Top Items:


“I Have Power”: Is Steve Bannon Running for President? — On a whirlwind tour around the globe, Trump's former aide and alter ego reveals what really went down in the White House, his unfettered thoughts on Javanka, his complicated relationship with his erstwhile boss—and his own political ambitions.


Trump advisers vent frustrations about 2018 strategy as president listens … Within hours of celebrating President Trump's biggest legislative achievement, at the South Portico of the White House on Wednesday, his aides and outside advisers had a spirited, and at times tense …
Discussion:
ABC News and Business Insider
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Dispute Over Political Strategy Erupts Inside the White House — An Oval Office meeting involving President Trump and his top advisers on Wednesday devolved into a heated exchange between his former campaign manager and the White House political director, people briefed on the discussion said.
Discussion:
Raw Story


Trump eyes former aides as West Wing staffers depart — Behind closed doors, the president has lately been talking up the outside advisers who helped usher him into the White House, fueling speculation about new additions in 2018. — President Donald Trump is basking in the first big legislative victory …
Discussion:
ABC News


Republicans warn Trump of 2018 bloodbath — A few weeks before Alabama's special Senate election, President Donald Trump's handpicked Republican National Committee leader, Ronna Romney McDaniel, delivered a two-page memo to White House chief of staff John Kelly outlining the party's collapse with female voters.


Top FBI official grilled on Comey, Clinton in Hill testimony — Washington (CNN)FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe faced numerous questions this week about his interactions, conversations and correspondence with his one-time boss, former FBI Director James Comey, spanning both the FBI's Russia investigation …
Discussion:
RedState, The Week, Mediaite, Politicus USA, IJR, Power Line and Instapundit
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Most Americans doubt Trump on Russia probe, while Mueller approval tilts positive — Berman: Trump wrong to claim collusion ‘disproven’ — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — 56% of Americans think Trump's public statements on the Russia probe have been mostly or completely false
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, Politico, Hullabaloo and TheBlaze

A trio of House Republicans lobbing attacks on Mueller have been in touch with the White House
Discussion:
Raw Story, Daily Kos, Shakesville, RedState, IJR, TheBlaze, AOL, Talking Points Memo, Fox News Insider, Fox News and The Week


Ex-CIA director Brennan goes there, compares Trump to “narcissistic, vengeful autocrats” — Foreign relations have been in a tailspin since Donald Trump upended decades of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and declared America would recognize Jerusalem solely as the capital of Israel.
Discussion:
Raw Story, IJR, twitchy.com, RedState and Mediaite
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U.N. resoundingly rejects U.S. decision on Jerusalem in pointed rebuke … The U.N. General Assembly on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a measure rejecting the Trump administration's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a stunning rebuke of a U.S. decision that allies and adversaries alike warned …
Discussion:
Booman Tribune, The Guardian, Al Jazeera English and Just Security


Despite Haley threat, UN votes to condemn Trump's Jerusalem decision
Discussion:
RedState and twitchy.com

Defying Trump, U.N. General Assembly Condemns U.S. Decree on Jerusalem
Discussion:
bizpacreview.com, National Review, Townhall.com and Mediaite

U.N. Votes Overwhelmingly To Condemn U.S. Decision On Jerusalem
Discussion:
Eschaton

Nikki Haley Confronts the U.N.'s ‘Jackals’
Discussion:
Raw Story, Townhall.com, Washington Post, IJR, TheBlaze, RedState, bizpacreview.com, Instapundit, New York Magazine, Betsy's Page, New York Times, CNN and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion


Five Women Are Accusing A Top Left-Leaning Media Executive Of Sexually Harassing Them — Don Hazen, the executive editor of AlterNet, was placed on “indefinite leave” after BuzzFeed News asked his oversight board about accusations that he inappropriately touched employees, sent lewd emails, and showed them explicit photographs.
Discussion:
NewsBusters and The Daily Caller, more at Mediagazer »


McConnell Ready To ‘Move On’ From Obamacare Repeal, Others In GOP Say Not So Fast — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell wants 2018 to be a year of bipartisanship, even if that means moving on from GOP dreams of cutting welfare and fully rolling back the Affordable Care Act.
Discussion:
The Hill, Talking Points Memo, IJR, Washington Post, Politico, Balloon Juice and Axios
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Obamacare sign-ups surge, despite Trump's declaration on ‘repeal’
Discussion:
ACA Signups

Weekly Enrollment Snapshot: Week Seven
Discussion:
ACA Signups, Balloon Juice, The Nevada Independent, ThinkProgress, xpostfactoid, Mother Jones and Daily Kos

8.8 million people signed up for Obamacare coverage despite Trump's sabotage
Discussion:
New York Times, ACA Signups, ABC News, Talking Points Memo, Axios and NBC News


Judge dismisses suits claiming Trump violated emoluments clause — A federal judge on Thursday dismissed a pair of lawsuits claiming that President Donald Trump's failure to divest himself of his real estate empire and other business holdings violated the Constitution's provision banning receipt of foreign …
Discussion:
RedState, Washington Post and The Week
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Congress races to fund the government and avert a shutdown — Congress races to pass a short-term spending bill aimed at averting a partial government shutdown at midnight Friday. — The measure also contains a provision that would allow President Trump to sign the GOP tax bill immediately …
Discussion:
New York Times, Hot Air, NPR, The Daily Caller, National Review, The Atlantic, Washington Free Beacon, AOL and IJR
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The Politics of the Republican Tax Bill: A Dissenting View
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, JustOneMinute, No More Mister Nice Blog, Booman Tribune and Mother Jones

Senate passes stopgap spending bill, allowing Congress to avert partial government shutdown
Discussion:
IJR, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, The Daily Caller and ThinkProgress


Trump just gave a bigger Christmas gift to Putin than corporate America — while no one was watching — While most of the country was focused on Alabama's Senate race, Trump was playing Secret Santa with Putin. — In a move that went largely unnoticed last week, Donald Trump quietly handed …


Papa John's Founder To Step Down As CEO After Backlash Over NFL Comments — NEW YORK (AP) — Papa John's founder John Schnatter will step down as CEO next month, about two months after he publicly criticized the NFL leadership over national anthem protests by football players — comments for which the company later apologized.
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and Balloon Juice

Commentary: Democrats may wish they'd supported Trump's tax cut — Why is a plan to cut taxes for working families, enact an Obama-style approach to corporate taxes and increase child-friendly spending the subject of such partisan passion? It's not policy. It's not math. — It's Trump.


Trump Administration Considers Separating Families to Combat Illegal Immigration — The Trump administration is considering a new policy that would separate parents from their children when families are caught entering the country illegally, according to officials who have been briefed on the plans.


Joint Statement from DNI Coats, AG Sessions, CIA Director Pompeo, FBI Director Wray, and NSA Director Rogers on FISA Section 702 Reauthorization — Reauthorizing Section 702 before it expires is vital to keeping the nation safe. Let us be clear: if Congress fails to act …
Discussion:
RedState, emptywheel and Washington Post


All 6 Defendants Not Guilty In Key Felony Trial Of Trump Inauguration Protesters — The case could determine the fate of many of the nearly 200 people arrested during the inauguration. — All six defendants in a crucial trial involving demonstrators arrested during President Donald Trump's inauguration …
Discussion:
New York Magazine and The Stranger …, more at Mediagazer »


Sore loser Roy Moore lashes out at Doug Jones' gay son — He's blaming everyone but himself. — Republican Roy Moore has still not conceded his loss in the Alabama Senate race, and in recent days, has seemed to pin the blame at minority groups he is known for despising.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Newsroom, Washington Examiner, New York Daily News and The Montgomery Advertiser


EXCLUSIVE: Trump's Mar-a-Lago tax deal veiled from IRS review — PALM BEACH POST INVESTIGATION … Donald Trump stands in the living room at Mar-a-Lago, 1992. Photo by Katie Deits / Zuma Press — PALM BEACH — Donald Trump's deal with the town of Palm Beach to turn Mar-a-Lago …
Discussion:
Raw Story and Mother Jones


Pence pays surprise visit to Kabul — KABUL — Vice President Pence arrived in Afghanistan on Thursday for an unannounced visit with U.S. troops, many of whom were just children when the war began here more than 16 years ago, and to meet with top Afghan leaders to discuss President Trump's strategy for the conflict.
Discussion:
ABC News, The Gateway Pundit and Shakesville
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Breitbart editor now says he believed Leigh Corfman and thought Roy Moore was ‘terrible’ — In the final weeks of the U.S. Senate race in Alabama, Breitbart News strained to discredit Leigh Corfman, who accused Republican Roy Moore of sexually touching her when she was 14 and he was 32.
Discussion:
Raw Story and CNNMoney, more at Mediagazer »


Ford Apologizes for Sexual Harassment at Chicago Factories — Ford Motor Company apologized to its employees on Thursday for sexual harassment at two Chicago plants, addressing accusations that span more than a quarter-century. — Jim Hackett, Ford's president and chief executive …
Discussion:
thecut and Crain's Detroit Business