And we start this friday morning with a fox news alert. Former President Donald Trump has apparently thrown his support behind ohio congressman jim jordan for the race for speaker of the house. Trumps endorsement on truth social last night comes ahead of a wednesday vote next wednesday as republicans seek a candidate who they believe is the best fit to replace former House Speaker Kevin Mccarthy. Lawrence trump posted overnight congressman jim jordan has been a star long before making his very successful journey to washington, d. C. Represent representing ohios fourth congressional district. He will be greater speaker of the house. And he has my complete and total endorsement. Brian trump isnt fully ruling out stepping in. Telling us quote, i almost said u. S. I have been asked to speak as a unifier because i have so many friends in congress if they dont get the vote they have asked me if i would consider taking the speakership until they get somebody longer term because i am running f
government. this is by professor karen dawasha who wrote, instead of seeing russian politics as an inchoate democratic system being pulled down by bureaucratic incompetence or poor western advice, i conclude that from the beginning, putin and his circle sought to create an authoritarian regime ruled by a close-knit cabal who used democracy for decoration rather than direction. mr. comey, is it fair to say that the line that exists in the united states between government officers and government officials is blurred in russia, that there may be oligarchs or other individuals who on the surface appear to be private citizens but who have connections to this close-knit cabal who might be agents of influence or might be doing the kremlin s bidding in contact with others? that s fair to say. and one of our counterintelligence missions is to try to understand who are those people and are they acting on behalf of the russian