Robert Costa
@costareports
Followers
686K
Following
4K
Media
3K
Statuses
54K
Chief Election & Campaign Correspondent for @CBSNews, co-author of “Peril” with @realBobWoodward, @Center4Politics Scholar at the University of Virginia
Washington, D.C.
Joined October 2009
I'm in touch with someone who's on the governors' call with President Trump right now. They and others listening in are alarmed. The president is urging governors to take back the streets, not be "weak," and use force as the nation faces growing racial unrest.
5K
22K
71K
Dark time in Trump's inner circle. Spoke to several longtime friends, donors, and aides in the past 24 hours. Many say he's listening to very few people, isolated, and meanspirited about his potential rivals. Several of them say they're tired of his rants and are avoiding him.
6K
5K
37K
A powerful photo. The hand toward his father’s face. The eyes. Put aside politics and everything related for a moment, and viewed simply on a human level, you see two men, father and son, still at each other’s side, more than a half-century since the darkness of Dec. 18, 1972.
9K
5K
35K
NEWS w/ @AshleyRParker: The Lincoln Project raised $16.8 million this quarter and will soon expand to include ground operations. They plan to next target GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Thom Tillis (N.C.), and Lindsey Graham (S.C.).
2K
8K
33K
Tonight, Cheney says she will “do whatever it takes” to ensure Trump is never elected president again.
2K
3K
33K
NEWS: Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton said in an interview Tuesday, after the CBS-Post reporting was published, that he recalls Trump using the term “burner phones” in several discussions and that Trump was aware of its meaning….
1K
7K
31K
I spent the day the Senate, talking with Republicans. They are all paying close attention to the KY gubernatorial race. They are not just watching the returns, but President Trump's political capital as they make decisions about how to handle impeachment and their own future.
1K
6K
25K
Doug Jones today: “A serious question that you have to ask yourself is this: Does the idea of Senator Roy Moore make it more or less likely that Toyota or anyone else would see Alabama’s image in such a negative way that they would cross Alabama off of their list and move on?”.
739
7K
23K
Meanwhile, in Montana, Senator Tester hosts Pearl Jam. Tester and the band’s bassist have a long friendship and Pearl Jam has been supportive of Tester for years. It’s a key Senate race.
A Pearl Jam concert played in support of @jontester has made Missoula the largest city in Montana for a night. The stadium would currently be the state’s 8th largest city #mtpol #mtnews
165
5K
20K
Spoke to more than a dozen House Rs here at the Capitol. Very few had any criticism of the president's handling of the coming storm or his tweets on P.R. Most offered hearty praise. A revealing snapshot of the GOP.
2K
7K
19K
Per @JakeSherman, "Sens. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) were on a JetBlue flight from Palm Beach to DCA on Monday morning. Romney received a round of applause from passengers as he was waiting to deplane, per our tipster.".
434
3K
20K
The likely impact of Walz, based on my conversations with top Democrats: . organized labor pleased, motivated to rally. progressives comfortable w/ him. centrists/vulnerable Ds sigh of relief since he's seen as folksy, funny. military service, educator roots get DNC spotlight.
554
2K
20K
"Documents obtained from Scottish government agencies show that the Trump Organization, and Mr. Trump himself, played a direct role in setting up an arrangement between the Turnberry resort and officials at Glasgow Prestwick Airport."
1K
10K
17K
Important to know: Johnson was deeply involved in efforts to keep Trump in power starting immediately after 2020 election. Early Nov. 2020. I know because I spent months reporting on that period and he was part of letters and behind-scenes efforts with key outside groups. I’ve….
918
6K
17K
Couple senior Republican lawmakers tell me the only way this breaks open is if TSA employees stay home and Americans get furious about their flights. That’s the only out, they say. And they’re close to the WH.
2K
7K
16K
Ret. police officer Michael Fanone, who was injured on Jan. 6 as he defended the Capitol, issues stmt on Jordan: “Jim Jordan is an insurrectionist who has no place being second in line to the presidency. This is a very dark time for our democracy and should serve as a wake up.".
482
4K
17K
In private speech tonight at Cheney fundraiser, Senator Romney warned over 200 Republicans gathered in Northern Virginia of the ‘extraordinary challenge’ to preserve American democracy, with threats now abroad and at home, per 5 attendees. .
524
2K
16K
Read the Woodward book twice. Explosive reporting. Vivid scenes in every chapter. Includes documents, dates, details. Top Trump advisers took papers off of the president's desk to stop him from making decisions. Mattis ignored his order to kill Assad.
661
6K
16K
(thread/tonight) What I'm hearing. Trump is frustrated not just with the indictment but with people in his inner circle who reassured him for months that it was very unlikely to happen. source close to Trump says "too much happy talk for way too long" about what could happen.
584
2K
14K
An extraordinary moment in American history. A speaker of the House asks the chairman of the joint chiefs if the nuclear codes are safe because she fears the president is crazy and liable to make a deadly decision to stay in power. From Milley's testimony re: Jan. 8, 2021 call.
497
5K
14K
Based on my convos with Rs over wknd, most everything McConnell does from here on isn't about January 20th (inauguration day & working with Biden) but January 5th (the Georgia run-off elections). To win the latter, Rs believe the base must be stoked, esp in a fast-changing state.
934
5K
14K
If you're looking for a presidential pivot, recall that this tone and language on immigration is exactly what President Trump sounded like when he first launched his bid in 2015, almost four years ago. That was before Miller, before Bannon. This is who he is.
375
3K
13K
Rep. Mark Sanford (R-SC) says the president should release his tax returns in order to clear things up this week. Tells Post “I don’t know” if Russia has anything on the president and wants more answers on the president’s finances.
413
4K
13K
President Trump just called me. Still on phone. "We just pulled it," he tells me.
893
6K
13K
Luttig says Trump and his supporters remain a “clear and present danger” to American democracy because they “pledge” in 2024 to overturn another election, should he or an ally run and be defeated.
360
3K
12K
Just spoke w/ @SpeakerPelosi. She tells me Ds are sticking together and the chaos, for Rs, is a “problem of their own making.” Added she’s never seen anything like this in her entire tenure. Then joked that she’d allow a rules change for @RepJeffries to be speaker thru plurality.
102
1K
12K
(thread) Based on our reporting, Eastman begins drafting his memo in late Dec. and Trump WH has it by the new year. WH then gives it to Sen. Lee and others on Jan. 2, as we document in "Peril." . But by Jan. 3, after Pence meets w/ Sen. Parliam., it's clear he's not coming along.
472
5K
12K
Stmt today from @SenatorCollins: "I believe that we should bring to the Senate floor legislation that would put restrictions on the ability of President Donald Trump to fire the Special Counsel.".
1K
2K
12K
What a start to Thanksgiving week for Leader Pelosi. Tim Ryan/Moulton wing continues to struggle to recruit a challenger. And Ocasio-Cortez knocks that wing, lifting Pelosi w/ left. Big donors are calling members on her behalf. Obama heaps praise on her. Fudge drops & endorses.
389
2K
11K
Pres. Trump never served in elected office until 2017. His interactions with Congress have so far included signing ceremonies, a gift of Starbursts, and leaders who remain wary of angering him or his core voters and therefore praise him, at least publicly. Today, that changes.
233
2K
11K
A prominent Republican strategist confides, uneasily, today to WashPost: "Can you imagine if the Democrats were able to convince Mattis to be their VP nominee in '20?".
1K
3K
11K
Sources close to President Biden tell me tonight they’re *furious* that while the president is trying to recover from Covid in Rehoboth, a pressure campaign keeps picking up speed. Lots of anger toward some donors for talking of $ drying up if he doesn’t quit, toward what they.
2K
2K
12K
Leader Jeffries tonight…. Asked about McHenry, he responded, “I have respect for Patrick McHenry. I think he is respected on our side of the aisle. There are a whole host of other Republicans who are respected on our side of the aisle. Jim Jordan is not one of them.”.
314
2K
11K
To me, the story here isn’t how a prominent pusher of hate against Jewish people ended up at a table with Trump. The story is the response of so many so far in a party that could nominate him: a shrug or indifference. All as many shrug or ignore his nods toward Q Anon conspiracy.
1K
3K
11K
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) tells me he's urging GOP leaders to prod McConnell to take up one of the House Democrats' bills to reopen the government. "This situation is absurd and it's time to end [the shutdown]. who feels safe flying today? People are worried.".
402
3K
11K
This Buttigieg town hall is worth watching. Polished and thoughtful presentation with clear answers. Underscores military exp. Of course, it’s a big field and he’s a young Midwestern mayor. But he’s using his time on stage effectively here. This is a focused candidate.
342
2K
11K
Several Senate Republicans I've spoken with in the last hour are stunned that the WH is releasing this transcript. They do not think it helps the president's cause. And they expect today's Senate GOP lunch to be quite the get-together.
920
3K
11K
thread on Willard from "Peril". After Pence leaves Oval on Jan. 5, Trump is furious. Pence isn't breaking. He opens the door near the Resolute Desk. "A rush of cold air blasted the room." He can hear the mob in the streets outside the Willard. He's elated to hear them. (p. 230).
342
4K
11K
CBS News has confirmed that Oct. 31, 2020 was a key date in the pre-election maneuvers by Trump. Set off alarm with WH counsel and Herschmann, among others. I’ve seen texts from that night from some aides and they knew it was no joke; declaring victory was Trump’s plan. Period.
276
4K
11K
(thread) Personal news: Starting in Feb., I will be the Chief Election & Campaign Correspondent for CBS News. My reporting will focus on the 2022 midterms, the 2024 election, and American democracy. Stay tuned for in-depth stories, scoops, investigations, and on-the-road reports.
701
834
11K
NEWS: At least 2 members of the @January6thCmte are now telling colleagues Friday, in private conversations, that they need to invite Ginni Thomas to come talk, and issue a subpoena if necessary, per three people involved in the discussions. Will push for this in Mon. cmmte mtg.
319
2K
10K
Per @GrahamKates, who was in the courtroom, Special Counsel Jack Smith closely watched Trump as Trump exited slowly at the end. He watched Trump glance at reporters sitting in the back. Smith never broke his stare at Trump, per Kates.
509
2K
10K
Some House Republicans just walked off the floor in disgust with Gaetz. I’m in speaker’s lobby and some members are cursing out Gaetz as they leave the floor. “I’m not listening to this —-!” one House R says. others fuming and going outside to balcony to cool off.
706
1K
11K
When the history is eventually written on this time, Bannon's role will be central and a prism into understanding what has happened in the United States. NYT: "Mr. Bannon appears to have played a larger role than was previously known in yet another of the former president’s.
491
3K
10K
Deeply personal remarks from Biden about Buttigieg. Compares him to his late son — and himself, when he was a young politician. Talking about the need of the nation to be “healed” and says, “Pete gets it.” Buttigieg clearly moved. Tonight in Dallas.
148
1K
10K
BREAKING NEWS: Senator Manchin, a moderate Democrat who is friendly w/ WH, is now on the floor, calling for Pres. Trump's CENSURE. This decision has been in the works for weeks, per person familiar. Story soon @washingtonpost. Post has just obtained his censure resolution. .
727
3K
10K
Just spoke w/ Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA). He tells Post that Wray “raised concerns” about memo after viewing it, told Schiff about them today. Asked cmmte to wait for him to brief them before voting on release. Cmmte instead voted tonight. Schiff calls the move “disgraceful.”.
576
5K
10K
A personal note on the late Justice: I used to see her at Arena Stage in DC whenever a new play opened. She'd often come alone, quietly take her seat, and appreciate the theater. Unpretentious and warm to those who approached. RIP.
45
932
10K
Hearing from 2 sources, familiar with the special counsel grand jury on J6, that Trump's consideration of using purported fed. authority to seize voting machines is under scrutiny. SC probing whether there was criminal intent to build a premise for delay/block in certification. .
361
2K
10K
"If these people say you had the power, wouldn't you want to?" Trump asked. "I wouldn't want any one person to have that authority," Pence said. "But wouldn't it almost be cool to have that power?" Trump asked. "No," Pence said. /end.
357
2K
10K
An unusual group on Air Force Two today: Vice President, Senate Majority Leader, and Chief Justice all on the plane. Rare to have that trio together, particularly on a flight.
3K
5K
9K
Just spoke with someone close to House conservatives, who has seen some of the group chats from late 2020 and early 2021. Cringed at the MTG texts. Said the group chats were, and remain, "stupid" and "everybody texted too much" in them. "If they ever get out, we have a problem.".
402
2K
9K
Nov 20: Thomas spouse engages WH chief on legal strategy as Trump pursues Court hearing . Jan 21: Fmr Thomas clerk Eastman pushes memo on VP. Feb 21: Thomas dissents from Court’s rejection of Trump challenges. Jan 22: Thomas dissents on rejection of Trump’s request on records.
327
3K
9K
“He’s trapped,” Murphy said. “He’s playing poker holding two threes and suddenly putting all of his chips in. It’s pure emotion, the mark of a panicking amateur.”
335
3K
9K
Boos and jeers don’t make questions suddenly disappear.
Boos . “Shut up! Shut up!” . "Next question" when Rep. Mike Johnson is asked about efforts to overturn 2020 presidential election results .
2K
2K
9K
Breaking: Rep. Justin Amash (Mich.), a critic of President Trump who recently left the Republican Party, would not rule out a 2020 presidential bid on Sunday, a move that could complicate Trump’s path to reelection.
546
2K
9K
Most members tell me blizzard of angry constituent calls were most impt factor in getting the House to sideline the amdt.
345
6K
9K
More: President Trump just berated governors and mayors for how they are handling the protests, calling them "fools," per person on the call.
473
3K
9K
What I'm watching: did the Special Counsel find out exactly how Trump used other phones all while he also used official lines to make calls? The calls to the Willard on Jan. 5, the calls the morning of the 6th. Meadows's phone logs were a roadmap for J6 cmmte but not.
NEWS: Jack Smith reveals in a filing he has extracted data from the phone Trump used in the White House — and can use it to pinpoint his location when he used the Twitter app. w/ @joshgerstein .
263
2K
9K
Just spoke with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who says “a lot of remedies need to be on the table” for congressional response to Barr’s conduct. He does *not* rule out possible impeachment proceedings. Calls Mueller letter “stunning” and a “game changer for [Barr’s] legacy.”.
319
3K
9K
“I have never seen him more irresponsible and chaotic then he is today. He seems to be in self-destruct mode. It is irresponsible to attack DeSantis and Youngkin, and it’s irresponsible to announce in any time in the near future" especially before GA runoff, per a Trump adviser.
921
1K
9K
"Who are these folks? What history books do they read?" President Obama says today in Florida, referring to Jared Kushner and his recent remarks on Black Americans.
139
1K
9K
Sen. Flake calls the conduct of the president's eldest son "sickening."
800
3K
9K
Aides to governors say the president continues to talk. One describes it as a "rant." Says he keeps talking about the need to "dominate" the protests.
368
3K
9K
Rohrabacher defeated.
BREAKING: Democrat Harley Rouda wins election to U.S. House in California's 48th congressional district. #APracecall at 5:36 p.m. PST. @AP election coverage: #Election2018 #CAelection.
294
1K
8K
Having tracked Fuentes for years, let me note this as a reporter: he is well-known inside the GOP. People can pretend otherwise but professionals who work in the party are highly aware of how his white supremacy and anti-Semitism influences some voters, esp on fringe platforms.
861
3K
9K
Ambassador Bolton sends me a text message just now: “Let’s be clear, I resigned, having offered to do so last night.”.
630
3K
9K
CBS News has confirmed the Post report by @JaxAlemany @jdawsey1 @emmersbrown… @January6thCmte has obtained previously unknown emails between Ginni Thomas and Eastman (a former clerk for Justice Thomas). Committee members now mulling next steps, per person familiar with the docs.
201
2K
8K
To recap: Many outlets, inc @CBSNews, arrived around 12 noon in Bucks County to cover surging Sen. candidate Kathy Barnette at an event publicly listed as her final rally before she faces voters. From the start, a security team of at least 5 physically blocked us from entering. .
670
3K
9K
Members also complaining to me that the House gym lacks enough towels this morning and they wonder if it’s because of the shutdown.
2K
3K
9K
Trump, an active candidate for the presidency and fmr. president, met with Nick Fuentes. There is a lot of back and forth about how it happened. But it happened. This is just like when MTG appeared with Fuentes earlier this year. A lot of back and forth. But it happened.
1K
2K
8K
McCain statement: “The latest attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice serve no American interests – no party’s, no president’s, only Putin’s.".
213
3K
8K
Ambassador Bolton to me just now: “I will have my say in due course. But I have given you the facts on the resignation. My sole concern is US national security.”.
477
2K
8K
President Trump is now encouraging the nation's governors, repeatedly, to use the military to deal with protests, per a person on the call. Moments ago.
582
3K
9K
NEWS: Historian Jon Meacham to me just now via text: “the report about my doing anything with a speech is totally false.”. Comes as Meacham is being talked about by some Democrats as a Biden confidant who might be working on an “exit the race speech” for President Biden.
461
2K
9K
Sources familiar with the investigation tell CBS tonight that Bragg has some documents that have been uncovered during the probe but are not yet known to the public/been reported, both financial records and communications between key figures… will use these as well as testimony.
256
2K
8K
A Republican close to President tells me Trump has been increasingly isolated in recent days. Frustrated, avoiding major public appearances.
1K
4K
8K
"One of the most stunning and sad things in my view that has happened since Jan. 6 has been the realization that the vast majority of. my party, when the chips were down and the time of testing came, they didn't do the right thing." @Liz_Cheney tonight, per @cristina_corujo.
141
1K
8K
The poster is a play off "Game of Thrones.". I don't want to spoil it, but the wall in "Game of Thrones" has. some trouble in season 7. I'll leave it there.
393
2K
8K
Big picture on Nov. 9th: McConnell, the most powerful Republican in Congress, stands firmly with President Trump as the president fights his legal battles. Rails against "far left mobs," minutes after meeting with AG Barr at the Capitol. Wants "no lectures" from Democrats.
918
2K
8K
VP Pence met with Ukraine's Zelensky a few weeks ago in Poland, sitting in for Pres. Trump, who couldn't make the trip. The meeting was in a windowless hotel room. Bolton sat silent, Sec. Perry there, too, as pool reporters were brought int. Zelensky kept bouncing his knees. .
397
4K
8K
BREAKING NEWS: In recent days, federal prosecutors have asked the chief judge in Washington, D.C.’s federal court to compel former Vice President Mike Pence to comply with a grand jury subpoena and testify as a witness in Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation. .
132
1K
8K
(thread) I've been following up today on something @AmbJohnBolton told @CBSNews in recent days and it has led to a new understanding of a part of this story: how Trump handled defense and intelligence-related documents inside the White House, and how that led to the FBI search.
316
2K
8K
Sen. Blumenthal calls on Chief Justice Roberts "to take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Clarence Thomas recuses himself. [from] United States v. Trump," citing our reporting on Ginni Thomas and her text messages with Mark Meadows
688
2K
8K
As the year closes, I'm reminded that I've just wrapped my 5th year at The Post. Here's to a great year 6. Thanks for reading and following.
235
499
8K
Unflinching in the face of violence and harassment. Committed to freedom and truth. This is more than a magazine cover. It’s a beacon.
The Guardians���Jamal Khashoggi, the Capital Gazette, Maria Ressa, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo—are TIME's Person of the Year 2018 #TIMEPOY
297
2K
8K
What I’m hearing privately from a few key GOP senators: yes, they’d prefer to not have a messy fight over Gaetz. Not their favorite. But they also don’t have a lot of energy for pushing back. Trump runs the show, they say. If Gaetz can reassure them, they’re open to backing him.
2K
2K
9K
Biden tonight, per pool reporter @madeleinerivera: . “I view myself as a transition candidate… My job is… to bring the Mayor Petes of the world into this administration.".
962
1K
7K
This is how my exchange today with Lindell ended. Calmly asked him to provide names of lawyers, the lawyers who he says provided him with papers that included the mention of “martial law.” Papers he carried into a meeting with Trump.
3K
2K
7K
An elected official with significant constitutional power, second in line to the presidency, weighing in on an active criminal case as a jury hears evidence this morning.
House Speaker Mike Johnson says at presser outside Trump’s hush money trial that he told Trump “I wanted to be here myself and call out what is a travesty of justice.”
2K
2K
8K
(thread) This Pence development today is significant and potentially historic. A former vice president is now willing, within certain specified constitutional grounds his lawyers fought to arrange, to testify about potential illegal acts by a president.
364
2K
7K