GOP/MICHAEL COHEN/PAUL MANFORT/ROBERT MUELLER/RUSSIA INVESTIGATION/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT: “Court filings on Friday [12-7-18] regarding Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen reveal the ways in which the special counsel’s investigation can endanger President Trump’s future. Special Counsel Robert Mueller also revealed on Tuesday [12-4-18] that former national security adviser Michael Flynn offered ‘substantial assistance’ to the Russia investigation — the same day Maryland and the District of Columbia issued subpoenas in their emoluments case against President Trump. Trump, concerned that the other shoe will finally drop when Mueller delivers his final report, unleashed a blitz of tweets early Friday attacking the investigation. Trump tried to discredit Mueller and tweeted, ‘We will be doing a major Counter Report to the Mueller Report. This should never again be allowed to happen to a future President of the United States!’ While the tweets are the words of an angry man, they also appear to be the words of a worried man. Amid the turmoil, Trump announced major personnel changes in his administration. The President said he will nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert as UN ambassador and William Barr as attorney general. Meanwhile, Chief of Staff John Kelly is expected to step down soon.”
–Julian Zelizer, “Will the Republican Party turn on Trump?,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, December 7, 2018 12:17 am