US of Ed

"Words count, and the words of leaders count very much, and this man has become the leader, the representation, of white supremacy."

A mass shooting at a New Zealand mosque has left 50 dead and reignited debate globally around Islamophobia and race-baiting language used by many politicians, especially Donald Trump. The shooting also came just days after Trump had hinted at the possibility of using violence involving the military, police and bikers against political opponents, and he's spent the rest of the week alternating between denials and flights of Twitter rage. Also talking Midwestern flooding, Syria, 2020, and the Mueller report - where is it?

"Trump is kind of a game that's played itself out... no more anti-Trump stuff is going to help the Democrats."

Trump's record-setting $4.75 Trillion budget calls for more military spending and massive cuts to social safety nets, but what's the point when none of it is going to happen? Nancy Pelosi has waved away the idea of impeaching Trump right now but her blithe dismissal is putting some in her party offside. Also talking Paul Manafort, Dreamers back in the spotlight, and Deal or No Deal Brexit.

"Trump's belligerence is hurting the whole world, and he's too distracted now to do anything."

Trump's failure at his recent summit with Kim Jong-un will have bigger consequences going forward, and the president is too distracted and crippled by investigations to do anything about it. China and the US could be on the verge of reaching an agreement on trade but neither is negotiating from a place of strength, and despite 'America First' policies the trade deficit is bigger than ever. Also talking budget blowout, border crossings, and a closer look at the women of Congress for International Women's Day.

"This testimony was a lot better than anything we've had before, and I think it will stick with voters much better."

Michael Cohen has testified to the House Oversight Committee that Trump is a conman, a cheat, a racist, and lied about business dealings with Moscow during the 2016 campaign, but was there anything we didn't know? While bombs were flying in Washington DC, there seemed to be a lot less action in Vietnam with talks between Trump and Kim Jong-un. Also talking sexual assault allegations against Trump, Venezuela, the Medicare fight for 2020, and dangerous tensions between India and Pakistan.

"That is the most remarkably unintelligent thing I've ever heard."

Sixteen states are suing Trump over a national emergency that even he admits in his public statements isn't needed for anything but convenience, so what's the point? The Mueller investigation is set to release as early as next week. Also talking Andrew McCabe, Roger Stone, North Korea and are we set to Feel the Bern in 2020?

"Trump knows he can't win a face down fight with Pelosi, and he can't even win in his own party."

Trump seems amenable to border control negotiations this week as another shutdown looms, should we keep our eyes open for last minute bomb-throwing? Mitch McConnell wants to force a vote on the Green New Deal currently spearheaded by Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and although Democrats are having to be careful around the talks it could end up backfiring on him as well. Also talking Saudi Arabia, Americans losing out at tax time, and one year after the Parkland shooting.

"Two things though were pretty clear, he wants The Wall, and he wants to stop the investigations."

Calls for bipartisanship in the 2019 State of the Union might have been welcomed, but it's the messenger not the message that's raising eyebrows. Pitches for The Wall in particular look likely to drag on into endless partisan warfare as Trump issued more threats but no plans or incentives. Also talking HIV prevention, Syria, more legal woes, and Virginia Democrats.

"Those people are going to be mad for a long time, and I think that's what swayed Trump."

After 35 days the second major shutdown of Trump's government ended with no concessions for The Wall, yet the fight isn't finished for either side. Former Trump adviser Roger Stone features a list of charges related to his time with the campaign, but is Mueller just using him to send a message to the top? Also, Venezuela, Trump's refusal to listen to intelligence chiefs, and presidential aspirants pouring out of the woodwork.

"If the Democrats had caved, and [Trump] went back on his word, what could they do?"

Donald Trump seems at a loss on how to handle Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the US shutdown stalemate drags on. The Mueller team has stepped in over a Buzzfeed article claiming Michael Cohen was directed to lie to Congress by Donald Trump, but are they really clearing the record, or firing a shot across the bow? Also talking economic hardships, Brexit spillover, and Martin Luther King Jr Day, his legacy in the age of Trump.

"Trump still doesn't care, because from his point-of-view his voters will stick with him no matter what."

The US government shutdown has now gone on for 26 days and seems no closer to a resolution than it did on day one. Trump may want his Wall, but given last week the first solid evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia was largely ignored in favor of shutdown updates, is the president stretching it out as a distraction as well? Also talking the Syria bombing, Steve King, and Brexit.