Daily Archive: March 8, 2017

Vikram Bath

/// March 8, 2017

Why Don’t People Vote?

Perhaps it’s not civic laziness after all

139

Will Truman

/// March 8, 2017

Morning Ed: War {2017.03.08.W}

War and rumours of war.

Editor Picks

Ten Second News

Mueller to Testify Before Congress

(3)

Mueller to Testify Before Congress

(3)

Welp…

The House Judiciary and House Intelligence committees have subpoenaed former special counsel Robert Mueller for his testimony before Congress, according to a press release issued Tuesday evening.
"Pursuant to subpoenas issued by the House Judiciary and House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence tonight, Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III has agreed to testify before both committees on July 17 in open session," according to the release.
Mueller is expected to sit before both committees in two separate open hearings on July 17, according to congressional aides, with the possibility that some testimony will occur in closed session.
Mueller broke a nearly two-year silence when he made a brief public statement at the Department of Justice in late May.
During his comments, Mueller said he had no further plans to speak publicly on mattersthat were addressed in his over 400-page report.
"The report is my testimony," Mueller said.

Expect that last bit to be on repeat for Mueller's two days on the hill. This will be splash headlines and much talking heads debate, but the idea that after 2+ years of iron fist discipline Robert Mueller is going to indulge the worst of congressional grandstanding and silliness by saying anything that isn't already in the report, if he ever says anything other than "that is covered in the report" befuddles the mind. But hope springs eternal, and so let the hype begin.

Just be prepared to be underwhelmed by the congressional hearings. Again.

Comment →

They Won’t have Sarah Huckabee Sanders to Kick Around Anymore

(11)

They Won’t have Sarah Huckabee Sanders to Kick Around Anymore

(11)

Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the longest-serving press secretary the Trump Administration has had, is leaving her post and the podium of the Brady Briefing Room.

Mr Trump tweeted that Mrs Sanders would be returning to her home of Arkansas after more than three years on the job.
"She is a very special person with extraordinary talents, who has done an incredible job," Mr Trump wrote.
She started out as deputy press secretary before replacing Sean Spicer in the top post in July 2017.
Mrs Sanders, 36, has been a fierce defender of the president, famously saying that God "wanted Donald Trump to become president".
At a White House event on Thursday, Mr Trump described Mrs Sanders as "a special person, a very very fine woman".
She said her time in the administration was "the honour of a lifetime".
"This is something I will treasure forever," she said. "I'm going to continue to be one of the most outspoken and loyal supporters of the president."
The mother-of-three said she was looking forward to spending more time with her children as she transitioned into a new role outside the White House.

Sarah Huckabee Sanders has been a constant lightening rod in an administration that happily calls down the media thunder. She held fewer formal press briefings than her predecessors, and came under intense criticism at times for which side of the "it’s spin/it's a lie" line that all mouthpieces for the president have to straddle. Having Donald Trump to run interference for would likely be an impossible task for anyone. Regardless, what say you about the tenure of Sarah Huckabee Sanders, now that she has done her last gaggle?

Comment →

The Vox Media Union has walked out today. Here’s what it looks like in the New York office. pic.twitter.com/erPp4fW1nw
— Vox Media Union (@vox_union) June 6, 2019

(Featured image is the empty Vox offices was posted by the Vox Media Union twitter account to their own twitter feed.)

Comment →

Robert Mueller on Robert Mueller

(16)

Robert Mueller on Robert Mueller

(16)

Robert Mueller has finally spoken, and says his statement today is his final word on the subject:

CNN:

Special counsel Robert Mueller said in a rare and remarkable public statement Wednesday that charging President Donald Trump was not an option his office could consider.
Mueller, speaking from the Justice Department, said he's closing the special counsel's office and returning to private life.
This is his first public statement regarding the investigation.
"It's important the office's written work speaks for itself," Mueller said about his report, which was delivered in March to Attorney General William Barr.
The statement is being delivered amid political disputes about the findings of Mueller's investigation, particularly regarding whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice.
The White House got a heads up Tuesday night that Mueller would likely deliver a statement on Wednesday about the Mueller investigation, according to a senior administration official, who added that the White House is going to wait until after his remarks to comment.

Comment →

UK PM Theresa May has announced she will be stepping down effective June 7th.

In an emotional statement, she said she had done her best to deliver Brexit and it was a matter of "deep regret" that she had been unable to do so.
Being prime minister had been the "honour of my life", she said.
Mrs May said she would continue to serve as PM while a Conservative leadership contest takes place.
It means she will still be prime minister when US President Donald Trump makes his state visit to the UK at the start of June.
Mrs May announced she would step down as Tory leader on 7 June and had agreed with the chairman of Tory backbenchers that a leadership contest should begin the following week.
Boris Johnson, Esther McVey and Rory Stewart have said they intend to run for the party leadership, while more than a dozen others are believed to be seriously considering entering the contest.
The prime minister has faced a backlash from her MPs against her latest Brexit plan, which included concessions aimed at attracting cross-party support.

Comment →