Top Items:
New York Times:
Is Mike Pence Loyal? Trump is Asking, Despite His Recent Endorsement — WASHINGTON — President Trump's post-midterm election news conference at the White House last week took a surprising turn when a reporter asked about locking down his 2020 ticket. — “Mike, will you be my running mate?”
Discussion:
New Republic, Washington Monthly, Politico, Joe.My.God., Mediaite, Raw Story, The Week and Shakesville, more at Mediagazer »
Kevin Alexander / Thrillist:
I Found the Best Burger Place in America. And Then I Killed It. — n my office, I have a coffee mug from Stanich's in Portland, Oregon. Under the restaurant name, it says “Great hamburgers since 1949.” The mug was given to me by Steve Stanich on the day I told him that …
Associated Press:
Only on AP: Abrams prepares push for new Georgia Gov. vote — ATLANTA (AP) — Stacey Abrams' campaign and legal team is preparing an unprecedented legal challenge in the unresolved Georgia governor's race that could leave the state's Supreme Court deciding whether to force another round of voting.
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Daniel Strauss / Politico:
Abrams says Kemp will be next governor of Georgia, effectively conceding race
Abrams says Kemp will be next governor of Georgia, effectively conceding race
Discussion:
Axios
acast:
“I dont feel comfortable being a Republican anymore” | Skullduggery on acast — In this episode of Skullduggery, co-hosts Michael Isikoff and Dan Klaidman sit down for an exclusive and highly sought after interview with George T. Conway III, husband to the Counselor of the President, Kellyanne Conway.
Discussion:
Politico, Breitbart, NPR, The Daily Caller, IJR, Talking Points Memo and Political Wire
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Michael Isikoff / Yahoo News:
George Conway: Republican Party has become a ‘personality cult’ under Trump — WASHINGTON — George T. Conway III, the husband of White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, said the Republican Party has become “a personality cult” under President Trump and that he would “move to Australia” rather than vote for the president again.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Spectator USA, Mediaite, Observer, Breitbart and Joe.My.God.
CNN:
Judge orders White House to return Jim Acosta's press pass — (CNN)Federal judge Timothy J. Kelly sided with CNN on Friday, ordering the White House to reinstate chief White House correspondent Jim Acosta's press pass. — The ruling was an initial victory for CNN in its lawsuit against President Trump and several top aides.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Big Think, Pacific Standard, AOL, fox13now.com, The Daily Beast, POLITICUSUSA, The Gateway Pundit, HuffPost, Associated Press, Joe.My.God., TheBlaze, IJR, The Week, Common Dreams, fox5sandiego.com, The Root, Mediaite, Hit & Run, Splinter, CBS Miami, Mother Jones, Daily Kos, Washington Free Beacon and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion
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Annie Karni / Politico:
Another Trump aide tell-all due to hit shelves in January — Another account of life inside the Trump White House is set to join the ever-growing canon on the subject. — Cliff Sims, a Trump adviser who joined the West Wing staff on Day One as a special assistant to the president after working …
Discussion:
ABC News, Axios, IJR, Patterico's Pontifications, The Gateway Pundit, Breitbart and Daily Wire
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Jennifer Jacobs / Bloomberg:
Trump Offered to Nominate Ricardel as Ambassador to Estonia, Sources Say
Trump Offered to Nominate Ricardel as Ambassador to Estonia, Sources Say
Discussion:
Politico, Talking Points Memo, The Week and Political Wire, more at Mediagazer »
Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg / Wall Street Journal:
Michelle Obama Memoir Sells Well
Pamela Brown / CNN:
Trump legal team balks at Mueller's questions on post-2016 election activity — Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump and his legal team have taken issue with some of the questions from special counsel Robert Mueller that cover the transition period after the 2016 election …
Discussion:
The Atlantic, Washington Post and CNBC
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Heidi Przybyla / NBC News:
U.S. Marshals Service spending millions on DeVos security in unusual arrangement — The cost to taxpayers could be as much as $19.8 million through next year, according to figures provided to NBC News. — WASHINGTON — Education Secretary Betsy DeVos began receiving around-the-clock security …
Discussion:
Townhall, Washington Post, Splinter, Joe.My.God., twitchy.com, VICE News, The Week, Shakesville, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, Washington Times and Political Wire
The Daily Beast:
Top Cheney Aide in Mueller's Sights as Probe Expands — Mueller's investigators have examined an array of operatives with ties to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the UAE—including John Hannah, Dick Cheney's former national security adviser. — Dick Cheney's former top national security aide …
Discussion:
New Republic, Washington Press, LifeZette, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story and The Week
Washington Post:
Julian Assange has been charged, prosecutors reveal in inadvertent court filing — WikiLeaks' founder Julian Assange has been charged under seal, prosecutors inadvertently revealed in a recently unsealed court filing — a development that could significantly advance the probe into Russian interference …
Discussion:
Vox, Freedom of the Press …, New York Times, CNN, Zero Hedge, VICE News, Lawfare, emptywheel, CNBC, The Intellectualist, Mashable, TheBlaze, Joe.My.God., New Republic, Wall Street Journal, The Intercept, The Daily Beast, Conservative News Today, Common Dreams, Committee to Protect …, Mediaite, HuffPost, Politico, Boing Boing, Outside the Beltway, Raw Story, POLITICUSUSA, The Week, KAJ-TV, Al Jazeera, The Verge, Axios, Engadget, The Guardian, Gizmodo, Political Wire and Emma Best, more at Mediagazer »
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Matthew Choi / Politico:
Assange charges could unsettle liberals, conservatives — and Trump
Assange charges could unsettle liberals, conservatives — and Trump
Discussion:
Washington Post and CNN
Tim Miller:
Setting the Record Straight on Regarding My Facebook Work — Setting the Record Straight Regarding My Facebook Work — Over the past 48 hours I've had some extremely serious accusations leveled against my integrity and my work. So I want to be upfront about this and share my personal thoughts.
Discussion:
The Verge and New York Times, more at Techmeme »
Tom Winter / NBC News:
Alleged Russian operative Mariia Butina negotiating with prosecutors — A document filed in federal court indicates prosecutors and Butina's lawyers are working towards a plea agreement. — Lawyers for alleged Russian operative Mariia Butina have entered into negotiations with federal prosecutors …
Discussion:
Joe.My.God.
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Carrie Johnson / NPR:
Maria Butina, Accused Of Being A Russian Agent, May Be In Talks For Plea Deal
Maria Butina, Accused Of Being A Russian Agent, May Be In Talks For Plea Deal
Discussion:
Law & Crime and Talking Points Memo
New York Times:
Two Years In, Trump Struggles to Master Role of Military Commander — WASHINGTON — He canceled a trip to a cemetery in France where American soldiers from World War I are buried. He did not go to the observance at Arlington National Cemetery on Veterans Day. He has not visited American troops in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Raw Story and Task & Purpose
Eric Bradner / CNN:
Hyde-Smith appears to joke that making it harder for students to vote is a ‘great idea’ — Senator deflects over ‘public hanging’ comment — Washington (CNN)Mississippi Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith appeared to say laws that make it “just a little more difficult” for attendees …
Discussion:
Vox, Shareblue Media, The Clarion Ledger, Washington Post, POLITICUSUSA, The Week and TheBlaze
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Willa Frej / HuffPost:
GOP Senator Says Voter Suppression Is A ‘Great Idea’
GOP Senator Says Voter Suppression Is A ‘Great Idea’
Discussion:
Vox, Splinter, Washington Monthly, Washington Times, Bloomberg and IJR
Adam Kredo / Washington Free Beacon:
Iran to Be Declared in Breach of Chemical Weapons Bans — Sources: Trump admin will announce Iran in breach for first time — The Trump administration is set to announce that Iran is not in compliance with the Chemical Weapons Conventions, marking a significant departure …
Eric Levitz / New York Magazine:
For First Act in Power, Democrats Consider Making Their Own Agenda Impossible to Pass — This week, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi unveiled a list of new procedural rules that her caucus intends to implement when the next Congress is seated. Most of these measures are unobjectionable “good government” reforms.
Discussion:
Splinter and Washington Post
Quartz:
Melania Trump racked up $174,000 in hotel bills for a day trip to Toronto — US first lady Melania Trump ran up a six-figure hotel bill for a one-day trip to Toronto last year, according to federal spending records. — Government spending data show at least six separate Toronto hotel charges ranging …
Discussion:
Refinery29
Amanda Marcotte / Salon:
Yes, the campaign to take down Nancy Pelosi is sexist — not to mention a terrible idea — Efforts to take out Pelosi aren't progressive, but backward. She's earned the speaker's gavel the hard way — There is nothing progressive about the push to stop Nancy Pelosi from regaining her seat …
Discussion:
Colorado Politics, Breitbart and Raw Story
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John Bresnahan / Politico:
Mark Meadows, Ruben Kihuen sanctioned over sexual harassment-related allegations — The House Ethics Committee has formally sanctioned two members — GOP Rep. Mark Meadows (N.C.) and Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen (Nev.) — over sexual harassment-related allegations, the latest sign that fallout …
Discussion:
Roll Call, Axios, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and The Gateway Pundit
Christina Cauterucci / Slate:
Michael Avenatti Never Should've Been a Resistance Hero — I can't say I was surprised when Michael Avenatti was arrested on suspicion of felony domestic violence on Wednesday. It's not that he seems like someone who'd assault a romantic partner. For one thing, that's not something …
Discussion:
Hot Air, TMZ.com, Daily Wire, The American Spectator, twitchy.com, Splinter and The Intellectualist
Hürriyet Daily News:
Turkey has second audio recording on Khashoggi killing: Columnist — Hürriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi reported on Nov. 16 that Turkey has more evidence, including a second, longer audio recording that contradicts with key findings of the Saudi public prosecutor's indictment …
RELATED:
Robin Wright / New Yorker:
Saudi Arabia's Investigation of Jamal Khashoggi's Murder Is a Tragic Farce
Saudi Arabia's Investigation of Jamal Khashoggi's Murder Is a Tragic Farce
Discussion:
Just Security, Al Jazeera and The Intellectualist
Anita Kumar / McClatchy Washington Bureau:
Trump to meet with Florida's Bondi as he searches for new attorney general — WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will meet with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi — who is on his short list be his next attorney general — while he vacations at his Mar-A-Lago resort in Palm Beach …
Jonathan Bernstein / Bloomberg:
Trump's White House Chaos Is Worsening — Distractions and disarray are threatening to upend Trump's presidency. Can he possibly stay focused? — As my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Timothy L. O'Brien argues, the Trump administration, always veering toward chaos, is in the process of diving in head first.
Discussion:
The Big Picture
Lisa Friedman / New York Times:
Trump Says He'll Nominate Andrew Wheeler to Head the E.P.A. — WASHINGTON — President Trump on Friday said he intends to nominate Andrew R. Wheeler to be the permanent administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. — The E.P.A. has been at the center of Mr. Trump's deregulatory agenda …
Discussion:
HuffPost
Sean Trende / Real Clear Politics:
So, Was It A Wave? — There's been an ongoing discussion about whether the 2018 midterms can be properly considered a “wave” election. While I think they certainly can be considered a wave, that doesn't get to the question of whether they ought to be considered as such. — At its core, this debate is pretty silly.
Emily Crockett / Shareblue Media:
Way too many Americans say suppression tactics stopped them from voting — This is a scandal for anyone who cares about free and fair elections in America. — Democrats dominated the midterm elections this year and took back the most House seats they have since Watergate.
Discussion:
The Guardian
New York Times:
McConnell Tells Trump a Criminal Justice Bill Is Not Likely This Year — WASHINGTON — Senator Mitch McConnell told President Trump in a private meeting on Thursday that there is not likely to be enough time to bring a bipartisan criminal justice bill up for a vote this year …
Discussion:
Washington Post, VICE News, The Root, Politico and USA Today
Elana Schor / Politico:
Grassley to trade Judiciary gavel for Finance — Chuck Grassley plans to trade his Senate Judiciary Committee gavel to lead the Finance Committee next year, he said on Friday — leaving Lindsey Graham in line to replace him as chairman. — Grassley's move to Finance wasn't a given …
Dave Burke / Mirror.co.uk:
Fury over rare white lion being auctioned off ‘to be shot by trophy hunters’ — The majestic animal, named Mufasa, is at the heart of a legal battle in South Africa as campaigners desperately bid to save his life — A rare white lion is set to be auctioned off to be shot by trophy hunters …
Daniel Dale / Washington Post:
It's easy to fact check Trump's lies. He tells the same ones all the time. — Daniel Dale is the Washington correspondent for the Toronto Star. — I've made it my mission to fact-check every word Donald Trump utters as president. That means trying to watch every speech, read every transcript, decipher every tweet.
Discussion:
Toronto Star
Alec MacGillis / New York Times:
Why the Perfect Red-State Democrat Lost — Taylor Sappington is exactly the kind of candidate his party should want in Ohio. But he couldn't get union support. — Mr. MacGillis is a political reporter. — Taylor Sappington heard the call like so many other Democrats in the year after Nov. 8, 2016.