CNN is now reporting that the CIA/State shake-up story that roiled the news this morning was in fact an effort to send a message to and shame Rex Tillerson. That is hardly surprising given President Trump’s way of doing business for decades. But there’s more to it than that.
This new report at least suggests that the initial news reports this morning were false. Read More
Given how this year has unfolded, we should not underestimate Republicans’ ability to snatch legislative defeat from the jaws of victory. Still, it looks like Republicans will get their prized ‘tax reform’. Yes, the bill is horrendous policy on numerous fronts. But don’t ignore the fact that Republicans appear to be building a perilous trap for themselves to fall into. Yes, they’re jamming it through before anyone can get a good look at what’s in it. Even they don’t know what’s in it. But remember, they and we will have all 2018 to find out.
Let’s walk through this. Read More
Mueller charges Mike Flynn with making false statements to FBI.
We’ll be bringing you more info as it comes out. On its face, this seems almost certainly like Flynn is being charged with a good deal less than he could be charged with – presumably because of a cooperation deal. I stress “seems”. What we know is that he’s been charged with lying to the FBI.
9:19 AM: Flynn to appear in court this morning at 10:30 AM, according to Jeff Toobin on CNN.
Here’s a quick backgrounder (sub req.) on how to interpret what we’re hearing in terms of the larger Russia investigation.
I.F. Stone famously said “All governments lie.” This may be the first time I’ve heard this maxim invoked as a defense. The initial spin from the Trumpers about the Flynn plea deal is “everyone lies!”
Watch.
Good Lord. Trumpers roll out what I guess you'd call the I.F. Stone defense abt Flynn. "Everyone lies!" https://t.co/ksLozUPzIl pic.twitter.com/ysfCKcVJQM
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 1, 2017
There’s no way to know for sure. We’ll never know definitively. But this morning, before the Flynn news broke, I was thinking that President Trump’s behavior has seemed more wild and erratic in recent days. Yes, the baseline standard is pretty high. But over the last week or so we’ve seen a number of reports of Trump saying wilder things in private to associates and advisors. He seemed to be gravitating back to the kinds of transgressive behaviors and assertions he makes when he’s under threat or pressure. Read More
Statement from Trump lawyer Ty Cobb …
“Today, Michael Flynn, a former National Security Advisor at the White House for 25 days during the Trump Administration, and a former Obama administration official, entered a guilty plea to a single count of making a false statement to the FBI.
“The false statements involved mirror the false statements to White House officials which resulted in his resignation in February of this year. Nothing about the guilty plea or the charge implicates anyone other than Mr. Flynn. The conclusion of this phase of the Special Counsel’s work demonstrates again that the Special Counsel is moving with all deliberate speed and clears the way for a prompt and reasonable conclusion.”
The key question out of the Flynn plea agreement is the identity of the person referenced as a “senior official of the Presidential Transition Team” and another termed a “very senior member of the Presidential Transition Team”.
Here’s why this is important. Read More
The top responses from the White House today have been, first, “everybody lies in Washington” and now claiming that the Obama White House in fact authorized Mike Flynn’s secret calls with Russian Ambassador Kislyak.
lol wut? White House now saying Obama "authorized" Flynn's conversations with Russian Ambassador. pic.twitter.com/0VVl0TN2ci
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) December 1, 2017
Who was with President-Elect Trump on December 29th 2016 at Mar-a-Lago? The pool report from that day helps clarify that. Read More
Massive wealth transfer to top earners? Check.
Blow up the deficit? Check.
Hobble Obamacare? Check.