Pondering the Pundits

“Pondering the Pundits” is an Open Thread. It is a selection of editorials and opinions from around the news medium and the internet blogs. The intent is to provide a forum for your reactions and opinions, not just to the opinions presented, but to what ever you find important.

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David Ignatius: The Trump bubble bursts in Moscow’s markets

Financial markets have been sending an interesting message about President Trump and Russia. After Trump’s election, investors seemed to be betting that sanctions against Moscow would soon be eased. But this confidence collapsed in late January, and Russian stocks plummeted. [..]

What happened on Jan. 27? After weeks of negative stories about possible links between members of Trump’s campaign and Russia, the new president told a news conference it was “very early to be talking about” removing sanctions. Regarding a call scheduled the next day with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said blandly that he would “see what happens.” And according to both sides, the call produced only vague pledges to cooperate against terrorism. [..]

These financial machinations illustrate one little-examined reason why it matters whether former national security adviser Michael Flynn talked to Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak about sanctions before the inauguration, or whether anyone from the Trump campaign had contact with Russian officials.

These issues don’t just interest journalists or Trump’s critics in Congress. They move markets. The Trump trade was looking like a winner for Moscow, but now, not so much.

Katrina vanden Heuvel: Neo-McCarthyite furor around Russia is counterproductive

The sacking of Michael Flynn as national security adviser has intensified the frenzy over possible Russian interference in the election. The New York Times published an editorial comparing the Flynn imbroglio to Watergate, expressing “shock and incredulity” that Trump campaign officials were in contact with Russian intelligence officials, demanding a congressional investigation of “whether people at the highest levels of the United States government have aided and abetted the interests of a nation that has tried to thwart American foreign policy since the Cold War.” President Trump, of course, scorns the charges as “a ruse” and “ridiculous.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) called an emergency meeting of Democrats to plan how to spotlight the issue.

When Washington heads into one of these feeding frenzies, judgment is often the first casualty. It’s worth remembering what is at stake. [..]

Foreign interference in U.S. elections is unacceptable. Leaks of secret intelligence to discredit an elected president are bad precedent. We need an independent investigation that reports publicly on what happened and what steps are necessary to protect against both. What we don’t need is a replay of Cold War hysteria that cuts off debate, slanders skeptics and undermines any effort to explore areas of agreement with Russia in our own national interest.

Jessica Valento: Milo Yiannopoulos isn’t the only bigot Republicans are cozy with

It’s odd to watch conservatives distance themselves from the writer Milo Yiannopoulos because he condoned child sex abuse. After all, they just elected a president who has a history of making inappropriate sexual comments about children – including his own daughter – and was accused of walking into the dressing rooms of changing teenagers.

So excuse me if I don’t buy the outrage.

For those of us who have been writing about feminism online for a long time, Yiannapoulos is old news. We’ve long warned about his noxious harassment, his incitements and the danger he poses to marginalized communities. Yet again, feminists are the canaries in the coal mine. (Or, as my friend Kate Harding put it to me recently, “canaries in the troll mine”.)

The truth, though, is that this is an issue not so much about one hateful writer, but about conservatives’ tolerance and support of hateful ideology more generally. There’s been an inarguable rise of white nationalist misogynists in the public sphere, a phenomenon the leader of our country does little to distance himself from. But being unapologetically vile comes naturally to Trump.

Lawrence Douglas: Lying got Michael Flynn fired. But that’s what the Trump White House does best

True to his word, Donald Trump is draining the swamp. What he neglected to mention was that it would be a swamp of his own making. Less than one month old, and already the Trump presidency has the making of an ethical superfund site.

The problems did not begin with Kellyanne Conway shilling for Ivanka Trump’s latest product line. And they will not be solved with the resignation of Michael Flynn, the intemperate and vaguely paranoid national security adviser forced out after 24 days on the job.

The problems began on day one. Having brazenly refused to remove himself from his far-flung business interests, Trump has been in violation of the constitution from the instant that he swore to uphold it.

Amanda Marcotte: Western land war heats up: Major outdoor-industry trade show bails on Utah to protest GOP assault on public land

Outdoor recreation is a big business in the state of Utah, which is blessed with some of the most scenic natural areas, including ski resorts, canyons, forests and deserts. According to the state government’s website, “In Utah alone, outdoor recreation contributes more than $12B to the economy, employs more than 122,000 people and is the primary driver behind the tourism industry.”

This is such a big deal for Utah that in 2013 Republican Gov. Gary Herbert created an official state office for outdoor recreation, which gives grants to outdoor recreation infrastructure projects and youth programs around the state.

Despite all this, the outdoor recreation industry is in full revolt against the state. In a shocking move, Outdoor Retailer, a twice-yearly trade show that pumps an estimated $45 million a year into the state’s economy, has announced plans to move from Salt Lake City, which has hosted the convention for the past 20 years. Organizers of the convention, which has attracted as many as 40,000 people in the past, are currently garnering bids from other cities.

Outdoor Retailer’s organizers don’t want to leave Utah. The Beehive State is a natural home for a trade featuring the latest in sports gear and equipment. But organizers feel like they have no choice because Utah’s political leaders keep escalating their war against the very public lands that the outdoor industry needs in order to sell hiking boots, skis and kayaks.