September 9, 2019 | by Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski

The trickle-down effect of Trump's culture of dishonesty

President Donald Trump spent a week insisting that his inaccurate claim that Alabama could be in for major effects from Hurricane Dorian was not, in fact, wrong. (It was.)

Which is bad enough. But that isn't the worst part of the story. The worst part is this -- via The New York Times on Monday afternoon:

"The Secretary of Commerce threatened to fire top employees at NOAA on Friday after the agency's Birmingham office contradicted President Trump's claim that Hurricane Dorian might hit Alabama, according to three people familiar with the discussion."

That revelation comes after the NOAA released an unsigned statement backing Trump on Friday, a move that drew widespread derision within its rank and file.

If you're surprised about any of this, you shouldn't be. Trump's lies and misstatements aren't just damaging in that they erode the idea that Truth and Fact exists outside of political spin. They are damaging because they create a culture within his administration in which telling the truth is less important than making the boss happy.

It's in that sort of culture where Kirstjen Nielsen, the former head of the Department of Homeland Security, was told by chief of staff Mick Mulvaney not to bring up election interference around Trump because the President would assume it was about de-legitimizing his 2016 victory. A culture where professional weather forecasters are told not to speak from their expertise because that expertise contradicts the musings of the President who, not for nothing, isn't a meteorologist.

That's the truly insidious thing about how little regard Trump has for truth. It's not about one guy who doesn't tell the truth. It's about the culture that disregard for truth creates. And how not telling the truth becomes incentivized in an upside-down world where whatever Trump says must be agreed to solely because he is Trump.

The Point: When party affiliation or loyalty to a political figure trumps -- ahem -- a commitment to facts and transparency, we're all in trouble.

-- Chris

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"I'm feeling good."

-- Mitch McConnell, flashing a thumbs up to journalists as he entered the Senate chamber with his left arm in a sling after surgery over August recess.

"Volfefe Index"

The new index created by analysts at JP Morgan to track the impact of Trump's tweets on US interest rates.

"Volfefe" is a portmanteau of "volatility" and "covfefe" (a reference to Trump's tweet that launched a social media frenzy back in 2017).

The analysts found that Trump's tweets have significantly increased volatility of the market. JP Morgan said the frequency of market-moving tweets from Trump "ballooned" in August, and that US interest-rate markets are paying more attention -- which drives the need for a model to spot market-moving tweets and track the results.

JPMorgan did not include any specific Trump tweets in its report introducing the index, but identified a series of trigger words for US markets. Those include "China," "billion" and "products."

CHRIS' GOOD READS

This Jerry Falwell story from Brandon Ambrosino. Wow.

Elizabeth Warren's campaign cash isn't as free of lobbyist and corporate interests as you might think

The Alabama hurricane

Ronan Farrow on the MIT Media Lab

We have a sharing problem

Nothing to see here, folks!

MUSICAL INTERLUDE

A remix of REM's "What's the Frequency, Kenneth"? We are here for it.

THANKS FOR STAYING

President Donald Trump said Monday that he knows nothing about US Air Force crews staying at his Turnberry resort in Scotland during refueling stops.

Defense records show 629 fuel purchase orders adding up to $11 million since October 2017, as well as reports of the Prestwick airport providing discounted rooms to some crews and free rounds of golf at Turnberry for American -- specifically military -- crews.

Trump added that his personal finances are so strong that Air Force employees staying at his Turnberry resort would make no difference to his bottom line.

"I don't need someone to take a room overnight at a hotel." he told reporters.

Trump also said he would release a detailed report on his personal finances before the 2020 election, adding that people will be surprised at the extent of his holdings.

LAUREN'S CAMPAIGN TRAIL LATEST

Joe Biden: Will send Olympic figure skater Michelle Kwan to campaign as a surrogate in Las Vegas and to host a debate watch party on Thursday. She previously worked as a surrogate for Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign.

Julián Castro: Is holding a rally in Houston tonight to declare it "Castro Country." (Lauren has more in today's podcast about Castro's efforts to create a hometown advantage ahead of Thursday's debate.)

Tom Steyer: Said he's qualified for the fourth debate (despite not qualifying for the third).

Pete Buttigieg: Has hired a South Carolina state director.

Amy Klobuchar: Criticized President Trump for "conducting foreign policy like a game show."

Cory Booker: Has not been endorsed by girlfriend and actress Rosario Dawson -- she's opting to stay out of the Democratic primary.

Andrew Yang: Crowdsurfed through through a packed room at the AAPI Democratic Presidential Forum in Costa Mesa, California.

COMING THIS WEEK: ONE BIG VOTE

The House Judiciary Committee will vote Thursday on a resolution to define the parameters of its impeachment investigation into President Donald Trump.

If it sounds wonky and procedural ... that's because it is. Nevertheless, it represents the first step forward for an impeachment investigation.

Democratic aides on the House Judiciary Committee said Monday that the committee's aim is to recommend articles of impeachment by the end of the year, saying there is "no question" that the committee is now engaged in an impeachment investigation.

Over the last six weeks, more and more House Democrats have came out in support of impeachment. As of now, the count stands at 134.

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. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. Follow Chris and Lauren on Twitter.

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