Last Sunday, a man was arrested after groping a woman on a flight; when questioned by the FBI, he argued that President @realDonaldTrump "says it's okay to grab women by their private parts." (Fact Check: True)
The next morning, billionaire philanthropist George Soros—who is a frequent target of anti-Semitic conspiracy theories from right-wingers (including the president)—received a bomb in the mail.
In the days that followed, 13 more explosive devices were sent to CNN and Democratic officials who've been on the receiving end of Trump's vitriol.
All too predictably, many of Trump's most ardent supporters theorized that this "bomb stuff" was all a "false flag" intended to harm Republicans in the midterms; however, when the so-called "MAGA Bomber" was apprehended on Friday, his vanifesto painted a very clear picture of a Trump superfan.
And then, to top off the week, a man walked into a Pittsburgh synagogue this morning and killed 11 people—having bought into the Republican lies about Jews (read: Soros) funding the migrant caravan.
Now, to paraphrase Andrew Gillum: I'm not saying that Trump inspired these (alleged) perpetrators, I'm simply saying they believe Trump inspired them.
Morning lineup:
Meet the Press: Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM); Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH); Pittsburh, PA Mayor Bill Pduto (D); Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt; Roundtable: TBA.
Face The Nation: Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE); Sen. James Lankford (R-OK); Roundtable: Jeffrey Goldberg (The Atlantic), Jamelle Bouie (Slate), Lanhee Chen (Hoover Institution) & Susan Page (USA Today).
This Week: TBA; Roundtable: TBA.
Fox News Sunday: Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen; Rep. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM); Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH); Roundtable: Former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R), Jason Riley (Wall Street Journal), Liz Marlantes (Christian Science Monitor) & Democratic Strategist Mo Elleithee.
State of the Union: Rep. Jospeh Kennedy III (D-MA); Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci; Billionaire Philanthropist Tom Steyer; Roundtable: Republican Strategist Scott Jennings, Nina Turner (Our Revolution), Republican Strategist Amanda Carpenter & Democratic Strategist Jen Psaki.
Evening lineup:
60 Minutes will feature: a report on Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo, who is accused of failing to remove priests from service even though he knew of abuse accusations against them (preview); a report on Laila Mustafa, who has become the de facto mayor of ISIS' former capital (preview); and, an interview with Jaap van Zweden, the new music director for the New York Philharmonic (preview).
Late night shows:
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Monday: Actress Kerry Washington; Actor Taylor Mac.
Tuesday: Actress Sarah Jessica Parker; Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA).
Wednesday: Actor Mike Myers; Christiane Amanpour (CNN).
Thursday: Chris Wallace (Fox News); Actor Cole Sprouse; Singer Tony Bennett.
Friday: Comedian Billy Eichner; Violinist Itzhak Perlman.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
Monday: "Real Housewives" Kelly Dodd & Brandi Redmond; Tuesday: Actress Amanda Peet, Actress Debra Winger; Wednesday: Actor Seth Meyers; Thursday: Director Tyler Perry, Actress/TV Host Whoopi Goldberg.
Elsewhere...
"Judge" Jeanine Pirro was scolded by a real judge.
"Should there be consequences to those people who promote falsehoods?"
That was the question that Jeanine Pirro put to President Donald Trump when he called into her Fox News show on Oct. 7, a day after the U.S. Senate approved the contentious Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh. When Trump responded that he'd love to see libel laws toughened so that victims of smears could have an easier time getting comeuppance, Pirro voiced approval. "Exactly, exactly," she said.
On Tuesday, just two weeks after Pirro prodded Trump to reaffirm his punitive approach to free speech, an attorney for the former Westchester County judge appeared in court in a bid to get her out of a defamation lawsuit brought by Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson. This time, Pirro was singing a different tune. Her lawyer argued there should be no consequences for Pirro's allegedly false statements accusing Mckesson of directing "Black Lives Matter" protesters to injure police officers.
At the hearing, New York Supreme Court Judge Robert Kalish entertained arguments in a case all about how we talk about jurisprudence in this country, how Fox News viewers interpret what they hear from its commentators and, yes, about double standards. Needless to say, while ultimately reserving his judgment about whether this lawsuit should continue, Kalish wasn't particularly impressed by Pirro's performance on television.
"She was a judge. She was a former District Attorney," Kalish told Dori Hanswirth, the Arnold & Porter attorney appearing for both Fox News and Pirro. "You'd think she'd understand what we are dealing with. ... You'd think she would give a very clear and accurate statement. You'd think she'd know better."
Meanwhile...
Megyn Kelly had her NBC show canceled after she defended dressing in blackface.
Megyn Kelly's "Today" show run at NBC is over after a tumultuous week that began when she defended blackface Halloween costumes on Tuesday, causing massive backlash that led her to apologize the next day.
"'Megyn Kelly Today' is not returning," an NBC spokesperson told USA TODAY. "Next week, the 9 a.m. hour will be hosted by other TODAY co-anchors."
The final straw for Kelly on the NBC show came on Tuesday when, during a round-table discussion, she seemingly defended "blackface" and "white face" for Halloween because it was "OK when I was a kid as long as you were dressing like a character."
At the top of Wednesday's show, she said, "I want to begin with two words: I'm sorry. You may have heard that yesterday we had a conversation about political correctness and Halloween costumes. ... I defended the idea (of blackface), saying that as long it was respectful and part of a Halloween costume, that it seemed OK. Well, I was wrong, and I am sorry."
The apology was not enough to keep the show afloat.
Christ, what an asshole!
– Trix