Top Items:
Rachel Weiner / Washington Post:
Paul Manafort a ‘hardened’ and ‘bold’ criminal, Mueller prosecutors tell judge — Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort “repeatedly and brazenly violated the law” and shows a “hardened adherence to committing crimes,” prosecutors told a Washington federal judge.
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money and Joe.My.God.
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Associated Press:
Court records reveal a Mueller report right in plain view — WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was in full deflection mode. — The Democrats had blamed Russia for the hacking and release of damaging material on his presidential opponent, Hillary Clinton. Trump wasn't buying it.
New York Times:
Russian Spy or Hustling Political Operative? The Enigmatic Figure at the Heart of Mueller's Inquiry — WASHINGTON — In the nearly two years that the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, has been investigating whether there was collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign …
Zachary Basu / Axios:
Robert Mueller files 800+ page sentencing memo for Paul Manafort — Special counsel Robert Mueller has filed a sentencing memo for President Trump's former campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mueller does not take a position on how much time in prison Manafort should serve, but accuses him of …
Discussion:
Politico, ABC News and One America News Network
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Katelyn Polantz / CNN:
Prosecutors say Manafort's ‘criminal actions were bold’ in redacted sentencing memo — Mueller's Manafort filing today may provide important info — (CNN)In the sentencing memo for Paul Manafort, prosecutors from special counsel Robert Mueller's office wrote that the former Trump campaign chairman's …
Discussion:
Political Wire and Law & Crime
Katelyn Polantz / CNN:
Mueller filing on Manafort sentencing still not public after midnight deadline — Why Mueller cares about Manafort & Gates — Washington (CNN)The public will have to wait a little longer to read Paul Manafort's sentencing memo from special counsel Robert Mueller.
Washington Post:
Four dead, 24 injured after pro-government militias open fire on Venezuela-Brazil border — The standoff between Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and opposition leader Juan Guaidó continued to intensify Saturday as the two sides clashed over delivery of humanitarian aid into the impoverished country.
Discussion:
Mother Jones, Townhall, CNN, New York Times, The Week and Bloomberg
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Associated Press:
Soldiers unleash tear gas amid tension on Venezuela's border
Soldiers unleash tear gas amid tension on Venezuela's border
Discussion:
New York Times and Joe.My.God.
Stephania Taladrid / New Yorker:
Venezuela's Food Crisis Reaches a Breaking Point
Carrie Kahn / NPR:
Trump's Venezuela Moves Follow Long History Of Intervention In Latin America
Trump's Venezuela Moves Follow Long History Of Intervention In Latin America
Discussion:
Washington Post
Kevin Roose / New York Times:
Do Not Disturb: How I Ditched My Phone and Unbroke My Brain — My name is Kevin, and I have a phone problem. — And if you're anything like me — and the statistics suggest you probably are, at least where smartphones are concerned — you have one, too. — I don't love referring to what we have as an “addiction.”
John Bowden / The Hill:
Judge tosses North Carolina mandatory voter ID amendment citing gerrymandering — A judge in North Carolina on Friday tossed out the state's constitutional amendment requiring a voter ID, citing prevalent gerrymandering in the state's General Assembly. — Wake County Superior Court Judge …
Discussion:
Splinter, Raleigh News & Observer, Joe.My.God., Axios and myfox8.com
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New York Times:
Republican Cries Against Voter Fraud Go Mostly Quiet After Scheme Tied to Party — RALEIGH, N.C. — Republican politicians across the country have for years railed against the threat of voter fraud. Some have made unproven claims about how rampant it has become in order to pass voter ID laws and open sweeping investigations.
Aaron Lorenzo / Politico:
As tax refunds shrink, Republicans scramble to defend Trump tax cut — Size apparently does matter, at least when it comes to tax refunds, and that's put Republicans on the defensive as Americans start filing their returns. — With headlines blaring about smaller refunds in the first weeks …
Discussion:
Raw Story
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Aaron Lorenzo / Politico:
Average tax refund down 17 percent, IRS reports
Average tax refund down 17 percent, IRS reports
Discussion:
Bloomberg, One America News Network, POLITICUSUSA, Hill Reporter and Raw Story
Naomi Jagoda / The Hill:
Average tax refunds down double-digits, IRS data shows
Elon Green / Columbia Journalism Review:
How Esquire lost the Bryan Singer story — On February 11, news broke that Millennium Films was delaying Bryan Singer's Red Sonja, which was to begin production this year. This was, on the face of it, a remarkable turn of events. Singer's Queen biopic, Bohemian Rhapsody, had just been nominated for five Oscars.
Discussion:
The Daily Californian
Mike Allen / Axios:
Looming Mueller investigation report leaves Washington in suspense — For 21 months, Robert Mueller has been an omnipresent but unseen lead in D.C. drama. — Driving the news: As soon as he delivers his farewell letter or report, the protagonists become Attorney General William Barr …
Discussion:
Congressman Jerrold Nadler, POLITICUSUSA, Raw Story, The Atlantic and CNN
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Joshua A. Geltzer / CNN:
What if Trump refuses to accept defeat in 2020? — Joshua A. Geltzer is executive director and visiting professor of law at Georgetown Law Center's Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection and an ASU future of war fellow at New America. He previously was senior director …
Discussion:
Hullabaloo
Robert Pear / New York Times:
Health Care and Insurance Industries Mobilize to Kill ‘Medicare for All’ — WASHINGTON — Even before Democrats finish drafting bills to create a single-payer health care system, the health care and insurance industries have assembled a small army of lobbyists to kill “Medicare for all,” …
John Bowden / The Hill:
Warren: Native Americans should be ‘part of the conversation’ on reparations — Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) said Friday that Native Americans should be “part of the conversation” on reparations, The Washington Post reported. — Warren, a 2020 Democratic presidential contender …
Discussion:
Washington Post and POLITICUSUSA
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Cristina Maza / Newsweek:
Saudi Arabia's Mohammed bin Salman Defends China's Use of Concentration Camps for Muslims During Visit to Beijing — As he faces criticism from Western countries over the brutal murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Saudi Arabia's young crown prince Mohammed bin Salman is forming new alliances.
Discussion:
Al Jazeera
Ali Schmitz / TCPalm.com:
Florida human trafficking: Billionaire equity firm owner John Childs wanted on prostitution charge in Vero Beach — Billionaire equity firm owner John Childs is one of several men accused of soliciting prostitution in connection with a Florida spa tied to an international human trafficking ring, police said Thursday.
Discussion:
East Bay Times, Bloomberg, Deadspin and Hit & Run
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