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Fiona Hill tells Devin Nunes to his face that his Ukraine conspiracy theory is ‘harmful’ — It's already been publicly embraced by Vladimir Putin. — One reason that Russia's interference effort in 2016 was successful was that it leveraged a powerful source of energy: partisanship.
Discussion:
Reuters, New York Times, Taylor Marsh, Associated Press, The Editorial Board, The Guardian, Politico and The Week
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Fiona Hill's extraordinary answer distills what impeachment is about — Washington (CNN)Fiona Hill's extraordinary answer about her relationship with the American ambassador to the European Union was ultimately a finely distilled description of what the impeachment hearings are all about …
Discussion:
CANNONFIRE and Political Wire


Fiona Hill: Impeachment Queen — She's not the hero we deserve. She's the hero we need. — I spent a decade watching impeachment hearings this week. Hours upon hours of puffed-up pols posturing and patronizing and waging war on our psyche through parliamentary procedure.


Fiona Hill Viewed Serving Trump as Risky. Now She's an Impeachment Witness. — Ms. Hill's decision to be the president's top adviser on Russia and Europe strained friendships, made her a target of conspiracy theories — and landed her in the center of the tumult over Ukraine.
Discussion:
The Guardian, CBS News, Talking Points Memo, Deseret News, The Week and Mother Jones


“Could I actually say something?”: Fiona Hill fires back at House Republicans — In a stunning moment at Thursday's impeachment hearing, former top White House Russia adviser Fiona Hill asked whether she may respond to Republican attacks, after three GOP congressman in a row used …
Discussion:
NBC News, Breitbart, One America News Network and Political Wire


The GOP defense of Trump is in slow-motion collapse. It's about to get worse. — We know this to be true: Approximately one week passed between President Trump's decision in mid-July to freeze hundreds of millions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine, and a phone call on July 26 …
Discussion:
Vox, The Mahablog, TheBlaze, Axios and Slate


Graham launches probe of Bidens, Burisma and Ukraine — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey O. Graham sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday requesting documents related to former vice president Joe Biden and his communications with Ukrainian officials …
Discussion:
Joe.My.God.


Fiona Hill: It is “not credible” Sondland didn't make Biden-Burisma connection
Discussion:
Politico, Washington Post and The Daily Beast

Fiona Hill clashes with GOP over ‘fictional’ Ukraine claims
Discussion:
ABC News, Washington Post, CNN, Breitbart, Daily Kos, New York Post, Axios, emptywheel, TheBlaze, Contemptor and The Daily Beast

Under Obama, Democrat Witness Fiona Hill Argued Against Lethal Aid For Ukraine
Discussion:
Fox News, Redstate, The Daily Caller and American Greatness

The huge Gordon Sondland revelation almost everyone missed
Discussion:
Raw Story

AP FACT CHECK: Trump, GOP claims on Ukraine corruption
Discussion:
Florida Politics and Politico

Impeachment hearing takeaways: A ‘domestic political errand’
Discussion:
Politico, The American Independent, Associated Press and KSLNewsRadio


Exclusive: FBI official under investigation after allegedly altering document in 2016 Russia probe — Washington (CNN)An FBI official is under criminal investigation after allegedly altering a document related to 2016 surveillance of a Trump campaign adviser, several people briefed on the matter told CNN.
Discussion:
Townhall, The Last Refuge, The Gateway Pundit, The Daily Caller, TheBlaze, Law & Crime and Mediaite


White House backs full Senate trial if House impeaches Trump — Top White House officials and Senate Republicans on Thursday agreed that a full trial should be conducted if the House impeaches President Donald Trump, according to multiple people familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
Axios, National Review, No More Mister Nice Blog, Talking Points Memo, The American Independent, The Hill and Joe.My.God.
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White House and Republicans discuss limiting impeachment trial to two weeks — A group of Republican senators and senior White House officials met privately Thursday to map out a strategy for a potential impeachment trial of President Trump, including proceedings in the Senate that could be limited …
Discussion:
ABC News, The Hill, The Week, Daily Kos and Joe.My.God.


Trump cozies up to GOP during impeachment — including Mitt Romney and Susan Collins

Trump signs short-term spending bill just ahead of shutdown deadline
Discussion:
Axios and The Daily Caller


What Joe Biden Can't Bring Himself to Say — His eyes fall to the floor when I ask him to describe it. We've been tiptoeing toward it for 45 minutes, and so far, every time he seems close, he backs away, or leads us in a new direction. There are competing theories in the press, but Joe Biden has kept mum on the subject.
Discussion:
National Review and Balloon Juice


Trump Reverses Navy Decision to Oust Edward Gallagher From SEALs — The president said Chief Gallagher, who has been at center of a high-profile war crime case, would not lose his membership in the elite commando force. — President Trump on Thursday reversed a decision by the Navy seeking …
Discussion:
Slate, Fox News, Redstate, Washington Post, Military.com, Hullabaloo, Daily Kos, The Gateway Pundit, The Hill, TheBlaze, Disrn, New York Post, National Review, The American Independent, Joe.My.God. and Raw Story
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‘Insurgents’ lobbied Trump for war crimes pardons with little Pentagon involvement, officials say — President Trump took to the phone in the Oval Office last week after days of speculation. In succession, he notified three U.S. service members accused of war crimes that he was intervening on their behalf …


Georgia Gov. Kemp Resists Pressure from Trump on Senate Appointment — President is pressing for Rep. Doug Collins to be named interim senator, but the governor is leaning toward a woman or minority for the post — ATLANTA—Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp is resisting pressure …


Pete Buttigieg Is in Bad Shape With Black Democrats. Here's How Bad. — No Democrat in modern times has won the party's nomination without claiming majorities of black voters, the most crucial voting bloc in South Carolina and an array of delegate-rich states.
Discussion:
Bloomberg, CBS News, Slate, Vox, Washington Post, Mother Jones and The Atlantic
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Notes on the November Democratic Debate Dud
Discussion:
The Bulwark and Fox News


California can't force Donald Trump to release tax returns, state Supreme Court rules — President Donald Trump won't have to release his tax returns to get on California's 2020 primary ballot following a unanimous ruling from the state Supreme Court on Thursday that invalidated a new state law.
Discussion:
Associated Press, PEN, The Gateway Pundit and Joe.My.God.
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Prosecutors Investigating the Trump Organization Zero In on Trump CFO Allen Weisselberg — Weisselberg is one of the Trump Organization's longest tenured employees and is now co-running the business. He escaped federal prosecution for the Stormy Daniels payments but is now a focus of an investigation by Manhattan's district attorney.
Discussion:
Law & Crime and POLITICUSUSA


Sacha Baron Cohen's Keynote Address at ADL's 2019 Never Is Now Summit on Anti-Semitism and Hate — Remarks by Sacha Baron Cohen, Recipient of ADL's International Leadership Award — Thank you, Jonathan, for your very kind words. Thank you, ADL, for this recognition and your work in fighting racism, hate and bigotry.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Talking Points Memo, IndieWire and Jewish Telegraphic Agency, more at Techmeme »


A Former Fox News Executive Divides Americans Using Russian Tactics — An investigation found that several sites owned by Ken LaCorte push inflammatory items — stories, petitions and the occasional conspiracy theory — to the public. — SAN FRANCISCO — At first glance …
Discussion:
Raw Story, more at Mediagazer »


Kentucky governor's stay at Trump hotel could carry legal implications for president — Gov. Matt Bevin's 2018 visit to Trump's D.C. hotel likely to become fodder for plaintiffs in cases against Trump. — When Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin came to Washington in January for two nights …
Discussion:
Political Wire


Israel's Netanyahu Indicted on Charges of Fraud, Bribery and Breach of Trust — The first prosecution of a sitting Israeli premier deepens the political paralysis in a country that has had two inconclusive elections this year, and may be headed to a third vote.
Discussion:
CNN, Associated Press, Jerusalem Post, Common Dreams, Outside the Beltway, The Week and Mediaite
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The military needs immigrants. The Trump administration wants to keep them out. — The administration's attitude goes deeper than its attacks on Alexander Vindman. — Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman is now the latest in a line of immigrants challenged about whether it's truly possible for them to serve the United States as patriots.
Discussion:
Daily Kos and BizPac Review
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Lawyer for impeachment witness Lt. Col Vindman demands Fox News retract ‘false and defamatory’ segment
Discussion:
New York Times, BizPac Review and Washington Post