The Events of 2018: A Conclusion

In June of 2018, I began The Events. I described it as a list of the relevant events as examples of “corruption, insults, ineptitude, the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and certain astonishing actions and/or policy decisions enacted,” specifically relating “to the President, his family, his Cabinet, his spokespeople, his lawyers, and all other people he has chosen to work with both past and present.”

Even though it's only been a half year, I wanted to offer a yearly summary.

Preparing to create a seven month timeline of the Events, I reviewed the past Event spreadsheets. While reviewing I removed irrelevant information. Some information became irrelevant because it was based on speculative reports which have been rejected. Other events became irrelevant because they were minor details leading up to a final result. For example, I removed most (but not all) of the events of Manafort's trial. They are no longer relevant, now that Manafort has been sentenced.

While the focus of this article is a summary of the past seven months, I have compiled the normal events list for December of 2018. It can be found here.

One of the biggest difficulties of judging whether an event is important or not, is not whether words matter, but how much. Plans matter, words matter, final results matter.

First there is a list of significant events of each month with links, followed by a conclusion of fifteen important events for the year.

In June:

The Trump administration declared that the Affordable Care Act's preexisting condition protections were unconstitutional.

Trump created the Spygate conspiracy, accusing the FBI of illegal methods in its Russia investigation, but senior Republicans rejected his accusations.

Trump claimed he had the right to pardon himself for any crimes.

It was discovered that the Trump Organization coordinated with the participants (including Russians) in crafting their statement about the Trump Tower meeting.

Roger Stone, after repeatedly denying any meeting with Russians, admitted to meeting one while seeking information about Hillary Clinton.

AG Sessions announced a new policy, which prohibited immigrants who had experienced domestic or gang violence from seeking asylum.

The Trump administration, in its border crackdown had arrested over 2,300 migrant children, and admitted it was not capable of swiftly reuniting them with their parents, when commanded to by federal courts. Instead, it prepared to detain families together indefinitely.

Trump and Kim finally met for their summit about the North Korea and United States conflict. North Korea, aside from returning the remains of US soldiers, is still producing nuclear weapons.

Hinting at corruption Ivanka gained additional trademarks in China as Trump reversed sanctions against Chinese company, ZTE.

In defiance of the United States' allies, it refused to endorse a joint statement by the G7.

The New York attorney general filed a lawsuit against the Trump Foundation.

Trump admitted that he had paid Cohen at least 250,000 dollars in 2017 for Stormy Daniels.

In one of many absurd PR statements, obviously intended to shift the conversation, Trump's lawyers claimed he was incapable of obstructing justice.

And in a demonstration of incompetence, a prankster, pretending to be Senator Bob Menedez, spoke on the phone to President Trump.

In July:

Mueller indicted 12 Russians for DNC hacking.

Days later, Trump stood with Vladimir Putin in Helsinki and told the world that he believed Putin's denials over American intelligence agencies reports.

Wrapped into the multiple investigations, Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg was granted immunity, though it is unclear what he is being asked.

Paul Manafort claimed he would never make a deal with federal prosecutors, with his trial about to commence.

Scott Pruitt finally resigned, overwhelmed by at least a dozen corruption scandals.

The United States now has at least 3 thousand separated children, and slow to reunite them under court order. Trump believes the best way to solve the problem, is to illegally deport anyone applying for asylum. Meanwhile, ICE pressured parents to be deported with their children they separated them when they refused.

After agreeing with Putin, Trump questioned the purpose of NATO, and said that the EU was a foe.

Estimates were released about Trump's trade war. Bailing out effected industries could cost 39 billion.

The fallout from the Tax Bill continued with $10 trillion awarded, and 20% given to the richest 1%.

Trump issued his first (of many) attacks on the Fed, an event which no president has ever pursued so aggressively.

Trump admitted that after the North Korea summit, there was little engagement or follow up.

Rudy Giuliani issued another absurd PR statement, saying “Collusion is not a crime.”

In August:

In an abdication of its duty, the Trump administration claimed the ACLU should do the administration's job and reunite separated families.

It was learned that Rex Tillerson may have stopped Saudi Arabia from invading Qatar, and lost his job.

Also learned, was that Trump promised Kim Jong Un he would end the Korean War. But Pompeo said that North Korea's behavior was inconsistent with decentralization.

Trump continued his vicious campaign against media outlets, especially at his rallies.

In a serious blow to the Trump administration, Paul Manafort was found guilty on 8 counts.

And in spite of the United States backing out of Iran deal, Iran remained in compliance.

Trump's tax cuts continued to inflict causalities, contributing to an increasing national deficit.

The President lashed out at reports of incompetence, as studies had shown Hurricane Maria caused over 3,000 deaths on Puerto Rico.

Embracing conspiracy theories, Trump snapped a photo with a top promoter of the QAnon Theory in the Oval Office.

In another series of absurd statements, Trump lashed out at the FBI and Sessions, while Giuliani claimed “Truth isn't Truth”, and the President claimed Lester Holt altered the tapes where he admitted to firing Comey because of the Russia Investigation. He also demanded Sessions end the Mueller investigation immediately.

Though it is probably unnecessary for so many ex-intelligence officers to retain security clearance, Trump is the first president to revoke a former high ranking official's because of political reasons.

Cohen plead guilty to crimes implicating the President. And National Enquirer publisher David Pecker was subpoenaed in the Cohen investigation.

EPA analysis admitted its new climate proposal would lead to thousands of additional deaths, but doesn't care.

And in another backpedal, the President admitted the purpose of the Trump Tower meeting was to obtain information on Clinton.

In September:

Trump declared that the DOJ was a tool for political use, protecting domestic allies, and attacking enemies.

Federal Prosecutors began an investigation of the Trump Organization.

Trump's Supreme Court Nominee was accused of sexual assault, and Republicans launched a strong effort to protect Judge Kavanaugh.

With over 12,000 immigrant children in detention, the Trump administration set a record. At the same time, the White House continued to reduce the maximum refugees accepted. And, they tried to bar any immigrants who use the social safety net from earning green cards.

Internationally, Bolton threatened a the UN criminal court, Trump aides met with Venezuelan coup plotters, and Trump rejected the US constructed world order at the UN.

Meanwhile, Manafort, changed his mind, and agreed to work with Mueller. Then Trump attacked Mueller on twitter.

Aided by the Republican Tax Law, the Deficit reached 1 trillion in 2018, rather than in 2020.

Citizens also learned that Trump nearly moved U.S. Dependents out of South Korea, which would have led to war.

In October:

The number of immigrant children detained in the United States continued to rise to over 13,000, housed in spartan tent cities.

To prevent further immigration, the President planned (but never did) to sign an executive order removing birthright citizenship for all babies born of non-citizens.

It was revealed that the Trump White House knew only a small percentage of the caravan would reach the border, before they deployed the United States' military.

The NYT revealed that Trump and his father had engaged in ethically questionable, and possibly illegal, practices to pass large amount of Fred Trump tax free to Donald Trump.

Also revealed, was Mitch McConnell's willingness to compromise the 2016 election, by refusing to allow public knowledge that the FBI was investigating the Trump campaign.

After Judge Kavanaugh was accused of sexual assault in September, an FBI background check was initiated, but it was severely curtailed by the White House.

As a result, Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed to the Supreme Court, with 1 Democrat defecting, in a 50 – 48 vote.

Defending Confederate statues, Trump praised Robert E Lee as a hero.

Saudi Arabia citizen, and US resident, Jamal Khashoggi disappeared from the Saudi embessy in Turkey. Evidence agreed that the prince of Saudi Arabia was responsible. Trump called the Saudi denial, extremely credible.

Then, after weeks of lying, Saudi Arabia admitted Khashoggi was dead, but that the prince, MbS, was innocent. Trump seemed to agree, or at least, not care.

Trump tried to claim he was unbiased about Saudi Arabia, because he had no ties. It was a lie.

White House counsel McGahn left, replaced by Pat Cipollone.

It was revealed that the President rarely began official business before 11am, and sometimes worked as few as 3 hours a day. Instead, he often had nine hours of executive time.

Though the President used to exalt the results of the Dow, he has stopped now that it is negative for the year.

Leading into the elections, the Republicans, led by the President, began to claim they were the protectors of patients with preexisting conditions. Another bizarre lie, especially, since in June, the Trump Administration claimed the ACA's preexisting conditions protections were unconstitutional.

Continuing his attacks on the press, Trump praised Gianforte's assault on a Guardian reporter, and called the media the enemy of the people, on the same day a bomb was sent to CNN.

Explosive devices were also sent to the Clintons, Obamas, and other prominent Trump critics.

And maybe China listens to Trump's calls because he is too unconcerned about security.

In November:

The EPA issued a report about the dangers and economic damage of global warming to the United States. Trump said he didn't believe it, and the temporary EPA chief said he may intervene in the next study.

Right before the Midterms, Trump launched a barrage of anti-immigrant proposals. Baring those who enter illegally from seeking asylum. Threatening to close the entire US-Mexico border. Declaring that military forces can use lethal force against immigrants. Meanwhile the number of detained immigrant children continued to rise.