We’re baaaaaaaack! The election is over, but what does it all mean. We get back into the swing of things discussing the election results and what happens next. We also discuss the ouster of Jeff Sessions from the Department of Justice and the White House’s overreaction to Jim Acosta (oh yeah, they lied, too).
Huge news with the announced retirement of Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. His replacement could shape the court of years to come. John Bolton met with Putin today and set the stage for an upcoming meeting for Trump. Is that a good look for the White House? Members of the Trump administration have experienced different forms of protest in recent weeks and there doesn't look to be a end in sight. Melania Trump wore a controversial jacket last week - was it sending a message or what it just poor planning? There is a war brewing between Trump & the Freedom Caucus, but will they actually stand up to the president? Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez defeated long-time congressman Joe Crowley. What does that mean for the future of the Democratic party?
Families are being separated at the border & Trump blames congressional democrats. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristjen Nielsen thinks these separations are because of a law & now a policy. They're wrong. The Inspector General’s report was released & Trump claims that it proves there was no Russian collusion. It doesn't. Trump claimed that parents of Korean War soldiers asked him to bring their children home from North Korea. They probably didn't. Rudy Giuliani thinks that Trump might pardon a lot of people after the Mueller investigation. He probably will.
So much can happen in a week. Prior to the G7 meeting, Trump advocated for bringing Russia back into the meeting (no collusion!), surprising the other world leaders that were attending. After a contentious, but ultimately successful meeting, Trump threw a hissy fit, called Justin Trudeau names & backed out of signing the communique. Later in the week, Trump met with someone more his style - Kim Jong-un. They met, said nice things about each other and accomplished very little. As always, that's a win for the Trump administration. As if that wasn't enough, the Supreme Court ruled that citizens who fail to vote for an extended period of time can be removed from the voter rolls. Democracy at it's finest.
Trump pardoned conservative commentator Dinesh D'Souza and stated he could pardon himself as well. Is that legal? That might end up being a decision for the Supreme Court. The New York Times obtained a copy Trump team memo to Robert Mueller. In it, we learn that the Trump administration lied, though Sarah Huckabee Sanders can't talk about it. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort attempted to tamper with potential witnesses and Mueller revoke his release conditions. Trump announced tariffs on steel and aluminum - Canada, France and the EU are not happy. Finally, former Speaker of the House John Boehner laments the end of the GOP and the rise of the Trump Party.
The Trump White House has gone to war with Rep. Frederica Wilson while a Gold Star widow is stuck in the middle. Bannon has declared war on the GOP establishment, but is it more about his ego than his ideology? Democratic candidates are raking in the money. Does that mean they will win in 2018? The Senate has a bipartisan health care bill with enough support to pass. Will Trump actually sign it? Finally, Bernie Sanders is, and will always be, an independent and not a Democrat. Why are we surprised?
Trump & Mitch McConnell want us to believe that they're best buddies, but we're not buying it. Trump continues to attack all things Obama, this time with an Executive Order focused on the ACA & by pulling the U.S. out of the nuclear agreement with Iran. Trump hopes to pass tax reform by the end of the year, but is that a realistic time frame? Former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort has been linked to a Russian oligarch. Is that just another coincidence? Finally, Senator Dianne Feinstein is facing a primary challenge in her bid for reelection. Is that a good thing?
Trump had his first prime time address to discuss his new policy on Afghanistan & it was a little short on details for our taste. But at least we had some good news with Steve Bannon's firing! Trump is having a rally in Arizona tonight but not everyone thinks it's timing is appropriate. Finally, Trump is still fighting with Mitch McConnell & named Hope Hicks the new communications director.
The U.S. just dropped a MOAB bomb on Afghanistan - the largest non-nuclear bomb in their arsenal. That one is a biggie! Also, it's been a week since the U.S. fired missiles into Syria, Sean Spicer made a big gaffe, Steve Bannon & Jared Kushner are feuding, North Korea might be testing a nuclear bomb, there was a special election in Kansas and we had more fun with Devin Nunes.
President Trump finally made a decision we agree with - he removed Steve Bannon from the National Security Council! But that's where the good news ends. North Korea is shooting off missiles on the eve of the Chinese President's trip to the U.S, the Trump administration has blamed former National Security Adviser Susan Rice of unmasking names for political purposes, Don Jr. thinks the guy behind pizzagate should win the Pulitzer & Blackwater might have had some backroom dealings with Russia on behalf of the President.