Gamblers are placing bets on Washington, D.C.’s newest guessing game — who wrote the New York Times “Resistance” opinion piece.
On Sept. 5, an unsigned editorial was published by the Times — the No. 1 media outlet targeted by President Donald Trump’s war against the media.
The op-ed, entitled “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration,” was written by someone who claims to be a senior official working for the president. The author said he or she and other like-minded colleagues “have vowed to thwart parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations.”
Political gamblers are putting money on predicting which senior Trump administration official authored the anonymous column.
Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Vice President Mike Pence and Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen are among the favorites on PredictIt.org, an online market for betting on political events. The site describes itself as “a real money site that tests your knowledge of political and financial events by letting you make and trade predictions on the future.”
Nineteen senior officials were listed as possibilities with betting scheduled to end at midnight on Dec. 31, 2018. Coats has an 18 percent chance, Pence is at 12 percent and Nielsen scored 10 percent, according to the site, Reuters reported on Thursday.
Melania Trump and every member of Trump’s Cabinet have denied being the author. Trump is reading all the denials, CNN reported. Republican Sen. Rand Paul said anyone with a security clearance who works in the White House should be subject to a lie detector test, Newsweek confirmed.
Pence is a top pick for Costa Rica-based bookmaker, MyBookie.
In the New York Times op-ed, the anonymous writer said:
“We may no longer have Senator McCain. But we will always have his example — a lodestar for restoring honor to public life and our national dialogue. Mr. Trump may fear such honorable men, but we should revere them.”
“What tipped us off was ‘lodestar,’“ said David Strauss, head oddsmaker at MyBookie, according to NY Post. “When you search members of the administration (who have used that word) only one name comes up – and that name is Mike Pence. He’s used in multiple speeches this year.”
Canada-based online gambling site Bovada listed Trump himself as a potential mole — the odds: 25-to-1. Attorney General Jeff Sessions was the site’s favorite at 5-to-2. Bets are only good if the Times confirms its source by Dec. 31, 2020.
MyBookie listed 17 other potential moles including Education Secretary Betsy Devos (2-to-1), Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (4-to-1), Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin (4-to-1), chief of staff John F. Kelly (4-to-1), Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (5-to-1), Attorney General Jeff Sessions (5-to-1), Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke (6-to-1), Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue (6-to-1), Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross (7-to-1) Labor Secretary Alex Acosta (7-to-1), HHS Secretary Alex Azar (8-to-1), HUD Secretary Ben Carson (8-to-1), VA Secretary Robert Wilkie (8-to-1), Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen (10-to-1), Ivanka Trump (12-to-1) and Jared Kushner (12-to-1).
Lodestar: a star that leads or guides ; especially: NORTH STAR 2: one that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide. …. just in case y’all wanted to know because I didn’t know wtf a #lodestar was #OpEd
— Lea (@FeistyPisces_XO) September 7, 2018
I don't think it's Pence. But if it is…would he have to resign? #oped #lodestone 866-801-8255 https://t.co/oAX2tF7vSK
— Joe Madison (@MadisonSiriusXM) September 6, 2018
The #NewYorkTimes took the extraordinary but necessary step of publishing an #Anonymous #OpEd detailing the #resistance within the #WhiteHouse – how much longer will the @gop continue to carry water for this @POTUS?!…#Unhinged #TrumpRussiaCollusion https://t.co/RZFKwOUrxz
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) September 5, 2018
https://twitter.com/KRBBRAE/status/1037731460881506305
#25thAmendment time. When you have a top #administration #official staging a #first #amendment #coup with a #NYTimes #Anonymous #OpEd the #country has to wake up and #respond this is #NOJOKE will the #adults #in #theRoom stand up and act #NOW!
— lynne white (@LynneWhite) September 5, 2018
Yeap. Pence is my guess. He has everything to gain.
— Lili Torres (@LiliTor23950940) September 6, 2018
Hundreds of officials desperately denying they wrote something negative about the leader* isn't the hallmark Democracy.
It's what happens in fascist governments when they fear crushing repercussions.
It's nice THEY'RE scared for a change.
But this is bad.#OpEd#NewYorkTimes— Steve Marmel (@Marmel) September 7, 2018
Kellyann, setting groundwork for her eventual proclamation of innocence and patriotism.. She's skeevey enough to make you think Pence may have.
— Chef Witch Hunter (@Chefefefe) September 6, 2018
The #OpEd used unusual phrases and words from Pence and Mattis. My #OpEdGUESS is Steven Miller. He wants to rile Trump up and clean house. He’s an anarchist and is promoting chaos in the White House. What goals does the op ed accomplish? 1/
— jentea (@jentea18) September 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/trekonomics/status/1037459157337755648
https://twitter.com/BobbyLaser/status/1037455148715528192