More on the leaks on the Mueller report

We really do need to see what the report says before we judge it. Still, it looks like Barr did cover up conclusions damaging to Trump. Congress, not Barr, should have made the obstruction determination (which Mueller really should have made).

Barr is way out of line when he indicated he doesn’t want to release embarrassing material about people not charged with crimes. This sounds like it will protect Trump and his family. Republicans had no qualms about releasing material about Strzok, Page and Hillary Clinton. This is just another Republican double standard.

March 4: Mueller tells Barr he's not going to exonerate Trump, leaving it up to Congress

March 24: Barr releases a panicked summary usurping Congress' power, all while pretending transparency

April 4: Barr now scrambling as it becomes clear his March 24 memo is a coverup
— emptywheel (@emptywheel) April 4, 2019

Staff on both sides of the aisle have been saying, for a while now, that they are confounded as to why Barr (ala Trump) opted to win a news cycle as opposed to getting ahead of the bad stuff.
— Glenn Thrush (@GlennThrush) April 4, 2019

The 5 questions I (still) have after reading the @washingtonpost and @nytimes reporting on the Mueller report/Barr memohttps://t.co/bcB8EakcMq
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) April 4, 2019

One thing that struck me. Our sources say Mueller team really upset that Barr hasn't shared full story on the obstruction evidence they gathered. https://t.co/X9Vu5spBhm
— Carol Leonnig (@CarolLeonnig) April 4, 2019

New from me in @POLITICOMag on the cloud Barr has thrust over the Justice Department: https://t.co/O0Qnv1Wdsp
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) April 4, 2019

👠 Shoes are dropping. Keep ‘em coming https://t.co/n8WvrjQaW3
— Jennifer Taub (@jentaub) April 4, 2019

I've really tried to stay away from the Mueller beat. But everyone should realize that the leaks we're now getting about a deeply damaging report have a different standing from usual inside reporting: they have to be presumed true until proven false 1/
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) April 4, 2019

NEW: House Judiciary Chairman requests all communications between the Justice Department and the Special Counsel regarding the Mueller report

—@mkraju reports pic.twitter.com/Cd7nxbtYl9
— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) April 4, 2019

NEW: Nadler is calling on AG Barr to clear up discrepancies between Barr’s letter and the reports of Mueller summaries, requesting "all communications between the Special Counsel’s office and the Department regarding the report"
— Jeremy Herb (@jeremyherb) April 4, 2019

I believe three “government officials” did say this to NBC. I don’t for a minute believe Mueller didn’t make a call because his subordinates may have disagreed on certain things. I believe Mueller simply thought the facts should be presented to Congress and the American people. https://t.co/PzqPxFgtPO
— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) April 4, 2019

OTOH this is not a winners-losers, news-cycle scoreboard situation

this is about truth and reality, right and wrong

this is about what actually happened in 2016 and since

skilled public servants have investigated and produced an exhaustive account

we haven’t seen it yet https://t.co/RL0jnc3U4s
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) April 4, 2019

It’s obvious that Barr twisted the truth to protect his boss. The Trump/Barr plot to suppress the incriminating facts can’t be allowed to succeed. Only releasing the full report will suffice.https://t.co/P5Pj18Y7Js
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) April 4, 2019

Crucial new revelation from WaPo: Mueller team prepared summaries of their findings *for the express purpose* of informing the public.

One official says goal was for findings to be "shared in their own words — and not in the attorney general’s summary."https://t.co/84xxzbWORB pic.twitter.com/r0HWQ8cj0S
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) April 4, 2019

A big deal confirming what has always seemed likely. I will be surprised if there was anyone on the team who expected Barr to insert himself into the process and reach his own conclusion. https://t.co/Z3tdngBG5G
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) April 4, 2019

The only way it makes sense for an attorney like Barr to so gravely and intentionally mischaracterize the contents of Mueller's findings is if he truly had no intention of ever releasing any of it. https://t.co/2uoK56woGV
— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) April 4, 2019

CNN matching NYT and WaPo: "Mueller investigators frustrated with Barr's summary of investigation." Live coverage on @JohnKingCNN's show now
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 4, 2019

Once again, untrue. Neither apologized nor had reason to. As for the Mueller report, one way to clear up what’s in it would be to release it. https://t.co/htv0mlImRX
— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) April 4, 2019

Another lie that Trump has told several times. The Times did not apologize.

The Mueller report was prepared with summaries that could be publicly released “immediately,” which is one reason why members of Mueller’s team are upset with Barr’s characterization of their work, according to @washingtonpost. pic.twitter.com/BwCZtm8Naw
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) April 4, 2019

Shafer: "All of the cast members now seem to have assumed their predestined role in the Mueller report drama. Barr has summarized in his boss' favor. His boss has screamed exoneration. And the publicity-shy Mueller team has finally shown a little leg…" https://t.co/pkXu6Dcmb0
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 4, 2019

Yeah this is the thing I can't wrap my head around. I'm supposed to believe that Mueller's team would have put this material that needed to be redacted in the summary portions of the report? https://t.co/2h2qO1fghd
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) April 4, 2019

White House photos don’t represent American diversity

No big surprise here – white supremacist Trump surrounds himself primarily with white people. They are primarily men, too.

In image after image emanating from the White House, Trump is seen almost exclusively with white people, writes @DavidNakamura — a “vivid, if unspoken, statement of the distance between the president and wide swaths of a nation.” https://t.co/akGMUx7CMh
— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) April 4, 2019

I thought this photo was photoshopped. It’s not. https://t.co/bzo5XQQRaG
— Alyssa Milano (@Alyssa_Milano) April 6, 2019

Another poor choice for the Fed

I guess sexual harassment is only a problem if you’re a Democrat. It derailed Cain’s presidential campaign but doesn’t bother Trump.

Dems are smack dab in the middle of a conversation about whether Joe Biden has been too inappropriately touchy and invasive of personal space to run for the nomination.

Meanwhile, Cain’s been credibly accused of sexual assault by at least four women and is getting this nod. https://t.co/Ltb5UDMMx4
— Sam Stein (@samstein) April 4, 2019

Just in case any of you thought we hadn’t reached peak stupid or still believe that somewhere the emergency brakes would kick in https://t.co/OTec9K6BJ9
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) April 4, 2019

Meanwhile, I didn't think Trump could do worse than Stephen Moore for the Fed. But never underestimate his resourcefulness 1/ https://t.co/vyGDGxbQBL
— Paul Krugman (@paulkrugman) April 4, 2019

Me: "What would you think of Herman Cain on the Fed"?
Sen. Shelby: "It'd be interesting."
Me: "In what way?"
Sen. Shelby: "Probably in all ways."
— Kristina L. Peterson (@kristinapet) April 4, 2019

Our reporting from 2011 on the accusations against Cain >https://t.co/RxFQAymXLg
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) April 4, 2019

Cain has been accused of serial sexual harassment and signed off on at least two payouts w NDAs to women he targeted while running a DC trade group

He dropped out of the '12 race but remained a fixture in righty media. And now is going on the Fed, per @jonathanvswan
— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) April 4, 2019

This is really something. https://t.co/ZnYMVY7dHG
— Philip Bump (@pbump) April 4, 2019

Covers: Everybody’s Talkin’

“Everybody’s Talkin'” is famous because of its appearance in the film Midnight Cowboy. The original version was by the song’s author, Fred Neil and was released in 1966. The movie version was by Nilsson and is much better known though it is similar to Neil’s recording.

Mueller report may be more damaging to Trump than Barr’s letter indicates

NEW: Some of Mueller’s investigators see their report as more damaging for President Trump than attorney general Barr initially made it out to be. @npfandos @MarkMazzettiNYT https://t.co/pE0oRanUY2
— Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) April 3, 2019

Trump said Mueller’s report should be released. House voted 420-0 to release it. But now Trump and his congressional allies are changing their tune.

They don’t want the public to see the full report, only parts of it.

That’s not going to fly. Barr must release the full report. https://t.co/xZwoq9AyY0
— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) April 3, 2019

That might be why Trump has changed his mind.

I do think endless speculation on TV and Twitter is pointless. Let’s see the report ASAP.

Wow. Mueller’s team went nearly two years without a single leak. They must be quite frustrated with what Barr is doing for this to make it out now. https://t.co/KKhklfA4kA
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) April 3, 2019

Note: Mueller team members did not necessarily talk to the NYT. The sources are "government officials and others familiar with their simmering frustrations."https://t.co/68S8SXy4Z9
— Andrew Prokop (@awprokop) April 3, 2019

This feel like a big moment. Mueller talked to the media maybe four times ever and now we have people talking to the NYT?

We really need to see the Mueller Report. We paid for it!
— Zerlina Maxwell (@ZerlinaMaxwell) April 3, 2019

Just noting: a number of Mueller’s team members are leaving or have left the Justice Department. There’s nothing DOJ can do to stop them from talking to Congress.
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) April 3, 2019

I am SHOCKED that so many in the media fell for the most obvious con https://t.co/nHWHjljKyR
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) April 3, 2019

Trump Administration Sued Over Rollback of School Lunch Standards

"The advocacy organizations said the agriculture secretary Sonny Perdue’s mission to “Make school meals great again” has put the health of more than 30 million students at risk."

Trump Administration Sued Over Rollback of School Lunch Standards https://t.co/Mn5TbjFr1n
— Erica L. Green (@EricaLG) April 3, 2019

Grateful to NY State AG @TishJames and the other state AGs for filing this important case, & upholding the work of the great #JeanFairfax whose work championing the critical importance of a fully funded national school lunch program for poor, Black children was transformational. https://t.co/PnlPLAdoD4
— Sherrilyn Ifill (@Sifill_LDF) April 3, 2019

The House requests Trump’s tax returns

It’s about time. Let’s see how much of his income was in rubles. We do need to know about any conflicts of interest that affect American foreign policy. Is he hiding something? Why is he fighting it? My guess is that he pays little or no money in federal taxes. He has done this in the past.

Republicans will try to make this partisan but every American should want to know this information. That’s why every other candidate for over 40 years provided it.

Analysis: Unless Democrats invoke impeachment, there's a strong chance they'll lose this legal fight https://t.co/oUTfJpPrvo
— POLITICO (@politico) April 4, 2019

Here we go. And now we find out if Mnuchin is willing to faithfully execute the law. (I’m not hopeful.) https://t.co/67rKld22oC
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) April 3, 2019

BREAKING: Ways & Means Chair @RepRichardNeal has just used his unique power to request Trump's tax returns from the IRS.

(Right now would be a very good time for all Democratic presidential candidates to release their tax returns.)
— Lawrence O'Donnell (@Lawrence) April 3, 2019

BREAKING: House Democratic chairman requests six years of President Trump's tax returns from the IRS, setting off potentially lengthy fight.
— The Associated Press (@AP) April 3, 2019

House committee chairman asks Internal Revenue Service for six years of Trump's personal and business tax returns https://t.co/K6hDc4BLUM
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) April 3, 2019

Asked about Richard Neal’s request for six years of his tax returns. Trump claims he STILL is under audit and says he’s not inclined to share them with Congress
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 3, 2019

Being under audit does not prevent Trump from providing his tax returns.

House Democratic committee asks IRS to turn over six years of Trump's tax returns https://t.co/h6W5K5tDJz
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) April 3, 2019

BREAKING: US House Ways and Means Cmte. chair sends letter to IRS seeking 6 years of Pres. Trump’s personal and business tax returns; asserts cmte. is trying to determine if IRS is properly auditing the tax returns of sitting presidents and vice presidents https://t.co/2ImP3nWhbu pic.twitter.com/RPUo6iiBw6
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) April 3, 2019

NEWS: Ways and Means chairman @RepRichardNeal, using an obscure provision in the tax code, has formally demanded that the I.R.S. turn over six years of President Trump's personal and business tax returnshttps://t.co/xEaWjA4fRk
— Nicholas Fandos (@npfandos) April 3, 2019

CNN's fact ✅: "No matter what Trump says, an audit would not prevent him and has not stopped past presidents from releasing their tax returns." https://t.co/9BitV1aFh3
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 4, 2019

It’s not a tired mantra, it’s a lie.

The important thing here is that Trump absolutely COULD release his taxes. He is choosing not to. https://t.co/opOLjq1oNO
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) April 4, 2019

“I have big returns, as you know, and I have everything all approved and very beautiful and we'll be working that over in the next period of time.” I’ve seen Trump’s tax returns and now Congress wants to see them too…. https://t.co/bC1cvTHf1c
— Tim O'Brien (@TimOBrien) April 4, 2019

SCOOP: Trump asked McConnell to fast-track the confirmation of the IRS chief counsel in Feb, saying it should go even before Barr. @npfandos and me https://t.co/KdNOvQJF3r via @NYTimes
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 4, 2019

Republicans warn that the Trump tax request "sets a dangerous standard" and accuse Democrats of weaponizing the IRS https://t.co/bL3IrLYjyF pic.twitter.com/WQlDT6Qwtt
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) April 4, 2019

Grassley’s hypocrisy

Republicans nominated a birther for president. They didn’t reject Trump’s endorsement of Romney in 2012. It wasn’t a fringe movement in Republican circles. Many of them believed this nonsense and still do.

Just an incredible line in Chuck Grassley’s statement decrying obstruction, in which he claims that the GOP refuted the birther movement.

THE PARTY MADE THE LEAD BIRTHER IT’S PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE. AND HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ELECTED! pic.twitter.com/MgVYNBOENW
— Sam Stein (@samstein) April 2, 2019

Chuck Grassley lied. Blatantly. The same Chuck Grassley who blew up the blue slip that Senate Republicans used repeatedly to block Obama nominees, kept by Leahy to preserve Senate comity. Do not believe a word he says. https://t.co/ssizletdwd
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) April 3, 2019

“One Supreme Court judge and two circuit judges." — Chuck Grassley to @ArthurDelaneyHP, downplaying the # of times GOP denied votes to Obama's court picks.

Trump inherited 100+ court vacancies when he became prez thx to GOP denying so many seats to Obama https://t.co/wmRdBD5Wqx
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) April 3, 2019

Sen. Grassley is now criticizing Democrats for "systematically denying cloture" to move forward with Trump nominees.

Here's a story I did about Republicans routinely abusing the cloture rule to prevent Obama from getting votes on his judicial nominees. https://t.co/uvbq97wCXs
— Jennifer Bendery (@jbendery) April 2, 2019

Chinese woman carried malware to Trump’s property

Trump should have gotten rid of his businesses.

This was entirely predictable. People predicted this. The president’s refusal to divest from his personal businesses puts US national security at risk every single day. He has been warned, he is aware, and he does not care. https://t.co/ickrdxwHF0
— Susan Hennessey (@Susan_Hennessey) April 2, 2019

Whose job is it to keep ppl from spying on @realdonaldtrump at Mar-a-Lago? Here, a club receptionist stepped in when others failed. https://t.co/QhY4yEuJMg
— David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) April 3, 2019

The irony of this Mar A Lago Chinese spy story is how utterly inept she was…imagine how many competent state-level intel players have penetrated that place. Jesus. I wouldn't even use the SCIF there.
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) April 3, 2019

New Miami Herald: Chinese woman carrying spyware to Mar-a-Lago was lured by massage parlor queen. https://t.co/ZceMv5RIVH
— julie k. brown (@jkbjournalist) April 2, 2019

Secret Service throwing management at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago under bus in statement on malware episode: “The Secret Service does not determine who is invited or welcome at Mar-a-Lago; this is the responsibility of the host entity.” H/T @nytmike
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) April 3, 2019

Key takeaway seems to be that Trump’s own golf club fouled this up. The Secret Service screened the woman for weapons, but the resort staff gave her the thumbs up.

"The Mar-a-Lago club management determines which members and guests are granted access to the property." https://t.co/s0nayRnX7O
— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) April 3, 2019

There is a new Chinese controversy at Trump's Mar-a-Lago. And it's a doozy!https://t.co/mVieobhkT0
— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) April 3, 2019

In her initial court appearance prosecutors described Zhang as "an extreme risk of flight" and said she had no connections to the US.

"She has no ties to the United States in general or to the Southern District of Florida in particular," the prosecutor said. https://t.co/ehJ5BckxNX
— Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) April 3, 2019

If this had happened during Obama, there would be nothing else on television. https://t.co/ECjjubYC19
— Josh Mankiewicz (@JoshMankiewicz) April 3, 2019

Let this news about a woman with two Chinese passports and a device full of malware be a reminder that the Secret Service says it does not maintain visitor logs tracking who enters Mar-a-Lago https://t.co/rpn1vYXYwu
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) April 2, 2019

“[Mar-a-Lago] is not Camp David… It’s not Kennebunkport, George H. W. Bush’s isolated coastal Maine house. It’s not the ranch in Texas. Because those are private homes. This is a club that’s open for business.” – @JonLemire w/ @NicolleDWallace pic.twitter.com/IchVr9YiBF
— Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) April 3, 2019

Trump implies elections are rigged again

He insinuated there was something wrong. This is a preview of what he will do to undermine the 2020 results if he loses. Republicans should defend the integrity of the elections but of course they won’t.

What makes the widespread Republican subscription to asinine conspiracy theories about election stealing especially dangerous is that they feed Trump's inability to accept electoral setbacks as legitimate. @ed_kilgore writes https://t.co/Uks0tV4KiY
— Intelligencer (@intelligencer) April 3, 2019

Trump tells House Rs to be “more paranoid than they are” about elections and implied midterms were rigged.

“Hey, you gotta be a little bit more paranoid than you are. We have to be a little bit careful, because I don't like the way the votes are being tallied” @nikkicarvajal
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) April 2, 2019

How ignorance => conspiracy thinking:
-Trump tells mtng tonight it’s fishy/rigged that close House races mainly broke Dem.
-Great majority of those races last fall were in Calif.
-This is *a known reality* of late-counted vote in CA. It skews D > R. https://t.co/8bPmJxGXM3
— James Fallows (@JamesFallows) April 3, 2019

President Trump, speaking to the NRCC, seemed to imply the 2018 midterms were rigged: "we have to be a little bit careful, because I don't like the way the votes are being tallied. You don't like it either, you just don't want to say it because you're afraid of the press."
— Nikki Carvajal (@nikkicarvajal) April 2, 2019