MSNBC's Rachel Maddow teases Trump tax returns

Saw it online. Then watched her show. It was like watching Geraldo open Al Capone's vault back in the 80's...a lot of nothing...lol Desperately trying to salvage her show and all the hype.

She got him to release his 2005 return. Hilarious. He just pre empted her show.

Don't be fooled into thinking it a non-story. Think of it as a dripping leak that leads to the flooded hull of a sinking ship. Why tonight's release of a portion of Trump's tax returns actually matters:

• Trump said he couldn't release data from his 2005 & other returns due to an audit. Tonight he did so willingly--revealing that he'd lied.

• We now know that, whensoever the WH should consider itself under threat of imminent release of Trump tax info, it will release that info.

• We now know that there are people in possession of Trump tax info who are willing and able to send that info anonymously to reporters.

• Maddow's handling of Trump's '05 1040 confirms that reporters are willing to receive Trump tax information and publish it under the 1st Amendment.

• The WH's frantic and clearly "spooked" reaction to the release of Trump's '05 1040 will confirm to many that Trump has something to hide.

• Given where the housing market was in '05, Trump making *only* $150 MILLION in that year (gross) belies his claim he's worth $10 BILLION.

• The return reveals that Trump paid a paltry 3.3% in taxes excluding the AMT--a figure that could cause upset among some Trump supporters.

• Given that Trump paid 600%+ more in AMT than he did in "regular" taxes, his tax policy of abolishing the AMT is revealed as self-serving. This is something he has complained about for years.

• The release of Trump's '05 return puts squarely back into public discourse the question of why Trump refuses to release ANY returns.

• The renewed focus on Trump's taxes tonight highlights a previously under-reported story: that Trump may have lied to the FEC, which is a felony.

• The WH response to release of Trump's '05 1040 can be seen as a direct threat to the national press--and that would normally be a story.

• The massive interest in Maddow's segment belies the WH claim (and media assumption) that the public doesn't care about this issue.

• The return *begins* to paint a picture of how Trump does business: he holds almost no bonds and heavily invests in closely held companies.

• The WH's willingness to talk about *this* return sets a standard we can use later on if/when the WH balks at discussing *other* returns. Because we know they will balk.

• The moment the WH reacts differently to the possible release of a tax return than it did tonight, we'll KNOW something's up.