Nunes Steps Aside From House Russia Probe, Bannon Reportedly Considered Resigning, And Why Cops Shoot

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April 6, 2017

Top Stories


Devin Nunes Steps Aside From House Intel Russia Probe—For Now

The Gist: In a surprise move, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (R-CA) on Thursday stepped aside from the investigation into Russia’s interference in the presidential election.

Trump Claims Cummings Said He’d Be ‘One Of The Great Presidents’ In History

The Gist: President Donald Trump on Wednesday made an unbelievable claim that Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) told him that he would be one of the greatest presidents in history.

Politico: Bannon Considered Resigning After Clash With Kushner

The Gist: Steve Bannon, President Donald Trump’s chief strategist, considered leaving the White House due to disagreements with Jared Kushner, Politico reported late Wednesday.

From The Reporter’s Notebook


Vice President Mike Pence said in an interview Wednesday that White House chief strategist Steve Bannon is a “very highly valued” staffer whose removal from the National Security Council was not a demotion. “This is just a natural evolution,” he told Fox News’ Martha MacCallum.

Agree or Disagree?


Josh Marshall: “Reporting suggests that this wasn’t Kushner insisting on a visit to Iraq to investigate matters for himself. It appears more like Pentagon leaders invited Kushner to come along, knowing that they can communicate to Trump via Kushner. Now, this is a very unfortunate place for the country to be that the President’s statutory top military advisor must communicate with the President through his unripe and inexperienced son-in-law who has no experience in any of these matters. But that’s where we are. And communication in a corruptish, banana republic type way is better than not communicating at all — at least that appears to be the not unreasonable reasoning of people at the Pentagon.”

Say What?!


“I have said repeatedly that he could be a great president if … if … he takes steps to truly represent all Americans.”

– Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) on Thursday quickly threw cold water on Trump’s unbelievable version of their conversation.

BUZZING: Today in the Hive


From a TPM Prime member: “To be clear, I was extrapolating from the prior Republican position, when Obama was in office. The “loss of credibility” argument was always overstated and… well, given what we’ve seen since November, it’s no surprise that we don’t hear many Republicans talking about how a casual statement by the President can have a long-lasting, devastating effect on our nation’s credibility. The U.S. has the military might to impose regime change pretty much anywhere in the world. In the Iraq War, that was the easy part. It would not have been more difficult to depose Assad, but the looming question remains: What happens after that?”

Related: Republican and Democratic senators on Wednesday blamed the Trump administration for sending signals that encouraged the Syrian regime to “act with impunity.”

Have something to add? Become a Prime member and join the discussion here.

What We’re Reading


High school journalists land a scoop, and the principal resigns. (The New York Times)

Why cops shoot. (The Tampa Bay Times)


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