Michael C. Bender Profile Banner
Michael C. Bender Profile
Michael C. Bender

@MichaelCBender

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New York Times, political correspondent; Author, “Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost” (Get signed copies from @politicsprose )

Washington
Joined July 2009
Don't wanna be here? Send us removal request.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
The response to the release of my book this past week has been an out-of-body experience. I will never forget how much help I needed—from family, from friends, from colleagues, and from sources—to finish this book, and how lucky I am to have received it. Thank you so, so much!
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Two women at last night's naturalization ceremony said they were never told they would be showcased at a political convention, and no one sought their consent. The Trump campaign declined to comment. w/ @tparti :
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump: "Did you ever notice Biden gets the state wrong?" A few minutes later, he refers to Minneapolis as "Mindianapolis."
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
Zero cable news networks are carrying the Trump rally live. Even Tucker Carlson told Fox News viewers that they'd break in only if there was news. CSPAN has turned away too — it's showing the Utah Senate debate.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
White House was completely caught off guard by Romney's vote. And within minutes of Romney's speech, the White House closed a Trump-Guaido meeting in the Oval Office that reporters had been invited to attend.
@benpershing
Ben Pershing
4 years
The fact that the House impeachment was completely partisan was a vital WH talking point. Romney removing Trump's ability to say the same in the Senate is huge, and now very eager to see/read Trump's reaction.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump—in the last 2 weeks—delivered a widely criticized debate performance, mixed with donors after a top aide tested Covid+, tested Covid+ himself, sent stocks sliding by halting stimulus talks, restarted talks, pulled out of 2nd debate & attacked his top 2 Cabinet secretaries.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
When Stephen Miller told Trump inside the Oval that “cities are burning” during Floyd protests, an infuriated Milley spun around in his seat and pointed a finger directly at Miller. “Shut the fuck up, Stephen,” Milley snapped.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Day 1 of the Trump convention, so far: DeJoy grilled over Trump mail voting complaints; 2 dozen+ GOPers endorse Biden; Melania reportedly on tape criticizing POTUS; Top Trump evangelical accused of watching his wife—a Women For Trump board member—have sex with another man.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
2 years
NPR finds 15 Republicans who've denied or cast doubts on the 2020 election results running to be the chief election officer in 12 states—including six of the seven states with Biden's slimmest victory margin.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
Nationals fans boo President Trump, then chant “lock him up.”
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
That's when Kellyanne Conway demanded to know who in the White House would say such a thing. Conway back in March: "That’s highly offensive. So, you should tell us all who it is. I’d like to know who it is.”
@maggieNYT
Maggie Haberman
4 years
Remember when @weijia got dragged for saying a WH official said this to her? The president just said it onstage.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
7 years
Trump aides didn't know entire West Wing had to be hired; Obama, after meeting Trump, plans to spend more time w him
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Mr. Trump: Who is full of shit? Mr. Bender: You, sir. An out-of-context moment in my interview with President Trump last night. Rest of the transcript here:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
7 years
Reince & Mooch sat on same couch Tues. during WSJ's POTUS interview. Photog TJ Kirkpatrick snapped this at the end
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Gallup: Trump's approval back to 49%, up from 44% earlier this month and matching the highest rating of his presidency; 60% approve of his handling of coronavirus, 38% disapprove.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
White House official says Trump was clearly joking. "He's never advised staff to slow testing. We are extremely proud of the 25 million tests we are conducting at a rapid pace."
@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
“I told my people, ‘Slow the testing down please.'"—President Trump, complaining that covid-19 testing is a "double-edged sword" because it counts cases where young people have the sniffles.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
Official White House transcript strikes out President Trump’s condolences this morning for Toledo
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
He told her it was off the record, and also warned her that people would hear about it?
@maggieNYT
Maggie Haberman
4 years
Should note here that Kelly says she never agreed to an OTR, and wouldn't have. Pompeo kept talking regardless, and is now claiming it was OTR.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Re: this joke: 121,000 Americans have died so far from coronavirus.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
“I’ve done all this stuff for the Blacks—it’s always Jared telling me to do this,” Trump said to one confidante. “And they all fucking hate me, and none of them are going to vote for me.” Latest from my new book:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump to @WSJ : Covid testing is "overrated" and some Americans may be wearing masks to signal disapproval of him—not as a preventative measure. “I personally think testing is overrated, even though I created the greatest testing machine in history."
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
White House clarifies Sarah Sanders’ statement on N Korea that “president will not agree to the meeting without concrete steps and action." Not so fast: “The invitation has been extended and accepted, and that stands,” WH official tells WSJ.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
"We are not letting people be evicted," Trump tells reporters, pointing to his executive order — which does not do that.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
When Trump wanted to bring the Cabinet to his June kickoff rally, Mulvaney cautioned about Hatch Act violations. “I’m in charge of the Hatch Act,” Trump barked, saying his chief was “weak” for making the suggestion. Trump later backed off the idea.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
“The fundamentals in this economy are unbelievable.” —HHS Secretary Azar to reporters just now at the White House. The Trump admin’s top health officials took no questions, said nothing about the health issues around coronavirus and spoke only about the economy.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump boarded AF1 for three straight days before testing Covid+. Other passengers included Hope Hicks, who fell ill on one trip, plus: *41 WH aides & family *9 campaign staffers, GOP officials & political advisers *5 members of Congress Full manifest here:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
Another long-time Trump aide is out: John McEntee, an original Trumper among w Hope Hicks and Dan Scavino, was escorted out of the White House on Monday
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump is down in the polls. And he’s spent most of his first TV interview since a Covid+ diagnosis saying he won’t participate in the next debate, relitigating much of his 2016 race, and attacking arguing his two most loyal, highest profile Cabinet members.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
The president is taking a break from defending a six-day old mistake about hurricane warnings to complain about this five-day-old story that critics think he spent much of the summer focused on the wrong things:
@realDonaldTrump
Donald J. Trump
5 years
The Washington Post’s @PhilipRucker (Mr. Off the Record) & @AshleyRParker , two nasty lightweight reporters, shouldn’t even be allowed on the grounds of the White House because their reporting is so DISGUSTING & FAKE. Also, add the appointment of MANY Federal Judges this Summer!
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
7 years
"I resigned privately yesterday," Reince Priebus tells me.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
Milley’s problem was that he had stats showing exactly how many cities had protests—and the proportion of those municipal populations that were protesting. For Milley, the numbers didn’t approach anywhere near a level that required military intervention—and he told Trump.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
7 years
Amazing detail in a wild story: Chinese went thru Wynn to lobby Trump about returning a dissident. It almost worked:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Within minutes of Trump saying this, the White House released his public schedule for tomorrow. Trump is not quarantining: He’s attending a fundraiser at his Washington DC hotel, and hosting a rally in Florida.
@rebeccaballhaus
Rebecca Ballhaus
4 years
Trump confirms Hope Hicks tested positive for coronavirus. He says he and FLOTUS have been tested, but “whether we quarantine or whether we have it, I don't know.”
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
Publication day!!! It’s humbling how much help I’ve needed—and how many people have been so willing to provide it. But no one’s generosity has been as crucial and as constant as ⁦ @AshleyRParker ⁩—my best adviser, best editor, best publicist, & best friend. Thank you! ❤️
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
Trump mentions the “four congresswoman,” and boos erupt. He mentions Representative Ilhan Omar, and boos erupt as a protestor interrupts the rally. After pausing for a few moments, Trump continues to rip into Omar as members of the crowd yell “traitor” and “treason."
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
🚨THURSDAY AUG 29, 2019🚨 No Trump stories on the front pages of the WSJ, NYT or WaPo. Stunning.
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@ToluseO
Toluse Olorunnipa
5 years
No Trump stories on today’s front page ⁦ @washingtonpost ⁩.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
"SEND HER BACK," the crowd starts chanting, as Trump pauses to let it gain momentum.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
2 years
Donald Trump’s quest to consolidate support among Republicans has instead left him weakened, with nearly half the party’s voters seeking someone different for president and a significant number vowing to abandon him if he wins the nomination.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Harvard public heath prof Mac Lipsitch, on coronavirus: “It is likely we’ll see a global pandemic...If a pandemic happens, 40% to 70% of people world-wide are likely to be infected in the coming year.”
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
Trump was shouting about sending troops into cities when Milley pointed to a portrait of Lincoln hanging in the Oval. “That guy had an insurrection,” Milley said. “What we have, Mr. President, is a protest.” CNN has that detail and more from my new book:
@jaketapper
Jake Tapper
3 years
Top US general rejected Trump suggestions military should 'crack skulls' during protests last year, new book claims - CNNPolitics
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
1 year
Rep. Katie Porter, a third-term California Democrat who studied under Elizabeth Warren at Harvard University and became a social media darling of liberal Democrats, said Tuesday that she would run in 2024 for the Senate seat held by Dianne Feinstein.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
Brock Long was told not to take a caravan of FEMA staffers home to North Carolina. When he ignored the warnings, he was out under surveillance — the DHS inspector general had him tailed back to Hickory.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
Pictures of President Trump and Kim Jong Un in the West Wing of the White House. A few weeks ago, these frames surrounded pics of Trump with Emmanuel Macron, president of France, one of America’s closest allies.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
Trump aides told me that his demand to hunt down—and execute—a White House leaker was a sign of panic as his administration went into freefall during its final days. Latest from my book, out today!
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
A review of draft copies of Trump's speech shows that instead of saying that the travel ban "will not apply" to trade and cargo," POTUS inserted an extra word, saying the prohibitions “will not *only* apply to the tremendous amount of trade and cargo.”
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
1 year
In his first rally of his 2024 campaign, Trump spent most of the first 30 minutes attacking the Manhattan district attorney's office and Gov. Ron DeSantis — and not a word on why he wants a second term in office.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
The run-up to Trump’s Mexico tariffs: VP was in Canada, his top economic adviser is recovering from surgery, his Secretary of State is out of the country, his senior adviser who worked on Mexico issues was in Israel — and his top trade adviser was opposed.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Navarros tells @jaketapper this morning that Trump was "moving mountains" in February to PPE to the frontlines. That is incorrect. At that point, Navarro wasn't allowed into White House meetings on covid relief, PPE or otherwise:
@atrupar
Aaron Rupar
4 years
Tapper cuts short the interview with Navarro because he refuses to answer basic questions about Trump misleading the public, then says: "The US has less than 5 percent of the world's population, & the US has more than 20 percent of the world's coronavirus deaths. That is a fact."
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump said he was reducing additional jobless benefits to $400 from $600 as "an incentive to go back to work." But the executive action only authorizes the feds to pay for $300 in extra benefits—the extra $100 would have to come from states.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
7 years
“I cannot believe the media produced such beautiful children.”—President Trump
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
7 years
New White House comms director already dealing with competing messages. Scaramucci says he's talking pardons w POTUS, Sekulow says otherwise
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Two additional Trump campaign staffers have tested positive for coronavirus, both of whom attended the Tulsa rally while wearing masks. The campaign says it has activated established quarantine and contact tracing protocols.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
2 years
Trump is putting tweets of polls on the big screen at his rally, including one of a potential 2024 Republican presidential field in which he pointed out he was far ahead of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, who he referred to as “Ron De-sanctimonious.”
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump tells @WSJ that some people may get sick after attending his Tulsa rally, but that he would be ok if Ivanka wanted to sit in the crowd. “First all she’s young,” he said, adding that elderly Americans were more likely to become severely ill.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
Trump now laying into Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which again draws a deafening round of boos from the arena crowd.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Support your local paper.
@alextdaugherty
Alex Daugherty
4 years
The woman who was nodding behind @realDonaldTrump was @MayraJoli , a Trump supporter who ran as independent for Congress in Miami in 2018.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
At about 2pm today in the White House, Trump told reporters that John Kelly & Jim Mattis statements that disputed quotes in Woodward book were released "without my even knowing about it." Two hours later, Trump told reporters Mattis personally offered to write the statement.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
"This is turmoil, it's chaos, it's confusion—it's not good for anything. We always believe that there should be an orderly process, and of course government is not clean or orderly ever, but this seems to be beyond normal."—Ted Olson re: the Trump White House, on @mitchellreports
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
“Check out the internet."—President Trump, Sept. 27, 2020
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
Seems like a good time to re-up this impeachment detail from two days ago: "Senior White House officials said they have to follow news reports after the hearing to find out what was said in the private meetings."
@AndrewRestuccia
Andrew Restuccia
5 years
NEW: The White House wants all federal agencies to cancel their New York Times and Washington Post subscriptions:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
Several senior Trump officials have been hardened by interactions with China. John Kelly got into a physical altercation in Beijing over the nuclear football, and told colleagues he’d only accept an apology standing under the US flag in Washington
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
Just now in the Oval: Trump just ignored multiple Qs about McCain, including four from @jonkarl who stood about 6 feet away from the president and asked if he had anything to say about the late senator and whether he believed McCain was a hero. The president stared straight ahead
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
6 years
Inside the West Wing, aides canceled meetings & huddled behind closed doors to strategize about how to expose the author. Some called reporters to ask who may be behind the op-ed — whether it came from inside the White House or a cabinet-level agency.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
Milley’s outburst suggested to others in the room that he thought Miller was out of his lane. And inside the Oval Office, America’s top general protected his turf as vigorously as anyone in the Trump administration. Order the book now for other examples:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
3 years
First nugget from my new book, “Frankly, We Did Win This Election: The Inside Story of How Trump Lost,” via @PunchbowlNews : Sean Hannity scripted a TV ad for Trump in final weeks of the race & the campaign paid $1.5 million to air it on his Fox show.⁩
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
All bars and restaurants in Ohio will be indefinitely closed starting at 9pm tonight, Gov. DeWines just annnounced, adding that carry-out and delivery can continue. "Delay means more people will die," DeWine said.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Biden was up, 52-44, over Trump on Feb. 29. Then covid spread, lockdowns started, and everything changed…except for how we view the 2020 race. Biden up, 51-43, in latest WSJ/NBC poll our this morning. More here from ⁦ @learyreports ⁩:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Concerned about that joint statement today from the White House and the Kremlin was odd? So were officials inside the Trump administration. More here from the Gordon gang:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
A frustrated Mr. Trump put his hands in the air—two open palms on either side of his face—and said, “Bye-bye,” and left the room, according to people familiar with the meeting via @WSJ
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump has criticized Bill Barr and Mike Pompeo in this interview so far.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
To keep social distance, House lawmakers to vote on latest relief package in eight separate, alphabetical groups of 60. They’ve been asked to avoid elevators and remain in office until their group is called. Via ⁦ @kristinapet ⁩:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
Trump says he doesn't have time to call AOC by all three names. "So we'll call her Cortez," he says.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
7 years
“My administration will follow two simple rules: Buy American, & hire American.”—Donald Trump, just now
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
In some of his first public remarks on coronavirus—Jan. 22 in Davos—Trump said “we’ve already handled it very well” when asked if he had a plan. “We’re in very good shape." The U.S. reported its first confirmed case that week, and now has more than 1,600.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
New: Trump canceled plans for a Doral-based G7 after hearing from Republican lawmakers that they were unable to defend the move, especially after having fielding questions about Ukraine dealings and Syria decision. w/ ⁦ @vmsalama ⁩:
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
The president's re-election campaign has ordered red, Trump-branded face masks for supporters. Campaign officials have discussed giving away the masks at events or in return for donations. w/ @KThomasDC :
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
Mulvaney was caught flatfooted by the blowback after his news conference He left the podium & walked into Stephanie Grisham's office. “How’d it go?” Mulvaney asked. “There’s a couple things we’re going to have to clean up,” Ms. Grisham told him.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Amazing calculation from Trump campaign to just absolutely go for it when it comes to a White House-based convention.
@atrupar
Aaron Rupar
4 years
After issuing a pardon, Trump is now doing a naturalization ceremony during the RNC
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
1 year
One thing missing from tonight’s speech: No mention of how Trump paved the way for the overturn of Roe.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
The White House covid tests return results within about 15 minutes. But most public health experts, like MIT Medical below, recommend waiting at least 5 days after a potential exposure because of the high likelihood of false negatives before then.
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@realDonaldTrump
Donald J. Trump
4 years
Hope Hicks, who has been working so hard without even taking a small break, has just tested positive for Covid 19. Terrible! The First Lady and I are waiting for our test results. In the meantime, we will begin our quarantine process!
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
At St. John’s on Monday, Ivanka Trump handed her father the Bible to hold as media cameras were escorted from across the street. She brought it from the White House in the white MaxMara handbag she was carrying, officials said.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump pulled up to his golf course in Virginia moments ago. It's his first golf outing since quarantine started in March and comes as he positions himself as the face of the effort to reopen the economy.
@KellyO
Kelly O'Donnell
4 years
The president headed out of the White House today. Seen here as he put on his glasses. Secret Service wearing masks. Credit to my colleague, photographer Joe Martin.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
2 years
My favorite detail in @JonLemire 's new book: Trump's top Russia adviser, Fiona Hill, ***thought about faking a heart attack*** during the infamous Helsinki news conference to get Trump to stop talking about how he believed Putin that Russia wasn't interfering in elections.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
4 years
Trump on Fox Business this morning says he probably didn’t need any medicine to fight Covid-19.
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@MichaelCBender
Michael C. Bender
5 years
In private conversations, Trump has expressed satisfaction in having acting Cabinet members, saying interim leaders are more beholden to him. Shanahan’s extended try-out as Defsec may soon include forking over Pentagon cash to build POTUS’s border wall
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