The Great Unmasking

By Bill Maher

Like so many Obama “scandals” pushed by the Republican Party over the last eight years, the final one (one can hope) seems to be ending just like all the others — with a whole lot of nothing. Yes, Susan Rice’s “unmasking” “scandal”, where Rice apparently asked to reveal the names of Trump associates mentioned in intelligence briefings, will take its place next to Benghazi, the IRS “scandal”, and all the others, in the Hall of Nothingburgers. (Show your NRA membership and admission is free.)

This had been described by President Trump as “…a massive, massive story. All over the world.” Sean Hannity called it a “BOMBSHELL.” It had been endlessly pimped on Fox News and in the right wing media bubble. And how’s that scandal coming?

“…a review of the surveillance material flagged by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes shows no inappropriate action by Susan Rice or any other Obama administration official, Republican and Democratic Congressional aides who have been briefed on the matter told NBC News.”

…Current and former officials say it is routine, and not inappropriate, for the national security adviser to request the identities of Americans mentioned in intelligence reports.”

Of course, here’s what happens now, because we’ve all seen this before: Despite the new evidence, Trump will say that it’s still a huge story, and “you will be hearing big things about this in the coming days, believe me.” And then …nothing. We’ll move on to something else. And you know what? Mission accomplished. Because this works on Republicans. Every. Single. Time. They’ll never get the correction. They never revisit the evidence. “There is no Trump-Russia scandal because Susan Rice - that’s the real scandal.” This meme will live on forever in the bubble. I promise you.