A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo.
Lincoln Rolling In His Grave
Welcomed back to the House GOP fold by Speaker Kevin McCarthy and now a leading light in his conference, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) celebrated Presidents Day – which sadly lumps together Washington and Lincoln – by advocating for secession.
We’ve spent the last two years nonchalantly kicking around whether the 14th Amendment’s Insurrection Clause really means what it says and should be applied to the House Republicans who sanctioned, ratified, supported, and enabled Trump’s insurrection attempt. And now we have a sitting member of Congress using the occasion of Lincoln’s birthday to call for secession.
This is not a drill. This is not civics cosplay. This is where we are.
Kevin McCarthy’s Secret Pact With Tucker Carlson
Just days after legal filings confirmed (as if we needed it) the corrupt core of the Fox News apparatus, we learned that the speaker of the House is giving special access to the Capitol’s security footage from Jan. 6 to none other than Tucker Carlson. The new but not surprising revelation came from Axios’ Mike Allen.
Jan. 6 committee chair Bernie Thompson was having none of it:
Succinct headline: KEVIN MCCARTHY MAKES SENSITIVE SECURITY FOOTAGE AVAILABLE TO THE INSURRECTIONISTS’ PROPAGANDIST
Some Choice Cuts From The Dominion Lawsuit Against Fox News
So many juicy morsels from the epic Dominion filing last week in its defamation case against Fox News. In case you missed these:
- Trump tried to get on the air for Lou Dobbs show on Jan. 6:
- Fox News exec sent Mike “Pillow Guy” Lindell a make-up gift:
A fascinating detail about Fox’s relationship with MyPillow tycoon Mike Lindell, their most important advertiser — after Lindell insulted Fox in a Newsmax appearance, Fox sent him a gift and a handwritten note from their CEO to win him back. pic.twitter.com/twIh6sgLAT
— Will Sommer (@willsommer) February 17, 2023
Inside The Georgia Special Grand Jury Investigating Trump
The AP interviewed the foreperson of the Atlanta DA Fani Willis’ special grand jury.
James O’Keefe Resigns From Project Veritas
James O’Keefe went out in blaze of ridiculousness: a 45-minute video to staff in which he wiped away tears, quotedˆ Ayn Rand, and concluded with a paraphrase of Shakespeare’s Henry V (“We few, we happy few, we band of brothers and sisters.”)
Just a note that this may not yet be over. The feckless board of Project Veritas wants none of the blame nor the credit for O’Keefe leaving, according to the NYT:
But the board also left open the possibility of working things out with Mr. O’Keefe. “We did not fire him, nor do we want him to resign,” the board statement said. “We would like to continue conversations with James to resolve internal matters rather than litigate them publicly.”
Biden To Kyiv
A quick rundown of the weekend’s biggest surprise:
- Anne Applebaum: Biden Went to Kyiv Because There’s No Going Back
- The Tick Tock: Biden’s Surreal and Secretive Journey Into a War Zone
- PHOTOS
One somber note: Biden’s visit was significant on many levels, but the most concerning news of the past few days has been the emerging fear of China supplying Russia with more advanced and lethal weaponry:
Jimmy Carter Goes Home For The Last Time
The Carter Center announced the former president would eschew further medical treatment and spend his remaining days at home under hospice care.
At 98, Carter is the longest lived former President. At 77 years, his marriage to Rosalynn is the longest presidential marriage. It has been 42 year since Carter left the White House. To put that in some perspective, more time has passed since Carter left office than between World War II and his presidency.
Carter biographer Jonathan Alter offers his perspective on an “epic American life.”
Wisconsin Supreme Court Election Day
Your handy-dandy guides to today’s free-for-all primary election for a pivotal open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which has been controlled by the GOP since 2008:
- 5 Points On The Wisconsin Election That Could Have Consequences For 2024
- A Ballot Initiative Incentive Seeks To Lure Out Republican Voters For Critical Wisconsin Court Election
Turkey Earthquake Death Toll Passes 46,000
The region where more than 46,000 have died since the historic Feb. 6 earthquake was rocked by a powerful 6.3 magnitude aftershock Monday.
Perfect: George Santos Talks To Piers Morgan!
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