A roundup of news that caught my eye today.
* The big story of the day has been the announcement last night that Trump agreed to meet with North Korea’s President Kim Jong-un. Here is something that should be leading every discussion of this development:
I wonder if Trump’s „aides“ have explained that to him. Or, if in their toddler-handling, they have led him to believe that this offer is something unusual. Or perhaps he imagines that only he can go Pyongyang. (2/3)
— Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) March 9,2018
PS: To be clear — we need to talk to North Korea. But Kim is not inviting Trump so that he can surrender North Korea’s weapons. Kim is inviting Trump to demonstrate that his investment in nuclear and missile capabilities has forced the United States to treat him as an equal.
— Jeffrey Lewis (@ArmsControlWonk) March 9,2018
Right on cue come the voices saying, “Not so fast.”
Massive damage control at WH today– pres agreed idotically to direct talks with no precondition. Now admin says must denuclearize first, something Nko won’t do. Hence no talks.
— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) March 9,2018
* The Wall Street Journal is reporting on the latest from Trump’s lawyers.
The president’s legal team is considering telling Mr. Mueller that Mr. Trump would agree to a sit-down interview based on multiple considerations, including that the special counsel commit to a date for concluding at least the Trump-related portion of the investigation. One idea is to suggest a deadline of 60 days from the date of the interview, the person said.
Another consideration for the legal team is reaching an agreement with Mr. Mueller on the scope of his questioning of the president, which they expect to focus largely on his decision to fire former national security adviser Mike Flynn and former FBI director James Comey, according to people familiar with the matter.
* Apparently Fox News is serving as Trump’s Office of the Pardon Attorney.
A former Navy sailor who pleaded guilty to a felony count of unauthorized possession and retention of national defense information for snapping photos on a nuclear attack submarine has received a pardon from President Donald Trump — and his attorney says Fox News deserves the credit.
