BY PRIYANKA ARIBINDI, BRIAN BEUTLER
& CROOKED MEDIA

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

Fifty years ago today, Dr. King, who the FBI called “the most dangerous Negro of the

future in this Nation” was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee

CONGRATS, YOU’RE…NOT A TARGET...YET?

Late Tuesday, the Washington Post published a story that contained multiple scoops.

1. Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team has reportedly told Trump's lawyers that Trump is a subject, but not at this point a target, of their investigation. To translate: They are investigating his conduct but have not yet determined whether they are prepared to charge him with crimes.

2. They're working on a series of reports on their investigation, starting with one (slated for this summer) on whether Trump obstructed justice. They want him to submit to an interview before then in order "to answer the public’s questions."

3. Trump “has repeatedly expressed an eagerness” to be interviewed by Mueller. This is what drove his lawyer, John Dowd, to resign (and also do that thing where you rub your whole face and sigh because you can’t believe this is both your client and the president.)

Investigators could still conclude Trump didn't violate any laws. But in sitting for an interview—he could lie under oath, or perhaps worse, he could tell the truth.

At the same time, it is the Justice Department’s position that a sitting president can’t be indicted while in office, and if he can't be indicted, then it stands to reason he quite possibly can't be a target. So the fact that he's been labeled “a subject” might tell us nothing.

Now that’s if everything the Post’s sources said is true. But who knows. The White House has never felt obligated to be honest and leaks constantly. Mueller, by contrast, is running an incredibly tight ship, secretly interdicting and interviewing Russian oligarchs, and who knows what else without a peep. So we are in the dark on a lot of fronts. Beware of speculation.

PUT IT ON MEXICO'S TAB?

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen announced that Trump will sign a proclamation to deploy National Guard troops to the U.S.-Mexico border today.

According to the Washington Post, the National Guard will be supporting and assisting Border Patrol agents “until Congress passes legislation to deal with what the administration says are legal loopholes in immigration enforcement.” Those “loopholes” are actually just laws that govern how we treat asylum seekers and children—among the most vulnerable people in the world.

THIS OTHER SCOTT IS ALSO BAD

A Democratic-backed candidate won a seat on Wisconsin’s Supreme Court yesterday by 12 points. Judge Rebecca Dallet became the first non-incumbent, liberal candidate to win a seat on the court in 23 years.

This differs slightly from Democrats' off-year and special election victories over the past several months. The race wasn't technically partisan, and didn't arise unexpectedly. But it is still a great indicator of Democratic enthusiasm heading into 2018, and terrible news for Republicans.

Don't believe us? Just ask former GOP frontrunner, early Trump victim/supporter, and 80s high school movie villain, Scott Walker:

Walker is panicking so hard about his re-election that he may have accidentally made #BlueWave a trending topic. (Welcome to the resistance?)

From Brian Beutler: If you’re a pundit who opined that “the deplorables” thing was a huge gaffe, or that Democrats need to do more kowtowing to Trump voters, but don’t have much to say about Walker describing all liberals as "the Far Left...driven by anger & hatred," please find something else to do with your life.

Trump is telling the military to prepare to get out of Syria. According to The Washington Post, this conflicts with senior military officials who have previously outlined the need for an ongoing military presence in Syria.

The U.S. is expected to impose additional economic sanctions on Russia by Friday, according to officials.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) is calling on Sinclair’s executive chairman to explain the policy that makes his stations run or read mandated propaganda messages, as well as the repercussions for employees who do not want to participate. Sinclair anchors blinked a message of support.

China is now instituting an additional 25 percent tariff on 100+ American products, including soybeans. This is like watching a tennis match where one of the players just smacks himself in the face with his own racket.

The YouTube shooting suspect has been identified as a woman who was active on the platform, and was unhappy with changes she said decreased the views on her videos. According to authorities, her motive in the shooting is not yet clear. Previous reports that she shot her boyfriend were incorrect.

The same day Roger Stone wrote an email saying he dined with Wikileaks’ Julian Assange, he predicted that “devastating” leaks about Hillary Clinton were coming. Previously, Stone tried to claim the email was a joke. Lucky for Stone, Robert Mueller has an amazing sense of humor. Loves a good joke. He’ll get a kick out of it, probably.

A massive oil spill in Indonesia has caused the country to declare a state of emergency. A government-run fossil fuel site that originally denied responsibility has since announced that one of its pipes had fractured, causing the spill.

Florida officials are appealing a federal judge’s decision ordering the state to create a new process that restores voting rights to people convicted of felonies. Currently, felons in Florida must wait five to seven years to reapply for their civil rights. Then, it takes nine more years, on average, for petitioners to have their cases heard by the clemency board. That is disgraceful.

A town in Illinois just issued its own ban on assault weapons, and will fine anyone who refuses to give them up up to $1,000 per day.

On Crooked Conversations: Actor and activist Tony Goldwyn of Scandal talks with Crooked Contributor Symone Sanders about gerrymandering and the importance of state legislatures.

Listen →

Following the death of Stephon Clark, California lawmakers are trying to raise the legal standards for the use of deadly force by police. The bill would require officers to employ such force only when “there is no reasonable alternative.” Currently, California law says police can use deadly force whenever a “reasonable” officer would do so in the same circumstances. Real specific.

Hear more about the "reasonable officer" on this week’s Pod Save the People →

36% of students surveyed across 66 colleges and universities don’t have enough to eat. This is not a new problem. According to the Washington Post, “researchers blame ballooning college costs, inadequate aid packages, and growing enrollment among low-income students—as well as some colleges’ unwillingness to admit they have a hunger problem.”

Meghan Markle’s dad is reading up about England before she gets married to Prince Harry.

From Jon Lovett: He should read the Declaration of Independence and then throw that book in the TRASH.

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