memeorandum: Graham: McCain ‘acted appropriately’ by handing Steele dossier to FBI (Jordain Carney/The Hill)

2:35 AM ET, March 26, 2019

Top Items:

David Brooks / New York Times:

We've All Just Made Fools of Ourselves — Again — The awful corruption of scandal politics. — “You have a president who, in my opinion, beyond a shadow of a doubt, sought to, however ham-handedly, collude with the Russian government, a foreign power, to undermine and influence our elections.”

NBC News:

House committee chairs demand full Mueller report by April 2 deadline — In a letter to Attorney General Barr, the Democratic lawmakers said his summary of the special counsel's report “is not sufficient for Congress.” — WASHINGTON — Six Democratic committee chairs in the House sent …

Discussion: Axios, POLITICUSUSA, Washington Press, Splinter and The Week

emptywheel:

Rod Rosenstein Didn't Even Clear Trump on All the Topics He Hired Mueller to Investigate — As I have noted, the William Barr memo everyone is reading to clear Trump and his flunkies of a conspiracy with Russia actually only clears the Trump campaign and those associated with it of conspiring …

Discussion: NB Blog, RedState and Slate

John Bresnahan / Politico:

Democrats rally behind Schiff amid withering GOP assault — Democrats raced to defend House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff on Monday amid a withering Republican assault on his credibility following special counsel Robert Mueller's finding that there was no conspiracy between the Trump campaign and Russian operatives.

Jordain Carney / The Hill:

McConnell blocks resolution calling for Mueller report to be released publicly — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Monday blocked a resolution calling for special counsel Robert Mueller's report to be released publicly. — Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) …

Discussion: Breitbart, TheBlaze, The Gateway Pundit, The Week, USA Today and RT

John Solomon / The Hill:

Trump-Russia collusion did affect an American election — the one in 2018 — View Latest Opinions >> — Now that we know for sure that special counsel Robert Mueller, the U.S. intelligence community and Republicans on the House and Senate Intelligence Committees found no evidence …

Discussion: Breitbart

Washington Post:
Democrats largely give up on impeachment in wake of Mueller report

Discussion: Politico, One America News Network, POLITICUSUSA, Big League Politics, The Daily Beast, Just Security, Breitbart and The Week, more at Mediagazer »

republicanleader.senate.gov:
‘No Collusion, No Conspiracy, No Obstruction’

Discussion: Breitbart

New York Times: Disappointed Fans of Mueller Rethink the Pedestal They Built for Him

Peter Zeidenberg / The Daily Beast:
It's Not Barr's Call to Clear Trump. Show Us the Mueller Report.

Discussion: Politico, Breitbart, Raw Story and Contemptor

Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
The Reckoning Finally Arrives for the Trump Resistance

Discussion: New York Times, Breitbart and Townhall

Zachary Basu / Axios:
McConnell blocks resolution to release full Mueller report

Discussion: Raw Story, Breitbart and Splinter

New York Times:
Trump and Republicans Seek to Turn the Tables in Post-Mueller Washington

Discussion: Vox, Newsday and The Nation

Washington Post:
Trump and his allies plan to use Barr's summary of Mueller report as a cudgel against critics

Discussion: Politico, TheBlaze, IJR, Breitbart and POLITICUSUSA

Zachary Basu / Axios:
6 House chairmen demand Barr release Mueller report by April 2

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA

The Daily Beast:
Dems Fear Looking Obsessive About Russia After Barr Memo on Mueller Probe

Discussion: Vox, Hot Air, RedState and Politico, more at Mediagazer »

Kathryn Krawczyk / The Week:
CNN is still sitting outside Mueller's office

Discussion: Breitbart and Front Page Magazine

CNN:

Trump administration now says entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down — (CNN)The Trump administration on Monday said the entire Affordable Care Act should be struck down, in a dramatic reversal. — In a filing with a federal appeals court, the Justice Department said it agreed …

Dan Diamond / Politico:

In shift, Trump administration backs judge's ruling that would kill Obamacare — The Trump administration on Monday said it supports a federal judge's ruling that the entire Affordable Care Act should be thrown out, signaling a shift in the Justice Department's position and alarming Democrats who vowed to oppose the move.

Discussion: Vox and Townhall

Peter Sullivan / The Hill:

Justice Department sides with court ruling Obamacare invalid — The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday announced that it is siding with a district court ruling that found the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional. — The move is an escalation of the Trump administration's legal battle against the health care law.

CNBC:

Stormy Daniels' ex-lawyer Michael Avenatti arrested for alleged $20 million extortion scheme against Nike, embezzling client's money, defrauding bank — Celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti was arrested on charges of trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike by threatening to reveal damaging claims about the sneaker giant.

Wall Street Journal:
Attorney Avenatti Arrested, Charged With Bank Fraud, Extortion Over Alleged Threats to Nike

U.S. Department of Justice:
Lawyer Michael Avenatti Arrested on Federal Bank Fraud and Wire Fraud Charges

Discussion: CNN, New York Times, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Grabien News, The Gateway Pundit, RedState, Daily Wire, VICE News, The Federalist, Politico, Axios, Front Page Magazine, Deadspin and Mother Jones

Caitlin Yilek / Washington Examiner:
CNN analyst Mark Geragos said to be Avenatti's alleged co-conspirator

Discussion: The Daily Beast, New York Post, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller and Instapundit

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez / Arizona Republic:

Rep. Ruben Gallego, averting primary bloodbath, won't run for the Senate — Rep. Ruben Gallego will not run for the U.S. Senate in 2020's special election, he told The Arizona Republic on Monday, clearing the path for retired astronaut Mark Kelly to take on incumbent Republican …

Discussion: Politico and Talking Points Memo

Bridget Bowman / Roll Call: Ruben Gallego passes on Arizona Senate run

Manu Raju / CNN:

Graham encouraged McCain to turn Trump-Russia dossier over to FBI — (CNN)GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham said Monday that he told the late Sen. John McCain to turn over the dossier of Trump-Russia allegations to the FBI, pushing back against President Donald Trump's assertions that the Arizona Republican helped fan …

Discussion: Associated Press, Washington Post, Splinter, The Daily Caller, RedState, Axios, HillReporter.com, Mediaite and IJR

Sharyl Attkisson / The Hill: Apologies to President Trump

Jordain Carney / The Hill:
Graham: McCain ‘acted appropriately’ by handing Steele dossier to FBI

Discussion: Breitbart and IJR

Sohrab Ahmari / New York Post:

Mueller Madness: The media pundits who got it most wrong — Special counsel Robert Mueller has definitively put to rest the collusion theory of President Trump's election. That's not a little embarrassing for the many journalists, talking heads, celebrities and instant-experts who spent …

Discussion: Breitbart and Mediaite

George F. Will / Washington Post:

Thanks to Mueller, 2020 won't be about 2016 — Robert S. Mueller III's report is a gift to the nation, which now knows what was already a reasonable surmise: that its chief executive's unlovely admiration for a repulsive foreign regime, Vladimir Putin's, is more a dereliction of taste …

Discussion: Raw Story and Foreign Policy

Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Democrats, here's what to remember about Mueller

Discussion: Friendly Atheist

New York Times:

As Special Counsel, Mueller Kept Such a Low Profile He Seemed Almost Invisible — WASHINGTON — Most Friday nights as he conducted his investigation, Robert S. Mueller III drove seven miles from his offices by the Capitol to Salt & Pepper, a dimly lit, mostly empty restaurant near his home …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Lawfare and Vanity Fair

Eli Rosenberg / Washington Post:

German billionaire family that owns Einstein Bros. Bagels admits Nazi past — The German family whose holding company owns controlling stakes in companies such as Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Panera Bread, Pret a Manger and Einstein Bros. Bagels profited from the horrors of the Nazi regime …

Discussion: The Week

TMZ.com:

Elizabeth Warren's Energized By Campaign Trail, Runs to Catch Train — Sen. Elizabeth Warren is in great shape to run ... and not just for President in 2020. — Senator Warren outran reporter Adam Glyn with ease Monday afternoon, booking it through NYC's Penn Station on her way to catch a train …

Discussion: New York Post

Jeffery C. Mays / New York Times:

New York Buzzes Over a Mayor Mulling a 2020 Bid (Buttigieg, Not de Blasio) — [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox.] — Near the High Line in Manhattan, more than 250 people gathered at The Park restaurant last week to hear about a Democratic mayor's long-shot bid for the presidency.

Discussion: Hot Air, Vanity Fair, Raw Story, Althouse, Out Magazine and The Guardian

Jonathan Martin / New York Times:

Beto O'Rourke Hires Former Obama Aide as Campaign Manager — Beto O'Rourke has hired a former top aide to Barack Obama to be his campaign manager, installing a seasoned political strategist to take the helm of what has so far been a skeletal organization effectively overseen by Mr. O'Rourke himself.

Discussion: Axios and The Daily Caller

Carol Rosenberg / New York Times:

U.S. Said to Have Tapes of Alleged 9/11 Mastermind Plotting With Co-Conspirators — GUANTÁNAMO BAY, Cuba — Military prosecutors say they have tapes of telephone calls between the alleged mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, Khalid Shaikh Mohammed, and three of his accused co-conspirators talking …

Aruna Viswanatha / Wall Street Journal:

Former Trump Adviser Says He Didn't Lie to FBI — George Papadopoulos, the former Trump campaign adviser who helped trigger what became the Mueller investigation, says in a new book he didn't lie to investigators, contradicting what he told a federal judge under oath.

U.S. Department of Justice:

Duke University Agrees to Pay U.S. $112.5 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations Related to Scientific Research Misconduct — Duke University has agreed to pay the government $112.5 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act by submitting applications …

Discussion: CNN, NPR and Retraction Watch

Nicole Gaudiano / Politico:

DeVos launches investigation into college admissions scandal — The Education Department has opened investigations into eight universities tied to the sweeping college admissions and bribery scandal unveiled by federal prosecutors earlier this month, according to individuals familiar with the investigation.

Discussion: Axios, New York Times, Splinter and Raw Story

CNN:

Pentagon notifies Congress $1 billion authorized to begin new wall construction — What it would take to build Trump's border wall — (CNN)The Pentagon notified Congress Monday night that it has authorized the transfer of $1 billion to begin new wall construction along the US-Mexico border …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit