You Can Run, But You Can't Hide

Obama-Gate unravels, redistricting, and Harry Bosch meets Mickey Haller

The old saying “you can run, but you can’t hide” applies to my media friends who can’t bear to report the truth about Russia-Gate.

I said at the beginning, when Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbert declassified those Obama-era documents, this story would unravel whether co-conspirators like the New York Times or the Washington Post jumped on the story or not. There are too many talented independent journalists out there capable of pursuing the story to the end.

That’s happening now.

Journalist Matt Taibbi of Twitter Files fame says “it’s not the final word” on Obama-Gate “but it establishes definitively that the public version of the Trump-Russia story, which officially began in July of 2016, was a thin tissue of fiction, concealing a larger and more sordid tale dating to at least January of 2016.”

And, over the weekend, independent journalist Catherine Herridge, formerly of Fox News and CBS News, weighs in thusly:

There is a lot to unpack.

This week, the long awaited John Durham Annex was declassified. You can think of the Annex as the last chapter in Special Counsel Durham’s investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia collusion probe which was led by former FBI Director Robert Mueller.

The records, uncovered by the new FBI Director Kash Patel, were found hidden away in a secret room at FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. Some of the documents were found in so-called ‘burn bags’ which hold classified materials before it’s destroyed by burning or shredding.

The Annex findings are further evidence the Trump-Russia collusion narrative was initiated by Hillary Clinton and her allies in 2016 to divert attention from Clinton’s growing email scandal.

The Durham Annex also reinforces earlier reporting that Clinton’s closest associates, including Sidney Blumenthal, were hacked, and Clinton’s unsecured personal server used for government business was likely breached as well.

With the benefit of hindsight, it is reasonable to wonder whether President Obama’s foreign policy ambitions were thwarted because America’s adversaries were reading Clinton’s emails in real time and knew his intentions in advance.

This story is going to re-order the legacies of Barack Obama, first and foremost, Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Stand by.

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Monkey See …

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (and my odds-on favorite to be the standard bearer for Democrats in the 2028 presidential run) has issued an interesting fundraising plea. Because Texas is redistricting in favor of Republicans, he says he’s going to redistrict California in favor of Democrats.

Give him credit for being plain about it. Here’s his letter:

Team —

In just a moment, I am going to ask you to make a contribution to my Campaign for Democracy PAC. But because I try not to ask often, you deserve to know why today is different.

This is about redistricting. Let me explain.

As you know, we have a chance to effectively end the Trump presidency in November of next year – if the American people are given a fair chance to elect enough Democrats to take back Congress.

Donald Trump recognizes this, so he wants to rig the game. Republicans are very good at this. Democrats play by one set of widely accepted rules, and Republicans create their own to seize power at any cost.

So Trump calls Greg Abbott in Texas and says I need you to redraw your Congressional maps to find five House seats. Abbott quickly obliges.

So now what?

Well, California is not going to sit back and watch this happen. We're not going to play by the old rules if it means risking the very survival of our democracy.

If Texas wants to redraw their maps, California will fight fire with fire.

But I can't do this alone. In our state, it will actually require a vote of the people. A vote we can win, but an election that will be expensive with Republicans spending whatever it takes to stop us.

Ain’t politics grand? Also, if he carries this out and it goes to court, won’t this fundraising letter be Exhibit A in the case for Republicans?

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Never Forget

It is important to remind mid-term voters what the Democratic Party considers normal. Lest we forget:

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Bosch & Haller?

If you like L.A. based crime stories, as I do, you will be thrilled to find out that this fall Netflix is set to deliver a crime drama that combines two of the most compelling characters from Michael Connelly’s iconic novels. “Bosch” and “The Lincoln Lawyer” fans are in for an extraordinary treat as the two lead characters—Harry Bosch and Mickey Haller—come together in a brand-new, high-octane legal and detective thriller.

I’m excited.

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In Case You Missed It

The Properly Subersive intern news editor today is Brad, a Communications major from Arizona State University. His spirit animal is shown above. Go Sun Devils!

Goodbye, Lonnie

• Loni Anderson, the actress who played the platinum blonde receptionist on the screwball comedy ‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ in the late 1970s and early ’80s, and later became a tabloid mainstay during her contentious divorce from the actor Burt Reynolds, died just days before her 80th birthday.— New York Times

  Jack Smith Probe

• BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (AP) — An independent watchdog agency responsible for enforcing a law against partisan political activity by federal employees has opened an investigation into Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel who brought two criminal cases against then-candidate Donald Trump before his election to the White House last year. — Associated Press

Millionaires Go Where?

• The U.S. is set to gain a net 7,500 millionaires in 2025, making it the No. 2 destination in the world for high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) choosing to relocate, Business Insider reported Sunday. The United Arab Emirates is the top destination, with 9,800 HNWIs, and Italy is third (3,600), according to the report. — Business Insider

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Laugh a little, avoid soreheads, and always question authority

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