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Morning Briefing: Just Madness and Chaos, As Everyone is Defecting Except Pence

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | August 18, 2017 |

By Dustin Rowles | Politics | August 18, 2017 |


— James Murdoch — the son of Rupert Murdoch, the CEO of 21st Century Fox, and the heir to Fox News — not only condemned in no uncertain terms Donald Trump’s response to Charlottesville, but donated $1 million to the Anti-Defamation League. I’ve written about the differences of political opinion between James Murdoch and his father before, and I know that some folks are skeptical, but when 86-year-old Rupert passes, I am legitimately hopeful about the future of Fox News, as James wants to turn it into a respected, global news organization, which means the likes of Hannity and Tucker Carlson would not be welcome (James Murdoch was also instrumental in booting Bill O’Reilly and Roger Ailes).

Here’s the statement, in part:

These events remind us all why vigilance against hate and bigotry is an eternal obligation — a necessary discipline for the preservation of our way of life and our ideals. The presence of hate in our society was appallingly laid bare as we watched swastikas brandished on the streets of Charlottesville and acts of brutal terrorism and violence perpetrated by a racist mob. I can’t even believe I have to write this: standing up to Nazis is essential; there are no good Nazis. Or Klansmen, or terrorists. Democrats, Republicans, and others must all agree on this, and it compromises nothing for them to do so.

— Republican Senator Bob Corker took one of the team yesterday, and spoke out against the President’s competence and fitness for office. This is a damning statement from a previously staunch Trump defender. I hope it snowballs.

— Republican Senator Tim Scott suggested that Trump’s moral authority has been compromised.

— One Republican who is unambiguously standing with Trump is Vice President Pence, who will not be in a room alone with a woman, but has no problem defending a white supremacist sympathizer: “In President Donald Trump, I think the United States once again has a president whose vision, energy, and can-do spirit is reminiscent of President Teddy Roosevelt,” Pence said yesterday.

— Here’s Susan Bro, Heather Heyer’s mother, telling Good Morning America that after Trump equated her daughter and other protestors with the Nazis and white supremacists, she will not be speaking with the President. Ever.

Susan Bro, by the way? She’s pretty fantastic.

We’re counting down the minutes before Trump attacks her, too.

— The Nazi website The Daily Stormer — booted by GoDaddy and Google earlier this week — found a new home. In Russia. But twist! Russia booted them, too, saying that they will not play host to a hate group.

This statement from Russian TV is, uh, harsh but fair.

— Trump has also disbanded his infrastructure council, what with them wanting nothing to do with him. As Soledad O’Brien reminds us, this is infrastructure week.

— Three organizations just yesterday pulled their events from Mar-a-lago.

— Do I need to get into the General Pershing business? You guys already know that this was not only an urban myth, but the actions that Trump suggests Pershing engaged in (dipping bullets in pigs blood before shooting Muslims) is, like, a war crime?

— We learned from Politico that the President banned transgender people from the military because of a temper tantrum. This was done against the advice of James Mattis and the head of the Coast Guard, who said he would not honor the decree (I’m not sure that anyone has honored that decree yet).

That’s it for now. Hopefully the walls continue to crumble. I am really hopeful that Congress sees fit to at least censure the President, which I think would provoke a temper tantrum so violent that it could get him booted.

Today’s header image is of Kathryn Hahn, because I felt like it, OK?