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First on CNN: Trump's impeachment defense team leaves less than two weeks before trial — (CNN)Former President Donald Trump's five impeachment defense attorneys have left a little more than a week before his trial is set to begin, according to people familiar with the case, amid a disagreement over his legal strategy.
Discussion:
USA Today, Business Insider, Axios, Bloomberg, Sputnik News, The Gateway Pundit, Washington Monthly, Law & Crime, Raw Story and Political Wire
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Trump's top impeachment lawyer has left his team — Former President Donald Trump has lost his top impeachment lawyer just days before his trial is to begin, a person familiar with his legal strategy and two attorneys close to the team confirmed on Saturday night.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Hill, Axios, Raw Story and HuffPost


Trump loses lead impeachment lawyers a week before trial — WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has parted ways with his lead impeachment lawyers little more than a week before his trial, two people familiar with the situation said Saturday. The change injects fresh uncertainty …


Trump appears to be without a legal team as impeachment trial nears — Former President Donald Trump's legal team is unclear and undefined with just over a week to go before his second impeachment trial begins in the Senate, according to Trump adviser Jason Miller.
Discussion:
Boing Boing


Trump Parts Ways With Five Lawyers Handling Impeachment Defense — The departures, which include his lead lawyer, Butch Bowers, come more than a week before his Senate trial is set to begin. — Former President Donald J. Trump has abruptly parted ways with five lawyers handling his impeachment defense …
Discussion:
Sputnik News


Dodger Stadium's COVID-19 vaccination site temporarily shut down after protesters gather at entrance — Dodger Stadium's mass COVID-19 vaccination site was temporarily shut down Saturday afternoon when about 50 protesters gathered at the entrance, frustrating hundreds of motorists who had been waiting in line for hours.
Discussion:
The Hill, The Daily Beast, Sputnik News, Daily News, Mediaite, NBC Los Angeles, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Wrap, KTLA, CBS Los Angeles, Associated Press and WEB OF EVIL
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A Vast Web of Vengeance — Outrageous lies destroyed Guy Babcock's online reputation. When he went hunting for their source, what he discovered was worse than he could have imagined. — Guy Babcock vividly remembers the chilly Saturday evening when he discovered the stain on his family.


Texas City Councilman Posted Photo Of Noose After Insurrection, Saying 'Let ‘Em Hang’ — Martin Holsome, a city councilman running for governor, is part of a growing group of Republicans embracing right-wing extremism and cheering the Capitol riot. — A small-time city councilman in Texas …
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Lawmakers are still struggling with the trauma of the Capitol riot. Pelosi is trying to help. — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi first saw the emotional wounds moments after she returned to the U.S. Capitol the evening of Jan. 6. — “The trauma that I saw in their eyes,” Pelosi said …
Discussion:
The Crime Report


Jan. 6 Rally Funded by Top Trump Donor, Helped by Alex Jones, Organizers Say — Publix Super Markets heiress donated about $300,000 to the Ellipse event, organizers say — The rally in Washington's Ellipse that preceded the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was arranged and funded …
Discussion:
National Memo, Law & Crime, Sputnik News, The Intellectualist, The Hill, Vox, New York Post, Business Insider, Mock Paper Scissors, Florida Politics and Raw Story
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Text Messages Show Top Trump Campaign Fundraiser's Key Role Planning the Rally That Preceded the Siege — Caroline Wren, a Trump fundraiser, is listed as a “VIP Advisor” in a National Park Service permit for the Jan. 6th rally at the Ellipse. Text messages and a planning memo show …
Discussion:
Proof, Forbes, POLITICUSUSA and Political Wire


Marjorie Taylor Greene Is ‘the Worst Enemy for Most Causes That She Supposedly Supports’ — National Republicans long saw Majorie Taylor Greene, a first-term member of Congress from northwest Georgia, as a potential source of trouble. Few probably thought it would get this bad.
Discussion:
Don Surber, Common Dreams and NPR
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Marjorie Taylor Greene brings the GOP nothing but baggage
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The Editorial Board

How Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, promoter of QAnon's baseless theories, rose with support from key Republicans

Marjorie Taylor Greene touts Trump call amid growing backlash
Discussion:
Mother Jones, National Review, The Sun, Washington Times, Bloomberg, Business Insider, Political Wire and Los Angeles Times


How Trump's Focus on Antifa Distracted Attention From the Far-Right Threat — Federal law enforcement shifted resources last year in response to Donald Trump's insistence that the radical left endangered the country. Meanwhile, right-wing extremism was building ominously.
Discussion:
Rolling Stone and Raw Story


Sen. Joe Manchin reacts to WSAZ interview with Vice Pres. Kamala Harris — CHARLESTON/HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) - After airing Thursday evening, WSAZ's exclusive interview with Vice President Kamala Harris drew national attention. — Friday morning, the White House answered questions …
Discussion:
HotAir, Politico, Fox News, RedState, TheBlaze, Townhall, KNXV, Washington Examiner and Balloon Juice


After Record Turnout, Republicans Are Trying to Make It Harder to Vote — The presidential election results are settled. But the battle over new voting rules, especially for mail-in ballots, has just begun. — WASHINGTON — In Georgia, Arizona and other states won by President Biden …
Discussion:
POLITICUSUSA, The Guardian, Sputnik News, Maryland Matters, Raw Story and National Memo


Traffic stop leads to deportation of El Paso Walmart shooting victim — EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — A survivor of the El Paso Walmart shooting has been deported, according to the Diocesan Migrant and Refugee Services in El Paso. — The woman, only identified as Rosa to protect her identity …


What Are the Cultural Revolution's Lessons for Our Current Moment? — The great question of China's Maoist experiment now looms over the United States: Why did a powerful society suddenly start destroying itself? — On September 24, 1970, the Rolling Stones interrupted their concert …


How the plan to grant clemency to Sheldon Silver was scuttled — ALBANY - When President Donald Trump was reported to be considering clemency for former state Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver this month, it touched off a political clash played out behind the scenes in Washington and in New York …


Saudi Arabia has been scrubbing its textbooks of anti-Semitic and misogynistic passages — BEIRUT — Saudi Arabia has been sharply criticized over the decades for school textbooks that preach women's subservience to men, anti-Semitism and a general enmity toward religions other than Islam.


After Trump, Democrats set out on a mission to ‘repair the courts’ … WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden and Senate Democrats are vetting civil rights lawyers and public defenders to nominate as judges, embarking on a mission to shape the courts after Republicans overhauled them in the last four years …
Discussion:
The Independent, CNN, Orlando Weekly, The Week and Butterflies and Wheels


For McCarthy and McConnell, Two Paths on Trumpian Crisis Management — Kevin McCarthy, the House minority leader, and Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, want to take back control of Congress in 2022. First they have to figure out how to handle Donald Trump.
Discussion:
Raw Story, Daily Kos, Washington Post and HotAir


‘Be ready to fight’: FBI probe of U.S. Capitol riot finds evidence detailing coordination of an assault — When die-hard supporters of President Donald Trump showed up at rally point “Cowboy” in Louisville on the morning of Jan. 5, they found the shopping mall's parking lot was closed to cars …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Sputnik News and Slate


Hamilton police chief, patrolman asked to resign after body cam footage of Black Lives Matter protest surfaces — HAMILTON, Ga. (WTVM) - The Hamilton Chief of Police and one patrolman have been asked to resign or face termination after body cam footage of them at a Black Lives Matter protest last year surfaced earlier this week.
Discussion:
ABC News
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AJC poll: Republicans in dicey political territory in Georgia — After suffering major losses, Georgia Republicans enter a new election cycle in a dire political position, according to an exclusive Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll that found leading Democrats earned significantly higher ratings than their GOP counterparts.
Discussion:
The Week, HotAir, POLITICUSUSA and The Hill


10 days of struggle: Inside Biden's early coronavirus vaccine effort — For the first five days of President Biden's administration, he and his aides promised 100 million coronavirus shots in 100 days. — But then on the sixth day, Biden surprised everyone, including many of his own aides, by upping the ante — to 150 million.


Biden brother's law firm touts his connection to the president, creating an early headache for administration — The Florida law firm that employs President Biden's brother Frank ran a newspaper ad on Inauguration Day touting the brothers' relationship and shared values …