Today in 5 Lines
President Trump said he used “tough” language during a meeting with lawmakers Thursday, but denied using the term “shithole” to describe some countries. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin, who was present for the meeting, confirmed that Trump made the remark, which he called “vile and racist,” while Republican Senators Tom Cotton of Arkansas and David Perdue of Georgia said they don’t remember him saying it. Trump canceled his upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom. He also stopped short of re-imposing sanctions on Iran, but threatened to pull out of the nuclear deal unless European allies agree to an overhaul. And a Trump lawyer reportedly “arranged a $130,000 payment to a former adult-film star a month before the 2016 election as part of an agreement that precluded her from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with Mr. Trump.”
Today on The Atlantic
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The Purpose of Trump’s Presidency: Adam Serwer writes that the president’s remarks on immigration “reflect a moral principle that has guided policy while in office, a principle that is obvious to all but that some simply refuse to articulate.”
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‘A Pattern of Violent Behavior’: More congressional Democrats are being personally briefed on President Trump’s mental health by a Yale psychiatrist, who’s suggested that he could be involuntarily committed. (Elaine Godfrey)
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No Way Out: Everyone knows Trump’s presidency is a disaster, argues David A. Graham, the problem is, there is no way to end it.
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Change Starts at the Dinner Table: Senators James Lankford and Tim Scott write that Americans can honor Martin Luther King Jr. by engaging with people of different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
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Radio Atlantic: As the anniversary of his inauguration nears, a new book filled with salacious claims about the Trump administration has become a bestseller. But no new claims or revelations have been more telling than Trump's public behavior. In this week’s episode of Radio Atlantic, James Fallows joins our hosts to discuss what dangers are courted by speculating about the president's mental acuity—and what steps could be taken to make such speculation unnecessary. If you listen to Radio Atlantic, help us out by answering a quick survey here.