5 chapters across the catalog
A Washington D.C. jury found attorney Michael Sussman not guilty of lying to the FBI, marking a setback for Special Counsel John Durham's investigation. The case centered on a 2016 meeting regarding alleged links between Donald Trump and Russia. Jurors reportedly felt the prosecution was an unwise use of government time, while critics of the verdict pointed to the political leanings of the D.C. jury pool.
Michael Sussman Indictment and the Durham Probe
Special Counsel John Durham unsealed an indictment against lawyer Michael Sussman for allegedly lying to the FBI about his ties to the Hillary Clinton campaign. The indictment suggests that Sussman and "Tech Executive 1" (speculated to be Mark Zuckerberg) worked to frame Donald Trump using a "red herring" involving a Russian Alfa Bank server.
Obama Contraceptive Mandate, Pharmaceutical Industry Profits
The Obama administration's mandate for insurance coverage of contraceptives is framed as a windfall for the pharmaceutical industry. By eliminating co-pays, the policy encourages the use of expensive brand-name drugs over generics, benefiting companies like Pfizer. This shift is expected to drive up overall insurance premiums despite the lack of immediate cost to the consumer.
The hosts revisit a joke made by President Obama at the White House Correspondents' Dinner where he threatened the Jonas Brothers with "Predator drones" if they got ideas about his daughters. They contrast the "humorous" use of the technology with the actual killing of American citizens, noting the "bloodthirsty" reaction from some right-wing commentators.
U.S. Ambassador to London Louis Sussman stated on BBC Breakfast that the United States is in Pakistan for the long term to ensure government stability and defeat the Taliban. Despite the interviewer's attempt to correct him to "Afghanistan," Sussman doubled down on Pakistan. The hosts speculate this presence is actually about securing the Turkmenistan pipeline and regional nuclear assets.
