Top Items:
Peter Wehner / The Atlantic:
The Unbearable Weakness of Trump's Minions — Those hoping for a quick snapback to sanity for the Republican Party once Donald Trump is no longer president should temper those hopes. — The latest piece of evidence to suggest the enduring power of Trumpian unreality is yesterday's announcement …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Associated Press, Washington Times, UPI, Raw Story, New Republic, Washington Post, BuzzFeed News and CNN
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Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Josh Hawley reminds us that the GOP is the sedition party — The Republican Party yet again provides us with reason for its own demise. The Post reports: “Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) announced Wednesday that he would object next week when Congress convenes to certify the electoral college vote …
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Daily Caller, MSNBC, Rolling Stone, Associated Press, The Hill and Fortune
Politico:
McConnell: House's $2,000 stimulus checks are ‘socialism for rich’ — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell dubbed the effort to increase direct payments to $2,000 “socialism for rich people,” eliciting an incredulous reaction from Sen. Bernie Sanders as the GOP Senate continued to decline to take up the matter on Thursday.
Discussion:
Business Insider, The Western Journal, BGR, The Week, The Hill, The Sun, New York Times, Crooks and Liars and Raw Story, more at Techmeme »
Washington Post:
Sen. Sasse calls effort to overturn electoral college vote a ‘dangerous ploy’
Sen. Sasse calls effort to overturn electoral college vote a ‘dangerous ploy’
Discussion:
Business Insider, HotAir, Orlando Sentinel, CNN, National Review, Politico, NBC News, Talking Points Memo, Big League Politics, IJR, Mediaite, The Hill, The Daily Caller, Reuters, Raw Story and Election Law Blog
Ruth Marcus / Washington Post:
Let Josh Hawley put Republicans to the uncomfortable test
Let Josh Hawley put Republicans to the uncomfortable test
Discussion:
Breitbart, Raw Story, Israpundit, Los Angeles Times, Washington Examiner, WTOP and Mock Paper Scissors
Burgess Everett / Politico:
Elizabeth Warren's next chapter
Christal Hayes / USA Today:
‘Socialism for rich people’: McConnell attacks $2,000 stimulus checks, all but ensuring bill won't pass
‘Socialism for rich people’: McConnell attacks $2,000 stimulus checks, all but ensuring bill won't pass
Discussion:
The Daily Wire, The Hill, Breitbart, UPI, Wall Street Journal, Newsy, Washington Times, Real America's Voice and WRIC-TV
The Daily Poster:
Senate Democrats' Motion To Concede On $2,000 Checks
Senate Democrats' Motion To Concede On $2,000 Checks
Discussion:
The Daily Dot, republicanleader.senate.gov, Conservative News Today, Regular Order, Raw Story and The Guardian
Fadel Allassan / Axios:
Sasse: “Ambitious” Republicans objecting to Electoral College “are playing with fire”
Sasse: “Ambitious” Republicans objecting to Electoral College “are playing with fire”
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Washington Times, The Week and The Intellectualist
Tyler Olson / Fox News:
McConnell again blocks quick vote on $2,000 stimulus checks, slams ‘socialism for rich people’
McConnell again blocks quick vote on $2,000 stimulus checks, slams ‘socialism for rich people’
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, CNBC, POLITICUSUSA, IJR, abc7NY and Raw Story
Amanda Carpenter / The Bulwark:
Josh Hawley Is Madison Cawthorn Is Marjorie Taylor Greene
Josh Hawley Is Madison Cawthorn Is Marjorie Taylor Greene
Discussion:
Fox News and Business Insider
New York Times:
‘Covid, Covid, Covid’: In Trump's Final Chapter, a Failure to Rise to the Moment — As the U.S. confronted a new wave of infection and death through the summer and fall, the president's approach to the pandemic came down to a single question: What would it mean for him?
Kevin Stankiewicz / CNBC:
Axios' Mike Allen: Some Republicans think Trump is trying to sabotage GOP in Georgia Senate races — “There's a big strain of thought among Republicans that President Trump is sabotaging” the Georgia Senate runoffs, Axios co-founder Mike Allen told CNBC. — Allen said Trump has …
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Paul Steinhauser / Fox News:
GOP looks for big Georgia runoff-election turnout to top Dems' early-voting advantage — Both Trump and Biden to campaign in Georgia on the eve of the runoff elections, where the Senate GOP majority is up for grabs — Trump, Biden to make final push in Georgia
Discussion:
Washington Post, Politico, Weasel Words of Wisdom, Reuters, NewsNation Now, Washington Times and Associated Press
CNBC:
GOP Sen. Purdue quarantines over possible Covid exposure, days before Georgia election runoff — Sen. David Perdue of Georgia is quarantining after contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19, his campaign said. — The Republican Perdue, who tested negative for the coronavirus …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Axios, Townhall, The Daily Caller and New York Post
Hannah Miao / CNBC:
Often overlooked, Asian American Christian voters could be key in Georgia Senate runoffs
Often overlooked, Asian American Christian voters could be key in Georgia Senate runoffs
Discussion:
The American Independent and Vox
Los Angeles Times:
Some healthcare workers refuse to take COVID-19 vaccine, even with priority access — They are front-line workers with top priority access to the COVID-19 vaccine, but they are refusing to take it. — At St. Elizabeth Community Hospital in Tehama County, fewer than half …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars and Raw Story
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Soumya Karlamangla / Los Angeles Times:
Bodies pile up, patient care falters as COVID-19 devastates L.A. County hospitals — Los Angeles County's healthcare system was buckling Wednesday under the unprecedented surge of COVID-19 patients, with bodies piling up at morgues and medical professionals resorting to increasingly desperate measures …
Discussion:
The Daily Caller and Associated Press
Ellen Nakashima / Washington Post:
Microsoft says Russians hacked its network, viewing source code — Russian government hackers engaged in a sweeping series of breaches of government and private-sector networks have been able to penetrate deeper into Microsoft's systems than previously known, gaining access …
Discussion:
Microsoft Security …, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Al Jazeera, The Sun, WTOP, Raw Story, The Verge and New York Times, more at Techmeme »
Steve Inskeep / NPR:
Biden's Incoming Press Secretary: Briefings Won't Be A Platform For Right-Wing Spin — Toggle more options — President-elect Joe Biden's choice for White House press secretary says she will restore a tradition. Unlike her immediate predecessors in the Trump administration …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Forbes and Al Jazeera, more at Mediagazer »
Zeynep Tufekci / The Atlantic:
The Mutated Virus Is a Ticking Time Bomb — Editor's Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection here. — A new variant of the coronavirus is spreading across the globe. It was first identified in the United Kingdom …
Discussion:
New York Times
Dominique Vidalon / Reuters:
British PM Johnson's father applying for French citizenship — PARIS (Reuters) - The father of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Thursday he was in the process of applying for a French passport to maintain his ties with the European Union after Brexit.
Discussion:
Orange County Register, CBS News, Al Jazeera, Raw Story, Business Insider and The US Sun
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Robert Burns / Associated Press:
US to move aircraft carrier out of Mideast amid Iran tension — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon has decided to send home the only Navy aircraft carrier operating in the Middle East, a move that would reduce U.S. firepower in the region amid heightened tensions with Iran, officials said Thursday.
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Reuters
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Jon Gambrell / Associated Press:
Security firms say suspicious object on oil tanker off Iraq
Security firms say suspicious object on oil tanker off Iraq
Discussion:
Business Insider, The Hill, The Daily Caller and The Iran Project
Asawin Suebsaeng / The Daily Beast:
Trump Fears That His Influence Is Waning — The president is plotting retribution. Not just because he's mad about his election loss. But because he wants to keep folks in line. — As his days in office come to a close, President Donald Trump has hinted to those close to him that he's worried …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Mike Allen / Axios:
Biden asks nation for bell ringings, light shows to remember those lost to COVID — To set the tone for his inauguration the next day, President-elect Biden will lead a memorial to remember and honor lives lost to COVID-19, with church-bell ringings and light shows across the country on Tue., Jan. 19, at 5:30 p.m. ET.
Discussion:
NBC News, CNN, New York Post and The Week
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John Wagner / Washington Post:
Biden inaugural activities to include memorial service for covid victims
Biden inaugural activities to include memorial service for covid victims
Discussion:
Associated Press, Talking Points Memo and NECN
Wall Street Journal:
Trump's Embarrassing Electoral College Hustle — It is doomed to fail but would still set a destructive precedent. — By The Editorial Board — President Trump's last and worst shot at overturning the 2020 election will come on Jan. 6, as the new Congress meets in joint session to tally the votes from the Electoral College.
Discussion:
Breitbart, CNN, IJR, Raw Story, The Hill, Los Angeles Times, Townhall, The New Arab, Florida Politics, CNBC, ABC News, Fox News, Politico and New York Times
Bethany Barnes / Tampa Bay Times:
Federal agency knew Garda was “really bad” at safety. It took little action. — Three more people have died since the Times revealed safety problems at the Florida-based armored truck company. — By the time Johnathon Lue burned alive in the back of a GardaWorld armored truck in May …
Isaac Stanley-Becker / Washington Post:
West Virginia clinic gave 42 people an antibody treatment instead of the coronavirus vaccine — Forty-two people in West Virginia received an antibody treatment rather than Moderna's coronavirus vaccine in an error Wednesday at a vaccination clinic hosted by a county health department.
Discussion:
CNBC, The Hill and WV MetroNews
Nancy Cook / Bloomberg:
Trump Budget Chief Hampers Biden Transition With Ban on Meetings — Agency director Russ Vought wants focus on last-minute rules — Biden has complained OMB, Pentagon are hampering transition — President Donald Trump's budget office is blocking Joe Biden's transition team …
Discussion:
The Hill, New York Post, Raw Story, The Daily Caller and Politico
Billie Kanfer / Data For Progress:
Republicans Don't Know Anything About Their Party. That's Very Bad for American Democracy. — By Ethan Winter — While the packaging of Republican Party politics has evolved since 2000, what remains unaltered is a bedrock commitment to regressive tax cuts, a sharp curtailment of worker power …
Marissa Lang / Washington Post:
Jan. 6 protests multiply as Trump continues to call supporters to Washington — Protests planned in support of President Trump on Jan. 6 are multiplying by the week. — Four seemingly competing rallies to demand that Congress overturn the results of the presidential election …
Discussion:
Washingtonian, Roll Call, The Daily Caller and The Sun
David Folkenflik / NPR:
Trump Appointee Seeks Lasting Control Over Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia — Michael Pack's stormy tenure over the federal agency that oversees government-funded broadcasters abroad — including Voice of America — appears to be coming to a close. Yet President Trump's appointee …
Discussion:
Political Wire, more at Mediagazer »
Rodney Jefferson / Bloomberg:
Trump's Scottish Golf Course Loses More Money and Warns About Brexit — U.S. President Donald Trump's golf business in northeast Scotland extended losses and warned about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic and Britain's departure from the European Union.
Discussion:
The Independent, The Daily Caller and Raw Story
Jordan Davidson / The Federalist:
WANNABE ‘JEOPARDY!’ HOST KEN JENNINGS IS A BRETT KAVANAUGH RAPE TRUTHER WHO HATES REPUBLICANS — “Jeopardy!” champion Ken Jennings is attempting to backtrack on years of insults hurled at conservatives and others on his Twitter feed in what some have speculated is a bid for the popular game show's open host position.
Discussion:
EW.com, Conservative News Today, RedState, Deseret News and Twitchy
Alex Yablon / New Republic:
This Year's Underground Sensation: Modern Monetary Theory — At the close of 2020, it's hard to think of another year in living memory that has forced such a radical rethinking of our politics and social life. The Covid-19 pandemic will be remembered as a dire time in American life …