palmerreport--2020-01-24--Donald Trump just offered a glimpse of how horrifying a second term would be

The election season has collided with impeachment time .
The startling lack of movement in Trump ’ s popularity suggests that it is more important than ever that we are all listening very carefully .
Trump is on the way to a likely acquittal in his impeachment trial .
The Republican Senate is not honoring its oath for a fair trial based on clear evidence of questionable actions .
Once again , and true to form , a Republican President is speaking about supposed “ waste and fraud ” in Social Security .
Speaking at the World Economic Forum in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be easy to attack these programs and that doing so would allow for more significant economic growth .
Poetic words for the fiscal conservatives among us .
Providing voters with more cause for fear of a second Trump term , the “ entitlement ” of Social Security comes out of every paycheck for every American from their first job to their last .
Just as the Trump lawyers can not get him to stop talking and incriminating himself , Trump betrays himself over and over .
A secret audio clip recorded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ southern White House ” captured Trump boasting about the size of the deficit .
Does he comprehend that this is not a good thing ?
We have the best deficit , an incredible deficit… the biggest deficit ever .
The world could question why a man who filed for bankruptcy six times , and whose policies created such a record debt , should speak at an economic summit .
The last time Trump looked at “ waste and fraud , ” he cut SNAP benefits for millions of Americans who rely on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Americans could undoubtedly question Steve Mnuchin ’ s refusal to release the expense reports for Donald Trump ’ s travel spending for himself and his family .
Steven Mnuchin and the whole criminal gang don ’ t want to release these numbers until after the 2020 election .
They like their cushy jobs .
They hope you aren ’ t listening .

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The election season has collided with impeachment time. The startling lack of movement in Trump’s popularity suggests that it is more important than ever that we are all listening very carefully. Trump is on the way to a likely acquittal in his impeachment trial. The Republican Senate is not honoring its oath for a fair trial based on clear evidence of questionable actions.
Once again, and true to form, a Republican President is speaking about supposed “waste and fraud” in Social Security. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump told the world that it would be easy to attack these programs and that doing so would allow for more significant economic growth. Poetic words for the fiscal conservatives among us. Providing voters with more cause for fear of a second Trump term, the “entitlement” of Social Security comes out of every paycheck for every American from their first job to their last. Just as the Trump lawyers cannot get him to stop talking and incriminating himself, Trump betrays himself over and over. A secret audio clip recorded at a recent trip to the “southern White House” captured Trump boasting about the size of the deficit.
Does he comprehend that this is not a good thing? We have the best deficit, an incredible deficit… the biggest deficit ever. The world could question why a man who filed for bankruptcy six times, and whose policies created such a record debt, should speak at an economic summit. The last time Trump looked at “waste and fraud,” he cut SNAP benefits for millions of Americans who rely on the supplemental food program. Waste and Fraud?
Americans could undoubtedly question Steve Mnuchin’s refusal to release the expense reports for Donald Trump’s travel spending for himself and his family. Steven Mnuchin and the whole criminal gang don’t want to release these numbers until after the 2020 election. They like their cushy jobs. They hope you aren’t listening.
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palmerreport--2020-01-24--Donald Trump just tipped off how afraid he is of what’s coming next

It ’ s one thing to corruptly threaten people in private .
It might or might not work , but so long as they don ’ t go public about it , you ’ re not taking a huge risk .
But what if you start seeing signs that your threats might not end up working , and you really need them to work ?
That ’ s when you get desperate , and you do something as panicky and foolish as what Donald Trump and his team just did .
Last night CBS News reported that before the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued this threat to Republican Senators : “ vote against the president and your head will be on a pike.
” It ’ s not surprising that this threat was made .
What does stand out is that , three days into the trial , this threat is now being leaked to the media .
So did one of the Senate Republicans leak it out of resentment ?
As it turns out , no .
CBS says that the threat was leaked by a “ confidant ” of Donald Trump .
This means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now taking the risk of letting it be publicly known that Republican Senators are under threat of retaliation if they dare to go against him in his impeachment trial .
This is terrible optics for Trump .
It makes him look guilty .
It hands the media an obvious soundbite for pointing out how guilty he is .
And it runs the risk that a few of the Republican Senators – some of whom have rather large egos – could end up feeling sufficiently humiliated by this leak that they decide to go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be clear , there is no expectation of any kind right now that any Republican Senator might vote to convict and remove Donald Trump .
Instead , Trump must fear that the most nervous of Republican Senators are going to decide to cover their own backsides by voting to call witnesses like John Bolton .
That vote is set for late next week .
Trump must be afraid of what ’ s coming next , or he wouldn ’ t be taking the gamble of such a risky leak .

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It’s one thing to corruptly threaten people in private. It might or might not work, but so long as they don’t go public about it, you’re not taking a huge risk. But what if you start seeing signs that your threats might not end up working, and you really need them to work? That’s when you get desperate, and you do something as panicky and foolish as what Donald Trump and his team just did.
Last night CBS News reported that before the Senate impeachment trial began, Donald Trump privately issued this threat to Republican Senators: “vote against the president and your head will be on a pike.” It’s not surprising that this threat was made. What does stand out is that, three days into the trial, this threat is now being leaked to the media. So did one of the Senate Republicans leak it out of resentment? As it turns out, no.
CBS says that the threat was leaked by a “confidant” of Donald Trump. This means that Trump and his own people are now taking the risk of letting it be publicly known that Republican Senators are under threat of retaliation if they dare to go against him in his impeachment trial. This is terrible optics for Trump. It makes him look guilty. It hands the media an obvious soundbite for pointing out how guilty he is. And it runs the risk that a few of the Republican Senators – some of whom have rather large egos – could end up feeling sufficiently humiliated by this leak that they decide to go against Trump out of spite.
To be clear, there is no expectation of any kind right now that any Republican Senator might vote to convict and remove Donald Trump. Instead, Trump must fear that the most nervous of Republican Senators are going to decide to cover their own backsides by voting to call witnesses like John Bolton. That vote is set for late next week. Trump must be afraid of what’s coming next, or he wouldn’t be taking the gamble of such a risky leak.
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palmerreport--2020-01-25--Donald Trump just lost

Donald Trump just lost

Republican Senators will have to decide whether they want to alienate voters by not calling witnesses in the impeachment trial , or whether they want to alienate Donald Trump by calling witnesses .
It ’ s up to them , and they ’ ll have to live with whatever negative impact it has on their own reelection chances .
And we already know the Republicans are all going to vote to acquit Trump in the end .
All that said , Trump just lost .
Going into this Senate impeachment trial , there were clear parameters for what would represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
His current approval rating , at roughly 40 % , gives him no chance in the 2020 election .
The only way he could “ win ” this trial would be if he came out of it with a significantly higher approval rating , which would put him in contention for 2020 .
If Trump ’ s approval rating remains the same or goes down as a result of this trial , he loses – even if he is acquitted .
Because Trump insisted on hiring disgraced low-rent defense attorneys who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at pleasing Trump ’ s base , there was never any chance that the defense portion of the trial would boost Trump ’ s approval rating .
His only shot at “ winning ” this trial was if the House Democrats presenting the case ended up doing a poor job in the eyes of those Americans watching at home , or if the Democrats handed Trump something he could use in the court of public opinion .
But as it ’ s turned out , Adam Schiff and the House managers finished presenting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve gotten rave reviews from most of the public .
Trump ’ s base is whining , but they don ’ t matter , because their votes are locked in for Trump anyway , and there aren ’ t nearly enough of them to elect Trump on their own .
It ’ s the people in the middle who matter , the ones who didn ’ t follow the Ukraine scandal or impeachment saga until it landed in their laps this week on their favorite TV channel .
What they saw was an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s guilt .
The window for this trial to boost Donald Trump ’ s approval rating has now closed .
It ’ s now a given that his approval rating won ’ t rise as a result of the trial .
This means Trump just lost .
It ’ s not clear if he understands this .
But he definitely just lost the trial .

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Republican Senators will have to decide whether they want to alienate voters by not calling witnesses in the impeachment trial, or whether they want to alienate Donald Trump by calling witnesses. It’s up to them, and they’ll have to live with whatever negative impact it has on their own reelection chances. And we already know the Republicans are all going to vote to acquit Trump in the end. All that said, Trump just lost.
Going into this Senate impeachment trial, there were clear parameters for what would represent a win or loss for Donald Trump. His current approval rating, at roughly 40%, gives him no chance in the 2020 election. The only way he could “win” this trial would be if he came out of it with a significantly higher approval rating, which would put him in contention for 2020. If Trump’s approval rating remains the same or goes down as a result of this trial, he loses – even if he is acquitted.
Because Trump insisted on hiring disgraced low-rent defense attorneys who are merely going to spew conspiracy nonsense aimed at pleasing Trump’s base, there was never any chance that the defense portion of the trial would boost Trump’s approval rating. His only shot at “winning” this trial was if the House Democrats presenting the case ended up doing a poor job in the eyes of those Americans watching at home, or if the Democrats handed Trump something he could use in the court of public opinion.
But as it’s turned out, Adam Schiff and the House managers finished presenting their case tonight, and they’ve gotten rave reviews from most of the public. Trump’s base is whining, but they don’t matter, because their votes are locked in for Trump anyway, and there aren’t nearly enough of them to elect Trump on their own. It’s the people in the middle who matter, the ones who didn’t follow the Ukraine scandal or impeachment saga until it landed in their laps this week on their favorite TV channel. What they saw was an overwhelmingly compelling case for Donald Trump’s guilt.
The window for this trial to boost Donald Trump’s approval rating has now closed. It’s now a given that his approval rating won’t rise as a result of the trial. This means Trump just lost. It’s not clear if he understands this. But he definitely just lost the trial.
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palmerreport--2020-01-25--Here’s the tape of Donald Trump saying “take her out” about U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch

Earlier today , ABC News reported that it had heard an audio tape of Donald Trump saying “ take her out ” in reference to U.S .
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch in April of 2018 .
At the least , this confirms that Trump ’ s Ukraine scandal had been going on for much longer than previously known .
Considering that Trump made the remark in response to comments made by Lev Parnas , it ’ s being widely interpreted as Trump instructing Lev and Igor Fruman to do something criminal to her .
In any case , the most crucial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released .
Even as Lev Parnas ’ attorney Joseph Bondy was on MSNBC confirming that he has a copy of the recording and he ’ s just given it to the House , but that he wasn ’ t ABC ’ s source , ABC went ahead and posted a portion of the tape on its website .
Sure enough , Trump can be heard yelling things like “ Get her out of there ” and “ Take her out.
” Watch the clip below ; the recording of Trump begins about 45 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is all unfolding rather quickly now .
ABC News has begun posting the tape .
The House is surely going to use the tape for its own purposes while Donald Trump ’ s lawyers are trying to put on his impeachment trial defense tomorrow .
We ’ ll see where this goes , but it ’ s certainly not a good development for Trump .

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Earlier today, ABC News reported that it had heard an audio tape of Donald Trump saying “take her out” in reference to U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch in April of 2018. At the least, this confirms that Trump’s Ukraine scandal had been going on for much longer than previously known. Considering that Trump made the remark in response to comments made by Lev Parnas, it’s being widely interpreted as Trump instructing Lev and Igor Fruman to do something criminal to her. In any case, the most crucial part of the tape has now been released.
Even as Lev Parnas’ attorney Joseph Bondy was on MSNBC confirming that he has a copy of the recording and he’s just given it to the House, but that he wasn’t ABC’s source, ABC went ahead and posted a portion of the tape on its website. Sure enough, Trump can be heard yelling things like “Get her out of there” and “Take her out.” Watch the clip below; the recording of Trump begins about 45 seconds into the video clip:
This is all unfolding rather quickly now. ABC News has begun posting the tape. The House is surely going to use the tape for its own purposes while Donald Trump’s lawyers are trying to put on his impeachment trial defense tomorrow. We’ll see where this goes, but it’s certainly not a good development for Trump.
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DOOMSDAY

No one can say how much longer Donald Trump will be in office .
But because Trump is still in power , “ It is now 100 seconds to midnight.
” Such was the ominous headline Thursday from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists after moving its Doomsday Clock ahead 20 seconds .
In a press release , Bulletin President and CEO Rachel Bronson warned : “ We are now expressing how close the world is to catastrophe in seconds—not hours , or even minutes .
It is the closest to Doomsday we have ever been in the history of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a true emergency—an absolutely unacceptable state of world affairs that has eliminated any margin for error or further delay.
” The Bulletin ’ s statement blames the dire situation on nuclear war and climate change while warning that cyber-enabled information warfare compounds the problem by acting as a “ threat multiplier.
” The Bulletin has declared a state of emergency and calls for the “ immediate , focused , and unrelenting attention of the entire world , ” condemning international leaders for their “ inaction—and in too many cases counterproductive actions.
” While @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world have contributed to the frightening creep toward midnight , it is the frightening creep in the White House who is the most to blame .
Since the 1940s , when the Doomsday Clock was created , people have referred to the President of the United States as the leader of the free world , a term that speaks to the unique influence and responsibility inherent in that office .
Unfortunately , Trump only knows how to lead us toward disaster .
The statement , which largely avoids calling out world leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ dire mistake ” of withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate agreement and for his failed negotiations with North Korea .
When Trump took office , the Doomsday Clock stood at a much safer three minutes to midnight .
In less than a week , it moved ahead 30 seconds thanks to Trump ’ s “ disturbing comments ” on the campaign trail about nuclear proliferation and climate change denial .
In 2018 , the Doomsday Clock inched another 30 seconds closer to midnight , and now that 20 more seconds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closer to Doomsday than ever .
For the sake of our existence and for the love of our planet , Trump needs to leave office as soon as possible .
It is not yet too late to turn back the clock .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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No one can say how much longer Donald Trump will be in office. But because Trump is still in power, “It is now 100 seconds to midnight.” Such was the ominous headline Thursday from the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists after moving its Doomsday Clock ahead 20 seconds. In a press release, Bulletin President and CEO Rachel Bronson warned: “We are now expressing how close the world is to catastrophe in seconds—not hours, or even minutes. It is the closest to Doomsday we have ever been in the history of the Doomsday Clock. We now face a true emergency—an absolutely unacceptable state of world affairs that has eliminated any margin for error or further delay.”
The Bulletin’s statement blames the dire situation on nuclear war and climate change while warning that cyber-enabled information warfare compounds the problem by acting as a “threat multiplier.” The Bulletin has declared a state of emergency and calls for the “immediate, focused, and unrelenting attention of the entire world,” condemning international leaders for their “inaction—and in too many cases counterproductive actions.”
While it is true that many people around the world have contributed to the frightening creep toward midnight, it is the frightening creep in the White House who is the most to blame. Since the 1940s, when the Doomsday Clock was created, people have referred to the President of the United States as the leader of the free world, a term that speaks to the unique influence and responsibility inherent in that office. Unfortunately, Trump only knows how to lead us toward disaster. The statement, which largely avoids calling out world leaders by name, slams Trump for the “dire mistake” of withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate agreement and for his failed negotiations with North Korea.
When Trump took office, the Doomsday Clock stood at a much safer three minutes to midnight. In less than a week, it moved ahead 30 seconds thanks to Trump’s “disturbing comments” on the campaign trail about nuclear proliferation and climate change denial. In 2018, the Doomsday Clock inched another 30 seconds closer to midnight, and now that 20 more seconds were just added, we find ourselves closer to Doomsday than ever. For the sake of our existence and for the love of our planet, Trump needs to leave office as soon as possible. It is not yet too late to turn back the clock.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-25--Did Igor Fruman just flip on Donald Trump?

ABC News just dropped a bombshell in the form of a newly reported recording of Donald Trump telling Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman in April 2018 to “ take [ U.S .
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch ] out.
” This is sending shockwaves , because it proves Trump ’ s criminal plot in Ukraine has been going on for a lot longer than anyone knew , and because it sounds like Trump was instructing his goons to have Yovanovitch killed .
But there ’ s also another storyline here , which if it holds up , could prove to be even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the ABC News story , we find this nugget : “ The recording was made by Fruman.
” At the least this means that Igor Fruman was trying to cover his bases all along , by capturing incriminating evidence against Donald Trump in case he ended up needing it .
But it also raises questions about who could have leaked this recording .
In other words , the big question here is whether or not Igor is the one who gave this tape to ABC News .
If Igor made the tape to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one who has had it all along .
It was his insurance policy , so he wouldn ’ t have voluntarily given it to anyone else .
It ’ s possible the tape was seized by the Feds when they arrested Igor .
But it ’ s difficult to imagine a scenario in which the Feds would leak trial evidence to the media ahead of the trial .
After the news broke , Lev says that he dug up a copy of the recording in his iCloud and gave it to the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Lev was ABC ’ s source to begin with .
It ’ s also difficult to imagine a scenario in which ABC News would know that the recording was made by Igor , unless ABC got the recording from Igor ’ s camp .
Here ’ s where it gets tricky .
As of a few days ago , Igor Fruman was still being represented by attorneys supplied by Donald Trump .
If Igor has decided to sell Trump out to the media , he ’ s not going to stick with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thing to watch in the coming days is whether or not Igor files in court to sever from his attorneys .
If he does , it ’ ll mean he ’ s all but definitely flipped on Trump .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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ABC News just dropped a bombshell in the form of a newly reported recording of Donald Trump telling Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman in April 2018 to “take [U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch] out.” This is sending shockwaves, because it proves Trump’s criminal plot in Ukraine has been going on for a lot longer than anyone knew, and because it sounds like Trump was instructing his goons to have Yovanovitch killed. But there’s also another storyline here, which if it holds up, could prove to be even more troubling for Trump.
Partway through the ABC News story, we find this nugget: “The recording was made by Fruman.” At the least this means that Igor Fruman was trying to cover his bases all along, by capturing incriminating evidence against Donald Trump in case he ended up needing it. But it also raises questions about who could have leaked this recording. In other words, the big question here is whether or not Igor is the one who gave this tape to ABC News.
If Igor made the tape to begin with, then Igor was the one who has had it all along. It was his insurance policy, so he wouldn’t have voluntarily given it to anyone else. It’s possible the tape was seized by the Feds when they arrested Igor. But it’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which the Feds would leak trial evidence to the media ahead of the trial. After the news broke, Lev says that he dug up a copy of the recording in his iCloud and gave it to the House – but there’s no indication that Lev was ABC’s source to begin with. It’s also difficult to imagine a scenario in which ABC News would know that the recording was made by Igor, unless ABC got the recording from Igor’s camp.
Here’s where it gets tricky. As of a few days ago, Igor Fruman was still being represented by attorneys supplied by Donald Trump. If Igor has decided to sell Trump out to the media, he’s not going to stick with Trump’s lawyers. So the thing to watch in the coming days is whether or not Igor files in court to sever from his attorneys. If he does, it’ll mean he’s all but definitely flipped on Trump.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-25--Steve Mnuchin’s own wife Louise Linton comes out against him

Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has enough problems on his hands , including the fact that the felony obstruction of justice he keeps committing on Donald Trump ’ s behalf is going to land him a nice long prison sentence if Trump loses the election .
Now Mnuchin has a rather different kind of problem : his own wife Louise Linton just publicly came out against him .
This past week , Steve Mnuchin launched a disgusting and frankly psychotic attack on teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg .
Apparently Mnuchin thought that viciously attacking a young girl would score him points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him that magic pardon that his life now depends on .
But apparently this kind of behavior doesn ’ t fly with Mnuchin ’ s wife .
Multiple major news outlets captured Louise Linton posting this to Instagram : Notably , Linton included both Thunberg and her husband in her post , to erase any doubt about what she was referring to .
Less than an hour later , Linton deleted the post , but it ’ s obviously been captured for posterity .
We really couldn ’ t care less about whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ behind the scenes .
But it ’ s clear that Steve Mnuchin has a problem here , because this Instagram post – short lived as it may have been – serves to severely undermine his message and agenda .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin has enough problems on his hands, including the fact that the felony obstruction of justice he keeps committing on Donald Trump’s behalf is going to land him a nice long prison sentence if Trump loses the election. Now Mnuchin has a rather different kind of problem: his own wife Louise Linton just publicly came out against him.
This past week, Steve Mnuchin launched a disgusting and frankly psychotic attack on teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg. Apparently Mnuchin thought that viciously attacking a young girl would score him points with Donald Trump, and maybe land him that magic pardon that his life now depends on. But apparently this kind of behavior doesn’t fly with Mnuchin’s wife. Multiple major news outlets captured Louise Linton posting this to Instagram:
Notably, Linton included both Thunberg and her husband in her post, to erase any doubt about what she was referring to. Less than an hour later, Linton deleted the post, but it’s obviously been captured for posterity. We really couldn’t care less about whatever is going on in the Mnuchin-Linton marriage behind the scenes. But it’s clear that Steve Mnuchin has a problem here, because this Instagram post – short lived as it may have been – serves to severely undermine his message and agenda.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-25--Donald Trump just crapped the Twitter bed

Donald Trump ’ s legal team decided to use just over two hours out of the allotted eight hours today to put on its impeachment trial defense .
Team Trump will get another shot on Monday , but today was a textbook example of mailing it in and not even trying to keep up appearances .
Now that Trump ’ s lawyers have laid an egg , Trump is trying to one-up them in the stupidity department on Twitter .
This afternoon Donald Trump posted this tweet : “ You don ’ t come to court and ask for witnesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , unless you know your case is not working .
I think their real motivation is for them to keep this President busy .
We ’ re doing a great job on the economy , we ’ re building our military , look….. ” The quotation marks were his , not ours , so Trump was clearly quoting someone .
This was going to be one of his long quotes that went across multiple tweets .
So let ’ s check out part two of his tweet : Well okay then .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s all he tweeted .
He doesn ’ t even appear to understand that he needs to tell us who said these words .
He ’ s just quoting nobody in particular .
Maybe it ’ s someone on Fox News .
Maybe it ’ s his imaginary friend Jim .
Doesn ’ t matter , the quote is nonsense anyway .
Trump ’ s got nothing .
Update : Naturally , after we made fun of Trump for this , he went back and added that the quote was from GOP Senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ late .
Trump has no idea how anything works .

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Donald Trump’s legal team decided to use just over two hours out of the allotted eight hours today to put on its impeachment trial defense. Team Trump will get another shot on Monday, but today was a textbook example of mailing it in and not even trying to keep up appearances. Now that Trump’s lawyers have laid an egg, Trump is trying to one-up them in the stupidity department on Twitter. This afternoon Donald Trump posted this tweet:
“You don’t come to court and ask for witnesses after you’ve already presented your case, unless you know your case is not working. I think their real motivation is for them to keep this President busy. We’re doing a great job on the economy, we’re building our military, look…..”
The quotation marks were his, not ours, so Trump was clearly quoting someone. This was going to be one of his long quotes that went across multiple tweets. So let’s check out part two of his tweet:
“…at the judges that we have right now.”
Well okay then. That’s it. That’s all he tweeted. He doesn’t even appear to understand that he needs to tell us who said these words. He’s just quoting nobody in particular. Maybe it’s someone on Fox News. Maybe it’s his imaginary friend Jim. Doesn’t matter, the quote is nonsense anyway. Trump’s got nothing. Update: Naturally, after we made fun of Trump for this, he went back and added that the quote was from GOP Senator Jim Inhofe. Too little, too late. Trump has no idea how anything works.
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What was THAT?

Yesterday , Donald Trump decided that putting on a convincing impeachment trial defense was no longer his priority , and that instead he simply wanted the whole thing over with as quickly as possible .
He gave this away when he whined on Twitter about having to present his defense on Saturday , but he made no effort to get it delayed to Monday .
It was easy to see that Trump was trying to hurry up and get the trial over with before Republican Senators got any more nervous about calling witnesses .
So we weren ’ t expecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team took to the Senate trial floor today .
But even we weren ’ t expecting whatever that mess was .
Trump ’ s lawyers only used a little more than two hours of their allotted eight hours today .
Then they called it quits and went home for the day .
Yes , they have two more days coming up .
But what was that ?
It ’ s one thing for Trump ’ s lawyers to use their time to spew nothing but lies and lazy conspiracy theories .
We were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s own deranged fantasyland tweets about his Ukraine scandal .
But to quit after using barely one-fourth of their allotted time ?
Even if Trump is working under the premise that he doesn ’ t need to say much to get these complicit Republican Senators to acquit him , he needs to be using this time to try to convince the nonpartisan people watching at home that they should vote for him in 2020 .
The real trouble for Donald Trump is that the prevailing media narrative will be that he and his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mount a defense , and that they mailed it in instead .
Trump is in such a panicked hurry to get this trial over with before the GOP Senators change their minds about calling witnesses , he appears to have sent his attorneys out there with no gameplan today – and it showed .

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Yesterday, Donald Trump decided that putting on a convincing impeachment trial defense was no longer his priority, and that instead he simply wanted the whole thing over with as quickly as possible. He gave this away when he whined on Twitter about having to present his defense on Saturday, but he made no effort to get it delayed to Monday. It was easy to see that Trump was trying to hurry up and get the trial over with before Republican Senators got any more nervous about calling witnesses.
So we weren’t expecting much when Trump’s impeachment defense team took to the Senate trial floor today. But even we weren’t expecting whatever that mess was. Trump’s lawyers only used a little more than two hours of their allotted eight hours today. Then they called it quits and went home for the day. Yes, they have two more days coming up. But what was that?
It’s one thing for Trump’s lawyers to use their time to spew nothing but lies and lazy conspiracy theories. We were expecting their defense to mirror Trump’s own deranged fantasyland tweets about his Ukraine scandal. But to quit after using barely one-fourth of their allotted time? Even if Trump is working under the premise that he doesn’t need to say much to get these complicit Republican Senators to acquit him, he needs to be using this time to try to convince the nonpartisan people watching at home that they should vote for him in 2020.
The real trouble for Donald Trump is that the prevailing media narrative will be that he and his team didn’t even try to mount a defense, and that they mailed it in instead. Trump is in such a panicked hurry to get this trial over with before the GOP Senators change their minds about calling witnesses, he appears to have sent his attorneys out there with no gameplan today – and it showed.
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palmerreport--2020-01-25--Donald Trump just took the bait

Donald Trump just took the bait

Donald Trump took a gamble by inviting a foreign country to investigate one of his most feared political rivals .
Rather than finding any dirt on Joe Biden as he had hoped , he managed to get himself impeached .
However the trial in the Senate ends up , it ’ s likely not going to win him any new support in 2020 .
He may have even brought down some fellow Republicans with him , depending on how they vote in the next few days .
Having foreign governments investigate his rivals failed , as did trying to start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably suspect that he ’ s desperate for something he can call a win .
You would think this is probably the point where an incumbent president rolls out new plans or something that can bring “ middle of the road ” voters to them in November , but this is Donald Trump we ’ re talking about .
It turns out he ’ s not even sure about which of his political rivals to go after next .
You ’ d think he ’ d pick one of his viable Democratic rivals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s decided to go after Mike Bloomberg , who only recently became a Democrat and only has about 7 % support in the polls .
So why has he suddenly focused on “ Mini Mike Bloomberg ” ?
According to a New York Times article , it has everything to do with a series of ads Bloomberg ran on Fox News for Trump to see during his nightly television binge watching , about Trump ’ s bad-mouthing of Generals early in his administration .
While Trump fears the ad shows his patriotism for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s probably something a bit more rooted in his latest Twitter rants against Bloomberg – namely that Bloomberg is a successful businessman with his own thriving media company , all things that Trump likes to present himself as being but knows that he ’ s not .
Despite his own advisers ’ suggestions that he not go after Bloomberg , Trump can ’ t help himself for this reason , while he ignores Democratic challengers who present a more serious threat .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Donald Trump took a gamble by inviting a foreign country to investigate one of his most feared political rivals. Rather than finding any dirt on Joe Biden as he had hoped, he managed to get himself impeached. However the trial in the Senate ends up, it’s likely not going to win him any new support in 2020. He may have even brought down some fellow Republicans with him, depending on how they vote in the next few days.
Having foreign governments investigate his rivals failed, as did trying to start a military conflict with Iran – who probably suspect that he’s desperate for something he can call a win. You would think this is probably the point where an incumbent president rolls out new plans or something that can bring “middle of the road” voters to them in November, but this is Donald Trump we’re talking about. It turns out he’s not even sure about which of his political rivals to go after next.
You’d think he’d pick one of his viable Democratic rivals to target. Instead, he’s decided to go after Mike Bloomberg, who only recently became a Democrat and only has about 7% support in the polls. So why has he suddenly focused on “Mini Mike Bloomberg”? According to a New York Times article, it has everything to do with a series of ads Bloomberg ran on Fox News for Trump to see during his nightly television binge watching, about Trump’s bad-mouthing of Generals early in his administration.
While Trump fears the ad shows his patriotism for the sham that it is, there’s probably something a bit more rooted in his latest Twitter rants against Bloomberg – namely that Bloomberg is a successful businessman with his own thriving media company, all things that Trump likes to present himself as being but knows that he’s not. Despite his own advisers’ suggestions that he not go after Bloomberg, Trump can’t help himself for this reason, while he ignores Democratic challengers who present a more serious threat.
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palmerreport--2020-01-25--Mike Pompeo just imploded

Mike Pompeo just imploded

Last night we all got the news that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo didn ’ t like how an interview went , so he took the NPR interviewer into a private room afterward and proceeded to scream at her , curse her out , and threaten retaliation against her .
This is startling and disturbing , of course .
But considering what ’ s going on right now and the trajectory Pompeo is on , it really shouldn ’ t be surprising .
Until last month Mike Pompeo was under the delusion that everything was going to be magically okay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and he was going to end up becoming a Senator .
This was never within a million miles of being realistic .
But considering that Pompeo managed to become CIA Director and then Secretary of State simply by remaining corruptly loyal to Donald Trump , perhaps Pompeo had convinced himself that there was no stopping his magic carpet ride .
The trouble is that in the name of doing Trump ’ s corrupt bidding , Pompeo got caught committing serious felonies in the Ukraine scandal .
He ’ s not just toxic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ surely sank in for him last month when he was forced to concede that he ’ s not running for Senator .
His political career is over .
Now he ’ s just scrapping to try to keep his life from being over .
Unless he can talk Trump into a pardon , Pompeo is going to prison for a very long time .
This week Mike Pompeo announced that he ’ s headed back to Ukraine , the scene of the crime , to try to prevent Donald Trump ’ s Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pompeo is being forced to stick his own neck out , and set himself up as the obvious next fall guy , because Pompeo has to keep doing whatever Trump asks .
After all , without that pardon , Pompeo goes to prison .
No wonder Pompeo just imploded with the reporter .
He ’ s figuring out that he ’ s on the verge of losing everything .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Last night we all got the news that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo didn’t like how an interview went, so he took the NPR interviewer into a private room afterward and proceeded to scream at her, curse her out, and threaten retaliation against her. This is startling and disturbing, of course. But considering what’s going on right now and the trajectory Pompeo is on, it really shouldn’t be surprising.
Until last month Mike Pompeo was under the delusion that everything was going to be magically okay for him in the Ukraine extortion scandal, and he was going to end up becoming a Senator. This was never within a million miles of being realistic. But considering that Pompeo managed to become CIA Director and then Secretary of State simply by remaining corruptly loyal to Donald Trump, perhaps Pompeo had convinced himself that there was no stopping his magic carpet ride.
The trouble is that in the name of doing Trump’s corrupt bidding, Pompeo got caught committing serious felonies in the Ukraine scandal. He’s not just toxic, he’s radioactive. This surely sank in for him last month when he was forced to concede that he’s not running for Senator. His political career is over. Now he’s just scrapping to try to keep his life from being over. Unless he can talk Trump into a pardon, Pompeo is going to prison for a very long time.
This week Mike Pompeo announced that he’s headed back to Ukraine, the scene of the crime, to try to prevent Donald Trump’s Ukraine extortion scandal from getting even worse. Pompeo is being forced to stick his own neck out, and set himself up as the obvious next fall guy, because Pompeo has to keep doing whatever Trump asks. After all, without that pardon, Pompeo goes to prison. No wonder Pompeo just imploded with the reporter. He’s figuring out that he’s on the verge of losing everything.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-25--The real story behind who leaked Donald Trump’s “take her out” recording

Yesterday Palmer Report raised the question of who actually gave ABC News the recording of Donald Trump saying “ take her out ” in reference to U.S .
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
ABC made clear in its original article that Igor Fruman was the one who had originally made the recording .
Then last night a rapid succession of events served to muddy the waters .
Last night Lev Parnas ’ attorney Joseph Bondy appeared on MSNBC and confirmed that Lev had just given a copy of the recording to the House Intelligence Committee .
This led numerous observers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the ABC News story .
But Bondy actually told a very different story on-air .
He said that after Lev heard about the ABC News story , he remembered that Igor had given him a copy a long time ago , and he went and dug it up and then gave it to the House .
In other words , Lev Parnas was not the source of the ABC News story .
That means someone else who had the recording took it to ABC News .
This leaves only a couple possibilities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who originally made the recording , directly or indirectly gave it to ABC because he ’ s decided to flip on Donald Trump .
If this is the case , it ’ ll mean Igor has to divorce himself from Trump ’ s attorneys soon , which would require a court filing .
The second possibility is that someone else in Igor ’ s inner circle decided to leak this tape to the media , even though Igor doesn ’ t want it out there .
We know know that Igor gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s certainly possible that Igor also gave copies to other people close to him .
But Igor wasn ’ t involved in the leak , it means another player in the Lev-Igor loop has emerged , and is carrying out his or her own agenda .
Stay tuned .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Yesterday Palmer Report raised the question of who actually gave ABC News the recording of Donald Trump saying “take her out” in reference to U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. ABC made clear in its original article that Igor Fruman was the one who had originally made the recording. Then last night a rapid succession of events served to muddy the waters.
Last night Lev Parnas’ attorney Joseph Bondy appeared on MSNBC and confirmed that Lev had just given a copy of the recording to the House Intelligence Committee. This led numerous observers to conclude that Lev was also the source for the ABC News story. But Bondy actually told a very different story on-air. He said that after Lev heard about the ABC News story, he remembered that Igor had given him a copy a long time ago, and he went and dug it up and then gave it to the House.
In other words, Lev Parnas was not the source of the ABC News story. That means someone else who had the recording took it to ABC News. This leaves only a couple possibilities. The first is that Igor Fruman, who originally made the recording, directly or indirectly gave it to ABC because he’s decided to flip on Donald Trump. If this is the case, it’ll mean Igor has to divorce himself from Trump’s attorneys soon, which would require a court filing.
The second possibility is that someone else in Igor’s inner circle decided to leak this tape to the media, even though Igor doesn’t want it out there. We know know that Igor gave a copy to Lev, so it’s certainly possible that Igor also gave copies to other people close to him. But Igor wasn’t involved in the leak, it means another player in the Lev-Igor loop has emerged, and is carrying out his or her own agenda. Stay tuned.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--Donald Trump just got slam dunked by the VFW

The night before Hillary Clinton participated in a “ commander-in-chief forum ” on MSNBC and NBC in September 2016 , she told a crowd in Florida how Donald Trump has “ no clue ” when he talks about military issues and that Trump ’ s “ whole campaign has been one long insult to all those who ’ ve worn the uniform.
” In other words , Clinton warned that the next commander-in-chief could be someone who is not only grossly incompetent but who cares nothing for Americans who are in harm ’ s way .
Trump proved Clinton correct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his presidency .
On January 3 , an impetuous Trump launched a drone strike to assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport .
Not only did Trump fail to discuss his plans with the Gang of Eight , but a classified intelligence briefing days later went so off-the-rails that even sycophantic Senator Mike Lee slammed the Trump administration for being “ insulting and demeaning ” after he questioned the strategy .
On January 8 , Iran avenged Soleimani ’ s death by launching a missile strike against two military bases in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
Rather than soberly address the nation from the Oval Office , Trump issued a psychopathic tweet that began , “ All is well !
Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq .
Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now .
So far , so good !
” It turns out all is not well .
Fortunately , the Iranian strikes did not claim a single American life .
However , the Pentagon announced on Friday that 34 U.S. troops suffered traumatic brain injuries .
While at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump blew off the news , telling reporters that the injuries were “ not very serious ” while dismissing them as mere “ headaches and a couple of other things.
” Never mind that the Pentagon noted that half of the injured service members suffered “ severe enough symptoms ” to be brought to Germany and the United States for further treatment .
s Trump ’ s ignorant and callous remarks infuriated the Veterans of Foreign Wars ( VFW ) , America ’ s largest veterans organization , prompting a blistering statement on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stand idle on this matter , ” the VFW is now calling on Trump to apologize because “ [ o ] ur warriors require our full support more than ever in this challenging environment.
” Of course , Trump won ’ t apologize to anyone because he believes he ’ s perfect—just like that “ perfect phone call ” with Ukrainian President Zelensky that helped get him impeached .
Decades ago , imaginary bone spurs disqualified Trump from military service .
Now that Trump ’ s the commander-in-chief , his abysmal display of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members prove he should not be allowed anywhere near a military operation .
Unless Trump ’ s impeachment trial leads to a surprise ending , voters need to make sure this happens on November 3 .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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The night before Hillary Clinton participated in a “commander-in-chief forum” on MSNBC and NBC in September 2016, she told a crowd in Florida how Donald Trump has “no clue” when he talks about military issues and that Trump’s “whole campaign has been one long insult to all those who’ve worn the uniform.” In other words, Clinton warned that the next commander-in-chief could be someone who is not only grossly incompetent but who cares nothing for Americans who are in harm’s way.
Trump proved Clinton correct this month more than ever before in his presidency. On January 3, an impetuous Trump launched a drone strike to assassinate Iranian General Qasem Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport. Not only did Trump fail to discuss his plans with the Gang of Eight, but a classified intelligence briefing days later went so off-the-rails that even sycophantic Senator Mike Lee slammed the Trump administration for being “insulting and demeaning” after he questioned the strategy.
On January 8, Iran avenged Soleimani’s death by launching a missile strike against two military bases in Iraq, triggering fears of World War 3. Rather than soberly address the nation from the Oval Office, Trump issued a psychopathic tweet that began, “All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good!”
It turns out all is not well. Fortunately, the Iranian strikes did not claim a single American life. However, the Pentagon announced on Friday that 34 U.S. troops suffered traumatic brain injuries. While at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump blew off the news, telling reporters that the injuries were “not very serious” while dismissing them as mere “headaches and a couple of other things.” Never mind that the Pentagon noted that half of the injured service members suffered “severe enough symptoms” to be brought to Germany and the United States for further treatment.
s
Trump’s ignorant and callous remarks infuriated the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), America’s largest veterans organization, prompting a blistering statement on Friday. Declaring they “cannot stand idle on this matter,” the VFW is now calling on Trump to apologize because “[o]ur warriors require our full support more than ever in this challenging environment.”
Of course, Trump won’t apologize to anyone because he believes he’s perfect—just like that “perfect phone call” with Ukrainian President Zelensky that helped get him impeached. Decades ago, imaginary bone spurs disqualified Trump from military service. Now that Trump’s the commander-in-chief, his abysmal display of recklessness and shameful disrespect for U.S. service members prove he should not be allowed anywhere near a military operation. Unless Trump’s impeachment trial leads to a surprise ending, voters need to make sure this happens on November 3.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--Senate Republicans are falling to pieces as Donald Trump circles the drain

Republicans are the masters of feigned outrage and taking offense .
While the right calls the left snowflakes and accuses them of being sensitive , it is just another case of the pot calling the kettle black .
The latest occurred during House manager Adam Schiff ’ s outstanding closing argument on Friday night .
Toward the end , he stated : “ CBS News reported last night that a Trump confidant said that key senators were warned , ‘ Vote against the president and your head will be on a pike.
’ I don ’ t know if that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he hoped it was not and that he hoped the Republicans would show moral courage .
Instead , they melted faster than the Wicked Witch of the West , with crocodile tears spilling all over the Senate floor .
Lisa Murkowski made the laughable claim : “ I thought he was doing fine with [ talking about ] moral courage until he got to the ‘ head on a pike.
’ That ’ s where he lost me .
He ’ s a good orator .
… It was just unnecessary.
” If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the purported moderate Republican has seldom if ever voted anything but the Trump and McConnell line .
And if she was so on board before the “ pike ” comment , where was she when House managers urged amendments to the rules for the impeachment trial ?
Correct , she was nowhere to be found with any moral courage .
Senator Susan Collins also chimed in , stating : “ Not only have I never heard the ‘ head on the pike ’ line but also I know of no Republican senator who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone in the administration.
” Senator John Cornyn and others also expressed their feigned outrage at the way they were treated .
They can cry their crocodile tears all they want to , but the fact remains that by protesting so much , they are proving the very thing that Schiff hoped was not true .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Republicans are the masters of feigned outrage and taking offense. While the right calls the left snowflakes and accuses them of being sensitive, it is just another case of the pot calling the kettle black. The latest occurred during House manager Adam Schiff’s outstanding closing argument on Friday night. Toward the end, he stated:
“CBS News reported last night that a Trump confidant said that key senators were warned, ‘Vote against the president and your head will be on a pike.’ I don’t know if that’s true.” He then stated he hoped it was not and that he hoped the Republicans would show moral courage. Instead, they melted faster than the Wicked Witch of the West, with crocodile tears spilling all over the Senate floor.
Lisa Murkowski made the laughable claim: “I thought he was doing fine with [talking about] moral courage until he got to the ‘head on a pike.’ That’s where he lost me. He’s a good orator. … It was just unnecessary.” If one checks her record of votes, the purported moderate Republican has seldom if ever voted anything but the Trump and McConnell line. And if she was so on board before the “pike” comment, where was she when House managers urged amendments to the rules for the impeachment trial? Correct, she was nowhere to be found with any moral courage.
Senator Susan Collins also chimed in, stating: “Not only have I never heard the ‘head on the pike’ line but also I know of no Republican senator who has been threatened in any way by anyone in the administration.” Senator John Cornyn and others also expressed their feigned outrage at the way they were treated. They can cry their crocodile tears all they want to, but the fact remains that by protesting so much, they are proving the very thing that Schiff hoped was not true.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--Mike Pompeo just made things even worse for himself

Yesterday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went berserk on an NPR reporter , cursing her out and threatening to exact revenge against her for daring to ask him a question about the Ukraine scandal .
Pompeo also shoved an unmarked map of the world in the reporter ’ s face and dared her to locate Ukraine .
It ’ s clear that Pompeo has snapped and is a danger to himself and others .
Today he managed to make the whole thing even worse for himself .
Mike Pompeo just released an official statement from the State Department , attacking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ unhinged ” among other insults .
In other words , Pompeo truly has snapped , and we won ’ t be shocked if he ’ s arrested by the end of the week for beating up a random person on the sidewalk .
But Pompeo tried to be clever by ending his psychotic statement with “ It is worth noting that Bangladesh is NOT Ukraine.
” It ’ s fairly clear that Pompeo is accusing the NPR reporter of having incorrectly pointed to Bangladesh on the unmarked map , while attempting to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on social media quickly pointed out , Ukraine and Bangladesh are thousands of miles apart from each other .
There ’ s no way that the reporter mistakenly pointed to Bangladesh .
It ’ s far more likely that Pompeo meant Belarus , which shares a border with Ukraine .
If that ’ s the case , Pompeo got his countries screwed up while trying to accuse the reporter of getting her countries screwed up .
In other words , Mike Pompeo is even further off his rocker than we thought .
Not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no one in the State Department who ’ s looking over Pompeo ’ s screeds before they go out the door , or some diplomat would have realized Pompeo ’ s “ Bangladesh ” mistake .
Then again , Pompeo has so thoroughly screwed over and humiliated the State Department , we can ’ t imagine he has many allies remaining there .
Pompeo is falling to pieces as his life falls apart .
Perhaps it ’ s sunk in for him that he ’ s the next fall guy in the Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite the hefty prison sentence .

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Yesterday Secretary of State Mike Pompeo went berserk on an NPR reporter, cursing her out and threatening to exact revenge against her for daring to ask him a question about the Ukraine scandal. Pompeo also shoved an unmarked map of the world in the reporter’s face and dared her to locate Ukraine. It’s clear that Pompeo has snapped and is a danger to himself and others. Today he managed to make the whole thing even worse for himself.
Mike Pompeo just released an official statement from the State Department, attacking the reporter in question and calling her “unhinged” among other insults. In other words, Pompeo truly has snapped, and we won’t be shocked if he’s arrested by the end of the week for beating up a random person on the sidewalk. But Pompeo tried to be clever by ending his psychotic statement with “It is worth noting that Bangladesh is NOT Ukraine.”
It’s fairly clear that Pompeo is accusing the NPR reporter of having incorrectly pointed to Bangladesh on the unmarked map, while attempting to locate Ukraine. But as numerous people on social media quickly pointed out, Ukraine and Bangladesh are thousands of miles apart from each other. There’s no way that the reporter mistakenly pointed to Bangladesh. It’s far more likely that Pompeo meant Belarus, which shares a border with Ukraine. If that’s the case, Pompeo got his countries screwed up while trying to accuse the reporter of getting her countries screwed up.
In other words, Mike Pompeo is even further off his rocker than we thought. Not only that, there’s clearly no one in the State Department who’s looking over Pompeo’s screeds before they go out the door, or some diplomat would have realized Pompeo’s “Bangladesh” mistake. Then again, Pompeo has so thoroughly screwed over and humiliated the State Department, we can’t imagine he has many allies remaining there. Pompeo is falling to pieces as his life falls apart. Perhaps it’s sunk in for him that he’s the next fall guy in the Ukraine scandal, and he’s facing quite the hefty prison sentence.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--The most revealing moment from the newly leaked Trump tape

Donald Trump ’ s instantly infamous “ take her out ” recording has now been published in full by multiple major news outlets .
Remarkably , it turns out to be a video recording , and not merely an audio recording – although the video camera appeared to be pointed at the ceiling most of the time , presumably to make sure Trump didn ’ t know he was being recorded .
One of those moments arguably stands out even more strikingly than the “ take her out ” moment .
Lev Parnas told Donald Trump that U.S .
Ambassador @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people that Trump was going to be impeached .
Trump then laughed incredulously , as if Yovanovitch were saying something that was ridiculous and impossible .
Then Trump started telling his people to “ take her out.
” Keep in mind that this recording was made in April 2018 .
Trump clearly didn ’ t think it was possible back then that he was going to end up getting impeached .
This was just seven months before the 2018 midterm elections .
By that time it was clear to anyone paying close attention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House , Nancy Pelosi was likely to become Speaker , and although she ’ s not a fan of impeachment , she ’ d end up impeaching him as his criminal antics threatened to grow more severe .
Yet Trump ’ s dismissive laugh at the idea of impeachment seemed genuine , even for a guy who almost never comes across as genuine .
The point is this : Donald Trump had no idea what was about to hit him .
He was laughing at the notion of getting impeached , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yovanovitch was a delusional joke just for thinking it would happen .
Seven months later , Trump lost the midterms .
Twenty months later , he ’ s been impeached .
It ’ s a reminder that Trump is completely out of touch with the political landscape , and generally clueless about what ’ s coming next .
There ’ s no strategy with this guy .
Trump lives in a protective political bubble where his handlers try to make him think he ’ s riding high , even when it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Donald Trump’s instantly infamous “take her out” recording has now been published in full by multiple major news outlets. Remarkably, it turns out to be a video recording, and not merely an audio recording – although the video camera appeared to be pointed at the ceiling most of the time, presumably to make sure Trump didn’t know he was being recorded. One of those moments arguably stands out even more strikingly than the “take her out” moment.
Lev Parnas told Donald Trump that U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch had been running around telling people that Trump was going to be impeached. Trump then laughed incredulously, as if Yovanovitch were saying something that was ridiculous and impossible. Then Trump started telling his people to “take her out.” Keep in mind that this recording was made in April 2018. Trump clearly didn’t think it was possible back then that he was going to end up getting impeached.
This was just seven months before the 2018 midterm elections. By that time it was clear to anyone paying close attention that the Democrats were likely to win the House, Nancy Pelosi was likely to become Speaker, and although she’s not a fan of impeachment, she’d end up impeaching him as his criminal antics threatened to grow more severe. Yet Trump’s dismissive laugh at the idea of impeachment seemed genuine, even for a guy who almost never comes across as genuine.
The point is this: Donald Trump had no idea what was about to hit him. He was laughing at the notion of getting impeached, as if it were literally impossible, and Yovanovitch was a delusional joke just for thinking it would happen. Seven months later, Trump lost the midterms. Twenty months later, he’s been impeached. It’s a reminder that Trump is completely out of touch with the political landscape, and generally clueless about what’s coming next. There’s no strategy with this guy. Trump lives in a protective political bubble where his handlers try to make him think he’s riding high, even when it’s all crashing down on him.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-27--John Bolton just made a major and curiously timed move against Donald Trump

Just a few days from now , the Senate is set to vote on whether to call various witnesses – including John Bolton – to testify in Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial .
It ’ s still not clear if the necessary four Republican Senators are going to vote to call Bolton , despite Bolton ’ s recent statement that he ’ s willing to testify under subpoena .
But today Bolton just made a major , and interestingly timed , move .
From the start , Palmer Report has pointed out that John Bolton ’ s willingness to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lucrative upcoming anti-Trump tell all book .
The book wasn ’ t ready for publication , or even for preorder , back when the House was holdings its impeachment hearings in late 2019 .
So why would Bolton want to waste the marketing opportunity by testifying back then , when he had no product to sell ?
When Bolton announced a couple weeks ago that he was willing to testify during the Senate trial , we took that as a sign that his book was close to release .
Sure enough , Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ book to his associates , one of whom has predictably told the New York Times about its contents this evening .
Among other things , Bolton asserts in his book that Donald Trump did indeed insist on withholding Ukraine aid , until Ukraine announced an election- altering investigation into Joe Biden .
We already have widespread confirmation that this is the case .
But when it ’ s coming from a notorious right winger and bona fide Republican darling like John Bolton , it ’ s a whole different ballgame .
There are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is doing here .
One is that he ’ s leaking the Trump-Ukraine portion of his book because he wants to make sure he gets called to testify in the impeachment trial , so he can use his testimony to drive sales of his book .
This would be smart , as it would drive his book sales through the roof .
The other possibility is that Bolton doesn ’ t want to testify , and he ’ s just totally misreading things by hyping his book today .
Even if the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trial , it now seems a given that the House will subpoena him to testify sometime after the sham Senate trial finishes .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Just a few days from now, the Senate is set to vote on whether to call various witnesses – including John Bolton – to testify in Donald Trump’s impeachment trial. It’s still not clear if the necessary four Republican Senators are going to vote to call Bolton, despite Bolton’s recent statement that he’s willing to testify under subpoena. But today Bolton just made a major, and interestingly timed, move.
From the start, Palmer Report has pointed out that John Bolton’s willingness to testify was almost certainly tied to his lucrative upcoming anti-Trump tell all book. The book wasn’t ready for publication, or even for preorder, back when the House was holdings its impeachment hearings in late 2019. So why would Bolton want to waste the marketing opportunity by testifying back then, when he had no product to sell? When Bolton announced a couple weeks ago that he was willing to testify during the Senate trial, we took that as a sign that his book was close to release.
Sure enough, Bolton has just distributed advance copies of his book to his associates, one of whom has predictably told the New York Times about its contents this evening. Among other things, Bolton asserts in his book that Donald Trump did indeed insist on withholding Ukraine aid, until Ukraine announced an election- altering investigation into Joe Biden. We already have widespread confirmation that this is the case. But when it’s coming from a notorious right winger and bona fide Republican darling like John Bolton, it’s a whole different ballgame.
There are only two possibilities for what John Bolton is doing here. One is that he’s leaking the Trump-Ukraine portion of his book because he wants to make sure he gets called to testify in the impeachment trial, so he can use his testimony to drive sales of his book. This would be smart, as it would drive his book sales through the roof. The other possibility is that Bolton doesn’t want to testify, and he’s just totally misreading things by hyping his book today. Even if the Senate doesn’t call him for the trial, it now seems a given that the House will subpoena him to testify sometime after the sham Senate trial finishes.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--Lindsey Graham may be finishing himself off

Every so often , political candidates have a moment at which it ’ s clear that they either lost or won the election – sometimes one that happens before the ballots are even counted .
For Walter Mondale when he ran for president , it was when his opponent , President Reagan made a snappy comeback about Mondale ’ s “ youth and inexperience ” after Reagan was pressed on the issue of his own age .
For Mitt Romney , it was his infamous 47 % remark that went viral , which his campaign was never quite able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have come for Lindsey Graham who ’ s going to be on the ballot with Donald Trump for re-election in November .
Still determined to play the role of Trump ’ s most fearless defender , regardless of how ridiculous it makes him look by the day , Graham announced : “ I really don ’ t want to turn the trial into a circus.
” Graham was referring to his own refusal to call witnesses – despite the fact that potentially new evidence needs to be reviewed before Graham and the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is completely unaware of the irony in what he ’ s saying .
A trial without witnesses is a show trial – as is one where they refuse to admit evidence .
The difference is that while at one time they thought they could make this go away without even hearing arguments , now Graham is trying to argue reasons for why the Senate needs to hurry up and vote , as the news gets uglier each day .
If John Bolton or Mick Mulvaney are ultimately pressured to testify – something that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even those who support Trump want to happen – it will be that much harder to declare Trump innocent .
Lindsey Graham is running out of excuses for not doing his job .
This is a quote you can expect to hear played in the next few months as congressional races heat up and people ask why Graham and other senators running for re-election failed to serve their constituents .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Every so often, political candidates have a moment at which it’s clear that they either lost or won the election – sometimes one that happens before the ballots are even counted. For Walter Mondale when he ran for president, it was when his opponent, President Reagan made a snappy comeback about Mondale’s “youth and inexperience” after Reagan was pressed on the issue of his own age. For Mitt Romney, it was his infamous 47% remark that went viral, which his campaign was never quite able to live down. Now the moment may have come for Lindsey Graham who’s going to be on the ballot with Donald Trump for re-election in November.
Still determined to play the role of Trump’s most fearless defender, regardless of how ridiculous it makes him look by the day, Graham announced: “I really don’t want to turn the trial into a circus.” Graham was referring to his own refusal to call witnesses – despite the fact that potentially new evidence needs to be reviewed before Graham and the other senators vote. Of course, Graham is completely unaware of the irony in what he’s saying.
A trial without witnesses is a show trial – as is one where they refuse to admit evidence. The difference is that while at one time they thought they could make this go away without even hearing arguments, now Graham is trying to argue reasons for why the Senate needs to hurry up and vote, as the news gets uglier each day. If John Bolton or Mick Mulvaney are ultimately pressured to testify – something that 70% of the American people, even those who support Trump want to happen – it will be that much harder to declare Trump innocent.
Lindsey Graham is running out of excuses for not doing his job. This is a quote you can expect to hear played in the next few months as congressional races heat up and people ask why Graham and other senators running for re-election failed to serve their constituents.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--Donald Trump goes off the violent deep end against Adam Schiff

This past week the media reported that Donald Trump had told Republican Senators he ’ d put their “ head on a pike ” if they sided against him in his impeachment trial .
This came even as a recording was released of Trump telling two known criminals to “ take her out ” in reference to U.S .
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
Now Trump has reached a new low today , posting this tweet about Respected Congressman Adam Schiff : “ Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN , and probably a very sick man .
He has not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what he has done to our Country !
” Donald Trump ’ s tweet , particularly within the context of his increasingly violent rhetoric , reads like a specific call to violence against Adam Schiff .
In fact , if anyone else were talking like Trump is now talking , they ’ d be getting a visit from law enforcement .
Considering the vast power of the office that Trump currently holds , and the murders that his allies and supporters have carried out ( from Jamal Khashoggi to Heather Heyer ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ custody .
This comes just days after Donald Trump ’ s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took an NPR reporter into a back room and began screaming and cursing at her , while vowing retaliation against her .
Trump and his people are completely losing it as his presidency unravels , and they ’ re only going to go further off the deep end as it all goes wrong for them .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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This past week the media reported that Donald Trump had told Republican Senators he’d put their “head on a pike” if they sided against him in his impeachment trial. This came even as a recording was released of Trump telling two known criminals to “take her out” in reference to U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch.
Now Trump has reached a new low today, posting this tweet about Respected Congressman Adam Schiff: “Shifty Adam Schiff is a CORRUPT POLITICIAN, and probably a very sick man. He has not paid the price, yet, for what he has done to our Country!”
Donald Trump’s tweet, particularly within the context of his increasingly violent rhetoric, reads like a specific call to violence against Adam Schiff. In fact, if anyone else were talking like Trump is now talking, they’d be getting a visit from law enforcement. Considering the vast power of the office that Trump currently holds, and the murders that his allies and supporters have carried out (from Jamal Khashoggi to Heather Heyer), law enforcement should be taking Trump into custody.
This comes just days after Donald Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo took an NPR reporter into a back room and began screaming and cursing at her, while vowing retaliation against her. Trump and his people are completely losing it as his presidency unravels, and they’re only going to go further off the deep end as it all goes wrong for them.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--Rudy Giuliani goes berserk on Fox news and gets into fight with Judge Jeanine Pirro

Rudy Giuliani has gone so embarrassingly and incoherently off the deep end , even most Fox News hosts won ’ t book him anymore .
It ’ s fitting that Judge Jeanine Pirro , arguably the most maniacal host on Fox , has been the one who ’ s continued to prop up Rudy throughout his downfall .
But that ’ s probably finished now , after what transpired last night .
Rudy Giuliani appeared Jeanine Pirro ’ s Saturday night Fox News show , and he insisted that he had evidence of some kind of whacked out phony Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right ?
But this time , for some reason , Pirro decided to ask him for the evidence .
Rudy responded by insisting that he ’ s already provided the evidence during his past Fox appearances .
That didn ’ t impress her .
So instead Rudy told Pirro to go check out an appearance he ’ d made on OANN , a Fox News rival that ’ s even more lunatic fringe .
Pirro ’ s response : “ No.
” Then Rudy began telling her to go watch his upcoming podcast @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that if she had a button that could have sent Rudy through a trap door , she ’ d have used it right then and there .
In other words , we ’ ve now reached the point where Rudy Giuliani is so far gone , he ’ s even worn out his welcome with the Fox News host who ’ s the furthest gone of the bunch .
Jeanine Pirro was clearly worried that Rudy ’ s lunacy would cost her credibility with her own audience , even though we assume her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MAGA hat over a tinfoil hat over a dunce cap .
That ’ s how bad of shape Rudy is in these days .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Rudy Giuliani has gone so embarrassingly and incoherently off the deep end, even most Fox News hosts won’t book him anymore. It’s fitting that Judge Jeanine Pirro, arguably the most maniacal host on Fox, has been the one who’s continued to prop up Rudy throughout his downfall. But that’s probably finished now, after what transpired last night.
Rudy Giuliani appeared Jeanine Pirro’s Saturday night Fox News show, and he insisted that he had evidence of some kind of whacked out phony Biden conspiracy. What else is new, right? But this time, for some reason, Pirro decided to ask him for the evidence. Rudy responded by insisting that he’s already provided the evidence during his past Fox appearances. That didn’t impress her.
So instead Rudy told Pirro to go check out an appearance he’d made on OANN, a Fox News rival that’s even more lunatic fringe. Pirro’s response: “No.” Then Rudy began telling her to go watch his upcoming podcast. The look on her face suggested that if she had a button that could have sent Rudy through a trap door, she’d have used it right then and there.
In other words, we’ve now reached the point where Rudy Giuliani is so far gone, he’s even worn out his welcome with the Fox News host who’s the furthest gone of the bunch. Jeanine Pirro was clearly worried that Rudy’s lunacy would cost her credibility with her own audience, even though we assume her audience consists mostly of people wearing a MAGA hat over a tinfoil hat over a dunce cap. That’s how bad of shape Rudy is in these days.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--Donald Trump goes off the hypocritical deep end

So weary are we all , those of us in the news media , those of us professionally engaged in government , those of us standing around on the sidelines staring open-mouthed at the undiluted hypocrisy of it all , that we sometimes miss the underlying patterns .
What , for example , does the impeachment trial of Donald Trump have to do with Trump being the first US president to attend and speak at the March for Life rally ?
Two things .
First , his appearance at the rally on Friday is all about getting reelected , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Ukraine was all about getting reelected .
Second , just as Trump doesn ’ t give a crap about Ukraine as a country , Trump doesn ’ t give a crap about abortion .
In fact , there is credible evidence to suggest that Trump has paid for 8 abortions for 8 different women .
Privately , I don ’ t doubt for a second that he ’ d pay for 8 more abortions if it were in his perceived best interest to do so .
He ’ d do it gladly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as nobody found out about it and it didn ’ t hurt his chances to get reelected .
The March for Life rally has existed as long as the landmark Roe v Wade decision has been in force , 47 years .
It was conceived as a Christian Right antidote to that Supreme Court decision .
That the Christian Right came to regard abortion as the sine qua non of Christian causes didn ’ t happen organically , but was force-fed to them by Christian Right founder , theologian and philosopher Francis Schaeffer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the father of the Christian Right , and it was he who first inculcated the whole notion that abortion isn ’ t just bad , it ’ s the single worst thing imaginable , the single most despicable thing that anyone can do – ever .
In theory anyway .
Like Schaeffer ’ s son Frank I am an escapee from that world and can see with – and I ’ ve been dying to say this in a double entendre sort of way for some time now – 2020 hindsight that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a bugbear .
Very few Christians actually give a crap about it .
To be sure , some do .
You can find loonies and True Believers in any movement , and the majority on the sidelines were and remain happy to let those fanatics represent them .
But the real question at its root is this : does the creation of the human soul ( whatever that is and assuming it exists ) happen at inception ?
The correct answer is : no one knows for sure .
The incorrect answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Depending on who you talk to .
For my part , I seem to have a “ me ” that is separate from my physical body .
But that might just be an illusion , or the result of years of habit using the English language , which has biased me to thinking about myself that way .
I just don ’ t know , and I am content not knowing .
I don ’ t feel the need to come down heavily on one side or the other , a useful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information .
But I do know this : when governments take away a woman ’ s right to make her own moral choice about the matter , far more evil comes from it than when they don ’ t .
So it ’ s a no-brainer .
Government should stay the hell out of the question , and leave the moral decision to the woman .
It ’ s particularly galling when a bunch of fusty old white men get together and make the decision to make abortion illegal again .
They make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world .
After all , it doesn ’ t apply to them .
They don ’ t have to worry about raising the kid .
In fact , they ’ ll make some more laws making it doubly hard for the woman to raise the kid , particularly if she is poor or brown or unmarried , or all three .
They ’ ll congratulate themselves with little anecdotes about all the possible little Beethovens they saved , and ignore the anecdotes about all the little Hitlers they also saved .
Besides , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a movement that derives its moral authority from voices in its head .
Pro-lifers generally leave the Bible out of it because there ’ s nothing in it that definitively forbids abortion .
Therefore the “ God told me ” bit is all they have , and I don ’ t know about you , but I need something a little more substantial than that .
I think passing laws based on voices in people ’ s heads is generally a bad idea .
So the people at the rally had this to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ” and “ we love you.
” I ’ m not saying that belief that abortion is bad because of voices in the head and being a supporter of Donald Trump are somehow connected .
I just can ’ t think of another explanation .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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So weary are we all, those of us in the news media, those of us professionally engaged in government, those of us standing around on the sidelines staring open-mouthed at the undiluted hypocrisy of it all, that we sometimes miss the underlying patterns. What, for example, does the impeachment trial of Donald Trump have to do with Trump being the first US president to attend and speak at the March for Life rally? Two things. First, his appearance at the rally on Friday is all about getting reelected, just as his illegal engagement with the president of Ukraine was all about getting reelected. Second, just as Trump doesn’t give a crap about Ukraine as a country, Trump doesn’t give a crap about abortion. In fact, there is credible evidence to suggest that Trump has paid for 8 abortions for 8 different women. Privately, I don’t doubt for a second that he’d pay for 8 more abortions if it were in his perceived best interest to do so. He’d do it gladly and without hesitation, just as long as nobody found out about it and it didn’t hurt his chances to get reelected.
The March for Life rally has existed as long as the landmark Roe v Wade decision has been in force, 47 years. It was conceived as a Christian Right antidote to that Supreme Court decision. That the Christian Right came to regard abortion as the sine qua non of Christian causes didn’t happen organically, but was force-fed to them by Christian Right founder, theologian and philosopher Francis Schaeffer.
Schaeffer was, as I say, the father of the Christian Right, and it was he who first inculcated the whole notion that abortion isn’t just bad, it’s the single worst thing imaginable, the single most despicable thing that anyone can do – ever. In theory anyway. Like Schaeffer’s son Frank I am an escapee from that world and can see with – and I’ve been dying to say this in a double entendre sort of way for some time now – 2020 hindsight that the whole abortion bugbear is just that, a bugbear. Very few Christians actually give a crap about it. To be sure, some do. You can find loonies and True Believers in any movement, and the majority on the sidelines were and remain happy to let those fanatics represent them.
But the real question at its root is this: does the creation of the human soul (whatever that is and assuming it exists) happen at inception? The correct answer is: no one knows for sure. The incorrect answer is: Yes! Or: No! Depending on who you talk to. For my part, I seem to have a “me” that is separate from my physical body. But that might just be an illusion, or the result of years of habit using the English language, which has biased me to thinking about myself that way. I just don’t know, and I am content not knowing. I don’t feel the need to come down heavily on one side or the other, a useful way to feel when one lacks sufficient information.
But I do know this: when governments take away a woman’s right to make her own moral choice about the matter, far more evil comes from it than when they don’t. So it’s a no-brainer. Government should stay the hell out of the question, and leave the moral decision to the woman.
It’s particularly galling when a bunch of fusty old white men get together and make the decision to make abortion illegal again. They make the decision without a care in the world. After all, it doesn’t apply to them. They don’t have to worry about raising the kid. In fact, they’ll make some more laws making it doubly hard for the woman to raise the kid, particularly if she is poor or brown or unmarried, or all three. They’ll congratulate themselves with little anecdotes about all the possible little Beethovens they saved, and ignore the anecdotes about all the little Hitlers they also saved.
Besides, it’s hard to take seriously a movement that derives its moral authority from voices in its head. Pro-lifers generally leave the Bible out of it because there’s nothing in it that definitively forbids abortion. Therefore the “God told me” bit is all they have, and I don’t know about you, but I need something a little more substantial than that. I think passing laws based on voices in people’s heads is generally a bad idea.
So the people at the rally had this to say to Trump: “four more years” and “we love you.” I’m not saying that belief that abortion is bad because of voices in the head and being a supporter of Donald Trump are somehow connected. I just can’t think of another explanation.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.


palmerreport--2020-01-26--Nancy Pelosi just gambled and won

Nancy Pelosi just gambled and won

Given the haphazard and slightly mis-timed manner in which it came to fruition , it ’ s highly doubtful that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats knew that a tape of Donald Trump telling Lev and Igor to “ take her out ” was going to leak to the media .
If Pelosi had this recording up her sleeve , it would have been employed by the House managers during their impeachment trial presentation .
That said , this leaked tape is the kind of development that Nancy Pelosi was betting on .
She held onto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as she could ( until the media finally started trying to use it against her ) , knowing that the extra time would allow for Donald Trump ’ s Ukraine scandal to further unravel on several fronts .
In that time we ’ ve seen Lev Parnas release damning evidence against Trump .
We ’ ve seen John Bolton publicly offer to testify .
Now we ’ ve got someone , who may or may not be Igor , but who is definitely not Lev , leaking this recording of Trump .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others , and some of them may not go anywhere .
But the point is that things keep surfacing , and they ’ re going to keep surfacing .
If Pelosi hadn ’ t waited , the trial would be over by now , and Trump would be crowing about his sham acquittal before any of this could come out .
The kicker is that once the Senate Republicans stake themselves to acquitting Donald Trump , even more evidence will keep surfacing which proves his guilt .
At that point the House can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or may not center around new articles of impeachment , and new witnesses and evidence can be put on display for all to see .
It ’ ll further harm Trump ’ s 2020 chances , which is the name of the game .
And it ’ ll harm the GOP ’ s chances of keeping the Senate in 2020 , because the idiots will have acquitted Trump while he ’ s going to be increasingly seen as being guilty by the public .
No one in politics has a magic wand , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she ’ s winning .

Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support Palmer Report's 2024 efforts by donating now.
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Given the haphazard and slightly mis-timed manner in which it came to fruition, it’s highly doubtful that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the House Democrats knew that a tape of Donald Trump telling Lev and Igor to “take her out” was going to leak to the media. If Pelosi had this recording up her sleeve, it would have been employed by the House managers during their impeachment trial presentation.
That said, this leaked tape is the kind of development that Nancy Pelosi was betting on. She held onto the articles of impeachment for as long as she could (until the media finally started trying to use it against her), knowing that the extra time would allow for Donald Trump’s Ukraine scandal to further unravel on several fronts.
In that time we’ve seen Lev Parnas release damning evidence against Trump. We’ve seen John Bolton publicly offer to testify. Now we’ve got someone, who may or may not be Igor, but who is definitely not Lev, leaking this recording of Trump. Some of these are more meaningful wins than others, and some of them may not go anywhere. But the point is that things keep surfacing, and they’re going to keep surfacing. If Pelosi hadn’t waited, the trial would be over by now, and Trump would be crowing about his sham acquittal before any of this could come out.
The kicker is that once the Senate Republicans stake themselves to acquitting Donald Trump, even more evidence will keep surfacing which proves his guilt. At that point the House can launch new investigative hearings, which may or may not center around new articles of impeachment, and new witnesses and evidence can be put on display for all to see. It’ll further harm Trump’s 2020 chances, which is the name of the game. And it’ll harm the GOP’s chances of keeping the Senate in 2020, because the idiots will have acquitted Trump while he’s going to be increasingly seen as being guilty by the public. No one in politics has a magic wand, but Pelosi played the odds, and she’s winning.
Important note: Palmer Report has led the way in political analysis. Now we're gearing up to cover the 2024 election, up and down the ballot. Help support our 2024 efforts by donating now or sign up for our free mailing list.