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White House Ukraine Expert Sought to Correct Transcript of Trump Call — Lt. Col. Alexander S. Vindman, who heard President Trump's July phone call with Ukraine's president and was alarmed, testified that he tried and failed to add key details to the rough transcript.
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Exclusive: White House Ignored Pentagon Warning on Ukraine Funding — As the summer wore on, and President Donald Trump would not budge on his decision to withhold almost $400 million in military aid for Ukraine, the Pentagon warned the White House: If its portion of the money wasn't released quickly …
Discussion:
Shareblue Media and Raw Story


Impeachment Is Not a Coup — And no matter what Trump thinks, the president does not embody the will of the people. — In his letter denouncing the impeachment investigation, Pat Cipollone accused Democrats of waging an “illegitimate” effort to “overturn the results of the 2016 election …
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Alternet.org, Fox News, American Greatness, CNN, BuzzFeed News, Bloomberg, Occupy Democrats, Washington Post, Hot Air and HuffPost


‘One real mess’: Trump aides face the prospect of giant legal bills — Welcome to the legal quicksand stage of working in the Trump White House. — As the broadening impeachment investigation encroaches on the West Wing, more White House aides are grappling with the prospect …
Discussion:
Raw Story


Firsthand account of Trump's Ukraine call puts GOP in bind, emboldens Democrats — A top National Security Council official on Tuesday delivered a firsthand account of President Trump pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rivals, putting congressional Republicans in a bind …
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USA Today, HuffPost, CNN, Patterico's Pontifications, The Week, Slate, New York Daily News, US News, Just Security, BizPac Review, Daily Kos, ABC News, Raw Story, Salon, Mediaite, The Hill, Hot Air, Axios, Redstate, New York Post and VICE


GOP lawmaker confirms Vindman's testimony on Ukraine call omissions — A Republican congressman on Wednesday confirmed Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman told impeachment investigators that at least two portions of the July phone call between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky …
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New York Times, Talking Points Memo and CNN


In Praise of Sean Duffy
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Politico, The Nation, Commentary and Raw Story

Alexander Vindman and the Questioning of an American Jew's Patriotism
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Washington Post, CNN, The Week, Task & Purpose, Breitbart, The Hill, Politico, The Intercept, Alternet.org, Mediaite and Inquirer.com


READ: Ukraine Specialist Catherine Croft's Written Testimony In Impeachment Inquiry — Catherine Croft, a State Department employee who previously worked on Ukraine issues for the National Security Council, is testifying in the House impeachment inquiry on Wednesday.
Discussion:
Raw Story, Daily Kos and Alternet.org
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State Department official to testify that John Bolton warned about influence of Rudy Giuliani on Ukraine — WH weighs responses to impeachment as House vote nears — (CNN)Former national security adviser John Bolton cautioned about the influence Rudy Giuliani had on US-Ukraine policymaking during …
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Politico, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos, The Hill, The Week, The Guardian and Political Wire


Former G.O.P. Lawmaker Pressed for Ambassador's Ouster, Diplomat Will Say — Robert Livingston, the former congressman turned lobbyist, repeatedly contacted a White House official to criticize Marie L. Yovanovitch. — WASHINGTON — Robert Livingston, the former Republican congressman turned lobbyist …
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Washington Monthly, The Week and Talking Points Memo


READ: Christopher Anderson's Written Testimony In Impeachment Inquiry
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Raw Story and VICE

Two volatile meetings at the White House have become central to the impeachment inquiry
Discussion:
Political Wire and Hot Air

Trump's Russia ambassador pick breaks with him over Ukraine phone call
Discussion:
Associated Press

State Department officials to testify in impeachment inquiry Wednesday
Discussion:
MSNBC and New York Times


Jeffrey Epstein's Autopsy ‘Points to Homicide,’ Not Suicide, Pathologist Claims — The pathologist hired by Mr. Epstein's brother said evidence suggested strangulation. The authorities disputed the claim. — A forensic pathologist hired by Jeffrey Epstein's brother claimed on Wednesday …
Discussion:
The Week
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Jeffrey Epstein's injuries look more like murder than suicide, noted pathologist says — Since his brother was found dead in a New York City federal jail in August, Mark Epstein has been worried that his life, and the lives of other people, may be in danger because federal authorities …


Jeffrey Epstein's autopsy more consistent with homicidal strangulation than suicide, Dr. Michael Baden reveals
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National Review, Louder With Crowder, Gothamist, VICE, Breitbart, Alternet.org, The Daily Caller, The Stranger, Disrn and Sara A. Carter

Epstein family pathologist says financier's body shows signs of homicide
Discussion:
Fox News and Political Wire


Tulsi Gabbard Drops a Big Hint About Running a Spoiler Campaign for Trump — “Hillary Clinton emerged recently to claim, with no basis in fact, that I am being ‘groomed’ by the Russian government to undermine America,” claims Tulsi Gabbard in a Wall Street Journal op-ed today.
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I Can Defeat Trump and the Clinton Doctrine
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Washington Times, Breitbart and Althouse


Russia Tests New Disinformation Tactics in Africa to Expand Influence — Facebook said it removed three Russian-backed influence networks aimed at African countries. The activity by the networks suggested Russia's approach was evolving. — Russia has been testing new disinformation tactics …
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National Review, more at Techmeme »
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Mulvaney was left in the dark on al-Baghdadi operation — President Trump's acting chief of staff first learned of the raid when it was already underway, raising questions about his status in the White House. — WASHINGTON — Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney first learned …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Contemptor, The Daily Caller and The Week
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Pelosi wants Americans to see the trial of Donald Trump — Analysis: Once uncertain about holding an impeachment-related vote on the floor, the House speaker is moving to show evidence to the public. — WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi's patience has been rewarded.
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Lawmakers clash over Ukraine witness hearings as Trump tells GOP reps to ‘close it out’
Discussion:
The Federalist and Big League Politics


White House Finds Loophole in Search for Homeland Security Secretary — Officials who lead agencies in the department and echo the president's language on immigration were initially thought to be ineligible under a federal law. — WASHINGTON — The White House has found a way to bypass …
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Associated Press, Alternet.org, CNN, The Week, The Hill, HuffPost and Political Wire
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G.D.P. Posts 1.9% Rate as Trade Fight and Global Weakness Hit Economy — Consumer spending remained solid in the third quarter, but business investment declined. — Dogged by uneasiness over trade frictions and weak global growth, the American economy's growth inched lower over the summer.
Discussion:
Outside the Beltway and Political Wire
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A tale of two economies — EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK — There are two economies in this country, one along the coasts and in the great metropolises, and the other out here along the county blacktops. — The Dow Jones is roaring along. Silicon Valley is minting billionaires by the week.


How the Democrats' impeachment rules neutralize some key Republican complaints — Washington (CNN)From the moment House Democrats launched their impeachment inquiry, President Donald Trump and Republicans have criticized the process as a partisan “witch hunt.”
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Breitbart, Honolulu Civil Beat and Hullabaloo
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Protests in Iraq and Lebanon pose a challenge to Iran — BAGHDAD (AP) — The day after anti-government protests erupted in Iraq, Iranian Gen. Qassim Soleimani flew into Baghdad late at night and took a helicopter to the heavily fortified Green Zone, where he surprised a group of top security officials …
Discussion:
Politico and Press Herald


Trump Wants You to Know He's Smart and Capable Enough to ‘Do Quid Pro Quo’ — Everyone should just stop saying he's too dumb or incompetent to commit crimes—he could totally pull them off if he wanted to, Trump has been complaining privately. — As Donald Trump gets dragged deeper …
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Hullabaloo, Raw Story and Breitbart