| | | | Why Donald Trump's tweets are so incredibly corrosive
This is not normal.
That's the first thing that needs to be said about President Donald Trump's tweets Thursday blasting Mika Brzezinski for "bleeding badly" after an alleged face-lift.
Trump has made a cottage industry of making the outrageous ordinary, of not just stepping over the line but purposely obliterating it and then mocking the people who say there ever was a line at all.
But there's a difference between upending political conventions and saying and doing things that attempt to redefine the norms of how we as human beings should treat one another.
That's what Trump is doing with these tweets -- whether he means to or not.
What's truly depressing about the reaction to Trump's tweets is that it was predictable. While some Republicans -- Sens. Ben Sasse, Lindsey Graham -- condemned Trump for stooping below the dignity of the office, many GOPers rallied to his cause.
Here's the thing: Take off your partisan hat. Ask yourself whether Trump's comments this morning represent behavior we should defend in a president (or anyone else) no matter what party they represent.
The answer has to be a resounding "no." This isn't about politics. It's about who we are and the sort of community and world we want to live in. | | | I was on Brooke Baldwin's show Thursday afternoon. I talked about this. A lot. Check it out. | | - CNN's Dana Bash shared her thoughts on "The Situation Room" on Thursday. "I have a 6-year-old boy. How do I explain to him that you can't say things like this as a 6-year-old when he's looking at a guy who is the President of the United States who thinks that it's OK?"
- As CNN's Daniella Diaz reported, several GOP lawmakers -- including House Speaker Paul Ryan and Sasse -- said Trump's remarks were unbecoming of his office. "Please just stop," Sasse tweeted.
- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand tweeted: "Since our President clearly has a problem with women, let's send more to Congress. Women of America, you need to run! RT if you agree."
- Meghan McCain called the remarks "beneath the dignity of the White House" on Fox News' "Outnumbered."
- Former Florida Gov./Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush tweeted his reaction: "Inappropriate. Undignified. Unpresidential."
- Some House Democrats held a last-minute press conference at which they addressed Trump's tweets. Spoiler: They, too, were unhappy. Per CNN's Tal Kopan:
- California Rep. Jackie Speier said: "It is not normal for a grown man to be so concerned with petty vitriol. Mr. President, it is time for you to take a time out."
- Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee called for Trump's resignation. "There was a bit of a gasp at that," Kopan reports.
- White House Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders defended Trump's tweets. "I think he's been very clear that when he gets attacked he's going to hit back ... the American people elected someone who's smart, who's tough, and who's a fighter ... he fights fire with fire. He's not going to sit back and be attacked by the liberal media and Hollywood elites."
- Meanwhile, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway dodged TMZ's questions about the tweets. Silence speaks volumes, too.
Also... - In case you forgot: Trump has a history of insulting women. The K File details it here.
| | MAKE TRUMP'S TWEETS GREAT AGAIN? | | From CNN's Ryan Struyk:
While Trump is happy to keep tweeting, it's clear the American people are not as pleased. Seven in 10 Americans say Trump's tweets are "reckless and distracting," according to a new NPR/PBS/Marist poll, published Wednesday (yes, before the Mika tweets!). Only one in five say his tweets are "effective and informative." Even Republicans are evenly split: 43% say the tweets are effective, while 42% say they are reckless. | | 'Bona fide relationship'
Travel Ban 2.0 goes into effect at 8 p.m. ET, thanks to a recent Supreme Court ruling last week that allowed parts of President Donald Trump's travel ban to go into effect.
This time around, Supreme Court said foreigners from six majority-Muslim countries -- Libya, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan -- must now have a "bona fide" relationship to a person or entity to enter the United States. That means applicants must prove their relationship to a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling in the United States in order to enter the country. Others -- including grandparents -- will not be considered "close family."
Saba talked to legal experts about how the narrowly defined "bona fide" family relationship could cause confusion when a version of the ban is reinstated. Check out the full article here.
The Supreme Court will hear a legal challenge to the ban this fall. In the meantime, advocacy groups such as Amnesty International plan to send researchers to US airports, such as Dulles International Airport and John F. Kennedy Airport on Thursday, to monitor developments and observe implementation of the ban in case any disputes arise. | | | | If ever there was a day when we needed a musical break, this is it. So, Jason Isbell's new one: "The Nashville Sound." (RELATED: If you live in or near D.C., Isbell is playing at Merriweather Post Pavilion tomorrow night.) | | | Instagram wants trolls to get off its platform ASAP. CNN Money reported Thursday that the Facebook-owned photo sharing app has officially introduced a tool that block offensive comments and a filter that removes spam in comments. Farewell trolls, we knew thee too well. | | There has been near-constant speculation that Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren has plans to run for president in 2020. However, in various interviews -- including a recent one with Chelsea Handler -- she has said she is focused on her role in the Senate. For now.
Still, Warren has not shied away from the spotlight.
From CNN's Miranda Green:
Warren was on "Full Frontal with Samantha Bee" on Wednesday evening in a segment called "Persisting 101 with Elizabeth Warren."
The Massachusetts lawmaker made reference to her interaction with Sen. Mitch McConnell, who told her to stop talking while on the floor (which launched #neverthelessshepersisted). "It means that when you're told to be quiet, you don't sit down and be quiet," Warren said when asked about the interaction. "You stand back up."
Check out the full interview here. | | BTW ... HAPPY NATIONAL HANDSHAKE DAY! | | | A look at our favorite awkward handshakes | |  | | HRC & a chipmunk | |  | | Trump & then-Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch
(The Classic Trump 'grab and tug' on display here.) | |  | | Jeb(!) and Trump (we know ... not exactly a handshake but still so, so amazing) | |  | | POTUS & VP Mike Pence ("put 'er there, pardner!!") | | | Last but not least, a classic handshake between Uncle Joe and President Barack Obama (h/t to CNN's Brenna Williams for this one). Much like that handshake, this newsletter is a BFD. Make sure to tell everyone you know to subscribe. | | | Get the Nightcap, a comprehensive summary of the most important political news, delivered to your inbox daily. | | | | | |
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