Kushner should be removed
Jared Kushner has shady financial dealings. He should not be working in the White House.
His company filed false paperwork concerning New York City housing.
His company sold a building to a group that includes the government of Japan while Kushner worked in the White House. That sure sounds like a conflict of interest.
Will Trump fire Mueller?
I think Trump wants to fire Mueller and stop his investigation. Here’s a column from CNN. The tweets by Trump and his lawyer are trial balloons to see what the reaction would be.
If Trump fired Mueller (or more accurately had the Justice Department do it), I think:
- Democrats and some member of the media will complain. They can do nothing.
- Trump is more popular than Republicans in Congress among Republican voters. I expect Republican “leaders” like McConnell and Ryan to do nothing. They don’t want to alienate their voters. Some Congressional Republicans will speak up (like Graham already has) but they won’t be able to do anything.
So, Trump can fire Mueller and there will be no immediate consequences. At some point, through some investigation, we will get to the bottom of this. Trump can’t hide the truth forever. It must be bad if firing Mueller is a better option for him then letting Mueller find out the truth. Sad!
Ry Cooder
Ry Cooder is a great musician (but not nearly as great as a singer). His first album, produced by Van Dyke Parks, is one of his best and has ornate versions of “One Meatball” and Woody Guthrie’s “Do Re Mi”.
My favorite Cooder album is his second one, Into the Purple Valley, from 1972. Like the first one, Cooder showcases songs from first half of the 20th Century such as “Taxes on the Farmer Feeds Us All” and “How Can You Keep On Moving (Unless You Migrate Too)”.
I also highly recommend Chicken Skin Music from 1976 which has Flaco Jimenez on accordian and several Hawaiian musicians. His Tex-Mex arrangements of “He’ll Have to Go” and “Goodnight Irene” are among the highlights.
YouTube has video clips of Cooder and his band from this era. Jimenez barely moves!
Austin City Limits (1976 – almost 38 minutes)
Old Grey Whistle Test (1977 – 39 minutes)
Rockpalast “Stand By Me” (1977)
Trade and Tariffs
Paul Krugman answered questions from New York Times readers on trade and tariffs here.
Mnuchin’s travel expenses
Sad!
Cover up for a lie with another lie
Trump was wrong when he said the US has a trade deficit with Canada. I guess he thinks repeating it will make it true. Sad!
Covers: Sam Stone
John Prine’s 1971 song “Sam Stone” is about a Vietnam soldier who comes home addicted to drugs. It’s got some great lines like “There’s a hole in daddy’s arm where all the money goes.”
Swamp Dogg covered it.
Covers: Total Destruction to Your Mind
I discovered this great 1970 soul song by Swamp Dogg through the Oxford American magazine annual music issue a few years ago. Swamp Dogg has lots of other great songs. I just found this cover from 2017 by the Isley Brothers and Santana.
Friend or foe?
The White House would not say if Russia was a friend or foe. I would say that a country that meddled in our elections is a foe. It’s not a tough question unless you’re Trump or his spokesperson.
It’s good that the White House finally implemented some sanctions but they are not nearly enough. It sure looks like Russia has something on Trump. Sad!
