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Adviser to Emirates Cooperating with Special Counsel

March 6, 2018 at 7:27 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“An adviser to the United Arab Emirates with ties to current and former aides to President Trump is cooperating with the special counsel, Robert Mueller, and gave testimony last week to a grand jury,” the New York Times reports.

“Mr. Mueller appears to be examining the influence of foreign money on Mr. Trump’s political activities and has asked witnesses about the possibility that the adviser, George Nader, funneled money from the Emirates to the president’s political efforts. It is illegal for foreign entities to contribute to campaigns or for Americans to knowingly accept foreign money for political races.”

Scaramucci Attacking Kelly with Trump’s Blessing

March 6, 2018 at 7:24 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump has emboldened Anthony Scaramucci to continue attacking White House chief of staff John Kelly during his cable news appearances, CNN reports.

“In multiple television segments, Scaramucci has faulted Kelly for the ‘terrible morale’ in the West Wing, at times referring to him as ‘General Jackass’ and suggesting he apologize for his handling of the Rob Porter resignation. According to this source, the President is aware of Scaramucci’s criticisms and has not discouraged him from making them.”

Nixon Biographer Wins American History Book Prize

March 6, 2018 at 6:33 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

John Farrell, the author of Richard Nixon: The Life, has been named the winner of the New-York Historical Society’s Barbara and David Zalaznick Book Prize, awarded annually to the best work in the field of American history or biography, the New York Times reports.

Quote of the Day

March 6, 2018 at 5:43 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“We’ll do it in a very loving way. It will be a loving, loving way. They’ll like us better and they’ll respect us much more.”

— President Trump, quoted by CNN, downplaying the risks of a trade war.

Gary Cohn Plans to Resign

March 6, 2018 at 5:33 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Trump economic adviser Gary Cohn “plans to resign, becoming the latest in a series of high-profile departures from the Trump administration,” the New York Times reports.

“The officials insisted there was no single factor behind the departure of Mr. Cohn, who heads the National Economic Council. But his decision to leave came after he seemed poised to lose an internal struggle amid a Wild West-style process over Mr. Trump’s plan to impose large tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.”

Democrats See a Chance at Beating Ted Cruz

March 6, 2018 at 5:32 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Voters in Texas on Tuesday are setting up a showdown that Democrats hope will lead to their first victory in a statewide election there since 1994, with Rep. Beto O’Rourke vying to compete for the Senate seat of Republican Ted Cruz,” the Washington Post reports.

“It’s a daunting task for O’Rourke, 45, a three-term congressman. But there are signs he could at least keep November’s election close, including an impressive early-vote turnout among Democrats for Tuesday’s primaries, robust fundraising reports and polls showing declines in popularity for Cruz and President Trump. Neither O’Rourke nor Cruz is facing serious competition in Tuesday’s primaries.”

Cynthia Nixon Explores Possible Run Against Cuomo

March 6, 2018 at 5:29 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“The actress Cynthia Nixon, who for months has teased her interest in challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo, has engaged in talks with a pair of veteran Democratic political operatives, a sign that she may be moving closer to a decision on whether to run this year,” the New York Times reports.

“If a race between Ms. Nixon and Mr. Cuomo does materialize, it would instantly become one of the most intriguing Democratic primaries in the country, pitting a celebrity first-time candidate with an ability to command national media attention versus a two-term incumbent sitting atop $30 million and known for his aggressive political tactics.”

Patrick Eyes Possible White House Bid

March 6, 2018 at 3:39 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Former Gov. Deval Patrick (D), who has largely shunned politics since leaving office and joining Bain Capital in 2015, acknowledged his interest in a possible presidential run in 2020, the Boston Globe reports.

Said Patrick: “It’s on my radar screen.”

He elaborated: “I am trying to think through 2020, and that’s a decision I’m trying to think through from a personal and family point of view and also whether what I believe is going to be on offer by somebody. And if it’s on offer by somebody then maybe what I can do is help that person. But we’ll see.”

GOP Voters Overwhelmingly Support Trump’s Tariffs

March 6, 2018 at 3:17 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

A new Quinnipiac poll finds that American voters oppose tariffs on steel and aluminum, 50% to 31%, and disagree with President Trump’s claim that a trade war would be good for the U.S. and easily won, 64% to 28%.

“Every listed party, gender, education, age and racial group oppose steel and aluminum tariffs, except Republicans, who support tariffs by 58% to 20% and white voters with no college degree, who are divided, 42% to 40%.”

Scaramucci Says Getting Fired Saved His Marriage

March 6, 2018 at 3:00 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Anthony Scaramucci appeared on Dr. Phil with his wife, Deidre, and admitted that being fired as White House communications director is what saved his marriage.

Said Scaramucci: “I was neglectful, fighting with my wife. My children felt neglected. But once I was rejected from the White House, as painful and as humiliating as that was, it caused a major recentering of my priorities. It was an awakening for me.”

Trump Takes Credit for South Korea’s Olympics

March 6, 2018 at 2:57 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

President Trump took credit for the “very successful” Olympic Games, despite the fact that they took place in South Korea, The Week reports.

Said Trump: “We’ve been given tremendous credit, because the Olympics was not going well.”

He explained: “When [North Korea] came in out of the blue and said ‘we’d love to participate in the Olympics,’ it made the Olympics very successful. President Moon of South Korea was very generous in his statements as to the fact that we had a lot to do with that, if not everything.”

Mueller Digs Into Episodes Involving Trump’s Lawyer

March 6, 2018 at 2:43 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Special counsel Robert Mueller has requested documents and interviewed witnesses about incidents involving Michael Cohen, the longtime lawyer for President Trump whose wide-ranging portfolio has given him a unique vantage point into Trump’s business, campaign and political activities,” the Washington Post reports.

“There is no indication that Cohen is a subject or target of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. But the scrutiny of his interactions is another sign of the far-reaching nature of the special-counsel probe.”

Trump Lawyer Got Inside Info from Russia Investigation

March 6, 2018 at 2:35 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Daily Beast: “On Dec. 19, 2017, a former staffer for Sen. John McCain named David Kramer testified before the House intelligence committee behind closed doors. He’d played a role in bringing the salacious and unverified Steele dossier to the FBI’s attention, and members peppered him with questions about it.”

“Then something unusual happened. Word of Kramer’s testimony got out—to the lawyer of another witness.”

“A few days after Kramer’s testimony, his lawyer, Larry Robbins, got a strange call. The call was from Stephen Ryan, a lawyer who represents Trump’s longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen. Cohen is facing scrutiny from Special Counsel Robert Mueller and congressional investigators regarding potential coordination between Trump’s team and the Kremlin. He featured prominently in the Steele dossier—the document that Kramer handled—and is currently suing Buzzfeed for publishing it.”

Trump’s Gun Proposal Scaled Way Back

March 6, 2018 at 1:26 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

“Sources inside the White House told CNN that the White House’s legislative priorities on guns are also expected to be far narrower than Trump has laid out during the listening session and likely won’t include a plan to raise the minimum age to purchase certain firearms from 18 to 21.”

“As of now, the plan includes a grant program to help protect schools during a shooting and an endorsement of the ‘Fix NICS’ bill, a proposal from Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) that would improve reporting to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System.”

Dinner In Camelot

March 6, 2018 at 1:11 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

This looks great: Dinner in Camelot: The Night America’s Greatest Scientists, Writers, and Scholars Partied at the Kennedy White House by Joseph Esposito.

Kirkus Reviews: “Looking back on a time when those in power capitalized on the possibilities and impact of the intellect only agitates our disbelief for today’s state of affairs… An exciting glimpse into a long-gone era of politics and cultural activity.”

‘I Can’t Believe It’s Taken Me This Long’

March 6, 2018 at 12:26 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

It’s emails like this that keep me going:

I can’t believe it’s taken me this long to subscribe. You and your team are doing such good work. The commentary is so impressive. Thank you!

And this one:

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Maryland Bill Requires Candidates to Release Tax Returns

March 6, 2018 at 12:25 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

The Maryland Senate “passed a bill to require president and vice presidential candidates to release their tax returns if they wish to appear on the state’s ballots,” the Baltimore Sun reports.

“The move, a direct assault on President Trump, drew harsh criticism from Republicans and some Democrats.”

Nashville Mayor Pleads Guilty to Felony Charge

March 6, 2018 at 12:24 pm EST By Taegan Goddard Leave a Comment

Nashville Mayor Megan Barry (D) “resigned and pleaded guilty to a felony theft charge, a month after the rising Democratic star admitted to an affair with her bodyguard,” the AP reports.

“In court, Barry didn’t say how she stole money from the city, but an investigation found that she was engaged in her relationship with her bodyguard while on city-paid trips. Authorities also found a nude photo and partially nude photo of a woman that were taken while her bodyguard, Sgt. Robert Forrest, was on duty.”

Tennessean: “As part of her plea deal, Barry was sentenced to three years of probation and has agreed to reimburse the city $11,000 in unlawful expenses. “