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.
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
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
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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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:
Raw Story, The Week, The Hill, Sara A. Carter, Mediaite and New York Post
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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, The Week, HuffPost, The Hill, Hot Air, Law & Crime, Hullabaloo, Talking Points Memo, Mediaite, Political Wire and Raw Story
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 …
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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
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:
NBC News, Washington Post, Associated Press and Raw Story
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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
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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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'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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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: Biden has edge over Dems in Nevada, bests Trump by 7 points
Fox News Poll: Biden has edge over Dems in Nevada, bests Trump by 7 points
Discussion:
Washington Times and POLITICUSUSA
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:
War Room
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:
Common Dreams, Hot Air, New York Post, Daily Kos and NPR
Robert Barnes / Washington Post:
Kavanaugh addresses the conservative legal establishment that championed his nomination — There was a crowd of protesters outside, and a few inside. Those attending the Federalist Society's gala Thursday night at Washington's Union Station were greeted by a large video screen on a truck out front …
Discussion:
The Hill, USA Today, Fox News and Associated Press
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Edward Helmore / The Guardian:
Outcry after Facebook sponsors gala featuring Brett Kavanaugh
Outcry after Facebook sponsors gala featuring Brett Kavanaugh
Discussion:
Above the Law, The Verge and POLITICUSUSA, more at Techmeme »
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 …
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
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
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
Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Jewish Groups Blast Fox News for Joe diGenova's Anti-Semitic Soros Conspiracy Theory — A pro-Trump lawyer trafficked in an anti-Semitic trope, claiming on Fox News that George Soros controls the U.S. State Department. — Fox has come under fire from Jewish organizations following …
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
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:
Fox News, Big Think, Boing Boing, The Verge and WTKR-TV
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, Breitbart, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Politico, Common Dreams, MSNBC, CNN and Slate
ABC News:
Facing impeachment hearings, Trump returns to Louisiana for governor's race rally — President Donald Trump headed back to Louisiana on Thursday night, to attend a rally for his preferred candidate in a tight governor's race while perhaps also scoring a much-needed win as public impeachment hearings …
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight, Associated Press, Politico, The Daily Beast and Shareblue Media