May 5, 2018

Sarah Sanders 'Cursed and Yelled' at the White House Counsel in a Heated Episode

Sarah Sanders 'Cursed and Yelled' at the White House Counsel in a Heated Episode over the Administration's Falsehoods: Report
A new report from the Washington Post details the struggles the press secretary undergoes to keep the White House on message.
By Cody Fenwick / AlterNet
May 4, 2018, 2:47 PM GMT

https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/sarah-sanders-cursed-and-yelled-white-house-counsel-heated-episode-over


Press secretary Sarah Sanders ended up in a screaming match with White House counsel Don McGahn over the administration's disastrous handling of allegations against staff secretary Rob Porter back in February, according to a new report by the Washington Post. Reporters Ashley Parker, Josh Dawsey, and Philip Rucker found that the press secretary screamed and cursed at McGahn and refused to do her job unless provided with more information about the Porter situation.

<snip>

The report also notes that Sanders played a part in drafting the White House's statement in defense of Porter, who eventually resigned over allegations that he has abused his two ex-wives. That statement, the Post said, "later became an embarrassment to the administration."

<snip>

Deeming Sanders a "willing warrior" for President Donald Trump, the Post article shows that the outward struggles the administration has with the truth are reflected in inward tussles over communications strategy. That jostling was never on better display than this week, when Trump's new attorney Rudy Giuliani flatly contradicted the president and press secretary's previous denials that Trump had any knowledge of the hush money payment to the porn star known as Stormy Daniels.


The WaPo article is much ore detailed:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-a-willing-warrior-for-trump-sarah-sanders-struggles-to-maintain-credibility/2018/05/04/2ff2eb0c-4f0c-11e8-b725-92c89fe3ca4c_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.183b1d7411f8

May 3, 2018

It's not up to Trump whether to talk to Mueller

It’s not up to Trump whether to talk to Mueller
by Jennifer Rubin May 2 at 9:45 AM Email the author
2:56


Video at link
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/right-turn/wp/2018/05/02/its-not-up-to-trump-whether-to-talk-to-mueller/?utm_term=.f6f7d1d99f42

Opinion | If President Trump fires the bane of his legal troubles, he could spark a legal and constitutional crisis. (Adriana Usero/The Washington Post)
<snip>

The Post reports:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-raised-possibility-of-presidential-subpoena-in-meeting-with-trumps-legal-team/2018/05/01/2bdec08e-4d51-11e8-af46-b1d6dc0d9bfe_story.html?utm_term=.d362651fc2a5

(In a tense meeting in early March with the special counsel, President Trump’s lawyers insisted he had no obligation to talk with federal investigators probing Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential campaign.

But special counsel Robert S. Mueller III responded that he had another option if Trump declined: He could issue a subpoena for the president to appear before a grand jury, according to four people familiar with the encounter.)

While this is the first confirmation of such a warning, I have no doubt that Trump’s lawyers have been aware of Mueller’s ability to get a subpoena. If they have hidden that uncomfortable truth from Trump, they will have some explaining to do.

The Post’s report also suggests that the listed questions came from Trump’s side. (“Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow compiled a list of 49 questions that the team believed the president would be asked, according to three of the four people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk publicly.”)

<snip>

Whatever their mind-set, members of Trump’s team surely know three critical facts: Mueller is operating within the jurisdiction granted to him; the ability to investigate and indict for obstruction (or perjury or witness tampering) is inherent in any prosecutor’s mandate (otherwise people would block the investigation); and the Supreme Court in the Nixon case held that the president must comply with a subpoena seeking evidence in criminal matters.

<snip>

If we get to the point where Trump’s testimony is compelled and he must consider invoking the Fifth Amendment, it is fair to say his presidency will be over. The appearance, fair or not, that he is concealing wrongdoing by taking the Fifth will be hard to shake. Furthermore, invoking the Fifth, which is his personal right, makes clear that he can no longer uphold his office, which is to “take care” that the laws are faithfully executed. A Democratic-led House (a strong likelihood) then would feel compelled to move toward impeachment. (Even Republicans might agree — or plead with Trump to resign.)

But we are getting ahead of ourselves. For now, the proper framing is this: Trump can testify the easy way (not under oath, with his lawyer) or the hard way (alone in front of a grand jury). It’s nearly inconceivable that Mueller would relieve him of that dilemma. The prosecutor’s obligation is to find the truth, from all available sources. Mueller isn’t going to give Trump a pass.

May 1, 2018

The Dr Neil DeGrasse Tyson appreciation thread!

Please post your favorite NGT story!


Asked what one basic scientific fact most people don’t know that he wishes they would, Tyson answered, simply, “That the world is objectively knowable.” And for readers who are wondering where to turn to prove it? Boy, does Tyson have a book for you.

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/76345-neil-degrasse-tyson-talks-science-and-the-power-of-words.html

May 1, 2018

Journalists Push Back On Correspondents' Association's Response To Michelle Wolf

Journalists Push Back On Correspondents’ Association’s Response To Michelle Wolf
Some say the White House Correspondents’ Association president’s criticism of the comedian failed to recognize what the First Amendment is all about.

By Jenna Amatulli

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/journalists-rebuke-of-michelle-wolf-doesnt-celebrate-press-freedom_us_5ae70b2fe4b02baed1bc4dd8

The president of the White House Correspondents’ Association released a statement criticizing dinner headliner Michelle Wolf that has some journalists wondering whether the group actually backs its own press-freedom mission.

As Wolf’s comedy set at Saturday night’s White House Correspondents’ dinner continues to incite condemnation for its unvarnished criticism of Trump administration officials, association president Margaret Talev said in a statement to members that Wolf’s performance was not “unifying” and “not in the spirit” of the group’s mission.

“Last night’s program was meant to offer a unifying message about our common commitment to a vigorous and free press while honoring civility, great reporting and scholarship winners, not to divide people,” Talev said. “Unfortunately, the entertainer’s monologue was not in the spirit of that mission.”

#WHCA Statement to Members on Annual Dinner pic.twitter.com/8DKoHNxpNi
— WHCA (@whca) April 30, 2018

<snip>


How twitter responded....



This is why I think they shouldn’t even have it. Inviting someone to speak freely and then kneecapping her like this is the worst possible outcome. https://t.co/MXtTRZWFmt
— Linda Holmes (@lindaholmes) April 30, 2018

Wow, the @whca really is a collection of pathetic cowards, isn’t it? https://t.co/YFobLhFIYR
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) April 30, 2018




This is shameful. You do not speak for me. You do not speak for journalism https://t.co/gA9X2IAPPT
— Will Bunch (@Will_Bunch) April 30, 2018

It’s about access. And don’t you forget it. https://t.co/lHyEK5y6l8
— Soledad O’Brien (@soledadobrien) April 30, 2018

This is pathetic. Trump and his flying monkeys rail against the media and the First Amendment, @whca. For god’s sake, PUSH BACK. https://t.co/UjI1qgoiLk
— shauna (@goldengateblond) April 30, 2018


The WHCA just lost all credibility it might have had with this statement. This White House has done and called folks all types of names and they released this statement about some jokes? They joke is on them. Trump wins again. https://t.co/knyX765dCc
— deray (@deray) April 30, 2018


Journalism is about holding power accountable by empowering the people with information. Get the fuck out of here with this “unifying civility” bull shit. https://t.co/w2U8idDTaw
— Lauren Duca (@laurenduca) April 30, 2018

WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THAT “THE 1ST AMENDMENT IS SOOOOOOO IMPORTANT” TALK I HEARD BEFORE YOU BROUGHT MICHELLE UP??? #WHCD https://t.co/VahvTujT6o
— W. Kamau Bell (@wkamaubell) April 30, 2018

The most upsetting thing Michelle Wolf said last night was the reminder that Flint, Michigan still doesn’t have clean water.

Imagine if the DC press corps & political chattering class had spent today performatively upset about *that* https://t.co/YiPOykpyLG
— Wesley (@WesleyLowery) April 30, 2018

This horrendous statement should be a good call for a recommitment to not playing footsie with this administration—instead valuing reporters who do deep dives on its members and their effect on us, then asking fearless questions, relationships be damned.https://t.co/zxQRcgGrXk
— Ben Collins (@oneunderscore__) April 30, 2018

Uh... This statement is as cringeworthy as any joke ever told at a #WHCD.

The First Amendment is cool to celebrate and embrace, except when it’s not, I guess.

No wonder Americans don’t trust the media. https://t.co/cwAn87P7nJ
— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff) April 30, 2018

a free press doesn’t enforce civility toward our government. that’s what the “free” is for https://t.co/yHCB30JnU0
— Amanda Hess (@amandahess) April 30, 2018

I’m not a member, though many of my colleagues are, but this saddens me. It’s collaborating with a dangerous regime. It’s shocking. https://t.co/xznk40WpCM
— Joan Walsh (@joanwalsh) April 30, 2018

Unifying people has absolutely nothing to do with journalism. https://t.co/dBH9utYoXa
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) April 30, 2018



How the fuck do you have a “spirit of unity” with an administration that wants to put journalists in jail? https://t.co/xxxTqmFPFn
— Mikel Jollett (@Mikel_Jollett) April 30, 2018

oh do shove off https://t.co/U4BI7IyX1a
— Amanda Nelson (@ImAmandaNelson) April 30, 2018



<snip>