Why Flynn Would Be A Gold Mine For Mueller, Minnesota Paper Slams Franken Apology, And A Fake Moore Accuser Exposed

November 28th, 2017 Top Stories --------------------------------------------------------------- [7 Ways Flynn Would Be An Invaluable Witness For Mueller’s Russia Probe]( The Gist: Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation may be heading toward a major turn, if recent hints that former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn is cooperating with the probe pan out. It may be many months before we know exactly what Flynn has to offer Mueller — or if any offer is even being made. But there are plenty of reasons to believe his cooperation could be problematic for Trump and his inner circle. [Minnesota Top Newspaper: Franken Apology Falls Short On Sincerity]( The Gist: Saying it may not be possible to “regain Minnesotans’ trust,” the editorial staff at the Star Tribune in Minnesota said Sen. Al Franken’s (D-MN) apology for the allegations of sexual misconduct that have come out against him in recent weeks doesn’t go far enough. [‘Access Hollywood’ Host: The Trump Tape Is ‘Very Real’]( The Gist: Following a report in the New York Times that President Donald Trump has privately questioned the authenticity of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape released last year, “Access Hollywood” host Natalie Morales made a point to tell viewers that the tape is authentic. From The Reporter's Notebook --------------------------------------------------------------- Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) on Monday warned that the next director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would change “every calculation” for the financial institutions the agency regulates, [TPM's Matt Shuham reports](. “If the cop is pulled off the beat, then the profits from cheating people look far more attractive to the banking executives,” said Warren. After former director Richard Cordray announced his resignation Friday, President Donald Trump appointed his budget director, Mick Mulvaney, as acting director, citing the Federal Vacancies Reform Act. However, on his way out, Cordray elevated his chief of staff Leandra English to the position of deputy director. That position, according to the 2010 Dodd-Frank law, serves as acting director in the event of an vacancy at the top of the agency. [English has sued Mulvaney](. Agree Or Disagree? --------------------------------------------------------------- Josh Marshall: "As we watch the drama over the who gets to run the CFPB, let me note an issue of language. Virtually every mention of the agency I’ve heard refers to it as a 'consumer watchdog agency.' That’s a reasonable definition. [But it’s not a clear one, certainly not one that is clear in any political context](. Let me suggest that 'consumer' is not the important part of the name. Any Democrat should be saying the CFPB an agency to protect consumers from Wall Street banks. That is what it is. It’s meant to be a watchdog to monitor financial services institutions to protect consumers and insure that those financial services companies follow the law. ‘Consumer watchdog’ sounds soft and fuddyduddy-like. It just does." Say What?! --------------------------------------------------------------- "I think that’s a ridiculous response." - White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Monday [responding]( to Sen. Elizabeth Warren's charge that President Donald Trump's "Pocahontas" attack was a racial slur. BUZZING: Today in the Hive --------------------------------------------------------------- From a TPM Prime member: "Basically, it sounds like Phillips was trying to shop this BS story around so that they could then reveal it to be a lie and thereby discredit the other accusers. O'Keefe and his ilk, being the idiots that they are, never counted on WaPo thoroughly vetting the claims because they assume that any news outlet not offering daily PP tongue baths is out to get Republicans. What they've done here is to actually expose WaPo and it's journalists as being a responsible media outlet that didn't just blindly run with accusations against Moore. These idiots, in their lust to confirm their perpetual victimhood, have actually made the claims of accusers even more credible. (Slow clap) Nice job." Related: [Woman Offering Dubious Claims About Moore Appears Linked To James O’Keefe]( Have something to add? Become a [Prime]( member and join the discussion [here](. What We're Reading --------------------------------------------------------------- "She Didn’t Want This": Inside Melania Trump’s Secretive East Wing ([Vanity Fair]( Solve A Murder On The Orient Express On This Escape-Room Train In Finland ([Lonely Planet News]( [unsubscribe from this list]( | [update subscription preferences]( | [view email in browser](