This was a day so jam-packed with news that impeachment got a run for its money, which is saying something. The main non-impeachment story was Trump’s Syria debacle and his administration’s staggering betrayal of the United States’ Kurdish allies and show of weakness toward Turkey. But before we get there, let’s start by honoring the late Rep. Elijah Cummings as a giant of House oversight and a champion of immigrant families. This is a sad day.
● On the Syria-Turkey front, Mike Pence went to Turkey to work things out with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Things got off to a shaky start and ended with total capitulation on Pence’s part. His “deal” was basically that Turkey will stop attacking for five days, during which the Kurds will just … leave their homes. At that point, Turkey gets part of Syria and will face no U.S. sanctions. This according to a deal between the U.S. and Turkey without involving the Kurds or Syria. As Hunter wrote, “Pence's announcement amounts to an agreement for Turkey to ethnically cleanse a Turkish-demanded ‘safe zone’ with the United States’ approval, and possibly its assistance.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is presumably praying that this sticks, allowing his foot-dragging over a Senate vote on the House rebuke of Trump over Syria to succeed. McConnell claims he wants to do something “stronger,” but he sure doesn’t seem in a hurry.
Through it all, Trump continued to embarrass himself, looking increasingly unstable and trying to humiliate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi only to have it flip back onto him and give her a chance to detail what she said that caused his meltdown.
● On top of all that? Outside of impeachment and Syria, Trump basically pissed on the Emoluments Clause of the Constitution by announcing that yes, next year's G-7 summit will be held at his Doral property.
And his administration continued terrorizing immigrants, from keeping Dreamers stuck in limbo to abusing asylum-seekers. And his administration admitted it's planning to take free school lunches away from as many as 1 million kids. Those stories—the side notes in a day dominated by impeachment and Syria—would be a serious week or more of news from a less corrupt administration.
● Outside the realm of Trumpworld, Chicago teachers and school staff are on strike, seeking not just better pay but investments in the city’s schools and students.
● Also, a new study showed that the green economy is a powerful force, accounting for 4% of the U.S. workforce and 7% of the GDP.