SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET:

BLUNDER – FROM GATEWAY PUNDIT:   After facing a huge backlash for pulling ads from Fox News’s Sean Hannity, USAA announced that it will also be pulling ads from liberal MSNBC host Rachel Maddow’s show.  Earlier this week, The Gateway Pundit reported USAA, an insurance, bank and financial services company that caters to active duty military, veterans and their families, is getting slammed by members after announcing on Twitter Wednesday night the company was withdrawing advertising on the Sean Hannity show in response to pressure from liberal activists trying to silence Hannity by cutting off his advertising base. It was not stated by USAA if they advertised on Hannity’s Fox News Channel show or his nationally syndicated radio show.  It was dumb of USAA to pull ads from a conservative show, but at least the mistake is being balanced by a similar withdrawal from super-lib Rachel Maddow.

A TRUMP SHAKEUP? – FROM CBS NEWS:   The White House is preparing a plan to restructure communications and possibly staffing for when President Trump returns from his overseas trip, CBS News has learned.  It's unclear when exactly these proposals will be presented to Mr. Trump, but this is likely to take place shortly after he returns to Washington from his first foreign trip as president.   Mr. Trump will be presented with proposals to set up messaging teams both inside and outside the White House to deal with rapid response on all fronts. These teams will also hone the messaging on the Russia investigation, CBS News' Steve Chaggaris reports.  Mr. Trump will also be presented with a proposal to restructure his communications team, including the press office. There have been rumors around Washington that press secretary Sean Spicer's job is in danger, but the White House has denied these rumors. In an interview with Fox News' Jeanine Pirro earlier this month, Mr. Trump said Spicer has been "doing a good job but he gets beat up."  It's time Trump took some action.  He's not getting the communications help he needs, particularly at a time when the media is so overwhelmingly left wing.  And Trump must seal the leaks coming from his own people.  Prosecutions may be necessary.  People should be invited to leave if they can't play by the rules.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. WOUK:    Herman Wouk, author of "The Caine Mutiny," "Marjorie Morningstar," and a host of other novels and non-fiction works, turns 102 this weekend, and he's still writing.  For my generation, he has been one of the great storytellers.  "The Caine Mutiny," one of the best novels to come out of the Second World War, introduced the term "paranoid schizophrenia" to the national vocabulary.  Humphrey Bogart's portrayal of Captain Queeg in the movie adaptation remains a screen classic.  "Marjorie Morningstar," the great coming-of-age novel of my youth, is used in college English classes as an example of...a coming-of-age novel.  "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance" were turned into a major television series.  I hope that maybe, just maybe, we'll have another Wouk novel.  The man is a young 102.

May 27, 2017