Earlier this morning President Trump called-in to Fox and Friends morning broadcast for a lengthy interview.  You can tell there are aspects to the interview adverse to the political interests of Fox News by the fact they did not present the interview for distribution.

However, that said, here’s a copy of the broadcast where President Trump discusses the efforts of the previous administration to target him and eliminate his presidency. If you want to understand President Trump’s perspective on FBI Director Chris Wray skip to @13:00 point of video; and comments on Jeff Sessions @15:20.

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In the summer of 2019 CTH noted: “The problem for Attorney General Bill Barr is not  investigating what we don’t know, but rather navigating through what ‘We The People’ are already aware of.”

Six months later, specifically citing the problem for Bill Barr that Michael Flynn’s prosecution represented, we again cautioned against projecting an altruistic motive toward the AG, because there was more evidence the DOJ priority was institutional preservation than any arbitrary quest for justice.  The problem is BIG:

[…] At the heart of the matter, in the real activity that took place, there was a multi-branch seditious effort to remove President Donald J Trump. From the perspective of those charged with the actual administration of justice – there is no way to put this in front of the American public and have the institutions survive. What we are witnessing is a dance between increasingly narrowing rails and the DOJ trying to find an exit. (more)

With Michael Flynn trapped on the burning roof of a corrupt institution the problem for Barr was how to rescue Flynn without admitting Main Justice and the FBI is on fire.  Fortuitously in January 2020 the FISA Court provided cover, an escape route, for Bill Barr to deal with the problem:

….[LINK] The only way I can see out of this mess; the one crack in the current lock box; is the FISA court order for the DOJ to present the identified downstream consequences from fraud upon the court. The FISC might actually be the ladder truck here. With the DOJ and FBI currently assembling the investigative consequences, ie. the sequestration material, Flynn’s current legal status might be identified as an outcropping of fraud…

That appears to be exactly what happened.

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Earlier today President Donald J. Trump will met with Republican Members of Congress in the State Dining Room to discuss policies to make America’s economy strong again. Video Below – Transcript ADDED:

Attending from the administration: Mark Meadows, Assistant to the President and Chief of Staff; Jared Kushner, Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor; Dan Scavino, Assistant to the President and Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications; Larry Kudlow, Assistant to the President and Director of the National Economic Council; Eric Ueland, Assistant to the President and Director of Legislative Affairs; Christopher Cox, Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Legislative Affairs for House; Kevin Hassett, Senior Advisor Trump Administration; Secretary Steven Mnuchin, Department of the Treasury.

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Participating congressional leadership included: Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Rep. Andy Barr (R-KY), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Rep. Ted Budd (R-NC), Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC), Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Rep. Mark Green (R-TN), Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-AZ), Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA), Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA), Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY)

[Transcript] – THE PRESIDENT: Hi, everybody. Please, sit down. Get things done. Nobody gets it done like we do.

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Earlier today White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany held a briefing with the press pool. During the press briefing Ms. McEnany highlighted the targeting of Michael Flynn. Video and Transcript below:

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[Transcript] – MS. MCENANY: Good afternoon. Today marks the 75th anniversary of VE Day, a triumphant milestone in our nation’s history and indeed in world history. Seventy-five years ago today, our brave American forces defeated fascism in Europe. And through the selfless devotion of thousands of patriots, they saved the world.

Over 180,000 Americans gave their lives in the European theater during World War Two. And I want to take just a moment to honor their service and their sacrifice. Thank you to all of our veterans. You are truly, truly our heroes.

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National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow appears on Fox Business to discuss today’s report on jobs from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics.

The estimated  unemployment rate jumped to 14.7 percent. Kudlow brings up a good point: allow people to take a tax deduction for COVID-19 expenses.

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It is hard to look at employment numbers like this because behind every data point is a person or family who have been compromised by the lack of a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) total nonfarm payroll employment fell by 20.5 million in April, and the unemployment rate rose to 14.7 percent.

The changes in these measures reflect the effects of the COVID-19 mitigation and the economic efforts to contain it. Employment fell sharply in all major industry sectors, with particularly heavy job losses in leisure and hospitality.

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In April, employment in leisure and hospitality plummeted by 7.7 million, or 47 percent. Almost three-quarters of the decrease occurred in food services and drinking places (-5.5 million). Employment also fell in the arts, entertainment, and recreation industry (-1.3 million) and in the accommodation industry (-839,000). (read more)

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania recognized the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II Friday by laying a wreath at our nation’s memorial to the fallen.

The president and first lady traveled to the World War II Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to commemorate Germany’s unconditional surrender and were joined – at a distance – by eight veterans of the war. The youngest 96 and the oldest 100, they had braved the threats of contracting coronavirus to join the president and first lady for the wreath laying ceremony.

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Q: Does the new evidence show that the counterintelligence case against General Flynn was simply left open to lay a trap for lying?

BARR: Yes. Essentially.

As customary CBS only broadcast a small snippet of the interview between CBS reporter Catherine Herridge and U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr.   The full interview is much longer and much more interesting than the edited narrative broadcast by CBS.

When you read the conversation you will immediately notice why CBS refused to broadcast it, and why the segment that did air was so brutally edited.

Some of the interview answers will provide hope for those who want to see justice delivered. However, there are also cautious answers that should be considered when formulating an opinion of AG Bill Barr’s ongoing intention.  Below is the transcript.

[Transcript] Catherine Herridge: Attorney General Barr, thank you for speaking first to CBS News.

Attorney General William Barr: Hi, Catherine.

♦ Q: What action has the Justice Department taken today in the Michael Flynn case?

BARR: We dismissed or are moving to dismiss the charges against General Flynn. At any stage during a proceeding, even after indictment or a conviction or a guilty plea, the Department can move to dismiss the charges if we determine that our standards of prosecution have not been met.

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The House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) have both released a set of 53 declassified transcripts from the 2018 House investigation. Grenell forced Schiff’s compliance.

The House Transcripts are AVAILABLE HERE

The ODNI Transcripts are AVAILABLE HERE.

Due to the sensitivity of content; and due to Chairman Adam Schiff’s previous statement that his staff was re-reviewing to add redactions; I would strongly urge everyone who is reviewing the transcripts to use the ODNI version.

Additionally, CTH is providing links to the ODNI pdf versions below.

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Earlier this afternoon Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard “Ric” Grenell  delivered a satchel of declassified documents to Attorney General Bill Barr.  According to DC sources the content could possibly be released tomorrow in an explosive Friday document dump.  Stay tuned…

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What a difference one man on a mission can make. Ric Grenell is top shelf.

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