| | | | How do Democrats solve their 'Mueller problem'? |  | | For much of the past 22 months, Democrats waited with bated breath to see what special counsel Robert Mueller had found out about Russian interference in the 2016 election and the possibility that either Donald Trump or someone(s) close to him colluded with the Russians to help him win the election.
On Sunday night, those expectations were dashed.
Mueller's report, as summarized by Attorney General William Barr, made clear that he had not established that anyone on the Trump campaign had conspired or coordinated with Russia. On the question of whether Trump obstructed the investigation, Mueller was less definitive -- offering no conclusion. But Barr said he had declined to prosecute Trump for obstruction.
Which, well, scene, right? Or not?
That's the question facing Democrats from Capitol Hill to the 2020 campaign trail today as they begin to recalculate their political strategy following Mueller's less-bombshell-than-expected report (or at least Barr's summary of Mueller's report.)
There are some within the party who believe plenty of fertile political ground lies in pushing the investigations into Trump, his administration, his business interests, his charity and his presidential transition effort. And that while Mueller may have cleared Trump on collusion, he quite notably did not grant the President exoneration on obstruction -- and that should give the party a blueprint for how to carry this fight forward. "In light of the very concerning discrepancies and final decision making at the Justice Department following the Special Counsel report, where Mueller did not exonerate the President, we will be calling Attorney General Barr in to testify before @HouseJudiciary in the near future," tweeted House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, D-New York, on Sunday night.
While Nadler is far from a lone voice within the party when it comes to continuing the investigations into Trump, some dissenting opinions were already being voiced Monday by the party's consultant class.
One Democratic pollster sent me an exchange between Ulysses Grant and William Tecumseh Sherman after the first day of the battle of Shiloh to explain his view on Mueller.
"Well, Grant, we've had the devil's own day, haven't we?" Sherman reportedly said. "Yes, lick 'em tomorrow, though," replied Grant.
Said the pollster: "We need to focus on licking President Trump in 2020. That should ALWAYS be the goal."
But is "licking" Trump best done by continuing to aggressively use Congress' oversight powers to investigate the administration -- including on Russia-related issues -- or moving on to make a broader case that Trump's policies, whether on the economy, trade, immigration, etc., have been bad for the average American?
And Democrats are, at least at the moment, legitimately divided on the answer to that question.
The Point: Mueller's findings take away the possibility that beating Trump will be a slam dunk, and raise the stakes on how best for Democrats to approach the campaign to come against the incumbent President.
-- Chris | | "I'm kind of new to this game, frankly, so I'm going to be on a steep learning curve myself about how the Fed operates, how the Federal Reserve makes its decisions."
-- Stephen Moore, President Trump's latest pick to join the US Federal Reserve. Moore co-wrote a book on Trump's economic policy in 2018 and is now facing criticism about his qualifications for the Fed role. | | | WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES | | In August, he was publicly exploring a run for the presidency.
Seven months later, Michael Avenatti has been arrested.
The former lawyer for porn star Stormy Daniels is facing charges in two cases on different sides of the country: In New York, Avenatti has been charged with trying to extort $20 million from Nike. And in California, Avenatti is facing separate charges of bank and wire fraud.
If Avenatti is convicted of both California charges, he could face up to 50 years in federal prison, according to the Justice Department. | | | Josh Ritter's new album-- produced by Jason Isbell(!) -- is out TOMORROW. In the meantime, check out this song from it: "I Still Love You (Now And Then)." | | WHO ELSE IS AND ISN'T ON THE BALLOT | | Two more members of Congress are heading for the exits -- and they're both Democrats.
New Mexico Rep. Tom Udall and New York Rep. Jose Serrano are both leaving office after this term.
Udall, 70, says he is "certainly not retiring" from public service and intends to find "new ways to serve New Mexico and our country after I finish this term."
Serrano, 75, disclosed today that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which motivated his retirement.
Meanwhile, Republican and former Rep. Karen Handel is launching a bid for her former House seat -- pledging to work "against the Pelosi agenda" in an announcement video posted today. Handel narrowly lost the district in November to Democratic Rep. Lucy McBath. | |
LAUREN'S LATEST ON THE TRAIL | | Bill Weld: Says he will likely challenge Trump in the Republican primary, noting "We are both large orange men." He also said that decision will be made in April.
Kamala Harris: Made her first campaign stops in Texas, where she pitched a federal investment to pay for teachers' salaries.
Pete Buttigieg: Says his campaign raised $500,000 in another 24-hour fundraising drive.
Kirsten Gillibrand: Kicked off her presidential campaign -- officially -- with a speech in front of Trump International Hotel. | | President Donald Trump and Kid Rock hit the links this weekend in extra-patriotic gear the day after Robert Mueller submitted his report.
Trump donned a red "USA" hat, while Kid Rock opted for a louder statement piece with American flag pants at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
"Another great day on the links!" Kid Rock wrote in his Sunday Instagram post, adding Trump's 2020 campaign slogan: "KEEP AMERICA GREAT!!" | | | | | | |
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