“We go right back to business” – While departing the White House for a MAGA rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa, President Trump again stops by the media pool for an impromptu press conference to answer the media’s questions.

.
The media have so much transparent access the don’t know what to do with themselves.
South Lawn – 3:38 P.M. EDT – THE PRESIDENT: So we’re heading out to Iowa, where we have a big statement to make, as you know, on ethanol and for our farmers. Likewise, we’re taking care of our refineries and our refiners, and they’ve done a fantastic job. But we want to get more fuel into the system, and this is a great thing.
(more…)

Most of the political focus regarding the “wear a wire” comments from Rod Rosenstein have focused on his intentions, serious or not. [Fox News – Daily Caller]  However, seemingly, and conveniently, overlooked amid the analysis is the testimony from James Baker about the structure of the underlying conversation being dead serious.
Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe was clearly the fulcrum of the effort to weaponize the FBI intelligence apparatus to take down candidate Trump, President-Elect Trump and then President Trump through a multitude of corrupt schemes and coordinated plans.  Not much about this intention remains hidden.  It is the testimony from James Baker to congress that is now highlighting the bigger picture.

Team McCabe consists of multiple defenders who were part of the larger soft-coup and have a self-interest in distracting the agregate public from the story.  The public hits against DAG Rod Rosenstein are symptomatic of the team’s current objectives.
As John Solomon writes about the testimony of former FBI Chief Legal Counsel James Baker, he is the first to look beyond the distracting “wiretap comments” and focus on the seriousness of the bigger picture:

(Via The Hill) […] Baker’s story lays bare an extraordinary conversation in which at least some senior FBI officials thought it within their purview to try to capture the president on tape and then go to the president’s own Cabinet secretaries, hoping to persuade the senior leaders of the administration to remove the president from power.

(more…)

Earlier today Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was at the White House to brief President Trump on his recent trip to North Korea and the discussions with Chairman Kim Jong-un.
Following the meeting with President Trump Secretary Pompeo delivers short remarks to the awaiting press pool.

(more…)

In the grand scheme of things, the move of U.N. Secretary Nikki Haley to resign is a typical move of a professional politician on the establishment side of the GOPe political continuum.
Ms. Haley comes from the political house of Bush; hence the original Rubio support in 2016 etc. She is a political animal from the establishment wing.
Within the traditional political class the customary approach to a White House run is to gain about five years of wealth in advance of a presidential run. Haley would be following a wealth process for a 2024 presidential run.
During this wealth accumulation period the cocktail party circuit (the billionaire crowd) will front-load wealth, purchase homes and all expenses etc, for the future candidate. This ‘Five Year Plan‘ was the same historic approach done for Ronald Reagan.
With a candidate in the private sector, the professional donor-class make investments in the candidate while it is legal to do so. The investments are made in anticipation of future influence.  This is simply how money influences politics.
(more…)

As expected Hurricane Michael continues to strengthen while traveling through the Gulf of Mexico and is forecast to make landfall as a major hurricane mid-day tomorrow.  Everyone in the impact zone should rush final preparations to completion and heed the advice and warnings from local officials.
[Hurricane Center] At 1000 AM CDT (1500 UTC), the eye of Hurricane Michael was located near latitude 25.0 North, longitude 86.2 West. Michael is moving toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h). A northward motion is expected through tonight, followed by a northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Michael will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico through tonight.

The center of Michael is then expected to move inland over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area on Wednesday, and then move northeastward across the southeastern United States Wednesday night and Thursday, and move off the Mid-Atlantic coast away from the United States by Friday.
(more…)

During an Oval Office press availability today, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley announces she is leaving the administration at the end of the year.  Both President Trump and Ambassador Haley made the announcement together.

.
There are dozens of multinational corporate executive job offers -worth hundreds of millions- at her fingertips as she returns to the private sector.
Resignation letter below:
(more…)

In an effort to keep the Daily Open Thread a little more open topic we are going to start a new daily thread for “Presidential Politics”. Please use this thread to post anything relating to the Donald Trump Administration and Presidency.

This thread will refresh daily and appear above the Open Discussion Thread.

President Trump Twitter @POTUS / Vice President Pence Twitter @VP

Sarah H Sanders Twitter @SHSanders45

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. THY WILL BE DONE, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but DELIVER US FROM EVIL.
For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory, forever and ever. Amen †

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes appears with Laura Ingraham to discuss the ongoing congressional issues with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Chairman Nunes notes the motives and intents of the DOJ to hide the information within the previous declassification directive.

.
Exposing the FBI/DOJ dirty deeds is a major priority for a contingent within congress and a multitude of Trump supporters.  Therefore HPSCI Chairman Devin Nunes and Trump supporters have differing sets of priorities than President Trump.
(more…)

As anticipate Hurricane Michael is showing signs of continued strength with each update. Current wind speed 85mph. Rapid intensification is predicted. Current forecast is for a Category 3 (115+ mph) storm at landfall.  If you are in the path you do not have much time to prepare. This storm is gaining forward speed as it strengthens.
[Hurricane Center] At 700 PM CDT (0000 UTC), the center of the eye of Hurricane Michael was located by a NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft near latitude 22.7 North, longitude 85.2 West. Michael is moving toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h). A northward to north-northwestward motion at a slightly faster forward speed is expected through Tuesday night, followed by a northeastward motion on Wednesday and Thursday.

On the forecast track, the center of Michael will move over the southeastern Gulf of Mexico tonight, then move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico Tuesday and Tuesday night. The center of Michael is expected to move inland over the Florida Panhandle or Florida Big Bend area on Wednesday, and then move northeastward across the southeastern United States Wednesday night and Thursday.
(more…)