Now some Fox hosts think Mueller is worse than Putin

Mueller is a patriot while Putin tried to sabotage our election.

Where Trump has taken Fox and the GOP – equating a hostile foreign dictator who murders his political opponents with a respected public servant and patriot. https://t.co/dJZfgg038q

— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) August 11, 2018

.@MarkLevinshow: “First of all, Robert Mueller is a greater threat to this republic and the Constitution than anything Vladimir Putin did during the campaign. And I am no fan of Vladimir Putin." pic.twitter.com/KrAFuvrk9b

— The Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) August 10, 2018

The claim that Mueller is a greater threat to the republic than Putin is so over the top one's inclined to ignore it. But Levin said it soon after dinner with Trump and Pirro repeated it. Is Trump intensifying the assault on Mueller in case Trump wants to move against him soon?

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) August 11, 2018

If you mistakenly thought there was any bottom to how low the pro-Trump crowd would go, the drumbeat on Fox is now that Mueller is a greater threat to the nation than Vladimir Putin.

— Michael Freeman (@michaelpfreeman) August 11, 2018

If anyone needed more of a reason to turn off the angry talking heads of conservative news entertainment this is it. Whose purpose are Levin and Hannity serving to lift Putin above the virtues of Mueller? For money, they sell America’s capitulation to Putin.

— Conservative_Independent (@sjta_amy) August 11, 2018

12 of the last 21 people Trump called “stupid” are black

57%. Sure it's just coinciden….oh wait https://t.co/1R9K1ujUS6

— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) August 6, 2018

Trump donors contributed to a legal defense fund for Trump allies in Russia probe

NEW: Handful of top Trump donors made large contributions to legal defense fund established to help Trump allies caught up in Russia probe, tax records shared with @ABC show. https://t.co/y8HCeb72Ww pic.twitter.com/MCrxrNSi4P

— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 6, 2018

Big @lachlan scoop: here are the donors paying into Trump's legal defense fund https://t.co/21Of4tC0Tj

— Will Sommer (@willsommer) August 6, 2018

Trump Tower meeting – Trump’s new tweet

Trump now claims that the Trump Tower meeting was legal. I don’t think so – the Trump campaign should have reported the Russians to the FBI. Trump and his associates repeatedly lied about the meeting before the admission that it was about getting dirt on Clinton. I think Trump, Jr. is in legal trouble so Trump just tries to fight back on Twitter to distract us.

Analysis: Trump just made 2 problematic admissions about the Trump Tower meeting https://t.co/cdxQTTGjBm

— Washington Post (@washingtonpost) August 5, 2018

Misinformation. Remember the kicker on this meeting – Don Jr. lied about it. https://t.co/S4JvKYgCSG

— Sam Vinograd (@sam_vinograd) August 5, 2018

Trump just admitted that the statement he helped dictate about this meeting was all a lie. https://t.co/BvywIiJFHb

— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) August 5, 2018

Once again the president confirms news reporting —that this was to get dirt on his opponent—that his administration originally said was false. Who’s spreading the fake news? https://t.co/S05o98BlDp

— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) August 5, 2018

The President seems to be developing a new narrative. Collusion is not a crime, but if it is, Don Jr. is the only one who broke the law. Don Jr., meet bus.

This was inevitable.

Up next? Don Jr. was under the control of Melania, a foreigner who was brainwashed by watching CNN. https://t.co/kbRh0sFTOR

— Larry Noble (@LarryNoble_DC) August 5, 2018

Recall that original explanation for this meeting, in statement from Don Jr that POTUS helped write was that this was "a short introductory meeting…primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children…" 1/ https://t.co/166X7pdHNA

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) August 5, 2018

Haha. It was totally legal but also “I didn’t know about it” just in case it wasn’t! https://t.co/XLvJa3Tr1S

— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) August 5, 2018

I worked on the Obama campaign and we would never, ever, have held a meeting with a foreign power to "get information on an opponent." It doesn't happen "all the time in politics" – it's immoral, unpatriotic and part of a broader effort that was illegal. https://t.co/qKz8NcgwkB

— Ben Rhodes (@brhodes) August 5, 2018

Reporter lists possible laws Trump broke after Trump lawyer asks how Trump Tower meeting could be illegal https://t.co/NM44it4b9A pic.twitter.com/t6Vh0ZeDcE

— The Hill (@thehill) August 5, 2018

As the assault on the press continues, remember why statements and stories from those in power continue to shift. It’s not because our leaders have suddenly embraced transparency. It’s because intrepid reporters are doing their jobs and uncovering lies. https://t.co/a8C668JD0d

— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) August 5, 2018

Sorry, DJT. Not totally legal. Not done all the time in politics. 52 USC 30121 and implementing regulations ban knowingly soliciting, accepting or receiving things of value from foreign nationals on behalf of a federal campaign. “Dirt” on Hillary=of value. https://t.co/dQPjRbZ9RO

— Kim Wehle (@kim_wehle) August 5, 2018

Our story on what this tweet means — and just what Trump seems to be acknowledging about the controversial June 2016 Trump Tower meeting. https://t.co/w5Trzgacax https://t.co/KxrB2QSkga

— Ashley Parker (@AshleyRParker) August 5, 2018

The Russians offered damaging info on your opponent. Your campaign accepted. And the Russians delivered.

You then misled the country about the purpose of the Trump Tower meeting when it became public.

Now you say you didn’t know in advance. None of this is normal or credible. https://t.co/AEDYiIbXyY

— Adam Schiff (@RepAdamSchiff) August 5, 2018

Um. This is not normal. Getting “dirt”on an American political opponent from a person connected to a hostile, foreign country is clearly not done. Who wouldn’t know that? Or at least think twice? https://t.co/xrcnJE6ei8

— Carol Costello (@CarolHLN) August 5, 2018

I’ve worked on 5 presidential races & the idea of talking to Russians who claim to have dirt on former SOS is unimaginable. You get an offer like that & your next call is to campaign lawyer who calls the FBI. It’s as simple as calling cops if somebody asks you to help rob a bank. https://t.co/grkz9jNKYE

— stuart stevens (@stuartpstevens) July 31, 2018

Donald Trump is twisting himself in knots trying to explain the Trump Tower meetinghttps://t.co/ZU0r2cpbDs pic.twitter.com/O2lptvcKKd

— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) August 5, 2018

Timeline

so innocent that Pence, insisting there were no contacts between Trump campaign and Russians, said: “To suggest that is to give credence to some of these bizarre rumors around the candidacy. a distraction to delegitimize the election. The American people see right through it” https://t.co/U7IZ4YJQpN

— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) August 5, 2018

The Russia investigation was not based on the Steele Dossier

How many times are Trump and his supporters going to lie about this?

They continue to make this false assertion, when the evidence of its falsity is in the public record for all to see. https://t.co/ZCY6BcwQcO

— Ken Dilanian (@KDilanianMSNOW) August 1, 2018

These repeated (and now boring) misleading tweets from @realDonaldTrump are inconsistent with the actions of an innocent person.

Also, the GOP Nunes memo states @FBI investigaton started before FBI knew about the Dossier, which keeps getting more corroboration. #wednesdaywisdom https://t.co/FauOH84uxi

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 1, 2018

Ethics experts cleared Mueller

The Washington Post on May 23, 2017: "Justice Department ethics experts clear Mueller to lead Russia probe" https://t.co/zG6c0a5PX9 https://t.co/jh4JpEjs8R

— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) July 29, 2018

Calm down https://t.co/G0jsAhzAPM

— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) July 29, 2018

Contentious biz relationship appears to be a reference to Mueller ending his membership at one of Trumps golf courses. https://t.co/FU6DBdnZC6

— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) July 29, 2018

Trump administration discussing lifting sanctions on a Russian oligarch

No reason to do this

This is an aluminum company founded by one of Putin's closest allies. For some reason we are trying to keep out aluminum from our friends in Europe, Canada, Japan, etc. for “national security” reasons, but contemplating reversing sanctions on aluminum from a Putin-linked company https://t.co/RS7L828sPX

— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) July 28, 2018

This is seriously worrying. US Treasury discussing lifting sanctions on Russian oligarch owed company Rusal. Hard to understand what logic there could be to take this action given Putin’s malevolence https://t.co/Fx03MNCJpr

— Bill Browder (@Billbrowder) July 28, 2018

Some Trump supporters won’t care if there was collusion

Some Trump supporters will excuse collusion with Russia since Trump won and Clinton lost.

No, it is not alright to meet with foreign people to get dirt on your opponent.

The goal posts are being moved to excuse any possible conspiracy between Russians and President Trump’s campaign https://t.co/bZBr7h4h7W

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) July 28, 2018

On #CNNSOTU with @jaketapper, @DavidJUrban weighs in on Trump allies' comments that it doesn't matter even if Trump knew of June 2016 meetinghttps://t.co/ZHpoUUvLaw

— State of the Union (@CNNSotu) July 29, 2018

Tucker Carlson on the president of the United States hypothetically getting information on his political opponent from a foreign adversary trying to impact our elections:

"So what?" pic.twitter.com/CtnnoXlDGK

— Andrew Lawrence (@ndrew_lawrence) July 28, 2018

We are very, very close to the Putin Republicans arguing that they’re glad Trump worked with the Kremlin to beat “Crooked Hillary.” Republicans now think if Trump does it — whatever “it” is — it’s not a crime. Me in @PostOpinions: https://t.co/4oylbg3kBl

— Max Boot (@MaxBoot) July 30, 2018

Trump supporters stand by him after criticism of Putin summit

The cult will follow Trump anywhere.

Trump backers stand by president in face of Russia criticism — CBS poll https://t.co/8AcCTX8pZT via @CBSPolitics

— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) July 29, 2018

Cohen claims Trump knew of Trump Tower meeting with Russians

I always thought Trump knew about the meeting. Come on – his son, son-in-law and campaign manager met the Russians in his building. If this is true, it is collusion. Lock him up!

However, who knows if Cohen is credible. I hope he has proof.

BREAKING: Michael Cohen claims then-candidate Donald Trump knew in advance of 2016 Trump Tower meeting in which Russians were expected to offer his campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton, sources say https://t.co/EeJhChKCe1 pic.twitter.com/NdpbZTYiU2

— CNN (@CNN) July 27, 2018

BTW..Two months ago, a source close to Trump told me that Cohen told them, the week after his offices were raided by the FBI, that he had no relevant info about the TT meeting b/c he was never an official member of the campaign and never sat in any high level campaign meeting. https://t.co/pwPdJhKaG8

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) July 27, 2018

BREAKING: Michael Cohen claims then-candidate Donald Trump knew in advance of 2016 Trump Tower meeting in which Russians were expected to offer his campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton, sources say https://t.co/l4lYev94Et pic.twitter.com/tlUaihjDIG

— Cuomo Prime Time (@CuomoPrimeTime) July 27, 2018

NEWS: Michael Cohen is now claiming that Trump knew about the Trump Tower meeting with Russians in real-time. We tallied it up: Trump, Trump Jr., both of their lawyers, and Sarah Sanders denied more than 15 times that Trump knew about the meeting. https://t.co/PetXdbwIpZ

— Marshall Cohen (@MarshallCohen) July 27, 2018

One thing that's a hard sell for Giuliani is to insist Cohen has been lying "for years."

If that's the case, then why was Cohen one of Trump's most trusted confidantes until, well, a month ago?

— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) July 27, 2018

Giuliani says that Cohen's claims are worthless if they can't be corroborated. As I just told Chris Cuomo, Mueller can corroborate them with Don Jr.'s phone records: See if he called his dad right after meeting was offered and before it was accepted https://t.co/Q8T4kraqfd

— Asha Rangappa (@AshaRangappa_) July 27, 2018

Why would the Trump team know that Cohen was willing to testify to this? Only reason I can think of is if he told them trying to extract a pardon. https://t.co/SVOlddiPuo

— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) July 27, 2018

This is why the House Intel Committee should have subpoenaed Donald Trump, Jr.’s phone records. There was a BLOCKED call sandwiched between two calls to the Russians who set up the Trump Tower meeting. Was it @RealDonaldTrump? https://t.co/33HigM5ORR

— Joaquin Castro (@JoaquinCastrotx) July 27, 2018

Sam Nunberg told @jaketapper back in March that Trump knew (h/t @jhseher), and nobody batted an eye because of course Trump knew. 2/ https://t.co/FkUqdblx6f

— Eric Columbus (@EricColumbus) July 27, 2018

Neither Cohen nor Mueller benefits from the public revelation of what Cohen says he’s prepared to tell Mueller or a grand jury. So Trump is the likely source. But he can’t really think it’ll help him by taking away the surprise factor. So what explains this leak? https://t.co/NzcfpUX8l8

— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) July 27, 2018