First Firing: National Security Adviser Michael Flynn resigned last night after it was revealed that he lied about his conversations with the Russian ambassador regarding Obama administration economic sanctions against Russia.
Less than a month into his presidency, Donald Trump has his first White House disaster.
The Washington Post reported last night that acting attorney general Sally Yates several weeks ago informed the White House that Flynn had a telephone conversation with the Russian ambassador that put Flynn in danger of being blackmailed.
Yates and a national security official told the White House that Flynn wasn’t telling the truth when he denied illegally communicating with the Russian ambassador about the Obama economic sanctions on Russia before Flynn was appointed and Donald Trump was inaugurated. Flynn misled Vice President Pence, who defended him in public.
Whoever knew about it in the Trump White House appears to have sat on the information until it reached the press.
Flynn’s last hours were a situation comedy of mixed signals from the White House.
Trump aide Kellyanne Conway told MSNBC that, “Yes, General Flynn does enjoy the full confidence of the president.” But within the hour, Press Secretary Sean Spicer issued a statement saying, “The President is evaluating the situation. He’s speaking to the vice president relative to the conversation the vice president had with Gen. Flynn, and also speaking to various other people about what he considers the single most important subject there is: our national security.”
Political analyst David Gergen raised the question on CNN last night whether, if Flynn acted without the knowledge or direction of Trump, “why isn’t he gone?” It’s still unknown whether Flynn acted on Trump’s orders.
Conway’s comment about “full confidence” may have been the tell. It’s often been the in Washington that when someone has the president’s “full confidence,” that’s the last word before they are fired.
Crisis-a-Lago: Saturday night when word came that North Korea had launched a missile, President Trump, his aides, and Japanese Prime Shinzo Abe, and his aides, conferred about the matter in full view of other guests dining at Trump’s private club.
A diner named Richard DeAgazio, who sat nearby, posted pictures of the incident on his Facebook page saying, “Holy Moly !!! It was fascinating to watch the flurry of activity at dinner when the news came that North Korea had launched a missile in the direction of Japan.” Trump can be seen talking on what may have been an unsecured cellphone. DeAgazio also posted a picture of himself with an Army officer identified as “Rick” who was carrying the nuclear football that night.
Last Shot: Andrew Puzder, the president’s nominee for Secretary of Labor, may be the Democrats’ last chance to block a Trump cabinet appointee.
Puzder, 66, has been running the company that owns the Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr. fast food chains. Carl’s is the one that shows commercials showing bikini girls letting ketchup drip on their chests. In addition to questions about his ad campaigns, Puzder’s restaurants have been accused of workplace violations and he’s been an opponent of wage regulations. Four Republicans are wavering on whether they will vote for him. If they vote “no,” the restaurant exec is cooked.
And just as an aside, Carl’s Jr. burgers are pre-cooked and frozen. Puzder should be indicted for crimes against cuisine.
Court Report: The University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team won its 100th straight game last night.
World: The estranged half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was assassinated yesterday in Malaysia by two women who stuck him with poison needles. Kim Jong-nam, 45, was attacked at a Kuala Lumpur airport.
Small Screen: Variety reports that CBS News has fired its streaming service anchor Josh Elliott after the news reader revealed information about a changing job assignment before the network was ready to reveal it. Elliott announced in front of the camera that he was leaving CBSN for other duties at the network, which may have been true, but CBS apparently didn’t want him to say it yet.
He may also have tripped over his own tongue when he said Friday was “my last day in that chair in any regular capacity, although knowing how things work around here, I may see you again on Monday morning.”
Elliott has now been both a rising and falling star at all three major networks. He arrived at ABC from ESPN and left in a contract dispute. He was a new hope at NBC, until he left in a contract dispute. He may not be good at office politics, but he certainly knows the location of the exits.

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