Crash Course: Michael Flynn's "extortion" plot

Plus: The Washington Post has Jan. 6 receipts [Crash Course] Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmF2v8h_Yf05dANSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). Michael Flynn's "extortion" plot If you, like me, have been wondering what QAnon adherent and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn has been up to lately — buckle up. The retired lieutenant U.S. Army general has apparently been attempting to run an "extortion" plot targeting a number of elected U.S. officials in the hopes that he can push them to open conspiratorial election audits, and ultimately reinstate Donald Trump as president. That's according to U.S. Senate candidate Everett Stern, at least, who says he was recruited for the scheme by representatives for a Flynn-linked group called "Patriot Caucus" earlier this year. He held a press conference over the weekend to share what he had discovered about the organization — which is apparently being bankrolled by billionaire Texas real estate mogul Al Hartman. He claims that he was even told, point-blank, "accomplish the mission even if you have to use domestic terrorism." "I believe that General Flynn has committed treason against the United States," Stern said on Saturday. "Based on what I have seen and witnessed, I truly believe that's the case." [Read more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvY2FuZGlkYXRlLW1pY2hhZWwtZmx5bm4tdHJ5aW5nLXRvLXJ1bi1leHRvcnRpb24tc2NoZW1lLW9uLXVzLW9mZmljaWFscy10by1yZWluc3RhbGwvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmF2v8h_Yf05dANSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) about the blockbuster allegations. (Photo via Getty Images) "Red flags were everywhere" The weekend's biggest story was arguably [this bombshell investigation](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0SSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvcmVkLWZsYWdzLXdlcmUtZXZlcnl3aGVyZS1ib21ic2hlbGwtcmVwb3J0LWZpbmRzLWFkbWluaXN0cmF0aW9uLWlnbm9yZWQtamFuLTYtd2FybmluZ3NfcGFydG5lci8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYXa_yH9h_Tl0A1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) into the law enforcement preparation for Jan. 6 from The Washington Post. The takeaway: the FBI and other federal agencies downplayed and in some cases outright ignored the warning signs of violence ahead of the deadly riot. It may not be the most surprising revelation, but boy did the Post get receipts. - The [war on Halloween](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0SEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvdGhlLW9uLWhhbGxvd2Vlbi13aHktdGhlLXJpZ2h0cy1tb3JhbC1wYW5pYy1vdmVyLTgwcy1ob3Jyb3ItbW92aWVzLXN0aWxsLW1hdHRlcnMvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmF2v8h_Yf05dANSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~): Why the right's moral panic over '80s horror movies still matters - Trump blasted for doing Atlanta Braves' ["tomahawk chop"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvYmxhc3RlZC1mb3ItZG9pbmctYXRsYW50YS1icmF2ZXMtdG9tYWhhd2stY2hvcC1hdC13b3JsZC1zZXJpZXMtZ2FtZS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYXa_yH9h_Tl0A1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) at World Series game - Why the pandemic has [eroded our trust](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvdHJ1c3QtaW4tZG9jdG9ycy1lcm9kZWQvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmF2v8h_Yf05dANSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) in doctors - Between "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and "Succession," TV presents the fall (and rise) of [old white guys](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvY3VyYi15b3VyLWVudGh1c2lhc20tc3VjY2Vzc2lvbi1vbmx5LW9sZC1tZW4vP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmF2v8h_Yf05dANSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - Ghosts who grieve in video games – and how I helped them achieve [a measure of peace](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RiaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvZ2hvc3QtdmlkZW8tZ2FtZXMtc3Bpcml0ZmFyZXItY296eS1ncm92ZS1ncmllZi8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYXa_yH9h_Tl0A1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) - Despite the pandemic, human health overall is better than it's ever been. [Here's why](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0SEaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvZGVzcGl0ZS10aGUtcGFuZGVtaWMtaHVtYW4taGVhbHRoLW92ZXJhbGwtaXMtYmV0dGVyLXRoYW4taXRzLWV2ZXItYmVlbi1oZXJlcy13aHkvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmF2v8h_Yf05dANSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - Falling for Duran Duran's "Future Past," which reflects the band's [signature ingenuity](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvZHVyYW4tZHVyYW4tZnV0dXJlLXBhc3QtcmV2aWV3Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) and sentiment - She was struggling with infertility. Her best friend was pregnant. Would their friendship [survive](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RbaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvY2FuLXlvdXItZnJpZW5kc2hpcC1zdXJ2aXZlLWluZmVydGlsaXR5Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)? - Writer Sarah Herrington reflects on her [affair with witchcraft](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzAvbXktYWZmYWlyLXdpdGgtd2l0Y2hjcmFmdC8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYXa_yH9h_Tl0A1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) - And, finally, try Trisha Yearwood's [collard-stuffed wontons](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0SRaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvdHJpc2hhLXllYXJ3b29kcy1jb2xsYXJkLXN0dWZmZWQtd29udG9uc3dpdGgtaG90LWhvbmV5LXBpbWVudG8tc2F1Y2UtYXJlLXRoZS1iZXN0LW5ldy1jb21mb3J0Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) with hot honey pimento sauce Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) to receive Crash Course. How extremist Christian theology is driving the right-wing assault on democracy It's been a strange few years in Republican politics, culminating in the party's perplexing decision in recent months to double-down on anti-vaccine rhetoric and resisting COVID-19 precautions — as well as an increasing movement to shun the democratic norms and institutions that the United States was founded on. Lying behind this shift, Salon contributor Paul Rosenberg argues, is a little-known theology called Christian dominionism, which holds at its core the belief that Christians are "called by God" to exert control over every aspect of society. You can see this belief system at work in any number of recent developments that once would have been unthinkable: Texas new, near-total abortion ban,the "constitutional sheriffs" movement and the right-wing effort to install partisan election officials, among other things. [Learn more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0R7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvaG93LWV4dHJlbWlzdC1jaHJpc3RpYW4tdGhlb2xvZ3ktaXMtZHJpdmluZy10aGUtcmlnaHQtd2luZy1vbi1kZW1vY3JhY3kvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmF2v8h_Yf05dANSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~). (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images) - "First Bitcoin. Then GameStop. Now Tiny Tungsten Cubes," [The Wall Street Journal](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0R3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud3NqLmNvbS9hcnRpY2xlcy90dW5nc3Rlbi1jdWJlcy1iaXRjb2luLWdhbWVzdG9wLWNyeXB0by1pbnZlc3RvcnMtMTE2MzU0MzEwMzY_bW9kPVNlYXJjaHJlc3VsdHNfcG9zMiZwYWdlPTFXA3NwY0IKYXa_yH9h_Tl0A1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) - "Protesters have been injured or killed by car rammings, but justice is rare," [The Boston Globe](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RbaHR0cHM6Ly9hcHBzLmJvc3Rvbmdsb2JlLmNvbS9uZXdzL25hdGlvbi8yMDIxLzEwL3ZlaGljbGUtcmFtbWluZ3MtYWdhaW5zdC1wcm90ZXN0ZXJzL3R1bHNhL1cDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) - "Before, During and After the Jan. 6 attack, an investigation," [The Washington Post](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2FzaGluZ3RvbnBvc3QuY29tL3BvbGl0aWNzL2ludGVyYWN0aXZlLzIwMjEvd2hhdC1oYXBwZW5lZC10cnVtcC1qYW4tNi1pbnN1cnJlY3Rpb24vVwNzcGNCCmF2v8h_Yf05dANSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAAA~~) - "Learning to Live With Mark Zuckerberg," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RuaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMS8xMC8zMS9idXNpbmVzcy9tZWRpYS9tZWRpYS10ZWNoLWNvbXBhbmllcy1mYWNlYm9vay5odG1sP3NtdHlwPWN1ciZzbWlkPXR3LW55dGltZXNXA3NwY0IKYXa_yH9h_Tl0A1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) - "The American West is drying up," [The Economist](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0SyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZWNvbm9taXN0LmNvbS91bml0ZWQtc3RhdGVzLzIwMjEvMDgvMjEvdGhlLWFtZXJpY2FuLXdlc3QtaXMtZHJ5aW5nLXVwP3V0bV9jYW1wYWlnbj1lZGl0b3JpYWwtc29jaWFsJnV0bV9tZWRpdW09c29jaWFsLW9yZ2FuaWMmdXRtX3NvdXJjZT10d2l0dGVyJnV0bV9jb250ZW50PWV2ZXJncmVlblcDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) Roger Stone for... Florida governor? Longtime GOP operative Roger Stone says he's [considering a challenge](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0SFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjEvMTAvMzEvYnllLXJvbi1yb2dlci1zdG9uZS10aHJlYXRlbnMtdG8tcnVuLWFnYWluc3Qtcm9uLWRlc2FudGlzLW92ZXItbGFjay1vZi0yMDIwLWF1ZGl0Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~) to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis next year — because the conservative darling refuses to start a statewide audit into the 2020 election. "If Florida governor Ron DeSantis does not order an audit of the 2020 election to expose the fact that there are over 1 million phantom voters on the Florida voter rolls in the Sunshine state," Stone wrote on Gab, "I may be forced to seek the Libertarian Party nomination for governor Florida in 2022." "#ByeRon," he added. (Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Copyright © 2021 Crash Course, All rights reserved. Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0RBaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPTM1NDM5NTJXA3NwY0IKYXa_yH9h_Tl0A1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAA) [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRjYk29P0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgphdr_If2H9OXQDUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAAA~)