It all seems to be happening very quickly tonight.
Just today: Trump admin declined to impose new Russia sanctions, a top FBI official probing Trump&Russia was forced out, and House Intel R's voted to release a classified memo that purports to undermine Russia probe. Also, DOJ/FBI are officially under investigation by HPSCI R's.
— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) January 29, 2018
The Trump admin has notified Congress that last year’s bipartisan Russia sanctions bill is serving as a “deterrent” and as such, specific sanctions aren’t needed at this time. From a State Dept spox: pic.twitter.com/rwkd6Vzh66
— Elana Schor (@eschor) January 29, 2018
Today, two lines were crossed — obstruction of the investigation with McCabe's removal, and refusal to uphold the Russia sanctions.
Previously the GOP had said they wouldn't stand for either. But they are increasingly sycophantic, docile and afraid: https://t.co/i8V7Aj59cr
— Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) January 29, 2018
Increasingly sure we're not getting to other side of this without some kind of genunine constitutional crisis in where it's an open question which institutions hold.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) January 30, 2018
"Trump has overwhelmed our senses with a near-daily deluge of offense." What to expect from Trump's State of the Union: Hollow words from a morally bankrupt man https://t.co/aEI1Ew0DGQ
— Katrina vandenHeuvel (@KatrinaNation) January 29, 2018
Media, let’s break the cycle:
* Trump reads a speech off a teleprompter and doesn’t puke on himself
* media coverage says wow, so presidential
* next morning he returns to himself
* the rest of us save your tweets/headlines and remind you how ridiculous you look. #SOTU— Amy Siskind (@Amy_Siskind) January 28, 2018
Guests invited to Trump's "State of the Uniom" after typo was printed on tickets https://t.co/b490uW00hq pic.twitter.com/UkJjw5rZSf
— The Hill (@thehill) January 29, 2018
For the first time ever, the State of the Union will stream live on Twitter!
Here's how to watch:
🕘 Tomorrow at 9 p.m. ET
💬 #SOTU
📱 https://t.co/rpm7oF5WXo👇— Twitter News (@TwitterNews) January 29, 2018
Trump campaign’s livestream of State of the Union speech will display campaign donors’ names on screen. pic.twitter.com/FyF9QaLZSh
— Derek Willis (@derekwillis) January 29, 2018
How important will Trump’s words at tomorrow’s State of the Union really be? “This is something that really is sort of a packaged presentation. I wouldn’t take it that seriously” – @BeschlossDC @MSNBChttps://t.co/9S5xyzYP1t
— Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) January 29, 2018
Conservative radio host: Trump should round up Dreamers attending State of the Union and deport them https://t.co/eDLEpmOv12 pic.twitter.com/ytAEpr4ong
— The Hill (@thehill) January 29, 2018
These lawmakers will not attend President Trump's State of the Union https://t.co/rhN9f1cjZf
— TIME (@TIME) January 29, 2018
Watergate historian warns Trump is going ‘beyond’ what Nixon did: ‘We are two tweets away from a Constitutional crisis’ https://t.co/K1N40YhqFK
— Raw Story (@RawStory) January 29, 2018
Rep. Joe Kennedy III's selection as rebutter-in-chief nods to a younger generation of Democratic lawmakers, in a party whose congressional leadership is dominated by septuagenarians. https://t.co/7fxWm1GC9Z
— NPR (@NPR) January 29, 2018
"There is an old line about the media: We don’t cover the planes that land safely. Most politicians try to get media coverage while landing the plane safely." Trump? He "dominates news cycle after news cycle by crashing planes into Twitter." https://t.co/2zVPzAn12x
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 29, 2018
Meanwhile…
Andrew McCabe Steps Down at F.B.I. in Widely Expected Move https://t.co/BttiAx6ZJh
— Adam Goldman (@adamgoldmanNYT) January 29, 2018
.@FrankFigliuzzi1: McCabe is a committed FBI agent and no FBI agent ever wants to become the story…his stepping down is not surprising, but the timing is interesting. #AMR
— Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) January 29, 2018
This may very well be McCabe’s own decision, but given Trump’s demands for his ouster and his ongoing pressure on DOJ/FBI, Wray ought to explain to Congress what has happened as soon as possible. https://t.co/LlrOkklCzi
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) January 29, 2018
Trump told McCabe to ask his wife how it felt to be a loser: report https://t.co/WvYOV90z6E pic.twitter.com/zauOnGoyRj
— The Hill (@thehill) January 29, 2018
I think Mueller's days are numbered https://t.co/zqSpulOikv
— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) January 29, 2018
FBI Director Chris Wray and Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein were at the White House today for a meeting with Chief of Staff John Kelly, according to a White House official.
— Jordyn Phelps (@JordynPhelps) January 29, 2018
***
BATSHIT BREXIT BRITAIN
Government's own analysis:
Under free trade agreement with the EU – Theresa May’s stated objective in the negotiations – UK growth will be 5% lower over next 15 years.
"No deal" scenario, where UK reverts to WTO rules, would increase damage to 8%. https://t.co/nPSSYncDqr
— Jim Pickard (@PickardJE) January 29, 2018
BREAKING: EU General Affairs Council adopts guidelines for #Brexit negotiations within 2 min: status quo transition without institutional representation, lasting from #Brexit date to 31 December 2020 pic.twitter.com/3BSrNY3qbF
— Sabine Weyand (@WeyandSabine) January 29, 2018
"The EU position is very clear: the transition will last for 21 months until the 31st of December 2020. The whole EU acquis will continue to apply to the UK, as well as the jurisdiction of the EU Court of Justice". @MichelBarnier #Brexit https://t.co/L30op7XgBt pic.twitter.com/ydEqtX1VSc
— European Commission (@EU_Commission) January 29, 2018
European Union's deputy Brexit negotiator Sabine Weyand says the EU is offering the UK "status quo transition without institutional representation" until the end of 2020 after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019
— Sky News Newsdesk (@SkyNewsBreak) January 29, 2018
We are now 19 months on from the referendum and neither Parliament nor the rest of EU are any the wiser about what the Government actually wants from the Brexit negotiations. Extraordinary and unacceptable.
— Hilary Benn (@hilarybennmp) January 29, 2018
Angela Merkel had journalists “laughing uproariously” about Theresa May and Brexit, according to an account of a secret Davos briefing https://t.co/wdVrNg0h1a
— The Times of London (@thetimes) January 29, 2018
Brilliant by @JananGanesh: Tories may get rid of May because she's "a dud", but it won't change Brexit https://t.co/2Ol5g08zTs pic.twitter.com/SGUnyQrj8a
— John Rentoul (@JohnRentoul) January 29, 2018
Captains of industry have doubts about UK government efforts to achieve the best Brexit agreement https://t.co/98W0t2xHmD
— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) January 29, 2018
Billionaire behind hard Brexit lobby group buys himself Maltese citizenship – so he’ll keep EU benefits even as his organisation argues you should lose yours https://t.co/tL8fSrLYTT @financialtimes
— Henry Foy (@HenryJFoy) January 29, 2018
***
WORLD
Syria talks in Russia's Sochi 'may undermine UN peace efforts' https://t.co/adijoaqGAo pic.twitter.com/qkTqRYWfpP
— Al Jazeera News (@AJENews) January 29, 2018
Thread..
Hearing reports that Syrian regime aircraft have attacked this convoy a few minutes ago.
If confirmed, this is SERIOUS. https://t.co/FQTX8ehlbm— Salman Shaikh (@Salman_Shaikh1) January 29, 2018
South Africa has been urged to declare a state of national disaster with Cape Town just weeks away from becoming the first major city in the world to run out of water https://t.co/1wXOGK6WOM
— The Times of London (@thetimes) January 29, 2018
Thousands of people in Kenya are getting basic income for 12 years in an experiment that could redefine social welfare around the world – Business Insider https://t.co/pbguU3MhvN
— Michiel @ MbuyuCap (@fromthebaobab) January 29, 2018
Sisi emerges from closed meeting with leaders of Ethiopia and Sudan in Addis. Egyptian reporter: “was the crisis resolved sir?” Sisi: “there is no crisis”. Egyptian reporters in unison: “Congratulations sir”. https://t.co/yGOIVqr8SS
— hossam bahgat (@hossambahgat) January 29, 2018
The referendum on Ireland's abortion ban will be held at the end of May, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has just announced
— Siobhán Fenton (@SiobhanFenton) January 29, 2018
Lord Patten calls on Theresa May to challenge China over Hong Kong https://t.co/QIi81AYPzk
— Guardian World (@guardianworld) January 29, 2018
BREAKING: It Finally Happened: David Beckham awarded Miami MLS team, will begin play 2020 https://t.co/ysdC3YS3kf @miamiherald @MLS @heraldsports #Beckham
— Michelle Kaufman (@kaufsports) January 29, 2018
Incredibly overdue. https://t.co/6FjXMTEjBi
— Philip Bump (@pbump) January 29, 2018
*meaningful looks in Roger Goodell's direction* https://t.co/AH7rrEaNT5
— Max J. Rosenthal (@maxjrosenthal) January 29, 2018
