Top Items:
Brittany Shammas / Miami New Times:
Trump's Acting Attorney General Was Part of Miami-Based Invention Scam Company … Today, President Donald Trump fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and announced that his chief of staff, Matthew Whitaker, would become acting attorney general. Whitaker is a former U.S. attorney in Iowa …
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money and Slate
RELATED:
Des Moines Register:
Matthew Whitaker's troubling opinion: Judges need a biblical view — Editor's note: This column was originally published on May 4, 2014. — “I'd like to see things like their world view, what informs them. Are they people of faith? Do they have a biblical view of justice?”
Discussion:
Raw Story
Natasha Bertrand / The Atlantic:
What Sessions's Resignation Means for Robert Mueller — President Donald Trump has forced out Attorney General Jeff Sessions just one day after the midterm elections and after nearly a year of berating him for recusing himself from the Justice Department's Russia investigation.
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNN, Bloomberg, NBC News, emptywheel, TIME and Rantt
New York Times:
Trump Installs a Critic of the Mueller Investigation to Oversee It — WASHINGTON — Matthew G. Whitaker, the attorney general's chief of staff, jockeyed over the last two months to replace his boss by forging a close relationship with the White House, where he was seen as a reliable political ally.
Discussion:
Axios, BuzzFeed News, Politico, Vox and Talking Points Memo
The Daily Beast:
Jeff Sessions' Replacement, Matthew Whitaker, Led Secretive Anti-Dem Group — Acting AG Matthew Whitaker ‘is on record as being more interested in propping up Trump than in upholding the rule of law,’ one Justice Department lawyer says. — Acting Attorney General Mark Whitaker …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Mediaite, Fox News, Talking Points Memo and New York Times
Michael Daly / The Daily Beast:
Matthew Whitaker, Acting Attorney General, Once Used His Justice Bona Fides to Tout ‘Scam’ Business — He said that ‘as a former US Attorney, I would only align myself with a first class organization.’ The FTC said its lies left ‘many customers in debt or losing their life savings.’
Lawfare:
Jeff Sessions's Firing, Matthew Whitaker's Rise and the Attorney General's Role In the Mueller Investigation — The firing of Jeff Sessions and his replacement on an interim basis by a man who has expressed open hostility to the Mueller investigation and in whose loyalty President Trump …
Discussion:
New York Magazine, CNN and Washington Examiner
Jon Swaine / The Guardian:
Trump's acting attorney general was part of firm US accused of vast scam
Trump's acting attorney general was part of firm US accused of vast scam
Discussion:
New Republic, Hot Air, Raw Story, Hill Reporter and Mediaite
Washington Post:
In Matthew Whitaker, Trump has a loyalist at the helm of the Justice Department
In Matthew Whitaker, Trump has a loyalist at the helm of the Justice Department
Discussion:
Salt Lake Tribune, Chicago Tribune, Associated Press and The Intercept
Darren Samuelsohn / Politico:
Mueller has powerful new House allies as he bears down on Trump
Mueller has powerful new House allies as he bears down on Trump
Discussion:
The Hill, Reuters, Breitbart, ABC News, Law & Crime, The Daily Beast, Hill Reporter, Raw Story and Washington Post
Allan Smith / NBC News:
All eyes are back on Mueller's investigation after the midterms
All eyes are back on Mueller's investigation after the midterms
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, AOL and The American Conservative
Chris Strohm / Bloomberg:
Sessions Is Forced Out After Months of Trump Abuse Over Mueller
Sessions Is Forced Out After Months of Trump Abuse Over Mueller
Discussion:
New York Times, The Atlantic, Weekly Standard, Conservative News Today, Joe.My.God., Deadspin, VICE News and Axios
Mollie Hemingway / The Federalist:
Incoming Democrat Chairman: Dems Will Go ‘All-In’ On Russia, Impeach Kavanaugh For ‘Perjury’ — Also laments that elite Republicans are joining Democrats. — Judiciary Committee ranking member Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., revealed plans for House Democrats to investigate …
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Washington in battle mode as Trump vows retaliation against Democratic probes — Washington plunged into political war on Wednesday in the wake of a split decision by voters in the midterm elections, with President Trump ousting his attorney general and threatening to retaliate against Democrats …
Annie Karni / Politico:
After Sessions, who will Trump dump next? — Attorney General Jeff Sessions may have been the first Trump Cabinet-level member purged in the wake of the midterm elections — but he is unlikely to be the last. — Several Trump Cabinet officials and senior aides are on the ropes and could be pushed …
Discussion:
Washington Post
Washington Post:
Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns at Trump's request
Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns at Trump's request
Discussion:
emptywheel, ThinkProgress, NPR, Daily Wire, Chicks On The Right, Weekly Standard, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Gateway Pundit, HuffPost, RedState, New Republic, Associated Press, Media Matters for America, KAJ-TV, The American Conservative, VICE News, Axios, Outside the Beltway, Washington Monthly and Booman Tribune
Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Trump's new acting attorney general once mused about defunding Robert Mueller
Trump's new acting attorney general once mused about defunding Robert Mueller
Discussion:
demwritepress.com, The Daily Caller, NBC News, New York Times, Bloomberg, Vox, Talking Points Memo, NPR, Breitbart, Mother Jones, CNBC, HuffPost, Media Matters for America, Boing Boing, The Week, Daily Kos, FiveThirtyEight, AOL and Politico
Gabriel Sherman / Vanity Fair:
“The President Is Very Depressed”: With Don Jr. Facing Possible Indictment, and Endless House Investigations Forthcoming, No Wonder Trump Is in a Bad Mood — He finally got rid of Jeff Sessions—but Donald Trump's life is about to get much harder. — BY - GABRIEL SHERMANNovember 7, 2018,
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE
RELATED:
Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
Donald Trump Jr. Expecting to Be Indicted by Mueller Soon — Last year, Donald Trump Jr. testified that he never informed his father of a meeting with Russian officials promising “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. It seemed hard to believe that the ne'er-do-well son would neglect to seek credit …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Sara A. Carter, Law & Crime, Hill Reporter, Mediaite, Shakesville, CNN and Politico
Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
Sessions might run for old Senate seat in Alabama
Sessions might run for old Senate seat in Alabama
Discussion:
Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit and Rewire.News
Kaelyn Forde / ABC News:
Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns at Trump's request
Attorney General Jeff Sessions resigns at Trump's request
Discussion:
CNN, Des Moines Register, ThinkProgress, The Moderate Voice, Washington Post, Breitbart, The Daily Signal, The Week, RedState and Politico
Brian Stelter / CNN:
White House pulls CNN's Jim Acosta's pass after contentious news conference — (CNN Business)Breaking news update: — In a stunning break with protocol, the White House said Wednesday night that it's suspending CNN chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta's hard pass “until further notice.”
RELATED:
BBC:
White House suspends credentials for CNN's Jim Acosta
White House suspends credentials for CNN's Jim Acosta
Discussion:
RedState, twitchy.com, Deadline and Townhall
Washington Post:
White House suspends press pass of CNN's Jim Acosta after his testy exchange with Trump
White House suspends press pass of CNN's Jim Acosta after his testy exchange with Trump
Discussion:
Townhall, ABC News, Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit, Shareblue Media and Patterico's Pontifications, more at Mediagazer »
CBS News:
Combative Trump brawls with media and slams his own party
Combative Trump brawls with media and slams his own party
Discussion:
The Hill, Rolling Stone, TVNewser, Breitbart, USA Today, NBC News, TheBlaze, Chicks On The Right, HuffPost, Mother Jones, Daily Wire and CBS Denver, more at Mediagazer »
Nate Cohn / New York Times:
Why Democrats' Gain Was More Impressive Than It Appears — They are poised to win more seats this year than they did in 2006, despite far fewer opportunities. — It wasn't necessarily the night of either party's dreams. The Democrats are poised to gain around 35 seats after Tuesday's elections.
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
RELATED:
The Daily Beast:
A White Nationalist Leader Just Posted Pics From His White House Visit — The Trump White House has yet to explain how Identity Evropa's Patrick Casey apparently ended up on the grounds. — The leader of a white nationalist group whose members marched in the 2017 white supremacist rally …
Peter Hasson / The Daily Caller:
A Mob Showed Up Outside Tucker Carlson's House And Ordered Him To ‘Leave Town’ — MEDIA — A left-wing mob showed up outside Fox News host Tucker Carlson's house Wednesday evening, posted pictures of his address online and demanded that he flee the city of Washington, D.C.
Discussion:
National Review, Townhall, twitchy.com, RT, Splinter, The Daily Signal, Daily Wire, TheBlaze and Mediaite
Keri Blakinger / Houston Chronicle:
Promise not to kill anyone? After losing election, TX judge wholesale releases juvenile defendants — After losing his bench in a Democratic sweep, Harris County Juvenile Court Judge Glenn Devlin released nearly all of the youthful defendants that appeared in front him on Wednesday morning …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Sun-Sentinel:
Broward still counting votes, but elections supervisor doesn't know how many are left — Republican Rick Scott declared victory in Florida's U.S. Senate race, but with a such a slim lead over incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, the race may be headed toward a recount. — South Florida Sun Sentinel
Discussion:
Orlando Sentinel
New York Times:
Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp in Standoff in Georgia Governor's Race — ATLANTA — The outcome of Georgia's acrimonious campaign for governor remained up in the air on Wednesday, after the counting of more than 3.9 million votes failed to show clearly whether Brian Kemp had defeated Stacey Abrams or whether a runoff would be required.
Discussion:
HuffPost, TIME, The Daily Caller and Washington Free Beacon
RELATED:
Arizona Republic:
Election Day in Arizona: Ballots are processed … With the U.S. Senate seat hanging in the balance, the Yuma, Navajo, Apache and Maricopa County Republican parties filed a lawsuit against all Arizona county recorders and the Secretary of State late Wednesday.
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and BuzzFeed News
The Daily Beast:
Former Rep. Steve Stockman Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison — Former Rep. Stephen Stockman (R-TX) was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday for orchestrating a scheme to defraud donors and using the money for personal and campaign use, according to a Justice Department press release.
Discussion:
U.S. Department of Justice
New York Times:
How the House Fell: Republican Chaos and Democratic Focus — The message from Representative Kevin McCarthy, the House majority leader, was urgent and unsparing. In a meeting with Republican lawmakers before they left Washington for the August congressional recess, Mr. McCarthy warned …
Wall Street Journal:
Google Plans Large New York City Expansion — Nears office property deal in Manhattan's West Village for enough space to multiply city workforce — Google is gearing up for an expansion of its New York City real estate that could add space for more than 12,000 new workers …
Discussion:
New York Times, more at Techmeme »
Will Oremus / Slate:
Why Social Media's Misinformation Problem Will Never Be Fixed — Facebook and others have gotten more serious about hoaxes, hate speech, propaganda, and foreign election interference. Here's how it helped in the midterms—and why they aren't going away. — On Facebook, right-wing hoaxes …
Discussion:
The Verge, more at Techmeme »
Luis Martinez / ABC News:
Post-Election Day, Pentagon drops name for border support mission — The day after a mid-term election in which President Trump played up the Pentagon's mission to provide logistical support along the southern border, the Pentagon said Wednesday it will no longer publicly refer to the mission as Operation Faithful Patriot.
Discussion:
Washington Times
Charlie Savage / New York Times:
Lasting Implications for the Courts as Republicans Gain in the Senate — WASHINGTON — Republicans' expansion of their Senate majority means that the conservative legal movement is poised to expand and entrench its influence over the federal courts, leaving Democrats with dwindling hopes …
Discussion:
National Review
Ben Schreckinger / Politico:
Beto's consolation prize: Running for president — Beto O'Rourke dodged a bullet. The Texas congressman came dangerously close to beating Ted Cruz on Tuesday. — Lest his groupies wallow for long in defeat, they should know there's a lot for them to like about his loss …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Jezebel and Real Clear Politics
Julia Manchester / The Hill:
‘None of the above’ tops list of potential 2020 Dems, poll shows — With the 2018 midterms in the rearview mirror, several Democrats are gearing up for the 2020 presidential contest. But so far, no Democrat has attracted broad support from the party's base, according to a new Hill.TV American Barometer poll.
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit
Anti-Defamation League:
How Extremist Candidates Fared in the Midterms — The 2018 midterms were not kind to most of the country's extremist and bigoted candidates, but a number of them did garner disturbingly high vote counts. More than 1.8 million Americans voted for known extremists and bigots who were running for national offices.
Discussion:
Algemeiner.com
BuzzFeed News:
Democrats See A 2020 Path In The Midwest With Amy Klobuchar And Sherrod Brown — Staring down statewide losses Tuesday from big progressive stars in Florida, Georgia, and Texas, Democrats are suddenly getting more excited about Midwesterners who might appeal to working class white voters in the 2020 presidential election.