Top Items:
New York Times:
Trump's Targeting of Intelligence Agencies Gains a Harder Edge — The president's war with the deep state has long been waged by tweet, but his new attorney general is poised to professionalize the fight. — WASHINGTON — President Trump tried somewhat clumsily last year to revoke …
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Sonam Sheth / Business Insider:
Spy agency veterans are horrified at Trump's decision to grant AG Barr sweeping power to declassify Russia intelligence: ‘Lives are on the line’ — President Donald Trump's decision to grant Attorney General William Barr sweeping authority to declassify intelligence related to the Russia investigation …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, The Mahablog, Raw Story and New York Times
David R. Lurie / The Daily Beast:
Trump's Public Enemies List Is an Impeachable Offense — What he and William Barr are doing is potentially worse than anything in the Mueller Report. — Long before becoming president, Donald Trump called for the jailing of his adversaries. Aided by Attorney General William Barr …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, RedState, Hullabaloo and Raw Story
Alexandra Hutzler / Newsweek:
Donald Trump Gives William Barr Power to Declassify Intelligence Information in ‘a Corrupt Act of Political Retribution,’ Experts Say — Donald Trump has given Attorney General William Barr permission to declassify intelligence information about the origins of the Russia investigation …
Discussion:
Hullabaloo
MSNBC:
Former CIA Director: Barr investigation an “outrageous” move — Former CIA Director John Brennan says President Trump doesn't care about the national security concerns of the intelligence community.
Shane Harris / Washington Post:
Barr could expose secrets, politicize intelligence with review of Russia probe, current and former officials fear
Barr could expose secrets, politicize intelligence with review of Russia probe, current and former officials fear
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, American Greatness, Outside the Beltway, Washington Monthly, Raw Story and Breitbart
Natasha Bertrand / Politico:
Trump puts DOJ on crash course with intelligence agencies
Trump puts DOJ on crash course with intelligence agencies
Discussion:
Don Surber, Hullabaloo and RedState
The Hill:
Pelosi, Nadler tangle on impeachment, contempt vote — There is growing daylight between Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) over the best strategy for combating a Trump administration that is flouting a flurry of congressional subpoenas at nearly every turn.
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Washington Post:
Trump's allies insist he is winning in feud with Pelosi. Her backers say she showed up the president. — To many Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi scored a political victory over President Trump this week, making him so incensed that he hurled insults at her and blew up negotiations …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Benjamin Siegel / ABC News:
Robert Mueller wants to avoid ‘political spectacle’ before Congress: Nadler
Robert Mueller wants to avoid ‘political spectacle’ before Congress: Nadler
Discussion:
Washington Monthly and Breitbart
New York Times:
In Baltimore and Beyond, a Stolen N.S.A. Tool Wreaks Havoc — For nearly three weeks, Baltimore has struggled with a cyberattack by digital extortionists that has frozen thousands of computers, shut down email and disrupted real estate sales, water bills, health alerts and many other services.
Discussion:
Baltimore Sun, Task & Purpose, Engadget, Daily Kos and The Verge, more at Techmeme »
The Hill:
Federal judge partially blocks Trump's $1 billion border wall plan — A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction on Friday, partially blocking President Trump's plan to fund a border wall with Mexico using money from the Defense Department. — California U.S. District Court Judge Haywood Gilliam …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit and The Daily Caller
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Priscilla Alvarez / CNN:
Federal judge blocks Trump from using Defense funds for parts of border wall
Federal judge blocks Trump from using Defense funds for parts of border wall
Discussion:
Washington Post, UPI, Splinter and Talking Points Memo
Joel Rose / NPR:
Judge Blocks Trump Use Of Emergency Power To Build Border Barrier With Military Funds
Judge Blocks Trump Use Of Emergency Power To Build Border Barrier With Military Funds
Discussion:
The Root
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Judge partially blocks Trump border wall plan
Judge partially blocks Trump border wall plan
Discussion:
Breitbart, Rolling Stone, ThinkProgress, Law & Crime, Mediaite, Slate, TheBlaze, Washington Post and The New Civil Rights Movement
Jose A. Del Real / New York Times:
Judge Blocks Part of Trump's Plan to Build Border Wall
Judge Blocks Part of Trump's Plan to Build Border Wall
Discussion:
Mother Jones and Outside the Beltway
Mad Dog PAC:
Avenatti SDNY Indictment More Files... So many files... Speaking of Icarus, you'll want to hit play on this White Hinterland Youtube Video, it might make reading this follow up entry soothing... Let's assume there's wide spread Agreement across all political and ideological spectrums …
Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
Trump's ‘Emergency’ to Justify Saudi Arms Sales — Bypassing Congress on this issue will come back to haunt the president. — For more than a year now, Senator Bob Menendez has delayed the sale of precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to make a point about the war in Yemen.
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Patricia Zengerle / Reuters:
Defying Congress, Trump sets $8 billion-plus in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE
Defying Congress, Trump sets $8 billion-plus in weapons sales to Saudi Arabia, UAE
Discussion:
BBC, United States Department …, Al-Monitor, Vox, Talking Points Memo, ThinkProgress and The Week
Charles Davis / HuffPost:
Tulsi Gabbard's Top Online Fundraiser Is A Las Vegas Shooting Conspiracy Theorist — Niko House, who won the Hawaii Democrat's recent donor challenge, also believes Bill Cosby was framed and that “Pizzagate” is real. — Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is set to have lunch with a prolific conspiracy theorist …
Adam Shaw / Fox News:
Trump, in Japan, says Tokyo has ‘substantial’ trade advantage over US — President Trump on Saturday started his four-day visit to Japan by declaring that Tokyo has a “substantial” trade advantage over the U.S. — and that he hopes a future trade agreement will rebalance the situation.
Discussion:
Politico, NEWS 1130 and Associated Press
New York Times:
Bannon's Populists, Once a ‘Movement,’ Keep Him at Arm's Length — PARIS — Stephen K. Bannon, the millionaire former Trump adviser turned rabble rouser of European populists, settled into a plush set of rooms this week in Paris at the Bristol Hotel, where suites run up to $32,000 a night.
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Andrew Sullivan / New York Magazine:
Good-bye, Theresa. Hello, Boris?
Good-bye, Theresa. Hello, Boris?
Discussion:
The American Conservative
Julia Ainsley / NBC News:
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director asked to resign — L. Francis Cissna oversaw the agency during the final iteration of the travel ban, attempts to repeal status for “Dreamers” and repeated attempts to limit undocumented immigrants crossing the southern border.
Discussion:
Bipartisan Report, ImmigrationProf Blog and CNN
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Colby Itkowitz / Washington Post:
Utah judge suspended for bashing Trump online and in court — The Utah Supreme Court suspended a judge for six months without pay this week over disparaging remarks he made about President Trump online and in his courtroom. — The court ruling points to several instances in which Judge Michael Kwan …
Cecilia Kang / New York Times:
Huawei Ban Threatens Wireless Service in Rural Areas — Many small carriers depend on inexpensive equipment from the Chinese company. Now they must rethink expansion plans, and perhaps replace existing gear. — OPHEIM, Mont. — Kevin Nelson was recently in the middle of his 3,800-acre farm …
Tim Dickinson / Rolling Stone:
National Rifle Association Hit with $100 Million Counter-Suit — Ackerman McQueen, the gun group's longtime PR firm, accuses the NRA of false demands and ulterior motives — Ackerman McQueen is biting the hand that feeds it. The longtime PR firm for the National Rifle Association …