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Carville: Trump could face ‘political catastrophe' with MAGA base over Epstein furor
Carville: Trump could face ‘political catastrophe' with MAGA base over Epstein furor

The Hill

time6 days ago

  • Politics
  • The Hill

Carville: Trump could face ‘political catastrophe' with MAGA base over Epstein furor

Democratic political strategist James Carville weighed in on the pressure from President Trump's MAGA base for the Justice Department (DOJ) to release more files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein, saying Trump losing 'even 10 percent' of his supporters would be a 'political catastrophe.' In an appearance Thursday on CNN's 'The Situation Room,' Carville outlined potential political fallout the president could face from the Epstein controversy. 'If you think about it, well, he can't lose any of his base. He clocks in, let's just say 88 percent of Republicans, maybe 90, you know, he's sprawling among independents and 90 percent of the Democrats don't like him. Well, if he loses even 10 percent of his Republican support, that's a political catastrophe for him,' Carville told host Wolf Blitzer. 'I mean, he's operating under very small margins here.' The analysis comes as calls mount for the Trump administration to release more information following its probe of the Epstein case. Earlier this month the DOJ and FBI unveiled a joint memo that concluded the convicted sex offender did not keep a 'client list' — seemingly a contradiction from previous comments. Voters and Republicans, along with Democrats, have shown distrust in the federal government in recent days over DOJ's perceived lack of transparency. A new survey from Emerson College Polling found that 51 percent of voters disapprove of how the administration is handling the files A Fox News Poll from earlier this week also revealed that only 13 percent of the GOP says the administration has been transparent, while 60 percent said the opposite. The president has sought to shake off the drama in recent days, even lashing out at MAGA supporters, with little to no avail. 'Some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net, and so they try and do the Democrats' work,' Trump told reporters from the Oval Office last week. He added at the time, 'I call it the Epstein hoax. Takes a lot of time and effort. Instead of talking about the great achievements we've had … they're wasting their time with a guy who obviously had some very serious problems, who died three, four years ago. I'd rather talk about the success we have with the economy.' Trump amid pressure from his base asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to request the release of the grand jury testimonies of Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell. The latter met with Bondi's deputy Todd Blanche on Thursday and will continue answering questions on Friday. Despite the request, a judge denied the request. The president is also entangled in a legal battle after bombshell reporting from the Wall Street Journal earlier this week said Bondi told Trump two months ago that he was mentioned in the Epstein files. The president has denied the claims and sued the outlet over the report. Carville suggested Thursday that while that would not automatically implicate him, 'there is evidence he knew about it.' 'He said Epstein likes girls, particularly on the younger side. I mean, he was obviously aware at a minimum of what Epstein was up to,' he added. The president has brushed off the criticism, writing late Friday that the continued furor is just part of a 'Democrat CON JOB.' 'They have gone absolutely CRAZY, and are playing another Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax but, this time, under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM,' he wrote on Truth Social. 'As things are revealed and, I hope will take place quickly, you will see that it is yet another Democrat CON JOB.'

Jeffries says Trump administration ‘playing footsie' with Russia
Jeffries says Trump administration ‘playing footsie' with Russia

The Hill

time09-07-2025

  • Politics
  • The Hill

Jeffries says Trump administration ‘playing footsie' with Russia

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday accused President Trump's administration of kowtowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin, rather than standing up for Ukraine, as the war between the countries stretches more than three years after Moscow's invasion. 'There's strong bipartisan support for sanctions against Vladimir Putin and Russia, and it's unfortunate that the Trump administration has spent months playing footsie with Vladimir Putin, and some would suggest bending the knee to an enemy of this country,' Jeffries told CNN's Wolf Blitzer during a Wednesday appearance on 'The Situation Room.' The Democratic leader argued that there should be no question about where the U.S. stands between Russia and Ukraine. 'This war of aggression that Russia has launched against Ukraine is clear,' the Democratic leader continued. 'It's not just about territorial integrity, it's a battle between democracy and autocracy between freedom and tyranny, between truth and propaganda.' He added, 'The United States of America should always stand on the side of democracy and freedom and truth, and that means standing on the side of Ukraine until victory is won.' Jeffries also pressed Trump to fire Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth after the Pentagon paused some weapons transfers to Ukraine last week amid reviews of U.S. military stockpiles. The block was later lifted at the direction of Trump, who said the deliveries were necessary for Kyiv to defend itself. 'Pete Hegseth is the most unqualified defense secretary in American history,' the New York Democrat said. 'He undermines the ability of the Department of the Defense to keep the American people safe.' Trump, who has previously praised Russia's leader, lashed out at Putin on Tuesday over what he described as disingenuous efforts to end the conflict with Ukraine. Trump campaigned on brokering a peace deal between the warring rivals last year. 'We get a lot of bulls— thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,' the president said. 'He's very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.' Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Tuesday that he's pushing for a quick vote on a 'tough' Russia sanctions package that would impose a 500 percent tariff on imports from any country that buys Russian gas, uranium and oil. The proposal has more than 80 Senate co-sponsors across both parties. Jeffries said he would look at the specifics of the Senate's sanctions measure before taking a formal position on it. 'I am a strong supporter of continuing to escalate and intensify the sanctions that have been previously put into place relative to Russia until they back down and, you know, withdraw from Ukraine and create a situation where Ukraine's sovereignty can be restored and the killing of innocent civilians stops, including the killing of Ukrainian children that have been targeted by Russia and Vladimir Putin,' he said. A majority of Americans said in a poll last month that they support sanctions on Russia and its allies over the ongoing war with Ukraine. Trump has frequently lamented the conflict, but he has stopped short of calling for harsher penalties for Moscow. He said Tuesday that he's 'looking at' Graham's sanctions proposal. 'That is a war that it should have never happened,' the president told reporters. 'A lot of people are dying, and it should end.'

CNN anchor who attended Camp Mystic as a kid ‘overwhelmed with emotion' as she returns to cover deadly Texas floods
CNN anchor who attended Camp Mystic as a kid ‘overwhelmed with emotion' as she returns to cover deadly Texas floods

New York Post

time07-07-2025

  • General
  • New York Post

CNN anchor who attended Camp Mystic as a kid ‘overwhelmed with emotion' as she returns to cover deadly Texas floods

A CNN reporter shared on air how 'surreal' it has been for her to cover the devastation at a 'magical place' like Camp Mystic after attending the Texas camp herself as a young girl. Pamela Brown, CNN's chief investigative correspondent, shared her fond memories of the camp that was ravaged by Friday's floods during a live broadcast in an emotional off-the-cuff moment. 3 CNN correspondent reflected on her fond memories as a little girl when she was a camper at Camp Mystic. CNN 'It's surreal coming back here 30 years later. I was a 10-year old little camper here filled with so much hope and joy,' Brown said during a discussion with an anchor. 'I remember the excitement and anticipation of coming to Camp Mystic.' She explained how hard it was to wrap her head around how a river that is the source of such fond memories for her and other former campers could be the source of so much unspeakable tragedy. 'It's such a magical place, now all these girls – these sweet young campers – who had to evacuate and their families,' she said. 'So much innocence has now been lost.' Brown, along with the press corps from around the country and the world, have descended upon Texas Hill Country after a once-in-a-generation catastrophic flood devastated the area Friday, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake, including Camp Mystic, an historic all-girl Christian camp that catered to Texas's elite. 3 CNN correspondent Pamela Brown said that with the devastation caused by the flooding so much innocence has been lost. Pamela Brown/Instagram At least five girls from the camp have been confirmed dead — all ages 8 and 9 — and 10 others are still missing. The death toll from Friday morning's calamitous flooding rose to at least 80 across Texas on Sunday evening, with 68 of the deaths in Kerr County, where Camp Mystic's two campuses once stood. 'For me coming back I'm overwhelmed with emotion and I'm overwhelmed with memories,' Brown said. 'I can't get over looking at those cabins right next to the Guadalupe River, that river was the source of so much joy.' She and her fellow campers loved to play games in the river. 'There was this thing called The Blob, which was like this inflated balloon type thing that we would jump on and then the person at the end would jump off into the water and it was so much fun,' she reminisced. 3 CNN correspondent Pamela Brown recounted how she and her fellow campers would look for dinosaur fossils in the Guadalupe River. Pamela Brown/Instagram Brown recounted how she and her fellow campers spent much of their time frolicking in the river, and even hunted for dinosaur fossils. 'Thats what we loved. And to think that that same river is the source of this devastation,' she added. Brown is a multi award-winning CNN anchor and chief investigative correspondent, who currently anchors The Situation Room, according to her bio on the CNN website.

Ex-NATO commander sees 2 in 3 chance Trump strikes Iran
Ex-NATO commander sees 2 in 3 chance Trump strikes Iran

The Hill

time19-06-2025

  • Politics
  • The Hill

Ex-NATO commander sees 2 in 3 chance Trump strikes Iran

Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander James Stavridis on Thursday said he sees a two in three chance that President Trump strikes Iran. 'I think it's a close call for the president,' Stavridis told CNN's Pamela Brown on 'The Situation Room,' in an interview highlighted by Mediaite. 'At this point, Pamela, I would say there's a two in three chance he will go ahead and strike.' 'I think there's a one in three chance he'll give it a bit more time and see how diplomacy plays out. You can make a case on either side of that decision,' he added. President Trump and his administration have mulled the possibility of stepping into the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, which kicked off a week ago. The president has hinted multiple times in the last week at possible U.S. participation. The president is expected to come to a conclusion on whether to go ahead with direct action against Iran within two weeks, the president said Thursday in a message given by a spokesperson. 'Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiation that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go in the next two weeks,' Trump said in a statement, which White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt read aloud. Thursday polling from The Washington Post found that nearly half of Americans, 45 percent, said they would not back U.S. intervention in Iran. The two Middle Eastern have traded tit-for-tar strikes for several days, which also prompted nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran. to collapse. The administration began talks with Iran in April, holding five rounds of negotiations throughout the spring. This conflict also broke out amid already heightened tensions in the region over Israel's ongoing war in Gaza, which started in late 2023.

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