Top Items:
Bridget Bowman / Roll Call:
Arizona's Trent Franks to Resign Jan. 31 — Updated 6:50 pm | Arizona Republican Rep. Trent Franks said Thursday he is resigning from Congress effective Jan. 31 amid an Ethics investigation that Franks made two female staffers uncomfortable when discussing surrogacy.
Discussion:
The Hill, Talking Points Memo, The Daily Beast, Axios, Business Insider, IJR, New York Daily News, Mediaite, Joe.My.God., CQ.com, twitchy.com and The Slot
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Elena Schneider / Politico:
Rep. Trent Franks expected to resign — Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) is expected to resign, according to a Republican operative informed on the congressman's decision. — Franks was first elected in 2002 and was among the first members to join the Tea Party Caucus.
Discussion:
Washington Post and RedState
CNN:
Exclusive: Previously undisclosed emails show follow-up after Trump Tower meeting — Analyzing Donald Trump Jr.'s House testimony — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — Washington (CNN)The British publicist who arranged the June 2016 meeting with Russians and Donald Trump Jr. sent multiple emails …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Daily Beast, Talking Points Memo, Business Insider, Mediaite, The Week, Daily Kos, Raw Story and Washington Post
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Jenna Lifhits / Weekly Standard:
Cory Gardner: The NRSC ‘Will Never Endorse’ Roy Moore — As Donald Trump and the RNC move to support the Alabama Senate candidate, one group stands firm. — A protester holds up a sign as Roy Moore, not pictured, speaks during a campaign rally in Fairhope, Alabama, on Tuesday.
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Michael Tomasky / The Daily Beast:
Here's Why Democrats Forced Al Franken to Do the Right Thing—And Why They May Come to Regret It … So Al Franken is out. It was the right thing for him to do. I guess. What he did was wrong. It wasn't asking-a-14-year-old-girl-to-take-her- clothes-off wrong, but it was wrong.
Discussion:
Daily Kos, American Prospect and Washington Post
J. Patrick Coolican Star / Star Tribune:
Gov. Mark Dayton likely to tap Lt. Gov Tina Smith as Franken replacement
Gov. Mark Dayton likely to tap Lt. Gov Tina Smith as Franken replacement
Discussion:
The Atlantic, The Hill, CNN, NPR, TIME, Refinery29, Business Insider, The Slot, FiveThirtyEight, CNBC, Weekly Standard, Talking Points Memo, The Moderate Voice, Roll Call, The Daily Beast, Vox, Hit & Run, NBC News, Axios, TheBlaze, Politico and Mediaite
Matthew Yglesias / Vox:
We need a healthier conversation about partisanship and sexual assault
We need a healthier conversation about partisanship and sexual assault
Discussion:
Politico
CNN:
Al Franken resigning ‘in the coming weeks,’ calls out Trump and Moore
Al Franken resigning ‘in the coming weeks,’ calls out Trump and Moore
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Post, Hot Air, NPR, The Ringer, ThinkProgress, The Nevada Independent, The Guardian, IJR, Vox, Weekly Standard, New York Times, Washington Free Beacon, The Atlantic, CNBC, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, twitchy.com, NewsBusters, Sputnik International, BloombergQuint and CANNONFIRE
Paul Waldman / Washington Post:
Franken's resignation shows that only one of our two great parties has any integrity
Franken's resignation shows that only one of our two great parties has any integrity
Discussion:
IJR, The Week and The Mahablog
Yashar Ali / HuffPost:
Exclusive: Former Congressman Harold Ford Jr. Fired For Misconduct By Morgan Stanley — A woman who was interviewed as part of the company's HR probe separately told HuffPost that Ford harassed her one evening in Manhattan several years ago. — Former Democratic Congressman Harold Ford Jr …
Discussion:
The Hill, Power Line, The Root, Business Insider, NBC News, IJR, New York Times, Shakesville, The Rush Limbaugh Show, twitchy.com, The Daily Caller, TVNewser, Axios, Mediaite and WREG-TV
Mike Levine / ABC News:
Less-guarded Sessions spars with interns in internal DOJ video — This summer, in the midst of President Donald Trump's criticism of the Justice Department and Attorney General Jeff Sessions in particular, Sessions said during a private event that the U.S. legal system must be …
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Fox News:
Top DOJ official demoted amid probe of contacts with Trump dossier firm — EXCLUSIVE: A senior Justice Department official was demoted this week amid an ongoing investigation into his contacts with the opposition research firm responsible for the anti-Trump “dossier,” the department confirmed to Fox News.
Ryan Grim / The Intercept:
MSNBC Reverses Decision To Fire Contributor Sam Seder — Progressive radio and television personality Sam Seder will be offered his MSNBC contributor job back and plans to accept, according to multiple MSNBC sources. — Seder and MSNBC were set to part ways when his contributor contract expired next year …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, CNNMoney, Vox, Common Dreams, Little Green Footballs, The Daily Beast, Hullabaloo, RedState, Politico, Axios, Politicus USA, Business Insider, The Daily Caller, Washington Free Beacon, The Wrap, Splinter, Balloon Juice, Mediaite, Althouse and Right Wing Watch, more at Mediagazer »
Pew Research Center:
Stark Partisan Divisions Over Russia Probe, Including Its Importance to the Nation — Trump's style, Twitter use top ‘disappointments’ among supporters — A majority of Americans say they think senior members of Donald Trump's administration definitely or probably had improper contacts …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Axios and Pew Research Center
Stephen Collinson / CNN:
Donald Trump — keeper of promises — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — Washington (CNN)A politician who actually does what he told voters he would do seems almost unfathomable in Washington, a town of broken promises. For Donald Trump, being a president who delivers is especially crucial …
Discussion:
NBC News, Washington Post, IJR, The Daily Caller, Infowars, KTLA, AOL, The Gateway Pundit, NTK Network, Common Dreams and WGNO
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Rebecca Savransky / The Hill:
Carter warns Trump: Jerusalem decision could jeopardize ‘any prospect for peace’
Carter warns Trump: Jerusalem decision could jeopardize ‘any prospect for peace’
Discussion:
The Carter Center, Washington Times, The Mahablog and The White House
Michael Harriot / The Root:
A Racist Flyer Might Cost Doug Jones the Election Because the Entire Democratic Party Is Trash — The above photo is not a stock photo or an image created by The Root's art department. It is an actual flyer circulating around from the Doug Jones for Senate Committee in his run …
Discussion:
The Daily Dot, Power Line and WHNT-TV
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Vann R. Newkirk II / The Atlantic:
What's Missing From Reports on Alabama's Black Turnout
What's Missing From Reports on Alabama's Black Turnout
Discussion:
Religion News Service and New York Magazine
Cristina Marcos / The Hill:
House passes bill to avoid shutdown — The House on Thursday passed a two-week stopgap spending bill one day before a deadline to avoid a government shutdown. — House Republicans managed to pass the legislation mostly along party lines in the 235-193 vote, despite often coming short …
Discussion:
USA Today, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Week and Political Wire
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Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
The Steele Dossier on Trump and Russia Is Looking More and More Real — When news surfaced at the beginning of the year that British intelligence agent turned private investigator Christopher Steele had compiled a report on Donald Trump's ties to Russia, news reports immediately treated its findings as radioactive.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Washington Post
Jen Christensen / CNN:
Did President Trump slur his speech? — (CNN)While President Donald Trump was giving his historic speech Wednesday to announce that the United States would recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, some on the internet focused on the manner in which he made his statement.
Discussion:
FOX2now.com, AOL, Raw Story, CNBC, The Root, IJR and The New Civil Rights Movement
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Joe Concha / The Hill:
Former McCain aide Steve Schmidt: Trump's ‘impairment is chilling’
Former McCain aide Steve Schmidt: Trump's ‘impairment is chilling’
Discussion:
RedState
Dylan Farrow / Los Angeles Times:
Op-Ed Dylan Farrow: Why has the #MeToo revolution spared Woody Allen? — Director Woody Allen attends a special screening of “Wonder Wheel” in New York City on Nov. 14. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press) … We are in the midst of a revolution.
Tamar Hallerman / Political Insider:
John Lewis cancels trip to civil rights museum, citing Trump's attendance — Correction appended. — WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. John Lewis said he has cancelled his plans to attend the grand opening of the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum this weekend because he would have had to share a stage with President Donald Trump.
Discussion:
New York Times, IJR and Daily Kos
RELATED:
Marc Fisher / Washington Post:
On eve of Trump visit, Mississippi blacks say he's brought back troubles of the past
On eve of Trump visit, Mississippi blacks say he's brought back troubles of the past
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon and Common Dreams
Sarah Frier / Bloomberg:
Silicon Valley Is Sneaking Models Into This Year's Holiday Parties — “Ambiance and atmosphere models” contractually obligated to pretend they're party guests are in record demand from local agencies. — Along with a seemingly endless string of harassment and discrimination scandals …
Discussion:
The Week and The Daily Caller
Associated Press:
Trust no one: Scholar risked all to document Islamic State — The historian carried secrets too heavy for one man to bear. — He packed his bag with his most treasured possessions before going to bed: the 1 terabyte hard drive with his evidence against the Islamic State group …
CNN:
Lindsey Vonn: I won't be representing US President at Winter Olympics — St Moritz, Switzerland (CNN)A number of US athletes have spoken out against Donald Trump during his presidency — and skier Lindsey Vonn has become the latest to have her say. — Targeting Olympic gold …
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, The Hill, WCMH-TV, Mediaite, IJR, NewsBusters, Washington Free Beacon, NewsCut and The Daily Caller
Blair Miller / TheDenverChannel.com:
Former Colorado GOP chairman Steve Curtis found guilty of voter fraud, forgery — republican found guilty of voter fraud | DENVER - Steve Curtis, the former chairman for the Colorado Republican Party, was found guilty Thursday by a Weld County jury of voter fraud and forgery.
Discussion:
Politicus USA
Emily Shapiro / ABC News:
Ex-cop Michael Slager faces 19 to 24 years in prison for shooting death of Walter Scott — Former South Carolina police officer Michael Slager faces 19 to 24 years in prison for the deadly shooting of unarmed black man Walter Scott. — U.S. District Judge David Norton ruled today …
J.K. Rowling:
Grindelwald casting — When Johnny Depp was cast as Grindelwald, I thought he'd be wonderful in the role. However, around the time of filming his cameo in the first movie, stories had appeared in the press that deeply concerned me and everyone most closely involved in the franchise.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, smokeroom.com, Deadline, The Verge, Mashable, Radio Times and The Daily Caller
Greg Avery / Denver Business Journal:
Amazon HQ2 could qualify for huge Colorado tax incentives — Colorado's Carrot For Amazon HQ2: Part 1 Of 2 — Colorado is not known for giving big tax incentives to companies, but the state could award Amazon.com Inc.'s second headquarters project hundreds of millions of dollars under the rules of its existing tax rebate program.