Topline: Flake's Fiery Floor Speech

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.   Sort By: Importance    Donald’s Iron Curtain  The Hill — Jan. 17, 2018 Senator Jeff Flake took to the floor of the Senate yesterday to denounce Donald Trump’s frequent attacks on the free press, an effort to preempt the president’s promised “Fake News Awards.” Whether or not Trump understands the broader political significance of his personal vendetta against the media, his attacks are doing lasting damage. A free and independent press is a cornerstone of democracy, and must be protected. Ideas   A Ship of State on Stormy Seas  Slate — Jan. 17, 2018 In the wake of the allegations about Donald Trump recently paying porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an extramarital affair, Yascha Mounk reflects on how odd it is that this distasteful episode isn’t a bigger deal. Under any other administration in American history, this would have been the scandal that defined, and potentially ended, the presidency; yet, for Donald Trump, it’s just last week’s news. The fact that we are collectively pretending this is normal is evidence of the degradation of our norms of political behavior. Populism in America  Politico Magazine — Jan. 14, 2018 Politico takes a deep dive into the concept of populism, and its recurring role in American politics. Putting the current era in historical context is helpful in charting a path forward. Populism may rely on justifiable anger in voters, but it rarely uses that anger in constructive ways – rather, it assigns scapegoats and promises unrealistically easy solutions to complex problems. The Investigation   Bannon in the Barrel  The Washington Post — Jan. 17, 2018 Robert Mueller’s investigation is proceeding with the efficiency you would expect from a career professional. Steve Bannon, recently fallen from the president’s graces after the publication of Michael Wolff’s book on the Trump administration, has agreed to answer Mueller’s questions. This likely will add a significant piece to the puzzle the investigative team is constructing regarding the Trump team’s alleged ties to the Kremlin. Rule of Law   The Real Domestic Terror  Defense One — Jan. 17, 2018 Defense One looks at the threat to public safety posed by a resurgent white nationalist movement. While the administration is laser-focused on radical Islam, the reality is, white supremacists "killed more Americans…than any other domestic extremist group" in 2017. Violent extremism in all its forms is antithetical to democracy, and it doesn’t get any worse than extremism based on bigotry. Unsubscribe