Required reading from around the web of the best, most interesting, or most though provoking things we’ve read:
O’Brien: Adam Schiff Threatens ‘Inherent Contempt’ Charges Against Trump Admin
“House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff (D-CA) revealed on Friday that the House is considering revisiting its ‘inherent contempt’ powers that would allow it to fine members of the Trump administration who fail to answer its subpoenas. […] According to Axios, Schiff said those fines could be as much as $25,000 a day. […] Democrats other than Schiff have uttered the words ‘inherent contempt’ as the best course to take until the administration complies. […] Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) had the chance to respond in real time to Schiff’s new threat and chalked it up to the Democrats’ now two-year Russian collusion goose chase. ‘They’ve been chasing Russian ghosts in the closet,’ Nunes declared on Fox News. ‘They always end up in a rabbit hole.'”
Boyle: Donald Trump Jr. Rebuffs Senate GOP Subpoena for More Russia Hoax Testimony
“This development is particularly significant because the Senate Intelligence Committee–chaired by Republican Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) and run by the GOP-controlled Senate Majority–pushing to subpoena Trump, Jr., comes in the wake of Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluding his investigation. Mueller found no evidence of collusion, or conspiracy, between President Trump’s campaign and the Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election–or between the Russians and any American for that matter–and did not find evidence of obstruction of justice, effectively clearing the president on all counts. It also comes after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who ultimately controls the Senate Intelligence Committee because he is the Majority Leader in the Senate, declared earlier this week regarding the Russia hoax that it was ‘case closed.’ This effort by Burr flies in the face of what McConnell said, and threatens to seriously escalate differences between Republicans in Congress and the Trump administration at a time when the left seeks to create dissent among Republicans ahead of the critical 2020 presidential election.”
Hopkins: Self-Deportations Are Rising Dramatically Under Trump Administration
“Illegal immigrants who were granted voluntary departure — also known as “self-deportation” — increased by 50% in 2017, according to information compiled by The Marshall Project. In fiscal year 2018, the number of aliens who asked an immigration court for permission to leave the country on their own accord doubled from the previous fiscal year. Applications in 2018, in fact, reached a seven-year high. The rising number of self-deportations far outpaces the 17% growth in overall U.S. immigration cases.”