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Wednesday, 08/16/17Watch the full episode of Wednesday night's The Rachel Maddow Show.
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Trump censure resolution challenges the GOP to do more than talk
In the wake of Donald Trump's public defense of racist activists, plenty of Republicans have registered their dissatisfaction. They've tweeted, they've criticized, they've wrung their hands and furrowed their brow. They have not, however, been willing to go any further.
Perhaps what they need is an opportunity to do something more meaningful. As Rachel noted on the show last night, three House Democrats -- Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) -- will introduce a congressional censure resolution tomorrow, condemning the president's response to the violence in Charlottesville.
The editorial board of USA Today makes a compelling case that it should pass. The editorial read in part:
Expressing disapproval in 140 characters or fewer is insufficient when the president angrily asserts that there were some "very fine people" among the bigots waving Confederate battle flags and swastika banners; when torch-bearing marchers chanted "Jews will not replace us"; and when police said one Nazi sympathizer rammed a sports car into a crowd, killing an innocent counterprotester. The victim, 32-year-old Heather Heyer, was remembered Wednesday at a heartbreaking memorial service.
When these things happen in the United States, and the president blames "both sides," more formal condemnation is necessary. This is a moment of reckoning for members of the Party of Lincoln: Do they want to stand up for American values, or do they want to keep enabling a president whose understanding of right and wrong has slipped dangerously off the rails?
If congressional Republicans choose the former -- and history will be watching -- they should join together with Democrats to censure Trump.
Don't assume the argument will necessarily fall along partisan or ideological lines. Steve Schmidt, a longtime GOP strategist and former aide to John McCain, said Tuesday's show that congressional Republican leaders "have to censure him, or they risk sliding into a moral abyss with him."
Jennifer Rubin, a conservative Washington Post writer, echoed the sentiment, arguing yesterday, "Any Republican not willing to sign on [to the censure resolution] should be voted out. Period. It's the only litmus test that matters."
Those on the lawn are now singing Amazing Grace. pic.twitter.com/1aVVaouw71
— Allison Wrabel (@craftypanda) August 17, 2017
EXCLUSIVE: Subject line of email said: “The Information that Validates President Trump on Charlottesville” https://t.co/5QSQuZJsYl
— Michael S. Schmidt (@nytmike) August 16, 2017
Wednesday's Mini-Report, 8.16.17
Today's edition of quick hits:
* I hope everyone saw Heather Heyer's mother: "'They tried to kill my child to shut her up. Well, guess what? You just magnified her,' said Susan Bro, pointing a defiant finger as her audience gave her a standing ovation."
* Baltimore: "It was 'in the best interest of my city,' Mayor Catherine Pugh said Wednesday, as she explained why she ordered Confederate monuments removed under the cover of darkness, days after violence broke out during a rally against the removal of a similar monument in neighboring Virginia."
* It's almost as if the president is dishonest: "As F.B.I. director, James B. Comey had widespread support from his agents, according to internal survey data released Wednesday that contradicts President Trump's claim that he fired Mr. Comey in part because agents had lost confidence in him."
* Seems important: "That a hacking operation that Washington is convinced was orchestrated by Moscow would obtain malware from a source in Ukraine -- perhaps the Kremlin's most bitter enemy -- sheds considerable light on the Russian security services' modus operandi in what Western intelligence agencies say is their clandestine cyberwar against the United States and Europe."
* Good for them: "Former Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush are now counted among the cacophony of Republican voices speaking out to reject racism in the wake of the violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia that left one dead."
* The Taliban almost seemed to be trying to flatter Trump: "The Taliban have sent an 'open letter' to President Donald Trump, reiterating their calls for America to leave Afghanistan after 16 years of war. In a long and rambling note in English that was sent to journalists on Tuesday by Zabihullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesman, the insurgents say Trump recognized the errors of his predecessors by seeking a review of the U.S. strategy for Afghanistan."
* North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D) is ready to remove Confederate monuments from his state.
GOP senator ready to 'move beyond' Trump's racially charged comments
In the wake of the deadly violence in Charlottesville, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) condemned white nationalism as a "completely evil ideology." As the Cap Times reports today, however, the Republican senator is less firm when it comes to Donald Trump's defense of racist activists.
U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson grew visibly annoyed with questions about President Donald Trump's perceived tolerance of white nationalism, telling reporters on Wednesday he would like to move beyond the issue to focus on things like tax reform and regulatory relief.
"You tell me what he needs to say so we can move beyond this," the Republican senator said when asked by reporters in Madison what the president should say about the violent white nationalist rally that took place in Virginia last weekend.
Asked if he's comfortable with what the president said yesterday, the conservative senator said, "Not entirely, no."
But Johnson's concerns were apparently limited. Talking to reporters this morning, the Republican added, "We can continue to harp on President Trump's reaction to Charlottesville, but from my standpoint, I'm concentrating on finding areas of agreement and doing everything I can under my committee's jurisdiction and what I can do to improve the situation."
Hmm.
With business leaders fleeing, Trump pulls the plug on CEO councils
Soon after taking office, Donald Trump seemed eager to demonstrate his ties to the nation's private-sector leaders. Whether they're equally eager to be tied to him is another matter entirely.
In late January, for example, the president unveiled the names of his White House American Manufacturing Council, featuring 28 members, many of whom led some of America's largest companies. A week later, Trump was proud to launch his 19-member White House Strategy and Policy Forum, which included another group of powerhouse CEOs.
It all sounded quite nice: the president, after promising voters he'd bring private-sector know-how to government, had assembled an impressive and successful team, whose members would help guide the administration's thinking on helping American businesses and workers. What could go wrong?
As it turns out, plenty. Once Trump started defending racist activists, his private-sector partners started looking for a way out. As CEOs started resigning from the White House panels, the president saved himself further embarrassment and pulled the plug on the entire endeavor.
President Donald Trump dissolved two of his economic advisory councils Wednesday after a rash of CEOs resigned in the wake of his response to a white nationalist attack in Charlottesville, Virginia, that occurred Saturday.
"Rather than putting pressure on the businesspeople of the Manufacturing Council & Strategy & Policy Forum, I am ending both," Trump tweeted. "Thank you all!"
Just so we're clear, today's move almost certainly had nothing to do with relieving "pressure" on private-sector leaders.
Why top members of Trump's team still haven't resigned
On "NBC Nightly News" last night, Chuck Todd expressed a sentiment that was very much in line with my own thinking. Reflecting on Donald Trump's depraved press conference, Todd said, "This is so bad that I think John Kelly, the chief of staff, is going to have more than one phone call trying to talk staffers or administration officials from resigning."
And that would certainly make sense. The president of the United States yesterday had just defended racist activists and equated opponents of racism with white supremacists. Trump publicly insisted that some of the torch-wielding extremists are "very fine people" who've been treated "unfairly" by journalists.
Of course this would lead some White House officials to walk away in disgust, right? Who'd want to be associated with an unhinged leader expressing such ugliness?
Apparently, all of them.
There have been plenty of pieces published since the president walked away from podium yesterday afternoon, featuring quotes from members of Team Trump distancing themselves from their boss. Staffers were reportedly "frustrated," "startled," and "stunned." A New York Times reporter said Gary Cohn, the chair of the White House Economic Council, was "disgusted" by Trump's comments.
Whether these accounts are true or not is hard to say. It's awfully easy for various officials -- many of whom are unnamed -- to quietly tell reporters that they're uncomfortable with their boss' racist display. It's less easy to do something meaningful, such as typing a resignation letter.
And yet, at least as of this morning, that hasn't happened. It's worth considering why.
Wednesday's Campaign Round-Up, 8.16.17
Today's installment of campaign-related news items from across the country.
* In Utah's 3rd congressional districts, Provo Mayor John Curtis won the GOP's special election primary yesterday, and given the district's partisan leanings, is now the favorite to succeed former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R) in Congress.
* Despite the fact that his preferred candidate came in second in Alabama's Republican Senate primary yesterday, Donald Trump this morning took credit for Sen. Luther Strange (R) picking up "a lot of additional support" thanks to the presidential endorsement.
* It looks like some Texas lines will need to be redrawn: "Federal judges invalidated two Texas congressional districts Tuesday, ruling that they must be fixed by either the Legislature or a federal court. A three-judge panel in San Antonio unanimously ruled that Congressional Districts 27 and 35 violate the U.S. Constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act."
* Trump's re-election campaign announced this morning that the president will host a rally in celebration of himself in Phoenix, Arizona, on Tuesday. It's worth noting that Phoenix is in Maricopa County. I wonder if Joe Arpaio will be on hand to pick up a presidential pardon?
* A new national Marist poll shows the president's approval rating dropping to 35%, Trump's lowest support in this poll to date. He fared better in the latest Monmouth University poll, which put Trump's support at 41%.
* The National Republican Senatorial Committee has launched a new ad campaign in Montana this week, attacking Sen. Jon Tester (D) for partnering with "ultra-liberal" Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
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About The Rachel Maddow Show
Launched in 2008, “The Rachel Maddow Show” follows the machinations of policy making in America, from local political activism to international diplomacy. Rachel Maddow looks past the distractions of political theater and stunts and focuses on the legislative proposals and policies that shape American life - as well as the people making and influencing those policies and their ultimate outcome, intended or otherwise.
