memeorandum: Incoming NJ Assembly speaker to renew the subpoena power of panel in GWB scandal (Michael Linhorst/NorthJersey.com)

3:45 PM ET, January 11, 2014

Top Items:

Vulgarity-laced emails show attempts to silence GWB story — Some of Governor Christie's closest loyalists made an effort to keep information about the George Washington Bridge lane closures out of public view for months, as questions swirled about what now appears to have been a politically …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Huffington Post, The Other McCain, The Reaction, Gothamist and Washington Monthly, more at Mediagazer »

Michael Linhorst / NorthJersey.com:

Incoming NJ Assembly speaker to renew the subpoena power of panel in GWB scandal — The incoming Assembly speaker says he'll call a special session next week to renew the subpoena power of the panel investigating the George Washington Bridge lane closures. — The chairman of the committee leading …

Discussion: Washington Monthly

Joan Walsh / Salon:

No, really: It's over for Christie in 2016 — MSNBC's Rachel Maddow floated an intriguing counter-theory Thursday night for why Gov. Chris Christie's top aides closed four lanes to the George Washington Bridge to strangle Fort Lee in traffic in September 2013.

Discussion: National Review and Business Insider

New York Times:
Bridge Scandal Papers Point to Cover-Up by Chris Christie Allies

Discussion: NBCNews, Daily Kos, PoliticusUSA, Capital New York, Balloon Juice, Liberal Values, Taylor Marsh, The Mahablog, Liberaland, Taegan Goddard's …, The Democratic Daily, Culture Desk and Politico

Sahil Kapur / Talking Points Memo:
Port Authority Chief Warned That Bridge Lane Closures Were Illegal

Discussion: Rasmussen Reports, Guardian, Post Politics, Mother Jones, Hot Air, Politico and Liberaland

Ethan Bronner / New York Times:

Ariel Sharon, Fierce Defender of a Strong Israel, Dies at 85 — Ariel Sharon, one of the most influential figures in Israel's history, a military commander and political leader who at the height of his power redrew the country's electoral map only to suffer a severe stroke from which he never recovered …

Discussion: News Desk, Mashable, Outside the Beltway and Weasel Zippers

Darlene Superville / Associated Press:

Obama Says Sharon Dedicated His Life to Israel — President Barack Obama on Saturday remembered former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's “commitment to his country,” and Vice President Joe Biden will lead the U.S. delegation for the memorial service. — The Israeli soldier-turned …

Discussion: CNN and Politico

Jerusalem Post:

Former prime minister Ariel Sharon dies at 85 — Israel's 11th premier passes away eight years after a stroke left him comatose; Sharon was one of Israel's legendary politicians and military leaders; Sharon's son Gilad: “He went when he decided to go.” — Former prime minister Ariel Sharon died …

Discussion: ABC News, The Jawa Report, National Review, The Other McCain and Scared Monkeys

Alan Duke / CNN:
Ariel Sharon, former Israeli Prime Minister, dead at 85

Discussion: Liberaland

Kiley Kroh / ThinkProgress:

PHOTOS: What It Looks Like When A Massive Chemical Spill Contaminates The Water Supply — Empty shelves at a local Foodland between Freedom Industries and American Water. — CREDIT: Foo Conner/@iwasaround — On Thursday morning, a chemical spill was detected at Freedom Industries' storage facility near …

Discussion: Associated Press and Liberaland

ThinkProgress:
Crisis In West Virginia: Wal-Mart Calls In Police To Guard Bottled Water Delivery

Discussion: New York Times, CBS News and Liberaland

Trip Gabriel / New York Times:
Thousands Without Water After Spill in West Virginia

Discussion: Daily Kos, Mapbox and CNN

Wall Street Journal:

A judge blocks subpoenas against conservative allies of Scott Walker. — Chalk up a big victory for the First Amendment. On Friday a Wisconsin judge struck a major blow for free political speech when he quashed subpoenas to conservative groups and ordered the return of property to the targets …

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Da Tech Guy On DaRadio Blog and Althouse

Alexander Burns / Politico:

The GOP's tarnished golden boys — For a while, Chris Christie and Bob McDonnell were untouchable. — The first major Republicans elected after the 2008 Obama landslide, the tough-as-nails Garden Stater and the straight-edged Virginian heralded the conservative resurgence in 2010 and pointed …

Discussion: Firedoglake and The Hill

Samantha Lachman / The Huffington Post:

Oregon Governor Walks Out Of Interview Over Questions About State's Health Care Website — KATU News' exclusive one-on-one interview with Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber ended abruptly Thursday when the station's interviewer asked about problems with the Cover Oregon website.

Discussion: Power Line, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite and Washington Free Beacon

Michael D. Shear / New York Times:

Larry Speakes, Public Face of Reagan Era, Dies at 74 — WASHINGTON — Larry Speakes, who became the public face of Ronald Reagan's presidency when a would-be assassin's bullet gravely wounded his boss, press secretary James Brady, died Friday in his native Mississippi. He was 74.

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money and Outside the Beltway

Associated Press: Former Reagan spokesman Larry Speakes dies at 74

Scott Johnson / Power Line:

The Udall ukase — Paul's post on the efforts of Colorado Democratic Senator Mark Udall behind the scenes to rewrite the history of the damage wrought by Obamacare in Colorado deserves further comment. It is a small story of great interest. Let's pause over it and take another look.

Discussion: Fox News, Politico and The Daily Caller