Trying to wrap my head around the insanity of the last week or so of headlines.
-- The Senate is debating wether to remove Trump from office for withholding foreign aid in order to strong-arm a foreign leader into announcing a bogus investigation of Trump's political opponent.
-- The Senate is debating wether to remove Trump from office for withholding foreign aid in order to strong-arm a foreign leader into announcing a bogus investigation of Trump's political opponent.
-- New text messages show that Trump's personal attorney tried to cut a deal with a corrupt Ukrainian prosecutor in which said prosecutor would produce dirt on Trump's rival if Trump recalled the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine -- an ambassador known for fighting corruption.
-- The messages also show that a Trump-endorsed GOP congressional candidate was working with Giuliani and Parnas to oust the ambassador, claimed to be surveilling her phone and computer, and appears to have threatened her safety.
-- Meanwhile, the putative head of Saudi Arabia -- an ally of Trump and friend of Trump's son-in-law (who is one of Trump's most influential advisors) -- hacked the phone of the owner of the Wash. Post, then leaked embarrassing info from the phone to a Trump-friendly tabloid.
-- This occurred as Trump has relentlessly complained on Twitter about the Post's coverage of him, has repeatedly called Bezos out by name, and threatened to use the power of his office to retaliate against Bezos unless the Post changes its coverage.
-- Again: **During the trial over Trump's bribery of a foreign leader to malign one of his political enemies,** we learned that another foreign leader -- a Trump ally in another country also heavily reliant on U.S. aid -- hacked the phone of a newspaper owner Trump dislikes!
-- Months after hacking Bezos' phone, that same Saudi leader had a Washington Post columnist murdered because that columnist had criticized him. U.S. intelligence says unequivocally that MBS ordered the murder. Yet Trump continues to defend him.
-- Officials in Brazil filed criminal charges against a U.S. journalist over articles that exposed corruption and abuse of power at the highest levels of Brazil's government. Trump has repeatedly praised Brazil's president. The administration has yet to comment on the charges.
-- Meanwhile, Customs and Border Patrol agents flagrantly defied a federal judge's order and deported an Iranian student who had a valid visa. As of now, it looks like there will be zero repercussions for this.
-- Finally, we learned the Trump admin. is suppressing exculpatory evidence and trying to extradite an innocent man to Iraq, where he'll likely be executed. This is apparently because Trump wants "proof" for his lie that terrorists are exploiting the refugee program.
