Top Items:
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
How bad is the Republican coverup on Trump and Russia? We may soon find out. — THE MORNING PLUM: — As we head into 2018, one big, looming unknown is this: Just how far will congressional Republicans go to prevent a full accounting of Russia's interference in our election and any possible Trump campaign conspiracy with it?
Discussion:
The Hill, Little Green Footballs, Politico, IJR, emptywheel, Salon, Hullabaloo, Shakesville, The Week, Business Insider, Fox News Insider, Raw Story, Roll Call, Deadline, USA Today, The Gateway Pundit, NBC News, New York Times, RedState, Talking Points Memo, twitchy.com, Washington Free Beacon and The Daily Caller
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Jonathan Martin / New York Times:
Orrin Hatch, Utah Senator, to Retire, Opening Path for Mitt Romney — Orrin G. Hatch, the longest-serving Senate Republican, will announce that he will retire at the end of the year, clearing a path for Mitt Romney to run. — January 2, 2018 — Trump Accuses Former Clinton Aide of Failing to Follow Security Protocols
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Mitt Romney:
I join the people of Utah in thanking my friend, Senator Orrin Hatch …
I join the people of Utah in thanking my friend, Senator Orrin Hatch …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, NBC News, Business Insider and twitchy.com
Axios:
Orrin Hatch announces retirement, leaving opening for Romney
Orrin Hatch announces retirement, leaving opening for Romney
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, RedState and ABC News
Sean Sullivan / Washington Post:
Orrin Hatch announces he will retire from the Senate
Salena Zito / Washington Examiner:
GOP Rep. Bill Shuster to retire, spend final year working with Trump on massive infrastructure bill — Rep. Bill Shuster, chairman of the House Transportation Committee, will not seek re-election in November, telling the Washington Examiner that he wants to focus exclusively on working …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Atlantic, Axios, Politico, Roll Call, Political Wire and Washington Free Beacon
Anita Kumar / miamiherald:
Foreign governments are finding ways to do favors for Trump's business — WASHINGTON — In Indonesia, a local government plans to build a road to shorten the drive between the main airport on the island of Bali and the new high-end Trump resort and golf course.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Shareblue Media and Common Dreams
Eun Kyung Kim / TODAY.com:
Hoda Kotb joins Savannah Guthrie as co-anchor of TODAY — Hoda Kotb has been named the co-anchor of TODAY, making her official debut Tuesday just after an announcement by NBC News Chairman Andy Lack. — Kotb, 53, will join Savannah Guthrie at the anchor desk during the first two hours of the morning news program.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Page Six, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, IJR, AOL and TheBlaze, more at Mediagazer »
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Zach Johnson / E! Online:
Matt Lauer Reacts to Hoda Kotb Replacing Him on Today
Matt Lauer Reacts to Hoda Kotb Replacing Him on Today
Discussion:
Business Insider, AOL and TVNewser
Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:
Hoda Kotb named permanent co-host of NBC's ‘Today’
Hoda Kotb named permanent co-host of NBC's ‘Today’
Discussion:
New York Times, People.com, Washington Post, The Root, The Daily Caller, theGrio, IJR, Mediaite, The Week, TVNewser, thecut, Mashable and ABC News
Jon Ostrower / CNNMoney:
Flying in 2017 was safer than it's ever been — Five new planes you'll be flying soon — By nearly all measures, flying in 2017 was safer than ever. — Last year, there were 10 fatal commercial passenger and cargo air crashes that killed 44 passengers and crew members.
Discussion:
The Hill, Forbes, Mother Jones, Washington Post, Political Wire, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, IJR, Raw Story, RedState, ThinkProgress, Mediaite, Business Insider, The Daily Caller, AOL, CNN and Breitbart
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John Bowden / The Hill:
2017 was safest year ever for commercial air travel, with zero deaths
2017 was safest year ever for commercial air travel, with zero deaths
Discussion:
Politico, Shareblue Media, Reuters, Mother Jones, The Independent, NPR, Vox, Common Dreams, IJR and The Week
Erin Cunningham / Washington Post:
Iran protests and death toll grow as tension rises — ISTANBUL — Anti-government protests in Iran flared on more fronts Tuesday with clashes that left at least nine people dead, state media reported, as leaders in Tehran struggled to respond to the most serious internal crisis in nearly a decade.
Discussion:
New Republic, Fox News, Reuters, Bloomberg, IJR, Defense One and Althouse
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Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
The West Can Help Iranians Take Back Their Country
The West Can Help Iranians Take Back Their Country
Discussion:
Reason, New York Post, IJR, National Review, NBC News, Power Line, Washington Post, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, AOL, israpundit.org, Common Dreams and peacefare.net
Justin Baragona / Mediaite:
MSNBC Guest Rips Bill Kristol's Support of Iran Protests: 'You've Been Advocating Killing Iranians'
MSNBC Guest Rips Bill Kristol's Support of Iran Protests: 'You've Been Advocating Killing Iranians'
Discussion:
Washington Post
Kyle Mantyla / Right Wing Watch:
Michele Bachmann Is Asking God Whether She Should Run For Al Franken's Senate Seat — Former Minnesota congresswoman and current “pastor to the United Nations” Michele Bachmann joined End Times prepper pastor Jim Bakker for a series of television programs that aired last week …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Axios, New York Magazine, Political Wire, AOL, Daily Kos, FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV, Washington Times, Mediaite, Raw Story and The Week
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Mark Zdechlik / mprnews.org:
Al Franken officially resigns Senate seat
Al Franken officially resigns Senate seat
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Democrats.com
Michael Tomasky / The Daily Beast:
Senator Al Franken's Resignation Is Deeply Unfair
Susan B. Glasser / Politico:
Donald Trump's Year of Living Dangerously — When President Donald Trump sat down for dinner on September 18 in New York with leaders of four Latin American countries on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly, anxieties were already running high.
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Mother Jones, Business Insider, WBUR, Raw Story and Mediaite
Emily Chang / Vanity Fair:
“Oh My God, This Is So F—ed Up”: Inside Silicon Valley's Secretive, Orgiastic Dark Side — Some of the most powerful men in Silicon Valley are regulars at exclusive, drug-fueled, sex-laced parties—gatherings they describe not as scandalous, or even secret, but as a bold, unconventional lifestyle choice.
Discussion:
naked capitalism and Longreads, more at Techmeme »
New York Times:
The Trump Effect: Business, Anticipating Less Regulation, Loosens Purse Strings — WASHINGTON — A wave of optimism has swept over American business leaders, and it is beginning to translate into the sort of investment in new plants, equipment and factory upgrades that bolsters economic growth …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, RedState, The Daily Caller, IJR, NewsBusters, Cafe Hayek and Althouse
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Dean Baker / cepr.net:
The Trump Investment Boom: Is It Really His Fault Oil Prices Jumped by 40 Percent
The Trump Investment Boom: Is It Really His Fault Oil Prices Jumped by 40 Percent
Discussion:
The Nation and Hullabaloo
Alex Ward / Vox:
The 5 biggest Trump-Russia events to watch for in 2018 — Yes, one of them is indicting Donald Trump. — President Trump spent 2017 trying to bat back accusations that his campaign colluded with Russia. But 2018 could be even worse, with potential indictments of Trump's closest aides — and possibly the president himself.
Discussion:
Crooked Timber
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Edward-Isaac Dovere / Politico:
John Dean: Nixon 'Might Have Survived If There'd Been a Fox News'
John Dean: Nixon 'Might Have Survived If There'd Been a Fox News'
Discussion:
The Daily Caller
Jake Tapper / CNN:
Sheriff David Clarke temporarily blocked on Twitter after violating terms of service — Clarke plagiarized portions of thesis (May 2017) — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — Washington (CNN)Former Milwaukee Sheriff David A. Clarke, Jr., a vocal surrogate for President Donald Trump on the campaign trail …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Mashable, twitchy.com, ThinkProgress, Mediaite and USA Today, more at Mediagazer »
Rebecca Savransky / The Hill:
Graham: I ‘fully believe that if North Korea goes to the Winter Olympics, we do not’ — (R-S.C.) on Monday said if North Korea goes to the Winter Olympics, the U.S. should not attend. — “Allowing Kim Jong Un's North Korea to participate in #WinterOlympics would give legitimacy …
Discussion:
Fox News, AOL, Mediaite, NBC News and The Daily Caller
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Howie Carr / Boston Herald:
Trump's tough talk tamps down threat
Alex Daugherty / miamiherald:
Republicans can't generate buzz for Ros-Lehtinen's seat, and some say it's unwinnable — WASHINGTON — The GOP's inability to find top-shelf candidates to run for Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's U.S. House seat has some Republicans ready to write off the race and shift money and attention to more winnable contests.
Discussion:
Roll Call
Gabriel Debenedetti / Politico:
Warren positions herself for potential 2020 run — Elizabeth Warren has spent the past year making a series of below-the-radar moves that would put her in prime position to run for president in 2020 if she decides to. — The liberal icon and Republican bete noire has amassed more money …
Discussion:
The Hill, New Republic, The Stranger …, RedState, MichelleMalkin.com, Axios, The Daily Caller and The Week
Olga Kharif / Bloomberg:
The Criminal Underworld Is Dropping Bitcoin for Another Currency — Monero and others lure criminals as bitcoin's privacy weakens — Some coins post fake blockchain entries to hamper surveillance — Bitcoin is losing its luster with some of its earliest and most avid fans — criminals …
Discussion:
RedState, The Daily Caller and The Week
Benedict Carey / New York Times:
‘Fake News’: Wide Reach but Little Impact, Study Suggests — Fake news evolved from seedy internet sideshow to serious electoral threat so quickly that behavioral scientists had little time to answer basic questions about it, like who was reading what, how much real news they also consumed …
Discussion:
Axios, Media Matters for America, Brendan Nyhan, The Daily Caller and Raw Story, more at Mediagazer »
Jason Samenow / Washington Post:
Monster storm to blast East Coast before polar vortex uncorks tremendous cold late this week — Unforgiving cold has punished the eastern third of the United States for the past 10 days. But the most severe winter weather conditions will assault the area late this week.
Discussion:
Mashable
Wall Street Journal:
About That Trump ‘Autocracy’ — Remember all those progressive predictions of looming fascism? — As Donald Trump heads into his second year as President, we're pleased to report that there hasn't been a fascist coup in Washington. This must be terribly disappointing to the progressive elites …
Discussion:
Raw Story