Top Items:
The Daily Beast:
Gaetz Paid Accused Sex Trafficker, Who Then Venmo'd Teen … In two late-night Venmo transactions in May 2018, Rep. Matt Gaetz sent his friend, the accused sex trafficker Joel Greenberg, $900. The next morning, over the course of eight minutes, Greenberg used the same app to send three young women varying sums of money.
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Politico:
Gaetz-tied group threatens to sue reporters writing on his Trump relationship — A boutique conservative consultancy group working on behalf of Rep. Matt Gaetz is threatening to sue journalists for their coverage of the embattled congressman. — The entity, Logan Circle Group …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Orlando Weekly, Law & Crime, The Daily Beast, The Daily Caller and New York Magazine
New York Times:
Biden Announces Action on Guns, Saying ‘This Is Just a Start’ — Representative Matt Gaetz's communications director has also resigned amid a federal sex trafficking investigation. President Biden inaccurately described “loopholes” in federal regulations of firearms during a speech outlining his first actions to combat gun violence.
Discussion:
Forbes, Raw Story, Florida Politics, The Daily Beast, Insider, Mediaite, Vox, The Hill and The Week
New York Times:
Indicted Matt Gaetz Associate Is Expected to Plead Guilty, Lawyers Say — The associate could cooperate with prosecutors, giving them information about Mr. Gaetz's relationships that investigators are examining for possible sex trafficking violations. — ORLANDO, Fla. …
Brandon Gage / HillReporter.com:
Matt Gaetz Could Be ‘Uncomfortable’ After Informant's Lawyer Makes This Announcement — The future prospects for Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL) darkened significantly on Thursday when Fritz Scheller, the defense attorney for Joel Greenberg, Gaetz's wingman in an alleged sex trafficking ring …
Discussion:
New York Times, The Week and Bloomberg
Manu Raju / CNN:
First GOP member of Congress calls on Matt Gaetz to resign — (CNN)Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger became the first congressional Republican to call on his colleague from Florida, Rep. Matt Gaetz, to resign in the face of a federal investigation into sex trafficking allegations.
Discussion:
Politico, The Hill, The Week, Raw Story and Political Wire
Orlando Sentinel:
Joel Greenberg paid $7,500 to Anthony Sabatini while Seminole Tax Collector
Joel Greenberg paid $7,500 to Anthony Sabatini while Seminole Tax Collector
Discussion:
Fox News
Ross Ibbetson / Agence France-Presse:
Punchy billboard appears overnight in Matt Gaetz's home state of Florida as he denies sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl
Punchy billboard appears overnight in Matt Gaetz's home state of Florida as he denies sex trafficking a 17-year-old girl
Discussion:
Raw Story
Luke Broadwater / New York Times:
In New Book, Boehner Says He Regrets Clinton Impeachment — Former Speaker John Boehner, Republican of Ohio, writes that the drive to remove President Bill Clinton was a politically motivated move he wishes he had repudiated. — WASHINGTON — Former Speaker John Boehner, Republican of Ohio …
Discussion:
Slate, Raw Story, POLITICUSUSA and National Review
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Julian E. Zelizer / New York Times:
Book Review: ‘On the House,’ by John Boehner … When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. — ON THE HOUSE — A Washington Memoir — There is no shortage of insults in former Speaker of the House John Boehner's memoir.
Gina Kolata / New York Times:
Kati Kariko Helped Shield the World From the Coronavirus — Collaborating with devoted colleagues, Dr. Kariko laid the groundwork for the mRNA vaccines turning the tide of the pandemic. — She grew up in Hungary, daughter of a butcher. She decided she wanted to be a scientist, although she had never met one.
Media Matters for America:
Tucker Carlson gives passionate defense of “white replacement theory” — Carlson: “If you suggest that the Democratic Party is trying to replace the current electorate ... they become hysterical because that's what's true. Let's just say it that it's true”
Teo Armus / Washington Post:
Video shows Texas GOP official seeking ‘army’ of volunteers to monitor polls in mostly Black and Hispanic Houston precincts — In a leaked video of a recent presentation, a man who identifies himself as a GOP official in Harris County, Tex., says the party needs 10,000 Republicans for an “election integrity brigade” in Houston.
Discussion:
Let Texas Vote, Off the Kuff, Raw Story, Washington Examiner, The Hill and FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth
John Bowden / The Hill:
‘Tiger Mom’ Amy Chua says Yale punishing her over false student allegations — The author of a controversial 2011 book on parenting says that Yale Law School is punishing her over false allegations raised by students by removing her from a position teaching one of the law school's “small groups …
Discussion:
Instapundit and Lawyers, Guns & Money
New York Times:
Partial tally in Amazon union drive favors ‘No’ votes. — With about half the ballots counted late Thursday, votes against unionization had a more than 2-to-1 advantage over those in favor, according to a live broadcast of the counting that was tallied by The New York Times.
Discussion:
The Guardian, KNSD-TV, Raw Story, Al Jazeera, TheBlaze and New York Post, more at Techmeme »
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Katelyn Polantz / CNN:
Federal prosecutors get the green light to start offering plea deals to Capitol riot defendants, attorneys say — (CNN)Federal prosecutors have informed some Capitol riot defendants the Justice Department has given the green-light to cut guilty plea deals, a step toward bringing …
Discussion:
Digby's Hullabaloo
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Brad Esposito / Nieman Lab:
“The idea that we can change anything, I have given up on”: NBC News' Brandy Zadrozny on documenting the “depressing” internet — “Suddenly, the stupid stuff on the internet, the scary stuff on the internet, became just so mainstream and important. And that totally should not be.”
Washington Post:
Manhattan district attorney seizes evidence from Trump executive's former daughter-in-law — NEW YORK — Investigators from the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, acting on a grand jury subpoena, took possession of financial records Thursday morning from the apartment of Jennifer Weisselberg …
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal, Raw Story, HillReporter.com, Washington Examiner, Insider, CNN, Vanity Fair, New York Times, Talking Points Memo, The Hill and CNBC
RELATED:
Kara Scannell / CNN:
Mueller fraud investigator brought in to help Vance's probe of Trump Org.
Mueller fraud investigator brought in to help Vance's probe of Trump Org.
Discussion:
Raw Story, Law & Crime, Talking Points Memo, HotAir, Wall Street Journal and The Intellectualist
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Why filibuster reformers aren't (quite) ready to give up on Joe Manchin — Sen. Joe Manchin III's declaration in a Post op-ed piece that there is “no circumstance in which I will vote to eliminate or weaken the filibuster” continues to stir angst. After all, if the West Virginia Democrat means …
Discussion:
The Intercept, New York Times, ABC News and CNN
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Rosa Brooks / Politico:
What About the Cops Who Watched George Floyd Die? — Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer currently on trial for the killing of George Floyd, is an all-too familiar type: a bully with a badge and gun. During his 19 years as an officer, Chauvin was the subject of a score of misconduct complaints.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, CNN and New York Times
Susan B. Glasser / New Yorker:
Vladimir Putin Has a Message: “Hey, Joe, Are You Listening?” — The Biden Administration can't escape the Russia problem. — Vladimir Putin would like a word. All of the talk in Washington these days is about China, or our crazy dysfunctional politics, or the pandemic and its consequences.
Dave Gilson / Mother Jones:
Trump Put a Right-Wing Radio Host in Charge of a National Park. Emails Show the Chaos That Ensued. — Click the highlighted text for more. — Last December 7, Michael Savage kicked off his radio program by railing yet again against the “demonic” and “fascist” governors who had locked down their states to slow the spread of COVID.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Meg Kinnard / Associated Press:
AP source: NFL player Phillip Adams killed 5, then himself — COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The gunman who killed five people including a prominent doctor in South Carolina was former NFL player Phillip Adams, who killed himself early Thursday, according to a source who was briefed on the investigation.
Discussion:
NBC News, Townhall, WBTV-TV, East Bay Times, CNN, Law & Crime, Associated Press, WCBD News 2, Faithwire, CBS News, CBS New York, WAVY-TV, The Daily Caller, Deseret News, The Sun, The Root, The Week, The Hill, TheGrio and Washington Examiner
Noah Bierman / Los Angeles Times:
Politicians dread the sting of #KHive, the fervent online fans of Kamala Harris — When Rep. Ro Khanna started pressing Vice President Kamala Harris to use her procedural power to push a national minimum wage hike a few weeks ago, he found himself targeted by a swarm of online Harris supporters.
Dylan Byers / NBC News:
Disney makes its pick for next ABC News president — Disney has found the next president of ABC News. — Kimberly Godwin, the executive vice president of CBS News, is in the final stages of negotiations with Disney to become president of ABC News, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.
Bloomberg:
Biden Proposes $715 Billion for Pentagon in First Budget Outline — Plan likely to be portrayed to Democrats as a compromise — It amounts to a small decrease when adjusted for inflation — President Joe Biden plans to request $715 billion for his first Pentagon budget …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner and Politico
CNN:
Scathing watchdog report reveals Capitol Police had expired ammo, ineffective shields during riot — Mother of injured officer to riot accomplices: How dare you? — (CNN)A scathing report by the US Capitol Police watchdog obtained by CNN reveals that there were even more law enforcement failures prior …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
Susan Page / USA Today:
Exclusive: How Donald Trump upended Nancy Pelosi's plans, then she unraveled his — This story is adapted from “Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power,” which will be published April 20 by Twelve Books. Author Susan Page, the Washington Bureau chief of USA TODAY …
Joseph Wulfsohn / Fox News:
YouTube faces backlash as progressive journalist claims tech giant ‘trying to push us off the platform’ — Status Coup's Jordan Chariton says YouTube's suppression of independent journos favors mainstream outlets — Scalise blasts Big Tech crackdowns: 'These aren't mistakes'
Stephen Gutowski / Washington Free Beacon:
Biden Gun Speech Filled With Falsehoods — President Joe Biden made numerous false and misleading statements while unveiling a package of gun-control actions on Thursday. — Biden falsely described how federal firearm laws work as he called for Congress to amend those laws.
Discussion:
The White House, Los Angeles Times, Townhall, Fox News, RedState, Daily Kos, The Hill, BuzzFeed News and Washington Times
Naomi Lim / Washington Examiner:
Biden suggests commercial aircraft will fly at 21,000 miles an hour in next decade — President Joe Biden has caused confusion after predicting some commercial airplanes could fly at speeds of up to 21,000 miles per hour in the next 10 years, faster than the hypersonic weapons under development by the military.
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit and Mediaite
Sherman Smith / Kansas Reflector:
Kansas Senate Majority Leader had 0.17 blood alcohol level in wrong-way pursuit — TOPEKA — Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop reeked of alcohol, struggled to speak or walk, and threatened the Kansas Highway Patrol officer who stopped him in the early hours of March 16 for driving the wrong way on Interstate 70 in Topeka.
Discussion:
Political Wire
CBS News:
“60 Minutes” on its story about vaccine distribution in Palm Beach County — CBS News issued a statement Wednesday that defended a “60 Minutes” segment that aired Sunday, April 4, on the early vaccine rollout in Palm Beach County and pushed back against claims made in recent days by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
Discussion:
Poynter, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, HotAir and spectator.us
Tucker Higgins / CNBC:
Man who carried Confederate flag to Capitol during Jan. 6 riot indicted — Kevin Seefried, who was photographed carrying a Confederate flag in the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 riots in Washington, has been indicted by a grand jury on five counts related to obstruction, entering restricted property and disorderly conduct.
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, The Gateway Pundit, Forbes and Raw Story
Rep. Nancy Mace / Washington Examiner:
Vaccine passports: When fear threatens freedom — “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction,” former President Ronald Reagan said in his famous freedom speech. “It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for [our children] to do the same, or one day we will spend …