Top Items:
Burgess Everett / Politico:
Senate GOP moderates fume as McConnell prepares to block Jan. 6 commission — During Thursday's Senate Republican lunch, Sen. Susan Collins made one last plea to her colleagues to advance a proposed independent commission to probe the Capitol riot, with changes she fought for.
Discussion:
Mediaite, Washington Post, The Moderate Voice, The Atlantic, Breitbart, IJR, Page Array, POLITICUSUSA, ABC News, HotAir, Alaska Public Media and Mock Paper Scissors
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Tim Miller / The Bulwark:
Mitch McConnell Saw the Insurrection Clearly and Then Decided He Liked It — McConnell now considers protecting the insurrectionists a personal favor. — In February, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell described the events of January 6 and laid out the case against former President Trump in stark, unequivocal terms.
Discussion:
National Memo, Occupy Democrats, One America News Network, Bulwark+ and The Intellectualist
CNN:
McConnell doubles down to pressure Republicans, asking for ‘a personal favor’ to block January 6 commission — Why GOP is standing in the way of Capitol riot investigation — One of those Republicans told CNN that McConnell has even made the unusual move of asking wavering senators …
Discussion:
HuffPost, Los Angeles Times, Insider, The Intellectualist, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Talking Points Memo, Fox News, KEYT-TV, Washington Post, HotAir and The Hill
Natasha Bertrand / CNN:
First on CNN: Former DHS secretaries tell Senate to ‘put politics aside’ and support January 6 commission
First on CNN: Former DHS secretaries tell Senate to ‘put politics aside’ and support January 6 commission
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, The Hill, Raw Story, Daily Kos and POLITICUSUSA
New York Times:
U.S. Is Said to Have Unexamined Intelligence to Pore Over on Virus Origins — Intelligence officials have told the White House that computer analysis may shed light on the mystery. — WASHINGTON — President Biden's call for a 90-day sprint to understand the origins of the coronavirus pandemic came …
Discussion:
CNN, Insider, The Daily Caller, Mercury News, NBC4 Washington and The Guardian
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Josh Rogin / Washington Post:
Biden's announcement is the beginning, not the end, of a real covid origin investigation — President Biden took an important but limited step Wednesday toward a genuine investigation into the origins of covid-19. He issued an order directing his intelligence agencies to “redouble their efforts” …
Discussion:
NBC News, New York Times, Associated Press, The Hill, Breitbart, National Review and New York Post
David Frum / The Atlantic:
Trump's Supporters Are Getting the Lab-Leak Story Backwards — Suppose it's true. Suppose the coronavirus spread throughout the world from a Chinese lab. What then? — A ferocious early promoter of the idea that the coronavirus was a Chinese attack was the Trump White House's former chief strategist Steve Bannon.
Discussion:
Washington Post and HotAir
Olivia Troye / The Bulwark:
How the Trump Administration Twisted Coronavirus Intelligence
How the Trump Administration Twisted Coronavirus Intelligence
Discussion:
Raw Story, The Daily Signal, Breitbart, KEYT-TV and Washington Post
Andrew Kerr / The Daily Caller:
Media Downplayed Or Ignored These 8 Lab Leak Theory Facts For Over A Year
Media Downplayed Or Ignored These 8 Lab Leak Theory Facts For Over A Year
Discussion:
New York Post, Forbes and Taipei Times
New York Times:
Prosecutors Investigating Whether Ukrainians Meddled in 2020 Election — The Brooklyn federal inquiry has examined whether former and current Ukrainian officials tried to interfere in the election, including funneling misleading information through Rudolph W. Giuliani.
Discussion:
Raw Story, The Guardian, HuffPost, CNN, Insider, Washington Examiner, POLITICUSUSA and The Intellectualist
Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Can Democrats avoid the pitfalls of 2020? A new analysis offers striking answers. — As Democrats face a 2022 midterm landscape that could cost them the House, they are grappling with hard strategic challenges. Democrats in tough districts with many Republican voters in them feel twin pressures …
Discussion:
The Mahablog
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Ronald Brownstein / The Atlantic:
Democrats Are Running Out of Time — Anxiety is growing among a broad range of civil-rights, democracy-reform, and liberal groups over whether Democrats are responding with enough urgency to the accelerating Republican efforts to both suppress voting and potentially overturn future Democratic election victories.
Discussion:
Raw Story, Mediaite, Washington Post, Vox, National Review, Insider, The Editorial Board, HotAir, CNBC, NBC News, Snopes.com, Bloomberg, OpenSecrets.org, The Week and New York Post
Allahpundit / HotAir:
Paul Ryan: Conservatism isn't going anywhere if it depends on the appeal of one man — Asked for reaction to news of what Ryan will say in his speech tonight, Jason Miller replied to the NYT: “Who is Paul Ryan?” — Which is the second-funniest thing to come out of this.
Discussion:
New York Post, CNN and Digby's Hullabaloo
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Annie Karni / New York Times:
Paul Ryan Critiques Trump's Grip on the Republican Party
Paul Ryan Critiques Trump's Grip on the Republican Party
Discussion:
Forbes, Washington Examiner and UPI
Jonathan V. Last / The Triad:
The Worst Bush — Picking sides in the Lone Star State's Iran-Iraq war. — 1. The Iran-Iraq War of Texas
The Worst Bush — Picking sides in the Lone Star State's Iran-Iraq war. — 1. The Iran-Iraq War of Texas
Discussion:
New York Times, HotAir and TheBlaze
Janet Hook / Los Angeles Times:
Former House Speaker Paul Ryan urges GOP to return to Reaganism, end Trump fixation
Daniella Diaz / CNN:
Paul Ryan enters GOP's civil war by criticizing Trump's hold on party
Paul Ryan enters GOP's civil war by criticizing Trump's hold on party
Discussion:
Fox News, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, Washington Times, KEYT-TV, Bloomberg and Vanity Fair
Marc Caputo / Politico:
‘The only Bush who got it right,’ as far as Trump is concerned
‘The only Bush who got it right,’ as far as Trump is concerned
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Raw Story, Hackwhackers and Insider
Giovanni Russonello / New York Times:
QAnon Now as Popular in U.S. as Some Major Religions, Poll Suggests — Fifteen percent of Americans believe that “patriots may have to resort to violence” to restore the country's rightful order, the poll indicated. — As hopes fade for a bipartisan inquiry into the Capitol riot on Jan. 6 …
Discussion:
Washington Post and Florida Politics
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PRRI:
Understanding QAnon's Connection to American Politics, Religion, and Media Consumption — THREE COMPONENTS OF THE QANON CONSPIRACY MOVEMENT — Three Components of the QAnon Conspiracy Movement — The far-right conspiracy theory movement known as QAnon emerged on the internet in late 2017 …
Discussion:
Forbes, Digby's Hullabaloo, Daily Kos, Washington Post, NPR, Insider, Nieman Lab, Raw Story and NBC News, more at Techmeme »
Associated Press:
BLM's Patrisse Cullors to step down from movement foundation — A co-founder of Black Lives Matter announced Thursday that she is stepping down as executive director of the movement's foundation following what she has called a smear campaign from a far-right group and recent criticism from other Black organizers.
Discussion:
HotAir, The Daily Caller, Fox News, Deadline, TheGrio, Hollywood Reporter and TheBlaze
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Natalie O'Neill / New York Post:
Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors resigns amid controversy
Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors resigns amid controversy
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, The National Pulse, NOQ Report, The Gateway Pundit and Twitchy
David Knowles / Yahoo News:
Rep. Matt Gaetz eyes presidential run in 2024 — Rep. Matt Gaetz, the Florida Republican who is currently the subject of a Justice Department investigation into whether he had sex with a 17-year-old girl and transported her across state lines in violation of sex trafficking laws, is considering a run for president in 2024.
Discussion:
HuffPost, Occupy Democrats, New York Post, The Daily Caller, POLITICUSUSA and Florida Politics
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Donna Brazile / Wall Street Journal:
The Pandemic of Anti-Semitism — Jew-hatred is wrong whether it comes from neo-Nazis or left-wing activists.
The Pandemic of Anti-Semitism — Jew-hatred is wrong whether it comes from neo-Nazis or left-wing activists.
Discussion:
Algemeiner.com and Slate
Matt Lewis / The Daily Beast:
The Gaetz-Greene Traveling Freak Show is the Future of the GOP
The Gaetz-Greene Traveling Freak Show is the Future of the GOP
Discussion:
Raw Story
Jim Tankersley / New York Times:
Biden to Propose $6 Trillion Budget to Boost Middle Class and Infrastructure — The president's plans to invest in infrastructure, education, health care and more would push federal spending to its highest sustained levels since World War II. — WASHINGTON — President Biden will propose …
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Anita Kumar / Politico:
Biden mocks Republicans for promoting recovery plan they voted against
Biden mocks Republicans for promoting recovery plan they voted against
Discussion:
HuffPost, Breitbart, Crooks and Liars, KEYT-TV, Insider and Washington Examiner
CNN:
Trump appointee on West Point Board spreads conspiracy that Biden is replacing White people of European ancestry — (CNN)A Trump appointee serving on West Point's advisory board has repeatedly spread a conspiracy that the Biden administration is bringing in non-White immigrants as part of a …
Discussion:
Raw Story
Caroline Kelly / CNN:
Idaho lieutenant governor signs ban on mask mandates while governor is out of state — Busy memorial Day weekend could lead to more fights over mask policies — (CNN)Idaho Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin issued an executive order on Thursday banning mask mandates while Gov. Brad Little was unaware and out of town.
Discussion:
HuffPost, East Idaho News, Associated Press, TheBlaze and Washington Times
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Jordain Carney / The Hill:
GOP snag complicates Schumer's China bill — again — A bill aimed at combating China's competitiveness is hitting another last-minute snag threatening to push the Senate late into the night. — Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 2 Republican senator, told reporters as he returned to the Capitol that …
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Timothy Bella / Washington Post:
‘No vaccine!’: Woman arrested for allegedly driving through vaccination site in protest, nearly hitting workers — As a coronavirus vaccination tent was set up in the hope of inoculating more residents in Maryville, Tenn., sheriff's deputies working at the site this week saw an SUV speeding their way …
Discussion:
Law & Crime, TheBlaze, ABC News, The Hill and New York Post
Anne Steele / Wall Street Journal:
Rush Limbaugh's Radio Show to Be Taken Over by Clay Travis and Buck Sexton — Duo's show to begin airing in the coveted weekday time slot on June 21 in hundreds of markets — The Rush Limbaugh replacements are in, as Clay Travis and Buck Sexton will take over his three-hour conservative talk radio show …
Discussion:
OutKick, Deadline, Mediaite, KEYT-TV, HotAir, National Review, Washington Examiner, The Hill, The Daily Caller, Fox News, Forbes, New York Post, RedState, Twitchy and The Intellectualist, more at Mediagazer »
Tess Owen / VICE:
Gun Church That Worships With AR-15s Bought a 40-Acre Compound in Texas for Its ‘Patriots’ — The Rod of Iron Ministries has become more militant since leader Hyung Jin “Sean” Moon attended the riot at the U.S. Capitol on January 6. — TO — A religious sect known for worshipping …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars and Raw Story
Wall Street Journal:
Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates Explore Changes to Foundation — The philanthropists have discussed adding a board and outside directors in wake of divorce filing, people familiar with matter say — Bill Gates and Melinda French Gates are discussing changes to the structure …
Discussion:
New York Magazine and New York Times
David M. Drucker / Washington Examiner:
Top Republicans think GOP can win in Puerto Rico — Sen. Rick Scott believes Puerto Rico will achieve statehood — and the Florida Republican rejects arguments by some in his party that the Caribbean island territory would elect Democrats to Congress in perpetuity.
Discussion:
Fox News and Political Wire
Katherine Tully-McManus / Roll Call:
'They wouldn't care if I was dead' — staffer fallout from Jan. 6 continues — A congressional staffer froze recently when elevator doors opened and there stood a member of the House who has downplayed the violence of the Jan. 6 insurrection. Some congressional employees are shaken …
Susan B. Glasser / New Yorker:
American Democracy Isn't Dead Yet, but It's Getting There — A country that cannot even agree to investigate an assault on its Capitol is in big trouble, indeed. — When Joe Biden was a Presidential candidate, he carried around a wonkish book of international comparative politics …
Discussion:
RedState, Washington Post, Breitbart, The Guardian and NBC New York
Mehdi Hasan / MSNBC:
Saying Israel is guilty of apartheid isn't antisemitic. Just ask these Israeli leaders. — Here are two statements that can be true at the same time: Most criticism of Israel isn't antisemitic; Some criticism of Israel is extremely antisemitic. — Neither one contradicts the other.
Discussion:
Mondoweiss, Al-Monitor and Vox
David Corn / Mother Jones:
Emails Tie Top Trump Exec Allen Weisselberg to Yet Another Trump Financial Scandal — Allen Weisselberg is in the hot seat—and that's bad news for Donald Trump and his family. Assorted news reports have identified Weisselberg, the chief financial officer of the Trump Organization …