memeorandum: Marion Pritchard, Who Risked Her Life to Rescue Jews From Nazis, Dies at 96 (Richard Sandomir/New York Times)

7:50 AM ET, December 25, 2016

Top Items:

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:

Jason Miller backs out of Trump White House job — Jason Miller, who was tapped only two days ago to be White House communications director, announced Saturday that he will not join Donald Trump's administration. — In a statement to POLITICO, Miller said the decision to back out of the job stemmed …

Discussion: Washington Post, Mediaite, NBC News, Little Green Footballs, RedState, twitchy.com, Business Insider and The Daily Caller, more at Mediagazer »

Rich Schapiro / New York Daily News:

Jason Miller quits as newly named White House communications director after Trump staffer hints at sex scandal — Donald Trump's inner circle was thrown into turmoil Saturday when his newly-named White House communications director resigned after a transition team staffer posted cryptic tweets suggesting he's a philanderer.

Discussion: Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

Alex Griswold / Mediaite:

Trump Advisor A.J. Delgado Hints at Comms Director Jason Miller Sex Scandal, Deletes Twitter Account — Donald Trump transition team advisor (and former Mediaite columnist) A.J. Delgado deleted her account Saturday after a series of cryptic tweets about recently departed communications director Jason Miller.

Brooke Seipel / The Hill:

Cruz: No money for UN until Israel decision reversed — (R-Texas) vowed Saturday to not allow the U.S. to give money to the United Nations until it reversed its Friday decision forcing an end to Israeli settlements. — Cruz tweeted that he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, adding, “No US $ for UN until reversed.”

Discussion: CNN, The Times of Israel, Townhall.com, RedState, TheBlaze and Mediaite

The Federalist Papers:

Obama Admin STABS Israel in the Back, Abstains From UN Vote on Settlements — There have been several parting shots to the American people by the outgoing Obama administration, but he's not stopping at insulting and stifling us here at home. — Now, his administration has taken …

Discussion: American Thinker, RedState, Washington Post, The Daily Caller and John Hawkins' Right Wing News

Washington Post:
The Obama administration fires a dangerous parting shot

Discussion: New York Times, Hot Air, Haaretz, JustOneMinute, AJC, Althouse, The Lid, J Street, World Jewish Congress and Instapundit

Andrew C. McCarthy / National Review: Obama's Betrayal of Israel Is a Black Day for American Diplomacy

Mark Landler / New York Times:
Obama, Trump and the Turf War That Has Come to Define the Transition

Discussion: The Times of Israel, Independent Journal Review, The Daily Caller, TheBlaze, Politicus USA, BizPac Review, France 24, Liberty Unyielding, USA Today, NBC News, CBS New York, The Hill and ABC News

Mark Moore / New York Post:
UN votes against Israeli settlements as US abstains

Discussion: The Daily Caller, The Hill, TheBlaze and Fox News

Russell Goldman / New York Times:

Reading Fake News, Pakistani Minister Directs Nuclear Threat at Israel — A fake news article led to gunfire at a Washington pizzeria three weeks ago. Now it seems that another fake news story has prompted the defense minister of Pakistan to threaten to go nuclear.

Discussion: Mediaite, Sputnik International and The Times of Israel

New York Times:

Denying Conflict, Trump Family Tries to Resolve Potential Problems — WASHINGTON — Realizing that his presidency could face potentially crippling questions over conflicts of interest, Donald J. Trump and his family are rushing to resolve potential controversies — like shuttering foundations …

Discussion: Washington Post, Post On Politics, The Guardian, CNBC, Alternet, Mediaite, Washington Times, Raw Story, NPR, RedState, Hullabaloo and AOL

Rafael Bernal / The Hill:

Trump planning to close charity foundation: report — has plans to shutter his charitable foundation and distribute its assets, The New York Times reported Saturday. — Trump is under pressure to contain his various potential conflicts of interest related to his business and charitable dealings ahead of his inauguration Jan. 20.

Discussion: The Daily Caller and RedState

Denis Slattery / New York Daily News:
President-elect plans to dissolve his charitable Donald J. Trump Foundation

Discussion: The Week

Brooke Seipel / The Hill:

Stein pushes Justice Dept. for investigation of electoral system — Jill Stein is continuing her push to investigate the integrity of the U.S. electoral system, with lawyers for the former Green Party presidential candidate asking Attorney General Loretta Lynch to probe the issue.

Discussion: Raw Story

New York Times:

In American Towns, Private Profits From Public Works — Desperate towns have turned to private equity firms to manage their waterworks. The deals bring much-needed upgrades, but can carry hefty price tags. — BAYONNE, N.J. — Nicole Adamczyk's drinking water used to slosh through a snarl …

W. James Antle III / Washington Examiner:

Obama's last Christmas a season of disappointment — Sunday marks President Obama's last Christmas while in office. Though he'll spend it in Hawaii rather than at the White House, it must be a bittersweet Yuletide. — Obama's handiwork is being returned to the store like unwanted Christmas presents.

John Hinderaker / Power Line:

Is Trump Becoming a Conservative? [with comment by Paul] — Conservatives have been pretty universally delighted by President-elect Donald Trump's appointments so far. With Jeff Sessions, Rick Perry, Gen. James Mattis, Mick Mulvaney, Betsy DeVos, Ryan Zinke, Tom Price and others slated …