Secret Update...

So, you're recall my piece this morning about the text message between FBI agents Lisa Page and Peter Strzok where I said it was clear that they they were joking about a "secret society" when she wrote --

"Are you even going to give out your calendars? Seems kind of depressing. Maybe it should just be the first meeting of the secret society.”

It turns out that the "calendar" reference that started the tweet was indeed a joke.  A source who knew about the exchange has said that the calendars were a gag gift that Strzok had bought which every month featured different “beefcake” photos of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And yes, this is the grand conspiracy that Republicans are trying to use to discredit the FBI.  With each step, they make themselves look pathetic.  In fact, even the political editor of "Fox News" Chris Stirewalt -- really -- has seemingly had enough and ridiculed Republicans official, saying on the air:

“Republicans in Congress, especially on the Intelligence Committee are throwing up chaff.  They’re trying to throw up anything that they can right now to try to occlude the matter.”  He then went on ridicule Republicans -- and again, remember, this is the news director of "Fox News" -- by drawing a reference to the conspiratorial antagonist in The X-Files.  "They turned Peter Strzok from an FBI agent to the Smoking Man who has been part of everything in human history, and it’s his fault and he did it, They’re looking for ways to create cover and create distraction, and I understand why.”