Top Items:
Stephanie Kirchgaessner / The Guardian:
Rudy Giuliani says Trump will stay loyal to him but jokes that he has ‘insurance’ — Exclusive: The president's personal lawyer has emerged as a key figure in the impeachment inquiry, with speculation that Republicans will seek to paint him as a rogue actor
Discussion:
New York Times, HuffPost, The Week, The Hill, Hot Air, Law & Crime, Hullabaloo, Talking Points Memo, Mediaite, Political Wire and Raw Story
RELATED:
Bloomberg:
Giuliani Faces U.S. Probe on Campaign Finance, Lobbying Breaches — Probe of lawyer presents a threat to Trump's presidency — Giuliani has become a central figure in impeachment inquiry — Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, is being investigated …
Discussion:
The Hill, Sara A. Carter, Political Wire, Mediaite, New York Post and Raw Story
Associated Press:
AP source: 2nd US official heard Trump call with Sondland — WASHINGTON (AP) — A second U.S. Embassy staffer in Kyiv overheard a cellphone call between President Donald Trump and his ambassador to the European Union discussing a need for Ukrainian officials to pursue “investigations,” The Associated Press has learned.
The Daily Beast:
Exclusive: Giuliani Ally Pete Sessions Was Eyed for Top Slot in Ukraine — Pete Sessions received millions from Giuliani's indicted cronies. He joined Rudy in speaking out against the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. He was even considered as her replacement.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Erica Werner / Washington Post:
Career White House budget official expected to break ranks, testify in impeachment inquiry — Mark Sandy would be the first Office of Management and Budget official to appear after a series of political appointees defied congressional subpoenas — A longtime career employee at the White House Office …
Discussion:
Politico, Talking Points Memo, CNN, The Hill, Axios, Raw Story, The Week and Political Wire
RELATED:
Sabrina Rodriguez / Politico:
Pelosi: USMCA deal is ‘imminent’
Pelosi: USMCA deal is ‘imminent’
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Hill and Blue Virginia
CNN:
Top Democrats privately concede major shift in public opinion on impeachment is unlikely
Top Democrats privately concede major shift in public opinion on impeachment is unlikely
Discussion:
Hot Air
Burgess Everett / Politico:
Trump shows GOP senators summary of his first call with Ukraine president
Trump shows GOP senators summary of his first call with Ukraine president
Discussion:
One America News Network
Nicole Gaouette / CNN:
Trump hikes price tag for US forces in Korea almost 500% as Seoul questions alliance — Washington (CNN)Secretary of Defense Mark Esper landed in South Korea on Thursday to navigate renewed threats from an “enraged” North Korea and newly heightened strain in the alliance with Seoul that congressional aides …
Discussion:
Political Wire
Washington Post:
Besieged on all sides, Gordon Sondland clings to power — When confronted with the whiff of scandal, American diplomats are often advised to resign if they believe they can no longer be effective in the job. — But for Gordon Sondland, the embattled U.S. ambassador to the European Union, quitting is not in the cards.
RELATED:
CNN:
Russian spies likely intercepted ambassador's cell phone call with Trump — Washington (CNN)US Ambassador to the European Union Gordon Sondland's cell phone call to President Donald Trump from a restaurant in Ukraine this summer appears to be a shocking security breach that raises significant …
Discussion:
The Mahablog and The Guardian
Washington Post:
Justice Dept. watchdog won't let witnesses give written feedback on report about FBI's Russia probe, sparking fears of inaccuracy — The Justice Department Inspector General's office has told witnesses who are set to review draft sections of its long-awaited report on the FBI investigation …
Discussion:
Political Wire and The Last Refuge
RELATED:
CNN:
Trump talks Russia probe audit with attorney general and White House counsel in Oval Office meeting — (CNN)President Donald Trump met with Attorney General William Barr and White House counsel Pat Cipollone in an Oval Office meeting Thursday afternoon in which the so-called Horowitz report came …
Ryan Saavedra / The Daily Wire:
BREAKING: Congress Releases Messages Showing Tlaib Asked Campaign For Personal Money, Announces Investigation Into Her — The House Ethics Committee announced on Thursday that it is investigating Democrat Rep. Rashida Tlaib (MI) 0ver internal messages that she allegedly sent in 2018 asking …
Discussion:
Redstate
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Edward Helmore / The Guardian:
Outcry after Facebook sponsors gala featuring Brett Kavanaugh — Company is listed as a ‘gold circle’ sponsor for rightwing group Federalist Society dinner where justice will be keynote speaker — Facebook is facing criticism for sponsoring the annual gala dinner of the Federalist Society …
Discussion:
Above the Law, The Verge and Florida Phoenix
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Laurel Wamsley / NPR:
3 Indiana Judges Suspended After White Castle Brawl That Left 2 Of Them Wounded — Back in May, three Indiana judges got into a fight. It was the crescendo of an incident brimming with colorful details: a gaggle of judges drinking the night before a judicial conference …
Washington Post:
Trump asks Supreme Court to shield his tax returns from prosecutors, setting up historic separation-of-powers showdown — President Trump asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to stop a prosecutor's investigation of his personal finances, a bold assertion of presidential power that seeks …
Discussion:
Associated Press, HuffPost, Common Dreams, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos and The Root
RELATED:
Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Bar Release of His Tax Returns
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Bar Release of His Tax Returns
Discussion:
Hot Air, Common Dreams, Daily Kos and NPR
Washington Post:
Trump's Washington hotel has fallen behind competitors, with rooms running nearly half empty, marketing materials show — President Trump's Washington hotel has fallen well behind competing properties despite continuing to charge among the highest rates in the city, according …
RELATED:
Fareed Zakaria / Washington Post:
Zelensky was planning to announce Trump's ‘quid pro quo’ on my show. Here's what happened. — The phrase “quid pro quo” is usually translated as “something for something.” In the case of President Trump's communications with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, it appears that the …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Slate
RELATED:
Christian Caryl / Washington Post:
Sorry, Republicans, but Paul Manafort really was corrupt
Sorry, Republicans, but Paul Manafort really was corrupt
Discussion:
Associated Press, American Greatness and New Republic
Gianluca Mezzofiore / CNN:
Italian council is flooded immediately after rejecting measures on climate change — (CNN)Veneto regional council, which is located on Venice's Grand Canal, was flooded for the first time in its history on Tuesday night — just after it rejected measures to combat climate change.
Discussion:
Big Think, Boing Boing, The Verge, WTKR-TV, NPR, CityLab, Common Dreams and Q13 FOX News
Tom O'Connor / Newsweek:
Syria's Assad says Jeffrey Epstein did not kill himself — Syrian President Bashar al-Assad waded into the conspiracy theories around Jeffery Epstein's suicide, saying the financier and convicted sex offender was murdered as part of a Western plot to eliminate high-profile people who knew too much.
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE
RELATED:
Julie K. Brown / Miami Herald:
Jeffrey Epstein wasn't trafficking women — and he didn't kill himself, brother says
Jeffrey Epstein wasn't trafficking women — and he didn't kill himself, brother says
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, TheBlaze and New York Post
Morning Call:
Most Pennsylvania voters have dim view of Trump, new poll shows. His Democratic foes have work to do, too — One year before Pennsylvania voters will head to the polls in a critical swing state, a new Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll shows nearly six in 10 don't believe President Donald Trump should be re-elected.
Discussion:
POLITICUSUSA and Political Wire
RELATED:
Dana Blanton / Fox News:
Fox News Poll: Close races between Trump and Democrats in North Carolina
Fox News Poll: Close races between Trump and Democrats in North Carolina
Discussion:
POLITICUSUSA and War Room
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Judge slams feds over murky stance on McCabe — A federal judge excoriated Justice Department officials Thursday for their handling of potential criminal charges against former Deputy FBI Director Andrew McCabe, saying the continued uncertainty over the prosecution was unfair to McCabe and the public.
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit
Washington Post:
White House and Pentagon prepare for Trump to issue pardons in war-crimes cases, officials say — President Trump is expected to intervene in three military justice cases involving service members charged with war crimes any day, issuing pardons or otherwise clearing them of wrongdoing …
Charlie Nash / Mediaite:
Steve King Goes Full Steve King: Posts Photos of George Soros' Son Falsely Claiming He's Whistleblower (UPDATED) — Rep. Steve King (R-IA) posted photos of the son of left-wing billionaire George Soros on Thursday, absurdly accusing him of being the White House whistleblower.
Discussion:
New York Times, The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, Iowa Starting Line, Occupy Democrats and Slate
RELATED:
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Jewish Groups Blast Fox News for Joe diGenova's Anti-Semitic Soros Conspiracy Theory
Jewish Groups Blast Fox News for Joe diGenova's Anti-Semitic Soros Conspiracy Theory
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Daily Caller and Contemptor, more at Mediagazer »
NBC News:
Trump admin preparing to take over private land in Texas for border wall — The Trump administration is preparing court filings to begin taking over private land in Texas to build a border wall as early as this week, say officials. — The Trump administration is preparing court filings …
Discussion:
National Review
Jennifer Bendery / HuffPost:
Senate Confirms Wildly Problematic Trump Court Pick Steven Menashi — He's never tried a case. He condemned women's rights and diversity. He refused to answer senators' questions. Republicans confirmed him anyway. — WASHINGTON ― The Senate voted Thursday to make Steven Menashi …
Discussion:
Washington Post, Politico, Breitbart, MSNBC, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Common Dreams, CNN and Axios
Karoli Kuns / Latest from Crooks and Liars:
As Jury Deliberates, Roger Stone Sends A Message To Trump: ‘Pardon Me’ — Using Alex Jones as the relay, Stone's message is straightforward: A pardon is the only thing that can save him now. — Today, jurors received the case against Roger Stone and are currently deliberating the charges before them.
Discussion:
Hullabaloo
Katie Rogers / New York Times:
Emails Outline Anti-Immigration Group's Connection to Stephen Miller — A new batch of leaked emails illustrates the degree to which Mr. Miller used a think tank's work to shape coverage at Breitbart News and policy at the White House. — WASHINGTON — Stephen Miller …
Discussion:
Inquirer.com, National Review and Southern Poverty Law Center
Los Angeles Times:
Santa Clarita shooting: 2 teens killed; attack came on suspect's birthday, officials say — One person was killed and at least four others were injured in a shooting at Saugus High School in Santa Clarita early Thursday, authorities said. — Two students were killed …
Discussion:
NBC News, Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Stranger, KTLA, KNSD-TV, Fox News, The Hill, Def-Con News, The Daily Beast, Talking Points Memo, Slate and New York Post
Dan Froomkin / Press Watch:
Reuters News Article That Called Impeachment Hearing ‘Dull’ Sparks a Social Media Revolt — A Reuter's news article pronouncing Wednesday's illuminating, alarming, and historic kickoff of the Trump impeachment hearings “dull” has sparked a small but passionate social media revolt …
UTLA:
UTLA Overwhelmingly Endorses Sen. Bernie Sanders for US President — LOS ANGELES — United Teachers Los Angeles, the second-largest teachers' local in the country, is proud to endorse Senator Bernie Sanders for US President in the 2020 Primary Election, making UTLA the first teachers' union …