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14 Stories The Trump Administration Wanted To Distract You From Last Week

by Joseph D. Lyons
Pool/Getty Images News/Getty Images

President Trump doesn't have many policy wins, and yet he and his administration dominate the news cycle — every day. Take the Department of Justice reportedly preparing to sue universities affirmative action policies, for example. And I won't even mention what thoughts the president has expressed on Twitter. But these are not the most important stories you needed to read last week. Instead, there are 14 stories that the Trump administration wanted to distract you from, but you can't let them.

The stories Trump and his staff would prefer the media obsess about are not necessarily good either. Consider Trump's support of the RAISE Act to limit legal immigration and Stephen Miller's defense of it and reworking the significance of the Statue of Liberty. Both are offensive, nativist, and more. But in reality, it's unlikely that the RAISE Act will pass.

There are other things that are already happening, or may have happened and are being investigated that the country should really be focusing on. If you rely on Trump's "real news" newscast, however, these important issues might not come to your attention. So, inform yourself, share what you learn with your network, and spread the word that there's news that the Trump administration might not want you to see.

1) There's A Grand Jury For The Russia Investigation

Special prosecutor Robert Mueller impaneled a grand jury to keep investigating Russia's role in the 2016 election. Some experts say this is evidence that Mueller has found evidence of wrongdoing. There's no way to know for sure, but Trump is not happy and would rather you not talk about it.

2) He Helped His Son Draft A Misleading Statement

Donald Trump Jr. released a statement after the meeting with the Russian lawyer that was misleading at best. Now the White House has admitted that Trump helped draft it.

3) Kushner Companies Was Subpoenaed

Trump is busy talking about reducing legal immigration to distract you from the fact that his adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner's family business has been seeking investors by supposedly promising green card.. The Wall Street Journal reported that the company was subpoenaed in May.

4) The Republican Senate Doesn't Trust Him

He's been acting so shady regarding Attorney General Jeff Sessions that the GOP Senate leadership has stayed in session so that the president cannot nominate a new AG while they're on summer break. They're worried he would try this to derail the Russia investigation.

5) The Administration Is Friendly With The Koch Bros.

Vice President Pence is speaking at a Koch brothers event.

6) Mueller Is Reportedly Requesting White House Documents

In another sign of bad news to come for Trump regarding Russia, Mueller supposedly requested documents from the Trump White House on Michael Flynn, who briefly served as National Security Adviser. Getting away from the Russia investigation just isn't possible.

7) Trump's Going To Be Playing Golf A Lot

The president doesn't want it reported that he's basically on an extended vacation the next couple weeks. He's even been tweeting, claiming that he isn't truly on vacation.

8) Trump Is Breaking Federal Rules

It's maybe not a big one, but it shows the president's disdain for the federal government and rules more generally. Trump has been commenting on jobs numbers immediately after the report is released, breaking a federal rule first established in 1985.

9) Pence's Email Situation In Indiana Is Mighty Ironic

For someone who lamented over emails throughout the entire election campaign, Trump can't love that his own VP used a private email while serving as governor of Indiana. Pence just now turned over his AOL account emails to the state.

10) The Situation In Afghanistan Isn't Good

John McCain has said that Trump's indecision in Afghanistan is so bad that he's going to take matters into his own hands to provide a game plan:

If the president fails to do this by the time the Senate takes up the defense authorization bill in September, I will offer an amendment to that legislation, which will provide such a strategy.

11) The Secret Service Is Moving Out Of Trump Tower

The Secret Service was leasing space in Trump Tower in New York to protect the president's family. But supposedly due to the cost, the agency is now looking to lease elsewhere.

12) Trump's Top Advisors Supposedly Won't Leave The Country In His Hands

Secretary of Defense James Mattis and the president's chief-of-staff, John Kelly, reportedly made a pact never to travel out of the United States at the same time, lest they leave the White House in Trump's hands.

13) The Russia Investigation Is Turning To Financial Ties

The Mueller team is looking into Trump and his associates' financial ties to Russia. CNN reported that they're looking at many Trump companies, Donald Trump Jr.'s finances, and more.

14) Officials Of The FBI Itself May Have To Testify Against Trump

After James Comey was fired and Mueller was appointed, officials at the FBI discussed the possibility of being called to testify about Trump's potential obstruction of justice.

And all of that happened in just one week. Imagine the things that the average American never hears about, and not just because they get their news from the Trump Facebook page. With all the noise in Washington, D.C. these days, it's hard to stay focused on the very serious issues the country is facing.