Today’s edition of quick hits:
* When it comes to the TPP, he doesn’t really seem to have any idea what he’s saying: “President Donald Trump said Thursday that he would consider re-entering the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade pact if he got a ‘substantially better’ deal.”
* In related news: “Prominent Republicans warned President Trump on Wednesday against taking further trade actions that could harm American workers, even as top administration officials meeting in Davos, Switzerland, rose to the defense of the president’s ‘America First’ rhetoric on the eve of his arrival.”
* This won’t end well: “The Trump administration is doubling down on its threat to cut off aid to the Palestinians if they fail to ‘sit down and negotiate peace,’ even as it proceeds with contentious plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem after recognizing the city as Israel’s capital.”
* I’ve read this story more than once, and it still seems hard to believe: “A volunteer for an Arizona group seeking to prevent migrant deaths in the desert at the U.S.-Mexico border was arrested after giving food and water to undocumented immigrants, according to court records.”
* Taylor Weyeneth: “A 24-year-old former Trump campaign worker who rose rapidly to a senior post in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will step down by the end of the month because of controversy surrounding his appointment, the White House said late Wednesday.”
* In case you missed this on last night’s show: “Two Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday pressed the committee’s Republican chairman to provide special counsel Robert Mueller with transcripts of the panel’s interviews with key witnesses in its Russia probe, including Donald Trump Jr.”
* Pence sure does break a lot of ties: “The Senate narrowly confirmed Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) to a diplomatic post Wednesday, with Senate GOP leaders needing the help of Vice President Pence to break a deadlock over his controversial nomination.” * Stay classy, Lynne Patton: “An event planner who landed a job in the Trump administration apologized Wednesday for calling a White House correspondent ‘Miss Piggy’ during a Twitter spat.” * The Trumps apparently requested a Van Gogh from the Guggenheim for their private living quarters. The Guggenheim offered something different instead: “The curator’s alternative: an 18-karat, fully functioning, solid gold toilet — an interactive work titled ‘America’ that critics have described as pointed satire aimed at the excess of wealth in this country.” 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
