Who the hell is leaking this stuff?

First, let's state the obvious: This is good news.

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, claims that then-candidate Trump knew in advance about the June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower in which Russians were expected to offer his campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton, sources with knowledge tell CNN. Cohen is willing to make that assertion to special counsel Robert Mueller, the sources said.

Hot damn! Looks like a flip. I said he wouldn't turn, and yet, by golly, he's a-turnin'!

See? That's why I customarily predict the worst. Everyone makes wrong-headed forecasts, but when I do it, I feel great.

David Corn sums up:

If Cohen's account is accurate, Trump conspired with a foreign power to attack and skew a US presidential election for his benefit. How is this not the biggest political scandal in US history?

Drudge labeled Cohen a "rat," which should be considered the official opening fanfare of the Smear Concerto. Here is the first statement of the main theme. And here's an overview of how the movement will develop:

“They’re dead to each other [now],” said another source close to the president who also knows Cohen.

Trump allies are already gaming out how to, in the words of one outside adviser to the president, “bury” Cohen.

A Cohen ally brushed off the impending attacks, calling Giuliani and his associates “the gang who can’t shoot straight.”

That kind of bravado is dangerous. If we apply a broader definition, the "gang that couldn't shoot straight" includes the most popular news organization in America, nearly all of talk radio, Breitbart, every conspiracy site on the internet (except mine!), unending hordes of trolls and bots, a hacker army, Bannon's international fascist movement, some incredibly wealthy moneymen, the FSB, Cambridge Analytica (or whatever they are calling themselves these days) and a dangerous faction within American intelligence. (Remember this? Betcha didn't.) Whoever this "Cohen ally" may be, he's whistling in the dark.

Here's what really bugs me: Cohen's attorney says he didn't leak this information, and no-one has yet made a convincing argument as to why it was in Team Trump's interest to leak this information. Moreover, this situation comes just a couple of days after the leak of the first Cohen tape -- and we still don't know which side let that one slip out.

That's two "who leaked it?" mysteries in three days.

May I shout? Thank you. I shall now shout.

WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?

While you ponder that one, let's take another look at this latest leak. The truth is, we already knew -- well, strongly suspected -- that Trump had advance knowledge of the Trump Tower meeting, even though he officially denied having such knowledge. Also see Josh Marshall's post here -- and don't forget Junior's secret call, which in all likelihood went to Daddy. (There's a good chance that Trump recorded the meeting, as he records so much else.)

Chris Hayes has a great tweet...

I mean maybe they’ve all been lying about everything over and over and over because they are just liars and not covering up a crime or *maybe*....

The innocent don't lie continually. The innocent don't put their stories into rewrite.

Much else happened this day. This, for example. And this is the most important story of all, potentially. But for now, meditate on Cohen -- and allow yourself a cautious smile.

And if you have any ideas as to who is leaking this stuff, please share!