Top Items:
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 …
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David A. Fahrenthold / Washington Post:
Federal judge rules Trump must turn over his tax returns to Manhattan DA, but Trump has appealed — The request for eight years of records relates to the DA's investigation into hush-money payments during the 2016 election. — David A. Fahrenthold, Ann E. Marimow - · - 30 minutes ago -
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
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:
Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, Politico, Vanity Fair, The Week, Defense One, Splinter, Outside the Beltway, Just Security and Foreign Policy
RELATED:
Associated Press:
US to step aside for Turkish assault on Kurds in Syria
US to step aside for Turkish assault on Kurds in Syria
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Daily Beast, Hullabaloo, The Week and Politico
Natasha Turak / CNBC:
Trump handing northern Syria to Turkey is a ‘gift to Russia, Iran, and ISIS,’ former US envoy says
Trump handing northern Syria to Turkey is a ‘gift to Russia, Iran, and ISIS,’ former US envoy says
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE
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
RELATED:
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, New York Post, CNN and Deadspin
ESPN:
James Harden apologizes as controversy grows: ‘We love China’
James Harden apologizes as controversy grows: ‘We love China’
Discussion:
New York Post, Bloomberg and twitchy.com
Rishika Dugyala / Politico:
Pols blast NBA for ‘kowtowing’ to China
Pols blast NBA for ‘kowtowing’ to China
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Foreign Policy, Reuters, American Greatness and One America News Network
Ben Cohen / Wall Street Journal:
The NBA Feels a Backlash in China After a Tweet Supporting Hong Kong
The NBA Feels a Backlash in China After a Tweet Supporting Hong Kong
Discussion:
CNBC, Hong Kong Free Press HKFP, Power Line, The Diplomat, twitchy.com and The Week
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, The Nation, Raw Story, Daily Kos, Splinter and Lawyers, Guns & Money
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 …
Discussion:
Raw Story and One America News Network
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Axios:
Trump says he worries about the stain impeachment will leave on his legacy
Trump says he worries about the stain impeachment will leave on his legacy
Discussion:
Politico, POLITICUSUSA, Splinter, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Week, Law & Crime, New York Daily News, CNN, Raw Story, Vox, The Guardian, Slate and NBC News
Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
Pence going after Democrats over impeachment — in their districts
Pence going after Democrats over impeachment — in their districts
Discussion:
National Review, Talking Points Memo 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 …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice
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
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Devan Cole / CNN:
90 former national security officials praise whistleblower
90 former national security officials praise whistleblower
Discussion:
Political Wire, HuffPost and Wall Street Journal
Lyz Lenz / Columbia Journalism Review:
Alan Dershowitz and the wheel of pain — 1: A MAN ACCUSED — Alan Dershowitz won't hang up the phone. He's breathing heavily into the receiver. It's August 10, the morning Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his jail cell. At first Dershowitz wants to go off the record, and I agree.
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:
Power Line, Real Clear Politics, Althouse, The Gateway Pundit and The American Spectator
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 …
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway and Althouse
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 »
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
TMZ.com:
Rep. Ilhan Omar Files for Divorce — 8:08 AM PT — A rep for Omar tells TMZ, “As with all marriages, this is intensely personal and a difficult time for their family. For years, Ilhan and Ahmed have been the object of speculation and inuendo from political opponents and the media.”
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, RedState and New York Post
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:
Small Dead Animals and Instapundit