Top Items:
Associated Press:
Trump call with Turkish leader led to US pullout from Syria — WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from Syria was made hastily, without consulting his national security team or allies, and over strong objections from virtually everyone involved …
Discussion:
Joe.My.God. and Political Wire
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Axios:
Pre-Christmas Trump: Rebuked, rampaging — The last member of an informal alliance of top Trump officials with enough swat or stature to stand up to President Trump — the Committee to Save America, as Jim VandeHei and I called these officials 16 months ago — resigned in epic fashion.
Discussion:
Reuters, New York Times, Associated Press, Althouse, Political Wire, The Week, Mediaite, The Guardian and Politico
Axios:
What should worry Trump most: Republican allies are turning on him — Another reason this is a historic week — and what President Trump should really worry about — is that lots of different Republicans have been turning on him over different topics. — Why it matters: A former Trump aide …
Discussion:
Politico, Joe.My.God., One America News Network, POLITICUSUSA and Raw Story
Helene Cooper / New York Times:
Jim Mattis, Defense Secretary, Resigns in Rebuke of Trump's Worldview — WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, whose experience and stability were widely seen as a balance to an unpredictable president, resigned Thursday in protest of President Trump's decision to withdraw American forces …
Discussion:
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Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
Brian Kilmeade Goes Off on Sarah Sanders Over Syria: Trump Just ‘Refounded ISIS’ By Leaving — Brian Kilmeade grilled Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday by saying President Trump essentially “refounded ISIS” if he pulls the U.S. military out of Syria. — The White House press secretary gave …
Discussion:
Joe.My.God. and Taylor Marsh
Washington Post:
‘A tailspin’: Under siege, Trump propels the government and markets into crisis — President Trump began Thursday under siege, listening to howls of indignation from conservatives over his border wall and thrusting the government toward a shutdown. He ended it by announcing the exit …
Discussion:
Politico, Bloomberg, New Republic, National Review, Hit & Run, CNBC, Outside the Beltway, The Gateway Pundit, Axios, The New Civil Rights Movement, KXLF-TV, The American Spectator, CNN, NPR, Raw Story, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, The American Conservative, Townhall, Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times, The Daily Beast and The Hill
Jamie Ross / The Daily Beast:
Trump Already Souring on Next Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney Over ‘Terrible Human Being’ Jibe, Says Report — Donald Trump is reportedly already turning on Mick Mulvaney—who hasn't even started his new job as acting White House chief of staff yet—due to a two-year-old video uncovered by The Daily Beast …
Discussion:
The Resurgent and POLITICUSUSA
Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
Mattis Puts Trump's Presidency in Peril — This resignation stings because it's not about policy, it's about values. — Donald Trump may not know it yet, but his presidency is collapsing. — His tweets Thursday announcing the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis by the end of February were polite and respectful.
Discussion:
Jewish Insider
New York Times:
U.S. to Withdraw About 7,000 Troops From Afghanistan, Officials Say — President Trump made the decision at the same time he decided he was pulling American forces out of Syria, one official said. — Turmoil in Congress, National Security and Markets: The State of Play — A lot has happened in the last couple days.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, Politico and Wonkette
Erin Dunne / Washington Examiner:
In leaving Syria, the US sells out its Kurdish allies to bloodthirsty Turkey — In the fight against the Islamic State, the Kurds have been our best and most reliable ally. In Syria, in partnership with U.S. Special Operations, the Kurdish-led militia, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces …
Discussion:
The Hill, The Resurgent and NPR
Associated Press:
Analysis: As advisers leave, Trump's guardrails come off — WASHINGTON (AP) — Last year, during one particularly frenetic stretch in Donald Trump's presidency, a top Republican senator said there were three men guarding the country from chaos: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis …
Paul Kane / Washington Post:
In budget brinkmanship, Republicans once again hold themselves hostage — House Republicans are ending their eight-year run in the majority exactly the way it began — grabbing a hostage and seeking ransom. — This week's standoff, like so many others this decade, pits an alienated House GOP caucus …
Dan Crenshaw / Washington Post:
Why guys like me go to places like Syria
Discussion:
Townhall, Washington Times and Politico
Joyce Karam / The National:
Trump decided to leave Syria after call with Erdogan, says US defence official
Nahal Toosi / Politico:
A ‘Never Trumper’ bets on Trump, and loses
Discussion:
Defense One, One America News Network, Raw Story, CNN, Washington Post and Al Jazeera
The Daily Beast:
Fear Mounts as Mattis Quits Pentagon
Discussion:
The Guardian, CNN, RedState and Politico
Washington Post:
Turkish president announces delay of planned offensive in Syria, welcomes Trump decision to pull out troops
The Daily Beast:
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' Resignation Message to Trump Is Basically ‘F*** This’
Discussion:
New York Times, ABC News, Washington Post, Washington Free Beacon, Politico, Just Security, One America News Network and Breitbart
Wall Street Journal:
Trump Administration Is Considering Substantial Afghan Troop Drawdown
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Politico, KXLF-TV, HuffPost, The Guardian, CNN, Hullabaloo, The Daily Caller, The New Civil Rights Movement, Reuters, The Defense Post, Raw Story, KTLA, Breitbart, POLITICUSUSA, Defense One, Splinter, USNI News, Hit & Run, AOL, Task & Purpose, Mediaite, BuzzFeed News and Daily Wire
Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
Kilmeade Blasts Trump's Syria Withdrawal: We're Abandoning Kurds Who are ‘Three Weeks from Total Slaughter’
Discussion:
Splinter
Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
With Mattis out, we're in uncharted territory
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, Raw Story, twitchy.com, Washington Free Beacon and Lawyers, Guns & Money
Fred Kaplan / Slate:
The Last Grown-Up Is Gone — James Mattis is not “retiring with distinction.”
Discussion:
The Atlantic, NPR and The Guardian
Politico:
POLITICO Playbook: Hurtling toward a shutdown
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post and Sydney Morning Herald
Paul Szoldra / Task & Purpose:
In 2014, Mattis Said What Would Make Him Resign In Protest. In 2018, He Actually Did It
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Post, Axios and The Week
Julia Ioffe / Washington Post:
Please don't wish me ‘Merry Christmas’ — It's impolite and alienating to assume I follow your religion. — 'Twas five nights before Christmas, and my Lyft driver was the umpteenth person to wish me a “Merry Christmas” that day. He probably just meant it the way most people do …
Discussion:
twitchy.com
Jeffrey Goldberg / The Atlantic:
Mattis Always Understood Trump's Severe Defects — In the spring of 2016, not long after The Atlantic published an article I had written about President Obama's foreign-policy record, I visited the Hoover Institution, a think tank on the campus of Stanford University, where James Mattis …
Discussion:
The Week
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David Frum / The Atlantic:
No More Excuses — For almost two full years, James Mattis …
Discussion:
Vox, New York Times, CNN and The Root
NBC News:
Founder of viral fundraiser for Trump's border wall has questionable news past — Brian Kolfage told NBC News he didn't want to mention his previous projects because he “didn't want it to be a distraction.” — An internet fundraiser for Donald Trump's border wall took in more than $7 million …
Discussion:
USA Today, HuffPost, AOL, Media Matters for America and Snopes.com
New York Times:
A Top Aide's Exit Plan Raises Eyebrows in the White House — WASHINGTON — After weeks of discussions about his future, Zachary D. Fuentes, the 36-year-old deputy White House chief of staff, had a plan. — Mr. Fuentes told colleagues that after his mentor, John F. Kelly …
Jonathan Andrews / ODNI Newsroom:
DNI Coats Statement on the Resignation of Secretary Mattis — I was deeply saddened to learn the news that General Mattis will resign from his post as Secretary of Defense at the end of February. — DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE — WASHINGTON, DC 20511 — December 21, 2018
Discussion:
Politico
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David Rothkopf / The Daily Beast:
Mattis' Message to the World: Trump Is Out of Control
Discussion:
CNN, Washington Free Beacon and Patterico's Pontifications
James N. Mattis / Washington Post:
Read the Jim Mattis resignation letter
Discussion:
The Daily Signal and The Moderate Voice
Washington Post:
Ethics officials said Whitaker should recuse from the Mueller probe, but his advisers told him not to, officials say — A senior Justice Department ethics official concluded acting attorney general Matthew G. Whitaker should recuse from overseeing special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's probe …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Washington Press, Bloomberg, Raw Story, Hot Air, emptywheel, Reuters, RedState, Hullabaloo, Lawfare, Townhall and National Review
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NBC News:
Mueller may submit report to attorney general as soon as mid-February, say sources
Discussion:
Law & Crime and The Week
Natasha Bertrand / The Atlantic:
The Special Counsel Is Bearing Down on Roger Stone
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Washington Post and Washington Press
Washington Post:
As stocks drop, Trump fears he's losing his best argument for re-election — President Trump has kept an almost obsessive watch on the stock market as it has lurched lower in recent weeks. — He has complained to aides how unfair it is that he is blamed for the market's slide …
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Michael Gerson / Washington Post:
If Trump's actions aren't impeachable, then what is? — As Mueller time approaches, it is likely that President Trump's defense will consist of two phrases: “But that is not illegal” and “But that is not impeachable.” — It is a strategy that prevails by the lowering of standards.
Discussion:
RedState
Tyler Pager / New York Times:
After Big Losses, a N.Y. House Republican Clashes With Her Party — She arrived in Washington as a rising star, the youngest woman ever elected to Congress, and she quickly won leadership positions and garnered effusive praise from her party leaders. — Now, not even four years later …
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