Top Items:
Washington Post:
Supporters of Iranian-backed militia start withdrawing from besieged U.S. Embassy in Baghdad following militia orders — BAGHDAD — Supporters of an Iranian-backed militia began to withdraw from the perimeter of the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad on Wednesday, following an order from senior militia leaders to end their siege of the facility.
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Townhall, Lawfare, The Atlantic, Breitbart, DNyuz, Esquire, WND and HuffPost
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Peter Beinart / The Atlantic:
The Embassy Attack Revealed Trump's Weakness — Over the past 18 months, Donald Trump has picked a fight with Iran that he won't end and can't win. That fight has had horrifying consequences for the Iranian people, led Tehran to restart its nuclear program, and now left parts of the American embassy compound in Baghdad in flames.
Discussion:
BBC, New York Times and DNyuz
Associated Press:
Militiamen withdraw from US Embassy but Iraq tensions linger — BAGHDAD (AP) — Iran-backed militiamen withdrew from the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad on Wednesday after two days of clashes with American security forces, but U.S.-Iran tensions remain high and could spill over into further violence.
Discussion:
Politico, Townhall, DNyuz, Wall Street Journal and WTOP
Stuart Stevens / Washington Post:
Wake up, Republicans. Your party stands for all the wrong things now. — Stuart Stevens is a writer and GOP political consultant who is working with a political action committee that backs Bill Weld for president. — Here's a question: Does anybody have any idea what the Republican Party stands for in 2020?
Discussion:
Alternet.org
Thomas Kaplan / New York Times:
Pete Buttigieg's Campaign Says It Raised $24.7 Million in the Fourth Quarter — Mr. Buttigieg, who appears in strong position in Iowa with a month until the caucuses, continues to show fund-raising strength. — WASHINGTON — Pete Buttigieg raised more than $24.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2019 …
Discussion:
The Week
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Fredreka Schouten / CNN:
Buttigieg announces $24.7 million fundraising haul in fourth quarter
Buttigieg announces $24.7 million fundraising haul in fourth quarter
Discussion:
Breitbart, The Hill, DNyuz, The Guardian and Axios
Elena Schneider / Politico:
Buttigieg finishes year with $24.7 million haul in final quarter
Buttigieg finishes year with $24.7 million haul in final quarter
Discussion:
NBC News, The Week and Washington Post
Ursula Perano / Axios:
Buttigieg's hand-picked successor to take over as South Bend mayor
Buttigieg's hand-picked successor to take over as South Bend mayor
Discussion:
Politico, Associated Press, The Daily Caller, The Hill, ABC News and Washington Post
Daniel Lippman / Politico:
Trump cuts loose with unpredictable characters at Mar-a-Lago — At Trump's luxury South Florida resort, the president is just another guy in the buffet line. — Guests wait for the arrival of President Donald Trump to his New Year's Eve party at his Mar-a-Lago property on Dec. 31, 2019.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Dareh Gregorian / NBC News:
Giuliani says he'd testify at Trump Senate trial — The former New York City mayor added he'd “love to try the case” on Trump's behalf, but “I don't know if anyone would have the courage to give me the case.” — President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani says he'd be willing …
Discussion:
Townhall, POLITICUSUSA and New York Post
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Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Impeachment Trial Looming, Chief Justice Reflects on Judicial Independence — Chief Justice John Roberts's year-end report on the judiciary praised civics education, but it was not hard to detect a timely subtext that appeared to be addressed to President Trump.
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Ariane de Vogue / CNN:
Chief Justice John Roberts says Americans may ‘take democracy for granted’
Chief Justice John Roberts says Americans may ‘take democracy for granted’
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money, IJR and Law & Crime
Niall Stanage / The Hill:
Ranking the Democrats: Who has best chance of winning nomination? — The battle for the Democratic nomination is nearing crunch time with roughly one month left before the Iowa caucuses. — Some big-name candidates have dropped out — most notably Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) …
Joan Walsh / The Nation:
This F#$%ing Decade — For years, media and political elites refused to acknowledge the growing racism and radicalism of the Republican party. Their “both-sidesism” led to Trump's GOP takeover. — I've always resisted the notion that new decades are news events, bestowed on us …
Discussion:
Brad DeLong's Grasping Reality
Astead W. Herndon / New York Times:
Elizabeth Warren Isn't Talking Much About ‘Medicare for All’ Anymore — There are signs her campaign is seeking to calm fears about her health care proposal, including having small meetings with rural Iowa voters to explain her financing and transition plans.
Discussion:
DNyuz
Dave Philipps / New York Times:
From the Brig to Mar-a-Lago, Former Navy SEAL Capitalizes on Newfound Fame — After receiving presidential clemency, Edward Gallagher has left the SEALs to become a pitchman and conservative activist. — A year ago, Navy SEAL Chief Petty Officer Edward Gallagher was wearing drab prison scrubs …
Discussion:
Common Dreams and New York Post
Lucy Mangan / The Guardian:
Messiah review - it's Homeland ... with a divine twist — A young preacher wants to share his message of peace, love and fantastic cheekbones with the world in Netflix's potent new thriller. But the CIA have other ideas — Is he the messiah? Or is he a very naughty boy?
David Wallace-Wells / New York Magazine:
Global Apathy Toward the Fires in Australia Is a Scary Portent for the Future — Right now, on the outskirts of a hyper modern first world megapolis, at the end of a year in which the public seemed finally to wake up to the dramatic threat from global warming, a climate disaster …
Isabel Kershner / New York Times:
Netanyahu Seeks Immunity From Israeli Corruption Charges — His request to Parliament is a rare move, and a potentially unpopular one, heading into a general election. But it could keep the Israeli leader out of court. — JERUSALEM — Fighting for his future, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu …
Discussion:
DNyuz