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Robert Costa @costareports
, 4 tweets, 2 min read Read on Twitter
The president's relationship with Sen. Corker is a microcosm of his now threadbare relationship with GOP estab. Two years ago, Corker praised Trump as a "realist" on foreign policy who'd counter the hawkish side of the party and he flirted with idea of perhaps being VP, SoS...
High point for Corker with Trump prob. came in July '16 when he bonded with Kushner, Manafort, Trump, and others at Trump Tower... but he also saw up close how tumultuous Trump's circle could be. Called WashPost soon after & bowed out of VP contention...
Corker told Post then he tried to bond w/ Trump as a businessman. But from summer '16 on, things unraveled. Corker became increasingly wary of Trump's conduct and by Oct. 2017, warned Trump could put U.S. “on the path to World War III” cc: @jmartNYT
In another world, the retiring Sen. For. Rel. Cmmte. chair who was once a VP contender and at one time heaped praise on your foreign policy (when most others in GOP offered scorn) would be on the shortlist for the SecDef post.

Instead, it's this.

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Pay close attention to what this administration is doing...

1. Weekend talks with Democrats were futile. Dems there frustrated that Rs didn't have budget numbers ready and OMB had to rush to compile them. Mtgs. instead focused on admin's bleak presentation on border situation
2. POTUS, encouraged by friends on right, increasingly sees a nat'l emergency declaration as a way to rattle empowered Dems and show his core voters he's going to the brink for wall
3. Instead of trying to negotiate to reopen the gov't with a wall-less bill, the admin spent Monday continuing to make its case of a border crisis to reporters and need for $5.7B. VP and @SecNielsen briefed. Laying foundation ahead of POTUS's Tues. speech to nation.
Read 6 tweets
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During the course of reporting my latest story, WH officials + top Trump aides described Trump as deliberately playing to the base but also unbound from both convention & party. After 2 year run w/ GOP control, said focus is on core voters & core instincts, not moving to center.
They also said the shutdown has been instructive and revealing. You don't see Trump huddling with Ryan or McConnell. It's a tight inner circle (Pence, Kushner, etc.) and his own reactive navigation of the political minefield he faces... wants to rally base ahead of tough year
A few tidbits from notebook... Gingrich said he respects Mattis but Trump is doing the right thing to get the Cabinet more in line with the president's own worldview. Expects more of this + says Trump's FP moves reveal a new assertiveness on policy even as process is criticized.
Read 5 tweets
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"We gave [Democratic leaders] an offer... and we're waiting to hear back." Mulvaney this morning on @ThisWeekABC re: where the talks stand

The WH has floated about $2.1B for border security, per ppl familiar, but most top aides still think this ends at $1.6B, as long discussed
The reason why it can't be $2.1B? Per plugged-in Dems, Schumer's hands are tied. He feels he's already out on a limb with the Left with $1.6B offer for border security for a POTUS loathed by base and WH is mistaken to think brinkmanship will somehow change the political reality
All that said, both Dems AND Rs working on this privately acknowledge that the major question isn't "what will Schumer do?" but "what would Trump accept and sign?" And no one is really sure. They just know he wants to fight, rally his base.
Read 3 tweets

Related threads

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06/01/2019 - 78 years ago today, the longest-serving #UnitedStates #President, #Franklin D. #Roosevelt (#FDR) addressed the 77th #Congress with his "#Four #Freedoms" speech with the intent to shift #US #foreign #policy from that of #neutrality to #interventionist.
#FDR promoted the idea that the people of the world, in all nations, shared entitlement to four freedoms: that of the freedom of speech and expression, the freedom of worship, the freedom from want and the freedom from fear.
#FDR is arguably one of the most 'successful' #US Presidents. Some would argue that on the basis of his numerous social policies such as 'the New Deal'. Others, however, would argue that his role during the second world war was more prevalent to his success & everlasting legacy.
Read 39 tweets
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Can someone explain to me when the @GOP stopped ignoring fiscal responsibility?
Can someone explain to me why @GOP claimed to be the party of Moral Values but continues to support a person like @realDonaldTrump?

#values
Can you explain to me why you wouldn't want another party in power for the Senate or House when you believe in the Constitution and checks and balances?

#ChecksAndBalances
#Midterms2018
Read 50 tweets
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At dinner, I learned more about corruption + racism built into society by our masters. A book we discussed (Zinn) was used as part of this "Left" resource's bibliography. I had to share. [A thread]

@BlackSocialists - thoughts on this resource?

historyisaweapon.com/indextrue.html
It very simply lays out the case that we are all being controlled. It covers hidden history of the United States including their (and, due to the systems created by our masters, our) racism. 

#racism #systemicracism #history
If you haven't been in school for a while (or are in a terrible school), some of the words might trip you up. Dictionary.com and Wikipedia.org are two good resources to help you.
Read 39 tweets
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A winded, tired-sounding Trump is live on @foxandfriends
TRUMP dismisses IG's finding that there was no bias in Clinton investigation in this way: "The IG report was a horror show. I thought that one sentence of conclusion was ridiculous."
Trump announces new tariffs on China live on @foxandfriends
Read 40 tweets

Trending hashtags

#Congress #VietnamWar #Executive #labor #Indies #Kazakhstan #KellyanneConway #NeverForget #Sessions #uprising #SouthAmericans #1A #ChecksAndBalances #racism #mypresident #United #economy #BayrockGroup #MarchForOurLives #Field #Brief #VoterFraud #policy #Trumpism #authority

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