Wednesday, August 15th.
THE RUSSIAN INVESTIGATION
The Manafort Trial
- Does Mueller Really Need to “Beat” Manafort? – Eric Medlin – Medium
- Ex-Trump aide Manafort lied to banks, tax authorities: prosecutor
- Jared Kushner’s name was just brought up at Paul Manafort’s trial
- Day 12: Closing Arguments
Both the prosecution and defense gave their final arguments on Wednesday. For the prosecution, they outlined several instances of Manafort’s knowingly breaking the law. The defense tried to make the claim that Manafort may have been less than forthright or honest, but the government had failed to make their case that what Manafort did was intentionally wrong. In other words, they tried to blow some smoke up the jury’s ass.
There are two things that people need to remember for this case.
First, this is not a case about collusion, conspiracy, treason, or anything like that. This is a white collar crime case.
Second, and this was laid out by Greg Andres, but this is actually two cases in one. This is both a tax avoidance and money laundering case and a bank fraud and wire fraud case.
These cases can be broken down into the “Salad Days” and the “IOU” days. The Salad Days are when Manafort was working for former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovitch and the Party of Regions. In those days, he was making money hand over fist, and got used to living the high life. That case is about him lying about his money, hiding how much he made, burying it in offshore accounts, and avoiding taxes on it. The IOU days are after Yanukovitch left office in disgrace and Manafort was left owing a lot of money to Oleg Deripaska and the Russian Mafia. Manafort could no longer afford to live like a prince, so him and Rick Gates came up with some interesting funding methods. This included a buttload of loans and at least one pay for play scam with a Trump supporter.
The jury begins deliberation on Thursday. I have no clue how long it will take them to return a verdict. It could be hours, days, or weeks. As soon as there’s an update, I’ll post it to this site.
- Newly Unearthed Documents Offer Ominous Details of Carter Page’s Russiagate Role
- Mueller Probe Seen Pushing Past Trump-Demanded September 1 Deadline
- Not even Republicans buy the Trump team’s ‘collusion isn’t a crime’ defense
- Did the Russian mafia help Trump along his way to the Oval Office? | Spectator USA
TRUMP THE RUSSIAN ASSET
Brennan
- The White House waited 3 weeks to announce Trump was revoking Brennan’s security clearance, and some are speculating it was to get people to stop talking about Omarosa and Manafort
- Trump Admits Revoking Brennan’s Security Clearance Was About the Mueller Probe
- Trump Considering Removing Security Clearances From James Comey, John Brennan, And More – Rantt
- Trump makes good on threat to revoke Brennan’s clearance
- Trump revokes former CIA Director John Brennan’s security clearance
- Trump revokes John Brennan’s security clearance
- Trump revokes security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, White House press secretary says
- ‘It should gravely worry all Americans … about the cost of speaking out’: Former CIA Director John Brennan reacts to Trump revoking his security clearance
- Ale: Katy Tur correctly points out that the date for the dictatorial action Trump took with Brennan is July 26. They kept it in the drawer until they desperately needed a distraction. Now with Omarosa and Manafort, they needed it and put out the distraction.
- Brennan Questions Trump’s ‘Probity’ – Trending 8/15/2018 | Merriam-Webster
- CNN: Trump intel chief not consulted before decision to revoke Brennan’s clearance
- Comey: Trump revoking Brennan’s security clearance shows ‘he will punish people who disagree with him
- Dem: Trump acting like a ‘dictator’ by revoking Brennan’s security clearance
- Fmr. CIA Director John Brennan: This is an abuse of power
- Statement from John Brennan on Twitter
Remember a few weeks ago when Orange Julius got all butthurt about Former CIA Director John Brennan saying bad things about him and he threatened to take away his security clearance? (Daily Check-In 07/23/2018,Daily Check-In 07/24/2018,Daily Check-In 07/25/2018) Turns out that Trump did revoke his clearance back on July 26th. Sarah Hucakbee-Sanders read a statement from Trump describing this action, how John Brennan said mean things about him, and he totally didn’t do this because of Russia.
NARRATOR (V.O.): He did it because of Russia.
I’m not going to talk about how much of a dickbag authoritarian strong man move this is. It is, but I don’t think that’s the big story here. There are two elements that deserve a deep dive.
First, the timing. This statement was dated July 26th. That was a few weeks ago. Why wait until now? Because this is Trump trying to distract from something else. Could it be the Omarosa Shit Storm? The N-Word footage about to drop like a Drake mix tape? How about the Manafort Trial? Or how about his total fuck-you to Congress with his signing state where he’s sucking Putin’s dick… again? Or, is someone close about to get indicted? This release is meant to distract from that.
Second, the delivery was interesting. Wall-eye didn’t mention it off the cuff, or say “We’re pulling the security clearance” or “The White House decided”, but she said this came directly from Trump. She then read a statement, word for word.
I found that to be very unusual for this group, and it tells me that no one in that building wants anything to do with this. No one else wants to get wrapped up in this mess. This is the bridge too far for the staff. They don’t want to be associated with this clusterfuck.
Russia and Crimea
- Russian Trolls Amped Up Tweets for Pro-Trump Website’s Content
- Trump criticizes some Russia provisions of defense bill, suggests in signing statement he may ignore them
- Trump says he can override congress on recognising Russian sovereignty over Crimea
- Kremlin confirms Bolton meeting with Russian officials next week
Abramovich
- Russian Billionaire Roman Abramovich Is Forging Ahead with His New York City Mega-Mansion
- Trump Staffer Tried to Recruit Lobbyists for Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich
Random Shit on a Wednesday
- Trump Told Howard Stern About a Potential Apprentice Season Pitting ‘Blacks Against Whites’
- Trump’s ex-campaign manager cites traffic stop in a Rolls-Royce as example of ‘real guy’ experience
- Trump Wants to Gut the Agencies That Expose Federal Corruption
Dogs
- ‘Like a dog’: Trump has a long history of using canine insults to dehumanize enemies
- Donald Trump the first modern US president to dislike dogs
- Trump Doesn’t Like Dogs And Dogs Don’t Like Him, According To His Ex-Wife
I’m a dog person. I’ve had a few over my life, and used to volunteer at an animal shelter as a dog walker. Dogs have an uncanny way of sensing through bullshit and evil. If my dogs didn’t like you, you weren’t welcome back, because there is something seriously wrong with you if a dog doesn’t like you.
Dogs hate Donald Trump. That says all anyone needs to know about his character.
According to this site, only 3 presidents before Trump did not have pets at the White House (or Executive Residence). Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, and Chester A. Arthur. Just as many presidents had bears as pets.
TRAITOR TOTS
Why do I have a feeling Dana Rohrabacher is involved?
WASHINGTON — FBI agents in California and Washington, D.C., have investigated a series of cyberattacks over the past year that targeted a Democratic opponent of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). Rohrabacher is a 15-term incumbent who is widely seen as the most pro-Russia and pro-Putin member of Congress and is a staunch supporter of President Trump.
The hacking attempts and the FBI’s involvement are described in dozens of emails and forensic records obtained by Rolling Stone.
The target of these attacks, Dr. Hans Keirstead, a stem-cell scientist and the CEO of a biomedical research company, finished third in California’s nonpartisan “top-two” primary on June 5th, falling 125 votes short of advancing to the general election in one of the narrowest margins of any congressional primary this year. He has since endorsed Harley Rouda, the Democrat who finished in second place and will face Rohrabacher in the November election.
Yep. Not surprised.
- FBI investigated cyberattacks targeting Dem opponent to Rohrabacher
- Hackers targeted Democratic opponent of Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, report says
- With little fanfare, Trump and McConnell reshape the nation’s circuit courts
Rand Paul
- Countercheckist: CNN, look into Rand Paul’s Institute
- Ed Krassenstein: Rand Paul confirms he is a Russian Asset……
- Senator Rand Paul says he advised Trump to do this.
I asked the Senator on Twitter what this sound like in the original Russian. He hasn’t responded yet.
FIGHTING BACK
- Unite The Right organizer admits to living with parents, gets yelled at by dad during live stream
- White supremacist rally leader gets yelled at by his dad during livestream
- The organizer of the Charlottesville rally just got humiliated by his own father
- Jamil Smith: Racism Isn’t Just When You Say N*gger
- ‘Impeachment Now!’: Mother of all banners expected to fly over dream cruise rebuking Donald Trump
- Social Distortion lead singer Mike Ness allegedly beat up a Trump supporter at a California show
- Adam Parkohmenko: We just wrapped up thirty days of peaceful protests outside the Kremlin Annex that cost taxpayers $0. Thanks to all that came out or supported wherever they are. We will be back for day 31 tomorrow.
- Bernie Sanders slams Republican party as being “bankrupt intellectually”
- Chris Cuomo Nails Why Trump Supporters Defend Everything He Does
- Cuomo: We hold kids to higher standard than Trump
- Almost 350 news outlets to publish editorials denouncing Trump’s ‘dirty war’ on press
IMMIGRATION
- ACLU: Officials set up “trap” to arrest immigrants at legal status interviews – CNNPolitics
- Senator Mark Warner: DACA’s 6th Anniversary
- Former ICE agent from Riverside has been arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting 2 women and using his position to make sure they didn’t report the crimes
- Immigration agency chief defends striking ‘nation of immigrants’ from mission statement
- USCIS took ‘nation of immigrants’ out of mission statement because it wasn’t created to serve them, director says
- How Michael Avenatti helped a 9-year-old Guatemalan boy make it back to his mother
COLD WAR 2.0
- US to more than double the number of Marines in Norway, strengthening defenses along the border with Russia
- After dozens of children die, Trump administration faces mounting pressure over Yemen war – The Washington Post
- Bill Browder’s tweet about his TED Talk
- Parliament attacker was 29-year-old Briton who immigrated from Sudan
- Kiev’s ‘Magnitsky List’ violates international law, diplomat says
#NEVERAGAIN
- 2-year-old stable after shooting himself with father’s gun on Detroit’s east side
- Indianapolis Declares Gun Violence A Public Health Issue
- Kreidler: NRA insurance solicitations prompt additional investigation | Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner
- Shannon Watts: The judge presiding in the case just ordered Brewer and a second @NRA lawyer (who sponsored Brewer’s application) to appear before the court on Sept 14: “The Court finds it necessary to make further inquiry into the accuracy of counsels’ certifications to this Court.”
- Sheriff Rick Jones: The making of Ohio’s mini-Trump
- Hamilton Schools reverses on plan to arm staffers
THE PROPAGANDA MACHINE
- Rudy Giuliani claims facts are ‘in the eye of the beholder,’ calls Trump the most ‘honest’ president in history
- Fox News host hits Giuliani: Dossier isn’t why Mueller probe was started
Alex Jones
- FCC shuts down Alex Jones’ pirate flagship radio station
- FCC shuts down Alex Jones’ flagship radio station | TheHill
- Media Matters: On Periscope, which is owned by Twitter, Alex Jones tells supporters to get their “battle rifles” ready against antifa, the mainstream media, and “Chicom operatives”
- Twitter suspends Alex Jones for urging people to keep “battle rifles” ready
FCC
- Denouncing ‘Wanton Disregard for Congress and the American People,’ Dems Call on Ajit Pai to Come Clean About False FCC Cyberattack
- The FCC Says Net Neutrality Lawsuits Are Moot Because It Already Repealed Net Neutrality
Roger Stone
- Roger Stone posts then deletes Nazi Space Force meme. He says he didn’t notice the swastikas.
- Roger Stone’s swastika meme previously appeared on 4chan, Twitter and Reddit
TRADE WAR AND ECONOMY
- Turkey increases tariffs on some US goods, escalating feud
- Illinois manufacturer closing doors, moving to Mexico over Trump tariffs
- Trump trade war with China leads to ‘off the charts’ rush of imports at nation’s busiest port
- Fox News Hosts and the Rest of the American Elite Don’t Know the First Thing About Farm Work
WHITE HOUSE CHAOS
- Former White House Staffer: NDA “Snuck in With” Other New Employee Paperwork
- Sarah Sanders sorry for false jobs claim
- Treasury Department deletes Trump retweet touting ‘Red Wave’ that experts say was a violation of the Hatch Act
Omarosa
- ‘Fox & Friends’ host: Omarosa ‘outsmarted’ Trump
- ‘He created Omarosa’: How Trump’s protegee turned his tactics against him
- Omarosa looks like she got under Trump’s skin — and it’s backfiring on the president
- Omarosa pal says a ‘White House Greatest Hits box set’ of tapes will keep coming if Trump keeps tweeting
- Omarosa Says She Looks Like ‘the Biggest Dummy’ for Following Trump
- Omarosa: President Trump ‘Obsessed’ With Ivanka
- Omarosa’s Book Claims Melania Trump Wants to Divorce Donald Trump | PEOPLE.com
- NYT columnist: A tape of Trump saying N-word could make his supporters like him more
GOP: THE PARTY OF LINCOLN IS DEAD
- Tim Pawlenty Is the Latest Casualty of the Brain Disease Eating the Republican Party
- Trump Hurts GOP as Dems Hold 9-Pt Lead in House Races, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; U.S. Must Do More on Climate Change, Voters Say 2-1
- NYT columnist: A tape of Trump saying N-word could make his supporters like him more
- Oral arguments set for Texas Obamacare lawsuit
- Republicans Pick ‘Anti-LGBT Extremist’ to Challenge Out Senator Tammy Baldwin
- Dallas County Republicans renew effort to remove at least 82 Democrats from November ballot
- Democrats are making Congress look more like America. Republicans are fighting this.
- The GOP’s 2018 message: Be afraid. Be very afraid.
- Kellyanne Conway and her husband George: He hates Trump. She works for him. This is their life at home. – The Washington Post
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
- Man shouldn’t have gone to jail for getting a job at Michael’s instead of Home Depot, court rules
- Illinois Lawmakers Search for Solutions for Children Stuck in Psychiatric Hospitals
Mob
- Lincoln’s Bible: Mob concrete is notoriously watered down.
- Munillas, Who Own the Firm Behind Collapsed FIU Bridge, Are Major Miami Political Players | Miami New Times
- Harvey Weinstein: judge allows sex trafficking case to move to trial | Film | The Guardian
Pedophile Priests
- Pennsylvania Attorney General – Grand Jury Report
- ‘He’s a priest. I trusted him’: One of the 1,000 victims of alleged Pennsylvania clergy abuse tells his story
- Grand jury report: Priests ran child porn ring in Pittsburgh Diocese
- Cardinal Wuerl’s actions in Pittsburgh scrutinized by Catholic sexual abuse investigation
- Catholic church accused of using ‘mafia-like’ tactics to fight sex abuse bill
- The Catholic Church in Pennsylvania was discovered to have covered up the abuse of thousands of children. This song is appropriate.
ELECTION 2018
- Trump Hurts GOP as Dems Hold 9-Pt Lead in House Races, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; U.S. Must Do More on Climate Change, Voters Say 2-1
- Republicans Pick ‘Anti-LGBT Extremist’ to Challenge Out Senator Tammy Baldwin
- House: Three More GOP Seats Join the Toss Up Column
- EXCLUSIVE: Nancy Pelosi just revealed the Democrats’ plan to win back the House | The Dworkin Report
- LGBTQ candidates are on the ballot nationwide for governor in 2018
- Nearly twice as many vote Democratic than Republicans in Minnesota governor’s race
ENVIRONMENT
- Wildfires have gotten bigger in recent years, and the trend is likely to continue
- Trump Hurts GOP as Dems Hold 9-Pt Lead in House Races, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; U.S. Must Do More on Climate Change, Voters Say 2-1
- U.S. $23 trillion will be lost if temperatures rise four degrees by 2100
- Florida declares a state of emergency as red tide kills animals and disrupts tourism
- Garbage from Washington state’s booming pot industry clogs gutters, sewers and landfills
PROGRESS IS PROGRESS
- “Official Mike Pence” site. Parody
- A horse was neglected by its owner. Now the horse is suing.
- Elizabeth Warren’s Bill Is for Everyone Who Is Tired of the Rich Getting Richer
- Python has brought computer programming to a vast new audience – Programming languages
- The FDA approved an app to prevent pregnancy. Can an app do that?
- WAFB: Ohio Girl Scout who wrote viral letter ‘ecstatic’ to get letter from Hillary Clinton
- Chris Hardwick is back. So is Ryan Seacrest. So, no, #MeToo isn’t going ‘too far.’
- Gavin Newsom has big, liberal plans for California. So how would he pay for them?
RUMOR MILL
- 911corlebra777: Sometimes it’s instructive to see what an enemy agent is pushing. Kim Dot Com is in full attack mode in a series of tweets on the US dollar, he suggests people get into crypto currency as the US economy is doomed. Sound familiar?
- Tea Pain: Which is more likely?
- Pace: Russia may invade another area within the next 72 hours. The President and congressional leaders have been briefed. Nothing yet from GOP. Hold.
That’s it for Wednesday. We’re still waiting on news about Paul Manafort. Like I said earlier, this could take hours, days, weeks…
On Thursday, newspapers and journalists around the country are speaking out against Trump’s attacks on the press. I’m joining the fight, to talk about how important what the press does is for a free society, especially from my point of view as one crazy guy trying to make sense of it all.
Thank you, and have a good one.
“Without Journalists, it’s just propaganda.”
– Katy Tur
None of this is Normal 
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