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I have mixed feelings about publishing the following email exchanges.
For one thing, I received them (albeit legally) from a hacker named @HuggyLucifer666, and the invasion of privacy that printing them involves makes me somewhat uncomfortable. I had to balance that concern with my belief in transparency and the First Amendment.
For another thing, these emails are not real (but the analysis and reporting in them are!).
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Joshsmugly@protonmail.com
Date: Tue, Jan 11, 2022 at 10:57 AM
Subject: re: How is this happening?
To: Mitch McConnell
DC reporters can’t find COVID test kits for their kids and their Trader Joe’s shelves are unstocked.
From: Mitch.McConnell@aol.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 10:16 AM
To: Josh Holmes
Cc: David Popp
Subject: How is this happening?
Josh,
I usually get pretty much everything about everything but can you please explain to me how it is that I am receiving nearly universal positive or neutral press coverage even as I block consideration of voting “rights” legislation and engage in the kind of brash political threats that would normally see the Beltway media caricature me as Satan?
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Austan Goolsbee
Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 5:00 AM
Subject: re: Is it as bad as it appears?
To: Barack Obama
Cc: David Axelrod
I would cite three reasons:
1. As everyone who worked with you and the then-Vice President knows, Joe Biden is not the world’s leading expert on the economy -- and he projects no theory of the case about how the American system works, and real people (and, even, reporters) see that.
2. The pandemic and inflation combined cause a lot economic worry and stress, which keeps credit from flowing to the White House.
3. I have not been able to buy a bicycle in over a year.
The good parts about the economy are all tied up with the chaos. It does not feel to many to be fundamentally strong.
Just wait until folks see their tax refunds delayed.
Also, as you have said since 2015, Biden and Co are terrible communicators!
Curious what David thinks.
From: contentcreator1600@gmail.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 3:16 PM
To: AustantheGool@yahoo.com
Subject: Is it as bad as it appears?
I’ve got my own theories but why do you think it is that my pal Joey is not getting any credit for what appears to be a booming economy?
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Craig Smith
Date: Tue, Jan 11, 2022 at 1:57 PM
Subject: re: 2024
To: WJC
Cc: Terry
In general, I think Schoen and Stein have it just about right. I only worry about peaking too early.
You should also read Gary Abernathy’s Washington Post column which explains why we have to go from being the “deplorables” candidate to the one who brings all those Clinton (’92) Republicans back into the Democratic coalition.
From: The Office of William J. Clinton
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 10:16 AM
To: chiefofchiefs@hotmail.com
Cc: TheMacker24@gmail.com
Subject: 2024
Eager to hear what you think about the way the Journal op ed turned out. I think they make a pretty strong case for Hillary (after dismissing Joe and Kamala with a curt tip of the hat).
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Everyone
Date: Tue, Jan 11, 2022 at 10:57 PM
Subject: re: COVID
To: Everyone
Cc: Everyone
Yup.
From: Everyone
Sent: Monday, January 10, 2022 10:16 PM
To: Everyone
Cc: Everyone
Subject: COVID
Everyone everyone I know says everyone has the virus – or is getting it before the Super Bowl.
Same thing with you?
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---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jake Sullivan
Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 1:57 AM
Subject: re: Bret Stephens
To: Tony Blinken
Since we are neither ideological nor stubborn, I think we should consider what the column says.
Having considered it, I like our hand. Obama might have left us in a weakened state, and Trump might have distorted things into a series of funhouse mirrors, but we aren’t going to incite a ground war in Europe and Putin is not going to give up the revenue from all that energy.
If I really thought super arming the Ukrainians would help the cause, I would be for it.
Let’s keep going, assuming the very worst-case scenarios are what will happen and that Putin is the ultimate bad actor.
The one meme I think we need to tamp down in the press and on the Hill is the notion that Taiwan will fall the minute Putin starts to roll tanks. I don’t find that helpful.
From: Tony Blinken
Sent: Wedneday, January 12, 2022 1:54 AM
To: Jake Sullivan
Subject: Bret Stephens
Have you read yet?
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From: Ron Klain
Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 1:57 AM
Subject: re: George Wallace and Bull Connor
To: Ken Duberstein
Can I call you Friday?
From: Ken@dubersteingroup.com
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 11:54 PM
To: Ron Klain
Subject: George Wallace and Bull Connor?
I’m not sure I would have done that.
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From: Steve Ricchetti
Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 5:57 AM
Subject: re: fires to put out
To: Louisa Terrell
It isn’t just comms and we will get it fixed.
We’ve got a package of stuff announced on schools this morning and the Thursday speech. All very Rahmy.
That should calm the horses.
From: Louisa Terrell
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 11:54 PM
To: Steve Ricchetti
Subject: fires to put out
Politico has that piece I flagged for you was coming about how Hill Ds are starting to openly freak out about how we are handling comms on the pandemic.
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From: Tony Fauci
Date: Wed, Jan 12, 2022 at 1:57 AM
Subject: re: enough
To: David Kessler
Enough what?
From: David Kessler
Sent: Tuesday, January 11, 2022 10:54 PM
To: Tony Fauci
Subject: enough
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NEWS:
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