#Winners and #Losers - James Comey/Remember When… Edition

Winners

Vladimir Putin—remember (a week ago) when Emmanuel Macron brushed off a Russian hack to become president de la Republique, and Putin was the guy who had lost his touch? A few days later, he’s fielding questions about a huge (Russia-connected) scandal in the US… while wearing a hockey uniform. Back on top. #InAMoscowMinute 

Sean Spicer—remember when newspaper corrections were a big deal? Spicer got the Washington Post to issue a correction that he was “among” the bushes rather than “in” them while dodging questions from reporters. #WhenTheFallsAllThatsLeft

Steve Bannon—remember all that talk about Bannon getting fired? Neither does the president. #ComeydOver

James Comey—remember when Comey’s reputation was in shambles? Now the man who sank Hillary’s battleship has Democrats defending him—at least until his book comes out. #TheTruthShallMakeYouRich

The Media—remember when the media was accused of beating trivial stories to death to fill airtime? They’re having fun now. #ThanksTrump

Losers 

Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein—remember when no one outside DC had ever heard of Rod Rosenstein? Now the guy needs cops to clear a path as he walks down the hall. #WrongKindaStar

Sarah Huckabee Sanders—remember when the names “Huckabee” and “Sanders” referred to old white men at polar opposite ends of the political spectrum? Huckabee Sanders may have won herself Spicer’s job this week. #BuckleUpHuck

Melissa McCarthy—remember when McCarthy as Spicer became instant comedy gold? McCarthy as Huckabee Sanders? #WayTooEasy

Attorney General Jeff Sessions—Remember when Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation? Trump has dragged him back in—by asking for a recommendation he now says he didn’t need. #J’recuse 

Healthcare—Remember when the House passed a bill to “repeal and replace” Obamacare last week, and then held a GOP dance party in the Rose Garden? Fun while it lasted. #SimplerTimes

Ian Bremmer is president of Eurasia Group, foreign affairs columnist at TIME and Global Research Professor at New York University. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.

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