GOP Hardliners Catch Impeachment Fever, Colin Powell: Trump Is A ‘Disgrace,’ And The Nominees On Science

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September 14th, 2016

Top Stories


Impeachment Fever! House Hardliners Find A New Way To Buck GOP Leadership

The Gist: House Republican hardliners have found a new outlet to express their frustration with Obama in the form of an impeachment vote against a mid-level figure in the administration.

New York AG Says He’s Looking Into Trump Foundation

The Gist: Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said that his office is looking into whether the Trump Foundation complied with state laws.

Leaked Emails Reveal Colin Powell Sees Trump As ‘A National Disgrace’

The Gist: Colin Powell warned of the threat posed by Trump, who he called a “disgrace” and “international pariah,” in leaked emails.

From The Reporter’s Notebook


Hillary Clinton’s campaign released a new TV ad Tuesday responding to Donald Trump’s spot capitalizing on Clinton’s “basket of deplorables” comment, TPM’s Esme Cribb reported. The 60-second spot responds to Trump’s Monday charge that Clinton’s comments render her ineligible for the presidency. “What’s Donald’s opinion of our citizens?” the ad asks, and runs through a laundry list of inflammatory remarks that Trump has made over the course of his campaign, including his comments mocking a disabled reporter, his attacks on the Khan family and his comments about women.

Agree or Disagree?


Josh Marshall: “A good, though rather parodic and extreme example of the kind of both-sides-ism we’re talking about was the spate of headlines which said some version of ‘Trump, Clinton Trade Charges of Racism’ a couple weeks ago. Well, one candidate has openly identified with avowed racists, made racially incendiary remarks and made racism the single most salient theme of his campaign. The other … well, there’s really nothing like that besides Trump saying ‘No, you’re racist.’ This isn’t a moral or ideological judgment. It is, as far as we can ever have it, a factual statement of what’s actually happening. Those are precisely the judgments we rely on reporters to make. These are not scientific, purely objective judgments. But neither are they moral or ideological. They are factual, or factual well within the scope of the kinds of judgements we expect reporters to make.”

Say What?!


“I don’t know why we need such extensive medical reporting when we all have a right to privacy.”

– Kellyanne Conway sidestepped questions about Trump’s health before slamming Clinton for not disclosing a pneumonia diagnosis.

BUZZING: Today in the Hive


From a TPM Prime member: “First, no one seriously disputes that a BOUS (Basket Of Unusual Size) of Trump’s supporters are deplorable. I’ve talked to lots of them and I’m sure you have too. But many of them are also people who have fallen on hard times in this century and need help. Clinton (with major encouragement from progressives) wants to make policy changes that will help not just liberals but also many of those who now sit comfortably in that BOUS calling for her imprisonment and death. One of the sad facts of social issue politics is that Democratic policies often disproportionately help people who will never vote for a Democrat. So, yes, through her actions and policies she will be a President for all Americans.”

Related: It’s been a lonely year for Jeff Flake, the Arizona GOP senator who won’t be bullied by Trump.

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

What We’re Reading


What hasn’t changed in our new world of terror. (The Atlantic)

What do the candidates know about science? (Scientific American)


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