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The FBI's revenge — Back in December, President Trump tweeted: “After years of Comey, with the phony and dishonest Clinton investigation (and more), running the FBI, its reputation is in Tatters - worst in History! But fear not, we will bring it back to greatness.”
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Trump doubles down on his attacks against “Slimeball” Comey's book — President Trump tweeted that former FBI director James Comey reopened the bureau's investigation into Hillary Clinton's emails because she led polling in October 2016, reiterating prior statements from the White House and the RNC.
Discussion:
Mother Jones, Bloomberg, Breitbart and Associated Press



‘This Week’ Transcript 4-15-18: James Comey interview clips, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller

Trump rips ‘slimeball’ Comey: He made decisions based on the fact he thought Clinton would win
Discussion:
CNN, RedState, Fox News and Washington Post



Prominent Lawyer in Fight for Gay Rights Dies After Setting Himself on Fire in Prospect Park — A lawyer nationally known for being a champion of gay rights died after setting himself on fire in Prospect Park in Brooklyn early Saturday morning and leaving a note exhorting people …
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Famed gay rights lawyer sets himself on fire at Prospect Park in protest suicide against fossil fuels — A nationally known advocate for gay rights and the environment died Saturday in a fiery Prospect Park suicide, with his self-immolation meant as a wake-up call to save the planet.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Associated Press, The Daily Caller, Townhall and The Right Scoop


A Famous LGBT Rights Lawyer Set Himself On Fire In New York As A “Protest Suicide” — David Buckel reportedly set fire to himself to protest against fossil fuels. — A famed LGBT rights lawyer was found dead in Brooklyn's Prospect Park early Saturday morning, having reportedly set himself on fire in protest against fossil fuels.


A Day After U.S. Airstrikes in Syria, Assad Launches New Onslaught Against Rebels — Syria's civil war grinded on with Mr. Assad's forces moving against areas outside regime control — BEIRUT—Syrian armed forces on Sunday unleashed airstrikes against rebels and shelled what rescue workers …
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Trump tries to appear strong in Syria even as he plans to withdraw
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon and TheBlaze

In Moscow, a Sense of Relief After a Limited Syria Attack
Discussion:
Washington Post, RT, The Mahablog, New York Magazine, Mother Jones, IJR, Jamie Dupree - AJC, Slate, President of Russia and The Atlantic

‘Big price to pay’: Inside Trump's decision to bomb Syria
Discussion:
Conservative News Today, The Daily Caller, Daily Kos and The Moderate Voice

‘Mission Accomplished!’ But What Is the Mission in Syria?
Discussion:
New Republic, Politico, ThinkProgress, The Daily Caller, Mediaite and POLITICUSUSA


Michael Cohen and the End Stage of the Trump Presidency — On May 1, 2003, the day President George W. Bush landed on the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln in front of the massive “Mission Accomplished” sign, I was in Baghdad performing what had become a daily ritual.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, emptywheel, Washington Monthly, CANNONFIRE, Raw Story, Business Insider and Politico

Starbucks ceo: Reprehensible outcome in Philadelphia incident — Dear Starbucks Partners and Customers: — By now, you may be aware of a disheartening situation in one of our Philadelphia-area stores this past Thursday, that led to a reprehensible outcome. — I'm writing this evening to convey three things:
Discussion:
The Root, twitchy.com, abc7ny.com, CBS Philly and Splinter
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Video of two black men being removed from a Philadelphia Starbucks draws outrage, investigation
Discussion:
CNN, Breitbart, fox8.com, NPR, Associated Press, BuzzFeed, CBS Los Angeles, Bustle, NBC News, ThinkProgress, The Week, CBS Philly, The Root, Mashable, Washington Press, Vox, bet.com, theGrio, abc7ny.com, Raw Story and Snopes.com


Trump hits highest approval in a year, but 68 percent of women dislike him personally — The thriving economy looks to be bolstering Donald Trump's approval rating — but his personal unpopularity, especially among women, may be putting a ceiling on it. — The president remains poorly rated overall …
Discussion:
Axios, Bloomberg, Political Wire and BloombergQuint
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Trump's approval rating is back near first-100-day levels
Discussion:
NY State of Politics


On The Deficit, GOP Has Been Playing Us All For Suckers — To say we're all being played by House and Senate Republicans and the Trump administration when it comes to the deficit is my polite way of saying that the GOP is operating the federal equivalent of a huge budget bunco game.


Poll shows Democrats have midterm intensity advantage, but no ‘knockout’ yet — WASHINGTON — An advantage in intensity — against President Donald Trump and for voting in November — is fueling Democrats ahead of the midterm elections that take place more than six months from now …
Discussion:
Political Wire
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More popular vote-electoral college splits may be in our future
Discussion:
Bipartisan Policy Center


Anne Frank House banned Orthodox Jewish employee from wearing his skullcap at work — A Jewish employee at Anne Frank House could not believe his ears when his bosses banned him from wearing a skullcap at work. — Barry Vingerling turned up for work on his first day at the museum in Amsterdam and was told to take off his ‘yarmulke’.
Discussion:
Bookworm Room and Front Page Magazine


Stormy Daniels expected to appear at Michael Cohen's hearing Monday — Stormy Daniel's lawyer announced a likely upcoming appearance by the porn actress—at a hearing for President Trump's attorney Michael Cohen Monday. — Michael Avenatti teased Daniel's probable presence at the hearing related …
Discussion:
twitchy.com


A $76,000 Monthly Pension: Why States and Cities Are Short on Cash — Governments are struggling as mounting pension obligations crowd out the rest of their budgets. Oregon faces a severe, self-inflicted crisis. — A public university president in Oregon gives new meaning to the idea of a pensioner.


Eric Garcetti, presidential long shot, journeys to Iowa, the land of dreams — Iowa grows corn, raises hogs and nurtures presidential dreams. — The state launched two exceeding long shots, Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama, to the White House, giving each a look and listen …


Duke student protesters interrupt school president's speech, get booed off stage — Protesters at Duke University crashed President Vincent Price's (no, not him) address to alumni earlier today to demand, The Chronicle reports, “institutional change in labor practices and student support, among other areas.”
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion


Syria action - UK government legal position — This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open- government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team …
Discussion:
The American Conservative, The Guardian, Vox, Coffee House, RT, Lawfare and CNN
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Briefing by Secretary Mattis on U.S. Strikes in Syria
Discussion:
The Guardian, RedState, Lawfare and RT