In his recent interviews (with Terry Gross on Fresh Air and David Remnick on The New Yorker Radio Hour) to promote his new book, A Higher Loyalty, James Comey defends his decision to call out Hillary Clinton’s “extremely careless” use of email to let the people know the integrity of the F.B.I. He could have just said case closed and no further comment was needed. Why was he trying to defend the integrity and honesty of the F.B.I.? The reputation of the Bureau has never been compromised. Robert Mueller has not said a word in public and no one is questioning his integrity. He also spoke up about the reopening of the email investigation close to the election. Whether he admits it or not, Comey had tipped the election to the guy who ended up fired him. That is something he has to live with for the rest of his life.

For his interview with Judge Douglas Ginsburg at Scalia Law School, Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein did not say much about the investigation. He talked about his career and a bit about his personal life. He did confirm his reason for appointing Robert Mueller as a special counsel. No one can do the job better than Mueller. He also sees his responsibility in broader obligations, and not about his reputation or party affiliation. He is doing the right thing and I thank him for that.

Adam Davidson:

There is no longer one major investigation into Donald Trump, focussed solely on collusion with Russia. There are now at least two, including a thorough review of Cohen’s correspondence. The information in his office and hotel room will likely make clear precisely how much the Trump family knew. What we already know is disturbing, and it is hard to imagine that the information prosecutors will soon learn will do anything but worsen the picture.

I am optimistic.

Paul Krugman:

Look, the single animating principle of everything Ryan did and proposed was to comfort the comfortable while afflicting the afflicted. Can anyone name a single instance in which his supposed concern about the deficit made him willing to impose any burden on the wealthy, in which his supposed compassion made him willing to improve the lives of the poor?

Can’t name one. Ryan was simply a failure and a coward. He won’t be missed.

Paul Ryan won’t run for re-election because he sucks at his job and he knows it. His tax bill is a disaster and his cowardice—not standing up to Trump—puts this country in danger. Republican needs strong leaders like Rod Rosenstein and Robert Mueller who put country over career and party. Unfortunately, Ryan is not one of them. He will be remember as an NRA puppet and a boneless chicken. Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio should join him as well. These useless swamps need to be drained.

Rod Rosenstein will be on campus next week for an interview and Q&A with Judge Douglas H. Ginsburg. I was asked to design the email invitation. I have no idea what they will be talking about, but I have signed up to be there.

Since Rosenstein approved the F.B.I. raid on Michael Cohen, Trump is enraged and wanting to fire him. I hope Rosenstein will still be the Deputy Attorney General next week.

Trump is still raging about the F.B.I. raid. He tweeted, “Attorney–client privilege is dead!” For someone who always bragged that he is above the law, Trump is now implying that the law should protect him. He must be scared and paranoid. He is going down. Sadly we will go down with him.

Stormy Stormy Stormy (uh-huh) can’t you see (uh)
Sometimes your work just hippotize me (hippotize)
And I just love your flashy ways (uh-huh)
Guess that’s why they broke (the law), and you’re so paid (hah)

I put T-R-U-M-P showering in my pee pee (uh-huh)
Rolled up a M-A-G and smacked him up his booty (that’s right)
You’re fucking with a porn star (c’mon)
Get your dumbass lawyer to pay me $130,000 (hah!)
Now who’s the real dookie, meanin’ who’s really the shit
Them GOPs ride dicks, Stormy Daniels pushes the sticks.

Trump is pissed. In response to the F.B.I raid, he said, “It’s an attack on our country, in a true sense. It’s an attack on what we all stand for.” This is not an attack on our country. It’s a defense of our democracy. This is not an attack on what we all stand for. We stand up against fascism. We cannot allow our country to turn into an authoritative ruling. Trump is not above the law. If he fires Robert Mueller, his ass is done. He should just hand over his presidency now before Stormy Daniels takes him down.

Matt Apuzzo breaks the news:

The F.B.I. on Monday raided the office of President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, seizing records related to several topics including payments to a pornographic-film actress.

Shit is about to go down.