Federal investigators have wiretapped the phone lines of Michael Cohen, the longtime personal lawyer for [Donald] Trump who is under investigation for a payment he made to [Stormy Daniels], who alleged she had an affair with Trump, according to two people with knowledge of the legal proceedings involving Cohen.[UPDATE: NBC News now says it wasn't a wiretap, but a pen register: "The correction was announced on MSNBC during Meet the Press Daily by the story's lead reporter, Tom Winter. He said US officials had told him that it 'was not a wiretap' but instead a 'pen register,' meaning that Cohen's calls were not being listened to. 'In plain English, that means it was a log of phone calls that were made from specific phone line — from a specific phone line or specific phone lines,' Winter said."]
It is not clear how long the wiretap has been authorized, but NBC News has learned it was in place in the weeks leading up to the raids on Cohen's offices, hotel room, and home in early April, according to one person with direct knowledge.
So, the evening before this news leaked, and the public was about to find out that federal law enforcement
As far as I'm concerned, this gives more credence to my contention that Giuliani's performance was part of a strategy.
Further, New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman — who uses her position at the Times to constantly communicate to the public that the administration is in crisis and/or chaos, in service to the administration — is back at it, which further convinces me that there's a strategy at work:
I hope we all appreciate the irony that everyone knows Haberman has intimate access, but pretends she doesn't, as she then uses that access which is granted as part of a strategy to pretend that there's no strategy.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) May 3, 2018
She's paid in access to convey that there's chaos. pic.twitter.com/ML1FI6dJZP
This is instructive: "They will create chaos, maintain a constant sense of conflict and danger." Authoritarianism is then ushered in under the auspices of protecting us from the perceived dangers underwritten by relentless chaos. https://t.co/ilMt1DTEM9
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) May 3, 2018
To be clear: The perception of chaos is an organized (nonchaotic) strategy. The suggestion there is no strategy helps that strategy.
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) May 3, 2018
The less people understand a strategy, the harder it is to counter. If we don't even know there *is* a strategy, so much the better (for them).
Relatedly: If you haven't already, you should listen to @sarahkendzior talking about Haberman and access journalism. https://t.co/OsGXTuTLDR
— Melissa McEwan (@Shakestweetz) May 3, 2018
Anyway. One hopes all of this will matter someday! That would be terrific.
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