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Trump's ‘Very Friendly’ Talk With Duterte Stuns Aides and Critics Alike — WASHINGTON — When President Trump called President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines on Saturday, the American leader's national security aides saw it as part of a routine diplomatic outreach to Southeast Asian leaders.
Discussion:
Althouse, Joe.My.God. and Political Wire
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Sebastian Gorka to accept role outside White House … Sebastian Gorka, deputy assistant to President Trump, will soon accept a position outside the White House, two sources told the Washington Examiner on Sunday. — Gorka's new role will deal with the “war of ideas” involved …
Discussion:
Mother Jones, Reuters, The Guardian, New York Times, Business Insider and Mediaite


Trump didn't consult State Department before inviting brutal Philippine strongman to White House — DON'T MISS STORIES. FOLLOW RAW STORY! — President Donald Trump invited brutal Philippine strongman Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to the White House without first consulting the State Department …
Discussion:
Reuters


Trump did not clear Duterte invitation with State Department: report
Discussion:
RedState, Raw Story and New York Times

Sebastian Gorka to accept position outside White House: report
Discussion:
New York Magazine and Raw Story


An interview suggests Trump doesn't know what's in his health bill — Either the president doesn't understand the proposal — or isn't telling the truth about it. — President Trump gave a lengthy interview Sunday morning to CBS' John Dickerson about the Republicans' health care plan.
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money, bradford-delong.com, Business Insider and Althouse
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FULL TRANSCRIPT: President Donald Trump's interview with “Face the Nation” — On his 100th day in office Saturday, President Donald Trump spoke to CBS News' chief Washington correspondent and host of “Face the Nation,” John Dickerson, about his accomplishments at the traditional milestone and beyond …

GOP faces make-or-break moment on Obamacare repeal — House Republican leaders and White House officials are increasingly confident about passing their long-stalled Obamacare replacement bill: More lawmakers than ever are committed to voting “yes,” they say, and GOP insiders insist they're within striking distance of a majority.


Trump to CBS's Dickerson: ‘I Love Your Show — I Call It Deface the Nation’
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit

Congress reaches deal to keep government open through September
Discussion:
Daily Kos


Congressional negotiators reach deal on government funding through September — (CNN)Bipartisan congressional negotiators reached a critical agreement late Sunday on a massive spending bill that if approved by the House and Senate would fund the government through the end of September.
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Mother Jones
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Bipartisan Agreement Reached to Fund Government Through September — WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders reached a bipartisan agreement on Sunday to fund the government through September, according to congressional aides from both parties, effectively ending suspense about the possibility of a government shutdown next weekend.

Budget deal reached in Congress — UPDATE: — Congressional leaders have reached a government funding agreement through the end of September, according to two congressional aides familiar with the matter. — The deal delivers new defense spending, a $1.5 billion border security infusion …
Discussion:
The Week

Priebus: Trump Considering Amending or Abolishing 1st Amendment — A number of press reports have picked up this exchange this morning between ABC's Jonathan Karl and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus. But people have missed the real significance. Priebus doesn't discuss changing ‘press laws’ or ‘libel laws’.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, Hullabaloo and Daily Kos
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Emboldened by Trump but Divided by Generations, Democrats Look to 2020 — MANCHESTER, N.H. — A vast array of Democratic leaders, divided by generations but uniformly emboldened by President Trump's perceived vulnerability, have begun taking palpable steps toward seeking the White House …

New York Times editor pens weak, vague response to critics of Bret Stephens's op-ed on climate change — The Erik Wemple Blog has been bugging the New York Times all weekend for an interview with James Bennet, the editorial page editor responsible for launching a new op-ed column by former Wall Street Journal writer Bret Stephens.
Discussion:
CNNMoney, Patterico's Pontifications, The Daily Caller, Axios, Politico and Salon, more at Mediagazer »
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Is There a Case for Le Pen?
Discussion:
Marginal REVOLUTION, Outside the Beltway and NPR


Ileana Ros-Lehtinen to retire from Congress — U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the dean of the Florida legislative delegation and the first Cuban American elected to Congress, is retiring at the end of her term next year, saying it's time to move on after more than 35 years in elected office.
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, IJR, Washington Post, NPR, The Guardian, Politico, Talking Points Memo and Political Wire


Fox in talks with Blackstone to buy Tribune Media — Joint bid for TV station operator aims to trump rival offer from Sinclair Broadcasting — Read next … Rupert Murdoch's 21st Century Fox is in talks with Blackstone, the private equity firm, to launch a joint bid for Tribune Media …
Discussion:
CNNMoney, Bloomberg, New York Times and Deadline, more at Mediagazer »

Biden tells New Hampshire crowd: 'Guys, I'm not running' — Former Vice President Joe Biden insists he's not making another presidential bid in 2020, despite giving a rousing speech to New Hampshire Democrats about restoring dignity to politics and winning back working class voters.
Discussion:
The Week
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Biden keeps 2020 options open
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, AOL and Politicus USA


Donald Trump on whether he could start war with North Korea: 'I don't know. I mean, we'll see' — Answering a question about whether another nuclear test by North Korea would mean a military response by the US, Mr Trump appears to be undecided — Woman shot by police in Willesden terror raids arrested
Discussion:
The Guardian and IJR
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McCain to allies: Watch what Trump does, not what he says
Discussion:
The Week, Politico, New York Times, The Daily Caller and Political Wire