Top Items:
John Gonzalez / The Ringer:
Daryl Morey's Hong Kong Tweet Has Put His Relationship With the Rockets in Limbo — The Houston general manager came out in support of the protest movement in Hong Kong, and the backlash from Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, the Chinese government, and Chinese business interests have rocked the franchise and the NBA
Discussion:
National Review, Axios, New York Times, Quartz, houston.china-consulate.org, Fox News, Deadspin, Sports Illustrated, Slate and Hong Kong Free Press HKFP
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Ben Cohen / Wall Street Journal:
The NBA Feels a Backlash in China After a Tweet Supporting Hong Kong — Chinese companies have suspended ties with the Rockets, one of the NBA's most popular teams in China, after Houston's general manager tweeted his support of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong
Discussion:
twitchy.com and The Week
Joe Tsai:
Open letter to all NBA fans: — When I bought controlling interest in the Brooklyn Nets in September, I didn't expect my first public communication with our fans would be to comment on something as politically charged and grossly misunderstood as the way hundreds of millions of Chinese NBA fans feel about what just happened.
Discussion:
National Review, CNN, New York Post and Bloomberg
Rishika Dugyala / Politico:
Pols blast NBA for ‘kowtowing’ to China
Pols blast NBA for ‘kowtowing’ to China
Discussion:
Al Jazeera, Reuters, American Greatness and One America News Network
Associated Press:
AP sources: Trump allies sought changes at Ukraine utility — KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — As Rudy Giuliani was pushing Ukrainian officials last spring to investigate one of Donald Trump's main political rivals, a group of individuals with ties to the president and his personal lawyer were also active in the former Soviet republic.
Discussion:
Raw Story, Splinter and Lawyers, Guns & Money
New York Times:
Trump Endorses Turkish Military Operation in Syria, Shifting U.S. Policy — WASHINGTON — In a major shift in United States military policy in Syria, the White House said on Sunday that President Trump had given his endorsement for a Turkish military operation that would sweep away American …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Foreign Policy, LobeLog and The Week
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Zeke Miller / Associated Press:
White House: Turkey to invade Northern Syria — WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says Turkey will soon invade Northern Syria, casting uncertainty on the fate of the Kurdish fighters allied with the U.S. against in a campaign against the Islamic State group.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Daily Beast, The Week and Politico
New York Times:
Trump Ordered to Turn Over 8 Years of Tax Returns to the Manhattan D.A. — A judge rejected the president's argument that he was immune from criminal investigations. — A federal judge on Monday rejected a bold argument from President Trump that sitting presidents are immune from criminal investigations …
Discussion:
Axios and Washington Post
Nancy Cook / Politico:
Impeachment tentacles spread throughout Trump's team — The tentacles of the Democratic impeachment investigation are extending far beyond the arms of President Donald Trump. — The vice president's office, acting chief of staff's office, State Department, Energy Department …
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Axios:
Trump says he worries about the stain impeachment will leave on his legacy — President Trump has told friends and allies he worries about the stain impeachment will leave on his legacy. — Driving the news: In a phone call with House Republicans on Friday, Trump articulated why he really doesn't want this.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, The Week, Law & Crime, New York Daily News, CNN, Raw Story, NBC News and Slate
Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
Pence going after Democrats over impeachment — in their districts
Pence going after Democrats over impeachment — in their districts
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Political Wire and Fox News
Peter Baker / New York Times:
‘We Absolutely Could Not Do That’: When Seeking Foreign Help Was Out of the Question — WASHINGTON — One day in October 1992, four Republican congressmen showed up in the Oval Office with an audacious recommendation. President George Bush was losing his re-election race …
Patrick Reis / Rolling Stone:
The ‘Whistleblower’ Probably Isn't — It's an insult to real whistleblowers to use the term with the Ukrainegate protagonist — Start with the initial headline, in the story the Washington Post “broke” on September 18th: — TRUMP'S COMMUNICATIONS WITH FOREIGN LEADER ARE PART …
David Leonhardt / New York Times:
The Rich Really Do Pay Lower Taxes Than You — Almost a decade ago, Warren Buffett made a claim that would become famous. He said that he paid a lower tax rate than his secretary, thanks to the many loopholes and deductions that benefit the wealthy. — His claim sparked a debate about the fairness of the tax system.
Lee Smith / RealClearInvestigations:
It's Not All About the Bidens: Why Trump Has Ukraine on the Brain — The impeachment inquiry Democrats launched last month may ultimately hinge on a simple question: Did President Trump try to force a foreign power (or powers) to help him take down a political opponent, Joe Biden?
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, The American Spectator and American Military News
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Jeffrey Toobin / New Yorker:
Donald Trump's Ukraine Scandal Has Its Roots in Russia
Donald Trump's Ukraine Scandal Has Its Roots in Russia
Discussion:
Raw Story, Hullabaloo and The Mahablog
Jonathan Swan / Axios:
Scoop: Mulvaney predicts post-impeachment landslide — In numerous recent conversations with colleagues, including last week's senior staff meeting, White House acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney has said he thinks President Trump could win 45 states in 2020 after the impeachment process …
Discussion:
Townhall, Raw Story, No More Mister Nice Blog and Political Wire
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Ronan Farrow / New Yorker:
The Black Cube Chronicles: The Private Investigators — How two operatives tasked with surveilling reporters became embroiled in an international plot to suppress sexual-assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. — This is the first installment of a three-part series.
Discussion:
Variety, The Daily Beast and Jewish Insider, more at Mediagazer »
Justine Coleman / The Hill:
Powell: ‘The Republican party has got to get a grip on itself’ — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell said the Republican party needs to “get a grip on itself” as Republicans flock to defend the president while the impeachment inquiry continues. — The retired U.S. Army general told …
Discussion:
Washington Post, HuffPost and Occupy Democrats
RELATED:
Charlie Nash / Mediaite:
‘Foreign Policy is in Shambles’: Colin Powell Unloads on Trump and the Republican Party
‘Foreign Policy is in Shambles’: Colin Powell Unloads on Trump and the Republican Party
Discussion:
Instapundit
Tim Hains / RealClearPolitics:
Ratcliffe: DOJ Inspector General's Report On FISA Abuse Will Be Released Friday; Need Schiff Under Oath — Rep. John Ratcliffe, a member of the Judiciary, Intelligence, and Homeland Security Committeess, told FNc's Maria Bartiromo on “Sunday Morning Futures” that Attorney General William Barr …
Discussion:
Power Line
Michael R. Bloomberg / Bloomberg:
Trump Won't Stop His Abuses of Power — The president is violating his oath of office in plain sight. Congress can't accept that. — One could be forgiven for thinking that President Donald Trump wants to be impeached. — On Thursday, on live television in front of the White House …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit and Fortune
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Arren Kimbel-Sannit / Politico:
Elaine Chao favored Kentuckians in meeting with officials seeking grants — In her first 14 months as Transportation secretary, Elaine Chao met with officials from Kentucky, which her husband Mitch McConnell represents in the Senate, vastly more often than those from any other state.
Discussion:
Raw Story and Political Wire
wasoncenter:
2019 Virginia Legislative Election Survey … Summary of Key Findings — Democrats have a significant advantage over Republicans on voter enthusiasm, 62% to 49%. Further, 84% of Democrats say they will “definitely vote,” compared with 74% of Republicans and 75% of Independents.
Discussion:
Political Wire
Karol Markowicz / New York Post:
Hillary Clinton is dumping on democracy and the media don't care — What would it be like if a candidate didn't accept the outcome of a presidential election? Witness Hillary Clinton. — Last week, Clinton continued her “I Was Wronged in 2016” multi-year tour, this time in support …