Top Items:
Josh Dawsey / Politico:
Trump loses patience with his White House counsel — White House counsel Don McGahn has largely stepped back from managing Donald Trump's response to the expanding Russia investigation, but that hasn't stopped the president from lashing out at him about it anyway.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, The Hill, Above the Law, Axios, Political Wire and Raw Story
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Ashley Parker / Washington Post:
Trump is struggling to stay calm on Russia, one morning call at a time — President Trump has a new morning ritual. Around 6:30 a.m. on many days — before all the network news shows have come on the air — he gets on the phone with a member of his outside legal team to chew over all things Russia.
Discussion:
The Hill, Politico, Salon, Business Insider, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, Balloon Juice and The Week
Mike Allen / Axios:
One of the dumbest political mistakes in the modern era — President Trump's firing of FBI Director James Comey is rightly seen as a terrific legal blunder: He undercut an investigation that might have shown he never colluded with the Russians, and spawned one that could result in obstruction of justice charges.
Discussion:
Bloomberg
Anne Gearan / Washington Post:
White House frustration grows with Tillerson over jobs for Trump allies — The White House is becoming increasingly frustrated with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and a close-knit circle of aides over the slow pace of hiring and a chokehold on information and access to Tillerson …
Discussion:
Political Wire
Dylan Byers / CNNMoney:
White House-media relations at breaking point as Spicer searches for replacement — Five months into Donald Trump's presidency, White House-media relations are hanging by a thread. — The White House is facing daily criticism from the news media over its decision to reduce the frequency …
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation:
Kaiser Health Tracking Poll - June 2017: ACA, Replacement Plan, and Medicaid — Ashley Kirzinger, Bianca DiJulio, Liz Hamel, Bryan Wu, and Mollyann Brodie — KEY FINDINGS: — As the Senate prepares to hold a vote on a plan to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Axios and Political Wire
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Avik Roy / Forbes:
The New Senate Republican Bill Will Transform American Health Care — The hotly-anticipated Senate Republican health care bill came out on Thursday morning. The airwaves quickly filled up with predictable talking points from both sides. But once the dust settles, it will emerge …
Discussion:
neo-neocon, Washington Post, The Federalist and Politico
Dylan Scott / Vox:
What the health insurance industry gets out of the Senate health care bill
What the health insurance industry gets out of the Senate health care bill
Discussion:
Axios, New York Magazine and Balloon Juice
Matthew Yglesias / Vox:
The health bill might pass because Trump has launched the era of Nothing Matters politics
The health bill might pass because Trump has launched the era of Nothing Matters politics
Jim Newell / Slate:
Dissent is all part of the script. Trumpcare is right where Republicans want it.
Dissent is all part of the script. Trumpcare is right where Republicans want it.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Balloon Juice
New York Times:
The Senate's Unaffordable Care Act
The Senate's Unaffordable Care Act
Discussion:
Mashable, Hullabaloo, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Daily Kos, Washington Post, Mediaite, Vox, The FADER, Liberal Values and Media Matters for America
Jonathan Cohn / HuffPost:
If You Love High Deductibles, Then You'll Love The Senate Health Bill
If You Love High Deductibles, Then You'll Love The Senate Health Bill
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo and The Week
Matt Shuham / Talking Points Memo:
GOP Sen.: Assessing O'Care Repeal Bill Depends On How You Define ‘Better’
GOP Sen.: Assessing O'Care Repeal Bill Depends On How You Define ‘Better’
Discussion:
The Week and Political Wire
Washington Post:
Don't make things worse — The secrecy extended into the White House. — Rice , Haines and White House homeland-security adviser Lisa Monaco convened meetings in the Situation Room to weigh the mounting evidence of Russian interference and generate options for how to respond.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Mother Jones, Shareblue, Reuters, The Moderate Voice, Talking Points Memo, Business Insider, Lawfare, Axios, AOL, Gizmodo, Shakesville, Balloon Juice, Raw Story, The Guardian, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Outline, CNBC, Defense One, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Joe.My.God., The Daily Caller and Political Wire, more at Techmeme »
Erik Wemple / Washington Post:
‘Fox & Friends’ propagates the most astounding piece of pro-Trump propaganda yet — Merely placing sweet little questions before President Trump isn't enough anymore, apparently. These days, the treatment dished out by the “Fox & Friends” crew to Trump needs to include a bit of slander for the opposition.
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Fox News:
Trump says Comey-Mueller friendship ‘bothersome’
Trump says Comey-Mueller friendship ‘bothersome’
Discussion:
RedState, Raw Story, ABC News, Shakesville, The New Civil Rights Movement, New York Times and The Last Tradition
Maggie Haberman / New York Times:
Trump Indicates Tape Tweet Was Meant to Affect Comey Testimony
Media Matters for America:
Fox & Friends praises Trump for his false threat of having tapes of interactions with Comey
Fox & Friends praises Trump for his false threat of having tapes of interactions with Comey
Discussion:
Washington Monthly and Politicus USA
Alayna Treene / Axios:
Trump “tapes” scapegoat: Obama administration
Trump “tapes” scapegoat: Obama administration
Discussion:
Salon, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Daily Wire and Political Wire
Paul Gutierrez / KHGI-TV:
Nebraska Democratic Party official caught on tape saying he's glad Scalise got shot — FILE - In this March 8, 2017 file photo, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise of La. speaks on Capitol Hill in Washington. Scalise was shot Wednesday, June 14, 2017, at a congressional baseball practice in Alexandria, Va., congressional officials say.
Discussion:
RedState, Daily Wire, Washington Free Beacon, Heat Street, The Week, twitchy.com, The Federalist and SARAH PALIN
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Paul Gutierrez / KPTM:
Nebraska Democratic Party official ousted after controversial audio recording surfaces — OMAHA, Ne (FOX42KPTM) - A Nebraska Democratic Party official is now in hot water. An audio recording was posted on YouTube Thursday with Phil Montag, a technology chairman, voicing how glad …
CNN:
Why Democrats can't quit Nancy Pelosi — Washington (CNN)Nancy Pelosi is sending a defiant message to House Democrats who are grumbling about her leadership: Come at me. — But while Pelosi's critics are increasingly vocal, they have not yet answered critical questions about who would fill …
Discussion:
Breitbart, IJR, The Gateway Pundit, Washington Free Beacon, Instapundit, Politico and TheBlaze
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David A. Fahrenthold / Washington Post:
The banquet business was booming at Mar-a-Lago. Then Trump became president. — For eight straight years, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society held its Palm Beach fundraiser gala at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club. — But then Trump became president. — And, at this year's gala, his security put a damper on the silent auction.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Raw Story and Mediaite
Mike McIntire / New York Times:
F.B.I. Investigating Deals Involving Paul Manafort and Son-in-Law — Federal investigators are examining financial transactions involving Paul Manafort and his son-in-law, who embarked on a series of real estate deals in recent years fueled by millions of dollars from Mr. Manafort, according to two people familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
The Hill, RedState, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, Bipartisan Report and Political Wire
Washington Times:
Senate announces probe of Loretta Lynch behavior in 2016 election — The Senate Judiciary Committee has opened a probe into former Attorney General Loretta Lynch's efforts to shape the FBI's investigation into 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, the committee's chairman announced Friday.
Discussion:
ABC News, RedState, The Gateway Pundit, MILO NEWS and SARAH PALIN
Tamara Keith / NPR:
Despite Claims To Contrary, Trump Has Signed No Major Laws 5 Months In — President Trump is set to sign a bill today that will make it easier for the secretary of Veterans Affairs to fire and discipline employees. The Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act …
Discussion:
Politicus USA and Washington Times
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Donovan Slack / USA Today:
Trump to sign VA bill to protect whistleblowers, expedite firing of problem workers
Trump to sign VA bill to protect whistleblowers, expedite firing of problem workers
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon, Mediaite and AOL
BuzzFeed:
Memo Shows Preet Bharara Was Concerned After Phone Call From White House — “Hi Mr. Bharara, this is Madeline Westerhout calling from President Donald Trump's office.” — Former US Attorney Preet Bharara sent an email to Justice Department officials in New York to express concern …
Adam Ashton / Sacramento Bee:
Texas, three more states on California's banned travel list — California is restricting publicly funded travel to four more states because of recent laws that leaders here view as discriminatory against gay and transgender people. — All totaled, California now bans most state-funded travel to eight states.
Discussion:
Joe.My.God. and The Last Tradition
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Lee Fang / The Intercept:
Prominent Democratic Fundraisers Realign to Lobby For Trump's Agenda — After President Donald Trump's upset election victory, Democratic insiders who worked on Hillary Clinton's failed presidential bid weren't necessarily relegated to the sidelines. Many, in fact, are cashing in as lobbyists — by working to advance Trump's agenda.
John Bresnahan / Politico:
House to vote on immigration bills next week — House Republicans are preparing to take up a pair of bills next week that crack down on illegal immigration, according to leadership sources, in a bid to carry out President Donald Trump's promise of tougher enforcement.
Philly.com:
Cosby juror says he didn't believe ‘well-coached’ Constand — PITTSBURGH — A juror in Bill Cosby's sex assault trial said Thursday that he did not believe the testimony of accuser Andrea Constand because she willingly went alone to the entertainer's home and brought him gifts on more than one occasion.
Melissa Quinn / Washington Examiner:
Sen. Rand Paul: Health insurance should cost $1 per day … Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said Friday morning he believes consumers should be able to buy health insurance for $1 per day. — “What I'd like to do is legalize inexpensive insurance, and you should be able to get insurance for $1 a day.
Discussion:
RedState