Top Items:
New York Times:
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.
Discussion:
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Kate Brannen / Just Security:
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
Jamelle Bouie / New York Times:
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 …
Discussion:
Alternet.org, American Greatness, CNN, Bloomberg, BuzzFeed News, Occupy Democrats and Hot Air
Nancy Cook / Politico:
‘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
Natasha Bertrand / Politico:
Nunes acolyte misrepresented himself to Trump as Ukraine expert — The decorated Army officer who testified to House investigators on Tuesday told lawmakers that a close associate of Republican Rep. Devin Nunes “misrepresented” himself to President Donald Trump in an effort to involve himself further …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Raw Story, Press Herald, BizPac Review, Fox News, New York Times and Inquirer.com
Washington Post:
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 …
Discussion:
USA Today, HuffPost, CNN, Patterico's Pontifications, Slate, US News, Just Security, BizPac Review, Daily Kos, The Week, New York Daily News, ABC News, Raw Story, Salon, Mediaite, Hot Air, The Hill, Axios, Redstate, New York Post, VICE and Disrn
Quint Forgey / Politico:
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 …
Discussion:
New York Times, Talking Points Memo and CNN
Charles Sykes / The Bulwark:
In Praise of Sean Duffy
In Praise of Sean Duffy
Discussion:
Politico, The Nation, Raw Story and Commentary
Greg Miller / Washington Post:
Two volatile meetings at the White House have become central to the impeachment inquiry
Two volatile meetings at the White House have become central to the impeachment inquiry
Discussion:
Political Wire and Hot Air
Julia Ioffe / GQ:
Alexander Vindman and the Questioning of an American Jew's Patriotism
Alexander Vindman and the Questioning of an American Jew's Patriotism
Discussion:
Washington Post, CNN, The Week, Breitbart, Task & Purpose, The Hill, Politico, Alternet.org, Mediaite, The Intercept and ABC News
Adam Shaw / Fox News:
Lawmakers clash over Ukraine witness hearings as Trump tells GOP reps to ‘close it out’
Lawmakers clash over Ukraine witness hearings as Trump tells GOP reps to ‘close it out’
Discussion:
Raw Story and The Federalist
Brandon Carter / NPR:
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:
Washington Post, Raw Story, Breitbart, Daily Kos and Alternet.org
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Nahal Toosi / Politico:
Trump's Russia ambassador pick breaks with him over Ukraine phone call — Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan implicitly broke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday, telling lawmakers that it would not be “in accord with our values” for a president to ask a foreign government to investigate a political rival.
Discussion:
Associated Press
CNN:
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 …
Discussion:
Politico, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo, The Week, The Hill, The Guardian and Political Wire
Amita Kelly / NPR:
READ: Christopher Anderson's Written Testimony In Impeachment Inquiry — Christopher Anderson is testifying in the ongoing House impeachment inquiry on Wednesday, along with Catherine Croft. — Anderson and Croft both worked for the U.S. envoy to Ukraine Kurt Volker — Anderson for almost two years.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Raw Story and VICE
New York Times:
Former G.O.P. Lawmaker Pressed for Ambassador's Ouster, Diplomat Will Say
Former G.O.P. Lawmaker Pressed for Ambassador's Ouster, Diplomat Will Say
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Week and Talking Points Memo
NBC News:
State Department officials to testify in impeachment inquiry Wednesday
State Department officials to testify in impeachment inquiry Wednesday
Discussion:
MSNBC and New York Times
Kyle Cheney / Politico:
State Dept. officials offer new details about Trump's shadow diplomacy with Ukraine
State Dept. officials offer new details about Trump's shadow diplomacy with Ukraine
Daniel Flatley / Bloomberg:
Russia Envoy Nominee Undercuts Rudy Giuliani: Impeachment Update
Azi Paybarah / 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 …
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Julie K. Brown / Miami Herald:
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 …
Discussion:
Politico
Melissa Leon / Fox News:
Jeffrey Epstein's autopsy more consistent with homicidal strangulation than suicide, Dr. Michael Baden reveals — The body of disgraced money man and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, who was found dead in his Manhattan federal prison cell in August, bore telltale signs of homicide despite …
Discussion:
National Review, Louder With Crowder, Gothamist, VICE, Alternet.org, Breitbart, The Daily Caller, The Stranger, Disrn and Sara A. Carter
Justine Coleman / The Hill:
Epstein family pathologist says financier's body shows signs of homicide
Epstein family pathologist says financier's body shows signs of homicide
Discussion:
Fox News and Political Wire
Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
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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Tulsi Gabbard / Wall Street Journal:
I Can Defeat Trump and the Clinton Doctrine
I Can Defeat Trump and the Clinton Doctrine
Discussion:
Washington Times, Breitbart and Althouse
NBC News:
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
RELATED:
New York Times:
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 …
Discussion:
National Review, more at Techmeme »
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Zolan Kanno-Youngs / New York Times:
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 …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Alternet.org, CNN, The Week, The Hill, HuffPost and Political Wire
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Anita Kumar / Politico:
Grassley shoots down White House plan to install Cuccinelli atop DHS
Grassley shoots down White House plan to install Cuccinelli atop DHS
Discussion:
Shareblue Media
Jonathan Allen / NBC News:
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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Patricia Cohen / New York Times:
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
RELATED:
CNN:
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.”
Discussion:
Breitbart, Honolulu Civil Beat and Hullabaloo
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Art Cullen / The Storm Lake Times:
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.
Asawin Suebsaeng / The Daily Beast:
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 …
Discussion:
Hullabaloo, Raw Story and Breitbart
Associated Press:
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
Averi Harper / ABC News:
New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker stresses vitality of ‘on the ground’ endorsements before Iowa caucus — Less than 100 days from the Iowa caucus, Democratic presidential hopeful, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker, joined ABC's The View on Wednesday to discuss diversity and the importance of “on the ground” endorsements.
Discussion:
Morning Consult, The Daily Beast, The Hill and Contemptor