Stories We’re Watching

Cohen Testifies to Congress

Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former personal lawyer, voluntarily testified before the House Oversight Committee earlier today. During the hours-long explosive testimony, Cohen revealed several significant insights into the President’s business dealings in Russia and into ‘hush money’ payments. Prior to the testimony, Cohen released a 20-page statement as well as several articles of evidence. During the testimony, Cohen warned Republican lawmakers to not make the same mistakes he claims to have made. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, President Trump has refused to answer questions regarding the hearing.

• CNN: Michael Cohen testifies before Congress
• The Atlantic: Michael Cohen’s Stunning Testimony About Trump
• Lawfare: Why it Matters if Trump Knew About Stone’s Contacts with WikiLeaks
• Axios: Trump believes the investigations against him weaken his standing with foreign leaders

White House Adviser Jared Kushner Launches Middle East Peace Tour in Ankara

White House adviser Jared Kushner arrived in Turkey earlier today to meet with President Erdogan. No agenda was published, and the two declined to release a press statement but are believed to have discussed a potential Israeli-Palestinian deal. The visit is part of Mr. Kushner’s larger Middle East tour focusing shoring up support from Gulf Arab states. Kushner will next visit Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Regional experts warn that the potential peace deal is unlikely to receive broad support in the Gulf Arab states without economic inducements.

• CNBC: Jared Kushner is visiting Gulf states to try and sell a plan for the Israeli
• Reuters: Trump adviser Kushner arrives in Turkey for talks with Erdogan
• Haaretz: Kushner Meets With Erdogan, Discusses Trump’s Israeli-Palestinian
• Bloomberg: Turkey’s Kurds Strike Quiet Pact Against Erdogan at Ballot Box

Pakistan Responds to India Air Force Strikes, Shoots Down 2 Indian Fighter Jets

Earlier today, Pakistan said that its military shot down two Indian fighter jets and captured an Indian pilot. Indian forces responded by shooting down a Pakistani jet. Today’s hostilities are the latest since a terror attack on February 14 killed over 40 Indian officers. Yesterday, the two sides exchanged gunfire across the disputed Kashmir border. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has called for talks; India’s PM Narendra Modi—who is up for re-election this year—has yet to issue a statement. Experts warn of dangerous escalation between the two nuclear powers.

• CNN: Pakistan says it shot down two Indian jets as Kashmir border crisis
• BBC: India and Pakistan in ‘uncharted waters’
• CNBC: India and Pakistan say they’ve launched airstrikes against each other
• Reuters: Commercial flights to and from Pakistan, India disrupted as tensions rise

US-North Korea Summit Updates: Day One

President Trump and Supreme Leader Kim officially launched their second summit in Hanoi, Vietnam earlier today. The talks are officially set to begin tomorrow following tonight’s “social dinner” with the two leaders and other senior-level officials. The White House banned four journalists from covering the dinner after questioning the President about Michael Cohen’s Congressional testimony. Coverage of the historic summit has been eclipsed by congressional testimony from President Trump’s former personal lawyer.

• Vox: Reporters asked Trump about Michael Cohen during the Kim summit
• NPR: Pho Real: Hanoi Goes All Out For Summit Kitsch
• CNN: Trump dines with Kim as world waits on potential deal
• Washington Post: White House bans four journalists from covering Trump-Kim dinner because of shouted questions

Colombia Calls for UN Intervention in Venezuela, Guiado to Return

The UN’s political and peace building chief warned that Venezuela’s infant mortality rate had increased 50% and that nearly 40% of the country’s medical staff had fled during the ongoing political crisis. The Maduro administration has continued to block the release of humanitarian aid currently detained at the Venezuela-Colombia border. Colombia has called on the UN to take action to end the protracted humanitarian crisis. Guiado, who is still in Colombia, has vowed to begin exercising presidential duties upon his return to Caracas.

• UN: Protracted crisis’ in Venezuela leads to ‘alarming escalation of tensions’
• The Guardian: Infant mortality in Venezuela has doubled during crisis
• Reuters: Colombia calls at UN for action on Venezuela crisis
• CNN: Venezuela’s opposition leader says he will begin exercising his ‘duties

From Deep State Radio

WASHINGTON FOR BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE: HOW I MET THE CREATOR OF HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER: A CONVERSATION WITH THE VERY FUNNY CRAIG THOMAS

Craig’s college fallback plan was to become a tv writer and when you’re as talented and funny as he is, a TV writer is a great fallback plan. Signing with an agent while a senior in college (overachiever) he and his writing partner Carter Bays quickly found work writing for David Letterman and moved on to create the hit show How I Met Your Mother. Craig’s path to success wasn’t a Disney Movie, unless the hero marches in his High School band (Craig’s description of his uniform is chef’s kiss perfection). Now that we know how Ted met his wife, Craig is taking on new projects and speaking out against the Orange one. He also offers great marital advice on how to give feedback to your spouse. Tune in!

PODCAST: ARE WE ON THE VERGE OF TRUMP’S FIRST BIG FOREIGN POLICY WIN?

Sometimes the experts at Deep State Radio harbor a slight but noticeable skepticism about the foreign policy acumen of Donald Trump and the band of ignorant thugs around him.  But in this episode, nuclear experts Joe Cirincione and Jeffrey Lewis and DSR’s own Rosa Brooks suffer an outbreak of optimism about Trump’s summit with his diminutive love, Kim Jong Un.  Is it possible? Where will this lead?  Tune in to find out!

NEW VOICES: THE BEST CASE SCENARIO AT THE UN: AN AMBASSADOR OF STAGECRAFT

On Friday, President Trump nominated Ambassador Kelly Knight Craft to become the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. In the run up to the announcement, speculation was swirling about the potential nominee, but much of the back-and-forth missed a critical underlying question. What makes a successful tenure at the UN during the Trump administration? CONTINUE