Donald Jr.: Traitor or Sleazeball? [Reason Podcast]

"America did a fucking great job of deligitimating its own institutions," says Reason's Nick Gillespie.

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Donald Jr.: Traitor or Sleazeball? [Reason Podcast]

"Don't take the meeting, don't say I love it, and don't lie to people about it," says Reason's Matt Welch about revelations that Donald Trump Jr. met with a Russian attorney during the 2016 election to obtain potentially incriminating information about Hillary Clinton.

In today's podcast, Welch is joined by fellow editors Nick Gillespie and Katherine Mangu-Ward to discuss whether the president's son crossed the line—or maybe he's just the latest target of an on ongoing media smear campaign?

And is Trump deligitimating American institutions?

"America did a fucking great job of deligitimating its [own] institutions," says Gillespie.

They also discuss sexual assault on campus, whether university administrators or the police are better equipped to investigate rape charges, the Senate Republicans' dreadful health care bill, and why Betsy Devos draws so much hate.

Audio production by Ian Keyser.

Moderated by Andrew Heaton.

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Comments

[Palin's Buttplug]

Just Trump-Sleaze.

[timbo]

The robot is back.

[timbo]

Obviously trump and his camp are sleazy. Was a crime committed or even an ethics violation committed?

I don't think so and I cannot stand the guy for being another massive government shithead.

The whole subject is fucking stupid.

That said, watching Hector Mountain Dew Trump run this place into the ground is a hell of a lot funnier than that disgusting hose beat cunt hag. And he is not as bad as her in many ways.

[IceTrey]

The market is at record highs and unemployment nears record lows. What more do you want?

[soflarider]

Full repeal of Obamacare and reform of current laws that have distorted the medical market.
Comprehensive immigration reform.
A completely new income tax system.
Down sizing of the entire federal government especially in regards to the power of unelected bureaucrats/regulators.
Term limits.

[Dillinger]

"eff" doesn't suit you, Nick.

[Gene]

Does he not wear a leather jacket?

[Dillinger]

he may...doesn't take away from the misplaced expletive...smacks of effort.

[Rhywun]

Donald Jr.: Traitor or Just a Sleazeball?

I don't know the relevant law, so unlike the rest of America why would I even hazard a guess on the former? As for the latter, all signs point to "Yes".

[The Last American Hero]

He's no traitor, as that has a very specific definition and there is no evidence that definition has been met.

Criminal? I'll bet you dollars to donuts that there's a campaign finance law that says you can't crap in a Kohler toilet (because you know, German influence on electoral "outcomes") if you're running for office, so I'll go with probably criminal but only because campaign finance laws are convoluted and stupid.

Sleaze? Definitely - the whole Trump machine has consistently disavowed Russian relationships and it turns out half of Trump's advisors were at this meeting.

[Jerryskids]

I don't see why Junior talking to the Rooskies was a big deal, they're our allies aren't they? We had a reset button and a flexible president and the Cold War's ancient history. Heck, we even sold them a big chunk of our uranium production capability as a show of good will, didn't we? I mean, sure, they're still foreigners so it's a little unseemly that they'd be attempting to influence an election wherein one of the candidates was the very one who brought them the reset button and the uranium deal and worked for the flexible president, but still....hey, they've got experience with one of the candidates, who can blame them for being a little biased in favor of the one they know is friendly?

[Brian]

Last I heard, Trump Jr. Was responding to a possible tip-off about foreign influence in our democracy, on behalf of the DNC.

So, other than being on a different team, he was doing exactly was left-leaning liberals and democrats have been doing for about half a year.

But, his motives were partisan and impure, while ours our righteous and good, with no partisanship whatsoever.

[Rockabilly]

I don't give a rat's ass. I didn't vote for Trump and I certainly didn't vote for Clinton the bloodthirsty war monger and sworn enemy of liberty.

All considered, I'd take Trump any day over Clinton the sworn enemy of individual liberty.

On September 18 Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump released a position paper on gun policy in which he stated, "The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed?period."

Trump explained that our Founding Fathers protected Second Amendment rights in this way because the sanctity of all other fundamental rights rests on the existence of a people who are free and therefore armed. To put it plainly, Trump said, "The Right to Keep and Bear Arms protects all our other rights."

That's why I have to laugh at the unhinged democrats who say Trump is Hitler.

See - Gun Control in the Third Reich: Disarming the Jews and "Enemies of the State" by Stephen Halbrook

[IceTrey]

Since when is a private citizen of America not allowed to meet with a private citizen of Russia? If it's not illegal who cares? It's collusion delusion.

[SIV]

All Russian nationals are de facto government agents. They have no"private citizens". Don't you watch the news, or read Reason's website?

[guse]

??????Oupto I looked at the paycheck saying $9861 , I accept that my father in law was like they say trully bringing in money in their spare time online. . there best friend haz done this less than 8 months and a short time ago repayed the dept on there appartment and bourt a great Citro?n 2CV . see at this site?..??????? ?????____BIG.....EARN....MONEY___???????-

[Harvard]

In the last month of the campaign Hillary was desperate. There is no way in hell she wouldn't have taken such a meeting with the Russkies, Chicoms or Kim Jong Il if there was a hint of damning evidence on Trump. The only difference is she's a life long politcial hack and would have had the sense to send some 4th level staffers that could have later been cut loose if the shit hit the fan.