đ Programming note: A quick update on what to expect from WTFJHT as we head into the holidays... Iâll be publishing Monday, Dec. 29 and Tuesday, Dec. 30, before returning to my regular MondayâThursday schedule on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026. As always, if something truly WTF-y happens, Iâll be here. Otherwise, this is a short pause to recharge and spend some time with family. Thanks for reading, sharing, and supporting this project. It means a lot and Iâm glad youâre here. -MATT
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A political newsletter for normal people
WTF Just Happened Today? is a sane, once-a-day newsletter helping normal people make sense of the news. Curated daily and delivered to 200,000+ people every afternoon around 3 pm Pacific.
Day 174: Cyber operatives.
1/ Investigators are examining if Trumpâs digital operation helped guide Russiaâs election meddling. The digital team was overseen by Jared Kushner. The House and Senate Intelligence committees and the Justice Department are focusing on whether Trumpâs campaign pointed Russian cyber operatives to certain voting jurisdictions in states that supported Hillary Clinton. (McClatchy DC)
- The White House is under siege by Trump Jr.âs Russia revelations. The president is enraged that the Russia cloud still hangs over his presidency and, now, over his family. (Washington Post)
2/ Jared Kushnerâs lawyers discovered Trump Jr.âs emails while reviewing documents. The team amended Kushnerâs clearance forms to disclose it, but Kushner still faces potential trouble because he currently works in the White House and neglected to mention the encounter on the forms he filled out for a background check to obtain a security clearance. (New York Times)
3/ The White House wonât say whether Jared Kushner still has a security clearance after he omitted the interaction with the Russian lawyer on his application for a security clearance. He later included the meeting on a supplemental form. Sarah Huckabee Sanders dodged the question, saying the White House has ânever discussed the security clearanceâ of a staff member. (Talking Points Memo / CNN)
4/Â Trumpâs lawyer said the President didnât see the emails until Trump Jr. released them. Jay Sekulow also said Trump was not aware Trump Jr. was offered information about Clinton from Russia. âThe President, by the way, never saw an email â did not see the email â until it was seen today,â Sekulow said, referring to Trump Jr.âs tweets containing copies of the email chain. Trump said he did not fault his son for holding the meeting. âI think many people would have held that meeting,â he added. (CNN / Reuters)
5/Â Trumpâs other lawyer, Marc Kasowitz, isnât seeking a security clearance. Several lawyers who have represented presidents and senior government officials said they could not imagine how Kasowitz could handle a case full of sensitive material without a clearance. Kasowitz is Trumpâs attorney in the Russia investigations. (ProPublica)
6/ Kasowitz wants to wall off Jared Kushner from discussing the Russia investigation with Trump. The goal is to protect Trump from special counsel Bob Muellerâs investigation into Kushnerâs three meetings with the Russians. Kasowitz has âcomplained that Kushner has been whispering in the presidentâs ear about the Russia investigations [âŚ] while keeping the lawyers out of the loop.â (Axios / New York Times)
7/ US intelligence overheard Russian officials discussing Trump associates before the campaign began. Starting in the spring of 2015, intelligence agencies detected conversations where Russian government officials discussed meetings with Trump business associates and advisers. Itâs not clear which Trump associates or advisers the Russians were referring to, or whether they had any connection to his presidential aspirations. (Wall Street Journal)
8/ Trump tweets that he has âvery little time for watching T.V.,â saying his âW.H. is functioning perfectly, focused on HealthCare, Tax Cuts/Reform & many other things.â (Politico)
The W.H. is functioning perfectly, focused on HealthCare, Tax Cuts/Reform & many other things. I have very little time for watching T.V.
â Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 12, 2017
9/ An Iowa Republican wants to use funding from food stamps and Planned Parenthood to pay for Trumpâs border wall. Representative Steve King said the government needs to âratchet back downâ the number of Americans on food stamps and that heâd âfind half a billionâ of the $1.6 billion needed for the wall âfrom right out of Planned Parenthoodâs budget.â (CNN)
10/ The State Department spent more than $15,000 for rooms at the Trump hotel in Vancouver. The 19 rooms booked represent the first evidence of State Department expenditures at Trump-branded properties since he took office in January. (Washington Post)
A political newsletter for normal people
WTF Just Happened Today? is a sane, once-a-day newsletter helping normal people make sense of the news. Curated daily and delivered to 200,000+ people every afternoon around 3 pm Pacific.
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