Its Blackmail: Joe and Mika Reveal How White House Threatened Them With National Enquirer

[deminks]

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/its-blackmail-joe-and-mika-reveal-how-white-house-threatened-them-with-national-enquirer/

One of the more fascinating revelations that has come as a result of President Trump‘s vulgar tweets toward Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski yesterday, was the allegation that the White House threatened Mika and her co-host Joe Scarborough with a negative story planned by National Enquirer.

This stunning claim was first revealed in a Washington Post opinion piece published this morning — that was co-written by the morning show hosts– and strongly suggests that, under President Trump’s direction, the Morning Joe co-hosts felt pressure to somehow do right by the White House, and in exchange the story would be spiked.

On today’s riveting “interview” with the co-hosts — who delayed a planned vacation so that they could address this story — Joe and Mika went into great detail about this remarkably unsettling episode, which if true, raises remarkably significant questions about the White House’s relationship with a free press.

(snip)

If true, the details shared by Scarborough of how senior administration officials alleged pressure on both he and Mika, and how National Enquirer reporters hounded Brzenzki’s family members (children!) should send shivers down the spine of anyone who believes in a society that can openly criticize elected officials without fear of reproach.

(end snip)

Dumpster Fire must resign. Or be impeached. GOPpies, this is blackmail against a former GOPpie congress critter.

[rzemanfl]

1. Why do I feel this a chess move in a plan to make Pence President?

Oh, wait, because I don't ever trust a Republican. That's why.

[Blue_Adept]

2. Even if it is, it doesn't matter

If we let these things become the norms in an effort to avoid a President Pence, then we doom the whole endeavor.

[bettyellen]

7. Is anyone talking about how this changed their coverage? They were kind to Trump....

Honestly, they should both resign for not going public with this.

[zentrum]

12. Absolutely true.

This also has the structure of sexual harassment: Do what I want or I'll ruin your career.

Fox News Culture now reigns in the WH.

[Moostache]

25. More like a Mob thumb breaker...

That's a nice show you twos got over there...be a real shame if anything happened to it that yous couldn't undo...

[NewJeffCT]

6. Pence will be a wounded duck

if he becomes president. All the stench from Team Trump will still be associated with him.

[rzemanfl]

8. He is as dirty as the rest of the bunch. The Repukes still control the legislative branch. n/t

[Atman]

14. McTurtle and Ryan will be co-Presidents.

Pence will be nothing but the guy who signs the bills...what they were hoping for with Trumpsky, but that planned failed miserably.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

15. Yup. Pence either lied about Flynn or is incompetent; maybe both. Add Trump-Republican stench. . nt

[Moostache]

26. I want no part of the Ayatollah of Indianastan as POTUS!

Pence is a horrific chief executive and a religious zealot above all else...we have crazy in the White House already, we really do not need crazy listening to the voices in his head next...we are well and truly fucked no matter what.

[Tom Rinaldo]

3. This was the real "news" story out of all of this tweet storm aftermath

That is how authoritarians operate.

[Left-over]

20. Like dealing with the mob

Dealing with the scum in the white house is similar to dealing with some mob overlord who gets things done through threats and blackmail if you are not compliant with his directives.

[Tom Rinaldo]

23. And then there are times when it is one and the same n/t

[superpatriotman]

4. Cue the enablers

Time to make excuses all weekend.

[Vinca]

5. That was an astonishing revelation. Trump is like a mob boss.

[superpatriotman]

9. Phony Soprano

Eom

[YCHDT]

11. lofl

[Kentonio]

29. Hahaha

[YCHDT]

10. This is some shit here, I knew these people wouldn't be too far from threatening family members

[zentrum]

13. Frankly this article does not convey how extreme

...it was. They were threatened via calls made repeatedly, over and over, direct from WH operatives. Mika's house was staked out by a tabloid which can feel physically intimidating. It was intense and creepy. The inclusion of the teenage daughter is hideous.

Is not blackmail of any kind a prosecutable crime?

[SweetieD]

16. Isn't this illegal? Nt

[Honeycombe8]

17. Congress needs to publicly rebuke him. nt

[madokie]

18. I want to see

him rode out of town on a rail

ACTUALLY

[Moostache]

27. I want a perp walk out of 1600!!!

Put that motherfucker in chains, leg irons and shackles!!!
Drag him out if necessary...

[DeminPennswoods]

19. Natl Enquirer owner is a big Trump supporter

The New Yorker magazine did a story on him this week.

Link: http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/07/03/the-national-enquirers-fervor-for-trump

[LakeArenal]

21. America is so great now...

America has so much greatness.. It's the best greatness. We are having so much greatness we don't even look great anymore.

[Moostache]

28. I am so tired of "winning" I feel like Charlie Sheen's alter ego... (n/t)

[Ilsa]

22. Irony alert: DT wanted a fake news story to subdue two media

people that he accuses of using fake news.

[Beartracks]

24. Spot on! And so typical of republicans....

... to engage in what they baselessly accuse others of doing.

============