Trump readies himself for muellers final act

George Nader poses backstage with President Donald Trump at a Republican fundraiser in Dallas, Texas, October 25, 2017. AP Elliott Broidy a top fundraiser for President Donald Trump, and George Nader, Broidy's business partner, pitched themselves and pushed the interests of Saudi Arabia and the UAE to the White House. The two pushed for anti-Qatar policies at the highest levels of government, and expected large consulting contracts from Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The gist of their plan was to show evidence that Qatar was too close to Iran and supported Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood. Broidy and Nader tried to persuade the US government to sanction Qatar and move a key military base from Qatar to another location in the Gulf. Nader's connection to UAE's Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and defense contract mogul Erik Prince eventually caught the attention of US investigators in the Russia probe. He had ingratiated himself with crown princes from … [Read more...] about How a top Trump fundraiser spent a year cultivating 2 crown princes to nail $1 billion in business

Democracy Dies in Darkness Sections Home Subscribe Try 1 month for $1 Username Sign In Account Profile Newsletters & Alerts Gift Subscriptions Contact Us Help Desk Subscribe Account Profile Newsletters & Alerts Gift Subscriptions Contact Us Help Desk Accessibility for screenreader Politics Analysis Analysis Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events by Philip Bump by Philip Bump Email the author April 11 at 10:49 AM Email the author Then-FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2013. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) After shifting the idea to the back burner for a few months, Congress seems ready to move forward on legislation providing more robust protections for special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. With the New York Times reporting on Tuesday that President … [Read more...] about Why a proposed bill to protect Mueller may not end up protecting Mueller

WASHINGTON (AP) — For the second time in his presidency, President Donald Trump stared, horrified at pictures of children killed in a chemical attack in Syria.And for the second time in his presidency, those visceral images helped propel Trump toward military strikes in a country he sees as a trap for the United States.At times, the lead-up to Friday's strikes was orderly — a traditional decision-making process for an unconventional president. He sought the input of national security advisers and convened Situation Room meetings. He consulted with allies, who shared his anger at the photos emerging from Syria of children and adults apparently killed or sickened by poisonous gases.But at other moments, the chaotic nature of Trump's presidency broke through. He hinted at his plans in bellicose and at times confusing tweets. And he seethed over the legal threats springing up around him, including a raid on his longtime lawyer's home and office.Through it all, U.S. and Western … [Read more...] about Chaos, consultation: Inside Trump’s decision to strike Syria

President Donald Trump is again playing loose with the facts, claiming a drop in illegal border crossings that no longer exists while blasting a source in a news story who does. He is also assailing investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election, falsely suggesting the probes have failed to yield any meaningful results and distorting reality in asserting they are simply intended to justify why Democrat Hillary Clinton did not win the presidency. Among other questionable claims in the past week, he also said he's provided the first big military pay increase in a decade and had "finally" delivered on improved care for veterans. Here's a look: Moments after the White House sent a letter to North Korea canceling a planned U.S.-North Korea summit in Singapore, President Donald Trump said the United States military was ready to respond to "foolish or reckless acts" from North Korea, claiming that South Korea and Japan will pay for the cost. (Published Thursday, May 24, … [Read more...] about Fact Check: Trump on ‘Phony’ Sources, Vets, Border Stats

Diving into the midterm elections, President Donald Trump is seeking to build a stable of Republicans who will help promote his agenda and serve as a check on Democrats aiming to win majorities in Congress. Trump is traveling to Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday to raise campaign cash for Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn, the party's leading U.S. Senate hopeful in Tennessee, and to headline a rally with his most loyal supporters. Blackburn is expected to face Democratic former Gov. Phil Bredesen to replace Republican Sen. Bob Corker, who is retiring. The Tennessee campaign is among several races crucial to Trump's plans to maintain control of the Senate, where Republicans are defending a narrow two-seat majority. Trump is planning a series of political rallies and events in the coming months to boost Republicans and brand Democrats as obstructionists to his agenda. The president held a similar rally in Indiana earlier this month, appearing with Republican businessman Mike Braun and … [Read more...] about Trump to Campaign in Tennessee to Thwart Dems’ US Senate Bid