https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2019/03/28/the-whats-going-on-presidency-416701
Over the last week, the Trump administration has taken several tactical and political steps that would be seen, in any other administration, as such massively stupid political blunders that one would wonder if someone is asleep at the switch. Usually, if one disagrees with the White House on the substance, you might be able to discern what the administration is trying to achieve ideologically. These all seem, to some degree, to be self-defeating. . . . [read on]
More: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/27/trump-auto-tariff-republicans-1240519
Over the last week, the Trump administration has taken several tactical and political steps that would be seen, in any other administration, as such massively stupid political blunders that one would wonder if someone is asleep at the switch. Usually, if one disagrees with the White House on the substance, you might be able to discern what the administration is trying to achieve ideologically. These all seem, to some degree, to be self-defeating. . . . [read on]
More: https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/27/trump-auto-tariff-republicans-1240519
https://thehill.com/homenews/house/436235-house-votes-to-condemn-trumps-transgender-military-ban
Trump's allies tell him not to pardon people -- but he will if he wants to
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/allies-beg-trump-not-issue-pardons
Trump seems to have forgotten that countless efforts to "repeal and replace" Obamacare always failed because the GOP cannot come to agreement on what to replace it with. So now Trump just TELLS the GOP to come up with something. What a moron
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/27/republicans-trump-health-care-1241142
‘We need a plan’
More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-gop-clash-over-whos-supposed-lead-health-care
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/trump-asks-senators-to-create-spectacular-health-plan/
Trump Asks Senators to Create ‘Spectacular’ Health Plan
[NB: Oh, gee, after years of trying and failing to come up with an alternative to Obamacare, now Trump tells the GOP to come up with one, immediately, and oh yes, make it "spectacular." Why didn't they think of this long ago? Health care is a fifth of the economy, it is hideously complicated, and the GOP is torn apart by different approaches to the problem. But Trump will make it happen -- not by actually proposing anything, even though “I understand health care now, especially, very well . . . A lot of people don’t understand it.” But don't ask him or his scatterbrained team to come up with a proposal. He just waves his arms and tells others, "Make it so."]
Later: Mitch McConnell tells Trump, this is your load to carry, dude
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/28/mcconnell-health-care-trump-1242865
Mitch McConnell has no intention of leading President Donald Trump’s campaign to transform the GOP into the “party of health care. . . . I look forward to seeing what the president is proposing and what he can work out with the speaker,” McConnell said . . .
More: https://www.thedailybeast.com/obamacare-redux-republican-lawmakers-tell-trump-to-go-first-on-latest-health-care-reform-pushicles
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions . . .“I’m looking forward to hearing what the president’s plan is,” he added.
Trump says . . . sorry . . . he actually says . . . .uhhh. . . . he has the nerve to suggest . . . what's the phrase? . . . oh, I got it . . . he baldfacedly lies that . . .
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/27/trump-fox-interview-1241242
Trump's allies tell him not to pardon people -- but he will if he wants to
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/allies-beg-trump-not-issue-pardons
Trump seems to have forgotten that countless efforts to "repeal and replace" Obamacare always failed because the GOP cannot come to agreement on what to replace it with. So now Trump just TELLS the GOP to come up with something. What a moron
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/27/republicans-trump-health-care-1241142
‘We need a plan’
More: http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-gop-clash-over-whos-supposed-lead-health-care
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/trump-asks-senators-to-create-spectacular-health-plan/
Trump Asks Senators to Create ‘Spectacular’ Health Plan
[NB: Oh, gee, after years of trying and failing to come up with an alternative to Obamacare, now Trump tells the GOP to come up with one, immediately, and oh yes, make it "spectacular." Why didn't they think of this long ago? Health care is a fifth of the economy, it is hideously complicated, and the GOP is torn apart by different approaches to the problem. But Trump will make it happen -- not by actually proposing anything, even though “I understand health care now, especially, very well . . . A lot of people don’t understand it.” But don't ask him or his scatterbrained team to come up with a proposal. He just waves his arms and tells others, "Make it so."]
Later: Mitch McConnell tells Trump, this is your load to carry, dude
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/28/mcconnell-health-care-trump-1242865
Mitch McConnell has no intention of leading President Donald Trump’s campaign to transform the GOP into the “party of health care. . . . I look forward to seeing what the president is proposing and what he can work out with the speaker,” McConnell said . . .
More: https://www.thedailybeast.com/obamacare-redux-republican-lawmakers-tell-trump-to-go-first-on-latest-health-care-reform-pushicles
Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), who chairs the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions . . .“I’m looking forward to hearing what the president’s plan is,” he added.
Trump says . . . sorry . . . he actually says . . . .uhhh. . . . he has the nerve to suggest . . . what's the phrase? . . . oh, I got it . . . he baldfacedly lies that . . .
https://www.politico.com/story/2019/03/27/trump-fox-interview-1241242
Russia would've preferred Hillary Clinton as president
AND . . . he actually says this
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-says-little-more-he-should-have-about-ag-bill-barr
“There was no crime, as you know. You’re only allowed to do this legally if there is a crime. There was no crime. They’ve all admitted it. Comey, who is a terrible guy, Comey and McCabe and Strzok and Page, the lover, Page, and all of these people, they’ve admitted in testimony that there was no crime. So they’d started an investigation based on no crime. . . . I will say this, our new attorney general, Bill Barr, is a great gentleman. I’ve heard about him for years. He’s a great man. Had he been there initially, this all would not have happened because what has gone on there is just a disgrace to our country.”
Let’s quickly dispatch with the first point Trump raised: Robert Mueller’s probe shouldn’t have happened because “there was no crime.” This is plainly absurd. For one thing, the special counsel’s investigation uncovered all kinds of crimes committed by key members of Trump’s inner circle. . . . For another, law enforcement does not uncover crimes and then launch investigations. Trump seems confused about the process at the most basic level. But as notable as this is, what truly amazed me was the president’s boast that Attorney General William Barr would’ve prevented the investigation altogether. Trump sees this as a compliment. It’s not.
He calls it "treason" https://thinkprogress.org/trump-accuses-opponents-of-treason-over-russia-mueller-investigation-5030ed581b6e/
Trump hinted about using the "nuclear football" against North Korea
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/trump-talked-of-using-nuclear-football-on-north-korea/
AND . . . he actually says this
http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/trump-says-little-more-he-should-have-about-ag-bill-barr
“There was no crime, as you know. You’re only allowed to do this legally if there is a crime. There was no crime. They’ve all admitted it. Comey, who is a terrible guy, Comey and McCabe and Strzok and Page, the lover, Page, and all of these people, they’ve admitted in testimony that there was no crime. So they’d started an investigation based on no crime. . . . I will say this, our new attorney general, Bill Barr, is a great gentleman. I’ve heard about him for years. He’s a great man. Had he been there initially, this all would not have happened because what has gone on there is just a disgrace to our country.”
Let’s quickly dispatch with the first point Trump raised: Robert Mueller’s probe shouldn’t have happened because “there was no crime.” This is plainly absurd. For one thing, the special counsel’s investigation uncovered all kinds of crimes committed by key members of Trump’s inner circle. . . . For another, law enforcement does not uncover crimes and then launch investigations. Trump seems confused about the process at the most basic level. But as notable as this is, what truly amazed me was the president’s boast that Attorney General William Barr would’ve prevented the investigation altogether. Trump sees this as a compliment. It’s not.
He calls it "treason" https://thinkprogress.org/trump-accuses-opponents-of-treason-over-russia-mueller-investigation-5030ed581b6e/
Trump hinted about using the "nuclear football" against North Korea
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/trump-talked-of-using-nuclear-football-on-north-korea/
In other investigation news. . .
Here's the big problem with the Barr letter: he said he would consult with Rosenstein AND Mueller before releasing anything. There is no evidence he consulted with Mueller, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that Mueller would never have agreed to it
https://www.axios.com/nancy-pelosi-mueller-report-bill-barr-summary-3ba27a36-3ebd-4bff-8885-29ff6ab1792e.html
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/how-barr-controls-the-fate-of-the-mueller-report/
There is a smart school of thought that Mueller DID have an indictable case on obstruction, but didn't say so ONLY because a president can't be indicted. He meant for this to go to Congress. It wasn't a 50/50, I-can't-decide situation. If that is true, that makes what Barr did even worse
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-barr-gambit
The non-charging decision on obstruction by Mueller cannot be explained as a failure of evidence. On conspiracy or coordination, it appears Mueller made a clear decision not to charge because of a lack of evidence. As too many members of the media seem to get wrong, this was not a “no evidence” situation, but rather a failure to get to the required level of admissible evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. And the level of proof had to be something in between probable cause (you can’t get 500 search warrants without it) and proof beyond a reasonable doubt. I have no problem with that decision from a prosecutorial discretion standpoint. There was lots of evidence of an underlying conspiracy, but it was always going to be very difficult to prove the President’s direct involvement with sufficient admissible evidence (classified intercepts from foreign governments won’t do it). And Manafort and Stone holding the line seems to have been the stopped the Mueller team short. Mueller made a decision not to charge conspiracy because of a lack of evidence, so why not obstruction? If it’s a 50-50 call and a pure “jump ball” that’s easy. You decline. If it’s “more likely than not,” the civil standard, you also decline. Even if it’s “clear and convincing” evidence that doesn’t rise to the level of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, you decline the case. So what is going on here? To me, the only answer is that they had a chargeable obstruction case but stopped short of making a decision to charge the President–because he’s the President. It could have been the policy not to indict a sitting President, it could have been the legal and policy arguments around executive authority, or it could have been out of deference to the legislative branch and its impeachment prerogatives. Any way you cut it, I just can’t see Mueller shying away from a tough evidentiary call. If we ever get to see it, I fully expect the actual Mueller report to contain a devastating case against the President for obstruction of justice. This is why we should expect to see Barr, the White House, and the Republicans in Congress fight like hell to keep as much of the report as possible away from the public and House Judiciary. Democrats cannot let this go.
Mueller report: over 300 pages
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/mueller-report-is-more-than-300-pages/
Trump's insurance fraud
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/cohen-testified-trump-committed-insurance-fraud/
Trump has been lying about his net worth
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/how-trump-inflated-his-net-worth/
https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-financial-crimes-investigations.html
More: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1845978
"Clearly fraudulent"
Ivanka's lawyer: don't involve her in Dad's wrongdoing
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/how-ivankas-lawyer-sought-to-influence-cohens-testimony
Here's the big problem with the Barr letter: he said he would consult with Rosenstein AND Mueller before releasing anything. There is no evidence he consulted with Mueller, and it is becoming increasingly apparent that Mueller would never have agreed to it
https://www.axios.com/nancy-pelosi-mueller-report-bill-barr-summary-3ba27a36-3ebd-4bff-8885-29ff6ab1792e.html
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/how-barr-controls-the-fate-of-the-mueller-report/
There is a smart school of thought that Mueller DID have an indictable case on obstruction, but didn't say so ONLY because a president can't be indicted. He meant for this to go to Congress. It wasn't a 50/50, I-can't-decide situation. If that is true, that makes what Barr did even worse
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-barr-gambit
The non-charging decision on obstruction by Mueller cannot be explained as a failure of evidence. On conspiracy or coordination, it appears Mueller made a clear decision not to charge because of a lack of evidence. As too many members of the media seem to get wrong, this was not a “no evidence” situation, but rather a failure to get to the required level of admissible evidence to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt. And the level of proof had to be something in between probable cause (you can’t get 500 search warrants without it) and proof beyond a reasonable doubt. I have no problem with that decision from a prosecutorial discretion standpoint. There was lots of evidence of an underlying conspiracy, but it was always going to be very difficult to prove the President’s direct involvement with sufficient admissible evidence (classified intercepts from foreign governments won’t do it). And Manafort and Stone holding the line seems to have been the stopped the Mueller team short. Mueller made a decision not to charge conspiracy because of a lack of evidence, so why not obstruction? If it’s a 50-50 call and a pure “jump ball” that’s easy. You decline. If it’s “more likely than not,” the civil standard, you also decline. Even if it’s “clear and convincing” evidence that doesn’t rise to the level of proof beyond a reasonable doubt, you decline the case. So what is going on here? To me, the only answer is that they had a chargeable obstruction case but stopped short of making a decision to charge the President–because he’s the President. It could have been the policy not to indict a sitting President, it could have been the legal and policy arguments around executive authority, or it could have been out of deference to the legislative branch and its impeachment prerogatives. Any way you cut it, I just can’t see Mueller shying away from a tough evidentiary call. If we ever get to see it, I fully expect the actual Mueller report to contain a devastating case against the President for obstruction of justice. This is why we should expect to see Barr, the White House, and the Republicans in Congress fight like hell to keep as much of the report as possible away from the public and House Judiciary. Democrats cannot let this go.
Mueller report: over 300 pages
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/mueller-report-is-more-than-300-pages/
Trump's insurance fraud
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/cohen-testified-trump-committed-insurance-fraud/
Trump has been lying about his net worth
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/how-trump-inflated-his-net-worth/
https://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2019/03/the-financial-crimes-investigations.html
More: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1845978
"Clearly fraudulent"
Ivanka's lawyer: don't involve her in Dad's wrongdoing
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2019/03/how-ivankas-lawyer-sought-to-influence-cohens-testimony
Why it's a serious problem that Trump calls his opponents "evil"
https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2019/03/28/reality-check-donald-trump-political-opponents-evil-sot-vpx-avlon-newday.cnn/video/playlists/atv-road-to-the-white-house-automated/
Without irony, Trump says Adam Schiff should resign from Congress. . . for lying
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/1845884
The House Intel committee might be the most divided committee in Congress -- which is a shame because it is one of the most important
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/schiff-punches-back-gop-call-resignation-you-might-think-collusion-okay-i-dont
https://www.vox.com/2019/3/28/18285513/adam-schiff-russia-trump-collusion
More: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/nunes-criminal-referral-doj-fbi-russia-probe
Trump's rallies are becoming truly scary
https://www.vox.com/2019/3/28/18286356/trump-mueller-report-lies-grand-rapids-michigan-speech
It took Trump 90 seconds to lie about the “Mueller report” during Michigan speech
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/trump-savages-rivals-at-rally/
Trump Savages Rivals at Rally
https://www.thedailybeast.com/grand-rapids-rally-trump-in-first-mueller-victory-lap-rally-promotes-fox-news-stars
Trump, in First Mueller Victory Lap Rally, Promotes Fox News Stars
https://crooksandliars.com/2019/03/trump-screams-democrats-during-psychotic
Trump Screams During Psychotic Rally: Dems 'Defrauding The Public With Ridiculous Bullsh*t'’
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/436404-trump-blasts-liberal-elites-im-smarter-than-they-are
“I’m smarter than they are, I went to better schools than they did, I have better apartments than they have, I’m better educated all around. I have a much more beautiful house, much more beautiful anything. And I’m president and they’re not.”
The GOP is joining Trump in his assault on a free press
https://thinkprogress.org/republican-party-threatening-journalists-trump-4f5593e53610/
The Energy Dept is approving secret nuclear power sales to Saudi Arabia
https://thinkprogress.org/rick-perry-approval-secret-authorizations-saudi-nuclear-deal-makes-experts-nervous-94858af8e6cd/
The Pentagon is paying for Trump's Wall™, but playing games with where the money is coming from
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/pentagon-paying-for-trump-wall-shell-game.html
Trump says wind power won't work -- apparently unaware that it already exists and it DOES work
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/trump-insists-wind-power-doesnt-work/
“You look at the fact that we would have been powered by wind which wouldn’t have worked by the way because it only blows sometimes and lots of problems come about.”
More: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/5/2/17290880/trump-wind-power-renewable-energy-maps
I am not going to say anything here about Jussie Smollett -- except to point out the cynical way his case is being exploited by Trump and right-wing media
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-and-fox-news-strategic-obsession-with-jussie-smollett?
Amy Klobuchar to Trump: THAT'S not an infrastructure plan -- THIS is an infrastructure plan!
https://thinkprogress.org/klobuchar-infrastrucure-plan-77e6cf7ccfd7
[NB: That's Trillion with a "T"]
Please stop!
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/pete-buttigieg-gay-diversity-white-male-candidate.html
Is Pete Buttigieg Just Another White Male Candidate, or Does His Gayness Count as Diversity?
[NB: I am not handicapping the Dem primary, and I am thrilled by the gender and racial diversity. Who knows who will emerge as the strongest candidate to beat Trump? It could be any of several good people. But if it's a white male, let's not play these games.]
Is Brett Kavanaugh the swing vote on partisan gerrymandering?
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/brett-kavanaugh-gerrymandering-swing-vote.html
The end of the death penalty?
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/momentum-to-abolish-death-penalty-growing.html
https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/28/trump-insists-wind-power-doesnt-work/
“You look at the fact that we would have been powered by wind which wouldn’t have worked by the way because it only blows sometimes and lots of problems come about.”
More: https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2018/5/2/17290880/trump-wind-power-renewable-energy-maps
I am not going to say anything here about Jussie Smollett -- except to point out the cynical way his case is being exploited by Trump and right-wing media
https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-and-fox-news-strategic-obsession-with-jussie-smollett?
Amy Klobuchar to Trump: THAT'S not an infrastructure plan -- THIS is an infrastructure plan!
https://thinkprogress.org/klobuchar-infrastrucure-plan-77e6cf7ccfd7
[NB: That's Trillion with a "T"]
Please stop!
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/pete-buttigieg-gay-diversity-white-male-candidate.html
Is Pete Buttigieg Just Another White Male Candidate, or Does His Gayness Count as Diversity?
[NB: I am not handicapping the Dem primary, and I am thrilled by the gender and racial diversity. Who knows who will emerge as the strongest candidate to beat Trump? It could be any of several good people. But if it's a white male, let's not play these games.]
Is Brett Kavanaugh the swing vote on partisan gerrymandering?
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/brett-kavanaugh-gerrymandering-swing-vote.html
The end of the death penalty?
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/momentum-to-abolish-death-penalty-growing.html
https://crooksandliars.com/2019/03/marx-brothers-de-construct-barr-letter
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