Well, then.
More details of Trump's conversations are leaking out. The full transcript of an interview with the Wall Street Journal, conversations with foreign leaders...
"I will say I hate it. Look, I spoke to Putin, Merkel, Abe of Japan, to France today, and this was my most unpleasant call because I will be honest with you. I hate taking these people. I guarantee you they are bad. That is why they are in prison right now. They are not going to be wonderful people who go on to work for the local milk people." - to Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull
He makes up calls from people praising him, then has to have his mouthpieces beat a hasty retreat when he's shown to be wrong.
David Frum at
The Atlantic writes that some of these leaks aren't a good sign; presidents should be able to discuss matters with world leaders in strict confidence. But Trump has already shown that he doesn't care about secrecy and confidential information. I take the growing stream of leaks as a sign that more and more people in Washington are getting fed up with the Daily Embarrassment, and would very much like to see him gone.
His poll numbers don't look good: "
Trump Drops To New Low, Close To 2-1 Disapproval, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; 71 Percent Say President Is Not Levelheaded"
Highlights:
American voters disapprove 61 - 33 percent of the job he is doing.
White voters with no college degree, a key part of the president's base, disapprove 50 - 43 percent.
American voters say 54 - 26 percent that they are embarrassed rather than proud to have Trump as president.
Voters say 57 - 40 percent he is abusing the powers of his office.
60 - 36 percent say that he believes he is above the law.
Voter opinions of most other Trump qualities drop to new lows
More not good news is coming. Robert Mueller has begun impaneling a grand jury in the Russian Affair.
This is very big. This means that there's criminal activity being investigated (one doesn't waste time doing this sort of thing for a mere counterespionage inquiry), and indictments should be expected. And a grand jury investigation has a LOT more power in getting evidence and compelling testimony. "You can dodge a congressional subpoena, or finagle your way past an FBI interview, but if a grand jury subpoena gets dropped on you, unless your lawyer is very, very good, your ass is going to be in a chair and Robert Mueller is going to be looking at you," says
Esquire's Charlie Pierce.
The Wall Street Journal, which broke the story, is also reporting that a Federal Grand Jury in Brooklyn has issued subpoenas seeking evidence respecting the investment-for-visas program that Jared Kushner's family allegedly was involved in.
It's going to take a while for the dragnet to close in. But it's being built as we speak.