
It's long, but worth watching. It's ties what was revealed this week, with Flynn's lies, and how it links with the GRUs interference with the election. There's a video of Maria Butina in 2015, seeding a question to then candidate Trump on Russian sanctions.
posted by arwulf at 3:07 AM on December 1, 2018 [80 favorites]
Natasha Bertrand highlights more less than ethical behavior in Cohen's Sentencing Submission: "Cohen’s lawyer says Cohen was in touch with the WH when preparing to testify. “In the weeks during which his then-counsel prepared his written responses...Michael remained in close regular contact with White House-based staff and legal counsel for” Trump. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5348237-Sentencing-Submission.html"
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:03 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:03 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
I strongly recommend that Maddow piece introduced by Arwulf. There is new stuff coming this coming week, starting Tuesday, and it will all seem bewildering unless there is a fairly robust account of how many pieces tie together. Maddow has done a good job of framing the most recent presents from Muller.
posted by stonepharisee at 4:24 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 4:24 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
Trump’s New Wall to Keep Out the Disabled. Americans have until Dec. 10 to voice their opposition to the president's “public charge” proposal.
At the signing ceremony for the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act, President George Bush observed that the legislation had much in common with the fall of the Berlin Wall the year prior. The new law “takes a sledgehammer to another wall,” Bush remarked, “one which has for too many generations separated Americans with disabilities from the freedom they could glimpse, but not grasp.” Our current president, infamous for mocking Americans with disabilities and unraveling the social safety net, plans to rebuild that wall, putting America’s promise of freedom again further out of reach for people with disabilities.posted by homunculus at 5:08 AM on December 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
I wish the Bush’es will tell Trump he is not welcome at the funeral - that will send a strong message
posted by growabrain at 5:36 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 5:36 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
Reading Cohen's sentencing submission, I see he co-operated with NY AG on an open investigation -- not the Trump Foundation -- AND met with DTF ( Dept. of Taxation and Finance ) "on an expedited basis".
To me, that says that Trump does in fact have a non-trivial NY tax issue.
Sweet.
posted by mikelieman at 6:03 AM on December 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
To me, that says that Trump does in fact have a non-trivial NY tax issue.
Sweet.
posted by mikelieman at 6:03 AM on December 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
I wish the Bush’es will tell Trump he is not welcome at the funeral - that will send a strong message
Fresh off working the phones for Trump to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, that seems unlikely.
The Bush's are bad people. Like all NeverTrumpers, they believe wholly in everything Trump has done, just not the tone he's done it with.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:13 AM on December 1, 2018 [59 favorites]
Fresh off working the phones for Trump to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, that seems unlikely.
The Bush's are bad people. Like all NeverTrumpers, they believe wholly in everything Trump has done, just not the tone he's done it with.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:13 AM on December 1, 2018 [59 favorites]
Seconding - thirding? - the Arwulf Maddow link.
You cannot watch it and not think 'Surely this...' - the difference between that and previous Surelys is that the whole clearly delineated bundle of compromise, collusion and corruption is safely in the hands of Mueller.
The evidence is in. The birds have sung. Maddow's piece is the opening bars of the first movement of the symphony, where the orchestra outlines the themes that will build throughout the performance to an extraordinary climax.
Ladies and gentlemen, kindly take your seats.
posted by Devonian at 6:35 AM on December 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
You cannot watch it and not think 'Surely this...' - the difference between that and previous Surelys is that the whole clearly delineated bundle of compromise, collusion and corruption is safely in the hands of Mueller.
The evidence is in. The birds have sung. Maddow's piece is the opening bars of the first movement of the symphony, where the orchestra outlines the themes that will build throughout the performance to an extraordinary climax.
Ladies and gentlemen, kindly take your seats.
posted by Devonian at 6:35 AM on December 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
I agree that the Maddow video is very helpful. The one thing I still don't understand is why the Trump team had to stop the Moscow deal the day the the hacking was exposed. I understand that it was all part of the same operation, but since the public didn't know about the deal, and the Trump team was already lying about it, what difference did the exposure of the hacking make? Sure, it would look bad if the whole operation was exposed, but that's true regardless. In other words, Trump was already compromised and fully committed. Stopping the deal doesn't change that.
posted by diogenes at 6:41 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by diogenes at 6:41 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Marcy Wheeler is on Pod Save America this week too walking through the Cohen plea implications.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:01 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:01 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Woah that Maddow segment arwulf posted was amazing in its pulling together these various threads. I literally laughed out loud when it turned out that the person who asked individual one about Russians sanctions was the now in jail Russian spy (butina ? Sp). And this also fits with the summoning of individual one by Putin at the g20.
This is of a magnitude worse than watergate.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:24 AM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
This is of a magnitude worse than watergate.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:24 AM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
diogenes: Sure, it would look bad if the whole operation was exposed, but that's true regardless. In other words, Trump was already compromised and fully committed. Stopping the deal doesn't change that.
My first guess would be: Irrational short-term thinking. Like learning that the cops are on their way and stashing your drugs in the first place they'd look. Except without that degree of urgency (since there was no instant legal response).
But even with this crowd of morons that idea doesn't seem satisfactory. The question dovetails with my earlier question about what the overall goal of a Trump Tower Moscow even was. Maddow's point that the existing sanctions may have rendered the project itself illegal could be a big part of it. The plan would be: start work on it, become president, drop sanctions, finish a now-somewhat-more-legal project. But... nobody seemed to think he'd win anyway, and in no other respect was he banking on victory.
Most of the Trump team's behavior about Russia suggests a conflicting mix of attitudes: Both a lot of sneaking around and cover-ups, and a sense of reckless openness (that "no one cares, it's just business"). Trump himself seems torn between those positions, given his current spiel of "I didn't do it and I only did it lightly and it wouldn't matter if I did it heavily but it was only light."
bluesky43: I literally laughed out loud when it turned out that the person who asked individual one about Russians sanctions was the now in jail Russian spy (butina ? Sp).
Yeah, as soon as she said "Maria Butina" I was like WHAT. It's just how established secondary characters get awkwardly shoehorned into prequels. Anakin Skywalker built C-3P0 because of course he did. The first "reporter" to get Trump to say he'd drop sanctions was Maria Butina because of course she was.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:31 AM on December 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
My first guess would be: Irrational short-term thinking. Like learning that the cops are on their way and stashing your drugs in the first place they'd look. Except without that degree of urgency (since there was no instant legal response).
But even with this crowd of morons that idea doesn't seem satisfactory. The question dovetails with my earlier question about what the overall goal of a Trump Tower Moscow even was. Maddow's point that the existing sanctions may have rendered the project itself illegal could be a big part of it. The plan would be: start work on it, become president, drop sanctions, finish a now-somewhat-more-legal project. But... nobody seemed to think he'd win anyway, and in no other respect was he banking on victory.
Most of the Trump team's behavior about Russia suggests a conflicting mix of attitudes: Both a lot of sneaking around and cover-ups, and a sense of reckless openness (that "no one cares, it's just business"). Trump himself seems torn between those positions, given his current spiel of "I didn't do it and I only did it lightly and it wouldn't matter if I did it heavily but it was only light."
bluesky43: I literally laughed out loud when it turned out that the person who asked individual one about Russians sanctions was the now in jail Russian spy (butina ? Sp).
Yeah, as soon as she said "Maria Butina" I was like WHAT. It's just how established secondary characters get awkwardly shoehorned into prequels. Anakin Skywalker built C-3P0 because of course he did. The first "reporter" to get Trump to say he'd drop sanctions was Maria Butina because of course she was.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:31 AM on December 1, 2018 [31 favorites]
This HUD official is moving from Trump Plaza into public housing. Is it accountability, or a publicity stunt? (WaPo):
Federal investigators have cited the New York City Housing Authority for mold, rodents and lead. Over Thanksgiving weekend, 25,000 residents went without heat and hot water — the latest in a string of mishaps caused by mismanagement and crumbling infrastructure.posted by peeedro at 7:33 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Enter Lynne Patton, the longtime Trump family aide now in charge of the New York and New Jersey region of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In case the troubles plaguing the nation’s largest housing authority have slipped anyone’s attention, Patton is shining a spotlight on it by, well, moving into public housing. For just a month, she said. Beginning in January.
...
“There are obviously political benefits to shifting the conversation away from federal disinvestment and focusing on local management of federal housing projects,” said Nicholas Dagen Bloom, a New York Institute of Technology professor whose research focuses on urban affairs and housing policy.
...
“I never thought there’d be a HUD official who wanted to live in a NYCHA project, that’s for sure,” said Bloom, who has written a book about New York public housing. “Because HUD is quiet on most other aspects of NYCHA, we have to assume that this is how they are going to make policy — through media and personal dimensions. It’s reality TV.”
This is of a magnitude worse than watergate.
To re-iterate the issue. Before the election, Donald Trump and his National Security Team were already compromised by Russia, with their leverage being the public statements made by Donald Trump and his National Security Team that Russia knew were lies, and either Trump cooperates, or Russia exposes their lies.
I stand by my original statements. There was a 60's Rand Corp study gaming "What to do if the President is compromised by Russia", that no-one thought they would ever need, but one of the key items would be: Do not give The President valid launch codes. And have the Secret Service keep a close eye on him.
posted by mikelieman at 7:36 AM on December 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
To re-iterate the issue. Before the election, Donald Trump and his National Security Team were already compromised by Russia, with their leverage being the public statements made by Donald Trump and his National Security Team that Russia knew were lies, and either Trump cooperates, or Russia exposes their lies.
I stand by my original statements. There was a 60's Rand Corp study gaming "What to do if the President is compromised by Russia", that no-one thought they would ever need, but one of the key items would be: Do not give The President valid launch codes. And have the Secret Service keep a close eye on him.
posted by mikelieman at 7:36 AM on December 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
You know, the Trump tower doesn't even need to ever exist … if Russia gets their sanctions lifted, they don't care about a stupid hotel, even if Trump gifts them a $50M piece of it … they have world domination! This whole Trump tower plan is just Russia's ruse to get leverage over the President, luring him in with the idea of the deal of his lifetime. Don't ever need to happen, Trump just needs to think it will.
posted by iamkimiam at 7:39 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by iamkimiam at 7:39 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
Bet he's panicking as he's seeing his lakefront property hotel slip away now.
posted by iamkimiam at 7:40 AM on December 1, 2018
posted by iamkimiam at 7:40 AM on December 1, 2018
My husband just described a fantasy cover of Time's Person of the Year issue I thought you guys would appreciate. It's silhouettes of all the many actors in this Grand Guignol, and the caption is, "Person of the Year 2018: Shirley This."
posted by thebrokedown at 7:43 AM on December 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by thebrokedown at 7:43 AM on December 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
From the Maddow video above. (Sorry for the all caps, its from the YT transcript function.). Regarding NatSecAdv M. Flynn and former Fox News Face KT MacFarland:
WHY WERE THEY LYING ABOUT IT? I MEAN, ON ITS FACE, THEY DIDN’T NEED TO. IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT THEY’D BE TALKING ABOUT SANCTIONS TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT CONCEIVABLY.
THEY’RE THE TOP TWO SECURITY OFFICIALS IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY FOR THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE ON THE POLICY. IT’S NOT THAT WEIRD.
BUT THEY LIED ABOUT IT. AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE LYING ABOUT IT MEANT THAT THOSE TWO SENIOR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, THE NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO OFFICIALS AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL UNDER THIS NEW PRESIDENT, THEY WERE BOTH COMPROMISED BY RUSSIA. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, FROM THE TRANSITION. BECAUSE, OF COURSE, RUSSIA KNEW THE TRUTH, RIGHT? RUSSIA WAS ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE!
THEY KNEW THAT THESE GUYS HAD BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RUSSIA. RIGHT? IT WASN’T SECRET FROM RUSSIA! BUT IT WAS BEING KEPT SECRET FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, THE AMERICAN PRESS, THE AMERICAN CONGRESS, AND EVEN THE FBI. AND THAT IS CALLED LEVERAGE, RIGHT? THAT MEANS RUSSIA COMPROMISED THEM BOTH.
Something Something not very bright out of hand.
posted by petebest at 7:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
WHY WERE THEY LYING ABOUT IT? I MEAN, ON ITS FACE, THEY DIDN’T NEED TO. IT WOULD MAKE SENSE THAT THEY’D BE TALKING ABOUT SANCTIONS TO THE RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT CONCEIVABLY.
THEY’RE THE TOP TWO SECURITY OFFICIALS IN THE NATIONAL SECURITY AGENCY FOR THE INCOMING ADMINISTRATION. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS GOING TO BE A CHANGE ON THE POLICY. IT’S NOT THAT WEIRD.
BUT THEY LIED ABOUT IT. AND THE FACT THAT THEY WERE LYING ABOUT IT MEANT THAT THOSE TWO SENIOR TRUMP ADMINISTRATION OFFICIALS, THE NUMBER ONE AND NUMBER TWO OFFICIALS AT THE NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL UNDER THIS NEW PRESIDENT, THEY WERE BOTH COMPROMISED BY RUSSIA. FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, FROM THE TRANSITION. BECAUSE, OF COURSE, RUSSIA KNEW THE TRUTH, RIGHT? RUSSIA WAS ON THE OTHER END OF THE PHONE!
THEY KNEW THAT THESE GUYS HAD BEEN HAVING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RUSSIA. RIGHT? IT WASN’T SECRET FROM RUSSIA! BUT IT WAS BEING KEPT SECRET FROM THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, THE AMERICAN PRESS, THE AMERICAN CONGRESS, AND EVEN THE FBI. AND THAT IS CALLED LEVERAGE, RIGHT? THAT MEANS RUSSIA COMPROMISED THEM BOTH.
Something Something not very bright out of hand.
posted by petebest at 7:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
It's worth taking a second look at Donald on Russia during the debate:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mojC_kxCWhM
This isn't exactly the same video that was forwarded to my wife, where Trump then goes on to claim that Hillary is the biggest liar of all time, but still drives home just how exaggerated Trump's lies are. He doesn't just lie. He tells mountains of lies, mixed with insults, mixed with claims he wishes he did do whatever it is he is saying he didn't do, and then piles on lies denying other things he wasn't even asked about. His biography will be named "The Wall of Lies."
I also finally figured out the snorting thing he was doing during the debates. It's a tell. He's telling such a massive lie that even his brain is having trouble processing it.
posted by xammerboy at 7:55 AM on December 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mojC_kxCWhM
This isn't exactly the same video that was forwarded to my wife, where Trump then goes on to claim that Hillary is the biggest liar of all time, but still drives home just how exaggerated Trump's lies are. He doesn't just lie. He tells mountains of lies, mixed with insults, mixed with claims he wishes he did do whatever it is he is saying he didn't do, and then piles on lies denying other things he wasn't even asked about. His biography will be named "The Wall of Lies."
I also finally figured out the snorting thing he was doing during the debates. It's a tell. He's telling such a massive lie that even his brain is having trouble processing it.
posted by xammerboy at 7:55 AM on December 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
What did Pence know, when did he know it, and what state-level crimes can he also be charged with?
posted by saysthis at 8:09 AM on December 1, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by saysthis at 8:09 AM on December 1, 2018 [33 favorites]
The Maddow story is nice, but it's a little too tight. It is not clear from any of the reporting that VTB bank was involved after November 2015. If you read1 the Buzzfeed story (or stories from any of the other outlets that have basically copied it), VTB plays a role only in the preparation of the letter of intent (LOI) in Fall 2015:
Moreover, Sater has claimed that VTB financing wouldn't have been a problem anyway, since Trump was just offering his brand to a property that would be built by Russian partners. I don't know if this is true or not, but he repeats it in an interview with Chris Hayes.
So, the Maddow monologue provides great context, but the part about "removing sanctions to allow for VTB as a partner" is not as clear-cut as she makes it. It could turn out that VTB was involved later as well (or some other sanctioned bank), but right now there is no evidence they were (as far as I know).
1 --- And you really should read the BuzzFeed Trump Tower Moscow story, if you haven't already.
posted by pjenks at 8:20 AM on December 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
On Oct. 12, [Sater] again emailed Cohen. Their surrogates in Moscow would be meeting with Putin and a “top deputy” just two days later, and they had financing: VTB Bank President and Chairman Andrey Kostin was on board to fund the project, Sater said in an email.So there was, supposedly, according to Sater, VTB interest at the time that Trump signed the LOI on October 28, 2015. But in the coming months, the financing became less secure and Sater's contacts in Moscow become less top-shelf. Around New Years, Cohen sent some angry messages to Sater, basically telling him to stop working on the project:
“One month plus since the signing of the LOI that I wasted my time on. I put the others all on hold and still, despite every conversation with you, nothing.” He went on: “I will not let you fuck with my job and playing point person.” And he revealed his deep-seated need for Trump’s approval: “Not you or anyone you know will embarrass me in front of Mr. T when he asks me what is happening. ... Please don’t reach out to anyone any longer regarding this.”So, it was partly the loss of VTB that led Cohen to cold-call the Kremlin for help.
But Sater refused to give up. The following morning, New Year’s Eve 2015, he sent Cohen an image of a letter from GenBank — not VTB Bank, as they had earlier discussed — inviting the men to Moscow for a visit.
...
Cohen was incensed. “First it was a government invite, then VTB and then some third-rate bank signed by a woman Panamarova with no title. It’s like being invited by Independence Savings Bank. Let me do this on my own. After almost two months of waiting you send me some bullshit letter from a third-tier bank and you think I’m going to walk into the boss’s office and tell him I’m going there for this? Tell them no thank you and I will take it from here.”
Moreover, Sater has claimed that VTB financing wouldn't have been a problem anyway, since Trump was just offering his brand to a property that would be built by Russian partners. I don't know if this is true or not, but he repeats it in an interview with Chris Hayes.
So, the Maddow monologue provides great context, but the part about "removing sanctions to allow for VTB as a partner" is not as clear-cut as she makes it. It could turn out that VTB was involved later as well (or some other sanctioned bank), but right now there is no evidence they were (as far as I know).
1 --- And you really should read the BuzzFeed Trump Tower Moscow story, if you haven't already.
posted by pjenks at 8:20 AM on December 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
The VTB piece is just one facet of the Why-lie-and-go-to-jail-Mike-Flynn-why story about sanctions. Trump's weird embrace of dropping sanctions when no one else in the running would even think about it much less advocate it - it's not just that he's stupid. He wants more dirty money.
And he's not going to get elected, he's not going to have to do it, c'mon. He's just doing business - he says no sanctions on the campaign, he says sure, take Ukraine on the party platform - just business.
November 9, having lost, he calls up Pooty Poot and they make sweet money laundering together.
But then he won. Shit. Now he's on the hook. Well - who cares and anyway he wants the fuckin' money. (Theeeere's the stupid.)
VTB or no, it's the same story.
posted by petebest at 8:33 AM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
And he's not going to get elected, he's not going to have to do it, c'mon. He's just doing business - he says no sanctions on the campaign, he says sure, take Ukraine on the party platform - just business.
November 9, having lost, he calls up Pooty Poot and they make sweet money laundering together.
But then he won. Shit. Now he's on the hook. Well - who cares and anyway he wants the fuckin' money. (Theeeere's the stupid.)
VTB or no, it's the same story.
posted by petebest at 8:33 AM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
Also the part where Flynn leads the standing O for Putin at that RT dinner is a pretty nice catch.
posted by petebest at 8:37 AM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by petebest at 8:37 AM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
In case the troubles plaguing the nation’s largest housing authority have slipped anyone’s attention, Patton is shining a spotlight on it by, well, moving into public housing. For just a month, she said. Beginning in January.
Was she on the waiting list? There are 25 thousand families on that list.
posted by srboisvert at 8:38 AM on December 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
Was she on the waiting list? There are 25 thousand families on that list.
posted by srboisvert at 8:38 AM on December 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
What did Pence know, when did he know it, and what state-level crimes can he also be charged with?
Once you accept that the administration was compromised from the campaign, then Pence is next, but I think it's reasonable to ask how much did the rest of the party know? Pence and Sessions were both senators, did Mitch McConnell really have no idea that the administration was compromised? What about the seven Republicans who traveled to Russia over the summer?
Ever since Trump won the nomination, the party has belonged to him. Treasonous corruption all the way down.
posted by gladly at 8:40 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
Once you accept that the administration was compromised from the campaign, then Pence is next, but I think it's reasonable to ask how much did the rest of the party know? Pence and Sessions were both senators, did Mitch McConnell really have no idea that the administration was compromised? What about the seven Republicans who traveled to Russia over the summer?
Ever since Trump won the nomination, the party has belonged to him. Treasonous corruption all the way down.
posted by gladly at 8:40 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
In case you thought you might get to enjoy a pleasant holiday season,
Secretary Pompeo:
Secretary Pompeo:
The Iranian regime has just test-fired a medium range ballistic missile that’s capable of carrying multiple warheads. This test violates UNSCR 2231. Iran’s missile testing & missile proliferation is growing. We condemn this act and call upon Iran to cease these activities.posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 8:41 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
I also finally figured out the snorting thing he was doing during the debates. It's a tell. He's telling such a massive lie that even his brain is having trouble processing it.
A British comedian (whose name I've now forgotten) remarked at the time that Trump sniffed in the debate every time he could smell his pants on fire.
posted by Paul Slade at 8:42 AM on December 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
A British comedian (whose name I've now forgotten) remarked at the time that Trump sniffed in the debate every time he could smell his pants on fire.
posted by Paul Slade at 8:42 AM on December 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
So Pompeo starts Operation Wag That Dog, eh?
posted by Harry Caul at 8:44 AM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 8:44 AM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
We condemn this act and call upon Iran to cease these activities.
They had. You provoked them into restarting.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:45 AM on December 1, 2018 [45 favorites]
They had. You provoked them into restarting.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:45 AM on December 1, 2018 [45 favorites]
The Maddow segment is very interesting and does a great job of stitching together the various parts of the story to make a more coherent whole. It got me thinking -- What did the Russians offer Mike Flynn to get him involved in this scam? A quick look at Wikipedia proved interesting...
He was appointed by President Barack Obama as the eighteenth director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, serving from July 2012 until his forced retirement from the military in August 2014.[4][5][6] The New York Times reported on May 18, 2018, that a longtime FBI/CIA informant had met Flynn at an intelligence seminar in Britain six months earlier and became alarmed by Flynn's closeness to a Russian woman there; this concern prompted another individual to alert American authorities that Flynn may have been compromised by Russian intelligence.[7]
emphasis mine.
At this point would I be surprised if the "Russian woman" was Marina Butina? No I would not.
posted by pjsky at 8:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
He was appointed by President Barack Obama as the eighteenth director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, serving from July 2012 until his forced retirement from the military in August 2014.[4][5][6] The New York Times reported on May 18, 2018, that a longtime FBI/CIA informant had met Flynn at an intelligence seminar in Britain six months earlier and became alarmed by Flynn's closeness to a Russian woman there; this concern prompted another individual to alert American authorities that Flynn may have been compromised by Russian intelligence.[7]
emphasis mine.
At this point would I be surprised if the "Russian woman" was Marina Butina? No I would not.
posted by pjsky at 8:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
One thing I'm especially looking forward to is a resolution of the mysterious Alfa Bank-Trump Org computer connection, which despite being downplayed many times refuses to actually go away.
posted by Devonian at 9:03 AM on December 1, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by Devonian at 9:03 AM on December 1, 2018 [25 favorites]
petebest: The site titlecase.com has a number of text-massaging functions, including sentence case.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:04 AM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:04 AM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
The woman in question with Flynn was Svetlana Lokhova. <Guardian
BBC interview with Lokhova.
posted by Harry Caul at 9:05 AM on December 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
BBC interview with Lokhova.
posted by Harry Caul at 9:05 AM on December 1, 2018 [7 favorites]
> @JuliaDavisNews I wonder what Trump's gut is telling him today.
Judging by the look on his face, I'd say he's making a great effort to hold in a voluminous trump.
posted by homunculus at 9:17 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Judging by the look on his face, I'd say he's making a great effort to hold in a voluminous trump.
posted by homunculus at 9:17 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Thank you Harry Caul for the link! So Svetlana, according to The Guardian was, at the time she met Flynn, a "graduate student" and he signed his emails to her "General Misha". Nope, nothing suspicious about that relationship AT ALL. And we probably all remember that it was Sally Yates (former Acting AG) who warned the White House that Flynn might be compromised.
posted by pjsky at 9:21 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by pjsky at 9:21 AM on December 1, 2018 [11 favorites]
The one thing I still don't understand is why the Trump team had to stop the Moscow deal the day the the hacking was exposed.
The tell-tale heart?
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:23 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
The tell-tale heart?
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:23 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Why has Trump wanted to build a Trump Tower Moscow for so long? I want somebody to come out and say the reason. He’s spent more than 30 years talking about it. He visited the Soviet Union while talking about it. Is it totally normal to spend 30 years trying to get this thing built? It’s one thing to say “we were conducting business with the Russians into June 2016” which is a bombshell, for sure, but it’s another to put that into context that Trump has been pursuing this for 30 years and determine what the reason is.
posted by gucci mane at 9:45 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 9:45 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump's business went to hell after Atlantic City. The Russians came in and he has been laundering their money ever since. I think the idea of TT-Moscow was just so he didn't feel like the little stooge he clearly was, whose utility lay only in his access to the corrupt real estate market.
posted by stonepharisee at 9:48 AM on December 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 9:48 AM on December 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
José Andrés is the fellow who flew to Puerto Rico after the hurricane and served Four. Million. Meals. He's since started World Central Kitchen, a charity which travels to disaster areas and provides nutritious meals.
I'm very pleased to tell you that José has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize. Which just goes to show, if you really want one of those things, you should do more than throw paper towels.
You should check out his book, We Fed An Island. Foreword by Lin Manuel Miranda.
I mention this here because the neglect, even denial, of the tragedy in Puerto Rico just twists my guts up, and it's embodied by Trump. He doesn't give a shit. He just doesn't care. But here's José, a hero chef, filling in the void. An example to be followed, because if we're going to cover all the things Trump neglects, we're going to need more Josés.
I certainly hope he wins this prize. He deserves it, he should win for that reason, but I personally want him to win just to contrast with Trump's performance. He did something Donald, the POTUS, with all that power, would not do. He cared about Puerto Rico.
Here's a lengthy speech Jose gave about his book at George Washington University.
posted by adept256 at 9:57 AM on December 1, 2018 [111 favorites]
I'm very pleased to tell you that José has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize. Which just goes to show, if you really want one of those things, you should do more than throw paper towels.
You should check out his book, We Fed An Island. Foreword by Lin Manuel Miranda.
I mention this here because the neglect, even denial, of the tragedy in Puerto Rico just twists my guts up, and it's embodied by Trump. He doesn't give a shit. He just doesn't care. But here's José, a hero chef, filling in the void. An example to be followed, because if we're going to cover all the things Trump neglects, we're going to need more Josés.
I certainly hope he wins this prize. He deserves it, he should win for that reason, but I personally want him to win just to contrast with Trump's performance. He did something Donald, the POTUS, with all that power, would not do. He cared about Puerto Rico.
Here's a lengthy speech Jose gave about his book at George Washington University.
posted by adept256 at 9:57 AM on December 1, 2018 [111 favorites]
I more than half expect Trump's motivation for the Moscow tower to be as simple as "Russia is huge." He sees a huge country, assumes there must be a ton of money there, knows it's comparatively untapped by American investment and development--meaning there are rules he can break, which surely equates to profit in his tiny brain--and hey, it's inhabited by lots of white people. And yeah, that includes all those nice mobsters who helped him out so much.
The guy is not a deep thinker, and he's convinced he's the smartest person in the room.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:06 AM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
The guy is not a deep thinker, and he's convinced he's the smartest person in the room.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:06 AM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm very pleased to tell you that José has been nominated for the Nobel peace prize.
Puerto Ricans are thrilled over chef José Andrés' Nobel Peace Prize nomination: "He became the Mother Teresa of Puerto Rico," said a chef from Vieques who helped Andrés feed thousands after Hurricane Maria.
I mention this here because the neglect, even denial, of the tragedy in Puerto Rico just twists my guts up, and it's embodied by Trump. He doesn't give a shit. He just doesn't care.
Trump gripes he gets ‘no credit’ for relief efforts in Puerto Rico
posted by homunculus at 10:13 AM on December 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
Puerto Ricans are thrilled over chef José Andrés' Nobel Peace Prize nomination: "He became the Mother Teresa of Puerto Rico," said a chef from Vieques who helped Andrés feed thousands after Hurricane Maria.
I mention this here because the neglect, even denial, of the tragedy in Puerto Rico just twists my guts up, and it's embodied by Trump. He doesn't give a shit. He just doesn't care.
Trump gripes he gets ‘no credit’ for relief efforts in Puerto Rico
posted by homunculus at 10:13 AM on December 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
I know that we all are able to sit here and say “the reason for this was money laundering” but I’m waiting for somebody like Cohen to drop that bomb to Mueller. I guess something like that would come out in an indictment.
posted by gucci mane at 10:18 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 10:18 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Why has Trump wanted to build a Trump Tower Moscow for so long?
Trump Tower Chicago cost almost a billion to build. Trump Tower Russia could "cost" three times that. If Putin's hands are in it, that money is untouchable. Trump says he's worth a billion. In reality, he may be broke.
posted by xammerboy at 10:20 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump Tower Chicago cost almost a billion to build. Trump Tower Russia could "cost" three times that. If Putin's hands are in it, that money is untouchable. Trump says he's worth a billion. In reality, he may be broke.
posted by xammerboy at 10:20 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
I just had to rein myself in from imagining a pelosi presidency (haters go to the back of the line please) and it was making me way too happy.
I’ll just go back to cleaning my kitchen now.
posted by bluesky43 at 10:32 AM on December 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
I’ll just go back to cleaning my kitchen now.
posted by bluesky43 at 10:32 AM on December 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
Maddow's tie up is well done. If you want something more detailed, friend-of-Metafilter (NOT) Seth Abramson just released a book called "Proof of Collusion." Have to say that time has been kind to Abramson's theories.
Kirkus: "Spirited, thorough, and thunderously foreboding."
Publisher's Weekly: slightly less positive review.
"Contrary to the certainty or actionability implied by the book’s title, Abramson’s repetitive, eye-glazing narrative produces clouds of suspicious dots to connect, but these only occasionally rise to the level of criminal allegations. … dubiously, he asserts that Trump’s campaign-trail gibe of “Russia... I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails” was an illegal solicitation of a campaign contribution. Abramson’s exhaustive amassing of published evidence is useful, if hard to wade through, but there’s no smoking gun to clinch his claim of having proved anything."
posted by msalt at 10:47 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
Kirkus: "Spirited, thorough, and thunderously foreboding."
Publisher's Weekly: slightly less positive review.
"Contrary to the certainty or actionability implied by the book’s title, Abramson’s repetitive, eye-glazing narrative produces clouds of suspicious dots to connect, but these only occasionally rise to the level of criminal allegations. … dubiously, he asserts that Trump’s campaign-trail gibe of “Russia... I hope you’re able to find the 30,000 [Clinton] emails” was an illegal solicitation of a campaign contribution. Abramson’s exhaustive amassing of published evidence is useful, if hard to wade through, but there’s no smoking gun to clinch his claim of having proved anything."
posted by msalt at 10:47 AM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'd think that a major commercial property like TT-Moscow would offer excellent local money laundering amenities.
posted by Devonian at 10:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Devonian at 10:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Colbert with a new "Are you lonely tonight? Are you looking for hot colluders in your area? ... It's late, but it's never too late for a little treason... Call 1-555-to-10 years in prison" ad
posted by growabrain at 10:53 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 10:53 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Maddow story is nice, but it's a little too tight.
My big quibble is the part where she says "[Dmitri] Peskov is also suspected of having a major role, perhaps even the chief role, in the campaign interfere in the elections to hurt Clinton and help her opponent."
That would be news to me. He's Putin's press secretary so his name comes up in every google search about Russian election interference because he's the guy making statements to the foreign press, but there are no reports that I'm familiar with that suggest he has any involvement beyond making denials to the western press. His background is not in any KGB/GRU or in oligarch/finance/development type stuff, he was a diplomatic staffer who has served as Putin's spokesperson for almost 20 years. There are some stories about him living above his official salary but that reads like regular Moscow corruption and not oligarch-level stuff.
It comes across as very hand-wavey to draw a dotted line between the Trump Tower Moscow deal and Russian election interference because the same spokesperson is paid to throw sand in the eyes of the press. His name also comes in every article about the Novichok poisoning because his job is to troll and gaslight, there's nothing I've seen that makes her claim credible. I think it's really sloppy work on her part. Unless anyone has any citation for the claim that Peskov is anything more than an overpaid spokesperson, Maddow is tying a very neat bow with a ribbon that is entirely unsupported supposition.
posted by peeedro at 10:53 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
My big quibble is the part where she says "[Dmitri] Peskov is also suspected of having a major role, perhaps even the chief role, in the campaign interfere in the elections to hurt Clinton and help her opponent."
That would be news to me. He's Putin's press secretary so his name comes up in every google search about Russian election interference because he's the guy making statements to the foreign press, but there are no reports that I'm familiar with that suggest he has any involvement beyond making denials to the western press. His background is not in any KGB/GRU or in oligarch/finance/development type stuff, he was a diplomatic staffer who has served as Putin's spokesperson for almost 20 years. There are some stories about him living above his official salary but that reads like regular Moscow corruption and not oligarch-level stuff.
It comes across as very hand-wavey to draw a dotted line between the Trump Tower Moscow deal and Russian election interference because the same spokesperson is paid to throw sand in the eyes of the press. His name also comes in every article about the Novichok poisoning because his job is to troll and gaslight, there's nothing I've seen that makes her claim credible. I think it's really sloppy work on her part. Unless anyone has any citation for the claim that Peskov is anything more than an overpaid spokesperson, Maddow is tying a very neat bow with a ribbon that is entirely unsupported supposition.
posted by peeedro at 10:53 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Seth Abramson just released a book called "Proof of Collusion."
1/340,900
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:57 AM on December 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
1/340,900
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:57 AM on December 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
Trump meets the press with the president of Argentina and then .... uh ...
posted by The Whelk at 11:06 AM on December 1, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 11:06 AM on December 1, 2018 [39 favorites]
Another from Colbert (sorry about that, but a really nice one) -
Michelle Obama about the occupants of the White House representing the moral compass of the country
posted by growabrain at 11:06 AM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Michelle Obama about the occupants of the White House representing the moral compass of the country
posted by growabrain at 11:06 AM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
Putin and Trump pulled the same dinner-date move as last time:
Via Kyle Griffin:
Via Kyle Griffin:
Sarah Sanders statement via pool: "As is typical at multilateral events, President Trump and the First Lady had a number of informal conversations with world leaders at the dinner last night, including President Putin."posted by Doktor Zed at 11:13 AM on December 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
The Peskov connection is direct from the Steele Dossier
1 --- Basically every claim in the dossier is either (1) available in contemporaneous/pre-contemporaneous public reporting, or (2) not yet proven/disproven.
posted by pjenks at 11:14 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
COMPANY INTELLIGENCE REPORT 2016/100In my opinion the Steele Dossier has yet to be corroborated at all1, so it really shouldn't be used as a source by Maddow, but there are elements that still could be.
[ 8.5.2016 ]
RUSSIA/USA: GROWING BACKLASH IN KREMLIN TO DNC HACKING AND TRUMP SUPPORT OPERATIONS
Summary: Head of PA IVANOV laments Russian intervention in US presidential election and black PR against CLINTON and the DNC. Vows not to supply intelligence to Kremlin PR operatives again. Advocates now sitting tight and denying everything. Presidential spokesman PESKOV the main protagonist in Kremlin campaign to aid TRUMP and damage CLINTON. He is now scared and fears being made scapegoat by leadership for backlash in US. Problem compounded by his botched intervention in recent Turkish crisis. Premier MEDVEDEV'S office furious over DNC hacking and associated anti-Russian publicity. Want good relations with US and ability to travel there. Refusing to support or help cover up after PESKOV.
1 --- Basically every claim in the dossier is either (1) available in contemporaneous/pre-contemporaneous public reporting, or (2) not yet proven/disproven.
posted by pjenks at 11:14 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
What did Pence know, when did he know it
He knew what not to know at exactly the right time to not know it.
(Though even that hypothesis is subject to revision. Manafort, after all, was the one who faked the plane problem that sealed the deal for Pence.)
He sees a huge country, assumes there must be a ton of money there, knows it's comparatively untapped by American investment and development
Or it's the fixation he's had since 1987. The Family Business was kept afloat by the exfiltration of money from the former USSR, whether in big deals or Tower property or the anchor-babyin' condos of Sunny Isles Beach. Though I suppose the Agalarovs showed that there was still oligarch money sloshing around inside Russia as long as you kept on the right side of Putin.
posted by holgate at 11:19 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
He knew what not to know at exactly the right time to not know it.
(Though even that hypothesis is subject to revision. Manafort, after all, was the one who faked the plane problem that sealed the deal for Pence.)
He sees a huge country, assumes there must be a ton of money there, knows it's comparatively untapped by American investment and development
Or it's the fixation he's had since 1987. The Family Business was kept afloat by the exfiltration of money from the former USSR, whether in big deals or Tower property or the anchor-babyin' condos of Sunny Isles Beach. Though I suppose the Agalarovs showed that there was still oligarch money sloshing around inside Russia as long as you kept on the right side of Putin.
posted by holgate at 11:19 AM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
I for one (being in Puerto Rico) give Trump LOTS of credit for what happened after Maria.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:30 AM on December 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:30 AM on December 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
Cormier & Leopold have reported (in the Putin Penthouse story) that the FBI believes that some of the people on the Russian side of the Trump Tower Moscow negotiations were involved in the election meddling effort:
posted by BungaDunga at 11:39 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Two FBI agents with direct knowledge of the Trump Tower Moscow negotiations told BuzzFeed News earlier this year that Cohen was in frequent contact with foreign individuals about the real estate venture — and that some of these individuals had knowledge of or played a role in 2016 election meddling. The identity of those individuals remains unknown.Peskov is one of the people we know was involved in TT Moscow, so it's possible Mueller has evidence that corroborates that portion of the Steele dossier and just hasn't needed to use it in any of the GRU or IRA indictments. I don't know much about Peskov, but Putin using his loyal press secretary to help supervise the IRA efforts makes a certain kind of sense (slightly more sense than the catering-company guy who provided the funds).
posted by BungaDunga at 11:39 AM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
Get ready for Mueller’s end game (Lucian K. Truscott IV/Salon)
Do you want to know how to tell Trump realizes how much trouble he is in? On Thursday, as they climbed the stairs to Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews outside Washington D.C., and as they descended the stairs from Air Force One in Argentina, Donald and Melania Trump held hands. It was the first time the president and his wife had touched each other in months. They are massaging the family image, but it’s too little and too late.posted by ZeusHumms at 11:43 AM on December 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
Maddow points out in the video linked above that Mueller is due to get the transcripts from all the House hearings as soon as Democrats come in and take over. Given how thorough his team has (apparently) been, I have to expect they'd want to see all that before issuing any final reports or final indictments or whatever. They'll need time to go over all that stuff, too. Seems to imply we're gonna be well into January before we might have a "this is it" moment.
It's entirely possible they have enough to go on already. But with that trove of testimonies just sitting there, I imagine they'd want to go through all of it first.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
It's entirely possible they have enough to go on already. But with that trove of testimonies just sitting there, I imagine they'd want to go through all of it first.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:51 AM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
so it's possible Mueller has evidence that corroborates that portion of the Steele dossier
We're kind of past the Steele dossier as corroborating evidence for the investigation, other than as evidence of what Steele's sources were saying to him at the time and what various actors believed or were persuaded to believe. One of those sources is believed to be Sergei Millian, who had a role in the Moscow Project.
posted by holgate at 12:10 PM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
We're kind of past the Steele dossier as corroborating evidence for the investigation, other than as evidence of what Steele's sources were saying to him at the time and what various actors believed or were persuaded to believe. One of those sources is believed to be Sergei Millian, who had a role in the Moscow Project.
posted by holgate at 12:10 PM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
At this point Christopher Steele deserves the Pulitzer and a Medal of Honor.
posted by benzenedream at 12:51 PM on December 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 12:51 PM on December 1, 2018 [24 favorites]
I think it's important to keep in mind that Trump's "development" is:
1) Get other people to finance it.
2) Get other people to build it.
3) Take a vig on financing and building
4) License Trump Brand for ongoing revenue.
So, the "Trump/Russia deal" was 1 & 2. Finding suckers to pay for it, and suckers to build it. They never got past the financing.
posted by mikelieman at 1:04 PM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
1) Get other people to finance it.
2) Get other people to build it.
3) Take a vig on financing and building
4) License Trump Brand for ongoing revenue.
So, the "Trump/Russia deal" was 1 & 2. Finding suckers to pay for it, and suckers to build it. They never got past the financing.
posted by mikelieman at 1:04 PM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
I don't think the Steele dossier was ever going to be a source of corroboration. However, it may be/have been a source of things to corroborate elsewhere. Leads to pursue.
posted by rhizome at 1:05 PM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 1:05 PM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
5) Stiff contractors & renegotiate deals to screw them over.
Just for completeness.
posted by scalefree at 1:10 PM on December 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
Just for completeness.
posted by scalefree at 1:10 PM on December 1, 2018 [18 favorites]
Trump meets the press with the president of Argentina and then .... uh ...
People are pointing out that after he walks off screen, you can hear him say "get me out of here"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:24 PM on December 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
People are pointing out that after he walks off screen, you can hear him say "get me out of here"
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 1:24 PM on December 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
yeah, my sense is that the rest of the members of the G20 can smell the blood in the water and are trolling him - essentially returning the insults - at every chance. Poor individual one.....
posted by bluesky43 at 1:35 PM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 1:35 PM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
Melania was just holding his hand because he is afraid of stairs.
posted by art.bikes at 1:38 PM on December 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by art.bikes at 1:38 PM on December 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
Can’t wait for the inevitable “Trump in Argentina” article and the “increasingly isolated” descriptor.
posted by gucci mane at 1:38 PM on December 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 1:38 PM on December 1, 2018 [13 favorites]
@jeneps [PHOTO]: Everyone seated at the table for the Trump-Xi meeting is male. The only women were the translators standing behind each leader.
posted by zachlipton at 1:43 PM on December 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:43 PM on December 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
Hey, they have Republican Diversity. That is, there have one or two middle aged white/Chinese dudes to go with the old white/Chinese dudes.
posted by Justinian at 1:48 PM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:48 PM on December 1, 2018 [3 favorites]
@CBSEveningNews
President Trump canceled a planned press conference at the G-20 summit in Argentina on Saturday, citing respect for former President George H.W. Bush, who died on Friday at the age of 94. https://cbsn.ws/2KKNFNh
pfft I don't think so. individual one is just pouting.
posted by bluesky43 at 2:07 PM on December 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
President Trump canceled a planned press conference at the G-20 summit in Argentina on Saturday, citing respect for former President George H.W. Bush, who died on Friday at the age of 94. https://cbsn.ws/2KKNFNh
pfft I don't think so. individual one is just pouting.
posted by bluesky43 at 2:07 PM on December 1, 2018 [30 favorites]
Has Fox run the Putin/MBS greeting yet? Because that was soooooo fucking gleeful that even Trump could pick up on what that meant.
I can see him being more butthurt about that than anything investigative in the last 72 hours.
posted by butterstick at 2:34 PM on December 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
I can see him being more butthurt about that than anything investigative in the last 72 hours.
posted by butterstick at 2:34 PM on December 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
I have to say this presidency has set back the cause of democracy worldwide for decades if not forever because anyone can easily point to Trump as the result of our democracy. How can America hope to promote democracy elsewhere on the planet with a straight face? The American democratic process has demonstrably failed in some very important ways.
posted by M-x shell at 2:45 PM on December 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 2:45 PM on December 1, 2018 [27 favorites]
You could have said as much about Nixon and Watergate, yet we weathered that storm (I think?). Anyway, I will remain hopeful.
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 2:50 PM on December 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by JimInLoganSquare at 2:50 PM on December 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
I see it more as a failure of capitalism, and the midterms seemed to work pretty well for democracy. This is not to say there aren't problems - making election day a holiday, register everybody at age 18, more civics classes in school, put the polls in a convenient location. there's more but that's a good start.
posted by bluesky43 at 2:56 PM on December 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 2:56 PM on December 1, 2018 [6 favorites]
The biggest unforced error in Watergate was Ford pardoning Nixon. There was really no need if not for white guys getting the sads.
posted by rhizome at 2:56 PM on December 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 2:56 PM on December 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
Mod note: Sorry, let's not go running off into generalities about American democracy, Watergate etc. If it's a slow news day, it's ok for it to be quiet in this thread; go check out one of the many other great posts on the site - recent posts tagged music, literature, art just for starters.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 3:01 PM on December 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 3:01 PM on December 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
You could have said as much about Nixon and Watergate, yet we weathered that storm (I think?). Anyway, I will remain hopeful.
nixon at least wanted power for something. he wanted to be president in order to act in the world. everything he did was in service of holding onto political power.
trump just wanted the adoration of the crowd and a chance to keep his grift one step ahead of the law. trump is a tool for the dreams of people with more complex (if reprehensible) ambitions. he's made to be a puppet because so little that he desires can even be gained with political power.
to trump, the presidency is a series of parades and a smokescreen for the crimes that will finance his gold-leaf lifestyle until his withered heart gives out.
posted by murphy slaw at 3:08 PM on December 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
nixon at least wanted power for something. he wanted to be president in order to act in the world. everything he did was in service of holding onto political power.
trump just wanted the adoration of the crowd and a chance to keep his grift one step ahead of the law. trump is a tool for the dreams of people with more complex (if reprehensible) ambitions. he's made to be a puppet because so little that he desires can even be gained with political power.
to trump, the presidency is a series of parades and a smokescreen for the crimes that will finance his gold-leaf lifestyle until his withered heart gives out.
posted by murphy slaw at 3:08 PM on December 1, 2018 [19 favorites]
Can’t wait for the inevitable “Trump in Argentina” article and the “increasingly isolated” descriptor.
Isn't Argentina the traditional place where increasingly isolated fascists do go, though?
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:30 PM on December 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
Isn't Argentina the traditional place where increasingly isolated fascists do go, though?
posted by tivalasvegas at 3:30 PM on December 1, 2018 [37 favorites]
Can we leave him there with the rest of the Nazis?
posted by kirkaracha at 3:43 PM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 3:43 PM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
> Trump meets the press with the president of Argentina and then .... uh ...
People are pointing out that after he walks off screen, you can hear him say "get me out of here"
I think that's someone near the person who took the video mocking Trump. Trump was offstage at that point, too far to hear anything he might've said.
posted by homunculus at 4:29 PM on December 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
People are pointing out that after he walks off screen, you can hear him say "get me out of here"
I think that's someone near the person who took the video mocking Trump. Trump was offstage at that point, too far to hear anything he might've said.
posted by homunculus at 4:29 PM on December 1, 2018 [5 favorites]
Marcy Wheeler: Pence Would Not Be Able to Pardon the Trump Organization
posted by growabrain at 4:47 PM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 4:47 PM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
Patagonia’s CEO is donating company’s entire $10M Trump tax cut to fight climate change.
“Based on last year’s irresponsible tax cut, Patagonia will owe less in taxes this year—$10 million less, in fact,” CEO Rose Marcario writes. “Instead of putting the money back into our business, we’re responding by putting $10 million back into the planet. Our home planet needs it more than we do.”posted by jgirl at 4:48 PM on December 1, 2018 [97 favorites]
Maybe you know Voice of America, the government-funded news network that began in 1942 to combat Nazi propaganda.
Teaching English in Japan, I use their "Learning English" site, which publishes news in simplified English as well as grammar and language columns. In today's Words and their Stories column they're teaching the meaning of the expression "sing like a canary."
posted by p3t3 at 4:58 PM on December 1, 2018 [54 favorites]
Teaching English in Japan, I use their "Learning English" site, which publishes news in simplified English as well as grammar and language columns. In today's Words and their Stories column they're teaching the meaning of the expression "sing like a canary."
posted by p3t3 at 4:58 PM on December 1, 2018 [54 favorites]
So Maddow is arguing that Trump wanted a Trump Tower in Moscow to be financed by Russian bank VTB, but American sanctions needed to be lifted for that to happen, thus Russia helped get Trump elected so he would remove the sanctions. And Putin would get a free penthouse.
It makes a lot of sense, but I can't help but wonder how that deal began, and why and how it fell apart. Did Russia think it wouldn't get caught—did it plan to or even want to get caught eventually? Did Peskov hatch the whole scheme and then Russia reached out to Trump since Trump had talked about a Trump Tower in Moscow before?
And has anyone else put the pieces together like this before? Are there any competing theories or anything that doesn't fit?
posted by reductiondesign at 5:05 PM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
It makes a lot of sense, but I can't help but wonder how that deal began, and why and how it fell apart. Did Russia think it wouldn't get caught—did it plan to or even want to get caught eventually? Did Peskov hatch the whole scheme and then Russia reached out to Trump since Trump had talked about a Trump Tower in Moscow before?
And has anyone else put the pieces together like this before? Are there any competing theories or anything that doesn't fit?
posted by reductiondesign at 5:05 PM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
The idea that you would get elected president of the United States just to get a building erected in a foreign capital is a hurdle I can't get past. It's like deciding to win the gold medal in decathlon because you really want a bunch of free Nike swag. Except harder, because a whole bunch of people win gold medals every couple of years but only one person gets elected President.
posted by Justinian at 5:16 PM on December 1, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:16 PM on December 1, 2018 [25 favorites]
I realize that my thought process and the thought process of a narcissistic sociopath who also happens to be dumb as hell are not congruous. But still. It's an insane plan.
posted by Justinian at 5:17 PM on December 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 5:17 PM on December 1, 2018 [17 favorites]
And he’s been plotting this since 1987? I mean, at this point we’re talking about him potentially being a deep sleeper agent for the Soviet Union AND Russia.
posted by gucci mane at 5:24 PM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 5:24 PM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
reductiondesign: So Maddow is arguing that Trump wanted a Trump Tower in Moscow to be financed by Russian bank VTB, but American sanctions needed to be lifted for that to happen, thus Russia helped get Trump elected so he would remove the sanctions. And Putin would get a free penthouse.
I kinda see it the other way around. Russia wants power and domination, and to do that they need to get their sanctions lifted and have a stronghold in America. They offer Trump this amazing business deal — the thing he's wanted for years and years — but in order for that to get funded, the sanctions need lifting. So Russia and Trump work together to get Trump the presidency (and with that, the power to lift sanctions). Russia knows they've won the second Trump agreees to the deal, because they now have leverage and can puppeteer Trump around with it. Nobody cares about the penthouse except Trump.
posted by iamkimiam at 5:25 PM on December 1, 2018 [34 favorites]
I kinda see it the other way around. Russia wants power and domination, and to do that they need to get their sanctions lifted and have a stronghold in America. They offer Trump this amazing business deal — the thing he's wanted for years and years — but in order for that to get funded, the sanctions need lifting. So Russia and Trump work together to get Trump the presidency (and with that, the power to lift sanctions). Russia knows they've won the second Trump agreees to the deal, because they now have leverage and can puppeteer Trump around with it. Nobody cares about the penthouse except Trump.
posted by iamkimiam at 5:25 PM on December 1, 2018 [34 favorites]
I've been thinking that the Trump Tower deal fell apart precisely because he started to look like he'd win. Even for Trump, building a tower (well, putting your name on a tower) in Moscow *while you're the president* is kind of a stretch. But I kind of buy into the idea that nobody, including the Russians, really expected him to do so...let's call it "well"...in the primaries, let alone...let's call it "win"...the election. The Russians just want to mess things up here in America, and advance their agenda, and Trump is their best tool, so they offer him a big deal to keep him going. And then somehow he's more successful than anyone was expecting, so the deal has to be called off (assuming they intended to go through with it in the first place).
EDITING FOR CONTENT: These are just some thoughts I've had lately; I have no confidence in them. Submitted for your consideration.
posted by uosuaq at 5:30 PM on December 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
EDITING FOR CONTENT: These are just some thoughts I've had lately; I have no confidence in them. Submitted for your consideration.
posted by uosuaq at 5:30 PM on December 1, 2018 [10 favorites]
The idea that you would get elected president of the United States just to get a building erected in a foreign capital is a hurdle I can't get past.
Trump didn't really think he was going to win. The campaign was all a grift from the beginning, to boost Trump's media exposure and marketing name. Trump thought he was grifting Putin by promising him sanction relief he would never be able to actually deliver on, just to get his hotel built.
But it was Putin who was running Trump by compiling kompromat, while leading Trump think he would get a hotel Putin never planned to deliver on.
posted by JackFlash at 5:47 PM on December 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
Trump didn't really think he was going to win. The campaign was all a grift from the beginning, to boost Trump's media exposure and marketing name. Trump thought he was grifting Putin by promising him sanction relief he would never be able to actually deliver on, just to get his hotel built.
But it was Putin who was running Trump by compiling kompromat, while leading Trump think he would get a hotel Putin never planned to deliver on.
posted by JackFlash at 5:47 PM on December 1, 2018 [32 favorites]
The idea that you would get elected president of the United States just to get a building erected in a foreign capital is a hurdle I can't get past
It's okay, neither did Trump. He didn't think he'd win, and he sure as hell didn't want the job. He totally wanted a spigot in the heart of his Russian money launderers, though. Just think of all the crooked deals he could do!
Plus he's on his last-chance loan with DeutscheBank, and for the first time he's actually got his own physical property up for collateral. It's Hail Mary time, so if collude we must - yeah, fine, whatever. Just get him a tap in tax-free stupid moneytown. And set up some more rallies.
posted by petebest at 5:49 PM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
It's okay, neither did Trump. He didn't think he'd win, and he sure as hell didn't want the job. He totally wanted a spigot in the heart of his Russian money launderers, though. Just think of all the crooked deals he could do!
Plus he's on his last-chance loan with DeutscheBank, and for the first time he's actually got his own physical property up for collateral. It's Hail Mary time, so if collude we must - yeah, fine, whatever. Just get him a tap in tax-free stupid moneytown. And set up some more rallies.
posted by petebest at 5:49 PM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
MoJo: 19 of 20 World Leaders Just Pledged to Fight Climate Change. Trump Was the Lone Holdout. “The United States reiterates its decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:24 PM on December 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
On climate, though, Trump was the only holdout. While the communiqué affirms support for the Paris climate change agreement on the eve of the next round of climate talks in Poland, it includes a separate section for the US: “The United States reiterates its decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, and affirms its strong commitment to economic growth and energy access and security, utilizing all energy sources and technologies, while protecting the environment.”[...]Unanimous agreement, in the end, is unanimous agreement, but Team Trump has to maintain its vindictive front out of sheer spite.
The rest of the text, agreed upon by the 19 countries, recognizes “that the Paris Agreement is irreversible and commit to its full implementation, reflecting common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, in light of different national circumstances. We will continue to tackle climate change, while promoting sustainable development and economic growth.”[...]
“There really wasn’t any disputing that the US was going to recognize its position,” an anonymous senior White House official told USA Today. “But what was interesting is that this was one of the last issues to close because the countries who typically might agree couldn’t agree with each other. What you’re starting to see is you’re seeing a little bit of the coalition fraying.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:24 PM on December 1, 2018 [21 favorites]
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding The President’s Working Dinner With China
posted by zachlipton at 6:29 PM on December 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
Very importantly, President Xi, in a wonderful humanitarian gesture, has agreed to designate Fentanyl as a Controlled Substance, meaning that people selling Fentanyl to the United States will be subject to China’s maximum penalty under the law.So Trump will back off his tariff threats, which would have been ruinous for him, in exchange for China promising to buy some amount of unspecified stuff at some time? The art of the deal.
On Trade, President Trump has agreed that on January 1, 2019, he will leave the tariffs on $200 billion worth of product at the 10% rate, and not raise it to 25% at this time. China will agree to purchase a not yet agreed upon, but very substantial, amount of agricultural, energy, industrial, and other product from the United States to reduce the trade imbalance between our two countries. China has agreed to start purchasing agricultural product from our farmers immediately.
President Trump and President Xi have agreed to immediately begin negotiations on structural changes with respect to forced technology transfer, intellectual property protection, non-tariff barriers, cyber intrusions and cyber theft, services and agriculture. Both parties agree that they will endeavor to have this transaction completed within the next 90 days. If at the end of this period of time, the parties are unable to reach an agreement, the 10% tariffs will be raised to 25%.
posted by zachlipton at 6:29 PM on December 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
After watching the Maddow piece, it is damning but I'm not quite convinced. I still feel like we're still missing some key parts of the story.
It was pretty clear that Trump didn't run expecting to win. He was visibly shook and unhappy when he got the news that he won. I think it's a reasonable assumption that he didn't actually want to become or expect to become president. Clearly, whatever con he was running was not based on him actually winning - it was obvious that his staff never planned for that outcome. So... what was he actually planning, and how does it tie into Trump Tower Moscow and the DNC hacks?
From Putin's perspective, it's even fuzzier. The working theory seems to be that either he poured resources into Trump to help him win so that Trump would reverse the Magnitsky act, allowing him to much more easily funnel money to his cronies. The only problem is, that never actually happened. The Magnitsky act is alive and well, and as far as we know all of the 49 individuals that Obama targeted for sanctions still have those sanctions. So that explanation really doesn't make any sense, presuming that Trump hasn't somehow managed to secretly remove sanctions on those people without the media finding out.
But again, that was pretty clear that this was an unexpected outcome. Was Putin ONLY pouring Russian intelligence resources and a billion dollars in government-owned bank money for the Trump Tower deal just in case Trump actually got elected against all odds? Sure, it had the potential to cause some political instability, but had Hillary won as expected it would have not amounted to much. Trump team's plan A was clearly to lose, but we don't know what the actual plan was. Knowing Trump, it was obviously to Trump's financial benefit, but what was it? Stealing the campaign fund money? Trump didn't need Putin for that. What did Putin gain from Trump unsuccessfully running? I feel like Putin has to have had another scenario where he benefited somehow from Trump running even if he lost, except I have no idea what that could possibly be.
So things still don't fully make sense from either Trump's perspective or Putin's. The pieces still don't quite connect. Maybe we'll learn more during the court sessions this coming week, I don't know, but I still feel we are missing something key to make this whole thing make sense.
posted by zug at 6:32 PM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
It was pretty clear that Trump didn't run expecting to win. He was visibly shook and unhappy when he got the news that he won. I think it's a reasonable assumption that he didn't actually want to become or expect to become president. Clearly, whatever con he was running was not based on him actually winning - it was obvious that his staff never planned for that outcome. So... what was he actually planning, and how does it tie into Trump Tower Moscow and the DNC hacks?
From Putin's perspective, it's even fuzzier. The working theory seems to be that either he poured resources into Trump to help him win so that Trump would reverse the Magnitsky act, allowing him to much more easily funnel money to his cronies. The only problem is, that never actually happened. The Magnitsky act is alive and well, and as far as we know all of the 49 individuals that Obama targeted for sanctions still have those sanctions. So that explanation really doesn't make any sense, presuming that Trump hasn't somehow managed to secretly remove sanctions on those people without the media finding out.
But again, that was pretty clear that this was an unexpected outcome. Was Putin ONLY pouring Russian intelligence resources and a billion dollars in government-owned bank money for the Trump Tower deal just in case Trump actually got elected against all odds? Sure, it had the potential to cause some political instability, but had Hillary won as expected it would have not amounted to much. Trump team's plan A was clearly to lose, but we don't know what the actual plan was. Knowing Trump, it was obviously to Trump's financial benefit, but what was it? Stealing the campaign fund money? Trump didn't need Putin for that. What did Putin gain from Trump unsuccessfully running? I feel like Putin has to have had another scenario where he benefited somehow from Trump running even if he lost, except I have no idea what that could possibly be.
So things still don't fully make sense from either Trump's perspective or Putin's. The pieces still don't quite connect. Maybe we'll learn more during the court sessions this coming week, I don't know, but I still feel we are missing something key to make this whole thing make sense.
posted by zug at 6:32 PM on December 1, 2018 [9 favorites]
Way upthread, zachlipton posted an @drvox thread about how Manchin could end up as ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which, if Ds retake the Senate in 2020, would be a bloody disaster for our hopes for Dems to address climate change. Someone in that thread suggested calling Schumer to let him know how unhappy we are about that possibility. Any additional ideas?
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 6:34 PM on December 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 6:34 PM on December 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
Is there any reason that chairing the Energy committee would be incompatible with running for president in 2020? That doesn't seem like a hugely sensical reason for Bernie to turn it down.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:53 PM on December 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 6:53 PM on December 1, 2018 [8 favorites]
From Putin's perspective, it's even fuzzier. The working theory seems to be...
Some more theories here and here.
But I'm kind of partial to the Timothy Snyder version, which is that Putin wanted to make America, and democracy in general, look ridiculous. He has an interesting bit in The Road to Unfreedom about how Russia's secret weapon is exporting its own domestic political proboems to other countries. Oligarchy and cynicism and propaganda and conspiracy theories created an environment in Russia where people like Putin could thrive, and the more he can export those problems, the more he makes the whole world like Russia. And it strengthens him domestically by taking the wind out of the sails of pro-democracy movements. What good is democracy if it gets you this?
Clinton winning while Trump bleated about rigged elections would also serve that purpose.
posted by OnceUponATime at 6:54 PM on December 1, 2018 [52 favorites]
Some more theories here and here.
But I'm kind of partial to the Timothy Snyder version, which is that Putin wanted to make America, and democracy in general, look ridiculous. He has an interesting bit in The Road to Unfreedom about how Russia's secret weapon is exporting its own domestic political proboems to other countries. Oligarchy and cynicism and propaganda and conspiracy theories created an environment in Russia where people like Putin could thrive, and the more he can export those problems, the more he makes the whole world like Russia. And it strengthens him domestically by taking the wind out of the sails of pro-democracy movements. What good is democracy if it gets you this?
Clinton winning while Trump bleated about rigged elections would also serve that purpose.
posted by OnceUponATime at 6:54 PM on December 1, 2018 [52 favorites]
What did Putin gain from Trump unsuccessfully running? I feel like Putin has to have had another scenario where he benefited somehow from Trump running even if he lost, except I have no idea what that could possibly be.
Going from Clinton, or any other normal US President who could be expected to check Russian aggression and push back on things like assassinations inside the UK, or de facto annexing half of Ukraine, to Trump who is 100% in Putin's control and will not under any circumstances confront Russia, is a win beyond Putin's wildest imaginations.
He might not have gotten everything he wanted, because Congress is not (yet) fully in thrall like Trump is, but for the cost of a few million dollars, Putin effectively destroyed the majority of directed and intentional US foreign policy across the world, and replaced it with a collection of rudderless buffoons and people scouting for Trump hotels.
And lets not forget that Putin's other man Rex Tillerson pretty much destroyed the entire State Department and lit on fire millions of man hours over decades building American soft-power. We don't have soft-power any more. It's all gone. In two years.
So yea. Putin won. Bigly.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:58 PM on December 1, 2018 [71 favorites]
Going from Clinton, or any other normal US President who could be expected to check Russian aggression and push back on things like assassinations inside the UK, or de facto annexing half of Ukraine, to Trump who is 100% in Putin's control and will not under any circumstances confront Russia, is a win beyond Putin's wildest imaginations.
He might not have gotten everything he wanted, because Congress is not (yet) fully in thrall like Trump is, but for the cost of a few million dollars, Putin effectively destroyed the majority of directed and intentional US foreign policy across the world, and replaced it with a collection of rudderless buffoons and people scouting for Trump hotels.
And lets not forget that Putin's other man Rex Tillerson pretty much destroyed the entire State Department and lit on fire millions of man hours over decades building American soft-power. We don't have soft-power any more. It's all gone. In two years.
So yea. Putin won. Bigly.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:58 PM on December 1, 2018 [71 favorites]
> Is there any reason that chairing the Energy committee would be incompatible with running for president in 2020? That doesn't seem like a hugely sensical reason for Bernie to turn it down.
My impression is that Energy is a very active committee that requires a lot from the chair so it would be taking away a lot of time that he would otherwise be using campaigning.
posted by zrail at 7:05 PM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
My impression is that Energy is a very active committee that requires a lot from the chair so it would be taking away a lot of time that he would otherwise be using campaigning.
posted by zrail at 7:05 PM on December 1, 2018 [4 favorites]
it would be taking away a lot of time that he would otherwise be using campaigning
I suppose it is asking too much for Bernie to put the good of the country, and the world, ahead of his own ambitions.
posted by SPrintF at 8:14 PM on December 1, 2018 [42 favorites]
I suppose it is asking too much for Bernie to put the good of the country, and the world, ahead of his own ambitions.
posted by SPrintF at 8:14 PM on December 1, 2018 [42 favorites]
“Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” on SNL. I like it.
posted by Melismata at 8:39 PM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 8:39 PM on December 1, 2018 [1 favorite]
> Way upthread, zachlipton posted an @drvox thread about how Manchin could end up as ranking member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, which, if Ds retake the Senate in 2020, would be a bloody disaster for our hopes for Dems to address climate change. Someone in that thread suggested calling Schumer to let him know how unhappy we are about that possibility. Any additional ideas?
From upthread: "Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA), who is now ranking on ENR, is expected to move over & become chair of Commerce. Who will take her place? Next ranking member on ENR is Wyden (OR), but he chairs Finance & wants to keep it. After him comes a young fellow named Bernard Sanders."
Why not have everyone call Cantwell and tell her she needs to stay in ENR. Climate change is now officially the single most important issue in the world. Perhaps she can be convinced of the importance of staying. If not, try Wyden using the same argument.
posted by homunculus at 8:48 PM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
From upthread: "Sen. Maria Cantwell (WA), who is now ranking on ENR, is expected to move over & become chair of Commerce. Who will take her place? Next ranking member on ENR is Wyden (OR), but he chairs Finance & wants to keep it. After him comes a young fellow named Bernard Sanders."
Why not have everyone call Cantwell and tell her she needs to stay in ENR. Climate change is now officially the single most important issue in the world. Perhaps she can be convinced of the importance of staying. If not, try Wyden using the same argument.
posted by homunculus at 8:48 PM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
I feel like Putin has to have had another scenario where he benefited somehow from Trump running even if he lost, except I have no idea what that could possibly be.
Russia has been wooing fringe politicians for years, maybe decades. At the most innocent level it's a cheap way for Russia to get its point of view into the public debate. Russia's believes (probably correctly) that Western alliances are generally opposed to Russia's interests, so it tends to support politicians who are opposed to EU membership, or NATO, or to military and economic alliances among non-Russuan nations in general.
Russia's support of Trump was actually pretty cheap, and then he started winning conventions. At each point the payoff just kept getting better, because it made pro-Russian policies less fringey. If Trump hadn't won the election it would still have been good for Russia, because it would have shown that Russian support is desirable and pro-Russian policies aren't necessarily toxic. Now, of course, we see the end of the process: the entire Republican party has internalised Putin's lesson and they're not going to step out of line.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:13 PM on December 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
Russia has been wooing fringe politicians for years, maybe decades. At the most innocent level it's a cheap way for Russia to get its point of view into the public debate. Russia's believes (probably correctly) that Western alliances are generally opposed to Russia's interests, so it tends to support politicians who are opposed to EU membership, or NATO, or to military and economic alliances among non-Russuan nations in general.
Russia's support of Trump was actually pretty cheap, and then he started winning conventions. At each point the payoff just kept getting better, because it made pro-Russian policies less fringey. If Trump hadn't won the election it would still have been good for Russia, because it would have shown that Russian support is desirable and pro-Russian policies aren't necessarily toxic. Now, of course, we see the end of the process: the entire Republican party has internalised Putin's lesson and they're not going to step out of line.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:13 PM on December 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
There was very little for Putin to lose and everything to gain from supporting Trump. If it just weakened Clinton's presidency, that would be worth it. And the long shot odds on Trump winning weren't negligible. A 1 in 5 chance is considerable. Plus, it was personal. The Magnitsky act prevented Putin from accessing his personal money, tied up in several friends' businesses whose accounts were frozen.
In addition, Trump may well have run for president, in part, hoping it would bolster his chances to build a hotel in Moscow, but he's also always been oddly obsessed with becoming president. In an 80's interview with Barbara Walters he said he would run for president if he failed at real estate. In another 80's interview, he said the United States should team up with Russia to maximally exploit the rest of the world.
Both men played a short and a long odds game simultaneously. The long odds payed off, but made all the work they put into the short odds game a tremendous liability.
posted by xammerboy at 9:52 PM on December 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
In addition, Trump may well have run for president, in part, hoping it would bolster his chances to build a hotel in Moscow, but he's also always been oddly obsessed with becoming president. In an 80's interview with Barbara Walters he said he would run for president if he failed at real estate. In another 80's interview, he said the United States should team up with Russia to maximally exploit the rest of the world.
Both men played a short and a long odds game simultaneously. The long odds payed off, but made all the work they put into the short odds game a tremendous liability.
posted by xammerboy at 9:52 PM on December 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
U.S. agency apologizes to George Soros after broadcast called him ‘multimillionaire Jew’
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:56 PM on December 1, 2018 [67 favorites]
The head of a U.S. government agency has apologized to George Soros and his Open Society Foundations for the airing of a program that espoused conspiracy theories about Soros and called him a “multimillionaire Jew.”I don't know how this sort of thing happens or who is to blame, but this doesn't seem to be receiving the attention it deserves.
In letters sent earlier this month, John F. Lansing, chief executive and director of the U.S. Agency for Global Media, voiced his personal apologies to Soros and OSF president Patrick Gaspard for the program, which he said had “made several false and negative assertions” about the billionaire philanthropist and had furthered “age-old tropes against the Jewish community.”
[…]
The program, which has since been taken offline, called Soros a “nonpracticing Jew of flexible morals,” claimed that he was involved in “clandestine operations that led to the dismantling of the Soviet Union” and described him as “the architect of the financial collapse of 2008.”
It also made repeated references to Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group that has launched an “Expose Soros” fundraising campaign and had claimed, without evidence, that the “Soros-occupied State Department” was funding a migrant caravan on its way to the United States.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:56 PM on December 1, 2018 [67 favorites]
The Magnitsky Act is about oligarch money. A Trump Tower in Moscow is a huge money laundering opportunity. Plus, look at the clown. I think that was the modest ambition of the Russian operation, before the bigly win.
And Putin hates and fears Clinton, so hindering her in any way was a bonus.
On preview, what xammerboy said.
posted by Horkus at 9:56 PM on December 1, 2018
And Putin hates and fears Clinton, so hindering her in any way was a bonus.
On preview, what xammerboy said.
posted by Horkus at 9:56 PM on December 1, 2018
The exact moment when PM Trudeau calls POTUS "Donald", which he hates.
posted by Justinian at 10:07 PM on December 1, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 10:07 PM on December 1, 2018 [33 favorites]
In another 80's interview, he said the United States should team up with Russia to maximally exploit the rest of the world.
Do you have a reference on that one?
posted by scalefree at 10:19 PM on December 1, 2018
Do you have a reference on that one?
posted by scalefree at 10:19 PM on December 1, 2018
> “Don’t Cry for Me, Argentina” on SNL. I like it.
Trump Argentina Cold Open - SNL: "Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin) gets an update about the Robert Mueller probe from Rudy Giuliani (Kate McKinnon) and Michael Cohen (Ben Stiller), and he confronts Vladimir Putin (Beck Bennett) about his handshake with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (Fred Armisen) at the G20 Summit in Argentina."
posted by homunculus at 10:30 PM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
Trump Argentina Cold Open - SNL: "Donald Trump (Alec Baldwin) gets an update about the Robert Mueller probe from Rudy Giuliani (Kate McKinnon) and Michael Cohen (Ben Stiller), and he confronts Vladimir Putin (Beck Bennett) about his handshake with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia (Fred Armisen) at the G20 Summit in Argentina."
posted by homunculus at 10:30 PM on December 1, 2018 [12 favorites]
NBC, Mattis accuses Putin of trying to 'muck around' in US midterm elections. The exact quote is "He tried again to muck around in our elections this last month, and we are seeing a continued effort along those lines." Which is a pretty big deal for him to be saying, particularly as Trump continues to refuse to acknowledge anything.
Just Security ran this right after the midterms—Don’t Be Fooled: There Was Election Interference in 2018—, though it's really vague on details, mainly pointing to this NYT op-ed, and takes some liberties with the definition of "interference."
posted by zachlipton at 10:41 PM on December 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
Just Security ran this right after the midterms—Don’t Be Fooled: There Was Election Interference in 2018—, though it's really vague on details, mainly pointing to this NYT op-ed, and takes some liberties with the definition of "interference."
posted by zachlipton at 10:41 PM on December 1, 2018 [14 favorites]
The exact moment when PM Trudeau calls POTUS "Donald", which he hates.
He prefers "The Donald."
He even sued ex-wife Ivana Trump over it.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:56 PM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
He prefers "The Donald."
He even sued ex-wife Ivana Trump over it.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:56 PM on December 1, 2018 [2 favorites]
scalefree:
30 years ago, Trump proposed allying with the USSR against France and Pakistan (Matthew Yglesias, Vox )
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:03 PM on December 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
30 years ago, Trump proposed allying with the USSR against France and Pakistan (Matthew Yglesias, Vox )
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 11:03 PM on December 1, 2018 [15 favorites]
On Trade, President Trump has agreed that on January 1, 2019, he will leave the tariffs on $200 billion worth of product at the 10% rate, and not raise it to 25% at this time. China will agree to purchase a not yet agreed upon, but very substantial, amount of agricultural, energy, industrial, and other product from the United States to reduce the trade imbalance between our two countries. China has agreed to start purchasing agricultural product from our farmers immediately.
I wouldn't be surprised if they just want our food.
He was visibly shook and unhappy when he got the news that he won. I think it's a reasonable assumption that he didn't actually want to become or expect to become president. Clearly, whatever con he was running was not based on him actually winning - it was obvious that his staff never planned for that outcome.
He had no control over the con that was being run.
What did Putin gain from Trump unsuccessfully running? I feel like Putin has to have had another scenario where he benefited somehow from Trump running even if he lost, except I have no idea what that could possibly be.
Doesn't matter, because supporting Trumps win is soooooo cheap compared to stopping the sanctions and money controls. With what Putin had to play with, he'd have been stupid not to try. I honestly think people like him just sit around and maximize their resources. This really didn't cost him so much, he's done it before domestically, and in the Ukraine. If it didn't work this year, he'd just retune the psychology, refine it and try again next election.
The GOP is so weak, dying so fast, and so easy to manipulate, you might as well keep squeezing. To be honest, they are kind of a national liability.
posted by butterstick at 11:20 PM on December 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
I wouldn't be surprised if they just want our food.
He was visibly shook and unhappy when he got the news that he won. I think it's a reasonable assumption that he didn't actually want to become or expect to become president. Clearly, whatever con he was running was not based on him actually winning - it was obvious that his staff never planned for that outcome.
He had no control over the con that was being run.
What did Putin gain from Trump unsuccessfully running? I feel like Putin has to have had another scenario where he benefited somehow from Trump running even if he lost, except I have no idea what that could possibly be.
Doesn't matter, because supporting Trumps win is soooooo cheap compared to stopping the sanctions and money controls. With what Putin had to play with, he'd have been stupid not to try. I honestly think people like him just sit around and maximize their resources. This really didn't cost him so much, he's done it before domestically, and in the Ukraine. If it didn't work this year, he'd just retune the psychology, refine it and try again next election.
The GOP is so weak, dying so fast, and so easy to manipulate, you might as well keep squeezing. To be honest, they are kind of a national liability.
posted by butterstick at 11:20 PM on December 1, 2018 [16 favorites]
30 years ago, Trump proposed allying with the USSR against France and Pakistan
A few weeks ago, the Guardian had a piece about how the Soviet Czech Intelligence was using Ivana's dad as an informant throughout most of the 80's to spy on the Trumps. Her dad was close enough to teach Don Jr. to speak fluent Czech, and meanwhile Ivana was helping run the business. The Czech StB were working alongside the KGB, so it's no stretch to imagine they at least had soft influence to start putting ideas in Trumps' heads early on, if not yet compromising them with full on kompromat back then.
posted by p3t3 at 11:39 PM on December 1, 2018 [35 favorites]
A few weeks ago, the Guardian had a piece about how the Soviet Czech Intelligence was using Ivana's dad as an informant throughout most of the 80's to spy on the Trumps. Her dad was close enough to teach Don Jr. to speak fluent Czech, and meanwhile Ivana was helping run the business. The Czech StB were working alongside the KGB, so it's no stretch to imagine they at least had soft influence to start putting ideas in Trumps' heads early on, if not yet compromising them with full on kompromat back then.
posted by p3t3 at 11:39 PM on December 1, 2018 [35 favorites]
So... what was he actually planning, and how does it tie into Trump Tower Moscow and the DNC hacks?
Trump was planning to lose, scream "Voter Fraud!" then ride the wingnut welfare into launching Trump TV to get in on the scam ads that run on various run on various right wing media channels.
posted by PenDevil at 4:17 AM on December 2, 2018 [55 favorites]
Trump was planning to lose, scream "Voter Fraud!" then ride the wingnut welfare into launching Trump TV to get in on the scam ads that run on various run on various right wing media channels.
posted by PenDevil at 4:17 AM on December 2, 2018 [55 favorites]
I feel like Putin has to have had another scenario where he benefited somehow from Trump running even if he lost
And Putin was planning to sabotage and handicap an HRC presidency right out of the gate.
It was a pretty good deal if Trump lost. Trump winning must have been like trying to drink from a firehose. I bet even Putin gets tired of managing this demented clown. Because sometimes it probably has to be Putin on the phone. It has to be Putin who talks him down from something stupid, it has to be Putin who reassures. Vladimir Putin has managed to ratfuck his way into providing emotional labor for Donald fucking Trump.
Imagining Putin’s growing irritation, now that the fun has probably worn off, is my favorite silver lining.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:50 AM on December 2, 2018 [66 favorites]
And Putin was planning to sabotage and handicap an HRC presidency right out of the gate.
It was a pretty good deal if Trump lost. Trump winning must have been like trying to drink from a firehose. I bet even Putin gets tired of managing this demented clown. Because sometimes it probably has to be Putin on the phone. It has to be Putin who talks him down from something stupid, it has to be Putin who reassures. Vladimir Putin has managed to ratfuck his way into providing emotional labor for Donald fucking Trump.
Imagining Putin’s growing irritation, now that the fun has probably worn off, is my favorite silver lining.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:50 AM on December 2, 2018 [66 favorites]
Like that might be the best wraithing yet.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:51 AM on December 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 4:51 AM on December 2, 2018 [27 favorites]
I don't know how this sort of thing happens or who is to blame, but this doesn't seem to be receiving the attention it deserves.
Also worth noting is that Trump has never filled the position of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism (which he is required to do under a 2004 law), and indeed tried to eliminate it even though that can only be done by Congress.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:52 AM on December 2, 2018 [29 favorites]
Also worth noting is that Trump has never filled the position of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism (which he is required to do under a 2004 law), and indeed tried to eliminate it even though that can only be done by Congress.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:52 AM on December 2, 2018 [29 favorites]
schadenfrau, I just want you to know that reading this:
Because sometimes it probably has to be Putin on the phone. It has to be Putin who talks him down from something stupid, it has to be Putin who reassures. Vladimir Putin has managed to ratfuck his way into providing emotional labor for Donald fucking Trump.
Made me laugh out loud in my office on a Sunday in the throes of my 70+ hours a week season.
Because Donald Trump is very much the platonic exemplar of "second-gen real estate developer who is way fucking stupider than his dad, and lbr, with these toxic assholes, it's always the dad that they're following in the footsteps and trying to get the approval of", so yes, basically, Vladimir Putin has basically ratfucked his way into doing my job.
posted by joyceanmachine at 7:05 AM on December 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Because sometimes it probably has to be Putin on the phone. It has to be Putin who talks him down from something stupid, it has to be Putin who reassures. Vladimir Putin has managed to ratfuck his way into providing emotional labor for Donald fucking Trump.
Made me laugh out loud in my office on a Sunday in the throes of my 70+ hours a week season.
Because Donald Trump is very much the platonic exemplar of "second-gen real estate developer who is way fucking stupider than his dad, and lbr, with these toxic assholes, it's always the dad that they're following in the footsteps and trying to get the approval of", so yes, basically, Vladimir Putin has basically ratfucked his way into doing my job.
posted by joyceanmachine at 7:05 AM on December 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
Trump was planning to lose
But let's not kid ourselves that Trump didn't want to win—he's been anticipating moving into the White House for thirty years (Sarah Kendzior, The Correspondent).
Learning from his mistakes in his second presidential campaign, Trump planned this one meticulously (by his standards), beginning with hiring Steve Bannon and Cambridge Analytica (who were testing Trump slogans back in 2014), teaming up with veteran political campaign operatives Roger Stone and then Paul Manafort, conspiring with Russian intelligence to undermine Clinton and the Democrats, and fully enlisting/suborning the RNC and Republicans by the end. (If he was really planning to lose, he could have simply withdrawn any number of times early on, c.f. Ben Carson and Newt Gingrich, or even thrown the election toward the end, e.g. taking a dive at the debates or merely campaigning in the wrong states in the final push.) It was always an outside chance, though, until a lucky break or two at the end pushed him (barely) ahead at the finish line.
Sensibly, Trump had a good fallback plan if he lost, one that would make him lots of money and bring plenty of attention, but that would never be as good as winning. Just because Trump was woefully unprepared for the actual job of the presidency and vastly underestimated what it would entail doesn't mean he didn't want the brass ring.
And now that he has it, there's no question he wants to hold on to it, especially with the threat of the Mueller investigation if he loses executive privilege.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:06 AM on December 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
But let's not kid ourselves that Trump didn't want to win—he's been anticipating moving into the White House for thirty years (Sarah Kendzior, The Correspondent).
Learning from his mistakes in his second presidential campaign, Trump planned this one meticulously (by his standards), beginning with hiring Steve Bannon and Cambridge Analytica (who were testing Trump slogans back in 2014), teaming up with veteran political campaign operatives Roger Stone and then Paul Manafort, conspiring with Russian intelligence to undermine Clinton and the Democrats, and fully enlisting/suborning the RNC and Republicans by the end. (If he was really planning to lose, he could have simply withdrawn any number of times early on, c.f. Ben Carson and Newt Gingrich, or even thrown the election toward the end, e.g. taking a dive at the debates or merely campaigning in the wrong states in the final push.) It was always an outside chance, though, until a lucky break or two at the end pushed him (barely) ahead at the finish line.
Sensibly, Trump had a good fallback plan if he lost, one that would make him lots of money and bring plenty of attention, but that would never be as good as winning. Just because Trump was woefully unprepared for the actual job of the presidency and vastly underestimated what it would entail doesn't mean he didn't want the brass ring.
And now that he has it, there's no question he wants to hold on to it, especially with the threat of the Mueller investigation if he loses executive privilege.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:06 AM on December 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
NYT: Trump Fund-Raiser Received Laundered Foreign Money, Prosecutors Say
posted by C'est la D.C. at 7:53 AM on December 2, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by C'est la D.C. at 7:53 AM on December 2, 2018 [20 favorites]
Wishful university: Professor Robert Reich gives a short lecture about subpoenas and how they work
posted by growabrain at 7:54 AM on December 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 7:54 AM on December 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
teaming up with veteran political campaign operatives Roger Stone and then Paul Manafort
you make it sound much smoother than it actually was. in addition to Stone, Michael Cohen, Corey Lewandowski and Sam Fucking Nunberg were running the show before Manafort showed up. and Manafort didn't even make it to the end of the campaign.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:58 AM on December 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
you make it sound much smoother than it actually was. in addition to Stone, Michael Cohen, Corey Lewandowski and Sam Fucking Nunberg were running the show before Manafort showed up. and Manafort didn't even make it to the end of the campaign.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:58 AM on December 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
FWIW, the WaPo's Trump whisperers had a story about Trump becoming "Individual 1"
@emptywheel reads closely into this story, highlighting some telling points:
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:20 AM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
@emptywheel reads closely into this story, highlighting some telling points:
There are THREE shirt tails in this WaPo story on the Cohen plea. First (I've noted elsewhere):Corollary: Access journalists sometimes slip significant details into their anonymously sourced stories, even if they're shirttails.
First, there's Rudy using REALLY hedged language about whether the Trump Tower deal ever actually died.“The president, as far as he knows, he remembers there was such a proposal for a hotel,” Giuliani said. “He talked it over with Cohen as Cohen said. There was a nonbinding letter of intent that was sent. As far as he knows it never came to fruition. That was kind of the end of it.”Then there are these really telling details about what Trump has learned in the Whitaker era.
First, an unnamed and unranked DOJ official called to tell the WH abt the plea. But not details. Still, Trump still did GET details the next morning, before Cohen pled.A Justice official called the White House Counsel’s Office on Wednesday evening to let personnel know that Cohen would be pleading guilty in a case the following day, according to one person with direct knowledge of the notice. They were not told the details, however, which they learned about shortly before Cohen’s plea Thursday morning.Trump ALSO didn't have advance warning about how many meetings Cohen had had with Mueller's office.
The story doesn't note whether he learned this from the plea itself or DOJ.Trump often grows aggrieved seeing Cohen on TV, aides say. Among White House advisers, Cohen is seen as an existential threat — as much or more so than the Mueller investigation itself because of his longtime role as Trump’s fixer. Trump’s legal team did not learn until Thursday that Cohen had sat for dozens of hours of interviews with Mueller’s office, according to a senior administration official.Finally, there's the detail that neither Cohen nor Trump Org could turn over the records cited in the plea.
🤔
Why not?!?!?! Where'd they go?!?!?!
Felix Sater is presumably one of the other witnesses here, but note the plural.Giuliani said the president and his business have not tried to hide his pursuit of a Moscow tower project, and voluntarily disclosed some of the documents Mueller’s team used in its probe of Cohen for lying to Congress. According to a person familiar with the investigation, Cohen and the Trump Organization could not produce some of the key records upon which Mueller relies. Other witnesses provided copies of those communications.Anyway, those details, which are really useful for understanding the investigation & Whitaker's role, don't start to show up until ¶20. When we both covered Libby trial, @CarolLeonnig never got to write 33¶ stories (@jdawsey1 is also bylined).
Lesson being: Give Carol more ¶s.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:20 AM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Blast from the past now broke as a joke: Remember Milo Yiannopoulos? His lawyers and his wedding venue are dunning him for big $$$. Looks like the curtain has rung down on that particular grift. May the same happen to every last neo-Nazi grifter in this whole administration.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 8:25 AM on December 2, 2018 [44 favorites]
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 8:25 AM on December 2, 2018 [44 favorites]
you make it sound much smoother than it actually was.
I'm looking for a forest rather than all the trees that were falling over, getting struck by lightning, or bursting into flames. I don't mean to imply that Trump's campaign was any more competently run than his presidency (which, for all its flagrant ineptitude, is currently ongoing). The fact remains, however, that Trump2016 was successful, and Trump shows every indication of intending that.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:26 AM on December 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'm looking for a forest rather than all the trees that were falling over, getting struck by lightning, or bursting into flames. I don't mean to imply that Trump's campaign was any more competently run than his presidency (which, for all its flagrant ineptitude, is currently ongoing). The fact remains, however, that Trump2016 was successful, and Trump shows every indication of intending that.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:26 AM on December 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Milo is another great example of the power of deplatforming these fuckers. Take away their ability to fash with someone else's megaphone and they fade away into insolvency and irrelevancy.
posted by chris24 at 8:32 AM on December 2, 2018 [66 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 8:32 AM on December 2, 2018 [66 favorites]
Not everyone thought Trump's campaign was a joke. Kellyanne Conway and Bannon were true believers. Kellyanne in particular, having mined immigration data for years, shopped around hard for a candidate that would run on her suggested anti-immigrant platform. Bannon too, shopped around for an "outsider" candidate. They were all in, playing to win.
posted by xammerboy at 8:56 AM on December 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 8:56 AM on December 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
But let's not kid ourselves that Trump didn't want to win
Not to split hairs, but because it's relevant to the Mocow Towergate; Trump wanted to win, but he didn't want the job. He thought he would be king, and would only need to bark orders and stir shit. As soon as the actual boring particulars started to dawn on him he changed his mind, but by that point the victory itself was the end goal.
The Moscow tower, the Trump TV grift - those are what he really wanted.
posted by petebest at 9:03 AM on December 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
Not to split hairs, but because it's relevant to the Mocow Towergate; Trump wanted to win, but he didn't want the job. He thought he would be king, and would only need to bark orders and stir shit. As soon as the actual boring particulars started to dawn on him he changed his mind, but by that point the victory itself was the end goal.
The Moscow tower, the Trump TV grift - those are what he really wanted.
posted by petebest at 9:03 AM on December 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
NBC, Mattis accuses Putin of trying to 'muck around' in US midterm elections. The exact quote is "He tried again to muck around in our elections this last month, and we are seeing a continued effort along those lines." Which is a pretty big deal for him to be saying, particularly as Trump continues to refuse to acknowledge anything.
@CharlesPPierce: Am I too cynical if I believe that Mattis quote about Russian ratfcking in 2018 is of a piece with the Ryan/Graham quotes about how “strange” the results were? Delegitimizing what actually occurred?
Considering how Mattis keeps playing along with the administration by alternating between occasional spineless mumbling and enthusiastically joining in their celebratory bigotry, it certainly wouldn't surprise me.
posted by zombieflanders at 9:16 AM on December 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
@CharlesPPierce: Am I too cynical if I believe that Mattis quote about Russian ratfcking in 2018 is of a piece with the Ryan/Graham quotes about how “strange” the results were? Delegitimizing what actually occurred?
Considering how Mattis keeps playing along with the administration by alternating between occasional spineless mumbling and enthusiastically joining in their celebratory bigotry, it certainly wouldn't surprise me.
posted by zombieflanders at 9:16 AM on December 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway and Bannon were true believers. Kellyanne in particular, having mined immigration data for years, shopped around hard for a candidate that would run on her suggested anti-immigrant platform. Bannon too, shopped around for an "outsider" candidate.
Conway & Bannon were both latecomers to the Trump campaign and they both came in at the behest of the Mercers. Conway in particular went to Trump after Cruz had failed. Trump had begun his campaign with anti-immigrant rhetoric well before they showed up.
posted by rdr at 9:21 AM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Conway & Bannon were both latecomers to the Trump campaign and they both came in at the behest of the Mercers. Conway in particular went to Trump after Cruz had failed. Trump had begun his campaign with anti-immigrant rhetoric well before they showed up.
posted by rdr at 9:21 AM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes, when I say "shopped around hard" I'm making it sound like Trump was their first choice. He wasn't, and the shopping around was more about finding a candidate that would run on their suggested platforms. But they both came to the conclusion that Trump could win.
posted by xammerboy at 9:39 AM on December 2, 2018
posted by xammerboy at 9:39 AM on December 2, 2018
Josh Marshall:
posted by murphy slaw at 9:43 AM on December 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Breaking: Out of respect for Bush family Trump announces 6 month moratorium on Mueller probe.[fake]
posted by murphy slaw at 9:43 AM on December 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Seconding that New York Times story posted by C'est la D.C.: Trump Fund-Raiser Received Laundered Foreign Money, Prosecutors Say: the "fund-raiser" in question is Elliott Broidy, who (as many of us already know) was finance chair of the Republican National Committee from 2005-2008 and deputy finance chair from 2017 to April 2018, when he resigned after the Wall Street Journal reported on his NDA with Shera Bechard, paying $1.6 million for her silence about a sexual affair between them.
When I think "money laundering" these days, I think of Russian oligarchs, but in this story,
These kinds of sums always seem to big for me to quite grasp. If Manafort or Broidy does a deal for $1,000,000, or $5,000,000 ... is that ... a lot of money to someone like that? or not a lot of money? When I started reading about tax cheats in the politics threads, I started looking up what a million buys these days.
Indulge me in a little math. (Warning: links below go to old politics threads, which may be hard to load.)
$10 million could pay for
132 teachers, or
100 school based nurses, or
213 homeless family shelter units for a year, or
1.2 million home-delivered meals for seniors, or
$1 million could pay for
transit projects
mosquito control programs
rape kit testing
nursing college funding
firefighting
drug research
HALF a million could pay for
drug court programs
science programs for high school students
domestic violence prevention
assistance for families of young people with disabilities
Top Republican fund-raiser Elliott Broidy was going to get 75 million dollars as his reward for helping shut down an investigation into the theft of billions - plural - of dollars.
I'm guessing he wasn't planning to pay taxes on any of that utterly illegal money.
According to Wikipedia's article on Elliott Broidy, "Broidy was accused of giving illegal gifts to pension authorities, several of whom went to prison. In exchange for his testimony against them, Broidy pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and paid $18 million in restitution." That was in 2009.
Broidy pleaded guilty to bribery ten years ago. And then the RNC happily hired this criminal again to help wrangle their finances.
To me, this is the story. This is rampant criminal activity among the highest echelons of Republican insiders, and it involves staggering amounts of money, and more individuals than I can keep track of, and there's so much of it - so much bribery, and tax fraud, and real estate fraud, and foundation fraud, and and and - and it has a massive, direct impact on the public purse, and therefore the private well-being of every single American.
posted by kristi at 9:46 AM on December 2, 2018 [94 favorites]
When I think "money laundering" these days, I think of Russian oligarchs, but in this story,
Elliott Broidy, a Los Angeles-based businessman who was a finance vice chairman of Mr. Trump’s 2016 campaign and inauguration committees, was paid to lobby the Trump administration to try to end an investigation related to the embezzlement of billions of dollars from a Malaysian state-owned fund, according to court filings made public on Friday.I skipped over that on initial skim but re-read it when I saw that Broidy's fees were going to be
"a $75 million “success fee” to be paid to Mr. Broidy if the investigation was resolved within 180 days, or $50 million if it was resolved within 365 days."$50 million. $75 million. Embezzlement of billions of dollars from a Malaysian state-owned fund.
These kinds of sums always seem to big for me to quite grasp. If Manafort or Broidy does a deal for $1,000,000, or $5,000,000 ... is that ... a lot of money to someone like that? or not a lot of money? When I started reading about tax cheats in the politics threads, I started looking up what a million buys these days.
Indulge me in a little math. (Warning: links below go to old politics threads, which may be hard to load.)
$10 million could pay for
132 teachers, or
100 school based nurses, or
213 homeless family shelter units for a year, or
1.2 million home-delivered meals for seniors, or
$1 million could pay for
transit projects
mosquito control programs
rape kit testing
nursing college funding
firefighting
drug research
HALF a million could pay for
drug court programs
science programs for high school students
domestic violence prevention
assistance for families of young people with disabilities
Top Republican fund-raiser Elliott Broidy was going to get 75 million dollars as his reward for helping shut down an investigation into the theft of billions - plural - of dollars.
I'm guessing he wasn't planning to pay taxes on any of that utterly illegal money.
According to Wikipedia's article on Elliott Broidy, "Broidy was accused of giving illegal gifts to pension authorities, several of whom went to prison. In exchange for his testimony against them, Broidy pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and paid $18 million in restitution." That was in 2009.
Broidy pleaded guilty to bribery ten years ago. And then the RNC happily hired this criminal again to help wrangle their finances.
To me, this is the story. This is rampant criminal activity among the highest echelons of Republican insiders, and it involves staggering amounts of money, and more individuals than I can keep track of, and there's so much of it - so much bribery, and tax fraud, and real estate fraud, and foundation fraud, and and and - and it has a massive, direct impact on the public purse, and therefore the private well-being of every single American.
posted by kristi at 9:46 AM on December 2, 2018 [94 favorites]
Going from Clinton, or any other normal US President who could be expected to check Russian aggression and push back on things like assassinations inside the UK, or de facto annexing half of Ukraine, to Trump who is 100% in Putin's control and will not under any circumstances confront Russia, is a win beyond Putin's wildest imaginations.
In more weirdness a Navy Admiral, commander of the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, appears to have commited suicide in Bahrain. It makes you wonder if people are making more aggressive plays in the global game now that they know there is an incredibly vulnerable mark at the table.
posted by srboisvert at 9:58 AM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
In more weirdness a Navy Admiral, commander of the U.S. Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, appears to have commited suicide in Bahrain. It makes you wonder if people are making more aggressive plays in the global game now that they know there is an incredibly vulnerable mark at the table.
posted by srboisvert at 9:58 AM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
If he was really planning to lose, he could have simply withdrawn any number of times early on
This doesn't fit the narrative of a Trump that was cheated out of the presidency by a rigged system with millions of fraudulent votes by illegal immigrants. Simply withdrawing just wouldn't have fit the narrative that they needed for Trump TV to be as successful as it could be.
I don't really think that Trump and his gang of sycophants sat in a room and hashed out a plan to win the Republican nomination and then lose the election so that they could launch a Trump TV network. They don't seem like the kind of people who plan that far ahead. I think that someone like Bannon convinced Trump to run and really make a go of it because of all the opportunities for grift. Once he started picking up traction they started making more deals for more grifting. Then he up and won the nomination so they started making more and bigger deals for more and bigger schemes. But a LOT of analysis suggested that Trump wasn't going to win and that they shouldn't plan on winning. That was probably a more advantageous position for them because they'd never actually have to live up to their end of the bargain on all the backroom deals they made because they were contingent on winning the presidency.
"Whelp, sorry that didn't work out but thanks for you donations and support!"
posted by VTX at 10:07 AM on December 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
This doesn't fit the narrative of a Trump that was cheated out of the presidency by a rigged system with millions of fraudulent votes by illegal immigrants. Simply withdrawing just wouldn't have fit the narrative that they needed for Trump TV to be as successful as it could be.
I don't really think that Trump and his gang of sycophants sat in a room and hashed out a plan to win the Republican nomination and then lose the election so that they could launch a Trump TV network. They don't seem like the kind of people who plan that far ahead. I think that someone like Bannon convinced Trump to run and really make a go of it because of all the opportunities for grift. Once he started picking up traction they started making more deals for more grifting. Then he up and won the nomination so they started making more and bigger deals for more and bigger schemes. But a LOT of analysis suggested that Trump wasn't going to win and that they shouldn't plan on winning. That was probably a more advantageous position for them because they'd never actually have to live up to their end of the bargain on all the backroom deals they made because they were contingent on winning the presidency.
"Whelp, sorry that didn't work out but thanks for you donations and support!"
posted by VTX at 10:07 AM on December 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
Sorry, I forgot to mention how Broidy's crimes also directly affect the private well-being of every single Malaysian, since all his fees were coming out of money stolen from a Malaysian sovereign wealth fund.
posted by kristi at 10:10 AM on December 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by kristi at 10:10 AM on December 2, 2018 [17 favorites]
Sunday Miscellany:
CNN: Putin Says He And Trump Discussed Kerch Strait "Speaking at the end of G20, Russian President Vladimir Putin said when he briefly met with President Donald Trump at the summit they discussed the Kerch Strait incident where he informed Trump of Russia's position."
TrumpNation: The Art of Being Donald author Timothy L. O'Brien, writing for BloombergDeutsche Bank’s Troubles Are Donald Trump’s Troubles—The president has a long-standing business relationship and conflict of interest with a German banking giant often mired in scandal.
Natasha Bertrand notes another interesting detail in Cohen's Sentencing Submission: Cohen is cooperating with the NY AG on the Trump Foundation investigation and on a “separate open inquiry” 🤔
And in a tweet, because that's how we do things in 2018, James Comey confirmed that he will testify before the House Judiciary Committee in a closed-door session but that he will be able to talk freely afterward and the committee will release a transcript in 24 hours.
Meanwhile, in the Persian Gulf, CBS U.S. Navy Admiral Scott Stearney Found Dead In Apparent Suicide “Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, who oversaw U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, was found dead Saturday in his residence in Bahrain, officials said. Defense officials told CBS News they are calling it an "apparent suicide."” (Stearney was named commander of the strategically crucial 5th Fleet in May of this year.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:12 AM on December 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
CNN: Putin Says He And Trump Discussed Kerch Strait "Speaking at the end of G20, Russian President Vladimir Putin said when he briefly met with President Donald Trump at the summit they discussed the Kerch Strait incident where he informed Trump of Russia's position."
TrumpNation: The Art of Being Donald author Timothy L. O'Brien, writing for BloombergDeutsche Bank’s Troubles Are Donald Trump’s Troubles—The president has a long-standing business relationship and conflict of interest with a German banking giant often mired in scandal.
Natasha Bertrand notes another interesting detail in Cohen's Sentencing Submission: Cohen is cooperating with the NY AG on the Trump Foundation investigation and on a “separate open inquiry” 🤔
And in a tweet, because that's how we do things in 2018, James Comey confirmed that he will testify before the House Judiciary Committee in a closed-door session but that he will be able to talk freely afterward and the committee will release a transcript in 24 hours.
Meanwhile, in the Persian Gulf, CBS U.S. Navy Admiral Scott Stearney Found Dead In Apparent Suicide “Vice Adm. Scott Stearney, who oversaw U.S. naval forces in the Middle East, was found dead Saturday in his residence in Bahrain, officials said. Defense officials told CBS News they are calling it an "apparent suicide."” (Stearney was named commander of the strategically crucial 5th Fleet in May of this year.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:12 AM on December 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
It makes you wonder if people are making more aggressive plays in the global game now that they know there is an incredibly vulnerable mark at the table.
This has always been one of the scariest scenarios to me. Of course people will test their new limits. Any one of these situations could blow up like the assassination of a Hungarian archduke.
posted by M-x shell at 10:44 AM on December 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
This has always been one of the scariest scenarios to me. Of course people will test their new limits. Any one of these situations could blow up like the assassination of a Hungarian archduke.
posted by M-x shell at 10:44 AM on December 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
What Obama Talks About When He Talks About Trump (Edward-Isaac Dovere/The Atlantic)
How do you say you’re against everything—or even just most of what—Donald Trump stands for and not get sucked in to a constant nyah-nyah race to the bottom of being just anti-Trump? People across politics have been trying to figure that out, looking for how to resist a president chipping away at America’s core without having their words reduced to a zinger tweet or monster-truck-rally headline.posted by ZeusHumms at 10:49 AM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is an issue for the Democrats gearing up to run for president who insist that their campaign can’t be about just Trump, and for the few Republican critics left in Washington who want to have a debate outside of a Twitter feed.
But no one’s grappling with it quite like Barack Obama.
...
Months ago, Obama’s aides pointedly scheduled this event on Tuesday night at Rice University in Houston as part of a long-term plan to try returning him to statesman mode after his two-month burst of rip-roaring campaigning against Trump. The atmosphere seemed right: the 25th-anniversary gala for the Baker Institute, with Obama and former Secretary of State James Baker in black tie, in a conversation moderated by Jon Meacham, George H. W. Bush’s biographer.
And while he tries his level best to avoid talking about Trump, Obama did make it clear Tuesday that he doesn’t think Trump deserves to be in the Oval Office, based on his behavior, and that Trump’s politics is rooted in a perverse “hatred” that he can’t abide.
Milo is another great example of the power of deplatforming these fuckers. Take away their ability to fash with someone else's megaphone and they fade away into insolvency and irrelevancy.
2 more great examples: Bill O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck, whose spinoff "The Blaze" is collapsing.
posted by msalt at 10:54 AM on December 2, 2018 [31 favorites]
2 more great examples: Bill O'Reilly, and Glenn Beck, whose spinoff "The Blaze" is collapsing.
posted by msalt at 10:54 AM on December 2, 2018 [31 favorites]
This is an issue for the Democrats gearing up to run for president
Democrats? In disarray, you say? Such a poor strategy while Trump is becoming increasingly isolated.
posted by rhizome at 11:07 AM on December 2, 2018 [21 favorites]
Democrats? In disarray, you say? Such a poor strategy while Trump is becoming increasingly isolated.
posted by rhizome at 11:07 AM on December 2, 2018 [21 favorites]
Trump’s legal team did not learn until Thursday that Cohen had sat for dozens of hours of interviews with Mueller’s office
And that was after Trump had turned in his written answers to Mueller's questions. So he wrote those answers believing that Cohen had only given over a handful of details, maybe believing he'd only discussed the specific topics that he saw mentioned on Fox News. His lawyers must've known better than to assume the only info Mueller had was what's on TV, but they also didn't know how much more.
I think I'll pick up some Kahlua and get ready to make schadenfreude pie.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:09 AM on December 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
And that was after Trump had turned in his written answers to Mueller's questions. So he wrote those answers believing that Cohen had only given over a handful of details, maybe believing he'd only discussed the specific topics that he saw mentioned on Fox News. His lawyers must've known better than to assume the only info Mueller had was what's on TV, but they also didn't know how much more.
I think I'll pick up some Kahlua and get ready to make schadenfreude pie.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 11:09 AM on December 2, 2018 [14 favorites]
Glenn Beck, whose spinoff "The Blaze" is collapsing
“I think that’s the most ridiculous question I’ve ever heard,” said Beck, who had once asked his listeners whether he should kill the liberal filmmaker Michael Moore himself, or hire an assassin to do it.posted by rhizome at 11:11 AM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
There's some kind of weird lag on Stearney's navy.mil bio page - it's still written in the present tense, and notes
"Most recently, Stearney was commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, U.S. 5th Fleet, Combined Maritime Forces from May 2018 until December 1, 2018."posted by Iris Gambol at 11:57 AM on December 2, 2018 [3 favorites]
Closes with:
"He is entitled to wear the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Air Medal, as well as other commendations and awards. He has accumulated more than 4,500 mishap free flight hours and over 1,000 carrier-arrested landings."
Updated: 1 December 2018
Make Local Advocacy Stronger by Connecting It to the Bigger Story. Activists can be more successful at solving problems in their communities by using three simple strategies to connect local, national, and global narratives.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:00 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 12:00 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Re: Stearny's suicide: there are so, so many non-conspiracy reasons someone at his level might take his own life. Suicide hits at all levels of the military, and so much of it isn't really about being in the military at all but rather the same causes of suicide that hit civilians--family problems, debt, depression, etc. The main difference is how the service can often be a toxic environment that makes it harder to seek help.
It's also worth noting there is still a huge bucket of military scandals going on--particularly with the Navy--that aren't getting a lot of press right now because the White House dumpster fire is sucking up the most oxygen. It's not just the military, either. One of the biggest points of damage in all this is a matter of how many other five-alarm fires are being ignored because we can track only so many fires at once.
I mean, I won't be surprised if Stearney's case turns out to be more than it appears, but it's probably not worth speculating about until something new breaks.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:25 PM on December 2, 2018 [52 favorites]
It's also worth noting there is still a huge bucket of military scandals going on--particularly with the Navy--that aren't getting a lot of press right now because the White House dumpster fire is sucking up the most oxygen. It's not just the military, either. One of the biggest points of damage in all this is a matter of how many other five-alarm fires are being ignored because we can track only so many fires at once.
I mean, I won't be surprised if Stearney's case turns out to be more than it appears, but it's probably not worth speculating about until something new breaks.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:25 PM on December 2, 2018 [52 favorites]
If you follow the What A Hell Of A Way To Die podcast they're always mentioning the stuff that would be headline smashing scandals if anyone paid attention to the amred forces (and yeah wow the Navy ..yikes)
posted by The Whelk at 12:33 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 12:33 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Pence criticized for not mentioning gay community in World AIDS Day speech: For the second straight year, the Trump administration does not acknowledge the LGBTQ community in World AIDS Day statements.
posted by homunculus at 12:36 PM on December 2, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 12:36 PM on December 2, 2018 [37 favorites]
It comes across as very hand-wavey to draw a dotted line between the Trump Tower Moscow deal and Russian election interference
This is still hand-wavey, but it's an emerging narrative of a connection that deserves close attention beyond Maddow's story. BuzzFeed's Anthony Cormier (Jason Leopold's writing partner: the two wrote the May story on Trump Tower Moscow that basically laid out months ago much of what Mueller and Cohen revealed this week) was on the Lawfare podcast (h/t to @normative, with additional thanks for telling me where to find the quote, about 21 minutes in).
On the podcast, he said that his sources are telling him that Russian officials involved in the Trump Tower Moscow deal also had involvement in election meddling (all typos my fault):
Emptywheel flagged another detail from Cormier's TV appearences: "the negotiations between Michael Cohen and Felix Sater actually continued into July, but that the later discussions were on encrypted chats that got deleted." Remember Rudy's suspicious "As far as he knows it never came to fruition?" And that explosive letter to Schiff about Papadopoulos? Wheeler makes a case that the Trump Tower Moscow efforts continued with Millian and Papadopoulos all throughout the election if not to Inauguration Day.
It's still vague and speculative, but these are tantalizing hints that the people involved in Trump Tower Moscow, the Trump campaign, and Russian election meddling were all talking to each other throughout the campaign. Maybe they weren't smart enough (though they're not very smart) to leave behind tangible evidence that they were talking about election meddling, that is to say, collusion. Maybe they were smart enough to have a tacit understanding and not discuss it. But shouldn't just putting them together be enough? Is there a case that the Trump Tower Moscow deal actually was the collusion? If you're negotiating a real estate deal with the same people who are conspiring to help you win the election, isn't that just collusion?
posted by zachlipton at 12:55 PM on December 2, 2018 [20 favorites]
This is still hand-wavey, but it's an emerging narrative of a connection that deserves close attention beyond Maddow's story. BuzzFeed's Anthony Cormier (Jason Leopold's writing partner: the two wrote the May story on Trump Tower Moscow that basically laid out months ago much of what Mueller and Cohen revealed this week) was on the Lawfare podcast (h/t to @normative, with additional thanks for telling me where to find the quote, about 21 minutes in).
On the podcast, he said that his sources are telling him that Russian officials involved in the Trump Tower Moscow deal also had involvement in election meddling (all typos my fault):
I'd point to one thing in our story that we published so long ago and it's from two bureau officials, and I'm going to tell you that they have detailed knowledge of the actual collusion investigation, and they told us that Michael Cohen was in contact with foreign individuals about this tower, about this deal, and that some of those individuals, according to our sources, had knowledge of or played a role in the actual meddling. I don't know—I wish to goodness that I had an idea of who they were, but I still don't. And after checking in with some folks more recently, that thing still stands, that as part of this negotiation, there were foreign agents that also had a role in the meddling. Does that amount to collusion? I don't know. Could it be that these were unwitting participants and you know, we're just trying to build a tower what the hell do we know? Possibly. But there's more to be known here and I got to, get some, do some reporting.This is also mentioned in BuzzFeed's latest report:
Two FBI agents with direct knowledge of the Trump Tower Moscow negotiations told BuzzFeed News earlier this year that Cohen was in frequent contact with foreign individuals about the real estate venture — and that some of these individuals had knowledge of or played a role in 2016 election meddling. The identity of those individuals remains unknown.So it really does seem like there's some kind of link on the red-string-board between the Trump Tower Moscow deal and election meddling, but the who and the what are not yet public. If I were betting on explosive shoes to drop, this would be the one.
Emptywheel flagged another detail from Cormier's TV appearences: "the negotiations between Michael Cohen and Felix Sater actually continued into July, but that the later discussions were on encrypted chats that got deleted." Remember Rudy's suspicious "As far as he knows it never came to fruition?" And that explosive letter to Schiff about Papadopoulos? Wheeler makes a case that the Trump Tower Moscow efforts continued with Millian and Papadopoulos all throughout the election if not to Inauguration Day.
It's still vague and speculative, but these are tantalizing hints that the people involved in Trump Tower Moscow, the Trump campaign, and Russian election meddling were all talking to each other throughout the campaign. Maybe they weren't smart enough (though they're not very smart) to leave behind tangible evidence that they were talking about election meddling, that is to say, collusion. Maybe they were smart enough to have a tacit understanding and not discuss it. But shouldn't just putting them together be enough? Is there a case that the Trump Tower Moscow deal actually was the collusion? If you're negotiating a real estate deal with the same people who are conspiring to help you win the election, isn't that just collusion?
posted by zachlipton at 12:55 PM on December 2, 2018 [20 favorites]
Trump meets the press with the president of Argentina and then .... uh ...
As Presidents Live Longer, Doctors Debate Whether To Test For Dementia (article from 2017)
posted by Anonymous at 2:03 PM on December 2, 2018
As Presidents Live Longer, Doctors Debate Whether To Test For Dementia (article from 2017)
posted by Anonymous at 2:03 PM on December 2, 2018
Alternatively we could... vote for people who aren't in their 70s to control the nuclear codes?
posted by Justinian at 2:05 PM on December 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:05 PM on December 2, 2018 [28 favorites]
Alternatively we could... vote for people who aren't in their 70s to control the nuclear codes?
I've decided that if you're an elected official over the age of 60 and you're not actively grooming, or at least searching for, a hand-picked successor, then you're in denial of reality and/or you're in politics for the wrong reasons, and either way you've got to go.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:30 PM on December 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
I've decided that if you're an elected official over the age of 60 and you're not actively grooming, or at least searching for, a hand-picked successor, then you're in denial of reality and/or you're in politics for the wrong reasons, and either way you've got to go.
posted by Faint of Butt at 2:30 PM on December 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
The Trump Moscow deal- and any of his other Russia business dealings- is also kompromat. He and Cohen lied about it over and over. Sometimes under oath, in Cohen's case! And the Kremlin chose to keep its end of the negotiations quiet. Trump and Cohen knew that at any point the Kremlin could leak everything about the Trump Moscow. So the idea that Putin was holding something over Trump- well now we know that that was true.
In the broadest sense, the Kremlin was colluding with Trump during the campaign to keep the Trump Moscow negotiations under wraps so as not to damage Trump's chances. Whether that's a crime is another question, but it sure feels colludey.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:32 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
In the broadest sense, the Kremlin was colluding with Trump during the campaign to keep the Trump Moscow negotiations under wraps so as not to damage Trump's chances. Whether that's a crime is another question, but it sure feels colludey.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:32 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
I've decided that if you're an elected official over the age of 60 and you're not actively grooming, or at least searching for, a hand-picked successor, then you're in denial of reality and/or you're in politics for the wrong reasons, and either way you've got to go.
If your business doesn't have a succession plan, you don't really have a business.
posted by mikelieman at 2:39 PM on December 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
If your business doesn't have a succession plan, you don't really have a business.
posted by mikelieman at 2:39 PM on December 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
Alternatively we could... vote for people who aren't in their 70s to control the nuclear codes?
This comes down to the "we". A seniority-driven set of electoral institutions and an electorally-significant generational cohort is going to weigh on this. There's a chance that as millennials get older, they'll repeat the Boomer pattern of electing people their own age for an extended period, but the oldest millennials (assuming 1982 as a starting date) are only just eligible for the presidency.
If you're a GenXer, your fastest way to the top tier of political power is to be raised bywolves the Federalist Society for the Supreme Court.
posted by holgate at 2:41 PM on December 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
This comes down to the "we". A seniority-driven set of electoral institutions and an electorally-significant generational cohort is going to weigh on this. There's a chance that as millennials get older, they'll repeat the Boomer pattern of electing people their own age for an extended period, but the oldest millennials (assuming 1982 as a starting date) are only just eligible for the presidency.
If you're a GenXer, your fastest way to the top tier of political power is to be raised by
posted by holgate at 2:41 PM on December 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
Also- it seems implausible to me that the people in the Russian government working on the Trump Tower Moscow deal (including Putin's press secretary, who, if you believe Steele, was a key part of the Russian efforts to hurt Clinton) didn't know about the efforts to help Trump politically. That is- the Russians almost certainly must have understood that they were colluding. Offer Trump a sweetheart real estate deal with one hand; offer Hillary's emails with the other; let the Trump team figure out what the Russians want and how to keep the offers of money and dirt coming.
You don't even really need the Russians to ask, they can just go hot and cold as Trump blows in the wind. He's very good at aiming straight towards what people want from him- witness his ability to riff endlessly to crowds until he gets a positive response and then just drill straight into it.
(Also, how do we know that Trump doesn't have an understanding with Putin that he'll get the Trump Tower deal in 2021? or at least the hope that if he plays nice with Putin that he might be thus rewarded?)
posted by BungaDunga at 2:42 PM on December 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
You don't even really need the Russians to ask, they can just go hot and cold as Trump blows in the wind. He's very good at aiming straight towards what people want from him- witness his ability to riff endlessly to crowds until he gets a positive response and then just drill straight into it.
(Also, how do we know that Trump doesn't have an understanding with Putin that he'll get the Trump Tower deal in 2021? or at least the hope that if he plays nice with Putin that he might be thus rewarded?)
posted by BungaDunga at 2:42 PM on December 2, 2018 [7 favorites]
Well this is all an extremely strange bombshell. BuzzFeed, Anthony Cormier, Jason Leopold, and Emma Loop, Ivanka Trump Was In Contact With A Russian Who Offered A Trump-Putin Meeting
posted by zachlipton at 3:01 PM on December 2, 2018 [46 favorites]
Amid intense scrutiny of contacts between Donald Trump's inner circle and representatives of Vladimir Putin, Ivanka Trump's name has barely come up. But during the campaign, she connected her father’s personal lawyer with a Russian athlete who offered to introduce Donald Trump to Putin to facilitate a 100-story Trump tower in Moscow, according to emails reviewed by BuzzFeed News and four sources with knowledge of the matter.I keep coming back to Occam's razor. If what these people were doing was so on the up-and-up, why do they constantly lie about it, including under oath?
There is no evidence that Ivanka Trump’s contact with the athlete — the former Olympic weightlifter Dmitry Klokov — was illegal or that it had anything to do with the election. Nor is it clear that Klokov could even have introduced Trump to the Russian president. But congressional investigators have reviewed emails and questioned witnesses about the interaction, according to two of the sources, and so has special counsel Robert Mueller’s team, according to the other two.
...
Ivanka Trump, who now works in her father’s administration, did not respond to questions sent to her personal email, chief of staff, and the White House. A spokesperson for her attorney wrote that Ivanka Trump did not know about the Trump Moscow project “until after a nonbinding letter of intent had been signed, never talked to anyone outside the Organization about the proposal, and, even internally, was only minimally involved. Her only role was limited to reminding Mr. Cohen that, should an actual deal come to fruition (which it did not) the project, like any other with the Trump name, conform with the highest design and architectural standards.”
More than five hours after BuzzFeed News published this story, the spokesperson, Peter Mirijanian, wrote that he "inadvertently" left off part of the statement: "Ms. Trump did not know and never spoke to Dmitry Klokov. She received an unsolicited email from his wife (who she also did not know) and passed it on to Michael Cohen who she understood was working on any possible projects in Russia. She did no more than that."
But interviews suggest that her involvement ran deeper.
...
In one of those emails, Klokov told Cohen that he could arrange a meeting between Donald Trump and Putin to help pave the way for the tower. Later, Cohen sent an email refusing that offer and saying that the Trump Organization already had an agreement in place. He said he was cutting off future communication with Klokov. Copying Ivanka Trump, the Russian responded in a final brusque message, in which he questioned Cohen’s authority to make decisions for the Trump Organization. Frustrated by the exchange, Ivanka Trump questioned Cohen’s refusal to continue communicating with Klokov, according to one of the sources.
...
Klokov initially told BuzzFeed News that he did not “send any emails” to Cohen. “I don’t understand why you ask me about this,” Klokov said in text messages. “I’m weightlifter, not a political.” When told that he had sent at least two emails to Cohen and had had a phone conversation with him at Ivanka Trump’s request, Klokov stopped responding.
posted by zachlipton at 3:01 PM on December 2, 2018 [46 favorites]
When told that he had sent at least two emails to Cohen and had had a phone conversation with him at Ivanka Trump’s request, Klokov stopped responding.
when will these people learn that the cover up is worse than the crime? and this is going to get individual one very agitated. We may have a new set of numbers for the rest of the family when the rest of this begins to come out in Mueller's the upcoming courtroom appearances.
posted by bluesky43 at 3:18 PM on December 2, 2018
when will these people learn that the cover up is worse than the crime? and this is going to get individual one very agitated. We may have a new set of numbers for the rest of the family when the rest of this begins to come out in Mueller's the upcoming courtroom appearances.
posted by bluesky43 at 3:18 PM on December 2, 2018
Marine Who Lost Both Legs in Iraq Demolishes the NRA in One Tweet
posted by homunculus at 3:22 PM on December 2, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 3:22 PM on December 2, 2018 [29 favorites]
Ivanka Trump Was In Contact With A Russian Who Offered A Trump-Putin Meeting
fwiw, this story is from June (around about the time the same reporters first reported more-or-less the same information that Cohen just plead to lying about to Congress)
posted by BungaDunga at 3:26 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
fwiw, this story is from June (around about the time the same reporters first reported more-or-less the same information that Cohen just plead to lying about to Congress)
posted by BungaDunga at 3:26 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
fwiw, this story is from June (around about the time the same reporters first reported more-or-less the same information that Cohen just plead to lying about to Congress)
Oh oops, sorry. It got tweeted out like it was a new story, and it sure would be embarrassing if...yeah...I commented about it back in June too. Which does kind of lead to the question, I know the Mueller probe is supposedly moving historically fast for such things, but how do we have a system where this story can just sit around for six months, to the point even people following the news really closely have forgotten about it, without anything happening? Is it really the case you can get away with crimes as long as you keep committing them faster than the investigators can investigate?
posted by zachlipton at 3:37 PM on December 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
Oh oops, sorry. It got tweeted out like it was a new story, and it sure would be embarrassing if...yeah...I commented about it back in June too. Which does kind of lead to the question, I know the Mueller probe is supposedly moving historically fast for such things, but how do we have a system where this story can just sit around for six months, to the point even people following the news really closely have forgotten about it, without anything happening? Is it really the case you can get away with crimes as long as you keep committing them faster than the investigators can investigate?
posted by zachlipton at 3:37 PM on December 2, 2018 [5 favorites]
With H.R. 1, Democrats Announce a New Program for Electoral Reform By Osita Nwanevu
November 30th, 6:37 P.M. The New Yorker.
When the new Congress convenes in January, the very first item on its to-do list will be H.R. 1, a package of good-government and election reforms unveiled Friday by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and a group of legislators led by John Sarbanes, of Maryland. Its contents haven’t been fully composed yet, but Pelosi and Sarbanes previewed its three parts in a Washington Post op-ed earlier this week: a voting-rights plank that includes updates to the Voting Rights Act, measures to address gerrymandering, and automatic voter registration; an ethics plank that requires the President to disclose his or her tax returns and bans the use of taxpayer funds for congressional sexual-harassment settlements; and a campaign-finance plank that offers matching federal funds for small-dollar donations and requires super pacs to publicly disclose their donors.
posted by bluesky43 at 3:40 PM on December 2, 2018 [26 favorites]
November 30th, 6:37 P.M. The New Yorker.
When the new Congress convenes in January, the very first item on its to-do list will be H.R. 1, a package of good-government and election reforms unveiled Friday by Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and a group of legislators led by John Sarbanes, of Maryland. Its contents haven’t been fully composed yet, but Pelosi and Sarbanes previewed its three parts in a Washington Post op-ed earlier this week: a voting-rights plank that includes updates to the Voting Rights Act, measures to address gerrymandering, and automatic voter registration; an ethics plank that requires the President to disclose his or her tax returns and bans the use of taxpayer funds for congressional sexual-harassment settlements; and a campaign-finance plank that offers matching federal funds for small-dollar donations and requires super pacs to publicly disclose their donors.
posted by bluesky43 at 3:40 PM on December 2, 2018 [26 favorites]
Elizabeth Warren Just Took a Crucial Stand for Democracy and Enlightened Internationalism: Warren is proposing to break the grip of billionaire campaign donors and corporate interests on US foreign policy.
This piece was written after her speech which the Beinart piece saysthis linked above was anticipating.
posted by homunculus at 3:46 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
This piece was written after her speech which the Beinart piece saysthis linked above was anticipating.
posted by homunculus at 3:46 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
It's been a busy weekend: Putin’s spokesman displays Trump lawyer’s emails (AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has displayed what he says are two emails from President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer asking for help getting the Trump Tower Moscow project off the ground...posted by Iris Gambol at 3:49 PM on December 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
Cohen last year acknowledged sending the emails to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in January 2016, but said he killed the proposal after talking to Peskov’s office. This week he confessed that he continued to pursue the deal on Trump’s behalf during the heat of the campaign.
Peskov, who is with Putin at an international summit in Argentina, said Saturday, “We told them that the presidential administration isn’t involved in construction projects, and if they are interested in making investments we will be glad to see them at St. Petersburg’s economic forum.”
Peskov said they never heard from Cohen again.
Is it really the case you can get away with crimes as long as you keep committing them faster than the investigators can investigate?
I remember people joking maybe a year ago that if Trump just keeps obstructing the investigation into collusion, and then obstructing the investigation into the obstruction, we get an infinite regress of obstruction and Mueller will never run out of obstruction to investigate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has displayed what he says are two emails from President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer asking for help getting the Trump Tower Moscow project off the ground...
So, uh, they're going with "Sure, we had kompromat on Trump, here it is, what of it?" I guess. Or maybe this is just meant to be a taster for Trump to think about what other emails and recordings they have.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:00 PM on December 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
I remember people joking maybe a year ago that if Trump just keeps obstructing the investigation into collusion, and then obstructing the investigation into the obstruction, we get an infinite regress of obstruction and Mueller will never run out of obstruction to investigate.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has displayed what he says are two emails from President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer asking for help getting the Trump Tower Moscow project off the ground...
So, uh, they're going with "Sure, we had kompromat on Trump, here it is, what of it?" I guess. Or maybe this is just meant to be a taster for Trump to think about what other emails and recordings they have.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:00 PM on December 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's a direct contradiction of Michael Cohen's confession. Two emails, and then they never heard from him again - which was Cohen's original story. It sets up that Cohen is now lying, possibly at Mueller's, or someone else's, behest.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:05 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:05 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Putin and his spokesmen are about the only people on planet Earth, including folks like Kim Jong-Un, that I find roughly as credible as Trump and his spokesmen.
posted by Justinian at 4:07 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 4:07 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
It's a direct contradiction of Michael Cohen's confession. Two emails, and then they never heard from him again - which was Cohen's original story. It sets up that Cohen is now lying, possibly at Mueller's, or someone else's, behest.
This is only possible if Mueller has no supporting documents backing up Cohen's retraction; I'd assume that an experienced prosecutor is only building on what he can verify.
posted by jrochest at 4:09 PM on December 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
This is only possible if Mueller has no supporting documents backing up Cohen's retraction; I'd assume that an experienced prosecutor is only building on what he can verify.
posted by jrochest at 4:09 PM on December 2, 2018 [12 favorites]
It's a direct contradiction of Michael Cohen's confession. Two emails, and then they never heard from him again - which was Cohen's original story. It sets up that Cohen is now lying, possibly at Mueller's, or someone else's, behest.
Ugh, suddenly I'm intensely aware of how Russia could continue to interfere in the proper functioning of our system...
posted by diogenes at 4:11 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Ugh, suddenly I'm intensely aware of how Russia could continue to interfere in the proper functioning of our system...
posted by diogenes at 4:11 PM on December 2, 2018 [9 favorites]
Beware the “bipartisan” trap: Democrats should resist pointless “compromise” (Paul Rosenberg, Salon)
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:13 PM on December 2, 2018 [35 favorites]
The D.C fetish for bipartisan compromise is a misreading of history, and a prescription for stagnation and disasterControl of the Presidency and both houses of Congress by one party (a trifecta) happened in 63 out of 88 sessions between 1796 and 1968. That same trifecta happened in only seven out of 26 sessions from 1968 to present.
...
So, the real message to Democrats is that they must not articulate a clear, principled policy position of their own - even for the purpose of saving civilization as we know it - because that would only further "polarization" and "tribalization," as argued in the deeply flawed “Hidden Tribes” report I wrote about recently. The default assumption here is an article of faith among the D.C. punditocracy: Serious policymaking progress requires bipartisan consensus. In practice, this means Democrats always have to compromise, no matter how large an electoral victory they may win.
This assumption wildly misrepresents American history. The abolition of slavery wasn’t the product of bipartisan consensus, nor was anything else the Civil War-era Republicans did that fundamentally reshaped America: building the transcontinental railroad, establishing land grant colleges, imposing an income tax, creating fiat money. The same could be said of FDR’s New Deal, as well as Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society.
...
Divided government has been the rule [since 1968]. That wouldn't be a problem if America’s political system were working. But it’s not. It’s profoundly dysfunctional, and Donald Trump is just the most extreme expression of that dysfunction. A good case could be made that the past 50 years should be seen as an historical anomaly. We are still basically cruising on the policy framework that was established in the New Deal and fleshed out in the Great Society. The threat of climate change is perhaps the clearest signal that that framework is simply insufficient for the challenges facing us ahead.Overall, a good read, and a lot to think about.
We need a new party system to create that framework. There is simply no historical precedent for it to come from anywhere else — certainly not from a continuation of the divided-government norm of the past 50 years. Divided government can provide solutions to problems within the framework of the existing party system, at least sometimes. But it cannot provide solutions to problems larger than that — problems that the party system itself may help create, accommodate or sustain.
Three books that I’ve written about previously can help us make sense of our current predicament. The first is “Democracy Heading South: National Politics in the Shadow of Dixie,” by Augustus B. Cochran III, which describes our current dealigned party system in terms of a functional similarity to the one-party politics of the pre-civil rights South. This helps us understand how the dynamics of today's political framework differs profoundly from most of American history. The second is “Asymmetric Politics: Ideological Republicans and Group Interest Democrats,” by Matt Grossmann and David Hopkins, which explains how the two parties are fundamentally different, and helps clarify how and why politics evolved into this dealigned state. The third is “Ages of Discord: A Structural-Demographic Analysis of American History” by Peter Turchin, which provides a historical model for understanding the disintegrative trends affecting America during this period as a product of much more general historic forces.
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:13 PM on December 2, 2018 [35 favorites]
This is only possible if Mueller has no supporting documents backing up Cohen's retraction.
Right, but we're going to have two sets of supporting documents. One provided by the "deep state" and the "fake news," and one (the Russian one) pointed to by Trump and Fox News.
posted by diogenes at 4:14 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Right, but we're going to have two sets of supporting documents. One provided by the "deep state" and the "fake news," and one (the Russian one) pointed to by Trump and Fox News.
posted by diogenes at 4:14 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is only possible if Mueller has no supporting documents backing up Cohen's retraction;
And if he does, then this would be pretty hard evidence that there is still ongoing collusion and support for Trump from Putin.
Which seems like it would be a big deal. Except the Russian disinfo/propaganda peeps have clearly long since passed the point of any pretence of truth.
They say what is convenient no matter how absurd, knowing full well that the normal rules have ceased to apply and there will be no consequences, only potential benefit, even if that benefit is just sowing more chaos into the systems that could oppose them.
posted by Buntix at 4:17 PM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
And if he does, then this would be pretty hard evidence that there is still ongoing collusion and support for Trump from Putin.
Which seems like it would be a big deal. Except the Russian disinfo/propaganda peeps have clearly long since passed the point of any pretence of truth.
They say what is convenient no matter how absurd, knowing full well that the normal rules have ceased to apply and there will be no consequences, only potential benefit, even if that benefit is just sowing more chaos into the systems that could oppose them.
posted by Buntix at 4:17 PM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
They're been covering up for Trump's Moscow deal since 2016, and I guess Peskov just announced that they're perfectly happy to keep doing it and selectively dropping documents to throw chaff in the air. And insofar as Trump is silent or keeps calling Cohen a liar- which he will- he's letting Putin write his PR strategy.
Out in the open!
I wonder what Trump's submission to Mueller's questions says.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:17 PM on December 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
Out in the open!
I wonder what Trump's submission to Mueller's questions says.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:17 PM on December 2, 2018 [1 favorite]
This comes down to the "we". A seniority-driven set of electoral institutions and an electorally-significant generational cohort is going to weigh on this.
This is much more a Democratic problem than a Republican one. Republicans voted 40 year old Paul Ryan as Speaker. Most of their leadership in the House was in their 50s or early 60s for the whole time they controlled it from 2010-2018. You can say that's because they elevate their hardest right members over the oldest ones...but that made them more reactive to the party's actual desires instead of the interests of long time electeds.
Democrats on the other hand have no sucession plan, and have had no plan to elevate promising candidates for the future. The same leadership is the exact same as the last time they held power a decade ago. The committee chairmanships are assigned by strict seniority with no consideration for grooming or actual ability. The Democrats are very much an anti- small-d democratically run party as far as the internal management is concerned, while Republicans are not nearly to the same degree.
It's not the only reason clearly, because Seth Mouton is a fucking moron and Tim Ryan insanely thinks he can run for President, but the rigidly enforced based on seniority party structure for the sole benefit of untouchable septuagenarian incumbents is one reason for the leadership unrest as Democrats take back power.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:18 PM on December 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
This is much more a Democratic problem than a Republican one. Republicans voted 40 year old Paul Ryan as Speaker. Most of their leadership in the House was in their 50s or early 60s for the whole time they controlled it from 2010-2018. You can say that's because they elevate their hardest right members over the oldest ones...but that made them more reactive to the party's actual desires instead of the interests of long time electeds.
Democrats on the other hand have no sucession plan, and have had no plan to elevate promising candidates for the future. The same leadership is the exact same as the last time they held power a decade ago. The committee chairmanships are assigned by strict seniority with no consideration for grooming or actual ability. The Democrats are very much an anti- small-d democratically run party as far as the internal management is concerned, while Republicans are not nearly to the same degree.
It's not the only reason clearly, because Seth Mouton is a fucking moron and Tim Ryan insanely thinks he can run for President, but the rigidly enforced based on seniority party structure for the sole benefit of untouchable septuagenarian incumbents is one reason for the leadership unrest as Democrats take back power.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:18 PM on December 2, 2018 [30 favorites]
.It's a direct contradiction of Michael Cohen's confession. Two emails, and then they never heard from him again - which was Cohen's original story. It sets up that Cohen is now lying, possibly at Mueller's, or someone else's, behest.
That is, only if you accept their statement as true. Who do you trust more, Cohen or Putin?
(the answer is c) none of the above)
posted by Dashy at 4:20 PM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
That is, only if you accept their statement as true. Who do you trust more, Cohen or Putin?
(the answer is c) none of the above)
posted by Dashy at 4:20 PM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
I guess at this point it makes sense for the Russian government to just openly do this- the more they publicly stan for Trump, the more compromised Trump is, the more compromised the whole American politics is.
Actually releasing the kompromat on Trump might let Trump say "Look! I am no friend of Putin, look what mean things he's done to me" but the more Putin says "oh no, we're still buddies, give us a hug!", the more Trump has no way of remotely plausibly claiming that he's not hopelessly compromised by the Russian government. A big public hug from Peskov is a wonderful way to just keep fucking with American politics.
Who do you trust more, Cohen or Putin?
I trust Mueller, who believes Cohen to the point of representing Cohen's confession as truth to a judge. If Mueller doesn't believe it, that would be... deeply unethical. And I don't believe Mueller trusts Cohen further than he can throw him, so somewhere in the stash of Cohen documents they seized will be documentary evidence.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:24 PM on December 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
Actually releasing the kompromat on Trump might let Trump say "Look! I am no friend of Putin, look what mean things he's done to me" but the more Putin says "oh no, we're still buddies, give us a hug!", the more Trump has no way of remotely plausibly claiming that he's not hopelessly compromised by the Russian government. A big public hug from Peskov is a wonderful way to just keep fucking with American politics.
Who do you trust more, Cohen or Putin?
I trust Mueller, who believes Cohen to the point of representing Cohen's confession as truth to a judge. If Mueller doesn't believe it, that would be... deeply unethical. And I don't believe Mueller trusts Cohen further than he can throw him, so somewhere in the stash of Cohen documents they seized will be documentary evidence.
posted by BungaDunga at 4:24 PM on December 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
One thought on Beware the “bipartisan” trap: Democrats should resist pointless “compromise” (Paul Rosenberg, Salon) (see link above)
The author dives into each of the three books he cited. Of "Asymmetric Politics", he wrote:
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:27 PM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
The author dives into each of the three books he cited. Of "Asymmetric Politics", he wrote:
Democrats can win elections by focusing on specific problems and proposals to meet them, while Republicans can win elections via broad-based ideological complaints about big government, “out of control spending,” etc. There is majority support for each of these perspectives, even though they directly contradict one another.Presumably these majorities only partially overlap. I wonder if there's polling on which takes priority - 'ideological fit and purity' versus 'solving social needs'.
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:27 PM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
Democrats on the other hand have no sucession plan, and have had no plan to elevate promising candidates for the future. The same leadership is the exact same as the last time they held power a decade ago.
You're mostly right but they did kinda have a succession plan prior to last year. It was for 55 year old Joe Crowley to become the next Democratic speaker. Only problem with their plan is that AOC primaried him out and he lost his job.
I'm not sure that could have been forseen.
posted by Justinian at 4:28 PM on December 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
You're mostly right but they did kinda have a succession plan prior to last year. It was for 55 year old Joe Crowley to become the next Democratic speaker. Only problem with their plan is that AOC primaried him out and he lost his job.
I'm not sure that could have been forseen.
posted by Justinian at 4:28 PM on December 2, 2018 [16 favorites]
True, but a plan that relies on one guy taking the helm and everyone else just accepting him without question is a bad plan. And didn't pass the hit by a bus test.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:46 PM on December 2, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:46 PM on December 2, 2018 [31 favorites]
i move that we henceforth refer to her as Alexandria "The Bus" Ocasio-Cortez
posted by murphy slaw at 5:21 PM on December 2, 2018 [85 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 5:21 PM on December 2, 2018 [85 favorites]
You're mostly right but they did kinda have a succession plan prior to last year. It was for 55 year old Joe Crowley to become the next Democratic speaker. Only problem with their plan is that AOC primaried him out and he lost his job.
I'm not sure that could have been forseen.
I'm a big fan of AOC, but a huge contributor to her primary success was the utter incompetence of Crowley in running his "race". He wasn't just arrogantly confident or over-dependent on a few unreliable polls, he was totally mistaken about basic electoral politics in his district. The fact that the Democratic congressional leadership -- whose brand, these days, is that they are effective vote-wranglers -- was planning to support this incompetent as their next leader is rather worrisome.
posted by chortly at 5:40 PM on December 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
I'm not sure that could have been forseen.
I'm a big fan of AOC, but a huge contributor to her primary success was the utter incompetence of Crowley in running his "race". He wasn't just arrogantly confident or over-dependent on a few unreliable polls, he was totally mistaken about basic electoral politics in his district. The fact that the Democratic congressional leadership -- whose brand, these days, is that they are effective vote-wranglers -- was planning to support this incompetent as their next leader is rather worrisome.
posted by chortly at 5:40 PM on December 2, 2018 [25 favorites]
I can't see the newly-elected crop of Democrats - who seem refreshingly results-oriented - going along with strict succession planning, especially if it means elevating weak, or incompetent reps. Pelosi seems poised to keep the speakership as much through her competence as her seniority.
posted by jetsetsc at 5:47 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by jetsetsc at 5:47 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
I'm more concerned about the lack of turnover in the other leadership roles than Pelosi herself. Steny Hoyer is worthless. Jim Clyburn seems asleep half the time. There's no reason to keep both of them in leadership, they're both as old as Pelosi and neither is a viable future Speaker. A perfect concession from Pelosi would've been to replace one or both of them with someone younger and more representative of an energized new base of voters. And it wouldn't just be a concession to Seth Moulton's sexist FOX News backed attacks, it'd have been good for the whole party to start acknowledging that this is almost certainly Pelosi's last go as Speaker, and changeover will eventually have to happen whether anyone currently in leadership likes it or not.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:56 PM on December 2, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:56 PM on December 2, 2018 [20 favorites]
Setting aside who is more trustworthy, Cohen being the liar in this specific instance makes quite a bit less sense than Peskov/Putin forging some conversations. Per that narrative, Cohen "confesses" to a crime he never committed, because... cooperation? The Special Counsel's threatening posture? I'm willing to believe that fake confessions have been pressured out of people (especially more desperate and unprivileged people) in the past. But in this case the evidence for criminality is so generally high that Occam's razor tells us that cooperating witnesses will confess to real crimes, because they have so many to choose form.
Meanwhile, Peskov has a lot of plausible motives for faking this evidence. They may be holding up their end of the protect-Trump bargain. They may be concerned that the American political narrative is falling too heavily against Trump and need to prop up the other side to maintain discord. They may be genuinely worried about criminal exposure, and it's an act of desperation.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:24 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Meanwhile, Peskov has a lot of plausible motives for faking this evidence. They may be holding up their end of the protect-Trump bargain. They may be concerned that the American political narrative is falling too heavily against Trump and need to prop up the other side to maintain discord. They may be genuinely worried about criminal exposure, and it's an act of desperation.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:24 PM on December 2, 2018 [6 favorites]
Politico:
The Justice Department is planning an unusual appeal to stop the governments of the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia from using a federal lawsuit to demand access to information about whether President Donald Trump is using his luxury Washington hotel to unconstitutionally profit from his office.posted by Chrysostom at 7:03 PM on December 2, 2018 [24 favorites]
Last month, U.S. District Court Judge Peter Messitte turned down Trump’s request for permission to seek an appeal of early rulings in the case that went against him. Now, federal government lawyers say they plan to appeal anyway, using a rarely invoked process that can block a wayward judge from pressing on with a course of action alleged to be illegal or improper.
M-x shell: " Any one of these situations could blow up like the assassination of a Hungarian archduke."
PEDANTRY: Franz Ferdinand was Austrian.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:30 PM on December 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
PEDANTRY: Franz Ferdinand was Austrian.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:30 PM on December 2, 2018 [13 favorites]
Boom - WW1!
posted by awfurby at 7:32 PM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by awfurby at 7:32 PM on December 2, 2018 [2 favorites]
PEDANTRY: Franz Ferdinand was Austrian.
Not for long.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:37 PM on December 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
Not for long.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:37 PM on December 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
He was 50!
posted by Chrysostom at 7:39 PM on December 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 7:39 PM on December 2, 2018 [11 favorites]
Time flies when you're Austrian.
posted by Reverend John at 7:50 PM on December 2, 2018
posted by Reverend John at 7:50 PM on December 2, 2018
NYT: Despite Big House Losses, G.O.P. Shows No Signs of Course Correction
Lots of GOP House folks sounding unhappy, could be a another bunch of retirements in 2020. Keep in mind most of the GOP has never been in the minority, and being in the minority in the House SUCKS.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:53 PM on December 2, 2018 [33 favorites]
Lots of GOP House folks sounding unhappy, could be a another bunch of retirements in 2020. Keep in mind most of the GOP has never been in the minority, and being in the minority in the House SUCKS.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:53 PM on December 2, 2018 [33 favorites]
Michelle Goldberg: Maybe They’re Just Bad People - Not all Trump support is ideological.
posted by growabrain at 8:59 PM on December 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 8:59 PM on December 2, 2018 [23 favorites]
Trump’s Book Club: A President Who Doesn’t Read Promotes the Books That Promote Him
“He doesn’t read at all. I’m not overstating things here,” said Timothy L. O’Brien, who wrote “TrumpNation: The Art of Being the Donald.”posted by T.D. Strange at 9:29 PM on December 2, 2018 [8 favorites]
NYT: Despite Big House Losses, G.O.P. Shows No Signs of Course Correction
In a year, "big house losses" will mean something completely different.
posted by rhizome at 9:29 PM on December 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
In a year, "big house losses" will mean something completely different.
posted by rhizome at 9:29 PM on December 2, 2018 [4 favorites]
Katherine Miller, The Best TV Show Donald Trump Will Ever Create
posted by zachlipton at 10:09 PM on December 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
If you want to understand what the Russia investigation is doing to America, and to us all, think of it this way: The Russia investigation is a TV show, and we are the fans. But it’s that second part — our fandom — that’s important.I'd add that behind the fandom, there's an awful lot of real people's lives riding on the decisions made by this administration.
The first part isn’t unusual — scandals or investigations often dominate politics; people watched the wall-to-wall Watergate hearings.
But that was a centralized era of culture, limited by choice. Forty years later, we have a different way of consuming culture, one that’s interactive and immersive, yet splintered.
When Michael Cohen pleaded guilty last week to telling lies about a deal he was working, Twitter lit up with little slices of information, cross-checking dates from court documents with other dates and plotlines that have been reported, extrapolating what all this meant or could mean for the larger Russia investigation.
It was like how we’d live-tweet an actual 2018 TV show.
We, the readers and viewers of 2018, are consuming the Russia investigation news like we’re part of the biggest internet fandom there’s ever been. We’re in the throes of fan theories, fictions, wars, and everything else, alert to and at the mercy of the next development, whatever produces that feeling where your eyes feel like they’re both jumping out of your head and melting.
posted by zachlipton at 10:09 PM on December 2, 2018 [15 favorites]
It's rare for "fans" to hope the series creator is jailed and the series is cancelled as soon as possible. Weak metaphor.
posted by benzenedream at 10:46 PM on December 2, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 10:46 PM on December 2, 2018 [26 favorites]
You say fans, I say victims. Potato po-TAH-to.
posted by mmoncur at 10:48 PM on December 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 10:48 PM on December 2, 2018 [10 favorites]
A fellow I know once described politics as a soap opera, and I said yes, there are all these characters with motivations and histories and it is a lot like a soap opera except for one crucial difference. It is real and we are in it.
I would take Game of Thrones a million times more seriously if I could potentially be eaten by a dragon in reality.
Speaking of TV shows, The Simpsons writers are tired of this shit. From this week's episode:
KB: Kent Brockman here interviewing three blue collar workers who voted for Trump. How do you feel now?
BCW: Please stop interviewing us!
KB: Never!
posted by adept256 at 3:17 AM on December 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
I would take Game of Thrones a million times more seriously if I could potentially be eaten by a dragon in reality.
Speaking of TV shows, The Simpsons writers are tired of this shit. From this week's episode:
KB: Kent Brockman here interviewing three blue collar workers who voted for Trump. How do you feel now?
BCW: Please stop interviewing us!
KB: Never!
posted by adept256 at 3:17 AM on December 3, 2018 [29 favorites]
I go out of my way to avoid sharing stories about the Mueller investigation as such, or the investigators themselves. I share every little detail we learn (thanks Metafilter!) about what team Trump and team Putin did in the run up to 2016. But I share almost zero rumors about what the investigators are doing now.
Partly this is because I want to avoid that TV show effect. The "show" as I present it has no heroes, only villains. This makes me feel less like a "fan" because I'm not cheering for anyone.
But still I recognize myself in that piece. The first website I ever made, back in 1996, was a fan site for Dick Francis, the mystery author. Now I have a site about Trump/Russia.
And just the other day I was thinking that some of the details felt like, not just a soap opera, but a parody of a soap opera. (Like "Jane the Virgin" with its hotel-owning crime family...) Ivanka and the Olympic weight lifter. Ivanka sitting in Putin's chair. Jared asking the Russian ambassador if he could set up a secret line to the Kremlin through the embassy, and the ambassador being like "You want to do what?" The Russian spies who were taped calling Carter Page an idiot. The look on Netanyahu's face when Trump accidentally revealed that it was Israel who'd given us the code-word intelligence he'd leaked to Lavrov. I mean come ON.
After 9/11, I remember feeling like I was living in a Tom Clancy novel, and a bad one at that. Maybe this feeling of life imitating art is normal, when you you living through one of those stranger-than-fiction times. And I've geeked out about history before ("Hamilton" got me cheering for the federalists as I read Jill Lepore's nonfiction "These Truths." As a kid I got obsessed and read every book about Helen Keller in my local library.) But it feels weird to geek out as history is still happening. I don't know if it's privilege or helplessness, that I feel like an observer and not a part of these stories. I have done what I can to help organize protests and canvass and write postcards, but sometimes it feels like organizing fan conventions and mimeographing zines. I have a little drawer with a collection of campaign merch and Indivisible gear, and I feel guilty about that drawer.
< / meta-metafilter >
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:29 AM on December 3, 2018 [67 favorites]
Partly this is because I want to avoid that TV show effect. The "show" as I present it has no heroes, only villains. This makes me feel less like a "fan" because I'm not cheering for anyone.
But still I recognize myself in that piece. The first website I ever made, back in 1996, was a fan site for Dick Francis, the mystery author. Now I have a site about Trump/Russia.
And just the other day I was thinking that some of the details felt like, not just a soap opera, but a parody of a soap opera. (Like "Jane the Virgin" with its hotel-owning crime family...) Ivanka and the Olympic weight lifter. Ivanka sitting in Putin's chair. Jared asking the Russian ambassador if he could set up a secret line to the Kremlin through the embassy, and the ambassador being like "You want to do what?" The Russian spies who were taped calling Carter Page an idiot. The look on Netanyahu's face when Trump accidentally revealed that it was Israel who'd given us the code-word intelligence he'd leaked to Lavrov. I mean come ON.
After 9/11, I remember feeling like I was living in a Tom Clancy novel, and a bad one at that. Maybe this feeling of life imitating art is normal, when you you living through one of those stranger-than-fiction times. And I've geeked out about history before ("Hamilton" got me cheering for the federalists as I read Jill Lepore's nonfiction "These Truths." As a kid I got obsessed and read every book about Helen Keller in my local library.) But it feels weird to geek out as history is still happening. I don't know if it's privilege or helplessness, that I feel like an observer and not a part of these stories. I have done what I can to help organize protests and canvass and write postcards, but sometimes it feels like organizing fan conventions and mimeographing zines. I have a little drawer with a collection of campaign merch and Indivisible gear, and I feel guilty about that drawer.
< / meta-metafilter >
posted by OnceUponATime at 4:29 AM on December 3, 2018 [67 favorites]
A significant part of the reason that the Democratic Party does not have a deep bench of 40-50 year olds to step up is that as a party they have a fundamentally different economic structure from the Republicans. The democratic party has nowhere near as substantial a shadow economy as the Republicans. There are dozens of well funded conservative think tanks. Even the most liberal colleges seemingly have funded conservative clubs that can bring in speakers. Being pure and unalloyed partners with capital means you are never short of money for building your farm teams and developing political talent.
posted by srboisvert at 5:23 AM on December 3, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by srboisvert at 5:23 AM on December 3, 2018 [31 favorites]
Circling back, I'd like to mention that Rosneft has been conspicuously dropped from media coverage about 45 and Putie. Back in 2017, we saw a lot of stories about how Carter Page was playing courier, with the promise that some percentage of the 11 Billion dollar secret sale of part of rosneft would go to him, with the implication that 45 was getting some if sanctions were dropped.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 5:48 AM on December 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 5:48 AM on December 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
Axios: Mueller's breadcrumbs suggest he has the goods
posted by growabrain at 5:55 AM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 5:55 AM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
The democratic party has nowhere near as substantial a shadow economy as the Republicans.
Democrats had much more infrastructure for building a bench before they decided it was a good idea to wholesale turn their backs on unions, letting Republicans and the Republican Supreme Court slowly define them out of existence, and defund organizations like ACORN because FOX News cried black people were voting. Democrats Paid a Huge Price for Letting Unions Die. It's hard to recover from 40 years of self-inflicted face punching in one cycle.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:06 AM on December 3, 2018 [67 favorites]
Democrats had much more infrastructure for building a bench before they decided it was a good idea to wholesale turn their backs on unions, letting Republicans and the Republican Supreme Court slowly define them out of existence, and defund organizations like ACORN because FOX News cried black people were voting. Democrats Paid a Huge Price for Letting Unions Die. It's hard to recover from 40 years of self-inflicted face punching in one cycle.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:06 AM on December 3, 2018 [67 favorites]
That Axios piece is... no wonder Trump has been so damn cranky. Someone in his entourage who reads probably got a look at the court papers and told him, “dude, they know everything“
Which leaves the body at the feet of the press: why the hell haven’t they gotten this story to be the one story? (No, I know I know. But still.)
posted by From Bklyn at 6:18 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
Which leaves the body at the feet of the press: why the hell haven’t they gotten this story to be the one story? (No, I know I know. But still.)
posted by From Bklyn at 6:18 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
Axios: Mueller's breadcrumbs suggest he has the goods
I find Axios' reporting totally inscrutable. I've read the majority of these Trump threads and I don't understand what they're getting at. The bolded bullet-point style isn't helping me parse it any better either. This particular line has me totally perplexed: "So Mueller has remarkable and thus far unexplained visibility." What does that mean? Mueller is visible? Like, he's in the news? Hasn't the most remarkable thing about Mueller been how much he's kept hidden from the public and from leaking to the news?
posted by runcibleshaw at 6:50 AM on December 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
I find Axios' reporting totally inscrutable. I've read the majority of these Trump threads and I don't understand what they're getting at. The bolded bullet-point style isn't helping me parse it any better either. This particular line has me totally perplexed: "So Mueller has remarkable and thus far unexplained visibility." What does that mean? Mueller is visible? Like, he's in the news? Hasn't the most remarkable thing about Mueller been how much he's kept hidden from the public and from leaking to the news?
posted by runcibleshaw at 6:50 AM on December 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
What does that mean? Mueller is visible?
It’s just a jargony way of saying that Mueller has insight into what was happening inside the Russian hacking operation that he hasn’t explained yet. Whether that’s through a mole or cooperating witness or just surveillance data from U.S. intelligence agencies we don’t know.
posted by Mothlight at 6:56 AM on December 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
It’s just a jargony way of saying that Mueller has insight into what was happening inside the Russian hacking operation that he hasn’t explained yet. Whether that’s through a mole or cooperating witness or just surveillance data from U.S. intelligence agencies we don’t know.
posted by Mothlight at 6:56 AM on December 3, 2018 [10 favorites]
These idiots were using unencrypted emails, texts, and phone calls to Russia. The NSA, DIA, or some agency I've never heard of should have every message these people ever sent or received. Maybe they don't want to acknowledge that level of survillence but Im sure Mueller has access to all of it.
posted by rdr at 7:07 AM on December 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by rdr at 7:07 AM on December 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
"Relations with China have taken a BIG leap forward!"
posted by kirkaracha at 7:13 AM on December 3, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 7:13 AM on December 3, 2018 [20 favorites]
It’s just a jargony way of saying that Mueller has insight into what was happening inside the Russian hacking operation that he hasn’t explained yet. Whether that’s through a mole or cooperating witness or just surveillance data from U.S. intelligence agencies we don’t know.
Visibility in this context means visibility into something, a window he can use to peer into a hidden space. We don't know who or what that window is but we know he can see things we can't.
posted by scalefree at 7:17 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Visibility in this context means visibility into something, a window he can use to peer into a hidden space. We don't know who or what that window is but we know he can see things we can't.
posted by scalefree at 7:17 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Cyber security expert Rudy goofed & created a link in his tweet. Click on it & see the result.
@RudyGiuliani Mueller filed an indictment just as the President left for G-20.In July he indicted the Russians who will never come here just before he left for Helsinki.Either could have been done earlier or later. Out of control!Supervision please?
posted by scalefree at 7:22 AM on December 3, 2018 [91 favorites]
@RudyGiuliani Mueller filed an indictment just as the President left for G-20.In July he indicted the Russians who will never come here just before he left for Helsinki.Either could have been done earlier or later. Out of control!Supervision please?
posted by scalefree at 7:22 AM on December 3, 2018 [91 favorites]
bluesky43: when will these people learn that the cover up is worse than the crime? and this is going to get individual one very agitated. We may have a new set of numbers for the rest of the family when the rest of this begins to come out in Mueller's the upcoming courtroom appearances.
Except there are a number of stories that connect Trump's "business" relationships with Russia back to election meddling. As noted by Maddow, and Chris Truax in this USA Today opinion:
Maddow's idea/ theory, backed by Buzzfeed News and others, is that the Trump Tower deal was tied to election tampering, which is why no one wanted to confess to this up-front.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:22 AM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
Except there are a number of stories that connect Trump's "business" relationships with Russia back to election meddling. As noted by Maddow, and Chris Truax in this USA Today opinion:
Coincidentally, the deal was not actually killed off until June 14, 2016 (WaPo), the day The Washington Post broke the story that the Russians had hacked the Democratic National Committee. Huh. Go figure.That is, unless the attempts to build Trump Tower Moscow continued, continued with Millian and Papadopoulos all throughout the election if not to Inauguration Day, as posited by Wheeler (link back to a comment by zachlipton).
Maddow's idea/ theory, backed by Buzzfeed News and others, is that the Trump Tower deal was tied to election tampering, which is why no one wanted to confess to this up-front.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:22 AM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
It's never not Infrastructure Week: Trump Administration to Try Again to Fulfill Infrastructure Pledge
The Trump administration is preparing to make another attempt at honoring one of the biggest unfulfilled promises of the president’s election campaign: a $1 trillion upgrade of the nation’s road, rail and energy infrastructure.posted by kirkaracha at 7:39 AM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
Cyber security expert Rudy goofed & created a link in his tweet. Click on it & see the result.
Would you mind describing it for those of us who don't want to click on whatever payload is being provided by whoever just registered the domain, and who might be waiting for a critical mass of traffic before switching it over to something malicious?
posted by contraption at 7:54 AM on December 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
Would you mind describing it for those of us who don't want to click on whatever payload is being provided by whoever just registered the domain, and who might be waiting for a critical mass of traffic before switching it over to something malicious?
posted by contraption at 7:54 AM on December 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
Re: contraption
White text on a grey gradient background reading:
“Donald J. Trump is a traitor to our country.”
posted by AirExplosive at 8:00 AM on December 3, 2018 [30 favorites]
White text on a grey gradient background reading:
“Donald J. Trump is a traitor to our country.”
posted by AirExplosive at 8:00 AM on December 3, 2018 [30 favorites]
It's going to be facinating to match up the final Mueller investigation timeline with Trump's twitter feed. He clearly heard something else from the lawyers this morning, because he's close to stroking out.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:07 AM on December 3, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:07 AM on December 3, 2018 [9 favorites]
The new chairs of the DGA, DSCC, DCCC and DLCC are all women.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:11 AM on December 3, 2018 [43 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:11 AM on December 3, 2018 [43 favorites]
T.D. Strange, that tweet appears to be deleted, maybe you're thinking of this one.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:12 AM on December 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 8:12 AM on December 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
contraption: Thanks for the warning. I admit I did click on it assuming it was an activist who registered the domain. But your point about changing the behavior later is well taken.
I have used this in the past: https://app.webinspector.com/
"No malicious activity or malware detected."
posted by M-x shell at 8:16 AM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
I have used this in the past: https://app.webinspector.com/
"No malicious activity or malware detected."
posted by M-x shell at 8:16 AM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
Ugh, now I can't see a headline with "breadcrumbs" and not assume it's qanon tinhattery.
posted by BungaDunga at 8:27 AM on December 3, 2018
posted by BungaDunga at 8:27 AM on December 3, 2018
when will these people learn that the cover up is worse than the crime?
I've always disagreed with this claim. It's usually put forth by people trying to minimize or trivialize the original crime saying it wasn't all that bad.
But the crime is bad. Very bad. And the cover up is furtherance of the crime. The need for the cover up is confirmation of the severity of the crime.
posted by JackFlash at 8:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [61 favorites]
I've always disagreed with this claim. It's usually put forth by people trying to minimize or trivialize the original crime saying it wasn't all that bad.
But the crime is bad. Very bad. And the cover up is furtherance of the crime. The need for the cover up is confirmation of the severity of the crime.
posted by JackFlash at 8:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [61 favorites]
Ryan Goodman made an 18-page chart of Trump Associates' possible lies - Perjury Chart: Trump Associates’ Lies, False, or Misleading Statements on Russia to Federal Authorities
posted by gladly at 8:51 AM on December 3, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by gladly at 8:51 AM on December 3, 2018 [15 favorites]
A congressman’s loss clouds the future of two demanding missions to Europa -- During a recent update, Clipper planners revealed they are looking at Falcon Heavy. (Eric Berger for Ars Technica, Dec. 3, 2018)
It's a long article that bemoans the loss of a (97.8% Trump Supporting, per 538) Republican from Texas, John Abney Culberson, who was a strong supporter of NASA, and will be replaced by Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (Ballotpedia), who is saying the right things for this liberal.
So instead of mourning this conservative chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding the government's Commerce, Science, and Justice divisions, why not be hopeful that the Dems replace him with someone who not only supports NASA, but also kicking out Trump and bringing back science everywhere, not just keeping NASA flying.
Speaking of bad science, Trump administration organizes pushback against its own climate report -- Meanwhile, the press beclowns itself by asking non-experts to comment on it. (John Timmer for Ars Technica, Dec. 3, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 8:55 AM on December 3, 2018 [38 favorites]
It's a long article that bemoans the loss of a (97.8% Trump Supporting, per 538) Republican from Texas, John Abney Culberson, who was a strong supporter of NASA, and will be replaced by Lizzie Pannill Fletcher (Ballotpedia), who is saying the right things for this liberal.
So instead of mourning this conservative chairman of the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding the government's Commerce, Science, and Justice divisions, why not be hopeful that the Dems replace him with someone who not only supports NASA, but also kicking out Trump and bringing back science everywhere, not just keeping NASA flying.
Speaking of bad science, Trump administration organizes pushback against its own climate report -- Meanwhile, the press beclowns itself by asking non-experts to comment on it. (John Timmer for Ars Technica, Dec. 3, 2018)
Late last week, as the country would be focusing on antacids and shopping, the Trump administration released a report on climate change prepared by its own scientific agencies. The hope was that the report, and its expectations of a huge financial and human toll, would be ignored, and the administration could go back to pretending that it was perfectly justified in pursuing policies like pulling out of the Paris climate agreement and attempting to resuscitate coal.Emphasis mine, because I just now realized not only does Congress need to invest in in-house science experts, news outlets need this, too. At least have a science correspondent who knows enough broadly to vet the people the station calls up to be a talking head for 5-15 minutes. Don't become a platform for bad science, just like you shouldn't be a platform for hate and lies, FFS.
That didn't quite work out. Coverage of the report's dramatic conclusions about the pace and costs of climate change continued to drive headlines over the weekend, and they were a featured topic on Sunday news talk shows. As the following week arrived, Trump and other officials were peppered with questions about the report.
But as the week unfolded, the administration stuck to a number of different strategies in an attempt to disavow the work of its own experts. And to further muddy the situation, television news outlets handled the situation poorly, allowing themselves to be used as a source of misinformation during their attempts to cover the new report.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:55 AM on December 3, 2018 [38 favorites]
Circling back, I'd like to mention that Rosneft has been conspicuously dropped from media coverage about 45 and Putie.
This is Tillerson. I'm waiting for Sleepy Rex to wake up and be indicted some morning. His absence from this, at least publicly, makes me wonder how much he's given up to the Special Counsel office already.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:30 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
This is Tillerson. I'm waiting for Sleepy Rex to wake up and be indicted some morning. His absence from this, at least publicly, makes me wonder how much he's given up to the Special Counsel office already.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:30 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
President Donald Trump on Monday called for his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, to “serve a full and complete sentence.”
So, tell the truth about Trump to investigators and you get a call for a long sentence. Cover up for Trump like Manafort and you get hints of a pardon.
Could obstruction and witness tampering be any more obvious?
posted by JackFlash at 9:33 AM on December 3, 2018 [23 favorites]
So, tell the truth about Trump to investigators and you get a call for a long sentence. Cover up for Trump like Manafort and you get hints of a pardon.
Could obstruction and witness tampering be any more obvious?
posted by JackFlash at 9:33 AM on December 3, 2018 [23 favorites]
Farm bill deal scraps new work requirements:
A bipartisan deal on the multi-billion dollar farm bill would scrap new work requirements for some older food stamp recipients — rejecting a plan backed by House Republicans and President Donald Trump.
Lawmakers expect to vote this week on the tentative deal, announced Thursday by House and Senate negotiators. [...]
Work requirements for food stamps, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, were included in a bill that narrowly passed the House with no Democratic votes. A bipartisan version that won easy Senate approval did not include the requirements, and few Senate Republicans want them.
posted by Emmy Rae at 9:35 AM on December 3, 2018 [37 favorites]
A bipartisan deal on the multi-billion dollar farm bill would scrap new work requirements for some older food stamp recipients — rejecting a plan backed by House Republicans and President Donald Trump.
Lawmakers expect to vote this week on the tentative deal, announced Thursday by House and Senate negotiators. [...]
Work requirements for food stamps, known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, were included in a bill that narrowly passed the House with no Democratic votes. A bipartisan version that won easy Senate approval did not include the requirements, and few Senate Republicans want them.
posted by Emmy Rae at 9:35 AM on December 3, 2018 [37 favorites]
Just to remind folks, the Steele dossier claimed that Carter Page would get the BROKERAGE OF 19% of Rosneft, meaning a few percent of the sale value as brokers' fees. At no time did anyone in a position to know anything say that Page, or Trump, was going to get the full 19%, which would be just an astronomical amount of money, basically one fifth of an entire country's oil sector, which is in turn a big portion of that country's economy.
I think Carter Page has dropped off the radar because he is cooperating with Mueller now, but what do I know? That's pure guesswork.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:35 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think Carter Page has dropped off the radar because he is cooperating with Mueller now, but what do I know? That's pure guesswork.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:35 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
I think Carter Page has dropped off the radar because he is cooperating with Mueller now, but what do I know? That's pure guesswork.
Eh, he's on twitter railing about his FISA warrant and the dodgy dossier, so maybe not unless they asked him to play 'Carter Page' until he's no longer needed. Sometimes he compliments other people on bucket hats.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Eh, he's on twitter railing about his FISA warrant and the dodgy dossier, so maybe not unless they asked him to play 'Carter Page' until he's no longer needed. Sometimes he compliments other people on bucket hats.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Apparently Trump signed his version of the new NAFTA deal in the wrong place. Here is the moment that everybody else notices.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 9:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [78 favorites]
posted by chappell, ambrose at 9:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [78 favorites]
President Donald Trump on Monday called for his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, to “serve a full and complete sentence.”
Brave words from the guy that can't even serve a full and complete sentence on twitter.
posted by adept256 at 9:44 AM on December 3, 2018 [73 favorites]
Brave words from the guy that can't even serve a full and complete sentence on twitter.
posted by adept256 at 9:44 AM on December 3, 2018 [73 favorites]
Marine Who Lost Both Legs in Iraq Demolishes the NRA in One Tweet
One of the few bright spots I've managed to find in the half decade of shit we're living in right now is that the Republicans are finally losing a goodly portion of the military vote thanks to Trump and other insanity. The beginning of the trend predates the current administration, but it has successfully accelerated that trend.
posted by wierdo at 9:53 AM on December 3, 2018 [23 favorites]
One of the few bright spots I've managed to find in the half decade of shit we're living in right now is that the Republicans are finally losing a goodly portion of the military vote thanks to Trump and other insanity. The beginning of the trend predates the current administration, but it has successfully accelerated that trend.
posted by wierdo at 9:53 AM on December 3, 2018 [23 favorites]
> President Donald Trump on Monday called for his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, to “serve a full and complete sentence.”
So, tell the truth about Trump to investigators and you get a call for a long sentence. Cover up for Trump like Manafort and you get hints of a pardon.
Could obstruction and witness tampering be any more obvious?
Trump certainly tried to out do it. In another part of that mult-tweet rant, @realDonaldTrump declared—with 94% chance of actual Trump authorship:
In Josh Dawsey's plain language: "The president urges hard sentences for those who turn against him and offers praise for those who do not."
Renato Mariotti reacts, "I’ve never heard a public official speak this way before Trump. This sounds like something the criminals I used to prosecute would say."
George Conway simply notes, "File under “18 U.S.C. §§ 1503, 1512”", i.e. Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant
Former Obama Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal elaborates, "George is right. This is genuinely looking like witness tampering. DOJ (at least with a nonfake AG) prosecutes cases like these all the time. The fact it's done out in the open is no defense. Trump is genuinely melting down, and no good lawyer can represent him under these circs"
This all comes back to something Sarah Kendzior noticed what feels like ages ago: "Trump doesn't want to get caught and be punished, but he delights in being caught and going unpunished"
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:53 AM on December 3, 2018 [82 favorites]
So, tell the truth about Trump to investigators and you get a call for a long sentence. Cover up for Trump like Manafort and you get hints of a pardon.
Could obstruction and witness tampering be any more obvious?
Trump certainly tried to out do it. In another part of that mult-tweet rant, @realDonaldTrump declared—with 94% chance of actual Trump authorship:
“I will never testify against Trump.” This statement was recently made by Roger Stone, essentially stating that he will not be forced by a rogue and out of control prosecutor to make up lies and stories about “President Trump.” Nice to know that some people still have “guts!”"This doesn’t seem very cool or very legal." observes Pod Save America's Jon Favreau.
In Josh Dawsey's plain language: "The president urges hard sentences for those who turn against him and offers praise for those who do not."
Renato Mariotti reacts, "I’ve never heard a public official speak this way before Trump. This sounds like something the criminals I used to prosecute would say."
George Conway simply notes, "File under “18 U.S.C. §§ 1503, 1512”", i.e. Tampering with a witness, victim, or an informant
Former Obama Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal elaborates, "George is right. This is genuinely looking like witness tampering. DOJ (at least with a nonfake AG) prosecutes cases like these all the time. The fact it's done out in the open is no defense. Trump is genuinely melting down, and no good lawyer can represent him under these circs"
This all comes back to something Sarah Kendzior noticed what feels like ages ago: "Trump doesn't want to get caught and be punished, but he delights in being caught and going unpunished"
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:53 AM on December 3, 2018 [82 favorites]
Louisiana governor was looking like a tough hold in 2019 for Democrats, but now, the top three GOP potential candidates - Rep Steve Scalise, LA AG Jeff Landry, Senator John Kennedy - have all said they won't run. Looking like Lean D at this point.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:05 AM on December 3, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:05 AM on December 3, 2018 [19 favorites]
I too think everyone involved in this should serve full and complete sentences Donny. I doubt you'll agree much longer.
posted by chris24 at 10:17 AM on December 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 10:17 AM on December 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
Trump is genuinely melting down, and no good lawyer can represent him under these circs"
Luckily he doesn't have any good lawyers representing him.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:23 AM on December 3, 2018 [18 favorites]
Luckily he doesn't have any good lawyers representing him.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:23 AM on December 3, 2018 [18 favorites]
Daily Beast, Goldie Taylor, The $156 Billion ‘Segregation Tax’ That Robs Black Families
Even after controlling for the most common causes of the pricing disparity-- lower-quality schools and homes and higher crime rates—the study found that deflation of black neighborhoods, writ large, “reduced home values by an average of $48,000 per household,” for a cumulative loss of $156 billion in total wealth. The paper, released Tuesday morning, suggests that “anti-black beliefs” are, in large part, driving that “segregation tax.” The distortion in home values continues to have significant financial ramifications.Lawrence Glickman, The Racist Politics of the English Language, on the continued use of "racially tinged."
Why the semantic somersaults when it comes to race? We never hear anti-Semitic rhetoric described as “religiously tinged,” and although the Boston Globe once referred to Trump’s “gender-tinged attack on Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton” during the spring of 2016, it was nearly alone in doing so. Imagine if, after Donald Trump’s Access Hollywood tape became public, the press had referred to Trump’s “gender-tinged” comments or claimed that he had “escalated” gender or that he was a “gender provocateur”? Such phrases turn oppression into a neutral condition. “Gender-tinged,” for example, suggests the infusion of gender into an issue but ignores the question of power—in Trumpian terms, of who grabs whom.posted by zachlipton at 10:24 AM on December 3, 2018 [33 favorites]
> President Donald Trump on Monday called for his former lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, to “serve a full and complete sentence.”
@normative: Trump is demanding an outcome in a specific case from a judge, who he has the power to reward with appointment to higher office. The outcome he is demanding would, of course, have the effect of deterring other witnesses’ cooperation with Mueller. Not, to be clear, that I think Judge Pauley is likely to make a different decision in hopes of winning Trump’s favor. But there are good reasons presidents traditionally don’t personally weigh in on specific judicial proceedings this bluntly.
@Don_Zeko: This is one of those things that, per @vikrambath1 , would be an enormous scandal if you found it in a secret email but will largely be ignored in a public statement.
posted by zachlipton at 10:26 AM on December 3, 2018 [44 favorites]
@normative: Trump is demanding an outcome in a specific case from a judge, who he has the power to reward with appointment to higher office. The outcome he is demanding would, of course, have the effect of deterring other witnesses’ cooperation with Mueller. Not, to be clear, that I think Judge Pauley is likely to make a different decision in hopes of winning Trump’s favor. But there are good reasons presidents traditionally don’t personally weigh in on specific judicial proceedings this bluntly.
@Don_Zeko: This is one of those things that, per @vikrambath1 , would be an enormous scandal if you found it in a secret email but will largely be ignored in a public statement.
posted by zachlipton at 10:26 AM on December 3, 2018 [44 favorites]
a voting-rights plank that includes updates to the Voting Rights Act
We need a comprehensive voting rights constitutional amendment. We've had amendments provide that voting rights "cannot be abridged on account of race, color, previous condition of servitude, sex, or age for those above 18;" we need to extend that to "all citizens of 18 years and older have the right to vote, and interference with that right is a felony."
Note that current constitutional law would allow states to deny voting rights by address, or party affiliation, or income level, or education, or religion. I expect the SCOTUS would throw out a religious test as unconstitutional, but the others are all possible.
Start with "all citizens can vote;" let some states insist that it's too much hassle to allow people in prison to vote, and rephrase to restrict that, if they can figure out how - but insist on extending voting rights to everyone not currently in prison, even those on parole/probation.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:30 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
We need a comprehensive voting rights constitutional amendment. We've had amendments provide that voting rights "cannot be abridged on account of race, color, previous condition of servitude, sex, or age for those above 18;" we need to extend that to "all citizens of 18 years and older have the right to vote, and interference with that right is a felony."
Note that current constitutional law would allow states to deny voting rights by address, or party affiliation, or income level, or education, or religion. I expect the SCOTUS would throw out a religious test as unconstitutional, but the others are all possible.
Start with "all citizens can vote;" let some states insist that it's too much hassle to allow people in prison to vote, and rephrase to restrict that, if they can figure out how - but insist on extending voting rights to everyone not currently in prison, even those on parole/probation.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 10:30 AM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
the Republicans are finally losing a goodly portion of the military vote thanks to Trump and other insanity
I recently spent several days with an older relative and Army vet, and he watches MSNBC pretty much constantly. One thing I found really striking was how many of the commercials were about how to access military and veteran benefits. Like, I don't think I've seen that volume of those sorts of commercials since I lived overseas and watched the Armed Forces Network at friends' houses. Their general coverage didn't strike me as being made to intentionally appeal to a military mindset, but they sure appear to think that's a significant part of their market.
posted by solotoro at 10:31 AM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
I recently spent several days with an older relative and Army vet, and he watches MSNBC pretty much constantly. One thing I found really striking was how many of the commercials were about how to access military and veteran benefits. Like, I don't think I've seen that volume of those sorts of commercials since I lived overseas and watched the Armed Forces Network at friends' houses. Their general coverage didn't strike me as being made to intentionally appeal to a military mindset, but they sure appear to think that's a significant part of their market.
posted by solotoro at 10:31 AM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
It doesn't sound like Pelosi is going to be quick to approve Trump's new NAFTA deal without some modifications. She calls the USMCA "The trade agreement formerly known as Prince."
posted by JackFlash at 10:31 AM on December 3, 2018 [55 favorites]
posted by JackFlash at 10:31 AM on December 3, 2018 [55 favorites]
Start with "all citizens can vote;"
Or, more broadly, "all residents can vote." That's how we determine representation; let's extend that to voting.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:38 AM on December 3, 2018 [22 favorites]
Or, more broadly, "all residents can vote." That's how we determine representation; let's extend that to voting.
posted by Mental Wimp at 10:38 AM on December 3, 2018 [22 favorites]
These idiots were using unencrypted emails, texts, and phone calls to Russia. The NSA, DIA, or some agency I've never heard of should have every message these people ever sent or received. Maybe they don't want to acknowledge that level of survillence but Im sure Mueller has access to all of it.
You're assuming the subcontractor's subcontractor at these agencies will have a clue. I manage a Africa related newsfeed and one of our Somalia related articles just got a bunch of hits from "Amazon.com" from a VA location. I don't need to geolocate to figure out which cloud that's coming from.
posted by infini at 10:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
You're assuming the subcontractor's subcontractor at these agencies will have a clue. I manage a Africa related newsfeed and one of our Somalia related articles just got a bunch of hits from "Amazon.com" from a VA location. I don't need to geolocate to figure out which cloud that's coming from.
posted by infini at 10:42 AM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Neat.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won a prestigious science-fair prize for research involving free radicals (Georgia Frances King, Quartz)
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:48 AM on December 3, 2018 [71 favorites]
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez won a prestigious science-fair prize for research involving free radicals (Georgia Frances King, Quartz)
In 2007, Ocasio-Cortez won a prize at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair in microbiology. The ISEF isn’t your standard panorama-filled science fair: It’s the largest pre-college scientific research event in the world. She entered in her senior year of high school with a project on Caenorhabditis elegan (C. elegan) lifespan extension, with her findings indicating that “antioxidants could potentially help prevent degenerative illnesses induced by oxidative stress.”Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 28-year-old who defeated a powerful House Democrat, has an asteroid named after her — here's why (Dave Mosher, Business Insider)
When she submitted her high-school microbiology project in 2007 and won second place at Intel's science and engineering fair, she automatically won the naming rights to an asteroid found by LINEAR [MIT's Lincoln Observatory Near-Earth Asteroid Research program].The naming rights are awarded to first and second place winners of top student science competitions, and have been given out since 2001 as part of a naming program. Roughly 4,000 middle- and high-school students have had this honor.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:48 AM on December 3, 2018 [71 favorites]
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the 28-year-old who defeated a powerful House Democrat, has an asteroid named after her — here's why
She outdid Trump's most outrageous feat of putting his name on something before she even finished high school. And that's the one thing he does well. Sad.
posted by XMLicious at 10:59 AM on December 3, 2018 [39 favorites]
when will these people learn that the cover up is worse than the crime?
I've always disagreed with this claim. It's usually put forth by people trying to minimize or trivialize the original crime saying it wasn't all that bad.
But the crime is bad. Very bad. And the cover up is furtherance of the crime. The need for the cover up is confirmation of the severity of the crime.
The cover up is worse than the crime because the cover up is what gets them caught. So the saying is really from someone who has legal consequentialist view of morality.
posted by srboisvert at 11:09 AM on December 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
I've always disagreed with this claim. It's usually put forth by people trying to minimize or trivialize the original crime saying it wasn't all that bad.
But the crime is bad. Very bad. And the cover up is furtherance of the crime. The need for the cover up is confirmation of the severity of the crime.
The cover up is worse than the crime because the cover up is what gets them caught. So the saying is really from someone who has legal consequentialist view of morality.
posted by srboisvert at 11:09 AM on December 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
This statement was recently made by Roger Stone, essentially stating that he will not be forced by a rogue and out of control prosecutor to make up lies and stories about “President Trump.”
Hey, I sometimes put "President Trump" in quotes, too!
posted by kirkaracha at 11:16 AM on December 3, 2018 [27 favorites]
Hey, I sometimes put "President Trump" in quotes, too!
posted by kirkaracha at 11:16 AM on December 3, 2018 [27 favorites]
I saw some of AOC's tweets this weekend and was thinking - AOC's actions and presence are what happen when you elect an intelligent, clever, charismatic working person rather than a career politician. If we are lucky enough to get a lot more AOCs, we're going to see the same things - occasional errors or cases of missing information, political ideas that have not necessarily crystallized into a program and are sometimes a bit patchy - and a lack of interest in massaging facts to make them palatable to rich people.
I really like her thus far. Is she going to be a political genius? I have no notion. But she's actually representative of her constituency in ways that national level politicians almost never are. She's going to get up there and be an ordinary person with an ordinary person's beliefs and experiences and an ordinary person's distaste for various Reasons of State.
In a weird way she has a similarity to Trump - she says things that her constituents think but are not allowed to say. Unlike Trump, she's not evil, of course, and her constituents aren't raving racists, but she's able to say things that her constituents and people of her general experience have longed to say - that if you take a lot of money from industry you aren't going to have a strong interest in regulating it, people don't want to screw around trying to figure out a million medical plans just to see the doctor, moving is a financial hardship unless you're really wealthy, etc.
She also has the extraordinary advantage of starting without being financially or politically beholden to the Democratic machine - she doesn't have to be nice about big pharma or someone's brother in law's shady military contracting operation. And of course, the more people like this we elect, the more they can help each other and compensate a bit for the help and advice that corporate/super wealthy politicians give each other.
If we were going to have an actual functioning democracy, we'd elect a lot more people of her general type.
posted by Frowner at 11:21 AM on December 3, 2018 [121 favorites]
I really like her thus far. Is she going to be a political genius? I have no notion. But she's actually representative of her constituency in ways that national level politicians almost never are. She's going to get up there and be an ordinary person with an ordinary person's beliefs and experiences and an ordinary person's distaste for various Reasons of State.
In a weird way she has a similarity to Trump - she says things that her constituents think but are not allowed to say. Unlike Trump, she's not evil, of course, and her constituents aren't raving racists, but she's able to say things that her constituents and people of her general experience have longed to say - that if you take a lot of money from industry you aren't going to have a strong interest in regulating it, people don't want to screw around trying to figure out a million medical plans just to see the doctor, moving is a financial hardship unless you're really wealthy, etc.
She also has the extraordinary advantage of starting without being financially or politically beholden to the Democratic machine - she doesn't have to be nice about big pharma or someone's brother in law's shady military contracting operation. And of course, the more people like this we elect, the more they can help each other and compensate a bit for the help and advice that corporate/super wealthy politicians give each other.
If we were going to have an actual functioning democracy, we'd elect a lot more people of her general type.
posted by Frowner at 11:21 AM on December 3, 2018 [121 favorites]
I have done what I can to help organize protests and canvass and write postcards, but sometimes it feels like organizing fan conventions and mimeographing zines. I have a little drawer with a collection of campaign merch and Indivisible gear, and I feel guilty about that drawer.
Why Direct Action Works by Noah Berlatsky in Pacific Standard. (Emphasis below mine.) Today, the civil rights protests are often held up as having been models of respectability and peaceful change. At the time, though, "many Americans disagreed with [the protesters'] tactics," Greene says. "Even leaders of groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People felt their legal-system strategy was more effective than direct-action protests in the early 1960s." Martin Luther King was viewed unfavorably by two-thirds of Americans in 1966—a lower popularity than Trump has right now. The civil rights movement did push people to make reforms. But its leaders didn't necessarily do that by making everyone like or agree with them.
So if direct action doesn't change opinions, how else might it create change? According to street medic Lirael Lowenstein, direct action can further a range of goals. "It might be to stir public conscience or draw public sympathy. It might be to polarize the public—you know you'll be making some opponents more resolute and alienating some fences-sitters, but you're expecting to also gain some fence-sitters, strengthen weak supporters, and mobilize strong ones. It might be purely to rally supporters. It might be to bring attention to a massively under-covered issue."
Critics like Friedersdorf scoff at direct action for being "emotionally satisfying," as though emotion is a treat or indulgence. But people facing oppression and violence need emotional sustenance if they're going to continue to resist. Rallying or marching isn't just a way to try to convince opponents to change their minds; direct action is also a way to reassure people that they are part of a community and a movement that is ready to keep up the fight. Direct action models moral commitment and moral engagement—for example, by refusing to serve food to people who are complicit in taking children from their families.
Organizing has the additional effect of building infrastructure for more organizing, Lowenstein adds. "An underrated purpose of direct action, and really most protest, is to build reusable movement infrastructure, whether that's networks of activists who know and trust each other, organized pools of people with specific, frequently needed skills (and now practical experience!), organizations, sustained relationships between organizations, logistics capability, etc."
posted by Bella Donna at 11:22 AM on December 3, 2018 [34 favorites]
Why Direct Action Works by Noah Berlatsky in Pacific Standard. (Emphasis below mine.) Today, the civil rights protests are often held up as having been models of respectability and peaceful change. At the time, though, "many Americans disagreed with [the protesters'] tactics," Greene says. "Even leaders of groups such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People felt their legal-system strategy was more effective than direct-action protests in the early 1960s." Martin Luther King was viewed unfavorably by two-thirds of Americans in 1966—a lower popularity than Trump has right now. The civil rights movement did push people to make reforms. But its leaders didn't necessarily do that by making everyone like or agree with them.
So if direct action doesn't change opinions, how else might it create change? According to street medic Lirael Lowenstein, direct action can further a range of goals. "It might be to stir public conscience or draw public sympathy. It might be to polarize the public—you know you'll be making some opponents more resolute and alienating some fences-sitters, but you're expecting to also gain some fence-sitters, strengthen weak supporters, and mobilize strong ones. It might be purely to rally supporters. It might be to bring attention to a massively under-covered issue."
Critics like Friedersdorf scoff at direct action for being "emotionally satisfying," as though emotion is a treat or indulgence. But people facing oppression and violence need emotional sustenance if they're going to continue to resist. Rallying or marching isn't just a way to try to convince opponents to change their minds; direct action is also a way to reassure people that they are part of a community and a movement that is ready to keep up the fight. Direct action models moral commitment and moral engagement—for example, by refusing to serve food to people who are complicit in taking children from their families.
Organizing has the additional effect of building infrastructure for more organizing, Lowenstein adds. "An underrated purpose of direct action, and really most protest, is to build reusable movement infrastructure, whether that's networks of activists who know and trust each other, organized pools of people with specific, frequently needed skills (and now practical experience!), organizations, sustained relationships between organizations, logistics capability, etc."
posted by Bella Donna at 11:22 AM on December 3, 2018 [34 favorites]
Lawrence Glickman, The Racist Politics of the English Language, on the continued use of "racially tinged."
The nadir of euphemism is surely a dead tie between the Associated Press’s 1964 description of “racially tinged explosions” which were set off “near the recently desegregated campus of the University of Alabama” and “across town near a Negro cafe”; and a 1953 Associated Press story that described the trial of two white men who kidnapped a black motorist and set him on fire as a “racially charged case.”posted by kirkaracha at 11:25 AM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
Apparently Trump signed his version of the new NAFTA deal in the wrong place. Here is the moment that everybody else notices.
Freeland's glee along with everyone else's tortured restraint makes that video 100% comedy gold.
posted by srboisvert at 11:28 AM on December 3, 2018 [25 favorites]
Freeland's glee along with everyone else's tortured restraint makes that video 100% comedy gold.
posted by srboisvert at 11:28 AM on December 3, 2018 [25 favorites]
...rogue and out of control prosecutor...
Now would be a good time to revisit Derrida’s Rogues: Two Essays on Reason , where he discusses the autoimmunity inherent in sovereign democratic states. Confronted with a rogue sovereign (with Trump is it always about projection) the immune system of democracy and the rule of law is dismantling his pretensions to extra-sovereign power. The struggle between tyranny and democratic sovereignty/the rule of law is the field wherein justice, or the department thereof, can flourish.
posted by Roger_Mexico at 11:40 AM on December 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Now would be a good time to revisit Derrida’s Rogues: Two Essays on Reason , where he discusses the autoimmunity inherent in sovereign democratic states. Confronted with a rogue sovereign (with Trump is it always about projection) the immune system of democracy and the rule of law is dismantling his pretensions to extra-sovereign power. The struggle between tyranny and democratic sovereignty/the rule of law is the field wherein justice, or the department thereof, can flourish.
posted by Roger_Mexico at 11:40 AM on December 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
Merriam-Webster continue to throw some serious shade on Twitter.
Scot-free': completely free from obligation, harm, or penaltyposted by vac2003 at 11:43 AM on December 3, 2018 [45 favorites]
'Scott Free': some guy, probably
'Scott Free': some guy, probably
You mean Mister Miracle?
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:50 AM on December 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
You mean Mister Miracle?
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:50 AM on December 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
You mean Mister Miracle?
@MerriamWebster: Been meaning to read this/definitely heading to the comic shop today.
posted by Uncle Ira at 11:53 AM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
@MerriamWebster: Been meaning to read this/definitely heading to the comic shop today.
posted by Uncle Ira at 11:53 AM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
when will these people learn that the cover up is worse than the crime?
I've always disagreed with this claim. It's usually put forth by people trying to minimize or trivialize the original crime saying it wasn't all that bad.
But the crime is bad. Very bad. And the cover up is furtherance of the crime. The need for the cover up is confirmation of the severity of the crime.
What that aphorism means is that the cover-up is worse politically than the crime. Because, for most "crimes" in politics, it would really be a lot easier for the politician to come out and say, "Yes, I absolutely did [sleep with a woman who is not my wife | accept an in-kind campaign donation without reporting it as such | get caught driving with a 0.12 BAC], and I am deeply sorry that I did this, and I have [apologized to my wife | paid the appropriate fine | donated a large amount of money to MADD], and this will absolutely inform my views going forward." But they don't, and when it comes out that the politician did that thing and then [tried to pay off the woman | tried to blame his campaign manager | called the local sheriff to threaten his funding], then the politician has to deal with not only [cheating | breaking FEC regulations | drunk-driving], but also the things done to cover it up.
So the cover-up generally includes the crime, which is why it's "worse".
posted by Etrigan at 11:55 AM on December 3, 2018 [39 favorites]
I've always disagreed with this claim. It's usually put forth by people trying to minimize or trivialize the original crime saying it wasn't all that bad.
But the crime is bad. Very bad. And the cover up is furtherance of the crime. The need for the cover up is confirmation of the severity of the crime.
What that aphorism means is that the cover-up is worse politically than the crime. Because, for most "crimes" in politics, it would really be a lot easier for the politician to come out and say, "Yes, I absolutely did [sleep with a woman who is not my wife | accept an in-kind campaign donation without reporting it as such | get caught driving with a 0.12 BAC], and I am deeply sorry that I did this, and I have [apologized to my wife | paid the appropriate fine | donated a large amount of money to MADD], and this will absolutely inform my views going forward." But they don't, and when it comes out that the politician did that thing and then [tried to pay off the woman | tried to blame his campaign manager | called the local sheriff to threaten his funding], then the politician has to deal with not only [cheating | breaking FEC regulations | drunk-driving], but also the things done to cover it up.
So the cover-up generally includes the crime, which is why it's "worse".
posted by Etrigan at 11:55 AM on December 3, 2018 [39 favorites]
@jamiedupree:
Trial date for indicted Rep Duncan Hunter R-CA is September 10, 2019; new House GOP rules won't allow him on any committees in interimposted by Chrysostom at 11:56 AM on December 3, 2018 [31 favorites]
What Ertigan said. Watergate escalated from a botched ratfucking to a full-on constitutional crisis which would have turned the Presidency into an unaccountable strongman had it broken the other way. Ratfucking is bad, but a Presidency with the discretion to fire independent prosecutors and ignore warrants is horrible.
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 12:09 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by GenderNullPointerException at 12:09 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
Update on the North Carolina absentee voter fraud story, courtesy of Judd Legum:
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 12:09 PM on December 3, 2018 [47 favorites]
In Bladen County, for example, only 19% of mail-in absentee ballots were requested by Republicans, but Harris won 61% of the mail-in absentee ballot vote. In every other county, including Republican strongholds like Union County, McCready won the mail-in absentee vote.If you aren't already following Legum on Twitter, please do if you're inclined to support good, independent journalism.
Several of the witnesses are related to Leslie McCrae Dowless, the man at the center of the controversy who has previously been convicted of felony fraud. In 2016, McCrae Dowless admitted to running an operation where he paid people for each absentee ballot they were able to collect. The operating allegedly involved paying "people to obtain absentee ballots, fill them out, and cast their votes on someone else's behalf," according to an exposé on This American Life.
In all, a group of just eight witnesses appear on over 130 of the 162 absentee ballot envelopes obtained by Popular Information. A summary:
- Woody Hester witnessed 45 absentee ballots
- James Singletary witnessed 43 absentee ballots
- Lisa Britt, who shares an address with Sandra Dowless, witnessed 44 absentee ballots
- Ginger Eason witnessed 31 absentee ballots
- Jessica Dowless witnessed 15 absentee ballots
- Cheryl Kinlaw witnessed 14 absentee ballots
- Deborah Edwards witnessed 11 absentee ballots
- Sandra Dowless witnessed 10 absentee ballots
In many cases, these witnesses were working in concert. James Singletary and Lisa Britt, for example, witnessed almost 30 ballots together.
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 12:09 PM on December 3, 2018 [47 favorites]
@benwikler, Washington Director of MoveOn, is in Wisconsin to join others fighting the state GOP and its attempt to thwart voters. GOP press conference re their power grab attempt to kneecap the incoming Gov and AG. Their message literally provoking laughs in the room: “We’re trying to restore the balance of powers in the Wisconsin state government.”
posted by Bella Donna at 12:11 PM on December 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 12:11 PM on December 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
HuffPost, Jennifer Bendery, Congress Is Running Out Of Time To Pass Its Sexual Harassment Bill
posted by zachlipton at 12:23 PM on December 3, 2018 [26 favorites]
It should have been the easiest bill Congress passed all year.Blake Farenthold still hasn't paid back that $84K in taxpayer money either.
But eight months after a congressman resigned after allegedly saying he had “wet dreams” about a female aide who was welcome to “show her nipples,” which was weeks before a congressman resigned after pursuing a female aide he called his “soul mate,” which was months after a congressman resigned after asking female aides to bear his child, lawmakers have failed to pass legislation targeting their own sexual harassment.
(Those weren’t the only recent and embarrassing early retirements by male lawmakers, either. See here, here, here and here!)
posted by zachlipton at 12:23 PM on December 3, 2018 [26 favorites]
Trial date for indicted Rep Duncan Hunter R-CA is September 10, 2019This seems like a very long time to wait for justice to come for this guy. He's my congressional rep and just won re-election while in the middle of this scandal. Why, I don't know. I'm really anxious for prosecutors to blast him into a fine mist of vape oil and then never hear his name again.
posted by lostburner at 12:25 PM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
Oops. It is not just Wisconsin that is trying to beat back Democratic gains, as Ari Berman reports for Mother Jones.
The 2018 election saw historic victories for voting rights. Seven states passed ballot initiatives that will make it easier to vote and harder to gerrymander. And some of the biggest cheerleaders for restricting access to the ballot, such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, lost their gubernatorial races.
But now Republicans in four key swing states—Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina—are undertaking unprecedented efforts in lame-duck legislative sessions to strip newly elected Democratic officials of their power to oversee state voting laws and rushing to pass new laws that will make it harder to vote.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:31 PM on December 3, 2018 [22 favorites]
The 2018 election saw historic victories for voting rights. Seven states passed ballot initiatives that will make it easier to vote and harder to gerrymander. And some of the biggest cheerleaders for restricting access to the ballot, such as Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach, lost their gubernatorial races.
But now Republicans in four key swing states—Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and North Carolina—are undertaking unprecedented efforts in lame-duck legislative sessions to strip newly elected Democratic officials of their power to oversee state voting laws and rushing to pass new laws that will make it harder to vote.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:31 PM on December 3, 2018 [22 favorites]
The naturalist Sir David Attenborough has said climate change is humanity's greatest threat in thousands of years.
The naturalist is taking up the "People's Seat" at the conference, called COP24. He is supposed to act as a link between the public and policy-makers at the meeting.
"The world's people have spoken. Their message is clear. Time is running out. They want you, the decision-makers, to act now," he said.
We all know David's calm and measured tone from his amazing documentaries, which is why it seemed so out of character when he suggested shooting Donald Trump back in 2016. But think about his career. There's a good possibility that he has seen more forms of life in the wild than anyone else in history. I think he understands that if things don't change he may hold that honour forever.
posted by adept256 at 12:31 PM on December 3, 2018 [26 favorites]
The naturalist is taking up the "People's Seat" at the conference, called COP24. He is supposed to act as a link between the public and policy-makers at the meeting.
"The world's people have spoken. Their message is clear. Time is running out. They want you, the decision-makers, to act now," he said.
We all know David's calm and measured tone from his amazing documentaries, which is why it seemed so out of character when he suggested shooting Donald Trump back in 2016. But think about his career. There's a good possibility that he has seen more forms of life in the wild than anyone else in history. I think he understands that if things don't change he may hold that honour forever.
posted by adept256 at 12:31 PM on December 3, 2018 [26 favorites]
She entered in her senior year of high school with a project on Caenorhabditis elegan (C. elegan) lifespan extension
'Nother pendantry alert: It's C. elegans. Don't know how the reporter got the Caenorhabditis right but screwed up the elegans.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:49 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
'Nother pendantry alert: It's C. elegans. Don't know how the reporter got the Caenorhabditis right but screwed up the elegans.
posted by Mental Wimp at 12:49 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
'Nother pendantry alert: It's C. elegans. Don't know how the reporter got the Caenorhabditis right but screwed up the elegans.
NOW THIS is the kind of argument about our politicians I want to see more of! Any other researchers want to take a sabbatical in DC for 2 years?
posted by mikelieman at 12:52 PM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
NOW THIS is the kind of argument about our politicians I want to see more of! Any other researchers want to take a sabbatical in DC for 2 years?
posted by mikelieman at 12:52 PM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
Freeland's glee along with everyone else's tortured restraint makes that video 100% comedy gold.
Justin Trudeau's face at the end, though.
Hello darkness, my old friend.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 12:55 PM on December 3, 2018 [51 favorites]
Justin Trudeau's face at the end, though.
Hello darkness, my old friend.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 12:55 PM on December 3, 2018 [51 favorites]
President Trump randomly wandering off at major world events, a supercut
posted by PenDevil at 1:05 PM on December 3, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 1:05 PM on December 3, 2018 [25 favorites]
Conservative writer Corsi files criminal complaint against Mueller, alleges bid to seek false testimony cw: fox news
here's the text of the complaint letter
ken from popehat weighs in:
here's the text of the complaint letter
ken from popehat weighs in:
Jerome Corsi’s defense strategy is essentially that of an eight-year-old: “I’m not charged with a federal crime! YOU’RE charged with a federal crime.”posted by murphy slaw at 1:05 PM on December 3, 2018 [50 favorites]
This is a terrible federal criminal defense strategy, or, in the context of Trump associates, a slightly above average one.
Conservative writer Corsi files criminal complaint against Mueller, alleges bid to seek false testimony
One interesting thing in here is that Corsi is claiming he just magically figured out on his own that WikiLeaks would release Podesta emails, not based on any communications or inside information, but just because he saw that emails to/from Podesta were missing from the DNC dump. Which makes no sense. Podesta didn't work for the DNC, and his emails were just as absent as the rest of the Clinton campaign staff's. There's no logical path, even adjusting for his screwed up brain, under which Corsi looked at the DNC emails and concluded Podesta would be next.
So it's nice of him to blow up his defense with this nonsense.
posted by zachlipton at 1:11 PM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
One interesting thing in here is that Corsi is claiming he just magically figured out on his own that WikiLeaks would release Podesta emails, not based on any communications or inside information, but just because he saw that emails to/from Podesta were missing from the DNC dump. Which makes no sense. Podesta didn't work for the DNC, and his emails were just as absent as the rest of the Clinton campaign staff's. There's no logical path, even adjusting for his screwed up brain, under which Corsi looked at the DNC emails and concluded Podesta would be next.
So it's nice of him to blow up his defense with this nonsense.
posted by zachlipton at 1:11 PM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
but how will mueller prosecute him from FEDERAL PRISON, zachlipton
checkmate.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:12 PM on December 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
checkmate.
posted by murphy slaw at 1:12 PM on December 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
Oh man, that signing statement video is too much. I have watched it on loop for a few minutes and just now stopped laughing. As soon as it finished the first loop, I realized that, if we have museums in the first place, hundreds of years from now, this video will be what represents our time, except it will be a montage, and it will be weeks long.
posted by feloniousmonk at 1:15 PM on December 3, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by feloniousmonk at 1:15 PM on December 3, 2018 [20 favorites]
I've never even seen an entire episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm and still heard the theme in my head when Trudeau starts staring into the camera at the end.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:19 PM on December 3, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 1:19 PM on December 3, 2018 [32 favorites]
Justin Trudeau's face at the end, though.
Hello darkness, my old friend.
Remember when Justin got a lot of heat for his Explain Like I'm Five version of quantum computing?
Washington Post April 18, 2016: Actually, Justin Trudeau doesn't get quantum computing.
Now here he is sitting next to a man whose explanation of quantum computers would be weirdly racist, full of boasts and lies, probably blame Hillary, and 100% wrong.
That's the look on his face.
posted by adept256 at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2018 [15 favorites]
Hello darkness, my old friend.
Remember when Justin got a lot of heat for his Explain Like I'm Five version of quantum computing?
Washington Post April 18, 2016: Actually, Justin Trudeau doesn't get quantum computing.
Now here he is sitting next to a man whose explanation of quantum computers would be weirdly racist, full of boasts and lies, probably blame Hillary, and 100% wrong.
That's the look on his face.
posted by adept256 at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2018 [15 favorites]
I am really getting tired of having a stupid buffoon as president.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2018 [49 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 1:20 PM on December 3, 2018 [49 favorites]
Conservative writer Corsi files criminal complaint against Mueller, alleges bid to seek false testimony
I have to admit, when I saw Klayman's letterhead, I did laugh.
posted by mikelieman at 1:23 PM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
I have to admit, when I saw Klayman's letterhead, I did laugh.
posted by mikelieman at 1:23 PM on December 3, 2018 [1 favorite]
So it's nice of him to blow up his defense with this nonsense.
Anyone who has followed this knows that Mueller doesn't do shit unless Mueller has the receipts. If Mueller pressed Corsi for a deal based on documented knowledge of the exchanges with Stone, then Mueller has copies of the exchanges with Stone.
So, I expect if anything comes of it, the response will be, "These facts show otherwise: 38 pages"
posted by mikelieman at 1:29 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Anyone who has followed this knows that Mueller doesn't do shit unless Mueller has the receipts. If Mueller pressed Corsi for a deal based on documented knowledge of the exchanges with Stone, then Mueller has copies of the exchanges with Stone.
So, I expect if anything comes of it, the response will be, "These facts show otherwise: 38 pages"
posted by mikelieman at 1:29 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
New York Times, during the Trump vs Trudeau election season:
TRUDEAU'S SHAKY GRASP OF HILBERT SPACE CASTS PROBABILITY CLOUD OVER CAMPAIGN
Foreign leaders smirk at Trump's "dangerous" document strategy. These voters in Pennsylvania couldn't care less.
posted by condour75 at 1:32 PM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
TRUDEAU'S SHAKY GRASP OF HILBERT SPACE CASTS PROBABILITY CLOUD OVER CAMPAIGN
Foreign leaders smirk at Trump's "dangerous" document strategy. These voters in Pennsylvania couldn't care less.
posted by condour75 at 1:32 PM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
'Nother pendantry alert: It's C. elegans. Don't know how the reporter got the Caenorhabditis right but screwed up the elegans.
Here's how: by making triple sure they got the Caenorhanditis right.
posted by notyou at 1:34 PM on December 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
Here's how: by making triple sure they got the Caenorhanditis right.
posted by notyou at 1:34 PM on December 3, 2018 [16 favorites]
Ocasio-Cortez Burns Mike Huckabee: Leave ‘False Statements’ To Your Daughter (Nicole LaFond, TPM)
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:39 PM on December 3, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:39 PM on December 3, 2018 [31 favorites]
Justin Trudeau's face at the end, though.
...also, just before the thousand-yard-stare appears in his eyes, he explains to Trump, 'We each get a copy," as if he were explaining contract law to an eight-year-old. And then he gazes into the abyss.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 1:42 PM on December 3, 2018 [28 favorites]
...also, just before the thousand-yard-stare appears in his eyes, he explains to Trump, 'We each get a copy," as if he were explaining contract law to an eight-year-old. And then he gazes into the abyss.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 1:42 PM on December 3, 2018 [28 favorites]
I am so sorry for my ignorance, but could somebody walk me through the Corsi lawsuit and why it's moronic? I mean, it's easy for me to just assume it is because he's Corsi, but I don't get how he's torpedoed his case. Isn't that just a nuisance delaying tactic that is likely to get tossed almost immediately?
And then he gazes into the abyss.
"And if thou gaze long intoan abyssTrump, the abyssTrump will also gaze into thee."
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:49 PM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
And then he gazes into the abyss.
"And if thou gaze long into
posted by Joey Michaels at 1:49 PM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
M-x Shell, could you explain this? Gypped and Welsh both have clear cut ethnic etymologies, but scot-free has nothing to do with any ethnic group that I’m aware of.
Scot comes from Scandinavian for tax, skat. No ethnic stereotypes involved.
posted by scalefree at 1:51 PM on December 3, 2018 [18 favorites]
Scot comes from Scandinavian for tax, skat. No ethnic stereotypes involved.
posted by scalefree at 1:51 PM on December 3, 2018 [18 favorites]
adept256: Remember when Justin got a lot of heat for his Explain Like I'm Five version of quantum computing?
Washington Post April 18, 2016: Actually, Justin Trudeau doesn't get quantum computing.
Hopefully not too much of a derail, but... I (totally not an expert) would say that WaPo piece really misses the mark about what Trudeau even got "wrong". The piece's argument that a quantum computer doesn't (as JT suggested) really encode "more" information in a single bit seems very nitpicky to distinguish from the reality, that it's the conjunction of multiple uncertain bits that allow for power. That's still more power/information (for certain computer problems) per bit even if a single bit doesn't actually contain more information than it would if it were traditional. (Of course I also might be screwing up that paraphrase of the piece.)
But I watched the original clip and he also seems to treat particle-wave duality as an example of the uncertainty that a q-bit's 0 or 1 is based on (implication being that there's something which might collapse into a "wave", or could instead collapse into a "particle"). I don't think that's correct, insofar as "wave" and "particle" aren't quantum states, they're models for the behavior of elementary stuff. Photons and their buddies behave like both those things all the time -- one physics professor has told me it might make more sense to just say they're all "wavicles".
In Justin's defense, he self-effacingly started out by saying that some people would leave the room understanding less than they did about the subject. Answering it at all was a joke because the reporter was bringing it up rhetorically.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:55 PM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
Washington Post April 18, 2016: Actually, Justin Trudeau doesn't get quantum computing.
Hopefully not too much of a derail, but... I (totally not an expert) would say that WaPo piece really misses the mark about what Trudeau even got "wrong". The piece's argument that a quantum computer doesn't (as JT suggested) really encode "more" information in a single bit seems very nitpicky to distinguish from the reality, that it's the conjunction of multiple uncertain bits that allow for power. That's still more power/information (for certain computer problems) per bit even if a single bit doesn't actually contain more information than it would if it were traditional. (Of course I also might be screwing up that paraphrase of the piece.)
But I watched the original clip and he also seems to treat particle-wave duality as an example of the uncertainty that a q-bit's 0 or 1 is based on (implication being that there's something which might collapse into a "wave", or could instead collapse into a "particle"). I don't think that's correct, insofar as "wave" and "particle" aren't quantum states, they're models for the behavior of elementary stuff. Photons and their buddies behave like both those things all the time -- one physics professor has told me it might make more sense to just say they're all "wavicles".
In Justin's defense, he self-effacingly started out by saying that some people would leave the room understanding less than they did about the subject. Answering it at all was a joke because the reporter was bringing it up rhetorically.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:55 PM on December 3, 2018 [6 favorites]
Another thing about this signing goof -- Trump may not have all the details down on international protocol and etiquette or whatever, and that's not necessarily wrong. He was busy doing other stuff before he became President and now he's even busier than that! Who has time to study up? The fix in that situation is for competent staff to prep him beforehand -- sit here, sign there, these are the talking points to mention -- to make sure the event goes off right. Instead? This kind of embarrassment. Again. It tells us either his staff doesn't know , or they do know and he doesn't listen when they coach him, or they've given up coaching him and just let him wing it, or he forgets what he's been told between the coaching and the moment.
posted by notyou at 1:56 PM on December 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by notyou at 1:56 PM on December 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
Regardless of what preparation he did or did not do, he doesn't care, which is part of what makes him a garbage president.
posted by rhizome at 1:59 PM on December 3, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by rhizome at 1:59 PM on December 3, 2018 [27 favorites]
could somebody walk me through the Corsi lawsuit and why it's moronic?
@emptywheel has devoted a thread to its idiocy.
@popehat has lost patience with it:
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:02 PM on December 3, 2018 [33 favorites]
@emptywheel has devoted a thread to its idiocy.
@popehat has lost patience with it:
NO THE CORSI COMPLAINT IS NOT ON PACERThe "criminal complaint" is just a flaming bag of poop that Klayman and Corsi are hoping to drop off on Mueller's doorstep. Note, however, that Klayman addressed his complaint to Trump stooges Whitaker and Benczkowski. If they want to pretend to take it seriously in order to hamper the Special Counsel investigation, they need to ready their bureaucratic poker faces and drop all sense of shame.
IT'S NOT ON PACER BECAUSE IT'S NOT A CASE
IT'S AN ANGRY LETTER TO THE GOVERNMENT
THOSE AREN'T PUT ON PACER
NEITHER ARE THREATS
WHY DO I HAVE TO SAY THIS
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:02 PM on December 3, 2018 [33 favorites]
I am humbled by the irony of trying to help people have less prejudice only to reveal my own. Sorry Scotland!
posted by M-x shell at 2:04 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 2:04 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Larry Klayman once convened a "citizen grand jury" to indict Obama for murder and for being born in Kenya. He also sent a "deportation petition" to DHS asking them to deport Obama. He's technically a lawyer, but he's also a lunatic.
posted by BungaDunga at 2:06 PM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 2:06 PM on December 3, 2018 [14 favorites]
the main thing is that everything alleged by klayman/corsi in that complaint would have to be investigated and pursued by a federal prosecutor even to enter the court system.
the chances of this occurring seem… slim
posted by murphy slaw at 2:08 PM on December 3, 2018
the chances of this occurring seem… slim
posted by murphy slaw at 2:08 PM on December 3, 2018
tl:dr you can’t countersue the federal government in criminal court
posted by murphy slaw at 2:10 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 2:10 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
Meanwhile, Pamela Anderson is on Twitter posting marxist analyses of global politics??
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 2:25 PM on December 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 2:25 PM on December 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
rdr: "The NSA, DIA, or some agency I've never heard of should have every message these people ever sent or received. Maybe they don't want to acknowledge that level of survillence but Im sure Mueller has access to all of it."
I don't think it is a secret at all that the NSA is potentially monitoring every international voice call. Certainly you'd think every call made to members of the Russian government and suspected or known members of their security services would be monitored.
JackFlash: "But the crime is bad. Very bad. And the cover up is furtherance of the crime. The need for the cover up is confirmation of the severity of the crime."
Etrigan: "So the cover-up generally includes the crime, which is why it's "worse"."
Well that and cover ups (at least the ones that come to light) tend to snowball, encompassing more and more people and crimes as the coverup goes on.
A Terrible Llama: ".also, just before the thousand-yard-stare appears in his eyes, he explains to Trump, 'We each get a copy," as if he were explaining contract law to an eight-year-old. And then he gazes into the abyss."
It's like, $Deity Americans, can you get your shit together. The guy leading your country does not seem to know all parties to a contract get a copy.
posted by Mitheral at 2:27 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
I don't think it is a secret at all that the NSA is potentially monitoring every international voice call. Certainly you'd think every call made to members of the Russian government and suspected or known members of their security services would be monitored.
JackFlash: "But the crime is bad. Very bad. And the cover up is furtherance of the crime. The need for the cover up is confirmation of the severity of the crime."
Etrigan: "So the cover-up generally includes the crime, which is why it's "worse"."
Well that and cover ups (at least the ones that come to light) tend to snowball, encompassing more and more people and crimes as the coverup goes on.
A Terrible Llama: ".also, just before the thousand-yard-stare appears in his eyes, he explains to Trump, 'We each get a copy," as if he were explaining contract law to an eight-year-old. And then he gazes into the abyss."
It's like, $Deity Americans, can you get your shit together. The guy leading your country does not seem to know all parties to a contract get a copy.
posted by Mitheral at 2:27 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
The guy leading our country never signed a contract he intended to honor. (Unless a sufficiently bloodthirsty mobster was another party to it)
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:34 PM on December 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:34 PM on December 3, 2018 [8 favorites]
Freeland's glee along with everyone else's tortured restraint makes that video 100% comedy gold.
Justin Trudeau's face at the end, though.
Hello darkness, my old friend.
In case people don't remember Chrystia Freeland is Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs. She was in a political tussle with Saudi Arabia's MBR over women's rights before the world realized he was a murderous bastard who was willing to lure an American resident to his murder at a Saudi Embassy. Much of the world thought Freeland should back down and appease the guy. Trump of course excused and appeased him.
Trump has also made personal attacks on Freeland:“We’re very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don’t like their representative very much.” She was the top representative of Canada in those negotiations.
So her smile in that video... That's a women deservedly enjoying a tiny little slice of sweet sweet schadenfreude pie.
posted by srboisvert at 2:34 PM on December 3, 2018 [63 favorites]
Justin Trudeau's face at the end, though.
Hello darkness, my old friend.
In case people don't remember Chrystia Freeland is Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs. She was in a political tussle with Saudi Arabia's MBR over women's rights before the world realized he was a murderous bastard who was willing to lure an American resident to his murder at a Saudi Embassy. Much of the world thought Freeland should back down and appease the guy. Trump of course excused and appeased him.
Trump has also made personal attacks on Freeland:“We’re very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don’t like their representative very much.” She was the top representative of Canada in those negotiations.
So her smile in that video... That's a women deservedly enjoying a tiny little slice of sweet sweet schadenfreude pie.
posted by srboisvert at 2:34 PM on December 3, 2018 [63 favorites]
Meanwhile, Pamela Anderson is on Twitter posting marxist analyses of global politics??
“I need her help, Charlie. I need her to put me in touch with the local resistance.”
posted by octobersurprise at 2:35 PM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
“I need her help, Charlie. I need her to put me in touch with the local resistance.”
posted by octobersurprise at 2:35 PM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Being kidnapped by Borat does change your perspective on things.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 2:40 PM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 2:40 PM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
The U.S. Yield Curve Just Inverted. That’s Huge.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 2:58 PM on December 3, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 2:58 PM on December 3, 2018 [9 favorites]
The U.S. Yield Curve Just Inverted. That’s Huge.
For anyone who needed a more basic explanation of what this means (I did): An inverted yield curve is an interest rate environment in which long-term debt instruments have a lower yield than short-term debt instruments of the same credit quality. --Investopedia
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:11 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
For anyone who needed a more basic explanation of what this means (I did): An inverted yield curve is an interest rate environment in which long-term debt instruments have a lower yield than short-term debt instruments of the same credit quality. --Investopedia
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:11 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
The U.S. Yield Curve Just Inverted. That’s Huge.
CNBC: The Thing the Bond Market Most Feared Is Starting To Happen "Traders have been fretting about the flattening of the yield curve — which is when interest rates on longer duration Treasury notes, like 10-years, get closer and closer to shorter term interest rates, like 2-years. The real fear is that a 'flattening curve' could lead to an inversion—where the longer duration yield actually sinks below the shorter duration yield - because that signals a recession." (The Bloomberg article notes that an inverted yield curve has preceded each of the past seven recessions.)
Although economists, as usual, are debating about what this situation means for the economy, Trump's pick at the Fed, Jerome Powell, may feel under pressure to engineer a "soft landing" with rates soon (if Trump's idiotic ideas about them don't interfere).
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:21 PM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
CNBC: The Thing the Bond Market Most Feared Is Starting To Happen "Traders have been fretting about the flattening of the yield curve — which is when interest rates on longer duration Treasury notes, like 10-years, get closer and closer to shorter term interest rates, like 2-years. The real fear is that a 'flattening curve' could lead to an inversion—where the longer duration yield actually sinks below the shorter duration yield - because that signals a recession." (The Bloomberg article notes that an inverted yield curve has preceded each of the past seven recessions.)
Although economists, as usual, are debating about what this situation means for the economy, Trump's pick at the Fed, Jerome Powell, may feel under pressure to engineer a "soft landing" with rates soon (if Trump's idiotic ideas about them don't interfere).
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:21 PM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
DC, Md. officials ready with subpoenas in Trump hotel case
The attorneys general of the District of Columbia and Maryland said Monday that they are moving forward with subpoenas for records in their case accusing President Donald Trump of profiting off the presidency.posted by kirkaracha at 3:32 PM on December 3, 2018 [31 favorites]
U.S. District Court Judge Peter J. Messitte approved the legal discovery schedule in an order Monday. Such information would likely provide the first clear picture of the finances of Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel.
Trump has also made personal attacks on Freeland:“We’re very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don’t like their representative very much.” She was the top representative of Canada in those negotiations.
Freeland was appointed to her role as Foreign Minister shortly before Trump took office in a move that looks to have been an adjustment & response to the rise of Trump; she handled the Canada-EU free trade negotiations prior to it, and was also (and still is) sanctioned by Russia in response to Canadian sanctions over Russia's aggression in Crimea and Ukraine, meaning she can't travel there. I don't know if she was smiling about what Trump was doing in that clip - she seems to be engaged in a conversation with somebody off-screen - but I think she's been through a a hell of a lot to get to that moment, and it may also have just been a laugh at seeing her boss have a total "wtf" moment, like the bazillion I'm sure she's been subjected to in trying to navigate this deal.
posted by nubs at 3:44 PM on December 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
Freeland was appointed to her role as Foreign Minister shortly before Trump took office in a move that looks to have been an adjustment & response to the rise of Trump; she handled the Canada-EU free trade negotiations prior to it, and was also (and still is) sanctioned by Russia in response to Canadian sanctions over Russia's aggression in Crimea and Ukraine, meaning she can't travel there. I don't know if she was smiling about what Trump was doing in that clip - she seems to be engaged in a conversation with somebody off-screen - but I think she's been through a a hell of a lot to get to that moment, and it may also have just been a laugh at seeing her boss have a total "wtf" moment, like the bazillion I'm sure she's been subjected to in trying to navigate this deal.
posted by nubs at 3:44 PM on December 3, 2018 [7 favorites]
Michael Isikoff, writing for Yahoo: Mueller Preparing End Game For Russia Investigation
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:44 PM on December 3, 2018 [18 favorites]
[...] Peter Carr, spokesman for the special counsel, confirmed to Yahoo News on Monday that the Manafort memo “will be public,” although he added there could be some portions that are redacted or filed as a sealed addendum. The Manafort memo has been requested by the federal judge in his case so that prosecutors could, for the first time, spell out what matters they believe Manafort has lied to them about.And tomorrow, the Mueller will file his sentencing memo for Michael Flynn (Marcy Wheeler explores the possibilities of what it might entail).
The fact that Mueller is planning a public filing about Manafort suggests he may no longer feel the need to withhold information about his case in order to bring additional indictments against others. That would be consistent with messages his prosecutors have given defense lawyers in recent weeks indicating that they are in the end game of their investigation.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:44 PM on December 3, 2018 [18 favorites]
WaPo, After losing court battle, Pentagon will send green-card holders to recruit training
The Pentagon will begin sending a backlog of thousands of green-card holders to recruit training, suspending a policy adopted by the Trump administration last year that required more stringent background checks for some immigrants wanting to serve, according to two defense officials and an internal memo.posted by zachlipton at 4:13 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
The new directive says that each armed service must comply immediately with a preliminary injunction issued last month by the District Court for the Northern District of California. In it, Judge Jon S. Tigar agreed with an argument from the American Civil Liberties Union that the Pentagon had not satisfactorily explained why new screening is necessary and said the policy should be disregarded.
...
The directive, which was obtained by The Washington Post, was issued two days after a reporter began asking military officials last week about the glut of potential recruits waiting to train and whether it was complying with the injunction.
In the Navy, officials overseeing the issue called it “untenable” in a recent document reviewed by The Washington Post and warned that the situation brings “increasing risk of mission failure.” The document said the average wait time for a green card holder to join the U.S. military had grown to 354 days, as opposed 168 for U.S. citizens, raising the possibility that the Navy would miss its recruiting goals.
Today, Mike Pence posted a photo on Twitter with a Flordia law enforcement officer wearing a QAnon patch for sale on Amazon
Daily Beast: Sheriff Punishes SWAT Officer Who Wore QAnon Patch in Pence Photo
"Broward County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Matt Patten intentionally wore a patch that said “Q” while working on Pence’s security detail last week, according to an internal report. Patten intended to use his proximity to Pence to promote the QAnon conspiracy theory, which posits that President Trump is in engaged in a secret war with high-ranking Democratic pedophiles. […] As punishment, Patten received a written reprimand and was removed from the SWAT team."
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:18 PM on December 3, 2018 [46 favorites]
Daily Beast: Sheriff Punishes SWAT Officer Who Wore QAnon Patch in Pence Photo
"Broward County Sheriff’s Department Sgt. Matt Patten intentionally wore a patch that said “Q” while working on Pence’s security detail last week, according to an internal report. Patten intended to use his proximity to Pence to promote the QAnon conspiracy theory, which posits that President Trump is in engaged in a secret war with high-ranking Democratic pedophiles. […] As punishment, Patten received a written reprimand and was removed from the SWAT team."
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:18 PM on December 3, 2018 [46 favorites]
WaPo, Freshman Democrats: Legislation, not investigations, should be House priority
I mean, ok, but the Senate won't pass any Democratic legislation. I'm extremely here for some go-nowhere bills to demonstrate what Democrats value and contrast that with Republicans, but nobody should confuse those with legislation that's actually going to pass next year.
posted by zachlipton at 4:23 PM on December 3, 2018 [28 favorites]
Nearly four dozen incoming House Democrats told their future leaders Monday that they should prioritize action on health care, immigration, gun control and other topics over investigations into the Trump administration.Here's the letter, which also asks for committee assignments and rules changes (which are largely happening anyway).
The message was delivered in a letter that 46 freshmen sent to the entire Democratic leadership team, including Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), whom Democrats nominated to become the next speaker and who is seeking to persuade her internal critics to support her in a decisive Jan. 3 floor vote.
“While we have a duty to exercise oversight over the Executive Branch, particularly when the Administration crosses legal lines or contravenes American values, we must prioritize action on topics such as the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, our crumbling infrastructure, immigration, gun safety, the environment, and criminal justice reform,” the freshmen wrote. “While we may not always agree on how to approach every issue, we are united in the belief that we have a mandate to debate, draft, and work across the aisle to pass legislation.”
I mean, ok, but the Senate won't pass any Democratic legislation. I'm extremely here for some go-nowhere bills to demonstrate what Democrats value and contrast that with Republicans, but nobody should confuse those with legislation that's actually going to pass next year.
posted by zachlipton at 4:23 PM on December 3, 2018 [28 favorites]
Doktor Zed: Peter Carr, spokesman for the special counsel
That must be a pretty sweet gig
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:25 PM on December 3, 2018 [51 favorites]
That must be a pretty sweet gig
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:25 PM on December 3, 2018 [51 favorites]
The green card / military thing was extra ridiculous, as green card holders are already more screened than those who were born US citizen (same argument for naturalized citizens vs "natural born" citizens). It should take less time, not more.
(I was thinking about this recently, my wife is applying for Global Entry and its like the 5th time the government has done a background check / etc on her (green card holder via K-1/marriage). At some point shouldn't there just be a flag set? But I realize the driver of these policies is not logic...)
posted by thefoxgod at 4:29 PM on December 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
(I was thinking about this recently, my wife is applying for Global Entry and its like the 5th time the government has done a background check / etc on her (green card holder via K-1/marriage). At some point shouldn't there just be a flag set? But I realize the driver of these policies is not logic...)
posted by thefoxgod at 4:29 PM on December 3, 2018 [5 favorites]
incoming House Democrats told their future leaders Monday that they should prioritize action on health care, immigration, gun control and other topics over investigations into the Trump administration.
Why not both? Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time.
posted by jetsetsc at 4:33 PM on December 3, 2018 [26 favorites]
Why not both? Democrats can walk and chew gum at the same time.
posted by jetsetsc at 4:33 PM on December 3, 2018 [26 favorites]
AP, Wisconsin Republicans forge ahead with power-stripping bills
Wisconsin Republicans moved quickly Monday to change the 2020 presidential primary date at a cost of millions of dollars to benefit a conservative state Supreme Court justice, part of a rare lame-duck session that would also weaken the newly elected Democratic governor and attorney general.posted by zachlipton at 5:14 PM on December 3, 2018 [19 favorites]
The proposals would shift power to the GOP-controlled Legislature and allow outgoing Republican Gov. Scott Walker to make one last major mark on the state’s political landscape after he lost re-election in November.
...
Other measures would weaken the attorney general’s office by allowing Republican legislative leaders to intervene in cases and hire their own attorneys. A legislative committee, rather than the attorney general, would have to sign off on withdrawing from federal lawsuits. That would stop Evers and incoming Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul from fulfilling their campaign promises to withdraw Wisconsin from a multi-state lawsuit seeking repeal of the Affordable Care Act.
Legislation takes time and resources to do properly, and neither is infinite even for a co-equal branch of government. And even though it's a pipe dream to pass a decent bill before 2021, using this time to workshop our plans will allow us to avoid a fiasco along the lines of the 2017 GOP, where they were writing terrible legislation on the House floor because they didn't bother doing any of the work back when they were the opposition and just passed messaging bills all day.
That said, oversight of the criminals currently running every corner of the executive branch is fucking important and anybody who says we should sideline it isn't thinking straight.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:17 PM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
That said, oversight of the criminals currently running every corner of the executive branch is fucking important and anybody who says we should sideline it isn't thinking straight.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 5:17 PM on December 3, 2018 [11 favorites]
If headlines were up to me: BUSH LIES IN STATE WHILE TRUMP LIES IN OFFICE
posted by uosuaq at 5:33 PM on December 3, 2018 [80 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 5:33 PM on December 3, 2018 [80 favorites]
NYT: Manafort Tried to Broker Deal With Ecuador to Hand Assange Over to U.S.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:40 PM on December 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
In mid-May 2017, Paul Manafort, facing intensifying pressure to settle debts and pay mounting legal bills, flew to Ecuador to offer his services to a potentially lucrative new client — the country’s incoming president, Lenín Moreno.The NYT's reporters have no indication whether Manafort was engaged in these negotiations with the knowledge of either Trump or Wikileaks. But by this time, Mueller surely has learned about them.
Mr. Manafort made the trip mainly to see if he could broker a deal under which China would invest in Ecuador’s power system, possibly yielding a fat commission for Mr. Manafort.
But the talks turned to a diplomatic sticking point between the United States and Ecuador: the fate of the WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
In multiple meetings with Mr. Manafort, Mr. Moreno and his aides discussed their desire to rid themselves of Mr. Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorean Embassy in London since 2012, in exchange for concessions like debt relief from the United States, according to three people familiar with the talks, the details of which have not been previously reported.
They said Mr. Manafort suggested he could help negotiate a deal for the handover of Mr. Assange to the United States, which has long investigated Mr. Assange for the disclosure of secret documents and which later filed charges against him that have not yet been made public.
Within a couple of days of Mr. Manafort’s final meeting in Quito, Robert S. Mueller III was appointed as the special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election and related matters, and it quickly became clear that Mr. Manafort was a primary target. His talks with Ecuador ended without any deals.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:40 PM on December 3, 2018 [13 favorites]
Nearly four dozen incoming House Democrats told their future leaders Monday that they should prioritize action on health care, immigration, gun control and other topics over investigations into the Trump administration.
Eyes front, wonks! You do understand you are here to save the Republic and prosecute this slimy grifter's row of misogynistic criminal traitors, yes? What part of "children in cages" is not klaxonning your bodies politic, freshmen?! You are not tasting candy at the Malt Shoppe and we are about two tweets away from a Constitutional crisis at all times, so you need to stop the bleeding and open your various containers of whoop-ass post-g-ddamned-haste as you have been voted in to do!
Nobody with two thumbs is more ready to get jiggy with meaningful policy reform than this guy but breaking news motherf*cker it's all for naught if you don't kick down the doors of all our fine racist friends on both sides on el primer día so cut the shit and grab an ax already.
SWEEP! THE LEG!
posted by petebest at 6:24 PM on December 3, 2018 [77 favorites]
Eyes front, wonks! You do understand you are here to save the Republic and prosecute this slimy grifter's row of misogynistic criminal traitors, yes? What part of "children in cages" is not klaxonning your bodies politic, freshmen?! You are not tasting candy at the Malt Shoppe and we are about two tweets away from a Constitutional crisis at all times, so you need to stop the bleeding and open your various containers of whoop-ass post-g-ddamned-haste as you have been voted in to do!
Nobody with two thumbs is more ready to get jiggy with meaningful policy reform than this guy but breaking news motherf*cker it's all for naught if you don't kick down the doors of all our fine racist friends on both sides on el primer día so cut the shit and grab an ax already.
SWEEP! THE LEG!
posted by petebest at 6:24 PM on December 3, 2018 [77 favorites]
Fox News' graphic design department may have a mole...
posted by growabrain at 6:41 PM on December 3, 2018 [74 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 6:41 PM on December 3, 2018 [74 favorites]
Eyes front, wonks! You do understand you are here to save the Republic and prosecute this slimy grifter's row of misogynistic criminal traitors, yes?
Oh sure, but they also have to get re-elected in 2 years, so gotta go in kinda slow on this kinda stuff.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:43 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Oh sure, but they also have to get re-elected in 2 years, so gotta go in kinda slow on this kinda stuff.
posted by 922257033c4a0f3cecdbd819a46d626999d1af4a at 6:43 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
Popehat's Ken White has a podcast on KCRW called All the President's Lawyers
posted by growabrain at 6:48 PM on December 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 6:48 PM on December 3, 2018 [3 favorites]
Eyes front, wonks! You do understand you are here to save the Republic and prosecute this slimy grifter's row of misogynistic criminal traitors, yes?
Oh sure, but they also have to get re-elected in 2 years, so gotta go in kinda slow on this kinda stuff.
All of which is why Pelosi's middle path of starting with election reform strikes the perfect balance. It doesn't look blood thirsty, it should resonate with most normal voters, and its a good step in patching up the holes that the Orange Menace slipped through.
posted by duoshao at 6:49 PM on December 3, 2018 [44 favorites]
Oh sure, but they also have to get re-elected in 2 years, so gotta go in kinda slow on this kinda stuff.
All of which is why Pelosi's middle path of starting with election reform strikes the perfect balance. It doesn't look blood thirsty, it should resonate with most normal voters, and its a good step in patching up the holes that the Orange Menace slipped through.
posted by duoshao at 6:49 PM on December 3, 2018 [44 favorites]
Popehat's Ken White has a podcast on KCRW called All the President's Lawyers
Yes, it's very entertaining. Highly recommended if you're looking for good legal analysis of the situation. Also the Take Care blog has a legal podcast called "Versus Trump", which tracks all the lawsuits against the administration. (Well, many of them.)
posted by suelac at 6:54 PM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yes, it's very entertaining. Highly recommended if you're looking for good legal analysis of the situation. Also the Take Care blog has a legal podcast called "Versus Trump", which tracks all the lawsuits against the administration. (Well, many of them.)
posted by suelac at 6:54 PM on December 3, 2018 [2 favorites]
growabrain: Fox News' graphic design department may have a mole...
For what it's worth that image is at least a year old, and I can't find it outside of Reddit. No one out there is definitively calling it fake, though. (I also feel like there have been similar incidents but I can't remember specifics.)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:18 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
For what it's worth that image is at least a year old, and I can't find it outside of Reddit. No one out there is definitively calling it fake, though. (I also feel like there have been similar incidents but I can't remember specifics.)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:18 PM on December 3, 2018 [4 favorites]
InTheYear2017, yes, I was going to edit the comment saying that
posted by growabrain at 7:22 PM on December 3, 2018
posted by growabrain at 7:22 PM on December 3, 2018
lostburner: "He's my congressional rep and just won re-election while in the middle of this scandal. Why, I don't know."
CA-50 was Trump +15, Hunter had won in 2016 by 27 points. His only winning by about 3.5 points this time is actually a really big achievement for the Democrat.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:23 PM on December 3, 2018 [24 favorites]
CA-50 was Trump +15, Hunter had won in 2016 by 27 points. His only winning by about 3.5 points this time is actually a really big achievement for the Democrat.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:23 PM on December 3, 2018 [24 favorites]
This should be interesting:
Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.), the incoming chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, is interested in calling Gov.-elect Brian Kemp (R-Ga.) in to testify about allegations that he aided his own campaign by engaging in voter suppression.posted by Chrysostom at 7:30 PM on December 3, 2018 [107 favorites]
How No Labels Went From Preaching Unity to Practicing the Dark Arts
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:43 PM on December 3, 2018 [41 favorites]
According to internal documents obtained by The Daily Beast, No Labels encouraged financiers known for backing hyperpartisan causes to back its own super PACs. Among those courted were individuals who’ve bankrolled massive parts of the Republican Party’s infrastructure, including David Koch, former AIG head Hank Greenberg, and billionaire hedge-fund manager Paul Singer; as well as top supporters of President Donald Trump, including PayPal founder Peter Thiel, businessman Foster Friess, and Home Depot founder Ken Langone. No Labels also courted liberal-minded moneymen, including Michael Vachon, a top political adviser to George Soros (one of the biggest funders of Democratic and progressive causes) and Reid Hoffman, an investor and entrepreneur who has called Trump “worse than useless.” The group also targeted Wendi Murdoch (ex-wife of Rupert and rumored Ivanka Trump pal), uber-agent Ari Emanuel, and Dallas Mavericks owner and oft-rumored presidential aspirant Mark Cuban. Another possible 2020 candidate, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, was also among dozens of high net-worth individuals approached about donating to No Labels’ super PACs.Meet the people funding Seth Moulton and the "Problem Solvers". Led by Joe Lieberman and Evan Bayh:
The group also enlisted some of its top supporters to try to court high net-worth individuals on its behalf. Lieberman and Bayh have been integral to those efforts, personally soliciting donors on phone calls and in meetings.The exact same Democratic traitors that hamstrung the last Democratic majority are now on the outside, bribing their way to hamstringing the resistance.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:43 PM on December 3, 2018 [41 favorites]
We've all seen the wacky high-five between MBS & Putin but it looks like that was the only action he got at G20. Everybody else completely snubbed him.
@LibyanBentBladi I keep watching this and remember how months ago, dignitaries were vying for a photo opportunity with MBS.
At G20 summit, MBS tried to rehabilitate his image by attending but was rightfully treated as a pariah
[video]
posted by scalefree at 9:09 PM on December 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
@LibyanBentBladi I keep watching this and remember how months ago, dignitaries were vying for a photo opportunity with MBS.
At G20 summit, MBS tried to rehabilitate his image by attending but was rightfully treated as a pariah
[video]
posted by scalefree at 9:09 PM on December 3, 2018 [17 favorites]
Even at this late date, a desperate, determined Joe Lieberman trying to grab some of that sweet, sweet dignity-wraith action for his own self!
posted by riverlife at 9:31 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by riverlife at 9:31 PM on December 3, 2018 [12 favorites]
Don't forget, Lieberman was going to lead the transition for Stefanowski if he'd won the CT governor race. Just straight up working for the GOP.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:46 PM on December 3, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:46 PM on December 3, 2018 [21 favorites]
WaPo's a fluffy, funny article on Stormy Daniels's book talk at D.C.'s venerable Politics and Prose has one piece of news: "The spat that publicly erupted this week between Daniels and her lawyer, Michael Avenatti? It’s apparently over, though she indicated that she had felt blindsided by his efforts to raise money online for her legal battles. “I hate finding [stuff] out on Twitter,” she said. Daniels demanded an accounting of how the money was being spent, and was apparently satisfied. “Sometimes people need a swift kick,” she said."
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:24 AM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:24 AM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
from the "when someone says your legal strategy is 'novel', that's not a compliment" dept.:
TPM: The Mystery Of Jerome Corsi’s Joint Defense Agreement With Donald Trump
TPM: The Mystery Of Jerome Corsi’s Joint Defense Agreement With Donald Trump
…posted by murphy slaw at 7:15 AM on December 4, 2018 [23 favorites]
Since going public last week with a draft plea agreement from special counsel Robert Mueller, Corsi has claimed that Trump attorney Jay Sekulow took care to make sure that a joint defense agreement between the two parties was never put down to paper, and remained oral.
…
Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani confirmed the existence of the agreement last week, but didn’t specify whether it was committed to paper.
…
But attorneys that TPM spoke with said that it’s extremely unlikely that an “informal” joint defense agreement could serve to provide Corsi and Trump with the kind of protections a joint defense agreement is mean to establish or even exist at all.
…
Jeffrey Cramer, another former federal prosecutor, told TPM that “if there’s not a written agreement here, it wouldn’t matter if Corsi at least told the other defendants that he’s not cooperating, if he’s playing both ends, it’s gonna get messy.”
…
Gene Rossi, a former federal prosecutor at Carlton Fields law firm, said “there’s no such thing as an informal defense agreement.”
“If it’s an informal defense agreement, then Giuliani is just blowing smoke,” he added. “The attorney for the President of the United States has an informal unwritten defense agreement with Corsi?”
“That’s malpractice.”
Donald trump still doesn't understand what a tariff is:
the president literally does not understand one of the only policies he cares about enough to promote personally.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:28 AM on December 4, 2018 [88 favorites]
....I am a Tariff Man. When people or countries come in to raid the great wealth of our Nation, I want them to pay for the privilege of doing so. It will always be the best way to max out our economic power. We are right now taking in $billions in Tariffs. MAKE AMERICA RICH AGAINa tariff is a tax on imports paid by the party importing the goods. the only part of america it's making rich is the federal government, assuming that the tariff doesn't impede economic activity to the point that overall tax receipts are down.
the president literally does not understand one of the only policies he cares about enough to promote personally.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:28 AM on December 4, 2018 [88 favorites]
“You and the special counsel are entitled to whatever opinion you want,” Corsi said, upon being asked whether he is angling for a pardon. “I think I’m doing this because of my integrity.”
Going forward, whenever I get called out on shit I'm just gonna use the "I think I'm doing this because of my integrity" defense
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:36 AM on December 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
Going forward, whenever I get called out on shit I'm just gonna use the "I think I'm doing this because of my integrity" defense
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:36 AM on December 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
Progressives in Congress could be the Tea Party of the left (Tara Golshan and Ella Nilsen / Vox)
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:41 AM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
But do they want to be?The bold line is a section title. Can't say under which circumstances acting like the Freedom Caucus would be the best thing to do.
…
The Progressive Caucus actually predates the Freedom Caucus. It was founded in 1991 by a group of members including progressive icon Sen. Bernie Sanders, when he was still a member of the US House.
…
Would acting like the Freedom Caucus actually be effective?
For as many conservatives that argue that the Freedom Caucus has successfully moved the party to the right, more Republicans in Washington decry their tactics as ideological to the point of obstructionist.
Their refusal to compromise has denied Republicans many of the grand bargains of Washington, from health care reform to even deficit control.
“You could make the argument that we have had less conservative pieces of legislation because of the Freedom Caucus,” Brian Walsh, a partner at the public affairs firm Rokk Solutions and former National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director, said last year. “I believe the Freedom Caucus has been Nancy Pelosi’s greatest asset.”
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:41 AM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
I Served in Congress Longer Than Anyone. Here’s How to Fix It. Abolish the Senate and publicly fund elections.
posted by soelo at 7:42 AM on December 4, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by soelo at 7:42 AM on December 4, 2018 [36 favorites]
Tariff Man, Tariff Man
Has an erroneous economic plan
Can you understand him? No one can!
Tariff Man.
Counsel Man, Counsel Man
Knows the crimes of Tariff Man
Coming soon to Courtroom Land
Counsel Man.
*TUBA SOLO*
posted by delfin at 7:46 AM on December 4, 2018 [101 favorites]
Has an erroneous economic plan
Can you understand him? No one can!
Tariff Man.
Counsel Man, Counsel Man
Knows the crimes of Tariff Man
Coming soon to Courtroom Land
Counsel Man.
*TUBA SOLO*
posted by delfin at 7:46 AM on December 4, 2018 [101 favorites]
It's a shame that there isn't, say, a conservative organization named after a famous American protest against taxes levied on imported goods, who could explain to our president how tariffs work.
posted by XMLicious at 7:48 AM on December 4, 2018 [44 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 7:48 AM on December 4, 2018 [44 favorites]
Trump handles Bush's death with abnormal normality (Eliana Johnson/Politico)
A taboo-busting president who has often trashed the Bush clan observes traditional norms of etiquette after its patriarch's passing.Bush family seeks to steer clear of anti-Trump sentiment at 41st president’s funeral (Kevin Sullivan & Josh Dawsey/WaPo)
The Bush family contacted the White House this past summer to say that President Trump would be welcome at the funeral, scheduled Wednesday at Washington National Cathedral, and to assure him that the focus would be on Bush’s life rather than their disagreements, one former administration official said.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:19 AM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
The truce with Trump allows the Bush family, and the nation, to honor the legacy of [George H.W. Bush] without becoming mired in today’s toxic politics.
…
While Trump will not deliver a eulogy, he will be seated in the front row alongside former presidents Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter. Bush’s son, former president George W. Bush, will deliver a eulogy.
Neither he nor the other eulogists — former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, former senator Alan K. Simpson, and presidential historian and Bush biographer Jon Meacham — are expected to focus on the stark differences between the genteel and patrician Bush and the bombastic Trump.
…
[One person] close to the preparations spoke on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly, said the tone of Wednesday’s funeral will reflect the sense of propriety of Bush, who “wouldn’t want anyone there to feel uncomfortable, including the incumbent president.”
“It’s interesting, though, that praising the Bushes or McCain risks sounding critical of Trump even when Trump’s in no way part of the thinking,” [this person] said.
Abolish the Senate and publicly fund elections.
Come for the policy suggests, stay for the fact that a straight white guy who represented the bluest-collar of blue collar districts in suburban Detroit for twice my lifetime is apparently in the Resistance.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:20 AM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
Come for the policy suggests, stay for the fact that a straight white guy who represented the bluest-collar of blue collar districts in suburban Detroit for twice my lifetime is apparently in the Resistance.
posted by tivalasvegas at 8:20 AM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
I'm assuming abolishing the Senate would involve at least an amendment? Or more?
posted by condour75 at 8:32 AM on December 4, 2018
posted by condour75 at 8:32 AM on December 4, 2018
It would require a new constitution.
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:35 AM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:35 AM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
Literally the only part of the US Constitution that is explicitly outside the normal amendment process is the part that gives each state two Senators. That requires unanimous consent of all state governments. Meaning it can't be done and will never happen.
Getting rid of the Senate requires a revolution and total replacement of the US government and Constitution, which for all that I hate the Senate I absolutely do not advocate at all.
posted by sotonohito at 8:40 AM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
Getting rid of the Senate requires a revolution and total replacement of the US government and Constitution, which for all that I hate the Senate I absolutely do not advocate at all.
posted by sotonohito at 8:40 AM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
“You and the special counsel are entitled to whatever opinion you want,” Corsi said, upon being asked whether he is angling for a pardon. “I think I’m doing this because of my integrity.”
Said by the man who bilked thousands of people peddling a crackpot theory that oil is not a fossil fuel.
posted by ocschwar at 8:41 AM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
Said by the man who bilked thousands of people peddling a crackpot theory that oil is not a fossil fuel.
posted by ocschwar at 8:41 AM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
I bet Trump gets angry and jealous about all the attention and praise lavished upon people at their funerals.
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:48 AM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 8:48 AM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
Mod note: Let's not go deeper into the speculative "should we make a new constitution and abolish the senate" line of things.... if folks want to dig into that, better to make a separate post for it. Thanks.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:51 AM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:51 AM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
So I hope this isn't too off topic, but I've now completed 1 week of a "no more obsessively looking at politics" threads on Reddit, here, etc. It really does help my mental state. I do feel like Jefferson in Hamilton saying, "What'd I miss?" though. If anyone has advice on what I could read to moderate just a constant dread inundation... I'd love to hear it.
I bet Trump gets angry and jealous about all the attention and praise lavished upon people at their funerals.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:48 AM on December 4 [1 favorite +] [!]
He was absolutely angry at McCain for dying and being honored.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 8:51 AM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
I bet Trump gets angry and jealous about all the attention and praise lavished upon people at their funerals.
posted by The Card Cheat at 10:48 AM on December 4 [1 favorite +] [!]
He was absolutely angry at McCain for dying and being honored.
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 8:51 AM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/subscribe/ gives you a shorter list of the day's drama.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:55 AM on December 4, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:55 AM on December 4, 2018 [26 favorites]
While we sit here and wait, here are a couple of things about the I word -
* Laurence Tribe in Background Briefings
* Rebecca Solnit in the Guardian: Trump's countless scams are finally catching up to him - The daily news drip can make it difficult to recognize the immense scale of the president’s legal troubles
posted by growabrain at 9:08 AM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
* Laurence Tribe in Background Briefings
* Rebecca Solnit in the Guardian: Trump's countless scams are finally catching up to him - The daily news drip can make it difficult to recognize the immense scale of the president’s legal troubles
posted by growabrain at 9:08 AM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
Avenatti's out of the 2020 race. His statement on Twitter:
After consultation with my family and at their request, I have decided not to seek the Presidency of the United States in 2020....But for their concerns, I would run.posted by mynameisluka at 9:12 AM on December 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
Neither he nor the other eulogists — former Canadian prime minister Brian Mulroney, former senator Alan K. Simpson, and presidential historian and Bush biographer Jon Meacham — are expected to focus on the stark differences between the genteel and patrician Bush and the bombastic Trump.
Mulroney serenaded Trump at Mar a Lago like the Conservative Party toadie he has always been.
He was also the Canadian architect of NAFTA, pretty much his legacy political achievement, and immediately after leaving office joined Archer Daniels Midland, one of the largest beneficiaries of NAFTA.
What can you expect from him? He will probably try and do some twinkling Irish eyes and then throw in some heritage garbage that will come off as racist to anyone with half a brain. Maybe some mention of a shared vision of screwing over the working class. If I were betting man I'd put some money down on a glowing mention of Thatcher as well.
posted by srboisvert at 9:22 AM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
Mulroney serenaded Trump at Mar a Lago like the Conservative Party toadie he has always been.
He was also the Canadian architect of NAFTA, pretty much his legacy political achievement, and immediately after leaving office joined Archer Daniels Midland, one of the largest beneficiaries of NAFTA.
What can you expect from him? He will probably try and do some twinkling Irish eyes and then throw in some heritage garbage that will come off as racist to anyone with half a brain. Maybe some mention of a shared vision of screwing over the working class. If I were betting man I'd put some money down on a glowing mention of Thatcher as well.
posted by srboisvert at 9:22 AM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
But for their concerns, I would run.
Behind every screw-up of a man, there's a woman he’ll try to blame for his failings.
posted by greermahoney at 9:38 AM on December 4, 2018 [59 favorites]
Behind every screw-up of a man, there's a woman he’ll try to blame for his failings.
posted by greermahoney at 9:38 AM on December 4, 2018 [59 favorites]
Behind every screw-up of a man, there's a woman he’ll try to blame for his failings.
Also the bigmouth in the bar who instigates a fight and then falls back into his friend's arms so they can "hold him back before he hurts someone".
posted by srboisvert at 9:43 AM on December 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
Also the bigmouth in the bar who instigates a fight and then falls back into his friend's arms so they can "hold him back before he hurts someone".
posted by srboisvert at 9:43 AM on December 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
Since I was just as much in the race as Avenatti was, I have also decided not to seek the Presidency of the United States in 2020.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:48 AM on December 4, 2018 [81 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 9:48 AM on December 4, 2018 [81 favorites]
Mod note: A few deleted; good enough on zingers about Michael "Who Cares" Avenatti, and *heavy sigh* on 2020 campaigns joke or otherwise.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:03 AM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:03 AM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
Senator Graham says after CIA briefing that he feels Saudi prince is "complicit" in Khashoggi killing.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 10:11 AM on December 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by DrAstroZoom at 10:11 AM on December 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
Think I just saw Bob Dole at the casket. He's not looking good.
Also, watching the changing of the guard is fascinating.
posted by Melismata at 10:15 AM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Also, watching the changing of the guard is fascinating.
posted by Melismata at 10:15 AM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
advice on what I could read to moderate just a constant dread inundation
Whenever I need a news break, I rely on the Weekly Sift to make sure I don't miss anything really important.
(I am also a fan of the "just read your local paper" solution, if you have a decent local paper.)
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:25 AM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
Whenever I need a news break, I rely on the Weekly Sift to make sure I don't miss anything really important.
(I am also a fan of the "just read your local paper" solution, if you have a decent local paper.)
posted by OnceUponATime at 10:25 AM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
Bob Dole is 95, I'm not sure how good we can expect him to look.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:34 AM on December 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:34 AM on December 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
Sen Corker is more explicit:
"I think if he was in front of a jury he would have a unanimous verdict in about 30 minutes . . . a guilty verdict.
Theres no doubt in my mind MBS ordered, carried out, and knew what was happening all the way along."
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:38 AM on December 4, 2018 [32 favorites]
"I think if he was in front of a jury he would have a unanimous verdict in about 30 minutes . . . a guilty verdict.
Theres no doubt in my mind MBS ordered, carried out, and knew what was happening all the way along."
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:38 AM on December 4, 2018 [32 favorites]
Politico, Emails of top NRCC officials stolen in major 2018 hack
posted by zachlipton at 10:38 AM on December 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
The House GOP campaign arm suffered a major hack during the 2018 election, exposing thousands of sensitive emails to an outside intruder, according to three senior party officials.If we flip back to the other day: Mattis accuses Putin of trying to 'muck around' in US midterm elections
The email accounts of four senior aides at the National Republican Congressional Committee were surveilled for several months, the party officials said. The intrusion was detected in April by an NRCC vendor, who alerted the committee and its cybersecurity contractor. An internal investigation was initiated and the FBI was alerted to the attack, said the officials, who requested anonymity to discuss the incident.
However, senior House Republicans — including Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Majority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) — were not informed of the hack until POLITICO contacted the NRCC on Monday with questions about the episode. Rank-and-file House Republicans were not told, either.
...
Party officials would not say when the hack began or who was behind it, although they privately believe it was a foreign agent due to the nature of the attack.
posted by zachlipton at 10:38 AM on December 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
If anyone has advice on what I could read to moderate just a constant dread inundation... I'd love to hear it.
I listen to Pod Save American or Political Gabfest to moderate dread. They're pretty middle of the road in terms of their political perspectives, but they're great at giving me the news in a no non-sense manner that calms me down.
I've come to the opinion that the reason previous attempts to create clones of conservative media outlets failed is that they tried to copy conservative attempts to create constant hysteria and outrage. The new liberal shows that are succeeding are trying to do just the opposite: "Calm down. Let's look at this rationally. It's bad, but let's now carry on and do what's needed to fix this."
posted by xammerboy at 10:39 AM on December 4, 2018 [21 favorites]
I listen to Pod Save American or Political Gabfest to moderate dread. They're pretty middle of the road in terms of their political perspectives, but they're great at giving me the news in a no non-sense manner that calms me down.
I've come to the opinion that the reason previous attempts to create clones of conservative media outlets failed is that they tried to copy conservative attempts to create constant hysteria and outrage. The new liberal shows that are succeeding are trying to do just the opposite: "Calm down. Let's look at this rationally. It's bad, but let's now carry on and do what's needed to fix this."
posted by xammerboy at 10:39 AM on December 4, 2018 [21 favorites]
Speaking of caskets, those who enjoy the wackier side of the Internet might want to peek at the Twitter hashtag #D5. It APPEARS *adjusts glasses* that the QAnoners are convinced that December 5th is the target date for The Storm that will wash The Swamp away, that Bush's funeral will be the precisely-orchestrated site of mass frogmarches of the entire Clinton clan and their cronies, that everything from the FISA warrants to the real JFK assassination info is about to be declassified, and that government functions and other bodies are all shut down tomorrow so that all of America can watch The Great Awakening happen live on TV.
Or the rest of us can just enjoy the fruitcakes fruiting loudly.
posted by delfin at 10:49 AM on December 4, 2018 [23 favorites]
Or the rest of us can just enjoy the fruitcakes fruiting loudly.
posted by delfin at 10:49 AM on December 4, 2018 [23 favorites]
Mod note: One deleted. Let's take Epstein stuff over to the Epstein thread. If people want to talk historical stuff about Bush 41, take that over to Bush 41 obit thread.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:56 AM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:56 AM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's hard for me to enjoy the "wackiness" of the qanoners - they are deluded, radicalized, and often dangerous. Sure, a lot of it is absurd on its face, and the theories are insane, but there are people for whom this is the version of the world that makes sense to them. It's only a matter of time before a "true qanon believer" shoots people in the name of Q.
posted by MysticMCJ at 10:57 AM on December 4, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by MysticMCJ at 10:57 AM on December 4, 2018 [33 favorites]
It's only a matter of time before a "true qanon believer" shoots people in the name of Q.
One year ago today, a "pizzagate" believer went into comet pizza with weapons.
QAnon is a direct outgrowth of "pizzagate".
posted by flaterik at 11:26 AM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
One year ago today, a "pizzagate" believer went into comet pizza with weapons.
QAnon is a direct outgrowth of "pizzagate".
posted by flaterik at 11:26 AM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
While Trump will not deliver a eulogy
:::huge sigh of relief:::
posted by jgirl at 11:30 AM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
:::huge sigh of relief:::
posted by jgirl at 11:30 AM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
I know we're trying to damp down on 2020 talk here, but the the fact is that campaigns are already starting. A recommended Twitter follow on all the invisible primary action is Josh Putnam.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:31 AM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 11:31 AM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
More anti-democratic maneuvers from the GOP, this time in North Carolina where the GOP-controlled legislature is trying to pass a rule that automatically gives the chairmanship of NC county election boards to Republicans in election years (technically, in even numbered years, "the chair would be a board member who is from 'political party with the second highest number of registered affiliates,' i.e. the GOP, under the legislation.")
This scheme has already been declared unconstitutional, but not by the full NC state Supreme Court yet. We need to keep highlighting these blatant attempts to overturn the will of the voting public. It makes the lie of the "voter fraud" (suppression) laws clear, and demonstrates the wisdom of Nancy Pelosi in making electoral reform HB #1.
One of the most hopeful things about the 2018 elections is that even red-state Republican voters recoiled from open and blatant gerrymandering and voter suppression (e.g. the Native ID issue in North Dakota). Let's build on that remaining shred of their integrity.
posted by msalt at 11:32 AM on December 4, 2018 [27 favorites]
This scheme has already been declared unconstitutional, but not by the full NC state Supreme Court yet. We need to keep highlighting these blatant attempts to overturn the will of the voting public. It makes the lie of the "voter fraud" (suppression) laws clear, and demonstrates the wisdom of Nancy Pelosi in making electoral reform HB #1.
One of the most hopeful things about the 2018 elections is that even red-state Republican voters recoiled from open and blatant gerrymandering and voter suppression (e.g. the Native ID issue in North Dakota). Let's build on that remaining shred of their integrity.
posted by msalt at 11:32 AM on December 4, 2018 [27 favorites]
I can't believe the QAnon conspiracy survived this:
One archived livestream appears to show Rogers logging into the 8chan account of “Q.” The Patriots’ Soapbox feed quickly cuts out after the login attempt. “Sorry, leg cramp,” Rogers says, before the feed reappears seconds later.
posted by diogenes at 11:37 AM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
One archived livestream appears to show Rogers logging into the 8chan account of “Q.” The Patriots’ Soapbox feed quickly cuts out after the login attempt. “Sorry, leg cramp,” Rogers says, before the feed reappears seconds later.
posted by diogenes at 11:37 AM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
Citylab, For the Poor, Obamacare Can Reduce Late Rent Payments
The court’s carveout made it possible to compare the haves with the have-nots across state lines. A new study does precisely that—and finds that access to subsidized health insurance dramatically boosts financial outcomes. Those who were able to acquire health insurance under Obamacare’s subsidized exchanges were 25 percent less likely to miss paying their rent or mortgage on time.posted by zachlipton at 11:41 AM on December 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
...
The paper focuses on adults who fall into the “coverage gap”—people living in non-expansion states who make too much money to qualify for Medicaid, yet too little to get insurance subsidies. In non-expansion states, that dividing limit is the federal poverty line. So adults making 101 percent of the federal poverty line are just barely eligible for Obamacare, but those making 99 percent of the federal poverty line are out of luck. Otherwise similar households, both poor, on different sides of the line face dramatically different financial outcomes.
“It’s only by virtue of the fact that some states opted out of Medicaid expansion that we’re able to assess the benefits of the ACA,” Gallagher says. “Most countries don’t change their health laws in these piecemeal ways.”
It's hard for me to enjoy the "wackiness" of the qanoners - they are deluded, radicalized, and often dangerous. Sure, a lot of it is absurd on its face, and the theories are insane, but there are people for whom this is the version of the world that makes sense to them. It's only a matter of time before a "true qanon believer" shoots people in the name of Q.
I thought "It's just wingnuts. There are always wingnuts and some will be gun-nuts too and someone will get hurt but what can you really do about that kind of crazy?".
Then they show a picture of swat team cop with a Q-anon badge in a secret service secured situation and my concern level goes from "well shit" to "FUCK!" real fast. If the most heavily armed domestic law enforcement are down with having members who are into that crazy shit then the fox is in hen house.
Also WTF secret service? You're having a really bad decade or two there.
posted by srboisvert at 12:04 PM on December 4, 2018 [38 favorites]
I thought "It's just wingnuts. There are always wingnuts and some will be gun-nuts too and someone will get hurt but what can you really do about that kind of crazy?".
Then they show a picture of swat team cop with a Q-anon badge in a secret service secured situation and my concern level goes from "well shit" to "FUCK!" real fast. If the most heavily armed domestic law enforcement are down with having members who are into that crazy shit then the fox is in hen house.
Also WTF secret service? You're having a really bad decade or two there.
posted by srboisvert at 12:04 PM on December 4, 2018 [38 favorites]
Serious question: have any prominent Q-watchers done any snooping to determine how much of its online following is made up of actual people and how much is made up of bots? Because anytime I click on a tweet related to some recent Qanon nuttiness, overwhelmingly the replies are from users named something like QPATRIOTMAGA946452 whose profile pic is either a photo of a generic white lady or a poorly-cropped image of the Gadsden flag.
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
I'm sure a lot of it is bot activity, but I just want to reiterate: "swat team cop with a Q-anon badge."
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:26 PM on December 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:26 PM on December 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
Also WTF secret service? You're having a really bad decade or two there
Why do you say that (i mean other than the obvious)? He was telegraphing his support of the administration.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 12:31 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Why do you say that (i mean other than the obvious)? He was telegraphing his support of the administration.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 12:31 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
AP, 2 attorneys general to subpoena Trump Organization, IRS
The attorneys general of the District of Columbia and Maryland plan to file subpoenas Tuesday seeking records from the Trump Organization, the Internal Revenue Service and dozens of other entities as part of a lawsuit accusing Donald Trump of profiting off the presidency.posted by zachlipton at 12:43 PM on December 4, 2018 [37 favorites]
The flurry of subpoenas came a day after U.S. District Court Judge Peter J. Messitte approved a brisk schedule for discovery in the case alleging that foreign and domestic government spending at Trump’s Washington, D.C., hotel amounts to gifts to the president in violation of the Constitution’s emoluments clause.
The subpoenas target more than 30 Trump-linked private entities and the federal agency that oversees the lease for Trump’s D.C. hotel. Subpoenas were also being sent to the Department of Defense, General Services Administration, Department of Commerce, Department of Agriculture and the IRS, all of which have spent taxpayer dollars at the hotel. Other Trump entities that officials plan to subpoena include those related to his D.C. hotel and its management.
The GOP’s 2018 Autopsy: Democracy Is Our Enemy
All this said, the Times’ claim that the GOP has neglected to mount any constructive response to its 2018 losses is manifestly unfair. Republicans heard the electorate’s message loud and clear — and in Wisconsin and Michigan, the party is doing everything in its power to muzzle that electorate, and nullify its verdict.posted by T.D. Strange at 12:43 PM on December 4, 2018 [49 favorites]
The GOP might be losing ground with the public writ large. But it has retained (or, in some places, strengthened) its grip on low-density areas that enjoy wildly disproportionate representation at both the state and federal levels. In Wisconsin and Michigan, Republicans’ strength in rural areas — combined with heavily gerrymandered district maps — allowed the GOP to retain comfortable state legislative majorities in the midterms, despite receiving fewer votes in statewide races. In response to this outcome, the GOP’s legislative majorities in both states aren’t resting on their laurels, or resigning themselves to their newly limited authority. Rather, they’re using their lame-duck sessions to usurp a wide variety of powers from their states’ incoming Democratic governors and attorneys general.
...
Demographic change might very well give Democrats a durable edge in national elections over the coming decade. But by exploiting (and creatively exacerbating) our political system’s structural biases toward rural voters — and the extraordinary powers of our federal judiciary — Republicans can plausibly retain a “floor” of power high enough to frustrate progressive reform without expanding its existing coalition, or moderating ideologically. And in a two-party system, if the GOP can maintain power in the courts — and remain (at the very least) in perpetual striking distance of a Senate majority — then it would only ever take one ill-timed recession for Republicans to regain unified control of the federal government.
All of which is to say: The GOP does not have a plan for remaining electorally competitive in a democratic United States. But it doesn’t necessarily need one.
Why do you say that (i mean other than the obvious)? He was telegraphing his support of the administration.
The secret service is supposed to execute the professional function of protecting the top ranking members of the government. Administrative support is irrelevant. Delusional conspiracy theorist with a gun is extremely relevant. What if SWAT Q-Anon believer felt the administration wasn't doing enough and wanted to make a point by shooting the VP? This is extremely plausible in that you really cannot adequately prosecute a delusional fantasy.
The bad couple of decades is because the Secret Service has a series of rather large and embarrassing fuckups almost annually since Bush Jr. was in the white house ranging from things like unauthorized people getting to the president (GWB) at a fundraiser, not noticing the white house getting shot, letting people hop the white house fence and get inside the white house, hookers, drunk driving and crashing into a white house gate, passing out drunk, letting an armed security guard into a elevator with the president (Obama). I'm sure there have been plenty during the Trump era as well that have managed to stay off the radar because of the tornados of other bullshit.
I'd like Trump/Pence out but I don't really want them to be a GOP martyrs and then have to fly in and out airports named after them and see statues of them everywhere.
posted by srboisvert at 12:56 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
The secret service is supposed to execute the professional function of protecting the top ranking members of the government. Administrative support is irrelevant. Delusional conspiracy theorist with a gun is extremely relevant. What if SWAT Q-Anon believer felt the administration wasn't doing enough and wanted to make a point by shooting the VP? This is extremely plausible in that you really cannot adequately prosecute a delusional fantasy.
The bad couple of decades is because the Secret Service has a series of rather large and embarrassing fuckups almost annually since Bush Jr. was in the white house ranging from things like unauthorized people getting to the president (GWB) at a fundraiser, not noticing the white house getting shot, letting people hop the white house fence and get inside the white house, hookers, drunk driving and crashing into a white house gate, passing out drunk, letting an armed security guard into a elevator with the president (Obama). I'm sure there have been plenty during the Trump era as well that have managed to stay off the radar because of the tornados of other bullshit.
I'd like Trump/Pence out but I don't really want them to be a GOP martyrs and then have to fly in and out airports named after them and see statues of them everywhere.
posted by srboisvert at 12:56 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
Reading up on that North Carolina election and here's something I missed:
I can think of a few reasons: He hoped to get ahead of the story by establishing the parameters. Or he believed that just saying "vote fraud" will invariably prime people to think in pro-Republican, anti-Democratic (also anti-little-d) terms, no matter who the culprits turn out to be. Or he simply didn't care -- he tampered with ballots and accused Democrats of same because either of those things independently will help a campaign, so why not do both at once?
Or, fine, out of fairness: A legit belief that Democrats faked a bunch of ballots. But even... it still boggles the mind.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:06 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
On November 15 Bladen County Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisor McCrae Dowless, a Republican and the incumbent for reelection, filed a protest with that county's board of elections over several hundred absentee ballots cast for Cooper and other Democrats, claiming that they were fraudulent; on the basis of similarity of the handwriting with which they were filled out.That's the same person who, as referenced by Unicorn on the cob upthread, admitted to absentee-ballot fraud in 2016 and by all appearences did it again in 2018. Why the hell would he shine light on this? Why take that risk?
I can think of a few reasons: He hoped to get ahead of the story by establishing the parameters. Or he believed that just saying "vote fraud" will invariably prime people to think in pro-Republican, anti-Democratic (also anti-little-d) terms, no matter who the culprits turn out to be. Or he simply didn't care -- he tampered with ballots and accused Democrats of same because either of those things independently will help a campaign, so why not do both at once?
Or, fine, out of fairness: A legit belief that Democrats faked a bunch of ballots. But even... it still boggles the mind.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:06 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
Secret Service have suffered much relentless sabatoge from the top down in the last decade. Resulting in reduced budgets, poor scheduling, job flight by experienced members, the consequential poor staffing and piled on work hours.
posted by Harry Caul at 1:06 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 1:06 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
This just in from the Lost In The Melee desk: Trump stiffs chauffeur for overtime after more than 25 years of service.
Shocked. Yes shocked I am to find gambling at this establishment.
posted by petebest at 1:12 PM on December 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
Shocked. Yes shocked I am to find gambling at this establishment.
posted by petebest at 1:12 PM on December 4, 2018 [31 favorites]
WaPo, Wary of repeating 2016 mistakes, Democrats prepare to shake up 2020 presidential debate plan
The Democratic National Committee is close to finalizing a 2020 primary debate plan that would give lesser-known candidates a chance to share the same stage as the party’s front-runners, avoiding the two-tier “kiddie table” approach that divided the Republican field in the last presidential campaign.posted by zachlipton at 1:13 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Chairman Tom Perez and his team have been meeting for months with 2016 campaign advisers and other stakeholders to find a way to improve the debate process, while accommodating the unusually large class of credible potential candidates, which could number more than 20 by spring.
Perez has made clear to his staff that he would like the field to be presented in a way that initially mixes top-tier candidates with lesser known ones. The party’s proposed solution, which will be presented to Perez for approval later this month, also would allow for other factors beyond national polling, possibly including staffing, fundraising and number of office locations, to be considered in making a cutoff for debate participation.
NYT: Manafort Tried to Broker Deal With Ecuador to Hand Assange Over to U.S.
The Editing the Gray Lady bot has detected a change in that headline: ManafortTried to Broker Discussed Deal With Ecuador to Hand Assange Over to U.S.
So that's the second major Manafort-Ecuador story in as many weeks in which the paper has quietly, ever so slightly massaged its initial report.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:18 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
The Editing the Gray Lady bot has detected a change in that headline: Manafort
So that's the second major Manafort-Ecuador story in as many weeks in which the paper has quietly, ever so slightly massaged its initial report.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:18 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
I hear that Mike Pence has retained McGuireWoods to represent him in the Russia investigation.
lol, since Donald Trump can't retain competent legal counsel.
posted by mikelieman at 1:18 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
lol, since Donald Trump can't retain competent legal counsel.
posted by mikelieman at 1:18 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
Aw we can't let that go by; Bannon Pulls Out of Conference on Sex Robots
“Steve Bannon will no longer be speaking at a UM, the latest and third event to be canceled following the announcement he would be a keynote speaker at a joint conference on sex robots this month,” the Montana Kaiman reports.
(via)
posted by petebest at 1:21 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
“Steve Bannon will no longer be speaking at a UM, the latest and third event to be canceled following the announcement he would be a keynote speaker at a joint conference on sex robots this month,” the Montana Kaiman reports.
(via)
posted by petebest at 1:21 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
This just in from the Lost In The Melee desk: Trump stiffs chauffeur for overtime after more than 25 years of service.
READ the court filing! It begins:
READ the court filing! It begins:
1. In an utterly callous display of unwarranted privilege and entitlement and without even a minimal sense of nolelesse oblige President Donald Trump has, through the defendant entities, exploited and denied significant wages to his own longstanding personal driver.posted by mikelieman at 1:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [29 favorites]
23. On or about December 6, 2010, Trump purported to increase Plaintiff's annual salary by $7,000. to a total of $75,000 per year.posted by box at 1:36 PM on December 4, 2018 [30 favorites]
24. The word 'purported' is used in the immediately preceding paragraph because this $7,000 increase was granted solely because Plaintiff was induced to surrender his health benefits obtained through Trump, saving Trump approximately $17,866.08 per year in health insurance premiums.
Why is anyone surprised that Bannon and the alt-right are looking for a way to have sex without the need for willing women as partners?
posted by cmfletcher at 1:36 PM on December 4, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by cmfletcher at 1:36 PM on December 4, 2018 [24 favorites]
I hear that Mike Pence has retained McGuireWoods to represent him in the Russia investigation.
Pence retained them in June of last year, when he was very keen to talk to Mueller, pledging his full cooperation with the investigation. Potentially significantly, Mueller still had not interviewed him as of the beginning of this year, and I don't believe that situation has changed since.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:43 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
Pence retained them in June of last year, when he was very keen to talk to Mueller, pledging his full cooperation with the investigation. Potentially significantly, Mueller still had not interviewed him as of the beginning of this year, and I don't believe that situation has changed since.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:43 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
Mod note: A few deleted; for the sake of my dwindling sanity, let's not go down the miserable road of thinking about Steven Bannon in the context of sex any more than is required by law.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:43 PM on December 4, 2018 [96 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 1:43 PM on December 4, 2018 [96 favorites]
Bannon Pulls Out of Conference on Sex Robots
Source for this is a college newspaper, and it's not clear from the article whether Bannon ever actually accepted the invitation to the "conference," which itself may or may not be real. Please people, be a little more careful with the nonsense Twitter stories you share on here.
posted by neroli at 1:45 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Source for this is a college newspaper, and it's not clear from the article whether Bannon ever actually accepted the invitation to the "conference," which itself may or may not be real. Please people, be a little more careful with the nonsense Twitter stories you share on here.
posted by neroli at 1:45 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Potentially significantly, Mueller still had not interviewed him as of the beginning of this year, and I don't believe that situation has changed since.
Don’t prosecutors save the targets for last?
You should see the schadentastic smile on my face right now.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:47 PM on December 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
Don’t prosecutors save the targets for last?
You should see the schadentastic smile on my face right now.
posted by schadenfrau at 1:47 PM on December 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
Shocked. Yes shocked I am to find gambling at this establishment.
If this is anyone but Claude Rains, you're stealing my bit.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:58 PM on December 4, 2018 [66 favorites]
If this is anyone but Claude Rains, you're stealing my bit.
posted by Capt. Renault at 1:58 PM on December 4, 2018 [66 favorites]
NBC: Trump appointee Whitaker opposed for attorney general role by over 400 ex-Justice Department employees
WASHINGTON — More than 400 former employees of the Justice Department have signed a statement released Tuesday opposing President Donald Trump's appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general.
Because Whitaker hasn't been confirmed by the Senate, his qualifications have not been publicly reviewed and there's been no vetting for potential conflicts of interest, they say.
"Because of our respect for our oaths of office and our personal experiences carrying out the Department's mission, we are disturbed by the President's appointment of Matthew Whitaker to serve as Acting Attorney General," the statement says.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:58 PM on December 4, 2018 [30 favorites]
WASHINGTON — More than 400 former employees of the Justice Department have signed a statement released Tuesday opposing President Donald Trump's appointment of Matt Whitaker as acting attorney general.
Because Whitaker hasn't been confirmed by the Senate, his qualifications have not been publicly reviewed and there's been no vetting for potential conflicts of interest, they say.
"Because of our respect for our oaths of office and our personal experiences carrying out the Department's mission, we are disturbed by the President's appointment of Matthew Whitaker to serve as Acting Attorney General," the statement says.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:58 PM on December 4, 2018 [30 favorites]
Trump appointee Whitaker opposed for attorney general role by over 400 ex-Justice Department employeesI get their point, and I can see why they would want to speak out on an issue that they feel strongly about, but I hope they are at least aware enough of the current state of politics in America to see that such a statement may actually strengthen Whitaker, as the Trump administration uses it to demonstrate to his supporters that his pick is opposed by "the Deep State".
(on edit: Rhizome: the "ex" in "ex-Justice" is probably significant there..)
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:12 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh that conference is a real thing. The story is even wilder than just that though.
The conference Bannon was supposed to be the keynote speaker for was the 15th annual International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology or ACE, which is a "co-located" conference with the International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots for the past few years.
Bannon does, I guess, have some thin ties to the computer entertainment world through his gold-farming company, but when he was announced as the keynote, game academics called for a boycott, withdrew in droves and the conference organizer, who is a Trump-enthusiast, dramatically flipped his lid and cancelled the conference, except for the keynote speech and the robosex deal. Now it looks like the keynote's called off.
In another reality, this would be hilarious.
posted by subocoyne at 2:15 PM on December 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
The conference Bannon was supposed to be the keynote speaker for was the 15th annual International Conference on Advances in Computer Entertainment Technology or ACE, which is a "co-located" conference with the International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots for the past few years.
Bannon does, I guess, have some thin ties to the computer entertainment world through his gold-farming company, but when he was announced as the keynote, game academics called for a boycott, withdrew in droves and the conference organizer, who is a Trump-enthusiast, dramatically flipped his lid and cancelled the conference, except for the keynote speech and the robosex deal. Now it looks like the keynote's called off.
In another reality, this would be hilarious.
posted by subocoyne at 2:15 PM on December 4, 2018 [19 favorites]
Don’t prosecutors save the targets for last?
Why yes, yes they do. Which makes me all the more interested in how/if the impending Flynn sentencing memo will address his discussion with Pence about his contact with Russian officials and the timing thereof.
Speaking of Mueller targets, Sen. Dianne Feinstein reports that Roger the Rat-fucker is pleading the 5th: "Roger Stone’s attorney sent a letter this week stating Stone won’t provide documents or appear for an interview before the committee." (PDF of letter)
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:15 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
Why yes, yes they do. Which makes me all the more interested in how/if the impending Flynn sentencing memo will address his discussion with Pence about his contact with Russian officials and the timing thereof.
Speaking of Mueller targets, Sen. Dianne Feinstein reports that Roger the Rat-fucker is pleading the 5th: "Roger Stone’s attorney sent a letter this week stating Stone won’t provide documents or appear for an interview before the committee." (PDF of letter)
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:15 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
Where the heck is Mueller??? It's already after 5 ET
posted by growabrain at 2:18 PM on December 4, 2018
posted by growabrain at 2:18 PM on December 4, 2018
Oop, just caught up with Lobstermittens' comment. Apologies. It is perfectly understandable and healthy to not engage with that story at all.
posted by subocoyne at 2:18 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by subocoyne at 2:18 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
the GOP’s legislative majorities in [Wisconsin and Michigan] aren’t resting on their laurels, or resigning themselves to their newly limited authority. Rather, they’re using their lame-duck sessions to usurp a wide variety of powers from their states’ incoming Democratic governors and attorneys general.
Do Wisconsin, Michigan or North Carolina have line-item vetoes? Cause hardball can be played in both directions. I'd love to see those governors cut out the line that provides legislative salaries. They'd probably be heroes among average voters for doing it, too.
posted by msalt at 2:21 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
Do Wisconsin, Michigan or North Carolina have line-item vetoes? Cause hardball can be played in both directions. I'd love to see those governors cut out the line that provides legislative salaries. They'd probably be heroes among average voters for doing it, too.
posted by msalt at 2:21 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
Do Wisconsin, Michigan or North Carolina have line-item vetoes?
Yeah we got a veto or two over in the Badger state.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 2:23 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
Yeah we got a veto or two over in the Badger state.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 2:23 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
It's not Friday yet. ( re: Mueller )
IIRC, there's a Manafort Sentencing filing due today. That might not be public yet.
posted by mikelieman at 2:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
IIRC, there's a Manafort Sentencing filing due today. That might not be public yet.
posted by mikelieman at 2:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Buzzfeed's Zoe TIllman: Oh sorry one more — the Flynn sentencing memo is due today, but the judge didn't impose a time-specific deadline, so it could come in anytime
She does have news about another Mueller filing, though: "At the end of last week's status hearing in Paul Manafort's case, the lawyers went up to the bench for a nonpublic discussion with the judge. Per filing today from Mueller's office, they don't plan to okay unsealing that just yet"
As for the end of the week, "We're also expecting two more big filings from Mueller's office this week. On Friday, they'll file a sentencing memo about Michael Cohen, AND a report in Paul Manafort's DC case with more information about the allegations that Manafort lied after signing his plea deal"
So we're going to be in suspense for a little while…
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
She does have news about another Mueller filing, though: "At the end of last week's status hearing in Paul Manafort's case, the lawyers went up to the bench for a nonpublic discussion with the judge. Per filing today from Mueller's office, they don't plan to okay unsealing that just yet"
As for the end of the week, "We're also expecting two more big filings from Mueller's office this week. On Friday, they'll file a sentencing memo about Michael Cohen, AND a report in Paul Manafort's DC case with more information about the allegations that Manafort lied after signing his plea deal"
So we're going to be in suspense for a little while…
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
Rep. Mark Pocan, ‘No Labels’ Needs A Warning Label
posted by zachlipton at 2:26 PM on December 4, 2018 [56 favorites]
And third, it’s clear that No Labels never had any meaningful ultimatums or demands on rules for leadership during eight years of a Republican-led House, or over the last four years of a Republican-led Senate. No Labels only has challenges for Democratic leadership in the House, specifically, for our next speaker, Nancy Pelosi.Between the Daily Beast publishing their internal docs and this, someone is organizing a little campaign against No Labels, and I'm extremely here for it.
That sure seems like a label to me.
Look, I get it. No Labels is slick, and I got duped. But no other current or newly elected member of Congress should fall for its shtick. No Labels is a centrist, corporate organization working against Democrats with dark, anonymous money to advance power for special interests. Period.
So newly elected members, learn from my mistakes. Run. Fast. No Labels needs a label: “Warning: Wolf in sheep’s clothing inside. Join at your own risk.”
posted by zachlipton at 2:26 PM on December 4, 2018 [56 favorites]
Further Flynn… NYMag's Yashar Ali: "But I understand, per two sources, that the Flynn sentencing memo is expected to drop by 7:00 PM eastern." And "Given Flynn's national security role I would not be surprised if there were a number of redactions."
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:30 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:30 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Speaking of Mueller targets, Sen. Dianne Feinstein reports that Roger the Rat-fucker is pleading the 5th
“The mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”posted by kirkaracha at 2:34 PM on December 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
While we wait for the clock to strike Mueller, a new outrage. BuzzFeed, Hamed Aleaziz. The Trump Administration Is Considering Charging A Fee To Apply For Asylum
The proposal, included in a not-yet-finalized draft regulation, would charge applicants, if they are already residing in the US, $50 to apply for asylum. Currently, there is no fee to enter an “affirmative asylum” application. The fee would not apply to those who claim a fear of persecution at ports of entry or those who apply for the protections while in deportation proceedings. There would be no waiver of the fee for those who cannot afford to pay the $50.posted by zachlipton at 2:42 PM on December 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
...
“People will say, ‘$50? What’s $50?’ but that’s not the point. This [seeking asylum] is not something people are doing voluntarily. It flies in the face of what asylum and refugee requests are,” said Ur Jaddou, a former chief counsel at USCIS and current direct of the advocacy organization DHS Watch. “These are people fleeing something and looking for protection from us … for us to turn around and say ‘that’s nice, we’d like to help but you’d have to pay a fee’ seems contrary to the point.”
Fun tweet from Robert Herring, CEO of One America News Network (OAN), a rightwing pay television news station that is on constant rotation at my 24-hour gym:
"Sen. Graham should be coming down on people hiding what happened to Seth Rich, who was an American, rather than what happened to Khashoggi, a terrorist."
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:44 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
"Sen. Graham should be coming down on people hiding what happened to Seth Rich, who was an American, rather than what happened to Khashoggi, a terrorist."
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:44 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
GOP Lawmaker Says ‘Journalists Disappear’ All the Time
Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) defended President Trump’s decision to stand by Saudi Arabia despite overwhelming evidence that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, CNN reports.
Said Stewart: “We have to have to have a relationship with some players that we don’t agree with. Journalists disappear all over the country. 20 journalists have been killed in Mexico. You don’t think it happens in Turkey and China? Of course it does. And yet we have to have a relationship with these individuals, or with these countries.”
Stay classy Rep. Stewart.
posted by petebest at 3:07 PM on December 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
Rep. Chris Stewart (R-UT) defended President Trump’s decision to stand by Saudi Arabia despite overwhelming evidence that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was behind the murder of U.S.-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi, CNN reports.
Said Stewart: “We have to have to have a relationship with some players that we don’t agree with. Journalists disappear all over the country. 20 journalists have been killed in Mexico. You don’t think it happens in Turkey and China? Of course it does. And yet we have to have a relationship with these individuals, or with these countries.”
Stay classy Rep. Stewart.
posted by petebest at 3:07 PM on December 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
“People will say, ‘$50? What’s $50?’
Just enough to prevent asylum seekers from getting asylum.
posted by xammerboy at 3:08 PM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
Just enough to prevent asylum seekers from getting asylum.
posted by xammerboy at 3:08 PM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
Speaking of Mueller targets, Sen. Dianne Feinstein reports that Roger the Rat-fucker is pleading the 5th
1. you can't usually plead the fifth on document production
2. this was a document request, not a subpoena, so why is he even trying to invoke the 5th amendment here? might as well invoke his 3rd amendment rights
posted by BungaDunga at 3:12 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
1. you can't usually plead the fifth on document production
2. this was a document request, not a subpoena, so why is he even trying to invoke the 5th amendment here? might as well invoke his 3rd amendment rights
posted by BungaDunga at 3:12 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
Here's Ken White's explainer on how the Fifth applies to document production.
posted by bcd at 3:17 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by bcd at 3:17 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.
As long as they can pay the cover charge.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:22 PM on December 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
As long as they can pay the cover charge.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:22 PM on December 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
Fees Charged for Asylum Applications by States Parties to the 1951 Refugee Convention at the Library of Congress.
140+ countries, and the usual amount appears to be "none."
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:29 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
140+ countries, and the usual amount appears to be "none."
posted by Iris Gambol at 3:29 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
“The mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?”
But that was months ago. Yesterday Trump praised Stone for pledging never to testify against him—"Nice to know that some people still have “guts!”"
Stone responded on /r/The_Donald (because of course Reddit hasn't kicked him yet): "I am proud of my 40 year friendship with the President and prouder still of the amazing job he is doing making America great again !" (Reminding him how far they go back and therefor how much dirt he has on him.)
NY Daily News's Chris Sommerfeldt checked in with him just now: “"Stop being bizarre," Roger Stone texts in response to a question about his pleading the Fifth and how it squares with Trump's campaign claim that only "the mob takes the Fifth."”
It's entirely plausible that Stone timed his grandstanding, provocative letter—"Mr. Stone’s invocation of his Fifth Amendment privilege must be understood by all to be the assertion of a Constitutional right by an innocent citizen who denounces secrecy."—to jam some of the signal of Flynn's sentencing memo in the media (which is giving the old bastard plenty of attention at the moment).
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:30 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
But that was months ago. Yesterday Trump praised Stone for pledging never to testify against him—"Nice to know that some people still have “guts!”"
Stone responded on /r/The_Donald (because of course Reddit hasn't kicked him yet): "I am proud of my 40 year friendship with the President and prouder still of the amazing job he is doing making America great again !" (Reminding him how far they go back and therefor how much dirt he has on him.)
NY Daily News's Chris Sommerfeldt checked in with him just now: “"Stop being bizarre," Roger Stone texts in response to a question about his pleading the Fifth and how it squares with Trump's campaign claim that only "the mob takes the Fifth."”
It's entirely plausible that Stone timed his grandstanding, provocative letter—"Mr. Stone’s invocation of his Fifth Amendment privilege must be understood by all to be the assertion of a Constitutional right by an innocent citizen who denounces secrecy."—to jam some of the signal of Flynn's sentencing memo in the media (which is giving the old bastard plenty of attention at the moment).
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:30 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Here's Ken White's explainer on how the Fifth applies to document production.
posted by xammerboy at 3:33 PM on December 4, 2018
In short, though you can compelled to turn over documents already known to exist.. you can't be compelled to help the government with its case by choosing which documents satisfy broad and vague categories they ask for.In other words, you can ask for tax returns, but you can't ask for any documents related to colluding with Russia or some other general crime. I doubt Mueller is really doing this though. Stone is on record as saying he'll gum up Mueller's request any way he can (e.g. pay fines in pennies, etc.), so this is probably just a stalling tactic.
posted by xammerboy at 3:33 PM on December 4, 2018
Pod Save America discussed Cohen's recent disclosure that Trump offered Putin a 50 million dollar hotel room for the rights to build a hotel in Moscow during the election. The conclusion was this is definitely illegal, and a big deal. I came away thinking that if there's any documentation that Trump knew about the deal, then he's finished. It might take a while to play out, but everyone will recognize the game is over.
posted by xammerboy at 3:57 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 3:57 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
The absurd part isn't how naked a bribe this $50M penthouse for Putin would have been—it's how little it would mean to a kleptocrat with a $1B secret palace on the Black Sea.
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:05 PM on December 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:05 PM on December 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
it's how little it would mean to a kleptocrat with a $1B secret palace on the Black Sea.
You don't get rich by writing checks.
posted by sideshow at 4:07 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
You don't get rich by writing checks.
posted by sideshow at 4:07 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
WaPo, David Nakamura, President Trump traveled 250 yards to greet George W. Bush. He used a stretch limo and an eight-vehicle motorcade to make the trip.
“Presidents, including the last one, have made the walk before,” observed Ned Price, who served as National Security Council spokesman in the Obama administration.posted by zachlipton at 4:26 PM on December 4, 2018 [42 favorites]
“Bone spurs?” asked Sam Vinograd, a CNN political analyst and also a former Obama national security veteran, joking on Twitter about Trump’s explanation about his deferment from the Vietnam War draft.
Trump goes greater lengths to avoid injury than any previous President, which is why he’s the healthiest of them all.
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:34 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:34 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
Potential Democratic candidate aims to block Manchin from top environmental position (Ben Jacobs, Guardian)
Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington state, is launching a petition to demand that Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, block Manchin from serving as the top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 4:34 PM on December 4, 2018 [44 favorites]
In an email sent out to supporters, Inslee insists: “Senate Democrats must not allow Joe Manchin to become the ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. I need your help to stop this.” While the Washington Democrat offers some praise for Manchin, saying “Look, Joe Manchin has been a champion for affordable health care for every American. He’s been a leader on issues you and I care deeply about.” However, he adds: “But on climate, he’s simply wrong.”
Cyber security expert Rudy goofed & created a link in his tweet. Click on it & see the result.
@RudyGiuliani Mueller filed an indictment just as the President left for G-20.In July he indicted the Russians who will never come here just before he left for Helsinki.Either could have been done earlier or later. Out of control!Supervision please?
Update: @RudyGiuliani: Twitter allowed someone to invade my text with a disgusting anti-President message. The same thing-period no space-occurred later and it didn’t happen. Don’t tell me they are not committed cardcarrying anti-Trumpers. Time Magazine also may fit that description. FAIRNESS PLEASE
Cuber security expert Rudy thinks that Twitter let someone "invade" his text because they're opposed to Trump, when in reality, he tweeted something that looks like a domain name because he didn't use a space, Twitter auto-linkified it, and someone bought the resulting domain. Also, something about Time Magazine for some reason.
Also, if you can be a cardcarrying anti-Trumper, how do I get a membership card?
posted by zachlipton at 5:05 PM on December 4, 2018 [62 favorites]
@RudyGiuliani Mueller filed an indictment just as the President left for G-20.In July he indicted the Russians who will never come here just before he left for Helsinki.Either could have been done earlier or later. Out of control!Supervision please?
Update: @RudyGiuliani: Twitter allowed someone to invade my text with a disgusting anti-President message. The same thing-period no space-occurred later and it didn’t happen. Don’t tell me they are not committed cardcarrying anti-Trumpers. Time Magazine also may fit that description. FAIRNESS PLEASE
Cuber security expert Rudy thinks that Twitter let someone "invade" his text because they're opposed to Trump, when in reality, he tweeted something that looks like a domain name because he didn't use a space, Twitter auto-linkified it, and someone bought the resulting domain. Also, something about Time Magazine for some reason.
Also, if you can be a cardcarrying anti-Trumper, how do I get a membership card?
posted by zachlipton at 5:05 PM on December 4, 2018 [62 favorites]
Said Stewart: “We have to have to have a relationship with some players that we don’t agree with. Journalists disappear all over the country. 20 journalists have been killed in Mexico. You don’t think it happens in Turkey and China? Of course it does. And yet we have to have a relationship with these individuals, or with these countries.”
One big difference is that Jamal Khashoggi was a US resident at the time of his death.
posted by srboisvert at 5:11 PM on December 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
One big difference is that Jamal Khashoggi was a US resident at the time of his death.
posted by srboisvert at 5:11 PM on December 4, 2018 [12 favorites]
I got an anti-Trump card during the 2016 election. Here are some for sale on Ebay.
posted by Sublimity at 5:13 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Sublimity at 5:13 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
There’s a card you can carry if you’re a committed anti-Trumper? Where can one get such a card? Does my DSA card count?
posted by misterpatrick at 5:13 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by misterpatrick at 5:13 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
Said Stewart: “We have to have to have a relationship with some players that we don’t agree with. Journalists disappear all over the country. 20 journalists have been killed in Mexico. You don’t think it happens in Turkey and China? Of course it does. And yet we have to have a relationship with these individuals, or with these countries.”
One big difference is that Jamal Khashoggi was a US resident at the time of his death.
The underlying message here from Stewart is that journalists are not people.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:34 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
One big difference is that Jamal Khashoggi was a US resident at the time of his death.
The underlying message here from Stewart is that journalists are not people.
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:34 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
The underlying message is more like "not a citizen but a resident, do we even KNOW if he was here LEGALLY, etc etc nonwhite guy with an ethnically nowhite last name, therefore not a real human in the eyes of the republican party". Business as usual from the party of white supremacy.
posted by poffin boffin at 5:37 PM on December 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by poffin boffin at 5:37 PM on December 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
URGENT: The North Carolina GOP now has a bill that appears aimed at obstructing a fair investigation of the NC-9 election fraud scandal. This must not pass. If it does, Democrats should announce they won't seat Harris, period.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:37 PM on December 4, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:37 PM on December 4, 2018 [40 favorites]
According to Chris Hayes and his guest Dan, the Flynn Sentencing Memorandum contains "very little" new information. Lots of redactions. Haven't seen the document posted yet.
posted by pjenks at 5:38 PM on December 4, 2018
posted by pjenks at 5:38 PM on December 4, 2018
@kyledcheney: Mueller's team describes a "series of false statements" from Flynn but recommends a sentence that doens't include incarceration because of his substantial assistance.
@bradheath: NEW: Mueller's office says former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn "has assisted with several ongoing investigations, including its probe of coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Mueller's office says that it can't reveal the details of all of Flynn's assistance because "the investigations in which he has provided assistance are ongoing."
@chrisgeidner: BREAKING: Michael Flynn had 19 interviews with the special counsel's office, per the office, which says criminal investigation is ongoing in heavily redacted filing. (Correction: 19 interviews with the special counsel's office or other DOJ offices.)
There are a lot of redactions, including sections about how Flynn has assisted. 19 interviews!
posted by zachlipton at 5:39 PM on December 4, 2018 [24 favorites]
@bradheath: NEW: Mueller's office says former National Security Adviser Mike Flynn "has assisted with several ongoing investigations, including its probe of coordination between the Trump campaign and the Russian government. Mueller's office says that it can't reveal the details of all of Flynn's assistance because "the investigations in which he has provided assistance are ongoing."
@chrisgeidner: BREAKING: Michael Flynn had 19 interviews with the special counsel's office, per the office, which says criminal investigation is ongoing in heavily redacted filing. (Correction: 19 interviews with the special counsel's office or other DOJ offices.)
There are a lot of redactions, including sections about how Flynn has assisted. 19 interviews!
posted by zachlipton at 5:39 PM on December 4, 2018 [24 favorites]
Ah, here's a link to read it for yourself.
posted by zachlipton at 5:39 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:39 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
In addition to the amount of help he gave, it seems Flynn flipped early as well as often. The closing paragraph on the sentencing rec.
II. Timeliness of the Defendant's Assistanceposted by chris24 at 5:45 PM on December 4, 2018 [30 favorites]
The usefulness of the defendant's assistance is connected to its timeliness. The defendant began providing information to the government not long after the government first sought his cooperation. His early cooperation was particularly valuable because he was one of the few people with long-term and firsthand insight regarding events and issues under investigation by the SCO. Additionally, the defendant's decision to plead guilty and cooperate likely affected the decisions of related firsthand witnesses to be forthcoming with the SCO and cooperate.
“related firsthand witnesses” = Manafort + Gates, no?
posted by Barack Spinoza at 5:47 PM on December 4, 2018
posted by Barack Spinoza at 5:47 PM on December 4, 2018
I think the big thing here beyond the singing like a bird and little to no jail time bits (in other words, he must have been fairly helpful) is that it indicates Flynn helped provide information in at least three investigations: "a criminal investigation [REDACTED]," the Mueller investigation into "links or coordination" between the Russian government and the Trump campaign, and "[REDACTED]." And then there are several paragraphs of redacted information about how he's helped in an unspecified criminal investigation, separate from the Russian collusion one.
There are a lot more shoes left to drop.
posted by zachlipton at 5:50 PM on December 4, 2018 [41 favorites]
There are a lot more shoes left to drop.
posted by zachlipton at 5:50 PM on December 4, 2018 [41 favorites]
If Mueller does have anyone else up the chain to try and flip, he's set up a nice tidy object lesson in what happens when you cooperate (Flynn) vs when you don't (Manafort.)
posted by contraption at 5:50 PM on December 4, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by contraption at 5:50 PM on December 4, 2018 [34 favorites]
The details of the "Significance and Usefulness of the Defendant's Assistance" in the Addendum seems to be split into three subsections:
A. [REDACTED] Criminal InvestigationI'm assuming a part C based on the spacing and the introductory sentence to the document, which contains three separate clauses regarding cooperation:
[text completely redacted]
B. The Special Counsel's Office's Investigation
[heavily redacted]
[C. Even the heading is redacted]
[section redacted]
The defendent has assisted with several ongoing investigations: a criminal investigation [REDACTED], the Special Counsel's Office's ("SCO") investigation concerning any links or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald J. Trump, [REDACTED].posted by pjenks at 5:50 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
One byproduct of this filing, intentional or not, is the information is now in the custody of a judge, not just housed in the executive branch. Even if Mueller is fired, it doesn't disappear -- can all be unsealed and made public.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:53 PM on December 4, 2018 [44 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:53 PM on December 4, 2018 [44 favorites]
It actually looks like there is a B.i (non-redacted), a B.ii (redacted) and either a C or B.iii. Which would either mean unknown sub-matters of the Mueller information OR something mysterious and new.
posted by pjenks at 5:56 PM on December 4, 2018
posted by pjenks at 5:56 PM on December 4, 2018
I wonder what Trump tweets about the recommendation of no time for Flynn. Flynn and his railroading/innocence has been a cause celebre in the nutosphere and Trump has tweeted several times attacking Comey and Mueller for destroying Flynn's life. Now that Flynn's (maybe) getting off for rolling on Trump, I bet he's about to get the Cohen “serve a full and complete sentence” treatment.
posted by chris24 at 5:58 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 5:58 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
CNN: Flynn sentencing memo
MSNBC: Flynn sentencing memo
Fox: "Don't Offend the Vegans"
(not a joke, that's the story Tucker Carlson is actually doing now)
posted by bluecore at 5:59 PM on December 4, 2018 [30 favorites]
MSNBC: Flynn sentencing memo
Fox: "Don't Offend the Vegans"
(not a joke, that's the story Tucker Carlson is actually doing now)
posted by bluecore at 5:59 PM on December 4, 2018 [30 favorites]
this is kind of a projective test but it seems pretty significant that no prison time is recommended. wow. Flynn must have been super helpful.
posted by bluesky43 at 5:59 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 5:59 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
As someone mentioned soon after Mueller got to work, the first ones to cut deals get the best deals.
posted by azpenguin at 6:01 PM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 6:01 PM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
i wonder how long it’s going to take trump’s lawyers to explain to him that the reason that mueller is not recommending prison for flynn is not that he wasn’t able to find any wrongdoing
posted by murphy slaw at 6:02 PM on December 4, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:02 PM on December 4, 2018 [36 favorites]
Let. The. Cannibalism ... Begin.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:08 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:08 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
As much as I like that the cooperation was so valuable that Mueller made this recommendation, I'm REALLY bummed that Mr. Lock Her Up from the GOP convention might not get locked up.
posted by chris24 at 6:09 PM on December 4, 2018 [55 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 6:09 PM on December 4, 2018 [55 favorites]
exceedingly fine, mr. mueller. exceedingly fine. carry on.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:10 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:10 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
As much as I like that the cooperation was so valuable that Mueller made this recommendation, I'm REALLY bummed that Mr. Lock Her Up from the GOP convention might not get locked up.
Well, my non-expert opinion is that if there weren't bigger fish to fry you wouldn't let the smaller fish go. So, since it seems that Flynn is getting off easy there must be very strong evidence against those higher up the food chain. And there aren't many people higher up the food chain than Flynn, so I think that we are bound to get better news soon enough.
posted by Literaryhero at 6:13 PM on December 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
Well, my non-expert opinion is that if there weren't bigger fish to fry you wouldn't let the smaller fish go. So, since it seems that Flynn is getting off easy there must be very strong evidence against those higher up the food chain. And there aren't many people higher up the food chain than Flynn, so I think that we are bound to get better news soon enough.
posted by Literaryhero at 6:13 PM on December 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
[page 1 of addendum, Flynn] "provided documents and communication..."
What's the distinction between the two? I'm assuming text messages are classified as "communication"?
[page 4 of addendum] "Several senior members of the transition team publcly repeated false information conveyed to them by the defendant about communications between him and the Russian ambassador regarding the sanctions."
As in we know they knew they were lying? Or as in they only repeated Flynn's lies?
posted by petebest at 6:13 PM on December 4, 2018
What's the distinction between the two? I'm assuming text messages are classified as "communication"?
[page 4 of addendum] "Several senior members of the transition team publcly repeated false information conveyed to them by the defendant about communications between him and the Russian ambassador regarding the sanctions."
As in we know they knew they were lying? Or as in they only repeated Flynn's lies?
posted by petebest at 6:13 PM on December 4, 2018
Let. The. Cannibalism ... Begin.
That explains the meatloaf.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:17 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
That explains the meatloaf.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 6:17 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
bluecore: Fox: "Don't Offend the Vegans"
Remember, Republicans, the most important thing in life is to maximally upset the hippies. No matter what it takes, if it pisses off some treehugger who insists on halal bacon or whatever, it's worth it. So as you look around wondering what to make of this Flynn stuff...
ZenMasterThis: Let. The. Cannibalism ... Begin.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:18 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Remember, Republicans, the most important thing in life is to maximally upset the hippies. No matter what it takes, if it pisses off some treehugger who insists on halal bacon or whatever, it's worth it. So as you look around wondering what to make of this Flynn stuff...
ZenMasterThis: Let. The. Cannibalism ... Begin.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:18 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
documents and communications need not be clearly distinct categories, i think, petebest, but communications generally involve two or more parties, whereas documents may not. the redaction immediately after that phrase peaked my curiosity, but i've been trying not give in to the muellerologizing.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:21 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:21 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
As in we know they knew they were lying? Or as in they only repeated Flynn's lies?
Marcy Wheeler: The Mueller Investigation Is the Second Most Important Investigation into Which Flynn Assisted
If Flynn did lie to Pence and others (McGahn?)...it looks like he's likely told Mueller the truth about those conversations with Kislyak. Mueller is hinting he has the pro quo side nailed down with Flynn's testimony. We don't know how much of the quid Flynn had to give up, as he was not at the Trump Tower meeting. But we can surmise Flynn was in extensive negotiations about the payments as soon as the election was over. Stands to reason there was an original agreement reached.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:32 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
Marcy Wheeler: The Mueller Investigation Is the Second Most Important Investigation into Which Flynn Assisted
The transition discussions map what appeared in his criminal information. It does make it clear that Flynn reported false information to them about his conversation with Sergei Kislyak, which means what really went on between him and Kislyak goes beyond what appeared in emails involving KT McFarland, which is pretty damning by itself. That also suggests he really may have lied to Mike Pence.Flynn denied discussing sanctions with Kislyak, and the KT McFarland emails relate to the June Trump Tower meeting where we know an offer was made by Russia. The conversations Flynn may have lied about appear to be about the pay off to Russia, sanctions relief.
If Flynn did lie to Pence and others (McGahn?)...it looks like he's likely told Mueller the truth about those conversations with Kislyak. Mueller is hinting he has the pro quo side nailed down with Flynn's testimony. We don't know how much of the quid Flynn had to give up, as he was not at the Trump Tower meeting. But we can surmise Flynn was in extensive negotiations about the payments as soon as the election was over. Stands to reason there was an original agreement reached.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:32 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
What was his asshat son's involvement?
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:38 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:38 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
If Mueller does have anyone else up the chain to try and flip, he's set up a nice tidy object lesson in what happens when you cooperate (Flynn) vs when you don't (Manafort.)
Lil' Papi should be smacking his forehead right about now.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:01 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Lil' Papi should be smacking his forehead right about now.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:01 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
What was his asshat son's involvement?
You’ll have to be much more specific.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:05 PM on December 4, 2018 [27 favorites]
You’ll have to be much more specific.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:05 PM on December 4, 2018 [27 favorites]
Welp. The Trump candidate won the runoff for Secretary of State in Georgia. Looks like voter suppression for years to come. We tried, guys.
posted by Fleebnork at 7:11 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Fleebnork at 7:11 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
Sounds like Individual 1 is boned.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:14 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 7:14 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Trump candidate won the runoff for Secretary of State in Georgia
Unfortunately I think that was a foregone conclusion once Abrams failed to make the runoff.
posted by Justinian at 7:14 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately I think that was a foregone conclusion once Abrams failed to make the runoff.
posted by Justinian at 7:14 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
Metafilter: ⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:20 PM on December 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 7:20 PM on December 4, 2018 [22 favorites]
The redacted portion of the heading of the unknown criminal investigation is an exact size match for President Donald J. Trump elsewhere in the document.
posted by waitingtoderail at 7:20 PM on December 4, 2018 [67 favorites]
posted by waitingtoderail at 7:20 PM on December 4, 2018 [67 favorites]
@HallieJackson: Rudy Giuliani to @NBCNews re: the Flynn/Mueller latest: "There's a Yiddish word that fits," he said. "They don't have bubkes." He downplayed any concern about what Flynn may've said: "If he had information to share with Mueller that hurt the president, you would know it by now.”
19 meetings with Mueller's office and DOJ is a whole lot of time to discuss bupkis.
posted by zachlipton at 7:25 PM on December 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
19 meetings with Mueller's office and DOJ is a whole lot of time to discuss bupkis.
posted by zachlipton at 7:25 PM on December 4, 2018 [16 favorites]
Mod note: Trump to Meet With Kim Jong-un, Despite North Korea’s Lapses, Bolton Says
President Trump plans to hold a second summit meeting early next year with Kim Jong-un, even though North Korea has failed to follow through with promises to start dismantling its nuclear weapons program, John R. Bolton, the national security adviser, said on Tuesday."They rolled us at the first summit, so there's no way they roll us at the second one." fake
“They have not lived up to the commitments so far,” Mr. Bolton said. “That’s why I think the president thinks another summit is likely to be productive.”
“There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.”posted by kirkaracha (staff) at 7:28 PM on December 4, 2018 [14 favorites]
INDIVIDUAL 1 / PENCE 2020
posted by uosuaq at 7:35 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by uosuaq at 7:35 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
i have never before heard that word used by someone who wasn't a broadly-drawn noirpulp mob heavy or old-timey criminal, see? and i guess i still haven't. yeah. dem coppahs ain't got bubkes.
*pushes car cap up w/ one hand at back of head & glares pugnaciously from under the brim*
posted by 20 year lurk at 7:36 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
*pushes car cap up w/ one hand at back of head & glares pugnaciously from under the brim*
posted by 20 year lurk at 7:36 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
General outline of the memo:
ADDENDUM TO GOVERNMENT'S MEMORANDUM IN AID OF SENTENCING
I. Significance and Usefulness of the Defendant's Assistance
The defendant has assisted with several ongoing investigations....
A. [REDACTED] Criminal Investigation
The defendant has provided substantial assistance in a criminal investigation [REDACTED]
B. The Special Counsel's Office's Investigation
The defendant has also assisted with the SCO investigation... A non-exhaustive summary of the relevant information the defendant provided is described below....
i. Interactions Between the Transition Team and Russia
The defendant provided firsthand information about the content and context of interactions...
[ii. REDACTED] (Guessing)
The defendant also provided useful information concerning [REDACTED]
[iii. REDACTED] (Guessing)
[C. REDACTED] (Guessing)
II. Timeliness of the Defendant's Assistance
The usefulness of the defendant's assistance is connected to its timeliness. The defendant began providing information to the government not long after the government first sought his cooperation.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 7:48 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
ADDENDUM TO GOVERNMENT'S MEMORANDUM IN AID OF SENTENCING
I. Significance and Usefulness of the Defendant's Assistance
The defendant has assisted with several ongoing investigations....
A. [REDACTED] Criminal Investigation
The defendant has provided substantial assistance in a criminal investigation [REDACTED]
B. The Special Counsel's Office's Investigation
The defendant has also assisted with the SCO investigation... A non-exhaustive summary of the relevant information the defendant provided is described below....
i. Interactions Between the Transition Team and Russia
The defendant provided firsthand information about the content and context of interactions...
[ii. REDACTED] (Guessing)
The defendant also provided useful information concerning [REDACTED]
[iii. REDACTED] (Guessing)
[C. REDACTED] (Guessing)
II. Timeliness of the Defendant's Assistance
The usefulness of the defendant's assistance is connected to its timeliness. The defendant began providing information to the government not long after the government first sought his cooperation.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 7:48 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
A. [REDACTED] Criminal Investigation
This redaction is the precise size to the pixel as it would be were the redaction "President Donald J. Trump", as cut and pasted from elsewhere in the document.
posted by Justinian at 7:57 PM on December 4, 2018 [26 favorites]
This redaction is the precise size to the pixel as it would be were the redaction "President Donald J. Trump", as cut and pasted from elsewhere in the document.
posted by Justinian at 7:57 PM on December 4, 2018 [26 favorites]
(But more seriously don't bet your life savings on redaction-size Kreminology.)
posted by Justinian at 7:59 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:59 PM on December 4, 2018 [11 favorites]
"provided documents and communication..."
What's the distinction between the two?
Documents can include canceled checks, flight records, hotel reservations, phone bills, lists of purchases, drafts of contracts, handwritten lists of email addresses/phone numbers, meeting notes, Gantt charts, expected profit graphs... lots of things that aren't exactly communications.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 7:59 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
What's the distinction between the two?
Documents can include canceled checks, flight records, hotel reservations, phone bills, lists of purchases, drafts of contracts, handwritten lists of email addresses/phone numbers, meeting notes, Gantt charts, expected profit graphs... lots of things that aren't exactly communications.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 7:59 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
There's a Yiddish word that fits,
Rudy, there's a lot of Yiddish words that would describe you.
(not to mention Yiddish curses. May he be turned into a blintz, and snatched up by a cat!)
posted by nonasuch at 8:00 PM on December 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
Rudy, there's a lot of Yiddish words that would describe you.
(not to mention Yiddish curses. May he be turned into a blintz, and snatched up by a cat!)
posted by nonasuch at 8:00 PM on December 4, 2018 [18 favorites]
That kind of size-of-the redaction information leakage seems to happen a lot. I wonder what processes and rules lead reactions to be done that way. Surely if it were crucial not to leak hints about what's in the document, the redactor could edit the text in the document itself to replace the secret text with [REDACTED].
It also leaks hints about lots of other things, as evidenced by all the enthusiastic speculation.
Anyone know why this kind of black-box redaction is even done?
posted by lostburner at 8:02 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
It also leaks hints about lots of other things, as evidenced by all the enthusiastic speculation.
Anyone know why this kind of black-box redaction is even done?
posted by lostburner at 8:02 PM on December 4, 2018 [1 favorite]
not to mention Yiddish curses.
may he grow like an onion with his head in the ground. PTUH!
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 8:04 PM on December 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
may he grow like an onion with his head in the ground. PTUH!
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 8:04 PM on December 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
That kind of redaction is fast and easy in Acrobat Pro. Removing text without showing how much was removed, would require re-creating the document in another program.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:04 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:04 PM on December 4, 2018 [5 favorites]
Because old people who don't "get" the world we live in are making those redactions...?
posted by Windopaene at 8:09 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 8:09 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sounds like Individual 1 is boned.
Yeah, I think the point of the redactions is to show, like they showed to Nixon, that there are so many shoes hovering temporarily in the air like Wyle E. Coyote that maybe it's about time for Individual 1 to step down.
posted by sexyrobot at 8:10 PM on December 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
Yeah, I think the point of the redactions is to show, like they showed to Nixon, that there are so many shoes hovering temporarily in the air like Wyle E. Coyote that maybe it's about time for Individual 1 to step down.
posted by sexyrobot at 8:10 PM on December 4, 2018 [17 favorites]
Anyone know why this kind of black-box redaction is even done?
All of this is supposed to be public, the redactions are the exception for national security (or other) reasons, not the rule. As a rule most legal filings are made openly, as it should be.
The way we do it where I work (very rarely) is setting something to black background in MS Word, then exporting the document to encrypted .pdf using an approved plugin that does not retain metadata or allow for selection under the blacked out text. It basically exports a completely clean .pdf that can then be uploaded to PACER.
So if this is an accurate 'leak', it happened because of how the software works. I guess they could've selected an extra space in Word or something, but would you have thought of that?
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:11 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
All of this is supposed to be public, the redactions are the exception for national security (or other) reasons, not the rule. As a rule most legal filings are made openly, as it should be.
The way we do it where I work (very rarely) is setting something to black background in MS Word, then exporting the document to encrypted .pdf using an approved plugin that does not retain metadata or allow for selection under the blacked out text. It basically exports a completely clean .pdf that can then be uploaded to PACER.
So if this is an accurate 'leak', it happened because of how the software works. I guess they could've selected an extra space in Word or something, but would you have thought of that?
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:11 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
The line where the President Trump text is measured is full justified while the line where the redaction is is not a justified line. So some margin of error/justification could occur.
posted by chris24 at 8:12 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 8:12 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
Also maybe because they have to show that this document and [unredacted document] are the same document when filed later. Otherwise, if they have different page length/character count/etc. the defense might claim they were edited in some way and claim evidence tampering?
posted by sexyrobot at 8:17 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by sexyrobot at 8:17 PM on December 4, 2018 [2 favorites]
Claims of tampering will go nowhere since the court has had the unredacted version from the start.
posted by ryanrs at 8:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by ryanrs at 8:24 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh, we're measuring text now?
"Hey, you know what this season of Stupid Watergate could use? A throwback to the Killian documents!"
"That's gold, Jerry, gold!"
posted by Behemoth at 8:26 PM on December 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
"Hey, you know what this season of Stupid Watergate could use? A throwback to the Killian documents!"
"That's gold, Jerry, gold!"
posted by Behemoth at 8:26 PM on December 4, 2018 [15 favorites]
the defense might claim they were edited in some way and claim evidence tampering?
That's not really a concern, the redacted and unredacted documents should be filed with the court simultaneously, and PACER would reflect any changes, and you can't make changes to a filing once it's submitted without contacting the judge. Further, Flynn's defense team has seen 90% of the redacted document or more, this is the result of a year+ of negotiations and cooperation. They know what's under the redactions, at least as much as Flynn told them. But Flynn has competent attorneys that aren't going to spill it in public, because they know their client and their own lives and careers are fucked if they did.
Any defense attorney not named Rudy Guiliani seriously accusing a federal prosecutor of changing a court filing after submitting it to the court better have some damn good proof. That's an incredibly serious charge, like 'go not pass go, you are disbarred' level of misconduct. It doesn't happen. And the courts are not passive actors here, no judge* would allow something like that.
* - well, no normal federal judge. We'll see what Trumpjudges allow going forward.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:36 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
That's not really a concern, the redacted and unredacted documents should be filed with the court simultaneously, and PACER would reflect any changes, and you can't make changes to a filing once it's submitted without contacting the judge. Further, Flynn's defense team has seen 90% of the redacted document or more, this is the result of a year+ of negotiations and cooperation. They know what's under the redactions, at least as much as Flynn told them. But Flynn has competent attorneys that aren't going to spill it in public, because they know their client and their own lives and careers are fucked if they did.
Any defense attorney not named Rudy Guiliani seriously accusing a federal prosecutor of changing a court filing after submitting it to the court better have some damn good proof. That's an incredibly serious charge, like 'go not pass go, you are disbarred' level of misconduct. It doesn't happen. And the courts are not passive actors here, no judge* would allow something like that.
* - well, no normal federal judge. We'll see what Trumpjudges allow going forward.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:36 PM on December 4, 2018 [9 favorites]
The line where the President Trump text is measured is full justified while the line where the redaction is is not a justified line. So some margin of error/justification could occur.
The final line of a paragraph (including a paragraph that only fills part of a line) doesn't show as justified - it just stops at the end of the text, instead of stretching to fill the line. If the text is only 1/3 the length of the line, you wouldn't want it spaced out across the entire line.
They could create "redacted" and "unredacted" versions that have different spacing and different page counts, but (1) it's extra work and (2) is harder to change/add to later, if you've made a draft version and then decided you need to redact a couple more lines.
It looks like this one was printed and scanned, which would nicely avoid any metadata or hidden text features, but trying to hide the size and shape of the redacted text portions is a lot more effort. And while both versions of this are filed with the court at the same time, and therefore the page counts etc. don't need to match, there are other documents where it may be necessary to prove the redacted version is the same as the original, so they couldn't just edit the Word version before PDFing. (If there is a Word version.)
They don't want to have multiple redaction processes depending on what kind of court filing or other release a document is going to get - "if it's filed with a court, use Method A; if it's in response to a FOIA request, use Method B; if it's subpoena'd as evidence, use Method C" gets way too complicated.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:53 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
The final line of a paragraph (including a paragraph that only fills part of a line) doesn't show as justified - it just stops at the end of the text, instead of stretching to fill the line. If the text is only 1/3 the length of the line, you wouldn't want it spaced out across the entire line.
They could create "redacted" and "unredacted" versions that have different spacing and different page counts, but (1) it's extra work and (2) is harder to change/add to later, if you've made a draft version and then decided you need to redact a couple more lines.
It looks like this one was printed and scanned, which would nicely avoid any metadata or hidden text features, but trying to hide the size and shape of the redacted text portions is a lot more effort. And while both versions of this are filed with the court at the same time, and therefore the page counts etc. don't need to match, there are other documents where it may be necessary to prove the redacted version is the same as the original, so they couldn't just edit the Word version before PDFing. (If there is a Word version.)
They don't want to have multiple redaction processes depending on what kind of court filing or other release a document is going to get - "if it's filed with a court, use Method A; if it's in response to a FOIA request, use Method B; if it's subpoena'd as evidence, use Method C" gets way too complicated.
posted by ErisLordFreedom at 8:53 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
The Wisconsin lame duck session to Democrat-proof the government is happening in the middle of the night, with Medicaid work requirements just passing the state Senate and the rest of the legislation coming up shortly. Wisconsin Republicans set to pass lame-duck bills late Tuesday
They're not really subtle about what they're doing: @lkwhite: .@SpeakerVos says if extraordinary session bills aren't passed "we are going to have a very liberal governor who is going to enact policies that are in direct contrast to what many of us believe in."
That would the the governor the people just elected fulfilling the campaign promises the people just voted for.
@jessieopie is providing live coverage.
posted by zachlipton at 8:55 PM on December 4, 2018 [62 favorites]
The objections come as Republicans prepare to pass legislation that includes provisions that would narrow the state's window for early voting, give the Legislature more influence over the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, prevent Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers from banning guns in the Capitol and make it difficult for Evers to implement rules that dictate how state laws are enforced.
Under the bills, lawmakers could opt to hire private attorneys at taxpayers' expense rather than be represented by the DOJ when state laws are challenged in court. By giving legislators oversight over litigation, Wisconsin could continue to participate in a multi-state lawsuit to overturn the Affordable Care Act against the wishes of the governor and attorney general. Both Evers and Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul promised during their campaigns that they would pull Wisconsin out of the litigation.
They're not really subtle about what they're doing: @lkwhite: .@SpeakerVos says if extraordinary session bills aren't passed "we are going to have a very liberal governor who is going to enact policies that are in direct contrast to what many of us believe in."
That would the the governor the people just elected fulfilling the campaign promises the people just voted for.
@jessieopie is providing live coverage.
posted by zachlipton at 8:55 PM on December 4, 2018 [62 favorites]
Real Lawyer Man Rudy Giuliani:
Rudy Giuliani via text to @politico on tonight’s Flynn filing: “Wow big crime for a SPECIAL WHATEVER maybe a group of Angry Bitter Hillary Supporters who are justifying themselves by the goal justifies the means....Over the top In ethical behavior.”posted by T.D. Strange at 9:09 PM on December 4, 2018 [10 favorites]
Man, I really should bake a cake.
posted by loquacious at 9:23 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by loquacious at 9:23 PM on December 4, 2018 [6 favorites]
Just the most ethical
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:23 PM on December 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 9:23 PM on December 4, 2018 [8 favorites]
The entire concept of the lame duck session is stupid bullshit and since the GOP has decided to weaponise it at the state level following NC's lead, we can't have stupid bullshit things and they should be taken away with constitutional amendments.
Some maroon from either Wisconsin or Michigan was on NPR this evening and said with as straight a face as one can muster on radio that he could have filed the bills he's ramming through right now a year or two years ago, and the NPR interviewer didn't bother to ask why he didn't. Americans do state government so fucking badly, they should have states taken away from them.
posted by holgate at 9:25 PM on December 4, 2018 [13 favorites]
Some maroon from either Wisconsin or Michigan was on NPR this evening and said with as straight a face as one can muster on radio that he could have filed the bills he's ramming through right now a year or two years ago, and the NPR interviewer didn't bother to ask why he didn't. Americans do state government so fucking badly, they should have states taken away from them.
posted by holgate at 9:25 PM on December 4, 2018 [13 favorites]
Man, I really should bake a cake.
Now that dairy is a thing I can't have without puking, i've been looking into classic parve cakes. Lets bake cakes.so many cakes. so many cakes...
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 9:34 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Now that dairy is a thing I can't have without puking, i've been looking into classic parve cakes. Lets bake cakes.so many cakes. so many cakes...
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 9:34 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
Johnny Wallflower: "Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington state, is launching a petition to demand that Chuck Schumer, the Senate minority leader, block Manchin from serving as the top Democrat on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee."
Why doesn't he just call Washington's own Maria Cantwell? It's only her planned move to become chair of Commerce that would open a path for Manchin.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:02 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
Why doesn't he just call Washington's own Maria Cantwell? It's only her planned move to become chair of Commerce that would open a path for Manchin.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:02 PM on December 4, 2018 [4 favorites]
How Trump appointees curbed a consumer protection agency loathed by the GOP
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:21 PM on December 4, 2018 [32 favorites]
Created by Congress to protect Americans from financial abuses, the bureau under Mulvaney has adopted the role of promoting “free markets” and guarding the rights of banks and financial firms as well as those of consumers, according to statements by Mulvaney and bureau documents.Consumer bureau name change could cost firms $300 million (Sylvan Lane, The Hill)
Much has been written about Mulvaney’s leadership. This story provides an inside look at one of the Trump administration’s signature successes: how Mulvaney and a team of political appointees used the levers of government to hinder career employees and roll back oversight of private industry. It is based on scores of internal emails and other documents reviewed by The Post, along with interviews with two dozen current and recent employees.
“The bureau is forcing hundreds of staff to sit on their hands while millions of Americans suffer from predatory practices happening right under its nose,” said Seth Frotman, who resigned as CFPB’s assistant director and student loan ombudsman in August.
The CFPB in March released a new logo that referred to the agency as the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, and in June flipped the sign in its front lobby to reflect the name change.Mulvaney and Pruit were the only effective Trump appointees, but they've done as much damage as a dozen half-competent people.
The acting chief has said it should be known as the BCFP, reflecting the name codified in the Dodd-Frank legislation that became law.
A CFPB analysis of the proposed name change projected additional costs for banks, mortgage providers, payday lenders and credit card companies under the agency’s watch.
The CFPB enforces dozens of financial regulations meant to protect and inform consumers who have purchased loans or lines of credit. The agency’s analysis found that firms would be forced to spend roughly $300 million total to update internal databases, regulatory filings and disclosure forms with the new name in order to comply with those rules.
An agency analysis estimated that the changes necessary to comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act and certain mortgage regulations would cost firms $100 million for each rule. The CFPB cited a 2010 cost-benefit analysis of agency name-changes in its internal report.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:21 PM on December 4, 2018 [32 favorites]
psst, holgate, dude, "maroon" might not be the word you want.
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:23 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:23 PM on December 4, 2018 [7 favorites]
So, is Bugs Bunny a racist, or just an ignoranimus?
posted by stopgap at 11:42 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by stopgap at 11:42 PM on December 4, 2018 [3 favorites]
WaPo, Amy Goldstein, Trump administration threatens future of HIV research hub
Last week, an NIH contracting official told the principal investigator at UCSF that the government was ending the seven-year contract midstream and that the decision was coming from the “highest levels,” according to a virologist familiar with the events. Five days later, the university received a letter from the AIDS division of NIH’s National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases saying the government would continue the contract for 90 days rather than the expected year-long renewal, with no forecast of its prospects after that, according to an individual with knowledge of the letter.posted by zachlipton at 12:08 AM on December 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
The sudden uncertainty about the lab’s future has erupted as federal health officials are reconsidering whether the government should alter its support of research involving fetal tissue “in light of the serious regulatory, moral, and ethical considerations involved,” as they said in September in announcing the review.
Does Putin have a problem with AIDS research? His little green men also shot down that airliner full of AIDS researchers over Ukraine a while back.
posted by contraption at 12:31 AM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by contraption at 12:31 AM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Michael Flynn RNC 2016:
If I had did a tenth, a tenth of what she did, I would be in jail today.
That's him leading the Lock Her Up chants. I hope he spilled his guts about everything, and that leads to convictions for those in the inner circle. If no one goes to prison, why is he free?
posted by adept256 at 12:50 AM on December 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
If I had did a tenth, a tenth of what she did, I would be in jail today.
That's him leading the Lock Her Up chants. I hope he spilled his guts about everything, and that leads to convictions for those in the inner circle. If no one goes to prison, why is he free?
posted by adept256 at 12:50 AM on December 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
So, is Bugs Bunny a racist, or just an ignoranimus?
posted by stopgap at 11:42 PM on December 4 [+] [!]
...yeah, the writers were, institutionally, without ever even thinking about it, sadly, probably racists.
posted by From Bklyn at 1:52 AM on December 5, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by stopgap at 11:42 PM on December 4 [+] [!]
...yeah, the writers were, institutionally, without ever even thinking about it, sadly, probably racists.
posted by From Bklyn at 1:52 AM on December 5, 2018 [15 favorites]
Remember, Republicans, the most important thing in life is to maximally upset the hippies.
You know what really, really triggers the libs? Full signed confessions and pleading guilty to all charges. Ooh, that gets us so mad.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:41 AM on December 5, 2018 [29 favorites]
You know what really, really triggers the libs? Full signed confessions and pleading guilty to all charges. Ooh, that gets us so mad.
posted by Mr. Bad Example at 2:41 AM on December 5, 2018 [29 favorites]
This would help Ds in 2020 if it happens; last night Jon Tester (D-MT) said Steve Bullock (current D MT gov) was in for a 2020 senate run against R Steve Daines.
posted by chris24 at 4:27 AM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 4:27 AM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Beto O’Rourke, who’s pondering a 2020 presidential bid, met with Barack Obama (Matt Viser, Washington Post)
The meeting, which was held Nov. 16 at the former president’s offices in Foggy Bottom, came as former Obama aides have encouraged the Democratic House member to run, seeing him as capable of the same kind of inspirational campaign that caught fire in the 2008 presidential election.posted by ZeusHumms at 4:29 AM on December 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
The meeting was the first sign of Obama getting personally involved in conversations with O’Rourke, who, despite his November loss in a U.S. Senate race in Texas, has triggered more recent discussion and speculation than any other candidate in the burgeoning 2020 field.
...
[Obama] is in the awkward position of trying to ensure his party wins back the White House, but without weighing in too aggressively in a primary that could consist of his former vice president (Joe Biden), a longtime friend (former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick) and some of his former Cabinet officials (Eric H. Holder Jr., his attorney general, and Julián Castro, his housing secretary).
Obama’s stated mission has been to build a new generation of Democratic leaders, and two weeks ago he said that O’Rourke, who is 46, reminded him of himself. The three-term congressman, he said, was one of the rare politicians who can connect with a wide swath of the electorate in an increasingly siloed country.
in an increasingly siloed country.
Siloed, yes, but those number of silos = 2. "Have-lost-our-damned-minds vs. Have-not-lost-our-damned-minds"
posted by petebest at 5:18 AM on December 5, 2018 [54 favorites]
Siloed, yes, but those number of silos = 2. "Have-lost-our-damned-minds vs. Have-not-lost-our-damned-minds"
posted by petebest at 5:18 AM on December 5, 2018 [54 favorites]
Mulvaney and Pruit were the only effective Trump appointees, but they've done as much damage as a dozen half-competent people.
Pruitt was good at grabbing headlines, but was utterly incompetent at enacting his agenda. A large fraction of his proposals died on the table or have been thrown out by the courts.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 5:43 AM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Pruitt was good at grabbing headlines, but was utterly incompetent at enacting his agenda. A large fraction of his proposals died on the table or have been thrown out by the courts.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 5:43 AM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm REALLY bummed that Mr. Lock Her Up from the GOP convention might not get locked up.
posted by chris24 at 6:09 PM on December 4
[38 favorites +] [!]
I'll be okay with it if Individual 1 gets locked up.
posted by Mental Wimp at 6:07 AM on December 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 6:09 PM on December 4
[38 favorites +] [!]
I'll be okay with it if Individual 1 gets locked up.
posted by Mental Wimp at 6:07 AM on December 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
Yesterday in unexpected-honesty news, regarding the murder of Jamal Kashoggi:
“If they were in a Democratic administration,” [Lindsey] Graham said of Pompeo and Mattis, “I would be all over them for being in the pocket of Saudi Arabia.”
Washington Post, GOP senators come out and say it: The Trump administration is covering up Khashoggi’s killing
Meanwhile, the only part of that Rudy text message I can't parse is "SPECIAL WHATEVER". Is that supposed to be mockery of "Special Counsel"? So very weird.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:13 AM on December 5, 2018 [29 favorites]
“If they were in a Democratic administration,” [Lindsey] Graham said of Pompeo and Mattis, “I would be all over them for being in the pocket of Saudi Arabia.”
Washington Post, GOP senators come out and say it: The Trump administration is covering up Khashoggi’s killing
Meanwhile, the only part of that Rudy text message I can't parse is "SPECIAL WHATEVER". Is that supposed to be mockery of "Special Counsel"? So very weird.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:13 AM on December 5, 2018 [29 favorites]
> GOP senators come out and say it: The Trump administration is covering up Khashoggi’s killing
It sounds like they've reached McCain Five, the highest level of Concern.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:27 AM on December 5, 2018 [38 favorites]
It sounds like they've reached McCain Five, the highest level of Concern.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:27 AM on December 5, 2018 [38 favorites]
That's a common misconception, McCain Five is actually the lowest. It's McCain One that means a Thumbs Down scenario is imminent.
posted by contraption at 6:39 AM on December 5, 2018 [50 favorites]
posted by contraption at 6:39 AM on December 5, 2018 [50 favorites]
In hindsight, I really should have gone with DefCain One, then.
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:45 AM on December 5, 2018 [116 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 6:45 AM on December 5, 2018 [116 favorites]
The Lame-Duck Power Grab (Jamelle Bouie, Slate)
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:50 AM on December 5, 2018 [64 favorites]
Republicans lost in Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina. Their response has been to take power away from incoming Democrats.It's very much a fetish. As long as everything appears normal, then it is normal, even when it's not.
…
Even the best defense of these moves—that they are simply an effort to protect the gains and accomplishments of the previous majority—accepts the anti-democratic reasoning that an outgoing majority is not bound by the results of an election, and instead has the right to change the rules of the game to preserve its power.
The peaceful uncontested transfer of power is the cornerstone of representative democracy—the critical moment where we see if political actors have embraced the spirit of cooperation and adherence to the rules that make self-government possible. There are laws for how we accomplish the orderly transfer of power, but the moment itself, the choice of a party or politician to honor to the will of the voters, is an act of democratic faith—a statement of belief in the American idea. It’s why Donald Trump earned wide condemnation when he hinted, during the 2016 election, that he would not concede the election in the event of a loss to Hillary Clinton. To reject the outcome of a fair election is to directly undermine the entire democratic project.
Republicans in Michigan, Wisconsin, and North Carolina haven’t gone as far as to challenge the results of their respective elections, but their actions, which serve to hamstring the incoming body of duly elected officials, are movement in that direction. In national politics, Republican lawmakers are openly questioning the legitimacy of the Democratic House of Representatives victory, casting ordinary acts—the counting of ballots—as potentially insidious. Indeed, much of the Republican Party has already embraced voter suppression, extreme gerrymandering, and other methods to preserve legislative majorities in the face of popular opposition. The lame-duck power grab is just a natural next step.
For all the attention on Donald Trump as a threat to American democracy, it’s these actions—from ordinary, almost anonymous, Republican politicians, uncontested by anyone of influence in the party—that are much more ominous. It’s one thing to jockey for partisan advantage, it’s something much more dangerous to treat democracy like a game of Calvinball, where the rules only count when they suit your interests.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:50 AM on December 5, 2018 [64 favorites]
Meanwhile, the only part of that Rudy text message I can't parse is "SPECIAL WHATEVER". Is that supposed to be mockery of "Special Counsel"?
That's how I interpreted it.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 6:58 AM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
That's how I interpreted it.
posted by DrAstroZoom at 6:58 AM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
14 Questions Robert Mueller Knows the Answers To
“Decoding Mueller’s 17-month investigation has been a publicly frustrating exercise, as individual puzzle pieces, like Flynn’s sentencing memo, often don’t hint at the final assembled picture—nor even tell us if we’re looking at a single interlocking puzzle, in which all the pieces are related, or multiple, separate, unrelated ones. Mueller’s careful, methodical strategy often only reveals itself in hindsight, as the significance of previous steps becomes clear with subsequent ones.”posted by kirkaracha at 7:02 AM on December 5, 2018 [14 favorites]
- Is Matt Whitaker overseeing the Russia probe—and is his appointment as attorney general even legal?
- Is Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross involved in any of this?
- How closely related is the investigation of the 2016 election to the Trump Organization’s financial scandals?
- How did Trump himself, and the Trump family, react to Cohen’s updates on various schemes?
- What has Felix Sater told Mueller?
- What has George Nader told Mueller?
- What happens to Cozy Bear?
- Who is the (unindicted) Atlanta traveler?
- Why was Trump’s team so concerned about the transition documents?
- How much more of the Steele Dossier is true?
- Is it a coincidence that the Internet Research Agency scheduled a “Down with Hillary” rally in New York, weeks in advance, for the day after WikiLeaks dumped the DNC emails?
- Why isn’t Mueller prosecuting Maria Butina and Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova?
- Why is Mueller charging Michael Cohen?
- Was the Guardian correct in reporting that Paul Manafort met with Julian Assange?
I'll be okay with it if Individual 1 gets locked up.
posted by Mental Wimp at 6:07 AM on December 5.
Agreed. Particularly if the spawn of Individual 1 join him.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:05 AM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Mental Wimp at 6:07 AM on December 5.
Agreed. Particularly if the spawn of Individual 1 join him.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:05 AM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
Feds Target Butina’s GOP Boyfriend as Foreign Agent, The Daily Beast, Betsy Woodruff, Erin Banco
If prosecutors bring the charges named in the letter, Erickson would be the first American embroiled in the 2016 Russia investigation charged under a statute that Justice Department lawyers describe as “espionage-lite.”posted by mcdoublewide at 7:10 AM on December 5, 2018 [16 favorites]
“Charging an American under 951 in the context of the Russia investigation is especially serious because that statute is generally reserved for espionage-like cases, such as intelligence-gathering on behalf of a foreign government,” said Ryan Goodman, a former Defense Department attorney who now teaches at the New York University School of Law.
what does Beto O’Rouke stand for? (Current Affairs)
posted by The Whelk at 7:29 AM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 7:29 AM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
But nothing in O’Rourke’s short and uneventful political career suggests that he suddenly has the qualifications to oversee a nuclear arsenal, conduct diplomacy with friends and enemies, appoint the next head of the U.S. Treasury, or manage the disaster response of a national emergency.
Oh, we're doing 2007 Obama re-dux! Neat!
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 7:37 AM on December 5, 2018 [55 favorites]
Oh, we're doing 2007 Obama re-dux! Neat!
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 7:37 AM on December 5, 2018 [55 favorites]
Much to the alarm of humanist political activists like myself, the Democratic Party has increasingly embraced sectarian politics, particularly by fetishizing racial and gender labels as it chooses candidates. Yet the same Democratic Party that used these sort of attacks to sink Bernie Sanders in 2016 rallied early behind Beto O’Rourke, a straight white man, even when he faced a young Latina opponent.
And we're doing whatever this is too. Double neat!
posted by Quindar Beep at 7:43 AM on December 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
And we're doing whatever this is too. Double neat!
posted by Quindar Beep at 7:43 AM on December 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
> @SpeakerVos says if extraordinary session bills aren't passed "we are going to have a very liberal governor who is going to enact policies that are in direct contrast to what many of us believe in."
Who says Republicans never work to protect minorities?
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:51 AM on December 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
Who says Republicans never work to protect minorities?
posted by The Card Cheat at 7:51 AM on December 5, 2018 [25 favorites]
Mod note: A few deleted; let's not launch into "should Beto run"
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
Oh and there's now a post for the John Dingell "abolish the Senate" article that people were wanting to discuss yesterday.
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:06 AM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten at 8:06 AM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
I was pondering cop forums for reasons and the top story on one of them was about Flynn filing a motion to dismiss on all charges, and my thoughts were a) wait wasn't it just revealed Flynn gave up a bunch of shit and b) why is this an article on a cop forum?
Why IS it an article on a cop version of metafilter?
posted by angrycat at 8:29 AM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Why IS it an article on a cop version of metafilter?
posted by angrycat at 8:29 AM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
> @SpeakerVos says if extraordinary session bills aren't passed "we are going to have a very liberal governor who is going to enact policies that are in direct contrast to what many of us believe in."
The plainest thing to say at this point is that the Republican party, at all levels, no longer believes in democracy because they disagree with the outcomes of its processes.
The Republican Party: Democracy, As Long As You Agree With Us.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:35 AM on December 5, 2018 [56 favorites]
The plainest thing to say at this point is that the Republican party, at all levels, no longer believes in democracy because they disagree with the outcomes of its processes.
The Republican Party: Democracy, As Long As You Agree With Us.
posted by LooseFilter at 8:35 AM on December 5, 2018 [56 favorites]
The Republican Party: Democracy, As Long As You Agree With Us.
Growing up in public schools in Louisiana in the 1970s, every single civics course I took stressed that *compromise* was the most important aspect of our government. Teachers gave us challenging subjects and *taught us how to compromise* in order to get ahead and make progress.
Even Schoolhouse Rock, fer cryin' out loud, taught us about debate and compromise.
Then I hear about how the GOP acts, and it contradicts everything I was taught by American public schools. It saddens and bewilders me to no end. Sigh.
posted by the matching mole at 8:52 AM on December 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
Growing up in public schools in Louisiana in the 1970s, every single civics course I took stressed that *compromise* was the most important aspect of our government. Teachers gave us challenging subjects and *taught us how to compromise* in order to get ahead and make progress.
Even Schoolhouse Rock, fer cryin' out loud, taught us about debate and compromise.
Then I hear about how the GOP acts, and it contradicts everything I was taught by American public schools. It saddens and bewilders me to no end. Sigh.
posted by the matching mole at 8:52 AM on December 5, 2018 [19 favorites]
I take issue with some of the suppositions here, especially the intimations that the GOP has ever believed that public debt was anything but a truncheon to be swung, but it's mildly interesting to see it stated so baldly:
The friction came to a head in early 2017 when senior officials offered Trump charts and graphics laying out the numbers and showing a “hockey stick” spike in the national debt in the not-too-distant future. In response, Trump noted that the data suggested the debt would reach a critical mass only after his possible second term in office.posted by octobersurprise at 8:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [56 favorites]
“Yeah, but I won’t be here,” the President bluntly said, according to a source who was in the room when Trump made this comment during discussions on the debt.
— Trump on Coming Debt Crisis: ‘I Won’t Be Here’ When It Blows Up, Asawin Suebsaeng, Lachlan Markay, Daily Beast, 12.05.18.
That is...pretty on the nose. If the Trumps were characters on Game Of Thrones, their family's version of "A Lannister always pays his debts" would be "A Trump is never left holding the bag."
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:12 AM on December 5, 2018 [58 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 9:12 AM on December 5, 2018 [58 favorites]
“Yeah, but I won’t be here,”
Sums up his environmental policy also.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:17 AM on December 5, 2018 [45 favorites]
Sums up his environmental policy also.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:17 AM on December 5, 2018 [45 favorites]
You know, a year or two ago I dated a guy who's been a longtime employee of one of the world's biggest tech companies. He's steeped in Silicon Valley tech intelligentsia culture even though we live far from California. He started out as a teenage Libertarian and grew away from that somewhat but is still immersed in the whole "rationalist" (oy don't get me started on that) mindset.
There were a lot of things about what he thought and his views of the world that I found a little puzzling at the time, but in the last few years I've come to recognize as the deep roots of right wing influence in those circles as they've bubble up into the wider culture.
I bring this up because this man who roundly scoffed at religion only once invoked a belief so deep that he qualified it as religious, and it was this: opposition to democracy. I was completely gobsmacked as he laid out a whole justification for why democracy was bad and wrong and he'd never participate in it and it was stupid to participate in. The primary justification was that the masses are stupid and easily manipulated and that people who actually know what they're doing should make decisions in government.
If it seems weird to draw a path from Libertarianism ("I don't want the government to tell me what to do") to embracing, what? Antidemocratic technocracy?, I assure you I was baffled too--until I heard about a book entitled Against Democracy by a Georgetown law professor--an institution widely understood to be bought and paid for by the Koch brothers--whose publishing history seems to have adroitly traveled that path.
Bottom line is: yeah, actually, I think that some of the most wealthy and powerful forces in our country are quite consciously working to demolish democracy. And what's more, a lot of people who you'd think would know better are quite all right with it.
posted by Sublimity at 9:17 AM on December 5, 2018 [65 favorites]
There were a lot of things about what he thought and his views of the world that I found a little puzzling at the time, but in the last few years I've come to recognize as the deep roots of right wing influence in those circles as they've bubble up into the wider culture.
I bring this up because this man who roundly scoffed at religion only once invoked a belief so deep that he qualified it as religious, and it was this: opposition to democracy. I was completely gobsmacked as he laid out a whole justification for why democracy was bad and wrong and he'd never participate in it and it was stupid to participate in. The primary justification was that the masses are stupid and easily manipulated and that people who actually know what they're doing should make decisions in government.
If it seems weird to draw a path from Libertarianism ("I don't want the government to tell me what to do") to embracing, what? Antidemocratic technocracy?, I assure you I was baffled too--until I heard about a book entitled Against Democracy by a Georgetown law professor--an institution widely understood to be bought and paid for by the Koch brothers--whose publishing history seems to have adroitly traveled that path.
Bottom line is: yeah, actually, I think that some of the most wealthy and powerful forces in our country are quite consciously working to demolish democracy. And what's more, a lot of people who you'd think would know better are quite all right with it.
posted by Sublimity at 9:17 AM on December 5, 2018 [65 favorites]
cybersecurity expert rudy giuliani did it again
(edit: turns out this this is from September 15th)
posted by murphy slaw at 9:21 AM on December 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
#REALNEWS: Woodward says no evidence of http://collusion.So does Manafort’s team. Mueller can investigate endlessly and he will find no evidence. The only conspiracy,using criminal means, is the campaign to stop and then remove President Trump.this time http://collusion.so links to lawfare's coverage of the russia investigation
(edit: turns out this this is from September 15th)
posted by murphy slaw at 9:21 AM on December 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
An updated RE-POST:
...I've seen places, faces and smiled for a moment
But oh, you haunted me so
Still my tongue tied young pride
Ld not let my love for you show in case you'd say no...
posted by growabrain at 9:21 AM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
...I've seen places, faces and smiled for a moment
But oh, you haunted me so
Still my tongue tied young pride
Ld not let my love for you show in case you'd say no...
posted by growabrain at 9:21 AM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
I, too, would prefer Philosopher Kings over democracy, Sublimity. However I also recognize that as improbable as theoretical Marxism, theoretical Captitalism, etc. So representative democracy is the next best thing.
posted by Fezboy! at 9:24 AM on December 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Fezboy! at 9:24 AM on December 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
the Charlotte Observer is calling for a new election in NC9:
There may be no way, however, to know how widespread the fraud was, or whether it involved enough ballots to potentially change the outcome of the election — a 905-vote victory for Republican Mark Harris over Democrat Dan McCready. But we do know enough. Unless new evidence somehow clears the clouds hanging over this election, the Board of Elections should toss out the 9th District results.posted by murphy slaw at 9:43 AM on December 5, 2018 [45 favorites]
Calling for a new election would be an enormously significant decision for the board. It should be done with the support of N.C. statutes and without a whiff of partisan politics. Republicans from Raleigh to Washington would surely howl; already, they’ve noted that the number of absentee ballots cast in Bladen County falls short of the overall margin of victory in the 9th.
This is true. But witnesses have said that their ballots, which were collected by individuals apparently working for ringleader McCrae Dowless, were never submitted to the county or state. There’s little certainty about how many ballots were wrongly tossed or destroyed in Bladen County (there were more than 1,500 that were requested but unreturned) or how much Dowless and his workers may have done the same in neighboring Robeson County, as reports suggest. It might have been enough to change the outcome of the race. It might not have been.
That possibility, however, triggers a statutory threshold for holding a new election. North Carolina General Statute 163A-1180 authorizes the Board of Elections to intervene and “take any other action necessary to assure that an election is determined without taint of fraud or corruption and without irregularities that may have changed the result of an election.” The board should call for a new NC-09 general election. The U.S. House can and should order a new primary, given that results show Harris winning a startling 96 percent of the Bladen absentee vote in his narrow 2018 primary victory over then incumbent Robert Pittenger.
Trump: Apres moi, le deluge.
posted by medusa at 9:45 AM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by medusa at 9:45 AM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
> WaPo, Amy Goldstein, Trump administration threatens future of HIV research hub
> Does Putin have a problem with AIDS research?
HIV/AIDS has long been stereotyped and misunderstood as a "gay disease", at least in the US and despite the fact that heterosexual intercourse is the most common transmission mechanism on the global scale. And yes, Putin has a problem with tolerance of any sexuality that isn't heteronormative, to the point of making this the scapegoated other he uses to get people with "traditional" beliefs to rally behind him when they might otherwise consider him to be their enemy if they had the luxury to stop and think critically. I wouldn't be surprised if the more twisted and misguided individuals viewed HIV/AIDS as some kind of natural biological weapon or divine intervention for "sinners".
Much like anti-vaccination and the aforementioned stem cell research, this is another attempt by anti-intellectualism and ignorance to cut off the nose, ears, and eyes to spite the face of a healthy future for humanity.
[soapbox]Yeah, ignorance is strength, but only in the sense of its ability to destroy everything around it. Not the strength required to lift and protect the things you care about. Ignorance is a void that can be filled, but knowledge is not a substance that can be emptied. Ignorance may be strength, but knowledge is power. Unlimited, versatile, communally multiplicative and exponential power that cannot be reversed once granted. That's what every strongman, proto-fascist, and would-be authoritarian is truly so afraid of.[/soapbox]
posted by Arson Lupine at 9:45 AM on December 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
> Does Putin have a problem with AIDS research?
HIV/AIDS has long been stereotyped and misunderstood as a "gay disease", at least in the US and despite the fact that heterosexual intercourse is the most common transmission mechanism on the global scale. And yes, Putin has a problem with tolerance of any sexuality that isn't heteronormative, to the point of making this the scapegoated other he uses to get people with "traditional" beliefs to rally behind him when they might otherwise consider him to be their enemy if they had the luxury to stop and think critically. I wouldn't be surprised if the more twisted and misguided individuals viewed HIV/AIDS as some kind of natural biological weapon or divine intervention for "sinners".
Much like anti-vaccination and the aforementioned stem cell research, this is another attempt by anti-intellectualism and ignorance to cut off the nose, ears, and eyes to spite the face of a healthy future for humanity.
[soapbox]Yeah, ignorance is strength, but only in the sense of its ability to destroy everything around it. Not the strength required to lift and protect the things you care about. Ignorance is a void that can be filled, but knowledge is not a substance that can be emptied. Ignorance may be strength, but knowledge is power. Unlimited, versatile, communally multiplicative and exponential power that cannot be reversed once granted. That's what every strongman, proto-fascist, and would-be authoritarian is truly so afraid of.[/soapbox]
posted by Arson Lupine at 9:45 AM on December 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
If it seems weird to draw a path from Libertarianism ("I don't want the government to tell me what to do") to embracing, what? Antidemocratic technocracy?, I assure you I was baffled too--until I heard about a book entitled Against Democracy by a Georgetown law professor ...
For decades, some fraction of libertarians have championed libertarianism precisely for its anti-democratic potential. Hans-Hermann Hoppe, a Senior Fellow at the Ludwig Von Mises Institute and the author of Democracy: The God That Failed has always been forthrightly opposed to democracy and a vocal champion of what is really a kind of contractual authoritarianism.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:47 AM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
For decades, some fraction of libertarians have championed libertarianism precisely for its anti-democratic potential. Hans-Hermann Hoppe, a Senior Fellow at the Ludwig Von Mises Institute and the author of Democracy: The God That Failed has always been forthrightly opposed to democracy and a vocal champion of what is really a kind of contractual authoritarianism.
posted by octobersurprise at 9:47 AM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
There is definitely an explicitly anti-Democracy movement in the US. Some of them call themselves "neo-reactionaries".
"Democracy is — as most writers before the 19th century agreed — an ineffective and destructive system of government" - neo-reactionary Curtis Yarvin
These ideas are bleeding into mainstream politics...
"I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible." - Trump supporter and PayPal founder Peter Thiel
(who spoke at the 2016 RNC Convention).
Counterpoint to Mr. Thiel and Mr. Yarvin:
"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…"
-Winston Churchill (emphasis mine.)
Every time some right winger says "We're not a democracy, we're a republic" these days it kind of gives me chills. North Korea is a Republic too.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:48 AM on December 5, 2018 [39 favorites]
"Democracy is — as most writers before the 19th century agreed — an ineffective and destructive system of government" - neo-reactionary Curtis Yarvin
These ideas are bleeding into mainstream politics...
"I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible." - Trump supporter and PayPal founder Peter Thiel
(who spoke at the 2016 RNC Convention).
Counterpoint to Mr. Thiel and Mr. Yarvin:
"Many forms of Government have been tried, and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all-wise. Indeed it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.…"
-Winston Churchill (emphasis mine.)
Every time some right winger says "We're not a democracy, we're a republic" these days it kind of gives me chills. North Korea is a Republic too.
posted by OnceUponATime at 9:48 AM on December 5, 2018 [39 favorites]
I'ma remind you all that shortly after the inauguration, Microsoft's zoomable map of the AIDS quilt was taken offline, and references to it have been scrubbed from their website. Also contacting people that were attached to the project has gotten me nowhere.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:48 AM on December 5, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:48 AM on December 5, 2018 [35 favorites]
I take issue with some of the suppositions here, especially the intimations that the GOP has ever believed that public debt was anything but a truncheon to be swung.
I used to argue with conservatives on the merits on their philosophical and policy positions. I even would argue just from a position of what policy would make more money for their individual pocketbooks. But Trump has shown me it was never about that.
The horror of Trump's presidency is that it's about securing and re-establishing white supremacy. If he's not talking about it directly, he's heavily hinting at it. He provides some scant deniability by talking about security, the economy, rule of law, but the underlying message is almost always there.
Now, when I argue with conservatives, I make it clear that I don't believe their reasons for being conservative. Trump is like the repairman who says he can make your house great if you let him do anything. Trump supporters claim he's hinting at free cable, but I was there during the sales pitch, and that was all about getting rid of the noise from the illegals in the attic.
posted by xammerboy at 9:49 AM on December 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
I used to argue with conservatives on the merits on their philosophical and policy positions. I even would argue just from a position of what policy would make more money for their individual pocketbooks. But Trump has shown me it was never about that.
The horror of Trump's presidency is that it's about securing and re-establishing white supremacy. If he's not talking about it directly, he's heavily hinting at it. He provides some scant deniability by talking about security, the economy, rule of law, but the underlying message is almost always there.
Now, when I argue with conservatives, I make it clear that I don't believe their reasons for being conservative. Trump is like the repairman who says he can make your house great if you let him do anything. Trump supporters claim he's hinting at free cable, but I was there during the sales pitch, and that was all about getting rid of the noise from the illegals in the attic.
posted by xammerboy at 9:49 AM on December 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
Georgetown law professor--an institution widely understood to be bought and paid for by the Koch brothers
I think you're getting Georgetown confused with George Mason.
posted by peeedro at 9:49 AM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
I think you're getting Georgetown confused with George Mason.
posted by peeedro at 9:49 AM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
Mod note: Let's not go further along onto "explicit foes of democracy" etc, very broad topic, been down this road many times, let's stick more to specific concrete updates in here. If folks want to talk about that, better to spin off a separate thread for it.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:54 AM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 9:54 AM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
WSJ: Another High-Ranking FBI Official to Depart—Bill Priestap, who currently serves as assistant director of the bureau’s counterintelligence division, will leave his post by year-end (@WSJ)
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:09 AM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Bill Priestap, who currently serves as assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s counterintelligence division, will leave his post by the end of the year.[...]Add his name to the list of "Crossfire Hurricane" FBI officials whom Trump has fired or who have quit during his administration—Comey, McCabe, Strzok, Baker, Rybicki, Chattas, Page. (There was also that mass departure of FBI's top cybersecurity officials in the first part of the year—David Resch, Scott Smith, Howard Marshall (via @WSJ).)
Mr. Priestap’s retirement is unrelated to the controversies over the handling of the 2016 investigations, according to a person familiar with the matter. He “became eligible to retire and has chosen to do so after 20 years of service,” the FBI said in a statement.[...]
During the 2016 campaign, Mr. Priestap was one of several officials at the center of two politically volatile probes: the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s handling of classified information, and a counterintelligence inquiry into whether associates of then-candidate Donald Trump colluded with the Russian government.
After Mr. Priestap’s departure, none of the high-ranking bureau officials involved in the two investigations will remain with the bureau.[...]
Documents and congressional testimony show that Mr. Priestap was in the inner circle of FBI decision makers for both investigations.[...] Mr. Priestap also supervised Mr. Strzok, and a June watchdog report said the Russia investigation was under Mr. Priestap’s supervision. Special Counsel Robert Mueller took over handling the probe last year.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:09 AM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Jamelle Bouie on what behind the Republican power grabs going on around the country: Some of this is just a naked drive for partisan advantage, and some of it reflects self-awareness that pro-corporate austerity politics is unpopular and can only be preserved by counter-majoritarian action
posted by growabrain at 10:12 AM on December 5, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 10:12 AM on December 5, 2018 [37 favorites]
Ross Douthat Dreams of White (Anglo-Saxon Protestant) Supremacy
Pining for an era of white rulers with our best interests at heart—who don’t have to do any work to actually prove that they have anyone else’s interests at heart, because “birth and breeding” alone will bestow you with the seal of WASPish benevolence—is racist. What he’s talking about is literally a form of white supremacy, just one that he considers more palatable. It’s helpful, really, for those of us who have been arguing since Trump was elected that his differences with the conservative elite are stylistic and not substantive. This is white supremacy, just in boat shoes.posted by Rustic Etruscan at 10:13 AM on December 5, 2018 [35 favorites]
Ross Douthat Dreams of White (Anglo-Saxon Protestant) Supremacy
Counterpoint by Jared Yates Sexton: “Ross Douthat's "Why We Miss The WASPs" column is truly remarkable because it is both utter, racist garbage and is also probably the closest I've seen a conservative get to vocalizing their actual worldview while also explaining what's wrong with this country. […] I don't like recommending people to read garbage like this, but you really should. Despite all the bad faith arguments and ridiculousness, he's being honest about the philosophy of white supremacy in American politics and conservatism. It is...staggering.” (Threadreader for the full treatment)
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:19 AM on December 5, 2018 [38 favorites]
Counterpoint by Jared Yates Sexton: “Ross Douthat's "Why We Miss The WASPs" column is truly remarkable because it is both utter, racist garbage and is also probably the closest I've seen a conservative get to vocalizing their actual worldview while also explaining what's wrong with this country. […] I don't like recommending people to read garbage like this, but you really should. Despite all the bad faith arguments and ridiculousness, he's being honest about the philosophy of white supremacy in American politics and conservatism. It is...staggering.” (Threadreader for the full treatment)
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:19 AM on December 5, 2018 [38 favorites]
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's tweets about universal healthcare and the DoD's shockingly-bad accounting practices have caught the ire of The Washington Post's Fact Checker:
Ocasio-Cortez is not the first Twitter user to mangle information from a news report. But it’s unconvincing to try to pass this off as a rhetorical point being misread. She cited the $21 trillion figure and said “66% of Medicare for All could have been funded already by the Pentagon.”posted by schmod at 10:25 AM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
That’s a direct comparison. It’s badly flawed. The same article she referenced on Twitter would have set her straight. The tweet is still up, probably causing confusion. So we will award Four Pinocchios to Ocasio-Cortez.
the AOC vs DOD tweet thing is weird - no, actually ill just call it outright bullshit. though she generally is on a mission with regard to healthcare, in the case cited healthcare costs were being used secondarily to show the scale of the DODs utter inability to account for its spending.
I dont have to (incorrectly) believe that Mattis has some sort of scrooge mcduck style pool of cash he swims around in to believe her bigger point - we accept accounting errors of 21T (over a long period of time, granted) when it comes to military when those unaccounted-for expenditures represent a substantial amount of the cash it would take to provide healthcare to everyone.
the statement they award 4 pinocchios to isnt really one i see being made in the AOC tweet.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:33 AM on December 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
I dont have to (incorrectly) believe that Mattis has some sort of scrooge mcduck style pool of cash he swims around in to believe her bigger point - we accept accounting errors of 21T (over a long period of time, granted) when it comes to military when those unaccounted-for expenditures represent a substantial amount of the cash it would take to provide healthcare to everyone.
the statement they award 4 pinocchios to isnt really one i see being made in the AOC tweet.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 10:33 AM on December 5, 2018 [17 favorites]
AOC is going to be held to an absurd set of standards because she is young, of Puerto Rican background, normatively pretty and fashionable and left wing. With Trump, mainstream media generally bends over backwards to interpret his lies, misstatements and confusion as having actual content. With AOC, she makes the same kind of metaphoric/hyperbolic statement that, like, everyone we know makes about military spending - "think of all the other things we could have funded!!!" - and all of the sudden she's getting treated like she's an accountant.
Unless she radically changes her beliefs and personal style, this is going to be par for the course for her entire political career. It's not about what she actually says; it's about the political class wanting to keep ordinary people out of government.
posted by Frowner at 10:38 AM on December 5, 2018 [144 favorites]
Unless she radically changes her beliefs and personal style, this is going to be par for the course for her entire political career. It's not about what she actually says; it's about the political class wanting to keep ordinary people out of government.
posted by Frowner at 10:38 AM on December 5, 2018 [144 favorites]
The press is also flailing around for the next Woman Above Her Station to blame for all the world's ills, now that Hillary is mostly off the table.
posted by Autumnheart at 10:40 AM on December 5, 2018 [83 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 10:40 AM on December 5, 2018 [83 favorites]
$6 trillion and half a million lives since 2001 is how much the war has cost. All for... ? Arguably you're worse off. Imagine all the things you could have spent it on. AOC's figures may be off but the underlying principle is sound.
posted by adept256 at 10:41 AM on December 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 10:41 AM on December 5, 2018 [18 favorites]
if you find your paper Well Actuallying a freshman congressperson to shore up the military-industrial complex, maybe you should take a moment for a Hans Are We The Baddies moment
posted by murphy slaw at 10:43 AM on December 5, 2018 [89 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 10:43 AM on December 5, 2018 [89 favorites]
AOC is going to be held to an absurd set of standards because she is young, of Puerto Rican background, normatively pretty and fashionable and left wing.
This all would be fine, and was similar to and fine for Beto, for example. And Obama.
The ridiculous double standards have nothing to do with youth, or culture broadly speaking. It's straight up sexism. See: Hillary, 1980-2016.
posted by Dashy at 10:50 AM on December 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
This all would be fine, and was similar to and fine for Beto, for example. And Obama.
The ridiculous double standards have nothing to do with youth, or culture broadly speaking. It's straight up sexism. See: Hillary, 1980-2016.
posted by Dashy at 10:50 AM on December 5, 2018 [20 favorites]
So we will award Four Pinocchios to Ocasio-Cortez.
Jesus that gimmick is embarrassing. May as well start ranking politicians on the Tsk-Tsk Attaboy scale.
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
Jesus that gimmick is embarrassing. May as well start ranking politicians on the Tsk-Tsk Attaboy scale.
posted by Atom Eyes at 10:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
What the President Could Do If He Declares a State of Emergency (Elizabeth Goitein. The Atlantic)
… Unknown to most Americans, a parallel legal regime allows the president to sidestep many of the constraints that normally apply. The moment the president declares a “national emergency”—a decision that is entirely within his discretion—more than 100 special provisions [See the Brennan Center's emergency powers list] become available to him. While many of these tee up reasonable responses to genuine emergencies, some appear dangerously suited to a leader bent on amassing or retaining power. For instance, the president can, with the flick of his pen, activate laws allowing him to shut down many kinds of electronic communications inside the United States or freeze Americans’ bank accounts. Other powers are available even without a declaration of emergency, including laws that allow the president to deploy troops inside the country to subdue domestic unrest.posted by ZeusHumms at 11:03 AM on December 5, 2018 [26 favorites]
This edifice of extraordinary powers has historically rested on the assumption that the president will act in the country’s best interest when using them. With a handful of noteworthy exceptions, this assumption has held up. But what if a president, backed into a corner and facing electoral defeat or impeachment, were to declare an emergency for the sake of holding on to power? In that scenario, our laws and institutions might not save us from a presidential power grab. They might be what takes us down.
Oh, yes, obviously substantially sexism - I interrupted my list-making to make sure that I had correctly remembered AOC's family background and didn't put "female" where I should have. No young, fashionable, left-wing male politician would be treated as she is. Although I think that race, age and politics are important - if she were white, fifty, dressed conservatively and were a centrist Dem, she would certainly face sexism, but not the "AOC what a bubble-head" thing that you see again and again.
posted by Frowner at 11:04 AM on December 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 11:04 AM on December 5, 2018 [12 favorites]
Mod note: Couple comments deleted; let's not take another loop around the altogether pointless "choose one cause of why [AOC] is treated that way, is it 100% sexism or 100% something else" argument. Been there done that.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:05 AM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:05 AM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
I check AOC's twitter feed when I feel myself getting the blues about our disgraceful situation. The recent series about intern pay, for example. (I know, what's wrong with me?) Watching her grow into this job is going to be fun.
posted by kingless at 11:15 AM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by kingless at 11:15 AM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
What the President Could Do If He Declares a State of Emergency
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THESE FUCKHEADS IDEAS
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 11:34 AM on December 5, 2018 [63 favorites]
PLEASE DO NOT GIVE THESE FUCKHEADS IDEAS
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 11:34 AM on December 5, 2018 [63 favorites]
What the President Could Do If He Declares a State of Emergency
Wow, that's some scary stuff. There are 30 states of emergency in effect today. It's part of Congress' long-running abdication of powers and fetishization and empowerment of the presidency.
What Bush and Roosevelt did was absolutely wrong.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:36 AM on December 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
Wow, that's some scary stuff. There are 30 states of emergency in effect today. It's part of Congress' long-running abdication of powers and fetishization and empowerment of the presidency.
...some legal scholars believe that the Constitution gives the president inherent emergency powers by making him commander in chief of the armed forces, or by vesting in him a broad, undefined “executive Power.” At key points in American history, presidents have cited inherent constitutional powers when taking drastic actions that were not authorized—or, in some cases, were explicitly prohibited—by Congress. Notorious examples include Franklin D. Roosevelt’s internment of U.S. citizens and residents of Japanese descent during World War II and George W. Bush’s programs of warrantless wiretapping and torture after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Abraham Lincoln conceded that his unilateral suspension of habe[u]s corpus during the Civil War was constitutionally questionable, but defended it as necessary to preserve the Union.The president is only the commander in chief "of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States." Civilians do not have a commander in chief.
What Bush and Roosevelt did was absolutely wrong.
posted by kirkaracha at 11:36 AM on December 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
Oh good, that Atlantic piece includes- further down- information on the PEADs, which are pre-written and available to any President at a moment's notice: they are carried in the Nuclear Football.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:45 AM on December 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Less is known about the contents of more recent PEADs and equivalent planning documents. But in 1987, The Miami Herald reported that Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North had worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create a secret contingency plan authorizing “suspension of the Constitution, turning control of the United States over to FEMA, appointment of military commanders to run state and local governments and declaration of martial law during a national crisis.” A 2007 Department of Homeland Security report lists “martial law” and “curfew declarations” as “critical tasks” that local, state, and federal government should be able to perform in emergencies. In 2008, government sources told a reporter for Radar magazine that a version of the Security Index still existed under the code name Main Core, allowing for the apprehension and detention of Americans tagged as security threats.It's totally unknown what the PEADs in Trump's nuclear football say.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:45 AM on December 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
AP, Prosecutors ramp up foreign lobbying probe in New York
Spinning off from the special counsel’s Russia probe, prosecutors are ramping up their investigation into foreign lobbying by two major Washington firms that did work for former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, according to people familiar with the matter.posted by zachlipton at 11:51 AM on December 5, 2018 [9 favorites]
The investigation had been quiet for months since special counsel Robert Mueller referred it to authorities in Manhattan because it fell outside his mandate of determining whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia.
But in a flurry of new activity, Justice Department prosecutors in the last several weeks have begun interviewing witnesses and contacting lawyers to schedule additional questioning related to the Podesta Group and Mercury Public Affairs, the people familiar with the inquiry said. They spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing work.
...
In New York, Mueller’s referral prompted a fresh look at the lobbying firms of Washington insiders Tony Podesta and Vin Weber, who have faced scrutiny for their decisions not to register as foreign agents for Ukrainian lobbying work directed by Manafort.
AOC and Rashida Tlaib right now are sitting in the audience at the Boston City Council, which is giving soon to be former Councilor Ayanna Pressley a rather fond farewell. When Pressley was elected nine years ago, she was one of two women on the 13-member council, and the first black woman ever. Now six of the councilors are women of color, and the others all thanked Pressley for paving the way.
posted by adamg at 11:53 AM on December 5, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by adamg at 11:53 AM on December 5, 2018 [33 favorites]
Remember that declaring martial law and a national emergency are, though not incompatible with corporate business as usual, steps that would disrupt quite a few people's interests. Because unless you had an actual national emergency, you'd have to be prepared to run the country through military rule indefinitely - you can't go "we don't like Mueller so for the next month it's going to be a state of emergency" because you'll torpedo your chances in the next election.
This is a large, federated country with a complex economy. Running a very blue state under tight military authority would be difficult - you would need a LOT of soldiers, you wouldn't have the cooperation of the governor and there would be the strong possibility that, eg, Los Angeles would simply go up like a flare in an urban insurrection that would be very difficult to halt. And you'd need that level of rule in California, in New York, in Illinois, in Massachusetts...even in fairly blue but not militant states like Minnesota you'd have trouble keeping the lid on.
It's always, in theory, easier to rule by police state tyranny than by cunning and playing people off against each other because you just basically murder people until the mass is cowed and obedient. And yet how difficult it is in practice when you're confronted with a country that has not historically been ruled that way.
I am not entirely sure that the bulk of the GOP, as bad as they are, really want to go with "we manage a military dictatorship forever", if only because that's actually difficult, expensive and dangerous.
posted by Frowner at 11:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [22 favorites]
This is a large, federated country with a complex economy. Running a very blue state under tight military authority would be difficult - you would need a LOT of soldiers, you wouldn't have the cooperation of the governor and there would be the strong possibility that, eg, Los Angeles would simply go up like a flare in an urban insurrection that would be very difficult to halt. And you'd need that level of rule in California, in New York, in Illinois, in Massachusetts...even in fairly blue but not militant states like Minnesota you'd have trouble keeping the lid on.
It's always, in theory, easier to rule by police state tyranny than by cunning and playing people off against each other because you just basically murder people until the mass is cowed and obedient. And yet how difficult it is in practice when you're confronted with a country that has not historically been ruled that way.
I am not entirely sure that the bulk of the GOP, as bad as they are, really want to go with "we manage a military dictatorship forever", if only because that's actually difficult, expensive and dangerous.
posted by Frowner at 11:59 AM on December 5, 2018 [22 favorites]
Some more information on the Security Index:
...J. Edgar Hoover, the longtime director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, had a plan to suspend habeas corpus and imprison some 12,000 Americans he suspected of disloyalty. Hoover sent his plan to the White House on July 7, 1950, 12 days after the Korean War began. It envisioned putting suspect Americans in military prisons. Hoover wanted President Harry S. Truman to proclaim the mass arrests necessary to “protect the country against treason, espionage and sabotage.” The F.B.I would “apprehend all individuals potentially dangerous” to national security, Hoover’s proposal said. The arrests would be carried out under “a master warrant attached to a list of names” provided by the bureau...The source story for the "Main Core" list:
In September 1950, President Truman vetoed as unconstitutional a law authorizing the detention of “dangerous radicals” if the president declared a national emergency, but Congress voted overwhelmingly to override his veto and approve it.
According to a senior government official who served with high-level security clearances in five administrations, "There exists a database of Americans, who, often for the slightest and most trivial reason, are considered unfriendly, and who, in a time of panic, might be incarcerated. The database can identify and locate perceived 'enemies of the state' almost instantaneously." He and other sources tell Radar that the database is sometimes referred to by the code name Main Core. One knowledgeable source claims that 8 million Americans are now listed in Main Core as potentially suspect. In the event of a national emergency, these people could be subject to everything from heightened surveillance and tracking to direct questioning and possibly even detention... A host of publicly disclosed programs, sources say, now supply data to Main Core. Most notable are the NSA domestic surveillance programs, initiated in the wake of 9/11, typically referred to in press reports as "warrantless wiretapping."... Main Core also allegedly draws on four smaller databases that, in turn, cull from federal, state, and local "intelligence" reports; print and broadcast media; financial records; "commercial databases"; and unidentified "private sector entities." Additional information comes from a database known as the Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment, which generates watch lists from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence for use by airlines, law enforcement, and border posts...posted by BungaDunga at 12:04 PM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
A veteran CIA intelligence analyst who maintains active high-level clearances and serves as an advisor to the Department of Defense in the field of emerging technology tells Radar that during the 2004 hospital room drama, James Comey expressed concern over how this secret database was being used "to accumulate otherwise private data on non-targeted U.S. citizens for use at a future time." Though not specifically familiar with the name Main Core, he adds, "What was being requested of Comey for legal approval was exactly what a Main Core story would be." A source regularly briefed by people inside the intelligence community adds: "Comey had discovered that President Bush had authorized NSA to use a highly classified and compartmentalized Continuity of Government database on Americans in computerized searches of its domestic intercepts. [Comey] had concluded that the use of that 'Main Core' database compromised the legality of the overall NSA domestic surveillance project."...
But in 1987, The Miami Herald reported that Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North had worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create a secret contingency plan authorizing “suspension of the Constitution...”
Nothing in the Constitution allows for suspending the Constitution, so this sounds pretty illegal. And as a general rule, don't do what Oliver North did. PEADs are Presidential Emergency Action Documents. Foreign Policy's The American Government’s Secret Plan for Surviving the End of the World has more info.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:06 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Nothing in the Constitution allows for suspending the Constitution, so this sounds pretty illegal. And as a general rule, don't do what Oliver North did. PEADs are Presidential Emergency Action Documents. Foreign Policy's The American Government’s Secret Plan for Surviving the End of the World has more info.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:06 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
One knowledgeable source claims that 8 million Americans are now listed in Main Core as potentially suspect. In the event of a national emergency, these people could be subject to everything from heightened surveillance and tracking to direct questioning and possibly even detention... A host of publicly disclosed programs, sources say, now supply data to Main Core. Most notable are the NSA domestic surveillance programs, initiated in the wake of 9/11, typically referred to in press reports as "warrantless wiretapping."... Main Core also allegedly draws on four smaller databases that, in turn, cull from federal, state, and local "intelligence" reports; print and broadcast media; financial records; "commercial databases"; and unidentified "private sector entities."
8 million people is about 2.5% of the US population, or one in 40.
Not worth panicking about, but you might as well spare a couple of seconds to consider whether your browser history plus your record of interactions with the authorities might put you in that 2.5 percent. (Are you frequently selected for special screening at the airport? Have you been arrested at a protest? What’s the worst thing you’ve written about a national politician in an email? Etc etc.) Then at least you’ll know whether to climb out of the bathroom window if the knock ever comes in the middle of the night.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 12:23 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
8 million people is about 2.5% of the US population, or one in 40.
Not worth panicking about, but you might as well spare a couple of seconds to consider whether your browser history plus your record of interactions with the authorities might put you in that 2.5 percent. (Are you frequently selected for special screening at the airport? Have you been arrested at a protest? What’s the worst thing you’ve written about a national politician in an email? Etc etc.) Then at least you’ll know whether to climb out of the bathroom window if the knock ever comes in the middle of the night.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 12:23 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
But in 1987, The Miami Herald reported that Lieutenant Colonel Oliver North had worked with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to create a secret contingency plan authorizing “suspension of the Constitution, turning control of the United States over to FEMA, appointment of military commanders to run state and local governments and declaration of martial law during a national crisis.”
Cool, good to know that 90's batshit conspiracy theorist right wing militia culture and its descendants and all the harm it wrought is yet again right wing projection.
posted by jason_steakums at 12:32 PM on December 5, 2018 [24 favorites]
Cool, good to know that 90's batshit conspiracy theorist right wing militia culture and its descendants and all the harm it wrought is yet again right wing projection.
posted by jason_steakums at 12:32 PM on December 5, 2018 [24 favorites]
ZeusHumms: "[Obama] is in the awkward position of trying to ensure his party wins back the White House, but without weighing in too aggressively in a primary that could consist of his former vice president (Joe Biden), a longtime friend (former Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick"
Patrick has announced he won't run. He's probably thinking of a Cabinet slot, or maybe the VP candidacy.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:42 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Patrick has announced he won't run. He's probably thinking of a Cabinet slot, or maybe the VP candidacy.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:42 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
NC-09:
New: Congressman @GerryConnollyposted by Chrysostom at 12:53 PM on December 5, 2018 [35 favorites]
(D-VA), Vice Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee is calling for an emergency hearing into reports of election fraud in the race for #NC09 #ncpol @wsoctv
JFC. Bill Gardner holds on as New Hampshire SOS, 209-205, on the second ballot. Gardner is not a fan of voting rights and co-operated with the Kobach commission.
Evidently, his fervent defense of New Hampshire's role as first primary was enough to sway some Dems.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:55 PM on December 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Evidently, his fervent defense of New Hampshire's role as first primary was enough to sway some Dems.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:55 PM on December 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
@daveweigel: NH Democrats had 248 votes out of 424 at the start of the vote. Given a chance to consolidate power, they basically yelled "Bortles!" and ran out of the room.
Love when there's bipartisan support for the idea that Democrats should not be given power.
posted by zachlipton at 12:58 PM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
Love when there's bipartisan support for the idea that Democrats should not be given power.
posted by zachlipton at 12:58 PM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
This fun jaunt down a 2010 Southern Poverty Law Center article on fear of FEMA camps article brings us a reference tothe same 1987 Miami Herald article on Ollie "Treason" North, some fella named Jerome Corsi, and Alex Jones calling Glenn Beck "a piece of crap", which, fair enough.
It says FEMA camps are a fevered dream of conspiracists and that it probably couldn't really happen, which. I mean, it's like three pages' worth, they could have just said why and had done with it.
Still, some Old-World language like, But the Patriots and other conspiracy theorists who circulate these theories — and they have moved in recent times from that fringe into the so-called “tea parties” and other populist and nativist groups — believe all of that, and believe it with a passion.
So basically the Qanon narrative, only now with Obama and Hillary behind the fence.
posted by petebest at 1:08 PM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
It says FEMA camps are a fevered dream of conspiracists and that it probably couldn't really happen, which. I mean, it's like three pages' worth, they could have just said why and had done with it.
Still, some Old-World language like, But the Patriots and other conspiracy theorists who circulate these theories — and they have moved in recent times from that fringe into the so-called “tea parties” and other populist and nativist groups — believe all of that, and believe it with a passion.
So basically the Qanon narrative, only now with Obama and Hillary behind the fence.
posted by petebest at 1:08 PM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Remember that declaring martial law and a national emergency are, though not incompatible with corporate business as usual, steps that would disrupt quite a few people's interests.
9/11 wasn't used to institute martial law, it was used to start wars and round up Muslims and pass legislation allowing the government to secretly acquire a list of the library books you've borrowed. I would think that the most dystopian application of a state of emergency now would be to convert this Main Core thing into something like China's integrated social credit system. (There are many previous threads covering it, but here'a recent Al Jazeera documentary program about it: “China's Spying Eyes”, ~½ hour video:
Our goal is to ensure that if people keep their promises, they can go anywhere in the world. And if people break their promises, they won't be able to move an inch.)
In Afghanistan the U.S. military used something called the “Identity Dominance System” that would appear to already implement the core functionality of a massive database of DNA, retinal and face recognition scans, and other biometric data, and the infrastructure to manage and add to that database.
So, lots of potential for dystopian stuff which would have substantial and lucrative business synergy.
posted by XMLicious at 1:09 PM on December 5, 2018 [6 favorites]
zachlipton: @daveweigel: NH Democrats had 248 votes out of 424 at the start of the vote. Given a chance to consolidate power, they basically yelled "Bortles!" and ran out of the room.
Love when there's bipartisan support for the idea that Democrats should not be given power.
Reminder to everyone (including me) not to characterize "the Democratic Party" of any state (or the country) by whatever version of Blue Dogs is holding it back. I mean, to put it another way, I'm very pleasantly surprised that some guy who's had that job for four decades came so close to losing it. 209 to 205! Normally, that sort of office perpetuates itself indefinitely by inertia alone, the sense that it's "proper" and "respectful" not to give him the boot.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:13 PM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Love when there's bipartisan support for the idea that Democrats should not be given power.
Reminder to everyone (including me) not to characterize "the Democratic Party" of any state (or the country) by whatever version of Blue Dogs is holding it back. I mean, to put it another way, I'm very pleasantly surprised that some guy who's had that job for four decades came so close to losing it. 209 to 205! Normally, that sort of office perpetuates itself indefinitely by inertia alone, the sense that it's "proper" and "respectful" not to give him the boot.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:13 PM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
Gardner is also nominally a Democrat.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:28 PM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Chrysostom at 1:28 PM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Remember that New Hampshire is a purple state... the most salient thing to me is that we haven't had a Republican secretary of state for four decades despite frequent Republican control of state government. I really hope this effort hasn't established a new pattern where the SoS office is just more spoils of electoral victory and we end up with a completely unprincipled Nationalist fucking around with our elections at some point.
Trying to oust Garder (who in case it's not clear, is a Democrat) immediately upon the upper hand in the legislature switching from Republicans to Democrats—when this still may be a frequent occurrence in the near future—seemed very premature to me. Yeah, I'd have preferred it if he'd just said “talk to the hand” in response to Trump's fake election integrity crap but baby, bathwater, etc.
posted by XMLicious at 1:29 PM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Trying to oust Garder (who in case it's not clear, is a Democrat) immediately upon the upper hand in the legislature switching from Republicans to Democrats—when this still may be a frequent occurrence in the near future—seemed very premature to me. Yeah, I'd have preferred it if he'd just said “talk to the hand” in response to Trump's fake election integrity crap but baby, bathwater, etc.
posted by XMLicious at 1:29 PM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's not just the commission. He's backed lots of stuff to make it harder for people to vote. So, against a platform of expansion of voting rights, the argument for Gardner is...he's been around a long time? And he's a big backer of first in the nation primary (as if Van Ostern would not have been). I guess those things are more important than making it easy to vote.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:39 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 1:39 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's totally unknown what the PEADs in Trump's nuclear football say.
Given it was known he was compromised by Russia prior to Inauguration, I would hope they gave him a fake football.
posted by mikelieman at 1:43 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Given it was known he was compromised by Russia prior to Inauguration, I would hope they gave him a fake football.
posted by mikelieman at 1:43 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Aren't most of our nukes aimed at Russia? If anyone has an incentive to keep Trump away from the nuclear football, it's them.
posted by Autumnheart at 1:53 PM on December 5, 2018
posted by Autumnheart at 1:53 PM on December 5, 2018
Aren't most of our nukes aimed at Russia?
Not really. They set the targets when they want to launch. There are pre-approved "packages" of targets they can choose from, though.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:26 PM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Not really. They set the targets when they want to launch. There are pre-approved "packages" of targets they can choose from, though.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 2:26 PM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
Nothing in the Constitution allows for suspending the Constitution, so this sounds pretty illegal
Right, but in the document:
The Suspension Clause of the United States Constitution specifically included the English common law procedure in Article One, Section 9, clause 2, which demands that "The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."
So there does seem to be the basis for some kind of legal mass detention scenario in an emergency.
posted by thelonius at 2:34 PM on December 5, 2018
Right, but in the document:
The Suspension Clause of the United States Constitution specifically included the English common law procedure in Article One, Section 9, clause 2, which demands that "The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it."
So there does seem to be the basis for some kind of legal mass detention scenario in an emergency.
posted by thelonius at 2:34 PM on December 5, 2018
Got it. My mental image of impending nuclear war is still stuck in the '80s.
posted by Autumnheart at 2:35 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 2:35 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
WaPo, David A. Fahrenthold and Jonathan O'Connell, Saudi-funded lobbyist paid for 500 rooms at Trump’s hotel after 2016 election
Lobbyists representing the Saudi government reserved blocks of rooms at President Trump’s D.C. hotel within a month of Trump’s election in 2016 — paying for an estimated 500 nights at the luxury hotel in just three months, according to organizers of the trips and documents obtained by The Washington Post.posted by zachlipton at 2:45 PM on December 5, 2018 [48 favorites]
At the time, these lobbyists were reserving large numbers of D.C.-area hotel rooms as part of an unorthodox campaign that offered U.S. military veterans a free trip to Washington — then sent them to Capitol Hill to lobby against a law the Saudis opposed, according to veterans and organizers.
At first, Saudi lobbyists put the veterans up in Northern Virginia. Then, in December 2016, they switched most of their business to the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington. In all, the lobbyists spent more $270,000 to house six groups of visiting veterans at the Trump hotel, which Trump still owns.
...
The existence of the Saudi-funded stays at Trump’s hotel were reported by several news outlets last year. But reviews of emails, agendas and disclosure forms from Saudi lobbyists and interviews this fall with two dozen veterans provide far more detail about the extent of the trips and the organizers’ interactions with veterans than have previously been reported.
That reporting showed a total of six trips, during which the groups grew larger after the initial visit and the stays increased over time. The Post estimated the Saudi government paid for more than 500 nights in Trump hotel rooms, based on planning documents and agendas given to the veterans, and conversations with organizers.
...
Another problem: In some cases, congressional staffers confronted them because they knew who was funding these trips. Even if the veterans did not. “We’d walk in there, and they’d go, ‘Are you the veterans that are getting bribed?’ ” Suesakul said.
Mod note: Couple deleted; let's not dig further into the speculative "where will they house everyone when the mass arrests begin" and similar, unless there's some new reason to think that's likely; the dystopia we have already is plenty to focus on in here.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:51 PM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:51 PM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
@seungminkim: As @JeffFlake's judges blockade continues, @ChuckGrassley again postpones committee votes on a bunch of judicial nominees that had been scheduled for Thurs morning
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WaPo, House Democrats look to roll back little-known rule allowing guns in the Capitol, in which Pelosi says she will direct authorities to "revisit" the rule, which allows members to keep guns in their offices, which I did not know was a thing but I am not exactly surprised.
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In White House news, a cigarette butt collector started emitting a fair amount of smoke, so the AP's Zeke Miller grabbed a fire extinguisher, because apparently the White House doesn't have anybody to do that besides reporters? And now we know where that Michelle Wolf smoky eye joke came from.
posted by zachlipton at 2:56 PM on December 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
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WaPo, House Democrats look to roll back little-known rule allowing guns in the Capitol, in which Pelosi says she will direct authorities to "revisit" the rule, which allows members to keep guns in their offices, which I did not know was a thing but I am not exactly surprised.
----
In White House news, a cigarette butt collector started emitting a fair amount of smoke, so the AP's Zeke Miller grabbed a fire extinguisher, because apparently the White House doesn't have anybody to do that besides reporters? And now we know where that Michelle Wolf smoky eye joke came from.
posted by zachlipton at 2:56 PM on December 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
I wonder if an economic boycott of cultural events in states where Republicans consolidated power recently in lame duck sessions would provide leverage in reversing those power grabs.
posted by ZeusHumms at 3:02 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 3:02 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
I am not entirely sure that the bulk of the GOP, as bad as they are, really want to go with "we manage a military dictatorship forever"
It's a big mistake to imagine that there's a sort of button that switches a country from liberal/democratic to "there are soldiers in riot armor on the corner and they're demanding your papers". What generally happens is that a present crisis justifies some people suffering some restriction or suspension of their civil liberties for a limited period, but most people's lives continue pretty much as normal.That's basically what the Nazis promised: a better economy, better jobs, workers' holidays, and the Jews in their proper place. Life went on as normal for most people, until the war. It's also pretty much what happened in the US after Pearl Harbour.
The thing is, this is not a far-fetched or hypothetical issue for the US. It's happening right now, and it's been going on for decades. It's what Guantanamo Bay was all about, it's the justification for the US's massive phone and data tapping, and it's being used right now to justify restrictions on refugees and voting rights. I know you're all aware of these things, but I don't think you're looking at them in the context of creeping emergency rule.
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:22 PM on December 5, 2018 [75 favorites]
It's a big mistake to imagine that there's a sort of button that switches a country from liberal/democratic to "there are soldiers in riot armor on the corner and they're demanding your papers". What generally happens is that a present crisis justifies some people suffering some restriction or suspension of their civil liberties for a limited period, but most people's lives continue pretty much as normal.That's basically what the Nazis promised: a better economy, better jobs, workers' holidays, and the Jews in their proper place. Life went on as normal for most people, until the war. It's also pretty much what happened in the US after Pearl Harbour.
The thing is, this is not a far-fetched or hypothetical issue for the US. It's happening right now, and it's been going on for decades. It's what Guantanamo Bay was all about, it's the justification for the US's massive phone and data tapping, and it's being used right now to justify restrictions on refugees and voting rights. I know you're all aware of these things, but I don't think you're looking at them in the context of creeping emergency rule.
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:22 PM on December 5, 2018 [75 favorites]
Gabriel Sherman, “They’re Beginning to Think About Whether Mike Pence Should Be Running Again”: As the Mueller Fire Nears, Trump Ponders Jettisoning His Loyal V.P.
posted by zachlipton at 4:19 PM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
Even allies raised their eyebrows at Trump’s tweet praising Roger Stone for not cooperating with Mueller. “Wow, that’s actually obstruction of justice,” a former West Wing official told me.I'm skeptical, and Sherman's dispatches often seem to be filled with the talk of people who are pushing an agenda, but the I'm sharing it because I think the fact that someone wants this out there is, itself, noteworthy. See also last month's Is Mike Pence Loyal? Trump Is Asking, Despite His Recent Endorsement. There's been this phenomenal lack of trust between the President's office and the Vice President's office, even as Pence is the largest public sycophant in the place, and people seem downright happy to make that public over and over again.
But the ominous signs of Mueller’s progress have not completely overwhelmed other subplots. On Monday, Trump hosted a 2020 strategy meeting with a group of advisers. Among the topics discussed was whether Mike Pence should remain on the ticket, given the hurricane-force political headwinds Trump will face, as demonstrated by the midterms, a source briefed on the session told me. “They’re beginning to think about whether Mike Pence should be running again,” the source said, adding that the advisers presented Trump with new polling that shows Pence doesn’t expand Trump’s coalition. “He doesn’t detract from it, but he doesn’t add anything either,” the source said. Last month, The New York Times reported that Trump had been privately asking advisers if Pence could be trusted, and that outside advisers have been pushing Nikki Haley to replace Pence. One veteran of Trump’s 2016 campaign who’s still advising Trump told me the president hasn’t been focused enough on 2020. “What he needs to do is consider his team for 2020 and make sure it’s in place,” the adviser said. “He has to have people on his team that are loyal to his agenda.”'
Trump’s doubts about Pence are surprising given Pence’s frequent public encomiums and professions of loyalty. “Trump waxes and wanes on everyone,” a prominent Republican close to the White House explained. Part of what’s driving the debate over Pence’s political value is Trump’s stalled search for a chief of staff to replace John Kelly. According to a source, Kelly has recently been telling Trump that Pence doesn’t help him politically. The theory is that Kelly is unhappy that Pence’s 36-year-old chief of staff, Nick Ayers, has been openly campaigning for Kelly’s job. “Kelly has started to get more political and he’s whispering to Trump that Trump needs a running mate who can help him more politically,” the source said. (The White House did not respond to a request for comment.)
posted by zachlipton at 4:19 PM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
> The death of George H.W. Bush was another cause of West Wing anxiety, given Trump’s frequent criticisms of various members of that family. But allies have mostly been relieved. “Look at how he’s been. It’s presidential,” a former West Wing aide said.
Wow, he managed to make it through a funeral without insulting the deceased. Maybe I've been wrong about this Trump guy all along.
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:28 PM on December 5, 2018 [31 favorites]
Wow, he managed to make it through a funeral without insulting the deceased. Maybe I've been wrong about this Trump guy all along.
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:28 PM on December 5, 2018 [31 favorites]
Oh god, not "presidential" again.
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:28 PM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 4:28 PM on December 5, 2018 [13 favorites]
Sublimity: opposition to democracy. I was completely gobsmacked as he laid out a whole justification for why democracy was bad and wrong and he'd never participate in it and it was stupid to participate in. The primary justification was that the masses are stupid and easily manipulated and that people who actually know what they're doing should make decisions in government.
I am most curious what he thought about the bureaucracy. Our current system is, in effect, "Let the masses give general policy direction, and hire experts in the bureaucracy to figure out the details." Somehow, though, I don't remember hearing opinions on bureaucracy from libertarian monarchists.
(The classic Churchill quote is apropos here: "Democracy is the worst form of Government, except for all those other forms that have been tried.")
posted by clawsoon at 4:31 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
I am most curious what he thought about the bureaucracy. Our current system is, in effect, "Let the masses give general policy direction, and hire experts in the bureaucracy to figure out the details." Somehow, though, I don't remember hearing opinions on bureaucracy from libertarian monarchists.
(The classic Churchill quote is apropos here: "Democracy is the worst form of Government, except for all those other forms that have been tried.")
posted by clawsoon at 4:31 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
jenfullmoon: Oh god, not "presidential" again.
At least we haven't heard "baby Christian" for a while.
posted by clawsoon at 4:34 PM on December 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
At least we haven't heard "baby Christian" for a while.
posted by clawsoon at 4:34 PM on December 5, 2018 [8 favorites]
Filling in some of those [REDACTED] spaces from last night. NYT, Mark Mazzetti and Adam Goldman, As Flynn Case Winds Down, Investigation of Turkish Lobbying Persists
posted by zachlipton at 4:45 PM on December 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Federal prosecutors in Virginia are investigating a secret Turkish lobbying effort that once involved Michael T. Flynn, the former national security adviser, even as Mr. Flynn’s role in the special counsel’s investigation winds down, according to people familiar with the inquiry.There's not really more reported here beyond that, just speculation it could involve failure by Flynn's associates to register as a foreign agent for Turkey or perhaps the Gulen kidnapping plot. I, for one, would still like answers about the time he sold out the Kurds just after exiting the Turkish payroll, but everyone seems to have forgotten that one.
Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, had been handling the case and at some point referred it back to prosecutors in Alexandria, Va., who had originally opened the investigation, the people said. A veteran national security prosecutor is overseeing the case, and a grand jury has been empaneled to hear evidence.
posted by zachlipton at 4:45 PM on December 5, 2018 [7 favorites]
Matt Fuller, Nancy Pelosi Considers Term Limit On Democratic Chairs
posted by zachlipton at 4:47 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is considering a push to enact term limits on Democratic chairmen ― a move meant to help her secure the votes to once again be speaker.The details matter here, since having experience is important, but this would be an important step in getting some fresh blood into leadership.
According to two Democratic sources, Pelosi held a meeting with one of her holdouts Tuesday, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-Colo.), and offered to support term limits for chairmen in exchange for his vote for speaker.
While Perlmutter was noncommittal, the move could be a significant concession for Pelosi ― one that would anger many senior members in the Democratic Caucus but also provide a pathway for newer members to move up in Congress. Currently, Democrats have no term limits on chairmen, while Republicans have rules only allowing members to serve three terms as a chair of a committee (though some Republican chairmen have gotten waivers to serve longer).
...
The source close to Pelosi said that it was “inevitable that one day we will have term limits,” and that conversations would continue and this would be a topic in an upcoming Caucus meeting.
posted by zachlipton at 4:47 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
The death of George H.W. Bush was another cause of West Wing anxiety, given Trump’s frequent criticisms of various members of that family. But allies have mostly been relieved. “Look at how he’s been. It’s presidential,” a former West Wing aide said.
He's the president* and he was literally not allowed to speak at a former president's funeral. This is the only thing to take away from it.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:53 PM on December 5, 2018 [71 favorites]
He's the president* and he was literally not allowed to speak at a former president's funeral. This is the only thing to take away from it.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:53 PM on December 5, 2018 [71 favorites]
“They’re beginning to think about whether Mike Pence should be running again,” the source said, adding that the advisers presented Trump with new polling that shows Pence doesn’t expand Trump’s coalition. “He doesn’t detract from it, but he doesn’t add anything either,” the source said.
I have a really hard time envisioning how Pence could be replaced on the ticket with anyone other than a Trump syncophant. Who is this new VP canidate that could "expand Trump's coalition"? Trump would demand absolute loyalty, he's not going to replace Pence with a Kasich or someone plausibly "moderate" with their own power base, he'd be more likely pick a Devin Nunes. Someone with no other loyalties than to Trump and already has a record of personal service to protecting Trump. And why the hell would someone not already beholden jump on the Trump train at this point? And why would the rabid Republican base accept that person? Do we see a lot of NeverTrump types winning elections right now?
It makes sense that Trump might want to stab Pence in the back. It doesn't make sense that there's anyone Trump would pick instead that could conceivably appeal to anyone outside MAGALand.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:11 PM on December 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
I have a really hard time envisioning how Pence could be replaced on the ticket with anyone other than a Trump syncophant. Who is this new VP canidate that could "expand Trump's coalition"? Trump would demand absolute loyalty, he's not going to replace Pence with a Kasich or someone plausibly "moderate" with their own power base, he'd be more likely pick a Devin Nunes. Someone with no other loyalties than to Trump and already has a record of personal service to protecting Trump. And why the hell would someone not already beholden jump on the Trump train at this point? And why would the rabid Republican base accept that person? Do we see a lot of NeverTrump types winning elections right now?
It makes sense that Trump might want to stab Pence in the back. It doesn't make sense that there's anyone Trump would pick instead that could conceivably appeal to anyone outside MAGALand.
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:11 PM on December 5, 2018 [10 favorites]
Sacramento Bee, Kamala Harris aide resigns after harassment, retaliation settlement surfaces
posted by zachlipton at 5:26 PM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
A longtime top staff member of U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris resigned Wednesday after The Sacramento Bee inquired about a $400,000 harassment and retaliation settlement resulting from his time working for Harris at the California Department of Justice.I suspect this is not the last time we'll hear about this particularly story.
Larry Wallace, who served as the director of the Division of Law Enforcement under then-Attorney General Harris, was accused by his former executive assistant in December 2016 of “gender harassment” and other demeaning behavior, including frequently asking her to crawl under his desk to change the paper in his printer.
The lawsuit was filed on Dec. 30, 2016, when Harris was still attorney general but preparing to be sworn in as California’s newly elected Democratic senator. It was settled less than five months later, in May 2017, by Xavier Becerra, who was appointed to replace her as attorney general. By that time, Wallace had transitioned to work for Harris as a senior advisor in her Sacramento office.
posted by zachlipton at 5:26 PM on December 5, 2018 [5 favorites]
outside advisers have been pushing Nikki Haley to replace Pence
I think Haley's too ambitious to jump on the Trumptanic. She's more likely to sit out 2020 and run herself in 2024 or primary him in 2020 than she is to be his VP.
Sarah Palin's available.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:27 PM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
I think Haley's too ambitious to jump on the Trumptanic. She's more likely to sit out 2020 and run herself in 2024 or primary him in 2020 than she is to be his VP.
Sarah Palin's available.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:27 PM on December 5, 2018 [11 favorites]
I suspect this is not the last time we'll hear about this particularly story.
Let justice be done though the heavens fall.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:28 PM on December 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
Let justice be done though the heavens fall.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:28 PM on December 5, 2018 [30 favorites]
Don't these "Trump is thinking of firing X" stories tend to come up not long before some action is taken by Mueller or something?
The fact that it's Pence that's getting floated as being on the chopping block is a good sign I think.
posted by VTX at 5:55 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
The fact that it's Pence that's getting floated as being on the chopping block is a good sign I think.
posted by VTX at 5:55 PM on December 5, 2018 [2 favorites]
WaPo, Lisa Rein, Don’t condemn white nationalists, Veterans Affairs’ diversity chief was told after Charlottesville, emails show
A top White House appointee at the Department of Veterans Affairs sought to silence the agency’s chief diversity officer, who — in the aftermath of last year’s racially charged violence in Charlottesville — pushed for a forceful condemnation that was at odds with President Trump’s response, newly disclosed emails show.posted by zachlipton at 5:57 PM on December 5, 2018 [26 favorites]
The tense exchange between Georgia Coffey, a nationally recognized expert in workplace diversity and race relations, and John Ullyot, who remains VA’s chief communications official, occurred during a low point in Trump’s presidency: when he blamed “many sides” for the deadly clash in Charlottesville without singling out the white nationalists and neo-Nazis who rallied there.
...
A statement from VA leaders was necessary, Coffey wrote in one email to Ullyot, because the agency’s workforce was unsettled by the uproar caused by the Charlottesville violence. Minorities make up more than 40 percent of VA’s 380,000 employees, the federal government’s second-largest agency.
Ullyot told Coffey to stand down, the emails show. A person familiar with their dispute, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told The Post that Ullyot was enforcing a directive from the White House, where officials were scrambling to contain the fallout from Trump’s comments, and they did not want government officials to call further attention to the controversy.
VA spokesman Curt Cashour said the agency received no such guidance from the White House.
Oh god, not "presidential" again.
He made it all the way through the eulogy without doing the jacking-off motion, he's really turned a corner
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:12 PM on December 5, 2018 [52 favorites]
He made it all the way through the eulogy without doing the jacking-off motion, he's really turned a corner
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 6:12 PM on December 5, 2018 [52 favorites]
He's not going with Haley or Palin or any woman because he can't even pretend to respect them and even the stupidest staffer (sup Corey) knows that. Making his VP a grease fire would be as strategic.
Still, fun to think about Trump being the Trump Pence dreams about. A sad little Twitler and his Göebbels.
posted by petebest at 6:59 PM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
Still, fun to think about Trump being the Trump Pence dreams about. A sad little Twitler and his Göebbels.
posted by petebest at 6:59 PM on December 5, 2018 [1 favorite]
The president has been shockingly presidential for the last six minutes (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
“I don’t know what more you could ask for in terms of dignity, self-control and a silence more eloquent than words,” one commentator observed. “This could be the dawn of a new era for President Trump when he grows into the dignity of the office and rises to the demands of his position. It is certainly not beyond his capacity to do so, and I’m excited to see more behavior like this.”posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:04 PM on December 5, 2018 [27 favorites]
Other commentators agreed: “During this time period, the president has shown a self-possession we’ve rarely seen from him, and I am hopeful that if he can demonstrate this kind of maturity, he is finally proving to be equipped for the Oval Office.”
During the stated time, several bats flew by the window and Trump did not bite their heads off; celebrities criticized him and he declined to respond; reporters asked questions and Trump did not insult them; and three separate Twitter controversies began and ended without any comment from him whatsoever.
Then he woke up.
Damon Young of Very Smart Brothas: Y'all's Triflin-Ass President Can't Even Sit Up Straight During a Funeral: Perhaps I’d consider being more kind if Trump were dealing with an illness or ailment that left him unable to not sit and look like a Garbage Pail Kid. But according to his doctor (heh), his health is “astonishingly excellent.” It’s not health that he lacks, it’s couth. He is couth deficient. Couth repellent. Couth avoidant. Couth impaired. Couth meager. Couth weak.
He is also president.
posted by TwoStride at 7:45 PM on December 5, 2018 [38 favorites]
He is also president.
posted by TwoStride at 7:45 PM on December 5, 2018 [38 favorites]
Helluva headline change from the NYT:
Wisconsin RepublicansApprove Bills Stripping Power From Incoming Defiantly 'Stand Like Bedrock' in Face of Democratic Governor Wins
Can't really collaborate much more than that.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:00 PM on December 5, 2018 [49 favorites]
Wisconsin Republicans
Can't really collaborate much more than that.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:00 PM on December 5, 2018 [49 favorites]
The headline already changed again.
posted by sideshow at 8:26 PM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by sideshow at 8:26 PM on December 5, 2018 [3 favorites]
I've been somewhat resistant to "unsubscribe" style memes with regards to the NYT, even though I've always seen the problems with the paper, but this, is so... blatent! I'm just in awe...
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 9:30 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 9:30 PM on December 5, 2018 [4 favorites]
Still, fun to think about Trump being the Trump Pence dreams about. A sad little Twitler and his Göebbels.
Gotta be Ivanka. That's the only thing that makes sense to me.
posted by Literaryhero at 1:51 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Gotta be Ivanka. That's the only thing that makes sense to me.
posted by Literaryhero at 1:51 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Salt Lake Tribune: Lawsuit claims medical marijuana law was weakened by unconstitutional “domination and interference” by Mormon church
posted by Crystalinne at 1:59 AM on December 6, 2018 [41 favorites]
Medical cannabis advocates outraged by Monday’s passage of a Proposition 2 replacement law are suing the state, accusing the Utah Legislature of abridging the rights of voters in an effort to appease The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [...]I haven't seen this disaster covered much in national media. But the people voted in Prop 2 which was still very limited. However this replacement bill severely reduces access and changes what's available. This is a huge case relating to the separation of church and state.
“In ... direct contravention of the expressed will of the People, ... the Legislature, at the behest of the Church and as a result of the Church’s domination and interference, voted to dramatically undermine core purposes of Proposition 2 and the Initiative statute by radically amending, and essentially replacing, the Initiative statute with the passage of [the Utah Medical Cannabis Act], which deprives, reduces, and unreasonably burdens access to medical cannabis.”
In a July email to TRUCE and EAU, church lobbyist Marty Stevens threatened a “long political and legislative fight" if Prop 2 architects did not compromise with the church, and promised “a ‘5-10 million dollar’ expenditure 'fighting about this initiative, which ... [would] be raised from wealthy members of the Church," the lawsuit alleges. The email indicated “a belief that Mr. Stephens and the Church wield the power to decide ‘how and when we involve elected officials, the medical association, and other community groups,’” the lawsuit states.
The state constitution “prohibits the Utah Legislature from materially undermining, by repeal or amendment, the core purposes of legislation passed through the initiative process,” the lawsuit argues.
posted by Crystalinne at 1:59 AM on December 6, 2018 [41 favorites]
NYT headline currently now reads:
In Hardball Maneuver, Wisconsin Republicans Strip Power From Incoming Democrats
posted by Mister Bijou at 2:07 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
In Hardball Maneuver, Wisconsin Republicans Strip Power From Incoming Democrats
posted by Mister Bijou at 2:07 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Hardball rather than anti-democratic. FFS.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:25 AM on December 6, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 3:25 AM on December 6, 2018 [28 favorites]
re: pence - alternatively, it’s just trump trying to get the “AGNEW’D” achievement in his speedrun of the nixon administration
posted by murphy slaw at 4:19 AM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 4:19 AM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
Oof, is the Times actually A/B testing now? Are different readers going to see different headlines to either maximize or minimize umbrage?
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:22 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:22 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by escape from the potato planet at 4:24 AM on December 6, 2018 [18 favorites]
Elizabeth Warren Stands by DNA Test. But Around Her, Worries Abound. (Astead W. Herndon, NYT)
In interviews, several progressives wondered if Ms. Warren’s decision to take the DNA test was indicative of a larger problem for several prospective presidential candidates: that their inner circles of advisers don’t reflect the racial diversity of the Democratic electorate.posted by ZeusHumms at 5:02 AM on December 6, 2018
“Race is a true third rail in American politics, and you can make a lot of mistakes when we don’t have a diverse set of folks who are in the room and empowered to make decisions,” said Eric Lundy, program director of Inclusv, a group that pushes for more diversity in political campaign staffs.
But as Ms. Warren inches closer to a presidential run, even critics of her decision to take the DNA test believe she is well positioned to shore up support. In the past week she has received heaps of praise for a foreign policy speech at American University, and she remains one of the party’s top fund-raisers and surrogates.
Every President Recited This Prayer Except Trump, And People Definitely Noticed (HuffPost)
posted by valkane at 5:16 AM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by valkane at 5:16 AM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
That's a total softball for the true believers: "Our president is obviously deep in silent prayer, seeking divine guidance as he continues to solve our nation's problems. " Too easy.
posted by Rykey at 5:32 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 5:32 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Bush’s Funeral Was a Renunciation of Trump (WaPo)
Dana Millbank: “Bush’s funeral was so powerful a renunciation of his current successor because it was a celebration of character. Friendship was invoked 21 times by his eulogists. Loyalty, 10. ‘Honor,’ ‘integrity,’ ‘dignity,’ ‘decency’ and inner peace all recurred. Certainly, Bush could be a fierce partisan and a brutal politician (remember Willie Horton?), but his service in World War II — he was shot down over the Pacific* — left him with lessons that fueled his generation’s greatness: The opposition is not the enemy. There are causes greater than self. Political defeat is not the worst thing. And American leadership in the world is indispensable.”
“Trump, for whom no cause is greater than self, must have struggled to sit through 90 minutes of something that was not all about him. Rather, it was all about what he is not.”
John Harris: (Politico) “The service was replete with praise for the 41st president that could, with just the slightest nudge of interpretation, be heard as implied rebuke of the 45th president. But only implied, never explicit—this, unlike almost everything else in American politics today, was not about Donald Trump.”
“And yet it very much was.”
Wow corporate news just whippin' out the snub-noses on their creation. "Implied Rebuke"! Damn that's the most Concerned there is!
* YES. WE KNOW.
posted by petebest at 5:35 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Dana Millbank: “Bush’s funeral was so powerful a renunciation of his current successor because it was a celebration of character. Friendship was invoked 21 times by his eulogists. Loyalty, 10. ‘Honor,’ ‘integrity,’ ‘dignity,’ ‘decency’ and inner peace all recurred. Certainly, Bush could be a fierce partisan and a brutal politician (remember Willie Horton?), but his service in World War II — he was shot down over the Pacific* — left him with lessons that fueled his generation’s greatness: The opposition is not the enemy. There are causes greater than self. Political defeat is not the worst thing. And American leadership in the world is indispensable.”
“Trump, for whom no cause is greater than self, must have struggled to sit through 90 minutes of something that was not all about him. Rather, it was all about what he is not.”
John Harris: (Politico) “The service was replete with praise for the 41st president that could, with just the slightest nudge of interpretation, be heard as implied rebuke of the 45th president. But only implied, never explicit—this, unlike almost everything else in American politics today, was not about Donald Trump.”
“And yet it very much was.”
Wow corporate news just whippin' out the snub-noses on their creation. "Implied Rebuke"! Damn that's the most Concerned there is!
* YES. WE KNOW.
posted by petebest at 5:35 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Every President Recited This Prayer Except Trump, And People Definitely Noticed
A single word shifts that headline into the dialect of clickbait -- and it's not the one you think! (It's "this", used instead of "a" or no word at all.)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 5:40 AM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
A single word shifts that headline into the dialect of clickbait -- and it's not the one you think! (It's "this", used instead of "a" or no word at all.)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 5:40 AM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
I imagine he prefers people who don’t get shot down.
posted by Bovine Love at 5:42 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Bovine Love at 5:42 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
*checks notes*
It appears that the QAnon people were reading the #D5 press release upside down. Instead of happening on 12/5/2018, the Purge of All that is Evil, Draining of the Swamp and Locking Up of Her is actually scheduled on May 21st in the year 8102.
posted by delfin at 5:52 AM on December 6, 2018 [21 favorites]
It appears that the QAnon people were reading the #D5 press release upside down. Instead of happening on 12/5/2018, the Purge of All that is Evil, Draining of the Swamp and Locking Up of Her is actually scheduled on May 21st in the year 8102.
posted by delfin at 5:52 AM on December 6, 2018 [21 favorites]
"Who is this new VP canidate that could "expand Trump's coalition"? "
The reason Nikki Haley's being floated is that Republicans think about Democrats' commitment to diversity in the most reductive terms possible -- "Women voted Democrat not because they believe in Democratic principles or because our candidate is a trashfire on women, they voted Democrat because Hilary was on the ticket. If we put Nikki Haley on the ticket, all those suburban women will come vote Republican!"
Same reason they ran Alan Keyes against Barack Obama for Senate -- "black people just want to vote for a black guy, they don't care WHICH black guy!"
Pence was supposed to shore up Trump with white evangelicals. Turns out they're plenty racist and are delighted to vote for Trump without needing Pence on the ticket. So they'll look for someone who ticks some "diversity" box for them on the theory that "identity politics" means Democrats will happily vote for someone who looks like them. (I mean, it works with white evangelicals -- show them an old white dude, they're in like Flynn!) The dumber "strategists" among them will take great umbrage when this gambit fails, but at least they'll get a solid year of stories about it from uncritical "both sides" mainstream media where there'll be tons of credulous stories about how Nikki Haley is super-feminist and talks to women and various GOP talking heads complain bitterly that suburban women for SOME UNKNOWN REASON aren't REALLY feminist or they'd vote for Nikki Haley. And it'll be Fox's programming basically 24/7.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:54 AM on December 6, 2018 [43 favorites]
The reason Nikki Haley's being floated is that Republicans think about Democrats' commitment to diversity in the most reductive terms possible -- "Women voted Democrat not because they believe in Democratic principles or because our candidate is a trashfire on women, they voted Democrat because Hilary was on the ticket. If we put Nikki Haley on the ticket, all those suburban women will come vote Republican!"
Same reason they ran Alan Keyes against Barack Obama for Senate -- "black people just want to vote for a black guy, they don't care WHICH black guy!"
Pence was supposed to shore up Trump with white evangelicals. Turns out they're plenty racist and are delighted to vote for Trump without needing Pence on the ticket. So they'll look for someone who ticks some "diversity" box for them on the theory that "identity politics" means Democrats will happily vote for someone who looks like them. (I mean, it works with white evangelicals -- show them an old white dude, they're in like Flynn!) The dumber "strategists" among them will take great umbrage when this gambit fails, but at least they'll get a solid year of stories about it from uncritical "both sides" mainstream media where there'll be tons of credulous stories about how Nikki Haley is super-feminist and talks to women and various GOP talking heads complain bitterly that suburban women for SOME UNKNOWN REASON aren't REALLY feminist or they'd vote for Nikki Haley. And it'll be Fox's programming basically 24/7.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 5:54 AM on December 6, 2018 [43 favorites]
You would think that T refusing to recite a Christian prayer would piss off the Evangelicals, but nah.
posted by Melismata at 5:59 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 5:59 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Why would you think that? Evangelicals are 100% in the open at this point that as long as white supremacy is the order of the day, they give zero fucks about anything else. They have ceased being a religion in any sense of the word, and they do not believe anything that relates to their supposed faith. They would crucify a returned Jesus if they thought it'd allow Trump to build a wall (preferably topped with machine-gun nests to shoot at all the brown people).
posted by tocts at 6:24 AM on December 6, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by tocts at 6:24 AM on December 6, 2018 [26 favorites]
Keep in mind that anyone can call themselves an "evangelical" and there's a lot of evidence that Trump's strongest support comes from evangelicals who don't attend church. Being an evangelical or born-again Christian is just a tribal identity. It doesn't actually mean anything, doctrinally. Even this evangelical research group agrees.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:36 AM on December 6, 2018 [43 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:36 AM on December 6, 2018 [43 favorites]
Every President Recited This Prayer Except Trump, And People Definitely Noticed
If we lived in a country with freedom of religion, nobody would care who prayed and who didn't. But presidents have to at least pretend to be practicing Christians. Maybe Mr. Two Corinthians isn't religious. If so, standing quietly and respectfully is what a nonbeliever would do. I'm much more offended by him not greeting the Carters and the Clintons than this.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:48 AM on December 6, 2018 [21 favorites]
If we lived in a country with freedom of religion, nobody would care who prayed and who didn't. But presidents have to at least pretend to be practicing Christians. Maybe Mr. Two Corinthians isn't religious. If so, standing quietly and respectfully is what a nonbeliever would do. I'm much more offended by him not greeting the Carters and the Clintons than this.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:48 AM on December 6, 2018 [21 favorites]
Don’t mind us! We are just making the voting more fair. (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
Look, it has come to our attention that people in this state are not being correctly represented. By “correctly represented” I mean “represented by Republicans.” This is why we as a legislature are taking steps to make sure the voice of the people can be resoundingly heard. You would think doing something like voting would make your voice heard, but voting only muddles things. Sometimes, due to some kind of confusion or flaw in the system, voters do not select Republicans. It is this strange tendency of hundreds of thousands — nay, millions! — of Democratic ballots to appear in boxes each Election Day that has left us so unshakably convinced that voter fraud is rampant.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 6:53 AM on December 6, 2018 [43 favorites]
But do not worry: We are taking steps to fix that. One way you can tell something has gone wrong with voting is if the Democratic candidate gets enough votes to win. That is a sign that the process has failed.
That is why we have sneaked into the statehouse under cover of darkness — SHHH! No, keep the lights off! We must vote on our plan quickly and disperse before they catch wind of what is happening. Not because we are ashamed or annoyed, but because they would be too excited and proud of us, and we would not want that to go to our heads.
Women voted Democrat not because they believe in Democratic principles or because our candidate is a trashfire on women, they voted Democrat because Hilary was on the ticket. If we put Nikki Haley on the ticket, all those suburban women will come vote Republican!
Completely agree. Most of the women I knew that supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primaries were pissed when John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:53 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Completely agree. Most of the women I knew that supported Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primaries were pissed when John McCain picked Sarah Palin as his running mate.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:53 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
So white supremacists have learned to call themselves "evangelical" to pass by?
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:56 AM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:56 AM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
soren_lorensen: Keep in mind that anyone can call themselves an "evangelical" and there's a lot of evidence that Trump's strongest support comes from evangelicals who don't attend church.
Sort of like how "millenial" has, in some sectors, shifted to mean "young people" rather than an aging cohort ("remember the dialup noise? millenials won't!")... and for that matter, the way Ross Douthat refers to himself as a WASP (he's very adamantly Catholic)... the word "evangelical" has been transitioning to "social conservative of any sort" for a while now, yeah.
I wouldn't be terribly surprised if, in ten years, there's a national conversation about the "non-believing evangelical" vote (and it wouldn't mean people evangelizing agnosticism door-to-door).
For the present, though, it is still nominal hypocrisy for them to not even care about the appearance of Christianity, because in other contexts they do pretend to care. So pointing it out isn't an empty statement.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:00 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Sort of like how "millenial" has, in some sectors, shifted to mean "young people" rather than an aging cohort ("remember the dialup noise? millenials won't!")... and for that matter, the way Ross Douthat refers to himself as a WASP (he's very adamantly Catholic)... the word "evangelical" has been transitioning to "social conservative of any sort" for a while now, yeah.
I wouldn't be terribly surprised if, in ten years, there's a national conversation about the "non-believing evangelical" vote (and it wouldn't mean people evangelizing agnosticism door-to-door).
For the present, though, it is still nominal hypocrisy for them to not even care about the appearance of Christianity, because in other contexts they do pretend to care. So pointing it out isn't an empty statement.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:00 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
The White House Has No Plan for Confronting the Mueller Report
...while most organizations, political or otherwise, might take the time to prepare for this kind of slow-moving train, the Trump White House is all but winging it. According to a half-dozen current and former White House officials, the administration has no plans in place for responding to the special counsel’s findings—save for expecting a Twitter spree.posted by kirkaracha at 7:03 AM on December 6, 2018 [34 favorites]
...
There are numerous other reasons no response plan has been produced, White House sources said, including the futility of crafting a strategy that Trump will likely ignore anyway.
...
“We would always put together plans with the knowledge that he wouldn’t use them or they’d go off the rails,” one recently departed official told me. “And at this point, with Mueller, they’ve decided they’re not even going to do that.”
“It’s like, ‘Jesus, take the wheel,’” the source added, “but scarier.”
Well, in a culture where "It's my religion!" is a get-out-of-being-challenged-on-your-beliefs-free-card, it's certainly handy to say that your white supremacism and general shittiness are part of your religion. (And I say this as a vegetarian who has totally used "because I'm a Buddhist" to get out of having the "Plants feel pain! Bugs are killed in grain harvesting! Bacon is delicious!" conversation. It's super effective, tbh.)
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:09 AM on December 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:09 AM on December 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
14 Questions Robert Mueller Knows the Answers To
Add this one from the Guardian: Was Michael Flynn asked to wear a wire in Mueller hunt for evidence on Russia?—Plea agreement includes clause showing Flynn consented to participate in ‘covert law enforcement activities” if required
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:12 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Add this one from the Guardian: Was Michael Flynn asked to wear a wire in Mueller hunt for evidence on Russia?—Plea agreement includes clause showing Flynn consented to participate in ‘covert law enforcement activities” if required
Section eight of the deal reached by Donald Trump’s former national security adviser in the inquiry into Russian meddling in the US election is entitled “cooperation”. It specifies that as well as answering questions and submitting to government-administered polygraph tests, Flynn’s cooperation “may include … participating in covert law enforcement activities”.(I don't see any reason for "long-time students of federal law enforcement practices" to require anonymity for their views, except the sheer vindictiveness of the Trump administration. Still, it's disheartening to see the practice of unnamed sourcing spread like this.)
Long-time students of federal law enforcement practices agreed, speaking anonymously, that “covert law enforcement activities” likely refers to the possibility of wearing a concealed wire or recording telephone conversations with other potential suspects. It is not known whether Flynn has worn a wire at any time.
“If the other subjects of investigation have had any conversations with Flynn during the last few months, that phrase must have all of them shaking in their boots,” said John Flannery, a former federal prosecutor in the southern district of New York.
“The one who must be particularly terrified is [Trump son-in-law and adviser] Jared Kushner, if he spoke to the special counsel’s office without immunity about the very matter that is the subject of Flynn’s plea. I think he must be paralyzed if he talked to Flynn before or after the investigators debriefed him.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:12 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
So white supremacists have learned to call themselves "evangelical" to pass by?
American white supremacy has always cloaked itself in Christianity.
posted by Etrigan at 7:18 AM on December 6, 2018 [62 favorites]
American white supremacy has always cloaked itself in Christianity.
posted by Etrigan at 7:18 AM on December 6, 2018 [62 favorites]
We've discussed this a bunch before, but The Racial Demons that Help Explain Evangelical Support for Trump and American evangelicalism and the politics of whiteness. There is a TON of scholarship on this issue. But maybe the two key points here are that the use of the term "evangelical" has shifted from having a specific religious meaning to being so strongly politically associated that many religious evangelicals are abandoning the term; and while there's always been a racist strand of Christianity in the US, its ideological cohesion, political boldness, and domination of and location within one political party is relatively new.
(And yeah we're in an awkward political moment with the term "evangelical" because the culture is still catching up with the fact that it used to be a relatively neutral theological descriptor -- evangelicals believe X, Y, and Z -- to a cultural and political identity descriptor, so a lot of conversations have people talking past each other where people aren't being careful about how they're using the term evangelical -- theologically, politically, or a messy mix of the two.)
One way in which white evangelicals claims to religious belief still matters A LOT -- despite their almost total failure to practice any of those beliefs -- is that they're weaponizing those beliefs through First Amendment lawsuits to enshrine various forms of bigotry (anti-gay bakers, no birth control, etc.) in law via religious freedom arguments. So I do think it's worth routinely pointing out when their actions are not in line with what they claim to believe, because while it's pretty clear politically active white evangelicals are only nominally Christian and "white evangelical" is actually a cultural identity (wrapped up in patriarchy, guns, and white supremacy) rather than a religious one at this point, they are still using religious claims as a vehicle to forward intolerance and bigotry. So it's worth continuing to highlight how laughably dissonant their actual beliefs and practices are from what they claim to believe and practice.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:39 AM on December 6, 2018 [41 favorites]
(And yeah we're in an awkward political moment with the term "evangelical" because the culture is still catching up with the fact that it used to be a relatively neutral theological descriptor -- evangelicals believe X, Y, and Z -- to a cultural and political identity descriptor, so a lot of conversations have people talking past each other where people aren't being careful about how they're using the term evangelical -- theologically, politically, or a messy mix of the two.)
One way in which white evangelicals claims to religious belief still matters A LOT -- despite their almost total failure to practice any of those beliefs -- is that they're weaponizing those beliefs through First Amendment lawsuits to enshrine various forms of bigotry (anti-gay bakers, no birth control, etc.) in law via religious freedom arguments. So I do think it's worth routinely pointing out when their actions are not in line with what they claim to believe, because while it's pretty clear politically active white evangelicals are only nominally Christian and "white evangelical" is actually a cultural identity (wrapped up in patriarchy, guns, and white supremacy) rather than a religious one at this point, they are still using religious claims as a vehicle to forward intolerance and bigotry. So it's worth continuing to highlight how laughably dissonant their actual beliefs and practices are from what they claim to believe and practice.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 7:39 AM on December 6, 2018 [41 favorites]
Michelle Goldberg's excellent reporting on 'dominionism' from a few years ago is a great primer on what evangelicals have gathered for over this century. (tl:dr power for the rich and white.)
posted by Harry Caul at 7:40 AM on December 6, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 7:40 AM on December 6, 2018 [15 favorites]
Because Trump White House officials leaking anonymously to Russian state media is totally normal in 2018, Tass reports, Trump Seeks Meeting With Putin After Kerch Strait Incident Is Resolved — Official
Also, first thing this morning, @realDonaldTrump was complaining (with a 100% certification from Trump or Not) about how the "phony Russia Witch Hunt" was hurting his Rasmussen approval ratings and amounted to "Presidential Harassment!". Oh, and Trump's lying about Rasmussen—they track him at 49% approval among likely voters, 50% disapproval, not the other way around.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:05 AM on December 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
US President Donald Trump expects to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin after the Kerch Strait standoff is resolved, a high-ranking official in the US administration told TASS, commenting on cancelled talks between the two leaders at the G20 summit in Argentina.US media hasn't picked up this story, either because they can't independently verify it or because they're being kept out of the loop.
"The reason for cancelling the meeting on the G20 sidelines is Russia’s detention of Ukrainian vessels and their crew members. Russia did not free them in order to de-escalate the situation. As President Trump has already said, he expects that the meeting will be held after the situation is resolved," the official said.
Also, first thing this morning, @realDonaldTrump was complaining (with a 100% certification from Trump or Not) about how the "phony Russia Witch Hunt" was hurting his Rasmussen approval ratings and amounted to "Presidential Harassment!". Oh, and Trump's lying about Rasmussen—they track him at 49% approval among likely voters, 50% disapproval, not the other way around.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:05 AM on December 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
Mueller’s investigators have asked Ted Malloch, the London-based American academic who is also close to Nigel Farage, about his frequent appearances on RT, which US intelligence authorities have called Russia’s principal propaganda arm. Malloch was a Trump campaign adviser.
On July 25, 2016, Stone emailed Corsi, telling him to “get to” Assange in the “Ecuadorian Embassy in London and get the pending” WikiLeaks “emails.”
Corsi forwarded this email to an “overseas individual.” Reportedly, this is Ted Malloch, a UK-based Trump supporter and author.
posted by adamvasco at 8:08 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
On July 25, 2016, Stone emailed Corsi, telling him to “get to” Assange in the “Ecuadorian Embassy in London and get the pending” WikiLeaks “emails.”
Corsi forwarded this email to an “overseas individual.” Reportedly, this is Ted Malloch, a UK-based Trump supporter and author.
posted by adamvasco at 8:08 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
Evers Will Personally Appeal To Walker To Veto Legislation Robbing Him Of Power - Scott Bauer and Todd Richmond, AP/via TPM
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:12 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:12 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
“We would always put together plans with the knowledge that he wouldn’t use them or they’d go off the rails,” one recently departed official told me. “And at this point, with Mueller, they’ve decided they’re not even going to do that.”If there was ever a time for the Downfall meme to make a comeback, it's probably now.
“It’s like, ‘Jesus, take the wheel,’” the source added, “but scarier.”
posted by octobersurprise at 8:13 AM on December 6, 2018 [16 favorites]
Keep in mind that anyone can call themselves an "evangelical" and there's a lot of evidence that Trump's strongest support comes from evangelicals who don't attend church.
This "no true scotsman" argument might have more weight if it weren't for the fact the almost all of the prominent pastors, leaders and spokespersons representing evangelical churches are the most vocal and devoted supporters and apologists for Trump.
posted by JackFlash at 8:13 AM on December 6, 2018 [29 favorites]
This "no true scotsman" argument might have more weight if it weren't for the fact the almost all of the prominent pastors, leaders and spokespersons representing evangelical churches are the most vocal and devoted supporters and apologists for Trump.
posted by JackFlash at 8:13 AM on December 6, 2018 [29 favorites]
“We would always put together plans with the knowledge that he wouldn’t use them or they’d go off the rails,”
Trump seems very consistent in this way. It's like he doesn't like learning at all.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:18 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
Trump seems very consistent in this way. It's like he doesn't like learning at all.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:18 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
Meanwhile, the Trump administration racks up international tensions:
CNN: US Makes Preparations To Sail Warship Into Black Sea Amid Russia-Ukraine Tensions "The US military has requested that the State Department notify Turkey of its possible plans to sail a warship into the Black Sea, three US officials tell CNN, a move they said is a response to Russia's actions against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov."
BBC: Huawei Arrest: China Demands Release of Meng Wanzhou "China is demanding the release of telecoms giant Huawei's chief financial officer, who has been detained in Canada. Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the company's founder, could face extradition to the US. […] The charges remain unknown but the US has been probing Huawei over possible violation of sanctions against Iran."
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:40 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
CNN: US Makes Preparations To Sail Warship Into Black Sea Amid Russia-Ukraine Tensions "The US military has requested that the State Department notify Turkey of its possible plans to sail a warship into the Black Sea, three US officials tell CNN, a move they said is a response to Russia's actions against Ukraine in the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov."
BBC: Huawei Arrest: China Demands Release of Meng Wanzhou "China is demanding the release of telecoms giant Huawei's chief financial officer, who has been detained in Canada. Meng Wanzhou, the daughter of the company's founder, could face extradition to the US. […] The charges remain unknown but the US has been probing Huawei over possible violation of sanctions against Iran."
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:40 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Oof, is the Times actually A/B testing now? Are different readers going to see different headlines to either maximize or minimize umbrage?
Yes. This has been a thing for a while, especially on mobile - it happens suspiciously often with AMP links.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:44 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yes. This has been a thing for a while, especially on mobile - it happens suspiciously often with AMP links.
posted by aspersioncast at 8:44 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yes. This has been a thing for a while, especially on mobile - it happens suspiciously often with AMP links.
Whelp, there goes the whole "Newspaper of Record" thing...
posted by mikelieman at 8:57 AM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
Whelp, there goes the whole "Newspaper of Record" thing...
posted by mikelieman at 8:57 AM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
And let's also not forget that for those non-churchgoers, FOX News and AM Radio is a pretty close stand-in for actual religious figures. So they're being "churched" one way or the other.
I think this applies even moreso to rural people. I drove through a lot of sparsely populated America in June and the lack of megachurches or even roads that are accessible in winter means Bott Radio Network is doing that work.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:59 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
I think this applies even moreso to rural people. I drove through a lot of sparsely populated America in June and the lack of megachurches or even roads that are accessible in winter means Bott Radio Network is doing that work.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:59 AM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Oof, is the Times actually A/B testing now? Are different readers going to see different headlines to either maximize or minimize umbrage?
Yes. This has been a thing for a while, especially on mobile - it happens suspiciously often with AMP links.
WaPo started real time headline optimization a few years back.
posted by BS Artisan at 9:07 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Yes. This has been a thing for a while, especially on mobile - it happens suspiciously often with AMP links.
WaPo started real time headline optimization a few years back.
posted by BS Artisan at 9:07 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
The death of George H.W. Bush was another cause of West Wing anxiety, given Trump’s frequent criticisms of various members of that family. But allies have mostly been relieved. “Look at how he’s been. It’s presidential,” a former West Wing aide said.
The NYT, in its Bush funeral coverage, has a report from within the Trump White House: "Mr. Trump has been snappish with aides most of the week, according to administration officials, miffed in part by so many ceremonial events not related to him. He was impatient for the memorials to end but expressed pride in himself for remaining publicly civil. People close to the president called it a course correction after his peevish reaction to Mr. McCain’s death."
Hat-tip to Daniel Drezner's ongoing "I’ll believe that Trump is growing into the presidency when his staff stops talking about him like a toddler." Twitter thread.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:16 AM on December 6, 2018 [45 favorites]
The NYT, in its Bush funeral coverage, has a report from within the Trump White House: "Mr. Trump has been snappish with aides most of the week, according to administration officials, miffed in part by so many ceremonial events not related to him. He was impatient for the memorials to end but expressed pride in himself for remaining publicly civil. People close to the president called it a course correction after his peevish reaction to Mr. McCain’s death."
Hat-tip to Daniel Drezner's ongoing "I’ll believe that Trump is growing into the presidency when his staff stops talking about him like a toddler." Twitter thread.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:16 AM on December 6, 2018 [45 favorites]
...while most organizations, political or otherwise, might take the time to prepare for this kind of slow-moving train, the Trump White House is all but winging it. According to a half-dozen current and former White House officials, the administration has no plans in place for responding to the special counsel’s findings—save for expecting a Twitter spree.
Goddamn it, I am so, so sick of reading "OMG, the president is not acting presidential!" Oh, wait ...
...There are numerous other reasons no response plan has been produced, White House sources said, including the futility of crafting a strategy that Trump will likely ignore anyway.
Breakthrough!!! They're learning! Yay!!!
posted by Melismata at 9:21 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
Goddamn it, I am so, so sick of reading "OMG, the president is not acting presidential!" Oh, wait ...
...There are numerous other reasons no response plan has been produced, White House sources said, including the futility of crafting a strategy that Trump will likely ignore anyway.
Breakthrough!!! They're learning! Yay!!!
posted by Melismata at 9:21 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
miffed in part by so many ceremonial events not related to him.
Well, Donny, there's at least one ceremonial event coming with you right at the centre, and a lot of people are looking forward to it.
posted by Stoneshop at 9:33 AM on December 6, 2018 [40 favorites]
Well, Donny, there's at least one ceremonial event coming with you right at the centre, and a lot of people are looking forward to it.
posted by Stoneshop at 9:33 AM on December 6, 2018 [40 favorites]
I believe the worst possible thing that could happen to Trump right now would be a deposition. Sit here. Swear an oath to tell the truth. Answer these questions.
posted by mikelieman at 9:38 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 9:38 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
The HuaWei arrest is so incoherent. It is possible, even likely, that HuaWei were totally violating sanctions with Iran.
But this is not how you deal with that, at all. It's a colossal fuckup, and/or this is what comes from taking foreign policy advice from people like John Bolton.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:42 AM on December 6, 2018 [15 favorites]
But this is not how you deal with that, at all. It's a colossal fuckup, and/or this is what comes from taking foreign policy advice from people like John Bolton.
posted by aspersioncast at 9:42 AM on December 6, 2018 [15 favorites]
giuiliani uses that atlantic interview to talk shit about his client, who is a person of interest in an ongoing federal investigation, you know, like lawyers do:
Giuliani initially pushed back on the prediction that Trump would take center stage after the report drops. “I don’t think following his lead is the right thing. He’s the client,” he told me. “The more controlled a person is, the more intelligent they are, the more they can make the decision. But he’s just like every other client. He’s not more … you know, controlled than any other client. In fact, he’s a little less.”posted by murphy slaw at 9:49 AM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
For Giuliani, letting Trump guide the response post-report may not be ideal, but “I don’t think there’s anyone in the world that can stop Donald Trump from tweeting,” he acknowledged. “I’ve tried.”
From the Washington Post's in-house wonk, the near-national treasure Philip Bump: How Trump's Approval Rating Has Evolved, According to Data Scientist Donald Trump
(with lots of fun graphs on how Trump fudges even the off-base Rasmussen poll numbers)
posted by martin q blank at 9:55 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
(with lots of fun graphs on how Trump fudges even the off-base Rasmussen poll numbers)
posted by martin q blank at 9:55 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also from Giuliani's Atlantic interview:
Giuliani said it’s been difficult in the past few months to even consider drafting response plans, or devote time to the “counter-report” he claimed they were working on this summer as he and Trump confronted Mueller’s written questions about the 2016 campaign.posted by ZeusHumms at 10:00 AM on December 6, 2018 [14 favorites]
“Answering those questions was a nightmare,” he told me. “It took him about three weeks to do what would normally take two days.”
…
Attempting to plan “would mean you would have to have an honest conversation about what might be coming,” a former senior White House official, who requested anonymity to speak freely, told me.
The lack of planning for potential outcomes of one of the highest-stakes investigations of the past two years illuminates many of the key operating principles of this White House—a follow-the-leader approach, a frequent resort to denial, and a staff constantly in flux.
WaPo, William Barr is leading attorney general candidate in Trump discussions
posted by zachlipton at 10:04 AM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
Former attorney general William P. Barr is President Trump’s leading candidate to be nominated to lead the Justice Department — a choice that could be made in coming days as the agency presses forward with a probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election, according to multiple people familiar with the deliberations.Let's hop in the wayback machine back to 1992 and..."The shift highlighted a central theme of Mr. Barr's tenure so far: his contention that violent crime can be reduced only by expanding Federal and state prisons to jail habitual, violent offenders."
Barr, 68, a well-respected Republican lawyer who served as attorney general from 1991 to 1993 under then-President George H.W. Bush, has emerged as a favorite candidate of a number of Trump administration officials, including senior lawyers in the White House Counsel’s Office, these people said. Two people familiar with the discussions said the president has told advisers in recent days that he plans to nominate Barr.
One person familiar with the discussions cautioned that while Barr is the leading candidate, the decision is not final and the president could decide to pick someone else. Another person familiar with the discussions said Barr is “a really serious contender, and possibly the front-runner” for the job, but stressed it was impossible to predict Trump’s pick definitively until it was announced publicly.
posted by zachlipton at 10:04 AM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
giuiliani uses that atlantic interview to talk shit about his client, who is a person of interest in an ongoing federal investigation, you know, like lawyers do
Incidentally, one may infer that some Trump lawyers are talking shit about the swiftly departing Don Gahn: "Throughout it all, West Wing officials have been hamstrung by a vacant White House counsel’s office. […] Yet even with McGahn, who focused the bulk of his tenure on shuttling through Trump’s judicial picks, prepping for the Mueller probe was not top of mind."
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:26 AM on December 6, 2018
Incidentally, one may infer that some Trump lawyers are talking shit about the swiftly departing Don Gahn: "Throughout it all, West Wing officials have been hamstrung by a vacant White House counsel’s office. […] Yet even with McGahn, who focused the bulk of his tenure on shuttling through Trump’s judicial picks, prepping for the Mueller probe was not top of mind."
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:26 AM on December 6, 2018
ABC: Mattis Approves Extension Of Military's Border Security Mission Through Jan. 31
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:32 AM on December 6, 2018 [18 favorites]
The Defense Department statement did not say how many of the 5,600 troops currently deployed to the border would be required to stay, but two U.S. officials told ABC News last week that an extension could take form as a rotational deployment -- meaning different units would regularly rotate into the border support mission.The troops are getting mission creep for the holidays.
Some of the troops currently deployed were expected be relieved on Dec. 15 when the original mission was slated to conclude, allowing them to presumably make it home for the holidays.
The Pentagon has estimated that the border deployment will cost $72 million through Dec. 15.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:32 AM on December 6, 2018 [18 favorites]
NYT, Miriam Jordan, Making President Trump’s Bed: A Housekeeper Without Papers
posted by zachlipton at 10:35 AM on December 6, 2018 [53 favorites]
During more than five years as a housekeeper at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J., Victorina Morales has made Donald J. Trump’s bed, cleaned his toilet and dusted his crystal golf trophies. When he visited as president, she was directed to wear a pin in the shape of the American flag adorned with a Secret Service logo.From there, it gets down to the level of a manager telling Morales where to get new forged documents.
Because of the “outstanding” support she has provided during Mr. Trump’s visits, Ms. Morales in July was given a certificate from the White House Communications Agency inscribed with her name.
Quite an achievement for an undocumented immigrant housekeeper.
...
But Ms. Morales said she has been hurt by Mr. Trump’s public comments since he became president, including equating Latin American immigrants with violent criminals. It was that, she said, along with abusive comments from a supervisor at work about her intelligence and immigration status, that made her feel that she could no longer keep silent.
“We are tired of the abuse, the insults, the way he talks about us when he knows that we are here helping him make money,” she said. “We sweat it out to attend to his every need and have to put up with his humiliation.”
Ms. Morales and Ms. Diaz approached The New York Times through their New Jersey lawyer, Anibal Romero, who is representing them on immigration matters. Ms. Morales said that she understood she could be fired or deported as a result of coming forward, though she has applied for protection under the asylum laws. She is also exploring a lawsuit claiming workplace abuse and discrimination.
...
Soon after Mr. Trump launched his campaign for the presidency, in June 2015, Ms. Morales recalled, one of the managers summoned her to tell her that she could no longer work inside Mr. Trump’s house. Around the same time, she said, several workers, who she said were also working illegally, had their work days shaved from five days to three days. “The workers panicked. A lot of people just left,” she said.
posted by zachlipton at 10:35 AM on December 6, 2018 [53 favorites]
The troops are getting mission creep for the holidays.
Well, we already had racist, cruel, pointless, and political stunt covered on our bingo cards. I believe the proper term for this mission is "quagmire."
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:38 AM on December 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
Well, we already had racist, cruel, pointless, and political stunt covered on our bingo cards. I believe the proper term for this mission is "quagmire."
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:38 AM on December 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
scaryblackdeath: Well, we already had racist, cruel, pointless, and political stunt covered on our bingo cards. I believe the proper term for this mission is "quagmire."
It's even dumber than a quagmire, which is something you can't easily extract yourself from, e.g without losing a war. It's more like sitting on a couch and being told by your small children -- who somehow have custody of you instead of vice-versa -- that you can't leave because the floor is lava now.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:46 AM on December 6, 2018 [47 favorites]
It's even dumber than a quagmire, which is something you can't easily extract yourself from, e.g without losing a war. It's more like sitting on a couch and being told by your small children -- who somehow have custody of you instead of vice-versa -- that you can't leave because the floor is lava now.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:46 AM on December 6, 2018 [47 favorites]
Mike Spies, Mother Jones: Documents Point to Illegal Campaign Coordination Between Trump and the NRA
One element of Red Eagle’s work for the NRA involved purchasing a slate of 52 ad slots on WVEC, the ABC affiliate in Norfolk, Virginia, in late October 2016. The ads targeted adults aged 35 to 64, and aired on local news programs and syndicated shows like Jeopardy! and Wheel of Fortune. In paperwork filed with the Federal Communications Commission, Red Eagle described them as “anti-Hillary” and “pro-Trump.”posted by Surely This at 10:49 AM on December 6, 2018 [38 favorites]
The Trump campaign pursued a strikingly similar advertising strategy. Shortly after the Red Eagle purchase, as Election Day loomed, it bought 33 adson the same station, set to air during the same week. The ads, which the campaign purchased through a firm called American Media & Advocacy Group (AMAG), were aimed at precisely the same demographic as the NRA spots, and often ran during the same shows, bombarding Norfolk viewers with complementary messages.
The two purchases may have looked coincidental; Red Eagle and AMAG appear at first glance to be separate firms. But each is closely connected to a major conservative media-consulting firm called National Media Research, Planning and Placement. In fact, the three outfits are so intertwined that both the NRA’s and the Trump campaign’s ad buys were authorized by the same person: National Media’s chief financial officer, Jon Ferrell.
Some of the troops currently deployed were expected be relieved on Dec. 15 when the original mission was slated to conclude, allowing them to presumably make it home for the holidays.The troops are getting mission creep for the holidays.
What a coincidence, Congress just punted on the appropriations bill again to December 21st.
posted by SpaceBass at 10:49 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
> He was impatient for the memorials to end but expressed pride in himself for remaining publicly civil.
Privilege is getting to feel like you have achieved something extraordinary when in fact you have done the bare minimum that could be expected of someone in your position.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:01 AM on December 6, 2018 [49 favorites]
Privilege is getting to feel like you have achieved something extraordinary when in fact you have done the bare minimum that could be expected of someone in your position.
posted by The Card Cheat at 11:01 AM on December 6, 2018 [49 favorites]
@AriNatter:
posted by Chrysostom at 11:05 AM on December 6, 2018 [25 favorites]
Joe Manchin says in statement he changed his mind against supporting FERC nominee Bernard McNamee because of his remarks denying humans are having an impact on climate.Manchin makes a pretty strong statement there about climate change (sorry, it's in image format), possibly trying to head off this controversy about being ranking member on Energy.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:05 AM on December 6, 2018 [25 favorites]
Oh goodie, a shutdown for Christmas.
posted by suelac at 11:09 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by suelac at 11:09 AM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
If Surrender First Schumer lets Manchin be the ranking member on Energy he's got to go ASAP and be replaced by someone who pledges to keep Manchin and his climate hating ilk far, **FAR**, away from any and all important committee appointments.
posted by sotonohito at 11:18 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by sotonohito at 11:18 AM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
It's more like sitting on a couch and being told by your small children -- who somehow have custody of you instead of vice-versa -- that you can't leave because the floor is lava now.
To extend the metaphor (at the risk of overextending it) the entire right-wing media landscape is this, except it's supported by people who voluntarily sit in their living rooms and watch TV shows and listen to radio programs that tell them that the floor is lava on a 24/7/365 basis, and they eat it right up.
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:29 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
To extend the metaphor (at the risk of overextending it) the entire right-wing media landscape is this, except it's supported by people who voluntarily sit in their living rooms and watch TV shows and listen to radio programs that tell them that the floor is lava on a 24/7/365 basis, and they eat it right up.
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:29 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
If Surrender First Schumer lets Manchin be the ranking member on Energy he's got to go ASAP
Isn't it basically a function of seniority? Cantwell would be ranking member but if she insists on moving to Commerce that leaves Manchin as ranking member.
This seems like a Cantwell Problem to me, not a Schumer Problem.
posted by Justinian at 11:30 AM on December 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
Isn't it basically a function of seniority? Cantwell would be ranking member but if she insists on moving to Commerce that leaves Manchin as ranking member.
This seems like a Cantwell Problem to me, not a Schumer Problem.
posted by Justinian at 11:30 AM on December 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
TPM: NC GOP Softens Opposition To New Election In District With Fraud Probe
posted by murphy slaw at 11:31 AM on December 6, 2018 [29 favorites]
The North Carolina Republican Party said Thursday that it would be open to a new election in the state’s ninth U.S. congressional district, where an absentee ballot probe is underway, if investigators can show “substantial likelihood” that the alleged fraud scheme changed the outcome of the race. Republican candidate Mark Harris unofficially leads in the race by just 905 votes over the Democrat Dan McCready.Josh Marshall notes "The fact that North Carolina Republicans are softening their opposition to a new election in NC-9 tells you pretty clearly how bad the situation must be."
“If they can show with certainty that the outcome could NOT have been changed, they need to certify Mr. Harris and continue to support all state and federal criminal investigations,” Dallas Woodhouse (pictured above), the executive director of the state’s GOP, told TPM in an email.
“If they can show a substantial likelihood it could have changed the race then we fully would support a new election,” he said. “If they hold a public hearing and simply can’t determine one way or the other then, We would not oppose a short delay on the question of certification until they have more answers.”
Earlier this week, Woodhouse was pushing for the state board of elections to “immediately” certify Harris’ victory while it continued its investigation.
Thursday, he said the party supported the board’s move to hold a hearing later this month.
The board on Friday refused to certify the race, and voted to hold a hearing by December 21 on the evidence it finds on the alleged scheme. It is possible the board could call for a new election.
posted by murphy slaw at 11:31 AM on December 6, 2018 [29 favorites]
This seems like a Cantwell Problem to me, not a Schumer Problem.
it's a schumer problem insofar as he can't maintain any discipline over his damn caucus, which is like, his entire job as minority leader.
posted by murphy slaw at 11:32 AM on December 6, 2018 [17 favorites]
it's a schumer problem insofar as he can't maintain any discipline over his damn caucus, which is like, his entire job as minority leader.
posted by murphy slaw at 11:32 AM on December 6, 2018 [17 favorites]
If Schumer can't stop Manchin from being Chair of Energy, by whatever means that requires, if the Democrats retake the Senate then he's worthless anyway.
If the rules say he just sort of automatically gets that Chair and the ability to sell out the climate for his coal buddies then change the damn rules if that's what it takes. But no way, no how, nothing doing is it ever acceptable for that coal loving climate hating DINO to be Chairing Energy.
If the Democrats retake the Senate and that puts Joe Manchin in the Chair of Energy then there's no real difference between that and just letting the Republicans keep running Energy. Currently Manchin sees some grassroots opposition so he's spewing some lies and making a show vote to try and make us forget his decades of work to block every single climate bill he could.
posted by sotonohito at 11:36 AM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
If the rules say he just sort of automatically gets that Chair and the ability to sell out the climate for his coal buddies then change the damn rules if that's what it takes. But no way, no how, nothing doing is it ever acceptable for that coal loving climate hating DINO to be Chairing Energy.
If the Democrats retake the Senate and that puts Joe Manchin in the Chair of Energy then there's no real difference between that and just letting the Republicans keep running Energy. Currently Manchin sees some grassroots opposition so he's spewing some lies and making a show vote to try and make us forget his decades of work to block every single climate bill he could.
posted by sotonohito at 11:36 AM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
If Trump wanted Hillary Clinton locked up, he should have hired her to work on his campaign
posted by growabrain at 11:50 AM on December 6, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 11:50 AM on December 6, 2018 [39 favorites]
I'd suggest having Manchin swaps chairs with another senator, but being on Energy is probably a big reason why he keeps getting elected from West Virginia in spite of being a Democrat.
I don't like changing the rules when we don't like the results. That's what they did in North Carolina and what they're currently doing in Wisconsin.
posted by M-x shell at 11:59 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
I don't like changing the rules when we don't like the results. That's what they did in North Carolina and what they're currently doing in Wisconsin.
posted by M-x shell at 11:59 AM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
It seems like the easier path forward would be to route any climate bill through the Environment & Public Works Committee, which would be chaired by Tom Carper (DE) in a Democratic Senate.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:02 PM on December 6, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:02 PM on December 6, 2018 [15 favorites]
I'd suggest having Manchin swaps chairs with another senator, but being on Energy is probably a big reason why he keeps getting elected from West Virginia in spite of being a Democrat.
take him off, and put him back on. boom, maintains his status as a member of Energy and loses his seniority.
thinking like mitch mcconnell isnt really that hard (but it does make me want to shower in bleach).
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:10 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
take him off, and put him back on. boom, maintains his status as a member of Energy and loses his seniority.
thinking like mitch mcconnell isnt really that hard (but it does make me want to shower in bleach).
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:10 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Trump very consistent in this way. It's like he doesn't like learning at all.
As a eugenicist & narcissist he sees himself as the ultimate expression of genetic fitness; his body in general but especially his mind, as he's said multiple times. As such he's the smartest person in whatever room he happens to be. For him to accept learning from someone other than himself would be to debase his innate superiority. After all, he is his own best advisor. As the Übermensch his is a unique talent to succeed while making it up on the fly. Thus he never needs to study, never needs to plan, never needs to structure his life at all. At any given moment he has ultimate freedom to do whatever the hell he wants & still succeed. He should never feel constrained in any way to submit his will to anyone else's.
posted by scalefree at 12:13 PM on December 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
As a eugenicist & narcissist he sees himself as the ultimate expression of genetic fitness; his body in general but especially his mind, as he's said multiple times. As such he's the smartest person in whatever room he happens to be. For him to accept learning from someone other than himself would be to debase his innate superiority. After all, he is his own best advisor. As the Übermensch his is a unique talent to succeed while making it up on the fly. Thus he never needs to study, never needs to plan, never needs to structure his life at all. At any given moment he has ultimate freedom to do whatever the hell he wants & still succeed. He should never feel constrained in any way to submit his will to anyone else's.
posted by scalefree at 12:13 PM on December 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
M-x shell if the rules are based 100% on seniority then they're bad rules and should be replaced anyway.
As for Manchin being on Energy, he's already said he will never run again and had to be begged on hands and knees to run this time. I don't think we've really got anything to lose by keeping the single most anti-environment, coal friendly, "Democrat" in the Senate from (potentially) becoming the chair of Energy.
If it pisses off a tiny handful (17,000 total) coal miners in West Virginia, I'm pretty sure both the Republic and the Democratic Party will survive their hissy fit. It isn't like they'll ever vote for a real Democrat anyway, and Manchin won't be running again.
posted by sotonohito at 12:21 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
As for Manchin being on Energy, he's already said he will never run again and had to be begged on hands and knees to run this time. I don't think we've really got anything to lose by keeping the single most anti-environment, coal friendly, "Democrat" in the Senate from (potentially) becoming the chair of Energy.
If it pisses off a tiny handful (17,000 total) coal miners in West Virginia, I'm pretty sure both the Republic and the Democratic Party will survive their hissy fit. It isn't like they'll ever vote for a real Democrat anyway, and Manchin won't be running again.
posted by sotonohito at 12:21 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Senate confirms Justice Department nominee with ties to Russian bank
Remember this from less than a Scaramucci ago? Well, despite refusing to say he'd recuse himself, seems he ended up having to do so after all. Which would seem to indicate that Mueller is investigating the Alfa thing.
American Oversight
NEW: We obtained records related to Assistant AG Brian Benczkowski, who previously represented the Russian entity Alfa Bank, that show he's been recused from the Mueller investigation.
posted by chris24 at 12:25 PM on December 6, 2018 [28 favorites]
Remember this from less than a Scaramucci ago? Well, despite refusing to say he'd recuse himself, seems he ended up having to do so after all. Which would seem to indicate that Mueller is investigating the Alfa thing.
American Oversight
NEW: We obtained records related to Assistant AG Brian Benczkowski, who previously represented the Russian entity Alfa Bank, that show he's been recused from the Mueller investigation.
posted by chris24 at 12:25 PM on December 6, 2018 [28 favorites]
As for Manchin being on Energy, he's already said he will never run again
Are you certain? I've never heard this!
posted by Justinian at 12:25 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Are you certain? I've never heard this!
posted by Justinian at 12:25 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
take him off, and put him back on. boom, maintains his status as a member of Energy and loses his seniority.
I guess I should have said, being on Energy and accumulating seniority is probably a big reason why he keeps getting elected from West Virginia in spite of being a Democrat. Few voters care about a freshman senator's committees.
posted by M-x shell at 12:32 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
I guess I should have said, being on Energy and accumulating seniority is probably a big reason why he keeps getting elected from West Virginia in spite of being a Democrat. Few voters care about a freshman senator's committees.
posted by M-x shell at 12:32 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Re: Senate seniority rules:
posted by zakur at 12:36 PM on December 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
In 1858, however, the Senate briefly ignored seniority when its Democratic caucus removed Stephen Douglas as chairman of the significant Committee on Territories because he did not reflect the party's views on slavery.So there is precedent...
posted by zakur at 12:36 PM on December 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
Justinian Huh, I'da sworn that he said over and over that this was the last time he'd ever run (most likely because by 2024 WV wouldn't elect him again no matter what) but apparently I was hallucinating as I've been unable to find that by googling.
I still think we shouldn't be kissing his Trump loving ass, but apparently he's not stated outright that he's planning to retire at 77.
posted by sotonohito at 12:43 PM on December 6, 2018
I still think we shouldn't be kissing his Trump loving ass, but apparently he's not stated outright that he's planning to retire at 77.
posted by sotonohito at 12:43 PM on December 6, 2018
Remember this from less than a Scaramucci ago?
Speaking of which, Politico's Kyle Cheney notes, "Today is George Papadopoulos' last day in prison. As many are pointing out, this is about 1 Scaramucci of jail." Or, more precisely, "1.4 Scaramuccis = 1 Papadopoulos = .0000014 Manaforts"
Elsewhere in the courts, Zoe Tillman reports, "NEW: The court has appointed federal public defender AJ Kramer as "advisory counsel" to alleged Russian agent Maria Butina — no other information provided"
Butina may be nearing a plea deal with federal prosecutors (NY Daily News) even as Russia repeats demands for her release (UPI).
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:45 PM on December 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
Speaking of which, Politico's Kyle Cheney notes, "Today is George Papadopoulos' last day in prison. As many are pointing out, this is about 1 Scaramucci of jail." Or, more precisely, "1.4 Scaramuccis = 1 Papadopoulos = .0000014 Manaforts"
Elsewhere in the courts, Zoe Tillman reports, "NEW: The court has appointed federal public defender AJ Kramer as "advisory counsel" to alleged Russian agent Maria Butina — no other information provided"
Butina may be nearing a plea deal with federal prosecutors (NY Daily News) even as Russia repeats demands for her release (UPI).
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:45 PM on December 6, 2018 [6 favorites]
From CNN because this is the shittiest time line: The Trump administration will reverse an Obama-era coal emissions rule as part of its effort to loosen restrictions on the coal industry, just days after a US government report warned that aggressive action is needed to curb greenhouse gases and ease the impact of global warming.
The reversal won't lead to the immediate construction of new coal-fired power plants, but it does send an immediate political signal that the Trump administration is intent on shoring up the coal industry and other energy interests.
"We are rescinding unfair burdens on America's energy providers and leveling the playing field so that new energy technologies can be part of America's future," Andrew Wheeler, the acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and a former coal industry lobbyist, said Thursday. The rule change would lift restrictions on coal emissions that effectively limited the construction of new plants.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:45 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
The reversal won't lead to the immediate construction of new coal-fired power plants, but it does send an immediate political signal that the Trump administration is intent on shoring up the coal industry and other energy interests.
"We are rescinding unfair burdens on America's energy providers and leveling the playing field so that new energy technologies can be part of America's future," Andrew Wheeler, the acting administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and a former coal industry lobbyist, said Thursday. The rule change would lift restrictions on coal emissions that effectively limited the construction of new plants.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:45 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Wishful:
Devin Nunes May Be The Next To Go Down Thanks To Mike Flynn
posted by growabrain at 12:46 PM on December 6, 2018 [36 favorites]
Devin Nunes May Be The Next To Go Down Thanks To Mike Flynn
posted by growabrain at 12:46 PM on December 6, 2018 [36 favorites]
Despite there being precedent, I don't know if the Democratic party leading up to the split into Northern/Southern and the lead up to the civil war is the model we want to use. Douglas likely wasn't pro-slavery enough for the Democratic party and it's makeup at that time.
If you look at it strictly as someone who is an outlier of the party beliefs being removed, then precedent works, but I suspect that rule wouldn't have been bent/broken if white supremacy wasn't on the line. Granted the makeup of the party is different today... Schumer will maintain it because "civility." It would be great to have "making a token attempt to change the path of environmental change" as another precedent, so we'd have something in the history books where the rules are bent for positive reasons and outcomes, but I'm not holding my breath there.
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:58 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
If you look at it strictly as someone who is an outlier of the party beliefs being removed, then precedent works, but I suspect that rule wouldn't have been bent/broken if white supremacy wasn't on the line. Granted the makeup of the party is different today... Schumer will maintain it because "civility." It would be great to have "making a token attempt to change the path of environmental change" as another precedent, so we'd have something in the history books where the rules are bent for positive reasons and outcomes, but I'm not holding my breath there.
posted by MysticMCJ at 12:58 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Politico, Trump hotel feud erupts between Lewandowski and Florida senators
Really just the best people.
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 PM on December 6, 2018 [48 favorites]
It was supposed to be a friendly introduction between Republicans at the Trump International Hotel in Washington on Wednesday night, when the president’s former campaign manager and the Republican leader of the Florida Senate met.@MarkAgee: Try to come up with something funnier to say before a fight than “hold my scarf”
But, witnesses say, the impromptu meeting between Corey Lewandowski, Florida Senate President Bill Galvano and Florida state Sen. Jeff Brandes unexpectedly morphed into a hostile debate over a question that encapsulates today’s GOP politics: How much credit should Donald Trump get for GOP successes?
The dispute — which ended with the hulking Brandes pointing at the slender Lewandowski as Galvano told his wife to hold his scarf — unfolded in front of the Senate president’s wife and daughter and about a dozen surprised Republicans and operatives in the lobby of the president’s hotel, where many gathered in a spirit of short-lived goodwill and unity following the funeral of President George H. W. Bush.
Really just the best people.
posted by zachlipton at 1:03 PM on December 6, 2018 [48 favorites]
Daily Beast (Betsy Woodruff): Senate Intelligence Committee Grilled Steve Bannon About Cambridge Analytica—The notorious ‘psychographic’ data firm remains of interest to Senate investigators—as does the former Trump strategist.
"Steve Bannon found himself back in the hot seat last month as the former White House adviser answered questions from Senate intelligence committee investigators behind closed doors, according to two sources familiar with the meeting. The sources said investigators asked about Cambridge Analytica, the controversial and now-defunct data firm he co-founded; and Roger Stone, a self-described dirty-trickster and Trump associate."
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:07 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
"Steve Bannon found himself back in the hot seat last month as the former White House adviser answered questions from Senate intelligence committee investigators behind closed doors, according to two sources familiar with the meeting. The sources said investigators asked about Cambridge Analytica, the controversial and now-defunct data firm he co-founded; and Roger Stone, a self-described dirty-trickster and Trump associate."
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:07 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Try to come up with something funnier to say before a fight than “hold my scarf”
"hold him back before he hurts someone," perhaps?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:09 PM on December 6, 2018
"hold him back before he hurts someone," perhaps?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 1:09 PM on December 6, 2018
Devin Nunes May Be The Next To Go Down Thanks To Mike Flynn
posted by kirkaracha at 1:22 PM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
Mike Flynn was a member of the Trump transition team, so were Devin Nunes, and Vice President Mike Pence.Wouldn't the same thing apply to Pence?
If the transition team is as dirty as the campaign was, Devin Nunes could have a big Robert Mueller problem and might be the next figure in Trump’s orbit to go down.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:22 PM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
BuzzFeed, A Mysterious Imposter Account Was Used On Facebook To Drum Up Support For The Migrant Caravan
But more pressingly, this started super early in the caravan's life, and it sure seems like someone with fairly detailed knowledge (the article gives some reason to think it was a foreigner) of local politics and current events was deliberately building it up. So given that it became the centerpiece of the GOP's midterm campaign, that's suspicious as hell.
posted by zachlipton at 1:33 PM on December 6, 2018 [42 favorites]
Just days before the migrant caravan set out from Honduras, an imposter stole the identity of a prominent early supporter on Facebook, using a fake account to try to boost the caravan’s numbers.There's an interesting note here which is that the fake account "primarily used Facebook Messenger to spread disinformation." We've seen the same thing with WhatsApp in other cases, including the Brazilian election, Kenya, and India too. And as much as we expect social networks to combat disinformation in their public spaces, it's very hard to know how to address this in private messaging contexts, where there's a lot of sensitivity (and end-to-end encryption, in some cases) to platforms reading users' messages and blocking them, particularly outside of blatant spam or abuse. This isn't a "don't sell people US political ads paid for with Rubles" issue; it's really foundational to the idea of a widespread private messaging service, and I don't think there really are good answers.
Bartolo Fuentes, a Honduran activist, journalist, and former lawmaker told BuzzFeed News that someone used the phony account to send Facebook messages falsely claiming that established migrant groups were organizing the effort. News like that — coming from a well-known public figure in Honduras, such as Fuentes — could go a long way to convincing people to join the group of migrants traveling to the US.
...
In response to a query from BuzzFeed News, a Facebook spokesperson said the phony account “was removed for violating [the company’s] misrepresentation policy,” but declined to share any further information, such as what country it originated from, what email address was used to open it, or any other details that might reveal who was behind it. Facebook added that, barring a subpoena or request from law enforcement, it does not share such information out of respect for the privacy of its users.
Fuentes said he believes it’s important to find out who was behind the rogue account — but hasn’t gotten any answers from Facebook. “Who knows how many messages could have been sent and who received them?”
...
The bogus Fuentes account stands out for its sophistication and timing. It was created before the caravan departed, when the event had not yet attracted news coverage. It operated entirely in Spanish and precisely targeted influencers within the migrant rights community. And rather than criticize or undermine the caravan — as other online campaigns would later attempt to do — it was used to legitimize the event, making a loosely structured grassroots event appear to be a well-organized effort by an established migrant group with a proven track record of successfully bringing Central American people to the US border.
But more pressingly, this started super early in the caravan's life, and it sure seems like someone with fairly detailed knowledge (the article gives some reason to think it was a foreigner) of local politics and current events was deliberately building it up. So given that it became the centerpiece of the GOP's midterm campaign, that's suspicious as hell.
posted by zachlipton at 1:33 PM on December 6, 2018 [42 favorites]
CNBC: A New Democratic Bill Would Block Lawmakers From Buying and Selling Individual Stocks While In Office
Edit: The Dems are also prohibiting Congress members from sitting on corporate boards.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:36 PM on December 6, 2018 [63 favorites]
• Two Senate Democrats introduced a bill on Wednesday to prevent members of Congress from trading stocks in industries tied to their legislative work.This is picking low-hanging fruit of the legislative bough, but it's long overdue.
• The legislation was prompted in part by the scandal surrounding Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., who was indicted on insider trading charges in August.
• "There must be more accountability and transparency," Sen. Sherrod Brown, who is considering a run for president, said in a statement.
Edit: The Dems are also prohibiting Congress members from sitting on corporate boards.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:36 PM on December 6, 2018 [63 favorites]
> Thus he never needs to study, never needs to plan, never needs to structure his life at all.
And honestly, why *should* he feel as though he has to do any of that, when society has continually reshaped itself to support him as he has failed his way through life all the way up to being elected* President of the United States?
* Well, you know, "elected"...but still.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:43 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
And honestly, why *should* he feel as though he has to do any of that, when society has continually reshaped itself to support him as he has failed his way through life all the way up to being elected* President of the United States?
* Well, you know, "elected"...but still.
posted by The Card Cheat at 1:43 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Daily Beast, Lachlan, God Declares Swamp Drained at Mar-a-Lago Super PAC Fundraiser: The lavish fundraiser had it all: an evangelical pastor who claims—dubiously—to be an official White House surrogate, an adviser probed by Mueller—and even the president himself.
posted by zachlipton at 1:46 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
God told attendees of a political fundraising event at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last month that the president is, indeed, draining the swamp.So much scamming and shadiness, including the MyPillow guy, behind the link.
The message was enthusiastically passed on by an evangelical pastor attending the lavish late November gathering for the American Pro-Israel PAC, a new pro-Trump political group courting donors with an assist from the president himself.
“The first thing He had me say is ‘Moses is dead,’” Pastor Curt Landry recalled telling attendees in a YouTube video posted last week. “What that means to us is that the swamp is dead. The way of doing things in the old way, in the swamp, the swamp is dead.”
But if the swamp was dead, those at the event, who paid as much as $100,000 to attend, seemed to be pouring a new one. The group they were there to support is a project of a Texas minister who claims—dubiously—to be an official White House surrogate, and is advised by a political operative and one-time Roger Stone associate who was subpoenaed by special counsel Robert Mueller this year.
posted by zachlipton at 1:46 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
From that Buzzfeed link:
They claimed that the prominent and influential migrant rights organization Pueblo Sin Fronteras was organizing the caravan and would be leading it on the arduous journey.
But the news was fake. Although Pueblo Sin Fronteras had organized several previous caravans, including a big one in the spring that attracted 1,500 people, it staunchly opposed the latest effort based on well-founded fears it would stoke anti-immigrant sentiment ahead of the elections.
This claim was repeated MULTIPLE times in these megathreads, and I never investigated it myself, and just accepted it more or less at face value. I am sure it was repeated in good faith by someone who did not mean to deceive us. But I feel sad that even my beloved MeFi is not a completely safe haven from deliberately planted false information.
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:54 PM on December 6, 2018 [44 favorites]
They claimed that the prominent and influential migrant rights organization Pueblo Sin Fronteras was organizing the caravan and would be leading it on the arduous journey.
But the news was fake. Although Pueblo Sin Fronteras had organized several previous caravans, including a big one in the spring that attracted 1,500 people, it staunchly opposed the latest effort based on well-founded fears it would stoke anti-immigrant sentiment ahead of the elections.
This claim was repeated MULTIPLE times in these megathreads, and I never investigated it myself, and just accepted it more or less at face value. I am sure it was repeated in good faith by someone who did not mean to deceive us. But I feel sad that even my beloved MeFi is not a completely safe haven from deliberately planted false information.
posted by OnceUponATime at 1:54 PM on December 6, 2018 [44 favorites]
Florida Voted to Give Ex-Felons the Franchise. Now Republicans Are Throwing a Wrench in That Process. (Pema Levy, Mother Jones)
Florida’s GOP elections chief is resisting implementation of the ballot initiative to expand voting rights.MI Legislature Guts Citizen-Initiated Minimum Wage, Paid Sick Leave Laws (David Eggert, AP via TPM)
The Republican-led Michigan Legislature on Tuesday passed bills that would delay a minimum wage hike and scale back paid sick leave requirements, an unprecedented lame-duck strategy that was endorsed legally by the state’s conservative attorney general despite criticism that it is unconstitutional.posted by ZeusHumms at 1:56 PM on December 6, 2018 [16 favorites]
The fast-tracked legislation, which drew protesters to the Capitol who chanted “shame” and “bought and paid for” outside the chambers, was pushed through on largely party-line 60-48 and 26-12 votes. Some changes were made at the request of Republican Gov. Rick Snyder, who stayed mum on whether he will sign the measures — though the Senate leader was confident, saying Snyder told him he would do so.
To prevent minimum wage and paid sick time ballot initiatives from going to the electorate last month, after which they would have been much harder to change if voters had passed them, GOP legislators — at the behest of business groups — preemptively approved them in September so that they could alter them after the election with simple majority votes in each chamber.
> But I feel sad that even my beloved MeFi is not a completely safe haven from deliberately planted false information.
The one shred of a point that social media companies have about so-called fake news and such is that it does take a lot of resources to kill it without also having false positives. If we want our beloved MeFi to start fact-checking claims made in comments, I'm afraid we're going to have to up our monthly contributions by many hundreds of percentage points.
posted by tonycpsu at 1:59 PM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
The one shred of a point that social media companies have about so-called fake news and such is that it does take a lot of resources to kill it without also having false positives. If we want our beloved MeFi to start fact-checking claims made in comments, I'm afraid we're going to have to up our monthly contributions by many hundreds of percentage points.
posted by tonycpsu at 1:59 PM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
> But I feel sad that even my beloved MeFi is not a completely safe haven from deliberately planted false information.
I feel happy that it's a place where we can talk about it being false, and give more background on it, without being awash in a sea of denial.
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:01 PM on December 6, 2018 [65 favorites]
I feel happy that it's a place where we can talk about it being false, and give more background on it, without being awash in a sea of denial.
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:01 PM on December 6, 2018 [65 favorites]
Stocks Close Mostly Lower After Dramatic Day of Trading Following Arrest of Huawei CFO (Market Watch) Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 79 points, having lost over 700 earlier today.
Financial Experts Say Stock Market Constantly Plunging, Reaching Record Highs Leading Indicator of Healthy Economy (The Onion)
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:05 PM on December 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
Financial Experts Say Stock Market Constantly Plunging, Reaching Record Highs Leading Indicator of Healthy Economy (The Onion)
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:05 PM on December 6, 2018 [10 favorites]
This wasnt even something it was possible for an Internet sleuth to fact check. How would any of us call bullshit on the identity of a Messenger account? All you could do would be to try to contact the named activist via some other means.
I will say it was still definitely possible to call bullshit on the content, but you’d have to be cynical enough to assume that, based on the amount of preparation that went into it, this caravan was mostly the result of ratfucking. And maybe to the idea that knowledgeable activists would look at the situation here ahead of the midterms and go, “NOW is the perfect time to organize a mass migration to the US border where there definitely won’t be people who want to hurt us.”
There’s a corollary to Trump’s razor, I think. The Republican razor: given several explanations, the truth is likely the most evil explanation available.
So. In general...go with the stupidest, most evil explanation. I can’t think of a single time when that’s been wrong.
But if the swamp was dead, those at the event, who paid as much as $100,000 to attend, seemed to be pouring a new one
Sigh. I wish journalists would stop pretending “the swamp” means corruption. It means “the opposition.”
posted by schadenfrau at 2:08 PM on December 6, 2018 [14 favorites]
I will say it was still definitely possible to call bullshit on the content, but you’d have to be cynical enough to assume that, based on the amount of preparation that went into it, this caravan was mostly the result of ratfucking. And maybe to the idea that knowledgeable activists would look at the situation here ahead of the midterms and go, “NOW is the perfect time to organize a mass migration to the US border where there definitely won’t be people who want to hurt us.”
There’s a corollary to Trump’s razor, I think. The Republican razor: given several explanations, the truth is likely the most evil explanation available.
So. In general...go with the stupidest, most evil explanation. I can’t think of a single time when that’s been wrong.
But if the swamp was dead, those at the event, who paid as much as $100,000 to attend, seemed to be pouring a new one
Sigh. I wish journalists would stop pretending “the swamp” means corruption. It means “the opposition.”
posted by schadenfrau at 2:08 PM on December 6, 2018 [14 favorites]
Uhhhhh. Tucker Carlson says Trump is ‘not capable’ and hasn’t kept his promises
Carlson went on to call Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others like her "the future." [real]
posted by zachlipton at 2:24 PM on December 6, 2018 [38 favorites]
Fox News Channel host Tucker Carlson set straight any misinformation concerning his views on President Trump: “I don’t think he’s capable,” he said during an interview on Tuesday.If we hop upthread to the bit about how white supremacists love Carlson because he keeps echoing their talking points, it's pretty clear what he believes Trump's role is even if he's incapable of really doing the job: mainstreaming white supremacist thought.
Urs Gehriger, an editor at “Die Weltwoche,” the country’s [Switzerland, but some kind of editing error has omitted that information from the article] leading German-language opinion weekly, noted that Carlson’s new book, “Ship of Fools,” is silent on Trump but comments on his critics. And so, Gehriger jump-started the conversation by asking what Carlson thought of Trump’s first two years in office.
Carlson said he cannot stand Trump’s self-aggrandizement and boasting. Then, when asked whether Trump has kept his promises, the usually quick-witted and long-winded Carlson had just one word: “No.”
...
“His chief promises were that he would build the wall, defund Planned Parenthood and repeal Obamacare, and he hasn’t done any of those things,” Carlson said, adding that those goals were probably lost causes. Trump, he said, doesn’t understand the system, and his own agencies don’t support him.
“He knows very little about the legislative process, hasn’t learned anything, hasn’t surrounded himself with people that can get it done, hasn’t done all the things you need to do, so it’s mostly his fault that he hasn’t achieved those things,” he added.
He has come to believe that Trump’s role is not as a conventional president who promises to achieve certain things and then does. Instead, it’s to “begin the conversation about what actually matters." For the Fox News host, that issue is immigration.
Carlson went on to call Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and others like her "the future." [real]
posted by zachlipton at 2:24 PM on December 6, 2018 [38 favorites]
CNN reports (video only, sorry) that some administration officials believe the arrest of Huawei's CFO could be used as "leverage" in trade negotiations with China.
So we're just going to completely politicize this arrest and throw out the rule of law to extract concessions from China on trade? That's completely horrifying.
posted by zachlipton at 2:39 PM on December 6, 2018 [46 favorites]
So we're just going to completely politicize this arrest and throw out the rule of law to extract concessions from China on trade? That's completely horrifying.
posted by zachlipton at 2:39 PM on December 6, 2018 [46 favorites]
Trump, he said, doesn’t understand the system, and his own agencies don’t support him.
That doesn't sound right. "Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it."
posted by kirkaracha at 2:45 PM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
That doesn't sound right. "Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it."
posted by kirkaracha at 2:45 PM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
lalex, Valadao has just conceded and the 40-seat wave is thereby confirmed.
posted by GrammarMoses at 2:46 PM on December 6, 2018 [62 favorites]
posted by GrammarMoses at 2:46 PM on December 6, 2018 [62 favorites]
> some administration officials believe the arrest of Huawei's CFO could be used as "leverage" in trade negotiations with China.
Read more generically, we are entertaining the idea of making demands of a head of state via holding a hostage.
I think there is a word for people who do this sort of thing- but there's also a federal code against it, that this scenario would line up with rather clearly, punishable by imprisonment at minimum.
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:53 PM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
Read more generically, we are entertaining the idea of making demands of a head of state via holding a hostage.
I think there is a word for people who do this sort of thing- but there's also a federal code against it, that this scenario would line up with rather clearly, punishable by imprisonment at minimum.
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:53 PM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
With all the layers, I'm confused enough to ask: Has it officially turned out that "the caravan was at least in part arranged by ratfuckers" is the misinformation? Or would that be "It's another Pueblo Sin Fronteras effort as they usually do" when "actually ratfuckers this time" was the reality?
Regardless, still drives me to angry sadness that arranging for a caravan works (however weakly) as an off-year motivation for white Americans to vote Republican. Especially when this was the year of the child separation. That should, at the very least, have made immigration a complete third rail for that party. As soon as anyone said "A caravan of migrants is on its way" the collective response should have been "Let them through! Give us your tempest-toss'd!" But nah.
(Also, when Karl Rove arranged in 2004 for multiple states to have referendums on same-sex marriage that should have secured victory for Democrats and brought us into the 21st century on that issue by a full decade earlier than we did.)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 2:54 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Regardless, still drives me to angry sadness that arranging for a caravan works (however weakly) as an off-year motivation for white Americans to vote Republican. Especially when this was the year of the child separation. That should, at the very least, have made immigration a complete third rail for that party. As soon as anyone said "A caravan of migrants is on its way" the collective response should have been "Let them through! Give us your tempest-toss'd!" But nah.
(Also, when Karl Rove arranged in 2004 for multiple states to have referendums on same-sex marriage that should have secured victory for Democrats and brought us into the 21st century on that issue by a full decade earlier than we did.)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 2:54 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Actually, I'm not sure if I am misreading it or not - All of the "ands" in scenario 2 seem to indicate that this would be in violation, but it's hard to tell. Not that it would actually be enforced under this administration, but it's something to add to the giant scroll of imprisonable offenses.
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:57 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by MysticMCJ at 2:57 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Forbes has reported that the Trump 2020 campaign is already fleecing their donors.
posted by suelac at 3:00 PM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by suelac at 3:00 PM on December 6, 2018 [5 favorites]
The caravan was NOT a normal Pueblo Sin Fronteras effort and WAS in part actually arranged by ratfuckers this time.
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:07 PM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by OnceUponATime at 3:07 PM on December 6, 2018 [9 favorites]
Wasn't it Canada that arrested the Huawei CFO? Not sure how U.S. law is going to apply in this situation.
She was arrested in Canada; details of the arrest are under a publication ban (which Meng requested), but it looks like she was arrested on suspicion of violation of US trade sanctions, and the pending legal action is an extradition request.
Canada and the US have a long history of cooperation on various legal matters, which makes sense - criminals sometimes flee across the border, or are discovered in the neighbouring country, etc, and sometimes arrests have been made in one jurisdiction on behalf of the other. Speaking for myself, though, this one feels very different - this feels more political than anything, and I'm not sure how wild I am about my country doing this in the current context of overall trade relations between Canada & the US, China and the US, and the Iran Sanctions. I mean, it might all be on the up and up, but it all just feels off.
posted by nubs at 3:16 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
She was arrested in Canada; details of the arrest are under a publication ban (which Meng requested), but it looks like she was arrested on suspicion of violation of US trade sanctions, and the pending legal action is an extradition request.
Canada and the US have a long history of cooperation on various legal matters, which makes sense - criminals sometimes flee across the border, or are discovered in the neighbouring country, etc, and sometimes arrests have been made in one jurisdiction on behalf of the other. Speaking for myself, though, this one feels very different - this feels more political than anything, and I'm not sure how wild I am about my country doing this in the current context of overall trade relations between Canada & the US, China and the US, and the Iran Sanctions. I mean, it might all be on the up and up, but it all just feels off.
posted by nubs at 3:16 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Now that he's been gone, it's been way too long since we've a good Scott Pruitt story, and this is a fine exemplar of the genre.
@BySteveReilly: Scott Pruitt accepted a billionaire's gift of $50,000 "believed to be in cash" for his legal defense trust without first informing the EPA.
What.
posted by zachlipton at 3:27 PM on December 6, 2018 [37 favorites]
@BySteveReilly: Scott Pruitt accepted a billionaire's gift of $50,000 "believed to be in cash" for his legal defense trust without first informing the EPA.
What.
posted by zachlipton at 3:27 PM on December 6, 2018 [37 favorites]
That really seems on the up and up. You know, like if I got pulled over for reckless driving and DUI and made a $500 cash contribution to the Fraternal Order of Police Legal Fund care of the officer who pulled me over. Totally normal.
posted by Justinian at 3:36 PM on December 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:36 PM on December 6, 2018 [3 favorites]
I mean, that's just the way it's been done since forever.
posted by rhizome at 3:38 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by rhizome at 3:38 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
WaPo, McConnell tells White House little chance of Senate vote on criminal justice bill
posted by zachlipton at 3:44 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
Despite pressure from the president, McConnell (R-Ky.) has told White House officials and others close to him that a vote is unlikely on the Senate floor, according to people familiar with his comments. One McConnell adviser said the senator does not intend to have a vote on the legislation because he does not have enough time and is more focused on other things — like funding the government and confirming judges.Ok, we knew that, but this is a new twist on the usual talking-to-Trump-through-the-TV technique: Trump's people are using the TV company to talk to Congress:
“He doesn't like the bill,” Republican donor Doug Deason, a key White House ally, said of the measure. Referring to the former senator and attorney general, Deason added: “He's a Jeff Sessions-style lock them up and throw away the key kind of guy.”
On Thursday afternoon, Fox News Corp. took a rare step of endorsing the bill, in the first news release issued by former White House aide Hope Hicks. It was an unusual move for the corporation.@pbump: The guy in charge of White House communications is a former Fox exec. The woman in charge of Fox communications is the former communications director at the White House. twitter.com/rizzoTK/status…
“Fox supports the bipartisan First Step Act to limit mandatory minimum sentences, prevent recidivism and expand rehabilitation,” the statement read.
posted by zachlipton at 3:44 PM on December 6, 2018 [7 favorites]
That seems like a perfectly normal thing for a GOP policy shop to do, but not so much for a news organization.
posted by peeedro at 3:52 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 3:52 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
if the rules are based 100% on seniority then they're bad rules and should be replaced anyway.
The reason for this rule is that they are trying to minimize internecine warfare within parties. Without a seniority rule system they would fight tooth and nail for the key committees. Just imagine hundreds of political battles with the intensity of the Bernie versus Hillary primary. It would rip the parties to shreds.
posted by srboisvert at 3:57 PM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
The reason for this rule is that they are trying to minimize internecine warfare within parties. Without a seniority rule system they would fight tooth and nail for the key committees. Just imagine hundreds of political battles with the intensity of the Bernie versus Hillary primary. It would rip the parties to shreds.
posted by srboisvert at 3:57 PM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
Seniority or no, we have to find a way to prevent Manchin from taking over Energy. This is an existential crisis and the normal rules should not apply.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 4:06 PM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 4:06 PM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
That seems like a perfectly normal thing for a GOP policy shop to do, but not so much for a news organization.
In this case, what's the difference?
posted by Brak at 4:50 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
In this case, what's the difference?
posted by Brak at 4:50 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
> CNN reports (video only, sorry) that some administration officials believe the arrest of Huawei's CFO could be used as "leverage" in trade negotiations with China.
Some are musing on Twitter that it could be to apply pressure to release a family of American Citizens (a naturalized mom & daughter & born-in-the-usa son) from an exit ban in China. [Sandra Han + children Victor and Cynthia Liu if you want to google a non-paywalled source]
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 5:11 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Some are musing on Twitter that it could be to apply pressure to release a family of American Citizens (a naturalized mom & daughter & born-in-the-usa son) from an exit ban in China. [Sandra Han + children Victor and Cynthia Liu if you want to google a non-paywalled source]
posted by ASCII Costanza head at 5:11 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
“He's a Jeff Sessions-style lock them up and throw away the key kind of guy.”
O Internet Jebus, please let this mean something other than what the speaker intended in a few months, and I'll promise to eat all my doughnuts and give more cuddles to thy fuzziest creatures in the future, awmen.
posted by petebest at 5:22 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
O Internet Jebus, please let this mean something other than what the speaker intended in a few months, and I'll promise to eat all my doughnuts and give more cuddles to thy fuzziest creatures in the future, awmen.
posted by petebest at 5:22 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
“Fox supports the bipartisan First Step Act to limit mandatory minimum sentences, prevent recidivism and expand rehabilitation,” the statement read.
Well sure they do, now that the list of rich white men going to prison is getting longer.
posted by Rykey at 5:25 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Well sure they do, now that the list of rich white men going to prison is getting longer.
posted by Rykey at 5:25 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump Picks Ex-Fox & Friends Host for U.N. Ambassador
At this time I'd ask that those teachers of mine who argued television has no measurable effect on society to suck it herewith.
posted by petebest at 5:28 PM on December 6, 2018 [43 favorites]
At this time I'd ask that those teachers of mine who argued television has no measurable effect on society to suck it herewith.
posted by petebest at 5:28 PM on December 6, 2018 [43 favorites]
Sounds like the reelection campaign's gonna run just as smoothly as the administration. Trump to split reelection campaign between New York and D.C.
President Donald Trump’s reelection aides have decided on a campaign structure with three main offices split between New York City and the Washington area.posted by kirkaracha at 5:30 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
The campaign will again be headquartered at Trump Tower, according to two senior advisers to the president. But this time, the campaign will have a pair of satellite offices — one at the Republican National Committee’s building on Capitol Hill and another in nearby Rosslyn, Virginia.
...
The plan, which was designed by Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale and RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, is aimed at developing a streamlined campaign operation.
Trump Picks Ex-Fox & Friends Host for U.N. Ambassador
Heather Nauert is the worst. Her ignorant yet cheerful condescension as State Dept spokesperson is second only to that of Sarah Huckabee Sanders. It’s just gross that she’ll be representing us at the UN.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 5:31 PM on December 6, 2018 [23 favorites]
Heather Nauert is the worst. Her ignorant yet cheerful condescension as State Dept spokesperson is second only to that of Sarah Huckabee Sanders. It’s just gross that she’ll be representing us at the UN.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 5:31 PM on December 6, 2018 [23 favorites]
Trump Picks Ex-Fox & Friends Host for U.N. Ambassador
From the article:
A key question with Nauert will be whether the president keeps the UN envoy job as a Cabinet-level position, or downgrades it to report through Pompeo, as other administrations have sometimes done. Haley argued for a Cabinet-level post after, she said, initially being considered for the secretary of state job.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:34 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
From the article:
A key question with Nauert will be whether the president keeps the UN envoy job as a Cabinet-level position, or downgrades it to report through Pompeo, as other administrations have sometimes done. Haley argued for a Cabinet-level post after, she said, initially being considered for the secretary of state job.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:34 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
So lemme get this straight. They ratfucked *cough cough* Roger Stone *cough* this caravan into existence so they could then spread racist, populist fear of an invasion to try to sway an election?
That is just straight up a terrorist attack. AND election tampering. AND either collusion or just fraud. WTF?
posted by sexyrobot at 5:39 PM on December 6, 2018 [29 favorites]
That is just straight up a terrorist attack. AND election tampering. AND either collusion or just fraud. WTF?
posted by sexyrobot at 5:39 PM on December 6, 2018 [29 favorites]
The caravan was NOT a normal Pueblo Sin Fronteras effort and WAS in part actually arranged by ratfuckers this time.
I'm the guy who probably more than anybody else pushed the idea that Pueblo was the sponsor. I know as time went on & nobody from Pueblo made any official statement I expressed concern if not suspicion about that. I'm deeply disappointed at being used by the ratfuckers but also Pueblo for not speaking up earlier or more forcefully.
posted by scalefree at 5:43 PM on December 6, 2018 [30 favorites]
I'm the guy who probably more than anybody else pushed the idea that Pueblo was the sponsor. I know as time went on & nobody from Pueblo made any official statement I expressed concern if not suspicion about that. I'm deeply disappointed at being used by the ratfuckers but also Pueblo for not speaking up earlier or more forcefully.
posted by scalefree at 5:43 PM on December 6, 2018 [30 favorites]
I went to look up “caravan news” and the two big links I get are Fox News talking about a pregnant woman somehow scaling a way to have her kid in America 🙄 no idea why it’s primarily Fox News considering I never look at right wing news.
posted by gucci mane at 5:46 PM on December 6, 2018
posted by gucci mane at 5:46 PM on December 6, 2018
I searched Pueblo's site & did Google searches multiple times looking for something authoritative from them. I know nobody's blaming me, I just want it on the record that I did due diligence on this.
posted by scalefree at 5:48 PM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 5:48 PM on December 6, 2018 [12 favorites]
Don't blame yourself, Scalefree. I didn't believe that the caravan was a ratfuck job either - partly because I'd heard "this or that is a ratfuck" so much when it really wasn't (example, the Al Franken case) that it got to be like crying wolf. And partly because I didn't credit these people with enough brains to play tic-tac-toe, let alone a credible ratfuck operation. And partly because I got sick of hearing people (not on MeFi thankfully) caterwauling about how the caravan was going to lose us the election. (As it turned out...they didn't, or at least not in the House or the local/state elections. We cleaned up there. David Valadao of CA-21 conceded to Democrat T.J. Cox earlier, making a total of 40 seats won by Dems.)
I think it just goes to show that, as the saying goes, you can fool all of the people some of the time. MeFites seem to be good at fact-checking and being informed and getting news from reputable sites. If Pueblo sin Fronteras didn't in fact organize this caravan, they should have been the ones speaking up earlier and louder. And the impoverished people who were used by the R's to score political points deserve sympathy and help.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 6:01 PM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
I think it just goes to show that, as the saying goes, you can fool all of the people some of the time. MeFites seem to be good at fact-checking and being informed and getting news from reputable sites. If Pueblo sin Fronteras didn't in fact organize this caravan, they should have been the ones speaking up earlier and louder. And the impoverished people who were used by the R's to score political points deserve sympathy and help.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 6:01 PM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
LOL...from that Onion article Doctor Zed linked above:
“We’re right in the middle of what we call an Everest/Mariana Trench pattern, and that’s exactly the kind of wild oscillation you want to see across all markets. Investors everywhere should consider this an opportunity to either make or lose a huge sum of money.” At press time, financial experts were beginning to panic after trade talks between America and China caused the market to briefly stabilize.posted by darkstar at 6:01 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
New ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft believes "both sides" of climate science.
Fuuuuuuck this.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:08 PM on December 6, 2018 [20 favorites]
Fuuuuuuck this.
posted by bonobothegreat at 6:08 PM on December 6, 2018 [20 favorites]
@qjurecic: A genuinely amazing paragraph in a district court ruling on a challenge to Whitaker's appointment. "As there has been no appointment order, all the Court can examine regarding the length of the appointment or designation are the President's tweets."
posted by zachlipton at 6:13 PM on December 6, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:13 PM on December 6, 2018 [32 favorites]
New ambassador to Canada, Kelly Craft believes "both sides" of climate science.
Kelly Craft believes that the climate is fucked but thinks it may be mistaken about who is responsible. Kelly does not want to discount the very traumatic experience the climate has clearly had but also believes the strong denials of the human race about its own culpability.
Perhaps the dolphins fucked up the climate, or it may be due to the climate's disappointing lack of christian faith. Again, the humans strongly deny they had anything to do with it, they strongly deny. Could be them, could be a lot of other people. We may never know.
posted by SpaceBass at 6:19 PM on December 6, 2018 [48 favorites]
Kelly Craft believes that the climate is fucked but thinks it may be mistaken about who is responsible. Kelly does not want to discount the very traumatic experience the climate has clearly had but also believes the strong denials of the human race about its own culpability.
Perhaps the dolphins fucked up the climate, or it may be due to the climate's disappointing lack of christian faith. Again, the humans strongly deny they had anything to do with it, they strongly deny. Could be them, could be a lot of other people. We may never know.
posted by SpaceBass at 6:19 PM on December 6, 2018 [48 favorites]
Heather Nauert is the worst. Her ignorant yet cheerful condescension as State Dept spokesperson is second only to that of Sarah Huckabee Sanders.
Nauert certainly has a knack for diplomacy: "Tomorrow is the anniversary of the D-Day invasion. We obviously have a very long history with the government of Germany, and we have a strong relationship with the government of Germany."
posted by JackFlash at 6:37 PM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
Nauert certainly has a knack for diplomacy: "Tomorrow is the anniversary of the D-Day invasion. We obviously have a very long history with the government of Germany, and we have a strong relationship with the government of Germany."
posted by JackFlash at 6:37 PM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
It is simply the case that Trump and all things bigly wrong are the direct result of, and maintained by, Fox News. The fetid slurry of this "administration" and the "news channel" is what we get when an entire wing of the country DGAF and want more.
Which is not to say NYT, CNN, NBC, et. al. aren't complicit. Just that the corruptgeist is highly localized, relatively speaking.
posted by petebest at 7:09 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Which is not to say NYT, CNN, NBC, et. al. aren't complicit. Just that the corruptgeist is highly localized, relatively speaking.
posted by petebest at 7:09 PM on December 6, 2018 [2 favorites]
Reuters: Senators Grapple With Ways To Punish Saudis Over Khashoggi Death
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:55 PM on December 6, 2018 [13 favorites]
U.S. senators, bent on punishing Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, said on Thursday they want to vote next week to penalize Riyadh, but struggled to agree on how best to do so. […]MEGATHREAD NOTE: The new draft of the next USPolitics FPP is in the works the MeFi wiki for people to contribute/collaborate. Tomorrow's shaping up to be an especially newsworthy day, so we'll need one sooner rather than later.
Five Republican and Democratic senators met behind closed doors on Thursday morning to discuss how to move ahead, saying afterward they had not yet come up with a compromise that could win enough bipartisan support to pass the Senate.[…]
There are three different measures making their way through the Senate: a war powers resolution ending any U.S. involvement in the Yemen conflict, legislation imposing a broad clampdown on Saudi Arabia, including ending arms sales and levying new sanctions; and a nonbinding resolution targeting the crown prince.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:55 PM on December 6, 2018 [13 favorites]
Breaking: Within an hour after @realDonaldTrump tweeted "FAKE NEWS - THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!", someone called in a bomb threat to CNN in New York City:
CNN's Brian Stelter: The NYPD is investigating a bomb threat near CNN NYC's office at Columbus Circle. Due to the threat, the office has been evacuated. Right now CNN is airing taped programming due to the disruption.
CNN's Don Lemon: We were evacuated in the middle of my live show. Bomb threat. We’re running taped programming. NYPD is investigating. Stay tuned. #cnn #nypd
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:28 PM on December 6, 2018 [28 favorites]
CNN's Brian Stelter: The NYPD is investigating a bomb threat near CNN NYC's office at Columbus Circle. Due to the threat, the office has been evacuated. Right now CNN is airing taped programming due to the disruption.
CNN's Don Lemon: We were evacuated in the middle of my live show. Bomb threat. We’re running taped programming. NYPD is investigating. Stay tuned. #cnn #nypd
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:28 PM on December 6, 2018 [28 favorites]
NYT, Miriam Jordan, Making President Trump’s Bed: A Housekeeper Without Papers
More on this story, now from the Post: Housekeeper who worked illegally at Trump golf resort alleges mistreatment
The Times story said that she's saying a supervisor helped point her to another employee who could help her obtain fake documents, and someone else drove her to work since she couldn't get a license, factors that point to actual knowledge on the part of management, as opposed to the usual don't-ask-too-many-questions-situation, which would make for "hugely serious" potential penalties against the employer, per one immigration lawyer.
posted by zachlipton at 8:39 PM on December 6, 2018 [31 favorites]
More on this story, now from the Post: Housekeeper who worked illegally at Trump golf resort alleges mistreatment
In an interview Thursday evening with The Washington Post from her attorney’s office, Morales said she has not been fired or heard from her employer since the publication of the Times article, in which she said she presented phony identity documents when she was hired at Trump National Golf Club.This is pretty damn brave of her, though I worry for other undocumented workers at Trump's businesses now. It also means there's now a whole untold story of "physical abuse" of one or more employees by a Trump Organization supervisor at the President's business.
Morales said she was scheduled to report to work Friday but did not plan to go, and said she made the decision to come forward because of mistreatment by her direct supervisor at the golf resort, including what she described as “physical abuse” on three occasions.
“I’m tired of being humiliated and treated like a stupid person,” she said in Spanish during a brief interview. “We’re just immigrants who don’t have papers.”
...
Anibal Romero, Morales’s attorney, said he planned to help Morales file an asylum claim after her family in Guatemala was threatened and Morales’s father-in-law was hacked to death in a machete attack. Romero said his client has not been contacted by U.S. immigration authorities nor charged with any crimes in the United States. Romero also said he is also considering what he called “employment action” against the Trump Organization for what he said were potential violations of state anti-discrimination laws on behalf of Morales and another client, Sandra Diaz, who also worked at the golf club illegally.
The Times story said that she's saying a supervisor helped point her to another employee who could help her obtain fake documents, and someone else drove her to work since she couldn't get a license, factors that point to actual knowledge on the part of management, as opposed to the usual don't-ask-too-many-questions-situation, which would make for "hugely serious" potential penalties against the employer, per one immigration lawyer.
posted by zachlipton at 8:39 PM on December 6, 2018 [31 favorites]
Within an hour after @realDonaldTrump tweeted "FAKE NEWS - THE ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE!", someone called in a bomb threat to CNN in New York City
I'm seeing indications the timeline is a bit different: @ClaudiaKoerner: NYPD says they received a 911 call about a bomb threat to CNN at 10:07 p.m. Trump tweeted about fake news one minute later.
Which doesn't make it any better of course.
posted by zachlipton at 8:42 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm seeing indications the timeline is a bit different: @ClaudiaKoerner: NYPD says they received a 911 call about a bomb threat to CNN at 10:07 p.m. Trump tweeted about fake news one minute later.
Which doesn't make it any better of course.
posted by zachlipton at 8:42 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm seeing indications the timeline is a bit different: @ClaudiaKoerner: NYPD says they received a 911 call about a bomb threat to CNN at 10:07 p.m. Trump tweeted about fake news one minute later.
That's official, then. I only extrapolated from the tweets of assorted CNN journalists. Of course, @realDonaldTrump had already railed against "Fake News Media" this afternoon for not covering his "Big Republican Win!" in the Senate for the midterms. These days, his baseless, dangerous denouncements are a daily occurrence.
By the way, @realDonaldTrump has been especially active tonight, tweeting about "17 Angry Dems", "people forced to lie", and the ever-popular "Witch Hunt!", along with supportive quotes from Jerome Corsi claiming political prosecution and Fox's Trish Regan blathering about FISA. It sounds like something—maybe advance notice for tomorrow's court filings—has him worked up.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:50 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
That's official, then. I only extrapolated from the tweets of assorted CNN journalists. Of course, @realDonaldTrump had already railed against "Fake News Media" this afternoon for not covering his "Big Republican Win!" in the Senate for the midterms. These days, his baseless, dangerous denouncements are a daily occurrence.
By the way, @realDonaldTrump has been especially active tonight, tweeting about "17 Angry Dems", "people forced to lie", and the ever-popular "Witch Hunt!", along with supportive quotes from Jerome Corsi claiming political prosecution and Fox's Trish Regan blathering about FISA. It sounds like something—maybe advance notice for tomorrow's court filings—has him worked up.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:50 PM on December 6, 2018 [8 favorites]
Joshua McKerrow, of the Capital Gazette, had a thread in response to the "Enemy of the people" tweet.
Joshua is a photojournalist whose colleague was murdered in the mass shooting in June.
posted by miguelcervantes at 9:34 PM on December 6, 2018 [34 favorites]
Joshua is a photojournalist whose colleague was murdered in the mass shooting in June.
posted by miguelcervantes at 9:34 PM on December 6, 2018 [34 favorites]
It sounds like something—maybe advance notice for tomorrow's court filings—has him worked up.
I can't even tell what counts as worked up anymore, it's insanity to eleventy every hour of every day now.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:40 PM on December 6, 2018 [13 favorites]
I can't even tell what counts as worked up anymore, it's insanity to eleventy every hour of every day now.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:40 PM on December 6, 2018 [13 favorites]
Two unicycles and some duct tape: "Seniority or no, we have to find a way to prevent Manchin from taking over Energy. This is an existential crisis and the normal rules should not apply."
Just for clarification: we're talking about him being the ranking member, i.e., the head Senator from the minority party. Energy will presumably continue to be chaired by Lisa Murkowski [R-AK]. The rubber would really hit the road if Dems take control of the Senate in 2020.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:55 PM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
Just for clarification: we're talking about him being the ranking member, i.e., the head Senator from the minority party. Energy will presumably continue to be chaired by Lisa Murkowski [R-AK]. The rubber would really hit the road if Dems take control of the Senate in 2020.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:55 PM on December 6, 2018 [11 favorites]
I'm not quite sure how to talk about this, but the story about the undocumented immigrants working at Trump's Bedminster property (WaPo link), um, lands close to my home.
Anibal Romero is a legit, established attorney (www.theromerofirm.com) with an office in Plainfield, about 30 minutes away from the Bedminster property.
I also personally know 3 men, in Plainfield, where I live, who could tell the exact same story as those two women - phony papers, no license, can't drive, management not only knows but helps them arrange carpools and new papers when necessary. They're even from Guatemala. Romero's clients' stories are plausible and believable in every single particular. This is a common situation.
By the way, people in this situation get normal paychecks; I assume that includes normal tax withholding, and I assume they're included in any relevant payroll tax, since the whole point is to make the books add up straight. Like anyone else, they can exempt from income tax withholding, but not SS or Medicare taxes.
(Let's call this fact-checking, since we were talking about ratfucking. that's what I'm doing. I am factchecking the story. mostly I am just unnerved; I did not know that the Bedminster property was only 30 minutes away from my fucking house.)
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 10:00 PM on December 6, 2018 [29 favorites]
Anibal Romero is a legit, established attorney (www.theromerofirm.com) with an office in Plainfield, about 30 minutes away from the Bedminster property.
I also personally know 3 men, in Plainfield, where I live, who could tell the exact same story as those two women - phony papers, no license, can't drive, management not only knows but helps them arrange carpools and new papers when necessary. They're even from Guatemala. Romero's clients' stories are plausible and believable in every single particular. This is a common situation.
By the way, people in this situation get normal paychecks; I assume that includes normal tax withholding, and I assume they're included in any relevant payroll tax, since the whole point is to make the books add up straight. Like anyone else, they can exempt from income tax withholding, but not SS or Medicare taxes.
(Let's call this fact-checking, since we were talking about ratfucking. that's what I'm doing. I am factchecking the story. mostly I am just unnerved; I did not know that the Bedminster property was only 30 minutes away from my fucking house.)
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 10:00 PM on December 6, 2018 [29 favorites]
2020 Is Already Shaping Up to Be Another Festival of Stupid
It is not a good thing that the 2020 presidential election is already showing signs of encroaching idiocy. It is not a good sign that the elite political press already is demonstrating that it has learned absolutely, 100 percent jack-squat from its demonstrable malpractice in 2016. This should be no surprise. The elite political press learned nothing from its previous exercises in demonstrable malpractice. Of course, this time around, there likely will not be a Clinton to kick around, so there will have to be some adjustments in the old playbook.posted by kirkaracha at 10:02 PM on December 6, 2018 [20 favorites]
> some administration officials believe the arrest of Huawei's CFO could be used as "leverage" in trade negotiations with China.
>> we are entertaining the idea of making demands of a head of state via holding a hostage.
The flip side is just as bad; arrest-as-negotiation suggests that criminals can have their charges dismissed as long as someone pays their ransom. I have no doubt that Huawei was involved in selling goods to Iran, and they shouldn't be excused because the Chinese government makes a trade concession (or releases some family not allowed to leave China.)
posted by msalt at 10:24 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
>> we are entertaining the idea of making demands of a head of state via holding a hostage.
The flip side is just as bad; arrest-as-negotiation suggests that criminals can have their charges dismissed as long as someone pays their ransom. I have no doubt that Huawei was involved in selling goods to Iran, and they shouldn't be excused because the Chinese government makes a trade concession (or releases some family not allowed to leave China.)
posted by msalt at 10:24 PM on December 6, 2018 [4 favorites]
There are three different measures making their way through the Senate: a war powers resolution ending any U.S. involvement in the Yemen conflict ...
Was there ever a resolution authorising US involvement, or is it still part of the hunt for the people responsible for the 9/11 attacks?
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:43 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
Was there ever a resolution authorising US involvement, or is it still part of the hunt for the people responsible for the 9/11 attacks?
posted by Joe in Australia at 10:43 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
arrest-as-negotiation suggests that criminals can have their charges dismissed
That's a fucking slippery slope. US citizens and permanent residents are prohibited from buying Cuban rum in countries where they are citizens and Cuban rum is freely sold. Well, fuck that.
posted by holgate at 10:49 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
That's a fucking slippery slope. US citizens and permanent residents are prohibited from buying Cuban rum in countries where they are citizens and Cuban rum is freely sold. Well, fuck that.
posted by holgate at 10:49 PM on December 6, 2018 [1 favorite]
On 2020: I don't think "clearing the field" is a great idea, but I think it's important for Democrats to thin the field early, and the main thinning should be of anybody older than Amy Klobuchar who will be 60 in 2020. I understand why left-Boomers want to fight One Final Decisive Battle with the demented incumbent, but they can't be allowed to do so.
posted by holgate at 10:58 PM on December 6, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by holgate at 10:58 PM on December 6, 2018 [31 favorites]
I don't think this has been covered yet - CNN claims to be filling in details on the start of the investigation, saying that it started prior to Mueller appointment (per the Washington Post last year). The key detail that's being promoted with the story is "Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and top FBI officials viewed Trump as a leader who needed to be reined in."
posted by Candleman at 12:08 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Candleman at 12:08 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
The campaign will again be headquartered at Trump Tower... the campaign will have a pair of satellite offices — one at the Republican National Committee’s building on Capitol Hill and another in nearby Rosslyn, Virginia.Streamlined. campaign. operation. With three offices and el Trumpo sitting in a fourth. You know he's going to take the opportunity to jack up the rent at Trump Tower again.
...
The plan, which was designed by Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale and RNC Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, is aimed at developing a streamlined campaign operation.
posted by TWinbrook8 at 12:11 AM on December 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
The key detail that's being promoted with the story is "Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and top FBI officials viewed Trump as a leader who needed to be reined in."
Sure, since they knew that Trump and the campaign and inauguration committees were completely compromised by Russia what else do you expect them to do ?
I stand by my hypothesis that they gave him a fake football.
posted by mikelieman at 2:00 AM on December 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
Sure, since they knew that Trump and the campaign and inauguration committees were completely compromised by Russia what else do you expect them to do ?
I stand by my hypothesis that they gave him a fake football.
posted by mikelieman at 2:00 AM on December 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
Trump administration swaps academics for business executives on National Park Service advisory panel
posted by PontifexPrimus at 2:11 AM on December 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke has resurrected a federally chartered board that advises the National Park Service with his own appointees, nearly a year after most of its former members resigned in frustration.This administration keeps on breaking so many things - it'll be hard to rebuild everything afterwards.
The newly reconstituted National Park System Advisory Board — composed largely of current or retired business executives — was set to meet for the first time Wednesday in Washington.[...]
All of the 11 new members appear to be white, and nine of them are men. Public records show all of the new board members are either registered Republicans or have voted repeatedly in GOP primaries.[...]
The newly appointed board also did not include any working academics, as the previous version did. Among the old panelists were professors from Harvard and Yale universities, as well as the University of Maryland and the University of Kentucky.
The new group includes three big-dollar donors who have each contributed more than $500,000 to GOP candidates and causes since the 2008 election cycle.
They are John C. Cushman III, a Los Angeles-based commercial real estate executive who gave $537,950, mostly to Republicans and GOP-affiliated political action committees; John L. Nau III, who runs the nation’s largest distributor of Anheuser-Busch products and gave $847,022, largely to Republicans; and Boyd C. Smith, a Bay Area-based real estate developer who contributed $986,407, largely to GOP candidates.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 2:11 AM on December 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
I am far from convinced that left-Boomers want to fight one final battle against 45. I think Republicans want to make us think that. And various individuals who would like to become president, including Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden, may be happy to play into the hands of the Republicans by campaigning and I hope they don’t. Their time has passed. I also wish the fucking mainstream media would stop publishing advice from the opposition party about what Democrats should do. Had we followed any advice provided by Republicans, we would not have picked up 40 seats in the House.
Fuck the people who are claiming the Democrats need to run a candidate who can unify the nation. That ship has sailed. It is no longer accepting white supremacists as crew members or passengers. There will be no united union, but there will be a rule of law if Democrats and their supporters can keep it together. A lot of the political analysis, so-called, is just another form of disinformation. It’s just one more thing to ignore as we write postcards to voters, donate money, call or write our Congress critters, and otherwise keep dragging the political structure as far left as far as we can, just to get the children out of cages.
I am not going to get it for Christmas but that Is the Christmas gift I want: no more children in cages, no more children in tent cities, no more individuals or families in cages or tent cities. I want a lot more than that, but releasing incarcerated immigrants, starting with the children and the families, is my number one wish.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:38 AM on December 7, 2018 [69 favorites]
Fuck the people who are claiming the Democrats need to run a candidate who can unify the nation. That ship has sailed. It is no longer accepting white supremacists as crew members or passengers. There will be no united union, but there will be a rule of law if Democrats and their supporters can keep it together. A lot of the political analysis, so-called, is just another form of disinformation. It’s just one more thing to ignore as we write postcards to voters, donate money, call or write our Congress critters, and otherwise keep dragging the political structure as far left as far as we can, just to get the children out of cages.
I am not going to get it for Christmas but that Is the Christmas gift I want: no more children in cages, no more children in tent cities, no more individuals or families in cages or tent cities. I want a lot more than that, but releasing incarcerated immigrants, starting with the children and the families, is my number one wish.
posted by Bella Donna at 3:38 AM on December 7, 2018 [69 favorites]
There's a not insignificant number of Democratic Party longtimers who, from their rhetoric and records, are still essentially the "New Democrats" of thirty years ago. From their perspective, Trump is a problem because he makes their rhetoric of "bipartisanship" a tough sell. Trump and Trumpism are enemies from this point of view, but also anomalies.
In fact, what we're seeing in both parties in a rejection of this political rhetoric, which was about seeing who could claim the grounds of "centrism" and "practicality." Dubya and the rise of the PNAC ideologues were, in retrospect, a kind of extinction burst of the older Reagan-era conservatism -- more vicious and extreme in their rhetoric and methods, but also of a different political category than Trump. Remember, Dubya's signature phrase in 2000 was "compassionate conservatism."
But none of the old tricks worked: ginning up a war like his father backfired, even when they were amped up to eleven; and the tax-cutting-as-stimulus, trickle-down rhetoric looked bad in the wake of various market bubbles bursting. Even evangelical moral authority took a beating thanks to a series of scandals around conservative figures who turned out to be LGBTQ or otherwise hypocritical.
It was Bush 43's failure as a President, the failure mode, indeed, of the Reaganite movement's more broadly appealing strategies, that empowered the growing ethnonationalist reactionary element to complete their takeover of the party base, even as it meant that the authoritarians in the party were able to take over the leadership roles. The ethnonationalists were always there, of course, and there's continuity in racist appeals going back to Nixon.
But the GOP Nixon, Reagan, and others built and maintained saw that as a means to an end in large part, even if parts of the base didn't. Now it's all that's left, and has become an end in itself. Evangelicalism itself has completed its transformation, tot he point that conservatives who leave the church tend to leave it for more radical forms of ethnonationalist, authoritarian principles.
But oddly, the Democratic Party hasn't suffered this revolt. There are a number of reasons why, of course: the exodus of less strongly ethnonationalist conservatives created a new constituency to pick up, for one thing, and also suggested a long-term demographic inevitability as people of color become a numerical majority. So there wasn't a feeling of any real *need* for deep reflection or a shift in strategy; history was ending, and it was ending on the side of a "big tent" coalition with broadly "centrist" ideas that would offend no one.
Only that doesn't work for anyone concerned about empirical reality, about climate change, about clear structural shifts in the global economy, and about the policy outcomes of . (Was there ever a group less truly aware of concrete policy outcomes than self-described "policy wonks" who just *knew* it'd all work out because the math said so?) But who else is there to vote for? So there's a say-home effect, but also a delayed impact on actual DemocraticParty polling, because the assumption in this older generation in the Democratic party is still that it's a waiting game, perhaps some damage control, but just hang back and don't make waves and one will form behind you anyway.
These senior New Democrat thinkers are reinforced in their ideas because a substantial part of the traditional political media and the suburban vote -- well, the Boomer and Gen X suburban vote, anyway -- still buys into that rhetoric to some extent. (For people in those generations who live in exurban or major urban center areas, the politics are quite different and the late 80s/1990s sort of rhetoric and policymaking has lost all credibility.
The midterms were a good step towards making these folks even more of a rump than it already is, but the suburbs were still decisive, hence the fraction of Blue Dogs who seem to want idiocies like PAYGO. Certainly traditional media seem to be headed that way for younger generations; they, too, are becoming secondary recourses, not primary ones. The question is when the remaining self-defined centrists -- really a group of failed technocrats with little actual power beyond the party itself -- will no longer be able to avoid a confrontation with this reality.
posted by kewb at 4:16 AM on December 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
In fact, what we're seeing in both parties in a rejection of this political rhetoric, which was about seeing who could claim the grounds of "centrism" and "practicality." Dubya and the rise of the PNAC ideologues were, in retrospect, a kind of extinction burst of the older Reagan-era conservatism -- more vicious and extreme in their rhetoric and methods, but also of a different political category than Trump. Remember, Dubya's signature phrase in 2000 was "compassionate conservatism."
But none of the old tricks worked: ginning up a war like his father backfired, even when they were amped up to eleven; and the tax-cutting-as-stimulus, trickle-down rhetoric looked bad in the wake of various market bubbles bursting. Even evangelical moral authority took a beating thanks to a series of scandals around conservative figures who turned out to be LGBTQ or otherwise hypocritical.
It was Bush 43's failure as a President, the failure mode, indeed, of the Reaganite movement's more broadly appealing strategies, that empowered the growing ethnonationalist reactionary element to complete their takeover of the party base, even as it meant that the authoritarians in the party were able to take over the leadership roles. The ethnonationalists were always there, of course, and there's continuity in racist appeals going back to Nixon.
But the GOP Nixon, Reagan, and others built and maintained saw that as a means to an end in large part, even if parts of the base didn't. Now it's all that's left, and has become an end in itself. Evangelicalism itself has completed its transformation, tot he point that conservatives who leave the church tend to leave it for more radical forms of ethnonationalist, authoritarian principles.
But oddly, the Democratic Party hasn't suffered this revolt. There are a number of reasons why, of course: the exodus of less strongly ethnonationalist conservatives created a new constituency to pick up, for one thing, and also suggested a long-term demographic inevitability as people of color become a numerical majority. So there wasn't a feeling of any real *need* for deep reflection or a shift in strategy; history was ending, and it was ending on the side of a "big tent" coalition with broadly "centrist" ideas that would offend no one.
Only that doesn't work for anyone concerned about empirical reality, about climate change, about clear structural shifts in the global economy, and about the policy outcomes of . (Was there ever a group less truly aware of concrete policy outcomes than self-described "policy wonks" who just *knew* it'd all work out because the math said so?) But who else is there to vote for? So there's a say-home effect, but also a delayed impact on actual DemocraticParty polling, because the assumption in this older generation in the Democratic party is still that it's a waiting game, perhaps some damage control, but just hang back and don't make waves and one will form behind you anyway.
These senior New Democrat thinkers are reinforced in their ideas because a substantial part of the traditional political media and the suburban vote -- well, the Boomer and Gen X suburban vote, anyway -- still buys into that rhetoric to some extent. (For people in those generations who live in exurban or major urban center areas, the politics are quite different and the late 80s/1990s sort of rhetoric and policymaking has lost all credibility.
The midterms were a good step towards making these folks even more of a rump than it already is, but the suburbs were still decisive, hence the fraction of Blue Dogs who seem to want idiocies like PAYGO. Certainly traditional media seem to be headed that way for younger generations; they, too, are becoming secondary recourses, not primary ones. The question is when the remaining self-defined centrists -- really a group of failed technocrats with little actual power beyond the party itself -- will no longer be able to avoid a confrontation with this reality.
posted by kewb at 4:16 AM on December 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
This administration keeps on breaking so many things - it'll be hard to rebuild everything afterwards.
Which worries me (almost) more than anything else about this timeline. Putin's got to be thrilled that this is happening above and beyond his expectations, and a gang of self-serving morons in Congress are all too happy to tolerate it because it advances their own interests, and fulfills the Reaganite wet dream of destroyed governance. Any rebuilding will be as politicized as the breaking was, so the end of Trump's time in office will just be the beginning of the long-term effects he'll have had on the country. The rest of my lifetime is likely to be Trump's America minus Trump.
*Pillowscream*
posted by Rykey at 4:35 AM on December 7, 2018 [25 favorites]
Which worries me (almost) more than anything else about this timeline. Putin's got to be thrilled that this is happening above and beyond his expectations, and a gang of self-serving morons in Congress are all too happy to tolerate it because it advances their own interests, and fulfills the Reaganite wet dream of destroyed governance. Any rebuilding will be as politicized as the breaking was, so the end of Trump's time in office will just be the beginning of the long-term effects he'll have had on the country. The rest of my lifetime is likely to be Trump's America minus Trump.
*Pillowscream*
posted by Rykey at 4:35 AM on December 7, 2018 [25 favorites]
Particularily chilling as this is a Times of Israel link.
Migrants waiting in Mexico to have their asylum claims processed at the US border are reportedly being given numbers, which are written on their arms with permanent marker.
Including children. (HuffPo).
posted by adamvasco at 4:37 AM on December 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Migrants waiting in Mexico to have their asylum claims processed at the US border are reportedly being given numbers, which are written on their arms with permanent marker.
Including children. (HuffPo).
posted by adamvasco at 4:37 AM on December 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Stanley McChrystal, the former commander of NATO forces in Afghanistan, recently told secretary of state Mike Pompeo that he did not know what to do in Afghanistan but offered his “best suggestion” was for a small number of troops to remain and “muddle along” in the country, the retired four-star Army general told a small group last month during his book tour, according to Task & Purpose.
posted by Bella Donna at 4:55 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 4:55 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't think this has been covered yet - CNN claims to be filling in details on the start of the investigation, saying that it started prior to Mueller appointment (per the Washington Post last year). The key detail that's being promoted with the story is "Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein and top FBI officials viewed Trump as a leader who needed to be reined in."
And as with the related stories about Rosenstein and McCabe that were leaked to the WaPo in October (25th Amendment-gate, Wire Tap-gate, etc.), one has to wonder why CNN's pair of anonymous sources are spilling right now.
I can't even tell what counts as worked up anymore, it's insanity to eleventy every hour of every day now.
In the past 24 hours, Trump has sounded extra-worked up even by his own standards. First thing this morning, @realDonaldTrump posted an extended multi-tweet rant about "Leakin’ Lyin’ James Comey", "Mueller Conflicts of Interest", "Andrew Weissman’s horrible and vicious prosecutorial past", "17 Angry Democrats", "totally conflicted" Rod Rosenstein, "lying and leaking by the people doing the Report, & also Bruce Ohr (and his lovely wife Molly)" "the Campaign of Crooked Hillary", "the corruption within the DNC", and, of course, the "total Witch Hunt". He also misspells " And bye the way", so we'll see how long that particular tweet stays up (I realize that since his tweets are almost never threaded, it's easy for his comms team to delete the regular ones with typos without breaking the chain).
In short, buckle up for today. We're gonna need a bigger thread…
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:56 AM on December 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
And as with the related stories about Rosenstein and McCabe that were leaked to the WaPo in October (25th Amendment-gate, Wire Tap-gate, etc.), one has to wonder why CNN's pair of anonymous sources are spilling right now.
I can't even tell what counts as worked up anymore, it's insanity to eleventy every hour of every day now.
In the past 24 hours, Trump has sounded extra-worked up even by his own standards. First thing this morning, @realDonaldTrump posted an extended multi-tweet rant about "Leakin’ Lyin’ James Comey", "Mueller Conflicts of Interest", "Andrew Weissman’s horrible and vicious prosecutorial past", "17 Angry Democrats", "totally conflicted" Rod Rosenstein, "lying and leaking by the people doing the Report, & also Bruce Ohr (and his lovely wife Molly)" "the Campaign of Crooked Hillary", "the corruption within the DNC", and, of course, the "total Witch Hunt". He also misspells " And bye the way", so we'll see how long that particular tweet stays up (I realize that since his tweets are almost never threaded, it's easy for his comms team to delete the regular ones with typos without breaking the chain).
In short, buckle up for today. We're gonna need a bigger thread…
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:56 AM on December 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
I’m nostalgic for the reports of Nixon muttering drunkenly to the White House portraits of past presidents.
posted by bluesky43 at 5:32 AM on December 7, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 5:32 AM on December 7, 2018 [31 favorites]
The campaign will again be headquartered at Trump Tower...
Don't forget that security for Melania alone costs taxpayers over $100,000 a day when she stays in New York. High level officials may not be a primary, but they'll still need lots of security.
When I lived in New York, you knew when the president was in town. You knew traffic would be jammed and to avoid whole sections of the city. It was a huge pain in the ass for literally every one that lived there.
posted by xammerboy at 5:34 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
Don't forget that security for Melania alone costs taxpayers over $100,000 a day when she stays in New York. High level officials may not be a primary, but they'll still need lots of security.
When I lived in New York, you knew when the president was in town. You knew traffic would be jammed and to avoid whole sections of the city. It was a huge pain in the ass for literally every one that lived there.
posted by xammerboy at 5:34 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
Doktor Zed: It sounds like something—maybe advance notice for tomorrow's court filings—has him worked up.
I sort of hope that's not it, because even this storm is his garden-variety degree of mania... rather than the absolute tantrum I'd expect if the indictment were particularly juicy (i.e naming family members).
However, I will happily accept a less-juicy, well-done piece of news/filing/subpoena.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 5:45 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I sort of hope that's not it, because even this storm is his garden-variety degree of mania... rather than the absolute tantrum I'd expect if the indictment were particularly juicy (i.e naming family members).
However, I will happily accept a less-juicy, well-done piece of news/filing/subpoena.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 5:45 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
In fact, what we're seeing in both parties in a rejection of this political rhetoric, which was about seeing who could claim the grounds of "centrism" and "practicality."
Josh Marshall had a podcast up recently where he talked to a scholar who specialized in American history in the run up to the Civil War. I couldn’t listen to all of it (so much rambling), but one thing that stuck with me was that the American political class put such an emphasis on bipartisanship and comity and the rest because they were all terrified that political parties would become sectarian parties, divided along geographic lines. Because that way lies war.
Welp.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:49 AM on December 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
Josh Marshall had a podcast up recently where he talked to a scholar who specialized in American history in the run up to the Civil War. I couldn’t listen to all of it (so much rambling), but one thing that stuck with me was that the American political class put such an emphasis on bipartisanship and comity and the rest because they were all terrified that political parties would become sectarian parties, divided along geographic lines. Because that way lies war.
Welp.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:49 AM on December 7, 2018 [13 favorites]
the elite political press already is demonstrating that it has learned absolutely, 100 percent jack-squat from its demonstrable malpractice in 2016.
To the contrary, they performed like the well groomed malware code they are. They did exactly what their masters told them to. It cost them some of their souls, yes, but. Ka-ching!
posted by petebest at 5:51 AM on December 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
To the contrary, they performed like the well groomed malware code they are. They did exactly what their masters told them to. It cost them some of their souls, yes, but. Ka-ching!
posted by petebest at 5:51 AM on December 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
even this storm is his garden-variety degree of mania...
As though @realDonaldTrump's done with his morning tweeting…
In the latest, he asserts, "It has been incorrectly reported that Rudy Giuliani and others will not be doing a counter to the Mueller Report. That is Fake News*. Already 87 pages done, but obviously cannot complete until we see the final Witch Hunt Report." The hilarious claim of a precise number of completed pages—and whenever Trump quotes a number of any kind, you can bet it's either merely wrong or totally confabulated—is the cherry on top of this sundae of crazy.
Also, "China talks are going very well!"
* i.e. interviews with Rudy Giuliani.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:54 AM on December 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
As though @realDonaldTrump's done with his morning tweeting…
In the latest, he asserts, "It has been incorrectly reported that Rudy Giuliani and others will not be doing a counter to the Mueller Report. That is Fake News*. Already 87 pages done, but obviously cannot complete until we see the final Witch Hunt Report." The hilarious claim of a precise number of completed pages—and whenever Trump quotes a number of any kind, you can bet it's either merely wrong or totally confabulated—is the cherry on top of this sundae of crazy.
Also, "China talks are going very well!"
* i.e. interviews with Rudy Giuliani.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:54 AM on December 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
This...this is all insanity. He has made us so casual to obstructing justice that we almost forget NAMING WITNESSES is not something you should ever do when you're under trial. Ever. And he's probably had a hundred notices from the SC saying "please do not name individuals. We will prosecute every offense as witness tampering." And of course he doesn't care.
As always, the cognitive dissonance is the point. He has the power and he's going to continue to use it because he's an asshole.
posted by andruwjones26 at 5:59 AM on December 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
As always, the cognitive dissonance is the point. He has the power and he's going to continue to use it because he's an asshole.
posted by andruwjones26 at 5:59 AM on December 7, 2018 [16 favorites]
srboisvert: "Trump has also made personal attacks on Freeland:“We’re very unhappy with the negotiations and the negotiating style of Canada. We don’t like their representative very much.” She was the top representative of Canada in those negotiations."
Well he should just fire h...; wait a moment. I believe Freeland works for CANADA not the Cheeto. *quick search* Yep that appears to be the case.
zachlipton: "At first, Saudi lobbyists put the veterans up in Northern Virginia. Then, in December 2016, they switched most of their business to the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington. In all, the lobbyists spent more $270,000 to house six groups of visiting veterans at the Trump hotel, which Trump still owns."
He is so obviously breaking the emoluments clause.
tocts: "They would crucify a returned Jesus if they thought it'd allow Trump to build a wall (preferably topped with machine-gun nests to shoot at all the brown people)."
An olive skinned, dark haired, bearded man from the Middle East speaking out against his goverment? They'd crucify him just on general principles.
posted by Mitheral at 6:10 AM on December 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
Well he should just fire h...; wait a moment. I believe Freeland works for CANADA not the Cheeto. *quick search* Yep that appears to be the case.
zachlipton: "At first, Saudi lobbyists put the veterans up in Northern Virginia. Then, in December 2016, they switched most of their business to the Trump International Hotel in downtown Washington. In all, the lobbyists spent more $270,000 to house six groups of visiting veterans at the Trump hotel, which Trump still owns."
He is so obviously breaking the emoluments clause.
tocts: "They would crucify a returned Jesus if they thought it'd allow Trump to build a wall (preferably topped with machine-gun nests to shoot at all the brown people)."
An olive skinned, dark haired, bearded man from the Middle East speaking out against his goverment? They'd crucify him just on general principles.
posted by Mitheral at 6:10 AM on December 7, 2018 [26 favorites]
Trump No Longer Speaking to John Kelly
“John Kelly is expected to resign as White House chief of staff in the coming days,” CNN reports.
“Seventeen months in, Kelly and President Trump have reached a stalemate in their relationship and it is no longer seen as tenable by either party. Though Trump asked Kelly over the summer to stay on as chief of staff for two more years, the two have stopped speaking in recent days.”
What's a word for two-year's-worth-of-beyond-embarrassment-with-no-end-in-sight?
posted by petebest at 6:29 AM on December 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
“John Kelly is expected to resign as White House chief of staff in the coming days,” CNN reports.
“Seventeen months in, Kelly and President Trump have reached a stalemate in their relationship and it is no longer seen as tenable by either party. Though Trump asked Kelly over the summer to stay on as chief of staff for two more years, the two have stopped speaking in recent days.”
What's a word for two-year's-worth-of-beyond-embarrassment-with-no-end-in-sight?
posted by petebest at 6:29 AM on December 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
From the CNN story: When Kelly first replaced Reince Priebus as chief of staff last summer, he ruled with an iron fist. He curbed Oval Office access, blocked certain outsiders from being able to call the White House switchboard and had broad authority over staffing.
I'd totally forgotten about Priebus; remember when he was the one who was going to keep the toddler-in-chief in line?
posted by octothorpe at 6:36 AM on December 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'd totally forgotten about Priebus; remember when he was the one who was going to keep the toddler-in-chief in line?
posted by octothorpe at 6:36 AM on December 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
On his way to Kansas City Trump confirms hes nominating Bill Barr and Heather Nauert for AG and UN Ambassadors respectively, says hell have another announcement to do with the Joint Chiefs at tomorrows Army-Navy game.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:44 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:44 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
maybe those generals are finally getting the big raise they deserve
posted by murphy slaw at 6:54 AM on December 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 6:54 AM on December 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
Exceptional_Hubris:
Trump .... says hell have another announcement
Not a typo.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:57 AM on December 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
Trump .... says hell have another announcement
Not a typo.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:57 AM on December 7, 2018 [10 favorites]
I'd totally forgotten about Priebus; remember when he was the one who was going to keep the toddler-in-chief in line?
I recall around the time of the Prbs-Kelly transition that Trump had floated the idea of not having a (single) Chief of Staff, explicitly so they would be competing to backstab each other and toady up to him.
posted by Etrigan at 7:03 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
I recall around the time of the Prbs-Kelly transition that Trump had floated the idea of not having a (single) Chief of Staff, explicitly so they would be competing to backstab each other and toady up to him.
posted by Etrigan at 7:03 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
"It has been incorrectly reported that Rudy Giuliani and others will not be doing a counter to the Mueller Report. That is Fake News*. Already 87 pages done, but obviously cannot complete until we see the final Witch Hunt Report."
NYMag/Chait had a history of the disappearing counter-report: Giuliani: The Dog Ate My Counter-Report to Mueller.
And as someone who works on legal documents all the live-long day, I have absolutely no idea how long any of them are exactly. That number would constantly change, and it's irrelevant to the task at hand. *shrugs*
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:13 AM on December 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
NYMag/Chait had a history of the disappearing counter-report: Giuliani: The Dog Ate My Counter-Report to Mueller.
And as someone who works on legal documents all the live-long day, I have absolutely no idea how long any of them are exactly. That number would constantly change, and it's irrelevant to the task at hand. *shrugs*
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:13 AM on December 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
And as someone who works on legal documents all the live-long day, I have absolutely no idea how long any of them are exactly. That number would constantly change, and it's irrelevant to the task at hand. *shrugs*
These are the same people who rend their garments over how long bills in congress are, never mind that they're 40% blank margin. They never emotionally got past the stage where they groaned about page count for assigned reading or writing in high school.
posted by phearlez at 7:19 AM on December 7, 2018 [21 favorites]
These are the same people who rend their garments over how long bills in congress are, never mind that they're 40% blank margin. They never emotionally got past the stage where they groaned about page count for assigned reading or writing in high school.
posted by phearlez at 7:19 AM on December 7, 2018 [21 favorites]
I recall around the time of the Prbs-Kelly transition that Trump had floated the idea of not having a (single) Chief of Staff, explicitly so they would be competing to backstab each other and toady up to him.
I think he's floated the idea of not having one at all. It would be fun to watch up close except of course that it would literally be even more dangerous.
posted by jgirl at 7:20 AM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
Part of me wants to be gleeful that Trump is sure to appoint somebody in the Scaramucci/Nauert vein, who will fail miserably at keeping him from providing more prosecution/impeachment/emoluments ammunition. But another part of me is pretty nervous because Trump controls the military and has the nuclear codes, and the new person will be equally inept at keeping him in check on that front.
posted by Rykey at 7:21 AM on December 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Rykey at 7:21 AM on December 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's mind-boggling to me just how many crimes Trump could be called to account for at the same time.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:22 AM on December 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:22 AM on December 7, 2018 [9 favorites]
I think he's floated the idea of not having one at all. It would be fun to watch up close except of course that it would literally be even more dangerous.
I can't decide if that's true. On the down side you don't have whoever is CoS reigning him in to some extent, but it's an open question how much of that really happens anyway. On the other, if the position is empty of someone who knows where the levers are, like Kelly, that's one less resource for the incompetent evil to draw on to actually send the orders to the right place or on the right form. We've had a number of tales of folks just ignoring Trump's most batshit ranting till he forgets what he wanted. One less person who is receptive to the evil - as Kelly was on many issues - and who knows how to make things happen? Might be a net win.
posted by phearlez at 7:25 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
I can't decide if that's true. On the down side you don't have whoever is CoS reigning him in to some extent, but it's an open question how much of that really happens anyway. On the other, if the position is empty of someone who knows where the levers are, like Kelly, that's one less resource for the incompetent evil to draw on to actually send the orders to the right place or on the right form. We've had a number of tales of folks just ignoring Trump's most batshit ranting till he forgets what he wanted. One less person who is receptive to the evil - as Kelly was on many issues - and who knows how to make things happen? Might be a net win.
posted by phearlez at 7:25 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
"So often, the president would say here's what I want to do and here's how I want to do it and I would have to say to him, Mr. President I understand what you want to do but you can't do it that way. It violates the law," Tillerson said.posted by kirkaracha at 7:27 AM on December 7, 2018 [33 favorites]
Trump would get very frustrated when they would have those conversations, he said.
Already 87 pages done
They just have one more page to add and then it will be the right length.
posted by M-x shell at 7:28 AM on December 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
They just have one more page to add and then it will be the right length.
posted by M-x shell at 7:28 AM on December 7, 2018 [34 favorites]
I think he's floated the idea of not having one at all. It would be fun to watch up close except of course that it would literally be even more dangerous.
John Bolton on NPR this morning was asked if the President knew about the arrest in Canada of the Huauwei executive (at the US’ request) beforehand, and he said, and I’m paraphrasing, the President isn’t always informed in advance of these kinds of relatively common, lower level law enforcement activities but that he is informed about it now.
Now imagine what Bolton and the rest of them will get up to without a strong, or any, Chief of Staff in place to deter them.
posted by notyou at 7:29 AM on December 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
John Bolton on NPR this morning was asked if the President knew about the arrest in Canada of the Huauwei executive (at the US’ request) beforehand, and he said, and I’m paraphrasing, the President isn’t always informed in advance of these kinds of relatively common, lower level law enforcement activities but that he is informed about it now.
Now imagine what Bolton and the rest of them will get up to without a strong, or any, Chief of Staff in place to deter them.
posted by notyou at 7:29 AM on December 7, 2018 [6 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump can't stop, won't stop: We will be doing a major Counter Report to the Mueller Report. This should never again be allowed to happen to a future President of the United States!
Meanwhile, Marcy Wheeler writes in the WaPo: Mueller Has Already Issued Most Of His Report, One Indictment At A Time—Each court filing contains far more detail than it really needs. The special counsel is speaking through the docket.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:40 AM on December 7, 2018 [29 favorites]
Meanwhile, Marcy Wheeler writes in the WaPo: Mueller Has Already Issued Most Of His Report, One Indictment At A Time—Each court filing contains far more detail than it really needs. The special counsel is speaking through the docket.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:40 AM on December 7, 2018 [29 favorites]
Wait, does that story about Kelly mean that Trump is just giving Kelly the silent treatment until Kelly resigns? Trump: Ghoster in Chief.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:45 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 7:45 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
i sort of figured that 75% of the job of the chief of staff is making trump get out of his bathrobe and put on real pants and stop tweeting for chrissake. sans chief of staff i can see nothing but "executive time" stretching out to the horizon.
i will leave it as an exercise to the interested student as to whether or not the resulting power vacuum would be a good thing.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:45 AM on December 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
i will leave it as an exercise to the interested student as to whether or not the resulting power vacuum would be a good thing.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:45 AM on December 7, 2018 [8 favorites]
Now imagine what Bolton and the rest of them will get up to without a strong, or any, Chief of Staff in place to deter them.
I still question that anyone who has thus far held the job or would be willing to take the job would want to deter Bolton et all from most of the sort of things they want to do. I'd bet that 9 times out of 10 they instead just assisted in putting on the fig leaf or pointing them at the right place to implement it.
For example, the reported internal fighting over the child kidnapping at the border. Nobody in those arguments was saying this is awful and fucking evil and we won't be able to live with ourselves if we do it. They were just haggling over which china pattern to use while they did it. At the risk of sounding like a filthy accelerationist, I wonder whether the reason that went on under the radar so long was precisely because they had the "adults in the room" helping them use the right forms rather than being their ham-handed selves.
posted by phearlez at 8:01 AM on December 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
I still question that anyone who has thus far held the job or would be willing to take the job would want to deter Bolton et all from most of the sort of things they want to do. I'd bet that 9 times out of 10 they instead just assisted in putting on the fig leaf or pointing them at the right place to implement it.
For example, the reported internal fighting over the child kidnapping at the border. Nobody in those arguments was saying this is awful and fucking evil and we won't be able to live with ourselves if we do it. They were just haggling over which china pattern to use while they did it. At the risk of sounding like a filthy accelerationist, I wonder whether the reason that went on under the radar so long was precisely because they had the "adults in the room" helping them use the right forms rather than being their ham-handed selves.
posted by phearlez at 8:01 AM on December 7, 2018 [11 favorites]
NYT's Maggie Haberman has an inside lane on the race to replace Kelly:
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:03 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
[...]John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, is likely to leave his post in the next few days, ending a tumultuous 16-month tenure still among the longest for a senior aide to Mr. Trump, two people with direct knowledge of the developments said Friday.As we know, nothing is real until Trump sends the tweet, so for the moment, these reports are so much chum in the media waters. Especially on a Grand Jury Friday.
Mr. Kelly and Mr. Trump have grown weary of each other. But Mr. Trump, according to several senior administration officials and people close to him, has so far been unable to bring himself to personally fire a retired four-star military general.
It is unclear who the replacement for Mr. Kelly would be. Nick Ayers, the vice president’s chief of staff, is seen as a leading candidate. He is supported by Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, the president’s son-in-law and daughter, who both serve as senior West Wing advisers and who, according to several officials, are trying to expand their influence internally and in the re-election campaign.
The White House senior staff meeting on Friday morning was canceled, according to three officials. But there is a holiday senior staff dinner scheduled for Friday night, and people said they expected Mr. Kelly to be there.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:03 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump can't stop, won't stop: We will be doing a major Counter Report to the Mueller Report. This should never again be allowed to happen to a future President of the United States!
At the end of the investigation, Mueller should just issue a 1 page "report" that incorporates the hundreds of pages of indictments by reference.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:05 AM on December 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
At the end of the investigation, Mueller should just issue a 1 page "report" that incorporates the hundreds of pages of indictments by reference.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:05 AM on December 7, 2018 [19 favorites]
Trump’s ties to the Russian mafia go back 3 decades
The very first episode that’s been documented, to my knowledge, was in 1984 when David Bogatin — who is a Russian mobster, convicted gasoline bootlegger, and close ally of Semion Mogilevich, a major Russian mob boss — met with Trump in Trump Tower right after it opened. Bogatin came to that meeting prepared to spend $6 million, which is equivalent to about $15 million today.posted by 1970s Antihero at 8:05 AM on December 7, 2018 [42 favorites]
Bogatin bought five condos from Trump at that meeting. Those condos were later seized by the government, which claimed they were used to launder money for the Russian mob.
...
I document something like 1,300 transactions of this kind with Russian mobsters.
Could some remind me why the internet is getting extra excited for news drops today, investigation-wise? I know we’re expecting the customary drops-‘o-clock cuz it’s Friday, but I keep seeing suggestions that something bigger is likely today and I feel like I missed something.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 8:10 AM on December 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 8:10 AM on December 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Manafort filing of his "Crimes and Lies" is due today.
posted by Brainy at 8:11 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Brainy at 8:11 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
---------NEW THREAD----->
"Very legal & very cool"—Individual 1
---------NEW THREAD---->
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:14 AM on December 7, 2018 [18 favorites]
"Very legal & very cool"—Individual 1
---------NEW THREAD---->
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:14 AM on December 7, 2018 [18 favorites]
Could we keep Kelly and replace the other guy?
Why? Kelly is the architect of the immigration policy and children in cages.
posted by JackFlash at 8:15 AM on December 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
Why? Kelly is the architect of the immigration policy and children in cages.
posted by JackFlash at 8:15 AM on December 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
Trump has never had the courage to fire anyone that could take a legitimate swing at him.
Better yet, Kelly was Trump's preferred hatchet man. Who can he enlist to do the dirty work for him this time?
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:32 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Better yet, Kelly was Trump's preferred hatchet man. Who can he enlist to do the dirty work for him this time?
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:32 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Could some remind me why the internet is getting extra excited for news drops today, investigation-wise?
Trump's less-hinged-than-usual tweetstorm, mostly. Those often seem to be triggered by someone whispering in his ear that something is about to happen.
posted by Etrigan at 8:41 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Trump's less-hinged-than-usual tweetstorm, mostly. Those often seem to be triggered by someone whispering in his ear that something is about to happen.
posted by Etrigan at 8:41 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
suelac: Oh goodie, a shutdown for Christmas.
Even before you get to a full shut-down, you can start freezing different departments if you don't have approved appropriations. Even though Congress began appropriations work for FY 2019 in April, but have only passed two "minibus" budgets for Energy & Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction & VA, then Defense and Labor-HHS-Education.
Which means that other agencies that are relying on Federal funding may be in the lurch if they have spent all their prior year Federal funds by now, because we still don't have 2019 funding, despite being now in the 3rd month of Federal Fiscal Year 2019 (FFY = Oct. 1 through Sept. 30).
At least, that's how I understand it.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:44 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Even before you get to a full shut-down, you can start freezing different departments if you don't have approved appropriations. Even though Congress began appropriations work for FY 2019 in April, but have only passed two "minibus" budgets for Energy & Water, Legislative Branch, and Military Construction & VA, then Defense and Labor-HHS-Education.
Which means that other agencies that are relying on Federal funding may be in the lurch if they have spent all their prior year Federal funds by now, because we still don't have 2019 funding, despite being now in the 3rd month of Federal Fiscal Year 2019 (FFY = Oct. 1 through Sept. 30).
At least, that's how I understand it.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:44 AM on December 7, 2018 [1 favorite]
Trump has never had the courage to fire anyone that could take a legitimate swing at him.
Trumnp never fires anyone himself. He's too much of a coward.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:25 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Trumnp never fires anyone himself. He's too much of a coward.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:25 AM on December 7, 2018 [2 favorites]
Mueller investigators questioned John Kelly in obstruction probe
Washington (CNN)White House chief of staff John Kelly was interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team in recent months, three people with knowledge of the matter told CNN.
Kelly responded to a narrow set of questions from special counsel investigators after White House lawyers initially objected to Mueller's request to do the interview earlier this summer, the sources said. Kelly is widely expected to leave his position in the coming days and is no longer on speaking terms with President Donald Trump, CNN reported earlier Friday.
posted by bluesky43 at 9:45 AM on December 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Washington (CNN)White House chief of staff John Kelly was interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller's team in recent months, three people with knowledge of the matter told CNN.
Kelly responded to a narrow set of questions from special counsel investigators after White House lawyers initially objected to Mueller's request to do the interview earlier this summer, the sources said. Kelly is widely expected to leave his position in the coming days and is no longer on speaking terms with President Donald Trump, CNN reported earlier Friday.
posted by bluesky43 at 9:45 AM on December 7, 2018 [4 favorites]
Firing Kelly for the holidays is downright Hallmarkian.
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:53 AM on December 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:53 AM on December 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
Catch an All-New MetaFilter MegaThread™! MeFi's F5 Friday begins now!
(Cookies-and-milk Production Logo)
posted by petebest at 10:49 AM on December 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
(Cookies-and-milk Production Logo)
posted by petebest at 10:49 AM on December 7, 2018 [5 favorites]
🍪🍪🥛
sit ubu sit! 🐶 good dog
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:35 PM on December 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
sit ubu sit! 🐶 good dog
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 12:35 PM on December 7, 2018 [12 favorites]
M-x shell: "They just have one more page to add and then it will be the right length."
Does he know the trick to replace all your periods with a period of an increased point size, 'cause that'll get him half a page easily.
Doktor Zed: "As we know, nothing is real until Trump sends the tweet, so for the moment, these reports are so much chum in the media waters."
I know if I was Kelly I wouldn't be getting on a plane with the Cheeto anyplace I couldn't cab back home.
posted by Mitheral at 12:47 PM on December 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
Does he know the trick to replace all your periods with a period of an increased point size, 'cause that'll get him half a page easily.
Doktor Zed: "As we know, nothing is real until Trump sends the tweet, so for the moment, these reports are so much chum in the media waters."
I know if I was Kelly I wouldn't be getting on a plane with the Cheeto anyplace I couldn't cab back home.
posted by Mitheral at 12:47 PM on December 7, 2018 [7 favorites]
woof!
posted by notsnot at 12:48 PM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by notsnot at 12:48 PM on December 7, 2018 [3 favorites]
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posted by Etrigan at 8:05 PM on November 25, 2018 [119 favorites]