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Protest at the White House (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

A peaceful protest march on the White House the day after President Trump unexpectedly fired Director of the FBI, James Comey. (Cal Sport Media via AP Images)

Donald Trump began his presidency in a troubling crisis of legitimacy, given charges that Russia meddled in the election to help him defeat Hillary Clinton, and that Clinton won the popular vote nonetheless. This crisis is now devouring him.

From the moment he and his staff began haranguing the media for accurately reporting the size of his inaugural turnout, compared with Obamas much larger crowds, we have been watching Trump spiral into paranoia. With the firing of FBI Director James Comey, we may be witnessing Trumps presidency unraveling.

Trumps cover story for Comeys dismissalthat brand-new deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein wanted him gone, ironically due to his handling of the investigation into Hillary Clintons e-mail practices last yearhas completely come undone in 24 hours. On Wednesday, The New York Times reported that Comey told congressional leaders that days before his firing hed submitted to Rosenstein a request for resources to expand the Russia probe. By Thursday morning, a half-dozen major news outlets produced deeply reported pieces, some based on as many as 30 sources, revealing that Trump has been seething over Comeys handling of the investigation into alleged collusion between Trumps campaign and Russian government officialsand that his anger hardened into a plan to fire him last week. The Washington Post reported that Rosenstein threatened to resign, angry at being falsely depicted as the person behind Comeys firing. (The Justice Department is denying that report.)

It seems that on May 3, Comey committed his unforgivable sin while testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee. Trump signaled his anxiety with a tweetstorm the day before. The Russia-Trump collusion story is a total hoax, when will this taxpayer funded charade end? one tweet read. Comey sealed his fate when he acknowledged his actions might have played a role in Trumps victory over Hillary Clinton. It made him mildly nauseous, he said, to think he tipped the race to the Republican. Comey himself was confirming Trumps darkest fear, the font of his angsty, crazy late-night and early-morning tweets: that he hadnt won the presidency legitimately.

Trumps biggest mistake in this whole fiasco may have been including this farcical claim in his very short letter of dismissal to Comey: I greatly appreciate you informing me, on three separate occasions, that I am not under investigation. If the firing had nothing to do with the very real investigation into Trumps campaign ties with Russian officials, why would Trump mention it? And if it does have something to do with the Russia-Trump investigationwhich far from denying, Comey had publicly confirmedthen Trump is obstructing justice.

If theres any remaining doubt that his personal legitimacy crisis is driving his crazy behavior, Trump is dispelling it by choosing today to sign an executive order establishing a commission to investigate (false) charges of voter fraud, headed by ace voter-suppressor Kris Kobach. Trump seems so comfortable with the rule-breaking and corruption he mastered in the private sector, he doesnt completely understand that he might want to shield his personal motivations more artfully. Hes claimed Clinton built her popular-vote margin with illegal voters; now that hes dispatched with Comey, hell use Kobach to slay his other legitimacy phantom.

THE STAKES ARE HIGHER NOW THAN EVER. GET THE NATION IN YOUR INBOX.

The big issue is what happens now. So far, influential GOP Senate leaders continue to oppose the appointment of a special prosecutor. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell came out Wednesday morning and humiliated himself spouting Trump talking points, while Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr insisted his committee can continue with its bipartisan investigation. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats seem divided on their next moves. Minority leader Chuck Schumer seemed to threaten to stop all Senate work until a special prosecutor was appointed, but his caucus didnt go along. Theres a lot of business weve got to be doing right now that is unrelated to this, and I dont think we should have an overall rule about not doing business, Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia told The Atlantic, adding: We can chew gum and walk at the same time.

By the end of Wednesday Schumer seemed to retreat, stating on the Senate floor: There are many questions to be answered and many actions that should be taken. We will be pursuing several things in the coming days, and well have more to say about those next steps in the days ahead, he said in remarks delivered on the Senate floor. Right now, it might take more resistance to strengthen Democrats spines. Trump has a legitimacy crisis that may be morphing into a constitutional crisis. We need leaders from both parties to confront it squarely.

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We May Be Witnessing the Unraveling of Donald Trump's Presidency - The Nation.

We all know exactly why President Trump fired FBI Director James Comey. It had nothing to do with the reasons enumerated in the attorney general and deputy attorney general's letters.

Trump fired Comey because Comey was investigating his and his associates' ties to Russia. That's it. Attorney General Sessions had recused himself from the investigation, but unrecused himself long enough to join in the firing party.

Are you feeling the creeping terror? Me too. I've been trying to avoid joining the more conspiracy-minded brethren of the anti-Trump brigade for the last 110 days of his presidency, but this move makes it increasingly difficult not to suspect the worst.

There is no one, absolutely no one, in the federal government to hold the president of the United States accountable for anything he does. The Department of Justice should be run independently, but it's clear Jeff Sessions, whose recusal stems from his possible perjury at his confirmation hearing, will do nothing to make sure the president he supported from early on in the campaign follows the law.

Sessions' deputy, Rod Rosenstein, reportedly has a good reputation as a career prosecutor, but joining in this farce of a firing should destroy that reputation. Thanks to Sessions' recusal, Rosenstein has the power to appoint an independent special prosecutor to lead the investigation into Trump's Russian ties, but that seems unlikely now. And even if he does appoint one, it's clear Trump would have no compunction firing both Rosenstein and the prosecutor.

The investigation into Trump doesn't fall into the judicial system's purview, and besides, any case that did make it to the Supreme Court would face a solid conservative majority. It's always possible that one justice or another might break ranks, but Bush v. Gore showed us the Court is not above playing politics.

That leaves Congress.

Republicans control both houses, and so far they've shown no real interest in holding Trump accountable for anything he's done to break down America's democratic norms. Occasionally John McCain will take to cable news or the New York Times op-ed page to issue a gentle chiding; Ben Sasse, Lindsey Graham, Jeff Flake or Susan Collins may occasionally express some discomfort for something Trump says or something he does. But when it comes to action to taking a real stand to stop this corrupt, sad excuse of a man they have utterly failed.

So although McCain and a handful of fellow GOP Congress members have said, in the wake of the Comey firing, that there should be an independent investigation, I'm not holding my breath for them to take action to make it a reality.

Indeed, many Republicans in Congress are lining up behind Trump. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already given a floor speech parroting White House talking points in defense of the Comey firing. (Yes, Democrats including me have criticized Comey. But the president firing the head of the FBI for investigating him still amounts to a constitutional crisis.) The head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Chuck Grassley, took to Trump's favorite show, Fox & Friends, to tell critics of the firing to "suck it up and move on."

Trump is consolidating and expanding executive power in a way never seen in modern politics. Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, now James Comey anyone who shows any independence or stands up to this president is summarily fired.

How is there not a single Republican in Congress not one! who will take a real stand against this president? How can not one GOP senator question whether we should be allowing someone this power-hungry and corrupt to appoint judges or set their legislative agenda? Why can't principled conservatives show some backbone and leave the Republican Party, which has become entirely the property of one Donald J. Trump?

Maybe it's too much to hope for. Maybe there just aren't any elected Republicans left brave enough to do what's right. But that leaves my country in the hands of a madman who will do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, and get rid of anyone who tries to hold him accountable. You feel that creeping terror? Me too.

Watch Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and others react to FBI Director James Comey's firing.

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There's No One to Hold Donald Trump Accountable - RollingStone.com

May 10, 2017, 7:15 a.m.

President Trump tweeted angrily in response toa CNN report Wednesday morning that pointed toRoger Stone, a controversial long-time ally, among those advising Trump to fire James Comey.

The Los AngelesTimes spoke with Stone on Tuesday night. And, while he would not reveal the contents of his conversations with Trump,he certainly sounded happy.

"About time," he said, soon after picking up the phone.

CNN, citing a source, said Stone told Trump that Comey should be fired. That would be significant. Not only is Stone known for pushing Trump's hardest political edges, but he is also frequently mentioned as a potential target in the FBI's investigation of Russian meddling in the election.

Here's what Trump had to say:

Here's what Stone had to say Tuesday night about Comey.

This guy has politicized the FBI like no previous director, Stone said.

Stone said he hopedthewild goose chase" would conclude.

White House officials have periodically deniedthat Trump still speaks with Stone, who got his start as a self-described dirty trickster under President Nixon,and has invitedcontroversy in multiple campaigns since then.

But Stone has been at Trump's side for decades, leaving their actual relationship the subject of frequent speculation.

Stone said he heard about Comey's firing while on a radio show. He would not say when he last spoke with Trump or how thepresident's opinion of Comey hadevolved.

It must not be very good," he said."He just fired him.

Stone has also been tweeting quite a bit since Comey's Tuesday night ouster.

Among his tweetswas one saying,"Somewhere Dick Nixon is smiling."

Stone has a Nixon tattoo on his back. He also weighed in on reports that he helped persuade Trump to fire Comey, denying he was the source of the news but not the substance.

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Donald Trump is tweeting about Roger Stone, who spoke with the LA Times Tuesday night - Los Angeles Times

President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a near record low with significant losses among white voters with no college degree, white men and independent voters, a new poll has found.

The survey, conducted by Quinnipiac University among nationwide participants, found that Trump has a 36% approval rating compared to 58% who disapprove of him. The number is down from Quinnipiac's April 19 poll, which found a 40% approval rating, and just 1% higher than his lowest-ever rating since he became president.

Key among those declines were groups that strongly advocated for his election. Approval among white voters with no college degree fell 10 points from 57% to 47% since April 19. White men went from a 53% approval to a 48% approval in that same time.

"There is no way to spin or sugarcoat these sagging numbers," Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll, said in a statement.

"The erosion of white men, white voters without college degrees and independent voters, the declaration by voters that President Donald Trump's first 100 days were mainly a failure and deepening concerns about Trump's honesty, intelligence and level headedness are red flags that the administration simply can't brush away," Malloy added.

On Tuesday, Trump fired FBI Director James Comey , a controversial decision that reverberated around Washington. It remains to be seen how voters around the country will judge the move.

Quinnipiac says its poll was conducted over the phone with live interviewers among 1,078 voters nationwide between May 4 and May 9. The margin of error is plus or minus 3 percentage points.

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President Trump's Approval Rating Has Dropped to a Near-Record Low - TIME

That the White House -- or any White House -- would be the scene of internal debate or power struggles is hardly surprising. But while most presidents try to keep their distance from the daily drama, Trump seems to seek it out.

Note here: Officials have denied reports of a rift to CNN.

If the story is true, McMaster would hardly be alone. The White House doghouse has, at various times and in various news reports, been inhabited by everyone from top aide Kellyanne Conway to Trump's seemingly untouchable son-in-law Jared Kushner. Ironically, one person who has mostly escaped a public rebuke is Trump's former national security adviser, Michael Flynn -- the same guy who was fired for misleading Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russian operatives. Trump has maintained that Flynn did nothing wrong, Pence conversation aside, and has been one of his most vocal supporters as the Russia probe continues in Congress.

Others haven't been so lucky. Here's a brief rundown of their transgressions as reported by CNN and other news outlets.

The administration wasn't a day old when Spicer first stepped in it.

The former campaign manager was one of the leading voices of the administration -- until around the end of February. At issue: Conway's penchant for going "off message."

Perhaps more so than her references to the imaginary "Bowling Green Massacre" or "alternative facts," it was Conway's declaration, during an interview on MSNBC, that former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn had Trump's "full confidence."

A few days after its release, Trump tweeted: "I call my own shots, largely based on an accumulation of data, and everyone knows it. Some FAKE NEWS media, in order to marginalize, lies!"

Trump offered a similar assessment months later, when he downplayed Bannon's role in reviving his campaign.

The former Alabama Senator was one of Trump's first high profile backers and, by all accounts, has maintained a relatively drama-free relationship with the White House.

"Nobody has seen (Trump) that upset," a source told CNN back in March. The President blamed his team for not forcefully pushing back against the story and, in his thinking, allowing the media to dictate Sessions' decision.

Trump and Priebus are perhaps the oddest couple in the White House. The former Republican National Committee boss spent the first months of the GOP primary trying to tame Trump, eventually joining the band when the insurgent candidate turned into the nominee.

His selection as chief of staff, traditionally the most powerful White House job, was mitigated by the announcement -- delivered in the same press release -- that Bannon would, effectively, be his equal. Since then, Priebus's job security has been in near constant question. When the first run at overhauling Obamacare in the House failed, Priebus, a longtime ally of House Speaker Paul Ryan, took extra heat.

Those efforts are still, well, ongoing. But while Trump figures to patient there, he was reportedly miffed when Kushner went on vacation during the first, failed attempt to undo Obamacare in the House. While the bill's prospects were going downhill, Kushner and family were doing the same -- on a mountain, skiing, in Aspen, Colorado.

"(Trump) is upset that his son-in-law and senior adviser was not around during this crucial week," a source close to the President told CNN in March. Kushner stuck around for the more successful May 4 vote.

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'Donald Trump is frustrated with his staff': a brief history - CNN