LOTS OF FRIDAY NIGHT NEWS DUMPS ON THE EVE OF HURRICANE HARVEY:

● Breaking: Trump grants pardon to Arizona’s Sherriff Joe Arpaio.

● Breaking: Sebastian Gorka Resigns From Trump Administration.

● Trump signs directive banning transgender military recruits.

● Plus more fun from the Hermit Kingdom: North Korea Launched ‘Projectiles’ at Sea of Japan.

As Hugh Hewitt tweets, “Gorka, Arpaio & Norks: Not a law firm, but one spectacular news nose dive eye of a hurricane.”

● And a reminder that if you’re in its path: Texas Governor on Hurricane Harvey: ‘The Time to Get Out Is Now.’

UPDATE: Gorka releases angry resignation letter:

“Regrettably, outside of yourself,” the letter reportedly continued, “the individuals who most embodied and represented the policies that will ‘Make America Great Again,’ have been internally countered, systematically removed, or undermined in recent months. This was made patently obvious as I read the text of your speech on Afghanistan this week…”

“The fact that those who drafted and approved the speech removed any mention of Radical Islam or radical Islamic terrorism proves that a crucial element of your presidential campaign has been lost,” it continued.

“Just as worrying, when discussing our future actions in the region, the speech listed operational objectives without ever defining the strategic victory conditions we are fighting for,” he continued.

As Glenn said after Trump’s Afghanistan speech, “Go big or go home. 4,000 extra troops is an Obama-like approach.”