October 23, 2018

A Most Mysterious Cut

October 23, 2018October 23, 2018 Buck Banks

Republican lawmakers are puzzled, en masse,
By the source of Trump’s tax cut for the middle class.
It didn’t come from the Hill,
Or his Cabinet shills,
So we’re betting Trump simply pulled it out of his ass.

Trump: ‘He’s Beautiful Ted’

October 23, 2018 Buck Banks

“He’s not Lyin’ Ted anymore. He’s Beautiful Ted.”

— President Trump, saying he has buried the hatchet with his 2016 presidential rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) ahead of a campaign rally for the Republican senator in Houston, The Hill reports.

Avenatti Hit with Judgement of Almost $5 Million

October 23, 2018 Buck Banks

$4.85 million

“Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, was hit with a personal judgment of $4.85 million Monday for his failure to pay a debt to a former colleague at his longtime Newport Beach firm,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

Graham Whines About Saudi Betrayal

October 23, 2018 Buck Banks

Day: October 23, 2018

A Most Mysterious Cut

Trump: ‘He’s Beautiful Ted’

“He’s not Lyin’ Ted anymore. He’s Beautiful Ted.”

— President Trump, saying he has buried the hatchet with his 2016 presidential rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) ahead of a campaign rally for the Republican senator in Houston, The Hill reports.

Avenatti Hit with Judgement of Almost $5 Million

$4.85 million

“Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, was hit with a personal judgment of $4.85 million Monday for his failure to pay a debt to a former colleague at his longtime Newport Beach firm,” the Los Angeles Times reports.

Graham Whines About Saudi Betrayal

“I’ve been the leading supporter along with John McCain of the U.S.-Saudi relationship. I feel completely betrayed.”

— Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), quoted by CNN.

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“The man is afraid of the voice of the people and that the people understand and know what he’s doing. He’s trying to stifle the ability of journalists to let the people of America know what’s really going on with their government.”

— “Kamala Harris called President Donald Trump’s ban of CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House ‘absolutely abhorrent,’” The Wrap reports.

“Not one of them is trained in technical skills. Not one research PhD, as opposed to China, where half the cabinet is science and technology PhDs. We’re led by grifters and fools.”

— Columbia professor Jeffrey Sachs, on X, on President Trump’s 35-person cabinet.

“Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far… The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today.”

— Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), breaking with President Trump in a direct-to-camera video.

Numerati

1,000

10%

“The unprecedented spate of mid-decade redistricting for the U.S. House has changed the congressional districts for one-tenth of Americans and significantly altered the makeup of at least one-fifth of districts, according to a new study,” the Associated Press reports.

71%

A new Fox News Poll finds 71% of voters think the Trump administration lacks a clear strategy for ending the Iran War, including 95% of Democrats, 83% of independents, and 43% of Republicans. Sixty percent say U.S. military action against Iran was the wrong decision, while just 37% say it was right.

$9.5 billion

“The Trump administration last year spent $9.5 billion on paid administrative leave for federal workers as part of its plan to shrink the government and save taxpayers money, according to a new estimate by a congressional watchdog,” CNN reports.

470

Reuters has documented at least 470 targets of retribution under Trump’s leadership – from federal employees and prosecutors to universities and media outlets. The list illuminates the sweeping effort by the president and his administration to punish dissent and reshape the government.