In recent editions of the Trump for President Dumpster Fire reality show, we’ve been seeing the name of retired Gen. Michael Flynn, former head of the Defense Intelligence Agency who was forced out in 2014 over policy clashes with Obama administration officials and went on to become a top Obama critic since leaving the military. He has reportedly been an informal campaign foreign policy advisor to Donald Trump for some time now. Now he’s rapidly emerged as a leading vice presidential contender. It seems so serious that after yesterday saying that he was pro-choice and creating a instant firestorm on the right, he today ‘clarified’ that he’s actually pro-life.
But enough of all that, stop the presses: I’ve just uncovered information that almost certainly proves that Flynn is completely nuts.
I had intended to do this on Friday. But with the horrific news out of Dallas I decided to wait. I want to tell you about a major expansion of Prime, TPM’s membership program. Over the next two months we’re going to be rolling out a number of new features and additions. But the one I want to tell you about most is The Arch, a new longform magazine we’re about to launch as part of Prime.
You’ll see the first piece tomorrow, followed by another every two weeks.
By endorsing Hillary Clinton for president, Bernie Sanders will finally and officially end his campaign for the presidency – and fittingly so. Was it all worth it? Political history is littered with dissident campaigns that made a splash but didn’t have much impact after they were over – Brown in ’92, McCain in 2000, and Huckabee and Edwards in 2008 – as well as those that did – Reagan in 1976, Hart in 1984, and Dean in 2004. It’s too early to tell about Sanders’ campaign, but here are several aspects in which Sanders either reinforced a trend or, perhaps, began one.
After Dallas, Trump says “you were having big, big trouble in many cities. And I think that might be just the beginning for this summer.”
I’ve been wanting to assign this piece for quite a while. It’s owned by millions of law-abiding American gun owners. It’s also the weapon of choice for mass shooters. This is our biography of the AR-15. From battlefield, to state of the art marketing, to mass shootings and mass popularity. Give it a read (sub. req.). And let me know what you think.
After Ginsburg criticizes Trump, Trump says he wants her off the Court asap.
O’Reilly asks Trump whether it’s true that there’s bias against African-Americans in American society. Trump responds that sure, the system is rigged against him too. Video after the jump.
Courtesy of TPM Reader MM we have this amazing tweet from a state rep doofus down in Florida named Dave Kerner …
@elizabethforma the man is supposed to ask the woman. Stop trying to trample our religious beliefs. #tcot
— Rep. Dave Kerner (@DavidMKerner) July 12, 2016
Late Update: As I later learned in an exchange with him on Twitter, Kerner was mocking a notional rightwing response to Warren. Yes, really. Not kidding. Since when do electeds snark?
I wanted to give you a quick polling update, with a scattering of new polls out this morning and in recent days.
Trump lawyers are going before Judge Curiel today to ask that video of Trump’s deposition in the Trump University case not be released publicly. It’s no surprise they would prefer this. But what’s amazing is their argument: it will hurt his presidential campaign.