| | | | Paul Manafort joins the 'flippers,' making Trump's week way, way worse | | President Donald Trump got some very bad news Friday, when his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort pleaded guilty to two counts, including one related to witness tampering.
The real danger for Trump lies in Manafort's decision to cooperate with the Justice Department. The revelation that Manafort has joined the growing list of "flippers" in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russia's 2016 election interference is a massive development, Chris Cillizza writes -- bringing investigators ever closer to the President and his inner circle.
The news must surely come as a blow to Trump, who only a month ago called Manafort a "brave man" who would not "make up stories in order to get a 'deal.'" The President watched coverage of Manafort's plea deal on television from the White House residence, CNN's Jeff Zeleny reported, per a person familiar, and was extraordinarily quiet on Twitter throughout the day. Asked about Trump's mood in the wake of this, an official who had spoken to him declined to say.
On the other side of the split screen, a week that started with the country on edge as Hurricane Florence approached the East Coast now ends with slow and steady devastation in the Carolinas. The storm's "violent grind" is set to continue through the weekend, depositing 40 inches of rain in some areas -- and dominating the airwaves and attention of the nation.
Prior to Florence's landfall, Trump was occupied Thursday with last year's Hurricane Maria -- specifically, denying the Puerto Rican government's accepted death toll of 2,975 people. He offered zero evidence for his claim. Trump has consistently denied any fault for his administration in Maria's aftermath -- and now, with the United States battered by another deadly storm, the Trump administration will be tested yet again.
Next week, the battle over Trump's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh will come to a head, as a last-minute allegation of assault threatens to derail his confirmation process. The judiciary panel is scheduled to consider Kavanaugh's nomination next Thursday.
Summer's over, folks. Here's a look back at the week, in 18 standout headlines.
-- Leigh
Monday
Trump urges precautions ahead of 'very bad' Hurricane Florence
Sessions criticizes immigrants' attorneys before immigration judges
Trump open to meeting North Korea's Kim again despite lack of denuclearization progress
Tuesday
EPA to roll back Obama-era laws on methane leak inspections and repairs
Trump pays sober tribute to 9/11 after Russia tweets, fist pumps
Gary Cohn and Rob Porter push back on Woodward book
Trump: Puerto Rico hurricane response 'an incredible, unsung success'
Trump's previously announced visit to Ireland in question
Trump Jr. on Mueller probe: 'I know what I did, and I'm not worried'
Wednesday
Trump signs measure punishing election interference
FEMA says funding transferred to ICE for detention centers won't harm hurricane response
Thursday
Trump falsely claims nearly 3,000 Americans in Puerto Rico 'did not die'
Politico: FEMA administrator under investigation for travel
Committee vote delayed for SCOTUS nominee Kavanaugh to next week
US announces new North Korea sanctions
Friday
Ocasio-Cortez to Trump: 'My own grandfather died' after Hurricane Maria
Paul Manafort pleads guilty, agrees to cooperate with Mueller
Woman accuses Kavanaugh of assault in letter to senator | | "Tough day for Mr. Manafort. He has accepted responsibility. And he wanted to make sure that his family was able to remain safe and live a good life." --Kevin Downing, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort's attorney, on why Manafort agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department, including in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. | | | KAVANAUGH ACCUSER SURFACES | | A woman is accusing Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of assaulting her when they were in high school in the early 1980s, a source familiar with the allegations tells CNN. These allegations were relayed in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein earlier this summer. Kavanaugh denies the accusation.
Here's what you need to know:
The details: The letter describes an incident when the woman, who has not come forward publicly, allegedly attended a party with Kavanaugh and others in a suburban Maryland home. She writes Kavanaugh physically pushed her into a bedroom. Along with another male, Kavanaugh locked the door from the inside and played loud music that precluded successful attempts to yell for help, the accuser said. Both men were drunk, she said, and Kavanaugh attempted to remove her clothes, she says. At one point, Kavanaugh was on top of her laughing as the other male in the room periodically jumped onto Kavanaugh, according to the accuser. Kavanaugh held his hand over her mouth at one point, she said, and she said she felt her life was inadvertently in danger.
Kavanaugh's response: In a statement Friday, Kavanaugh denied the allegation, saying "I categorically and unequivocally deny this allegation. I did not do this back in high school or at any time."
What happens next? Last week, Kavanaugh testified for three days before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where this issue was not raised. The Judiciary committee is scheduled to vote on the nomination next Thursday, and the full Senate may vote on confirmation later this month.
CNN's Ariane de Vogue has all these details and more in her story. | | | New Hozier alert! Check out his new EP, Nina Cried Power. It's really, reallly good. | | Fresh off President Trump's tweets Thursday praising his administration's response to Hurricane Maria last year (after which nearly 3,000 people died), New York Democratic congressional candidate and progressive activist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explained how close to home the President's remarks hit.
"My own grandfather died in the aftermath of the storm. Uncounted. Thousands of Puerto Ricans have similar stories. They have lost children, friends, & family members. Instead of finger-pointing, INVEST in the Marshall Plan for Puerto Rico + just transition to renewable energy," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on Twitter.
In his tweets defending his response to the devastating storm, Trump blamed Democrats for the report, which said 2,975 people died as a result of the hurricane. | | South Carolina is becoming a hotspot for prospective 2020 candidates before the November midterm elections.
US Rep. Eric Swalwell of California will travel to the Palmetto State on October 7 to campaign alongside Democrat Mary Geren, who is challenging Republican US Rep. Jeff Duncan. He'll appear at Geren's Birthday Bash and GOTV Rally in the city of Anderson. Also appearing? Country singer Trey Taylor.
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey will also head down south in October. He'll take the stage in Orangeburg on October 18, where he will deliver the keynote address at the annual Betty Henderson Elected Officials and Candidates Cook-Off.
South Carolina has two competitive races this year: the governor's race between Democrat James Smith and incumbent GOP Gov. Henry McMaster, and the 1st Congressional District race between Democrat Joe Cunningham and Republican Katie Arrington.
Both candidates for governor have suspended their campaigns as the state gets hit by Tropical Storm Florence. McMaster is leading the state's emergency response efforts, while Smith was called up to duty in the South Carolina National Guard. | | IMMIGRATION CRISIS CONTINUES | | A record number of immigrant children are currently being held in US custody, and it's likely because the Trump administration's policies are keeping them there.
CNN's Tal Kopan breaks down what is going on and the simple reason more immigrant kids than ever before are in custody: - As of this week, there are 12,800 immigrant children being cared for by the Health and Human Services Department. That's the most ever, an HHS spokeswoman confirmed. In 2016, the monthly average of the number of children in care ranged from just over 4,000 to over 9,000.
- The rate of children being released from HHS has plummeted substantially. At the same time, the average length of time children stay in custody is skyrocketing.
- However, the number of children crossing the border alone has been consistent with rates the past four years.
- The probable cause is moves by the Trump administration in its aggressive efforts to tighten immigration.
- Experts fear the result will be traumatized children held longer in a more crowded and overwhelmed system, putting them further at risk.
Read more from Tal's story here. | | | From Brenna: "Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand spoke at a summit on higher wages earlier this week. And what a year this week has been. Stay safe and dry this weekend, y'all. Tell your friends to subscribe to The Point." | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media and more. Our author for The Point is Chris Cillizza. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris, and follow him on Twitter.
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