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Greitens Running Ads to Defend Himself

May 23, 2018 at 9:02 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Embattled Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens (R) “has purchased at least $185,000 in television ads — set to begin airing this week — in a year when he is not on the ballot,” the Kansas City Star reports.

“Greitens’ campaign purchased the television air time as Missouri lawmakers are holding a special session to weigh whether to impeach the Republican governor.”

“Greitens has been hounded since January by allegations that he photographed a woman while she was bound and partly nude to keep her from speaking about an extramarital affair in 2015.”

Meanwhile, Democrats are running their own ads linking Grietens with U.S. Senate candidate Josh Hawley (R).

How the Mueller Investigation Could Play Out

May 23, 2018 at 8:22 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “An indictment is one possibility that has grown increasingly unlikely. The office of the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, has told the president’s lawyers that it plans to abide by the Justice Department’s view that sitting presidents cannot be indicted no matter what the evidence shows. Still, if Mr. Mueller finds wrongdoing, Mr. Trump could be indicted after he leaves office.”

“But for now, there are several other potential outcomes while Mr. Trump is president. The New York Times spoke to defense lawyers, legal experts and former Justice Department officials to determine how the Mueller investigation may play out for Mr. Trump. The Times explored the likeliest outcomes in this little-tested area of the law; some have nearly endless permutations that are not covered here.”

The New Attorney General Itching to Take on Trump

May 23, 2018 at 8:09 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “The man aspiring to be the new face of the resistance is a practicing Sikh who likes to call attention to his turban and happens to have jurisdiction over 20 of President Trump’s properties, including Bedminster.”

“New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal says he sees an opening in the continuing wake left by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman’s surprise resignation, and he’s ready to take it.”

Trump Re-Election Bid Starts In a Hole

May 23, 2018 at 7:14 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Politico/Morning Consult poll finds just 36% of voters say they would vote for President Trump over a generic Democratic candidate in 2020, compared with 44% who would pick the Democrat, the poll shows. One in five voters, 20%, are undecided.

Trump Demands Shake Up of Communications Team

May 23, 2018 at 7:08 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump “has demanded changes to his communications team — long seen as one of the most internally divided offices in his White House — in an effort to crack down on the leaks that have plagued his presidency since Day One,” Politico reports.

“White House chief of staff John Kelly signed off on a plan that would flush out some of the department’s midlevel and junior aides… White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and other key senior officials are expected to remain.

Mike Pence Flops In Texas

May 23, 2018 at 7:06 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

New York Times: “The vice president’s political clout was tested on Tuesday night in Texas, where he backed Bunni Pounds, a conservative activist, in a Republican primary for the Dallas-area House seat that Representative Jeb Hensarling is vacating. Mr. Pence stepped in at Mr. Hensarling’s request, endorsing Ms. Pounds in a tweet after President Trump declined to get involved in a low-profile nomination contest.”

“But despite the unusual intervention of the nation’s second-highest officeholder, Ms. Pounds was defeated on Tuesday night, losing the Republican nomination to Lance Gooden, a former member of the State Legislature. Ms. Pounds boasted repeatedly of Mr. Pence’s support, and it was not enough.”

Obscure Candidate Could Help Save GOP House Seats

May 23, 2018 at 7:01 am EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Politico: “Republicans in this heavily Democratic state long ago abandoned almost any hope of winning the governorship, but getting shut out in California’s primary — where the top two finishers advance, regardless of party — could depress turnout and lead to devastating losses in House races statewide. In a warning to Republicans in April, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich wrote that Cox advancing to the November ballot ‘will be vital for keeping the Republican majority.'”

“Trump’s endorsement of Cox, a wealthy businessman who previously ran unsuccessfully for House and Senate seats in Illinois and, briefly, for president in 2008, was the culmination of weeks of effort by Republican leadership, including endorsements from House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA).”

Ryan Losing Grip on House GOP Conference

May 22, 2018 at 10:48 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Speaker Paul Ryan “is losing his grip on the feuding House Republican conference just months before pivotal midterm elections, caught between dueling factions vying for power inside the party and facing scattered calls for his departure ahead of a planned year-end retirement,” the Washington Post reports.

“But there is no clear way out for the party. Numerous aides and lawmakers said Tuesday there is not a viable alternative to Ryan who can win enough support within the GOP for a clean transition before November — and there is little stomach at the moment for the messy battle that would ensue when Ryan departs.”

Stacey Abrams Wins Democratic Nod for Georgia Governor

May 22, 2018 at 9:41 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Stacey Abrams (D) “won the Democratic nomination for Georgia’s top office on Tuesday, defeating ex-state Rep. Stacey Evans (D) and advancing her quest to become the nation’s first black female governor,” the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

“She will face one of five Republicans in November in the race to succeed Gov. Nathan Deal, a competition that will test whether the state is truly competitive after more than a decade of GOP rule.”

Amy McGrath Wins Nomination In Kentucky’s 6th

May 22, 2018 at 9:32 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former fighter pilot Amy McGrath (D) surged to victory over Lexington Mayor Jim Gray (D) in the Democratic primary for Kentucky’s 6th Congressional District, “setting up a November election that will attract national money and attention as Democrats try to make Kentucky part of a possible blue wave in 2018,” the Lexington Herald Leader reports.

“She is a candidate who fits the Democratic moment. The former fighter pilot — the first woman Marine to fly into combat in an F-18 — is a political newcomer at a time Democrats across the country are looking for a fresh response to the 2016 election of President Trump.”

Teacher Upsets Top Kentucky Lawmaker

May 22, 2018 at 9:32 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

As upset teachers across Kentucky Tuesday tried to flex their political muscle, high school math teacher Travis Brenda (R) narrowly defeated House Majority Floor Leader Jonathan Shell (R) in one of the most-watched races for the state House, the Lexington Herald Leader reports.

It was Brenda’s first bid for public office.

Primary Election Results

May 22, 2018 at 6:45 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

There are primary elections tonight in four states:

Polls close at 7 p.m. ET in Kentucky and Georgia.
Polls close at 8:30 p.m. ET in Arkansas.
Polls close for a runoff at 9 p.m. ET in Texas.

Leave your reactions in the comments.

Trump Tries to Limit Scope of Mueller Interview

May 22, 2018 at 6:04 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump’s legal team is trying to narrow the scope of his potential interview with special counsel Robert Mueller to questions on Russia-related matters that occurred before Trump’s election, CNN reports.

“Trump’s lawyers, who are urging Mueller to wrap up his investigation, are looking for a way to get him to agree to limit — or eliminate — questions regarding Trump’s conduct after he won the presidency, especially those related to whether he might have obstructed justice while in office.”

Michael Cohen’s Business Partner Flips

May 22, 2018 at 5:18 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“A significant business partner of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, has quietly agreed to cooperate with the government as a potential witness, a development that could be used as leverage to pressure Mr. Cohen to work with the special counsel examining Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election,” the New York Times reports.

“Under the agreement, the partner, Evgeny A. Freidman, a Russian immigrant who is known as the Taxi King, will avoid jail time, and will assist government prosecutors in state or federal investigations.”

Congress Passes Rollback of Banking Rules

May 22, 2018 at 5:17 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The House voted to exempt small and regional banks from some of the most stringent rules put in place after the financial crisis, while also loosening some of the rules aimed at keeping the biggest banks from failing,” the Washington Post reports.

“The measure does not repeal the 2010 Dodd-Frank law, as some in the GOP had hoped, but it does represent the most significant scaling back of the rules to date.”

New York Times: “While the legislation offers little for the very largest banks, the Trump administration has already been working through the regulatory system to make things easier for them.”

Sinkhole Appears on White House Lawn

May 22, 2018 at 4:50 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

CBS News: “The sinkhole, confirmed by groundskeepers, is just outside the office of White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley. The sinkhole, which groundskeepers remarked was smaller than they thought it might be, was roped off with cones and caution tape.”

“But, according to reporters who have observed it, it appears to be growing.”

Harvard Alumni Tear Apart Jared Kushner

May 22, 2018 at 4:47 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Graduates of the Harvard class of 2003 are making known their displeasure with the current White House administration in an unusual way, using the platform of their 15th reunion alumni notes to launch harsh, personal attacks on a former classmate,” the Boston Globe reports.

“The salvos against Jared Kushner are tucked in among the usual fare of alumni notes, where former classmates proudly recite their latest accomplishments, volunteer work, a move across the country, or the birth of a child.”

Said one former classmate: “I, for one, am actually glad that our Class of ’03 finally has a real, live fascist among us. Who says Harvard isn’t diverse?”

Trump Attacks Press So No One Believes Negative Stories

May 22, 2018 at 3:57 pm EDT By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl told an awards dinner that President Trump once told her that he attacks the press so no one will believe the negative stories written about him.

Said Stahl: “I said, ‘You know that is getting tired, why are you doing this? You are doing it over and over, it’s boring, it’s time to end that. You won the nomination, why do you keep hammering at this?'”

Responded Trump: “You know why I do it? I do it to demean you all and discredit you all, so that when you write negative stories about me no one will believe you.”