Here’s a quick backgrounder (sub req.) on why Rudy looks like he got his hands dirty in the Flynn/Turkey/Trump shenanigans.

Good piece by Alice Ollstein about how Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) warmed to the idea of adding millions of Americans to the ranks of the uninsured.

I’ve seen several complaints this morning that the news media has failed to hold President Trump to account for the multiple allegations against him ranging from inappropriate touching to assault and rape. I think this is wrong. We’ve seen a clear pattern playing out in all the allegations about sexual misconduct and the firings, resignations and apologies which have followed in their wake. The consequences track entirely to the constituency – either political, commercial or corporate – the accused serves and depend on.

If the constituency doesn’t care, the accused will be fine.  Read More

A quick note on the situation as the CFPB board. Read More

This may not be surprising. Or it’s not out of the blue. But it’s worth taking stock of the recent round of stories about disgraced National Security Advisor Michael Flynn and what those stories collectively tell us.

We’ve known since during the campaign, indeed even before he joined Donald Trump’s campaign, that Flynn had attended a high profile Moscow gala in December 2015 seated next to Russian President Vladimir Putin. That’s not against the law though. Nor is it even inherently improper. We didn’t know at the time he had failed to properly notify the Pentagon of his activities or about money he had been paid – a general officer has continued such responsibilities to the Department of Defense after they retire. In any case, while there have been reasons to doubt the totality of what Flynn was up to, what he was actually caught doing seemed mainly to be a matter of not declaring things or making FARA filings about things he would be entitled to do if he had. Read More

The first post-Thanksgiving poll is out and Roy Moore (49%) is up over Doug Jones (44%) by 5 points. That’s an eight point move in Moore’s favor since the same pollster surveyed two weeks ago. At least on the basis of this pollster’s last three polls, it suggests Moore has recovered to his pre-scandal support levels.

The pollster in question is not a terribly well-known pollster. But we do have three polls that cover the period before and after the scandal. So the general trend is clear and revealing.

DeKalb county campaign coordinator for Roy Moore attacks a credentialed reporter at a campaign event he himself organized.

Raw video: Man wearing Roy Moore sticker physically attacked a cameraman attempting to film Moore's arrival outside campaign rally a few minutes ago here in Henagar, Alabama. Another man w/ Moore sticker verbally assaulted a second cameraman. pic.twitter.com/faJVV8YpE0

— Connor Sheets (@ConnorASheets) November 28, 2017

According to the in-state reporter who apparently shot the video the man accosting the cameraman is Tony Goolsby, DeKalb County coordinator for the Moore campaign, the organizer of the rally.

Long Island, New York Congressman explains why he welcomes the support and fundraising assistance of Steve Bannon.

Long Island Congressman explains why he welcomes the support and fundraising of Steve Bannon ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ pic.twitter.com/8WqT6bRHCj

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) November 27, 2017

As we watch the drama over the who gets to run the CFPB, let me note an issue of language.

Virtually every mention of the agency I’ve heard today refers to it as a “consumer watchdog agency”. That’s a reasonable definition. But it’s not a clear one, certainly not one that is clear in any political context. Let me suggest that “consumer” is not the important part of the name. Any Democrat should be saying the CFPB an agency to protect consumers from Wall Street banks. That is what it is. It’s meant to be a watchdog to monitor financial services institutions to protect consumers and insure that those financial services companies follow the law. ‘Consumer watchdog’ sounds soft and fuddyduddy-like. It just does.