memeorandum: New York is charmed by a stunning Mandarin duck that mysteriously ended up in Central Park (Sonja Sharp/Los Angeles Times)

8:15 PM ET, December 2, 2018

Top Items:

Jonathan Martin / New York Times:

Despite Big House Losses, G.O.P. Shows No Signs of Course Correction — WASHINGTON — With a brutal finality, the extent of the Republicans' collapse in the House came into focus last week as more races slipped away from them and their losses neared 40 seats.

Discussion: Hullabaloo and Political Wire

Julia Davis / The Daily Beast:

Putin's Media Roasts Trump: Russia ‘Should Spit’ on Him and the United States — The on-again-off-again non-meeting with Putin at the G20 was played for laughs in the Kremlin's official media—but with an angry edge. — Following the abrupt cancellation of Donald Trump's G20 meeting …

Discussion: One America News Network, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, CNN and KTLA

Andrew Restuccia / Politico:

The art of the G-20, by Donald Trump — President Donald Trump said his trade agreement with China was “one of the largest deals ever made.” He dubbed his new accord with Canada and Mexico the “most significant, modern and balanced trade agreement in history.”

Discussion: One America News Network

Jonathan Swan / Axios:

How December could define Trump — One night in Buenos Aires could define Donald Trump's presidency. Within a few hours, Trump telegraphed ambivalence about the two issues that have defined his time in politics: China and the wall. — Why it matters: Trump's comments mean the next three months may define his presidency.

Discussion: Raw Story, One America News Network and Politico

The White House:
Presidential Message on Hanukkah

Discussion: Breitbart, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Deadline

The White House:
Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding the President's Working Dinner with China

Discussion: NPR, Bloomberg, Zero Hedge, Associated Press, BBC, Engadget, RedState, Mother Jones, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Daily Caller, CNBC, IJR, CNN, HuffPost, New York Times and South China Morning Post

Ben Kamisar / NBC News:

Cohen cooperation is proof of Russian ‘leverage’ over Trump, incoming House Judiciary chairman says — “The time that he can get away with lying to the American people all the time and evading accountability is coming to an end,” Rep. Nadler said. — WASHINGTON — New York Democrat Jerry Nadler …

Discussion: Mother Jones, Daily Kos, Contemptor, The Guardian and twitchy.com

Kris Schneider / ABC News:

Top House Intel committee Democrat says Trump and his business were ‘compromised’ — Rep. Adam Schiff, the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said that there is now a witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation, President Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen …

Discussion: Washington Post, POLITICUSUSA, AOL, Breitbart, Politico and First Draft

Kevin Breuninger / CNBC:
James Comey reaches deal with Congressional Republicans to testify about 2016 investigations, drops legal challenge

Discussion: New York Times, TheBlaze, ThinkProgress and The Gateway Pundit

Kelsey Tamborrino / Politico:
Blunt: Lying to Senate panel ‘a big mistake’

Discussion: Breitbart

CNN:

Jamal Khashoggi's private WhatsApp messages may offer new clues to killing — London (CNN)In his public writings, Jamal Khashoggi's criticism of Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was measured. In private, the Washington Post columnist didn't hold back.

Discussion: Mediaite

Washington Post:
Saudi crown prince exchanged messages with aide alleged to have overseen Khashoggi killing

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA, ABC News and NPR

Thomas Boswell / Washington Post:

George H.W. Bush had a love of sports and an affinity for at least one sportswriter — One day nearly 30 years ago, I got a call at home from the sports department of The Washington Post. — “You said not to give your home phone number to anybody,” a young news aide said. “But can I give it to the president?”

Discussion: Axios, Politico, New York Times, The Atlantic and TheBlaze

Stuart Stevens / The Daily Beast: George H.W.'s World Modeled the American Greatness Trump Only Talks About

Franklin Foer / The Atlantic:
The Last WASP President — The world overflows with affection …

Discussion: Washington Post, twitchy.com, ThinkProgress and Deadline

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

The Patrician President and the Reporterette: a Screwball Story — My faithful correspondent, Poppy Bush, scribbling and typing notes through decades of history. — Nobody understood our relationship — least of all us. — It was, admittedly, odd. — “I like you,” the first President Bush wrote …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog

Opheli Garcia Lawler / The Cut:

Michelle Obama Is Done With the Gospel of ‘Lean In’ — Michelle Obama set the record straight during an appearance at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Saturday night, one of the many stops on her Becoming book tour. Speaking about work life balance, and finding a way to excel in your career and marriage …

Discussion: Mediaite

Sonja Sharp / Los Angeles Times:

New York is charmed by a stunning Mandarin duck that mysteriously ended up in Central Park … He was first spotted in early October, napping in the duck pond in Central Park. — “I never saw a bird like that in my life,” said 52-year-old Joe Amato of Queens, who was among the first to film him.

Politico:

Trump assents to shutdown delay — ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — President Donald Trump and congressional leaders are getting ready to punt on a major shutdown fight over Trump's border wall for at least a week. — The president said he would back a two-week delay of a government shutdown battle …

Discussion: Axios and Talking Points Memo

@thebudgetguy:
This Is The Real Reason This Friday's Shutdown Deadline Might Be Delayed

Discussion: Hullabaloo, CNN, Political Wire and Washington Post

Roey Hadar / ABC News:
Colin Powell, James Baker remember former President George H.W. Bush

Discussion: Washington Post, Politico, The Daily Caller, The Moderate Voice and FiveThirtyEight

Alissa J. Rubin / New York Times:

Macron Returns to Turmoil, as France Weighs State of Emergency — PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron returned to France on Sunday from a summit meeting in Argentina to find his country in turmoil after a day of violent protests, surveying the destruction for himself even as his government weighed declaring a state of emergency.

Discussion: Townhall and The Atlantic

Sylvie Corbet / Associated Press:
Worst riot in a decade engulfs Paris; Macron vows action

Discussion: CNBC, ThinkProgress, The Hill, The Daily Caller and The Week

Reuters: Roving gangs of “yellow vest” militants set heart of Paris ablaze

Genie Gratto / NBC News:

Sen. Kamala Harris nears decision on 2020 presidential bid — “Over the holiday, I will make that decision with my family,” she told Mika Brzezinski at the Know Your Value conference in San Francisco on Saturday. — Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris of California announced on Saturday …

Discussion: Washington Post, HuffPost and Axios

Quint Forgey / Politico:
Harris to make 2020 decision ‘over the holiday’

Discussion: CNN, VTDigger and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Curtains for the Clintons — TORONTO — The snow is falling lightly. — My thoughts are racing darkly. — I'm feeling something foreign, something I've never felt before. It takes me a moment to identify it. — I'm feeling sorry for the Clintons.

Discussion: The American Conservative, Lawyers, Guns & Money and The Daily Caller

New York Times:

He's Built an Empire, With Detained Migrant Children as the Bricks — The founder of Southwest Key made millions off of housing migrant children. His nonprofit has stockpiled taxpayer dollars and possibly engaged in self-dealing with top executives. — Juan Sanchez grew up along …

Alex Seitz-Wald / NBC News:

Obama aides say Beto O'Rourke reminds them of the ex-president. Obama agrees. — Ex-staffers have reached out to the Texas Democrat to offer advice — and encouragement — as he weighs a bid for the White House. — WASHINGTON — Rep. Beto O'Rourke may have lost in Texas, but he's winning in Obamaland.

Discussion: Political Wire

Adam Behsudi / Politico:

Trump says he will withdraw from NAFTA, pressuring Congress to approve new trade deal — ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — President Donald Trump said Saturday he intends to formally notify Canada and Mexico of his intention to withdraw from the nearly 25-year-old North American Free Trade Agreement in six months.

Discussion: ABC News and Splinter

Alexander Bolton / The Hill:
Trump's new NAFTA faces uphill battle in Congress

Discussion: Washington Post

Natasha Korecki / Politico:

'He's going through a pretty rough time': Avenatti crashes and burns — Michael Avenatti's cable TV bookings have dwindled. He was uninvited from one prominent Democratic event and skipped out on another. Now his highest-profile client is bringing new allegations against him.

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Law & Crime and Mediaite

William March / Tampa Bay Times:

Ross Spano acknowledges possible ‘violation’ of campaign finance law — The newly elected congressman made a news release Saturday. — Newly elected congressman Ross Spano has acknowledged that his campaign financing “may have been in violation” of federal law.

Ashley Southall / New York Times:

Found: Lovebirds Who Lost an Engagement Ring Down a Times Square Grate — He liked it, so he put a ring on it. — But it was too big and it slipped off, disappearing Friday night into the abyss of a Times Square sidewalk grate, mere hours after a romantic New York City wedding proposal.

Aron Heller / Associated Press:

Israeli police recommend indicting Netanyahu in telecom case — JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli police on Sunday recommended indicting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on bribery charges related to a corruption case involving Israel's telecom giant, prompting immediate calls for his resignation.