Trump has changed Washington

"Facts are less relevant. Insults and highly personal attacks are increasingly employed by members of both parties. The White House press briefing is all but gone, international summits are optional, the arts are an afterthought"– @JonLemire on Trump's DC https://t.co/DaCekdVPfm

— Philip Rucker (@PhilipRucker) December 27, 2018

Cohen denied being in Prague but his phone was near there

This could validate more of the Steele dossier and is potentially very serious.

According to the dossier, Michael Cohen met with Russian agents in Prague to discuss election help. No one could verify this claim. Now, cell phone signals put Cohen in Prague around the time the alleged meeting took place. Plot = thicker https://t.co/4qokyupTbM

— Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) December 27, 2018

Trump Foundation update 12/27/18

It was phony just like Trump.

The looming legal investigations into Trump Foundation & the Trump Org by @akarl_smith.
In addition to @TishJames & @NewYorkStateAG, the most important name in this story is Trump CFO & Trump Fdn Treasurer Allen Weisselberg.
The most important words, for now: criminal tax fraud. https://t.co/STVMGGbokf

— Jed Shugerman (@jedshug) December 27, 2018

“Here’s what actually surprises me,” @haroldpollack writes. “Beyond the various improprieties, the Trump Foundation did pretty much nothing at all.” Looking closer at a president’s uncharitable charity. https://t.co/imzj1Q05lv

— Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) December 22, 2018

update 12/28

Probe of Trump's charity could crash 'like a Mack Truck' into his real estate empire https://t.co/HgLmckyAR7

— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) December 27, 2018

Trump’s lawyers are trying to delay the emoluments case because of the shutdown

Trump's lawyers are using the government shutdown to ask for a delay in a court case over claims that he is illegally profiting from business his Washington hotel does with foreign countrieshttps://t.co/MRsxzA27g1

— POLITICO (@politico) December 27, 2018

Were Trump’s bone spurs real?

It sounds like a doctor who was a Trump tenant did him a favor.

Sad!

There were literally thousands of journalistic person-hours invested in figuring out exactly how both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush avoided going to Vietnam. I think this is the first article I've ever seen devoted solely to the tale of the bone spurs. https://t.co/4lDB9s0hnW

— Paul Waldman (@paulwaldman1) December 26, 2018

New: The daughters of a podiatrist in Queens say their father, who rented office space from Fred Trump, helped Donald Trump avoid the draft by saying he had bone spurs. They told the Times that it was done as a favor for Fred Trump. https://t.co/Xv6Q6LYcUk

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) December 26, 2018

A new exposé claims Donald Trump’s suspicious medical diagnosis was granted as a "favor" to his dad—so it would keep the man later dubbed Cadet Bone Spurs out of the Vietnam War https://t.co/NVo2cSq7cL

— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 27, 2018

https://twitter.com/JamesFallows/status/1078053543712419842

Trump brings lies and politics to Iraq

It is good that Trump finally visited American troops in a war zone. I commend him for this. However, as usual he told lies and brought politics into what should have been a non-political event.

Trump lied about how long it has been since troops got a pay raise and how much it was. Does the dotard think they don’t know the truth about their paychecks? Who is he fooling – I guess it’s his cult. He has told these lies many times before.

Trump also bashed Democrats. Totally inappropriate.

He signed MAGA hats. That is totally inappropriate, too. I blame Trump and the military for this one.

Sad!

Trump misled on military pay increases, bragged to troops about 10 percent raise they won't get https://t.co/9g8kJPvwZS pic.twitter.com/66JpGgH2bB

— PolitiFact (@PolitiFact) January 5, 2019

#APFactCheck: Trump makes false statements to cheering troops about their pay raise, and twisted ones about the border wall and Iran deal. https://t.co/LLTFFzxJs4

— AP Politics (@AP_Politics) December 29, 2018

CNN Fact-Checks Trump’s Claim of Signing First Military Pay Raise in 10 Years: ‘That’s Just Not True’ https://t.co/9M4qB1avQa pic.twitter.com/efYlRe1WO5

— Mediaite (@Mediaite) December 27, 2018

Trump bragged to service members in Iraq about a 10 percent raise they’ve not been given https://t.co/seZWkZESkp

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost) December 27, 2018

Trump misleads about military pay raises againhttps://t.co/Vwor4RH1Sl

— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) December 27, 2018

An officer. https://t.co/KRAuVmRtrj

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) December 27, 2018

Trump to deployed troops today: “The Democrats don’t want to let us have strong borders.”

He simply can’t help himself. He has to politicize every outing with the military.

It’s beneath his office. And it puts those troops in an impossible position.

Totally inappropriate. pic.twitter.com/DTrepckPjC

— John Kirby (@johnfkirby63) December 27, 2018

Under DoD Directive 1344.10 “active duty personnel may not engage in partisan political activities.” Trump thrust this illegality upon the service people by messing with his campaign paraphernalia. Reporters should ask if he brought it. https://t.co/Oq5R9baj2A

— Norm Eisen (@NormEisen) December 27, 2018

This is your occasional reminder that Trump is violating all kinds of norms when he talks like this in front of the troops and it’s pretty repellent. https://t.co/1mIrCLNf3D

— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) December 26, 2018

Then 2) He said he raised the military's pay by ten percent. FACT: It was raised 2.8% in 2018 and another 2.6% in the current NDAA.

— Ali Rogin (@AliABCNews) December 26, 2018

The President made an important visit to US troops in Iraq today. Why did he claim falsely he raised military pay for the first time in 10 years (it’s gone up every year for three decades but 1983) & by 10% (it went up less than 3%)? Troops know the truth. Who’s he speaking to?

— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) December 27, 2018

Trump used his speech to the troops in Iraq to attack Democrats: “The Democrats don’t want to let us have strong borders.” (Presumably, many of the soldiers listening to his remarks are not registered Republicans) pic.twitter.com/M1MWCLkMMb

— Jim Acosta (@Acosta) December 27, 2018

Three things can all be true at the same time:

* A President honorably visiting troops overseas

* Deployed troops grateful to see their President

* A White House using troops as political pawns in photo ops

— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) December 27, 2018

Troops are prohibited from "politicking" in uniform. Trump is putting them in an incredibly awkward and uncomfortable position here, because — unlike Trump — most of these men and women actually care about abiding by rules and laws. https://t.co/1qEvSaSCsw

— Caroline Orr (@RVAwonk) December 26, 2018

Visiting the troops is great. Lying to the troops is not. https://t.co/cGT0NGhSGU

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 27, 2018

Trump dropped his promise Mexico would pay for a wall we don’t need. But he’s wiling to keep our government shut down until he makes Americans pay for it.

I get Trumpists are hypnotically devoted, but are there really Americans who like to be lied to & then pay extra for it?

— Steven Beschloss (@StevenBeschloss) December 26, 2018

Note to @realDonaldTrump: Had you served in the military you would know that each month we get a Leave and Earnings (LES) statement that shows our pay. So many military members know you are lying about their paycheck, but they are respectful so they don't say that to your face. https://t.co/4K5ZZKBZZn

— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) December 27, 2018

Trump tweeted a video exposing the identity of several Navy SEALs. If you put that detail in a movie about a moron-becoming-POTUS, that detail would be thrown out as "too on the nose” and “too dumb even for a dumb President. We are in “stranger than fiction” land.

— Touré (@Toure) December 27, 2018

"Ending forever wars responsibly is a code the US hasn’t yet cracked, and Trump deserves credit for aiming to try. But the way Trump’s doing it means the US will be less likely to be able to build and hold together coalitions when future threats appear." https://t.co/nWCALKAAhJ

— Noah Shachtman (@NoahShachtman) December 27, 2018

Not just inappropriate, a violation of the Hatch Act, if true.

Back when I was the Hatch Act lawyer in the White House (apparently they no longer employ one), this would mean campaign would have to pay appropriate costs for the trip. Reporters should ask if Trump Campaign will. https://t.co/o8rYMgVj0c

— Ian Bassin (@ianbassin) December 27, 2018

Centrist types should probably spend at least a minute worrying about the partisan skew of the military for every hour they spend on the partisan skew of university faculties. https://t.co/U2uViPGbFO

— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) December 27, 2018

Commander in Chief lies to the troops he’s supposed to lead. Nothing to see here. . . https://t.co/dYobckvO9u

— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) December 27, 2018

More polls – Americans don’t want Trump’s wall

Only Republicans want it but those are the only people Trump cares about – his cult members. Remember, Trump said Mexico would pay for it and that is not happening.

In 11/16 Q poll, support/opposition for Wall was 42/55. 2 years later, and a whole lotta discussion/activity/politicization of wall & immigration support/opposition remains same. 12/18: 43/54 https://t.co/CDnACkB2p0

— amy walter (@amyewalter) December 27, 2018

Correct: in latest @CNN poll, just 33% support building a #BorderWall if Mexico does not pay for it, while 61% oppose. Only 4% of Democrats, and 32% of independents support a wall if Mexico is not paying. Numbers rise only to 7% D + 38% indie before financing is mentioned. https://t.co/cFk35T2vK9

— Ronald Brownstein (@RonBrownstein) December 27, 2018

Americans do not want a wall. https://t.co/6ll8Dwp0zh

— Randi Weingarten (@rweingarten) December 21, 2018

I guess she meant "most of the Republican party." But not even "all" of the GOP wants the wall! @PressSec, will you correct this falsehood? https://t.co/k4HVds0uEG

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) December 21, 2018

Most Americans don't support building the wall – CBS News https://t.co/Hhxy1tmWdc

— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) December 22, 2018

Shutdown update 12/27/18 – Trump says most affected employees are Democrats

I think this shutdown will last a long time. I don’t see any way for both sides to save face and I don’t think Trump likes to compromise. I think the end will come when the polls show the public overwhelmingly blames one side. So far, the public blames the Republicans.

Now Trump says (with no basis) that the employees affected are mostly Democrats. He earlier said that he would use shutdown money for the wall. I would not be surprised if he tries to prevent furloughed employees from ultimately being paid. He is priming his base for this by saying the employees are Democrats anyway.

Trump was right about running the government like one of his businesses – the employees don’t get paid.

— Conan O'Brien (@ConanOBrien) December 28, 2018

Federal Workers, Some in ‘Panic Mode,’ Share Shutdown Fears on Social Media https://t.co/TMIcAwcMlO

— Lou Fiorentino (@louis2nd) December 27, 2018

He is wholly unfit to be President of the United States. https://t.co/gYcZaa1Eje

— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) December 27, 2018

How does the shutdown end? It's going to require finding a way for Trump to save face: https://t.co/Lm3Fj9bM3E

— Paul Waldman (@paulwaldman1) December 27, 2018

Trump claims without evidence that ‘most of the people not getting paid’ in partial government shutdown are Democrats https://t.co/EMzIFLN3Sw

— Felicia Sonmez (@feliciasonmez) December 27, 2018

You think they can’t get dumber, but then this happens pic.twitter.com/245UueeOlA

— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) December 26, 2018

S+P said the 2013 shutdown, which lasted 16 days, cost $24 billion in lost economic output https://t.co/CgWMd3Daqe https://t.co/z7te38qR3P

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) December 26, 2018

The partial government shutdown entered its fifth day Wednesday with no signs of a breakthrough and hundreds of thousands of federal workers about to feel the pinch of the standoff https://t.co/5q2lgy6Jg0

— POLITICO (@politico) December 26, 2018

This reminds me of the nine new plants that Trump said US Steel was building. But they weren’t building any. Or the two dozen citizens a terror suspect brought in via “chain migration”…when the real number was zero. https://t.co/52zdXPCERy

— Glenn Kessler (@GlennKesslerWP) December 25, 2018

I understand that many of these federal workers POTUS says are happily furloughed for the wall are the 114 year-old parents of Korean War veterans who also regularly talk to Donald Trump. https://t.co/2YXcTCzrJd

— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) December 25, 2018

Dear @realDonaldTrump – just womdering..: how did these workers contact you?
We would love to hear their persective.
Did they call? Text, whatsapp you? https://t.co/9n0ULaUKEp

— Stephanie Ruhle (@SRuhle) December 26, 2018

There Are More Republicans in Federal Government Than You Might Think

Trump tariff update 12/25/18

more bad news

Trump's steel tariffs create big profits but few new jobs https://t.co/DD46AOfIRv pic.twitter.com/66AMr5x0yI

— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) November 13, 2018

"Instead, Trump hit Britain, as well as other trade partners, with steel and aluminum tariffs in the summer of 2018—and then threatened a follow-on strike against autos, an important British export to the U.S." https://t.co/s83f1ptO30

— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) November 16, 2018

I think we need to consider the possibility that maybe, just maybe, Donald Trump does not fully understand the nuances of trade policy. pic.twitter.com/ZqIDmlRgBC

— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) December 4, 2018

It’s unclear what the president wants to accomplish with tariffs. He may not even understand how they work. The latest from @AnnieLowrey: https://t.co/db49IChwmB

— The Atlantic (@TheAtlantic) December 9, 2018

This is what Trump has given the American people: ‘Another damned Trump lie’: Iowa machinist unloads on president after his factory shuts down before Christmas https://t.co/HnVIxN1Trj #TrumpResign

— (((DeanObeidallah))) (@DeanObeidallah) December 21, 2018

Sure there’s more tax revenue but consumers bear the brunt of the tariff when they pay more for imports.

On Tuesday, Navarro said the US had collected $7 billion from new tariffs. https://t.co/Op4VlcByq2

— Alan Rappeport (@arappeport) December 7, 2018

Trump said China had agreed to end auto tariffs. They haven't. The president and his administration have rattled markets — and at times each other — with muddled and contradicted messaging since returning home, while Trump trumpets success. Our latest: https://t.co/WR0eNK0pGf

— Josh Dawsey (@jdawsey1) December 5, 2018

"China imports zero U.S. soybeans in November for first time since trade war started" https://t.co/99TdEySkjz

— Scott Lincicome (@scottlincicome) December 24, 2018

“The tax windfall that wasn’t”

Great column from the New York Daily News

I experienced this myself. The federal tax deduction on my pension was lowered by 17%. How is this realistic? I raised it back to what it was.

However, I am sure many people didn’t do something like this and will be in for a nasty surprise when they file their taxes for 2018.