Oof this is one of those days when you don’t dare close all the news sources and walk away because sheeeee-it.

For instance, the fact that Barr was involved means he had a giant conflict of interest when he ruled on the whistleblower report.

Sean Patrick Maloney: We didn’t know before today that Attorney General Bill Barr was involved in pressuring Ukraine to investigate Biden. He’s the same AG who told Trump not to hand over the whistleblower complaint to Congress. “That’s a conflict. That’s a screaming red light.”

The whistleblower complaint must include Barr, so…yeah.

The Guardian half an hour ago (such old news now) said one of the main stories is the astonishment that the White House thought the memorandum would be good for Trump. It sure as hell astonishes me.

Republican strategist Rick Wilson:

How the fuck did Trump think this transcript was going to help him???

Former FBI agent Asha Rangappa:

Here’s what’s clear: Trump does not observe or recognize important legal distinctions. Not between official business and his campaign. Between private attorney and gov attorneys. Between taxpayer money and his money. Everything is an extension [o]f himself, to be used for his ends.

Former Obama adviser:

The fact that the White House apparently thought this transcript would be a letdown is absolutely chilling. Have they been surrounded by state-sanctioned lawlessness, self-dealing, and corruption for so long that it no longer registers?

Matthew Miller:

I can’t tell whether they actually thought that or are trying to bluff their way through it. This is going to be the ultimate test of the reality distortion field Trump has established over the Republican Party.

Adam Schiff calls it a classic Mafia-like shakedown.

Trump is defending himself with “It wasn’t a direct shakedown.”

“You don’t see a direct quid pro quo in this.” @BretBaier

Wow. That’s it? That’s what he’s going with? He thinks an indirect quid pro quo is ok???

He’s hanging himself. Right now, right in front of us.