Let’s start by catching up:
We’re now learning that not only was AG Pam Bondi on the Qatari payroll, but so was Trump’s Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and FBI director Kash Patel (FFS). And, “We Still Don’t Know What Kash Patel Did as a Consultant for Qatar.”
The war on actual intelligence continues: “Gabbard fires intel officials who oversaw memo contradicting White House claims on Venezuelan gang.”
The day’s most brutal headline: “How Bezos’ Washington Post Forgot Its Martyr Jamal Khashoggi—as Trump Embraced His Killer MBS” — by Paul Fahri
It’s still “fringe.” “At Supreme Court, a Once-Fringe Birthright Citizenship Theory Takes the Spotlight” - The New York Times
If only we had been warned. “Walmart CFO says price hikes from tariffs could start later this month.”
Populism, amirite? House Republicans Push Forward Plan to Cut Taxes, Medicaid and Food Stamps - The New York Times
Happy Thursday.
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Trump’s “Catch Me if You Can” Presidency
On today’s podcast, I’m joined by former CNN anchor and veteran Trumpologist Jim Acosta for a discussion of all the Corruption-Plane-Sight. From meme coins to constitutional crises, we explore how shamelessness has become a political strategy and why it may finally crack Trump’s populist image. We also dive into Stephen Miller’s disturbing influence, RFK Jr.'s bizarre water sports, and the urgent need for moral clarity in American politics. Some highlights:
The bribe is also a national security threat…
Did Trump let MBS get away with murder?
Nota Bene:
ICYMI:
**
Matt Labash — The Ben Shapiro "Honesty" Hustle
Despite Shapiro’s break with Trump on the skeevy Qatari bribe, Labash reminds us that we can always count on Shapiro to return to his shilling:
Shapiro always seems to comfortably land back in Camp Trump, no matter how apparent it becomes that he’s backed a sleazy, self-dealing charlatan masquerading as a populist avenger, and not at-all-convincingly. Think I’m exaggerating? Here’s an abridged chapter-and-verse sampling of Shapiro’s shilling, from Media Matters:
· After Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde urged Trump to show mercy to migrants, Shapiro said, “Jesus was not in favor of free migration across all borders.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 1/22/25]
· After Trump fired several inspectors general, Shapiro said, “These inspectors general tend to be Democratic plants very often.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 1/27/25]
· Early in the administration, Shapiro said Trump could be “the most transformative president in American public life since LBJ, maybe since FDR.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 2/12/25]
· Shapiro downplayed Trump administration cuts to national park workers, saying, “You can cut all those people by just having an automatic parking meter.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 2/19/25]
· Shapiro launched an effort to pressure Trump to pardon former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin for federal charges related to George Floyd’s 2020 death. [CNN, 3/7/25]
· Shapiro wrote, “The SignalGate story basically went nowhere because the truth is that everybody has, at one point or another, included somebody in a group chat by accident and it gets very awkward.” [The Daily Wire, 4/1/25]
· When a Maryland father with protected legal status was sent to a notorious megaprison in El Salvador, Shapiro said it was a “bureaucratic screw-up” but not a “human tragedy.” [The Daily Wire, The Ben Shapiro Show, 4/1/25]
Etc. etc. etc……
A word from our readers
Finally…
Thursday dogs
Auggie wonders when I’m going to throw the green ball again.
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