In The Space of a Few Hours

How this went.

--> Trump needed an excuse to fire Rod Rosenstein
--> The MEDIA reported that he colluded to try and record the president and invoke the 25th amendment
--> He denied it but it wasn't enough
--> He was about to be fired but resigned

----------> God Bless The MEDIA

— Michael Moates (@freedom_moates) September 24, 2018

Well, except for the part where Rosenstein still has his job....

Rod Rosenstein resigned; or was going to.

Then he (reportedly) said he'd have to be fired.

Which prompted all manner of interesting reactions, my favorite of which was this:

“If in fact Rod Rosenstein does end up resigning today,” Trump attorney Jay Sekulow said on his radio program on Monday, “I think it clearly becomes necessary and appropriate...that there be a step back taken here, and a review, a review that has to be thorough and complete...and basically a time out on this inquiry.”

Rudy Giuliani, President Trump’s lawyer and former New York City mayor, told The Daily Beast on Monday afternoon that he agrees with Sekulow’s call for a cessation of the investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, in the event of Rosenstein’s ouster—which was reported to be near as of Monday morning.

Which didn't happen because Trump, in fact, did not fire Rosenstein. 

Which is funny, frankly:

Axios instinctively regurgitated what a White House official told them, and ended up misinforming the public about Rosenstein resigning.

Media need to be more skeptical of sources, & motives these sources may have.

— Alex Kotch 🔥🚲 (@alexkotch) September 24, 2018

It certainly didn't benefit the press.

This does raise a pertinent question:  did Axios confirm anything with Rosenstein?  Of course, it even snookered Trump's legal counsel, so everybody looks like a damned fool in this.

ADDING:  There's a reason Rosenstein went to the White House to visit Trump personally.  Because Trump lacks the balls to fire anyone in person.  Rosenstein's place is safe until Trump returns to the White House on Thursday, but if Trump fires him, it will be on Twitter or through Kelly.