Friday, May 31, 2019

HA HA HA HA HA

The Trump reality TV show is morphing into the Trump sit com. His lies and rants are tripping all over themselves. First up, Trump ADMITS that Russia helped get him elected

https://www.vox.com/2019/5/30/18645526/trump-russia-elected-help-twitter
“I had nothing to do with Russia helping me to get elected,” the president tweeted. 

Later, he reversed himself  

https://thinkprogress.org/trump-says-he-doesnt-believe-russia-interfered-to-get-him-elected-minutes-after-saying-it-did-a1e515840b8e/
“Russia did not help get me elected,” Trump said, in a rambling interview on the south lawn of the White House. “You know who got me elected? I got me elected. Russia didn’t help me at all. Russia if anything helped other side.”

More: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-campaign-russia-helped-election-typo
Trump Camp Spins Admission That Russia Helped Get Him Elected: It Was A ‘Typo’

Second, Trump and his people just can't get their story straight about Mueller. When they thought they could say his report (or Barr's distorted version of it) vindicated him, they were happy to praise it. When Mueller spoke, their first reaction was, it did Trump no harm because he only restated what was in the report. When they realized that EVEN ON FOX NEWS it wasn't playing that way, it was back to "Mueller is a hyper-partisan Trump hater." Besides, they said, "case closed." Trump's frantic, crazy attacks on Mueller prove that they realize the Russia scandal has been given new life

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-mueller-true-never-trumper
President Trump took a strikingly more aggressive tone against special counsel Robert Mueller on Thursday, claiming Mueller only got the special counsel gig because of his relationship with former FBI Director James Comey. Trump also claimed that he had a “business dispute” with Mueller and the special counsel wanted to replace Comey as FBI director after Trump fired him. “I think he’s totally conflicted because, as you know, he wanted to be the FBI director and I said ‘no,'” Trump said. . . 

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/30/1861455/-Sorry-Trump-Mueller-never-even-wanted-to-be-your-FBI-director
Sorry, Trump, Mueller never even wanted to be your FBI director

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/30/1861497/-Here-s-why-Trump-is-starting-to-desperately-trash-Robert-Mueller
Here's why Trump is desperately trashing Robert Mueller

President Trump’s close advisers are increasingly pining for Robert Mueller to be dragged before Congress and subjected to conservative lawmakers’ questions about the conduct and outcome of his investigation. Their embrace of such a hearing is a sharp reversal from where sentiment in the White House has been for weeks following the release of special counsel’s report. Trump himself has come out against Mueller testifying before Congress, and key Republicans on Capitol Hill have followed suit by stating that the issue is effectively “closed.” But those positions have softened, if not changed, significantly after Mueller’s public statement on Wednesday, in which he stated that he would have exonerated Trump if he could have and said that he was prohibited by Department of Justice guidelines from bringing charges against a sitting president. . . .

Third, some wild and totally made-up claims about impeachment. Think he's not worried?

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-impeachment-dirty-filthy-disgusting
Trump: Impeachment Is A ‘Dirty, Filthy, Disgusting Word’

https://www.vox.com/2019/5/30/18645590/trump-impeachment-mueller-confusion
Trump thinks the courts might save him from impeachment. It doesn’t work like that.

Fourth, Trump denies any connection with the classless effort to obscure the name of the USS John McCain so it wouldn't offend his weak sensitivities. The Navy denied it. Then Trump . . .  confirmed it

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/30/1861421/-White-House-USS-McCain-cover-up-story-gets-even-more-embarrassing-for-Trump-if-that-s-possible
White House USS McCain cover-up story gets even more embarrassing for Trump, if that's possible

Here's the email: https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/05/for-the-record-heres-the-email-telling-the-navy-to-hide-the-uss-john-mccain/

Plus, even MORE McCain bashing: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-mccain-ship

[NB: The man is dead, you clown. Let it go.] 

Fifth, Rudy Giuliani goes into Fox World to spin yet another laughable Ukrainian conspiracy theory involving Joe Biden

https://www.thedailybeast.com/rudy-giuliani-steps-up-biden-attacks-with-new-ukraine-conspiracy-theory
Giuliani went on to allege that former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko was “extorted” by Biden, claiming Biden held the loan guarantees unless the president fired a top prosecutor who was investigating a company Biden's son worked for. . . “That’s the crime, Joe. Extorted!” Giuliani shouted. “And by the way, when he took the money for the Ukraine, we call that, under all laws, bribery!” [read on] 

Well, enough humor. It's not really very funny, is it? You know what else isn't funny? North Korea

https://www.thedailybeast.com/north-korea-executes-its-special-envoy-to-us-officials-involved-in-trump-kim-summit-report
North Korea has reportedly executed its special envoy to the U.S. and four other Foreign Ministry officials after the February U.S.-North Korea summit in Hanoi didn’t work out. . . .

In other investigation news. . . 

Bad news for Roger Stone

https://www.salon.com/2019/05/30/a-major-development-in-roger-stones-case-may-explain-why-robert-mueller-finally-resigned_partner/

The Cesspool

https://www.salon.com/2019/05/30/trump-campaign-and-mar-a-lago-subpoenaed-in-fbis-chinese-money-funneling-probe_partner/
Trump campaign and Mar-a-Lago subpoenaed in FBI’s Chinese money-funneling probe

In other news . . . 

The one conclusion that everyone (except Trump apparently) agrees about is that Russia tried to sabotage our election. They're still doing it, and they will try again in 2020. But Mitch McConnell continues to block legislation to prevent it. There's only one possible reason why

https://www.salon.com/2019/05/30/despite-muellers-warning-mcconnell-blocks-bipartisan-election-security-bills/

More: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/30/1861470/-Mitch-McConnell-is-inviting-Putin-to-hack-our-next-election-too

https://slate.com/technology/2019/05/muellers-comments-remind-us-that-russia-tried-to-interfere-in-our-elections.html

The case against impeachment (for now)

https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/impeach-trump-not-yet/590578/

https://politicalwire.com/2019/05/30/impeachment-would-freeze-the-democratic-race/

A two-fer: anti-trade AND anti-immigrant

https://www.vox.com/2019/5/30/18646618/tariff-mexico-asylum-trump-usmca

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/05/trump-mexico-tariffs-illegal-immigration-what.html

It's official: the Trump admin has complete contempt for the Hatch Act (even though it's the law)

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/kellyanne-conway-reflects-ethics-law-blah-blah-blah

A showdown between Trump and Pelosi over trade

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/30/1861512/-Trump-forces-confrontation-with-Nancy-Pelosi-by-putting-his-trade-bill-in-the-express-lane

https://politicalwire.com/2019/05/30/trump-will-trigger-process-to-force-vote-on-trade-deal/

Now we have PROOF that the census citizenship question was part of the GOP voter suppression and gerrymandering plan 

https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2019/05/emails-reveal-citizenship-question-was-designed-to-increase-republican-gerrymandering/

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/census-citizenship-redistricting-study-case-bombshel

Why does Trump keep talking about IQ? Does he know his IQ?

The Go-Fund-Me project to crowdsource funding to built the Wall™ has devolved into a mess of self-serving agendas. And it will end up building. . . a couple of thousand feet, if that

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/we-build-the-wall-militia-sunland-park

Good boy, good boy . . .  now, down. sit. roll over!

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-shakes-fox-news-reporter-kevin-corkes-hand-thanks-him-for-asking-question-he-likes
Trump Shakes Fox News Reporter’s Hand, Thanks Him for Asking Question He Likes

Bonus item: Trevor Noah on impeachment

https://www.thedailybeast.com/daily-shows-trevor-noah-to-democrats-slow-down-on-impeachment

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Thursday, May 30, 2019

MUELLER SPEAKS

Robert Mueller breaks his silence -- and he makes some things perfectly clear. Barr lied, Trump lied, and Trump's other defenders lied. He would have charged Trump if he could, but he regards the case as wholly in Congress's hands now. Oh, and p.s. - he has no intention of testifying further

Overviews: https://www.vox.com/2019/5/29/18644192/robert-mueller-statement-trump-russia-impeachment

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/stepping-down-mueller-delivers-message-trump-didnt-want-hear

More: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2019/05/robert-mueller-sticking-facts/590494
Special Counsel Robert Mueller wishes that you’d read his report. He’s not angry; he’s just disappointed. . . [read on] 

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/29/mueller-to-make-public-statement-on-his-russia-probe-1346420
Mueller emphasizes that he didn't clear Trump

https://thinkprogress.org/mueller-directly-refutes-white-house-claim-that-his-report-exonerates-trump-f7de090c0109/
Mueller directly refutes White House claim that his report exonerates Trump

Mueller: I speak for my report, not Bill Barr

https://thinkprogress.org/robert-mueller-threw-william-barr-under-the-bus-3e01b18f1ee3/
The subtle way Robert Mueller just threw William Barr under the bus

https://washingtonmonthly.com/2019/05/29/according-to-mueller-the-attorney-general-lied
According to Mueller, the Attorney General Lied

Calls for impeachment intensify

https://www.thedailybeast.com/2020-democrats-up-the-ante-on-trump-impeachment-calls-after-mueller-speaks

Then, there is this thoughtful analysis from noted legal expert Sean Hannity

https://www.thedailybeast.com/sean-hannity-mueller-doesnt-know-the-law-and-hes-full-of-crap
Sean Hannity: Mueller ‘Doesn't Know the Law’ and ‘He’s Full of Crap’

More: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1133897476497448960
Great show tonight @seanhannity, you really get it (9:00 P.M. @FoxNews), that’s why you’re Number One (by far)!
 
In other investigation news . . . 

I like the irony

https://www.salon.com/2019/05/29/trump-dossier-author-wont-cooperate-with-doj-investigation-into-origins-or-russia-probe-report/
Trump dossier author won't cooperate with DOJ investigation into origins or Russia probe: report


The Trump/GOP tax law just keeps doing more damage

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/5/29/18642928/trump-tax-cuts-and-jobs-act-analysis

Irish PM to Trump: I'll meet you, but not at your golf course!

https://www.vox.com/world/2019/5/29/18644731/trump-ireland-visit-leo-varadker-shannon-airport

Because he's a pathetic, miserable excuse for a human being

https://politicalwire.com/2019/05/29/white-house-ordered-uss-john-mccain-moved/
The White House wanted the U.S. Navy to move “out of sight” a warship named for the late Sen. John McCain, a war hero who became a frequent target of President Trump’s ire, ahead of the president’s visit to Japan last week . . . “A tarp was hung over the ship’s name ahead of the president’s trip… and sailors were directed to remove any coverings from the ship that bore its name. After the tarp was taken down, a barge was moved closer to the ship, obscuring its name. Sailors on the ship, who typically wear caps bearing its name, were given the day off during Mr. Trump’s visit.”

The Chief Petty Officer says: https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1133900762709463040
I was not informed about anything having to do with the Navy Ship USS John S. McCain during my recent visit to Japan.

The truth is: https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/30/politics/uss-john-mccain-japan-white-house-navy-trump/index.html
White House Military Office, Navy officials emailed about moving USS John McCain before Trump Japan visit 

Trump tells Roy Moore from Alabama not to run again. Moore tells him, mind your own business!

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/29/roy-moore-hits-back-at-trump-in-defiant-interview-1487921
The scandal-plagued former judge said he is “seriously considering” running for Senate again and plans to decide in a “few weeks” . . . Jones narrowly defeated Moore in a special election in 2017 amid allegations of sexual misconduct by Moore with young girls decades ago. . . 
 
Facebook better figure out how to handle doctored videos -- there are a lot more to come
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Wednesday, May 29, 2019

HELL NO, JOE

Does Trump really believe he can paint Joe Biden as the racist in this contest?

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/5/28/18642881/trump-joe-biden-1994-crime-bill-explained

More: https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/05/donald-trump-civil-rights-hero-please.html
Donald Trump: civil rights hero? Please.

Reaction to Trump's attacks

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-biden-japan-insults-republicans
Trump’s Overseas Biden Insults Were A Bridge Too Far For Some Republicans

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/fox-news-panel-trump-japan-biden
Fox News Panel Berates Trump For Bashing Biden During Japan Trip

More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-implicates-japanese-officials-attack-dems-patriotism
Trump implicates Japanese officials in attack on Dems’ patriotism 

Trump promised to "drain the swamp." Not only has he failed to do that, he has normalized a level of corruption and intermingling of government and business that we haven't seen since Teapot Dome

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/28/1860982/-Chao-still-owns-stocks-in-transportation-company-she-promised-she-d-sell-as-Transportation-head
Transportation Secretary Chao still owns transportation company stocks she promised to sell

More: https://crooksandliars.com/2019/05/trump-only-hires-best-corporate-lobbyists
Trump Only Hires The Best Corporate Lobbyists: A List

Trump doesn't have his Roy Cohn, but he has Barr and Giuliani put together


In other news . . . 

The military is not supposed to take partisan political stands while in uniform

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/28/1860934/-In-Japan-Trump-bashes-aircraft-carrier-design-while-troops-sport-Trump-themed-patches
 Trump's weird obsession with aircraft carrier design -- which he doesn't know anything about 

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/28/trump-aircraft-carriers-steam-1473984

Trump undercuts John Bolton -- don't feel bad, dude, it happens to everyone eventually

https://politicalwire.com/2019/05/28/trump-undercuts-john-bolton/

How Trump absorbs, transforms, and then comes to believe his own version of reality

https://politicalwire.com/2019/05/28/where-does-trump-get-his-odd-ideas/

Trump still plans to turn the Fourth of July into a Trump campaign event

https://politicalwire.com/2019/05/28/trump-moves-ahead-to-commandeer-july-4th-festivities/
Bonus item: The fight over Trump's Wikipedia page

https://slate.com/technology/2019/05/donald-trump-wikipedia-page.html

***If you enjoy Progressive Blog Digest and support what we are doing, you can help by forwarding a copy of this issue to your friends (using the envelope link below) or by sharing its URL (http://pbd.blogspot.com) with others via email or social media. Thanks for helping to spread the word!

I don’t get anything personally out of this project, except the satisfaction of doing it (I don’t run ads, etc.). The credit really all goes to the people whose material I copy and redistribute. But if I do have a “mission,” it is to get this information into the hands of as many people as I can.***