Episode 4: Trump turns on Barr

[catbyte]

Jonathan Swan

Beginning on election night 2020 and continuing through his final days in office, Donald Trump unraveled and dragged America with him, to the point that his followers sacked the U.S. Capitol with two weeks left in his term. Axios takes you inside the collapse of a president with a special series.

Episode 4: Trump torches what is arguably the most consequential relationship in his Cabinet.

Attorney General Bill Barr stood behind a chair in the private dining room next to the Oval Office, looming over Donald Trump. The president sat at the head of the table. It was Dec. 1, nearly a month after the election, and Barr had some sharp advice to get off his chest. The president's theories about a stolen election, Barr told Trump, were "bullshit."

White House counsel Pat Cipollone and a few other aides in the room were shocked Barr had come out and said it — although they knew it was true. For good measure, the attorney general threw in a warning that the new legal team Trump was betting his future on was "clownish."

snip

On Dec. 14, Trump and Barr met one-on-one in the Oval Office. Others were there with Trump when the attorney general arrived. Barr asked for the room to be cleared so they could speak privately. He outlined his reasons for stepping aside early, explaining that while they'd had a good relationship, they now disagreed on key matters.

They did not need a public blowup. It was time to leave while the departure could still be amicable. Barr later told associates the meeting was calm and rational and that he'd written his resignation letter — which effusively praised the president for his policy achievements — the day before.

On election fraud, Barr had told Trump what he did not want to hear and the president had stopped listening. It was time for Barr to go.

https://www.axios.com/trump-barr-relationship-off-the-rails-b33b3788-e7e9-47fa-84c5-3a0016559eb5.html

[tblue37]

1. K&R for visibility. nt

[magicarpet]

2. Blind and unquestioned loyalty to the Orange Fuhrer,...

.... or get the fuck out.

[underpants]

6. This sounds like "The Downfall" the Hitler bunker movie people redo on YouTube

I avoid comparisons to Hitler like the plague but the table pounding and the third person references reminded me of it exactly.

[Baclava]

9. Ayep, people are disposable meat shields to him, off to the woodchipper if you disobey

The Butcher of Mar-A-Lago takes no prisoners

[malaise]

3. I have two questions

Did they not know what we knew about Trump before jumping bed with him?

Does Barr want a medal for finally waking up after enabling this shameless, unethical, fascist monster for years?

[underpants]

7. Exactly- everyone gets burned. I wish there was more on June 1st

but I understand that this series is post election for the most part.

[dalton99a]

4. Interesting series

[Laelth]

5. I am enjoying this series. n/t

-Laelth

[UTUSN]

8. Delicious, despite that there's no side to cheer for!1