palmerreport--2020-01-22--The real reason Donald Trump isn’t invoking executive privilege in his impeachment trial

The authority of the Congress is not and should not be subject to the approval of the president .
Were it otherwise , then the powers enjoyed by Congress would be meaningless .
Indeed , checks and balances inherent in the separation of powers would cease to exist .
Above all , the power – or as it says in the Constitution , the sole power – of impeachment in Congress and of trial in the Senate would be an illusion .
To believe the defenders of Donald Trump is to believe the bad faith representation that these separations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump is correct when he says that Article Two of the Constitution means he is free to do as he pleases .
When the authority of Congress is subject to the approval of the president , America ceases to be a Republic and at once becomes a dictatorship .
The fiction of a balancing political body has been a favored trick of autocrats for centuries .
Hitler had his Reichstag , Stalin had his politburo , General Secretary Xi has his National People ’ s Congress .
But in the final analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and these rubber-stamping institutions are seen for what they are , toadies for the real power behind the obfuscating curtain , we are left with nothing less than the full apparatus of totalitarianism .
No one paying attention is fooled about who is really in charge .
So , every time a United States Senator voluntarily cedes the power of the Legislative Branch to Donald Trump , she or he is telling the American people that they no longer want a Republic , they want a Trumpian dictatorship .
That is what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party , and Party , in turn , above the welfare of the American people .
That is the dangerous territory America occupies today .
That is what is at the core of what the Trump defenders mean by “ executive privilege.
” They would have you believe that it is executive privilege they are defending when they refuse to turn over documents or allow witnesses to testify at the impeachment trial of Donald Trump .
That is what they mean when they say such compliance would violate presidential executive privilege and that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the presidency as defined by the Constitution .
But it is with cunning sleight-of-hand that they refer to this violation of a privilege that has never once been invoked .
Let me say that again .
The angry assertion of Pat Cipollone , White House Counsel for the president , that Donald Trump is being impeached for invoking executive privilege , is a lie .
Cippillone ’ s indignant insistence that Trump ’ s use of executive privilege is not Obstruction of Congress and that he is therefore being impeached for the exercise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lie .
Donald Trump has never invoked executive privilege .
Not once .
In his rebuttal remarks Adam Schiff makes this clear when he says , “ Not once , during the house investigation , did they ever say that a single document was privileged or a single witness had something privileged to say .
And why didn ’ t they invoke privilege , why only now , and even now they haven ’ t quite invoked it , why only now , why not in the House ?
Because in order to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re good lawyers – you have to specify which document , which line , which conversation , and they didn ’ t want to do that because to do that the president would have to reveal the evidence of his guilt.
” Meanwhile , Republicans insist that these issues touching on releasing documents and allowing witnesses to testify should be fought out in the courts , at the same time that Trump lawyers are in court insisting that the courts are no place to contend these issues .
It is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over and over until some begin to believe it .
The fiction that a right that Donald Trump has not even invoked is somehow being violated is too subtle for the tiny brains of the typical low-information Trump idolater to process let alone see through , and will continue to be advanced in bad faith by his unscrupulous , cynical defense counselors .

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 authority of the Congress is not and should not be subject to the approval of the president. Were it otherwise, then the powers enjoyed by Congress would be meaningless. Indeed, checks and balances inherent in the separation of powers would cease to exist. Above all, the power – or as it says in the Constitution, the sole power – of impeachment in Congress and of trial in the Senate would be an illusion. To believe the defenders of Donald Trump is to believe the bad faith representation that these separations of powers are themselves unconstitutional, and that Donald Trump is correct when he says that Article Two of the Constitution means he is free to do as he pleases.
When the authority of Congress is subject to the approval of the president, America ceases to be a Republic and at once becomes a dictatorship. The fiction of a balancing political body has been a favored trick of autocrats for centuries. Hitler had his Reichstag, Stalin had his politburo, General Secretary Xi has his National People’s Congress. But in the final analysis, when the illusion is stripped away and these rubber-stamping institutions are seen for what they are, toadies for the real power behind the obfuscating curtain, we are left with nothing less than the full apparatus of totalitarianism. No one paying attention is fooled about who is really in charge.
So, every time a United States Senator voluntarily cedes the power of the Legislative Branch to Donald Trump, she or he is telling the American people that they no longer want a Republic, they want a Trumpian dictatorship. That is what they really mean when they place Trump above Party, and Party, in turn, above the welfare of the American people. That is the dangerous territory America occupies today.
That is what is at the core of what the Trump defenders mean by “executive privilege.” They would have you believe that it is executive privilege they are defending when they refuse to turn over documents or allow witnesses to testify at the impeachment trial of Donald Trump. That is what they mean when they say such compliance would violate presidential executive privilege and that it therefore endangers the inherent powers of the presidency as defined by the Constitution.
But it is with cunning sleight-of-hand that they refer to this violation of a privilege that has never once been invoked. Let me say that again. The angry assertion of Pat Cipollone, White House Counsel for the president, that Donald Trump is being impeached for invoking executive privilege, is a lie. Cippillone’s indignant insistence that Trump’s use of executive privilege is not Obstruction of Congress and that he is therefore being impeached for the exercise of a Constitutionally-provisioned presidential privilege is a lie. Donald Trump has never invoked executive privilege. Not once.
In his rebuttal remarks Adam Schiff makes this clear when he says, “Not once, during the house investigation, did they ever say that a single document was privileged or a single witness had something privileged to say. And why didn’t they invoke privilege, why only now, and even now they haven’t quite invoked it, why only now, why not in the House? Because in order to claim privilege – as they know because they’re good lawyers – you have to specify which document, which line, which conversation, and they didn’t want to do that because to do that the president would have to reveal the evidence of his guilt.”
Meanwhile, Republicans insist that these issues touching on releasing documents and allowing witnesses to testify should be fought out in the courts, at the same time that Trump lawyers are in court insisting that the courts are no place to contend these issues. It is a classic double bluff, a lie told over and over until some begin to believe it. The fiction that a right that Donald Trump has not even invoked is somehow being violated is too subtle for the tiny brains of the typical low-information Trump idolater to process let alone see through, and will continue to be advanced in bad faith by his unscrupulous, cynical defense counselors.
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.


MIDNIGHT MADNESS

On the first day of Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial , Mitch McConnell lost his gambit to force the defense and prosecution to squeeze their cases into twelve hour days , which would have run past midnight , and would thus have been difficult to watch for the average American sitting at home .
Then , as the day ’ s procedural moves went on , it was the Democrats who turned McConnell ’ s midnight madness strategy against him .
Right around midnight eastern time , Senators were voting on the seventh amendment to the impeachment trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats .
It failed along party lines , just like the six amendments that had been voted on before it .
None of these amendments , introduced in the name of making the trial more fair and legitimate , were going to pass .
But the Democrats just kept bringing them , and in the process , they kept making the case for what a sham of a trial the Republicans want this trial to be .
Believe it or not , this matters .
The polling averages show that around 50 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and remove Donald Trump , while around 70 % of Americans want the Senate to call witnesses and hold a fair trial .
That means roughly 20 % of Americans haven ’ t decided that they want Trump ousted , but have decided that they need to hear more from the people involved in his scandals before making up their minds about Trump ’ s fate .
The Democrats made a loud and clear argument last night to those 20 % of Americans whose opinions are up for grabs in this trial .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ re trying to force a legitimate trial , and it ’ s Donald Trump ’ s Republican Party that ’ s stopping a fair trial from happening .
This puts pressure on the most vulnerable Senate Republicans to cave next week and allow for witnesses against Trump , for fear they ’ ll lose their own seats .
And if they don ’ t cave , voters will indeed punish them ( and Trump ) for it .
This is no-win territory for Trump and the GOP .

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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On the first day of Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial, Mitch McConnell lost his gambit to force the defense and prosecution to squeeze their cases into twelve hour days, which would have run past midnight, and would thus have been difficult to watch for the average American sitting at home. Then, as the day’s procedural moves went on, it was the Democrats who turned McConnell’s midnight madness strategy against him.
Right around midnight eastern time, Senators were voting on the seventh amendment to the impeachment trial proceedings that had been proposed by the Democrats. It failed along party lines, just like the six amendments that had been voted on before it. None of these amendments, introduced in the name of making the trial more fair and legitimate, were going to pass. But the Democrats just kept bringing them, and in the process, they kept making the case for what a sham of a trial the Republicans want this trial to be.
Believe it or not, this matters. The polling averages show that around 50% of Americans want the Senate to convict and remove Donald Trump, while around 70% of Americans want the Senate to call witnesses and hold a fair trial. That means roughly 20% of Americans haven’t decided that they want Trump ousted, but have decided that they need to hear more from the people involved in his scandals before making up their minds about Trump’s fate.
The Democrats made a loud and clear argument last night to those 20% of Americans whose opinions are up for grabs in this trial. The Democrats made clear that they’re trying to force a legitimate trial, and it’s Donald Trump’s Republican Party that’s stopping a fair trial from happening. This puts pressure on the most vulnerable Senate Republicans to cave next week and allow for witnesses against Trump, for fear they’ll lose their own seats. And if they don’t cave, voters will indeed punish them (and Trump) for it. This is no-win territory for Trump and the GOP.
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--2020-01-24--Donald Trump just got hit with some bad news

We ’ re now on Day Three of Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial , and some things are becoming very clear .
First , Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers are putting on a devastating prosecution that could help convince fence-sitters and low-information nonpartisan viewers of Trump ’ s guilt .
Second , some Republican Senators just don ’ t care , and are going out of their way to thumb their noses at the impeachment process .
But even as these two competing narratives are playing out rather loudly , a much quieter third storyline may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve already seen a group of vulnerable Republican Senators force Mitch McConnell to change the trial rules , behind the scenes , in the twenty-four hour period between when he introduced them and when he held a vote on them .
These GOP Senators , who worry that participating in a sham trial could end up costing them their own seats , are clearly nervous about where this is headed .
Will these holdout Republican Senators end up voting next week to call witnesses against Donald Trump ?
Only if they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s best for their own careers .
Right now they ’ re quietly looking at the media coverage of the trial each day , and more importantly , the poll numbers about the trial .
That ’ s why it ’ s such a big deal that various major polling outlets now say that between 68 % and 80 % of Americans want witnesses to be called during this trial .
Not only are those numbers exceedingly high , they ’ re growing .
None of the Republican Senators are to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing strong odds of losing their reelection bids in 2020 .
Now they ’ re facing the reality that as many as 80 % of voters are expecting witnesses to be called .
Some of them will have to seriously think twice about whether it ’ s wise to be on the wrong side of that .
Even if the Senate Republicans acquit Donald Trump after having witnesses like John Bolton publicly testify against him , it ’ ll still be devastating for Trump .
With poll numbers rapidly rising in favor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holdout Senators surely getting even more nervous about a sham trial , this can only be seen as bad news for 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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We’re now on Day Three of Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial, and some things are becoming very clear. First, Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers are putting on a devastating prosecution that could help convince fence-sitters and low-information nonpartisan viewers of Trump’s guilt. Second, some Republican Senators just don’t care, and are going out of their way to thumb their noses at the impeachment process.
But even as these two competing narratives are playing out rather loudly, a much quieter third storyline may be the one that matters most. We’ve already seen a group of vulnerable Republican Senators force Mitch McConnell to change the trial rules, behind the scenes, in the twenty-four hour period between when he introduced them and when he held a vote on them. These GOP Senators, who worry that participating in a sham trial could end up costing them their own seats, are clearly nervous about where this is headed.
Will these holdout Republican Senators end up voting next week to call witnesses against Donald Trump? Only if they selfishly conclude that it’s what’s best for their own careers. Right now they’re quietly looking at the media coverage of the trial each day, and more importantly, the poll numbers about the trial. That’s why it’s such a big deal that various major polling outlets now say that between 68% and 80% of Americans want witnesses to be called during this trial.
Not only are those numbers exceedingly high, they’re growing. None of the Republican Senators are to be trusted. But some of them are facing strong odds of losing their reelection bids in 2020. Now they’re facing the reality that as many as 80% of voters are expecting witnesses to be called. Some of them will have to seriously think twice about whether it’s wise to be on the wrong side of that.
Even if the Senate Republicans acquit Donald Trump after having witnesses like John Bolton publicly testify against him, it’ll still be devastating for Trump. With poll numbers rapidly rising in favor of calling witnesses, and the already-nervous GOP holdout Senators surely getting even more nervous about a sham trial, this can only be seen as bad news for 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--2020-01-23--Adam Schiff just nailed it

Adam Schiff just nailed it

Perhaps you know the old lightbulb joke , how does Bill Gates change a lightbulb ?
He doesn ’ t , he simply declares darkness the new standard .
In that tradition I give you the Republican White House defense of Donald Trump at his Senate impeachment trial .
Despite Republican efforts to conceal the majority of the evidence of Donald Trump ’ s abuse of presidential powers , the evidence that has been obtained in documents and previously deposed testimony is so compelling and so inculpitating that it became essential for them to declare that abuse of power is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and therefore not impeachable .
In other words , Senate Republicans have declared darkness the new standard .
They could find no Constitutional scholars to participate with them in this fiction of legal legerdemain , so they enlisted instead America ’ s most famous ( and fame hungry ) criminal appellate lawyer , Alan Dershowitz , to concoct a workable lie for them .
That lie comes in the form of brazen repudiation of the words of Alexander Hamilton .
Dershowitz has , in effect , said sorry , Al , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offense after all .
Not so fast , says the incomparable Adam Schiff .
In a virtuoso two hour and twenty minute speech , Congressman Schiff enunciated the prosecution ’ s brief in language both persuasive and shatteringly logical .
I ’ ve neither the space nor the disposition to cover the vast depth of House Manager Schiff ’ s brief .
Nothing but the original could do it justice .
You may find the whole thing on YouTube and , if you haven ’ t heard it , I encourage you to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single insight in the middle of his speech that exposed the essential hypocrisy of the Republican position .
One oft repeated talking point of Trump ’ s defense , used to rehabilitate his treacherous actions ( whether impeachable or not ) , is that Trump was merely holding back the Ukrainian aid because he was concerned about Ukrainian corruption , and that the European Union wasn ’ t contributing its fair share in economic support to Ukraine .
“ There ’ s something else remarkable about this , ” Congressman Schiff said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as we were going through the importance of the witness testimony , and looking at some of those redacted emails in which the administration sought to hide some of its misconduct … We see there ’ s a desire not to let people see about this hold [ on the Congressionally approved Ukrainian aid . ]
If the president was fighting corruption , if he wanted Europeans to pay more , why would he hide it from us ?
Why would he hide it from the Ukrainians , why would he hide it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If this was a desire to see Europe pay more , why didn ’ t he charge [ ambassador to the European Union Gordon ] Sondland to ask Europe to pay more ?
Why wouldn ’ t he be proud to tell the Congress of the United States ‘ I ’ m holding up this aid , and I ’ m holding it up because I ’ m worried about corruption !
’ Why wouldn ’ t he ?
Because of course it wasn ’ t true !
” In order to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to believe in a modest Trump who eschews praise and does good deeds deliberately under the radar in order to avoid distracting with personal credit .
Yep , that sounds just like Donald Trump , doesn ’ t it ?
Never before has the expression “ straining at gnats and swallowing camels ” been more applicable than it has been of late to the Republicans defending the indefensible Donald Trump .
As Schiff puts it in his speech , “ So much of the last three years has been a combination of shock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear so terrified of Trump that there is no low too low for them .
They will even let Trump endanger America ’ s strategic defense against the Russians in Europe in order to protect him .
By doing so they betray America ’ s long tradition of defending freedom worldwide .
“ That ’ s what America is about , right , defending freedom ?
” Adam Schiff reminds them , “ Not exporting corrupt ideas .
That ’ s what we ’ re supposed to be about , right ?
” @ @ @ @ @ @

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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Perhaps you know the old lightbulb joke, how does Bill Gates change a lightbulb? He doesn’t, he simply declares darkness the new standard. In that tradition I give you the Republican White House defense of Donald Trump at his Senate impeachment trial. Despite Republican efforts to conceal the majority of the evidence of Donald Trump’s abuse of presidential powers, the evidence that has been obtained in documents and previously deposed testimony is so compelling and so inculpating that it became essential for them to declare that abuse of power is not, in fact, a crime, and therefore not impeachable. In other words, Senate Republicans have declared darkness the new standard.
They could find no Constitutional scholars to participate with them in this fiction of legal legerdemain, so they enlisted instead America’s most famous (and fame hungry) criminal appellate lawyer, Alan Dershowitz, to concoct a workable lie for them. That lie comes in the form of brazen repudiation of the words of Alexander Hamilton. Dershowitz has, in effect, said sorry, Al, but abuse of power is not an impeachable offense after all.
Not so fast, says the incomparable Adam Schiff. In a virtuoso two hour and twenty minute speech, Congressman Schiff enunciated the prosecution’s brief in language both persuasive and shatteringly logical. I’ve neither the space nor the disposition to cover the vast depth of House Manager Schiff’s brief. Nothing but the original could do it justice. You may find the whole thing on YouTube and, if you haven’t heard it, I encourage you to do so.
But it was a single insight in the middle of his speech that exposed the essential hypocrisy of the Republican position. One oft repeated talking point of Trump’s defense, used to rehabilitate his treacherous actions (whether impeachable or not), is that Trump was merely holding back the Ukrainian aid because he was concerned about Ukrainian corruption, and that the European Union wasn’t contributing its fair share in economic support to Ukraine.
“There’s something else remarkable about this,” Congressman Schiff said, “that I was struck by yesterday as we were going through the importance of the witness testimony, and looking at some of those redacted emails in which the administration sought to hide some of its misconduct … We see there’s a desire not to let people see about this hold [on the Congressionally approved Ukrainian aid.] If the president was fighting corruption, if he wanted Europeans to pay more, why would he hide it from us? Why would he hide it from the Ukrainians, why would he hide it from the rest of the world? If this was a desire to see Europe pay more, why didn’t he charge [ambassador to the European Union Gordon] Sondland to ask Europe to pay more? Why wouldn’t he be proud to tell the Congress of the United States ‘I’m holding up this aid, and I’m holding it up because I’m worried about corruption!’ Why wouldn’t he? Because of course it wasn’t true!”
In order to believe such a thing, we would have to believe in a modest Trump who eschews praise and does good deeds deliberately under the radar in order to avoid distracting with personal credit. Yep, that sounds just like Donald Trump, doesn’t it?
Never before has the expression “straining at gnats and swallowing camels” been more applicable than it has been of late to the Republicans defending the indefensible Donald Trump. As Schiff puts it in his speech, “So much of the last three years has been a combination of shock and yet no surprise.” The Republicans appear so terrified of Trump that there is no low too low for them. They will even let Trump endanger America’s strategic defense against the Russians in Europe in order to protect him. By doing so they betray America’s long tradition of defending freedom worldwide. “That’s what America is about, right, defending freedom?” Adam Schiff reminds them, “Not exporting corrupt ideas. That’s what we’re supposed to be about, right?” Not any more, apparently.
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--2020-01-23--Prince Charles just stuck it to Mike Pence

The World Economic Forum in Davos is already off to a terrible start for the United States .
Donald Trump gave such a terrible , rambling , incoherent , idiotic speech yesterday , one German political leader ended up calling it “ The worst speech I ’ ve ever heard in my life.
” Now Mike Pence is stepping to the plate at Davos , and let ’ s just say that he ’ s feeling a bit lonely .
Video footage clearly shows Prince Charles walking down a row and shaking hands with multiple world leaders , but in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence and then skipping over him .
Pence then reaches out and pats the Prince on the back as he walks away , in an apparent effort to save face .
Watch the video : Mike Pence ’ s team is insisting that there ’ s a different context to what happened here .
They ’ re saying that because Prince Charles and Pence had already spoken privately backstage , the Prince simply saw no need to embrace Pence again while walking down the row of people in public .
But let ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s been doing these kinds of diplomatic events in the public eye his entire life .
He knows what it looks like when he skips over someone in a row of handshakes while the TV cameras are watching – particularly someone as controversial and unpopular as Mike Pence .
Charles surely knew what he was doing .

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 World Economic Forum in Davos is already off to a terrible start for the United States. Donald Trump gave such a terrible, rambling, incoherent, idiotic speech yesterday, one German political leader ended up calling it “The worst speech I’ve ever heard in my life.” Now Mike Pence is stepping to the plate at Davos, and let’s just say that he’s feeling a bit lonely.
Video footage clearly shows Prince Charles walking down a row and shaking hands with multiple world leaders, but in the process taking one look at Mike Pence and then skipping over him. Pence then reaches out and pats the Prince on the back as he walks away, in an apparent effort to save face. Watch the video:
Prince Charles showing us the proper way to greet a fascist like Mike Pence!🔥pic.twitter.com/sxoc8YShnr — Ryan Knight ☭🕊 (@ProudSocialist) January 23, 2020
Mike Pence’s team is insisting that there’s a different context to what happened here. They’re saying that because Prince Charles and Pence had already spoken privately backstage, the Prince simply saw no need to embrace Pence again while walking down the row of people in public. But let’s give the Prince some credit. He’s been doing these kinds of diplomatic events in the public eye his entire life. He knows what it looks like when he skips over someone in a row of handshakes while the TV cameras are watching – particularly someone as controversial and unpopular as Mike Pence. Charles surely knew what he was doing.
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--2020-01-23--Saudi Arabia’s hacking of Jeff Bezos’ phone is even uglier than we thought

As all eyes were – quite understandably – on the floor of the U.S. Senate where the impeachment of Donald Trump is being tried , the Guardian and the Financial Times broke the news that two U.N. experts issued a report asserting that Jeff Bezos ’ cellphone was hacked in 2018 , using a WhatsApp account belonging to Mohammed bin Salman , the Saudi crown prince .
According to the U.N. special rapporteurs , the hacking appears to have been part of an effort to “ influence , if not silence ” the Washington Post ’ s critical reporting on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ large part by the Post ’ s columnist Jamal Khashoggi , who was subsequently murdered and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey .
The new findings that were published on Tuesday are based on a careful forensic analysis of WaPo owner and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos ’ phone which personally links MBS to the hack : “ Mr .
Bezos was subjected to intrusive surveillance via hacking of his phone as a result of actions attributable to the WhatsApp account used by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
” After meeting at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Saudi crown prince had been exchanging messages via WhatsApp for a while when in May of 2018 the Amazon CEO received a video file from MBS which appears to have been spiked with malware .
Opening the video file allegedly triggered what the report describes as “ a massive and unauthorized exfiltration of data from Bezos ’ phone , [ … ] continuing and escalating for months.
” On November 8 , 2018 , Jeff Bezos then received a somewhat cryptic meme from bin Salman ’ s WhatsApp account which strongly suggested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal information that could only be obtained by accessing private texts and images stored on Bezos ’ phone .
All this took place some time before Jeff Bezos made headlines by blowing the lid off an attempt by AMI – the owner of the National Enquirer – to blackmail him with texts and photographs that showed him engaged in an extramarital affair .
Rather than letting himself be blackmailed into silence , the powerful CEO hired security consultant Gavin de Becker to explore how the tabloid magazine had gained access to the compromising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Becker came to the conclusion that the Saudi government had obtained access to Mr. Bezos ’ cellphone .
These findings were presented by Mr. de Becker in an op-ed in The Daily Beast , but for some reason the story then fizzled out without ever becoming front-page news , despite its rather explosive nature and its ominous implications .
Now , the cyber attack on a prominent U.S. citizen by the de facto leader of another nation has garnered the attention of the United Nations , and Saudi Arabia is forced to publicly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Saudi embassy in the U.S. has already tweeted a denial of the allegations : “ Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos ’ phone are absurd .
We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out.
” It is not entirely clear whom the Saudis would like to charge with the investigation they are calling for in this tweet – a team of investigators handpicked by Mohammed bin Salman perhaps ?
From the point of view @ @ @ @ @ @ @ implicated in the illegal surveillance of Jeff Bezos ’ cellphone or the murder of former Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi – which may very well be connected to the hack in some shape or form – it would seem very desirable to see some light being shed on the dark , tangled web that seems to exist below the surface .

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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As all eyes were – quite understandably – on the floor of the U.S. Senate where the impeachment of Donald Trump is being tried, the Guardian and the Financial Times broke the news that two U.N. experts issued a report asserting that Jeff Bezos’ cellphone was hacked in 2018, using a WhatsApp account belonging to Mohammed bin Salman, the Saudi crown prince. According to the U.N. special rapporteurs, the hacking appears to have been part of an effort to “influence, if not silence” the Washington Post’s critical reporting on the Kingdom, which was done in large part by the Post’s columnist Jamal Khashoggi, who was subsequently murdered and dismembered inside the Saudi consulate in Turkey.
The new findings that were published on Tuesday are based on a careful forensic analysis of WaPo owner and Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ phone which personally links MBS to the hack: “Mr. Bezos was subjected to intrusive surveillance via hacking of his phone as a result of actions attributable to the WhatsApp account used by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.” After meeting at a dinner in Los Angeles, Bezos and the Saudi crown prince had been exchanging messages via WhatsApp for a while when in May of 2018 the Amazon CEO received a video file from MBS which appears to have been spiked with malware. Opening the video file allegedly triggered what the report describes as “a massive and unauthorized exfiltration of data from Bezos’ phone, [ … ] continuing and escalating for months.” On November 8, 2018, Jeff Bezos then received a somewhat cryptic meme from bin Salman’s WhatsApp account which strongly suggested that the prince was in possession of personal information that could only be obtained by accessing private texts and images stored on Bezos’ phone.
All this took place some time before Jeff Bezos made headlines by blowing the lid off an attempt by AMI – the owner of the National Enquirer – to blackmail him with texts and photographs that showed him engaged in an extramarital affair. Rather than letting himself be blackmailed into silence, the powerful CEO hired security consultant Gavin de Becker to explore how the tabloid magazine had gained access to the compromising material. The investigation conducted by de Becker came to the conclusion that the Saudi government had obtained access to Mr. Bezos’ cellphone. These findings were presented by Mr. de Becker in an op-ed in The Daily Beast, but for some reason the story then fizzled out without ever becoming front-page news, despite its rather explosive nature and its ominous implications.
Now, the cyber attack on a prominent U.S. citizen by the de facto leader of another nation has garnered the attention of the United Nations, and Saudi Arabia is forced to publicly address the issue. In response, the Saudi embassy in the U.S. has already tweeted a denial of the allegations: “Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos’ phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out.” It is not entirely clear whom the Saudis would like to charge with the investigation they are calling for in this tweet – a team of investigators handpicked by Mohammed bin Salman perhaps?
From the point of view of anyone not either benefitting from or implicated in the illegal surveillance of Jeff Bezos’ cellphone or the murder of former Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi – which may very well be connected to the hack in some shape or form – it would seem very desirable to see some light being shed on the dark, tangled web that seems to exist below the surface.
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palmerreport--2020-01-23--Our house is still on fire

Our house is still on fire

Two of the smartest humans on the planet are both women and are , in age , about sixty years apart .
First there is the highest ranking woman official in American history , Nancy Pelosi , age 79 , Speaker of the House of Representatives .
She is the force majeure behind the impeachment of Donald Trump , and is doing her part to keep the planet safe from his destructive evil .
The second is climate activist and 2019 Time Magazine Person of the Year Greta Thunberg , age 17 , who is doing her part to keep @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the Madam Speaker was ably and cannily expounding upon her quest on “ Real Time with Bill Maher , ” Greta was at the World Economic Forum ( WEF ) in Davos , Switzerland , addressing the usual suspects of occasionally well-meaning but slow-moving and slow-witted billionaires and world leaders .
That this remarkable young woman has detractors at all is a testament to how effective she is as an activist and speaker , and how repellent they are as human beings .
Hers is the wisdom , intellect and eloquence of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years .
She frightens people with the truth .
The dumber Greta ’ s detractors are , the more frightened of her they become .
Having learned from Drs .
Dunning and Kruger all we need to about how people of lesser ability negotiate their inherent inferiority , it ought to surprise no one that they blame Greta for it , when instead they should blame themselves and people like them for allowing us to get in the mess we are in .
Ms. Thunberg began her remarkable speech by reminding everyone that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had warned everyone that our house is on fire .
“ I said I wanted you to panic .
I have been warned that telling people to panic about the climate crisis is a very dangerous thing to do .
But don ’ t worry , it ’ s fine .
Trust me , I ’ ve done this sort of thing before .
It doesn ’ t lead to anything.
” I understand what she means from a little bit of personal experience .
On a much smaller stage I try to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want to hear it .
It ’ s not the quickest way to win a popularity contest .
But my personal insistence on painting pictures of doom impels me to do it .

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Two of the smartest humans on the planet are both women and are, in age, about sixty years apart. First there is the highest ranking woman official in American history, Nancy Pelosi, age 79, Speaker of the House of Representatives. She is the force majeure behind the impeachment of Donald Trump, and is doing her part to keep the planet safe from his destructive evil. The second is climate activist and 2019 Time Magazine Person of the Year Greta Thunberg, age 17, who is doing her part to keep the planet safe from everyone else.
While the Madam Speaker was ably and cannily expounding upon her quest on “Real Time with Bill Maher,” Greta was at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland, addressing the usual suspects of occasionally well-meaning but slow-moving and slow-witted billionaires and world leaders.
That this remarkable young woman has detractors at all is a testament to how effective she is as an activist and speaker, and how repellent they are as human beings. Hers is the wisdom, intellect and eloquence of a gifted and educated woman of middle years. She frightens people with the truth. The dumber Greta’s detractors are, the more frightened of her they become. Having learned from Drs. Dunning and Kruger all we need to about how people of lesser ability negotiate their inherent inferiority, it ought to surprise no one that they blame Greta for it, when instead they should blame themselves and people like them for allowing us to get in the mess we are in.
Ms. Thunberg began her remarkable speech by reminding everyone that when she last came to Davos she had warned everyone that our house is on fire. “I said I wanted you to panic. I have been warned that telling people to panic about the climate crisis is a very dangerous thing to do. But don’t worry, it’s fine. Trust me, I’ve done this sort of thing before. It doesn’t lead to anything.”
I understand what she means from a little bit of personal experience. On a much smaller stage I try to tell the truth even when people don’t want to hear it. It’s not the quickest way to win a popularity contest. But my personal insistence on painting pictures of doom impels me to do it.
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palmerreport--2020-01-24--Donald Trump’s worst enemy

Donald Trump’s worst enemy

The Democrats still don ’ t know whether they are going to get new witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial , but CNN makes an interesting point about witnesses when it says , “ Can ’ t get a new witness ?
Call Donald J. Trump.
” Ever since stealing the presidency , Trump has arguably been his own worst enemy .
He lies incessantly , takes credit for things he didn ’ t do , and consistently tries to pull the proverbial wool over everyone ’ s eyes .
Unfortunately , his Republican Senate friends consistently go along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ridiculous it might be .
Because the Republicans continue to stall on witnesses , the Democrats are using Trump as a witness by playing videos of him boasting and inviting foreign assistance to his cause .
For instance , Adam Schiff played a video in which Trump said , “ I have , Article II , where I have the right to do whatever I want as President.
” No , you don ’ t , you big-mouthed bully .
Schiff also played Trump ’ s video from 2016 , asking Russia to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missing emails ” and one from 2019 asking China to investigate Joe Biden .
Then , he hit them with the big one : Trump ’ s interview with George Stephanopoulos in which he said , “ I think I ’ d want to hear it ” when asked about “ election dirt ” from a foreign country .
Trump would never have the balls to appear before this body , and Schiff knows that .
Instead , he gave them a concise , compelling montage of Trump ’ s criminal and unethical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ press conference that he opposed President Clinton ’ s impeachment even though “ Clinton was doing bad things , like lying.
” He then incredibly went on to say : “ Now , with me , there ’ s no lying.
” Is he trying to convince himself ?
We know better .
Thinking of Trump recalls Meghan Trainor ’ s song “ Lips Are Moving.
” The man lies consistently .
He is a serial liar .
CNN points out that Trump has been “ serially dishonest ” about the impeachment process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fourteen false claims at the Davos press conference , as well as in interviews on CNBC and Fox Business .
First , Trump restated his lie about Schiff misrepresenting the summary before it was released .
This is patently false .
Schiff paraphrased the summary after its release .
Trump further claimed that “ all hell broke loose ” among Democrats once he released the summary .
This is also false .
One of the biggest whoppers he told , however , is that he didn ’ t hold up the Ukraine aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Now , here ’ s the other thing : They got their money long before schedule .
So they got the money .
In fact , they got it early.
” If this were true , why was Elaine McCusker , acting Pentagon comptroller , preparing to submit Impoundment paperwork ?
The man , using the term loosely , is completely scandalous , but his Republican colleagues are worse .
The truth is staring them in the face , yet they continue to come up with excuses and ridiculous talking points to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has something on some of them , but this is far more sinister .
They are all getting over on us , and without Trump , they won ’ t be able to continue .
We won ’ t get Trump removed , but we can take this information with us to the polls in November .

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The Democrats still don’t know whether they are going to get new witnesses in the Senate impeachment trial, but CNN makes an interesting point about witnesses when it says, “Can’t get a new witness? Call Donald J. Trump.” Ever since stealing the presidency, Trump has arguably been his own worst enemy. He lies incessantly, takes credit for things he didn’t do, and consistently tries to pull the proverbial wool over everyone’s eyes. Unfortunately, his Republican Senate friends consistently go along with whatever he says, no matter how ridiculous it might be.
Because the Republicans continue to stall on witnesses, the Democrats are using Trump as a witness by playing videos of him boasting and inviting foreign assistance to his cause. For instance, Adam Schiff played a video in which Trump said, “I have, Article II, where I have the right to do whatever I want as President.” No, you don’t, you big-mouthed bully. Schiff also played Trump’s video from 2016, asking Russia to “find Hillary Clinton’s 30,000 missing emails” and one from 2019 asking China to investigate Joe Biden. Then, he hit them with the big one: Trump’s interview with George Stephanopoulos in which he said, “I think I’d want to hear it” when asked about “election dirt” from a foreign country. Trump would never have the balls to appear before this body, and Schiff knows that. Instead, he gave them a concise, compelling montage of Trump’s criminal and unethical behavior.
Trump said in his Davos press conference that he opposed President Clinton’s impeachment even though “Clinton was doing bad things, like lying.” He then incredibly went on to say: “Now, with me, there’s no lying.” Is he trying to convince himself? We know better. Thinking of Trump recalls Meghan Trainor’s song “Lips Are Moving.” The man lies consistently. He is a serial liar. CNN points out that Trump has been “serially dishonest” about the impeachment process and Ukraine.
Trump made at least fourteen false claims at the Davos press conference, as well as in interviews on CNBC and Fox Business. First, Trump restated his lie about Schiff misrepresenting the summary before it was released. This is patently false. Schiff paraphrased the summary after its release. Trump further claimed that “all hell broke loose” among Democrats once he released the summary. This is also false. One of the biggest whoppers he told, however, is that he didn’t hold up the Ukraine aide. Instead his story is this: “Now, here’s the other thing: They got their money long before schedule. So they got the money. In fact, they got it early.” If this were true, why was Elaine McCusker, acting Pentagon comptroller, preparing to submit Impoundment paperwork?
The man, using the term loosely, is completely scandalous, but his Republican colleagues are worse. The truth is staring them in the face, yet they continue to come up with excuses and ridiculous talking points to protect the liar-in-chief. Some believe Trump has something on some of them, but this is far more sinister. They are all getting over on us, and without Trump, they won’t be able to continue. We won’t get Trump removed, but we can take this information with us to the polls in November.
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palmerreport--2020-01-24--Ted Lieu talks Donald Trump and prison

Ted Lieu talks Donald Trump and prison

Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu , a former military prosecutor , would probably be one of the House impeachment managers right now if not for his recent heart surgery .
But Lieu is still chiming in from his Twitter account , and as per usual , he ’ s calling it precisely like he sees it , and he ’ s not holding back .
Throughout the day today , Donald Trump ’ s lawyers and Republican apologists have insisted that the articles of impeachment don ’ t actually accuse Trump of a crime .
This of course doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high crimes and misdemeanors ” don ’ t require a statutory violation of the law .
But Ted Lieu was nonetheless quick to point out that Trump very much has committed a crime .
In all caps , he tweeted this tonight : CAN WE PLEASE SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT .
SOLICITING A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO HELP YOUR RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS A CRIME .
IT IS ILLEGAL .
PRISON IS ONE OF THE PUNISHMENTS .
This is a crucial reminder , because while impeachment isn ’ t a criminal trial , this impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump having committed a felony .
If this were a criminal trial , he ’ d be going to prison if he ’ s convicted .
This is also a reminder that if Trump loses the 2020 election , the post-Trump Department of Justice will all but certainly arrest and try him on criminal charges related to his Ukraine scandal .
This is in addition to the New York grand jury that ’ s currently targeting Trump on financial crimes .
The minute Trump is out of office , he will be arrested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gets to arrest him first .

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Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu, a former military prosecutor, would probably be one of the House impeachment managers right now if not for his recent heart surgery. But Lieu is still chiming in from his Twitter account, and as per usual, he’s calling it precisely like he sees it, and he’s not holding back.
Throughout the day today, Donald Trump’s lawyers and Republican apologists have insisted that the articles of impeachment don’t actually accuse Trump of a crime. This of course doesn’t matter, as impeachment’s “high crimes and misdemeanors” don’t require a statutory violation of the law. But Ted Lieu was nonetheless quick to point out that Trump very much has committed a crime. In all caps, he tweeted this tonight:
CAN WE PLEASE SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT. SOLICITING A FOREIGN GOVERNMENT TO HELP YOUR RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN IS A CRIME. IT IS ILLEGAL. PRISON IS ONE OF THE PUNISHMENTS.
This is a crucial reminder, because while impeachment isn’t a criminal trial, this impeachment trial is a direct result of Donald Trump having committed a felony. If this were a criminal trial, he’d be going to prison if he’s convicted. This is also a reminder that if Trump loses the 2020 election, the post-Trump Department of Justice will all but certainly arrest and try him on criminal charges related to his Ukraine scandal. This is in addition to the New York grand jury that’s currently targeting Trump on financial crimes. The minute Trump is out of office, he will be arrested; the only question will be who gets to arrest him first.
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palmerreport--2020-01-24--Mitch McConnell just wrote a check he can’t cash

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is once again trying out his favorite sleight of hand trick , in the hope no one will notice that it ’ s the same sleight of hand he tried and failed to get away with earlier this week .
CNN is reporting that McConnell is planning to have Republican Senators vote not to call any witnesses next week , on the premise that the resulting legal battles would take too long .
It ’ s time we stop falling for this .
Mitch McConnell wants us to be pissed off that he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act of not calling any witnesses .
This works in his favor , because it means we ’ re buying into his premise that he has the votes for this and it ’ s a done deal , which means we ’ ll give up instead of spending the next week fighting back against it .
The thing is , this tells us McConnell actually doesn ’ t have the votes for not calling any witnesses .
If he had the votes , he ’ d just hold the vote , and win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media that he has the votes in the hope that it ’ ll set off a chain of events ( the media parroting his words , the Resistance getting discouraged and pulling back ) that ’ ll lead to him getting the votes he needs .
We know this is what Mitch McConnell is doing , because it ’ s what he always does .
Just three days ago he announced that he had the votes to pass his absurd rules that would have ensured the impeachment trial ran until midnight every single @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell ended up holding a vote on a much less severe rules package , after his own Republican Senate caucus clearly forced him to water it down behind the scenes .
Now that we know Mitch McConnell doesn ’ t have the votes for not calling any witnesses , it ’ s a signal for the Resistance to start hammering away at the most nervous of Republican Senators .
They ’ ve already forced McConnell to cave this week on his rules package ; they can be pressured into forcing McConnell to cave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a magic wand , and when he doesn ’ t have the votes , he doesn ’ t have the votes .

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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is once again trying out his favorite sleight of hand trick, in the hope no one will notice that it’s the same sleight of hand he tried and failed to get away with earlier this week. CNN is reporting that McConnell is planning to have Republican Senators vote not to call any witnesses next week, on the premise that the resulting legal battles would take too long. It’s time we stop falling for this.
Mitch McConnell wants us to be pissed off that he’s managed to get away with this corrupt act of not calling any witnesses. This works in his favor, because it means we’re buying into his premise that he has the votes for this and it’s a done deal, which means we’ll give up instead of spending the next week fighting back against it.
The thing is, this tells us McConnell actually doesn’t have the votes for not calling any witnesses. If he had the votes, he’d just hold the vote, and win. Instead he’s telling the media that he has the votes in the hope that it’ll set off a chain of events (the media parroting his words, the Resistance getting discouraged and pulling back) that’ll lead to him getting the votes he needs.
We know this is what Mitch McConnell is doing, because it’s what he always does. Just three days ago he announced that he had the votes to pass his absurd rules that would have ensured the impeachment trial ran until midnight every single night. Then two days ago, McConnell ended up holding a vote on a much less severe rules package, after his own Republican Senate caucus clearly forced him to water it down behind the scenes.
Now that we know Mitch McConnell doesn’t have the votes for not calling any witnesses, it’s a signal for the Resistance to start hammering away at the most nervous of Republican Senators. They’ve already forced McConnell to cave this week on his rules package; they can be pressured into forcing McConnell to cave on witnesses. McConnell doesn’t have a magic wand, and when he doesn’t have the votes, he doesn’t have the votes.
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palmerreport--2020-01-24--Judge Napolitano of Fox News just destroyed Donald Trump’s impeachment defense

Fox News is strongly hedging its bets on whether Donald Trump is going to survive this .
That ’ s the only way to interpret the network ’ s decision to allow one of its most prominent legal experts , Judge Andrew Napolitano , to hammer away at Trump more aggressively than ever as the Senate impeachment trial plays out .
Donald Trump and his defense attorneys are now arguing , with some semblance of straight face , that the articles of impeachment against him are invalid because they don ’ t accuse him of a specific violation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment identify several criminal violations .
But Trump never met a lie he didn ’ t want to tell even more blatantly , so he ’ s landed on one of the most gibberish defenses of all time .
Judge Napolitano , however , doesn ’ t want to hear it .
He ’ s posted a new op-ed on the Fox News website , and here ’ s the money shot : “ The Constitution prescribes the bases for impeachment as treason , bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crimes ’ does not refer to violations of federal criminal statutes .
It refers to behavior that is so destructive of the constitutional order that it is the moral equivalent of statutory crimes.
” In other words , Donald Trump is just making things up and he doesn ’ t have a leg to stand on .
Credit goes to Napolitano for calling it like it is .
But the real story here may be that Fox News clearly believes there ’ s a strong chance Trump is about to meet his political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely the November election , and it wants to get out ahead of it by allowing at least a few of its analysts to start preparing viewers for Trump ’ s downfall .

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Fox News is strongly hedging its bets on whether Donald Trump is going to survive this. That’s the only way to interpret the network’s decision to allow one of its most prominent legal experts, Judge Andrew Napolitano, to hammer away at Trump more aggressively than ever as the Senate impeachment trial plays out.
Donald Trump and his defense attorneys are now arguing, with some semblance of straight face, that the articles of impeachment against him are invalid because they don’t accuse him of a specific violation of the law. In reality the articles of impeachment identify several criminal violations. But Trump never met a lie he didn’t want to tell even more blatantly, so he’s landed on one of the most gibberish defenses of all time.
Judge Napolitano, however, doesn’t want to hear it. He’s posted a new op-ed on the Fox News website, and here’s the money shot: “The Constitution prescribes the bases for impeachment as treason, bribery or other high crimes and misdemeanors. However, this use of the word ‘crimes’ does not refer to violations of federal criminal statutes. It refers to behavior that is so destructive of the constitutional order that it is the moral equivalent of statutory crimes.”
In other words, Donald Trump is just making things up and he doesn’t have a leg to stand on. Credit goes to Napolitano for calling it like it is. But the real story here may be that Fox News clearly believes there’s a strong chance Trump is about to meet his political downfall, through his impeachment trial or more likely the November election, and it wants to get out ahead of it by allowing at least a few of its analysts to start preparing viewers for Trump’s downfall.
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palmerreport--2020-01-24--Donald Trump’s GOP Senate pal Marsha Blackburn goes completely off the deep end

In terms of the strength of the case being presented against him , the ineffectiveness of his own defense attorneys , and the polling which shows that more Americans than ever want witnesses to testify , Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial is going about as poorly for him as could be expected .
Some Republican Senators are clearly getting nervous , and have already forced Mitch McConnell to change the trial rules .
Other Republican Senators are simply trying to take a blowtorch to the whole thing , in the hope that setting everything on fire might help Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bigoted monster who was elected in 2018 with Donald Trump ’ s help , is now going all-in to try to help Trump ’ s sinking impeachment defense .
She ’ s spent all day tweeting false , absurd , and completely insane things about Trump ’ s accusers .
What finally got her in real trouble was when she tweeted this : Twitter quickly proceeded to set Senator Blackburn on fire , and her name began trending as everyone piled on .
Numerous respondents pointed out that Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman earned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump is a draft dodger who keeps criminally conspiring with foreign nations to try to rig elections in his favor .
After the backlash , Blackburn began doubling down with lie after lie about Vindman .
Was she somehow expecting this to go differently ?

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In terms of the strength of the case being presented against him, the ineffectiveness of his own defense attorneys, and the polling which shows that more Americans than ever want witnesses to testify, Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is going about as poorly for him as could be expected. Some Republican Senators are clearly getting nervous, and have already forced Mitch McConnell to change the trial rules. Other Republican Senators are simply trying to take a blowtorch to the whole thing, in the hope that setting everything on fire might help Trump.
Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn, a bigoted monster who was elected in 2018 with Donald Trump’s help, is now going all-in to try to help Trump’s sinking impeachment defense. She’s spent all day tweeting false, absurd, and completely insane things about Trump’s accusers. What finally got her in real trouble was when she tweeted this:
Adam Schiff is hailing Alexander Vindman as an American patriot. How patriotic is it to badmouth and ridicule our great nation in front of Russia, America’s greatest enemy?
Twitter quickly proceeded to set Senator Blackburn on fire, and her name began trending as everyone piled on. Numerous respondents pointed out that Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Vindman earned a Purple Heart in combat, while Donald Trump is a draft dodger who keeps criminally conspiring with foreign nations to try to rig elections in his favor. After the backlash, Blackburn began doubling down with lie after lie about Vindman. Was she somehow expecting this to go differently?
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palmerreport--2020-01-24--Bill Barr just made a bizarre play involving Donald Trump and Carter Page

Now that Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial is underway , he ’ s in need of a distraction .
And now that Attorney General Bill Barr ’ s recent DOJ Inspector General report gambit failed to help Trump at all , Barr is under more pressure than ever to come through for Trump .
This has all led up to a bizarre move by Barr today , involving Carter Page of all people .
Bill Barr just had his Department of Justice declare , out of nowhere , that two of the four FISA warrants against Carter Page were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s quite clear that regardless of how legitimate or illegitimate these FISA applications may have been , Barr is suddenly doing this because he thinks it helps Donald Trump .
After all , Page was a Trump 2016 campaign adviser , and so this helps further Trump ’ s longtime assertion that the United States government was somehow “ spying ” on his 2016 campaign .
Carter Page will be thrilled , because he ’ s long argued that the FISA warrants against him were improper .
Donald Trump will also be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somehow helps his chances in 2020 .
Trump ’ s base will hold up this announcement as “ proof ” that the Deep State was plotting against Trump all along .
But Trump ’ s base is already planning to vote for him in 2020 anyway .
Outside of Trump ’ s base , literally not a single person in the entire country will care one bit about today ’ s announcement .
But that part doesn ’ t matter .
Donald Trump is deeply lost in a haze of conspiratorial nonsense to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on my campaign ” is a narrative that will gain him zero new votes .
Further , because this nonsense is being announced during the impeachment trial , it won ’ t get nearly the headlines that it could have otherwise gotten ; it ’ ll be completely forgotten by the end of the weekend .
But Barr isn ’ t actually trying to help Trump here ; he ’ s trying to help himself by giving the increasingly addled Trump precisely the kind of pointless stunt that Trump thinks will help his @ @ @

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Now that Donald Trump’s impeachment trial is underway, he’s in need of a distraction. And now that Attorney General Bill Barr’s recent DOJ Inspector General report gambit failed to help Trump at all, Barr is under more pressure than ever to come through for Trump. This has all led up to a bizarre move by Barr today, involving Carter Page of all people.
Bill Barr just had his Department of Justice declare, out of nowhere, that two of the four FISA warrants against Carter Page were improper. Given the timing, it’s quite clear that regardless of how legitimate or illegitimate these FISA applications may have been, Barr is suddenly doing this because he thinks it helps Donald Trump. After all, Page was a Trump 2016 campaign adviser, and so this helps further Trump’s longtime assertion that the United States government was somehow “spying” on his 2016 campaign.
Carter Page will be thrilled, because he’s long argued that the FISA warrants against him were improper. Donald Trump will also be thrilled, because he thinks this announcement somehow helps his chances in 2020. Trump’s base will hold up this announcement as “proof” that the Deep State was plotting against Trump all along. But Trump’s base is already planning to vote for him in 2020 anyway. Outside of Trump’s base, literally not a single person in the entire country will care one bit about today’s announcement.
But that part doesn’t matter. Donald Trump is deeply lost in a haze of conspiratorial nonsense to be aware that “the FBI spied on my campaign” is a narrative that will gain him zero new votes. Further, because this nonsense is being announced during the impeachment trial, it won’t get nearly the headlines that it could have otherwise gotten; it’ll be completely forgotten by the end of the weekend. But Barr isn’t actually trying to help Trump here; he’s trying to help himself by giving the increasingly addled Trump precisely the kind of pointless stunt that Trump thinks will help his 2020 chances.
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palmerreport--2020-01-25--Confirmed: the House now has the recording of Donald Trump telling Lev and Igor to “take her out”

Earlier today , ABC News reported that it had heard a recording of Donald Trump telling Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman in April 2018 to “ take her out , ” in reference to U.S .
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
ABC did not , however , publicly release the recording .
Now it turns out the House has the audio in question .
ABC News reported that the recording had been made by Igor Fruman .
This raised questions about who brought the recording to ABC , and whether or not Fruman was involved in the process .
We still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was .
But we do know that the House now has a copy of the recording .
Lev Parnas ’ attorney Joseph Bondy just told PBS NewsHour reporter Yamiche Alcindor that Lev went back and found it in his iCloud account , and he ’ s turned it over to the House Intelligence Committee .
It ’ s not entirely clear what will happen now .
Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers are wrapping up their prosecution presentation in Donald Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial tonight .
Will they play the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the trial ?
Or will they simply release it to the public tomorrow , while Trump ’ s defense attorneys are trying to put on their trial defense ?
In any case , it now seems a given that we ’ re all about to hear this recording of Donald Trump telling Lev and Igor to “ take her out.
” Trump couldn ’ t have possibly been talking about firing Ambassador Yovanovitch , because Lev and Igor clearly didn ’ t have the power to fire anyone .
Trump knew that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and he could only have been instructing them to carry out a criminal offense against Yovanovitch .

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Earlier today, ABC News reported that it had heard a recording of Donald Trump telling Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman in April 2018 to “take her out,” in reference to U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. ABC did not, however, publicly release the recording. Now it turns out the House has the audio in question.
ABC News reported that the recording had been made by Igor Fruman. This raised questions about who brought the recording to ABC, and whether or not Fruman was involved in the process. We still don’t know who the source was. But we do know that the House now has a copy of the recording. Lev Parnas’ attorney Joseph Bondy just told PBS NewsHour reporter Yamiche Alcindor that Lev went back and found it in his iCloud account, and he’s turned it over to the House Intelligence Committee.
It’s not entirely clear what will happen now. Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers are wrapping up their prosecution presentation in Donald Trump’s Senate impeachment trial tonight. Will they play the relevant portion of the recording tonight, during the trial? Or will they simply release it to the public tomorrow, while Trump’s defense attorneys are trying to put on their trial defense?
In any case, it now seems a given that we’re all about to hear this recording of Donald Trump telling Lev and Igor to “take her out.” Trump couldn’t have possibly been talking about firing Ambassador Yovanovitch, because Lev and Igor clearly didn’t have the power to fire anyone. Trump knew that Lev and Igor were criminal henchmen, and he could only have been instructing them to carry out a criminal offense against Yovanovitch.
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palmerreport--2020-01-24--Mike Pompeo goes berserk and begins screaming, cursing, and threatening a reporter

Last night Palmer Report pointed out that Donald Trump ’ s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was clearly getting nervous about the Ukraine scandal .
After all , he was preparing to take the great risk of traveling to Ukraine during the impeachment trial , just to try to put out the worsening fires over there .
Today Pompeo made abundantly clear that he ’ s at the very end of his rope .
Mike Pompeo just did an interview with NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly .
She dared to ask him about his refusal to publicly defend the State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attack by Donald Trump .
In response , after the interview was over , Pompeo took Kelly to a private room and began screaming and cursing at her .
Here ’ s what Kelly says happened after the interview : “ I was taken to the Secretary ’ s private living room where he was waiting and where he shouted at me for about same amount of time as the interview itself .
He was not happy to have been questioned about Ukraine … He used the F-word in that sentence and many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ People will hear about this , ” whatever that ’ s supposed to mean .
So now we ’ ve got the Secretary of State taking a reporter into a private room , screaming and cursing at her for an extended period , shoving a map in her face , and threatening some form of retaliation against her – all because she dared to ask him a question he didn ’ t like during an interview .
Not only has Pompeo snapped , he now appears to be an immediate danger to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take him into custody immediately .

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Last night Palmer Report pointed out that Donald Trump’s Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was clearly getting nervous about the Ukraine scandal. After all, he was preparing to take the great risk of traveling to Ukraine during the impeachment trial, just to try to put out the worsening fires over there. Today Pompeo made abundantly clear that he’s at the very end of his rope.
Mike Pompeo just did an interview with NPR reporter Mary Louise Kelly. She dared to ask him about his refusal to publicly defend the State Department personnel who have been viciously under attack by Donald Trump. In response, after the interview was over, Pompeo took Kelly to a private room and began screaming and cursing at her.
Here’s what Kelly says happened after the interview: “I was taken to the Secretary’s private living room where he was waiting and where he shouted at me for about same amount of time as the interview itself. He was not happy to have been questioned about Ukraine … He used the F-word in that sentence and many others.” Pompeo then told Kelly that “People will hear about this,” whatever that’s supposed to mean.
So now we’ve got the Secretary of State taking a reporter into a private room, screaming and cursing at her for an extended period, shoving a map in her face, and threatening some form of retaliation against her – all because she dared to ask him a question he didn’t like during an interview. Not only has Pompeo snapped, he now appears to be an immediate danger to himself and others. Law enforcement should take him into custody immediately.
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--2020-01-24--Everyone piles on after Donald Trump reveals bizarre new “Space Force” logo

Just a couple hours after ABC News reported that an April 2018 recording exists of Donald Trump ordering Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman to “ take her out ” in reference to U.S .
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch , Trump decided he needed a distraction .
So he tweeted what he claims is the new logo for Space Force , which he claims is “ the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military !
” The trouble : it all went wrong quickly for him .
Here ’ s the logo : There ’ s so much wrong here , we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If Space Force is indeed a new sixth branch of the United States military , why does the logo say that it ’ s a “ Department of the Air Force ” ?
It can ’ t be both .
It sounds like Trump just took the existing Air Force Space Command and renamed it “ Space Force ” so he could pretend he ’ s created something .
Some have pointed out that the Marine Corps is technically classified as Department of the Navy .
But the Marine Corps logo doesn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , because it ’ s considered a separate branch .
Trump , however , is clearly classifying Space Force as not being a separate branch .
But that ’ s just the beginning of what ’ s wrong with the logo .
Trump ’ s Space Force logo looks like it was directly ripped off from the Starfleet logo that ’ s long been used in Star Trek .
This was so widely pointed out on Twitter , the name of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry began trending .
Remarkably , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day after the debut of the new Star Trek Picard television series , meaning everyone was just reminded of what the Starfleet logo looks like , thus ensuring everyone would spot the copycatting .
Trump is the word ’ s dumbest criminal , and it ’ s not even close .

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 couple hours after ABC News reported that an April 2018 recording exists of Donald Trump ordering Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman to “take her out” in reference to U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, Trump decided he needed a distraction. So he tweeted what he claims is the new logo for Space Force, which he claims is “the Sixth Branch of our Magnificent Military!” The trouble: it all went wrong quickly for him. Here’s the logo:
There’s so much wrong here, we’re not even sure where to start. If Space Force is indeed a new sixth branch of the United States military, why does the logo say that it’s a “Department of the Air Force”? It can’t be both. It sounds like Trump just took the existing Air Force Space Command and renamed it “Space Force” so he could pretend he’s created something. Some have pointed out that the Marine Corps is technically classified as Department of the Navy. But the Marine Corps logo doesn’t say “Navy” on it, because it’s considered a separate branch. Trump, however, is clearly classifying Space Force as not being a separate branch. But that’s just the beginning of what’s wrong with the logo.
Trump’s Space Force logo looks like it was directly ripped off from the Starfleet logo that’s long been used in Star Trek. This was so widely pointed out on Twitter, the name of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry began trending. Remarkably, Trump debuted this Star Trek ripoff just one day after the debut of the new Star Trek Picard television series, meaning everyone was just reminded of what the Starfleet logo looks like, thus ensuring everyone would spot the copycatting. Trump is the word’s dumbest criminal, and it’s not even close.
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--2020-01-24--Donald Trump just gave away that he wants this over with

Like the world ’ s worst poker player , Donald Trump just keeps giving away his hand .
When he leaked to the media last night that he ’ d privately threatened Republican Senators if they dared to vote for witnesses against him in the impeachment trial , he gave away that he was getting nervous about Republican Senators doing precisely that .
This morning Trump gave away that he ’ s really worried about how quickly this is unraveling .
This morning Donald Trump tweeted that it “ looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T.V.
” He ’ s correct in that no one watches the news on Saturday , and that it ’ s the worst time for his team to be presenting his defense .
But Trump could easily convince the Senate to let him wait and begin his defense on Monday , because no one wants to work on a Saturday .
Instead , Trump has decided that he ’ s okay with his defense presentation getting fewer eyeballs , and thus having less potential impact , just so he can get the trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we know that he wants this over with by the State of the Union .
But unless the Senate decides to call witnesses , he ’ s already set to clear that hurdle , whether he steps up the schedule by two days or not .
In other words , this is entirely about witnesses .
Donald Trump is afraid that if he allows his impeachment trial to last a mere forty-eight additional hours , the growing sentiment in favor of witnesses could result in the Republican Senate actually voting to call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he wants this trial over with as quickly as possible – even at the expense of his own defense presentation – because he ’ s just that afraid of the whole thing getting away from him .
If witnesses testify against Trump in this trial , then the trial is a loss for him , even if he ’ s acquitted .

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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Like the world’s worst poker player, Donald Trump just keeps giving away his hand. When he leaked to the media last night that he’d privately threatened Republican Senators if they dared to vote for witnesses against him in the impeachment trial, he gave away that he was getting nervous about Republican Senators doing precisely that. This morning Trump gave away that he’s really worried about how quickly this is unraveling.
This morning Donald Trump tweeted that it “looks like my lawyers will be forced to start on Saturday, which is called Death Valley in T.V.” He’s correct in that no one watches the news on Saturday, and that it’s the worst time for his team to be presenting his defense. But Trump could easily convince the Senate to let him wait and begin his defense on Monday, because no one wants to work on a Saturday.
Instead, Trump has decided that he’s okay with his defense presentation getting fewer eyeballs, and thus having less potential impact, just so he can get the trial over with two days sooner. Yes, we know that he wants this over with by the State of the Union. But unless the Senate decides to call witnesses, he’s already set to clear that hurdle, whether he steps up the schedule by two days or not. In other words, this is entirely about witnesses.
Donald Trump is afraid that if he allows his impeachment trial to last a mere forty-eight additional hours, the growing sentiment in favor of witnesses could result in the Republican Senate actually voting to call witnesses. Trump is giving away that he wants this trial over with as quickly as possible – even at the expense of his own defense presentation – because he’s just that afraid of the whole thing getting away from him. If witnesses testify against Trump in this trial, then the trial is a loss for him, even if he’s acquitted.
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--2020-01-24--Lordy there are tapes – and it sounds like Donald Trump ordered a mafia hit

“ Take her out !
” That ’ s what Donald Trump said to Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman in April of 2018 , according ABC News which says it ’ s just heard a recording of the conversation .
There ’ s no question that Trump was referring to U.S .
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch .
There has been a lot of debate and discussion this afternoon about what Trump actually meant by those words .
It ’ s not that complicated .
Donald Trump and his legal team will argue that he was simply saying that he wanted her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of claim that anyone is actually going to believe is true .
Instead it ’ s a reasonable doubt argument , in the sense that there ’ s a remote chance Trump could have meant that .
Except he didn ’ t , because of whom he said it to .
ABC News is clear that Trump said “ take her out ” to Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman .
Trump has never exactly been the biggest scholar on governmental matters , but even he knew full well that Lev and Igor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and therefore had no authority or ability to fire Ambassador Yovanovitch .
For that matter , Trump would have known that Lev and Igor had no influence over anyone in the government who had the ability to fire her .
What Donald Trump did know about Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman is that they were criminals .
When he instructed them to “ take [ Yovanovitch ] out , ” he was clearly instructing them to do something criminal to her .
The only argument he can even try to make here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Igor to harass her , or to manufacture some kind of fake scandal about her .
But the reality is that this recording sounds like Trump ordered a mafia hit on a U.S .
Ambassador .
Lev and Igor clearly didn ’ t have Yovanovitch killed , but that doesn ’ t negate the criminality of Trump ’ s orders .

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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“Take her out!” That’s what Donald Trump said to Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman in April of 2018, according ABC News which says it’s just heard a recording of the conversation. There’s no question that Trump was referring to U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. There has been a lot of debate and discussion this afternoon about what Trump actually meant by those words. It’s not that complicated.
Donald Trump and his legal team will argue that he was simply saying that he wanted her fired. This isn’t the kind of claim that anyone is actually going to believe is true. Instead it’s a reasonable doubt argument, in the sense that there’s a remote chance Trump could have meant that. Except he didn’t, because of whom he said it to.
ABC News is clear that Trump said “take her out” to Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman. Trump has never exactly been the biggest scholar on governmental matters, but even he knew full well that Lev and Igor didn’t work for the government, and therefore had no authority or ability to fire Ambassador Yovanovitch. For that matter, Trump would have known that Lev and Igor had no influence over anyone in the government who had the ability to fire her.
What Donald Trump did know about Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman is that they were criminals. When he instructed them to “take [Yovanovitch] out,” he was clearly instructing them to do something criminal to her. The only argument he can even try to make here is that he was merely telling Lev and Igor to harass her, or to manufacture some kind of fake scandal about her. But the reality is that this recording sounds like Trump ordered a mafia hit on a U.S. Ambassador. Lev and Igor clearly didn’t have Yovanovitch killed, but that doesn’t negate the criminality of Trump’s orders.
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TAKE HER OUT

Heading into Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial , half the danger for Republican Senators was that additional damning evidence could surface during the trial , making it harder for them to acquit him while protecting their own personal reelection interests .
The other half the danger was that they could convict him and then more evidence would surface , leaving egg on their faces .
Now it appears we just might see both those scenarios happen .
Someone just leaked a recording to ABC News which captures Donald Trump saying this to Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tomorrow .
I don ’ t care .
Get her out tomorrow .
Take her out !
” Trump was referring to U.S .
Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch , whom he ended up firing in 2019 .
This new ABC News recording adds new context to Donald Trump ’ s promise to the President of Ukraine that Yovanovitch was going to “ go through some things , ” and the recent text messages which appear to show that Trump ’ s associates were surveilling Yovanovitch while discussing local goons to target her for unknown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House that as she was being fired , she was warned to immediately leave Ukraine for her own safety .
Donald Trump and his team will insist that when Trump said “ Take her out , ” he was merely demanding that she be fired , or taken out of Ukraine .
But this is a guy who is best known for his “ You ’ re fired ” catch phrase .
So wouldn ’ t he have just said he wanted her fired ?
Also , why would he be telling goons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
They couldn ’ t do that .
This tape sounds like Trump was instructing his goons to have Yovanovitch killed .
In addition , this proves that Trump knows Lev and Igor quite well , despite his protestations to the contrary .
This also demonstrates that Trump ’ s Ukraine scandal has been going on for at least twenty months .

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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Heading into Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, half the danger for Republican Senators was that additional damning evidence could surface during the trial, making it harder for them to acquit him while protecting their own personal reelection interests. The other half the danger was that they could convict him and then more evidence would surface, leaving egg on their faces. Now it appears we just might see both those scenarios happen.
Someone just leaked a recording to ABC News which captures Donald Trump saying this to Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman in April of 2018: “Get her out tomorrow. I don’t care. Get her out tomorrow. Take her out!” Trump was referring to U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch, whom he ended up firing in 2019.
This new ABC News recording adds new context to Donald Trump’s promise to the President of Ukraine that Yovanovitch was going to “go through some things,” and the recent text messages which appear to show that Trump’s associates were surveilling Yovanovitch while discussing local goons to target her for unknown malicious reasons. Yovanovitch testified to the House that as she was being fired, she was warned to immediately leave Ukraine for her own safety.
Donald Trump and his team will insist that when Trump said “Take her out,” he was merely demanding that she be fired, or taken out of Ukraine. But this is a guy who is best known for his “You’re fired” catch phrase. So wouldn’t he have just said he wanted her fired? Also, why would he be telling goons like Lev and Igor to fire her? They couldn’t do that. This tape sounds like Trump was instructing his goons to have Yovanovitch killed. In addition, this proves that Trump knows Lev and Igor quite well, despite his protestations to the contrary. This also demonstrates that Trump’s Ukraine scandal has been going on for at least twenty months.
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--2020-01-24--Donald Trump’s impeachment trial lawyer goes completely off the rails

If the first three days of the Senate impeachment trial have demonstrated that Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers are very skilled at what they do , these first three days have also served as a reminder that Donald Trump only hires the worst people .
His impeachment trial defense team is a collection of disgraced and incompetent goons who only got the job because they ’ re willing to tell the lies that Trump mistakenly thinks will help him with voters .
As a reminder of just how inept Donald Trump ’ s impeachment defense team is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is Jay Sekulow .
He ’ s the guy who earlier this week didn ’ t appear to know what “ FOIA ” was , and who a couple years ago performed so poorly on Fox News that host Chris Wallace was reduced to blurting out “ oh boy this is weird.
” Now Sekulow has found a whole new way to go off the rails .
Last week Lev Parnas appeared on MSNBC and CNN and spilled his guts about Donald Trump ’ s Ukraine scandal .
One of Lev ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consented to longtime Trump lawyer John Dowd representing Lev , despite a potential conflict of interest .
But now an email from Jay Sekulow confirms that he did indeed personally get Trump ’ s permission .
Sekulow is now admitting to Adam Klasfeld of Courthouse News that he did indeed author the email in question .
But Sekulow is still insisting in the same breath that Donald Trump doesn ’ t know Lev Parnas .
That ’ s right , his position is that Trump agreed to let his own longtime lawyer represent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t even know .
This all just keeps getting more desperate .

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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If the first three days of the Senate impeachment trial have demonstrated that Adam Schiff and the House impeachment managers are very skilled at what they do, these first three days have also served as a reminder that Donald Trump only hires the worst people. His impeachment trial defense team is a collection of disgraced and incompetent goons who only got the job because they’re willing to tell the lies that Trump mistakenly thinks will help him with voters.
As a reminder of just how inept Donald Trump’s impeachment defense team is, consider that one of the key members is Jay Sekulow. He’s the guy who earlier this week didn’t appear to know what “FOIA” was, and who a couple years ago performed so poorly on Fox News that host Chris Wallace was reduced to blurting out “oh boy this is weird.” Now Sekulow has found a whole new way to go off the rails.
Last week Lev Parnas appeared on MSNBC and CNN and spilled his guts about Donald Trump’s Ukraine scandal. One of Lev’s key assertions was that Donald Trump personally consented to longtime Trump lawyer John Dowd representing Lev, despite a potential conflict of interest. But now an email from Jay Sekulow confirms that he did indeed personally get Trump’s permission.
Sekulow is now admitting to Adam Klasfeld of Courthouse News that he did indeed author the email in question. But Sekulow is still insisting in the same breath that Donald Trump doesn’t know Lev Parnas. That’s right, his position is that Trump agreed to let his own longtime lawyer represent some random recently arrested guy that he didn’t even know. This all just keeps getting more desperate.
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.