Top Items:
Peter Baker / New York Times:
Trump Confronts the Prospect of a ‘Nonstop Political War’ for Survival — WASHINGTON — So it has come to this: The president of the United States was asked over the weekend whether he is a Russian agent. And he refused to answer. — The question, which came from a friendly interviewer …
Discussion:
Mother Jones, The Mahablog, AOL, Common Dreams, Splinter, Vox, The Guardian, Politico, Axios, Contemptor, Talking Points Memo, Radio Free Europe, Fox News and Daily Kos
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Strobe Talbott / Politico:
It's Already Collusion — On Friday, the New York Times revealed an FBI investigation whether Candidate Trump had colluded—the word he hates and denies—with Russians to help his campaign. The next day, the Washington Post probed into President Trump's refusal to let his own government …
Discussion:
illegal immigration …, AOL, Mediaite, RedState, WGNO, Bloomberg, NPR, Daily Kos, Balloon Juice and Raw Story
Max Boot / Washington Post:
Here are 18 reasons Trump could be a Russian asset — On Friday, the New York Times reported that “in the days after President Trump fired James B. Comey as F.B.I. director, law enforcement officials became so concerned by the president's behavior that they began investigating whether …
Tom Nichols / USA Today:
All signs point the same way: Vladimir Putin has compromising information on Donald Trump — Trump's behavior toward Russia has always been a security concern, and the FBI had no choice but to open a counterintelligence operation. It did its job. — CONNECT
Discussion:
CNN, ABC News and illegal immigration …
Andrew McCarthy / Fox News:
FBI Russia investigation was always about Trump — McCarthy on the Russia investigation: I really think that the investigation was about Trump from the beginning — On Friday night, the New York Times published what was clearly intended to be a blockbuster report that …
Discussion:
Fox News Insider, Power Line, Viking Pundit and IJR
Betsy Woodruff / The Daily Beast:
Kremlin Blessed Russia's NRA Operation, U.S. Intel Report Says — When Maria Butina and Alexander Torshin's brought NRA bigwigs to Moscow, it wasn't a rogue mission. It was okayed from the very top, according to a report reviewed by The Beast. — Betsy Woodruff
Jack Goldsmith / Lawfare:
On What Grounds Can the FBI Investigate the President as a Counterintelligence Threat?
On What Grounds Can the FBI Investigate the President as a Counterintelligence Threat?
Discussion:
The Guardian, emptywheel, AOL, Front Page Magazine and New York Times
Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
No president has ever been asked: Are you a Russian agent?
No president has ever been asked: Are you a Russian agent?
Discussion:
New York Times, Mediaite and RedState
Asha Rangappa / Washington Post:
The FBI can't neutralize a security threat if the president is the threat
The FBI can't neutralize a security threat if the president is the threat
Discussion:
Raw Story, Washington Free Beacon and BuzzFeed News
Catherine Herridge / Fox News:
Republican uncovered secret FBI debate over Trump motivation for Comey firing during House questioning
Republican uncovered secret FBI debate over Trump motivation for Comey firing during House questioning
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit
Timothy L. O'Brien / Bloomberg:
Trump, Putin and a Test of Presidential Power
Trump, Putin and a Test of Presidential Power
Discussion:
New York Times, AOL and CNN
David Edwards / Raw Story:
Lindsey Graham rips FBI over report Trump was suspected Russian agent: 'I don't trust them as far as I can throw them'
Lindsey Graham rips FBI over report Trump was suspected Russian agent: 'I don't trust them as far as I can throw them'
Discussion:
Washington Press, Mother Jones and FOX6Now.com
Will Bunch / Philly.com:
Bernie Sanders is the leader America needs now. Just NOT by running for president in 2020
Bernie Sanders is the leader America needs now. Just NOT by running for president in 2020
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway and Raw Story
Jonathan Swan / Axios:
Scoop: Trump dressed down Mulvaney in front of congressional leaders — President Trump chastised his new chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, over his handling of shutdown talks, creating an awkward scene in front of congressional leaders of both parties, according to two sources who were present.
Washington Post:
‘They screwed this whole thing up’: Inside the attempt to derail Trump's erratic Syria withdrawal — President Trump dispatched national security adviser John Bolton on a cleanup mission a week ago, with a three-day itinerary in Israel that was intended to reassure a close ally …
Discussion:
Politico, Mother Jones, CNN, Bloomberg, Agence France-Presse, Raw Story, Axios, twitchy.com and Sputnik International
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Dion Nissenbaum / Wall Street Journal:
White House Sought Options to Strike Iran — State and Pentagon officials were rattled by the request — WASHINGTON—On a warm night in early September, militants fired three mortars into Baghdad's sprawling diplomatic quarter, home to the U.S. Embassy. — The shells—launched …
Andrew Kaczynski / CNN:
Tulsi Gabbard once touted working for anti-gay group that backed conversion therapy — (CNN)Rep. Tulsi Gabbard in the early 2000s touted working for her father's anti-gay organization, which mobilized to pass a measure against same-sex marriage in Hawaii and promoted controversial conversion therapy.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Splinter, Mediaite, Outside the Beltway, LGBTQ Nation and Mother Jones
Cara Lombardo / Wall Street Journal:
Hedge-Fund-Backed Media Group Prepares Bid for Gannett — Digital First Media has taken 7.5% stake in USA Today publisher, seeks other bids — A hedge-fund-backed media group known for buying up struggling local papers and cutting costs is planning to make an offer for USA Today publisher …
Catherine Lucey / Associated Press:
Analysis: Stagecraft won't win shutdown battle for Trump — WASHINGTON (AP) — Military salutes. Heaps of contraband. Oval Office optics. — President Donald Trump, who has long put a premium on stagecraft, is discovering he cannot resolve the partial government shutdown simply by putting on a show.
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Quinn Scanlan / ABC News:
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer 'don't want to reach a solution …
Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer 'don't want to reach a solution …
Discussion:
Politico
Associated Press:
Judge blocks Trump birth control coverage rules in 13 states — OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A U.S. judge in California on Sunday blocked Trump administration rules, which would allow more employers to opt out of providing women with no-cost birth control, from taking effect in 13 states and Washington, D.C.
Washington Post:
Revelations about Manafort's 2016 interactions with Russian associate show special counsel's intense focus on Russia contacts — New revelations about Paul Manafort's interactions with a Russian associate while he was leading President Trump's campaign provide a window into how extensively …
Dalton Ross / EW.com:
Anthony Scaramucci among 12 new Celebrity Big Brother houseguests — Former White House Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci will be among 12 new contestants competing on season 2 of Big Brother: Celebrity Edition when the reality show hosted by Julie Chen Moonves premieres Monday, Jan. 21 on CBS.
Discussion:
Breitbart, Mediaite and news.avclub.com
Shane Goldmacher / New York Times:
Ocasio-Cortez Pushes Democrats to the Left, Whether They Like It or Not — WASHINGTON — Not so long ago, left-wing activists were dismissed as fringe or even kooky when they pressed for proposals to tax the super rich at 70 percent, to produce all of America's power through renewable resources …
Discussion:
twitchy.com
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Neal Rothschild / Axios:
Ocasio-Cortez is driving more Twitter conversation than the top 5 news companies combined
Ocasio-Cortez is driving more Twitter conversation than the top 5 news companies combined
Discussion:
Hullabaloo
CNN:
CNN Poll: Trump bears most blame for shutdown — WASHINGTON (CNN)Amid the longest government shutdown in US history, a majority say Donald Trump bears more responsibility for it than the Democrats in Congress, and the President's disapproval rating has climbed five points since last month, according to a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS.
Discussion:
WTVR-TV, Talking Points Memo, POLITICUSUSA, Washington Post, Daily Wire, Splinter, Daily Kos, Hot Air, Mother Jones, Vox, Politico, AOL, Outside the Beltway and New York Times
House Committee on Oversight and Reform:
House Chairmen Issue Warning After President's Statements on Cohen Testimony — Washington D.C. (Jan. 13, 2019)—Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Rep. Adam Schiff, and Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the Chairmen of the House Committees on Oversight and Reform, Intelligence, and the Judiciary …
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Washington Press and Axios
Jonathan Swan / Axios:
“There isn't a clear path to an exit”: Officials see Washington stuck in shutdown mode — I've spent the weekend calling Trump administration and congressional sources to get a read on what's going to happen with the government shutdown. Nobody could confidently describe the exit ramp, and it seems there's no immediate end in sight.
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Aubree Eliza Weaver / Politico:
Ron Johnson would ‘hate to see’ a national emergency
Ron Johnson would ‘hate to see’ a national emergency
Discussion:
Breitbart