Idiocracy

Newsweek reports: Jon Lerner was about to become national security advisor to Vice President Mike Pence until he suddenly withdrew his acceptance of the position amid reports of tensions in the White House over the appointment. Lerner, who turns 50 this year, currently serves as deputy at the United Nations to the U.S. ambassador Nikki Haley, who he had helped …

Bloomberg reports: Former FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe lacked candor on four different occasions regarding his role in providing information to a news reporter about the FBI’s investigation into the Clinton Foundation, according to a Justice Department inspector general’s report. The inspector general also found that McCabe didn’t inform then-FBI Director James Comey that he had authorized disclosure of the …

CNN reports: President Donald Trump’s allies are preparing an extensive campaign to fight back against James Comey’s publicity tour, trying to undermine the credibility of the former FBI director by reviving the blistering Democratic criticism of him before he was fired nearly a year ago. The battle plan against Comey, obtained by CNN, calls for branding the nation’s former top …

Yahoo News reports: Donald Trump has backpedaled on earlier warlike statements about missile strikes in Syria – with a new Tweet where he says an attack may happen ‘not so soon at all’. His new statement may perplex allies, as it comes as British ministers consider the possibility of backing military action in the region. Theresa May is believed to …

The Associated Press reports: The Trump administration is considering a plan that would allow states to require certain food stamp recipients to undergo drug testing, handing a win to conservatives who’ve long sought ways to curb the safety net program. The proposal under review would be narrowly targeted, applying mostly to people who are able-bodied, without dependents and applying for …

“The Constitution of the United States, and the First Amendment says ‘Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof. Nor will they abridge the freedom of speech, of the press’.  I’ve got a copy of the Constitution I want to give you — at the end of this hearing.” – South Carolina …

Over on the Resurgent, right wing commentator Erick Erickson has recounted a conversation with an unnamed GOP member of the US House. An excerpt: “If we’re going to lose because of him, we might as well impeach the motherfucker,” said the congressman as we roamed the aisles of a Safeway grocery store together. I haven’t been in a Safeway since …

The Hill reports: President Trump said Wednesday that America’s relationship with Russia is “worse now than it has ever been,” after Russia stymied efforts to investigate an alleged chemical attack in Syria. The president in a tweet implored Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop the arms race.” Trump’s remark comes just hours after Russian officials blocked a resolution at the …

Via Mediaite: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders is expected to hold a briefing with the press corps this afternoon. The biggest issue of the day is undoubtedly the recently Syrian chemical attack and what the response from the Trump administration will be. President Trump condemned the attack yesterday and even Vladimir Putin in particular for Russia’s involvement in …

USA Today reports: While Patrick Reed was adjusting to his new green jacket after his Masters win, President Trump tweeted his good wishes. Trump pointed out many had seen Reed shine five years ago when he won at a course he owns – Trump National Doral in Miami. But it was actually four years ago – in March 2014 – …

The Hill reports: President Trump on Sunday put blame on former President Obama after the alleged chemical attack in Syria. Dozens of people were killed Saturday in an alleged chemical attack in Syria. State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement that U.S. officials are closely following the “disturbing reports … regarding another alleged chemical weapons attack, this time …

Three tweets already this morning but nothing about the man who died yesterday in his “well built building.” From the Post story that has him raging: After White House Chief of Staff John F. Kelly pressured President Trump last fall to install his top deputy, Kirstjen Nielsen, atop the Department of Homeland Security, the president lost his temper when conservative …

Politico reports: Trump today doubled down on his plan to send National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border to help with border security. On Friday, the first wave of troops left Arizona and Texas en route to their deployment. As he has in the past, Trump slammed Democrats for not being tougher on immigration, but his plan to send troops …

The Washington Post reports: In an interview with “Bernie and Sid in the Morning” on WABC radio, Trump listened modestly as his hosts showered obsequious praise on him for heroically making America great in the face of unremitting hate from the media. “A poll just came out now, Rasmussen, it’s now 51,” Trump said. “They say that it’s 51 but …

ABC News reports: Stocks fell sharply Friday as trade tensions between the United States and China heated up. The Dow lost nearly 700 points at one point, a drop of more than 2%, after President Donald Trump threatened to escalate a confrontation with China over trade. The S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each declined more than 2%. The Dow Jones …

The Hill reports: President Trump says in a new interview that he will likely skip the upcoming White House Correspondents Dinner (WHCD), his second skip of the annual event so far as president. In an interview with “Bernie & Sid in the Morning” on 77 WABC, the president said he will “probably” not attend the annual gala hosted by the …

The Washington Post reports: The president usually begins his morning with the “Fox & Friends” show on Fox News, often sending tweets that correspond with the show’s headlines and programming. The show even partially fueled his decision this week to call for sending National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border. He also watches Sean Hannity’s show in the evenings, regularly …

Morning Consult reports: The month of March was unkind to President Donald Trump’s popularity among the voting public, with Morning Consult’s 50 state approval tracker showing the commander in chief reaching the lowest point of his presidency. The new data — compiled from surveys conducted March 1 to March 31 among 97,693 registered voters in every state and Washington, D.C. …

The Hill reports: President Trump on Thursday credited Mexico’s “strong immigration laws” with disbanding a so-called “caravan” of Central American migrants before it reached the U.S., saying that a “giant scene” at the southern border was prevented. The president’s tweet comes a day after the organizers of the caravan announced that they would end their journey in Mexico City, instead …

The Washington Post reports: Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said President Trump will sign a proclamation Wednesday that will direct her department and the Pentagon to work with states to deploy the National Guard. The National Guard will assist Border Patrol agents by acting in support roles such as with road development and intelligence gathering, according to a person familiar …