memeorandum: White House directed ‘three amigos’ to run Ukraine policy, senior State department official tells House investigators (Washington Post)

10:55 AM ET, October 16, 2019

Top Items:

Heather Vogell / ProPublica:

Never-Before-Seen Trump Tax Documents Show Major Inconsistencies — The president's businesses made themselves appear more profitable to lenders and less profitable to tax officials. One expert calls the differing numbers “versions of fraud.” — Stay up to date with email updates …

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Washington Post:

Sen. Bernie Sanders to be endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an influential voice among young liberals — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, one of the most influential voices among young liberals and a rising Democratic star, plans to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) …

Ezra Klein / Vox:

Sorry, but Democrats need to talk about Hunter Biden — Teresa Kroeger/Getty Images for World Food Program USA — Democrats are afraid to talk about Hunter Biden. Trump won't be. — Democrats need to talk about Hunter Biden. Sorry, but they do. — The fourth Democratic presidential …

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The Hill:

Democrats debate in Ohio: Who came out on top? — Twelve Democratic presidential candidates squared off at a debate on Tuesday night in Westerville, Ohio, where Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) came under fierce attack, underscoring her rise to the top of the pack in the race for the nomination.

Discussion: Axios, Politico, Fox News and Breitbart

Nolan D. McCaskill / Politico:
Dems go after Warren, and other big moments from Tuesday's debate

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Wall Street Journal:
Biden's Cash on Hand Is Dwarfed by Rivals' Hoards

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New York Times: 6 Takeaways From the October Democratic Debate

Associated Press:
AP FACT CHECK: Claims from the Democratic debate

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John F. Harris / Politico:
Democrats stop faking it — and have a serious debate

Discussion: WBUR, New York Times, Bloomberg and CNN

Steve Peoples / Associated Press:
Analysis: Elizabeth Warren growing into front-runner status

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New York Times:
Which Candidates Got the Most Speaking Time in the Democratic Debate

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John Verhovek / ABC News:
5 key takeaways from the 4th Democratic debate

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Brent Scher / Washington Free Beacon:
FLASHBACK: Hunter Biden's One Qualification for Amtrak Board Was Taking Trains

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Michael Holden / Reuters:

U.S. security chief ‘heaped pain’ on grieving parents of UK teen: lawyer — LONDON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's national security adviser heaped pain and grief on the parents of a British teenager killed in a car crash by trying to hold a meeting at the White House between them and a U.S. diplomat's wife …

Discussion: Law & Crime, The American Conservative and Political Wire

Barbie Latza Nadeau / The Daily Beast:

Grieving Parents ‘Ambushed’ by Trump, Who Had Teen's Killer Waiting at White House — The president had hoped to surprise the parents of dead British teen Harry Dunn with a meeting with the woman who killed him—all in front of the media. — Correspondent-At-Large

Discussion: The Hill, Sky News, Contemptor, Raw Story and Scotsman

Iliana Magra / New York Times: Trump Meets Grieving Britons, and Springs a Surprise

Washington Post:

Pompeo adviser to decry politicization of State Dept. in impeachment probe testimony — Michael McKinley, the former senior adviser to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo until his sudden resignation last week, will tell House impeachment investigators Wednesday that career diplomats …

Discussion: Raw Story

Axios:

Turkey's Erdoğan says he won't meet with Pence and Pompeo — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Sky News Wednesday that he will not meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who is currently leading a delegation with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Turkey to discuss a ceasefire in northern Syria.

Discussion: VICE, Raw Story, The Week and Wall Street Journal

Associated Press:

Live Updates: Erdogan Snubs Pence: ‘When Trump Comes, I Will Meet With Him’ — Russian troops move into Syrian territory abandoned by U.S. ■ Erdogan: ‘There will be no ceasefire ... We are not worried about any sanctions’ ■ Assad forces make territorial gains near Manbij following pact …

Discussion: Foreign Policy

David Gauthier-Villars / Wall Street Journal:
Turkey Rejects U.S. Call for Immediate Cease-Fire in Syria

Discussion: Foreign Policy and Axios

Marianne LeVine / Politico:
Republicans drop their revolt against Trump on Syria

Discussion: Washington Post, Associated Press, One America News Network and Political Wire

Abigail Weinberg / Mother Jones:
“A Stab in the Back”: How Trump and Turkey Blew Up Syria's Most Stable Region

Discussion: UN News

Washington Post:

Mulvaney emerges as a key facilitator of the campaign to pressure Ukraine — In late May, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney organized a meeting that stripped control of the country's relationship with Ukraine from those who had the most expertise at the National Security Council and the State Department.

Discussion: The Hill and Mother Jones

New York Times:

White House Is Said to Open Internal Review of Ukraine Call — Some advisers fear that the inquiry is a hunt for a scapegoat, people familiar with it said. — WASHINGTON — President Trump has for weeks sought to unmask the whistle-blower who shed light on his Ukraine dealings.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Wall Street Journal, Raw Story, The Daily Caller, The Hill, Washington Post, BizPac Review, Hullabaloo, Washington Free Beacon, JustOneMinute, CNN, Vox and Shareblue Media

John Wagner / Washington Post:
Live updates: Trump and Pelosi to meet face-to-face for first time since inquiry began

Discussion: The Hill and Raw Story

Jake Sherman / Politico:
POLITICO Playbook: D.C. stays in the fight

Discussion: The Week, The Seattle Times, Political Wire and Reuters, more at Mediagazer »

Washington Post:
White House directed ‘three amigos’ to run Ukraine policy, senior State department official tells House investigators

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, CNN, Just Security, The Week, Diplopundit, The Hill, New York Times and Wall Street Journal

Justin McCarthy / Gallup:

Congress Approval, Support for Impeaching Trump Both Up — WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives work through an impeachment inquiry regarding alleged abuses of office by President Donald Trump, approval of Congress is now at 25%.

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Rebecca Ballhaus / Wall Street Journal:

Ex-Rep. Sessions Subpoenaed Over Interactions With Giuliani, Giuliani Associates — Giuliani is primary focus of subpoena; Pete Sessions cooperating with prosecutors — A grand jury has issued a subpoena related to Manhattan federal prosecutors' investigation into Rudy Giuliani …

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Sam Brodey / The Daily Beast:

Dems Torn Over How Much to Punish Rudy Giuliani for Ignoring Subpoena — Should Trump's personal attorney be jailed for his stonewalling of a congressional subpoena—or would a court fight only delay the impeachment inquiry unnecessarily? — House Democrats are torn over how to respond …

Discussion: ABC News, Raw Story, Occupy Democrats, The New Civil Rights Movement and Talking Points Memo

John Santucci / ABC News:
Giuliani says he won't comply with a congressional subpoena

Washington Post:

Giuliani pressed Trump to eject Muslim cleric from U.S., a top priority of Turkish president, former officials say — Rudolph W. Giuliani privately urged President Trump in 2017 to extradite a Turkish cleric living in exile in the United States, a top priority of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan …

Discussion: Hot Air, JONATHAN TURLEY, One America News Network, The Week, Diplopundit and The Hill

New York Times:
Giuliani Pushed Trump to Deport Cleric Sought by Turkey, Ex-White House Officials Said

Discussion: BizPac Review, The Daily Caller and Washington Times

CNN:

Mounting frustration inside White House over Hill depositions as refusals to comply with subpoenas increase — Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed the escalating impeachment inquiry on Capitol Hill during a jovial Rose Garden appearance, but sources say there is mounting frustration …

Discussion: East Bay Times

Lanny A. Breuer / Washington Post: I represented Clinton during his impeachment. I have advice for Pat Cipollone.

Zachary Basu / Axios:
Pence tells House committees he will not cooperate in impeachment inquiry

Discussion: RedState, Washington Examiner and Breitbart

Stephen Rex Brown / New York Daily News:

‘Confidential informants’ part of Manhattan DA Cy Vance's investigation involving President Trump's tax returns — Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance revealed Tuesday that “confidential informants” are part of his probe involving President Trump's tax returns.

Reid Wilson / The Hill:

Kentucky governor's race tied: poll — Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin (R) is tied with his Democratic rival just three weeks before Election Day in a race President Trump's political team is watching closely. — A new survey conducted by Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy finds Bevin …

Discussion: Political Wire

Shane Croucher / Newsweek: Donald Trump's approval rating drops among North Carolina voters as Republicans walk away over Ukraine, impeachment

Lauryn Overhultz / The Daily Caller:

REPORT: LeBron James Questioned Adam Silver Over Lack Of Punishment For Daryl Morey's China Tweet — NBA star LeBron James reportedly pressured the NBA to punish the Rockets' General Manager Daryl Morey after he tweeted support for Hong Kong. — James argued that if something a NBA player …

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Washington Post:

Kim Jong Un rides white horse on sacred mountain - and plans ‘great operation’ — SEOUL — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was shown riding a white horse in the snow on a sacred mountain, in several photographs released by state media Wednesday that experts said could presage a major announcement.

Discussion: Axios