memeorandum: Trump wins Electoral College vote (Kyle Cheney/Politico)

12:55 AM ET, December 20, 2016

Top Items:

Ben Kamisar / The Hill:

Electoral College: Where the vote stands — leads in the Electoral College vote so far, as electors head to their state capitols to confirm Trump's victory. — As of 4:10 p.m. ET, 268 electoral votes had been cast for Trump, compared with 160 for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton

Discussion: Politico, Hot Air, Townhall.com, The Right Scoop and RT

The Seattle Times:

Four Washington state electors break ranks and don't vote for Clinton — Hillary Clinton won the state's popular vote, but three of 12 members of the Electoral College voted for Colin Powell, a former secretary of state; and one voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American elder from South Dakota.

Discussion: RT, Grist, Business Insider, TheBlaze, CBS News and CNN

Kyle Cheney / Politico:

Trump wins Electoral College vote — Donald Trump swept aside a last-ditch bid to block his ascension to the White House on Monday, officially claiming the title of president-elect with his Electoral College victory. — Trump's defeat of Hillary Clinton follows a desperate and unprecedented attempt …

Discussion: New York Magazine, Liberal Values, Politicus USA and Washington Post

CNN:
Electors remain faithful to Trump and select him as official winner

Nate Cohn / New York Times:
Why Trump Had an Edge in the Electoral College

Discussion: Jezebel, The Daily Caller, Washington Monthly and CNBC

New York Times:
A Historic Number of Electors Defected, and Most Were Supposed to Vote for Clinton

Discussion: MichelleMalkin.com, Sputnik International, Vox, The Guardian and The Week

Jessie Hellmann / The Hill:
Trump touts ‘historic’ Electoral College victory

Discussion: Raw Story, Mediaite and The Daily Caller

David Bright / Facebook:
Love it or hate it, here's the statement I'll issue after the Electoral college vote today.

Discussion: The Portland Press Herald, ABC News, Hot Air, ThinkProgress, Althouse, Morning Consult, The Daily Caller and Politico

New York Times:
Donald Trump Completes Final Lap, Electoral College, to White House

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon, Little Green Footballs, Fox News, Sputnik International, Mother Jones, The Geller Report, The Point, Hit & Run, Vox, Talking Points Memo, Political Wire, ThinkProgress, Raw Story and No More Mister Nice Blog

Stephen Ohlemacher / Associated Press:
Trump cruises to Electoral College victory despite protests

Discussion: Townhall.com, Power Line, Denver Post, Business Insider and WNCN

New York Times:

Russian Ambassador to Turkey Is Assassinated in Ankara — ISTANBUL — Russia's ambassador to Turkey was assassinated at an Ankara art exhibit on Monday evening by a lone Turkish gunman shouting “God is great!” and “don't forget Aleppo, don't forget Syria!” in what Russia called a terrorist attack.

Justin Baragona / Mediaite:

Obama Heads to Golf Course After Receiving Reports on Berlin Attack and Russian Ambassador Death — Well, this is what one would call bad political optics. — With the dual breaking news events surrounding potential terrorism and a foreign diplomat being shot to death …

Discussion: Reuters, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Beast and Washington Free Beacon

Chris kitching / Mirror.co.uk:
CAMERAS CAPTURE MOMENT RUSSIAN AMBASSADOR SHOT DEAD IN TURKEY

Discussion: The First Street Journal and Vox Popoli

Associated Press:
Official: Russia's Ambassador To Turkey Dead After Gunman Attack

Discussion: Balloon Juice

Jessie Hellmann / The Hill:

Gingrich suggests Trump pardon advisers who break the law — Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich suggested that Donald Trump — could pardon members of his administration who break the law. — Referring to a law that could prevent Trump from hiring his daughter and son-in-law to serve …

Discussion: RedState

Darren Samuelsohn / Politico:

Gingrich: Congress should change ethics laws for Trump — Newt Gingrich has a take on how Donald Trump can keep from running afoul of U.S. ethics laws: Change the ethics laws. — Trump is currently grappling with how to sufficiently disentangle himself from his multibillion-dollar business …

Discussion: Media Matters for America

Matt Shuham / Talking Points Memo:
Gingrich Suggests Trump Simply Pardon Family That Breaks Anti-Nepotism Law

Discussion: Hullabaloo

The Diane Rehm Show: Ongoing Questions About How Donald Trump Will Deal With Business Conflicts Of Interest As President

Travis Gettys / Raw Story:

Tom Arnold says he's got recordings of Trump using racial slurs and calling son a ‘retard’ — DON'T MISS STORIES. FOLLOW RAW STORY! — Comedian Tom Arnold says he's got recordings of Donald Trump using racial slurs and making other offensive statements — and he said hundreds of people have heard them.

Eric Mandel / MyNorthwest.com:
Comedian Tom Arnold claims to have infamous unreleased Donald Trump outtakes

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Jezebel, Mediaite, Occupy Democrats and alan.com

Darran Simon / CNN:

Berlin police: 9 dead, at least 50 injured in truck crash — Truck plows through Berlin Christmas market — (CNN)A truck ran into a Christmas market Monday evening in a major public square in Berlin, killing nine people and injuring at least 50 others, police said.

Discussion: The Guardian, The Times of Israel, Business Insider, RT, Daily Mail, The Gateway Pundit, Hit & Run, The Right Scoop, NBC News, Hot Air, New York Magazine, The Geller Report, Mediaite, Townhall.com, Heat Street, Al Jazeera English and TheBlaze

Washington Times:
At least 9 dead, many injured in truck attack on Berlin Christmas market

Discussion: New York Post, The Gateway Pundit, The Geller Report, twitchy.com, The Week, The Local and RT

BBC:
Lorry ploughs into German market, killing one person

Discussion: Balloon Juice, NBC News, RedState, ThinkProgress, Washington Free Beacon and TheBlaze

Judd Legum / ThinkProgress:

Under political pressure, Kuwait cancels major event at Four Seasons, switches to Trump's D.C. hotel — After Election Day, everything changed. — By Judd Legum and Kira Lerner — The Embassy of Kuwait allegedly cancelled a contract with a Washington, D.C. hotel days after the presidential election …

Discussion: Mother Jones, The Talking Dog, Politicus USA and Talking Points Memo

Tierney Sneed / Talking Points Memo:

GOP Rep's Vision Of Post-ACA World: You Wait To Treat Your Kid's Broken Arm — A Republican congressman outlined the way he would like to see the health care system operate if Obamacare is repealed, as GOP lawmakers are promising. It is a brave new world in which parents would wait …

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money and ACASignups.net

Shandra Martinez / MLive.com:
Son's broken arm: Bill Huizenga says people must be responsible for own health care costs

Discussion: Occupy Democrats and Raw Story

Carrie Dann / NBC News:

Poll: Majority of Americans Pessimistic or Uncertain About Trump Presidency — As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to be sworn in as the country's commander-in-chief next month, a majority of Americans say they are either uncertain or pessimistic about his presidency …

Discussion: CNBC and Opinion Today

Media Matters for America:

Alex Jones Warns Trump That The CIA Is Trying To “Assassinate” The President-Elect — Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has been repeatedly warning President-elect Donald Trump that “rogue elements” within the CIA are trying to “assassinate” him before he takes office.

Discussion: Politicus USA

Carrie Levine / Center for Public Integrity:

Donald Trump's sons behind nonprofit selling access to president-elect — New Texas-based group not legally required to disclose its donors — A new Texas nonprofit led by Donald Trump's grown sons is offering access to the freshly-minted president during inauguration weekend …

Discussion: Occupy Democrats, Talking Points Memo, The Hill, Politico, Common Dreams, Grist and ThinkProgress

The Charlotte Observer:

Gov. Pat McCrory calls for special legislative session to repeal HB2 — Following a surprise move by the Charlotte City Council, Gov. Pat McCrory said Monday he would call a special session to consider repeal of House Bill 2. — The governor's statement came in a rapidly unfolding series …

Discussion: ABC News, ThinkProgress, BuzzFeed, Human Rights Campaign, Occupy Democrats, Mother Jones, Common Dreams, Hot Air, AOL, LGBTQ Nation, Vox, The Atlantic, National Center … and News, Indy Week

PRRI:

“Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays”: Republicans and Democrats are Polar Opposites — “MERRY CHRISTMAS” VS. “HAPPY HOLIDAYS” — As the country becomes more diverse and less religiously affiliated, Americans are divided over whether it is more appropriate for stores and businesses …

Discussion: New York Times, Religion News Service, Hot Air, Washington Post, The Daily Caller and TheBlaze

Erin McCann / New York Times:

Red Wine Hot Chocolate Is a Thing, and It's (Surprisingly) Delicious — Frosé? That's a summer drink. Hot toddies, eggnog, mulled wine? Please, those are for your parents. — No, no, the must-have drink of winter 2016, at least according to a small but dedicated circle of food blogs, is red wine hot chocolate.

Neil Eggleston / Blog Daily Listings RSS:

President Obama Grants 153 Commutations and 78 Pardons to Individuals Deserving of a Second Chance — Today, President Obama granted clemency to 231 deserving individuals — the most individual acts of clemency granted in a single day by any president in this nation's history.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, Politico, Independent Journal Review, The Root, Hot Air, The Daily Caller and Washington Monthly

Veronica Rocha / Los Angeles Times:

Judicial panel clears California judge who gave lenient sentence in Stanford sexual assault — Judge Aaron Persky ordered a six-month sentence for Brock Turner, who had been attending Stanford on a swimming scholarship when he was convicted of sexual assault. (Jason Doiy / Recorder)

Discussion: Mercury News, The Root and Law News