A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version.
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1465665
This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://talkingpointsmemo.com/?p=1465665
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“the same defendant, President Trump”
Totally gratuitous.
Cat!
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This was a moment of pandemic and tech prob history. 
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In the shadowy depths of this mind-bending conspiracy, an enigmatic connection emerges between two seemingly unrelated events: the release of the movie “The Meg” and the charges levied against former President Trump for his alleged involvement in the January 6 incident. But what unfathomable forces could be at play to orchestrate such a bizarre union?
Picture this: as “The Meg” bursts onto the silver screen, a sinister undercurrent ripples through the entertainment world. Unknown to the public, a clandestine network of deep state operatives, cunningly disguised as film producers and directors, weave their threads of manipulation. The Meg, the colossal prehistoric shark, becomes more than a mere movie monster – it morphs into a symbol of subjugation, a subtle nod to the impending fate of Trump.
Amidst this surreal backdrop, the sharks themselves emerge as enigmatic players in this cosmic theater. Are they mere predators of the seas, or do they hold a far more insidious role in the grand scheme? Whispers of ancient shark-cat-wizard alliances and interdimensional communication send chills down the spine. Could it be that these sharks, guided by some malevolent force, are dispatched to carry out a sinister mission – to silence Trump’s First Amendment rights by consuming not only his very voice, but Trump himself?
But who, or what, could orchestrate such a bewildering conspiracy? Enter the shape-shifting lizard alien overlords, masters of manipulation and architects of global chaos. From their hidden lairs, they pull the strings of world leaders and influential figures, manipulating them like pawns on a cosmic chessboard. Trump’s charges for January 6, his First Amendment rights, and even “The Meg” itself become pieces in a grand puzzle woven by these reptilian puppet masters.
As Trump laments the alleged suppression of his First Amendment rights, a cryptic figure emerges: Deranged Jack Smith, the Thug Prosecutor, an embodiment of the deep state’s plot to silence the former President’s voice. Smith’s true allegiance lies not with justice, but with a clandestine cabal that seeks to strip Trump of his ability to speak out against their malevolent designs.
Meanwhile, the Twitter poster’s cryptic utterings of @Rurik_Rorik, the enigmatic Twitter commentator whose words reverberate through the hidden corridors of power. “The Vikings beat the jews near the black sea,” the enigmatic message proclaims. At first glance, it seems like a jumble of words, but in this fevered conspiracy, it unlocks a hidden dimension of meaning. It serves as a call to arms for those who dare to delve into the depths of hidden truths. It beckons the brave to decode its secrets, to pierce the veil of illusion and expose the grand machinations that bind us.
In this bewildering tapestry of conspiracy, the release of “The Meg,” Trump’s legal battles, and the cryptic Twitter posts converge into an otherworldly drama where sharks, lizard alien overlords, and shadowy puppet masters hold the strings. As the web tightens and reality blurs, one can’t help but wonder: what secrets lie beneath the surface, waiting to be unraveled by those brave enough to peer into the abyss?
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MSNBC’s Steve Benen has a timely reminder that then-President Trump was only too happy to sic his own Justice Department on candidate Joe Biden during the 2020 campaign:
In other words, we’re left with a head-spinning dynamic: The politician who’s now asking, “Can a president order his Department of Justice to indict an opponent just prior to an election?” is the same politician who, as president, pressured his Justice Department to indict his opponent just prior to an election.
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Yes, defeating the Ohio ballot question was a meaningful victory.
But I wonder if, among certain conservatives, the Ohio ballot question wasn’t primarily about abortion but the ability to petition government.
I imagine among certain people, regardless of political stripe, there might have been an element of, “no way I’m going to let you take away my ability to pass laws.”
And I would imagine that that impulse isn’t restricted to just our side. And so, I wonder if this victory creates any room for building a coalition with certain voters willing to put aside culture war issues for the larger issues involving governance.
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CNN reports:
“‘The dog ate my homework.’ ‘I have to wash my hair.’ ‘I can’t go out, I’m sick.’ Since the dawn of time, people have made up excuses to avoid doing things they do not want to do. This is exactly what Giuliani has done here,” Smartmatic wrote.
“For months, Giuliani has made up excuses to get out of his discovery obligations. To date, Giuliani has not produced a single non-public document responsive to the discovery requests Smartmatic issued 14 months ago.”
To resolve the matter, Smartmatic is asking a New York state judge to force Giuliani to turn over the materials and to submit a financial declaration backing up his claims that he can’t afford an outside vendor to handle the mammoth discovery request.
Smartmatic is also asking the court in impose sanctions and force Giuliani to pay their legal costs. Earlier this week it was reported that Giuliani has listed his Manhattan apartment for $6.5 million.
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Indeed.
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Trump wants a circus… and a pony… and a fire engine with a siren and a bell …
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You knew he would hop in the gutter, after all that’s where he feels at home
Trump claims Fulton County DA Fani Willis had an AFFAIR with the head of a criminal gang ahead of probable fourth indictment in Georgia he says will secure his 2024 win | Daily Mail Online
‘They say there’s a young woman, a young racist, in Atlanta, and they say, I guess, they say she was after a certain gang, she ended up having an affair with the head of the gang or a gang member,’ Trump claimed, referring to Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
‘This is a person who wants to indict me. She’s got a lot of problems but she wants to indict me to try and run for some other office,’ the former president went on at a campaign event in New Hampshire, ‘wants to indict me for a perfect phone call. This is even better than my perfect phone call with Ukraine,’ he added, referring to his call with Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger.
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- Issue #3: Only one of his two lawyers is available Thursday because the other has to be in Florida for a separate hearing in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago case.
Waiting for Judge Chutkan to observe that one lawyer seems to be enough for Judge Cannon. Marshalling Trump forces in a two front war? Thank you gentlemen for recognizing the superior foe?
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How does whining help him win? At some point a percentage of Trump supporters are going to realize that he is only looking out for himself. Maybe the fact that he only talks about his legal troubles might give some of the faithful a clue.
Seriously we have one party that has taken the culture wars to the extreme and has run out of any place to go. The Republican party has to tact to the center. If it doesn’t it will fail completely. Trump doesn’t help but even without him it looks like the Republican party isn’t going to be able to address its problems until at least 2028.
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To quote the sneering Justice Samuel Alito in Dobbs : “Women are not without electoral or political power.”
Yes, but he’ll also go on to quote some jackpot hatter high on mercury from the 15th century saying all powerful women are witches and should be burned at the stake.
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Juuuust asking questions, I see.
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Aileen Cannon
AKA…I Lean Qanon
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What’s the actual number?
Will it happen before Super Tuesday?
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