1. ‘Barrel bombs’
Press secretary Sean Spicer said people were “blown away by barrel bombs” in Syria and “if we see this kind of action again, we hold open the possibility of future action.” The threat of retaliation for barrel bombing seemed a dramatic escalation of the US position, but then...
We take it back – White House
WH spox walking back Spicer suggestion that barrel bomb would trigger US military response: "Nothing has changed in our posture."
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) April 10, 2017
Five policies and counting
Policy 1: Assad stays
— Spencer Ackerman (@attackerman) April 10, 2017
2: CW attx mean Assad goes, process 'underway'
3: Missiles were just re CW
4: ISIS b4 Assad
5: pic.twitter.com/0taBGmp218
2. Tillerson: US to defend civilians everywhere
“We rededicate ourselves to holding to account any and all who commit crimes against the innocents anywhere in the world,” secretary of state Rex Tillerson told journalists at a 1944 Nazi massacre site in Italy, ahead of a visit to Moscow.
Summary
But Tillerson and Spicer’s descriptions of a newly interventionist US foreign policy were undercut by a statement by defense secretary James Mattis, who described US strikes in Syria as “a measured response to the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons”. Congress said the joint chiefs of staff had called the Syria strikes a one-off.
3. Gorsuch sworn in
Donald Trump hovered proudly in the rose garden as his first supreme court nominee, Neil Gorsuch, was sworn in, restoring a full nine-justice roster. Democrats say the seat was stolen by Republican refusal to consider Barack Obama’s pick.
'Thank you, Mitch'
Although he could not be here today, I especially want to express our gratitude to Senator Mitch McConnell for all he did to make this achievement possible. So thank you, Mitch.
– Donald Trump
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5. Kushner-Bannon ‘overblown’ – Spicer
Q: Kushner & Bannon civil war?
— Jonathan Beeley (@foreignpolicy77) April 10, 2017
Spicer: All 'overblown' & sorted 'behind closed doors'. Now look over here at these shiny things #trump pic.twitter.com/fGXnojdYt3
...and another thing:
Trump not doing everything different from Obama - he's hosting a Seder too https://t.co/1gn5hB0iC1
— Edward-Isaac Dovere (@IsaacDovere) April 10, 2017
...and another thing:
Congrats to this year's Pulitzer Prize winners:
— Jordan Uhl (@JordanUhl) April 10, 2017
The "Failing" New York Times
The "Phony" Washington Post
The "Left-wing blog" ProPublica
