AMERICAN POLITICS - The Mueller Report

#ReleaseTheFullMullerReport the American people need to know the details if we are to have any confidence in our federal government.  If ANYTHING remains hidden/redacted there will be suspicion that the Trump Administration is hiding something.  Like why did a Trump appointee decide there was no obstruction of justice?  Also, reminder that this investigation was about Russia, not Trump.

"How Congress could respond to the Mueller report" PBS NewsHour 3/24/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  A nearly two-year investigation into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election “does not exonerate” President Trump, Attorney General William Barr said in a summary of the Mueller report on Sunday, as Democrats consider whether there is enough evidence to impeach the President.  NewsHour politics correspondent Lisa Desjardins joins Hari Sreenivasan for a look at what Congress may do next.

"Republicans ‘very excited’ after release of Mueller summary" PBS NewsHour 3/24/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The Republican establishment on Sunday felt a sense of vindication following the release of a Justice Department summary on the Mueller report.  NewsHour White House correspondent Yamiche Alcindor reports.  She joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss reactions from both sides of the political aisle.

"How much of the Mueller report should be made public?" PBS NewsHour 3/24/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation did not find evidence that President Trump conspired with Russia during the 2016 Presidential campaign, according to a summary released by the Justice Department on Sunday.  Bob Bauer, a professor at NYU's School of Law and former White House counsel to President Obama, joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss how much of the full report should be made public.

MANAFORT - Additional Charges

The Trump Investigations saga.

"After Manafort’s 2nd federal sentencing, NY prosecutor announces additional charges" PBS NewsHour 3/13/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort was sentenced Wednesday to three-and-a-half more years in prison for federal crimes related to foreign lobbying and witness tampering.  After the hearing, a New York prosecutor revealed new state-level charges for Manafort, too.  William Brangham, who was in the courthouse, reports, and Amna Nawaz talks to former Federal Prosecutor Jessica Roth for analysis.

THE INVESTIGATIONS - McCabe '60 Minutes' Interview

"In upcoming interview, McCabe describes ‘panic’ at DOJ after Comey firing" PBS NewsHour 2/14/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Andrew McCabe, former FBI deputy director, says in an upcoming interview he feared President Trump would undermine the investigation into Russian election interference once Trump fired FBI Director James Comey.  John Yang talks to NPR’s Carrie Johnson about McCabe’s claims of “panic and alarm” in the Justice Department, Trump’s reaction and the latest revelations in the Special Counsel’s probe.

60 Minutes:  Full Andrew McCabe interview

THE INVESTIGATIONS - Roger Stone

aka "Another Trump Hood in the Docks"

"After indictment, pressure on Stone is ‘significant,’ says former prosecutor" PBS NewsHour 1/25/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Former Trump adviser Roger Stone has been indicted by special counsel Robert Mueller on seven counts, including obstructing an investigation, making false statements and tampering with a witness.  The indictment focuses on the relationship with WikiLeaks head Julian Assange and damaging emails released by WikiLeaks.  Nick Schifrin reports and discusses with former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti.

THE INVESTIGATIONS - Trump Ordered Cohen to Lie?!

"What it means for Trump if he ordered Cohen to lie to Congress" PBS NewsHour 1/18/2019

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  BuzzFeed reported Friday that President Trump personally directed Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, to lie to Congress about a potential Trump hotel project in Moscow.  In response, some congressional Democrats said ordering a subordinate to commit perjury "is an impeachable offense."  Judy Woodruff is joined by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md) a member of the House Judiciary Committee, to discuss.

Editor's Note: After this story aired, a spokesman for special counsel Robert Mueller's office released a statement: “BuzzFeed’s description of specific statements to the Special Counsel’s Office, and characterization of documents and testimony obtained by this office, regarding Michael Cohen’s Congressional testimony are not accurate."  BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith said the organization stands by its reporting.

TRUMP ORGANIZATION - Latest on Flynn/Cohen/Manafort

Trump Nightmare

"What’s in the latest court filings about Cohen, Manafort" PBS NewsHour 12/7/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The Mueller team has released new details regarding its interactions with Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, and Michael Cohen.  According to court filings, former Trump lawyer Cohen informed investigators about contact among Russia, the Trump Organization and the Trump campaign, while Manafort lied about four topics, including his contact with the administration.  William Brangham joins Judy Woodruff.

"How the latest Cohen filings could get ‘close to the President’" PBS NewsHour 12/7/2018

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SUMMARY:  Two court filings Friday reveal new information about Michael Cohen.  Judy Woodruff speaks with Jessica Roth, law professor at Yeshiva University and a former federal prosecutor, about the differences between how Mueller and the Southern District of New York characterize Cohen, Russian “synergy” with the Trump campaign and potential overlap between Trump's political and business interests.

U.S. SENATE - The Unusual Alliances & Nancy Pelosi

"Lack of Khashoggi intelligence forges ‘unusual alliance’ in the Senate" PBS NewsHour 11/28/2018

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SUMMARY:  Saudi Arabia was in the spotlight as the Senate considered U.S. support for the Saudi-led war in Yemen and intelligence about Jamal Khashoggi's murder.  While Secretary of State Mike Pompeo helped lead the briefing, CIA director Gina Haspel's absence stunned members of both parties.  Amidst the drama, three senators pushed for legislation to protect the special counsel.  Lisa Desjardins reports.

A VERY BIG SHOE DROPS - Manafort Cooperation and Russia Probe

Roomer:  "A British official reported he could hear Trump's screams from London."

"What will Paul Manafort’s cooperation mean for the Russia probe?" PBS NewsHour 9/14/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort has agreed to a plea deal and to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.  Manafort is the fourth former Trump campaign aide to admit to federal crimes as part of the Russia probe.  William Brangham was in the courtroom and joins Judy Woodruff for an update.

TRUMP - The Investigations

"Schiff: ‘Disturbing number’ of Trump campaign members met with Russians and lied about it" PBS NewsHour 7/23/2018

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  The release of previously classified FISA warrants by the Justice Department set off a new round of political fighting over the FBI's monitoring of the Trump campaign's former adviser Carter Page.  Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif) says President Trump is counting on people not to read the documents.  Schiff joins Judy Woodruff to discuss Page, a White House threat over security clearances, and more.

OPINION - Shields and Brooks 8/4/2017

"Shields and Brooks on Trump's GOP pushback, Russia probe grand jury" PBS NewsHour 8/4/2017

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SUMMARY:  Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to discuss the week's news, including strong new economic numbers, White House chief-of-staff John Kelly's first week, congressional Republicans starting to push back on the President, special counsel Robert Mueller convening a new grand jury for the Russia probe and more.

JUDY WOODRUFF (NewsHour):  Today marks the close of week one on the job for President Trump's new Chief of Staff, a week that kicked off with the firing of a outspoken Communications Director, and ends with word of a new grand jury in the Russia investigation.

It's a perfect time for the analysis of Shields and Brooks.  That's syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Timescolumnist David Brooks.

Welcome to you both.

MARK SHIELDS, Syndicated Columnist:  Thank you, Judy.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  So, Mark, some good numbers on the economy out today, jobs numbers impressive.  President Trump is saying it's all due to him.

Does he deserve this much credit?

MARK SHIELDS:  Of course he does — but because we learned from candidate Trump that these numbers are totally bogus, that we live in this big ugly bubble, that unemployment is actually 42 percent at the time of President Obama.

No, Judy, I mean, the economic news is phenomenal.  It isn't just good, setting new records in the stock market to 22000.  You have got the lowest unemployment rate in 16 years.  You have got economic confidence.

Today, Mazda and Toyota announced they're building a $1.3 billion plant in the United States, Amazon 50,000 jobs hiring.  And if Donald Trump would get out of the way, if he was silent Cal Coolidge and just let the good news take over, they would say, wow, isn't that something?

But motormouth Don just has to keep changing the subject, intruding, and making unhelpful news himself.  So — but, at the same time, I mean, does the President — does a President get credit?  David has a very strongly, well-developed thesis that Presidents really don't shape the economy, and except over longer periods than their administrations.

JUDY WOODRUFF:  Is that right?

DAVID BROOKS:  I agree with Mark's version of …

(CROSSTALK)

(LAUGHTER)

DAVID BROOKS:  Yes.

No, I do think that.  They can have a very negative effect if they do something terrible, and maybe over the long run, the investments they make in one decade can lead to the gains next.  But on a quarter-by-quarter basis, let alone month to month, no, no effect at all.

What puzzles me is, as Mark said, the economy is doing great.  This is such a long recovery.  And timing wise, we should be like dipping down again, and yet the public spirit is so bad.  People have some faith in the economy.  They do not think the country is headed in the right direction.  You're not getting any spillover in the rest oft way people view the country, the way they view politics.

And I do think the cynicism has just gotten self-perpetuating.  And so, no matter what happens in the country, people still somehow are cynical and distrustful about the country.

And so my message to America is cheer up a little.

OPINION - Shields and Brooks 5/19/2017

"Shields and Brooks on the barrage of Trump revelations" PBS NewsHour 5/19/2017

IMHO:  Trump Administration; 'dead man walking,' a pariah for any positions that still need to be filled.

Excerpt

SUMMARY:  Syndicated columnist Mark Shields and New York Times columnist David Brooks join Judy Woodruff to the discuss the week's news, including the appointment of a Special Counsel to lead the Russia probe at the Justice Department, reports that President Trump shared sensitive intelligence from another country with Russian diplomats and how all of it affects the running of the government.