Paul Manafort used the first day of his tax fraud trial to reveal his defense strategy: blaming his longtime business partner Rick Gateshttps://t.co/n3SxrIDFdE

— The New York Times (@nytimes) July 31, 2018

We also got the first glimpse of Manafort’s defense strategy: the argument that Mueller’s mandate was too broad has been thrown out the window, and Gates has been thrown under the bus. https://t.co/gxoPEO7rTr

— Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) July 31, 2018

Just left phone-free courtroom of #Manafort tax/fraud trial. Govt case sounds strong; defense strategy will be to attack credibility of, blame star witness #RickGates, who flipped. Former clothes horse Manafort, in jail these days, was allowed to wear a suit —but he had no socks.

— howardfineman (@howardfineman) July 31, 2018

My thoughts after 9 hours of Manafort trial proceedings: Mueller’s team painting him as a greedy and wealthy liar. Defense trying to blame Rick Gates for a lot of Manafort’s alleged crimes. Judge wants to move things along. Jury set to hear a lot about Ukraine — not Russia.

— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) July 31, 2018

The charges faced by Manafort and the period during which the crimes are alleged to have occurred. https://t.co/xJmpWxhMHr pic.twitter.com/xxpOJGO3by

— Philip Bump (@pbump) July 31, 2018

"Paul Manafort gambles against all odds at trial" https://t.co/GNeMAx9vaQ pic.twitter.com/N5fcxRujXK

— The Hill (@thehill) July 31, 2018

“You can’t overstate the importance that Paul Manafort had in securing the Republican nomination for Donald Trump… Trump had just lost in Wisconsin and his shaky operation had no organizational apparatus." – @Elise_Jordan w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/mkPWa34zxW

— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) July 31, 2018

High-End Persian Rugs Attend Trial In Show Of Support For Paul Manafort https://t.co/9SrOOnEM9i pic.twitter.com/GdopJo4EWE

— The Onion (@TheOnion) July 31, 2018

SO YOU DID COLLUDE DIDN’T YOU?

Trump says collusion is not a crime as first Russia probe trial begins https://t.co/gIF29gy6Md

— 𝐓𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 (@SoldierofResist) July 31, 2018

Collusion is another way of saying conspiracy. And conspiracy is a felony.

What's remarkable is @realDonaldTrump now has to resort to this desperate defense, that it's okay to conspire with Russia to interfere in US elections. It's not okay because it's a crime. #TuesdayThoughts https://t.co/F4Fd9DnW2x

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) July 31, 2018

Okay, since the post-FISA Russia gaslighting has begun, let's sum up why the Trumper arguments about "no collusion" and "no crime" and all that crap are not only wrong, but morally deficient. Yes, including the Fusion and Steele issue. /1

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) July 31, 2018

Dems say Russia is behind new election disinformation campaign on Facebook https://t.co/OLkRJo6wPt pic.twitter.com/GJKVzHGJje

— The Hill (@thehill) July 31, 2018

Trump admin takes Russia’s side in World Trade Organization case against Ukraine: https://t.co/5DoiHrRzkA pic.twitter.com/QM22ux1juj

— The Hill (@thehill) July 31, 2018

"Scant Progress" In US-China Trade Talks As $200 Billion In Additional Tariffs On The Table https://t.co/t8unrtQEIP

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) August 1, 2018

Nearly 5 decades later, Black Panthers and black militants are still in prison, languishing behind bars even as Panther iconography goes mainstream https://t.co/EahefOAnB4

— Jackie Wang (@LoneberryWang) July 30, 2018

Latest updates as Zimbabwe waits on outcome of first election since ousting of Robert Mugabe https://t.co/j8woHNx2pu

— The Independent (@Independent) July 31, 2018

"Tensions are rising in #Zimbabwe as opposition fears intensify that the election count will be rigged, monitors warn of possible violence if the results are contested, and authorities brace for protests." https://t.co/DbxrfIFZBW #ElectionsZW @burke_jason

— Jeffrey Smith (@Smith_JeffreyT) July 31, 2018

Dear Observers,
Here is evidence of "OPERATION ZERO VOTES" by @ZECzim. At Gore Village Tent in UMP, Chiwenga's Army boys gave ZanuPF 450 votes out of 452 (2 rejected) & other parties ZERO votes. It's impossible for Chamisa to get ZERO anywhere in Zimbabwe. Plz check the residues! pic.twitter.com/wEmSW3I3Jc

— Prof Jonathan Moyo (@ProfJNMoyo) July 31, 2018

With Jeremy Hunt saying a No Deal Brexit could “happen by accident” and ministers suggesting plans to 'turn Kent into a giant lorry park' are just a coincidence is it any wonder the public have long since given up believing a single word this shower says! https://t.co/hd2UfOZUIH

— Peter Stefanovic (@PeterStefanovi2) July 31, 2018

Excl: Theresa May overrules Sajid Javid to insist on special lanes for British passport holders in airports after Brexit https://t.co/RiNtVZnEIN

— Tom Newton Dunn (@tnewtondunn) July 31, 2018

I often complain about the Govt hiding in its bunker and avoiding scrutiny but isn’t it also time @jeremycorbyn came out to do wide ranging interviews about @UKLabour ? Isn’t it his job to explain/defend his position and policies on Brexit, foreign affairs, antisemitism and more?

— Krishnan Guru-Murthy (@krishgm) July 31, 2018

At the time of the Brexit vote, the UK had one of the fastest-growing economies in the G7 industrialised nations. Now it's at the bottom of the league table.

Here's what else you should know about what's happened to the UK economy since the EU referendum: https://t.co/mIbUz7Tjfl pic.twitter.com/0fRTEEoAB1

— Financial Times (@FinancialTimes) July 31, 2018

If the second referendum campaign want the slogan Won’t Get Food Again they can have it for free.

— Tom Hamilton (@thhamilton) July 31, 2018