Top Items:
New York Times:
Trump's Chaos Theory for the Oval Office Is Taking Its Toll — WASHINGTON — For 13 months in the Oval Office, and in an unorthodox business career before that, President Trump has thrived on chaos, using it as an organizing principle and even a management tool.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, Politico, Weekly Standard, ABC News, BBC, Outside the Beltway, BuzzFeed, New York Magazine, AOL, CNN, Mediaite and The Daily Caller
RELATED:
CNN:
The great unraveling: Trump's allies are really worried about him — (CNN)Not since Richard Nixon started talking to the portraits on the walls of the West Wing has a president seemed so alone against the world. — One source — who is a presidential ally — is worried, really worried.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Neil Irwin / New York Times:
The Real Risks of Trump's Steel and Aluminum Tariffs — A higher price for the metals isn't the main concern; it's the chance that the global trade system will be undermined. — President Trump announced today that his administration would impose a 25 percent tariff on imported steel …
Discussion:
The Atlantic, The American Spectator and Outside the Beltway
CNN:
When Jeff Sessions finally called Trump's bluff — Washington (CNN)The walk down Pennsylvania Avenue was short, but the image was a show of force. — The top three officials at the Justice Department strolled to dinner together Wednesday evening with smiles less than eight hours …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Washington Post, Vox, National Review, NBC News, ABC News, CNBC and The Gateway Pundit
Nicolle Wallace / NBC News:
White House preparing for McMaster exit as early as next month — WASHINGTON — The White House is preparing to replace H.R. McMaster as national security adviser as early as next month in a move orchestrated by chief of staff John Kelly and Defense Secretary James Mattis, according to five people familiar with the discussions.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, CNBC, Breitbart, Washington Times, NBC News, The Daily Caller, The Gateway Pundit, RedState, IJR, Daily Kos, Washington Press, National Review, Politico, Daily Wire, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Shakesville, Mother Jones, Raw Story, VICE News, The Atlantic, New Republic, Political Wire and Talking Points Memo
The Intercept:
Jared Kushner's Real-Estate Firm Sought Money Directly From Qatar Government Weeks Before Blockade — The real estate firm tied to the family of presidential son-in-law and top White House adviser Jared Kushner made a direct pitch to Qatar's minister of finance in April 2017 in an attempt …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Washington Post, Just Security and Vox
RELATED:
New York Times:
Jared Kushner Flames Out
Jared Kushner Flames Out
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, USA Today and Fox News Insider
Jerry Oppenheimer / Daily Mail:
Get stylish like Hope Hicks in a Veronica Beard jacket … Hicks, who turns 30 next October, revealed she was leaving the White House on Thursday. She is Trump's longest surviving aide and helped guide his early shoestring campaign operation after working for the Trump Organization
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Philip Rucker / Washington Post:
‘Jared has faded’: Inside the 28 days of tumult that left Kushner badly diminished … They were the ascendant young couples of the Trump White House: Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, and Rob Porter and Hope Hicks. They enjoyed rarefied access to the president and special privileges in the West Wing.
Discussion:
Mediaite, Breitbart, ThinkProgress, New York Times, The Daily Beast, Town & Country, KTLA, Daily Kos and New York Magazine
Associated Press:
Trump adrift: Tumult in West Wing amid exits, investigation
Trump adrift: Tumult in West Wing amid exits, investigation
Discussion:
Political Wire
Eliana Johnson / Politico:
Trump ignored ‘bright line’ on discussing Russia with Hicks
Trump ignored ‘bright line’ on discussing Russia with Hicks
Discussion:
CNN
Wall Street Journal:
Trump's Tariff Folly — His tax on aluminum and steel will hurt the economy and his voters. — Donald Trump made the biggest policy blunder of his Presidency Thursday by announcing that next week he'll impose tariffs of 25% on imported steel and 10% on aluminum.
Discussion:
Betsy's Page and Raw Story
RELATED:
John Podhoretz / New York Post:
Trump's trade war could erase all the tax-cut gains
Trump's trade war could erase all the tax-cut gains
Discussion:
CNBC
William Mauldin / Wall Street Journal:
Trump's Steel-Tariffs Plan Rattles GOP Lawmakers
Trump's Steel-Tariffs Plan Rattles GOP Lawmakers
Discussion:
Instapundit, The Daily Signal, Raw Story and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
Andrew Restuccia / Politico:
Trump's tariff war nudges Cohn toward White House exit
Trump's tariff war nudges Cohn toward White House exit
Discussion:
New York Magazine, Associated Press, Axios, NBC News, One America News Network, Breitbart, ABC News and Washington Press
New York Times:
Justice Dept. Report Is Expected to Criticize Andrew McCabe Over Media Disclosures — WASHINGTON — A Justice Department review is expected to criticize the former F.B.I. deputy director, Andrew G. McCabe, for authorizing the disclosure of information about a continuing investigation to journalists …
Discussion:
Axios and The Last Refuge
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NBC News:
Mueller eyes charges against Russians who stole, spread Democrats' emails — WASHINGTON — Special Counsel Robert Mueller is assembling a case for criminal charges against Russians who carried out the hacking and leaking of private information designed to hurt Democrats in the 2016 election …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Power Line, emptywheel, Talking Points Memo, The Gateway Pundit, Raw Story and Political Wire
CNN:
Exclusive: FBI counterintel investigating Ivanka Trump business deal — (CNN)US counterintelligence officials are scrutinizing one of Ivanka Trump's international business deals, according to two sources familiar with the matter. — The FBI has been looking into the negotiations …
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post, Shareblue Media, AOL, Talking Points Memo, RedState, Washington Press, Politicus USA, Splinter, Raw Story, Axios, Washington Times and Political Wire
Lacey Rose / Hollywood Reporter:
Alec Baldwin on His ABC Talk Show, Woody Allen Fallout and ‘SNL’ Future — “Every time I do it now, it's like agony,” Baldwin says of his Trump parody. — Beginning this weekend, ABC will start spending its Sundays With Alec Baldwin. — Earlier this week, the network ordered a nine-episode …
Discussion:
Mother Jones, ABC News, Politico, New York Times, Mediaite, AOL, Splinter, The Daily Caller, USA Today, Joe.My.God. and Washington Free Beacon
RELATED:
Tim Mak / NPR:
Depth Of Russian Politician's Cultivation Of NRA Ties Revealed — A prominent Kremlin-linked Russian politician has methodically cultivated ties with leaders of the National Rifle Association, and documented efforts in real time over six years to leverage those connections and gain access deeper into American politics, NPR has learned.
Discussion:
Salon, No More Mister Nice Blog, Just Security, AOL, Washington Monthly and Political Wire
John Harwood / CNBC:
Trump's embrace of Russia: The evidence on public display already paints a jarring picture — Trump's in-plain-sight embrace of Russia gets obscured by the Trump news avalanche. It's worth reviewing what's been established so far. — As Robert Mueller accumulates guilty pleas …
CNNMoney:
Longtime Fox News exec who wrote controversial Olympics column out at network — Fox News exec slams Olympic committee's focus on diversity — John Moody, the longtime Fox News executive who wrote a controversial column about the US Olympic committee last month, is no longer with Fox News …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Mediaite and Deadspin, more at Mediagazer »
The Daily Beast:
Leaked: Secret Documents From Russia's Election Trolls … The Kremlin-backed troll farm at the center of Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. election has quietly suffered a catastrophic security breach, The Daily Beast has confirmed, in a leak that spilled new details of its operations onto obscure corners of the internet.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Tennessean.com:
Mike Huckabee resigns from CMA Foundation board following controversy — Mike Huckabee and TBN president Matthew Crouch talk about the new show in Nashville — Less than one day after his appointment was announced, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has resigned from the CMA Foundation board of directors …
Discussion:
Friendly Atheist, LGBTQ Nation, Shareblue Media and Raw Story
RELATED:
Cindy Watts / Tennessean.com:
Read: Mike Huckabee's CMA Foundation resignation letter
Read: Mike Huckabee's CMA Foundation resignation letter
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Guardian and Joe.My.God.
Jess Bidgood / New York Times:
‘I Live Paycheck to Paycheck’: A West Virginia Teacher Explains Why She's on Strike — Public schools in West Virginia were closed for a sixth day on Thursday, as teachers striking over health care costs and pay largely rebuffed a deal this week between Gov. James C. Justice and union leadership aimed at getting them back to school.
Discussion:
Jacobin, CNN and Washington Press
RELATED:
Michael Kruse / Politico:
West Virginia's Blue Army of One
New York Times:
Oil Was Central in Decision to Shrink Bears Ears Monument, Emails Show — Want the latest climate news in your inbox? You can sign up here to receive Climate Fwd:, our new email newsletter. — WASHINGTON — Even before President Trump officially opened his high-profile review last spring …
Nicole Darrah / Fox News:
Schumer slammed for citing skin color in vote against white judicial nominee — Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faced a stern rebuke from congressional colleagues for citing skin color in voting against a white federal judge nominee earlier this week. — Schumer, D-N.Y. …
Discussion:
Power Line and twitchy.com
Justin Wm. Moyer / Washington Post:
‘March For Our Lives’ gun-control rally bumped from Mall by ‘talent show’ … A planned rally against mass shootings can't be held on the Mall later this month because it conflicts with what's described in a National Park Service permit application as a “talent show.”
Discussion:
Washington Monthly and Daily Kos
Washington Post:
A Trump ally is likely to replace a career diplomat as U.S. ambassador, and Mexicans are worried … MEXICO CITY — The U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Roberta S. Jacobson, plans to leave her post this spring, a move that could further strain a rapidly deteriorating relationship between the two countries …
Discussion:
Washington Press and New York Times
Nicole Chavez / CNN:
Sen. Orrin Hatch calls Obamacare supporters ‘stupidest, dumbass people’ — (CNN)Sen. Orrin Hatch says supporters of the Affordable Care Act are the “stupidest, dumbass” people he's ever seen. — Speaking about the massive GOP tax overhaul at the American Enterprise Institute on Thursday …
Discussion:
Shareblue Media
New York Times:
How to Buy a Gun in 15 Countries — Many Americans can buy a gun in less than an hour. In some countries, the process takes months. Here are the basic steps for how most people buy a gun in 15 of them. Many countries have exceptions for specialized professions, and local laws vary.
Discussion:
Axios