David Kurtz

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David Kurtz is TPM's executive editor and Washington Bureau chief. He oversees the news operations of TPM.

Where Things Stand: Trump Did Chris Christie So Damn Dirty Prime Badge
This is your TPM evening briefing.

I could read and write all day every day about those days in late September 2020 when Trump became the superspreader-in-chief. It almost feels like an obligation to do so, that we may inoculate ourselves against the potential claims of future historians that we were a blind, gullible, clueless people. Yes, we were, but not nearly as much as this episode suggests. We knew. We got it. The White House COVID outbreak with Trump at its center was very, very bad, and we understood that much in real time, not only in retrospect.

But now we have a new or more precisely an updated account of the shitshow, from someone who was neck deep in the shit at the time. Poor Chris Christie. He was done wrong so many times by Trump. He was the toadiest toady. There was the hostage video. There was this unforgettable headline: “Trump Uses Chris Christie As ‘Manservant’ To Fetch His McDonald’s.” There was Christie being unceremoniously dumped as the head of the transition. But in none of those episodes did Trump try to kill Christie.

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Big Loss for Trump

Federal appeals court finds Trump’s claims of executive privilege to block a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee to be utterly without merit.

Massie family holding guns Insane Christmas Photo From GOP Congressman’s Family To Yours
ALSO INSIDE: Bob Dole ... Chris Cuomo ... The Former Guy
Go Ted Go!

I didn’t get to this until last night, after the Roe coverage was completed. But it’s worth a few minutes of your time to watch Ted Cruz flailing.

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Jake A, 33, aka Yellowstone Wolf, from Phoenix, holds a QAnon sign, as he presents himself as a shamanist and consultant for the Trump supporters gathered in front of the Maricopa County Election Department where ballots are counted after the US presidential election in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 5, 2020. - President Donald Trump erupted on November 5 in a tirade of unsubstantiated claims that he has been cheated out of winning the US election as vote counting across battleground states showed Democrat Joe Biden steadily closing in on victory. (Photo by OLIVIER  TOURON / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER  TOURON/AFP via Getty Images) Where Things Stand: Now Look What We’ve Gone And Done Prime Badge
This is your TPM evening briefing.

It’s all Matt Shuham’s fault.

Back in May, Matt interviewed the lawyer for the most high-profile Jan. 6 defendant of them all: Jacob Chansley, the QAnon shaman. The quotes from the lawyer were enough to peel your hair back.

Now they may*** be the basis for an ineffective assistance of counsel appeal from Chansley, who has already pleaded guilty and been sentenced.

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Rittenhouse Jury Reaches Verdict

Live updates here.

Rittenhouse Jury Sends Out Note
Keep An Eye Out For Us

Here’s the list of Republican members of Congress bold enough to attend the White House signing ceremony for the bipartisan infrastructure bill yesterday.

See signs of backlash against them from Trump, MAGA world, or the folks back home? Email us.

Noted

Upon the anniversary of her near-assassination at Jonestown, Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) announces she won’t seek re-election:

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Finally The Attorney General We’ve Been Waiting For
Rittenhouse Closing Arguments! Maria Bartiromo! Mike Flynn And More!
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