memeorandum: Trump's talk of Afghanistan cease-fire appears to surprise the Taliban, Afghan government (Washington Post)

4:10 PM ET, November 30, 2019

Top Items:

Jeffrey Epstein, Blackmail and a Lucrative ‘Hot List’ — The man who called himself Kessler first contacted a Florida lawyer, Bradley J. Edwards, who was in the news for representing women with claims against Mr. Epstein. It was late August, about two weeks after the financier killed himself …

Discussion: The Week

Mike Brest / Washington Examiner:

Newsweek fires reporter who published inaccurate story on Trump's Thanksgiving Day plans — The Newsweek reporter who published an inaccurate story about President Trump's Thanksgiving Day plans has been fired. The outlet's original story claimed the president only planned on tweeting …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Gateway Pundit, Twitchy and The Wrap

Sarah Marsh / The Guardian:

Narwhal tusk and fire extinguisher used to tackle London Bridge attacker — Members of the public, including a convicted murderer, bring terrorist to the ground — A convicted murderer was among ex-prisoners and members of the public who grappled with and eventually grounded the London Bridge knife attacker before police arrived.

Discussion: New York Post, UPI, Breitbart, New York Times, The Last Refuge, Althouse and Vanity Fair

Gregory Katz / Associated Press:

UK police: Suspect in attack had served time for terrorism — 1 of 29 — LONDON (AP) — UK counterterrorism police on Saturday searched for clues into how a man imprisoned for terrorism offenses before his release last year managed to stab several people before being tackled by bystanders and shot dead by officers on London Bridge.

Discussion: Townhall, Metro.co.uk, The Guardian and Slate

RT:
London Bridge attacker's prior ‘terrorist’ conviction revealed as BoJo calls for ‘appropriate sentences’

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit

Washington Post:

How a fight over health care entangled Elizabeth Warren — and reshaped the Democratic presidential race — In mid-November, a few dozen of the country's most influential advocates of Medicare-for-all were reviewing details of Sen. Elizabeth Warren's plan to finance the proposed government-run program …

Discussion: The Hill

Dan Balz / Washington Post: The Democratic presidential campaign has produced confusion rather than clarity

Mark Leibovich / New York Times:
2020 Democratic Candidates Wage Escalating Fight (on the Merits of Fighting)

Discussion: Althouse, HuffPost, Mediaite, Breitbart and Slate

Trevor Hunnicutt / Reuters: Biden to blitz Iowa back roads by bus in 800-mile hunt for support

Tal Axelrod / The Hill:

Poll: Majority of Republicans say Trump better president than Lincoln — A majority of Republicans say President Trump is a better leader than former President Abraham Lincoln, according to this week's Economist/YouGov weekly tracking poll. — Fifty-three percent of Republicans said Trump …

Discussion: Political Wire

Washington Post:

Trump's talk of Afghanistan cease-fire appears to surprise the Taliban, Afghan government — President Trump's confident assertion that the Taliban is ready and even eager for a cease-fire demanded by the United States in Afghanistan's 18-year-old war may be more wishful thinking than reality.

Discussion: Raw Story, POLITICUSUSA, The Week and New York Times

Paul Kane / Washington Post:

McConnell once called Biden ‘a real friend’ and a ‘trusted partner.’ Now he's quiet as Trump, GOP attack him. — Three years ago, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell paid tribute to a former colleague in the most personal of ways. Leading off tributes from the Senate floor …

Catie Edmondson / New York Times:
Where's Lindsey? After G.O.P. Outcry, Graham Emerges as a Trump Defender

Discussion: CANNONFIRE and HotAir

Ella Nilsen / Vox:
House Democrats have passed nearly 400 bills. Trump and Republicans are ignoring them.

Discussion: Hullabaloo and POLITICUSUSA

Carl Hulse / New York Times: Why Republicans Will Sidestep Their Garland Rule for the Court in 2020

Jessica Campisi / The Hill:

Presidential historian predicts public support for Trump will collapse — Presidential historian Douglas Brinkley on Friday predicted that public support for President Trump will collapse as House Democrats continue their impeachment inquiry against him. — “It just tells you what deep …

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA

Philip Rucker / Washington Post:

Trump's photo op play: Facing impeachment, the president strives to look hard at work — PALM BEACH, Fla. — As Democrats in Congress push to impeach him, President Trump has toured a manufacturing plant in Texas, boasted about economic gains and signed numerous bills.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Raw Story and No More Mister Nice Blog

Grace Segers / CBS News:

Pelosi to lead delegation to climate summit amid U.S. withdrawal from Paris climate deal — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is leading a delegation of members of Congress to the annual international climate summit known as COP25 in Madrid, Spain, next week. While the delegation will include members …

Discussion: The Hill, The Week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Bloomberg

Phil McCausland / NBC News:

Trump administration proposals could cause millions to lose food stamps — “SNAP is related to hunger and getting people the nutrition they need,” one food bank representative said. “Food shouldn't be a luxury.” — Three proposed rule changes by the Trump administration could cause millions …

Discussion: PJ Media Home and The Guardian

Tom Boggioni / Raw Story:

Trump has surrounded himself with ‘failsons’ starting with ‘dimwitted’ Don Trump Jr. and Kushner: columnist — In a biting piece for the Daily Beast, acerbic columnist Molly Jong-Fast accuses Donald Trump of stocking his administrations with “failsons” — which she described as …

Discussion: The Daily Beast

Stephen Cunningham / Yahoo Finance:

U.S. Posts First Month in 70 Years as a Net Petroleum Exporter — (Bloomberg) — The U.S. solidified its status as an energy producer by posting the first full month as a net exporter of crude and petroleum products since government records began in 1949. — The nation exported 89,000 barrels …

Anthony Adragna / Politico:

Rick Perry dances toward the exits — He didn't resign under fire for making sweetheart apartment deals with lobbyists, engaging in dodgy real estate development plans or racking up more than $1 million in taxpayer-funded flights. So by those standards, Energy Secretary Rick Perry's tenure …

Discussion: Political Wire

Lauren Zanolli / The Guardian:

Whistleblower in New Orleans hotel collapse is deported to Honduras — Delmer Joel Ramirez Palma reported safety lapses to supervisors before the Hard Rock hotel disaster that killed three — A Honduran construction worker injured during the Hard Rock hotel collapse in New Orleans …

Adeel Hassan / New York Times: Witness in Hard Rock Hotel Collapse Is Deported