Brett McGurk, former special presidential envoy to The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, talks with Rachel Maddow about the disturbing gap between what Donald Trump says about the situation in Syria and the actual consequences of Trump's foolhardy decision to abruptly abandon Kurdish allies. Aired on 10/16/19.


Second half of the interview is here:

Trump wings Syria policy heedless of US personnel in harm's way

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow/watch/trump-wings-syria-policy-heedless-of-us-personnel-in-harm-s-way-71445573724

Brett McGurk, former special presidential envoy to The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, talks with Rachel Maddow about Donald Trump's apparent lack of consideration for US service members and other personnel when he decided to abandon Kurdish allies to Turkish aggression.

Trump’s sons attack Hunter Biden for nepotism and his role in the Ukrainian energy company Burisma, all while benefiting financially from their father’s ventures.

Former National Security Adviser Susan Rice discusses her new book “Tough Love,” partying in Peru with other members of the Obama administration and how Trump’s selfish behavior influences his decisions.

TONIGHT at 11/10c: Trevor’s LIVE coverage of the October Democratic debate in Ohio. - With guest Alex Wagner.

FYI: Video starts at 5:58.

By Olivia Nuzzi

"It’s hard to be worried when you don’t really like the guy.” That’s what one senior Republican Senate aide had to say when I asked how concerned conservatives are about Donald Trump’s fate.

The truth is, Trump fatigue is a condition that knows no party, and many Republicans are as tired of this shit as anybody else. That’s not to say they’re outraged, or motivated to Make a Difference. They’re just tired. You can live inside the right-wing bubble in a state of depression, resigned to the fact that, yeah, every five minutes or so, the president is probably going to do something norm-shattering or potentially impeachable, and no, you probably won’t or can’t do anything to change that. Sad!

“I’m totally bored by the story,” one person who speaks regularly with the president told me. “There’s nothing to it. I already know all the details.” This person is bored more generally, too — with the topic of Donald Trump. When we talk about what it would take for the president’s defenders to turn on him, this crucial piece is missing: You can’t feel outraged if you can no longer feel anything at all.

“This isn’t that much different than the other crazy shit he’s done in the last three years,” the senior Republican Senate aide said. “In some ways, people are both pissed off about it but then it’s also like, Are we gonna go crazy over this incident when we’ve seen so much other stuff? Not to minimize the seriousness here, but what came out in the call transcript is not exactly shocking. If I were to describe Republicans one way, it would be weary. Weary and numb. It’s been a long three years for Republicans on the Hill. Not to say we’re the real victims — Yeah, start passing around the collection plate for us!”

Even insiders, like Rudy Giuliani, can find themselves in sudden darkness and uncertainty. Speaking to reporters on October 11, Trump said he wasn’t sure the increasingly problematic former mayor was still representing him—echoing language he’s often used for his staff before he whacks them. I talked to Giuliani via text, where he insisted, “I am still his lawyer until he tells me I’m not … All I can tell you is that I still represent him as I have since April 2018. End of story.” (He closed by sending me the stop-sign emoji, after I asked if he’d be surprised if the president threw him under the bus in the end.)


Read more: http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2019/10/trump-impeachment-inside-the-republicans-bunker.html

Chanel Miller opens up about why she felt compelled to write her book “Know My Name” and how she hopes to aid other survivors of sexual assault with her words.

Trump’s military moves keep wreaking havoc in the Middle East as Turkey attacks Kurds in northern Syria, thousands in the region are forced out of their homes, and ISIS fighters escape detention camps — all while Trump cashes in on Saudi offers to fund sending U.S. troops to their turf.

John Oliver discusses the tension between the public and private worlds of predicting the weather.

If you’ve suffered a dog park infraction and don’t know where to turn, look no further than Judge Connie’s (Cecily Strong) Dog Court.

A commercial advertises the legal services of Giuliani & Associates.