Sketch artist gets an early start This could be settled by the time this posts, but…. CBS News: Several media organizations, including CBS News, petitioned to allow video and photo coverage of Trump’s arraignment, but New York has one of the strictest policies in the country against cameras in the courtroom, according to The Fund for Modern Courts, a nonpartisan nonprofit. Trump’s legal team wants cameras kept out of the courtroom, saying they would “create a circus-like atmosphere,” “raise unique security concerns” and are “inconsistent with President Trump’s presumption of innocence.” Meaning Trump thinks getting a stern talking to by a judge about watching his mouth would be a bad look. Without video or audio, he can spin what happens in court today any way he likes. It’s he-said, the fake news-said. What a shame. “Few Americans have seen Mr.
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The right wing obsessions Greg Sargent takes a look at Marjorie Taylor Greene’s grotesque 60 Minutes interview and the history of LGBTQ and pedophile slurs: CBS anchor Lesley Stahl was shocked to hear that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene stands firmly behind her frequent claim that Democrats are “pedophiles.” On “60 Minutes,” Stahl pressed Greene on her use of the slur, and the Georgia Republican defiantly responded that it’s the truth: “They support grooming children.” “They are not pedophiles,” Stahl rejoined incredulously. “Why would you say that?” Stahl has been roasted online for granting Greene a plum “60 Minutes” interview, which aired Sunday night. But the real problem with this exchange is thatStahl did not show any signs of understanding the longtime role of the “pedophile” insult in right-wing discourse as an expression of deliberate bigotry against transgender Americans. As a result, Stahl squandered a high-profile opportunity to explainto a large prime-time audience what Greene and others really intend when they use this smear.
Criminals are arrested every day in every town in America. You are not special, Trumpie. You’re just a private citizen being held to account for your crimes. Go to court and let a jury decide. That’s exactly how it works. Just be glad you’re not Black.
Yeah, I think we knew that. He could have done this whole thing on zoom: DONALD TRUMP INSISTED on turning his Tuesday arraignment into a spectacle, and he’s going to get his wish. A law enforcement official tells Rolling Stone that the former president was offered a chance to surrender quietly and be arraigned over Zoom. Instead, Trump opted for a midday, high-profile booking at the Manhattan courthouse, the official says. “He wanted a perp walk; he wanted daylight hours,” says the law enforcement official, who’s involved in aspects of the security planning. “He wants to get out of the vehicle and walk up the stairs. This is a nightmare for Secret Service, but they can only strongly suggest — not order — that Trump enter through the secure tunnels. Trump wants to greet the crowd. This should be a surprise to no one — especially not his detail.” Secret Service had argued in favor of holding the proceedings outside of court business hours, at night with minimal cameras and less risk.
DeSantis signed a permitless concealed carry law this week: Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a measure that will allow Florida residents to carry guns without a state permit — but falls short of what some gun-rights activists sought. DeSantis signed the legislation behind closed doors in the governor’s office, with news of the bill signing being released first to Fox News. He had pledged during an appearance last week at a Georgia gun store that he would act quickly on the proposal, which passed the Florida Legislature on Thursday. “You don’t need a permission slip from the government to be able to exercise your constitutional rights,” DeSantis, a Republican, said at the time. Florida becomes the 26th state to allow residents to carry concealed weapons without a permit. The new legislation gives DeSantis another victory to tout as he gears up for an expected presidential campaign. “Here in the free state of Florida, government will not get in the way of law-abiding Americans who want to defend themselves and their families,” said state Sen. Jay Collins, a Tampa Republican and sponsor of the legislation.
Hmmm. Trump claimed that he had the “right” to take home documents in a recent Fox News interview with Sean Hannity, who repeatedly tried to help the former president without success. “I’ve known you for decades,” Hannity said. “I can’t imagine you ever saying, ‘Bring me some of the boxes that we brought back from the White House. I’d like to look at them.’ Did you ever do that?” “I would have the right to do that,” Trump responded. “There’s nothing wrong with it.” “But I know you,” Hannity said. “I don’t think you would do it.” “I don’t have a lot of time, but I would have the right to do that,” Trump retorted. “I would do that.” “Remember this,” Trump added. “This is the Presidential Records Act. I have the right to take stuff.” And check this out: Legal experts said new revelations about obstruction evidence collected by special counsel Jack Smith’s team could land former President Donald Trump in deep legal trouble.
This is a good take on the DeSantis and Trump dynamic at the moment. It’s complicated. Very complicated. Puck’s Tara Palmeri has an excellent interview with Florida politico Peter Schorsch about what DeSantis Land is thinking these days and I have to say . . . it does not inspire confidence in Meatball Ron’s chances. Read the whole thing. Being immune to real-world feedback is not a great trait in a politician. And I agree that the window to attack Trump has closed because of the indictment. But the best line is from the unnamed Trump aide: “DeSantis brought a mercenary army to a holy war.” That perfectly sums up the establishment support for DeSantis. Conservatism Inc. was so eager for someone to rid them of Trump that they jumped behind DeSantis purely because his poll numbers were good. They had no plan. They were never going to confront Trump. They simply believed that they could lecture the rubes about electability and then the unwashed would do what they were told.
This did not happen… This did: He did not lead anyone down the boulevard. He slunk in and out of the courtroom as fast as possible and hightailed it back to his safe space in Maralago. Poor little Eric was just trying to buck up his sad, sad daddy.
Howdya like that border, Vlad? The Russian president’s imperial adventurism has not succeeded in bringing Ukraine back under Kremlin control. What it has succeeded in doing is doubling Russia’s land border with NATO. Except Finland did that for him (Washington Post): Finland is set to formally join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization on Tuesday, a historic shift for a country that once insisted it was safer outside the military alliance, a dramatic rebuke to Russia and a sign of how President Vladimir Putin’s gamble in Ukraine is upending the post-Cold War order. Finnish membership will double NATO’s land border with Russia, adding more than 800 miles. It will also bolster the alliance’s presence around the Baltic Sea and enhance its position in the Arctic. To justify his unprovoked attack on Ukraine, Putin cited the possibility of NATO expansion. Now, his war has brought a bigger, stronger NATO to his door. Whoops. Putin was this close to gutting NATO when his bootlickin’ apologist occupied the Oval Office. Helsinki was not a NATO member — making it neutral territory — when the two met there in 2018.
Russia should release Evan Gershkovich; if as part of a prisoner swap it should be speedily concluded. Gershkovich was arrested in Ekaterinburg while investigating the Wagner Group. Ekaterinburg is one of Russia’s grimmest, most mafia dominated and least open cities, which I have myself visited specifically to investigate the murders of local Russian journalists. That […]
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