Washington's worst-case scenarios

[Bloomberg View]( A daily digest of opinions and analysis Trump Barrels Down a Road of No Return If the president were to fire the special counsel, replace the attorney general, or pardon himself and his family, it would set the stage for a historic political disaster. And given Trump’s desperate behavior recently, it’s worth taking that threat seriously. Longtime political analyst [Al Hunt games out]( the possibilities. As Syria Crumbles, Only Iran Is a Sure Winner That’s the pessimistic conclusion of Andrew Tabler, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy who spent years living under the Assad regime. [Tabler speaks]( with Tobin Harshaw about the crisis’s 20th-century roots and the prospects for a current de-escalation. The U.K.’s Bill for Brexit Shouldn’t Derail Talks The European Union says Britain owes it [100 billion euros](. The U.K. says it should pay little, if anything. As tensions rise, the Bloomberg View [editorial board says]( a little flexibility from both sides isn’t too much to ask. Putin’s No Good, But Where’s the Alternative? One reason Russia’s president has such a stranglehold on power is that no opposition leader is inspiring enough to compete. [Leonid Bershidsky casts]( a critical eye on the two most prominent contenders.  Before it’s here, it’s on the Bloomberg Terminal. Find out how the Terminal delivers information and analysis that financial professionals can’t find anywhere else. [Learn more](. Ritholtz’s Reads - The art market is moving online, finally ([The Verge]() - Jay-Z, Dr. Dre, and the music of success ([New Yorker]() - Inside Jeffrey Katzenberg’s plan to revolutionize entertainment on mobile screens ([Variety]() (Read Barry Ritholtz’s full daily news roundup [here](.) Bloomberg L.P. ● 731 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022 [Web]( ● [Facebook]( ● [Twitter]( [Feedback]( ● [Unsubscribe](