I know how dangerous it is to try and read the vibes coming out of Camp Runamuck, but I'm willing to entertain the notion that the president* may have taken a look at all those documents he declassified earlier in the week and gotten a serious case of happy feet in the pocket. From the The Washington Post:

The retreat from his declassification decree issued just four days ago underscores the ongoing tensions between the White House and the Justice Department over the probe by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, who is examining whether any Trump associates may have conspired with the Kremlin to interfere in the election. In a pair of Friday morning tweets, Trump said: “I met with the DOJ concerning the declassification of various UNREDACTED documents. They agreed to release them but stated that so doing may have a perceived negative impact on the Russia probe. Also, key Allies’ called to ask not to release. Therefore, the Inspector General has been asked to review these documents on an expedited basis. I believe he will move quickly on this (and hopefully other things which he is looking at). In the end I can always declassify if it proves necessary. Speed is very important to me - and everyone!”

If it's a bluff, it's a pretty pathetic one. If it's not, then it's hard to see this as anything other than a panic move. The decision comes after the news broke that Michael Cohen is talking with the Mueller people about more than just Stormy Daniels. It may be that the president* finally looked at these documents instead of taking Jeannine Pirro's and Sean Hannity's word for what's in them. It may be that somebody on his staff tied him to a chair and shot him full of fentanyl. For whatever reason, his base-inflaming lifeboat has sunk underneath him, at least for the moment.

Trump was also swayed by foreign allies, including Britain, in deciding to reverse course, these people said. It wasn’t immediately clear what other governments may have raised concerns to the White House.

Ooh, that had to sting.

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Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

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