The Morning Briefing: 'Watch Your Back, Bitch,' The Emmys, Evergreen State Madness and Much, Much More

Happy Friday Morning!

Here’s what’s on the President’s agenda today:

4:10AM ET The President and First Lady participate in the French National Day Parade with President and Mrs. Macron
6:45AM ET The President and First Lady depart Paris, France, en route to New Jersey
3:15PM ET The President and First Lady depart Somerset, New Jersey, en route to Bedminster Trump National Golf Club

Here’s your daily TRUMP RUSSIA SCANDAL update: “Watch your back, bitch.”

The players in the purported scandal are more sick of this soap opera than news consumers are.

President Trump’s chief private attorney Marc Kasowitz erupted in a string of profanity-laced emails to a stranger who had urged him to resign from the team that is handling matters related to the ongoing Russia investigations.

In the Wednesday night tirade, Kasowitz first responded to the man, saying: “F— you.”

Fifteen minutes later, Kasowitz added a second barrage: “How dare you send me an email like that. I’m on you now. You are f— with me now. Let’s see who you are. Watch your back, bitch.”

In the exchange, which was first reported Thursday by ProPublica, Kasowitz appeared to threaten the man, saying, “I already know where you live, I’m on you… You will see me. I promise.”

Meanwhile, there are questions about how this RUSSIAN lady spy lawyer managed to get a visa. Loretta Lynch’s name surfaced, and she is scooting away from the RUSSIAN spy honey pot.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Lynch said the ex-AG “does not have any personal knowledge of Ms. Veselnitskaya’s travel.” Don’t expect any followup on this, as it’s not a narrative-advancing story line.

And THIS GUY: Dan Rather Resurrects Disgraced Career As Trump Critic.

‘This school seems to focus so much on race that it is actually becoming more racist’

John Sexton over at Hot Air has a review of the latest goings on at the booby hatch known as Evergreen State College.

The Board of Trustees held a listening session for students and faculty who were recovering from the violent and angry campus tantrums. Here’s one person that seems to have some sense about her.

“If you offer any sort of alternative viewpoint, which I do have, and you’re kind of the enemy,” MacKenzie said. “I don’t agree with the behavior that has been shown on the campus and unlike what Anne Fischel [a previous speaker] has said, I think it’s important to focus on the way this was handled.”

“This behavior has actually been encouraged and because of this I feel like people are becoming more violent and the campus is becoming more of an unsafe place,” she said. “I have been to several meetings to speak. I’ve been told several times that I’m not allowed to speak because I’m white.”

“This school seems to focus so much on race that it is actually becoming more racist in a different sort of way. And because I say that—because I choose not to focus on race I have actually been labeled a racist and a white supremacist. If anyone took the time to actually know me, it’s not true at all.”

Targeted white male professor Bret Weinstein also spoke at the session. Here he is summarizing Evergreen’s greatest social justice hits:

Do you know that the college descended into literal anarchy and that for days the campus was not under the control of the state? It was under the control of protesters. That there were assaults, there were batteries? There was pressure not to report crimes to the police. People were, by the legal definition I believe, kidnapped and imprisoned, that included faculty members and administrators. Others were hunted on the campus. That lawless bands roamed the campus unimpeded? Police were physically and intentionally blocked by protesters. Police were cruelly, systematically and personally taunted. They were humiliated and forced to stand down by the president. Students that held different opinions were, by the protesters own analysis, stalked, harassed and doxxed, meaning their names, pictures and addresses and phone numbers were distributed online.

And people wonder why Republicans think college is a waste of time. In related news, female House members urge not to “dismantle” Title IX.

Emmy nominations

Most the readers here don’t follow vapid award shows like the Emmy Awards and usually I do not either. I have a few shows I like and I root for them to be acknowledged by their industry. Last year, I was pleased to see the lead actors in two of my favorite shows receive awards (“Orphan Black’s” Tatiana Maslany and Rami Malek of “Mr. Robot”), but this year the fools over at the awards snubbed one of the best shows on TV, “The Leftovers,” which recently completed its run with a third and final season. It did receive one nomination for a guest appearance by former regular Ann Dowd (Patti Levin), so very well-deserved. (“Oh Kevin, you can’t kill me, you don’t have the ****’n balls. I want you to commit. I want you to finish what you started. I want you to go all the way. I want you to say you understand.”)

BuzzFeed noticed the snub as well.

So nothing for Justin Theroux (Kevin) or Carrie Coon (Nora) or Christopher Eccleston (Matt) or Damon Lindelof or Tom Perrotta (creators, writers) or Mimi Leder (director)?

SHAME ON YOU EMMYS, SHAME ON YOU. Go find a way to watch this fantastic show with incredible writing, acting, set design — everything. Go do it now.

Switching gears, we find plenty of Trump-bashing crap nominated for awards. The Hollywood Reporter writes: “The late-night talk shows have all been feeling the Trump effect since the former Celebrity Apprentice host was elected president on Nov. 8, 2016. And now the Emmys are feeling the Trump bump too.”

After eight years of ignoring Obama, Trump-focused Stephen Colbert and Samantha Bee racked up the nominations.

Colbert scored an impressive six nominations overall, including recognition in the writing and directing categories for The Late Show and three for his Showtime special. Bee earned seven, including a second best writing nomination for Full Frontal and four for her Not the White House Correspondents Dinner special, including best variety special.

However, the Trump bump did not extend to Late Night With Seth Meyers, which has also leaned into more political coverage in the past year. (Meyers, however, did earn a writing nomination.)

The entertainment industry is so out of touch.

USDA’s organic food program plagued with “uncertainty and dysfunction’

I confess to being one of those people who eat organic food or allegedly organic food. Mostly I purchase vegetables and meat at my local farmer’s market because I like supporting small businesses and farms that are near my house. But the USDA’s “organic” program is facing some problems mainly from BigAgra, which wants standards loosened so they can use the label as a marketing tool. Heck, my local grocery store chain has its own “organic” brand of everything and it is constantly pushed on consumers.

“It seems that uncertainty and dysfunction have overtaken the National Organic Standards Board and the regulations associated with the National Organic Program,” Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), chairman of the committee, said in his opening remarks. “These problems create an unreliable regulatory environment and prevent farmers that choose organic from utilizing advancements in technology and operating their business in an efficient and effective manner. Simply put, this hurts our producers and economies in rural America.”

To complicate the problem, there are now “organic” items imported to the U.S. which may or may not be following the guidelines but are certainly hurting the bottom line of local small-farm businesses.

Over at the National Review, Julie Kelly has a nice discussion of the situation.

CNN anchor mistakes Star-Spangled Banner for the French National Anthem

Remember this when the CNN brain trust scolds you about your political views.

CNN anchor Poppy Harlow mistook the “Star Spangled Banner” for the French national anthem when President Donald Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday.

Harlow was covering the arrival of Trump in Paris, the Daily Caller reported. After Trump and Macron shook hands, they listened to a band play the United States national anthem.

“Let’s just listen in to the French national anthem for just a moment,” Harlow said, directing viewers to the two presidents. But after a whispered correction, Harlow said: “The U.S.—American national anthem—I should say. Let’s listen.”

The seven filthiest things you touch every day

Gross. Remember to clean your phone — it’s filthy.

Other filthy places: shopping carts, your bed!, and your kitchen sponge.

Picture of the day

Former President Bill Clinton, left, reaches over to former President George W. Bush, as he makes comments during a discussion at the Presidential Leadership Scholars graduation ceremony at the George W. Bush Presidential Center, Thursday, July 13, 2017, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Other morsels:

Trump touts US-French relationship amid Bastille Day celebrations

Two Former Congressional Staffers Indicted for Sharing Delegate’s Nude Photos

Asylum seekers turned away at U.S.-Mexico border sue U.S. government

Seattle councilman criticizes plan to hose excrement off sidewalks because it’s racially insensitive

House Rejects Amendment Prohibiting DOD Funds For Gender Transition

Al Gore Likened The Climate Change Movement To Campaign Ending Slavery

Iranian doctor denied US entry was militia fighter

Airbnb host gets $5,000 fine for canceling over race

Teens charged in ‘horrific’ Facebook Live sexual assault

Man trapped in ATM slips handwritten “please help” notes through receipt slot

‘Vogue’ says Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik are ‘Gender Fluid’