He was only slightly warmer Wednesday at his first news conference as president-elect, referring to some “very, very dishonest people” right in front of him as “fake news” purveyors — his characterization of CNN and Buzzfeed  reporting on allegations that Russia had been collecting compromising financial and personal information on Trump for years. Continue reading →

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In his remaining time in office, perhaps the most difficult decision President Obama will face is how the United States should respond to the stunning Russian cyberattack on our electoral system: the penetration of Democratic National Committee servers and the email account of John Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman. Continue reading →

Every day in the United States of Trump brings fresh novelties. The latest comes to us in a report yesterday from CBS News that the President-elect is seeking top-secret security clearances for his adult children: Eric, Donald Jr., Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner.

Reports are conflicting, however. An unnamed Trump transition official, speaking to the press this morning and perhaps reacting to overnight criticism, was paraphrased as saying, “it wasn’t something he was expecting right now.” Continue reading →

With the election over, connoisseurs of Russian influence operations will want to redirect their attention to lower Manhattan, where the world chess championship is getting under way at the South Street Seaport.

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It has been 17 months since Donald Trump descended the golden elevator in Trump Tower to announce, before an assemblage of applauding actors paid $50 apiece, that he would run for the presidency of the United States. His presidency has yet to commence, but his campaign has left a blemish on American history as ugly as any since the Civil War. Continue reading →

The unthinkable — a Donald Trump presidency — is upon us. An urgent task is to examine how it is likely to unfold. By experience and temperament, Trump is unlike any previous occupant of the Oval Office, so projections are difficult. But we do know a great deal about the man. And we know a great deal about the office he will occupy. When the first is put inside the second, what is likely to happen? Continue reading →

The video went viral. It showed a man at a Trump rally in Phoenix, gesticulating wildly at journalists in the press pen while shouting “Jew-S-A! Jew S-A!” It became a national story. On CNN, Jake Tapper asked Trump campaign manager Kellyanne Conway whether she would call the man’s behavior “deplorable.” “Yes, I would,” she responded, “His conduct is completely unacceptable.” Continue reading →