House Oversight Committee Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD) said what the rest of us (TPM) have been thinking (screaming) for months Tuesday in response to House Republicans’ rejection of Hunter Biden’s offer to publicly testify before the panel.
Continue reading “Another Data Point On How Unserious House Republicans’ Hunter Biden ‘Investigation’ Is”Convict-In-Chief: How Trump II Could Make His Legal Troubles Go Away
It’s January 20, 2025, and Donald Trump has just been inaugurated as president of the United States.
Continue reading “Convict-In-Chief: How Trump II Could Make His Legal Troubles Go Away”Trump Touts Intel Community He’s Long Besmirched In Bid To Defend Jan. 6 Charges
Throughout the past seven years, Trump has cast the intelligence community as one of his main opponents.
Continue reading “Trump Touts Intel Community He’s Long Besmirched In Bid To Defend Jan. 6 Charges”Moment More of Israel Obsessiveness
I had a clarifying moment this early afternoon sharing notes with TPM Reader MH via email. This was about the situation in Israel/Palestine but more particularly how it is impacting both people’s views and politics in the United States. What I think has happened is that the events, which began with the Hamas massacres in southern Israel on October 7th and has continued with Israel’s merciless retaliation, has pushed the discussion among not just Democrats but everyone to the left of the 50 yard line of American politics from “should Israeli policy be different” to “should Israel exist.”
The first is fairly unifying. The second is profoundly divisive and, for a non-trivial chunk of the Democratic coalition, existential.
Continue reading “Moment More of Israel Obsessiveness”Haley In Unstoppable Drive Toward Second Place
We’re back to another of those comical developments in the Republican Party and it’s relationship with its leader, Donald Trump. This morning the Koch Network announced it is supporting Nikki Haley, former South Carolina Governor and the latest forlorn hope of the billionaires who fund the GOP. She joins the heap of broken political bodies like Ron DeSantis, Glenn Youngkin and others. It raises the question: Does this completely not matter or mostly not matter? It may surprise you to learn that I’m only at “mostly doesn’t matter.” There may actually be some limited significance.
When I first started writing this post I decided to double check the latest polls. Haley is in the midst of a meteoric rise in pundit and GOP elite esteem. Lots of observers point either to polls or other evidence suggesting that if only Haley could win the nomination she’d be a lock to beat President Biden. (I actually doubt that’s true. But that’s a different story.) Candidly, I was surprised by just how much Trump is now crushing the entire GOP field. Trump is no longer sitting at about 50% or so in a big field, what by really any measure is more than enough to make him nominee. He’s now consistently 10% or 15% higher. He’s no longer at 50% support. He’s now usually 50% or more ahead of the second place vote getter.
What Haley is now accomplishing is being on the verge of surpassing the crumpled carcass of Gov. Ron DeSantis. Enough to win the small trinket, not the full stuffed animal at the fair.
Continue reading “Haley In Unstoppable Drive Toward Second Place”Mike Pence Tells Jack Smith All About Donald Trump And Jan. 6
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.
Do Tell …
ABC News continues to come through with consistently revelatory reporting about the prosecution of Donald Trump for the 2020 election subversion scheme. In a new report this morning, Katherine Faulders et al. describe what former Vice President Mike Pence has told Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Relying on anonymous sources, the ABC News team paints a picture of detailed questioning of Pence by investigators and a more granular (but not inconsistent) account of what Pence has already said publicly. The sources almost surely come from Pence’s circle, as the report goes so far as to use quotations purportedly from Pence.
According to the ABC News report, Pence told investigators that:
- Trump surrounded himself with “crank” attorneys, espoused “un-American” legal theories, and almost pushed the country toward a “constitutional crisis.”
- Pence briefly considered not showing up for the Jan. 6 certification by Congress of the Electoral College vote.
- Trump privately asked Pence for his advice, and Pence told him that if nothing changed, “[you] should simply accept the results,” “you should take a bow,” travel the country to thank supporters, “and then run again if you want.”
- After Trump re-tweeted a memo titled ‘Operation PENCE CARD,’ Pence turned to his wife and said, “Here we go.”
- Trump “acted recklessly” as the Capitol was under siege, but Pence will “never believe” Trump meant for Jan. 6 to become violent.
Chutkan Blocks Trump Fishing Expedition
The judge in the Jan. 6 case denied a Trump request to issue pre-trial subpoenas to various government entities, officials, and members of Congress.
Time Is Of The Essence
Randall Eliason: Why Judges in the Trump Jan. 6 Trial Need a Rocket Docket
John Eastman Pushes For Quick Georgia RICO Trial
A new wrinkle in the Georgia RICO case where John Eastman seems to be asking the judge to try Donald Trump separately from everyone else after the election and to hold two separate trials of the remaining defendants in 2024.
Never Forget
Philip Bump on the renewed effort to rewrite the history of Jan. 6.
Good Reminder
Politico: Bid to hold Trump accountable for Jan. 6 violence stalls at appeals court
The Ongoing Assault On Voting Rights
We are paying far less attention to the long-term deterioration of the right to vote, the essential building block of a democratic republic. It’s easier to overlook because chipping away at access to the ballot has been a subtle, decade-long process.
Bob Menendez Watch
WaPo exclusive: Businessman accused of bribing Sen. Menendez had deep ties to Egypt
Hate Crime?
The Justice Department is investigating whether the shooting in Vermont of three students of Palestinian descent was a hate crime. The man arrested in the shooting pleaded not guilty Monday.
Musk In Israel
Notorious purveyor of anti-Semitism uses Bibi Netanyahu to launder his anti-Semitism:
So Much For Small Gov’t And Local Control
WaPo: Antagonisms flare as red states try to dictate how blue cities are run
Great Read
New Yorker: When Your Own Book Gets Caught Up in the Censorship Wars
Pennies On The Dollar But Not Nothing
The Sandy Hook families have offered to settle their nearly $1.5 billion legal judgments against Alex Jones for $85 million, payable over 10 years, plus 50 percent of any income over $9 million per year.
Catching Up On Geert Wilders Big Win
The holiday threw me off my game, so I’m late to catching you up on the big win for right-winger Geert Wilders in the Dutch parliamentary elections:
Rosalynn Carter To Be Honored
Every living first lady will join former President Jimmy Carter in paying respects to the late Rosalynn Carter today in Atlanta.
Colbert Recovering From Ruptured Appendix
The late night host cancelled this week’s shows after undergoing surgery for a ruptured appendix.
Yesterday Was Hard
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Johnson Avoids Specifics On Santos For As Long As Humanly Possible
With his speakership honeymoon fading fast, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) is facing the reality of his uber thin majority as he navigates how to pass foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel before the holiday break and the bigger, two-tiered shutdown threat he created heading into the new year. His apprehension about ousting one of his own is tangible — especially someone like Rep. George Santos (R-NY).
Continue reading “Johnson Avoids Specifics On Santos For As Long As Humanly Possible”Idaho Asks Supreme Court To Let It Fully Impose Punitive Abortion Ban During Appeal
Idaho asked the Supreme Court Monday to stay a lower court injunction, or to take up its case directly, as it attempts to fend off the Biden administration’s challenge of the state’s abortion ban.
Continue reading “Idaho Asks Supreme Court To Let It Fully Impose Punitive Abortion Ban During Appeal”History and Enthusiasm
November 13th marked our 23rd anniversary at TPM. During these past 23 years I’ve managed to write as much as I have because I kept to a simple approach, which was following whatever aspect of US politics and political culture interested me most. This worked because it combined the exertion and mental energy most put toward ‘work’ with the off-hours hobbies, life, downtime and, if possible, fun we do outside of work. One might also call this obsession. But it worked in terms of productivity, focus and drive. Indeed, for those who enjoy the Editors’ Blog one of the things that makes it compelling is following the idiosyncrasies of my interests and particular storylines I latch on to. Or, so many are saying …
But over the last couple months that pattern has shifted for me in that my mind has been heavily preoccupied by something that isn’t US politics. The Israel-Hamas war has a clear bearing on US politics. Some people think it could turn the 2024 presidential election, though I suspect its salience will decrease dramatically over the coming months, as most big news stories do. At the moment it’s the dominant national news story in the US and has been for weeks. But it’s not really a US story. More importantly my interest in it goes far beyond its bearings on US politics. So I’ve been aware that my focus has shifted from things at the heart of US politics toward subject matter that is, in many ways parochial, communal and personal. And that’s not what TPM is about, at least not in its current iteration.
And it’s not like we’re in a slow period in American politics. But there we are.
Continue reading “History and Enthusiasm”Some Republicans Were Willing To Compromise On Abortion Ban Exceptions. Activists Made Sure They Didn’t.
This article was originally published at ProPublica, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom.
State Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt was speaking on the floor of the South Dakota Capitol, four months pregnant with her third child, begging her Republican colleagues to care about her life.
Continue reading “Some Republicans Were Willing To Compromise On Abortion Ban Exceptions. Activists Made Sure They Didn’t.”