Regime Change

NYT: Lawmakers Are Warned That Russia Is Meddling to Re-elect Trump. “Intelligence officials warned House lawmakers last week that Russia was interfering in the 2020 campaign to try to get President Trump re-elected, five people familiar with the matter said, a disclosure to Congress that angered Mr. Trump, who complained that Democrats would use it against him.” (Makes sense. The Russians are attacking! So Trump asks, “How will this hurt me and who can I destroy?” Another day in Insaneville.)

+ Roger Stone has been sentenced to more than three years in prison. (Whoever gets Roger Stone as a cellmate can justifiably claim cruel and unusual punishment) “Sure, the defense is free to say: So what? Who cares? But, I’ll say this: Congress cared. The United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia that prosecuted the case and is still prosecuting the case cared. The jurors who served with integrity under difficult circumstances cared. The American people cared. And I care.” Need some hope that someone still has the Constitution’s back? Here are some of Judge Amy Berman Jackson’s greatest hits from the sentencing. (Read them now. Reread them after Trump pardons the creep.)

+ In other news that would be dominating your consciousness if there wasn’t so much other similar news: Rohrabacher confirms he offered Trump pardon to Assange for proof Russia didn’t hack DNC email.

+ “The acquittal vote ratified the authoritarian instincts of the president and the ideological convictions of his attorney general.” The Atlantic’s Adam Serwer, who has been a remarkably prescient voice on this topic, on The First Days of the Trump Regime.