Insight: “Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor, and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Nations and peoples who forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and freedoms.” —Robert A. Heinlein (1907-1988)

The Democrats’ conundrum: “In some ways, Hollywood’s hatred of Trump is his ace in the hole. The more the left-wing elites despise the president, the more Middle America loves him.” —Gary Bauer

For the record: “We know Iran has already violated parts of the [nuclear] agreement. … They’re not just walking up to the line on the agreement. They’re crossing the line at times.” —National Security Adviser H.R. McCaster

Tit for tat: “I think when the president worked for NBC at ‘The Apprentice,’ and he said that Barack Obama was not born here, and he called Barack Obama a racist, if he apologizes for that, then maybe ESPN should apologize.” —CNN’s Don Lemon

Braying Jenny: “To Jeff Sessions, how does it feel to be dragged & humiliated [by Trump]? Now you know how the African Americans you disrespected feel.” —Maxine Waters

A vast right-wing conspiracy: “The optics [of the Bill Clinton-Loretta Lynch tarmac meeting] were not good. I admit that. … [But] the investigation was getting nowhere. There was nothing to find. And [James Comey] was in a position of having to accept the evidence that there was no case.” —Hillary Clinton

Demo-gogues: “I think Catholicism is a great religion. I have great respect for it. I’ve known many of the archbishops who have been in our community. We’ve had dinner together, we’ve spoken together over many, many decades, and I’ve tried to be helpful to the church whenever I could.” —Sen. Dianne Feinstein fumbling her justification for her religious litmus tests

And last… “By posting that golf ball video, Trump is now on par with some of history’s worst leaders: Hitler, Stalin, and Moe from The 3 Stooges.” —Frank Fleming