Cartoon: Mike Luckovich on the world economy

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Thursday May 25, 2023 · 3:00 PM PDT

2023/05/25 · 15:00

Mike Luckovich on Republicans and the world economy.

Kevin McCarthy's deal with the devil has worked out great—for Democrats

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Sunday March 12, 2023 · 12:00 PM PDT

2023/03/12 · 12:00

Newly elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy holds the gavel after he was elected on the 15th ballot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on January 7, 2023. - Kevin McCarthy's election to his dream job of speaker of the US House of Representatives was secured through a mix of bombproof ambition, a talent for cutting deals and a proven track record of getting Republicans what they need..He only won election as speaker after they forced him to endure 15 rounds of voting -- a torrid spectacle unseen in the US Capitol since 1859. (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY / AFP) (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)

Kevin McCarthy had long dreamed of being speaker of the House, and in January he finally held the gavel in his hand. Granted, it took 15 humiliating votes (and a near fistfight), making secret deals with Freedom Caucus holdouts, and sucking up to Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, not to mention handing over most of the power of the speakership to the most extreme elements of his party … but he did get a really nice chair. And the gavel.

So, what is the result of that very public self-abasement? A gift to Democrats that just keeps giving and giving. Let’s recap some highlights from the first two months with McCarthy at the helm.

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Monday August 29, 2022 · 6:00 AM PDT

2022/08/29 · 06:00

Lindsey Graham (R-SC) speaks at the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to be an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, on Capitol Hill September 27, 2018 in Washington, DC.

Having spent more than five years publicly debasing himself to prove his fealty to Donald Trump, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham really upped his game on Sunday night, promising widespread domestic violence if the Department of Justice dared to declare that no one is above the law:

And I’ll say this, if there is a prosecution of Donald Trump for mishandling classified information after the Clinton debacle … there will be riots in the street.

Apparently Graham had no thoughts on Trump’s potential violations of The Espionage Act, or the various possible charges related to destroying, concealing, or falsifying documents, nor did he seem concerned about the “11 sets of classified documents ranging from ‘Confidential’ to ‘Secret’ to ‘Top Secret’ and ‘TS/CSI’ documents,” that would cause “exceptionally grave damage to the national security.” And he certainly gave no thought to denouncing such violence. So let’s call it a promise.

Graham says there will be riots in the streets if Trump is prosecuted pic.twitter.com/oE6MyuqjeA
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 28, 2022

Sign if you agree: No one is above the law.

Trump and his followers proved on Jan. 6 how dangerously close they came to overturning our democracy. Help cancel Republican voter suppression with the power of your pen by clicking here and signing up to volunteer with Vote Forward, writing personalized letters to targeted voters urging them to exercise their right to vote this year.

Top House Democrats ask for review to determine 'national security damage' done by Trump

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Saturday August 13, 2022 · 2:03 PM PDT

2022/08/13 · 14:03

Chairman Adam Schiff (C), Democrat of California, gives an opening statement during the first public hearings held by the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence as part of the impeachment inquiry into US President Donald Trump, with witnesses Ukrainian Ambassador William Taylor and Deputy Assistant Secretary George Kent testifying, on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, November 13, 2019. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / POOL / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

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On Saturday, Democratic House Reps. Adam Schiff and Carolyn Maloney, as heads of the House Intelligence and Oversight committees, sent a letter to the Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, asking her to “review potential damage to national security stemming from former President Donald Trump’s storage of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.”

Citing recent reports, the letter calls it an “urgent matter,” and notes that the documents seized included “11 sets of classified documents ranging from ‘Confidential’ to ‘Secret’ to ‘Top Secret’ and ‘TS/CSI’ documents,” that would cause “exceptionally grave damage to the national security.” The letter asks for an immediate damage assessment, and a classified briefing on the results of the assessment as quickly as possible.

In the meantime, Donald Trump and his allies have—when they’re not busy fundraising off of his potential crimes—pivoted from claiming that the FBI planted the incriminating documents, to now saying that the documents were all declassified anyway because of Trump’s "standing order,” and that there’s nothing to see here. Except—even if one accepts the whole “standing order” nonsense—the Espionage Act and the other two laws named in the search warrant don’t reference materials as classified or unclassified in defining the crimes.

Stay tuned.

Trump now claims a 'standing order' to declassify anything that left the Oval Office

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Saturday August 13, 2022 · 9:00 AM PDT

2022/08/13 · 09:00

WASHINGTON, DC - JULY 26: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during the America First Agenda Summit, at the Marriott Marquis hotel on July 26, 2022 in Washington, DC. Former U.S. President Donald Trump returned to Washington today to deliver the keynote closing address at the summit. The America First Agenda Summit is put on by the American First Policy Institute, a conservative think-tank founded in 2021 by Brooke Rollins and Larry Kudlow, both former advisors to former President Trump. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

In the days since the FBI executed a search warrant at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home, Trump, and his GOP lackeys have trotted out excuse after excuse to explain away the trove of material seized from a storage room at his golf club: A politically motivated witch hunt! The evidence was planted by the FBI! There was nothing important there! Obama did it too! (He didn’t.) And finally, on Friday night:

Statement from Trump Office: As we can all relate to, everyone ends up having to bring home their work from time to time… He had a standing order that documents removed from the Oval Office taken to the residence were deemed to be declassified.. pic.twitter.com/pnTjRnOqif
— Acyn (@Acyn) August 13, 2022

In other words, Trump was being persecuted with planted evidence that he had brought home after a long day at the office. Amazing.

Or, put another way, the search warrant shows that Trump is under investigation for violations of The Espionage Act, obstruction of justice, and the destruction, alteration, or falsification of records.

Saturday, Aug 13, 2022 · 4:20:14 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

And less than a day after the “standing order to declassify” everything that was at Trump’s residence excuse, we learn that:

At least one lawyer for former President Donald J. Trump signed a written statement in June asserting that all material marked as classified and held in boxes in a storage area at Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence and club had been returned to the government, four people with knowledge of the document said.

The written declaration was made after a visit on June 3 to Mar-a-Lago by Jay I. Bratt, the top counterintelligence official in the Justice Department’s national security division.

So, nothing at Mar-a-Lago was ever classified material because it was all declassified by the magical “standing order.” Except for all that classified material that Trump’s lawyer said was returned in June.

After the years of practice that Trump and his people have had, you’d think they’d be better at lying.

Saturday, Aug 13, 2022 · 5:42:43 PM +00:00 · Barbara Morrill

Trump responds … to the voices in his head?

Sign if you agree: No one is above the law.

Washington Post: Mar-a-Lago search was about 'classified documents relating to nuclear weapons'

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Thursday August 11, 2022 · 6:34 PM PDT

2022/08/11 · 18:34

President Donald Trump, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, Friday, June 28, 2019. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) — This image was chosen for no particular reason ...

Since the search by FBI agents at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home on Monday, Trump, the Republican Party, and its media allies—when not viciously demonizing the Department of Justice and the FBI—have insisted that it was a political fishing expedition, and there was nothing to be found beyond mementoes of Trump’s years in the White House. Darn near the makings of a future scrapbook. And besides, even if there was something incriminating, it was planted!

But on Thursday night, just hours after Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that the Justice Department was seeking to have the search warrant unsealed, The Washington Post is reporting that:

Classified documents relating to nuclear weapons were among the items FBI agents sought in a search of former president Donald Trump’s Florida residence on Monday, according to people familiar with the investigation.

One can only assume that Republicans are currently, frantically, trying to come up with a way to spin this story.

And this story probably also explains the need for the “it was planted” claims that Trump and his allies started peddling on Tuesday.

News Roundup: Hostages released, great job numbers, Republicans in trouble ... a good Friday

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Friday August 05, 2022 · 7:00 PM PDT

2022/08/05 · 19:00

From Friday’s news: Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema released the hostages, and Democrats will be voting on the Inflation Reduction Act on Saturday. The July jobs report was so good that Republican heads were exploding across the nation. The Defense Department (finally gets around to) telling all federal employees to save mobile phone records. Abortion is the last thing Republicans want to talk about, both because they’re on the wrong side of the American people on it, and because they really suck at it. Donald Trump’s lawyers—the real ones, not Rudy and Kraken—are in talks with the Justice Department. Stay tuned.

Here’s some of what you may have missed:

Sen. Kyrsten Sinema gets her ransom, will stop holding Inflation Reduction Act hostage
July jobs report shatters expectations, and Fox News is really struggling to deal
Hold those texts! Defense Department orders all federal employees to save mobile phone records
Republicans are coming to the awkward realization they may have to talk about abortion
Upping the ante: Trump's lawyers in contact with Justice Department

In Ukraine news:

Ukraine Update: Russian lines recede south of Izyum as Russia rushes to potential Kherson trap

And from the community:

News roundup: Republican hostage taking, Big Oil rip-off, and an offer to work for no pay

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Friday July 29, 2022 · 7:00 PM PDT

2022/07/29 · 19:00

From Friday’s news: Republicans continue taking hostages—first veterans, now marriage equality—in their ongoing temper tantrum over the Manchin deal. And because hypocrisy is their way, after screwing over the veterans, a group of Republican senators held a “Support the Troops” photo-op. There are now texts from Jan. 6 missing from the Department of Homeland Security. It’s quite the mystery as to why that day in particular is when so many former Trump officials seem to have accidentally erased their communications. In another coincidence, Big Oil announced record profits in a year where they totally weren’t ripping off consumers at the gas pump. Finally, Chick-fil-A really thinks their customer base is stupid.

Here’s some of what you may have missed:

Republicans add marriage to veterans on their list of hostages after Manchin deal announced
Republicans turned out for military-themed photo-op just before voting down veterans care bill
There are now missing Jan. 6 texts from the Department of Homeland Security
Claims that a significant part of inflation is corporate greed confirmed by record oil profits
‘We are looking for volunteers’: Local Chick-fil-A looks for volunteers instead of hiring people

In Ukraine news:

Ukraine Update: All eyes on Kherson as Ukraine tightens the noose

And from the community:

News roundup: Putin all but declares war, convoy may be heading to D.C., and hide your birth control

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Monday February 21, 2022 · 7:30 PM PST

2022/02/21 · 19:30

In the news today: Vladimir Putin all but declared war on Ukraine—and the world—with a disjointed rant on the glory of the old U.S.S.R. American Trumpian truckers are talking about turning traffic around Washington, D.C. into a (bigger) nightmare. It’s not just the trial for the killers of Ahmaud Arbery that’s exposing vile racism in our society. Not satisfied with attacking a woman’s right to choose, Republicans are now threatening to come after birth control. If you’re planning for your death, becoming compost is the way to go. If recent polling about Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin means anything, Republicans may want to rethink their assault on public schools.

Here’s some of what you may have missed:

Tensions continue to rise as Russia appears on the brink of invading Ukraine
Trucker says plans in place for convoy to occupy beltway around nation's capital
'I wish they’d all die': Trial for Arbery exposes vile racism and it's not the only 'despicable' one
1965 Supreme Court decision legalizing birth control was wrong, say Michigan Republicans
Cremation is as bad as burials for the environment. Human composting is where it’s at
New Virginia poll numbers show Republican vulnerability on their attacks on public schools

And from the community:

Ask Us Anything: Daily Kos staff writers are here to answer your questions

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Thursday February 17, 2022 · 10:59 AM PST

2022/02/17 · 10:59

"Ask Us Anything" is a new semi-regular feature where we invite our staff writers to hang around and answer questions or comments related to topics we cover here at Daily Kos. Join us below for a discussion on any subject you’d like: questions or comments on what we write about; why we write about it; your thoughts on how we can better use our time and space; issues that you’d like to see covered more. The sky is the limit!

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News roundup: Trump broke another law, Pence needs to cooperate with the Jan. 6 committee

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Monday February 07, 2022 · 7:30 PM PST

2022/02/07 · 19:30

In the news today: Another day, another law that Trump ignored—this time it was the Presidential Records Act; Pence should want to cooperate with the Jan. 6 committee, but he probably won’t; Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, surprising no one, is a jackass; President Joe Biden takes another step to empower unions; and school boards may ban books, but they can’t ban determination.

Here’s some of what you may have missed:

Trump left the White House with boxes of official records and brought them to Mar-a-Lago

Wagons circle around Pence as vice presidential records hand-off to Jan. 6 probe underway

Gov. Youngkin skewered after attacking teen on Twitter for exposing whitewash at Executive manse

Biden makes another payment on his pledge to be the most pro-union president ever

Republican National Committee lobs grenade into 2022 field as GOP lawmakers scatter

School board tried to ban these Black authors in schools but board forgot it is here for students

And from the community:

Jan 6th insurrectionist claims he lost six figure Job, retirment, and credit rating

QAnon conspiracy theorist who sought out violence on Jan. 6 gets 44 month prison sentence

Museums 101: Japanese internment camp art (photo diary)

News roundup: The one-year anniversary of the insurrection nears

Barbara Morrill

Daily Kos Staff Emeritus

Wednesday January 05, 2022 · 7:30 PM PST

2022/01/05 · 19:30

In the news today: Thursday is the one-year anniversary of the Donald Trump cultists’ attempt to overthrow the U.S. government, and the news of the day reflects that. Another right-wing paramilitary group’s potential involvement was revealed; three more lawsuits were filed against Trump for his role in inciting the insurrection; the House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the U.S. Capitol wants to talk to Fox News’ hatemonger Sean Hannity; Trump folded like a cheap suit after Republicans, worried about the 2022 election, begged him to cancel his sedition celebration; and a former Trump lackey went on television to explain how the coup was supposed to work.

Here’s some of what you may have missed:

Yet another ‘Patriot’ paramilitary group may have played a key ‘insider’ role in Jan. 6 insurrection
Number of lawsuits against Trump grow as more police accuse him of inciting the riot on the Capitol
Jan. 6 probe: Sean Hannity has insights into Trump's thinking in attempted election overthrow
Trump cancels Jan. 6 event, as Republicans worry 2022 election could be a referendum on coup attempt
Peter Navarro gives yet another off-the-rails interview describing his Jan. 6 'plan'—and it's a coup

And from the community:

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