Today’s edition of quick hits:
* Everyone read the document over the weekend, right? “For over a decade, Paul Manafort ‘repeatedly and brazenly violated the law,’ according to a redacted sentencing memo released Saturday by special counsel Robert Mueller’s office. The document added that his behavior ‘remarkably went unabated even after indictment.’”
* The latest from the Virginia scandals: “Embattled Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax compared himself to Jim Crow-era lynching victims in a surprise speech Sunday, as he resists widespread calls to resign prompted by allegations of sexual assault.”
* Trump deadlines frequently seem malleable: “President Trump delayed his own deadline to increase tariffs on Chinese goods on Sunday as his administration continues a months-long effort to persuade Beijing to make significant structural changes to its economy that have so far proved elusive.”
* The latest on Trump’s former fixer: “Michael D. Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, met last month with federal prosecutors in Manhattan, offering information about possible irregularities within the president’s family business and about a donor to the inaugural committee, according to people familiar with the matter.”
* NRA: “The March issue of the National Rifle Association’s monthly publication, The American Rifleman, features a photo of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Gabrielle Giffords, the former Democratic congresswoman from Arizona who was shot in the head during a constituent meeting in 2011. The photo, taken last month at an announcement about proposed legislation to expand background checks for firearms purchases, carried the headline in large letters: ‘Target Practice.’”
* It’s worth noting that Noem is a Republican: “South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said Friday that President Donald Trump’s trade wars have ‘devastated’ her state, and though she agreed that countries like China were not following fair trade practices, she urged the Trump administration to quickly wrap up its trade talks there.” * Sometimes, young people give me hope: “A Republican lawmaker from Kansas has apologized and removed his name from a piece of highly contentious anti-LBGTQ legislation after his daughter wrote an open letter, publicly shaming him for sponsoring it.” * Oh, Florida, what are we going to do with you? “Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has suspended the mayor of Port Richey, Fla., after he was arrested Friday on charges of practicing medicine without a license in addition to charges of attempted homicide for allegedly shooting at officers who came to arrest him.” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
