Top Items:
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:
Joe.My.God., Hill Reporter, Raw Story and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
Will Sommer / The Daily Beast:
Republicans Freak Out as New Ballots Threaten Florida Senate Win — New ballots in Broward County have conspiracy theorists — including the state's top elected officials — calling for an investigation of Democrats. — As the Republican margin in the Florida Senate race narrowed …
Discussion:
FOX13news, Geller Report, KAJ-TV, The Gateway Pundit, Sun-Sentinel, miamiherald, Breitbart, New York Times, Tampa Bay Times and KNXV
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Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Trump's authoritarian response to Florida shenanigans hints at worse to come — In the run-up to Election Day in 2016, Donald Trump repeatedly and flatly declared that the outcome of the election would be legitimate only if he won. The claim, stripped down to its essence …
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight, Townhall, Wall Street Journal, WJXT-TV and Chicks On The Right
WPLG-TV:
Broward County elections supervisor explains why it's taking so long to count ballots — 'Don't try to turn it around to make it seem like I'm making comedy out of this' — FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - As Broward County appears to be at the epicenter of another recount, Supervisor of Elections …
Patricia Mazzei / New York Times:
Rick Scott Cites Rampant Fraud in Florida, as Senate and Governor Races Tighten — TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Looming recounts in top Florida election contests, including the bitterly fought races for Senate and governor, erupted late Thursday into a fiery feud as Gov. Rick Scott …
Jared Holt / Right Wing Watch:
Is Roger Stone Scheming Another ‘Brooks Brothers Riot’ in Florida?
Is Roger Stone Scheming Another ‘Brooks Brothers Riot’ in Florida?
Discussion:
Tampa Bay Times, The Gateway Pundit and miamiherald
miamiherald:
Rick Scott sues Broward, Palm Beach elections supervisors over ballot delays
Rick Scott sues Broward, Palm Beach elections supervisors over ballot delays
Discussion:
Vox, Tampa Bay Times, HuffPost, Politico, CNN, Patterico's Pontifications and Althouse
Ari Berman / Mother Jones:
Rick Scott Falsely Accuses Democrats of Trying to Steal Florida Senate Race, Seeks Law Enforcement Intervention
Rick Scott Falsely Accuses Democrats of Trying to Steal Florida Senate Race, Seeks Law Enforcement Intervention
Caitlin Oprysko / Politico:
Trump floats Democratic conspiracy to sway Florida Senate race
Trump floats Democratic conspiracy to sway Florida Senate race
Discussion:
Political Wire, Breitbart, Washington Free Beacon and Chicks On The Right
Ali Vitali / NBC News:
Gillum statement stokes intrigue as Florida vote margin tightens
Gillum statement stokes intrigue as Florida vote margin tightens
Discussion:
NPR, IJR and ThinkProgress
Steve Contorno / Tampa Bay Times:
Recount Live Blog: Gov. Rick Scott is suing South Florida election officials as his Senate lead shrinks
Recount Live Blog: Gov. Rick Scott is suing South Florida election officials as his Senate lead shrinks
Discussion:
Townhall, RealClearPolitics, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, CNN, IJR, Breitbart and Splinter
Ruth Marcus / Washington Post:
Matthew Whitaker is a crackpot — The acting attorney general of the United States is a crackpot. — Matthew G. Whitaker, installed in the job by President Trump to replace Jeff Sessions, was asked in 2014, during an ill-fated run in the Republican senatorial primary in Iowa, about the worst decisions in the Supreme Court's history.
Discussion:
Politico, The Week, Just Security, NBC News, Al Jazeera English, Law & Crime, Grist, themarketswork, ThinkProgress and VICE News
RELATED:
Jonathan Swan / Axios:
Momentum builds against acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker — Matt Whitaker has been acting attorney general for just one full day but he's already under extreme pressure. — Why it matters: President Trump, who shocked even some of his senior most staff with the hasty timing of his firing …
Discussion:
New York Times, Vox, Politico, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, SHUGERBLOG, Associated Press and Political Wire
Chuck Ross / The Daily Caller:
Mueller Grand Jury Witness Cryptically Suggests He's In Legal Jeopardy — Jerome Corsi, a journalist known for pushing the Obama “birther” conspiracy theory, suggested on Thursday that he could face prosecution in the Mueller probe. — On his daily webcast, Corsi became emotional …
Discussion:
emptywheel, Politico, Real Clear Politics and New York Times
CNN:
Whitaker backlash prompts concern at the White House
Whitaker backlash prompts concern at the White House
Discussion:
emptywheel, Politico, Breitbart, The Atlantic, The Guardian, The Daily Beast, Mediaite, Hullabaloo, Gothamist, Splinter, Daily Kos and Raw Story, more at Mediagazer »
Benjamin Wittes / The Atlantic:
10 Reasons Not to Panic About the Mueller Probe
10 Reasons Not to Panic About the Mueller Probe
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNN and Daily Kos
Darren Samuelsohn / Politico:
Judges order Mueller to explain impact of Sessions-Whitaker DOJ shakeup
Judges order Mueller to explain impact of Sessions-Whitaker DOJ shakeup
Discussion:
Associated Press, CNN and Washington Post
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 …
Krissah Thompson / Washington Post:
In revealing new memoir, Michelle Obama candidly shares her story — As Michelle Obama's highly anticipated memoir “Becoming” arrives, it's clear that the former first lady is occupying a space in the culture beyond politics. With an arena book tour featuring A-list special guests …
Discussion:
Townhall, Breitbart, New York Times, CNN, Chicks On The Right, Mediaite, KAJ-TV, The Daily Banter, The Root, Hill Reporter, theGrio, CNBC, The Week, Essence, Politico, Joe.My.God., Refinery29, twitchy.com, Balloon Juice, Washington Times, Associated Press, FOX2now.com, fox8.com, Jezebel, Glamour, TheBlaze and FOX 61
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Katie Kindelan / ABC News:
Michelle Obama opens up about her miscarriage, going through IVF and Donald Trump in ABC News prime …
Michelle Obama opens up about her miscarriage, going through IVF and Donald Trump in ABC News prime …
Discussion:
Observer, POLITICUSUSA, Joe.My.God., Axios and Washington Free Beacon
Katie Benner / New York Times:
Sessions, in Last-Minute Act, Sharply Limits Use of Consent Decrees to Curb Police Abuses — WASHINGTON — Former Attorney General Jeff Sessions has drastically limited the ability of federal law enforcement officials to use court-enforced agreements to overhaul local police departments accused …
Discussion:
Hit & Run, Shakesville and Splinter
RELATED:
Judith Miller / Wall Street Journal:
Jeff Sessions's Exit Interview — The departing attorney general leaves as gracious as ever, and doesn't regret his controversial recusal. — Jeff Sessions says he is “confident” that Robert Mueller's probe of alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election will be handled “appropriately and with justification.”
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and Mediaite
Ben White / Politico:
Sessions' job is hard to fill. Enter Chris Christie.
Sessions' job is hard to fill. Enter Chris Christie.
Discussion:
CNN, Talking Points Memo, Law & Crime, Raw Story, Bedford + Bowery and Breitbart
Amy Walter / The Cook Political Report:
Why Aren't Democrats More Excited About the 2018 Results — For a party that had a great night on Tuesday, Democrats aren't really acting like it. Yes, they lost at least three Senate incumbents, but given the exposure they were up against, this is not such a bad result.
RELATED:
Gabriel Debenedetti / New York Magazine:
There's a New Electoral Map in Town
There's a New Electoral Map in Town
Discussion:
New Republic and FiveThirtyEight
Brian Schwartz / CNBC:
Trump is telling people he wants to replace Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross by the end of the year — President Donald Trump is telling people he wants to replace Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross by the end of the year, according to three sources familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
Political Wire
Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
Trump Threatens to Retaliate Against Reporters Who Don't Show ‘Respect’ — President Trump said on Friday that he might revoke the credentials of additional White House reporters if they do not “treat the White House with respect,” lobbing another threat at the news media two days …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Expert: Acosta video distributed by White House was doctored
Expert: Acosta video distributed by White House was doctored
Discussion:
New York Times, Breitbart, Media Matters for America, Daily Kos, The Week and AOL
CBS Los Angeles:
Thousand Oaks Gunman's High School Coach Speaks About Sexual Assault — NEWBURY PARK (CBSLA) — The Thousand Oaks shooter's high school track coach says that he assaulted her. — “I turned on the news and I was watching it and when they said his name my jaw just dropped,” said Dominique Colell.
Discussion:
VICE News, POLITICUSUSA, Shakesville, Raw Story and Jezebel
RELATED:
The White House:
Presidential Proclamation Addressing Mass Migration Through the Southern Border of the United States — The United States expects the arrival at the border between the United States and Mexico (southern border) of a substantial number of aliens primarily from Central America who appear …
RELATED:
Michael D. Shear / New York Times:
Trump Claims New Power to Bar Asylum for Immigrants Who Arrive Illegally
Trump Claims New Power to Bar Asylum for Immigrants Who Arrive Illegally
Discussion:
Associated Press, Fox News, Big Think, Daily Wire, 105.9 FM and AM 630 and Jezebel
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
Alexi McCammond / Axios:
Democrats could win 40 House seats, the most since Watergate — Democrats have won at least 33 seats, but they look poised to win closer to 40 — there are 13 races that are either not called or too close to call, and Democrats have a solid chance of winning seven of those.
Discussion:
National Review, Joe.My.God., Political Wire and Washington Free Beacon
Shane Goldmacher / New York Times:
Fresh Off Re-Election, Gillibrand Says She Is Giving ‘Long, Hard Thought’ to 2020 Run — Senator Kirsten Gillibrand on Thursday gave her strongest public indication yet that she was contemplating a run for president in 2020, telling the late-night show host Stephen Colbert she would “give it a long, hard thought of consideration.”
Discussion:
Splinter, Politico, Political Wire and The Daily Beast
Caitlin Byrd / Post and Courier:
Katie Arrington blames Mark Sanford and his supporters for her defeat in SC — Eight hours after Republican Katie Arrington lost her South Carolina congressional race, she blamed her shocking defeat on U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, the outgoing Republican congressman she bested in the primary.
Discussion:
Political Wire
New York Times:
Acting Attorney General Sat on Board of Company Accused of Bilking Customers — WASHINGTON — Matthew G. Whitaker, the acting attorney general, served on the advisory board of a Florida company that a federal judge shut down last year and fined nearly $26 million after the government accused it of scamming customers.
Discussion:
The Week, Lawfare, IJR, CNBC, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, Law & Crime and Talking Points Memo
Philip Bump / Washington Post:
The caravan has all but vanished from cable news — Over the final two weeks of the midterm elections, according to closed-captioning data compiled by the Internet Archive, Fox News and Fox Business Channel each mentioned the word caravan in an average of a little over 3 percent of 15-second segments over the course of a day.