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As Jared Kushner's security clearance is delayed, White House hesitates to act on others with possible problems … White House Counsel Donald McGahn and other Trump administration officials have been so vexed by Jared Kushner's months-long inability to obtain a permanent security clearance …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, 89.3 KPCC, NPR, The Mahablog, Washington Times, Raw Story, Shareblue Media, Politico, Daily Kos, Boing Boing and Mediaite
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Hope Hicks: The quiet one in Trump's White House suddenly feels the glare … In a White House full of noise, she is the quiet one. Not the TV gladiator, not press room warrior, not a general. Certainly not the Mooch. — Hope Hicks, the discreet aide always at President Trump's side whose desk …
Discussion:
The Guardian, Business Insider, Politico, Breitbart and The Daily Caller


Second White House official departs amid abuse allegations, which he denies … A White House speechwriter resigned Friday after his former wife claimed that he was violent and emotionally abusive during their turbulent two-and-a-half-year marriage — allegations that he vehemently denied, saying she was the one who victimized him.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Common Dreams, Business Insider, Outside the Beltway, Politicus USA, bizpacreview.com, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo, thecut, Washington Monthly, Joe.My.God., The Week, The Guardian, Polipace Insider …, Sputnik International, Mediaite, CNBC, Mother Jones, ABC News, AOL, Boing Boing, VICE News, The Root and Axios


Trump's history of defending the accused — This morning, President Trump tweeted a vague defense this morning of those accused of sexual misconduct and abuse, stating that “lives are being shattered and destroyed by a mere allegation.” — Why it matters: This follows two White House staffers leaving …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Shareblue Media, ABC News, RedState and Talking Points Memo


A second White House aide has resigned amid past domestic abuse allegations, which he denies
Discussion:
Axios, KTLA, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Shareblue Media, CNN, AOL, The Week, Vox, WPIX 11 New York, Roll Call, FOX40, Raw Story and Little Green Footballs

John Kelly and Hope Hicks Face Scrutiny as Trump Questions Response to Abuse Allegations
Discussion:
Fox News

White House under John Kelly is not so calm and competent after all
Discussion:
Axios

As Other Aides Face Trump's Ire Over Rob Porter's Departure, Hope Hicks Is Praised
Discussion:
CNN, Lawyers, Guns & Money, bizpacreview.com and No More Mister Nice Blog

White House Speechwriter Resigns Amid Abuse Accusations
Discussion:
Politicus USA, Mediaite, Business Insider, thecut and The Guardian

‘Very turbulent’: Trump and White House consumed with turmoil amid abuse allegations



Trump Blocks Release of Memo Rebutting Republican Claims — WASHINGTON — President Trump blocked on Friday the release of a classified Democratic memo rebutting Republican claims that top federal law enforcement officials had abused their surveillance powers in spying on a former Trump campaign aide …
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The White House's broken promise on the Democratic memo
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, New York Magazine and The Week

Grassley-Graham Memo Affirms Nunes Memo — Media Yawns
Discussion:
Power Line

The Russia Investigations: Democrats Try To Counterattack But Lose A Key Weapon
Discussion:
Politico and The Guardian


Pence upstaged by 2 Koreas' efforts to warm ties — Vice President Mike Pence's efforts to keep North Korea from stealing the show at the Winter Olympics proved to be short-lived, quickly drowned out by the images of the two Koreas marching and competing together, as the South appeared …
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, ABC News, One America News Network, Breitbart and The Diplomat
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Fred Warmbier criticizes North Korean Olympic spirit
Discussion:
Breitbart, One America News Network and Jezebel


Israel Downs Iranian Drone, Strikes Syria; Israeli F-16 Shot Down — One pilot in serious condition Israel attacks Syrian, Iranian targets in fresh strike Rocket sirens sound throughout northern Israel — An Israeli F-16 was downed Saturday morning after Israel intercepted an Iranian drone launched from Syria into Israeli territory.
Discussion:
RedState
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Israel Strikes Iran in Syria, Losing Jet, as Conflict Moves Into Perilous Phase
Discussion:
Power Line and Axios


Railroad agency's acting chief resigns amid questions about his employment — A top official charged with overseeing the safety of U.S. railroads has resigned “effective immediately,” the Department of Transportation said Saturday after POLITICO raised questions about whether …
Discussion:
Axios


Woodward and Bernstein: Trump's Russia response ‘eerily similar’ to Nixon's leading up to Saturday Night Massacre — Woodward and Bernstein adapted this piece from their 1976 book, “The Final Days.” This excerpt is appearing both in The Washington Post and on CNN. — (CNN)We're here again.
Discussion:
Mediaite


The Smearing of Woody Allen — Soon after Rolling Stone published a sensational — and, as it turned out, false — account of a gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity, Richard Bradley, the editor of Worth magazine, suspected that something was amiss.
Discussion:
Mediaite, Outside the Beltway and Althouse
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American Spies Paid $100,000 to Russian Who Wanted to Sell Material on Trump — BERLIN — After months of secret negotiations, a shadowy Russian bilked American spies out of $100,000 last year, promising to deliver stolen National Security Agency cyberweapons in a deal that he insisted …


How One Subway Closure in Queens Wrecked a Community — In early 2019, the L train in New York City will shut down for 15 months to repair damage caused during Hurricane Sandy. Leading up to the closure, VICE will be providing relevant updates and policy proposals, as well as profiles …


ICE Set To Deport Undocumented Father Whose 5-Year-Old Son Is Battling Cancer — The agency chose not to grant the Arizonan another stay despite his child's leukemia. — Immigration and Customs Enforcement plans to deport an undocumented man from Mexico whose child is battling cancer.
Discussion:
Hullabaloo


How Joy Reid of MSNBC Became a Heroine of the Resistance — The daughter of immigrants, she spars fiercely with supporters of President Trump, both on the air and in the Twitter ether. — In early January, Joy-Ann Reid invited Pastor Mark Burns to be a guest on her MSNBC show …


He Fought for Iran's Environment and Was Arrested. Now, He's Dead. — TEHRAN — A well-known Iranian-Canadian professor has died in prison in Tehran, a statement posted on his son's Instagram page revealed on Saturday, and his family is seeking an independent autopsy.