Trump-free Friday politics roundup

DeVos gets booed, Comey is fired, and Sally Yates testified before Congress. But it’s not all bad in this week’s politics roundup.

It’s Friday and you know what means: It’s time for our round-up of things you may have missed in politics this week. Let’s dive right in.

Yates testifies before Congress

Former acting-Attorney General Sally Yates recently testified before Congress concerning warnings about former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Seems that, though we are not even six months into this presidential administration, there are more “former” someones of somethings than is generally necessary.

Yates, as you may recall, was fired because she refused to defend the President’s travel ban. She has since been replaced by the current Attorney General, an ominous elf who goes by the name of Jeff Sessions.

Along with former CIA chief James Clapper, Yates specifically addressed ongoing concerns about Russian interference with the 2016 presidential election. Before her ouster, Yates stated that she had warned the administration about Flynn. “We believe that General Flynn was compromised with respect to the Russians,” she said during the three-hour hearing.

However, Flynn was retained as National Security Advisor, though he would eventually be removed from his position thanks to those very same ties to Russia.

Yates also schooled Ted Cruz on constitutional law with the kind of steel and intelligence that makes you want to stand up on your desk and clap wildly. Remember, you’ve got to take your joy wherever you can get it.

Comey gets fired at a convenient time

Russia, it seems, has become such a major concern in the political world that it sometimes seems as if there is a constant and unending stream of news about Kremlin-related troublemaking everywhere you look.

But, whether or not Russian espionage is currently working within the United States, the effects of that government’s alleged interference in U.S. elections is still part of considerable scrutiny. Some have even claimed that the current President owes his place in the Oval Office to Putin and his associates.

Funny, then, how former FBI Director James Comey was fired in the midst of his agency’s investigation into Russian interference. Comey, apparently, received the news while giving a speech; televisions at the back of the room in which he was talking flashed the news before he was eventually given a letter containing the information. The abrupt nature of all this gives the recent events a certain Nixonian air.

Many claims have been presented as to the exact reason for his termination. This includes, most frequently, his handling of Hillary Clinton’s email scandal, which was previously lauded by the current administration.

Comey himself, however, says that he was fired because he did not swear loyalty to the current regime. Of course, one may want just such an investigator to remain objective. However, if you’re a head of state who may be nervous about the findings of a federal investigation, such a position may put you in a firing mood. You may feel additional pressure if you and your associates have numerous and sometimes significant ties to Russia.

So, how did the President follow up with such an abrupt end to a high-level official’s career? A White House meeting with Russian officials, naturally. Good thing we’re not deducting points for lack of subtlety. Oh, wait, I think we are.

Le Pen loses

But, hey, things aren’t all bad. Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate for the French presidency who was occasionally given the dubious title of “French Donald Trump”, lost to centrist Emmanuel Macron.

While Macron’s road ahead may well be bumpy, given the rise in nationalist politics throughout Europe, many have taken a moment to sigh in relief. Certainly, officials within the European Union, who would have faced a serious opponent in Le Pen, are breathing easier today.

South Koreans elect a new president

South Korea also had a recent election in order to replace Park Geun-hye, the former conservative president who is now in jail. Park, whose administration was rocked by corruption scandals, now faces a trial later this month.

Unlike his predecessor, new president Moon Jae-in is decidedly liberal. He will likely take a softer line with South Korea’s longstanding opponents in North Korea. Such a move may put South Korea in a tense spot with the U.S., where officials are expected to take a stronger stance against North Korea.

Chelsea Manning will go free

Chelsea Manning, a former Army private who leaked numerous classified documents to WikiLeaks, will leave prison next week on May 17.

Manning was arrested in May 2010 and eventually imprisoned at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Her sentence was commuted in January by President Barack Obama, shortly before he left office. Manning’s actions led to the largest leak of classified information in the country’s history.

On Tuesday, Manning released a statement anticipating her freedom. In it, she said that:

"For the first time, I can see a future for myself as Chelsea. I can imagine surviving and living as the person who I am and can finally be in the outside world. Freedom used to be something that I dreamed of but never allowed myself to fully imagine. Now, freedom is something that I will again experience with friends and loved ones after nearly seven years of bars and cement, of periods of solitary confinement, and of my health care and autonomy restricted, including through routinely forced haircuts. I am forever grateful to the people who kept me alive, President Obama, my legal team and countless supporters."

DeVos booed at Bethune-Cookman graduation

Betsy DeVos, the controversial pick for Secretary of Education, was recently invited to deliver the commencement speech at Daytona Beach’s Bethune-Cookman University on Wednesday. The move was difficult for many to understand, as Bethune-Cookman is a historically black university.

DeVos’ political stance and strong support of school choice have been interpreted as unfriendly to students of color and their families. She recently claimed that historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) were “real pioneers when it comes to school choice”.

This statement is, at best, incredibly awkward, considering that HBCUs were formed in response to racism and segregation at other institutions. DeVos has since expanded on her statement, saying that “your history was born, not out of mere choice, but out of necessity”.

It comes as little surprise, then, that DeVos faced serious opposition when she took the stage. She was soundly booed by students and members of the audience, despite admonitions from the university’s president. Several graduates even stood up and turned their back to DeVos during her speech.

And, finally, your palate cleanser

Want some smart and seriously well-researched takes on history-focused films? Head on over to the History Buffs YouTube page. Though new videos are admittedly rare, when they come out, you’d better find a comfy place to sit. Most of the channel’s offerings easily pass the 20-minute mark. A recent and highly recommended feature on Apollo 13 nearly reached an hour.

Next: John Oliver talks big mugs and net neutrality

Don’t let that dissuade you, though. Host Nick Hodges is dedicated to examining the fascinating intersection between film and history, and it shows. History Buffs is smart, tough, and definitely worth a good half hour of your time.