Mike and Trey kick off the show by discussing the 12 Russian intelligence officials indicted this week for hacking into Democratic Party systems. Mike says that despite the fact that these Russians will never face trial in the United States, the indictments point to the importance of allowing Robert Mueller to complete his investigation, which is not at all the pointless ‘witch hunt’ some claim. Trey says that these indictments make the idea of President Trump meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin an even worse idea than it already was.
Next is discussion of President Trump nominating Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court. Mike and Trey agree that Kavanaugh is a fairly mainstream conservative choice who will almost certainly be confirmed. Trey points out that a few Senate Democrats facing tough reelection fights may end up voting in favor of confirmation, which seems far more likely than any Republicans defecting.
After that, the Guys talk about the NATO summit and President Trump’s first official visit to the UK. It was a story of two Trumps - the public side, where the president engaged in his usual over-the-top bellicosity, and the private side, where by most accounts he was downright reasonable.
Trey believes that President Trump’s view of NATO and trade relations with the UK is bound up with his larger zero-sum view of trade, which is currently playing out in the escalating trade war with China, which the Guys turn to next. They both agree that imposing additional tariffs on Chinese goods is a truly awful idea, and while a majority of Congressional Republicans agree, they lack the political will to do anything substantive about it.
Finally, Trey and Mike discuss the bipartisan grandstanding at the Congressional testimony of FBI agent Peter Strzok. Mike laments the GOP’s continued effort to destroy the credibility of the FBI in support of the president, and Trey agrees that the greater tendency to discredit accusers, rather than focus on the facts, is a very disturbing trend.
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Mass Shootings, Biden News Conference, Voting Rights & The Filibuster
Border Crisis, Georgia Shootings, US / China Talks
Uzuegbunam v. Preczewiski, Biden’s Record, Voting Rights, Trump Tells RNC to Cease and Desist
COVID Bill, For The People Act, Joe Manchin, CPAC & Trump
James Morone on our “Republic of Wrath”
McConnell on Trump, COVID Bill, Equality Act, Neera Tanden, “Fake News” Hearings
Rep. Rob Wittman on The Chinese Threat and US Strategic Preparedness
McConnell v Trump, Trump's Acquittal, Politicizing the Freeze, COVID Round Three
Impeachment Trial, A New Party?, Georgia Investigates Trump
Stimulus Talks, Greene, Cheney, and the GOP, Trump Impeachment
Impeachment Part 2, Organization of the Senate, Leahy's Health, Biden's Executive Actions
President Biden’s Inauguration and Executive Actions
Capitol Riot, Republican Reactions, Trump’s Second Impeachment
The Insurrection, Trump’s Culpability, Social Media’s Role, the Future of the American Presidency
Trump Overridden, COVID Stimulus, Vaccine Rollout, Election Challenges
COVID Relief, Russian Hacking, Election Challenges, Barr Resigns
SCOTUS Rejects Election Challenge, Vaccine Approval, Facebook Antitrust, COVID Talks
DACA Ruling, Stimulus Talks, Election Challenges, GA Runoff, Bill Barr’s Big Week
Election 2020: Democratic & Republican Challenges, Election Systems, Constitutional Changes, Optimism about the Future?
Trump Pardons Flynn, Transition, SCOTUS Religion Order, The Economy & COVID
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