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12:20 PM ET, December 18, 2019

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Donald J. Trump / The White House:
Letter from President Donald J. Trump to the Speaker of the House of Representatives  —  Speaker of the House of Representatives  —  Dear Madam Speaker:  —  I write to express my strongest and most powerful protest against the partisan impeachment crusade being pursued by the Democrats in the House of Representatives.
RELATED:
Natasha Bertrand / Politico:
Trump presents his own impeachment defense  —  On the eve of his likely impeachment, President Donald Trump has opted to act as his own defense lawyer.  —  In a six-page, stream-of-consciousness diatribe sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and released by the White House on Tuesday afternoon …
Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
It is hard to capture how bizarre and frightening Trump's letter to Pelosi is  —  On the eve of his impeachment, a stain that obviously torments him more than his enablers have let on, President Trump issued a rambling, unhinged and lie-filled letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).
Houston Chronicle:   Americans are counting on Senate for full and fair trial of Donald Trump [Editorial]
Quint Forgey / Politico:
‘Say a PRAYER’: Trump pleads innocence hours before impeachment
Dan Mangan / CNBC:
Judge dismisses New York state criminal charges against ex-Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort on double jeopardy grounds  — A judge on Wednesday dismissed New York state criminal charges filed against Paul Manafort, the fallen Republican lobbyist who had served as President Donald Trump's campaign chief in 2016.
Discussion: Axios, Joe.My.God. and Contemptor
RELATED:
Jan Ransom / New York Times:
State Charges Against Manafort Dismissed by Judge in New York  —  A judge threw out state charges against Paul J. Manafort, President Trump's former campaign chairman, on Wednesday, dealing a setback to efforts by the Manhattan district attorney to ensure Mr. Manafort will still face prison …
Katelyn Polantz / CNN:
Judge while sentencing Trump campaign aide: 'If people don't have the facts, democracy doesn't work'  —  Washington (CNN)Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson took several minutes during her sentencing of top Mueller cooperator Rick Gates on Tuesday to comment on the Russia investigation …
Associated Press:
Judge tosses Paul Manafort's fraud case in New York  —  A judge has thrown out Paul Manafort's New York mortgage fraud case on double jeopardy grounds  —  NEW YORK — A judge on Wednesday threw out Paul Manafort's New York mortgage fraud case on double jeopardy grounds.
Discussion: NBC News and The Hill
Louise Boyle / Daily Mail:
BREAKING NEWS: Paul Manafort has New York state fraud prosecution DISMISSED because of ‘double jeopardy’ - opening way for Donald Trump to set him free with a pardon  — Manhattan judge rules that state attorney general Letitia James' attempt to prosecute disgraced Trump campaign chairman is invalid
Justin McCarthy / Gallup:
Trump Approval Inches Up, While Support for Impeachment Dips  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump's job approval rating has inched up again and is now at 45%.  The president's ratings have increased six percentage points since the House of Representatives opened an impeachment inquiry against him in the fall.
RELATED:
Owen Daugherty / The Hill:
Trump approval up 6 points since launch of impeachment inquiry: Gallup
Discussion: Redstate
Caitlin Andrews / Bangor Daily News:
Jared Golden will vote with Democrats on one Trump impeachment article, not the other
Pete Williams / NBC News:
Secret FISA Court issues highly unusual public rebuke of FBI for mistakes  —  The criticism comes after a report by the DOJ inspector general that found “so many basic and fundamental errors.”  —  WASHINGTON — The secret federal court that approves orders for conducting surveillance …
RELATED:
Debra Heine / American Greatness:
Nunes Calls for the FISA Court to be Shut Down: It's ‘Culpable in this Madness’  —  Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) is ringing alarm bells about the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court [FISC], saying that it is culpable, along with the FBI, for the improper wiretapping of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page …
Julian Sanchez / New York Times:   The Chilling Reality of Bias at the F.B.I.
Michael Kruse / Politico:
How Harvard Made Pete Buttigieg the Moderate That Progressives Love to Hate  —  He wasn't expected to win.  It was a surprise to some that he even had run.  But on the evening of December 5, 2002, in a sweaty, crowded classroom adjacent to the main lecture space at Harvard's school …
RELATED:
David Sharp / Associated Press:
GOP Sen. Collins of Maine launches reelection bid  —  FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2019, file photo, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, is surrounded by reporters as she heads to vote at the Capitol in Washington.  U.S. Sen. Collins officially launched her bid for a reelection Wednesday, Dec. 18 …
RELATED:
James Arkin / Politico:
Susan Collins will run for reelection in Maine
Discussion: Outside the Beltway
Chantal Da Silva / Newsweek:
Trump Urged To Resign Before Impeachment Vote: ‘It Would Be The Most Shared Tweet Of All Time’  —  As President Donald Trump faces impeachment in a historic vote likely to take place on Wednesday, Democrats are reminding the U.S. leader that there is still another way forward: resigning.
New York Times:
Trump Wanted to Get Something Off His Chest, and in His Letter to Pelosi He Did  —  The letter was a diatribe that played loose with facts and sometimes disregarded them outright.  A former Clinton aide called it a reflection of the president's “id.”  —  WASHINGTON — The letter read …
RELATED:
Jacob Holzman / Roll Call:
Agency says it will review Trump Jr.'s sheep hunt in Mongolia  —  President's son accused of illegally killed rare sheep and importing parts of the animal back to the U.S.  —  California water politics complicate House panel's oversight EPA IG: Top official illegally blocked interference …
Mark Sherman / Associated Press:
Justices could limit job bias lawsuits against churches  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said Wednesday it will consider expanding protections for churches against job-discrimination claims.  —  The justices agreed to review two cases in which a federal appeals court allowed discrimination lawsuits …
Discussion: Washington Post and NBC News
CNN:
Hundreds of Obama alumni endorse Elizabeth Warren  —  (CNN)Hundreds of veterans of Barack Obama's campaigns and administration have signed on to endorse Sen. Elizabeth Warren for president, as multiple Democratic presidential candidates compete to claim the popular former president's political coalition and legacy.
Discussion: Axios
Peter Beinart / The Forward:
Of Course They're Accusing Bernie Sanders Of Anti-Semitism - Because He Supports Palestinians  —  Given Bernie Sanders' endurance as a top-tier presidential contender, and his support for Palestinian rights, it was almost inevitable that conservatives would start labelling his campaign anti-Semitic.
Wil S. Hylton / The Atlantic:
History's Largest Mining Operation Is About to Begin  —  Unless you are given to chronic anxiety or suffer from nihilistic despair, you probably haven't spent much time contemplating the bottom of the ocean.  Many people imagine the seabed to be a vast expanse of sand, but it's a jagged …
Sean Colarossi / POLITICUSUSA:
Massive Crowds Flood The Streets On Impeachment Eve To Demand Trump's Removal  —  On the eve of the House vote to impeach Donald Trump, massive crowds of Americans took to the streets to support the move and urge the Senate to remove the corrupt president.  —  Images from cities all across …
Discussion: Raw Story
Justine Coleman / The Hill:
Food inspectors warn of ‘mystery’ pork under new meat inspection rules  —  Two federal inspectors warned that “mystery” meat and other unwanted materials will contaminate pork throughout the U.S. under the new meat inspection rules currently being used in a pilot program, NBC News reported Monday.
Rachel Weiner / Washington Post:
Judge grants government proceeds from Edward Snowden's book  —  The government is entitled to any money former National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden makes from his memoir and paid speeches because he disclosed classified information without approval, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
FiveThirtyEight:
Most Americans Think There's Enough Evidence To Impeach Trump  —  The House of Representatives is on the brink of making President Trump the third president in U.S. history to be impeached.  It will likely be a deeply divided vote, too, as no Republicans voted in favor of either of the two articles …
Rebecca Shabad / NBC News:
Democrats block GOP motion to adjourn  —  Minutes after the House floor opened Wednesday, Republicans called for a motion to adjourn the House for the day, and they called for a roll call vote.  —  Democrats blocked the motion in a 226-188 vote.  —  Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz. …
Discussion: The Hill, The Daily Caller and MSNBC
Danny Hakim / New York Times:
Inside Wayne LaPierre's Battle for the N.R.A.  —  How an internal power struggle, a New York State investigation and accusations of fraud and betrayal on all sides have left the longtime leader of the gun-rights organization reeling.  —  Wayne LaPierre was sitting in a chair with his hands over his ears, looking straight down.
Discussion: The Crime Report
Emma Platoff / The Texas Tribune:
Waco judge sues state agency after receiving public warning for refusing to officiate same-sex marriages  —  Dianne Hensley, who received a warning last month from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, will be represented by First Liberty Institute, a high-profile religious liberty law firm …
Sean Collins / Vox:
Most Democratic voters still haven't settled on a candidate  —  Sen. Bernie Sanders, former Vice President Joe Biden, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and Mayor Pete Buttigieg — the top candidates in the 2020 Democratic primary.  Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images  —  According to three new 2020 polls …
Discussion: Townhall, The Hill and Washington Post
Lili Bayer / Politico:
European Parliament requests rule-of-law talks with Malta  —  MEPs cite risk that investigations into murder of journalist will be compromised if Joseph Muscat stays in office.  —  The European Parliament called on the EU to open a formal rule-of-law dialogue with Malta …
 
 
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 More Items: 
Aamer Madhani / Associated Press:
As House convenes on impeachment, Trump declares disbelief
John Podhoretz / Commentary:
The ‘Animal House’ Impeachment
Jonathan Adler / New York Daily News:
Why the House must vote yes: Trump is the one who is upsetting our democracy and constitutional order
Justin Wise / The Hill:
Trump intervened to cut Puerto Rico's Medicaid funding in spending bill: report
Caitlin Owens / Axios:
Trump administration reveals new organ donation rules
Steve Liesman / CNBC:
Trump's economic approval hits highest level in a year as Americans remain split on impeachment
Discussion: The Hill
 Earlier Items: 
New York Times:
A Surveillance Net Blankets China's Cities, Giving Police Vast Powers
Giancarlo Sopo / TheBlaze:
Pete Buttigieg kicks off his Latino outreach campaign with a slogan popularized by communists
Discussion: Townhall, Instapundit and Vox
New York Times:
Among the World's Most Dire Places: This California Homeless Camp
Discussion: SFist
Doha Madani / NBC News:
Possible mass grave from 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre found by researchers
Discussion: Daily Kos, KSLTV.com and FOX2now.com
Elise Viebeck / Washington Post:
Schiff says Pence's office may have purposefully misled panel about contents of his Zelensky call
Leo Shane III / Military Times:
Half of active-duty service members are unhappy with Trump, new Military Times poll shows
Discussion: IJR, The Independent and Raw Story
 

 
From Techmeme:

Mark Gurman / Bloomberg:
Sources: Apple is working on a smart doorbell system with advanced facial recognition that can wirelessly connect and unlock third-party smart locks

Paresh Dave / Wired:
Google says it wouldn't force its device makers, browser, and wireless carrier licensees to distribute Gemini to US users for three years, in a proposed remedy

Wall Street Journal:
Gina Raimondo says holding back China in the chips race is a “fool's errand”, and investment, more than export controls, will keep US ahead of Beijing

 
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