Top Items:
Spencer Ackerman / The Daily Beast:
This Is Trump's Plan to Team Up With Putin in Syria—and Leave Assad in Power … For once, Rex Tillerson is not freelancing. — Late Wednesday, ahead of the first-ever meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, the secretary of state suggested that the U.S. is willing to explore …
Discussion:
Reuters, Sputnik International and Axios
RELATED:
Louis Nelson / Politico:
Trump: ‘Everyone’ at G-20 talking about Podesta not giving server to authorities — At this week's G-20 summit in Germany, one subject the world's most powerful leaders are discussing is why Democrat Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman did not cooperate with U.S. intelligence …
Discussion:
CNN, Talking Points Memo, Fox News and Joe.My.God.
CNN:
Russia steps up spying efforts after election — Sources: Russia steps up spying efforts — (CNN)Russian spies are ramping up their intelligence-gathering efforts in the US, according to current and former US intelligence officials who say they have noticed an increase since the election.
Discussion:
The Hill, Business Insider, USA Today, Axios, Politicus USA, Shareblue, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, Vox, Political Wire, The Week and Raw Story
Louis Nelson / Politico:
Trump pats Putin on back during brief meeting at G-20 — Ahead of their scheduled bilateral meeting Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, have already spoken at the G-20 summit in Germany, the Associated Press reported.
Discussion:
ABC News
Matthew Rosenberg / New York Times:
Trump Misleads on Russian Meddling: Why 17 Intelligence Agencies Don't Need to Agree — WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Thursday that only “three or four” of the United States' 17 intelligence agencies had concluded that Russia interfered in the presidential election …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller
Neil MacFarquhar / New York Times:
For Russia, Trump-Putin Meeting Is a Sure Winner — MOSCOW — With the long-awaited first meeting between President Vladimir V. Putin and President Trump finally in sight, the Kremlin is hoping at a minimum to inject some clarity into a relationship so far marred by contradictions, anxiety …
Spencer Ackerman / The Daily Beast:
How Ex-Spies Think Putin Will Sucker ‘Sociopathic Narcissist’ Trump
How Ex-Spies Think Putin Will Sucker ‘Sociopathic Narcissist’ Trump
Discussion:
Washington Post, Shakesville, The National Interest, Axios, TASS, US Department of State, Hullabaloo, Raw Story and The Last Refuge
Nicole Perlroth / New York Times:
Hackers are Targeting Nuclear Facilities, Homeland Security Dept. and F.B.I. Say — Since May, hackers have been penetrating the computer networks of companies that operate nuclear power stations and other energy facilities, as well as manufacturing plants in the United States and other countries.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Joe.My.God., The Hill, Engadget, Mediaite, The Week, Raw Story and The Verge
RELATED:
Bloomberg:
Russians Are Said to Be Suspects in Hacks Involving Nuclear Site — Attacks could pave way to disrupt U.S. electric grid — Kansas site is among those trying to eject intruders — Hackers working for a foreign government recently breached at least a dozen U.S. power plants …
Discussion:
Business Insider, Sputnik International, IJR, New York Magazine, Mediaite and Balloon Juice
Max Fisher / New York Times:
North Korea and Its Weapons Programs Are Now a Fact of Life
North Korea and Its Weapons Programs Are Now a Fact of Life
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money, War on the Rocks, The Diplomat, Washington Post and The Atlantic
Aida Chavez / The Hill:
Melania Trump unable to leave hotel because of G-20 protests — First lady Melania Trump is unable to leave her resident in Hamburg, Germany because of protests against the Group of 20 (G-20) summit. — A spokeswoman confirmed they have no security clearance from the police to leave …
Discussion:
ABC News, Politico, NBC News, Raw Story, The Week, Washington Free Beacon and The Gateway Pundit
RELATED:
New York Times:
G-20 Protests Resume in Hamburg, as Trump and Putin Prepare to Meet — Right Now: Protesters have taken to the streets of Hamburg, Germany, where Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany opened the Group of 20 summit meeting. — • Several high-profile issues are on the agenda of the gathering …
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Hill, Axios, IJR, Refinery29, Business Insider, The Week, The Daily Caller and Raw Story
Talking Points Memo:
McConnell: Limited Bill Needed If GOP Senate Obamacare Repeal Bill Dies — GLASGOW, Ky. (AP) — A bill focused on buttressing the nation's insurance marketplaces will be needed if the full-fledged Republican effort to repeal much of President Barack Obama's health care law fails, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday.
Discussion:
Politico, No More Mister Nice Blog and Vox
RELATED:
Sean Sullivan / Washington Post:
Cruz calls for ‘clean repeal’ of ACA if Senate talks fall apart — aligning him with Trump, not McConnell
Cruz calls for ‘clean repeal’ of ACA if Senate talks fall apart — aligning him with Trump, not McConnell
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Political Wire
David Weigel / Washington Post:
A town hall in Kansas shows Republican struggles with health-care bill
A town hall in Kansas shows Republican struggles with health-care bill
Discussion:
Politico, Wichita Eagle, New York Times and Axios
Washington Post:
McConnell says GOP must shore up ACA insurance markets if Senate bill dies
McConnell says GOP must shore up ACA insurance markets if Senate bill dies
Discussion:
Associated Press, timesfreepress.com, The Week and Politico
Jordain Carney / The Hill:
McConnell signals doubts about ObamaCare vote
McConnell signals doubts about ObamaCare vote
Discussion:
Politico, Hullabaloo, New York Magazine, Above the Law, Daily Kos, The Atlantic and Joe.My.God.
Bryan Lowry / Kansas City Star:
Packed town hall in Palco, Kan., urges Moran to stand firm against GOP health bill
Packed town hall in Palco, Kan., urges Moran to stand firm against GOP health bill
Discussion:
The Guardian, Talking Points Memo and Politico
Stephen Battaglio / Los Angeles Times:
Fox suspends business news host Charles Payne amid sexual harassment allegations — Fox lawyers are reviewing sexual harassment allegations against business news host Charles Payne, left. (John Lamparski / Getty Images) — Fox Business Network host Charles Payne has been suspended …
RELATED:
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
Fox Business Suspends Anchor Charles Payne Amid Harassment Investigation
Fox Business Suspends Anchor Charles Payne Amid Harassment Investigation
Discussion:
Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
Yashar Ali / HuffPost:
Conservative Analyst Scottie Nell Hughes Accuses Fox Business Host of Sexual Harassment
Conservative Analyst Scottie Nell Hughes Accuses Fox Business Host of Sexual Harassment
Discussion:
Joe.My.God.
Bundesregierung:
Exklusive Perspektive! Nicht stören - aber alles im Blick haben, das ist die Arbeit der offiziellen Fotografen. Wir haben unserem Kollegen eine Videokamera auf seine Fotokamera gesetzt. Ganz besondere Einblicke in das informelle Treffen der #G20-Chefs, das so genannte „Retreat":
Discussion:
Daily Mail, Althouse, Gizmodo and twitchy.com
CBS News:
Are sleeveless dresses “appropriate attire”? Congress doesn't think so — A young, female reporter recently tried to enter a guarded room known as the Speaker's lobby outside the House chamber, but her outfit was considered inappropriate because her shoulders weren't covered. She was wearing a sleeveless dress.
Discussion:
Mic, Vogue, Washington Post, New York Post, Weekly Standard, Refinery29, Mashable, IJR, Joe.My.God., Raw Story and Washington Monthly, more at Mediagazer »
RELATED:
Stassa Edwards / The Slot:
The House Has a ‘No Sleeveless’ Dress Code for Women [Updated]
The House Has a ‘No Sleeveless’ Dress Code for Women [Updated]
Discussion:
Mediaite, RedState and twitchy.com
Lee Fang / The Intercept:
Republican Lawmakers Buy Health Insurance Stocks as Repeal Effort Moves Forward — Just as the House Republican bill to slash much of the Affordable Care Act moved forward, Rep. Mike Conaway, a Texas Republican and member of Speaker Paul Ryan's leadership team, added a health insurance company to his portfolio.
Peter Beinart / The Atlantic:
The Racial and Religious Paranoia of Trump's Warsaw Speech — In his speech in Poland on Thursday, Donald Trump referred 10 times to “the West” and five times to “our civilization.” His white nationalist supporters will understand exactly what he means. It's important that other Americans do, too.
RELATED:
Anne Applebaum / Washington Post:
Trump affirms the Polish government's assault on democracy
Trump affirms the Polish government's assault on democracy
Discussion:
EURACTIV.com and The Daily Caller
The Guardian:
US mint employee placed on leave after putting noose on black co-worker's chair — Surveillance video captured the employee creating the noose with rope used to seal coin bags and walking across the factory floor on 28 June … An employee at the US mint in Philadelphia has been placed …
David Freedlander / Politico:
Andrew Cuomo Could Beat Trump ... If He Can Win Over the Left First — NEW YORK—The scene is unfolding in the shabby headquarters of the Hotel Trades Council just off Times Square in the late spring of 2017, but it's not hard to imagine the speech somewhere in the Rust Belt in 2020 …
Laura Dimon / New York Daily News:
Bulletproof vest-clad Bronx man armed with throwing knives tries to reach Ivanka in Trump Tower — A Bronx man tried to get into Trump Tower to see first daughter Ivanka Trump Thursday, but was stopped by Secret Service agents who noticed he was wearing a bulletproof vest, police said.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and CNBC
Lloyd Grove / The Daily Beast:
High Anxiety at CNN Amid Attacks From Trump and His Trolls … It's a sign of the anxious, fractious times that CNN's Chris Cuomo, who'd just finished anchoring his New Day program Thursday morning, was ambushed by a camera-toting alt-right activist as he left the network's headquarters at Manhattan's Time Warner Center.
Josh Dawsey / Politico:
Trump's leaks crackdown sends chills through national security world — National security officials across the federal government say they are seeing new restrictions on who can access sensitive information, fueling fears in the intelligence and security community that the Trump administration …
Jake Lahut / Politico:
Trump says Mexico should ‘absolutely’ pay for border wall — Mexico should ‘absolutely’ pay for the border wall between the United States and its southern neighbor, President Donald Trump said Friday during his meeting with his Mexican counterpart Enrique Peña Nieto.
Discussion:
Axios