As I understand the situation, the main problem with the UAE Ports deal for the White House deal is the communications aspect — a problem that is becoming more and more apparent each day in the White House’s dealings with the press and its inability to “handle” the news. The UAE deal has been in the works for some time, yet once again the White House seemed to find itself blind-sided. Someone in the WH Press Office needs to step up to the plate and start proactively getting the messages out. (Or someone in charge at the White House has to step in and get the press office to act like one.) To find out now that the president wasn’t even aware of the deal that he then went out and defended goes beyond fiasco.

For a start, people, it’s called talking points — and everyone having the same ones.