THREAD: How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s one:

Sen. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

1/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

2/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

3/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

4/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. John Boozman of Arkansas decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

5/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Mike Braun of Indiana decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

6/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

7/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s one:

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

8/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

9/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Susan Collins of Maine decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

10/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. John Cornyn of Texas decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

11/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

12/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

13/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Mike Crapo of Idaho decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

14/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

15/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Steve Daines of Montana decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

16/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Mike Enzi of Wyoming decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

17/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

18/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

19/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

20/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

21/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

22/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

23/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

24/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

25/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

26/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

27/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

28/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

29/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Mike Lee of Utah decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

30/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Kelly Loeffler of Georgia decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

31/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

32/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Martha McSally of Arizona decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

33/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

34/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

35/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

36/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. David Perdue of Georgia decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

37/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

38/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Jim Risch of Idaho decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

39/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

40/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

41/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

42/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

43/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Rick Scott of Florida decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

44/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

45/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

46/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Dan Sullivan of Alaska decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

47/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. John Thune of South Dakota decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

48/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

49/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

50/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Roger Wicker of Mississippi decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

51/52
How did we get into this Trump-driven crisis?

Less than 10 months ago, the Senate could have removed him from office. Fifty-two senators have some explaining to do.

Here’s another one:

Sen. Todd Young of Indiana decided to leave Trump in the presidency.

They all chose.

/end
(And yes, 198 representatives refused to even impeach him on either charge. I know. But I’m not about to do a 198-tweet thread. Have at it if you wish.). /endend

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More from @DavidPriess

29 Jun
THREAD: If Trump, as reported, both doesn’t actually read the President’s Daily Brief and sometimes loses patience for the oral briefings he gets on it 2-3 times a week, how unusual would this be?

Quite.

First, a reminder of why it’s an issue now.

1/16
nytimes.com/2020/06/27/us/…
Here’s some history:

The PDB was founded on the President’s Intelligence Checklist, created for John Kennedy in 1961.

Kennedy didn’t have Intelligence Community (IC) briefers discuss it with him, but he usually read it daily. When busy, he caught up on it every few days.

2/16
The President’s Daily Brief itself started in 1964 for Lyndon Johnson.

Like JFK, he took no in-person PDB briefings from intelligence community officers. Instead he read the book avidly, often late at night while sitting in bed.

Sometimes, as shown here, in the morning.

3/16
Read 16 tweets
28 Jun
Hi. It’s the President’s Daily Brief guy.

Let’s look at the logic and the implications of the claim that neither Trump nor Pence were briefed on the intelligence assessment that Russia offered bounties to Taliban-linked militants to kill US/coalition troops in Afghanistan.

1/10
First, read the NYT article by @charlie_savage, @EricSchmittNYT, and @mschwirtz, with details about the reported Russian military intel unit behind this, the high-level USG discussions about responses, and the White House not authorizing any of them.

2/10
nytimes.com/2020/06/26/us/…
The article claims Trump was briefed on the assessment.

The White House claims he wasn’t.

Normally, presidential aides would want to *avoid* telling the world he’s ill-informed. That doing so looks like their best strategy here reveals much.

Let’s examine the options.

3/10
Read 10 tweets
28 Apr
THREAD: President Trump reportedly doesn’t read the President’s Daily Brief and sometimes loses patience even for the oral briefings he gets on it only 2-3 times each week.

How unusual is this?

First, tonight’s @gregpmiller and @nakashimae article:

1/16
washingtonpost.com/national-secur…
Here’s the history:

The PDB was founded on the President’s Intelligence Checklist, created for John Kennedy in 1961.

Kennedy usually read it daily. When particularly busy, he caught up on it every few days. But he never had a CIA briefer talk through it with him.

2/16
The President’s Daily Brief started in 1964 for Lyndon Johnson.

He read the book avidly, often late at night while sitting in bed. Sometimes, as shown here, in the morning.

But, like his predecessor, he took no in-person PDB briefings from intelligence community officers.

3/16
Read 16 tweets
30 Mar
THREAD: Inspired by others, each day I’ll tweet two of the books that I recommend on specific topics. Mostly national security, politics, intelligence, history, and world affairs, but with some twists thrown in.
Today’s topic: How the Cold War ended.

“The United States and the End of the Cold War” by John Lewis Gaddis

“The End of the Cold War, 1985-1991” by Robert Service ImageImage
Today’s topic: The value of science, reason, and critical thinking:

“The Demon-Haunted World: Science as a Candle in the Dark” by Carl Sagan

“Skeptic: Viewing the World with a Rational Eye” by Michael Shermer ImageImage
Read 125 tweets
15 Mar
Today my son asked me why I hadn’t yet watched the Lord of the Rings trilogy with him. I simply replied, “I don’t take responsibility at all.”
Today my son asked me why I slept in this morning after I’d suggested that I wouldn’t. I simply replied, “I don’t take responsibility at all.”
Today my son asked me why I haven’t yet written my third book. I simply replied, “I don’t take responsibility at all.”
Read 7 tweets
8 Mar
A thread on intelligence, the risk of politicization, and leadership of the US intel community.

First, read this @NatashaBertrand article describing the concern among many former intel officers about the nomination of Rep. John Ratcliffe.

1/14
politico.com/news/2020/03/0…
“Anyone who does not come with extensive intelligence experience,” I said in the article about incoming intel leaders, “is automatically and quickly viewed as a threat because of the risk of the politicization of intelligence.”

Let me explain:

2/14
politico.com/news/2020/03/0…
Politicization can be defined as changing intel conclusions based on a policymaker’s policy wishes.

Telling POTUS what he wants to hear is tempting for intel leaders—even when a POTUS respects analysis at odds with his views. And, well, this one...

3/14
foreignpolicy.com/2018/07/26/the…
Read 14 tweets

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