Top Items:
U.S. Department of Justice:
Statement Of U.S. Attorney Freed On Inquiry Into Reports Of Potential Issues With Mail-In Ballots — at the request of Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis, the Office of the United States Attorney along with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Scranton Resident Office …
RELATED:
Zach Montellaro / Politico:
DOJ announcement on Pennsylvania ballot investigation baffles election experts — Election experts and lawyers are bewildered by a press release from the Department of Justice, in which the department said it had begun an inquiry into a handful of military ballots in a northeastern Pennsylvania county.
Discussion:
Political Wire and New York Times
Devlin Barrett / Washington Post:
Justice Dept. statement on mail-in ballot investigation appalls election law experts — The Justice Department alarmed voting-law experts Thursday by announcing an investigation into nine discarded ballots found in northeastern Pennsylvania, a case immediately seized upon by the Trump campaign …
Discussion:
BuzzFeed News, Townhall, The American Independent and Balloon Juice
Washington Post:
Trump's escalating attacks on election prompt fears of a constitutional crisis — President Trump reiterated Thursday that he may not honor the results should he lose reelection, reaffirming his extraordinary refusal to commit to a peaceful transition of power and prompting election …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Redstate, Fox News, Breitbart, Raw Story, New York Post, WKBN-TV, Wall Street Journal, Balloon Juice and CNN
Shelby Watchilla / U.S. Department of Justice:
Letter to Luzerne County Bureau of Elections
Letter to Luzerne County Bureau of Elections
Discussion:
FOX 2
Dominick Mastrangelo / The Hill:
Seven military ballots cast for Trump found discarded in Pennsylvania
Seven military ballots cast for Trump found discarded in Pennsylvania
Discussion:
Morning Call, One America News Network, The Daily Caller, Reuters, Fox News and The Mahablog
STAT:
Trump promises seniors $200 prescription drug gift certificates, but questions abound — WASHINGTON — President Trump on Thursday pledged to send $200 prescription drug coupons to 33 million Medicare beneficiaries “in the coming weeks,” a nakedly political ploy to curry favor with seniors who view drug prices as a priority.
Discussion:
Politico, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and Raw Story
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The White House:
Executive Order on An America-First Healthcare Plan — By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered as follows: — Section 1. Purpose. Since January 20, 2017, my Administration has been committed …
Discussion:
Breitbart, Townhall, Reason, Washington Free Beacon and courthousenews.com
Ryan Grim / The Intercept:
Memo Laying Out Supreme Court Delay Tactics Circulates Among Senate Democrats — As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer faces increasing pressure from Democrats around the country to use every tool at his disposal to oppose the Republican effort to push through a Supreme Court nominee before the election …
Discussion:
WPRI-TV, Townhall, myfox8.com, The Daily Signal and Politico
RELATED:
Seung Min Kim / Washington Post:
White House starts outreach to key senators on Supreme Court pick
White House starts outreach to key senators on Supreme Court pick
Discussion:
The Hill
Dana Blanton / Fox News:
Fox News Poll: Tight race in Ohio, Biden tops Trump in Nevada and Pennsylvania — There are few undecided voters, and Biden's support is 50 percent or better in each state — Trump and Biden keep focus on battleground states — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden leads President Donald Trump …
Discussion:
The Independent, CNN, Breitbart, The Hill, POLITICUSUSA, Washington Post, courthousenews.com, No More Mister Nice Blog, Bloomberg and FOX News Radio
Andrew Chung / Reuters:
Democrats prepare bill limiting U.S. Supreme Court justice terms to 18 years — NEW YORK (Reuters) - Democrats in of the House of Representatives will introduce a bill next week to limit the tenure of U.S. Supreme Court justices to 18 years from current lifetime appointments …
Discussion:
Redstate, Breitbart, Fox News, Forbes, Washington Times, The Hill and The Daily Caller
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Dan Froomkin / Press Watch:
The alarms are ringing everywhere but in our top newsrooms — People who know and care about elections and democracy frantically sounded the alarm on Wednesday as Donald Trump's intention to steal the election became undeniable. — But the leaders of our nation's top newsroom weren't listening.
Discussion:
New York Times, TheBlaze, Washington Post and Discourse.net
Jamie Smith / HuffPost:
The Death Of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Pushed Me To Join The Satanic Temple — “I am a 40-something attorney and mother who lives in a quiet neighborhood with a yard and a garage full of scooters and soccer balls. I am not the type of person who would normally consider becoming a Satanist, but these are not normal times.”
Discussion:
TheBlaze, Twitchy, americamagazine.org, The Gateway Pundit and Fox News
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Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Trump booed as he pays respects to Ginsburg at court
Trump booed as he pays respects to Ginsburg at court
Discussion:
Raw Story, San Bernardino Sun, Politico, New York Times, Vox, The Hill, Mother Jones, One America News Network and Washington Post
Philip Bump / Washington Post:
For a brief moment, Trump comes face-to-face with political reality
For a brief moment, Trump comes face-to-face with political reality
Discussion:
The Hill
Michela Tindera / Forbes:
Billionaire Jennifer Pritzker, A Former Trump Donor, Makes Her First Contribution To Joe Biden — Billionaire Jennifer Pritzker gave $2,000 to Joe Biden's presidential campaign last month, according to records filed with the Federal Election Commission this week.
Discussion:
The Hill
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WLEX:
Kentucky State Rep. Attica Scott among protesters arrested near church in downtown Louisville — LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Kentucky State Rep. Attica Scott, author of legislation known as “Breonna's Law,” was arrested with others Thursday evening during protests demanding justice for Breonna Taylor.
Discussion:
Raw Story and New York Post
RELATED:
Associated Press:
AP-NORC poll: Support for racial injustice protests declines — NEW YORK (AP) — As the decision in Kentucky to bring charges against only one of three police officers involved in the raid that killed Breonna Taylor sparks renewed protests nationwide, a new survey finds support has fallen for demonstrations against systemic racism.
Nancy Cook / Politico:
Trump's team plots his departure — even if he won't — President Donald Trump refuses to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he loses. But his team is carefully developing plans for that very outcome. — One of the most organized and functional parts of the Trump White House …
Discussion:
NBC News, The Hill, National Association …, Washington Times, Breitbart and POLITICUSUSA
Laura Vozzella / Washington Post:
Trump's planned Virginia rally poses coronavirus risk, health officials say — RICHMOND — State and local health officials are raising alarms about President Trump's plans for a “gargantuan” rally at a Virginia airport Friday night, saying it could pose a “severe public health threat” …
RELATED:
Alan Suderman / Associated Press:
Health officials seek to block Trump rally in Virginia
Health officials seek to block Trump rally in Virginia
Discussion:
The Hill
Oma Seddiq / Business Insider:
Trump said Jews are ‘only in it for themselves’ and ‘stick together,’ according to a new report … - President Donald Trump reportedly said Jews “are only in it for themselves” and “stick together” after a call with Jewish lawmakers. — The president privately made the comments …
Discussion:
Informed Comment and Washington Post
Texas Attorney General:
AG Paxton Announces Joint Prosecution of Gregg County Organized Election Fraud in Mail-In Balloting Scheme — Attorney General Ken Paxton today announced that authorities arrested Gregg County Commissioner Shannon Brown, Marlena Jackson …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Fox News and The Gateway Pundit
RELATED:
Robert J. McCarthy / Buffalo News:
Michael Caputo receives ‘metastatic head and neck cancer’ diagnosis — Michael R. Caputo, the East Aurora political consultant at the center of controversy over the Trump administration's Covid-19 messaging, has been diagnosed with cancer. — Assemblyman David J. DiPietro, R-East Aurora …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, New York Post and Political Wire
The Federalist:
‘Trump Was Right’: Explosive New FBI Texts Detail Internal Furor Over Handling Of ‘Crossfire Hurricane’ Investigation — Newly disclosed internal FBI notes and text messages detail the extent of the FBI's desire to take down Trump and his associates at any cost.
Discussion:
Breitbart, Washington Times, American Greatness, Redstate and The Daily Caller
Roger Sollenberger / Salon:
Exclusive: GOP Sen. Thom Tillis embraced QAnon conspiracy about COVID-19 death count in town hall — “When the final accounting is done,” the actual death COVID-19 count will be lower, Tillis claims — Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., on Thursday told a virtual town hall audience that he believed …
Discussion:
The Hill and POLITICUSUSA
New York Times:
Karen McDougal's defamation suit against Fox News is dismissed. — Fox News won a legal victory on Thursday after a federal judge dismissed a defamation suit brought against its host Tucker Carlson by a former Playboy model who said she had an affair with Donald J. Trump before he was president.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Daily Beast, courthousenews.com, Washington Times and The Hill, more at Mediagazer »
Ally Mutnick / Politico:
Competitive congressional election delayed after death of third-party candidate — The death of a third-party candidate running against freshman Democratic Rep. Angie Craig has triggered the postponement of this year's vote and scheduled a special election next year in her Twin Cities-area district.
Discussion:
sos.state.mn.us, The Hill, ABC News, Washington Post and The Daily Caller
Patricia Murphy / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Abrams, Jewish activists push Lieberman to cede to Warnock in Senate bid — Also, Eric Holder endorses Warnock's bid — Grassroots activists and high-level Democrats called for Matt Lieberman to abandon his U.S. Senate bid Thursday and clear the way for Raphael Warnock as polls show a tight race in the free-for-all contest.
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon
Politico:
Steele dossier sub-source was suspected of spying for Russia, DOJ reveals — The primary sub-source that former British spy Christopher Steele used to compile his anti-Trump dossier in 2016 was the subject of an FBI counterintelligence investigation a decade ago, according to details authorized …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Townhall, Fox News, The Hill, New York Post and Washington Times
Lara Seligman / Politico:
Trump's former Coast Guard chief endorses Biden, cites ‘insurgency’ on the Constitution — Retired admiral joins nearly 200 other retired senior leaders who are endorsing Biden. — Trump's policies have hurt America's standing in the world, Zukunft said, citing the president's decision …
Discussion:
NSL4Biden, One America News Network, Mediaite and New York Times
Bill Mahoney / Politico:
In memoir, Paterson recalls shock of Spitzer scandal — ALBANY, N.Y. — Former New York Gov. David Paterson found out that that he was about to become New York's top elected official via a phone call made from a bathroom, less than an hour before the New York Times reported that his soon-to-be predecessor …
Media Matters for America:
Steve Bannon launches “national tour” to spread incoherent election conspiracy theories — Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon has kicked off a national speaking tour about the upcoming election titled “The Plot to Steal 2020.” It's a thinly veiled attempt to spread conspiracy theories …
Ben White / Politico:
Trump stokes a new threat to Wall Street: Election chaos — Wall Street can deal with whoever wins the presidential election this fall. What investors can't stomach — and are increasingly nervous about — is a rapid descent into banana republic-style chaos, in which the result is either unclear …
Discussion:
Raw Story
David Ignatius / Washington Post:
Jamal Khashoggi wanted a more tolerant Saudi Arabia. Two years later, his truth still scorches the kingdom. — The grainy video of Jamal Khashoggi's last moment of freedom remains haunting, nearly two years later: A tall, balding man in a blazer and slacks enters a barricaded villa …
New York Times:
Trump Again Sows Doubt About Election as G.O.P. Scrambles to Assure Voters — President Trump declined for a second day to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost the election, while Republicans, including Mitch McConnell, implicitly rebuffed him, promising an “orderly transition.”
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Ohio Star, Wall Street Journal, Slate, CNN, Bangor Daily News, Roll Call and NPR
Jacob Bogage / Washington Post:
Internal USPS documents link changes behind mail slowdowns to top executives — Newly obtained records appear in conflict with months of Postal Service assertions that blamed lower-level managers for strategies tied to delivery delays — A senior executive at the U.S. Postal Service delivered …
WLTX-TV:
Judge reinstates SC witness signature requirement for absentee ballots — In a reversal of a previous judge's order, South Carolina will now require a witness signature for absentee ballots. — COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolinians who vote absentee in the November election …
Jeremy Stahl / Slate:
Republican Senator Proposes Bill That Would Make It Illegal to Count Votes — Last week, President Donald Trump said he was “counting on the federal court system to make it so” that whatever preliminary tally is complete on Election Day will be validated as the final vote count …
Laura Wolk / First Things:
What I Learned From Amy Coney Barrett — Over the past week, scores of articles have been published on various aspects of Amy Coney Barrett's character—her fitness as a judicial nominee, her acumen as a scholar, and her unapologetic commitment to the Catholic faith.
Lisa Friedman / New York Times:
E.P.A. Rejects Its Own Findings That a Pesticide Harms Children's Brains — The agency's new assessment directly contradicts federal scientists' conclusions five years ago that chlorpyrifos can stunt brain development in young children. — WASHINGTON — The Trump administration …