Top Items:
BuzzFeed News:
The Trump Organization Planned To Give Vladimir Putin The $50 Million Penthouse In Trump Tower Moscow — President Donald Trump's company planned to give a $50 million penthouse at Trump Tower Moscow to Russian President Vladimir Putin as the company negotiated the luxury real estate development during …
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Gabriel Sherman / Vanity Fair:
“Trump Was Totally Caught Off Guard by the Cohen Plea”: Inside Trumpworld, Some Fear Mueller Has Laid a Perjury Trap — Rudy Giuliani is frustrated at Mueller's tactics. The White House is in a defensive crouch. “It's an untethered situation,” a person close to the president said.
Discussion:
Raw Story, Mediaite, ThinkProgress and New York Times
Washington Post:
‘Individual 1’: Trump emerges as a central subject of Mueller probe — In two major developments this week, President Trump has been labeled in the parlance of criminal investigations as a major subject of interest, complete with an opaque legal code name: “Individual 1.”
Hunter Walker / Yahoo News:
Mueller eyes Ivanka and Don Jr.'s work on Trump Tower Moscow — WASHINGTON - Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into President Donald Trump's efforts to build a skyscraper in Moscow has led him to ask questions about the role two of the president's children played in attempting …
Discussion:
Politico, Just Security, CNN, The Gateway Pundit, Vox, The Daily Beast, Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, HuffPost, Boing Boing and BuzzFeed News
New York Times:
Trump's Recall of Moscow Deal Matches Cohen's, President's Lawyers Say — The latest criminal charges against Michael D. Cohen, President Trump's longtime fixer, for lying about a Moscow hotel deal raised questions of whether Mr. Cohen created new legal risks for Mr. Trump or his family members …
Discussion:
Wired, Vox, The Guardian, RedState, CNBC, Splinter, Law & Crime, New Republic, Mother Jones, TheBlaze, Townhall, Axios, Raw Story, Above the Law, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, POLITICUSUSA, Hullabaloo, Mediaite, Outside the Beltway and Political Wire
David French / National Review:
Trump's Unacceptable Campaign Conduct and Two Other Takeaways from the Cohen Plea — Today, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen surprised America by pleading guilty to lying to Congress. You can read the complete criminal information here, but the summary is simple.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Atlantic, Vox and Viking Pundit
Greg Farrell / Bloomberg:
Cohen's Plea Suggests Russians Held ‘Kompromat’ on Trump — Kremlin knew of real-estate bid as Cohen publicy downplayed it — Moscow tower bid was active until mid-2016, Cohen now says — Michael Cohen's latest guilty plea revealed a closely guarded Trump business secret.
New York Times:
How a Lawyer, a Felon and a Russian General Chased a Moscow Trump Tower Deal — When Donald J. Trump took a run at building a tower in Moscow in the middle of his 2016 presidential campaign, it was the high point of a decades-long effort to plant the “Trump” flag there.
Discussion:
The Intercept, Breitbart, Hit & Run, Axios, Taylor Marsh and Washington Monthly
Michelle Goldberg / New York Times:
Trump Is Compromised by Russia — Michael Cohen's latest plea is proof. — One of the chief questions in the Trump-Russia scandal has been whether Vladimir Putin has leverage over the president of the United States, and, if so, what that leverage looks like.
Discussion:
CNN, ThinkProgress and Mediaite
Jeffrey Toobin / New Yorker:
The Legal Perils That Michael Cohen's Guilty Plea Poses for Donald Trump — The question at the heart of the Russia investigation has always been one of motive. Why has Donald Trump, both as a candidate and as the President, been so solicitous of Russia and of its leader, Vladimir Putin?
Discussion:
Washington Post, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Balloon Juice, The Intellectualist and ABC News
Ken White / The Atlantic:
Three Remarkable Things About Michael Cohen's Plea — Michael Cohen's decision to plead guilty to lying to Congress on Thursday was remarkable for three reasons. — The first was that Cohen walked into a Manhattan federal courtroom unannounced. He did it by surprise.
Discussion:
Shareblue Media, Patterico's Pontifications, Law & Crime and Hot Air
NBC News:
Senate committees scouring testimony for misleading statements in Russia probe
Senate committees scouring testimony for misleading statements in Russia probe
Discussion:
Washington Post, Raw Story and Political Wire
Wall Street Journal:
Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty to Lying to Congress About Effort to Build Moscow Tower
Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty to Lying to Congress About Effort to Build Moscow Tower
Discussion:
CNN, Conservative News Today, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, Breitbart, Daily Kos and ABC News
New York Times:
Cohen Lied. Here's Why It Matters
Cohen Lied. Here's Why It Matters
Discussion:
Washington Press, CBS Boston and Law & Crime
Washington Post:
‘We will be in Moscow’: The story of Trump's 30-year quest to expand his brand to Russia
‘We will be in Moscow’: The story of Trump's 30-year quest to expand his brand to Russia
Discussion:
One America News Network, Raw Story, WTOP, VICE News, Law & Crime, ABC News, Vox, New Republic, Little Green Footballs and Splinter
Allegra Kirkland / Talking Points Memo:
Trump Defenders Downplay New Cohen Plea: It's Just Perjury!
Trump Defenders Downplay New Cohen Plea: It's Just Perjury!
Discussion:
The Rush Limbaugh Show, NBC News, Fox News Insider, Hullabaloo and No More Mister Nice Blog
Gabby Orr / Politico:
Mueller stalks Trump abroad — again
Mueller stalks Trump abroad — again
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, One America News Network, Raw Story, CNBC and Politico
Peter Nicholas / Wall Street Journal:
Trump Canceling Planned Meeting With Russia's Putin Over Ukraine Situation
Trump Canceling Planned Meeting With Russia's Putin Over Ukraine Situation
Lawfare:
How to Read Michael Cohen's Latest Plea and Its Revelations About the Trump Organization
How to Read Michael Cohen's Latest Plea and Its Revelations About the Trump Organization
Discussion:
BuzzFeed News, Washington Post, Spectator USA and The Atlantic
Matthew Mosk / ABC News:
Michael Cohen's admission could put Don Jr., Trump Org staff in the crosshairs
Michael Cohen's admission could put Don Jr., Trump Org staff in the crosshairs
Discussion:
Breitbart and Political Wire
Colin Kalmbacher / Law & Crime:
Matthew Whitaker's Advance Knowledge of Cohen Plea Could Spell Trouble for Mueller
Matthew Whitaker's Advance Knowledge of Cohen Plea Could Spell Trouble for Mueller
Discussion:
Washington Post, Mediaite and Breitbart
Jerusalem Post:
Russia rejects Trump's canceled meeting, Kremlin ready for contact
Russia rejects Trump's canceled meeting, Kremlin ready for contact
Discussion:
Raw Story
New York Times:
Sheryl Sandberg Is Said to Have Asked Facebook Staff to Research George Soros — Sheryl Sandberg asked Facebook's communications staff to research George Soros's financial interests in the wake of his high-profile attacks on tech companies, according to three people with knowledge of her request …
Discussion:
Politico, Gizmodo, Engadget, Boing Boing, Washington Times, Bloomberg, Mashable and Mediaite, more at Techmeme »
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Ryan Mac / BuzzFeed News:
Sheryl Sandberg Requested Research On Billionaire George Soros — Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg requested research on a perceived company enemy, the billionaire George Soros, according to an internal email described to BuzzFeed News, and confirmed by Facebook.
Discussion:
Financial Times
Felicia Sonmez / Washington Post:
U.S. agency apologizes to George Soros after broadcast called him ‘multimillionaire Jew’
U.S. agency apologizes to George Soros after broadcast called him ‘multimillionaire Jew’
Discussion:
Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
The State:
Scott to oppose Farr nomination to federal bench in NC, ending chances of confirmation — Sen. Tim Scott said Thursday he will oppose the nomination of Thomas Farr to the federal bench, assuring the controversial pick will not be confirmed. — The South Carolina Republican was the deciding vote …
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Jessica Taylor / NPR:
Trump Judicial Nominee Set To Fail Amid Voter Suppression Charges
Trump Judicial Nominee Set To Fail Amid Voter Suppression Charges
Discussion:
Washington Post, Vox and Politico
Washington Post:
Certification in limbo in N.C. House race as fraud investigation continues — Mounting evidence of voter fraud in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District could indefinitely delay the certification of a winner, as state election officials investigate whether hundreds of absentee ballots were illegally cast or destroyed.
Discussion:
HuffPost
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Peter Hasson / The Daily Caller:
EXCLUSIVE: Google Employees Debated Burying Conservative Media In Search — Google employees debated whether to bury The Daily Caller and other conservative media outlets in the company's search function as a response to President Donald Trump's election — “Let's make sure …
Discussion:
RedState
Aidan McLaughlin / Mediaite:
EXCLUSIVE: CNN Fires Marc Lamont Hill Following Israel Comments — CNN severed ties with contributor Marc Lamont Hill on Thursday, following comments the university professor made about Israel and Palestine in a speech at the United Nations. — “Marc Lamont Hill is no longer under contract with CNN …
Discussion:
Fox News, Washington Post, Politico, Hot Air, Da Tech Guy Blog, The Intercept, Middle East Eye, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Daily Caller, CNN, twitchy.com, TVNewser, Splinter, TheBlaze, Algemeiner.com, Louder With Crowder, Daily Wire, Breitbart, Washington Times, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Deadline, Liberty Unyielding, Contemptor and Jewish Journal
Bernard E. Harcourt / The New York Review of Books:
How Trump Fuels the Fascist Right — President Trump makes constant use of the language and logic of the “new right,” a toxic blend of antebellum white supremacy, twentieth-century fascism, European far-right movements of the 1970s, and today's self-identified “alt-right.”
Christina Tudor / American Oversight:
New Guidance for Federal Employees' Political Activity Goes Too Far — This week, the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC) circulated troubling new Hatch Act guidance about the type of activity permitted for federal employees. The Hatch Act generally prohibits public employees from engaging …
Meridith McGraw / ABC News:
Vice President Mike Pence heading to Mexico for inauguration amid border tension — “Over the course of his presidency, Donald Trump has railed against Mexico over immigration, touted his plans for a border wall and threatened to close the Southern entry points between the two countries …
Discussion:
One America News Network
Elana Schor / Politico:
GOP unloads on Flake — Jeff Flake is finally taking a stand on the need to protect Robert Mueller — and it's infuriating his fellow Republicans. — The retiring Arizona senator is undermining the Senate GOP's efforts to approve as many lifetime-appointed federal judges as possible in the lame duck.
Discussion:
Vox, Shareblue Media and Raw Story
Politico:
Donald & Jean-Claude, a (kinda) love story — Donald Trump and Jean-Claude Juncker: It's a pairing that's weird, but somehow it seems to be a hit. — The U.S. president has burned through transatlantic relationships like a wildfire through a parched forest. With German Chancellor Angela Merkel, it was scorn at first sight.
Discussion:
One America News Network
Ryan Grim / The Intercept:
Joe Crowley's Parting Shot: Ousted by Ocasio-Cortez, He Undermined Barbara Lee in House Leadership Race — The election of Rep. Hakeem Jeffries as House Democratic Caucus chair on Wednesday represented a symbolic and substantive comeback for the wing of the party that had suffered a stunning defeat …
Discussion:
Splinter
Parker Molloy / New York Times:
How Twitter's Ban on ‘Deadnaming’ Promotes Free Speech — Trans people are less likely to speak up if they know they're going to be constantly told they don't exist. — Ms. Molloy is editor at large at Media Matters for America. — In September, Twitter announced changes to its …