memeorandum: Trump pulls troops from northern Syria as Turkey readies offensive (Washington Post)

9:50 AM ET, October 7, 2019

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, houston.china-consulate.org, New York Times, Quartz, Breitbart, Outside the Beltway, Deadspin, Fox News, Sports Illustrated, Slate and Hong Kong Free Press HKFP

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

ESPN:

James Harden apologizes as controversy grows: ‘We love China’ — Houston Rockets star James Harden has offered an apology as the controversy over general manager Daryl Morey's tweet of support for Hong Kong protesters continues to grow at a crucial time for the NBA in China.

Discussion: twitchy.com

Ben Cohen / Wall Street Journal:
The NBA Feels a Backlash in China After a Tweet Supporting Hong Kong

Discussion: twitchy.com and The Week

South China Morning Post: ‘We love China’: Rockets' Harden ‘sorry’ over GM's Hong Kong tweet

Rishika Dugyala / Politico:
Pols blast NBA for ‘kowtowing’ to China

Discussion: Breitbart, Reuters, American Greatness and One America News Network

Natsuko Fukue / Yahoo News: Harden ‘sorry’ to China as Rockets on defence over Hong Kong tweet

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: National Review, Raw Story, Splinter and Lawyers, Guns & Money

New York Times:

Trump Taxes: President Ordered to Turn Over Returns to 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, Washington Post and Raw Story

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, Outside the Beltway, LobeLog and The Week

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

Washington Post:
Trump pulls troops from northern Syria as Turkey readies offensive

Discussion: Hullabaloo, Mediaite, Daily Kos and Foreign Policy

Associated Press:
US troops start pullout from along Turkey's border in Syria

Discussion: Politico, The Week and Political Wire

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 …

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: Politico, No More Mister Nice Blog, Splinter, The Week, Law & Crime, New York Daily News, CNN, Raw Story, Vox, NBC News and Slate

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
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 …

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.

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 …

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 »

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

Jane C. Timm / NBC News:
Trump is pushing a baseless conspiracy about the Bidens and China. Here's what we know.

Discussion: Fox News, Contemptor, The Guardian and Quartz

Tracy Wilkinson / Los Angeles Times: Ukrainian official says false stories pushed by Giuliani threatened relations with Washington

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: Real Clear Politics, Althouse, The Gateway Pundit, The American Spectator and American Military News

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

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

Axios: 2. Scoop: Mulvaney predicts post-impeachment landslide

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

Charlie Nash / Mediaite:
‘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

Bloomberg:

Trump Loses Court Fight to Keep Tax Records Secret From N.Y. — President Donald Trump may lose control of his tax filings after years of defying a modern presidential norm of disclosing them to the public, Bloomberg News reports. — A federal judge in New York ruled that Trump can't stop his accountants …

Discussion: Raw Story

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