This past week, the Trump administration dealt with the release of a book and tapes recorded by reality television star and former aide Omarosa Manigault. Omarosa - as she is often mononymously called - has been promoting the release of her book Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House. The book contains many salacious details, including that Trump used the "N-word" on tape, that he may have dementia, and that he offered to pay Omarosa a $15,000-monthly salary in exchange for her silence about her time working in the Trump White House. The degree to which the details in the book are true is contested. Trump lashed out at Omarosa over Twitter, calling her a "crazed, crying lowlife," a "dog," and "vicious, but not smart."

In addition to the Omarosa drama, Trump also made headlines this week for revoking the security clearance for John Brennan, the former CIA director under Obama and a prominent Trump critic. It is rare for security clearances to be revoked, and there are federal guidelines dictating when such a revocation is appropriate; the Trump administration did not cite these guidelines in its explanation for revoking Brennan's access, though it did accuse him of "lying" and making "increasingly frenzied commentary...inconsistent with access to the nation's most closely held secrets and facilities." The revocation was viewed by some as politically-motivated retaliation for Brennan's vocal opposition to Trump and his policies.

Brennan blasted Trump as being "drunk on power" for revoking his access, while Trump railed against Brennan on Twitter, saying, "Has anyone looked at the mistakes that John Brennan made while serving as CIA Director? He will go down as easily the WORST in history & since getting out, he has become nothing less than a loudmouth, partisan, political hack who cannot be trusted with the secrets to our country!"

Meanwhile, jury deliberations in the trial of Paul Manafort, Trump's former campaign manager, for several counts of conspiracy and fraud will extend into next week. Trump has called the trial "very sad." Trump refused to answer questions about a possible pardon for Manafort, but was again very vocal in his criticism of special investigator Robert Mueller, reiterating his view that Mueller is leading a "rigged witch hunt." Trump may have more cause to complain soon: The New York Times recently reported that White House counsel Donald McGahn is cooperating closely with Mueller's investigation, viewing his obligation to protect "the office of the presidency, not the president."