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 …
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:
Tampa Bay Times, NBC News, Sun-Sentinel, FOX13news, Raw Story, Politico, Geller Report, KAJ-TV, The Gateway Pundit and Joe.My.God.
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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:
Politico, Mother Jones, FiveThirtyEight, Townhall, Wall Street Journal and Politico
miamiherald:
Rick Scott sues Broward, Palm Beach elections supervisors over ballot delays — TALLAHASSEE — A visibly frustrated Gov. Rick Scott on Thursday accused “unethical liberals” of trying to steal a U.S. Senate seat from him, as his campaign filed two lawsuits against Broward County Supervisor …
Discussion:
NBC News, Vox, Tampa Bay Times, WEAR-TV, Mediaite, HuffPost, CNN, ThinkProgress and LifeNews.com
Patricia Mazzei / New York Times:
Rick Scott Cites Rampant Fraud in Florida, as Senate and Governor Races Tighten
Rick Scott Cites Rampant Fraud in Florida, as Senate and Governor Races Tighten
Matt Dixon / Politico:
After Scott requested investigation, law enforcement says no voter fraud allegations found
After Scott requested investigation, law enforcement says no voter fraud allegations found
Discussion:
Hill Reporter, Washington Free Beacon and electionlawblog.org
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:
WJXT-TV, miamiherald and The Hill
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
Discussion:
Washington Post, New York Magazine, Townhall and Tampa Bay Times
Miles Parks / NPR:
As Florida Races Narrow, Trump And Scott Spread Claims Of Fraud Without Evidence
As Florida Races Narrow, Trump And Scott Spread Claims Of Fraud Without Evidence
Discussion:
The Federalist, Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, The Hill and VICE News
Caitlin Oprysko / Politico:
Trump, without evidence, accuses Democrats of ‘election theft’ in Florida Senate race
Trump, without evidence, accuses Democrats of ‘election theft’ in Florida Senate race
Discussion:
Political Wire, Chicks On The Right, IJR and Breitbart
Benjamin Wittes / The Atlantic:
It's Probably Too Late to Stop Mueller — At the end of last month, with the midterms looming, I gave a talk before a small private audience in California in which I argued for optimism because—among other things—the moment for firing Robert Mueller had passed.
Discussion:
Politico, Raw Story, Washington Post, CNN and Daily Kos
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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:
CNN, Vox, Observer, Breitbart, The Guardian, Outside the Beltway, Politico, New York Times, CNBC, Associated Press and Political Wire
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:
The Daily Beast, The Week, Politico, Daily Kos, Just Security, NBC News, Al Jazeera English, Law & Crime, Grist and ThinkProgress
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, The Atlantic and CNN
Stephen I. Vladeck / New York Times:
Whitaker May Be a Bad Choice, but He's a Legal One
Whitaker May Be a Bad Choice, but He's a Legal One
Discussion:
emptywheel, CNN and The Daily Beast
Chuck Ross / The Daily Caller:
Mueller Grand Jury Witness Cryptically Suggests He's In Legal Jeopardy
Mueller Grand Jury Witness Cryptically Suggests He's In Legal Jeopardy
Discussion:
emptywheel, Politico, Washington Post and Real Clear Politics
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, Raw Story and Mediaite
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, Common Dreams, Shakesville, Splinter and HuffPost
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Judith Miller / Wall Street Journal:
Jeff Sessions's Exit Interview
Jeff Sessions's Exit Interview
Discussion:
CNN, The Daily Caller, Mediaite and New York Times
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 and Law & Crime
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.
Ashley Feinberg / HuffPost:
Leak: Axios Editor Concedes Problems With HBO ‘S**tshow’ But Assures Staff That Haters Are Just Jealous — “They hate ya cause they ain't ya,” one employee wrote. — Their weekly staff meeting had become a crisis debriefing, and Axios employees were wondering where things had gone wrong.
Will Oremus / Slate:
A Vox Co-Founder Got Doxed on Twitter by a Hate-Spewing Incel, and Twitter Allowed It — If verified users with huge followings can't get Twitter to enforce its safety rules, what hope does everyone else have? — It Took Me Less Than an Hour to Find Illegal Animal Products at a Chinese Traditional Medicine Market
Discussion:
New York Post, Bearing Arms, Breitbart and The Daily Banter
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 …
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 …
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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 …
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Scott Bixby / The Daily Beast:
Trump Signs Proclamation Barring Asylum Seekers At U.S.-Mexico Border
Trump Signs Proclamation Barring Asylum Seekers At U.S.-Mexico Border
Discussion:
Axios and ImmigrationProf Blog
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:
The Hill, Townhall, Mediaite, Breitbart, Daily Wire, Chicks On The Right, CNN, KAJ-TV, TheBlaze, CNBC, Hill Reporter, The Week, Essence, The Root, The Daily Banter, theGrio, FOX2now.com, fox8.com, Refinery29, Politico, twitchy.com, Associated Press, Glamour, Joe.My.God., Balloon Juice, Jezebel, Washington Times 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:
Vox, Associated Press, Observer, Joe.My.God., POLITICUSUSA, Washington Free Beacon and Axios
Arizona Republic:
Last Slide — But state Republican Chairman Jonathan Lines raised the level of accusations, saying Fontes, a Democrat, “cannot be trusted to administer elections in Arizona.” — Amy Chan, former state election director under Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett, tweeted …
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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:
Political Wire, Politico and Raw Story
Andrew Sullivan / New York Magazine:
America's Fever Is Still Rising — Tuesday, if you step back, was an ordinary election in an extraordinary time. The swing against the president's party in the first midterm election was not far off the historical range. The average loss for the president's party in the House two years into a first term over the last century is 29.
Discussion:
Vox and Lawyers, Guns & Money
NBC News:
20,000-acre wildfire all but destroys Paradise, California — “The whole lower side of Paradise is totally engulfed in flames right now ... Not one home will be left standing. I'm devastated.” — A wildfire fueled by strong winds raced across communities in the Sierra foothills …
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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:
Axios, POLITICUSUSA, VICE News, Shakesville, Raw Story, BuzzFeed News and Jezebel
Michael Shepherd / Bangor Daily News:
Exit polling gives Golden an edge in 2nd District ranked-choice count. See each candidate's road to victory. — AUGUSTA, Maine — Assistant Maine House Majority Leader Jared Golden is favored to beat U.S. Rep. Bruce Poliquin in a ranked-choice voting count that could decide the tight race …
Discussion:
Political Wire, IVN.us and KAJ-TV
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:
Raw Story
Emma Roller / HuffPost:
Scott Walker Tried To Get Me Fired. Now He's Out Of A Job. — In the fall of 2011, I was an unemployed recent journalism school graduate in a country still clawing its way back from recession. At a family reunion, my grandma pulled out a piece of paper with a list of signatures …
Discussion:
Raw Story