Blue States Band Together On Climate, Trump's Shaky Paris Accord Claims, And Another Trump Ally Falls Under Scrutiny

June 2, 2017 Top Stories --------------------------------------------------------------- [Trump’s ‘Pit Bull’, With Biz Ties To Ukrainian Emigres, Is Back In Spotlight]( The Gist: Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s “pit bull” personal attorney, is the latest associate of the President’s with ties to a former Soviet republic to emerge as a person congressional investigators want to hear from in their probes into Russian interference in the U.S. election. The pugnacious Manhattan lawyer’s name has cropped up in various subplots involving the Trump administration and Russian interests, from a largely unverified dossier compiled by a former British spy to an effort to get a secret Ukraine “peace plan” that would end U.S. sanctions against Russia on the desk of Trump’s first national security advisor. He’s also reportedly a person of interest in the sprawling federal investigation into Russian election meddling. [Blue States Form Climate Alliance After Trump Withdraws From Paris Pact]( The Gist: After President Donald Trump announced his decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement on Thursday, the Democratic governors in California, New York, and Washington state announced a state climate coalition called the United States Climate Alliance. [AP Fact Check: Trump’s Shaky Claims On Climate Accord]( The Gist: Announcing that the U.S. will withdraw from the Paris climate accord, President Donald Trump misplaced the blame for what ails the coal industry and laid a shaky factual foundation for his decision. Here's a look at some of the claims in a Rose Garden speech and an accompanying fact sheet about the deal to curtail emissions responsible for global warming. From The Reporter's Notebook --------------------------------------------------------------- With the federal investigation into Russian election interference and possible collusion with the Trump campaign kicking into high gear, the president is [lawyering up]( on a private attorney to defend him against the allegations and [setting up a White House war room]( to field press questions and spin the narrative in Trump's favor. This week, TPM's Alice Ollstein [talked to some of the men]( who were in the room the last time the country watched a similar drama unfold when President Bill Clinton was in the hot seat facing his own investigations. These former White House attorneys, special independent counsels and presidential advisers who have handled both sides of those past federal investigations told Alice that we should to expect infighting and a clash of strategies between Trump's White House and private lawyers, a journey into uncharted legal territory and an official information blackout. Agree or Disagree? --------------------------------------------------------------- Josh Marshall: "Trump is scared. He’s entering a a widening gyre of political crisis over Russia. [He’s scared and he’s angry and he needs friends.]( So he’s more and more likely to hug his base – both the most aggressive advisors and the most committed supporters. He’s trying to bring back Corey Lewandowski, his wildest and most troubling-driving advisor who has the unshakable loyalty and lickspittledom Trump now requires. Indeed, we can take it as a given that as the Russia scandal crisis deepens Trump will become more aggressive and more extreme in his policies both to maintain his emotional equilibrium and reinforce his backing from a shrinking base of supporters." Say What?! --------------------------------------------------------------- “If [individual Russians] have patriotic leanings, they may try to add their contribution to the fight against those who speak badly about Russia.” - Russian President Vladimir Putin [admitting the possibility]( that some non-Kremlin “patriotic” hackers could have mounted some attacks during election seasons in the U.S. and Europe. BUZZING: Today in the Hive --------------------------------------------------------------- From a TPM Prime member: "I think that this might be a real turning point in global opinion against the U.S. The world has waited and watched for a few months not and it is clear that we have elected a real buffoon, but now with this action we risk doing real harm to the brand that is America. Having worked for a global company - IBM - for most of my career I can easily say that this will have a major affect on American business that do business globally. Look for a real backlash against American business, products and services to start to take root as a result of this incredibly stupid political act. Will we see sanctions against us as a result of this? Do not discount it, especially since we have so aligned ourselves with Russia..." Related: [‘We’re Getting Out’: Trump Announces Withdrawal From Paris Climate Accord]( Have something to add? Become a [Prime]( member and join the discussion [here](. What We're Reading --------------------------------------------------------------- ‘We Were Used, Abused And Exploited’: Victims Of Immigrant Crime Say They Were Taken Advantage Of By Trump And A Nonprofit Group Backing Him ([Politico]( 'Less Tweeting, Lawyers Beg. ‘Covfefe,’ The President Says ([The New York Times]( [unsubscribe from this list]( | [update subscription preferences]( | [view email in browser](