OnPolitics Today: A moment of silence on this Halloween

It’s Halloween, OP friends, and on this holiday, we’re taking a moment to think of the eight people killed in today’s terrorist attack in New York.

“This was an act of terror and a cowardly act of terror,” New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said. “We will respond as we always do. We will be undeterred.”

Take that to heart as we head into today’s recap (subscribe here).

Trump says he has no idea who that one guy is

A day after it was revealed that Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos had pleaded guilty to lying about his Russian contact to the FBI, President Trump called him a “liar.”

“Few people knew the young, low level volunteer named George, who has already proven to be a liar,” he tweeted.

The White House, too, tried to distance Papadopoulos from the campaign, saying he was a volunteer with an “extremely limited” role.

It makes sense, of course. Who wants to be associated with someone who has already pleaded guilty to charges that came out of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation? Especially when there are likely more charges coming.

One person who didn’t seem too concerned about that plea today: Papadopoulos himself. He tweeted about his lunch in Chicago, photo and all, on Tuesday, before deleting it after it caught the attention of journalists.

Getting to know Michael Flynn

You’ve probably heard a lot about Michael Flynn. Former Trump national security adviser. Resigned over misleading Vice President Pence and other officials about his contacts with Russia. Vulnerable in special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

But here’s one thing you might not have known: he’s revered in his hometown. As he deals with his legal woes and the mounting costs associated with them, he knows there’s one place where people will rally to his side.

“The idea that he would do something underhanded drives me crazy,” his brother, William Flynn, said.

Elsewhere in politics

• Social media giants stop short of endorsing bill to prevent Russia’s election meddling

• After Mueller charges unsealed, senator has ‘serious concerns’ about Sam Clovis nomination

• Pruitt moves to shake up EPA advisory boards, further antagonizing environmental activists

• Obamacare 2018 enrollment opens Wed. with little federal mention, lower rates for some

• Sen. Thom Tillis’s dog costume party serves Senate a dose of #bipawtisanship

   

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