Crash Course: Why did he steal the documents? Maggie Haberman's book may hold the answer

Let's review: He's a pack rat; he hoped to sell them; he meant to use them for blackmail. Yes, yes and yes. [View in browser](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0Q2aHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL2xldHRlci81MTgyVwNzcGNCCmMi2dcyYxa8AktSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). [Donald-Trump] Photo illustration by Salon/Getty Images Why did he steal the documents? Maggie Haberman's book may hold the answer The latest Trump tell-all book is New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman's "[Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0QpaHR0cHM6Ly9ib29rc2hvcC5vcmcvYS8yNDY0Lzk3ODA1OTMyOTczNDZXA3NwY0IKYyLZ1zJjFrwCS1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo)," to be published next week. An article adapted from the book appeared in the [Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL2lkZWFzL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMi8wOS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtbWFnZ2llLWhhYmVybWFuLW1hci1hLWxhZ28vNjcxNTEwL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) over the weekend, dropping least one major hint at the answer to one of the great questions hovering over the former president since the FBI executed that search warrant at Mar-a-Lago early in August: Why did Donald Trump take all those classified documents from the White House? Speculation so far basically boils down to three main possibilities. The first is that Trump is a hoarder who can't throw anything away. But come on. There's more to this than that. The second speculation is that he took the items with the intention of selling them, to someone, somewhere down the line. Considering that Trump considers himself the greatest dealmaker the world has ever known, this is also a plausible explanation. While it's hard to imagine that he would sell classified intelligence to an adversary outright, it's not out of the question that he might have thought they'd be worth hanging on to as a sweetener in some future transaction. The last speculation is the one that seems most likely, considering his known penchant for blackmail. [Read more from Heather Digby Parton.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RqaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvd2h5LWRpZC1oZS1zdGVhbC10aGUtZG9jdW1lbnRzLW1hZ2dpZS1oYWJlcm1hbnMtYm9vay1tYXktaG9sZC10aGUtYW5zd2VyL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) [Vladimir-Putin] Mikhail Metzel/TASS via Getty Images Promotion from Slow Moon [Find out more] Sustainable wellbeing with a passion for pattern Slow Moon eye pillows help rest tired eyes, stimulating the oculocardiac reflex and resetting your body. Handmade from organic cotton they are the perfect tool for deeper concentration. [Find out more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvZWk3OWlvYTNydVcDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) Putin's doom: Russia expert Mark Galeotti on how a once-feared leader threw it all away Putin's reactionary vision made him a hero and role model for many neofascists and members of the global right, at least for a while. Too many Republicans and conservatives, especially the right-wing Christian evangelicals and other enemies of democracy have viewed Putin (and Hungary's Viktor Orbán) as exemplifying the type of authoritarian ruler they long for to help fulfill their plan to end multiracial secular democracy. Putin looks less attractive to many such right-wing figures now. After the debacle in Ukraine, what comes next for Russia and its president? Salon's Chauncey DeVega spokes with Mark Galeotti, one of the world's leading experts on Russia, transnational crime and military affairs, to discuss how Putin put himself inside an information echo chamber that encourages his worst impulses, which includes a delusional belief that he can shape the world through the force of his own will. Moreover, Galeotti says, the failed war in Ukraine could bring an end to Putin's rule over Russia. Although victory appears to be in sight for the Ukrainians, Galeotti cautions that the U.S. and Western allies cannot take such an outcome as a given. He argues that the Ukrainians must receive more support and not less in order to ensure a final victory. [Read more from Chauncey DeVega.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RwaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvcHV0aW5zLWRvb20tZXhwZXJ0LW1hcmstZ2FsZW90dGktb24taG93LWEtb25jZS1mZWFyZWQtbGVhZGVyLXRocmV3LWl0LWFsbC1hd2F5L1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "A magical moment": NASA pulls a "Deep Impact" as its [spacecraft successfully collides with asteroid](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0SBaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvYS1tYWdpY2FsLW1vbWVudC1uYXNhLXB1bGxzLWEtZGVlcC1pbXBhY3QtYXMtaXRzLXNwYWNlY3JhZnQtc3VjY2Vzc2Z1bGx5LWNvbGxpZGVzLXdpdGgtYXN0ZXJvaWQvVwNzcGNCCmMi2dcyYxa8AktSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - “The Monster”: Ex-Jan. 6 investigator sounds alarm over mysterious WH call — [here’s what we know](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0R8aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvdGhlLW1vbnN0ZXItZXgtamFuLTYtaW52ZXN0aWdhdG9yLXNvdW5kcy1hbGFybS1vdmVyLW15c3RlcmlvdXMtd2gtY2FsbC0taGVyZXMtd2hhdC13ZS1rbm93L1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Why are our lady fluids so often [depicted as blue?](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RTaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjUvd2h5LWFyZS1vdXItbGFkeS1mbHVpZHMtc28tb2Z0ZW4tZGVwaWN0ZWQtYXMtYmx1ZS9XA3NwY0IKYyLZ1zJjFrwCS1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - ["House of the Dragon"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0R2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvaG91c2Utb2YtdGhlLWRyYWdvbi1yZW1pbmRzLXVzLXRoYXQtaGVsbC1oYXRoLW5vLWZ1cnktbGlrZS1hbi1leC1iZXN0LWZyaWVuZC1zY29ybmVkL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) reminds us that hell hath no fury like an ex-best friend scorned - The princess and the tea: Why [Buckingham Palace is worried about "The Crown"](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvYnVja2luZ2hhbS1wYWxhY2UtdGhlLWNyb3duLXByaW5jZXNzLWRpL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - A specialty food shop owner’s [guide to stocking your pantry](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RXaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjUvYS1zcGVjaWFsdHktc2hvcC1vd25lcnMtZ3VpZGUtdG8tc3RvY2tpbmcteW91ci1wYW50cnkvVwNzcGNCCmMi2dcyYxa8AktSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - [9 new fall items](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvOS1uZXctZmFsbC1pdGVtcy1hbHJlYWR5LXNwb3R0ZWQtb24tdHJhZGVyLWpvZXMtc2hlbHZlcy9XA3NwY0IKYyLZ1zJjFrwCS1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) already spotted on Trader Joe's shelves - These cheesy, [mushroom-topped white pie pizza bagels](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvdGhlc2UtY2hlZXN5LW11c2hyb29tLXRvcHBlZC1waWUtcGl6emEtYmFnZWxzLWFyZS10aGUtZ3Jvd24tdXAtc25hY2steW91LWRlc2VydmUvVwNzcGNCCmMi2dcyYxa8AktSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) are the grown-up snack you deserve Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RVaHR0cHM6Ly9zYWxvbi51czgubGlzdC1tYW5hZ2UuY29tL3N1YnNjcmliZT91PTcxY2IzZThhNmU5NjM5YzgxMDIzY2Q0MjcmaWQ9NWRlZGEyYWFhN1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) to receive Crash Course. [Arizona-state-capitol-building-in-Phoenix] Getty Images / DustyPixel Back to petticoats: Arizona's 1864 abortion ban shows GOP longs to force women into the past For some time, Arizona has been near the front of the pack of Republican-controlled states itching to ban abortion. Gov. Doug Ducey didn't wait for the June [overturn of Roe v. Wade](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDYvMjQvdGhlLWVuZC1vZi1yb2Utdi13YWRlLWFtZXJpY2FuLWRlbW9jcmFjeS1pcy1jb2xsYXBzaW5nL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) or even for the leak of the [Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RoaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDUvMDMvc2FtdWVsLWFsaXRvcy1sZWFrZWQtYW50aS1hYm9ydGlvbi1kZWNpc2lvbi1kb2VzbnQtcGxhbi10by1zdG9wLWF0LXJvZS9XA3NwY0IKYyLZ1zJjFrwCS1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) ruling in May. Merely anticipating such a decision was enough for the Republican governor to [sign a 15-week abortion ban in March](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cucmV1dGVycy5jb20vd29ybGQvdXMvYXJpem9uYS1nb3Zlcm5vci1zaWducy0xNS13ZWVrLWFib3J0aW9uLWJhbi1pbnRvLWxhdy0yMDIyLTAzLTMwL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). But even that didn't go far enough for the state's Republican attorney general, Mark Brnovich, or Pima County Superior Court Judge Kellie Johnson, a Ducey appointee. On Friday, Johnson upheld Brnovich's request to [reinstate a draconian abortion ban](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjQvYXJpem9uYS1hcHByb3Zlcy1uZWFyLXRvdGFsLWFib3J0aW9uLWJhbl9wYXJ0bmVyL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) that dates back to 1864. That was 48 years before Arizona became a state (and women got the right to vote there) and 56 years before women's suffrage was nationalized in the 19th Amendment. When feminists and abortion-rights advocates say that Republicans intend to turn the clock back to the 19th century, they really aren't exaggerating. This intention has never been far below the surface. While Republicans often like to fashion themselves as feminists in the style of the suffragists — mostly in order reject the 20th-century feminism that fought for reproductive rights — their contempt for the goals of even the first wave of feminism has been peeking out more and more often. [Read more from Amanda Marcotte.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0R4aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvYmFjay10by1wZXR0aWNvYXRzLWFyaXpvbmFzLTE4NjQtYWJvcnRpb24tYmFuLXNob3dzLWxvbmdzLXRvLWZvcmNlLXdvbWVuLWludG8tdGhlLXBhc3QvVwNzcGNCCmMi2dcyYxa8AktSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Three Conversations With Donald Trump," [The Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL2lkZWFzL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMi8wOS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtbWFnZ2llLWhhYmVybWFuLW1hci1hLWxhZ28vNjcxNTEwL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "How a party of neo-fascist roots won big in Italy," [Associated Press](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RQaHR0cHM6Ly9hcG5ld3MuY29tL2FydGljbGUvZWxlY3Rpb25zLXJvbWUtaXRhbHktNmFhOWZjYjAwMzA3MWMzMDcxOTBhNDA1M2YxOTlkOThXA3NwY0IKYyLZ1zJjFrwCS1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Inside the cheating scandal that rocked the chess world," [The Independent](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuaW5kZXBlbmRlbnQuY28udWsvbmV3cy93b3JsZC9hbWVyaWNhcy9jaGVzcy1jaGVhdGluZy1zY2FuZGFsLWNhcmxzZW4tbWFnbnVzLWhhbnMtbmllbWFubi1iMjE3NTEwMS5odG1sVwNzcGNCCmMi2dcyYxa8AktSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - "Can Brown Noise Turn Off Your Brain?" [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vaW50ZXJhY3RpdmUvMjAyMi8wOS8yMy93ZWxsL21pbmQvYnJvd24tbm9pc2UuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Growing Old Online," [Wired](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0QvaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cud2lyZWQuY29tL3N0b3J5L2dyb3dpbmctb2xkLW9ubGluZS9XA3NwY0IKYyLZ1zJjFrwCS1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "The sleep advice no one tells you," [Vox](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0REaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudm94LmNvbS9ldmVuLWJldHRlci8yMzM2NjkxOC91bmNvbnZlbnRpb25hbC1zbGVlcC1hZHZpY2VXA3NwY0IKYyLZ1zJjFrwCS1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) [Maggie-Haberman] Leigh Vogel/Getty Images for The New York Times “I love being with her”: Trump gushes about NY Times' Maggie Haberman in new book — and it’s a doozy Former President Donald Trump gushed about New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman while dishing out dirt on just about everyone for her new book. "I love being with her, she's like my psychiatrist," Trump told two aides while sitting for one of three interviews for Haberman's new book "Confidence Man," according to an excerpt published by [The Atlantic](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RhaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudGhlYXRsYW50aWMuY29tL2lkZWFzL2FyY2hpdmUvMjAyMi8wOS9kb25hbGQtdHJ1bXAtbWFnZ2llLWhhYmVybWFuLW1hci1hLWxhZ28vNjcxNTEwL1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). "I have found myself on the receiving end of the two types of behavior Donald Trump exhibits toward reporters: his relentless desire to hold the media's gaze, and his poison-pen notes and angry statements in response to coverage," Haberman wrote. Haberman's new book includes Trump's previously unreported comments on documents he took from the White House, Jared Kushner, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis, and the secret "rich friends" he made while in office. [Read more from Igor Derysh.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0R6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDkvMjYvaS1sb3ZlLWJlaW5nLXdpdGgtaGVyLWd1c2hlcy1hYm91dC1ueS10aW1lcy1tYWdnaWUtaGFiZXJtYW4taW4tbmV3LWJvb2stLWFuZC1pdHMtYS1kb296eS9XA3NwY0IKYyLZ1zJjFrwCS1IbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, DE 19801 [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmMi2dcyYxa8AktSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRlFVzWP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgpjItnXMmMWvAJLUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)