Top Items:
Maggie Astor / New York Times:
Only 7 Candidates Have Qualified for the Next Democratic Debate — While 20 presidential candidates debated this past week, far fewer are assured the chance of doing so again in September. — So you made it through the second set of Democratic debates. Congratulations! Ready to talk about the next ones?
Discussion:
New York Times, Fox News, Washington Post, The Mahablog, IJR, The Atlantic, ABC News, Splinter, The Week, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Outside the Beltway, Vox and The Crime Report
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Bret Stephens / New York Times:
Democrats Are Not Up To Their Historic Responsibility — Defeating Trumpism means abandoning the politics of extremes. — To adapt a line from Huey Lewis, I want a new party — one that won't make me sick. — I have written so often (and so recently) about the ways Donald Trump's G.O.P. makes …
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog
Walter Shapiro / New Republic:
The Democratic Party Is Culling the Field Too Soon — More than a half-century ago, when law schools boasted a high flunk-out rate, unsmiling deans welcomed each incoming class by saying, “Look at the student on your left. Look at the student on your right. One of you won't be here next year.”
Discussion:
Vox
Jana Winter / Yahoo News:
Exclusive: FBI document warns conspiracy theories are a new domestic terrorism threat — The FBI for the first time has identified fringe conspiracy theories as a domestic terrorist threat, according to a previously unpublicized document obtained by Yahoo News. (Read the document below.)
Discussion:
Latest from Crooks and Liars, The Gateway Pundit, New York Post, Mediaite, Daily Wire and Political Wire
Kyle Cheney / Politico:
Majority of House Democrats now support impeachment inquiry — The impeachment dam has broken. — More than half of House Democrats say they would vote to launch impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, a crucial threshold that backers said will require Speaker Nancy Pelosi to reconsider her steadfast opposition.
Discussion:
Sun-Sentinel, New York Times, BuzzFeed News, Taylor Marsh, Hullabaloo, Daily Kos, Shareblue Media and NRCC
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Ted Deutch / Sun-Sentinel:
No more debate. Impeachment inquiry is underway — Although Special Counsel Robert Mueller's testimony may not have been a summer blockbuster, it confirmed the damning conclusions of his report. The investigation revealed substantial evidence that President Trump obstructed justice.
Discussion:
Roll Call, Orlando Sentinel, The Daily Beast, Representative Nita Lowey, Vox, The Week, Common Dreams, National Review, Florida Politics and Splinter
Henry Grabar / Slate:
Julián Castro Made the Best Case for Impeachment Yet
BBC:
Trump's former top adviser: tariffs backfiring on US — US President Donald Trump's trade war with China is backfiring and impacting the US economy, according to his former chief economic adviser. — The tariff battle has had a “dramatic impact” on US manufacturing and capital investment, Gary Cohn told the BBC.
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Washington Post:
Trump says he will impose new tariffs on $300 billion of imports from China starting next month …
Trump says he will impose new tariffs on $300 billion of imports from China starting next month …
Discussion:
Vox and Political Wire
Dave Lawler / Axios:
Trump says U.S. will hit remaining $300 billion of Chinese imports with 10% tariffs
Trump says U.S. will hit remaining $300 billion of Chinese imports with 10% tariffs
Discussion:
Politico, CNN, The Daily Caller and One America News Network
Fred Imbert / CNBC:
Dow drops 280 points, giving up big earlier gain after Trump says US adding more tariffs on China
Dow drops 280 points, giving up big earlier gain after Trump says US adding more tariffs on China
Discussion:
The Week
Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
The mistakes Biden's opponents made will haunt them — In defending achievements like the Affordable Care Act and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, former vice president Joe Biden clearly positioned himself as President Barack Obama's heir and the dominant, perhaps the only …
Discussion:
New Republic, Reason and USA Today
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David Weigel / Washington Post:
The Trailer: After two nights, we're left with four big questions
The Trailer: After two nights, we're left with four big questions
Discussion:
National Journal, BuzzFeed News and Mediaite
Zack Beauchamp / Vox:
4 winners and 3 losers from the second night of the July Democratic debates
4 winners and 3 losers from the second night of the July Democratic debates
Discussion:
Washington Post, Breitbart, Jacobin, New York Post, The Root, CNN, Axios and twitchy.com
Frank Bruni / New York Times:
Debate Disappointment: I Wanted So Much More From Joe Biden
Debate Disappointment: I Wanted So Much More From Joe Biden
Discussion:
The Week, Breitbart, Deadline and Mother Jones
Fox News:
DOJ will not prosecute Comey for leaking memos after IG referral: sources — The Justice Department has decided against prosecuting former FBI Director James Comey for leaking classified information following a referral from the department's inspector general, sources familiar with the deliberations told Fox News.
Discussion:
Mediaite, Breitbart, The Daily Caller, New York Post, Townhall and Sara A. Carter
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New York Times:
Justice Dept. Declined to Prosecute Comey Over Memos About Trump
Justice Dept. Declined to Prosecute Comey Over Memos About Trump
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, NBC News, The Rush Limbaugh Show and The Last Refuge
Evan Perez / CNN:
Justice Dept. won't prosecute James Comey over handling of FBI memos, despite watchdog referral
Justice Dept. won't prosecute James Comey over handling of FBI memos, despite watchdog referral
Discussion:
Townhall, Washington Examiner and The Hill
Associated Press:
After ‘Send her back!’ chant, Ohio rally a test for Trump — CINCINNATI (AP) — President Donald Trump's latest rally will be a test for both candidate and crowd. — The Cincinnati gathering Thursday night will be Trump's first since his audience chanted “Send her back!” …
Discussion:
NBC News, Politico, Talking Points Memo, National Review, Splinter and Mediaite
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Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Trump's racism and hate are about to face another big test
Trump's racism and hate are about to face another big test
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Washington Press and Daily Kos
Maxwell Tani / The Daily Beast:
Fox News Stars Go After Tomi Lahren for Sexist Jab at Kamala Harris — “Do you have any idea how damaging this is to women who've actually been sexually harassed, assaulted or demeaned in the workplace?” one of Lahren's Fox co-workers tweeted at her. — Several of Tomi Lahren's Fox News colleagues …
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Wall Street Journal:
Families Go Deep in Debt to Stay in the Middle Class — Wages stalled but costs haven't, so people increasingly rent or finance what their parents might have owned outright — The American middle class is falling deeper into debt to maintain a middle-class lifestyle.
Olivia Gazis / CBS News:
John Ratcliffe's brief tenure on Intel Committee shows modest engagement with intelligence issues — As the newest Republican member of the House Intelligence Committee, Texas Rep. John Ratcliffe has demonstrated a prosecutor's acumen in political battles stemming from the panel's investigations of President Trump and his associates.
James Arkin / Politico:
Corey Lewandowski ‘seriously considering’ New Hampshire Senate run — President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, is mulling a run against Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.). — “I'm seriously considering it,” Lewandowski wrote in a text message to POLITICO today.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, WMUR, Washington Times and Splinter
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Donie O'Sullivan / CNN:
Facebook announces first takedown of influence campaign with ties to Saudi government — Washington (CNN Business)Facebook said Thursday it had found evidence of something cyber security and national security experts have long suspected: people tied to the government of Saudi Arabia …
Discussion:
Mashable, Fortune and Political Wire, more at Mediagazer »
Chuck Ross / The Daily Caller:
Liberal Watchdog Group That Targeted Google And Devin Nunes Paid Fusion GPS $140K For Research — A liberal watchdog group that has investigated the Trump administration, companies like Google and Republican California Rep. Devin Nunes hired Fusion GPS for research last year.
A.O. Scott / New York Times:
What America Gets Wrong About Tracy Flick — In “Election,” she's preyed upon by a teacher and almost cheated out of her rightful victory. But somehow she's the villain. — Even if you've never seen “Election,” Alexander Payne's 1999 comedy about high school politics run amok, you probably know something about Tracy Flick.
Laut / brennancenter.org:
Voter Purge Rates Remain High, Analysis Finds — Using data released by the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in June, a new Brennan Center analysis has found that between 2016 and 2018, counties with a history of voter discrimination have continued purging people from the rolls at much higher rates than other counties.
Discussion:
Washington Post and Splinter
Rob Copeland / Wall Street Journal:
Fired by Google, a Republican Engineer Hits Back: 'There's Been a Lot of Bullying' — Search giant's culture wars flame anew; a senior executive contacts law enforcement over leaks — MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif.—Kevin Cernekee was still a “Noogler”—Google's term for a new employee …
Discussion:
New York Post, Daily Wire, NB Blog and Fox News
Barbara Starr / CNN:
Exclusive: Top US Navy SEAL tells commanders in letter: ‘We have a problem’ — US Navy SEAL team ordered home over alleged misbehavior — Washington (CNN)The top US Navy SEAL recently sent a blistering letter to the force, writing in boldface type, “We have a problem,” …
Discussion:
Task & Purpose and Q13 FOX News
Jordain Carney / The Hill:
Graham threat to bust panel rules roils Senate tensions — Tensions are boiling over in the Senate over Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) threat to ram through legislation to overhaul U.S. asylum laws, including changing the number of days minors crossing the border can be held in custody.
Patti Davis / Washington Post:
The Ronald Reagan who raised me would want forgiveness for his ‘monkeys’ remark — Tuesday afternoon, before the first round of the Democratic debate in Detroit, a friend sent me a link to an article in the Atlantic: The headline is “Ronald Reagan's Long-Hidden Racist Conversation With Richard Nixon.”
Discussion:
National Review, Slate and Common Dreams
Max Read / New York Magazine:
Is Andrew Yang the Doomer Candidate? — How will Democratic candidates respond to the crisis of climate change? Over the course of two early August debates, the front-runners outlined their ambitious plans to save the future. Elizabeth Warren pledged to put $2 trillion toward research …
Discussion:
The Atlantic
Los Angeles Times:
Judge overturns IRS rule that shielded political donors' identities — A federal judge in Montana overturned an Internal Revenue Service rule that allowed many political nonprofit groups to keep their donor lists private. — The ruling upends a change the IRS made last year that permitted …
Julia Marsh / New York Post:
Bill de Blasio makes fliers wait on tarmac so he can rush to ‘The View’ — Mayor Bill de Blasio made Delta passengers wait in their seats on the tarmac at La Guardia Airport for 10 minutes Thursday after flying back from his less-than-stellar performance in the Detroit debate — so that he and his security detail could deplane first.
Washington Post:
‘How the hell is this not inciting violence?’ Gun store erects billboard with minority lawmakers' faces … The sign warns of the “4 Horsemen” — typically a reference to biblical imagery symbolizing the end of the earth: conquest, war, famine and death. — But the North Carolina billboard …
Axios:
Trump extends temporary protections for Syrians in the U.S. — The Trump administration is extending for 18 months protections that allow 7,000 Syrians to remain in the U.S. temporarily rather than return to their war-torn country, the Department of Homeland Security announced on Thursday.