Chris Brennan
@bychrisbrennan.bsky.social
USA Today columnist writing about people, power and politics. Tell me a story: [email protected].
https://www.usatoday.com/staff/72269205007/chris-brennan/
https://www.usatoday.com/staff/72269205007/chris-brennan/
Has anyone in American politics needed to flee Washington, D.C. for Christmas break more than Speaker Mike Johnson? His fatuous fealty to Donald Trump isn't preventing his own Republican caucus from turning on him. My USA Today newsletter explores:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
December 4, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Has anyone in American politics needed to flee Washington, D.C. for Christmas break more than Speaker Mike Johnson? His fatuous fealty to Donald Trump isn't preventing his own Republican caucus from turning on him. My USA Today newsletter explores:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
The social media algorithm today decided to flood my feed with an ad for a “magic” elixir in a little plastic bottle that is said to be:
1) The best cure for every possible thing!
2) in limited supply, so hurry!
3) now discounted in price by 50%!
Who falls for that nonsense?
1) The best cure for every possible thing!
2) in limited supply, so hurry!
3) now discounted in price by 50%!
Who falls for that nonsense?
December 2, 2025 at 11:03 PM
The social media algorithm today decided to flood my feed with an ad for a “magic” elixir in a little plastic bottle that is said to be:
1) The best cure for every possible thing!
2) in limited supply, so hurry!
3) now discounted in price by 50%!
Who falls for that nonsense?
1) The best cure for every possible thing!
2) in limited supply, so hurry!
3) now discounted in price by 50%!
Who falls for that nonsense?
Spot-on: “At one point contracted to write a book together, Nuzzi and Lizza seem conjoined in rivalry for custody of their story. And we’re trapped in a digital-age Dickensian serial.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/b...
Olivia Nuzzi’s Memoir Is Self-Serious and Altogether Disappointing
www.nytimes.com
December 2, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Spot-on: “At one point contracted to write a book together, Nuzzi and Lizza seem conjoined in rivalry for custody of their story. And we’re trapped in a digital-age Dickensian serial.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/b...
Reposted by Chris Brennan
"Trump doesn't care about the law. He just needs make-believe villains to yell about in his narrowly drawn me-versus-them worldview. But he picks targets who are willing to fight back," writes columnist @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social. bit.ly/3M0z2co
November 29, 2025 at 12:45 AM
"Trump doesn't care about the law. He just needs make-believe villains to yell about in his narrowly drawn me-versus-them worldview. But he picks targets who are willing to fight back," writes columnist @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social. bit.ly/3M0z2co
“Retribution” traces its origins in the English language back to words in Old French and Latin that described “repayment.” No wonder Trump is so astonishingly inept at retribution, given his long history of not his repaying debts. My USA Today newsletter:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
November 27, 2025 at 6:31 PM
“Retribution” traces its origins in the English language back to words in Old French and Latin that described “repayment.” No wonder Trump is so astonishingly inept at retribution, given his long history of not his repaying debts. My USA Today newsletter:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
Trump’s cultish cabinet is so ham-fisted at retaliation, which proves they’d never refuse an illegal order from him. That’s the point US Sen. Mark Kelly and other Democrats were making in the video that has Trump crying for executions. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Donald Trump didn't count on Mark Kelly fighting back | Opinion
Sen. Mark Kelly and his fellow Democrats broke no laws by telling members of the military they don't have to break any laws if someone orders it.
www.usatoday.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Trump’s cultish cabinet is so ham-fisted at retaliation, which proves they’d never refuse an illegal order from him. That’s the point US Sen. Mark Kelly and other Democrats were making in the video that has Trump crying for executions. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Standing advice for foreign leaders: Remember to tell him he’s a good boy, the bestest president, and a genius at taking an adversary’s wishlist and making it his very own.
November 26, 2025 at 12:47 AM
Standing advice for foreign leaders: Remember to tell him he’s a good boy, the bestest president, and a genius at taking an adversary’s wishlist and making it his very own.
Reposted by Chris Brennan
"Just in time for the holidays, Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate appear itchy for a big family fight," writes columnist @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social. bit.ly/48tMz4M
November 23, 2025 at 10:45 PM
"Just in time for the holidays, Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate appear itchy for a big family fight," writes columnist @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social. bit.ly/48tMz4M
Reposted by Chris Brennan
This is incoherent blather
WELKER: If tariffs help consumers, why is the administration rolling them back?
BESSENT: You know how much you weigh. You get on the scale every morning. Inflation is a composite number and we look at everything. We try to push down the things we can control.
BESSENT: You know how much you weigh. You get on the scale every morning. Inflation is a composite number and we look at everything. We try to push down the things we can control.
November 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This is incoherent blather
Reposted by Chris Brennan
"Donald Trump and his second term as president have been sinking for months into treacherous political quicksand known as the 'Epstein files,'" writes columnist @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social. bit.ly/4ptD5wk
November 22, 2025 at 2:45 AM
"Donald Trump and his second term as president have been sinking for months into treacherous political quicksand known as the 'Epstein files,'" writes columnist @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social. bit.ly/4ptD5wk
Just in time for the holidays, Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate appear itchy for a big family fight about a sneaky legislative move to allow eight GOP senators to stuff their pockets with $500,000 or more of your tax dollars. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
GOP splits over cash grab ploy Senate hid in shutdown bill | Opinion
House members voted unanimously to rebuke the Senate Republican leadership for slipping into legislation a sneaky provision allowing massive payouts.
www.usatoday.com
November 21, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Just in time for the holidays, Republicans in the U.S. House and Senate appear itchy for a big family fight about a sneaky legislative move to allow eight GOP senators to stuff their pockets with $500,000 or more of your tax dollars. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
If you are angry that politicians told members of the military that they should not follow unlawful orders, then you support unlawful orders. It's weird how these pro-crime people keep outing themselves as pro-crime people but then act surprised to learn they're pro-crime people.
November 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
If you are angry that politicians told members of the military that they should not follow unlawful orders, then you support unlawful orders. It's weird how these pro-crime people keep outing themselves as pro-crime people but then act surprised to learn they're pro-crime people.
Pam Bondi refused to say yesterday if the investigation she launched last week, at Donald Trump's demand, will stall release of the Epstein files. That's the whole point of her new investigation, to protect Trump from those files. My USA Today newsletter explains:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
November 20, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Pam Bondi refused to say yesterday if the investigation she launched last week, at Donald Trump's demand, will stall release of the Epstein files. That's the whole point of her new investigation, to protect Trump from those files. My USA Today newsletter explains:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
Reposted by Chris Brennan
"Republicans in Congress want to put Smith under a microscope, in private. But Smith is maneuvering to corner them in their own game, very much in public," writes columnist @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social. bit.ly/4p5uRKq
November 20, 2025 at 3:05 AM
"Republicans in Congress want to put Smith under a microscope, in private. But Smith is maneuvering to corner them in their own game, very much in public," writes columnist @bychrisbrennan.bsky.social. bit.ly/4p5uRKq
People who complain about journalists who don’t bark back at Donald Trump when he calls them disrespectful names and harangues them for their reliable reporting JUST DON’T GET that what they call for is EXACTLY what Trump wants. He needs to drag us all down to his childish level.
November 18, 2025 at 11:11 PM
People who complain about journalists who don’t bark back at Donald Trump when he calls them disrespectful names and harangues them for their reliable reporting JUST DON’T GET that what they call for is EXACTLY what Trump wants. He needs to drag us all down to his childish level.
Just imagine the humiliation for Donald Trump, who worked so desperately for months to prevent the release of the Epstein files — but now has to openly support releasing the files — all in a failed bid to make a loss look like a win. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Trump desperately tries to make his loss on the Epstein files look like a win | Opinion
Trump knows that his usually loyal Republican allies in the House are about to abandon him and his desperate efforts to keep the Epstein files locked.
www.usatoday.com
November 17, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Just imagine the humiliation for Donald Trump, who worked so desperately for months to prevent the release of the Epstein files — but now has to openly support releasing the files — all in a failed bid to make a loss look like a win. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Trump now calls for House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein files, after raging for weeks about that looming outcome. He could, of course, just order the DOJ to release the files, as the legislation calls for. But that would be the honest move here. Instead, we get this.
November 17, 2025 at 5:10 AM
Trump now calls for House Republicans to vote to release the Epstein files, after raging for weeks about that looming outcome. He could, of course, just order the DOJ to release the files, as the legislation calls for. But that would be the honest move here. Instead, we get this.
I've got some bad news for you today that will probably be as unsurprising as it is disappointing: Your “dividend” check from Donald Trump is not in the mail. Trump’s chatbot confirmed for me that he often touts checks you can’t cash. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Trump lied about DOGE 'dividends' that never came. His chatbot just admitted it. | Opinion
Trump might suggest that he'll send you money. But he really wants you to send him money.
www.usatoday.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I've got some bad news for you today that will probably be as unsurprising as it is disappointing: Your “dividend” check from Donald Trump is not in the mail. Trump’s chatbot confirmed for me that he often touts checks you can’t cash. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Trump tried to kill the House discharge petition.
Failed.
Trump warned House Republicans they’d be “stupid” to vote to release the Epstein files.
Failed.
Trump is desperate to change the subject… while also openly mulling a get-out-of-jail-free card for a sex offender.
Failed.
Failed.
Trump warned House Republicans they’d be “stupid” to vote to release the Epstein files.
Failed.
Trump is desperate to change the subject… while also openly mulling a get-out-of-jail-free card for a sex offender.
Failed.
Trump just told reporters on Air Force One that he hasn’t ruled out a pardon for Ghislane Maxwell
November 15, 2025 at 12:59 AM
Trump tried to kill the House discharge petition.
Failed.
Trump warned House Republicans they’d be “stupid” to vote to release the Epstein files.
Failed.
Trump is desperate to change the subject… while also openly mulling a get-out-of-jail-free card for a sex offender.
Failed.
Failed.
Trump warned House Republicans they’d be “stupid” to vote to release the Epstein files.
Failed.
Trump is desperate to change the subject… while also openly mulling a get-out-of-jail-free card for a sex offender.
Failed.
Donald Trump is picking sides, telling supporters feeling the pinch in an economy he hasn't fixed that they’re not really feeling that, while also explaining that they lack talent for jobs held by foreign workers with H1-B visas. My USA Today newsletter:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
November 13, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Donald Trump is picking sides, telling supporters feeling the pinch in an economy he hasn't fixed that they’re not really feeling that, while also explaining that they lack talent for jobs held by foreign workers with H1-B visas. My USA Today newsletter:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
There it is — the 218th signature on the House discharge petition to force a vote on whether the Department of Justice should have to release the Epstein files.
clerk.house.gov/DischargePet...
clerk.house.gov/DischargePet...
November 12, 2025 at 9:54 PM
There it is — the 218th signature on the House discharge petition to force a vote on whether the Department of Justice should have to release the Epstein files.
clerk.house.gov/DischargePet...
clerk.house.gov/DischargePet...
Speaker Mike Johnson today loses his power to help Donald Trump dodge the Epstein files, as Ghislaine Maxwell appears ready to seek commutation of her prison sentence for aiding in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
The House finally returns, and so do Trump's Epstein files problems | Opinion
Trump's political viability rests in the hands of a criminal who recruited and abused teenage girls so Jeffrey Epstein could exploit them.
www.usatoday.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Speaker Mike Johnson today loses his power to help Donald Trump dodge the Epstein files, as Ghislaine Maxwell appears ready to seek commutation of her prison sentence for aiding in Jeffrey Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Donald Trump, after watching his Republican Party take a thorough thrashing on Election Day, briefly appeared to be on the edge of learning a lesson about affordability. Then his narcissism kicked in. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Trump doesn't want to hear how much a Walmart Thanksgiving costs. He prefers the lie. | Opinion
Prices are up, not down. And Trump doesn't want to hear it. And he really doesn't want you to hear it, even as you live it.
www.usatoday.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Donald Trump, after watching his Republican Party take a thorough thrashing on Election Day, briefly appeared to be on the edge of learning a lesson about affordability. Then his narcissism kicked in. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
President Donald Trump's allies in Congress, eager to help him rewrite the history of criminal investigations into his conduct, might have inadvertently offered us all a path to transparency about some of his alleged lawlessness. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
GOP pushes to question Trump prosecutor Jack Smith quietly. What are they hiding? | Opinion
Republicans in Congress want to put Jack Smith under a microscope, in private. He's cornering them in their own game, very much in public.
www.usatoday.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:59 PM
President Donald Trump's allies in Congress, eager to help him rewrite the history of criminal investigations into his conduct, might have inadvertently offered us all a path to transparency about some of his alleged lawlessness. My USA Today column:
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
Donald Trump’s attacks on the rights of Americans to cast ballots in support of politicians not named Trump will inevitably escalate. His motivation is as clear as it is predictable: He is terrified of the 2026 midterms. My USA Today newsletter explains:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
November 6, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Donald Trump’s attacks on the rights of Americans to cast ballots in support of politicians not named Trump will inevitably escalate. His motivation is as clear as it is predictable: He is terrified of the 2026 midterms. My USA Today newsletter explains:
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...
www.usatoday.com/story/nlette...