Donald Trump's terrible, horrible, no good very bad week

Plus: Reuters' big mistake none Your daily update from [Salon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0QWaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL1cDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). Written by [Brett Bachman](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0QhaHR0cHM6Ly90d2l0dGVyLmNvbS9CcmV0dEFCYWNobWFuVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~). none Donald Trump's terrible, horrible, no good very bad week The New York Times rarely indulges in hyperbole when it comes to Donald Trump. "If anything, the paper of record has been downplaying the ongoing saga of Trump's Big Lie and all the evidence that's been piling up," Salon's Heather Digby Parton writes. That seems to be changing after a series of bombshell reports this week showed the extent of the former president's efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Here's just a sample of comments from the paper's high-profile political reporters: - Peter Baker: "Even for Trump it's quite a week -- first dangling pardons for capitol attackers, then admitting his goal was to have 'overturned the election' and now calling on the House to investigate Pence" - Maggie Haberman: "It's been a breathtaking couple of days." - Shane Goldmacher: "A series of recent Trump comments and disclosures — including his discussing federal agencies seizing voting machines— have stripped away any pretense that 1/6 was anything but the culmination of his single-minded pursuit of retaining power." The coup de grâce came via a powerful story headlined, "[Trump's Words, and Deeds, Reveal Depths of His Drive to Retain Power](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RYaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS91cy9wb2xpdGljcy90cnVtcC1lbGVjdGlvbi1qYW4tNi12b3RpbmctbWFjaGluZXMuaHRtbFcDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)." - Key quote: “I actually think the American public is dramatically underplaying how significant and dangerous this is because we cannot process the basic truth of what we are learning about President Trump’s efforts — which is we’ve never had a president before who fundamentally placed his own personal interests above the nation’s.” — Jeffrey Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University It's yet to be seen if this change-of-heart will reach more than a few politics-addicted reporters in D.C., but it's certainly a trend worth watching. So far, it's not looking like Republican leadership will stray far from Trump's side — and it's unlikely that a few days of unfavorable New York Times coverage will change that. [Learn more about Donald Trump's awful week](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RnaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvZG9uYWxkLWhhdmluZy1hbi1hd2Z1bC13ZWVrLS1hbmQtaXRzLW9ubHktd2VkbmVzZGF5Lz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). none none Reuters' big mistake Reuters had a big "oops" moment this week when it published a story with a misleading headline and was later forced to correct the record. This, alone, wouldn't have been a huge deal — even the biggest news outlets in the world sometimes make mistakes. But this story concerned ivermectin, the American conservative movement's favorite bogus COVID-19 cure. The wire service mistakenly reported that a study had shown the off-label anti-parasite drug was "effective" against the omicron variant of COVID-19 — something the study most certainly did not say. "CORRECTION: Japan's Kowa said anti-parasite drug ivermectin showed an 'antiviral effect' against Omicron and other variants of coronavirus in joint non-clinical research," Reuters later tweeted. "The @WHO has warned against its use. We will delete a tweet with a misleading headline." "It really should have not received a press release and no legitimate news source should have reported on it," one expert told Salon. By the time Reuters corrected its error, however, the damage had already been done. The story was already circulating in right-wing circles as proof of the drug's effectiveness — and proof that they had been lied to by U.S. public health authorities. [Learn more about ivermectin and why authorities recommend against using it as a COVID-19 treatment](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0SMaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvam9lLXJvZ2FuLWNhbnQtc3RvcC1wdXNoaW5nLWl2ZXJtZWN0aW4tYXMtYS10cmVhdG1lbnQtZXhwZXJ0cy1hcmUtdGlyZWQtb2YtZGVidW5raW5nLWhpbS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYfnTw_thm_RGrFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). (Photo via Getty Images) none - Bombshell report claims Trump [nearly pardoned all Jan. 6 attackers](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0SNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvYm9tYnNoZWxsLXJlcG9ydC1jbGFpbXMtbmVhcmx5LXBhcmRvbmVkLWFsbC1qYW4tNi1hdHRhY2tlcnMtYmVmb3JlLWxlYXZpbmctb2ZmaWNlX3BhcnRuZXIvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) before leaving office - Jeff Zucker out as CNN head after [failing to reveal relationship](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0SLaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvamVmZi16dWNrZXItb3V0LWFzLWNubi1oZWFkLWFmdGVyLWZhaWxpbmctdG8tcmV2ZWFsLXJlbGF0aW9uc2hpcC13aXRoLWZvcm1lci1jdW9tby1haWRlLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) with former Cuomo aide - Hype or hope? Viral studies suggest [cannabis could help treat COVID-19](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RJaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvaHlwZS1vci1ob3BlLWNhbm5hYmlzLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - Alexander Vindman [sues Rudy Giuliani, Don Jr.](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0SKaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvYWxleGFuZGVyLXZpbmRtYW4tc3Vlcy1ydWR5LWdpdWxpYW5pLWRvbi1qci1vdmVyLWFsbGVnZWQtd2l0bmVzcy1pbnRpbWlkYXRpb24tY2FtcGFpZ24vP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) over alleged witness intimidation campaign - As Big Pharma jacks up prices, Dems [worry their failure will cost seats](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0R-aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDMvYXMtYmlnLXBoYXJtYS1qYWNrcy11cC1wcmljZXMtZGVtcy13b3JyeS1pdC13aWxsLWNvc3QtdGhlbS1zZWF0cy10aGlzLWZhbGwvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) this fall - Fox News [could be in big trouble](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvZm94LW5ld3MtY291bGQtYmUtaW4tYmlnLXRyb3VibGUtZG9taW5pb25zLWh1Z2UtZGVmYW1hdGlvbi1tYWtlcy1hLXN0cm9uZy1jYXNlLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~): Dominion's huge defamation lawsuit makes a strong case - Kanye West refuses to hop on [the NFT metaverse bandwagon](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0R6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIva2FueWUtd2VzdC1yZWZ1c2VzLXRvLWhvcC1vbi10aGUtbmZ0LW1ldGF2ZXJzZS1iYW5kd2Fnb24tZG8tbm90LWFzay1tZS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYfnTw_thm_RGrFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo): "Do not ask me" - "Evil" Josh Hawley [hit with bipartisan pushback](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0SUaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvZXZpbC1qb3NoLWhhd2xleS1oaXQtd2l0aC1iaXBhcnRpc2FuLXB1c2hiYWNrLWFmdGVyLWNhbGwtdG8tZHJvcC11cy1zdXBwb3J0LWZvci11a3JhaW5lLW5hdG8tYmlkLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) after call to drop U.S. support for Ukraine NATO bid - Bomb threats at Black colleges [linked to neo-Nazi group Atomwaffen](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0R1aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvaGJjdS1ib21iLWxpbmtlZC10by1uZW8tbmF6aS1ncm91cC1hdG9td2FmZmVuLWRpdmlzaW9uLXBvbGljZS1zYXkvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~)Division, police say - Scientists believe the Great Barrier Reef is about to suffer [another mass bleaching](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0SHaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvc2NpZW50aXN0cy1iZWxpZXZlLXRoZS1ncmVhdC1iYXJyaWVyLXJlZWYtaXMtYWJvdXQtdG8tc3VmZmVyLWFub3RoZXItbWFzcy1ibGVhY2hpbmcvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) - And, finally, here are 6 things we can learn from Ina Garten [about date night cooking](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RyaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvNi10aGluZ3Mtd2UtY2FuLWxlYXJuLWZyb20taW5hLWdhcnRlbi1hYm91dC1kYXRlLW5pZ2h0LWNvb2tpbmcvP3VzZXJfaWQ9KnxFTUFJTHwqVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Not a subscriber yet? [Sign up](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0QgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tL25ld3NsZXR0ZXJXA3NwY0IKYfnTw_thm_RGrFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) to receive Crash Course. none none Let's talk about "Pam & Tommy" The new Hulu show is "the greatest, hugest love story ever told about an unauthorized celebrity sex tape," according to Salon TV critic Melanie McFarland. Its subject matter, of course, is the lead-up to (and fallout from) Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee's infamous sex tape — the first of its kind, really, whose legacy is still with us today. "Pam & Tommy" is a funny piece of work in every sense of that description. It commits to its comedic peaks with the same gritty energy it devotes to emotional lows, inviting us to ride the couple's champagne and ecstasy-driven hedonism as it portrays their love, however hastily realized, as genuine.Like several rear-viewing examinations of events and people whose downfalls played as salacious diversions in their time, the sex tape brouhaha receives a second look as one of the earliest tests of the Internet as a proliferating force and a pioneering privacy rights case.But where other ripped-from-near-history works like "Impeachment" fall short in fully connecting with the humanity of those involved, the soul of "Pam & Tommy" overflows with vulnerability and pathos. [Read the full review](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RNaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvcGFtLWFuZC10b21teS1yZXZpZXctaHVsdS8_dXNlcl9pZD0qfEVNQUlMfCpXA3NwY0IKYfnTw_thm_RGrFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo). (Photo via Erin Simkin/Hulu) none - "Imagine a World Without Spotify," [The New Yorker](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RSaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubmV3eW9ya2VyLmNvbS9jdWx0dXJlL2N1bHR1cmFsLWNvbW1lbnQvaW1hZ2luZS1hLXdvcmxkLXdpdGhvdXQtc3BvdGlmeVcDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~) - "Body and Soul: An interview with Adrian Nathan West," [The Baffler](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0QyaHR0cHM6Ly90aGViYWZmbGVyLmNvbS9sYXRlc3QvYm9keS1hbmQtc291bC1ydXNzZWtXA3NwY0IKYfnTw_thm_RGrFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "A Town That Saved a Mountain, and a Mountain That Saved a Town," [The New York Times](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RfaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubnl0aW1lcy5jb20vMjAyMi8wMi8wMS90cmF2ZWwvYXNjdXRuZXktY3Jvc3MtY291bnRyeS5odG1sP3NtdHlwPWN1ciZzbWlkPXR3LW55dGltZXNXA3NwY0IKYfnTw_thm_RGrFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "The Big Plans That Built New York City," [Bloomberg's CityLab](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RlaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmxvb21iZXJnLmNvbS9uZXdzL2ZlYXR1cmVzLzIwMjItMDItMDIvaG93LW5ldy15b3JrLXMtbWFzdGVyLXBsYW5uZXJzLXNoYXBlZC1hLW1ldHJvcG9saXNXA3NwY0IKYfnTw_thm_RGrFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luODVAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAAAo) - "Web3 is the future, or a scam, or both," [Vox](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RFaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cudm94LmNvbS9yZWNvZGUvMjI5MDcwNzIvd2ViMy1jcnlwdG8tbmZ0LWJpdGNvaW4tbWV0YXZlcnNlVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) none none GOP senator's bizarre Supreme Court jab Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., is an Oxford-educated lawyer and career politician who attempted to rebrand himself as a folksy Republican after a long stint as a Democrat. This seemed to be what he was going for when asked about whether or not he would support President Joe Biden's Supreme Court pick, which he has pledged to give to a Black woman. "No. 1, I want a nominee who knows a law book from a J.Crew catalog," Kennedy told Politico Tuesday after meeting with GOP leaders. "No. 2, I want a nominee who's not going to try to rewrite the Constitution every other Thursday to try to advance a 'woke agenda."" If the comment seemed strange — it will seem even stranger after discovering that it's somewhat of a refrain for Kennedy. - During Trump's first impeachment trial: "Anyone who knows a law book from a J.Crew catalog does not take this charge seriously" - On Fox News: "Anyone who knows a law book from a J.Crew catalog knows that Democrats' attempt to add D.C. as a state is unconstitutional" - During an interview on Trump's border efforts: Anybody who knows an L.L. Bean catalog from a law book knows, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court will give us guidance on this. "Nobody knows what he even means by 'a law book,'" tweeted attorney Max Kennerly. "A casebook? Only students use those. The Federal Reporter? No one calls that a 'book." A John Grisham novel?" [Read more](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0SCaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc2Fsb24uY29tLzIwMjIvMDIvMDIvc2VuYXRvci10aGlua3MtYmlkZW5zLXdva2Utc2NvdHVzLXBpY2std29udC1rbm93LWxhdy1ib29rLWZyb20tYS1qY3Jldy1jYXRhbG9nLz91c2VyX2lkPSp8RU1BSUx8KlcDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~). (Photo via Getty Images) Have a tip for Salon? Feedback on this newsletter? [Let us know](mailto:brett.bachman@salon.com). Our mailing address: 1000 N. West Street, Suite 1200 Wilmington, 19801 DE [Unsubscribe from this list](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0RCaHR0cHM6Ly9yZWFkLmxldHRlcmhlYWQuZW1haWwvY3Jhc2gtY291cnNlL3Vuc3Vic2NyaWJlP2lkPUAzNTQzOTUyVwNzcGNCCmH508P7YZv0RqxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjg1QGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAKA~~) Copyright © 2022 Crash Course, All rights reserved. [Made with Letterhead [Letterhead logo]](~/AASU4wA~/RgRj3kjRP0QiaHR0cHM6Ly9saW5rLndoZXJlYnkudXMvbmVwbm83czh5c1cDc3BjQgph-dPD-2Gb9EasUht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW44NUBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAACg~)