Top Items:
Michael Isikoff / Yahoo News:
Mueller preparing end game for Russia investigation — WASHINGTON — Special counsel Robert Mueller's prosecutors have told defense lawyers in recent weeks that they are “tying up loose ends” in their investigation, providing the clearest clues yet that the long-running probe into Russia's interference …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, The Week, Taylor Marsh, KBZK, POLITICUSUSA, Axios and BuzzFeed News
RELATED:
Benjamin Weiser / New York Times:
Why Michael Cohen, Trump's Fixer, Confessed to It All — Of all of President Trump's former associates who have come under scrutiny in the special counsel's Russia investigation, his former personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, has undertaken perhaps the most surprising and risky legal strategy.
Deanna Paul / Washington Post:
Trump's latest tweets cross clear lines, experts say: Obstruction of justice and witness tampering — President Trump took to Twitter Monday morning, haranguing special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and witnesses to his ongoing Russia investigation. His tweets have become a common morning occurrence, particularly in recent weeks.
Discussion:
Raw Story, Mother Jones, RAPPLER, Hot Air and LifeZette
Elie Honig / CNN:
Mueller is about to have his say — in a big way — Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor, is a CNN legal analyst and a Rutgers University scholar. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion articles on CNN. — (CNN)Throughout his investigation …
USA Today:
Maybe now we know why Donald Trump won't criticize Vladimir Putin: Today's talker — President Donald Trump called for ex-lawyer Michael Cohen to receive a long prison sentence for his admitted crimes. Trump also accused special counsel Robert Mueller of seeking “lies” from witnesses.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Guardian and HuffPost
John Ziegler / Mediaite:
Here's What Trump's ‘Cult 45’ Refuses to Understand About the Michael Cohen Revelations — Whenever there is a new “bombshell” in the Russia probe, it is always important to remember that, unless Trump's base of political support starts to leave him, none of it really matters, except to those who are heading to prison.
Joe Bruno / WSOC-TV:
Channel 9 uncovers similarities between absentee ballots in U.S. House District 9 race — BLADEN COUNTY, N.C. - Channel 9 was back in Bladen County, North Carolina Monday, tracking down people involved in the controversy surrounding mail-in-absentee ballots in the U.S. House District 9 election.
Discussion:
Political Wire
RELATED:
The Charlotte Observer:
At center of voter fraud scandal, a convicted felon and ‘grassroots’ campaigner — A man who worked as an “independent contractor” for Republican Mark Harris' campaign in North Carolina's 9th Congressional District is a convicted felon who faced jail time for fraud and perjury, according to court records.
Discussion:
Mother Jones, CNN, The Week and Talking Points Memo
Washington Post:
North Carolina election-fraud investigation centers on operative with criminal history who worked for GOP congressional candidate — DUBLIN, N.C. — In a low-slung, aging commercial strip across the street from an online-gaming parlor here, a local operative named Leslie McCrae Dowless ran …
Ruth Graham / Slate:
Don't Spend Your Emotional Energy on Sully H.W. Bush — In January 2009, a pilot named Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger steered his struggling aircraft to a safe landing in the Hudson River and became a national hero. Almost 10 years later, a dog named for the pilot has become a beloved “hero” …
Discussion:
TheBlaze, The Resurgent, CBS New York, WGN-TV, France 24, AOL, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, Washington Times, Townhall, Associated Press, Washington Free Beacon, Click2Houston.com, NPR, ABC News, CNN, Mashable, Breitbart and LifeZette
Scott Bauer / Associated Press:
Wisconsin Republicans forge ahead with power-stripping bills — MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republicans moved quickly Monday with a rare lame-duck session that would change the 2020 presidential primary date to benefit a conservative Supreme Court justice and weaken the newly elected Democratic governor and attorney general.
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Feeds, CBS Chicago, Political Wire, American Prospect and The Guardian
RELATED:
New York Times:
Stung by Election Losses, Republicans in the States Seek a Way to Neutralize Democrats
Stung by Election Losses, Republicans in the States Seek a Way to Neutralize Democrats
Discussion:
Mother Jones, Crooked Media, Media Matters for America and Raw Story
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
Republicans advance plan to limit Democrats' power, drop proposal to move 2020 presidential primary
Molly Beck / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
GOP Senate leader Scott Fitzgerald: 'We don't trust Tony Evers right now'
GOP Senate leader Scott Fitzgerald: 'We don't trust Tony Evers right now'
Discussion:
ABC News, Lawyers, Guns & Money and HuffPost
Shawn Donnan / Bloomberg:
Trump's Advisers Struggle to Explain Deal He Says He Cut With Xi — President hails ‘extraordinary’ dinner with Chinese leader — Kudlow says China made ‘commitments’ to ‘presumably implement’ — President Donald Trump left his top advisers scrambling on Monday to explain …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Splinter, Fox News Insider, Vox, CleanTechnica, Wall Street Journal, The Daily Caller, Electrek and Political Wire
RELATED:
Jim Puzzanghera / Los Angeles Times:
Senior aides push back on Trump's claim that China agreed to cut auto tariffs
Senior aides push back on Trump's claim that China agreed to cut auto tariffs
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, Washington Post, Mother Jones and The Verge
Jonathan Swan / Axios:
White House corrects Kudlow: 90-day U.S.-China trade truce began Dec. 1
White House corrects Kudlow: 90-day U.S.-China trade truce began Dec. 1
Discussion:
One America News Network and Breitbart
New York Times:
Manafort Tried to Broker Deal With Ecuador to Hand Assange Over to U.S. — WASHINGTON — In mid-May 2017, Paul Manafort, facing intensifying pressure to settle debts and pay mounting legal bills, flew to Ecuador to offer his services to a potentially lucrative new client — the country's incoming president, Lenín Moreno.
Allan Smith / NBC News:
Trump hailed Roger Stone for standing up to Mueller. Some legal experts said that's tampering. — The president spoke out after his former associate said that he would never testify against him. — Praised Donald Trump on Monday praised former longtime associate Roger Stone for promising never …
Discussion:
POLITICUSUSA, Daily Wire and Law & Crime
RELATED:
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Trump wants the process to be hopelessly tainted
Trump wants the process to be hopelessly tainted
Discussion:
The Guardian, Lawfare and New York Daily News
Michael Caputo / gofundme.com:
GUTS FUND: Roger Stone's Legal Fund
Zoya Sheftalovich / Politico:
EU top judge: UK can unilaterally withdraw Article 50 — The U.K. has the power to unilaterally revoke the notification of its intention to leave the EU before it quits on March 29, 2019, the European Court of Justice's advocate general said Tuesday. — Article 50 of the EU treaty allows countries …
Discussion:
One America News Network
RELATED:
Tami Abdollah / Associated Press:
Subpoenas to begin for Trump records in emoluments case — WASHINGTON (AP) — The attorneys general of the District of Columbia and Maryland say they're moving forward with subpoenas for records in their case accusing President Donald Trump of profiting off the presidency.
Discussion:
Political Wire
Wall Street Journal:
CIA Director Gina Haspel to Brief Lawmakers Tuesday on Saudi Journalist's Death — CIA Director Gina Haspel will brief lawmakers on Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's death on Tuesday. Several on Capitol Hill had criticized the Trump administration after she was absent from a briefing on the killing last week.
Discussion:
The Atlantic, Mediaite and Talking Points Memo, more at Mediagazer »
RELATED:
Karoun Demirjian / Washington Post:
CIA Director Gina Haspel to brief key senators behind closed doors about Khashoggi killing
CIA Director Gina Haspel to brief key senators behind closed doors about Khashoggi killing
Discussion:
Splinter
Sarah K. Burris / Raw Story:
After losing women in midterms — Republicans will let Violence Against Women Act expire as their final act of Congress — One of the final acts of the Republicans in the House and Senate will be to allow the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) to expire in two weeks before their recess.
Discussion:
KBZK, Shareblue Media and Washington Post
RELATED:
Katherine Tully-McManus / Roll Call:
[Correction] Violence Against Women Act Extension Included in Latest Spending Proposal
Jerry Iannelli / Miami New Times:
South Florida QAnon Cop Gets Demoted From SWAT Team … This past Friday, Broward Sheriff's Office SWAT member Matt Patten wore a QAnon conspiracy-theory patch while greeting Vice President Mike Pence at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Today Patten was reprimanded and demoted …
Discussion:
BuzzFeed News, AOL, Splinter, Talking Points Memo, Contemptor and Mediaite
RELATED:
Will Sommer / The Daily Beast:
Sheriff Punishes SWAT Officer Who Wore QAnon Patch in Pence Photo
Sheriff Punishes SWAT Officer Who Wore QAnon Patch in Pence Photo
Discussion:
CBS Miami
Associated Press:
In Capitol, Bush remembered as ‘great man’ and ‘gentle soul’ — WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's capital embraced George H.W. Bush in death with solemn ceremony and high tributes to his service and decency, as the remains of the 41st president took their place in the Capitol rotunda for three days …
Discussion:
Politico and Washington Post
RELATED:
Rachel Weiner / Washington Post:
Ex-Marine admits he lured Seth Rich conspiracy theorist Jack Burkman to a hotel parking garage, then shot him — A man who worked as an investigator for conspiracy theorist Jack Burkman will serve nine years in prison for shooting and wounding his ex-boss in a complicated plot involving a fake FBI exposé.
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money, Law & Crime and Talking Points Memo
Meredith Lerner / CREW:
Betsy DeVos' Financial Disclosure Fails to Account for Divestiture of 24 Assets — Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos' Annual 2018 financial disclosure report, obtained by CREW last week, has not been certified by the Office of Government Ethics more than six months after it was filed and fails …
Sara Ashley O'Brien / CNN:
Tim Cook: Hate has ‘no place’ on Apple's platforms — (CNN)"We only have one message for those who seek to push hate, division and violence: You have no place on our platforms," Apple CEO Tim Cook said Monday, emphasizing, “You have no home here.” — Cook delivered this message while accepting …
Discussion:
Daily Wire
Lisa Hagen / The Hill:
Beto O'Rourke seen as a top contender in 2020: poll — Rep. Beto O'Rourke (D-Texas) is considered one of the top Democratic contenders for the White House in 2020 even among more well-known potential hopefuls, according to a Harvard CAPS/Harris poll released exclusively to The Hill.
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Washington Times, Townhall, Hot Air, Political Wire and Wall Street Journal