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1.A personal attempt here via differing efforts of others to try and make some sense of the Trump ‘Fire & Fury’ that has dominated the entire media cycle the last week.
2. First, the author of the book, Michael Wolff. First, his take on the November 2016 election: hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-w…
3. In reality, Wolff hates legacy media, including "pious sermon" giving", "bordering on being quite a ridiculous figure" @brianstelter of @cnn's @ReliableSources. Wolff's post-election criticisms of legacy media were relentless.
realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/02/…
realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/02/…
@brianstelter @CNN @ReliableSources 4. Dig even farther back and one finds Wolff wrote a 2004 book, "Autumn of the Moguls". Ready for an understatement? The book is highly critical of legacy media.
Publisher's Weekly's scathing review of the same book went as follows:
Publisher's Weekly's scathing review of the same book went as follows:
5. "Wolff's contention that the [legacy media] industry is a chain of con games in which the last domino is about to fall and Wolff is the only one brave enough to say so."
6. His history makes clear that the only thing he'd enjoy more than watching the legacy media get destroyed, is taking an ACTIVE role in its downfall, or "imminent economic collapse" as described in "Autumn of the Moguls".
6. Going to 2017. Wolff gives his interpretation on the media dynamic and Trump. “The Media Keeps Losing It’s Mind.”
7. “In every situation he seems to be provoking an overreaction, as we try to go after his credibility, our credibility equally becomes a problem…Individual journalists are having a nervous breakdown.”
8. And yet Wolff's book--if taken at face value--shows that Wolff is utterly BLIND to how Trump manipulates the media. Even though Wolff had articulated EXACTLY how Trump manipulates the media.
8. Prior to the book being released, Trump (as we are told) issued a ‘cease and desist’ letter. This only amplified its national media attention even further. Trump’s legal team would know that this would have been a largely frivolous effort, very likely to fail.
9. The book releases, 1st week of January 2018.
11. Some claims included;
- Trump walks around the White House in his white bathrobe
- He is in bed most nights by 6.30pm eating cheeseburgers and ranting at 3 multiple screens
- He never wanted to win the Presidency, and was upset when he lost (only running to be more famous)
- Trump walks around the White House in his white bathrobe
- He is in bed most nights by 6.30pm eating cheeseburgers and ranting at 3 multiple screens
- He never wanted to win the Presidency, and was upset when he lost (only running to be more famous)
12. Here is a clip from 1988 with Trump on Oprah Winfrey, talking about aspirations to run for and win the Presidency, if he felt he ever needed to should he feel it necessary – and that he only ever does something to win.
15."New York Times star reporter Maggie Haberman got her hands on an advanced copy and called it “thin but readable” and made it clear that she didn’t believe everything Wolff claimed.
16. “Several things that are true and several that are not. Light in fact-checking and copy-editing,” Haberman tweeted.
17. Washington Post senior political reporter Aaron Blake noted that most of the excerpts were unbelievable before adding, “Some of it, literally so.”
18. Blake pointed out, “Wolff has taken some of the most gossiped-about aspects of the Trump White House and put them forward as fact – often plainly stated fact without even anonymous sources cited.”
19. A selection of other journalists take on the books reliability and credibility. 
20. Another perspective on the book and the media generally. washingtonexaminer.com/michael-wolffs…
21.‘Wolff’s account of the White House is, however, literally unbelievable. His account implies that President Trump did not know who John Boehner was at a time when Boehner and Trump were frequent golfing buddies.
22. 'Multiple members of the White House have disputed what he quoted them saying, while the way that Wolff’s account is written makes it impossible for readers to discern if Wolff was actually there or is recreating conversations based on interviews with unnamed sources.'
23. 'Wolff recreates situations that some subjects have disputed ever occurred.’
24. A few days after launch, WikiLeaks publishes a free PDF online, after another was leaked online. As of yet, no complaint from Wolff as to this happening for IP infringement and loss of revenue from this action.
25. Wolff says that EVERYONE around Trump thinks he is a moron, an idiot and a child.
26. Some of those that serve him include the most distinguished military Generals in US history, General Kelly, (Chief of Staff), General Mattis (Defence Secretary) and General McMaster (National Security Adviser), as well as General Mike Flynn who preceded him.
27. We are meant to believe that such people would defy their principles and continue to serve in their positions in a White House administration of chaos and under a toddler with constant tantrums.
28. Monday 9th Jan – Wolff admits he didn’t interview ANY cabinet members for the book. dailycaller.com/2018/01/08/wol…
29. Wolff appearing on Stephen Colbert, known for his continual anti-Trump stances, telling him and us; ‘you should believe all of Fire & Fury.’
30. Suffice to say, the media coverage globally has been relentless over this book with constant interview appearances by Wolff, and response from Trump and White House individuals.
31. Sun Tzu: The Art of War. Widely considered to be the military bible of warfare and strategy.
32. “All warfare is based on deception”
“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant”.
“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him”
“If your opponent is of choleric temper, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant”.
“Hold out baits to entice the enemy. Feign disorder, and crush him”
33. As the above dominated the news cycle in January, what else happened?
35. Subpeona for the authors of the Russian dossier, Fusion GPS, used as the basis for the Trump Russia collusion media narrative the last 12 months.
edition.cnn.com/2018/01/04/pol…
edition.cnn.com/2018/01/04/pol…
37. Who is an ardent student and adherent to the principles espoused by Sun Tzu?
38. A video from November 2016 on his run to President and the tactics employed vs The GOP, the media, and Hilary Clinton; ultimately trolling his way to a victory thought impossible.
38. An event taking place shortly to consider in this context. The Fake News Awards, as tweeted by Trump, on January 17th. 2 days prior, there is important report out: spartareport.com/2018/01/bombsh…
39. .An event taking place shortly to consider in this context. The Fake News Awards, as tweeted by Trump, on January 17th. As well as this major report, on the 15th.
spartareport.com/2018/01/bombsh…
spartareport.com/2018/01/bombsh…
40. Has the realisation finally started to dawn for some? wapo.st/2Dj6ljc
41. Perhaps all the above is a selection of incoherent nonsense, some mine, some others. Just felt compelled to try and connect some dots, so others would at least consider the drama that has been taking place. Hope you found it of interest and enjoyed. THE END.
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