Summary
Overview
Pod Save America discusses Trump's latest Iran strike threats and pullback, the confirmation of Todd Blanche as Attorney General despite concerns about the January 6th slush fund, the reflecting pool vandalism prosecution scandal, Ken Martin's troubled DNC autopsy report, Michigan's Senate primary, and features an interview with Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong about her progressive policy positions and primary race.
Trump's Iran Threats and Empty Bluster
Trump threatened Iran with the biggest attack since World War II, only to pull back again citing alleged negotiations that no one can confirm. This marks at least the fifth time he's threatened and then retreated on Iran strikes. The cycle reveals Trump's pattern of bluffing without follow-through, while Republican critics of Obama's Syria red line remain silent on Trump's repeated empty threats.
- Trump threatened Iran with the 'biggest attack since World War II' but pulled back again, claiming negotiations are happening that Iran denies
- This is at least the fifth time Trump has threatened and then called off Iran strikes since April
- Trump said there would be 'essentially very little left' of Iran before giving them 'one last chance before decapitation'
- Saudi Arabia and Gulf autocrats who pay Trump bribes likely pressured him to back down to protect oil exports
- Republicans who blamed Obama's Syria red line for global consequences remain silent on Trump's repeated bluffing
" I think we're going to maybe get something, but I want to give them every last chance before decapitation. This is the last chance for them to sign a good document. "
" Trump has now done that five times and all the Republicans who blame the Syria red line for Putin invading Crimea or everything China does are just silent on this now. "
Todd Blanche Confirmation and the January 6th Slush Fund
Todd Blanche moved closer to confirmation as Attorney General after formally rescinding the order creating the January 6th insurrectionist slush fund. However, the rescission lacks Trump's signature and isn't legally binding, leading to skepticism that the fund is truly dead. Republican holdouts Tillis and Cornyn accepted this weak assurance despite having the opportunity to ban the fund by law.
- Blanche posted a letter rescinding the January 6th slush fund order to secure confirmation votes from Tillis and Cornyn
- DOJ said immunity from tax fraud investigations would only apply retroactively, not going forward
- Trump was non-committal about the rescission, saying he didn't know what Blanche agreed to
- Tillis and Cornyn had the chance to ban the fund by law through an amendment but chose not to
- The rescission doesn't include Trump's signature and may not even apply to the settlement
" After Trump has made fools of them, after Trump has injected himself into their primaries and cost him their seats, as they're leaving office, the best that they can muster is this pathetic display of like a piece of paper that can be rescinded. "
" This is Michael Myers. This will keep coming back and coming back and coming back. And I think he will fight for it until he gets what he wants. "
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