Top Items:
Carol E. Lee / NBC News:
Flynn kept FBI interview concealed from White House, Trump — WASHINGTON — A year ago today, Donald Trump's newly sworn-in national security adviser, Michael Flynn, met privately in his West Wing office with FBI investigators interested in his communications with Russia's ambassador …
Discussion:
The Atlantic, Washington Post, Raw Story, Talking Points Memo, Mediaite, Washington Press, Business Insider, CNBC, Shakesville, amp.dailycaller.com, Reuters, NBC News and The Week
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Washington Post:
Trump says he would speak to Mueller under oath in Russia investigation … President Trump said Wednesday he is “looking forward” to testifying before special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and that he would speak under oath. — “I would love to do it, and I would like to do it as soon as possible,” Trump said at the White House.
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
One year ago, Paul Ryan made a heartfelt promise to a ‘dreamer.’ Now she's back.
One year ago, Paul Ryan made a heartfelt promise to a ‘dreamer.’ Now she's back.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, Talking Points Memo, ABC News, Towleroad, CNN, Raw Story, Mediaite and IJR
Jake Gibson / Fox News:
Thousands of FBI cellphones affected by glitch that lost Strzok-Page texts, officials say — EXCLUSIVE: Thousands of FBI cellphones were affected by the technical glitch that the DOJ says prevented five months' worth of text messages between FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page …
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Talking Points Memo, The Week, IJR, The Daily Caller, Balloon Juice, Daily Wire and The Gateway Pundit
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Michael Goodwin / New York Post:
Evidence suggests a massive scandal is brewing at the FBI
Evidence suggests a massive scandal is brewing at the FBI
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, Scared Monkeys, CANNONFIRE and JustOneMinute
Andrew C. McCarthy / National Review:
Clinton-Obama Emails: The Key to Understanding Why Hillary Wasn't Indicted
Clinton-Obama Emails: The Key to Understanding Why Hillary Wasn't Indicted
Discussion:
Power Line, twitchy.com and The Gateway Pundit
Zack Beauchamp / Vox:
Conservative conspiracy theory about FBI texts is bullshit, according to ... Fox News
Conservative conspiracy theory about FBI texts is bullshit, according to ... Fox News
Discussion:
Towleroad, ThinkProgress, Business Insider, Wall Street Journal and Politico
U.S. Department of Justice:
Justice Department Demands Documents and Threatens to Subpoena 23 Jurisdictions As Part of 8 U.S.C. 1373 Compliance Review — The Department of Justice today sent the attached letters to 23 jurisdictions, demanding the production of documents that could show whether each jurisdiction …
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Eric Levenson / CNN:
Larry Nassar sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for decades of sexual abuse — Judge to Nassar: I signed your death warrant — (CNN)Once a world-renowned sports physician treating America's foremost Olympic women gymnasts, Larry Nassar now will spend the rest of his life behind bars.
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New York Times:
More than 160 women say Larry Nassar sexually abused them. Here are his accusers in their own words.
More than 160 women say Larry Nassar sexually abused them. Here are his accusers in their own words.
Discussion:
Daily Wire, theGrio, Women in the World and Just Jared
Charles P. Pierce / SI.com:
Burn It All Down: It's Time For Every Last Coward Who Enabled Larry Nassar To Pay For Their Sins
Burn It All Down: It's Time For Every Last Coward Who Enabled Larry Nassar To Pay For Their Sins
Discussion:
The Mahablog, Eschaton and Balloon Juice
BuzzFeed:
Cecile Richards Plans To Step Down As President Of Planned Parenthood, After More Than A Decade — Richards greatly expanded Planned Parenthood's political prominence, as well as its organizing and fundraising capacities, during her time leading the organization. — Reporting From Washington, DC
CNN:
Senate Intelligence Committee not given access to Nunes FISA memo — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — Washington (CNN)Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr's staff has not been given access to a classified memo drafted by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes …
Discussion:
CNNMoney, Raw Story, IJR and Washington Times
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Jane Coaston / Vox:
ReleaseTheMemo and the conservative war on the FBI, explained — How one four-page memo took Republicans — and Trump-Russia probe detractors — by storm. — Let's say there was a memo that would show, without a shadow of a doubt, that the investigation into the Trump presidential campaign's ties …
Bloomberg:
Inside the Dysfunctional Relationship of Donald Trump and Theresa May — When Theresa May returned to the grandeur of the British Embassy on Washington's Massachusetts Avenue in January last year, her aides had no idea how spectacularly awry her visit to Donald Trump's White House had gone.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Washington Press, Mediaite, Business Insider, Raw Story, Balloon Juice, The Week, New Republic and thecut
Kansas City Star:
With Pence breaking 49-49 tie, U.S. Senate advances Brownback's nomination — WASHINGTON — Kansas Republican Sam Brownback, one of the most unpopular governors in the country, barely survived a key vote on his bid for a big Trump administration job on Wednesday, as Vice President Mike Pence broke …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Washington Press and Political Wire
New York Times:
Trump Says He Is Willing to Speak Under Oath to Mueller — WASHINGTON — President Trump said on Wednesday that he was willing to speak under oath to Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential campaign.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Politicus USA
David Marchese / Vulture:
In Conversation: Erykah Badu — “I'm gathering ideas,” says Erykah Badu, talking over dinner at a vegan restaurant in midtown Manhattan. “I'm uploading.” Badu, in a baggy sweater, oversized eyeglasses, and giant fedora, is talking about why she hasn't released an album of new material since 2010's …
Discussion:
Breitbart, The Root, The Daily Caller, TMZ.com, TheBlaze, East Bay Times, Mediaite, Jezebel and Just Jared
Julia Ainsley / NBC News:
Report: Felons, people under foreign influence got national security clearances — WASHINGTON — A Defense Department report obtained by NBC News found that 165 defense contractors had their initial security clearances revoked last year after further investigation linked the recipients …
Samantha Cole / Motherboard:
We Are Truly Fucked: Everyone Is Making AI-Generated Fake Porn Now — In December, Motherboard discovered a redditor named ‘deepfakes’ quietly enjoying his hobby: Face-swapping celebrity faces onto porn performers' bodies. He made several convincing porn videos of celebrities …
Lauren Thomas / CNBC:
Toys R Us to close 180 stores across the US — Toys R Us is planning to shutter roughly 180 stores across the country, or about one-fifth of its U.S. store fleet. — Toys R Us is planning to shutter roughly 180 stores across the country, or about one-fifth of its U.S. store fleet …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, The A.V. Club, WFLA-TV, Bangor Daily News and WCMH-TV
Michael Scherer / Washington Post:
Potential citizenship question in 2020 Census could shift power to rural America — A request by the Justice Department to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census could shift the nation's balance of political power from cities to more rural communities over the next decade and give Republicans …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Balkinization
Aaron Rupar / ThinkProgress:
Sessions congratulates Trump for ending imaginary crime wave — Attorney General Jeff Sessions is crediting President Trump for leading an effort to end a violent crime wave in America. There's just one problem — that crime wave never existed in the first place.
Discussion:
Federal Bureau …, Washington Free Beacon, The Daily Caller, Politico and The White House
Katelyn Polantz / CNN:
Spokesman for Trump campaign adviser among 4 Americans killed in Kabul hotel attack — (CNN)Glenn Selig, spokesman for Trump campaign adviser Rick Gates, was killed in the weekend Kabul hotel attack, according to a statement from spokesperson for The Publicity Agency and Selig Multimedia Inc., his Florida-based companies.
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Wfla Web / WFLA-TV:
Tampa native, former FOX 13 reporter killed in Kabul hotel attack
Tampa native, former FOX 13 reporter killed in Kabul hotel attack
Discussion:
Washingtonian and Associated Press
Nick Wadhams / Bloomberg:
Tillerson's Overhaul at State in Doubt as USAID Suspends Role — The U.S. Agency for International Development has suspended cooperation with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's bid to overhaul the State Department, a move that highlights rising discord and impatience with the top diplomat's signature initiative.
Leinz Vales / CNN:
Evangelical leader Franklin Graham says Trump is a ‘changed person’ — (CNN)President Donald Trump is a “changed person” amid recent reports of an alleged affair with porn star Stormy Daniels, said the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Discussion:
The Hill, Right Wing Watch, RedState, Talking Points Memo, Friendly Atheist, Raw Story, New York Magazine, Mediaite and Joe.My.God.
Andrea Drusch / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Democratic poll: O'Rourke within single digits of Cruz — WASHINGTON — Democrat Beto O'Rourke trails Texas Republican Sen. Ted Cruz by single digits — 45-37 percent — according to new internal polling released by a Democratic group aimed at keeping corporate money out of politics.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Forbes and IJR
Ben Caspit / Jerusalem Post:
Kerry to Abbas confidante: ‘Stay strong and do not give in to Trump’ — The former US Secretary of State also surprised his interlocutor by saying he was seriously considering running for president in 2020. — While the White House confirms that since the “Jerusalem Declaration” …
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon, AOL, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller, Daily Wire, IJR and Elder Of Ziyon
TMZ.com:
‘Storm Chasers’ Star Joel Taylor Dead From Suspected Overdose (UPDATE) — 10:50 AM PT — Law enforcement sources tell TMZ, “It appears the death could be an overdose and Joel Taylor was consuming controlled substances.” — A passenger who interacted with Joel tells TMZ …
Discussion:
Towleroad, myfox8.com and Decider
Elana Schor / Politico:
Judiciary Democrats want to share Trump Jr. testimony with Mueller — Democratic Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Richard Blumenthal suggested the president's son may have made false statements to their committee. — Two Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Wednesday pressed …
Lisa Rose / CNN:
The massive FBI sting to bring down an ISIS-supporting weightlifter in Key West — (CNN)Harlem Suarez grabbed a jalapeno pepper from his plate and took a big bite. The heavily tattooed Cuban-American crepe-maker was eating dinner with two new friends, Shariff and Mohammed, at a Denny's in Key West on a warm June night.
Courier-Journal:
What we know now: Marshall County High School shooting … Benton, Kentucky was shaken to its core Tuesday when a 15-year-old sophomore went on a shooting rampage at Marshall County High School, killing two students and injuring more than a dozen. — Here's what we know now. — Rising numbers
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, Media Matters for America, Vox, AOL, Associated Press, FOX 61 and Murray Ledger and Times