Top Items:
Wall Street Journal:
FBI Is Investigating Florida Company Where Whitaker Was Advisory-Board Member — Active case is being handled by FBI Miami office; acting attorney general oversees FBI — The Federal Bureau of Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation of a Florida company accused of scamming millions …
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CNN:
Sessions realized too late that Whitaker was auditioning for his job — Washington (CNN)When things were particularly bad between President Donald Trump and Jeff Sessions, the attorney general's chief of staff, Matt Whitaker, would attend White House meetings in his place.
Discussion:
Law & Crime, Daily Kos and Raw Story
Andrew Kaczynski / CNN:
Whitaker said he supports state's rights to nullify federal law — (CNN)Matthew Whitaker, the new acting attorney general, has said that states have the right to nullify federal law, but that they need the political courage to do so. — Whitaker, whom President Donald Trump announced …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Murray Waas / Vox:
Exclusive: Trump loyalist Matthew Whitaker was counseling the White House on investigating Clinton — Whitaker advised the president on launching a new special counsel while working as chief of staff for Attorney General Jeff Sessions. — Matthew Whitaker, whom President Donald Trump named …
Discussion:
The Week, Washington Post, Hudson County View, Lawfare, Politico, Mashable, Hullabaloo, Salon, New Republic, Bloomberg, IJR, Raw Story, New York Times and Splinter
Erin Banco / The Daily Beast:
'He's a F*cking Fool': Justice Department Officials Trash Matt Whitaker, Their New Boss — The new, acting attorney general will have profound powers on things not just related to the Russia probe. — The appointment this week of Matthew Whitaker as acting attorney general …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Daily Kos, Washington Post, Law & Crime, Gothamist and Grist, more at Mediagazer »
Jon Swaine / The Guardian:
Trump's acting attorney general involved in firm that scammed veterans out of life savings — Donald Trump's new acting attorney general, Matthew Whitaker, was involved in a company that scammed US military veterans out of their life savings, according to court filings and interviews.
John R. Schindler / Observer:
Team Mueller is Holding ‘Dozens of Sealed Indictments,’ According to Intel Source — For every day of his presidency—657 so far, if you're counting—the issue of Donald J. Trump's ties to Russia has darkened the Oval Office door. Since May 17, 2017, when former FBI director Robert S. Mueller …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Lawfare and Daily Kos
Washington Post:
Federal investigators scrutinized Whitaker's role in patent company accused of fraud, according to people with knowledge of case — Federal investigators last year looked into whether Matthew G. Whitaker, as an advisory board member of a Miami patent company accused of fraud by customers …
Discussion:
Political Wire, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, The Week and Hullabaloo
New York Times:
Matthew Whitaker: An Attack Dog With Ambition Beyond Protecting Trump
Matthew Whitaker: An Attack Dog With Ambition Beyond Protecting Trump
Discussion:
CNN, Wall Street Journal and Law & Crime
Washington Post:
Trump distances himself from Whitaker amid scrutiny over past comments and business ties
Trump distances himself from Whitaker amid scrutiny over past comments and business ties
Discussion:
Courier-Journal
Steve Benen / MSNBC:
Trump World didn't realize the acting AG would be seen as a ‘crackpot’
Trump World didn't realize the acting AG would be seen as a ‘crackpot’
Discussion:
Washington Post, Breitbart and New York Times
Michael Kranish / Washington Post:
Whitaker's term as U.S. attorney in Iowa draws scrutiny
Whitaker's term as U.S. attorney in Iowa draws scrutiny
Discussion:
Des Moines Register and Washington Blade
Benjamin Wittes / The Atlantic:
It's Probably Too Late to Stop Mueller
It's Probably Too Late to Stop Mueller
Discussion:
Axios, Politico, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, JustOneMinute, Mediaite, CNN, Breitbart, Raw Story, Washington Post and CNN
Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
Sinema expands lead in Arizona Senate race — Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema expanded her lead to 20,203 votes over GOP Rep. Martha McSally Friday evening as Arizona election authorities continued to count ballots in the state's uncalled Senate race. — Sinema's lead amounts …
Discussion:
Arizona Republic and Joe.My.God.
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Lulu Ramadan / Palm Beach Post:
Palm Beach elections supervisor bans cameras from public ballot-counting — An NBC attorney objected to the elections supervisor's camera ban, calling the Palm Beach County Canvassing Board meeting “illegal.” — RIVIERA BEACH — Breaking from normal practice, the Palm Beach County elections …
Discussion:
twitchy.com and The Gateway Pundit
Chris Mills Rodrigo / The Hill:
Sinema widens lead over McSally in Arizona Senate race — Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D) widened her lead over Rep. Martha McSally (R) in the heated Arizona Senate race after a new round of ballots were tallied in the Democrat's favor late Friday. — Sinema more than doubled her lead over McSally …
Discussion:
Political Wire and Joe.My.God.
Associated Press:
Judge rules in Gov. Scott's favor, orders Snipes to allow ballot inspections immediately
Judge rules in Gov. Scott's favor, orders Snipes to allow ballot inspections immediately
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Trump's authoritarian response to Florida shenanigans hints at worse to come
Trump's authoritarian response to Florida shenanigans hints at worse to come
Discussion:
Daily Kos, National Review, USA Today, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, Common Dreams, LifeZette, Chicks On The Right, WPLG-TV and Politico
Nathaniel Rakich / FiveThirtyEight:
Something Looks Weird In Broward County. Here's What We Know About A Possible Florida Recount.
Something Looks Weird In Broward County. Here's What We Know About A Possible Florida Recount.
Discussion:
USA Today, The Daily Beast, ABC News and NPR
Tampa Bay Times:
Broward County officials need police protection to tally Florida election results
Broward County officials need police protection to tally Florida election results
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Balloon Juice, POLITICUSUSA and ABC News
miamiherald:
Rick Scott sues Broward, Palm Beach elections supervisors over ballot delays
Rick Scott sues Broward, Palm Beach elections supervisors over ballot delays
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Federalist, TheBlaze, Washington Examiner, CNN, Vox, WEAR-TV, Washington Post, Daily Wire, Politico, NBC News, Mother Jones, New York Times, HuffPost and Tampa Bay Times
Wall Street Journal:
Donald Trump Played Central Role in Hush Payoffs to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal — Federal prosecutors have gathered evidence of the president's participation in deals to buy the silence of a former adult-film actress and an ex-Playboy model. The deals have led Trump's former lawyer …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, HuffPost, The Atlantic, Grabien News, The Root, KAJ-TV, Splinter, AOL, Hollywood Life, VICE News, Raw Story, Just Security, Washington Post, Joe.My.God., Talking Points Memo, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Week, Rantt, Vox, POLITICUSUSA, Law & Crime, Mediaite, New Republic, CNBC, Daily Kos, Axios, Hill Reporter, Spectator USA, The Guardian and Boing Boing, more at Mediagazer »
Jerry Iannelli / Miami New Times:
Photos Show Scores of Uncounted Ballots in Opa-locka Mail Center … Miami-Dade County announced today that it has finished counting votes for the 2018 election. — But photos obtained by New Times show scores of mail-in ballots sitting inside an Opa-locka mail distribution center …
Discussion:
twitchy.com and Raw Story
Washington Post:
Trump administration to end refueling for Saudi coalition aircraft in Yemen — The Trump administration is ending the practice of refueling Saudi coalition aircraft, halting the most tangible and controversial aspect of U.S. support for the kingdom's three-year war in Yemen, people familiar with the situation said.
Discussion:
CNN and The Intercept
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James Pindell / BostonGlobe.com:
After years of LePage, Maine went very blue Tuesday — What a difference one election can make. — Over the last four years, Republicans ruled Maine through control of its state Senate and governor, Paul LePage, who has described his style as “Trump before there was Trump.”
Discussion:
Vox, Balloon Juice and Bangor Daily News
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Michael Shepherd / Bangor Daily News:
Exit polling gives Golden an edge in 2nd District ranked-choice count. See each candidate's road to victory.
Exit polling gives Golden an edge in 2nd District ranked-choice count. See each candidate's road to victory.
Discussion:
IVN.us, Political Wire and KAJ-TV
CNN:
McConnell, top Republicans dismiss concerns over Whitaker appointment — Trump downplays ties to acting AG handpicked by White House — (CNN)Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other top Republicans believe that Matthew Whitaker will only stay as acting attorney general for a short time …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and The National Memo
RELATED:
Burgess Everett / Politico:
Flake floats GOP primary run against Trump: ‘Somebody needs to run’
Flake floats GOP primary run against Trump: ‘Somebody needs to run’
Discussion:
RedState, New York Times and TheBlaze
Reid J. Epstein / Wall Street Journal:
Democrats Plan to Pursue Most Aggressive Gun-Control Legislation in Decades — Focus spurred by an incoming class of lawmakers with ‘F’ NRA ratings who campaigned on the issue — WASHINGTON—Democrats say they will pass the most aggressive gun-control legislation in decades when they become …
Katherine Faulders / ABC News:
Tensions rising between Mueller, Manafort over level of cooperation: Sources — Talks between Special Counsel Robert Mueller and former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort have grown increasingly tense over Manafort's apparent lack of cooperation with the investigation, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, Observer and Political Wire
CBS News:
California wildfires turn deadly as tens of thousands evacuate — A wildfire has destroyed most of a Northern California town of 27,000 people. Five people were found dead in vehicles overcome by the so-called “Camp Fire” in Paradise, authorities said. The victims have not been identified.
Discussion:
KTLA, Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times and Big Think
RELATED:
Alan Pyke / ThinkProgress:
I was at the protest outside Tucker Carlson's house. Here's what actually happened. — About a dozen protesters visited Tucker Carlson's home Wednesday evening with signs, a megaphone, and a tambourine. — The incident, video of which was taken offline shortly after being posted …
Discussion:
Townhall, Shadowproof, IJR, Bearing Arms and Breitbart
Pew Research Center:
Key takeaways about Latino voters in the 2018 midterm elections — Latinos make up an increasing share of the U.S. electorate. A record 29 million Latinos were eligible to vote in this year's midterm elections, accounting for 12.8% of all eligible voters, a new high.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Brookings and The Federalist
Kansas City Star:
Inside Kris Kobach's losing Kansas campaign: ‘Check logic and reason at the door’ — Kris Kobach blamed money. He blamed history. He didn't blame himself for losing a race for governor in a state where Republicans outnumber Democrats nearly 2 to 1. — “Obviously, if we'd had more money …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Mediaite and Raw Story
HuffPost:
How Democrats — And Republicans — Made 2018 A Blue Wave (When It Almost Wasn't) — Yes. It was a wave. — WASHINGTON As more votes are counted and more seats flip from red to blue, it's becoming undeniable that Democrats not only benefited from a wave election, they converted a modest advantage into impressive House gains.
The Texas Tribune:
How the race between Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke became the closest in Texas in 40 years — Two years ago, Beto O'Rourke was a little-known congressman from El Paso and Ted Cruz's re-election was considered a foregone conclusion. Then everything changed. … “Who?”
Discussion:
Political Wire
Washington Post:
Zinke is the Cabinet official most vulnerable to Democratic probe, White House fears — White House officials have identified Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke as the Cabinet member most vulnerable to a congressional probe under a Democratic majority in January, putting the colorful secretary closer …
Discussion:
Politico, Raw Story, The Week and Political Wire
David Bauder / Associated Press:
Hear the one about Trump? You've probably heard a lot — NEW YORK (AP) — Did you hear the one about President Trump? Or, more precisely, did you hear all 3,128 jokes? — A think tank that has studied the content of late-night comedy for the past 26 years said Donald Trump was the butt …
Discussion:
Axios