February 28, 2019

The Limits of Trumplomacy

February 28, 2019 Buck Banks

A Third World dictator meeting with the purported envoy of democracy,
Turned into a futile exercise in global-stage pomp and idiocy.
During amateur hour,
The meeting went sour,
As they explored the outer limits of reality-TV Trumplomacy.

Hanoi: Amateur Hour and the Limits of Reality-TV Diplomacy

February 28, 2019 Buck Banks

“What we saw in Hanoi was amateur hour with nuclear weapons at stake and the limits of reality-TV diplomacy.”

— Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), quoted by The Hill.

Gosar Explains Away Climate Change Via Photosynthesis

February 28, 2019 Buck Banks

“Unfortunately you haven’t been taught about photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is where plants take carbon dioxide to produce oxygen. That’s a problem in today’s world. We haven’t taught kids exactly what’s going on in America and in science.”

— Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), offering an interesting explanation for why he thinks climate change isn’t real, Axios reports.

A Warning from Cohen for Republicans

February 28, 2019 Buck Banks

“I did the same thing you’re doing now for 10 years… protecting Mr. Trump. The more people that follow Mr. Trump blindly are going to suffer the same consequences I’m suffering.”

— Michael Cohen, testifying at the House Oversight Committee hearing yesterday.

Christie: Why Are No Republicans Defending Trump?

February 28, 2019 Buck Banks

“The interesting thing is that there hasn’t been one Republican yet who has tried to defend the president on the substance, and I think that’s something that should be concerning to the White House. Why are no Republicans standing up and defending the president on the substance?”

— Former Gov. Chris Christie (R), in an interview on ABC News about the Michael Cohen hearings.

Phone Polling Response Rate Hits New Low

February 28, 2019 Buck Banks

6%

“The Pew Research Center reported Wednesday that the response rate for its phone polls last year fell to just 6 percent — meaning pollsters could only complete interviews with 6 percent of the households in their samples. It continues the long-term decline in response rates, which had leveled off earlier this decade.”

Day: February 28, 2019

The Limits of Trumplomacy

Hanoi: Amateur Hour and the Limits of Reality-TV Diplomacy

“What we saw in Hanoi was amateur hour with nuclear weapons at stake and the limits of reality-TV diplomacy.”

— Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), quoted by The Hill.

Gosar Explains Away Climate Change Via Photosynthesis

“Unfortunately you haven’t been taught about photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is where plants take carbon dioxide to produce oxygen. That’s a problem in today’s world. We haven’t taught kids exactly what’s going on in America and in science.”

— Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ), offering an interesting explanation for why he thinks climate change isn’t real, Axios reports.

A Warning from Cohen for Republicans

“I did the same thing you’re doing now for 10 years… protecting Mr. Trump. The more people that follow Mr. Trump blindly are going to suffer the same consequences I’m suffering.”

— Michael Cohen, testifying at the House Oversight Committee hearing yesterday.

Christie: Why Are No Republicans Defending Trump?

“The interesting thing is that there hasn’t been one Republican yet who has tried to defend the president on the substance, and I think that’s something that should be concerning to the White House. Why are no Republicans standing up and defending the president on the substance?”

— Former Gov. Chris Christie (R), in an interview on ABC News about the Michael Cohen hearings.

Phone Polling Response Rate Hits New Low

6%

Poetic Justice

Verbatim

“They’ve invested heavily in AI labs. They’ve invested heavily in data centers. So, the first family has a financial stake in this industry, and as a result, the president of the United States is compromised.”

— “Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) on Monday said President Trump will likely not heed calls from technology leaders to implement guardrails on the development of artificial intelligence because of his family’s investments in the industry,” NewsNation reports.

— Jane Haman

“We’re working through some political issues in Israel. I think we agree with them on the end state. They just have a crazy election, and that makes them a little irrational in certain regards.”

— Jared Kushner, quoted by CBS News, on the lack of progress in Gaza.

Numerati

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.

$184 million

50%

38%

31%