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Too much news! Alas, only one David Waldman for today’s KITM.

 “Like two kids in a lot, you gotta let them fight” is of course, piss-poor parenting. Now Donald Trump, who never was a parent, somehow ended up becoming the nightmare stepfather of civilization, so therefore he let one kid rape, stone to death and generally clean out the other kids this week.

For decades, Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani played the rusty trombone of Z-list celebrity, leading that big Roy Cohn/Stanley Friedman-corrupt parade out from New York City to eventually take over our Republic, and... here we are.

OK, what hit the fan yesterday? Well, Mick Mulvaney showed expected grace under pressure during his statement/not a statement about “quid pro quo”. Rick Perry pointed at Donald, pointed at Rudy, said it’s been cool, and is out of here. William Barr hopes to Sergeant Schultze his way out of this mess, and Michael McKinley… he just wishes there wasn’t so much politics. 

Rudy Colludy’s pal Igor Fruman foiled dyslectics while making $100K in illegal campaign donations.

Trump National Doral Miami should be in peak heat, humidity, and infestation around the time of the next G7, and also about 1/3 occupied, so what do you think Trump did about that? It’s only logical.

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Elijah Cummings, patriot and fighter for civil rights at least since he hit double digits, passed away way too soon at 68. At the moment, Donald Trump can’t think of anything bad to say about him… but the day’s young.

David Waldman and Greg Dworkin rejoice in Cumming’s life and career, and lament about Donald Trump’s today.

Weakling, fool, and destined to be looked on forever as a devil, Trump pleads with Recep Erdoğan not to follow him down that path. Erdoğan isn’t listening. Hopefully, the big cheese over in Italy wasn’t listening either. Donald Trump has run out of Hells he is not going to, now that he’s losing evangelical Christians over his slaughter of Kurds.

Everything is melting down for Trump, as Rick Perry begins his swirl around the Ukraine drain. The Club for Growth accuses Mitt Romney of being a secret asset in collusion, but have yet to find his Ukraine or Putin link.

As Nancy Pelosi can tell you, “all roads lead to Putin”. On the other hand… Trump’s hands are small, but they are the only ones that are dirty here, and voters know it, even Republican ones. Will corporate women vote “corporate” or “woman” when voting for Elizabeth Warren?

Ian Reifowitz, author of The Tribalization of Politics: How Rush Limbaugh's Race-Baiting Rhetoric on the Obama Presidency Paved the Way for Trump, pops in to promote a book, Merge Left: Fusing Race and Class, Winning Elections, and Saving America, by Ian Haney López. You should pick up both today, as the Ians’ ideas and conclusions dovetail nicely. Instead of allowing those in power to pit racism against classism, Democrats have an opportunity to clearly show they can improve the lives of large numbers of Americans, adding to their base of voters while drawing again from the middle. How about “We'll cut your taxes and guarantee your health care” for a start?

Or, you could be a Trump insider trader.

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Well, we blew it. Donald Trump noticed no one ever even read him his rights, so now there can be no impeachment. Not only that, but he’s now allowed to call double-impeach backsies on Pelosi, Schiff, Clinton, Obama, Maddow, etc.

David Waldman has an “opposing opinion”, of course, which he brings up on today’s KITM, along with the Wednesday help of Greg Dworkin and Joan McCarter:

A trio of schmegeggies might finally get their share of the tsuris. The recently resigned Mike Pompeo advisor Michael McKinley is testifying today. Former ambassador Kurt Volker makes a surprise return.  John Bolton will soon get his say. The line starts here. Here’s why Trump wants a House vote on impeachment. Oh, and ProPublica reveals never-before-seen Trump tax documents, showing a set of books for the tax guy and a set for the lender.

Alas, all Trump people are mentally ill to some level. Trump advisor Peter Navarro often quotes his invisible friend. Rudy Colludy, Donald’s bag man, also ran errands for Recep Erdoğan. Democrats are torn over whether to tear Giuliani a new one.

The Democrats don’t have a frontrunner. Shouldn’t they be doing something about that? Joan found about a dozen of them on TV last night, and took notes. She recommends staying out of fights and on topic, preferably healthcare.

In international, sort of, news: A couple of Brits drove around a moose or something and were captured by ICE along with their 3 month old. And, Donald Trump tried to introduce, Maury Povich style, a UK couple to the woman that ran over their son.

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“Top News” honors this morning go to the bombshells coming out of Fiona Hill’s deposition, as opposed to the bum shills being kicked out of it. The White House did its usual song and dance to try to prevent it from going forward, but Hill had an actual lawyer, and they weren’t having it.

Gordon Sondland is up next, and he may have a few bombshells of his own.

Speaking of bombshells, it turns out that Turkey may end up with more—50 more, to be exact—than they had going into this disaster in Syria. And that’s if we’re lucky. But don’t worry, it’s just loose nukes within reach of 11,000 newly-freed ISIS prisoners, and Rick Perry and Mike Pompeo are on the job!

What a time to have no Secretary of Homeland Security, eh?

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David Waldman leads us on a in-depth discussion of Columbus Day... Indigenous Peoples' Day… Canadian Thanksgiving Day. Whatever you celebrate, you probably didn’t get the day off. No one gets a day off from Donald Trump, except maybe Donald Trump. He certainly must have figured a way out of having to live with himself.

Donald shot a lot of people on 5th Avenue this weekend, so maybe he had a point there in ‘16, or maybe he’s hoping for arriving ISIS immigrants to vote Trump 2020.

Trump followers have devised the most Trump-like revenge upon Kathy Griffith imaginable. Take it, libs!

Trump was lying about China. Often, and recently too.

David connects some more Ukraine-Trump-Lev Parnas-Dmytro Firtash-Giuliani dots. Rudy took Lev to a funeral, that surprisingly was neither of theirs. So much of this scheming spun around former Ukraine Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, which might explain that hairstyle.

Fiona Hill was the White House’s former top adviser on Russia, so she might as well never bothered to come in to work. Apparently she did, though, therefore she showed up today at the Capitol to testify in the ongoing impeachment inquiry.

Susan Collins’ delicate sensibilities were chafed by a constituent who hopes she retires to a quiet, offense-free future. Speaking about winning Maine, Eric Posman brings another in a series of Senate Snippets™ audio missives explaining the how and why.

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This Friday, In tony neighborhoods throughout DC, there are so many questions for those planning their escape this weekend, from who has the quickest turnaround on bulk passports, to which wines to pair with swallowing Krugerrands. David Waldman has the answers to these questions, just not the time on today’s info-packed KITM :

Steve Mnuchin prefers his cash domestic, and seems to have swallowed about $100 million. White House staffers without escape plans are thinking of “staycations” through the remainder of the Trump administration.

David reviews the Ukrainegate timeline. More gems are being discovered, most put there by Donald Trump himself. At least four national security officials raised alarms before Trump’s Ukraine call, with the Pentagon pronouncing it illegal. The seediest couple outside of a Sling commercial,  Joe diGenova and Victoria Toensing, hired Lev Parnas as an interpreter for Ukrainian Dmitry Firtash.

Bob and Becky Mercer’s rainy day fund has been going to Trump, but some has been showing up in Rudy Colludy’s pockets as well. Giuliani frugally recycles printouts from a right-wing blog site as whatever he needs at the time. On the topic of propaganda and obstruction, RealClear Media has a secret Facebook page to push far-right memes, William Barr was forced to call Rupert Murdoch into his office after Fox disappointed Trump , and here’s the story of how the Hill became Trump’s disinformation megaphone.

On the positive side, Ambassador Gordon Sondland will step over White House blocks to show up and testify after all. Former U.S. Ambassador To Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch, will also need to hire a food taster after showing up to testify today. And, an appeals court has rejected Trump’s appeal of the House Oversight Committee’s subpoena for his financial records. The Judge called Donald’s lack of response “repugnant”. Deutsche bank might agree that it’s repugnant, but finds that’s just one more reason to cover their, and Trump’s tracks.

Frank Rizzo got hold of Lindsey Graham for a couple of calls to chat about Lindsey and Donald’s admiration of Recep Erdoğan. Meanwhile, Trump had a rally in Minnesota, and it seems like less and less will take what he’s having.

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One thing is certain. Being buried under an avalanche of ping-pong balls is less than what Donald Trump deserves.

Today, David Waldman is joined by Greg Dworkin, (The “Hugh Brannum” of KITM), along with Greg’s wonderdog Abby (Woof!), to cover the latest consequences of enabling Donald Trump (Rough!). In fact, it has become fatal for Kurds in Turkey. Will “Many will die, but not me!” look good on a red cap? (Ralph!) America First makes us a loser everywhere.

For this reason and many more, more than half of voters would be happy with a non-President Trump. Impeachment is a thing that just might unite us.

Of course, Trump despises reality, and the impeachment inquiry has become a little too real for him and his lawyers. In other obstruction of justice news, Trump tried to make Rex Tillerson make the Justice Department drop a case against Rudy Giuliani’s Iranian-Turkish client. Now, we ain’t saying he’s a gold trader… Actually yes, that, and more. We’ve also been telling you those Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman guys were up to no good, and we were right.

U.S. billionaires are now paying a lower tax rate than the working class. Hopefully someone has a plan to fix that... Elizabeth Warren is rising in the polls, but it isn’t because Joe Biden is dropping, Joe just might have quit going up. (Roof!)

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It seems like just a matter of time before Donald Trump pops his baggy suit inside out, revealing a brigadier general outfit, his hair into a helmet, and commandeers a jeep out of DC... but it just doesn’t feel soon enough.

Meanwhile, David Waldman has the whole day blocked off to work out his thoughts concerning another Big Guy with Great and Unmatched Wisdom he knows, but as usual could not resist putting together a little something for us:

David does the color commentary on Darren Samuelsohn’s play by play of the US District Court hearing to get Robert Mueller’s grand jury materials.

The US pulling out of both Syria and the Open Skies Treaty would be the best birthday present for Vladimir Putin. Recep Erdoğan could hardly wait to open his present. For those not presently dying on a Turkish battlefield, Trump’s Ukraine call was one of the scariest things they have witnessed. Ukraine’s former Prosecutor General, Yuri Lutsenko funneled vital potential witness Konstantin Kilimnik to Russia before Robert Mueller could get to him. The scramble to escape Ukraine began the moment Trump hung up the phone.

Neither Donald Trump’s or Boris Johnson’s intelligence officers trust them as far as they could throw them. Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, seems really in sync with his guys.

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Yom Kippur is coming up, and shortly David Waldman will need to take time to atone for sins Rick Perry prompted him into over the course of this year. We still might get a pre-sundown pre-recorded KITM by tomorrow, but today we get a brand-new live-to-AIFF file KITM!

And, that’s good, because as fast as the Ukraine dots get sprayed in the news, David is here to connect them for us. David encouraged us to look at the bigger picture in the Ukrainian con, and to always follow the money... and the liquified natural gas pipelines, to better understand that if there’s corruption in the world, Donald Trump needs a piece of it. Gordon Sondland, founder and chairman of Provenance Hotels, big Republican donor, and United States Ambassador to the EU, was blocked at 12:30 this morning from appearing before the House. Adam Schiff finds that contemptible, although not in so many words. Bill Taylor, ambassador replacement for the too-smart Marie Yovanovitch, attempted some intelligent behavior of his own with Sondland to build his CYA paper trail, bandying about “quid pro quo” and such, to which Gordon replied “Ixnay with the extays already”.

Yesterday, Trump purported to pull forces out of Syria, a big surprise to the Pentagon, and the people stuck in Syria. Today, Donald announced he’ll have Turkey’s president over for Thanksgiving dinner, during which Trump will discover how they stole American jobs.

More dots in search of lines: Would you have guessed that “a tireless self-promoter of mysterious means” was responsible for getting lovebirds Donald and Melania together? Jeffrey Epstein’s girlfriend, pedophile procurrer (alleged), and philanthropist (alleged), Ghislaine Maxwell attempts to fade away. The head of the US Department of Transportation generally only meets with Kentuckians for some reason.

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Monday. Another day and… hey, another day? We’re all still here! Donald Phumpher Trump laid in bed with various bowls and spoons and switchers and didn’t get around to completely wiping out everything this weekend...

Well, except for the Kurds. They are out of luck, again. (And again, and again.) Donald just might be a professional wrestling hero, or a cartoon villain, but former Presidential Envoy Brett McGurk knows he’s no Commander-in-Chief. Even Lindsey Graham took a second to pop his head out and complain about Trump’s Syria policy. Time to sign the #3 Trump Tower deal.

David Waldman is joined by Greg Dworkin to play Jenga with Trump’s house of cards:

You knew Rick Perry would turn up eventually on Presidential Apprentice. (Place those bets on now on Ben Carson!) Who would have guessed Donald Trump’s search for corruption in Ukraine would turn up Donald Trump? Well, KITM listeners, probably. Liquid natural gas is at the heart of the Ukraine scandal.

A judge orders the White House to preserve records of Trump’s dealings with foreign leaders, because really, who would trust that guy? Still, no one can expect the Office of Legal Counsel to fix this mess. So, you should vote, especially if you happen to be in Virginia. And, there’s impeachment, a popular solution.

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If you are just waking up you’ve got 25 pages of must reading to do. Nah, lay back down, they printed it mostly sideways… In fact, go ahead and close your eyes. As always, David Waldman is here to read the important parts to us:

Gym Jordan told us Kurt Volker’s deposition undercut Donald Trump’s impeachment case. The released deposition however undercut Gym Jordan’s, and Trump’s believability, spelling out lies, election interference and extortion in Ukraine.

Donald Trump isn’t denying any allegation, by the way. In fact, his plan is to repeat any crime over and over, until it doesn’t seem like a crime anymore. Meanwhile, as the fringe moves into the mainstream, people like Kurt Volker and the Ukraine Ambassador are pushed out. Republicans forget their support for Joe Biden’s Ukraine reforms and embrace the crazy. Rudy Colludy consulted with imprisoned Paul Manafort on Ukraine. Lindsey Graham accuses Australia of being a deep state puppet. Australia rejects that characterisation.

Stuck between Russia and the US, Ukraine shrugs its shoulders and puts a Hunter Biden-related case on the docket. President Zelensky has already implemented Vlad and Donald’s Steinmeier formula, and the local fascists have been cued to light their torches. 

North Korea found some time between very beautiful letters to produce a submarine deliverable nuclear missile.

Awake now? Good, make yourself a cup of coffee and and a big Democratic baby sandwich. You’ll need it to get through the just-released trove of Roy Cohn documents this weekend.

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BULLSHIT! Can you think of a better word for this administration at this time? It’s the subject of most of today’s news, in fact. 

David Waldman and Greg Dworkin present a bullshit-free KITM, that is yet somehow completely full of it:

Jacob Wohl contains no other ingredients. He’s found some guy more shameless than himself, who he will introduce to the public today.

Donald Trump frantically, and I mean frantically is shovelling bullshit over his crimes. He calls the non-verbatim Ukraine meeting transcript word-for-word, which is of course… you know. Trump reminds us that Mike Pence’s Ukraine discussions were also perfect, and Mike’s aides back him up. Therefore, Pence is up to his ears in it. And remember, when considering Ukraine and Trump: Once a bullshitter, always a bullshitter. Journalists reflect on how they ignored the smell for so long. Are neophyte lawyers attracted to this Whitehouse, or is this Whitehouse attracted to neophytes?

By the way, Rebekah Mercer and Steven K G Bannon started this Biden bullshit a while ago. Peter Schweizer’s Biden book lifted sections from Wikipedia and other sources. Rudy Colludy tries to bullshit the bullshitters with forged Whitehouse stationary. Australia won’t be helping Lindsey Graham shovel. Rand Paul might love Putin more than Trump.

You know who’s tired of this bullshit? Voters. Except for the 24% that apparently can’t get enough.

Now you can put complete bullshit in your Facebook ad, once you put cash in Facebook’s pocket.

I don’t know… could it be… Moloch?

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It’s a scum of the earth gold rush! William Barr, John Durham, Sebastian Gorka, Mike Pompeo are in Italy with Steve Bannon panning for scum. Rudy, Mooch, Huckabee, Schlapp and other two-bit conmen keep mining the scum in Ukraine, in hopes that it hasn’t been completely tapped out. 

Of course, this did not start in Ukraine. Of course, it started in Florida. David Waldman isn’t here today, but pretended he was yesterday, in order to record today’s KITM… to introduce us to the two Ukrainian-Floridian con men perfectly set to hustle marks just like Giuliani and Trump.

It has already been established that Donald Trump is a mentally unstable, dotardiling, sociopathic nitwit, therefore adding that he wants to shoot migrants in the legs and feed them to alligators might be considered a moot point at this time.

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Dearest Abigail, so much has come to pass since our last correspondence—I was made almost deaf from the bombshells that pinned back Ol’ Bonespur’s troops as of late! Shall the battle of Ukrainium One be that “Great Pivot” all have talked about? Surely... only time, David Waldman and Greg Dworkin can tell us of this:

William Barr, Mike Pompeo, and Rudy Giuliani scour the world in search of dirt on absolutely anyone other than Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin (while checking for some nice extradition-free retirement digs) The Federalist lies to us, and liars use the the Federalist to lie to us. Other than that, the Gop has no plan for Trump’s defence, other than lots of money. Oh, and more lies, lots more lies.

It appears “plan B” for the White House is more of the above. Tomorrow on KITM, Meet the Florida duo on Rudy Giuliani’s dirty crew in the Ukraine.

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David Waldman, as an observant podcaster, is out celebrating International Podcast Day, and we hope a good and sweet Rosh HaShanah. Of course, he pre-recorded a brand-new KITM for today. We can’t miss one of those in these crazy times!

How crazy? How about the whistleblower requesting federal witness protection from the US President, who is “into having Democrats executed, and threatening Civil War” kind of crazy? That’s pretty crazy! Streetcorner Lunatic-in-Chief Donald Trump harrassed Ukraine with conspiracy theories that he actually seems to believe. Kurt Volker quit after he realized he operated under the delusion that he operated in a sane world. Reporters missed the Ukraine story because they too assumed that nothing so deranged would be ever allowed to happen. It took a student paper to step back far enough to see the cuckoo forest for the trees.

The Democratic caucus was able to move forward rapidly on impeachment because, well, this insanity has been going on for a couple of years now. The Ukraine whistleblower wasn’t the first one, and won’t be the last.  Oh, and you weren’t imagining things: The NRA sure was a “Foreign Asset” To Russia ahead of 2016.

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How serious is the impeachment situation? So serious that Greg Dworkin was back again for yet another special edition of KITM. On a Friday!

We kicked things off with a quick tour of the newspaper headlines, and then moved quickly into the latest polling and analysis, which now includes both post-whistleblower and post-Pelosi shift data.

As you might imagine, Ukraine-mania is driving the Fox News types over the edge. Trump himself, who already went over ages ago, found a new cliff to dive off.

So, are we narrowing the focus and speeding things up, or could we be keeping the door open to further inquiry, after all? “We’ll see what happens.” Gop operatives, taking Trump’s lead, start trying to spin the whistleblower as a spy. What else can they do, after Chris Christie—who’s toast—says Trump’s only in trouble if he asked for a favor and sought dirt on Joe Biden? Well, they could accept all the blame for enabling Trump all along, but that seems unlikely.

Hillary Clinton’s in good company, with Jimmy Carter.

Adam Schiff says burying incriminating evidence on double-secret servers isn’t the White House’s only trick.

Team Trump tried to smear the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine as part of their plot, but it seems there are more ambassadors out there who’ll be tainted in this mess.

Could this news be the end of the “we can’t legislate on guns because impeachment” talking point?

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(Note: A big thank you to the Washington DC scandal production staff for placing their super crazy stuff in the morning per our request, but for our cross-promotion to work, the “As predicted on KITM” bug will need to appear on the lower right after each break.)

It’s all moving fast. David Waldman and Greg Dworkin catch us up on the latest news, while we all watch news in the making today. Yesterday, the White House released the “not verbatim” transcript of a call with Ukraine’s President. Today we read the Whistleblower’s complaint, which is about… COLLUSION. Also, extortion, bribery and various henchcraft by William Barr. Of course, this wasn’t the first time Trump pulled this, so the Administration just threw the transcript into their handy cover-up file. David and Greg look into a strategy of a narrow vs. wide investigation going forward. And, we’ve only just begun digging into the revelations, everything from threats to diplomats to QAnon style conspiracies.  Then there’s Donald Trump. He must have some genius chess move he’ll soon reveal. Donald would be worried about swing voters, if he didn’t define those the same way as the New York Times does.

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David Waldman, Greg Dworkin and Joan McCarter have a lot to cover on today’s KITM. 90’s clothing and t-shirt politics, the Philadelphia Eagles and fire-fighting heroes, medieval vs. Renaissance expertise snark… Oh, and some MFer’s getting an impeachment inquiry! Im-🍑y! 

Well, Nancy Pelosi did have something up her sleeve! Or, maybe good timing. Or, this was the last straw. However it got here, the impeachment inquiry is finally here. That’s it, Donald Trump’s base is all riled up and will never vote Democrat after this!

Joan and David discuss why Moscow Mitch agreed to pursue the Ukraine whistleblower complaint. David and Greg discuss the Senate obligation to try an impeachment case. How can Republicans spin, hide from or exploit this?

And then during the show, the Ukraine “transcript” was released. If it seems horrifically incriminating, just wait until you hear what Rudy Giuliani says about it, or whoever next is thrown under the bus tonight. Of course, the Ukraine shares the same fear as Trump… Vladimir Putin.

Trump proves he is capable of losing in many fronts simultaneously as he his lawyers try to argue that Donald’s too big to investigate. By this point he is probably wondering why Elizabeth Warren doesn’t just step up and let him go home.

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Welcome! David Waldman and Greg Dworkin have been hanging around over on the far shore of the Rubicon for a while now. Nice to see this morning’s turnout.

Donald Trump is still trying out a few stories, but it just keeps getting worse for him. Trump shut down aid to Ukraine before calling, to make sure they knew he meant business. John Lewis gets behind impeachment. Republicans get out from behind Trump. Donald suggests the electric chair.

Maybe Nancy Pelosi was playing 7 dimensional chess after all. The 7 op-ed writers were freshmen, and not from comfortably blue districts. Democrats have solid evidence, an easy to communicate scenario, a clear moral to support, a villain’s confession, grassroots demand, and a duty to their country. Voters that have their heart set on voting Trump out can probably do that too.

Donald Trump had a UN speech that no one, including Trump, stayed awake through. Of course Greta Thunberg, a very happy young girl looking forward to a bright and wonderful future, outdid Trump. Boris Johnson was there, but no one was exactly sure why. Boris should leave, prorogation is going away though, and maybe Dominic Cummings too. Tories try out a few stories as well, but it looks as if this might be a good day for democracy all around.

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140 weeks of Donald Trump’s asterisk Presidency. For such an asterisk, he is a real mess, and yet really hard to stop. Is it time to open an inquiry into whether to open an inquiry into whether it would be okay to say the “I” word? Or maybe not?

David Waldman and Greg Dworkin’s inquiring minds are ready to tackle all of the above, but first the “P” word… prorogation.  The UK will decide this evening, or their morning, on that. Also a concern... Boris Johnson gave close personal attention, and a lot of public funding to an American woman who must have been greatly supportive of the British cause.

So is Israel throwing Bibi out, or what? Well, it’s complex, but basically Netanyahu doesn’t want to go to jail yet.

Back to us, and our problem. Unfortunately, Donald Trump isn’t just an idiot. He’s way worse than that. The Ukraine call was one of many to cause trouble for Hunter, and of course Joe Biden. But, what Donald Trump did wasn’t bribery, it was worse than that. It wasn’t extortion, it was worse than that... 

But, so what? Donald knows that. Nancy knows that. So... Will Trump stonewall, point fingers, and move on?  Will we?

Moving on... In Iowa, Elizabeth Warren takes the lead. Does winning make her more electable? It beats losing! Everybody hates Donald Trump.

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David Waldman quit using his vocal spray right after the crew added alum to the bottle and his head temporarily shrunk to the size of a golfball... Oh well, his cough is back, but so is David with a special “One Focus Friday” edition of Kagro in the Morning:

Today’s subject is “Donald Trump and treason”, which by the way is almost always the subject. In fact, this particular act of treason will be familiar to Daily Kos readers and KITM listeners. Everybody knew about Rudy Guiliani and Trump were up to no good in Ukraine, but it, of course, it takes a reality show style revelation—a whistle-blower—to get anyone’s attention. Trump told you he could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue, shoot somebody and not lose voters, but no one could have guessed how quickly the rest of us would get used to it. There were also many scandals to choose from, so most expected it to be Putin puppetry rather than regular old international bribery and extortion.

Last night, Rudy Guiliani blew his top on cue because he’s paid to be Old Faithful, and blow as much malodorous fog in as many directions as possible. Did it help? Maybe, but soon Adam Schiff, captain of the Democratic Congressional whiffle ball team will have a turn at bat. 

What happens when the administration won't tell Congress about a whistleblower complaint regarding the president? Jack Goldsmith of Harvard law school analyzes the situation. Steve Vladeck of the University of Texas analyzes Goldsmith’s analysis. Mieke Eoyang of Lawfare takes a more Congress-centric view. David Waldman tosses us out the top of the ivory tower down to the realpolitik pavement below, which is the only level where William Barr can be found.

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It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day again? So soon? Maybe it is in any month with an Arrrr in it… Avast, David Waldman’s no scurvy dog, savvy? Therefore, well, uhm… “Arrr!”

Who would be dumb enough to not predict that Donald Trump would say something inappropriate to a foreign leader that would be considered gravely "urgent" by an Intelligence Community Inspector General... even an acting one? The only debate is who the whistleblower is, and if the incident spurred DNI Dan Coats’ departure. Donald would promise/tell anybody anything, so it could be anyone.

Greg Dworkin brings us more Israeli election and US. primary fallout. Benjamin Netanyahu probably was defeated by those many wanna Bibis competing against him in the Israeli 2019 Knesset election. Netanyahu is at the “calls for unity” stage of acceptance. Donald Trump has Benjamin at “coffee boy” status at the moment, but could have him at “never was a fan of his” by the end of the day.

Who is most electable in our Presidential election? Who cares, as long as Trump keeps up his unelectability. Democrats lead Trump by a huge margin with Latino voters. Joe is stronger than we think, but Liz knocks it up a point or two every time we turn around. Bernie… well maybe it is time to start printing off those Bernie 2024 stickers. Don’t become too complacent, however. Trump just returned from fundraisers throughout California so successful, 20 dollar bills were falling from his g-string.

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I have no obligation to “summarize” today’s KITM with David Waldman, Greg Dworkin, and Joan McCarter. Okay, it’s right there in my contract. (I would have, anyhow):

It makes you wonder what obligations Sean Spicer felt to forever trash his self respect and public image on… oh yeah, he did that years ago.

Corey Lewandowski spent 6 hours in front of the House Judiciary Committee lobbying hard for the reimplementation of inherent contempt power, but no, maybe someday. If only… if only the Democrats were a bit more “in array”, maybe they’d lead off with their big guns before moving the troops in? Maybe they could even remove Brett Kavanaugh, with a little bit of organization...

Ah, it’s nice to dream… here’s Nancy Pelosi to slap you awake and back into cynicism.  

Over on the Republican side, crime-fighting, fact-finding, and legislative entities that were supposed to be checks on the president’s power all do his bidding in the service of building a court that will do the same... thanks to Moscow Mitch. Mitch, and of course, money, keep the Republicans tight. 

Well, there is still the election, right? The ground is shifting as Arizona emerges as a 2020 trouble spot for Donald Trump. Kyrsten Sinema's victory in 2018 was the first win by an Arizona Democratic since… and her party takes her off at the knees.

So, with more than a year to screw up the presidential election, Democrats have a field led by Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren. One leading the other, the other leading the one, depending on the demographics. Those demographics better include working-class whites if they hope to win.

Trump-Putin franchisee Benjamin Netanyahu might be coming up short in Israel’s 2019 election. Whether that’s Hillary’s or Barack’s fault is still to be determined.

The man who led commandos into Sweden in an attempt to free fashion icon A$AP Rocky will soon be rewarded with the position of “Mike Pompeo’s coffee boy”. The director of national intelligence (acting) isn’t about to testify before Congress or hand over a whistle-blower complaint, as he reports to a “higher authority”(not #Jesus).

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Hmm. Yesterday, the Russians sort of Chernobyled their virus research center containing Ebola, Smallpox, Bird flu, Hepatitis... etc. They assure us that it’s all cool, nothing to worry about… cough, cough.

Well, for the moment as our coughs remain sarcasm-full and blood-free, we should just relax, sit back and listen to David Waldman present an in-depth KITM analysis of the latest news:

Impeachment! Oh, don’t get your hopes up. Three former Trump aides were invited to testify to Jerrold Nadler’s House Judiciary Committee. Two told Jerry to F himself and aren’t coming, while Corey Lewandowski will swing by and tell him in person. 

Democrats will block Trump’s wall! Oh, don’t get your hopes up. Nancy Pelosi has a reason, and you will buy it. Because, what else will you do?

Kavanaugh impeachment! Oh, come on.

Now, Andrew McCabe, he’s going to jail.

Meanwhile, migrants get “hearings” in “courts” in “tents” in Laredo, Texas. (Probably the tents are real.) A “Presidential directive” keeps you from witnessing anything. Also, a U.S. intelligence whistleblower wants to report an urgent violation of law. Somebody won’t let him. Someone above the level of “Acting!” Director of National Intelligence.

And, more on Russian spies in America… and, RIP, Cokie Roberts.

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A new week, a new day, and KITM and David Waldman and Greg Dworkin return. Unfortunately, a lot of 2016 and 2018 followed them in:

Brett Kavanaugh returns to the news. Actually, more witnesses are finally being heard. The New York Times sees some harmless penile face-thrusting. Donald Trump sees the New York Times’ penis. The FBI help keep the real dick out of sight.  

Should Democrats be concerned by a rhetoric gap? On a related note, life will be cursed and you will be blamed for it all if you don’t read this paywalled article.

Is Trump launching a generation of Democrats into the future? Is Donald Democrat’s biggest inspiration right now? For that matter, is Joe Biden dooming Democrat’s future or is he the best representative of Democrat’s present? Will this election be decided, not by swaying independents, but by mining more partisans?

John Bolton has moved on to better things, so Trump handed over the military to Mohammed bin Salman. Vladimir Putin called dibs, though. Donald Trump wouldn’t be Russia’s only asset in the US.

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Friday the 13th, and a full micro moon? In the middle of the last palindrome week of the century? Don’t worry, this is your lucky day! 

First up, always a crowd pleaser, you get several minutes of David Waldman attempting to pronounce foreign names in a foreign order... David did not watch the Democratic debates last night, but lucky for him and us, he knows someone that did. At the debate, Beto O’Rourke said he is coming for your AR-15s, and Texas Representative Bris Cocaine (R) later stepped up to explain why. Meanwhile, Donald Trump debated reality and lost.

Another guy raising red flags and a weapon is the creator of 3D-printed guns and pedophile sex assaulter Cody Wilson.

More good luck—KITM correspondent Brian Munroe brings us the latest Brexit news: Boris Johnson says he didn’t lie to the Queen, and a court denies that Brexit is undermining Northern Ireland's peace. 

It’s official! Canada's 43rd general election is underway!

Just when you thought things couldn’t get better, Eric Posman releases another informative Senate Snippet™! This week’s includes our opportunity to vote out Senator Steve Daines (Racist)

Donald Trump missed his opportunity to surrender to the Russians at Camp David, but there will always be more chances. Donald’s luck might be running out on avoiding emolument lawsuits, however.

The U.S. Air Force has lodged crews at Trump’s Scotland resort around 40 times so far. That might slope off now that the jig is up, but it sounded pretty lovely while it lasted.

David Waldman and Greg Dworkin... what are those guys vaping? Well, pretty soon only criminals will be using e-cigarettes. It looks as if Barron Trump’s mom, Melania caught him vaping, so now no one can. Sorry to those out there with a big investment in vaping hardware or politicians. Anyhow, they really aren’t that good for you, in fact, Greg never once prescribed them.

Here comes the new “mini” three-hour Democratic debate. It’s common wisdom that enthusiasm is more fervent at the ideological edges of each party, but right now everybody is enthusiastic. The question is, what is everyone enthusiastic for? In North Carolina, Dems won big in the urbs and suburbs… but Trump won the state. Lumbee Indian precincts show how it always helps to listen to constituents. It also helps if you are actually able to show that you are listening to constituents. Voters don’t look for cooperation as much as they look for results. Cooperation is not inside Republican’s “campaign in a box”, or their “Southern strategy”.

Donald Trump’s, Mick Mulvaney’s, and Wilbur Ross’ invisible pal, “NOAA Body” continues to receive unwanted attention.  Nobody also wants to take credit for sending children off to their death. Eventually all decisions will be made by Donald, and nobody.

Concentrating migrants in camps has worked so well, Donald Trump will try it out with California homeless. The frustration, agony, cruelty of it all will be worth it, even if it lasts only a little while. Trump might nuke Iran, or give it $15 billion, whatever.

Jerry Nadler no longer cares to argue about the nomenclature, but does need to step it up.

September 11. A day of remembrance, on which “balanced coverage” of Donald Trump will make us physically ill. Avoid the mainstream media for a while, and hang out with Wednesday’s KITM crew, David Waldman, Greg Dworkin and Joan McCarter:

The Republicans did not lose in North Carolina by 2 points. Now, they have to worry about the 35 seats that are less Republican. Oh, well. They still have lying, stealing and cheating to fall back on.

Trump has to worry about voters that like him less than all of his competitors, the ones that dislike him more, and the ones that will forever hate him.

Back “across the pond”, Monty Python is releasing previously unaired sketches! And, now for something not completely different at all: Brexit. Scottish judges rule the PM's suspension of parliament is unlawful, in fact that Boris Johnson lied to the Queen. WhatsApp messages reveal Tory MPs pushing Johnson into a life of crime. (BTW, Mike Pence’s Doonbeg detour cost $600 thousand in limo service alone.)

Back over, across our smaller pond, to Puerto Rico where former top FEMA officials have been arrested on fraud charges. Something seems pretty Whitefishy with their no-bid contractor, too.

And, back on to NOAA’s news arc to hear of all of the good they do when they aren’t being extorted by Wilbur Ross.

Sarah Palin quits midterm on her marriage.

The C.I.A. informant extracted from Russia had sent secrets to U.S. for decades, but they had to pull him out before Donald Trump gave him to Putin.

Congress returns to deal with judges, guns and money. Or not. Nancy Pelosi will poke a hole straight through the next reporter that implies inaction on gun laws is anyone’s fault but Moscow Mitch. The Senate moves so many rotten judges through that it’s easy to miss the awful ones. Meanwhile, the Senate Democrats have a plan to stop military funding for the Trump wall.

David Waldman scoops up the news items that fell about during yesterday’s news-plosion for further study, adding a few new bits to see if we can catch up before another big show tomorrow:

Donald Trump lied about voter fraud in California ahead of an election in North Carolina necessitated by Republican voter fraud. Trump lied about his involvement with Glasgow Prestwick Airport after bragging about it.

The Mar-a-Lago trespasser trial begins with plenty of confusion as defendant Yujing Zhang loses her native tongue and her underwear.

Liberty University processes ten times the number of students, under a fraction of the supervision of other schools, and yet it somehow still doesn’t get respect. It can’t be because of leader Jerry Falwell, Jr., who you know has lots of sex with his wife and can prove it.

Overseas, the UK Parliament has transitioned into its extended “prorogation period”. Sadly, it probably won’t emerge as a beautiful butterfly... Even sadder, it will not emerge with House of Commons Speaker John Bercow. The Black Rod (not yet part of the Marvel Universe) has been a part of British government since 1350, and even then she couldn’t make this come off as a dignified routine.

Oh NOAA! Wilbur Ross didn’t! But, you know he did. Jerrold Nadler told you he would, and he is.

Meanwhile, Russian Troll factories have been researching and developing brand new models, which they hope to roll out for 2020. The United States extracted a top spy from Russia in 2017, and now we know his name and where he lives… why is that?

Well, that was a busy weekend! Our know-nothing, do-nothing President did not think or do a thing at Camp David, as usual, and yet things seem to keep getting worse because of him.

David Waldman takes the busy weekend and makes it into a busy morning for KITM listeners:

Donald Trump said something really stupid. A day or two after this? Something even more stupid. The Trump dynasty already has its game of thrones, with Don, Jr. horning in on sister Ivanka, as it were.

Greg Dworkin sees some awakening to the threat of an authoritarian cult, and accepting the reality of Donald Trump’s unwellness. We're just starting to see the scale of Trump's personal corruption, with Trump routing Air Force refueling to near his Scottish Resort, to extorting the Ukraine to tilt the US election. Polling! 80% support across party lines for gun laws. Joe Biden’s got the lead, and this you can not deny, for now. Democrats are on solid ground, so it is time to stand up. On the other hand, the Republican party is losing its future, and its Texans.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is the home of innovations and ideas that positively affect all of our lives, including those funded by Jeffrey Epstein. It might have seemed like a good deal at the time, but the bill came due for MIT Media Lab director Joichi Ito. MIT is rarely compared to Liberty University, but Jeff Epstein and Jerry Falwell, Jr....

Hip deep in the churning waters of storm-ravaged Alabama, David Waldman broadcasts a live… Wait, what? ...It’s been cancelled? About a week ago? But... the Admiral said… Okay... 

Listen, it’s just a theory, but David believes this Alabama thing just might be linked to Donald Trump’s lazy, self-centered, sociopathic, idiotic dotardiness… which Donald believes he has kept a secret so far.  Well, in case Trump allows Alabama to slip from national attention this weekend, here are some other topics to think about:

US Intelligence believes the recent radiation-filled explosion in Russia was from an unsuccessful recovery of a perhaps successful nuclear powered missile test.

Are the Democrats missing the need to confront Republicans efforts to block the filling of seats in independent regulatory agencies? 

Jacob Whol is a far-right conspiracy theorist, fraudster, and internet troll who keeps trying to be a felon. Good luck!

Mother Jones digs into David Fahrenthold’s favorite mysterious Trump loan.

Here’s one of the craziest and dumbest things Brian Beutler has ever seen—The Pirates of Foggy Bottom!

David Waldman diagnoses the US with a bad case of the mumpsimus and the only prescription is more KITM:

Donald Trump might have to nuke Alabama to protect it from hurricane Sharpie. You see, Trump’s map was altered with Trump’s favorite pen for who knows what reason... The map he followed that with used all the crayons in the box.

Sarah Sanders is set to release her Sharpie-ing of history just before the 2020 election.

Marianne Williamson laughs at your puny reality-altering methods.

Sorry, Al.

Greg Dworkin is dispatched carrying the latest despatches from overseas. 21 British Conservatives put country over party to shut down their own leader, Boris Johnson. Is it because they have a more functional Democracy than us? If so, it’s only barely… and it’s still early. As long as they have John Bercow, they’ll be fine.

Back over here—are the Republicans napping on the local elections? Democrats seize on climate as 2020 primary weapon, and Joe Biden’s needs some sharpening. Hey, he’s still ahead though. And, everyone’s in better shape than Donald Trump.

Back over there—Mike Pence’s european audiences wish they were anywhere else, while they reach for the Febreze.

Hurricane Dorian brings a snowstorm to Florida beaches.

Worst job in the world, “Roger Stone’s Wingman”, might somehow become even more worse soon.

Why is this man smiling? This woman smiles, no matter what obstacles she might encounter.

It’s Wednesday on KITM! Greg Dworkin and Joan McCarter brought so much today that David Waldman barely had time for trenchant observations and piercing asides:

Order, ORDER! An historic rebel victory in Britain as Conservative MP Phillip Lee crosses to the light side of the House of Commons... Chaos! Which is kind of okay, at the moment, as Greg explains.

Chaos! Which sucks here, as Greg has been explaining for a while now. Some people just want to watch the world burn. Finally, the truth is making its way into the news.

Donald Trump trails Democrats by a historically large margin. It will still be a lot of work, but Trump is not unbeatable. Both sides look to farm country for a clue.

David and Joan dig that Texas swing, as the fifth Lone Star Republican bails on the House. The panicked Gop sends Donald to North Carolina to save that special election, now that they can’t rely on gerrymanders to help. Meanwhile Trump takes 3.6 billion out of military homes, schools, and medical facilities for his wall.

Kroger and Walmart see open carriers sort of like the people that poop in their produce aisle. It might make one customer happy, but overall it cuts into business. Ammon Bundy fails a background check for an Idaho gun purchase. Ammon should buddy up with Dan Crenshaw, who would never check the background of a friend. Moscow Mitch McConnell has lots of friends in Russia and the NRA, and who does background checks on cash?

David Waldman welcomes us to yet another KITM special “Dystopian Tuesday” edition:

Here’s an idea! Instead of gun control, we put a chip in everybody… Wait! Even better, we sell everyone the chip, gamify their surveillance, and they in turn beg us to take their money to fund our systematic tightening of control… Bwahahaha! Of course, that very software may already be installed in our devices, but just not activated yet... or maybe it has been activated, and we are its upgrade.

Someday Alabama will be hit with a storm, and Donald Trump told you so... Is there anything manipulable left in Donald’s noggin? Congratulations to Poland on avoiding Trump for its Nazi invasion anniversary. Donald hates tough history. Mike Pence is going to Poland in Trump’s stead, and will stop in Ireland where he found some gay people just far enough away for his comfort. Then he’s off to Poland, where gay people are just far enough away for his comfort.

A pack of perverse peckers picked on a porn star, prosecution proceeds.

Labor Day—Dorian slams the Bahamas, Donald Trump hits the links... Of course he needs to, to keep his figure... unlike that Tiffany for instance! (FYI, she’s the Trump not blessed with ample birthing hips) David Waldman is out doing something, but before that, he did this KITM. Me? Well, I guess I will write a summary:

Dorian is the fourth category 5 hurricane to threaten the United States since Trump has taken office. The other ones, uh, Trump hardly knew those. They maybe brought coffee or something.

Don’t worry about being in the wrong place when there’s a mass shooting. Mass shooters will now travel to you. Oh, and 10 people were shot in Alabama, but that was only ”a beef”.

David takes a longer look into how the alt-right has built an infrastructure of safe-hate spaces to move Hitler appreciation back into the mainstream.

Yes, that is some fresh prorogues you smell cooking over in Great Britain. Just like the US, Britain’s government was built around a baseline of sanity and morality. Just like Donald Trump, Boris Johnson sees that as a ceiling not a floor. What do you know, even if voted out, Boris just might decide to stay.

Donald Trump commits more and new impeachable offences each week. What are you going to do about it?

Friday, one last KITM David Waldman will put in for the Man before the Labor Day weekend… Nah, he’ll probably stay up late tonight making a show for Monday, that apple-polisher.

Labor Day hurricane Dorian might keep Donald Trump from doing what he wants, but it can’t make him work. He’ll have somewhat less assistance now that his longtime executive assistant crossed the line into being his ex-executive assistant. FEMA director Brock Long has been breathing a sigh of relief since March, when he quit.

Donald missed his personal chance to pick up white national authoritarian know-how in Poland. Mike Pence will just have to take notes. Poland passed a Holocaust bill making it illegal to use facts to blame them. Trump is left stateside, torn between two his two occupations of being a Russian asset or a Putin idiot. Donald is putting the final touches on his gift of the Ukraine to Vlad, by slow-walking $250 million in military assistance to Ukraine.

In Democratic oversight fail news, there will be no expedited consideration of them getting hold of Trump’s tax returns. 

The laziest President in history wants all of the powers, including emergency powers to do all of his work. Jair Bolsonaro, the Trump of Brazil, burns the world to own the libs, the Chinese, and the United States.

Read how conservatives use the loons of the internet as their think tank.

Lawrence O’Donnell, who is probably right, spends the morning getting yelled at. Trump, who is definitely wrong, attempts to roll back yet more environmental protections, because he loves to kill bald eagles. Greg Dworkin has that news, and—as always—much, much more.

Trump defectors are the season’s hottest item, but they’re still just in beta (and Gathering. Their. Armies. Even though that was someone else.) The NRA may be dying, but at least they’ve got an addled dotard to cling to. Trump’s mad at Fox, but he may need them more than they need him. Why? Because they’re watched by idiots. But he’s mad at them on TV, so he wasted his morning on their radio station, instead. That’ll show ‘em!

The NC-09 special election looms, as the next test for the influence of independents (whomever they might be).

Speaking of special elections, there will be one coming in Georgia, too. And Twitter pal Gus Zucchini reminds us that no one—including Congress—is really sure they’ll be able to count the votes right.

Meanwhile, Trump—jerk that he is—has got everyone tied up in knots over what his latest meddling in once-settled citizenship rules is going to mean.

Was that story about a Russian “doomsday missile” fake news? Is it maybe not the only potential nuclear disaster Russia has up its sleeve?

Speaking of floating disasters, the DOJ Inspector General’s report on James Comey is out. But at least he’s probably non-nuclear.

Remember when I said Lawrence O’Donnell was probably right? That’s not just because habitual liar Trump is denying O’Donnell’s story. It’s also because people know who Trump is, and what Deutsche Bank has been up to.

It’s Wednesday! You get a KITM with David Waldman, Greg Dworkin and, Joan McCarter! What more can you ask for? Nothing! Quit asking for stuff! We spoil you enough as it is:

Donald Trump aims his nukes at tropical storm Dorian, then Puerto Rico, then back to Dorian…  all distracting him from browsing Pinterest for wall decoration ideas, and attending to that big stack of old Russian loans and future pardons on his desk.

Hey, Joe Biden is a stronger candidate than you might think, especially if you are looking at Iowa. Everybody and their mother is more electable than Donald Trump. The economy didn’t keep Trump afloat, but it might drag him down. Everyone is ready for the election to be over, but many aren’t ready to believe the results. Republicans batten down the hatches and stoke the base, mobilizing independents the hell away from them. And now, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson will step down from office at the end of 2019, setting off a crucial 2020 election. Well, “2020 Election” might not be the term for it anymore...

Massacre Mitch will never let the NRA die… and he’s usually ok with letting things die.

Ah, autumn in the UK, ready for prorogation, eh wot? Looks like it might be a long one this year, due to Boris Johnson’s coup.

David returns to Paul Manafort’s pretty successful anti-semitic smear of Ukrainian politician Yulia Tymoshenko. Manafort’s daughter couldn’t decide if her dad’s corruption would be helpful to her or not. Dad going to jail probably pushed her to “not”.

Jerry Falwell Jr. continues his outreach efforts to minister to ripped youth who can minister to his wife.

Did you catch the Taylor Swift concert last night? Well, you should have, because she said something political, therefore it was a political rally. Actually, she said something moral, which by definition makes it an anti-Trump rally. IMO, Lizzo and her Trump balloon were the best show by far.

David Waldman’s yurt up in the Virginia mountains doesn’t get “TV,” only Twitter, so he missed the VMAs. At least he doesn’t have bedbugs like Doral National MIAMI. Bret Stephens appreciates a lot of vermin, but is down on Stalinist scientists, Iraqi monkeys, and especially bedbugs. Man, he hates bedbugs, although ironically he just happens to be one.

Donald Trump returned from his Trump Organization sales trip to France. If Donald wasn’t hustling one of his roach motels, he was talking up his buddy Vlad. Brazil turns down the G-7’s money, because they like their forests burnt, or maybe they’re holding out for a better deal.

Is Russia calling their latest radioactive fiasco a “doomsday missile” because “floating Chernobyl” has an embarrassing ring to it?

The Federal Election Commission shuts down heading into the elections.

Today’s big story starts with the trial of Gregory Craig, whose seamy trail David follows to Paul Manafort, Alex van der Zwaan, Yulia Tymoshenko, Donald Trump, and bada bing, back to Paul Manafort.

It’s my birthday! And yesterday was David Waldman’s! Hooray! We’re still raking all of the Solo cups out from under the couches here at KITM World Headquarters... but well, now it’s time to get back to work. (Hey Armando, we saved you a piece of cake.)

Donald Trump proposes a 25% tariff on Hurricanes? A wall? Nope! Those are just dumb ideas. Donald wants to nuke ‘em... a really bad, dumb idea. So bad, even Trump thinks it’s dumb. Therefore, it is only a matter of days before it becomes a Republican litmus test.  On to blow up the G-7!

Trump lies, flails, and panics and Greg Dworkin is here to tell us all about it. Donald already blew up a few Gop myths, including any about caring about the deficit. Half of Trump voters would blame him for a recession. Almost everyone wants someone else for President. Who is most electable in the Democratic primary race? Elizabeth Warren is the most electable, in Iowa. About the only person Donald Trump is more “electable” than is Joe Walsh... for now.

Trump destroys consensus on all things, including Israel. A University of Pennsylvania law professor wants to make America white again, but the true intelligentsia of the Alt-right promotes tanning. Then, there’s the Falun Gong, who want you to watch cute panda videos, fight race-mixing and levitate. Sound a little crazy to you? Then you probably aren’t evangelical. The solution, of course, is to get rid of journalists.

Over on our side of the intellectual divide, David has been talking shareholder vs. stakeholder culture for years, and people are catching on to how shareholder democracy failed the people.

Nine years before any police investigation, two sisters tried to take down Jeffrey Epstein. No one would act.

Take some time out from watching the world burn and check out David Waldman and Friday’s KITM :

Schools are being designed like first person shooter games, and lots of people think they’re first person shooter-heros. But, they aren’t. Real life is hard.

Donald Trump lies about what time of day it is—just for the practice.

The Proud Boys spend their time wasting ours.

When Nancy Pelosi returns to power in 2034, job #1 will be to strengthen Congressional oversight, but right now there’s just so much to do, and so little time to do it. The Freeloader in Chief daughter, and the Freeloader in Chief in-law, mooched some swag Air Force rides.

Thoughts and prayers go out today to Charles Koch. May his separation from his brother, wherever David Koch might be biding his time, be brief.

The second half of the show is devoted to epic scrutation of The Epoch Times, and its connection to Chinese cults, Evangelicals, the Tang Dynasty, Qanon, FaceBook, Jenny McCarthy… OK, that’s about 6 degrees from everyone isn’t it?

David Waldman, the king of KITM, makes his triumphant WEdnesday return, as does Greg Dworkin! And, Joan McCarter! 

We find out this morning that Donald Trump... is the … the King of… of the… Wow. If this is a test from God, you just got to hope she grades on a curve... King Donald wishes Jewish Americans were just a little more devout, however.

Donald Trump also had a “spat” with Denmark... well more of a “snit” if you want to be precise about it.  Donald read somewhere that Danes prefer to stay quiet about a guy’s shortcomings, but then again maybe they won’t, therefore it might be time to just go where the lying is easier.

That place is probably not Scotland, where they are irked Trump appraised his golf course there at around “$0”, give or take a $100 million or so.

And not in the US, where absolutely everyone knew all along that Trump was lying about universal background checks, and yet everyone still seems to be mad about it. OK, Massacre Mitch McConnell certainly isn’t mad, as no news is good news for the Grim Reaper. Republicans get set for the final looting, as a 6th NRA rat swims out to beat the undertow.

The longer Trump hangs around, the more he gets on everyone’s nerves. In fact, Trump’s racism could drive decent people to the polls.

Maybe Joe Biden can help back the clock up to 2016, or maybe Elizabeth Warren will? Anybody, please? If anyone can figure this out, it is Rachel Bitecofer, who figured out the last big elections. 

The No. 4 House Democrat announced support for an impeachment investigation into Donald Trump, making it harder for Nancy Pelosi to find a pleasant lunch table in the House cafeteria.

If Jeffrey Epstein was still alive, he’d still be getting off to the latest sordid details being revealed in his lawsuits.

Rich folks Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner hitchhike whenever possible.

All this, and the latest rescissions news!

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Soooooo… we didn’t make it back on the air for a new show today. But the good news is that I was totally a responsible parent, and everybody can feel good about that!

We’ll be back on Wednesday. And school starts again on Thursday. So things should be relatively stable soon, and even a little quieter!

In the meantime, please enjoy our August 22, 2018 episode, with both Greg Dworkin and Armando on hand to take away the sting of one last rerun:

Boom! The first charges go off in Trump Swamp, and we are just beginning to see the first floaters.

David Waldman, Greg Dworkin and Armando don’t know where to cast their nets first, but they have two hours to brave the smell and haul them in:

The guilty fragile narcissist dumb baby dotard unindicted co-conspirator feels some felony payoff remorse this morning, another case of “hiring the best people” sticker shock. Donald would rather be golfing.

The spinners can hardly get the energy to twist this morning. Aw, heck if the Republicans themselves say they’re guilty, maybe they are. Robert Mueller achieves results.

Paul Manafort’s guilt leads to Russia, which leads to a lot worse things than life in prison, so Paul keeps his lips zipped.

And then there is Duncan Hunter: Republicans might cut him out of committees, but he can still win in November! The Navy has a suggestion for Duncan. Coming up: Vern Buchanan explains seven-figure yacht loans from foreign banks.

Armando eloquently elocutes allocution in law, similarities and dissimilarities between the John Edwards and Michael Cohen cases. Also, Manafort, Papadopoulos, Kavanaugh, Hunter, Guliani, Dershowitz and more!

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A year ago, KITM World HQ was in upheaval, working through an AC replacement. A year later, we're still in upheaval! Granted, there hasn't been construction every day since then. In fact, there almost never has been. But purely by coincidence, there's noisy and disruptive stuff happening again, anyway.

Looking forward, as we are, to coming back, let's reminisce about that last time we came back.

David Waldman couldn’t stand the heat, but he didn’t get out of the kitchen. He had it air conditioned yesterday to bring us an even cooler KITM today:

George Papadopoulos doesn’t want to go to jail. Robert Mueller thinks Papadopoulos shouldn’t have lied so many times, then. Now George thinks his plea deal doesn’t look so good anymore. Decisions!

Maybe someone will get a little of what they deserve for poisoning Flint water. 

You might be a white supremacist if… You attend a EURO convention. You are a speaker there. You are then praised by Stormfront. And/or if you are Steve Scalise.

Idiot alt-righters fell for yet another anti-anti-fascist doxxing trap and all they got was a lousy t-shirt.

Sen. Bill Nelson said Russians had penetrated his state's election systems, and you know, he might be right.

Facebook advertising ROI is proven once again, demonstrating notable gains in hate and fear indexes.

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KITM is on the road, again. We're off to buy Greenland, obviously. To pass the time, please enjoy this vintage episode, from one year ago. A simpler time, when Donald Trump was a jerk-ass moron:

David Waldman introduces a new paradigm in disruptive innovation: a “web-enabled” system capable of transferring David’s unique thoughts and emotions, opinions and facts, directly to you, almost instantly, or at any time, day or night, that you alone can independently select. Experience KITM.

Also, Elon Musk has a new idea.

Greg Dworkin finds common ground with Trump loyalists. Make the House Democratic, and impeach Trump. Win-win! Even Alex Jones could tell you so, if he wasn’t so hard to hear lately. A dad tramples Nazi-boy’s free speech, might start charging him rent.

Greg’s got the polls! Dems are doing very well, but even better with the Trump bump. Nancy Pelosi is the last thing on voter’s minds. Richard Uihlein has lost $29,000,000 betting Gop. Democrats keep politics local to win elections. Those big red areas on Trump’s favorite map have lots of other colors too.

John Brennan is first off on Trump’s enemy list. Who is Bruce Ohr, and is Donald making the moves on his wife? OK, just keep it up, and Omarosa will just keep dropping tapes. Trump’s lawyers dislike subpoenas. They’ll hate indictments.

David examines Elizabeth Warren’s plan to save capitalism for the stakeholders.

Disarray? Rhode Island’s Democrats love the stuff!

Harvey Weinstein’s couch may have seen a lot of sex traffic.

Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, has died. RIP

Light demolition work is scheduled here at Kagro in the Morning World Headquarters for this morning. David Waldman was set to broadcast the first half hour of the show naked on a wrecking ball, but that was voted out as a “dated pop reference.” He’s still going to do it mind you, just not on the air, as he instead recorded a special international edition of KITM for release today:

We start in the US, with Moscow Mitch McConnell, and the story of how he earned that sobriquet, by trading Russian sanctions for Kentucky aluminum.

Then off to Brazil, to understand how YouTube’s artificial intelligence powered recommendation engine steered viewers to the right, to the far right, and to the extreme right with successive viewings. The global far-right nationalist machine rolling out of Russia has rolled over Sweden, with the help of Stormfront, Fox News, Rebekah Mercer... and John Bolton.

Greg Dworkin informs us that Trump’s heading into some headwinds in his re-”election” bid, a difficult prospect aerodynamically-speaking, when your head’s empty to begin with, and covered in lichens. He’s in trouble in the suburbs. He’s in trouble with women. He’s even in trouble with his vaunted use of identity politics. But he is winning in terms of corn (though he probably thought they said porn), even if the 50/50 interest as between Democrats and Republicans is an unusually good sign.

Perhaps seeking to win some of those suburban women back, he’s reportedly talking about actually trying something on guns, though there are also reports he may have farmed that out to Ivanka—and those reports might likewise have come from Ivanka.

Elsewhere in the world, Hong Kong is aflame, and Vox says they know why, even if the president doesn’t.

Our friend Mark Sumner has some historical lessons for those of us pondering the recent mysterious Russian missile (?) explosion.

“Mayflower Ken” Cuccinelli rips the mask off, screaming the quiet part into an experimental Russian nuclear-powered megaphone.

Trump is called out by name as the motivation behind dozens of cases of violence, threats and alleged assaults. Which is totally normal, of course, and has happened to zeroes of previous presidents.

Someone told Trump Democrats would be grateful if he commuted Rod Blagojevich’s corruption sentence. Duh! But then some Republicans told him it would suck, even as still others said it would totally rock. So now he doesn’t know what to do.

What, exactly, put the “Moscow” in “Moscow Mitch?” Well, there are several likely vectors. But the one that involves heavy Russian investment in that aluminum plant in Kentucky is coming under serious media scrutiny.

David Waldman and Armando celebrate the 8th anniversary of Kagro in the Morning! (Me too, although my character doesn’t show up until late in season 4, shortly after the switch to color.)

David dreams of San Francisco graham crackers. Armando dreams of liberty and inclusion for the least empowered among us. If Ken Cuccinelli believes he has half the fortitude and resolve of any immigrant, he’s dreaming. Donald Trump is always dreaming.

The few evangelicals that have problems with Donald Trump’s blasphemy really haven’t taken the time to consider just how devout the President truly is.

Trump delays tariffs on key Chinese goods, because, well he never really intended to, he’s just way in over his head and he doesn’t know what to do now, except to blame someone else when it always goes wrong…

Inside a white supremacist government, addressing white supremacist terrorism is tough.

Greg Dworkin ascended Mount Denali, descending a fortnight later to confront wickedness and depravity, and bearing polling of all sorts. David Waldman, and we, rejoice:

It’s hard to find any stiff-necks in Iowa, no matter how hard the press tries. The Suburbs are fleeing Donald Trump, but where are they going? Moderate Dems might be the ones to watch in 2020.

Child solicitor Jeffrey Epstein didn’t quite make it to trial, surprising probably no one more than Jeffrey Epstein... in fact, Russian Bots and the President seem to have had it figured out before Jeff’s body hit the floor. William Barr has reached Susan Collins levels of concern over the irregularities. Prosecutors vow to continue their investigation into the inner workings of Epstein’s criminal organization, once they finish their investigation into the inner workings of Epstein.

Gun culture and wellness culture offer their followers “empowering epistemology”. The El Paso killer quoted the gospel chapter and verse.

Donald Trump is a racist. Cruelty remains the point, although corporations have leveraged extra benefits. Why haven’t Trump companies been raided, other than the very, very obvious reasons?

What is the opposite of diplomacy? Domination? Sanity?

Donald hears the pitter patter of little feet, exiting the White House.

Even the best evil megalomaniacs have setbacks attempting world domination, as Russia’s hypersonic cruise missile prototype makes just a little tiny little Chernobyl over the White Sea.

It’s already Friday! We have a news backup at KITM World Headquarters, but don’t worry, David Waldman has the tools to snake it loose. Stand back!

In El Paso, Donald Trump needed to find someone who trafficked in children for a couple photos he wanted to take. Seems Melania knew a guy. Other El Paso victims with better developed motor and verbal skills successfully evaded the Trump photo ops.

Yesterday, a heavily armed man in body armor showed up at a Walmart. Triggered libtar… actually pretty much everyone doesn’t really appreciate that anymore… not like they used to at Moms Demand Action meetups and such. Folks openly carrying sub-military firearms just hate all of the attention the get, especially when one of them ends up murdering a few people.

Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell have now seen the light, are now reborn, their hearts have now grown three sizes, etc. and they are calling for gun control. (wink)

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan thought ICE raids would be bad optics. He’s not wrong.

Hey look! A squirrel!

Yes, there is an impeachment inquiry. 

Yes, Harry Reid would kill the filibuster to save the environment.

Yes, Brexit seems connected to our 2016 election through the Russians. Russia did not want any of the 50 states to feel left out in their 2016 hacks. Iran, Russia and many other 400-pound hackers are joining the party for 2020.

Thursday! Greg Dworkin would be here, but he remains out, up in the Yukon somewhere. He’ll be back with a carousel full of slides to share on Monday’s show. In the meantime, David Waldman is solo at the KITM microphone:

Incredible dotard Donald Trump basked in the incredible respect and incredible pride for “Trump” in those two incredible, amazing places he went to with incredible heroes who say “Sir, we are so proud of you, Sir” for… what was he here for? Just incredible.

With Trump safely at an all day photo op, ICE performed a “massive undocumented immigration enforcement operation” resulting in more that 650 arrests. This time they didn’t kidnap or cage children... they just left them. The Trump administration promised that wouldn’t happen.

Another episode of How to Read a Trumpster Comment™:  A Detroit man was deported to Iraq, never had been to Iraq before, spoke only english, soon died. The Trump administration promised to protect him.

The Senate Gop plans to divert health, education funds to the Trump wall.

Some Gop facades are falling away forever because Donald Trump throws away anything not of immediate benefit to him. The white house is having trouble drafting an executive order to demand “fairness”... no, “neutrality”… no, “fealty” to Trump.

Nancy Pelosi’s math has become easier since the last time she was speaker.

Donald’s up worrying about Tim O’Brien, who knows NOTHING everything about Trump. Banks are handing over a few thousand pages of info to congressional committees related to Trump and Russia.

Government workers find it hard to participate in the Deep State when someone keeps stealing their sandwich from the fridge.

Wednesday is “Joan McCarter Day” on KITM, which pretty much obligates her to make an appearance. And so she did, calling in to assist David Waldman in discussion of the latest news:

Republican pearls were clutched over Joaquin Castro’s hateful and partisan rhetoric… publically relaying public information that implied some people might actually like Donald Trump. (Joaquin is the brother of presidential candidate Julián Castro—look it up!) You can also look up what your neighbors and local vendors have donated. Profiting off this would be illegal, however. John Cornyn remains a waste of skin, oxygen, etc.

Jerry Nadler is not so LOL or NM on allowing Brett Kavanaugh slide on information Mitch McConnell suppressed. House Democrats have officially requested about 3.85 million pages of records from the National Archives. The House Committee on Homeland Security wants the owner of 8chan to testify in front of Congress. Do they have a plan if he 8chans them?

Donald Trump has always been associated with failure, so the runaway success of domestic terrorism has got him a little spooked. Donald heads out to the Dayton-Toledo area and down to the folks in El Paso, who should meet him on stage with a giant novelty invoice for his February anti-immigration rally. While Trump talks background checks, Massacre Mitch only has to bring the Senate back to make it happen. Chuck Schumer could bring Senate Democrats back… but he won’t.

Trump saved 1 billion dollars on Air Force One as expected, by making it 2 billion dollars more expensive.

When Jeffrey Epstein wasn’t on Pedophile Island, or Mar-a-Lago, he was over at Pedophile Towers, home of underage models, lawyers, and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

Michael Flynn, a spy, actually did meet with Vladimir Putin in 2015.

Remember Mike Pence? He said a thing, jokes write themselves.

It killed in rehearsal, however David Waldman was forced to cut KITM’s cold open featuring small kids and 30-50 feral hogs to assure you a full hour and 58 minutes of nuanced analysis:

At least 31 killed in US weekend mass shootings. Only days after some golf, some partying, and a little more golf, Donald Trump closes in on his chief suspect... Well, that would be “Twitter Trump”, who happens to be so stupid he can’t spell his own name. Teleprompter Trump on the other hand blames racism, bigotry, white supremacy, and Twitter Trump for promoting a mass shooter culture. 

More fine young Kentuckian Christian men show their confusion between cardboard and real, sexual attraction and misogyny, Christian and Team Mitch behavior. A fine young man pops up in South Carolina.

Joan McCarter reminds us that Senate Democrats can do something about Moscow/Massacre Mitch and gun violence just by showing up.

The House of Representatives “impeachment inquiry”-esque investigations could be a lot more “impeachment inquiry”-y if the Mueller report’s redactions were removed. Turns out, there’s a couple of judges left interested in open government.

Trump didn’t mind Jeffrey Epstein dabbling in this or that, Donald was quite the dabbler himself. But cut Trump in real estate, that hurts. 

Boris Johnson’s lobbying firm secretly built a network of “news” pages on Facebook for Saudis, major polluters, Brexit, and Johnson.

David watched “The Great Hack” on Netflix, about the Cambridge Analytica/Facebook data scandal. Finish your Adam Sandler binge and check it out.

Today, Donald Trump read his president speech from a teleprompter, calling Dayton “Toledo”...  While we await that presidential optics check from Todd, Cillizza et al., David Waldman meets us under the cloud under a cloud, under 250 more clouds of a mass shooting this year:

Donald says white supremacy and racism pull the gun on the trigger of the hate that has no place in America, therefore we should restrict videogames. White nationalist Steve KG Bannon harnessed gamer culture to get Trump elected. Stephen Miller spends his waking moments figuring out how to deny green cards to legal immigrants. Racist leaker of classified info, Pete Hoekstra had no proof of naturalization when he got his clearance to be Ambassador.

Liar and partisan fabulist John Ratcliffe succumbed to the pressures of fake/real-real/fake news to withdraw from consideration for director of national intelligence, so he can return to working on his optics.

James Comey is exonerated… or at least not being prosecuted by the Justice department on his Trump memos.

You can call him “Moscow”, you can call him “Massacre”—Mitch McConnell brought his face to the floor yesterday. He’s resting at home now, in case you want to swing by and wish him well.

Armando gives us insight into Puerto Rican politics, pretty murky in the best of times, now going to court to decide its new governor. The 2020 census heads back to court, eventually.

David Waldman sends us into the weekend with his usual Friday panoply:

The CEO of Overstock was on a nice little weekend peace hunt at a libertarian convention and just ended up having sex with Maria Butina. No surprise there... it happens. But then the FBI wanted him to do it again, and that is where he draws the line.

Breakout Presidential Apprentice star John Ratcliffe, who excelled in the conspiracy mongering, toadying, and bullshitting contestant categories, now shows if he can lie with the best of them.

The FBI sees conspiracy theories as the new domestic terrorism threat that they’ve read a lot about on 4Chan, lately.

Leningrad Lindsey Graham performed his weekly Kavanaugh on the Senate floor, this time breaking 4 of his committee’s 10 rules, while members of the central politburo snickered behind him. This incensed Senator Patrick Leahy to the point of rending the rulebook he’d let the Republicans slide on, if he was in charge.

Elijah Cummings house is broken into, Trump sneers… or was it the other way around?

An impeachment inquiry is supported by a majority of Democratic House members... who by the way have already started.

Stormy Daniels continues to more of a pain in the butt that Donald Trump initially expected. Several Ohio police officers have still been chafing a bit as well.

Debate 2, day 2. There was probably a winner... Maybe Clorox.

Ian Reifowitz, author of The Tribalization of Politics, How Rush Limbaugh's Race-Baiting Rhetoric on the Obama Presidency Paved the Way for Trump joins David Waldman for an in-depth, point by point review of the finale of "The Bachelorette": 

They wish! No, instead Ian and David talked about last night’s debates… and Jeffrey Epstein’s plan to put his head in a jar, his penis in a box and his DNA into the rest of the human race… and that Donald Trump is a racist, who uses race-baiting right out of Rush Limbaugh’s right-wing playbook.  Ian discussed how to counter Trump’s racism, race-baiting and racist following as we approach the election, and recommends the book, Merge Left: Fusing Race and Class, Winning Elections, and Saving America by Ian Haney López.

Last night Donny put his hair in curlers, laid on the bed and chatted into the night with Vladey. That man sure knows how to fight a fire!

Donald Trump prefers to stay “outside the normal protocol” of legality and avoid those “accountability moments”, but he can’t avoid an impeachment inquiry, that is happening.

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David Waldman wanted to have an in-depth discussion of last night’s Democratic presidential debate, but would be, as per KITM rules, held to 480 fifteen second rebuttals. Your friends and neighbors will be glad to tell you who “won”, as would complete strangers, but David instead invited Joan McCarter, who can prove she paid some attention last night, even to the Hickenlooper parts… In sum: Bernie and Elizabeth Butch and Sundanced their way through all the b-listers Jake Tapper could throw at them, while Marianne Williamson pegged the clap-o-meter... yada, yada, yada, on to Biden-night.

Russia and 2020 election security loom large for Moscow Mitch McConnell in the nomination of Representative/Loon John Ratcliffe to be director of national intelligence. Susan Collins is deeply concerned as the deciding vote, as she is deeply concerned about the reaction to all of her votes since Brett Kavanaugh.

More investigation into Donald Trump’s Saudi America First plan reveals more proliferation of graft and nuclear weapons. CFIUS seems like a nice place to hide stuff.

Moscow Mitch McConnell threatened to take away Republican’s recess if they don’t reach the 60-vote threshold he needs on the upcoming debt ceiling budget vote. The House did their part, easily passing their agreement and eliminating policy provisions restricting money to Trump’s wall… Armando calls in to say “Wait. WHAT ?!?”

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Four days of Donald Trump’s racist comments on Baltimore. Tens of thousands of days of Trump being racist. Everybody else has got this, let’s talk about something different.

Donald’s a liar.  No news there. Trump is still lying about September 11.

Oh geez, another mass shooting.

David Waldman saves us from the goo of awfulness for a couple of hours each day to escape into the details and nuance of stories not paid enough attention:

John Ratcliffe finally caught the attention of the judge on Presidential Apprentice, and may be moving into the finals, but was caught inflating his resume in a major anti-terrorism case.  Republicans may be opposed, but might have given up caring.

Trump’s 2016 “America First” energy plan was first approved by the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

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Another Monday, some more clouds. 

At least 3 are dead in another mass shooting. This time it was at the Gilroy Garlic Festival in Northern California. 

It turns out that the President of the United States is as a matter of fact, a white supremacist. 

And, Greg Dworkin is up in Alaska having fun without us for the next couple weeks!

David Waldman hangs in there, punching the time clock at KITM World Headquarters, flicking the lights and gauges awake as the walls of machinery whir to life… Where to take us today?

How about a deep look, or maybe a beginning of a deep look into the overarching danger of replacing the director of national intelligence Dan Coats, last of the even slightly straight shooters of the Trump administration with House Republican John Ratcliffe of Texas, a conspiracy-promoting loyalist. Of course Ratcliffe’s loyalty was the primary consideration, the conspiracies come for free.

Republicans used to have a clue to what was going on, but forgot when “what’s said in the family stays in the family.”

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David Waldman has all sorts of reads for you this weekend—“long”, “short”, “deep”... I present to you the “shallow”:

It’s all falling into place: First, this week’s Robert Mueller’s testimony. Then, uhm, then... six weeks of lulling Donald Trump into more self-impeachment… 

Then! That’s when the trap is sprung. Nancy Pelosi is such a master of 12 dimensional chess that it is difficult to determine who her actual opponents even are! Wait—so now it’s Jerry Nadler’s fault? Nadler and Trump played long before Mueller even sat down, and Donald doesn’t play chess. Jerry taught Donald how to lose, a talent he has perfected to this day. (BTW, Mohammed bin Salman also has a super-cool city he wants to build.)

Robert Mueller said he didn’t charge Trump because of the OLC opinion, then walked that back. Ted Lieu believes he did that to avoid calling Donald Trump a felon.

Roy Moore’s lawyer has his own, probably not pedophiliac, sex scandal.

Florida Senator Lauren Book received phone calls saying ‘Little girl you don’t know what you’re getting into,’ while checking into Jeffrey Epstein’s work release scandal.

A Republican candidate-shoplifter running for Congress hopes to simultaneously unseat Ilhan Omar and own the libs.

Whenever Elliott Broidy pops up, trouble follows... or is it when trouble pops up, Elliott Broidy follows?

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There. Robert Mueller gave the country everything necessary to show why Donald Trump should be impeached. So, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi, with just a little twist of lemon, leap into… 

Look. Michael Moore and Chuck Todd agree, Robert Mueller is no Brett Kavanaugh, so what would you expect Democratic Leadership to do now?

Republicans on the other hand, spotted the cameras and microphones right away, and knew what was expected of them. It pays to understand the expectations of modern journalists. 

In between everything, there was procedure. David Waldman located a tasty bit to chew over.

Greg Dworkin called in to turn our attention to the presently sunny skies still over 2020. Media coverage of the Democratic primary would be different if the first states to vote were Florida, Texas, New York and Georgia, but of course none of that is actually happening. Instead we get the Bullock bounce, and maybe a Harris re-bounce.

Donald Trump died, and the cover up continues. Still, hidden clues such as this fake Presidential seal hint at the truth. If Jeffrey Epstein dies, he’ll miss a heck of a trial. Here’s Epstein’s Lolita Express, and the women who helped make it possible.

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What ‘cha doin’? Watching Robert Mueller testify? That’s cool... but wouldn’t you rather be listening to KITM right now, hm?

OK, David Waldman would also rather be watching the testimony, too… and so would Greg Dworkin, but there’s so much to tell you they couldn’t let a day go by:

For instance, there is the prelude to the Mueller testimony, and the prelude to the Mueller testimony postlude. And the speculation… Will this be the Aaron Zebley moment? Will Robert Mueller just explode? Will the media get it right, finally? Or is it LOL YOLO NM, on to the election?

These are not normal times, and this won’t be a normal election. The Russians will interfere again, and the states to worry about are the same ones Hillary Clinton needed, and lost. Do the Democrats need good policies, or good-sounding policies to win? The Green New Deal is as popular as legalizing weed. The best candidate against Donald Trump will harness hope—and fear, at least as good as Trump does.

Mueller’s testimony isn’t the only important thing happening in DC. The House is holding hearings on industry’s Big Tobacco-style campaign to suppress data on the health effects of #PFAS.

There’s a Chinese billionaire at Mar-a-Lago. He sells real estate, in China, hangs out with Steve KG Bannon… and… He’s a Commie spy!

Oh… and Puerto Rico, the TL;DR of American history, erupts into protests of “Ricky Renuncia”… and it looks like he might.

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One day before Robert Mueller testifies before Congress. Mueller’s testimony will enable Democrats in Congress to impeach Donald Trump even more than Mueller’s report did. Two, three times as much. That dude will be so impeached. David Waldman doesn’t get our hopes up, pointing out that Congress’ best chance at success would be to keep their mouth shut, and what’s the chance of that?  It will in fact enable much more talk of legislation, for those policy-talk fans out there going into 2020.

Impeachment does seem kind of like a mean thing to do, and Democrats hate being mean, even when protecting equal rights or public services against injustice. Better to just get along while in the majority, so they can feel better about themselves while in the minority.

Donald Trump proves he’s the Nicest Guy by not killing 10,000,000 million people yesterday. In comparison, kidnapping a few American citizens you don’t like the looks of, seems small potatoes.

Trump showed David Waldman who’s boss, waiting an extra week until David filed a complaint to explain that Mike Pence fears the temptations of drugs almost as much as sex.

Former Senator John Ensign is finally back on the market.

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David Waldman begins the week off with racism and impeachment and racism-impeachment talk.

But first, did you read that Al Franken article? It is a must read article that David sure as hell won’t read, at least until you kids in the back pipe down. 

A QAnoner on a secret (imaginary) mission from Donald Trump takes out a mob boss (for real) in a blow to the (imaginary) Deep State. Buzz Aldrin couldn’t beat the conspiracy theories out of his moon landing truther.

Greg Dworkin calls in to decompound our national tincture of intolerance, while white anxiety, and Presidential approval keep going up. Over 80% of Republicans do have a racist bone in their bodies, and have inherited their identity politics with their skin color. Their strategic deployment of bigotry has been the default practice used to undercut democracy, therefore we must fight Trump and everything he represents. But... you can’t fight Trump directly, and you can’t ignore him, and you can’t fight him on substance, and you can’t fight him with artifice, so maybe Dems should become extemporaneous… and hire screenwriters. Oh maybe Robert Mueller will get up there and fix it all... After all he would if this was a TV show.

Many people get campaign information from their friends and family, which is one reason you are being tracked to your church.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Warren pulls closer to Bernie Sanders in a progressive straw poll and  Sanders might be losing his NH firewall. Is Kamala Harris the one to beat?

Armando calls in to discuss the mechanics of impeachment and the whys and why nots of emoluments lawsuit dismissals. 

Ivanka Trump and Judiciary Chairman Jerry Nadler have substantial evidence that Donald Trump committed high crimes and misdemeanors. They’d both prefer to keep their concerns private.

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It’s Friday and David Waldman presents a “Friday” KITM. Coincidence? You decide:

The Southern District of New York determined that there wasn’t anything interesting to investigate on Donald Trump, Michael Cohen and Hope Hicks. How do they keep doing that? More importantly, why? Could we have been following the wrong trail of crimes? Bump bump bummmm!

Speaking of rampant pedophilia, why are right-wing conspiracies so obsessed with it? Speaking of rampant pedophilia, the list of names will be staggering in the upcoming Jeffrey Epstein case.

Steve KG Bannon bragged that he tracked Catholic’s church-going in Iowa with their cell phones.

William Barr and Wilbur Ross are now in criminal contempt of Congress, so now what?

Senator Josh Hawley, weary of the pejorative “urban”, reaches back for the white nationalist classic “cosmopolitan” in his speeches.

If only unheralded Democratic moderates were as prominent in the media as Squad Democrats, then wow, they’d have an idea or two to share, you bet, and wouldn’t have to go around so… anonymously.

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Donald Trump proved last night what he proves every day: He can get worse. David Waldman and Greg Dworkin review yesterday’s events, which will seem a walk in the park by next week:

Donald Trump had a signature campaign rally last night in which he goaded his followers into behaving like Trump followers. He needs them to be racist thugs, although a bit more discreet. Mobs can be effective, yet so hard to regulate. Don’t worry, Donald has a plan if things get out of hand.

It’s ride or die time for Republicans, with no room for the weak. Susan Collins is deeply concerned. Ivanka Trump considers a name change.

Democrats just want to get along. The Squad remains in the limelight, and not one of their couple hundred Democratic Congressional co-workers are one bit envious of that limelight... Several did pull Jake Tapper aside to speak candidly under condition of anonymity about how they were especially rankled by having to address specific concerns in an order that they themselves would not have selected, probably. Also-rogue Representative Al Green introduced articles of impeachment, again. 95 fellow Democrats thought that was a fine idea. But, it was tabled, because of course we should wait to hear the Mueller report testimony before doing something imprudent.

In New York, the sun rises.

If you think we have it tough, UK’s Trump Boris Johnson lost his first House of Commons vote, and he’s not even Prime Minister yet. Boris attempted to suspend parliament to force through a no-deal Brexit.

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No one can tell Donald Trump what he can and can not do with his shampoo bottle! Hmm… and while we wait for the right wing videos pwning us on that one, David Waldman and Greg Dworkin bring us the latest news:

Donald Trump is now officially a racist, and the ruling is officially bipartisan. As the House arrived at that decision, Representative Emmanuel Cleaver officially declared “can’t even” on the House floor.  It seems that Republicans really hate racism...the word “racism”. Democrats still have half of the dictionary to work with. LOL YOLO NV… Wait, David explains that someone actually followed precedent here.

The Trump presidential campaign hopes to win where they won, and Donald certainly looks to have locked up the deplorable vote for 2020. In fact, he might have captured it for generations. The rest of America agrees that Trump supporters should just go back where they came from.

It’s now down to “old white guy” vs. “smart woman lawyer” for the hearts and minds of Democrats. Don’t turn to bloggers for your answers, everyone knows no one blogs anymore.

Measured in geologic time, Democratic investigations into Trump have moved relatively quickly. The administration agreed to be permanently barred from adding a citizenship question to the 2020 census. (And still haven’t, as of this posting) A US District Judge keeps lowering the bar on Roger Stone, and he keeps limboing under.

Newly found footage of Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein at a 1992 party raises the question of how a feeble dork like this could find his way to any legitimate sex, ever. Former Trump Aide Jason Miller has been to all of the prostitutes and massage parlors, but is still too much the gentleman say if he saw the boss there.

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So here we are, living in a world where Donald Trump’s racism is tracked LIVE on TV, and his deplorability to appeal to his basket of voters seems somehow clever, if not laudable to some.

This is a stupid reality to find ourselves in, but at least we have KITM and David Waldman in this stupid timeline for a couple of hours of non-stupid:

The Justice Department says Kellyanne Conway is absolutely immune from compelled congressional testimony. They’re getting away with it, so who’s the dummy here? Impeachment is one of a few issues progressives have become un-arrayed with from Democratic leadership.

Armando caught Uncle Joe on Morning Joe hoping to come off as Onion Joe, but unfortunately, our Joe is turning out to be Sleepy Joe.

Julian Assange turned an embassy into a command post for election meddling, and probably forfeited his apartment deposit. Italy’s far right brings a missle to a ballot fight.  Maybe we won’t be as rowdy….

Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders share some politics, but find little need to share much else.

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Dems in disarray! (No, not really) Donald Trump is racist! (Yes, indeed). Well, that sums it up… Oh, you want more detail? Then you have come to the right place. On today’s KITM, David Waldman teams up with Greg Dworkin, and is joined by Armando to deliver almost 2 hours of nitty-gritty:

Surprise! Donald Trump is a cruel bigot, voted in by cruel bigots, and wields an army of cruel bigots, so, it might be expected that cruel bigotry would be the national agenda. Idiot-2 and Sycophant-1 went on concentration camp inspection and thought the place smelled like heaven compared to where they usually have their heads.

Things aren’t looking good for Obamacare… so, is that good news for Obamacare? It looks as if Joe Biden thinks so. Armando caught up on the latest dimensions in chess play at Netroots Nation, and though there is a bit of disarray, he finds Nancy Pelosi was really not the villain. Sure, Democrats fight each other in the downtime between Trump tweets, and when there are fake polls fomenting their dissent, but they know when it’s again time to put that all aside and win.

Bernie Sanders rallied at Hahnemann University Hospital, leaving Netroots Nation to Elizabeth Warren, confirming that they are indeed two different people. Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, and Kamala Harris beat Trump in NBC/WSJ polls. Bring on the state polls!

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It’s hard to believe that there are still things to “discover” about Jeffrey Epstein, but it’s true! Although we can’t be sure that all the things “discovered” are true. Here’s something that’s definitely not: the idea that anyone could make a “political martyr” out of Alexander Acosta, who resigned before the show was even halfway done.

What does the Epstein story say about us? Well, pretty much what you thought it did. As an added reminder, it’s the first anniversary of the bust-up of yet another Russian crime ring operating out of Trump properties.

On the census front, did Trump cave on pushing the citizenship question? Or does he just have something even more sinister up his poorly-tailored sleeve? The courts have had just about enough of this crap, and the House (for what it’s worth) is no happier.

More news nuggets out of the newest Trumpworld book: Nikki Haley got the UN gig as a favor to her Lieutenant Governor, who wanted the top job.

The Mazars subpoena case is back in court, this time on appeal, with Trump’s counsel grasping at straws.

The entirety of the western world—home of that enlightened culture celebrated as superior by conservatism’s leading lights—is under attack by the Russian mob/government. But we’re out of time and will have to leave it there.

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Netroots Nation! Sounds like fun, but you know somebody has to hold down the fort, or in this case KITM World Headquarters. So in between the caucuses, breakouts, keynotes, and mindfulness moments, pop in your earbuds to catch up with David Waldman and Greg Dworkin on the hot topics you know your friends will want to talk about:

There’s Jeffrey Epstein, in the basement of Pedophile Island. The more people know, the more questions come up. For instance, Epstein seems to have a lot of money and power, but only one client, Les Wexner. Epstein never once checked in with city cops in the eight-plus years since a Manhattan judge ordered him to do so every 90 days .

Alexander Acosta’s press conference also raised questions. Acosta plans to slash funds for sex trafficking victims. 

You’d think the RNC would have answers to all of the pedophile/rape/abuse/sex trafficking questions by now.

Donald Trump shoots the constitution on 5th avenue today, and sure, there are questions... Trump and Republicans quit caring about answering questions in October of 2016. Actually, Putin and Republicans quit caring about answering questions even earlier. Oh, look—there’s Donald attacking another woman.

Maybe an election would help. “Electability” is the new “I’m not racist/sexist, but...” of 2020. Nevertheless, Harris and Warren join Joe Biden in the top tier of the Democratic contenders. The race is closest among likeliest voters… but Joe is still winning.

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For those of you clamoring for tickets to “KITM Live!” in Philadelphia at Netroots Nation this week, sorry but they’ve been sold out… to Legally Blonde, the Musical. We wouldn’t be so crass to put on such a theatrical production just to take your money!

David Waldman won’t be seeing Legally Blonde, or even attending Netroots Nation this year. He instead will be rolling up his sleeves, pulling on his hip boots, and joining Greg Dworkin and Joan McCarter for another day of Jeffrey Epstein latrine duty. There is a lot to dig out, so off we sail to “Pedophile Island” (actually Ephebophilia Island, part of the Chronophiliac Archipelago): 

In 2002, Vicky Ward wrote a heavily censored profile on Epstein. So did Michael Wolff. For decades, lifestyles of the rich & litigious remained a topic avoided by male chief editors. Then Julie K. Brown wrote her Pulitzer-winning (If anyone had nominated it) article on then Miami prosecutor, now Trump labor secretary Alexander Acosta’s plea deal of a lifetime for Epstein. Donald Trump used to love Jeff Epstein, but now he’s not a fan. Donald still loves Alexander… for the moment. At least until someone worse for the job can be sourced. The wrong guy quits in the UK. Meanwhile, the Shadow Cabaret strip club hosts a golf tournament at Trump National.

In non-Epstein news, Obamacare has gone back to court, and has run into a court more partisan than sane. Susan Collins isn’t deeply troubled by her Kavanaugh vote, and might have her and her concerns voted out of Maine. Retired Marine combat aviator Amy McGrath raised $2.5 million in the first 24 hours of her campaign against Mitch McConnell! And—William Barr doesn’t pull his latest fast one on the judge in the Census question case.

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Today, David Waldman connects the dots between Jeffrey Epstein’s sex crimes and labor secretary Alexander Acosta… along with the Love Boat cast from Hell: Prince Andrew, Alan Dershowitz, Bill Cosby, Kevin Spacey, Chris Tucker, OJ. Simpson, Bill Clinton, Steve Bannon, Alan Greenberg, William Barr, Lex Wexner, Claus von Bulow, and special guest star Donald Trump. There is also Epstein’s collection of Young [Name] +[Name] photos full of new, sordid surprises. 

Will Jeffrey ever pay for his crimes?  Most pedophile pimps wouldn’t have been capable of Epstein’s financial success, which might be attributed to his selective clientele. 

Rich and powerful can hire smart people to look out for their interests. Donald Trump on the other hand has people like Kris Kobach, who misspelled his own name in his Senate registration.

The ACA goes back to court as The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will be hearing oral arguments as to whether or not the ACA is unconstitutional.

Spoiler: The Seth Rich conspiracy theory has Russian origins.

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What a weekend! And what a downpour in DC! Just a wee bit too late to float the late Donald Trump’s parade away.

Thankfully, Greg Dworkin was on hand to help corral the various stories competing for attention today. And one of the first things Greg did was turn to Chris Hayes for guidance, in declaring America united behind the World Cup win and the arrest of Jeffrey Epstein—thanks in large part to the tireless reporting of Julie K. Brown in The Miami Herald. Which is probably why Alan Dershowitz—himself (“allegedly!”) implicated in the scandal—was almost as tireless in his attempts to undermine her work.

There’s so much wrapped up in this story—and so much more of the same immediately adjacent to it—that it’s impossible to get to it all. But if you want to know if there’s anything new, here’s the indictment.

So why not just ITMF, already? Well, maybe you should tell us about your (political) childhood. Then again, maybe you have it all wrong.

Oh, hey! Did we mention that the Department of Justice is in trouble for lying a whole lot in the census case? They’re replacing their legal team, but there are competing theories as to why.

Random throwback: “Terrorist Fist Jab!”

And just to complicate everything further, the British know Donald Trump sucks. But politics being what it is, they may fire the guy who said so.

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But… Did. They. Get. Off? 

The rain was almost… almost like a “sign” from above that yesterday’s greatest show in history would be the hugest lesson in irony. In that, it did not disappoint. 

David Waldman takes us through Donald Trump’s history lesson on ramming the ramparts at airports during the Revolution. If you think Trump sees history in a strange way, wait until you hear how he sees himself. Profile in courage Donald Trump wishes he could be the good person he really is inside... it’s just that you provoke him so.

An open letter to the director of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum states why we again need to say Never Again.

Trump tries to come up with a way to rig the Census that someone will believe, but why bother when lies work so well? Oregon’s governor uses her executive powers for good.

Cheese and whiskey are targeted in the US’s latest proposed tariffs on EU, as the Jim Beam bourbon warehouse is allowed to burn down to keep from polluting the water.

What will the Gop do without the NRA? The Indian government already has a plan in place for dealing with Ivanka Trump-like intrusion.

Serena Blaiz—Daily Kos’ peacearena—reports on the expanding local news desert, and the unexpected hits on your local economy.

Just in: President Donald J. Trump is still dead. We hope to update this throughout the day.

Justin Amash pronounces the party of Trump dead, and leaves the party.

Meanwhile, The Trump administration frantically attempts to resuscitate their citizenship question for the 2020 Census. Or, like as in Trump’s case, they will just pretend it’s alive and hope to fool as many people as long as possible.

David Waldman and Greg Dworkin spend their grill pre-heating and beer-icing time prepping us for… no, not the QAnonathon, you’re better than that! Military parades are as dead as, well you know. Here’s tanks for the memories.

Today, let’s keep America and patriotism alive by becoming more informed citizens. Smart investors support Elizabeth Warren. Warren keeps capturing Sanders’ voters, and in Iowa she’s out in front.

A Pediatrician describes what she saw inside a border patrol warehouse. Cruelty is the point, and that point becomes sharper at Trump concentration camps each passing day.  Who is in charge of delivering cruelty, and who is just following orders? A handy guide.

Next week: A very short war in Iran.

Donald Trump is dead, to begin with. Probably. That recent tweet with Pence’s skull (“I love braiiinnns!”) could have be made at any time. That doesn’t mean we can’t have a huge and beautiful wake. We already sold the tickets and bought the fireworks.

The whole gang shows up today. David Waldman welcomes Greg Dworkin, Armando and Joan McCarter, all here to pour one out before tomorrow’s interment: 

Greg says vote for whom you want, and we will figure out electability as we go along. But—whom do we want and whom do we not? Polls this early might not be predictive, but they sure are fun. Our first and second choices are becoming clearer, maybe, unless someone screws up, of course. Many of us are worried that maybe many of us are bigoted idiots. Some of us might be… most probably aren’t. Hesitating in the face of Republican demagoguery is losing.

In between now and the election, Elizabeth Warren keeps up on her day job. Donald thought Judy Felton was a lunatic just like him, but she might be a lunatic in ways he did not imagine. House Democrats sue the Trump administration for tax returns. Armando runs the numbers and places the payoff sometime in late never.  

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has set July 9 as the date for a special session on gun-control legislation, mostly because that is what Virginia voters want him to do. Virginia Republicans say that gun control is just the first slippery step down the slope of making them vote Democratic.

By next week we should all be back to Trump-normal, which means some fresh ICE raids and the placing of a memorial for the 1991 Gulf War on downtown Tehran. Tomorrow, get away from the TV and watch your local fireworks. Oh, and come back here—we have a new KITM tomorrow!

At the behest of the Shah of America, tanks have been rolling onto the National Mall in preparation for this week’s Jingo-Cosfest 2019. Only the inner circle have been invited to the inner circle. Those outside of that… well, don’t worry, Donald Trump has been noticing you for a while now and will be addressing you in his 2nd, etc. terms. Presently, Donald’s well-muscled eyes are focused on eliminating the 2020 census. Meanwhile, border patrol agents fantasize about migrant deaths and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

In response Democrats will do something. They probably have some secret plan. The courts won’t end gerrymandering, so there needs to be a plan to fix it without them.

David Waldman brings on Professor Ian Reifowitz, author of The Tribalization of Politics: How Rush Limbaugh’s Race-Baiting Rhetoric on the Obama Presidency Paved the Way for Trump to discuss Donald Trump and his 4th of July parade, as well as gerrymandering, as well as many other threats to democracy posed by Republicans.

We enjoyed great, pre-recorded KITMs last week while David Waldman was out... unfortunately right during the two Democratic Presidential debates. But now David’s back, ready to offer up insightful analysis on all Marianne Williamson-related issues. Might as well cut to the chase, really. Why, even Steve KG Bannon couldn’t pick a more disruptive President.

Wait, wasn’t Donald Trump supposed to be “the disruptor”? Greg Dworkin suggests that Trump perhaps instead represents the disjunctive end of an era, as did Jimmy Carter. Well then, who are today’s disjunctive candidates, and who are the disruptive? And... where does the debate on busing in the 1970s come into this? So, are the old Democrats done now?  Well, Joe Biden straddles both ends of his era, and therefore appeals to many in between.

Meanwhile, The Presidential Apprentice could use a ratings boost about now... Uhm, how about an exotic location with wacky guest stars, plus a little rotating of a few side characters into the limelight? If that doesn’t work, you could just throw the whole clan into a last-ditch big budget holiday special and hope for the best.

Could Donald Trump possibly have terrible economic timing?  Sure—what’s your point?

David Waldman continues his embargo on Democratic debate takeaways, but he didn’t skimp on providing an ALL-NEW Kagro in the Morning! Sure, some of it is from vintage 2015 recordings, but they remain new to us! Anyhow, if you had heard back it then, you’d have no idea how prescient it is right now:

Back in 2015, with Hillary Rodham Clinton soon to be elected as the the first female President in US history, reality show lunatic Donald Trump proposed an inane scheme to round up 11 million immigrants, costing the US hundreds of billions of dollars, an unimaginable expansion of authoritarianism just for the satisfaction of a handful of vindictive racists….

So, uhm, what if Trump won’t accept 2020 defeat, and instead refuses to leave office?

Meanwhile, Donald added another million to his golf tab with a visit to Trump National Doral. Taxpayers paid him to do it, as did campaign donors, influence peddlers, even golfers. Ivanka Trump made almost $4 million from Trump Washington hotel last year.

Trump’s official in charge of diplomacy carried a whip to office to intimidate staff.

As Jamal Khashoggi’s bone-saw murder at the hands of Saudis comes more and more into focus, it’s not getting prettier.

Quick-thinking residents of Ostritz, Germany, bought up hundreds of crates of beer to keep them away from Neo-Nazis at their rally.

The first debate for the 2020 Presidential election! Who won? Who lost? What were the defining moments? Surprises? Fails? Triumphs? Takeaways? What were the takeaways? We need the takeaways!

Just don’t ask David Waldman for them. Oh, go ahead and ask, but it’ll probably go to his answering machine; this is a travel day for him. Instead, enjoy this special Kagro in the Morning, chockablock with exactly what sets KITM apart from the others—forays into the outer, icky edges of Trumpworld’s web of sleaze and corruption:

The N.R.A.’s longtime C.F.O. was caught embezzling before joining the N.R.A., an organization renown for giving such down on their luck a second chance. 

The compassion continues at the White House, with the official in charge of U.S. arms control with Moscow covering for Kremlin connection Paul Erickson, the former boyfriend of Russian agent Maria Butina.

Donald Trump works his way back to the Founding Fathers to burn each bridge created in American history. He’s reached year 145, dodging the international postal service, and managing to suppress the vote while he’s at it.

David tells us the one about the Evangelical, the Pool Boy, and Michael Cohen. Then there’s the one, or actually the five about Duncan Hunter.

Tonight... back to the debates. Joe Biden has the experience, but how far back will his opponents’ memories go?

Yay!  It’s Wednesday, and you know what that means! David Waldman, Greg Dworkin, and Joan McCarter... and it actually does mean that, as Joan McCarter finally returns from having fun without us, back to having fun with us:

Coming up tonight: The first Democratic primary debate! What political dynamics should you look for? Well, here’s some dynamics for you—Elizabeth Warren will visit a Florida prison camp jailing 2,300 migrant children, just before taking the stage tonight! How about that plan to become “electable”? Anyhow, Warren will be with several other people, all of whom ain’t Trump.

Coming up on NRA-TV: NOTHING! Dana Loesch just missed her chance at a quick bounce back opportunity.

Can Democrats compete on the internet without being sociopathic trolls? What’s the fun in that? Highlights Magazine, always true to its moral compass, takes a stand against separating immigrant children from their families. Wayfair’s got just what refugees and immigrants need: profits for donation support. Republicans would pass humanitarian aid if it wasn’t just so humanitarian.

Probable Donald Trump rape victim E. Jean Carroll told her story… and what do you know, she was criticized for her tone and her looks... Maybe the next one will get that right.

Bill Barr killed 7 Robert Mueller lines of investigations, which is what he was hired to do. If Robert Mueller ever manages to testify, he might want to address that.

A Queens DA race is national news, because it might reveal the future of the Democratic party. The future of the Republican party is being revealed in Oregon.

If you believe Donald Trump has an idea of what to do after he bombs Iran, you are crazier than he is.

UK’s goofy Trump clone Boris Johnson may not molest women or golf to relax, but he does draw pictures… of people in buses on boxes. Not what Trump might choose to doodle, but that’s probably a good thing.

KITM might be live tomorrow, it might be pre-recorded Thursday and Friday, but today David Waldman brings us news and entertainment right now, ready or not:

The Trump concentration camps are actually concentration camps, but really, NOT the Holocaust.  

Russia supports Iran’s contention that our drone was trespassing. Iran supports our contention that the 25th amendment should be revisited.

The White House plans to block Kellyanne Conway from testifying about Hatch Act violations. Annie Donaldson may not be absolutely immune from from appearing before Congress, but her sudden 5th month of pregnancy might help delay her.

Trump showed a photographer one of his beautiful letters, then confidentially threatened him with prison.

Oregon Republicans fight democracy with armed domestic terror groups.

Armando showed up for the “middle” hour of the show to discuss how Presidential Apprentice seems to have jumped the shark, recommending impeachment inquiries as the ideal mid-season replacement.

We didn’t go to war this weekend! Donald Trump made a Presidential pivot during a Fox News toilet break, allowing thousands to live through the weekend and for him to make tee time. The 4th of July weekend seems like a better time for fireworks, anyhow.

David Waldman also survives the weekend to start off our KITM week:

Militia groups cancel democracy in their first state, beginning with Oregon.

How bad is the Trump government? Leaked documents show it might be as bad as we thought.

Greg Dworkin lets us know that the baby jails are maybe worse than we thought, because cruelty isn’t just the point, it’s part of the plan. Chuck Todd whimpered softly beneath whatever dotard babble Trump shoveled between commercials. Chuck avoided, in gentlemanly fashion, the subject of Donald’s serial raping, as did all other gentlemanly news shows.

Heading into the first debates, candidates know what to do about Joe Biden, they would just prefer not to do it first. Black voters are still willing to give Joe Biden the benefit of the doubt. Black voters might not be willing to give Pete Buttigieg much of anything.

Unemployment rises in 8 Trump states, as healthcare diminishes, time for the really serious questions.

Elizabeth Warren is completely serious… so who will be the first to tell her to smile more? Kamala Harris hopes to get noticed more before she is noticed to be female and summarily discounted.

Carl Cameron leaves Fox News to aggregate like the Uber of Drudge Reports, but for liberals.

OMG, we almost went to war with Iran last night! Unless, maybe, it didn’t happen. Holy mackeral, it really didn’t! This really is getting to be too easy.

Jerry Nadler is up in arms about emoluments, now. I wish there was something he could do.

Donald Trump, who says he’s president, figures he can “win” with just his base. I guess it depends on what “win” means.

Elliott Broidy is back in the news. So that’s nice. So’s Roger Stone. Will he finally shut up? And if he does shut up, what does that mean?

On the opposite end of the spectrum, they can’t make Hope Hicks talk. Now we’ll never know how she does it!

Are there racist cops who need to be taken off the streets? Sure. How many? Well, 72—so far—in Philadelphia, alone.

Laws, especially tax laws, are for the little people, says apparent Big Person Bill Koch.

Someone’s making black voters in North Carolina disappear. It’s not crazy to think it’s Russia.

Just to bring things full circle, here’s something else Trump bragged about that also didn’t happen: that huge boost in worker bonuses following his “tax cut.”

Iran shot down a US drone, escalating tensions that were already at a fever pitch, ever since Fox bought their new graphics software. That stuff doesn’t pay for itself, you know.

Ivanka Trump takes a number and gets in line to go to jail for the Hatch act.

Hope Hicks continues to do it, by not doing it, if Donald Trump doesn’t like it. Felix Sater wishes he could do anything like Hope Hicks does it.

David Waldman and Greg Dworkin reviewed David’s masterclass yesterday in how Congress works, especially impeachment, and how leadership avoids votes to protect its own members.

Yesterday, the House just passed an appropriations bill that includes an 11 line passage that repeals the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force. As you know, legislating in an appropriations bill is against the House rules! (Unless the House Rules Committee waives the rule.) 

More moderate Democrats are finding it safe enough to call for Trump’s impeachment. Democrats will always find it less safe in 2020. Moderate Democrats own their mistakes. Who knows what it would take to embarrass Joe Biden, but he can take comfort in very stable metrics.

Donald Trump plans to do whatever he wants, and Republicans plan to do whatever he wants also.

The publisher of a slanderous book on Sandy Hook apologizes… after losing a lawsuit. (The authors remain scum.) 20 years after Columbine and they still might have to bulldoze the building.

Joe Biden, Presidential candidate, reversed his position on the Hyde amendment, right as the House is poised to pass spending legislation. Just when you thought elected officials were subject to sacrosanct, unbending rules, David Waldman is here to explain just how wrong, and right you are, in a nuance and esoterica filled procedural dissertation on the inner workings of House rules in KITM’s second hour.

But first:

If you can’t make Nancy Pelosi impeach Donald Trump, how are are you going to make her censure him?

Last night, upwards of a dozen very fine people attended Donald Trump’s rally and white pride festival.

Yesterday, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez found some shrieking Republicans and decided to rattle their cage. Of course, “cage” might not be a factually accurate term there, but no one could disagree that the baby jails filled with migrants at the border aren’t concentration camps… or maybe they could. People can fight about a lot of things. 

Greg Dworkin asserts that Elizabeth Warren is a force to be reckoned with. Republicans know that, and every single Democrat would probably vote for her… except they first need to contend with every other Democrat’s racism and sexism. So, it’s Joe.

Donald Trump knows where he stands with bigots, but he might be dismayed by how few of them are 65 and older anymore. Donald’s “never Trump” bloc is as strong as ever.

David Waldman’s morning set at the KITM World Headquarters’ Comedy Kitchen opened quite upbeat today, wondering “what’s the deal” with toothpicks, crazy parkers, idiot Presidents and such, but soon segued into darker territory—the moment a soon to be award-winning photographer captured that moment a "law-abiding" open-carrying good guy with a gun became none of the above. What is the deal with violence-cosplaying alt-right 4chan incels?

Then the discussion got real. The necessity of an impeachment inquiry has placed Democrats into competing existential crises—save their job, or save the rule of law? It would be a real shame to lose swing state Democrat Katie Porter, but even as she realizes the precariousness of her situation, she also knows the importance of this moment to everyone’s future. David returns to Robert Mueller’s “Take Care” clause, then travels over to Article Two of the Constitution to see what can be done, and finally takes a thorough look into the Office of Legal Counsel, in particular the Trump administration’s abuse of that institution.

Well, Donald Trump isn’t going away soon, maybe ever. David Waldman shows no signs of stopping either, and obeys no term limits:

In a series of ABC interviews, George Stephanopoulos patiently offered Trump a myriad of opportunities to be a dimwit, and Donald took him up on every single one, even while working in a few of his own. 

Just don’t cough during a take. For some reason, Donald Trump hates that.

So far Trump has gotten away with everything, so why stop now? Government expects a minimum of good intentions and behavior, but after that loses all mechanisms to cope. Except for, you know, impeachment. Support for a hearing surge among Democrats... just not all of them, or at least the right ones.

Whether it’s the impeachment inquiry or the Democratic nomination, Greg Dworkin recommends getting off the pot soon.  Is Joe Biden the Jeb Bush of Democrats? No, not as long as he’s seen as the best chance for getting rid of Trump. Voters are 50-50 for Trump in Texas, but are still shopping. Trump wishes he could go North Korean on his pollsters. Let’s vote already!

You can be a Democratic populist, but remember—cruelty isn’t the point. A pastor who wanted women executed for abortions was arrested for raping a child.

Donald Trump was worried there, for a few minutes, in 2016. At that time, being President of the United States seemed to require a lot of work, discipline, and responsibility! Eh… it used to. Now we have executive time, executive privilege, and executive LOL,YOLO nothing matters…

Well, somehow it still matters to David Waldman and us KITM listeners. The President doing nothing actually destroys everything. The Office of Special Counsel presented 17 pages of Kellyanne Conway violating the Hatch Act. Donald Trump says “Nah.” The White House says the OSC are the real racists, sexists, Hatch Act violators. 

The FEC chair didn’t think it had to be said that taking foreign dirt was 100% illegal. (The DOJ isn’t about to say it.) Republicans block bills requiring campaigns to say anything. Republicans would rather destroy government than to share it. The New York Times has a 5 part series on nationalists’ destruction of democracy in the European Union.

Weekend reading: How China is using capitalism as a tool to convert American economics and politics. The Gop concedes tax cuts may not pay for themselves. 

In news that doesn’t matter, Sarah Sanders interrupted her vacation to quit work. Bye!

Did anyone impeach the Prince of Wails yet? How about an impeachment inquiry? Anything? Damn Donald Trump, and the system that let him slide for 60 or so years. (Foreign interference in 2016 did matter, btw)

David Waldman brings us a special “Not Letting Trump Slide” KITM (Issued weekdays since 2015):

Donald Trump lies. Donald said you’d “freeze action” the video of his “secret trade agreement.” You did, and now Trump says he didn’t anticipate that, as each sentence he utters must be a lie. Trump said he officially submitted Patrick Shanahan’s nomination for secretary of defense weeks ago. He lied on the “submitted”, “officially”, “nomination” and the “Patrick Shanahan” parts. Trump says that in his whole life he never called the FBI… He lied. Today, Trump lies about yesterday. Tomorrow he will lie about today.

A team of two or three Democratic Presidents could be very cool, but Greg Dworkin suggests against this strategy going into 2020. For those needing to settle on just one, Elizabeth Warren is seen rising in the polls, and Joe Biden might be dropping.  

Is Joe Biden a return to the past? Is that such a bad thing? Iowans Seem To Like Warren And Buttigieg. Californians check “all of the above.” All Americans increasingly support transgender rights. Trump moves out of California.

Not all Chinese are spies. But all Chinese spies seem to be connected to Mar-a-Lago. We do seem to be pleasing our Chinese overlords. 

David Waldman presents the hump day KITM, the hump caused by the shear abundance of links, stories, and things to consider.

Today in malfeasance:

When Chaos and corruption go hand in hand,  you know it is time to invest in gravel, bananas, or anything Mitch McConnell is investing in. 22 foreign governments shop Trump. Mexican officials go to Jared.  

Russia’s social media campaign was far larger, vastly more effective, and better paying than previously reported.

Losing Alabama sheriffs still remain on brand. As far as Donald Trump is concerned, corrupt intent is executive privilege.

Greg Dworkin reports on the state of the 2020 race: Trump is losing and he knows it, but if you find out, heads will roll. Trump poll numbers are brutal, they are grim, and not likely to look better. The top 6 candidates beat him by at least 5 points. He loses age 65 & older by 17 points. Donald Trump is an unpopular president. The best hope for Republicans now is to switch the names of the parties. 

Good news for Democrats though, vote for who you want, not who you think others want. Polls on what Massachusetts voters want are coming in.

Wall Street weighs all of this and sees a Trump win. Is everything good news for Donald? Abortion might not be the wedge issue Republicans hope, and is getting more attention than expected. Donald Trump would rather be golfing.

Paula Writer, aka Paula Apynys brings her take on Dan Pfeiffer’s plan to win the impeachment fight.

Yesterday, David Waldman pushed his first baby bird out of the Kagro in the Morning World Headquarters nest. Congratulations!

Today, David welcomes Ian Reifowitz, a Daily Kos contributor, history professor, author and so much more, to discuss his latest book, The Tribalization of Politics: How Rush Limbaugh’s race-baiting rhetoric on the Obama Presidency Paved the Way for Trump. David and Ian discuss exactly that, and a few other related tangents for the first hour and a half of the show.

Eric and Donald, Jr. bought rounds for the house in an Irish Pub, and you know where this is going.

A company part-owned by Jared Kushner got $90 million from unknown offshore investors since 2017… unknown to Jared, unknown to the company.

William Barr gets ticklish around contempt votes, so we know what to do from now on.

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It's the eldest's graduation day, and they scheduled it opposite the show. So, here's where we were a year ago, with our June 11, 2018 episode:

Wow. Another “What a weekend!” Monday!

Greg Dworkin seeks to impose order on the chaos. And so does the former Prime Minister of Belgium. What’s left to be said? Trump was an addled mess at the G-7 G-6 meeting, much to the delight of his fan base, whose only policy interest is “triggering the libs.”

Could Trump be stopped if enough Republican Senators finally gave up? Well, it depends how many.

But who cares about rules and procedure, anyway? They’re all just worthless scraps of paper.

For now, it’s off to Singapore, for about a minute. Or possibly less. Which is not good. Though I don’t know how long you want to leave those two guys in the room alone.

More on that strange attraction between Russian oligarchs and the NRA. And the strange parallels between the British experience and our own. Are we just looking at a new kind of warfare? Or the revival of a very old one? Might our allies decide it’s time to roll out a new kind of sanctions? Or maybe use the very same ones we’re using?

House Democrats officially introduce a contempt resolution for Barr and McGahn.

Wait a second... the resolution would not hold Barr in contempt of Congress. It just says that committees could ask judges to please order people to comply with congressional subpoenas, so that refusal would then be a contempt of court, not contempt of Congress… and no one’s talking here about inherent contempt, but statutory contempt...

Most of us haven’t a clue about what’s going on here. Lucky for us, we have David Waldman, with decades of law and DC experience to help explain. Even better, David’s descriptions of 11 dimensional chess moves and Democratic ”tactical reversals” on subpoenas lured the doubly fluent Armando to Skype in and help consider what has been done and what can be done before Democrats just give up.

If that isn’t enough expertise for you, David fills out the last half of KITM talking to Ryan Grim, author of We Got People: From Jesse Jackson to AOC, the End of Big Money and the Rise of a Movement, to advise us on how we can win with our integrity intact.

D-Day’s 75th anniversary will be remembered by all as the day Europeans once again sent Donald Trump away from their soil. Donald had half of a Presidential moment, skipping the paragraph on his electoral college victory and moving on to heralding our unbreakable European alliances (with the exception of NATO, the EU, UN, and existing trade and climate agreements), and signing a D-Day Proclamation just like he was taught in 5th grade. The Irish Prime Minister lured him to the airport a day earlier in hopes Trump would make like a goose and leave, but that didn’t work out. No one even asked him about Brexit. What Donald wants more than anything, more than showing all the cool kids what they missed out on, is to be royal, and he and his family were just so close this week.

David Waldman and Greg Dworkin discuss plans for welcoming the President back to our shores.

Well, we could lock him up. That does have a ring to it, but not for Democrats that can’t even say the “I-word”. How about impeaching him half way to play keep away from Mitch? 1998's outcome wasn’t all about impeachment, and Trump isn’t Clinton.

After tackling the 7 deadly sins and most of the 10 commandments, Trump has been working on violating all of the constitution. Also, the US public is in a very liberal mood. Younger voters see no problem in voting for what and who they want. Older voters more politely vote for who they think you want. Nonetheless, Elizabeth Warren is rising in the 2020 race based on the strength of her ideas. That’s ok, because Joe Biden has shown he knows a good idea when he sees one. Most voters haven’t really found the one to stick with, but as you know we haven’t had a debate yet…

Both the United States and China have been courting Saudi Arabia with nuclear weapons, but so far we haven’t heard back on who the Saudis love the most.

A half mile of border wall soaked some MAGAs for $20 million, so that’s nice, but other than that it hasn’t helped. As usual, cruelty was the point anyhow. Trump is cutting art, soccer, school and lawyers for migrant kids, research into cures for HIV, Cancer, and Parkinson’s for us. Releasing war criminals back into the public might have been a step too far, however.

D-Day. The day we remember our greatest generation, and our brave men and women fighting side by side with our allies in epic battle for the future of our world. Donald Trump remembers Bette Midler and  Bobby DeNiro waltzing right past him at Studio 54. They thought they were so much better than “The Donald”… but look at him now!

David Waldman congratulates David Dale taking his fact-checking beat to CNN. Ivanka Trump is finally en route to The Hague! How does Hope Hicks do it… existentially? The DOJ promises to play nice with the House Judiciary Committee when they quit looking at them.

Greg Dworkin is back to remind us that where you stand depends on the age of what you’re sitting on. Is impeachment now too idealistic? Not pragmatic? Wrongheaded, misguided, unwise? Starry-eyed hippy Harry Reid believes "It’s not the right thing to do nothing".

Maybe we should start Trump impeachment hearings with Watergate testimonials, and maybe James Taylor or David Crosby playing an opening set. Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders continue to lead the Democratic pack, but plenty of Democrats now lead Donald Trump. Vladimir Putin faces a rocky road to 270 electoral votes in 2020.

Steve King is tired of political lynch mobs, and hopes to get back to real ones someday. The McConnell court weighs preserving white entitlement, while social conservatives are swept into the ash heap of history. Meanwhile, the House votes to give “Dreamers” a path to citizenship.

Texas will allow the killing of wild boars without a license, but you still can’t shoot them in your pajamas.

Hey, did you see David Waldman on MSNBC last night? He made it on All In with Chris Hayes without going any further out of his way than Donald Trump does to go to church.

Well doggies! Donald Trump loaded up all his kinfolk in a jet aeroplane to go chew the fat with the Queen of England! Donald made sure to wear his finest Queen-meeting clothes, as he could see everyone over there would be just mightily impressed to meet someone like him.

Back in the US, we were just glad Trump was away from us a while. Some thought he might be gone permanently, but alas that would be incorrect. There is a danger and a cost to allowing Trump to stay in office. Democratic support for impeachment is rising, and pro-impeachment Dems are are hoping to build a critical mass of members to force Nancy Pelosi towards their viewpoint.

The problem is, Pelosi thinks there’s a lot of dumb people out there that wouldn’t understand the impeachment process, including her own members of congress. (David might agree with that assessment.)  The other problem is, Pelosi is happy to use that same ignorance to further her ends, which could run out the clock on impeachment.

Armando and David agree, Nancy Pelosi is an ideal “regular order” Speaker of the House, but right now we have an irregular situation.  This isn’t their first impeachment rodeo, and the two review the history and strategize for our future. 

Oh, and another pervert connected to Trump is caught.

June! School’s out, people going on vacation, David Waldman hits local summer poetry slams to read the Mueller report, Donald Trump steps up his golf schedule... 

Trump is the puppet, Trump’s the puppet! Donald Trump spent Sunday golfing, duh, then actually attended church… to listen to people pray for him, skipping the part where he was to pray for the victims of Saturday’s mass shooting. The gunman introduced some innovations sure to influence upcoming massacres. He stuck with extended magazines, but increased caliber and introduced a silencing noise suppressor. Of course, we knew that would happen.

Chaos spread through the Chinese shipping industry, but not into a scheduled government meeting, once the New York Times discovered Elaine Chao's plan to boost her families’ businesses.

Donald Trump golfs and tweets. Mitch McConnell gets the job done, killing democracy in ways few could ever imagine, until after they attend informative how to kill democracy seminars.  Democrats and Republicans describe two different constitutions. New digital methods enable scholars to chart how our definition of the scope of “executive power” have changed over time.