Trump Administration Reporting Challenges

In this episode of the Washington Week Bookshelf, Robert Costa interviews Michael Schmidt about his book 'Donald Trump Versus the United States.' The discussion covers key figures like Don McGahn and Bill Burck, their roles during the Trump presidency, and the Mueller investigation. Schmidt provides insights into the challenges faced by McGahn and the legal strategies employed. The conversation also touches on the whistleblower complaint against the Trump administration and Schmidt's reflections on his reporting experiences.

What role did Don McGahn play in the Trump administration according to Michael Schmidt's book?

• He was a campaign manager.

• He was a chief witness against the president.

• He was a media spokesperson.

• He was a financial advisor.

Why was Bill Burck significant in Don McGahn's story?

• He was McGahn's lawyer and advisor.

• He was a journalist covering McGahn.

• He was McGahn's political rival.

• He was a judge appointed by McGahn.

What was the main reason McGahn became a chief witness in the Mueller investigation?

• He was promised a government position.

• He wanted to protect his own reputation.

• He was forced by the court.

• He wanted to support the president.

How did Robert Mueller's approach to the investigation affect its outcome?

• He focused solely on financial crimes.

• He concluded the investigation quickly without any findings.

• He aggressively pursued all leads.

• He avoided making a determination about the president breaking the law.

What ongoing issue does the whistleblower complaint highlight about the Trump administration?

• Lack of transparency in financial dealings.

• Focus on environmental policies.

• Efforts to block intelligence reports on Russian interference.

• Increased military spending.

What does Michael Schmidt reflect on regarding the nature of reporting on the Trump presidency?

• It was a relentless and fast-paced challenge.

• It was focused mainly on economic policies.

• It was a collaborative effort with other journalists.

• It was a calm and predictable experience.

How did the news cycle during the Trump presidency compare to previous administrations?

• It was slower and more deliberate.

• It was faster and more unpredictable.

• It focused more on international news.

• It was similar to previous administrations.

What was a significant challenge for Michael Schmidt while reporting on the Trump presidency?

• The constant turnover of the news cycle.

• Lack of access to sources.

• Limited public interest in the stories.

• Difficulty in publishing stories.

What was the impact of the story about Trump asking Comey to end the Flynn investigation?

• It had no significant impact.

• It resulted in immediate legal action against Trump.

• It led to the appointment of Bob Mueller.

• It was dismissed as fake news.

What does Michael Schmidt suggest about Trump's ability to handle disclosures?

• Trump changes his policies in response to them.

• Trump easily ignores them.

• Trump is unaffected by them.

• Trump struggles with them but continues undeterred.