Top Items:
Chris Geidner / BuzzFeed:
Trump Jr. And Emin Agalarov Stayed In Touch Throughout The Transition — From phone calls and text messages to “an expensive painting” that Aras Agalarov gave Donald Trump for his birthday in 2016, the two families were in regular communication before and after the Trump Tower meeting — and during the transition.
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Jeremy Herb / CNN:
Russians reached out to Trump team about Magnitsky Act sanctions after election, Democrats say — Who is Russian lawyer Natalia Veselnitskaya? — (CNN)The Russian oligarch and Russian lawyer who were key players in the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting reached out to Trump's team after Donald Trump …
Washington Post:
The new House GOP report on Russia is revealing. But not in a good way for Trump.
The new House GOP report on Russia is revealing. But not in a good way for Trump.
Discussion:
Washington Press, Hullabaloo, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo and The Week
John Bowden / The Hill:
Russian from Trump Tower meeting: ‘I am a lawyer, and I am an informant’
Russian from Trump Tower meeting: ‘I am a lawyer, and I am an informant’
Discussion:
Raw Story, The Resurgent, HuffPost, Mother Jones and Washington Monthly
Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:
‘Mass firing’ at conservative site RedState — Salem Media, owner of the influential conservative outlet RedState, froze the site on Friday and dismissed many of its writers. — Bloggers were locked out of their accounts — some just temporarily, while the cuts were made, and others permanently.
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Andrew Kirell / The Daily Beast:
Conservative Site RedState ‘Purges’ Anti-Trump Voices, Fired Writers Say
Conservative Site RedState ‘Purges’ Anti-Trump Voices, Fired Writers Say
Discussion:
Patterico's Pontifications and Joe.My.God.
Erick Erickson / The Resurgent:
RedState Is No More — RedState's owners have engaged in a mass purge of talent.
RedState Is No More — RedState's owners have engaged in a mass purge of talent.
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money
Anne Gearan / Washington Post:
Trump rebrands diplomatic norms as events in Asia, Europe and elsewhere spin on his axis — President Trump on Friday placed himself at the center of the remarkable summit between the leaders of North and South Korea, taking credit for bold and innovative diplomacy that may open a path to peace where other leaders failed.
Discussion:
One America News Network, Axios and ABC News
RELATED:
Max Boot / Washington Post:
Don't let the Korea summit hype fool you. We've been here before. … The meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea was acclaimed as “historic.” The two leaders hugged, “smiled broadly, shook each other's hand vigorously and toasted each other with glasses of champagne.”
Discussion:
New York Times, CNN and The Atlantic
David E. Sanger / New York Times:
Koreans Set the Table for a Deal That Trump Will Try to Close
Koreans Set the Table for a Deal That Trump Will Try to Close
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway
Conor Finnegan / ABC News:
Pompeo says Kim Jong Un ‘serious’ about nuclear talks
Pompeo says Kim Jong Un ‘serious’ about nuclear talks
Discussion:
One America News Network
Alexander Mallin / ABC News:
President Trump won't say if he's talked with Kim Jong Un
President Trump won't say if he's talked with Kim Jong Un
Discussion:
Associated Press, Breitbart, One America News Network, Axios and The Hill
Washington Post:
White House: No evidence that Ronny Jackson ‘wrecked’ a vehicle as president's physician … The White House on Friday said officials had conducted a thorough review of presidential physician Ronny L. Jackson's vehicle records and found three minor incidents but no evidence that he “wrecked” …
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Associated Press:
White House: Records dispute allegations against Jackson — WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Friday that internal records raise doubt about some of the most serious allegations leveled against White House doctor Ronny Jackson in his failed bid to become the next secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Discussion:
twitchy.com
Gabriel Sherman / Vanity Fair:
“They're Looking for a Place for Kelly to Land That Won't Be Embarrassing for Him” …
“They're Looking for a Place for Kelly to Land That Won't Be Embarrassing for Him” …
Rachel Dicker / Mediaite:
Secret Service Disputes Allegation That Ronny Jackson Banged on Female Colleague's Door
Secret Service Disputes Allegation That Ronny Jackson Banged on Female Colleague's Door
Discussion:
Duffel Blog, Townhall and ABC News
Sara Murray / CNN:
Exclusive: NRA gathers documents amid scrutiny over ties to Kremlin-linked banker — Washington (CNN)The National Rifle Association is setting aside years of documents related to its interactions with a Kremlin-linked banker, as the gun-rights group appears to be bracing for a possible investigation …
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, Shareblue Media and Raw Story
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The Daily Beast:
Michael Flynn and Son Met With Russia Ambassador Before RT Gala
Michael Flynn and Son Met With Russia Ambassador Before RT Gala
Discussion:
Breitbart
Mark Mazzetti / New York Times:
Manafort's Lawsuit Taking Aim at Mueller Is Tossed Out of Court
Manafort's Lawsuit Taking Aim at Mueller Is Tossed Out of Court
Discussion:
Breitbart, Washington Examiner, 21st Century Wire and HuffPost
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Court grants 90-day delay in Stormy Daniels' suit against Trump — A lawsuit filed by an adult-film actress over an alleged “hush money” deal with President Donald Trump and his attorney Michael Cohen will be put on hold for three months because of a criminal investigation Cohen is facing, a federal judge ruled on Friday.
Discussion:
New York Times, Law & Crime, Washington Press, The Daily Caller and Political Wire
RELATED:
Beth Reinhard / Washington Post:
Judge puts Stormy Daniels case on hold for 90 days, citing likelihood Michael Cohen will be indicted
Judge puts Stormy Daniels case on hold for 90 days, citing likelihood Michael Cohen will be indicted
Discussion:
Politico
William Saletan / Slate:
Stop Talking About Race and IQ — The race-and-IQ debate is back. The latest round started a few weeks ago when Harvard geneticist David Reich wrote a New York Times op-ed in defense of race as a biological fact. The piece resurfaced Sam Harris' year-old Waking Up podcast interview with Charles Murray …
Casey Michel / ThinkProgress:
Jill Stein says she won't fully comply with Senate Russia investigation — After months of silence, Stein says she will withhold information from Congress. — Jill Stein ended months of silence and speculation about her role in the ongoing investigation into Russian interference …
Discussion:
Jill Stein and Political Wire
Congressman Patrick Meehan:
Congressman Meehan Announces Resignation — Representative Patrick Meehan (R-PA) today transmitted a letter of resignation to Governor Tom Wolf and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan effective Friday, April 27, 2018. Representative Meehan had previously announced he would not seek re-election …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Guardian, Roll Call, HuffPost, TheBlaze, MSNBC, IJR, The Hill, Philly.com, Raw Story, The Daily Beast, Shareblue Media, Joe.My.God., Political Wire and Talking Points Memo
RELATED:
Mike DeBonis / Washington Post:
GOP Rep. Patrick Meehan resigns from Congress amid ethics probe
GOP Rep. Patrick Meehan resigns from Congress amid ethics probe
Discussion:
Roll Call
Indianapolis Star:
Rokita, Messer deny wrongdoing in possible straw donor scheme — Three Indiana members of Congress gave and received money from Ohio Rep. Jim Renacci in what experts said may have been an improper straw donor scheme — including two Indiana congressmen running for the U.S. Senate.
Jon Swaine / The Guardian:
Sean Hannity: 400% rise in eviction orders since host bought Georgia apartment complex — Records show 61 different residents have received notice to vacate their homes in Perry complex since Hannity took over in 2014 — The number of eviction orders obtained against tenants …
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Jason Rezaian / Washington Post:
Congress makes a long-overdue move to punish Iran's hostage-takers … “Now is the day of reckoning for the Iranian regime,” Rep. Ted Poe (R-Tex.) said on Wednesday. “That's just the way it is.” — Poe was speaking on the floor of a mostly empty House during the introduction …
Marisa Guthrie / Hollywood Reporter:
Tom Brokaw Rips “Sensational” Accuser Claims: I Was “Ambushed and Then Perp Walked” — The revered NBC News anchor accused of unwanted advances pens a strenuous denial and defense of his legacy. — Tom Brokaw, the NBC News anchor who has served as a distinguished anchor emeritus since stepping …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Mediaite, twitchy.com, Instapundit, ThinkProgress, The Root, HuffPost, Media Matters for America, Hot Air, Law & Crime, Washington Free Beacon, TheBlaze, AOL, Splinter, CBS San Francisco, WTVR-TV, Front Page Magazine and Talking Points Memo, more at Mediagazer »
Jon Henley / The Guardian:
Brigitte Macron lauds ‘really fun’ Melania Trump - but says 'she can't go outside' — French first lady tells Le Monde her US counterpart is ‘kind, charming’ and excellent company, but is constrained by her role in Washington — Far from the stern, even glum image she presents to the public …
Discussion:
Raw Story, HuffPost and The Daily Caller
Sean Davis / The Federalist:
Declassified Congressional Report: James Clapper Lied About Dossier Leaks To CNN — Buried within a newly declassified congressional report on Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. elections is a shocking revelation: former Director of National Intelligence (DNI) James Clapper not only leaked information …
Discussion:
Sara A. Carter, Townhall, Conservative Review, Daily Wire, Sean Hannity and Power Line
RELATED:
John Sexton / Hot Air:
Clapper Leaked The Dossier To CNN After Ordering Comey To Brief Trump (Update: Clapper Hired By CNN)
Clapper Leaked The Dossier To CNN After Ordering Comey To Brief Trump (Update: Clapper Hired By CNN)
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and Power Line
Alex Kantrowitz / BuzzFeed:
Real People Are Turning Their Accounts Into Bots On Instagram — And Cashing In — In late February, an Instagram account called Viral Hippo posted a photo of a black square. There was nothing special about the photo, or the square, and certainly not the account that posted it.