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:
Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, Mediaite, CNBC, Shakesville, Reuters, NBC News, Raw Story, The Daily Caller and The Week
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Trump asked the acting FBI director whom he voted for during Oval Office meeting … Shortly after President Trump fired his FBI director in May, he summoned to the Oval Office the bureau's acting director for a get-to-know-you meeting. — The two men exchanged pleasantries, but before long …
Discussion:
New Republic, ThinkProgress, New York Times, Talking Points Memo, CNN, Politico, Shareblue Media, Washington Free Beacon, VICE, JONATHAN TURLEY, The Hill, RealClearPolitics, No More Mister Nice Blog, Splinter, The Week, ABC News, theGrio, New York Magazine, RedState, Vox, Palmer Report, Mediaite, IJR, AOL, Raw Story, Boing Boing, The Gateway Pundit, Business Insider, Washington Press and Axios
Michael Goodwin / New York Post:
Evidence suggests a massive scandal is brewing at the FBI — During the financial crisis, the federal government bailed out banks it declared “too big to fail.” Fearing their bankruptcy might trigger economic Armageddon, the feds propped them up with taxpayer cash.
Discussion:
JustOneMinute, The Gateway Pundit, CANNONFIRE, The Federalist, Scared Monkeys, The Hill and bizpacreview.com
Andrew C. McCarthy / National Review:
Clinton-Obama Emails: The Key to Understanding Why Hillary Wasn't Indicted — New FBI texts highlight a motive to conceal the president's involvement. — From the first, these columns have argued that the whitewash of the Hillary Clinton-emails caper was President Barack Obama's call …
Discussion:
Power Line, twitchy.com and The Gateway Pundit
Philip Bump / Washington Post:
Your guide to the anti-FBI conspiracy theories rippling through conservative media
Your guide to the anti-FBI conspiracy theories rippling through conservative media
Discussion:
The Atlantic, New York Magazine, Talking Points Memo and CNN
Washington Post:
FBI director, under pressure to make changes, is replacing Comey aides
FBI director, under pressure to make changes, is replacing Comey aides
Discussion:
Palmer Report, Raw Story and WTVR-TV
David Shortell / CNN:
Sessions: Justice Dept. will get to the bottom of missing employee text messages
Sessions: Justice Dept. will get to the bottom of missing employee text messages
Discussion:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Infowars, bizpacreview.com, Shareblue Media, IJR, HuffPost, NPR, Joe.My.God., The Federalist, Breitbart, Business Insider, The Gateway Pundit, The Stream, Wall Street Journal, Politico, ThinkProgress, TheBlaze, twitchy.com, Daily Wire, RedState, Mediaite, Fox News, Talking Points Memo, CNBC, The Daily Caller and The Daily Signal
Katelyn Polantz / CNN:
Exclusive: New signs Gates may be negotiating with Mueller's team — Who is Rick Gates? — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — At this stage, with Gates' charges filed and bail set, talks could concern the charges and Gates' plea — Washington (CNN)Former Trump campaign aide Rick Gates has quietly added …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Palmer Report, Raw Story and Balloon Juice
Louis Nelson / Politico:
Trump to Schumer: ‘If there is no wall, there is no DACA’ — President Donald Trump reiterated late Tuesday night that funding for his promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border remains a requirement for any deal to shield undocumented immigrants brought here as children from deportation …
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, IJR, Breitbart, CNN, NPR, ABC News, Washington Press, Axios and bizpacreview.com
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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, New Republic, Business Insider and Raw Story
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:
Balkinization
New York Times:
Under Fire for Harassment, Congressman Says Aide ‘Invited’ Behavior — WASHINGTON — Under fire for using taxpayer money to settle a sexual misconduct complaint from a former aide, Representative Patrick Meehan, Republican of Pennsylvania, said Tuesday that the woman “specifically invited” …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and Washington Post
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Jonathan Tamari / Philly.com:
Pat Meehan says he saw younger aide as ‘a soul mate’ but denies harassment
Pat Meehan says he saw younger aide as ‘a soul mate’ but denies harassment
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, The Hill, Washington Post, CNN, Addicting Info, NPR, Politico, Washington Times, Roll Call, The Week, Business Insider, IJR, Washington Press and Talking Points Memo
Madison Marriage / Financial Times:
Men Only: Inside the charity fundraiser where hostesses are put on show — At 10pm last Thursday night, Jonny Gould took to the stage in the ballroom at London's Dorchester Hotel. “Welcome to the most un-PC event of the year,” he roared. — The sports broadcaster was there to host a charity auction …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Axios, Business Insider, The Guardian, Coffee House, Mashable, NBC News, Althouse and thecut
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:
Talking Points Memo, RedState, The Hill, Right Wing Watch, New York Magazine, Friendly Atheist, Raw Story, Mediaite and Joe.My.God.
mprnews.org:
Investigation: For some who lived in it, Keillor's world wasn't funny … When Minnesota Public Radio abruptly severed ties with Garrison Keillor in November, the sole explanation offered by the company was “inappropriate behavior” with a female colleague. — For his part, the creator …
Discussion:
Shakesville, thecut and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
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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. — He was lauded as a must-see doctor for the United States' best gymnasts. Now Lawrence G. Nassar will spend the rest of his life in prison. Over seven days, women recounted his sexual abuse …
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:
IJR
Jenna Wortham / New York Times:
Is 'RuPaul's Drag Race' the Most Radical Show on TV? — The reality-television competition that began nine years ago has evolved to reflect an era fixated on gender and identity — and the boundary-pushing spirit of its star. — On a soundstage deep in the hills of Los Angeles one morning last August …
Discussion:
Althouse
Ryan Devereaux / The Intercept:
Eight Humanitarian Activists Face Federal Charges After Leaving Water for Migrants in the Arizona Desert — A faith-based humanitarian group that provides aid and shelter to undocumented migrants on the southwestern border fears it has become the latest target in the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration advocates.
Discussion:
Arizona Republic
Emily Guskin / Washington Post:
Republicans fuel sharp rise in concerns about sexual harassment, Post-ABC poll finds — Concerns about workplace sexual harassment are up once again, after reaching a high point in October, with Republicans driving the latest push in labeling harassment a serious national problem.
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE
CNBC:
Starbucks to boost worker pay and benefits after US lowers corporate taxes — Starbucks is known for giving its workers more generous pay and benefits than other mass-market restaurants and retailers. — Starbucks will use some of the savings from the new U.S. corporate tax cuts …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Breitbart, Washington Free Beacon, Scared Monkeys, IJR and The Week
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:
Daily Wire, IJR and Elder Of Ziyon
Byron York / Washington Examiner:
NeverTrumpers face vexing question: What to make of Trump successes? — The start of President Trump's second year in office has given Republicans and conservatives an opportunity to review a solid list of achievements: corporate and individual tax cuts; economic growth; wage growth …
Caleb Howe / RedState:
The Coulter Mistake and How Not to Make It — The lead article at RedState this morning is about Rush Limbaugh and his embrace of conspiracy theory thinking as part of his continuous and shared quest to justify Trump. As noted in the headline, though, it's not just Rush Limbaugh thus devolving.
Discussion:
Mediaite
Craig Silverman / BuzzFeed:
An Inside Look At The Accounts Twitter Has Censored In Countries Around The World — BuzzFeed News has identified more than 1,700 Twitter accounts that have been blocked in at least one country. The list provides an unprecedented glimpse into Twitter's collaboration with national groups and governments …
Denise Clifton / Mother Jones:
Sean Hannity Is Now a Favorite Weapon of Russian Trolls Attacking America — Soon after Donald Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn agreed to a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller on Dec. 1, Kremlin-linked trolls began ramping up their social-media attacks on the Russia investigation.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Washington Press, CNBC, Washington Post, The Atlantic, IJR, WTVR-TV and The Week, more at Mediagazer »
Lynn Sweet / Chicago Sun Times:
EXCLUSIVE: Tammy Duckworth is pregnant; will be 1st senator to give birth — Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., is pregnant and will become the first sitting U.S. senator to give birth. Duckworth is holding her daughter, Abigail, during a ceremonial swearing in by Vice President Joe Biden on Jan. 3, 2017.
Discussion:
Fox News, bizpacreview.com, CNN, The Daily Caller, Mashable, New York Times, The Guardian, ThinkProgress, BuzzFeed, KTLA, ABC News, NBC News, Washington Free Beacon, Vox, Women in the World, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, TheBlaze, The Week, RedState, thecut, IJR, Refinery29, Raw Story, Washington Post, Roll Call, Jezebel and Axios
Zachary Basu / Axios:
Merkel warns against isolationism in Davos speech — German Chancellor Angela Merkel gave a speech to the World Economic Forum in Davos, saying: “If we are of the opinion that things are simply not fair, that there is no reciprocity, then we have to seek multilateral answers …
Discussion:
Politico, Breitbart and One America News Network
Richard Wolf / USA Today:
Supreme Court agrees to speed up Trump's DACA appeal — WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is racing Congress to decide the future of the Dreamers. — The justices agreed Tuesday to decide quickly whether to hear the Trump administration's appeal of a federal district court's order to restart …
Discussion:
ImmigrationProf Blog
The Intercept:
Candidates Who Signed Up to Battle Donald Trump Must Get Past the Democratic Party First — In the wake of the 2016 election, a group of despairing Democrats in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, formed a new political group to ensure that they would never be out-organized locally again.
Discussion:
New Republic, McClatchy Washington Bureau and Eschaton
Anna Zacharias / The National:
Saudi camel beauty festival: 12 entrants disqualified for Botox use — The camels were among 30,000 competing at the King Abdulaziz Camel Festival — In pursuit of the perfect pout, a dozen camels have been disqualified from a camel beauty pageant in Saudi Arabia for receiving Botox injections.
Discussion:
NPR, Breitbart, The Guardian and Reuters
Andy Newman / New York Times:
The #MeToo Movement Hits the Circus: ‘Grandma’ the Clown Resigns — One of America's most revered circus performers, Grandma the clown, has resigned from the world-renowned Big Apple Circus after it was revealed that he pressured a 16-year-old aerialist into posing for pornographic photos in 2004.
Discussion:
New York Post, Daily Wire, Mediaite and CBS New York
Ronen Bergman / New York Times:
How Arafat Eluded Israel's Assassination Machine — The nation's security forces tried for decades to kill the P.L.O. leader. Now, former officials tell the story of how they failed — and how far they almost went to succeed. — The radar on the F-15s picked up the blip of the transport plane …