Crash Course: Donald Trump turns the GOP into a protection racket — and demands Republican candidates pay up

To "be seen favorably," the Trump campaign threatens, Republicans must give 5 percent — or more — to the boss Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvY284bWc0bDZsbS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGUmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). ~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcXp3YjF5MW0wby8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOWs0YzZ6dmpxdi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvcW44OTJobmF2Ny8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOXFwcno0Mzlici8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvZ3F4anVoMnYzdi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo Donald Trump turns the GOP into a protection racket — and demands Republican candidates pay up From Amanda Marcotte: It's [been long established](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMHdlM2lnNG00OS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGUmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) that Trump sees his supporters, first and foremost, as open wallets to pick. But his interest in separating fools from their money has escalated in recent months, as his legal fees and court judgments are mounting. Despite routinely declaring himself to be a "billionaire," Trump has done everything in his power to avoid paying what he owes. Instead, he's resorting to tricks of all sorts, including his longstanding favorite: Swindle some schmuck into paying it for him. [Read more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvMmx2aWduY2hmMi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGUmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). ~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvOWllcmk0MnU3Ni8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNWtpaDlmdnU3cS8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvNHlnMTBkamY4Ni8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0REaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvaTV4YzRzeXVuMi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGVXA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo Trump's first criminal trial is a test run From Chauncey DeVega: The first of Donald Trump’s four criminal trials began this week in Manhattan, making him the first former or sitting president to face trial in a criminal case. Unfortunately, Trump's obvious criminality has not broken his power over his MAGA followers and other supporters. It is true that some Republicans and “conservatives” are telling pollsters that they are less likely to support Trump if he is convicted of a crime. Given the levels of polarization and how political parties are now a form of personal identity for many Americans – especially Republicans and conservatives – I am deeply suspicious of such claims. Of course, Donald Trump’s most loyal MAGA cultists and others who are compelled towards the Trump personality cult have not been deterred by his wanton lawbreaking and instead are attracted to him more because of it. [Read more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRoBNPfP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly9hLnBvc3QubGhkLmxpbmsvN3V5bnd5ZG1tZi8_bGhfYWlkPTM1NDM5NTImbGhfY2lkPXF2NWhzcm9mcGUmbGhfZW09dHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODUlNDBnbWFpbC5jb21XA3NwY0IKZhDgTiJmjH5B4FIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). 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