Odds Say Mike Pence Wrote the “I Am Part of the Resistance” Op-Ed

• A New York Times Op-Ed has the White House in a state of panic
• A senior official in the Trump administration is sabotaging parts of the President’s agenda from within
• Trump has demanded that the anonymous official reveal themselves, but no one has stepped forward

It’s a classic whodunit. A senior official in the Trump administration penned an anonymous Op-Ed in the New York Times, claiming to be thwarting parts of Trump’s agenda from within, and the President is desperately trying to smoke out the mole.

Like any good mystery, there are a few breadcrumbs to follow. Or, if we want to use a more obscure word, we have a “lodestar” to follow.  Yep, that word itself is the most significant clue we have. The word “lodestar” was used in the Op-Ed, and it turns out that of the 7.4 billion residents of planet Earth, only one person regularly uses the term. That person is Mike Pence.

"lodestar" (h/t @danbl00m) pic.twitter.com/SqKFlBTR0f

— David Mack (@davidmackau) September 5, 2018

Naturally, that places the Vice President at the top of the list of suspects. But this is an administration that leaks like a sieve, so the culprit could really be anyone. Perhaps it’s the disgruntled Attorney General, who has endured endless humiliation from the President. Maybe it’s the miserable Chief of Staff, who is rumored to have called Trump an “idiot.” Or it could even be his own children secretly plotting against their father.

Buckle up, internet sleuths, it’s time to investigate!

Does the so-called “Senior Administration Official” really exist, or is it just the Failing New York Times with another phony source? If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist, the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018

Odds on Who Wrote the “I Am Part of the Resistance” New York Times Op-Ed

Of course, no one is confessing to the act. That would just be too easy. From Don McGahn’s “No” to Ben Carson’s “Haha nope”,  Trump’s inner circle has been quick to distance themselves from the anonymous Op-Ed.

Let’s start with Mike Pence (+250), who has emerged as the clear frontrunner. The Vice President is second to the throne and has proven himself to be an ambitious and savvy political animal. If, for whatever reason, Trump does not run in 2020, Pence is the natural pick to head the Republican ticket.

If he wants his name tied to Trump, then he only needs to point to his tenure as Vice President. But if he wants to distance himself, then he’ll need to provide some kind of grand reveal. That’s where the anonymous Op-Ed comes into play. Penning the Op-Ed, which he could choose to reveal at any opportune moment, is a clever way to hedge his bets.

“To cover my tracks, I usually pay attention to other staffers’ idioms and use that in my background quotes. That throws the scent off me”

– Anonymous White House Leaker

Jeff Sessions (+400), John Kelly (+450), and Dan Coats (+450) have also made their way to the top of the list.

Sessions especially fits the profile. He agrees with Trump’s policies, which the unnamed author made clear, but has long been the victim of Trump’s “impetuous, adversarial, petty and ineffective” leadership style.

Does the so-called “Senior Administration Official” really exist, or is it just the Failing New York Times with another phony source? If the GUTLESS anonymous person does indeed exist, the Times must, for National Security purposes, turn him/her over to government at once!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 5, 2018

The upcoming book by Bob Woodward claims that John Kelly has privately referred to Trump as an “idiot” and a “liar.” Dan Coats clearly has his differences with the President and the Op-Ed especially criticizes Trump on his approach to national security, which is Coats’ home turf.

From there the odds get a lot longer. There’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley (+1000), who has clashed with Trump on the administration’s soft approach to Russia. There’s Don McGahn (+1000), who refused to fire the special counsel on Trump’s request and will soon leave the White House. And there’s also Jim Mattis (+1000), who has remained in Trump’s good graces while refusing to carry out parts of his foreign policy agenda.

Pick: Don McGahn (White House Counsel) +1000

Personally, I would hold off on picking Pence at +250. Those odds are way too short. The whole “lodestar” thing could just be a red herring, which is common in leaks. White House leakers have admitted to imitating “other staffers’ idioms” to throw the scent off them.

Everything that has been leaked about Don McGahn paints him in a positive light. Everything. When Trump ordered him to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, McGahn refused and instead offered to resign. And it was later revealed that he is cooperating extensively with Mueller because he “views his role as protecting the presidency, not the president.”  When everything that is leaked paints you as the hero, you’re probably the leaker.

White House Counsel Don McGahn will be leaving his position in the fall, shortly after the confirmation (hopefully) of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the United States Supreme Court. I have worked with Don for a long time and truly appreciate his service!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 29, 2018

McGahn will leave the White House after Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed to the Supreme Court. After a few stressful years as the White House Counsel, he’s looking to start a new chapter in his career. That may include literally writing chapters. McGahn has a rare insider’s’ perspective into both the Trump administration and the Russia investigation, and both of those topics are selling like hot cakes right now. It’s estimated that the Op-Ed writer could be staring down a $10 million book deal.