Today in the increasingly bizarre state known as Trumpworld…
Grisly photos of children apparently killed in a firefight during the U.S. raid caused outrage in Yemen https://t.co/5m5KoUNXzY
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 8, 2017
Literally as Spicer was saying this McCain was telling me: "I dont believe you can call (the raid in Yemen) a success." https://t.co/7G6xICVgsG
— Frank Thorp V (@frankthorp) February 8, 2017
.@PressSec: "A successful operation by all standards" … USN Seal & kids killed, Osprey lost, AQAP leader fled, Yemen halts US ground ops. https://t.co/YUoFAygn8W
— Moe Davis (U.S. Air Force, Retired) (@ColMoeDavis) February 8, 2017
NBC reports a key part of how Mattis and Dunford sold the Yemen raid was an appeal to Trump's insecurity about Obama https://t.co/KwKfSOnT6l pic.twitter.com/L7njd8Kqer
— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) February 8, 2017
Seems like a totally normal, not at all batshit insane way to make life-and-death decisions about national security. https://t.co/i4PQQnI2o3
— Radley Balko (@radleybalko) February 8, 2017
Here's @paulwaldman1 on what the Yemen raid says about internal Trump White House decisionmaking: https://t.co/V3PPvJIJ2J
— Greg Sargent (@GregTSargent) February 8, 2017
Spicer: Critics of Yemen raid do 'disservice' to dead SEAL https://t.co/H0YD2Z3xMw no memory of R's on Benghazi??
— Jennifer Truth Over Phony Balance Rubin 🇺🇦🇮🇱 (@JRubinBlogger) February 8, 2017
and sure enough, here comes your distraction du jour…
Spicer attacks Nordstrom for discontinuing Ivanka Trump merchandise, calls decision ‘unacceptable’ https://t.co/rUQFPEpLvn pic.twitter.com/CckQgFJRDD
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) February 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/Lb09Natalie/status/829398910905024512
Pretty crazy to call the Nordstrom tweet "a distraction" when it constituents an impeachable abuse of power and conflict all by itself.
— I am Jack's deteriorating rule of law (@LampersMichael) February 8, 2017
3 times in one week, White House press sec. Sean Spicer alluded to a terror attack in Atlanta that never happened https://t.co/WHlCBIxitz pic.twitter.com/PesA0d0YP3
— CNN (@CNN) February 8, 2017
"Our members are not obsessed with the daily tweets," @SenateMajLdr sits down for an interview with @hillhulse https://t.co/SoHHJyKoEg
— Nick Corasaniti (@NYTnickc) February 8, 2017
and of course, there was also a high-profile confirmation hearing in progress…
52 Republicans & 1 Dem just voted to confirm Sessions, who GOP Senate deemed too racist to be federal judge in 1986 https://t.co/LjC2deRFfC
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) February 9, 2017
Black Caucus members storm Senate floor to protest Sessions: https://t.co/K4gMuYDire pic.twitter.com/JcdA603mVo
— The Hill (@thehill) February 8, 2017
Sen. Sessions voted no when both Democrats and Republicans came together to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act. #HoldTheFloor
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) February 8, 2017
Worth noting that the moment Rs had enough w/ Warren was NOT when she hit Sessions' character. It was when she defended black voting rights: pic.twitter.com/v5mJMMubFH
— Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) February 8, 2017
Dear LORD: GOPer says @SenWarren shouldn't criticize Sessions because "Think of his wife." https://t.co/VWym94vYAz
— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) February 8, 2017
Trump's @PressSec Sean Spicer says he'd hope Coretta Scott King would back Sessions for AG https://t.co/OhEg4i7H98 via @cam_joseph
— Leonard Greene (@LeonardGreene) February 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/jbarro/status/829451546115055616
I didn't realize the Constitution had a "no criticizing Trump" clause for Gorsuch to interpret. https://t.co/YJpkeGG7DQ
— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) February 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/jonfavs/status/829457903945871360
A proposed Senate bill would require congressional approval to lift sanctions on Russia. https://t.co/SGoOSc2PHj pic.twitter.com/ll7ZCbYx9O
— NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) February 8, 2017
***
WORLD
Talking of which…
A Russian court convicted Aleksei Navalny, an opposition politician. The move will block him from challenging Putin. https://t.co/nNhuSYxxqd
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 8, 2017
Putin critic Navalny likely barred from Russian presidential race: https://t.co/eq4YK4G5ZS pic.twitter.com/tuO7IS4QPR
— Reuters (@Reuters) February 8, 2017
"The demagogue presents a bleak picture, & the even darker future if he isn’t granted the power to act, & act now." https://t.co/UzgEtxm5ei
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) February 8, 2017
Six aid workers killed after gunmen shoot at Afghan convoy https://t.co/1s9n51sjS6 pic.twitter.com/nbOrjYy1KY
— NBC News (@NBCNews) February 8, 2017
***
meanwhile a big day in…
BREXIT BRITAIN
History is made. MPs vote to trigger divorce from Brussels with huge majority & no amendments. That's what Brexit means Brexit meant
— Nick Robinson (@bbcnickrobinson) February 8, 2017
English carnage.
— Hugh Odling-Smee (@smeeho7) February 8, 2017
The Commons was given a chance to influence Brexit and declined it. We will probably all pay for that mistake. Good for the rebels. https://t.co/fBwfweZGKC
— Douglas (@dijdowell) February 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/TheRightArticle/status/829440271330992134
Boris Johnson has just voted against @ChukaUmunna's amendment to give the NHS an extra £350m a week after Brexit. I'll just leave this here. pic.twitter.com/QSXCh5A0S4
— James Cleverley (@JamesCleverley1) February 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/jimwaterson/status/829429560689192961
When all Brexit excuses made, Labour's most "left-wing" leader ever has been the Tories' ally on the greatest issue of the day
— Nick Cohen (@NickCohen4) February 8, 2017
UK shadow business secretary Clive Lewis resigns from Labour's front bench, saying he cannot back Brexit bill https://t.co/58SlxLl2PX
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) February 8, 2017
The almost laughable disarray of the opposition Labour Party was highlighted by leader Jeremy Corbyn’s tweet… (the comments are priceless)
Real fight starts now. Over next two years Labour will use every opportunity to ensure Brexit protects jobs, living standards & the economy.
— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) February 8, 2017
inevitably raising – again – speculation over his future and overshadowing a win at Wednesday’s PMQs…
Corbyn's job is done. Brexit achieved. Labour made unelectable. He can now retire knowing he's the worst leader Labour has ever had. https://t.co/zJBsBbc8o7
— Paul Singh (@Paul1Singh) February 8, 2017
Ed Miliband wasn't quite up to the job. Corbyn doesn't even know what the job is. Brexit is not Labour's fault, but it is Labour's failure
— Greg Jenner (@greg_jenner) February 8, 2017
Corbyn says secret deal between Surrey council and government to avoid 15% council tax rise for social carehttps://t.co/r1Whn9y9XA #PMQs pic.twitter.com/ywn5VIMOxg
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) February 8, 2017
So after all that, lets play a game: what do you think is most likely to happen first…
a. Trump sacks Sean Spicer
b. Jeremy Corbyn quits as Labour leader, or
c. Trump revokes the Gorsuch nomination?
***
Finally… safe travels.
Former 'It girl' Tara Palmer-Tomkinson found dead https://t.co/O9FvHOQPeA pic.twitter.com/eQtc5cW8B5
— BBC News (UK) (@BBCNews) February 8, 2017
The Overnight Note 