1) In case you missed a few things around Trump and Russia last week as we head into this week:

2) Revelations about Paul Manafort's dire legal situation are just further confirmation that this is a serious investigation,

3) that is reaching advanced stages, and not the witch hunt that Trump, his team, and Republicans as one have continually claimed it to be.

4) We learned that Manafort reportedly offered a “private briefing” on the presidential campaign to a Kremlin-aligned Russian billionaire,

5) known as “Putin’s Oligarch” days before Trump accepted the Republican nomination.

6) Further indication that Trump team’s repeated denials that they had contact with Russians during the campaign have been nothing but lies.

7) In this case, it’s not hard to imagine why Mueller might be interested in Manafort’s communications,

8) with this oligarch, who is known to be Putin’s favorite industrialist in Russia.

9) Manafort’s offer to the oligarch was made through a close associate of his who is widely believed to be a Russian intelligence agent.

10) We’ve also learned that suspected Russian bots successfully organized pro-Trump rallies in the critical swing-state of FL in the weeks,

11) prior to Election Day, marking the first evidence that Russia successfully mobilized Americans over Facebook in direct support of Trump.

12) before election day last year marking the first evidence that Russia successfully mobilized Americans over FB in direct support of Trump

13, As the investigation continues to develop, it is more important than ever that leaders in both parties make clear,

14) that they will not allow the President to make any further attempts to interfere or obstruct the Special Counsel's efforts.