If you haven't read this New York Times piece, you should.
In yesterday's post, I wrote about how Trump had trapped himself into demanding something Mexico couldn't possibly give him, referencing Thomas Schelling, but that Mexico wound up making some "small, symbolic concessions." According to the Times piece, they weren't actually concessions. Those were part of negotiations that Nielsen worked out months ago.
So, Trump lied.
But he lied smartly! The gist of yesterday's post was to reference the "Political Science & Craziness" series, and the problem that true lunatics get themselves in trouble when they go too far, and demand something that their opponents cannot provide. Trump-- or rather, someone smart in his vicinity-- found a way off the ledge by just pretending that Nielsen's negotiated agreement was something they could lie and say was a victory concession from Mexico achieved based on the threat of tariffs.
That's... smart. Dishonest, of course, but that's because it's Trump. Unlike birtherism, or his typical lies, though, it's not stupid.
And it's a good reminder. Donald Trump is always lying.
