Top Items:
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.
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Associated Press:
AP source: Second US official in Kyiv heard Trump call — 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.
Discussion:
Occupy Democrats, The Dispatch, The Week, Law & Crime, Washington Post, Talking Points Memo, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Raw Story, KTLA, Politico, Daily Kos, CBS News, New York Times and NBC News
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
New York Times:
Pelosi Points to Possible Bribery Charge Against Trump
Pelosi Points to Possible Bribery Charge Against Trump
Discussion:
Interfax-Ukraine, Redstate, Fox News, National Review and Outside the Beltway
Anne Gearan / Washington Post:
State Department official who overheard Trump phone call on Ukraine has experience speaking his mind
State Department official who overheard Trump phone call on Ukraine has experience speaking his mind
Discussion:
Shareblue Media
Matthias Williams / Reuters:
U.S. envoy Sondland did not link Biden probe to aid: Ukraine minister
U.S. envoy Sondland did not link Biden probe to aid: Ukraine minister
Discussion:
David Harris Jr, The Daily Wire, American Greatness, The Daily Caller, The Gateway Pundit and TheBlaze
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 …
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Sabrina Rodriguez / Politico:
Pelosi: USMCA deal is ‘imminent’
Pelosi: USMCA deal is ‘imminent’
Discussion:
Washington Post, Blue Virginia and The Hill
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:
Mother Jones
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Kim Tong-hyung / Associated Press:
N. Korea calls Biden a ‘rabid dog’ for insulting its dignity
N. Korea calls Biden a ‘rabid dog’ for insulting its dignity
Discussion:
ABC News and One America News Network
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
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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 Week, The Hill, Sara A. Carter, Mediaite, Raw Story and New York Post
Lachlan Markay / The Daily Beast:
Five Cellphones, Trump Straws, a Lot of Cash—What This Giuliani Crony Was Carrying When the FBI Arrested Him
Five Cellphones, Trump Straws, a Lot of Cash—What This Giuliani Crony Was Carrying When the FBI Arrested Him
Discussion:
Associated Press and Raw Story
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:
The Last Refuge
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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 …
Discussion:
The Week
Gregg Re / Fox News:
Ethics Committee extends review of Talib, probes Hastings for alleged relationship with staffer — The House Ethics Committee on Thursday announced it is extending its review of a campaign finance matter related to Michigan Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib, while acknowledging for the first time a probe …
Discussion:
The Hill, Washington Post, Politico, Breitbart, New York Post and TheBlaze
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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 …
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:
Washington Post and Raw Story
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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 …
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Fareed Zakaria / Washington Post:
Zelensky planned to announce Trump's ‘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 “quo” …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and Slate
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Christian Caryl / Washington Post:
Sorry, Republicans, but Paul Manafort really was corrupt
Sorry, Republicans, but Paul Manafort really was corrupt
Discussion:
American Greatness, Associated Press and New Republic
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 POLITICUSUSA
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Robert Barnes / Washington Post:
Kavanaugh addresses the conservative legal establishment that championed his nomination
Kavanaugh addresses the conservative legal establishment that championed his nomination
Discussion:
The Hill, USA Today, Fox News and Associated Press
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
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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, New York Post, Daily Kos, Common Dreams and NPR
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
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:
Boing Boing, Big Think, The Verge, WTKR-TV and CityLab
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 …
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
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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
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 Daily Kos
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
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, MSNBC, Breitbart, Common Dreams, Lawyers, Guns & Money, CNN and Slate
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