Top Items:
New York Times:
Trump Pushes for Interview With Mueller Against Lawyers' Advice — WASHINGTON — President Trump pushed his lawyers in recent days to try once again to reach an agreement with the special counsel's office about him sitting for an interview, flouting their advice that he should not answer …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, vagazette.com, USA Today, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos, CNBC, The Daily Caller, Outside the Beltway, CNN, Washington Times, Washington Post, HuffPost, Raw Story, The Week, ABC News, demwritepress.com, CBS Pittsburgh, The Gateway Pundit, New Republic, Mediaite, Sputnik International, TheBlaze, IJR, Mother Jones, Weekly Standard and Political Wire
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Politico:
POLITICO Playbook: Trump mulls a pre-election shutdown with Rush, and a pre-election anti-Pelosi ad — DRIVING THE DAY — SIREN ... REPUBLICANS are becoming increasingly concerned that they will lose the special election in Ohio's 12th congressional district, which would be a horrible sign for their election prospects this fall.
Discussion:
Monmouth University …, Talking Points Memo and Wall Street Journal
John Santucci / ABC News:
Special counsel Mueller wants to ask Trump about obstruction of justice: Sources — Special Counsel Robert Mueller's office wants to ask President Donald Trump about obstruction of justice, sources close to the White House tell ABC News. According to sources, the president learned within …
Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Why Trump is so freaked out by the Manafort trial — The Post reports: … Wednesday morning Trump freaked out in a series of tweets: … For all the talk from Trump defenders and even some in the mainstream media that the Manafort trial has nothing to do with Trump, Trump plainly feels differently.
Discussion:
Sputnik International, Lawfare and CBS Denver
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Trump's lawyers fear a Mueller interview. The reason reveals the danger Trump faces. — THE MORNING PLUM: — President Trump's ongoing interactions with special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's investigation are proceeding on two very different tracks. Even as Trump projects feigned confidence …
New York Times:
Mueller's Digging Exposes Culture of Foreign Lobbying and Its Big Paydays
Mueller's Digging Exposes Culture of Foreign Lobbying and Its Big Paydays
Discussion:
First Draft
Dartunorro Clark / NBC News:
Trump calls on Sessions to end Mueller investigation ‘right now’
Trump calls on Sessions to end Mueller investigation ‘right now’
Discussion:
Townhall and One America News Network
Axios:
Ivanka says family separation was White House “low point” — Ivanka Trump said during an Axios interview on Thursday that she agrees with White House colleagues who describe family separation as “a low point in the White House”: — “That was a low point for me as well.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Politico, Associated Press, CNN, Splinter and Refinery29
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Axios:
Ivanka breaks with her dad on media as “enemy of the people” — Ivanka Trump said at an Axios event on Thursday that she doesn't view the media as the “enemy of the people,” breaking with President Trump's repeated public statements. — Why it matters: Ivanka noted that she herself …
Discussion:
Daily Wire
Coral Davenport / New York Times:
Trump Unveils His Plan to Weaken Fuel Economy Rules — Want the latest climate news in your inbox? You can sign up here to receive Climate Fwd:, our email newsletter. — WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday formally announced its long-awaited proposal to dramatically weaken …
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Emily Williams / BostonGlobe.com:
A black Smith College student was eating her lunch when an employee called police — The rising sophomore at Smith College was quietly eating her lunch in a campus common room when a police officer approached her Tuesday afternoon. — A college employee had called police to report someone who …
Heidi Przybyla / NBC News:
Trump's undermining of Obamacare violates the Constitution, new lawsuit charges — Four cities are charging that the president is failing to execute the law by actively undercutting the Affordable Care Act. — WASHINGTON — After congressional Republicans repeatedly failed last year …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Hill Reporter
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Franklin Foer / The Atlantic:
A Hell of a Performance by Paul Manafort — Paul Manafort lumbered into the courtroom, his movements as stiff as you would expect of a man who now sleeps on a concrete bed. Over the years, Manafort constantly explored novel methods for preserving his youth, for tending to the details of his appearance.
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A.J. Katz / TVNewser:
Here Are the Cable News Morning Show Ratings for July 2018 — TVNewser has received a number of emails lately asking for a break down of cable news morning show ratings, specifically for 6-9 a.m. ET shows. — Ask, and you shall receive. At least for the month of July. Will we do more of these?
Discussion:
Mediaite, Washington Post, Washington Times, The Daily Caller and Daily Wire
Kristen Young / capecodtimes.com:
Woman accused of hitting car in Hyannis after confrontation over bumper sticker — Tuesday — BARNSTABLE — A Taunton woman accused of intentionally driving into a man's car a month ago after becoming enraged by a Trump bumper sticker pleaded not guilty Monday in Barnstable District Court …
Discussion:
TheBlaze, Raw Story and CBS Boston
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Elizabeth Zwirz / Fox News:
Massachusetts woman enraged by Trump bumper sticker intentionally rammed into car, police say
Massachusetts woman enraged by Trump bumper sticker intentionally rammed into car, police say
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit and PJ Media Home
Elisabetta Povoledo / New York Times:
Pope Declares Death Penalty Inadmissible in All Cases — ROME — Pope Francis has declared the death penalty inadmissible in all cases “because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person,” the Vatican announced on Thursday, in a shift in Roman Catholic teaching on the issue.
Discussion:
New Republic, Associated Press, USA Today, Hit & Run, Common Dreams, Friendly Atheist, VICE News and CNN
Lisa Blatt / Politico:
I'm a Liberal Feminist Lawyer. Here's Why Democrats Should Support Judge Kavanaugh. — Sometimes a superstar is just a superstar. That is the case with Judge Brett Kavanaugh, who had long been considered the most qualified nominee for the Supreme Court if Republicans secured the White House.
Discussion:
National Review, The Daily Beast and Reason
Katie Rogers / New York Times:
Trump Says You Need an ID to Buy Groceries. Shoppers Say, ‘Huh?’ — WASHINGTON — Just when it seemed like Tuesday's “Make America Great Again” rally in Florida would end with the typical punch list — Democrats, journalists, immigrants — President Trump added new spice …
Discussion:
Washington Post and No More Mister Nice Blog
Manu Raju / CNN:
Senators: Trump ‘not paying attention’ to Russian threats in 2018 — Ex-White House staffer: Midterms are target — (CNN)Two leading senators are asserting that President Donald Trump has not focused on the clear threat the Kremlin poses in the 2018 elections, with one Republican …
Discussion:
Gizmodo
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Corky Siemaszko / NBC News:
Former Ohio State wrestling coach urged Rep. Jim Jordan's accusers to recant, texts show — Former coach Russ Hellickson told wrestlers he could help them release a statement in support of Jordan, according to texts shared with NBC News. — Retired Ohio State wrestling coach Russ Hellickson reached …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, Daily Kos, Roll Call, HuffPost, TheBlaze, The Week and POLITICUSUSA
David Goldman / CNNMoney:
Two recession warning signs are here — Economist: Housing weakness is a red flag — Housing and rates are worrying some economists that a recession is looming. — “One of the biggest concerns is the housing market,” said Lindsey Piegza, chief economist for Stifel, on CNNMoney's “Markets Now” live show Wednesday.
McClatchy Washington Bureau:
‘The Most Accurate Bellwether:’ GOP fears mount over Ohio special election — WASHINGTON — It's time for Republicans to start worrying again. — A special election next week in Ohio's 12th Congressional District is the last big electoral test before November's election …
Discussion:
Politico
Will Sommer / The Daily Beast:
QAnon, the Pro-Trump Conspiracy Theorists, Now Believe JFK Jr. Faked His Death to Become Their Leader … Believers in the bizarre pro-Trump conspiracy theory called QAnon were out in force at the president's rally in Tampa, Florida on Tuesday, waving signs and cut-outs of the letter “Q” in front of the television cameras.
Discussion:
NPR, CNN, Right Wing Watch and CANNONFIRE, more at Mediagazer »
Peter Nicholas / Wall Street Journal:
Pence Says Return of Soldiers' Remains Shows U.S. Progress on North Korea — Vice president credits Kim Jong Un with fulfilling a promise — HONOLULU—Vice President Mike Pence on Wednesday credited North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with fulfilling a promise to return the remains …
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, Associated Press, Talking Points Memo and IJR
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Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
The deep cynicism of Bernie Sanders's chief strategist — Tad Devine, during his run as chief strategist for the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign, railed against the corrupting influence of money in politics. — He repeatedly echoed the Sanders message that “our economy is rigged,” …
Discussion:
Shakesville, HuffPost, The Guardian and Axios
Fred Thys / WBUR:
WBUR Poll: Capuano Maintains 13-Point Lead Over Pressley — Ayanna Pressley has yet to make inroads into Rep. Michael Capuano's lead in the race for the Massachusetts 7th Congressional District. — That's the finding of a new WBUR poll (topline results, crosstabs) of registered voters likely to vote in the Democratic primary there.
Discussion:
Politico and Political Wire
Associated Press:
Donor helping fraudsters, offshore bettors backs Trump — NEW YORK (AP) — One customer was a debt collector that threatened to jail people if they didn't pay back loans that they never took out. Another was an offshore gambling operation that hid bets behind innocuous-sounding websites, including one dedicated to orange cats.
Bloomberg:
Google's Secret China Project Sparks Fury Among Workers — Some staff criticize plans to build China ‘censorship engine’ — Search app fits with CEO strategy to make Google truly global — Google staff awoke on Wednesday to surprising news: Their company is working on a search app tailored, and censored, for China.
Michael F. Cannon / Washington Examiner:
Obamacare is now optional — At long last, the Trump administration has created a “freedom option” for people suffering under Obamacare. A final rulemaking issued Wednesday reverses an Obama-era regulation that exposed the sick to medical underwriting. The new rule will expand consumer protections …