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Thanks to Brian Beutler of Off Message for joining me on Thursday for a really rich discussion about some key issues plaguing US politics today. Some things we spoke about:

* Left conspiracy theories about Trump assassination attempts: As Brian has written previously, Trump in many ways brings conspiracy theories upon himself. The most recent assassination attempt and the stories invented to explain it remind us that conspiracy theories aren’t just for conservatives; people all across the spectrum can have beliefs along these lines. But rarely does a president echo and even invent conspiracy theories.

* The role billionaires are playing in politics: Obviously, there has always been concern about the role the super-wealthy play in influence elections and legislation. But this role was rarely as overt and ideological as it is today.