The previous couple of days, if nothing else, have been a time when folks have been taking a second to contemplate the pinnacles of human achievement. The Winter Olympics are underway, displaying off athleticism at its best. Elon Musk inexplicably shot a car into space however referenced David Bowie, in order that was cool. And, maybe most thrillingly, the worst police sketch in history proved to be effective, which might solely be thought of a victory of the human spirit as a complete as a result of, severely, what on the earth? Rejoice in these triumphs, expensive readers, as a result of we’re going to go from the best highs to the depths as we trawl via what you may need neglected on-line over the last seven days.

However, She Endured. For Many, Many Hours

What Occurred: Generally, it’s important to rise up for eight hours for one thing you imagine in. And speak for that lengthy, as nicely.

What Actually Occurred: The US authorities narrowly avoided another shutdown final week after the Home and Senate handed a spending invoice on the final minute, regardless of a lack of movement on the difficulty of the Deferred Motion for Childhood Arrivals program, higher referred to as DACA, or the Dream Act. This occurred even though, just some days earlier, Home Minority Chief Nancy Pelosi tried to revive the difficulty with a record-breaking speech on the subject.

All instructed, Pelosi spoke for more than eight hours in an attempt to put the focus back on immigration. Unsurprisingly, a hashtag popped up in help because the speech continued.

When the speech was lastly over, a brand new document had been set by way of size—

—however to place that in perspective, contemplate the next:

A minimum of one individual was impressed.

Don’t let that be recognized too broadly, Paul; your supporters may suppose you’re going delicate.

The Takeaway: After all, not everybody was supportive about Pelosi’s efforts to refocus the controversy…

But One other Departure from the White Home

What Occurred: President Trump’s workers secretary stepped down following allegations of home abuse.

What Actually Occurred: As a result of, it appears, each single week has to have not less than one little bit of unhealthy information out of the White Home, the Every day Mail, of all locations, broke the story final week that Trump’s workers secretary Rob Porter had allegedly abused each of his ex-wives. Oh, and people on the White Home may need recognized in regards to the allegations.

After preliminary help from the Trump administration— rumored to have been orchestrated by White Home communications director Hope Hicks, who occurs to be Porter’s present girlfriend—Porter finally stepped down from his function mid-week.

Even following the resignation announcement, folks have been left with questions.

That was only the start. White Home chief of workers John Kelly got here beneath intense scrutiny from people inside the White Home and elsewhere over what he knew and when.

Of explicit observe for a lot of was Thursday’s White Home press briefing, the place deputy press secretary Raj Shah was requested in regards to the matter.

Shah’s efficiency drew criticism for his response on the topic, and from not less than one notably essential supply.

Effectively, it’s not like folks didn’t count on that. In the meantime, Porter’s dismissal introduced one other, much less apparent, meme to life.

A former Obama administration staffer couldn’t resist the snark on this final level.

The Takeaway: With all the pieces occurring in Washington, it is arduous to deal with this story, however maybe everybody ought to take a minute and actually take into consideration what occurred right here.

Subsequent Up On C-Span: Massive Brother

What Occurred: Talking of former Trump White Home workers, Omarosa returned to the airwaves with an surprising leak in an surprising place.

What Actually Occurred: Keep in mind when Omarosa Manigault-Newman give up the White Home, talked about realizing issues all mysterious-like, after which joined the cast of Celebrity Big Brother? It seems, it would all have been a part of some very surreal grasp plan to get the phrase out in an unexpectedly broad method.

Seems, speaking about Trump on Massive Brother signifies that everyone notices and then talks about you talking about Trump. It’s genius! However not everybody was shopping for it.

So, how did the White Home reply?

(This was the identical press convention the place the Rob Porter allegations have been mentioned; it’s a bizarre prepare wreck and value watching, if you happen to’re into that type of factor.) However with Omarosa again within the information, folks began asking the apparent query once more. Specifically, what was Omarosa truly doing within the White Home, anyway? This was positively an choice:

—Oh, we admit it; we simply wished an excuse to put up that video. In any case, how unhealthy might this be, actually?

That’s … positively a take.

The Takeaway: This tweet may sum the entire thing up in probably the most applicable method:

The Inventory in Commerce

What Occurred: After a interval of dwelling by the inventory market’s successes, this week the administration needed to learn the way to not die by the inventory market’s failures.

What Actually Occurred: Earlier than final week, you may need observed the Trump administration touting the success of the inventory market as an indicator of how well its financial plans were working. We are saying “earlier than final week,” as a result of…

Yeah, that’s going to leave a mark.

In the meantime, the rule of Trump Tweets meant that variations on this have been quickly doing the rounds:

One drawback: It’s literally fake news. There was no such tweet. (Sorry, everybody.) Nonetheless, even after the market rallied slightly on Tuesday, folks have been left nervous. For good cause, it turned out: On Thursday, it occurred once more.

Sure, another 1000+ point drop, which definitely didn’t go unnoticed on social media.

The Takeaway: How unhealthy was it?

Quincy Jones Simply Would possibly Be an Oracle

What Occurred: Leisure legend Quincy Jones gave an astounding, nothing-held-back interview stuffed with particulars nobody noticed coming.

What Actually Occurred: This one is simply … bananas. All you actually need to know is that Quincy Jones gave an all-time great interview, and, nicely, social media did what it does finest.

Some folks have been even satisfied there was extra to return:

The Takeaway: Actually, simply go read the interview. You’ll thank us later.