memeorandum: As Trump Family Sues to Block Subpoenas, Democrats Ponder Impeachment (New York Times)

7:55 AM ET, May 1, 2019

Top Items:

Mueller complained that Barr's letter did not capture ‘context’ of Trump probe — Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III wrote a letter in late March complaining to Attorney General William P. Barr that a four-page memo to Congress describing the principal conclusions of the investigation into President Trump …

New York Times:

Mueller Objected to Barr's Description of Russia Investigation's Findings on Trump — WASHINGTON — Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel, wrote a letter in late March to Attorney General William P. Barr objecting to his early description of the Russia investigation's conclusions …

Discussion: Raw Story, CNN, NB Blog, The Daily Caller, The Week, Vox, Splinter, Mother Jones, New York Post and Mediaite

The Daily Beast:

Mueller's Willing to Testify, but Trump DOJ Is Holding It Up: Dems — The special counsel has indicated he's fine going up the Hill. But the Trump administration is getting in the way, Dems say. — House Democrats tell The Daily Beast they've been told Special Counsel Robert Mueller …

Discussion: The Week, Raw Story and Splinter

House Judiciary Dems:

Chairman Nadler's Statement on Mueller's Letter to the Attorney General — Washington, D.C. — Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler released a statement in response to reports that Special Counsel Robert Mueller wrote to Attorney General William Barr last month …

Discussion: Axios

Marianne LeVine / Politico:

Just 2 lawmakers have seen less-redacted Mueller report — On the eve of Attorney General William Barr's testimony on a redacted version of special counsel Robert Mueller's report, only two lawmakers have set eyes on secret information that Barr withheld from public view.

Discussion: Outside the Beltway and ABC News

Kyle Cheney / Politico:
Mueller complained to Barr about Russia report memo

Discussion: The Week and Raw Story

Politico:
POLITICO Playbook: Bill Barr is not going to have a good day

Discussion: Washington Post, CNN and Raw Story

Frank Bowman / Slate: William Barr Is Cowering at the Prospect of a Proper Cross-Examination

Matthew Chapman / Raw Story:
Trump's Justice Department is holding up Mueller from testifying to Congress: report

Discussion: The Daily Beast and NBC News

Robert Reich / Newsweek:
Congress Should Be Ready to Arrest Attorney General William Barr If He Defies Subpoena | Opinion

Discussion: Fox News and Viking Pundit

Jen Kirby / Vox:
William Barr will testify about the Mueller report this week. Here's what you should know.

Discussion: Washington Post, Politico and CNN

CNN:
Mueller expressed misgivings to Barr about 4-page letter

Discussion: Washington Post, SSRS, ABC News and Raw Story

Associated Press:

The Latest: Head of Venezuela secret police chastises Maduro — CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — The latest on the political crisis in Venezuela (all times local): — The head of Venezuela's secret police is admonishing President Nicolas Maduro, in the biggest break so far by a senior member of the security forces.

Discussion: Bloomberg, The Week, CNN, New York Times and Reason

Washington Post:
Clashes erupt in Venezuela as opposition leader Juan Guaidó, with troops, announces 'final phase …

Discussion: Defense One, NetBlocks, NBC News, Raw Story, The Hill, Los Angeles Times, BBC, The American Conservative, Power Line, Boing Boing and The Daily Caller

Nicholas Casey / New York Times:
Venezuelan Opposition Leader Steps Up Pressure, but Maduro Holds On

Discussion: NPR, Balloon Juice, CNSNews and Townhall

Jim Wyss / Miami Herald:
Venezuelan violence escalates as Maduro regime fights for political survival

Discussion: New York Times and The American Conservative

Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
There Is No Coup in Venezuela

Discussion: The Week, One America News Network, The Daily Beast, Outside the Beltway, New York Post and Politico, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

A Rising Tide of Anti-Semitism — By publishing a bigoted cartoon, The Times ignored the lessons of history, including its own. — The editorial board represents the opinions of the board, its editor and the publisher. It is separate from the newsroom and the Op-Ed section.

Discussion: National Review, Fox News, Pirate's Cove, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, New York Post, Mediaite, Gothamist and New Republic

Alan M. Dershowitz / Gatestone Institute:
What if the New York Times Cartoon had depicted a Muslim, a Lesbian, an African American or a Mexican as a Dog?

Discussion: Daily Wire

Claudia Koerner / BuzzFeed News:

We Asked All Of The 2020 Presidential Candidates Their Thoughts On Vaccines. Here's What They Said. — Measles, an extremely contagious and potentially dangerous disease, continues to spread in the US, with more than 700 cases so far this year in outbreaks that public health officials …

Discussion: Spokesman.com, Fox News, Mediaite and Shareblue Media

Heather Long / Washington Post:

GOP support for Stephen Moore falls apart, leaving Trump's Fed pick with slim chance of confirmation — One GOP senator has come out against him and predicted Moore wouldn't get confirmed. — President Trump's plan to put ally Stephen Moore on the Federal Reserve Board appeared on the edge …

Discussion: Politico, The Root, Mother Jones and CNN

Washington Post: Trump wants to remake the Fed. Moore's imperiled nomination shows it won't be easy.

Washington Post:

WikiLeaks' Julian Assange sentenced to 50 weeks in prison in bail-jumping case — LONDON — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was sentenced on Wednesday to 50 weeks in a British prison for jumping bail. — His sentencing comes a day before an extradition hearing in London related …

Iliana Magra / New York Times:
Julian Assange Is Sentenced to 50 Weeks, and Still Faces U.S. Charges

Discussion: Political Wire

Mike Allen / Axios:

Joe Biden is running like he won the Democratic primaries — In the opening days of his 2020 campaign, former Vice President Joe Biden has gone all-in on the general election, positioning himself as the eventual Democratic nominee rather than scrapping with the 19 other wannabes.

Discussion: CNN, Political Wire and The Hill

Howard Kurtz / Fox News:
Media that dismissed Biden now see him as clear front-runner

Discussion: Politico and National Review

Eric Bradner / CNN:
Biden takes aim at Trump as he enters Iowa the Democratic front-runner

Discussion: SSRS, Axios and New York Times

Mathew Ingram / Columbia Journalism Review:

The hiring spreadsheet and the clash at The Markup — There are things about the recent implosion of The Markup that make it unique—in particular, that it raised $23 million with nothing but a trio of co-founders and a brief description of the product they wanted to create.

more at Mediagazer »

Washington Post:

At Trump golf course, undocumented employees said they were sometimes told to work extra hours without pay — HILLSDALE, N.Y. — His bosses at the Trump country club called it “side work.” — On some nights, after the club's Grille Room closed, head waiter Jose Gabriel Juarez …

Discussion: America's Voice, POLITICUSUSA, The Week, Talking Points Memo, Axios, Raw Story and Jezebel

New York Times:

As Trump Family Sues to Block Subpoenas, Democrats Ponder Impeachment — WASHINGTON — The Trump family lawsuit to block oversight of its finances has House Democrats scrambling to confront what many see as the gravest threat to congressional independence since the Nixon era …

Jonathan O'Connell / Washington Post:

Congressional Democrats' emoluments lawsuit targeting President Trump's private business can proceed, judge says — The decision sets the stage for lawmakers to possibly begin seeking documents and depositions from the Trump Organization. — Jonathan O'Connell, Ann E. Marimow, Carol D. Leonnig -

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Axios, Politico, Slate, Raw Story and Daily Kos

David Enrich / New York Times:

Trump Wants to Block Deutsche Bank From Sharing His Financial Records — Over two decades, Deutsche Bank lent Donald J. Trump billions of dollars, even as his tarnished financial record put him off limits for most of Wall Street. — “You are a great friend,” Mr. Trump wrote to his Deutsche Bank contact in 1998.

Discussion: Above the Law, The Root, Daily Wire and Mediaite

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
Trump Claims He Can Ignore Subpoenas Because Congress Is Mean

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Washington Post, Discourse.net and Shareblue Media

Page Six:

Hunter Biden splits from brother Beau's widow Hallie — Hunter Biden has allegedly split from Hallie Biden — the widow of his late brother, Beau — Page Six has exclusively learned. The breakup comes two years after we first reported that the former in-laws were dating in 2017.

Derek Kravitz / ProPublica:

How Taxpayers Covered a $1,000 Liquor Bill for Trump Staffers (and More) at Trump's Club — A top-shelf, closed-door drinking session. $546-a-night hotel rooms. A special government credit card for Mar-a-Lago. Taxpayers foot the costs — and the president profits.

David M. Drucker / Washington Examiner:

See Larry run? Republican Maryland Gov. Hogan has a super PAC — Gov. Larry Hogan has what appears to be a super PAC, a development sure to stoke speculation that Maryland's chief executive might challenge President Trump in the Republican Primary in 2020.

Discussion: Political Wire

David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:

Is the Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Group? — President Trump wants to designate the Muslim Brotherhood, an international Islamist movement, as a terrorist organization. The designation would impose sanctions on the group and those who do business with it.

Discussion: The Federalist, Al Jazeera, Washington Post and The Guardian

CNN:

CNN Poll: With Mueller investigation over, Trump approval at 43% — WASHINGTON (CNN)With Robert Mueller's investigation finished, Donald Trump's approval rating stands at its highest level since April 2017 in a new CNN Poll conducted by SSRS, as the share who say Democrats in Congress are doing …

Discussion: Political Wire and Raw Story