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- It's Only a Thing if You Make it a Thing
Even though the Times and other DC-brained press outlets are framing it as something that “heightens corruption concerns” (Times) and “could awaken Trump’s sleeping ‘corrupt’ problem” (Post), bribing Trump with a plane seems to be a story people care about. Jebus forbid that these guys call a bribe a bribe. One Times’ reporter is so damn scared of actually writing a piece of accountability journalism that he out-pitchbotted the pitchout:
I can't top this one.
— New York Times Pitchbot (@nytpitchbot.bsky.social)2025-05-12T14:30:48.312Z
Still, a $400 million gift of an item that will be transferred to Trump at the end of the presidency is a problem, even for Teflon Don and his Press Corpse helpers. Steve M captures a good part of why this story might have legs:
But the Trump of his voters' fantasies shouldn't need a gift from the Middle East. Trump's voters think he's so brilliant that he should be able to get a new Air Force One built ahead of schedule and under budget. Why get one from foreigners? Why should America -- Trump'sAmerica! -- need a handout like this from overseas?
And the foreigners who gave us this handout are Muslims who don't wear Western clothes! Islamophobia isn't as visible in America as it was two decades ago -- we've swept the unpopular Iraq and Afghanistan wars under the rug (Trump has helped make them almost as unpopular among Republicans as they've been among Democrats), and we don't talk about the "war on terror" very much anymore -- but people on the right still regard Muslims with deep hostility, and everyone thinks the Middle East's petro-states are sleazy and suspect.
Even Chuck Schumer took a moment from defending his seat as minority leader, and calling every college kid who every criticized Israel an anti-semite, to do this:
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer is set to announce that he will place holds on all political nominees to Justice Department posts until he receives “more answers” about Qatar’s potential plane gift to the Trump administration. wapo.st/43fFEIT
— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com)2025-05-13T14:51:47.790Z
I feel like every Schumer pronouncement needs to be accompanied by a fast-talking radio voice explaining why the offer isn’t valid in your region, conditions apply, etc. So I’ll believe this one when I see it.
Rep Shri Thanedar (D-MI-14) introduced articles of impeachment today on the House floor [pdf]. The list is daunting, and it doesn’t even include the plane.
Anyway, I don’t like to be writing a post like the one I wrote about Abrego Garcia, especially after Jeffries told Representatives to stop going to El Salvador and the story receded from the headlines. (Jeffries denied the story, which broke at the end of last month, but two weeks later there have been no further trips.). But hope springs eternal that we can make some hay from this obvious massive bribe.
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