Leah McElrath

Morning Joe team reverses course, joins majority of Americans in fearing Trump presidency

Even prior to the election, the majority of Americans feared a Donald Trump presidency. And since he has taken office, his approval ratings have remained at historically low levels, averaging 42 percent and, at times, even dipping below 40 percent (average for elected presidents in their first quarter is 63 percent). And now, even Morning […]

By Leah McElrath - March 06, 2017

‘Autocracy for Young Politicos’: Joe Scarborough rips “little” Stephen Miller

Donald Trump senior advisor Stephen Miller appeared on the political talk shows and made a series of disturbingly despotic statements about the administration’s view of executive power, including the appalling declaration that “…our opponents, the media, and the whole world will soon see, as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the […]

By Leah McElrath - February 13, 2017

Former Reagan Aide: “Trump is decimating State Dept…to force military solutions”

White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon recently asserted that “deconstruction of the administrative state” was a primary goal of the Trump administration. And he meant it literally, which, when it comes to foreign policy, has potentially dangerous repercussions for the United States and the world. Immediately after taking office, Donald Trump forced resignations by a number […]

By Leah McElrath - March 05, 2017

REPORT: Putin is prepping to psych-out Trump

Russian President Vladimir Putin is already prepping for his first in-person meeting with Donald Trump since the 2016 presidential election, and a new NBC report reveals Putin’s preparation includes an assessment of Trump’s psychological profile, including what weaknesses Putin can exploit to further Russia’s interests. Even in the midst of legislators, prominent Republican voices, and mental health experts […]

By Leah McElrath - February 20, 2017

The revolution will begin — with the National Park Service

Yesterday the Badlands National Park Twitter account published several tweets containing factual information about climate change: [media-credit name=”Twitter” link=”https://twitter.com/BadlandsNPS” align=”aligncenter” width=”450″][/media-credit] The account has published similar factual information previously on many occasions, both before and after the 2016 election. However, these tweets came after the Trump administration had issued different forms of gag orders among […]

By Leah McElrath - January 25, 2017

Pressure is on: Last 3 days have been busiest in Capitol switchboard history

The American people are making their voices heard, and it is already getting results. Communications Director for Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) reports an average of 1.5 million calls per day this week, and says you can tell “they’re working” by watching the activity on the floor of the Senate: #Senate offices are being […]

By Leah McElrath - February 03, 2017

Trump’s Muslim ban is a failure on all fronts

Late in the afternoon on January 27th, Donald Trump signed an executive order barring nationals from seven primarily Muslim countries from entering the United States, including Iraq, Syria, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. As of this writing, the order has still not been posted on the White House website, but other news outlets have […]

By Leah McElrath - January 30, 2017

Trump to hard-core conservatives: America is now “us” vs “them”

This week in the nation’s capital, Donald Trump addressed the 2017 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) and espoused a notably non-inclusive form of nationalism. In a thinly-veiled reworking of his campaign stump speech, Trump doubled-down on attacking the media as “the enemy of the people,” calling them “liars.” And he yet again attacked Hillary Clinton, smiling as the […]

By Leah McElrath - February 25, 2017

The case against Trump: He clearly knew about Russian interference

In May 2016, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper sounded the alarm about “indications” that 2016 political campaigns were being targeted by cyberattacks. He stated that “as the campaigns intensify, we’ll probably have more of those [attempts].” In June, officials at the Democratic National Committee and cyber security experts revealed that the DNC computer network […]

By Leah McElrath - January 18, 2017

Trump starts the morning with a blatant lie

The President-elect has a nasty habit of starting his morning off with disinformation. At 7:23am EST, Donald Trump published yet another false tweet mischaracterizing both his interactions with the U.S. intelligence community and the materials purporting to present compromising information, or kompromat, on Trump, which was reportedly presented to him during his briefing by top U.S. intelligence […]

By Leah McElrath - January 12, 2017

REPORT: Intelligence community investigated Trump’s National Security Advisor

The Wall Street Journal has confirmed that the U.S. intelligence community has investigated communications between Trump’s National Security Advisor Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and Russian officials: U.S. counterintelligence agents have investigated communications that President Donald Trump’s national security adviser had with Russian officials, according to people familiar with the matter. Michael Flynn is the first person […]

By Leah McElrath - January 23, 2017

UPDATED: Kleptocratic Kellyanne Conway: “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff!”

Kellyanne Conway has taken kleptocracy under the Trump administration from the implied to the overt in her most recent comments on Fox News. Turning her appearance into a literal advertisement for Ivanka Trump’s line of apparel, Conway told viewers: Go buy Ivanka’s stuff, is what I would tell you. I hate shopping, but I am […]

By Leah McElrath - February 09, 2017

Remember that dossier on Trump and Russia? Here are 15 reasons we now know it wasn’t “fake news.”

Donald Trump continues to characterize the issue of his ties to Russia as “fake news,” and many in the GOP have colluded with him to avoid establishing a bipartisan independent investigatory body. But one of the central public documents at the core of the controversy continues to haunt them all. Both CNN and Buzzfeed recently published contents […]

By Leah McElrath - March 01, 2017

To ISIS, Trump’s travel order is “Blessed,” proves they succeeded in scaring us

Reporting from Mosul, New York Times journalist Rukmini Callimachi, who has made a name for herself with her comprehensive analysis and reportage about Islamist extremism, is on the front lines of the Iraqi government’s battle against ISIS. In a recent Twitter thread, Callimachi first discussed non-extremist Iraqis’ interest in Donald Trump’s Muslim immigration ban: 3. I […]

By Leah McElrath - February 09, 2017

Bernice King: ‘This is a regime and Trump’s not acting alone.’

In 1986, the widowed Coretta Scott King wrote a letter and presented a statement to the Senate Judiciary Committee to oppose Sen. Jeff Sessions’ confirmation to a position as a judge in the federal district court in Alabama. Her powerful testimony cited numerous incidents of Sessions’ participation in persecuting Civil Rights leaders and Black voters […]

By Leah McElrath - February 08, 2017

Not just Russia: Top Dems call for investigation into Trump’s conflicts of interest with China

After more than a decade of effort by Donald Trump to trademark the Trump brand in China, the Chinese government granted Trump’s request for a trademark on February 15, 2017. While Trump already has some trademarks in China, this particular one is related to Trump’s most profitable area of business — real estate, including building and […]

By Leah McElrath - March 02, 2017

Only 1 out of 238 in House GOP brave enough to support independent Russian hacking commission

Even in the wake of firing his former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, for behavior related to communications with Russian officials, Donald Trump continues to dismiss the alarming evidence of his team’s ties with the Russian government as “fake” or a “ruse.” While Trump’s attitude may not be surprising, what is puzzling is why the […]

By Leah McElrath - February 17, 2017

Intel Chiefs: Trump may be compromised by Russia

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, FBI Director James Comey, CIA Director John Brennan, and NSA Director Admiral Mike Rogers reportedly told both President Obama and President-elect Trump that Russia is saying it has compromising personal and financial information about Trump. According to CNN, the brief synopsis containing this information was not included in the […]

By Leah McElrath - January 10, 2017

Town hall crowds to GOP: We live here, we’re not paid, and we’re not going away

Americans are showing up and speaking out at their elected representatives’ town halls throughout the United States in opposition to Donald Trump and Republicans’ plans to repeal the Affordable Care Act, deport immigrants, and ban refugees. Instead of engaging with the concerns and complaints of the citizens they represent, Trump and Republicans have sought to characterize them as […]

By Leah McElrath - February 24, 2017

“Sit down and shut up.” Sexist attacks on Elizabeth Warren backfire

The Republican Party has apparently chosen yet another woman, Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), as the villain they hope to use to personalize their party’s attacks on Democrats. Because they believe she “motivates donors to open their wallets and voters to go the polls,” Politico reports, “Republicans are already making plans to raise her profile — in […]

By Leah McElrath - February 22, 2017

Will we have a functioning Executive Branch of the United States government at 12:01pm EST today?

Many familiar with politics and government on both sides of the aisle are discussing among themselves, and even asking publicly, if we will have a fully functioning Executive Branch starting from the moment Donald Trump is sworn into office, raising the specter of unanswered phones and briefing memos on top of empty desks: Will the […]

By Leah McElrath - January 20, 2017

Pay attention: Trump’s twitter tantrum exposes ominous threat to separation of powers

During his weekend away at his Florida Mar-A-Lago estate, Donald Trump renewed his attacks on federal court Judge James L. Robart, who had recently suspended enforcement of Trump’s immigration ban: Just cannot believe a judge would put our country in such peril. If something happens blame him and court system. People pouring in. Bad! — […]

By Leah McElrath - February 06, 2017

Fake social media accounts spammed you 5:1 pro-Trump during campaign

Donald Trump’s former campaign chief executive and now White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon once declared, “Politics is war.” He appears to have meant it. Bannon is on the board of a little-known consulting company called Cambridge Analytica, to which the Trump campaign paid millions of dollars during the election. In a groundbreaking report in the Guardian, journalist […]

By Leah McElrath - February 28, 2017

Washington Post’s resistance masthead: “Democracy Dies in Darkness”

The masthead of the Washington Post looks a little bit different these days. Underneath the name of the newspaper, in its distinctive type, is a stark, new message: [media-credit name=”Washington Post” align=”aligncenter” width=”492″][/media-credit] As journalist Brian Stelter confirmed with the Post, these four words are indeed a new “value statement” for the news outlet: WashPost's new […]

By Leah McElrath - February 22, 2017

Who’s in charge? Trump didn’t know he’d put Bannon on the NSC until it was done

The New York Times published a fascinating piece about the inner workings of the White House under the Trump administration over the past two weeks. Buried deep within the richly detailed article was a stunning revelation: Donald Trump reportedly did not know he had appointed his Chief Strategist Steve Bannon to a position on the […]

By Leah McElrath - February 06, 2017

Solidarity from Europe in the resistance against Trump

Yesterday, activists across Europe showed solidarity with the American resistance, protesting the inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States by unfurling banners and other signage on highly-visible bridges and other locations. The organizing group, BridgesNotWallsUK, had this message to the world on its webpage: [media-credit name=”Bridges Not Walls” align=”aligncenter” width=”650″][/media-credit] They further […]

By Leah McElrath - January 21, 2017

Rex Tillerson is ominously silent on Russian sanctions

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Bonn, Germany, in advance of a meeting of the leaders of the Group of 20 and was silent on the issue of U.S. sanctions against Russia. Coming on the heels of the resignation of National Security Advisor Michael Flynn for his secret […]

By Leah McElrath - February 16, 2017

Paul Ryan’s staff kicks Hispanic caucus members out of meeting on ICE raids

With families already being torn apart as a result of Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus were looking forward to meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials to discuss the current and future impact on their communities. However, ICE abruptly cancelled the meeting that had been arranged earlier this week, […]

By Leah McElrath - February 16, 2017

Senate Committee takes aim at Trump and his war on intelligence

In a hearing held Thursday before the Senate Armed Services Committee, members from both parties boldly confronted ongoing disparagement of the U.S. intelligence community by President-Elect Donald Trump. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, NSA Director and U.S. Cyber Commander Admiral Michael Rogers, and Defense Under Secretary for Intelligence Marcel Lattre presented testimony before the […]

By Leah McElrath - January 05, 2017

Former Trump advisor reportedly sends letter to McCain threatening the U.S. and our military

Carter Page, a former foreign policy advisor to President-elect Donald Trump, recently went to Moscow to meet with “thought leaders,” where he made a speech exclusively broadcast by Russian state media outlet Russia Today in which he announced Trump’s Secretary of State nominee before the Trump transition team officially announced it here in the United States. […]

By Leah McElrath - December 29, 2016

Leah McElrath

Social Media Director

Morning Joe team reverses course, joins majority of Americans in fearing Trump presidency

‘Autocracy for Young Politicos’: Joe Scarborough rips “little” Stephen Miller

Former Reagan Aide: “Trump is decimating State Dept…to force military solutions”

REPORT: Putin is prepping to psych-out Trump

The revolution will begin — with the National Park Service

Pressure is on: Last 3 days have been busiest in Capitol switchboard history

Trump’s Muslim ban is a failure on all fronts

Trump to hard-core conservatives: America is now “us” vs “them”

The case against Trump: He clearly knew about Russian interference

Trump starts the morning with a blatant lie

REPORT: Intelligence community investigated Trump’s National Security Advisor

UPDATED: Kleptocratic Kellyanne Conway: “Go buy Ivanka’s stuff!”

Remember that dossier on Trump and Russia? Here are 15 reasons we now know it wasn’t “fake news.”

To ISIS, Trump’s travel order is “Blessed,” proves they succeeded in scaring us

Bernice King: ‘This is a regime and Trump’s not acting alone.’

Not just Russia: Top Dems call for investigation into Trump’s conflicts of interest with China

Only 1 out of 238 in House GOP brave enough to support independent Russian hacking commission

Intel Chiefs: Trump may be compromised by Russia

Town hall crowds to GOP: We live here, we’re not paid, and we’re not going away

“Sit down and shut up.” Sexist attacks on Elizabeth Warren backfire

Will we have a functioning Executive Branch of the United States government at 12:01pm EST today?

Pay attention: Trump’s twitter tantrum exposes ominous threat to separation of powers

Fake social media accounts spammed you 5:1 pro-Trump during campaign

Washington Post’s resistance masthead: “Democracy Dies in Darkness”

Who’s in charge? Trump didn’t know he’d put Bannon on the NSC until it was done

Solidarity from Europe in the resistance against Trump

Rex Tillerson is ominously silent on Russian sanctions

Paul Ryan’s staff kicks Hispanic caucus members out of meeting on ICE raids

Senate Committee takes aim at Trump and his war on intelligence

Former Trump advisor reportedly sends letter to McCain threatening the U.S. and our military