Top Items:
Michiko Kakutani / New York Times:
James Comey Has a Story to Tell. It's Very Persuasive. — Truth, Lies, and Leadership — 290 pages. Flatiron Books. $29.99. — In his absorbing new book, “A Higher Loyalty,” the former F.B.I. director James B. Comey calls the Trump presidency a “forest fire” …
Discussion:
Mother Jones, twitchy.com, Raw Story, The Gateway Pundit and New York Post
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Washington Post:
Trump's allies worry that federal investigators may have seized recordings made by his attorney … President Trump's personal attorney Michael D. Cohen sometimes taped conversations with associates, according to three people familiar with his practice, and allies of the president are worried …
Discussion:
Splinter, Bipartisan Report, HuffPost, Washington Press, Daily Kos, AOL, Raw Story, Balloon Juice, Hot Air, The Week, Mediaite, Hullabaloo and Political Wire
Ruth Brown / New York Post:
Comey: Trump asked me to investigate ‘pee tape’ to reassure Melania — President Trump wanted James Comey to investigate the infamous “pee tape” allegations — to reassure Melania that he hadn't actually paid Russian hookers to urinate on a hotel bed, the former FBI chief claims in his upcoming book.
Philip Rucker / Washington Post:
James Comey's memoir: Trump fixates on proving lewd dossier allegations false … The nation's intelligence chiefs had just finished briefing Donald Trump on Russia's interference in the 2016 election when FBI Director James B. Comey stayed behind to discuss some especially sensitive material …
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, HuffPost, The American Conservative, CNBC, Washington Press, Daily Kos, Bustle, Law & Crime, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Week, Mother Jones and Mediaite
Associated Press:
In new book, Comey says Trump ‘untethered to truth’ — WASHINGTON (AP) — Former FBI Director James Comey blasts President Donald Trump as unethical and “untethered to truth” and calls his leadership of the country “ego driven and about personal loyalty” in a forthcoming book.
CNN:
FBI may have seized recorded conversations from Trump's attorney — Washington (CNN)Donald Trump's personal attorney often recorded telephone conversations both before and during the 2016 presidential campaign that likely have been scooped up in the FBI raid on attorney Michael Cohen's apartment …
The Daily Beast:
James Comey: John Kelly Called Trump ‘Dishonorable’ for Firing Me … Within minutes of his firing in May, former FBI Director James Comey received a call from John Kelly, then the head of the Department of Homeland Security and now the White House chief of staff.
Discussion:
Washington Press, Daily Wire, Vox, The Daily Caller, Fox News, Axios, Washington Post, Talking Points Memo, New Republic, ABC News and twitchy.com
Rick Klein / ABC News:
Comey book claims President Trump sought loyalty like mafia boss ‘Sammy the Bull’
Comey book claims President Trump sought loyalty like mafia boss ‘Sammy the Bull’
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Bipartisan Report, HuffPost, Raw Story, NewsBusters and Mediaite
Jen Kirby / Vox:
5 eye-popping revelations from James Comey's book excerpts
5 eye-popping revelations from James Comey's book excerpts
Discussion:
Bustle, Joe.My.God. and The Week
Washington Post:
FBI raid sought Trump lawyer's communications with bank that loaned him money against his taxi business
FBI raid sought Trump lawyer's communications with bank that loaned him money against his taxi business
Discussion:
POLITICUSUSA, Talking Points Memo and Washington Press
NBC News:
Trump, Mueller teams prepare to move forward without presidential interview — WASHINGTON — Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office and President Donald Trump's legal team are now proceeding with strategies that presume a presidential interview will likely not take place as part of the Russia investigation …
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CNN:
White House is prepping an effort to undermine Rosenstein — Washington (CNN)The White House is preparing talking points designed to undermine Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's credibility, according to sources familiar with the plan. — The plan calls on President Donald Trump's allies …
Discussion:
Lawfare, USA Today, Fox News Insider, Fox News, ABC News, Bipartisan Report, New York Times, POLITICUSUSA, Above the Law, Breitbart, Media Matters for America, Politico, Washington Post, ThinkProgress, Washington Monthly, Daily Kos, AOL, The Daily Caller, Hot Air, Raw Story, HuffPost, Bloomberg, Political Wire, Washington Times, Common Dreams, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, Talking Points Memo and Mother Jones
David Priess / Lawfare:
What I Learned From Briefing Robert Mueller — When Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein appointed former FBI Director Bob Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russian election interference, I found myself neither surprised that Mueller had been tapped nor shocked when he accepted the call to duty.
Ryan Struyk / CNN:
Republican voters are turning against the Mueller probe
Republican voters are turning against the Mueller probe
Discussion:
ThinkProgress
Benjamin Wittes / The Atlantic:
The Principle of Professional Law Enforcement Is Now on the Line
The Principle of Professional Law Enforcement Is Now on the Line
Discussion:
The Daily Beast and CNN
Caroline Orr / Shareblue Media:
Mueller has the goods on Trump's 4 potential acts of obstruction
Mueller has the goods on Trump's 4 potential acts of obstruction
Discussion:
Washington Press
Jonathan Karl / ABC News:
President Trump poised to pardon Scooter Libby, Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, sources say — President Donald Trump is poised to pardon Scooter J. Libby, the former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, according to sources familiar with the president's thinking.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, IJR, NBC News, Political Wire, The Daily Caller, The Week, Mediaite, Daily Kos, Boing Boing, Washington Times and WGN-TV
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New York Times:
Trump Plans to Pardon Scooter Libby — WASHINGTON — President Trump plans to pardon I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby Jr., who as chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney was convicted of perjury in connection with the leak of a C.I.A. officer's identity, a person familiar with the decision said on Thursday.
Discussion:
Chicago Sun-Times
Eric Lipton / New York Times:
Lawmakers' Letter Claims Further Spending Abuses by the E.P.A. Head, Scott Pruitt — WASHINGTON — Scott Pruitt, the Environmental Protection Agency administrator, insisted on staying in luxury hotels that were costlier than allowed by government standards, while also pushing to fly on an airline …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, BuzzFeed, Vox, Shareblue Media, Washington Press, Friendly Atheist, The Week, ProPublica, The Daily Caller and Mediaite
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Michael D. Shear / New York Times:
Trump, Having Denounced Amazon's Shipping Deal, Orders Review of Postal Service — WASHINGTON — President Trump abruptly issued an executive order on Thursday demanding an evaluation of the Postal Service's finances, asserting the power of his office weeks after accusing Amazon …
Discussion:
Mediaite and Washington Times
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Ana Swanson / New York Times:
Trump Reverses Course and Proposes Rejoining Trans-Pacific Partnership — WASHINGTON — President Trump, in a stunning reversal, told a gathering of farm state lawmakers and governors on Thursday morning that he was directing his advisers to look into rejoining the multicountry trade deal known …
Discussion:
National Review, Common Dreams, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, Daily Wire, Outside the Beltway and Mother Jones
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Zeeshan Aleem / Vox:
Trump is desperately looking for ways to save farmers from his trade war with China
Trump is desperately looking for ways to save farmers from his trade war with China
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Senator Ben Sasse and One America News Network
Greg Price / Newsweek:
Trump had affair with housekeeper that produced a child, former doorman claims — President Donald Trump had a relationship with a former housekeeper that produced a child, a former Trump World Tower doorman claimed in a statement released Thursday afternoon.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Bipartisan Report, New York Times, Politico, New Yorker, CNNMoney, VICE News, Daily Kos and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
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New York Daily News:
Ex-wife of former Trump building doorman who claimed the President has a love child says he's a liar — The former Trump building doorman who claimed he heard the President has a love child is “a pathological liar,” his ex-wife told the Daily News. — “He's infamous for making up stories …
Discussion:
The Hill, Bustle, Hot Air, Washington Times, twitchy.com, The Root, Daily Wire, Splinter, Vox and The Gateway Pundit, more at Mediagazer »
Andrew Kirell / The Daily Beast:
Diamond & Silk Claim Facebook Never Contacted Them. Facebook Emails Prove Otherwise. … Pro-Trump vloggers Diamond & Silk found themselves the center of two high-profile congressional hearings this week lawmakers obsessed over claims the duo were “censored” by Facebook.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Mediaite, Media Matters for America and VICE News
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Judd Legum / ThinkProgress:
Diamond and Silk's Facebook censorship claim is a hoax
Diamond and Silk's Facebook censorship claim is a hoax
Discussion:
Media Matters for America, Washington Post, HuffPost, Mediaite and twitchy.com, more at Mediagazer »
Washington Post:
Confirm Mike Pompeo — MIKE POMPEO'S confirmation hearing to become secretary of state arrived at a moment when the Trump administration is grappling with a chaotic confluence of actual and looming foreign crises — including some of its own making. President Trump is contemplating military strikes …
Discussion:
The Hill, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Breitbart, Bustle, The Atlantic, USA Today, The Daily Beast, New Republic, VICE News and Politico
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Caroline Orr / Shareblue Media:
CIA director can't remember if Trump asked him to obstruct Russia probe
CIA director can't remember if Trump asked him to obstruct Russia probe
Discussion:
Washington Post, HuffPost, Crooked Media, Mother Jones and CNN
Emma Platoff / The Texas Tribune:
Former Texas Congressman Steve Stockman found guilty of 23 felonies — A federal jury in Houston has ruled that Steve Stockman, a conservative former Texas congressman, is guilty of all but one charge in his federal fraud trial. — Steve Stockman, a former Texas congressman …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, RedState, Booman Tribune, TheBlaze, Raw Story, Washington Monthly, Joe.My.God., Roll Call and Political Wire
CBS Los Angeles:
Proposal To Break California Into 3 States Could Make November Ballot — LOS ANGELES (CBSLA) — Voters could get a chance to decide whether California should be split into three states this November. — Venture capitalist Tim Draper, who authored an initiative to break up the Golden State …
Discussion:
Fox News Insider, The Right Scoop, Louder With Crowder and Daily Wire
James Oliver Cury / Hollywood Reporter:
Charlie Rose's Life Now: “Broken,” “Brilliant” and “Lonely” — Before the devastating allegations of sexual misconduct hit, Rose was a legendary man-about-town. Now, the former CBS and PBS star, one of TV's most feted journalists, is hiding out on Long Island with occasional …
Discussion:
Mediaite
Fox News:
Biblical prophecy claims the Rapture is coming April 23, numerologist says — Is the Rapture finally here? One Christian numerologist says a biblical sign strongly suggests it. — David Meade tells the U.K.'s Daily Express newspaper that on April 23, the sun and moon will be in Virgo, as will Jupiter, which represents the Messiah.
Discussion:
Sploid, Mashable, Faithwire, BGR, Friendly Atheist, CBS Philly and AOL
Brian Slodysko / Associated Press:
APNewsBreak: Indiana GOP locked candidate out of database — INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Senate candidate Todd Rokita likely violated ethics laws as Indiana's secretary of state by repeatedly accessing a Republican donor database from his government office, prompting party officials to lock …
Discussion:
Political Wire
Craig Silverman / BuzzFeed:
How YouTube's Channel Recommendations Push Users To The Fringe — Researchers followed YouTube's channel recommendations wherever they led and often found Alex Jones and other fringe channels. “Within the political communities, Alex Jones' channel is one of the most recommended ones,” they said.
Ed Pilkington / The Guardian:
Revealed: Secret rightwing strategy to discredit teacher strikes … A nationwide network of rightwing thinktanks is launching a PR counteroffensive against the teachers' strikes that are sweeping the country, circulating a “messaging guide” for anti-union activists that portrays the walkouts …
Discussion:
Common Dreams and Splinter
Joseph Cox / Motherboard:
Cops Around the Country Can Now Unlock iPhones, Records Show — A Motherboard investigation has found that law enforcement agencies across the country have purchased GrayKey, a relatively cheap tool for bypassing the encryption on iPhones, while the FBI pushes again for encryption backdoors.
Discussion:
Mashable, The Week and 9to5Mac, more at Techmeme »