2018 - Page 16 of 64

If the Kavanaugh confirmation was strictly evidential,
Donald Trump’s interference would not be consequential.
But while he eschews norms,
There’s something about form,
And mocking a sexual assault victim just ain’t presidential.

Video: Trump Boards Air Force One with Toilet Paper Stuck to His Shoe

October 4, 2018October 5, 2018 Jon Ponder

Update: Apparently not fake.

Public Opposition to Kavanaugh Increases

October 4, 2018 Buck Banks

41%

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds 41% of Americans opposed to Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court, while 33% support him and 26% said they did not know. “Opposition to Kavanaugh grew 4 percentage points after the Sept. 27 Judiciary Committee hearing… Opposition grew every day after the hearing in the poll, conducted between Sept. 25 and Oct. 1.”

Murkowski on Trump’s Ford Comments: ‘Unacceptable’

October 4, 2018 Buck Banks

“I am taking everything into account. I think the president’s comments yesterday mocking Dr. Ford were wholly inappropriate and in my view unacceptable.”

— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), quoted by The Hill, when asked how President Trump’s mockery of Christine Blasey Ford would impact her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

A Third of Voters Can’t Name Their Party’s Candidates

October 4, 2018 Buck Banks

One-Third

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that 34% of registered Republican voters and 32.5% of registered Democratic voters were unable to name their party’s congressional candidate less than five weeks before the midterm election.

Sham FBI ‘Investigation’ Skips Dozens with Information About Kavanaugh

October 4, 2018October 4, 2018 Buck Banks

40

“More than 40 people with potential information into the sexual misconduct allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh have not been contacted by the FBI,” NBC News reports. “The bureau is expected to wrap up its expanded background investigation as early as Wednesday into two allegations against Kavanaugh — one from Christine Blasey Ford and the other from Deborah Ramirez.”

Keeping DeVos Safe Will Cost Us Nearly $8 Million

October 3, 2018 Buck Banks

$7.74 million

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ security detail is projected to cost up to $7.74 million from now through the end of September 2019, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service told Politico.

Flake: Kanauagh Was ‘Sharp and Partisan’

October 3, 2018 Buck Banks

“We can’t have that on the Court.”

— Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), quoted by The Atlantic, after calling Brett Kavanaugh’s interactions with senators “sharp and partisan.”

Bloomberg to Give $20 Million to Support Dem Senate Races

October 3, 2018 Buck Banks

$20 million

Michael Bloomberg “will give $20 million to the main Democratic Senate super PAC this week — jolting the national battle for control of the chamber just five weeks away from the midterm elections,” the Washington Post reports.

41%

“I am taking everything into account. I think the president’s comments yesterday mocking Dr. Ford were wholly inappropriate and in my view unacceptable.”

— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), quoted by The Hill, when asked how President Trump’s mockery of Christine Blasey Ford would impact her vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

One-Third

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds that 34% of registered Republican voters and 32.5% of registered Democratic voters were unable to name their party’s congressional candidate less than five weeks before the midterm election.

40

$7.74 million

Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ security detail is projected to cost up to $7.74 million from now through the end of September 2019, a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service told Politico.

“We can’t have that on the Court.”

— Sen. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), quoted by The Atlantic, after calling Brett Kavanaugh’s interactions with senators “sharp and partisan.”

$20 million

Michael Bloomberg “will give $20 million to the main Democratic Senate super PAC this week — jolting the national battle for control of the chamber just five weeks away from the midterm elections,” the Washington Post reports.

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%

$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.