Top Items:
Cindy Adams / New York Post:
Kraft: Putin stole Bowl ring — New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft revealed the real story behind a 2005 meeting with Vladimir Putin, during which the Russian president pocketed his Super Bowl ring, worth more than $25,000. Kraft, at the time, claimed the diamond-encrusted bauble was a gift …
Discussion:
The Raw Story, The PJ Tatler, CBSSports.com, Mediaite, americanthinker.com, Weasel Zippers, Business Insider and Outside the Beltway
Facebook Newsroom:
Facebook Releases Data, Including All National Security Requests — Over the last week, in press statements as well as Mark's post last Friday, we've repeatedly called for governments worldwide to be willing to provide more details about programs aimed at keeping the public safe.
Discussion:
Little Green Footballs, The Atlantic Wire, Gawker, AllThingsD, Digits, Taylor Marsh, CNN, The Verge, Engadget, Mashable, ABC News, BBC, TalkLeft and GigaOM
RELATED:
Gail Collins / New York Times:
The Other Side of the Story — The deck is always stacked …
The Other Side of the Story — The deck is always stacked …
Discussion:
Balloon Juice and Prairie Weather
Reuters:
Web companies begin releasing surveillance information after U.S. deal
Web companies begin releasing surveillance information after U.S. deal
Discussion:
Business Insider, AllThingsD and The Verge
John Frank / TechNet Blogs:
Microsoft's U.S. law enforcement and national security requests for last half of 2012
Microsoft's U.S. law enforcement and national security requests for last half of 2012
Discussion:
AllThingsD and Engadget
Erik Wasson / The Hill:
Palin slams military intervention in Syria: ‘Let Allah sort it out’ — Former GOP vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor Sarah Palin told a Washington audience Saturday that the U.S. should not get involved in the Syrian civil war. — Palin argued that the U.S. should not intervene …
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Weasel Zippers, The PJ Tatler and Taegan Goddard's …
Reuters:
Moderate Rohani looks on road to winning Iran presidential vote — (Reuters) - Moderate cleric Hassan Rohani took a solid lead over conservative rivals on Saturday in preliminary vote counting in Iran's presidential election in what could be the makings of a surprise victory over favored hardliners.
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland, Washington Post, American Spectator, The Week, The PJ Tatler and Booman Tribune
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Farnaz Fassihi / Wall Street Journal:
Rohani Leads in Early Iran Results
Rohani Leads in Early Iran Results
Discussion:
The Jawa Report, New York Times, Spectator and Alan Colmes' Liberaland
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Senators skip classified briefing on NSA snooping to catch flights home — A recent briefing by senior intelligence officials on surveillance programs failed to attract even half of the Senate, showing the lack of enthusiasm in Congress for learning about classified security programs.
Discussion:
BuzzFeed, Gawker, americanthinker.com, Prairie Weather, Outside the Beltway and Daily Kos
Jennifer Epstein / Politico:
Obama exerted ‘unlawful command influence’ in speaking on military sexual assault, judge says — President Obama's comments condemning military sexual assault and suggesting that those convicted be punished with, among other things, a dishonorable discharge may be backfiring on his efforts to root out the growing problem.
Discussion:
Booman Tribune, Hullabaloo, The PJ Tatler and The Volokh Conspiracy
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Erik Slavin / Stars & Stripes:
Judge: Obama sex assault comments ‘unlawful command influence’
Judge: Obama sex assault comments ‘unlawful command influence’
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway, Weasel Zippers, Taegan Goddard's …, The Hill and Instapundit
David Knowles / NY Daily News:
Texas Gov. Rick Perry signs ‘Merry Christmas bill’ into law — Schools will now be able to display religious symbols as long as at least one secular or other religion's symbol is also displayed. At the signing ceremony high-school cheerleaders wore t-shirts that read ‘I cheer for Christ.’
Discussion:
Alan Colmes' Liberaland and National Review
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Amanda Terkel / The Huffington Post:
Rick Perry Vetoes Texas Equal Pay Bill
Rick Perry Vetoes Texas Equal Pay Bill
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Texas Politics, Off the Kuff, Trail Blazers Blog, Yahoo! News and The Raw Story
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
FBI knew earlier of Boston bombing suspect — Deceased Boston Marathon bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev came to the attention of the FBI on at least two occasions prior to a Russian government warning in March 2011 that said he appeared to be radicalizing, FBI Director Robert Mueller said in Congressional testimony this week.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
Peter Baker / New York Times:
Heavy Pressure Led to Decision by Obama on Syrian Arms — WASHINGTON — For two years, President Obama has resisted being drawn deeper into the civil war in Syria. It was a miserable problem, he told aides, and not one he thought he could solve. At most, it could be managed.
Discussion:
DownWithTyranny!, Booman Tribune, JustOneMinute, National Review, Politico, Balloon Juice and FiveThirtyEight
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Elie Mystal / Above the Law:
Law School Tries To Pressure Students Into Snap Decision With ‘Buy Now’ Sales Tactic — It really bothers me when law schools resort to used car salesmen tactics to try to induce law students to sign up for school. Say what you will about the value of legal education, but it's not like buying a Sham-Wow.
Elise Viebeck / The Hill:
GOP to constituents: Questions on ObamaCare? Call Obama. — Republican lawmakers say they anticipate a flood of questions in the coming months from constituents on the implementation of ObamaCare, which will pose a dilemma for the GOP. [WATCH VIDEO] — People regularly call …
Reuters:
Threats made to figures at center of IRS controversy: sources — (Reuters) - A current and a former top tax official have been physically threatened in recent weeks as the scandal over Internal Revenue Service targeting of Tea Party and other conservative groups has gathered steam, people familiar with their situation say.
Discussion:
The Hill and PERRspectives
Elizabeth Flock / US News:
Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference: Most Bizarre Statements — ‘Immigrants are more fertile,’ said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush speaking at the conference. — Speakers at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's annual “Road To Majority” conference Friday sought to spur social conservatives …
Discussion:
Salon, Taylor Marsh and The Political Carnival
RELATED:
Catherine Thompson / Talking Points Memo:
Jeb Bush: U.S. Economy Needs ‘More Fertile’ Immigrants
Jeb Bush: U.S. Economy Needs ‘More Fertile’ Immigrants
Discussion:
The Reaction, Weasel Zippers, Daily Kos, The Gateway Pundit and Yahoo! News