memeorandum: Obama Plans Farewell Speech From Chicago (Michael S. Schmidt/New York Times)

10:35 AM ET, January 2, 2017

Top Items:

Heather Caygle / Politico:

Black pols plan Trump resistance — After eight years of the nation's first African-American president, black lawmakers were in for an adjustment no matter who won the White House. — But members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they're bracing for the worst in Donald Trump …

Discussion: Raw Story

Elana Schor / Politico:

New GOP Congress confronts a crushing to-do list — Contentious confirmation fights, a GOP assault on Obamacare — and, more than likely, hints of Republican infighting to come. — Welcome to the new Congress. — Lawmakers convene in Washington on Tuesday for the 115th Congress …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal and The Daily Caller

Ed O'Keefe / Washington Post:

Here are the eight Trump Cabinet picks Democrats plan to target — Democratic senators plan to aggressively target eight of Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees in the coming weeks and are pushing to stretch their confirmation votes into March — an unprecedented break with Senate tradition.

Discussion: The Geller Report, BizPac Review, Daily Kos, The Daily Caller and TheBlaze

Aaron Short / New York Post:

Trump tells Schumer he likes him more than other GOP leaders — More On: — Donald Trump told Democrat Sen. Charles Schumer in a phone call he likes him more than his GOP brethren House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a source close to the transition team said.

Discussion: BizPac Review and RedState

David Weigel / Washington Post: Claiming mandate, GOP Congress lays plans to propel sweeping conservative agenda

Jennifer Steinhauer / New York Times:
With New Congress Poised to Convene, Obama's Policies Are in Peril

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog and Althouse

Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:

Many in U.S. Skeptical Trump Can Handle Presidential Duties — PRINCETON, N.J. — As Donald Trump prepares to take the presidential oath on Jan. 20, less than half of Americans are confident in his ability to handle an international crisis (46%), to use military force wisely (47%) …

Discussion: Politicus USA and The Week

Jennifer Calfas / The Hill: Ex-Bush official: Trump ‘like an addict’ for press coverage

NBC News:
Meet The Press 1/1/17 — ANNOUNCER: — From NBC News …

Discussion: AOL and Althouse, more at Mediagazer »

Robert Kuttner / The Huffington Post:

Impeaching Trump — The process begins now. — Donald Trump is wildly unfit to be president, and he will demonstrate that in ways that break the law and violate the Constitution. Since the election, there have been three wishful efforts to keep Trump from the presidency …

Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:

Obama Plans Farewell Speech From Chicago — HONOLULU — President Obama will give a farewell address next week from Chicago, his hometown, most likely his last chance to defend his legacy directly to the country before Donald J. Trump is sworn in, the White House announced on Monday.

Discussion: CNN and The Week

Michael Patrick Leahy / Breitbart:

Between 2012 and 2015, 1,565 refugees were diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) in the United States, according to annual reports published by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). — The CDC data, which has been public but obscure until now, shows that the number of refugees diagnosed …

Mike Rodriguez / Monitor:

State Rep. Martinez shot in head by ‘stray bullet’ while celebrating — The District 39 representative says he is doing well — NORTH OF WESLACO — State Rep. Armando “Mando” Martinez confirmed Sunday evening that he's now doing well after being shot in the head earlier that morning …

Discussion: USA Today and Raw Story

New York Times:

Why Corporations Are Helping Donald Trump Lie About Jobs — President-elect Donald Trump would like everybody to believe that his election is energizing the economy by forcing businesses to create thousands of jobs in the United States. And companies like Sprint seem perfectly happy …

Daniel Halper / New York Post:

Obama's closest adviser says president has been scandal-free — Scandal, what scandal? — President Obama has been squeaky clean, according to his closest adviser, Valerie Jarrett. — “The president prides himself on the fact that his administration hasn't had a scandal …

Discussion: TheBlaze and Infowars

Jelani Cobb / New Yorker:

The Return of Civil Disobedience — The sixties produced a conviction that “democracy is in the streets.” The Trump era may echo that. — On December 6th, less than a month after the election, Vice-President Joe Biden, who was in New York to receive the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope Award …

Discussion: Hullabaloo