News from the note…
A round up of the day’s news that might be of interest to you.
Consider this an OPEN THREAD, folks. Chat about any of the stories listed, share links to stories that caught your eye today, and generally have a good time discussing whatever you want.
Former prosecutor compares Giuliani’s legal strategy to a ‘murder-suicide’
From The Hill
Former prosecutor Solomon Wisenberg compared former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani’s legal strategy to a murder-suicide on Thursday after Giuliani said in an interview that President Trump reimbursed his attorney, Michael Cohen, for the $130,000 he paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels.
“I liken it to a murder-suicide,” Wisenberg told CNN’s Dana Bash. “He metaphorically murdered the president, and committed suicide with respect to his own reputation.”
Michael Avenatti just accused Trump of a federal crime after bombshell Giuliani admission
From The Washington Press
Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti just accused President Trump of the same federal crime that imprisoned former Republican Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, who was convicted of illegally structuring hush money to the boys he molested as an Illinois wrestling coach.
‘Arguably the most desperate act I’ve ever seen a sitting member of Congress do’
From Politico
There are two massive portraits of President Donald Trump behind the bar at Grant City Tavern. The first is a framed photograph. The second, a painting by a popular local artist, features the president from the waist up, his head superimposed on the body of a muscular man with his bulging arms folded across his chest, wearing a tight muscle T-shirt that says “POTUS 45.” Next week, the bartender says, the tavern is hosting a “Lesbians for Trump” event.
Welcome to the East Shore of Staten Island. This is Trump country, and the president is playing a central role in what might be the nastiest Republican congressional primary in America.
Former Stormy Daniels manager cooperating with FBI: report
From The Hill
The former manager of Stormy Daniels is cooperating with the FBI in its investigation of a 2016 payment and nondisclosure agreement the adult-film actress alleges were intended to keep her from going public with allegations of an affair with President Trump, CNN reported.
The manager, Gina Rodriguez, who helped broker the nondisclosure agreement, handed over records to the FBI after receiving a subpoena, according to CNN. Some of those records reportedly dealt with the $130,000 payment to Daniels by Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Trump’s New Lawyer Likely to Cut Him Off From Mueller Interview: Source
From The Daily Beast
President Donald Trump’s legal team became significantly more cohesive on Wednesday with the addition of Emmet Flood, a veteran white collar defense attorney. It also became more aggressive, which could prove tricky for special counsel Bob Mueller.
A longtime Washington lawyer who’s known Flood for quite some time and who spoke anonymously because of client sensitivities said there’s no chance Flood will let the president sit for an interview with Mueller.
Film Academy expels Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski
From AP
The governing body of the film academy has voted to expel Bill Cosby and Roman Polanski from its membership.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Thursday that its board of governors met Tuesday night and voted on their status in accordance with their recently revised standards of conduct.
The organization that puts on the Oscars also expelled Harvey Weinstein from its ranks in October.
Poll: Republican support for Kanye West grew after rapper expressed support for Trump
From The Hill
Republicans’ view of rapper Kanye West increased by 23 percentage points from 2015 to late April 2018, according to a poll from HuffPost and YouGov.
The results follow recent camaraderie between the rapper and President Trump, including West’s new song with rapper T.I. entitled “Ye vs. the People,” that was written in support of Trump.
Howard Kurtz: Trump Considering Replacing John Kelly With Corey Lewandowski
From Mediaite
Hey guys, remember that time President Donald Trump said he was super-duper happy with his chief of staff, John Kelly?
Turns out he’s so “very happy” with him that he’s considering alternatives to replace him – namely, OG Trump campaign manager and one time Hope Hicks boy-toy Corey Lewandowski.
