memeorandum: Democrat Beto O'Rourke: ‘No interest’ in Texas gubernatorial campaign help from President Joe Biden (Philip Jankowski/Dallas Morning News)

11:15 AM ET, January 23, 2022

Top Items:

Britain Says Moscow Is Plotting to Install a Pro-Russian Leader in Ukraine — In a highly unusual public statement, backed by U.S. officials, London named the putative head of a potential puppet government but few other details. — KYIV — The British government said Saturday that the Kremlin …

Discussion: HotAir, Telegraph, Slate, Caitlin's Newsletter, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Metro.co.uk, Dana's Newsletter, Atlantic Council, news.com.au, Insider and UPI

Gideon Rachman / Financial Times:

Russia and China's plans for a new world order … The western alliance has threatened the Kremlin with “massive” and “unprecedented” sanctions if Russia attacks Ukraine. But, as the Ukraine crisis reaches boiling point, western efforts to isolate and punish Russia are likely to be undermined …

Discussion: Eye on China and Bloomberg

BBC:

German navy chief resigns over Ukraine comments — The head of the German navy has resigned over controversial comments he made over Ukraine. — Kay-Achim Schönbach said the idea that Russia wanted to invade Ukraine was nonsense. He added that all President Putin wanted was respect.

Discussion: DW.COM, Al Jazeera, The Guardian and WTOP News

GOV.UK:

Kremlin plan to install pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine exposed — Foreign Secretary statement on Kremlin plan to install pro-Russian leadership in Ukraine exposed — We have information that indicates the Russian Government is looking to install a pro-Russian leader in Kyiv as it considers whether to invade and occupy Ukraine.

Discussion: CNN, The Chief Brief, Moneycircus, NOQ Report, Politico and Radio Free Europe/Radio …

The Guardian:
Confusion over UK claim that Putin plans coup in Ukraine

Discussion: New York Times and UPI

Washington Post:
U.K. accuses Russia of scheming to install a pro-Kremlin government in Ukraine

Discussion: Al Jazeera, One America News Network, Reuters, Into the Void and Associated Press

Financial Times:
UK warns Moscow planning to install pro-Russian leader in Ukraine

Discussion: Telegraph, The Debatable Land, Metro.co.uk, Doctor's Newsletter, The Guardian, TheJournal.ie, Washington Examiner and The Conversation

Christopher Miller / BuzzFeed News:
The UK Says Russia Is Planning To Overthrow Ukraine's Government And Install A Pro-Kremlin Leader

Discussion: Fox News and Anti-bellum

James Marson / Wall Street Journal:
Russia Hatching Plot to Replace Ukraine Government, U.K. Says

Discussion: RedState, One America News Network and Gizmodo

David Ignatius / Washington Post: As invasion looms, Ukrainians are calmly defiant

Caitlin McFall / Fox News:
Russia, NATO maintain dicey impasse, experts divided on best next steps

Discussion: euronews and Washington Examiner

New York Times:

For Many Who Marched, Jan. 6 Was Only the Beginning — To many of those who attended the Trump rally but who never breached the Capitol, that date wasn't a dark day for the nation. It was a new start. — PHOENIX — There were moments when Paul Davis questioned his decision to join …

Discussion: Raw Story

Brad Dress / The Hill:

Donald Trump slams Jan. 6 panel after Ivanka Trump interview request: 'They'll go after children' — Former President Donald Trump slammed the Jan. 6 committee investigating the Capitol insurrection after it asking his daughter Ivanka Trump to sit for an interview. — “It's a very unfair situation for my children.

Discussion: TheBlaze and HuffPost

Khaleda Rahman / Newsweek:

Donald Trump Blasts Jan. 6 Panel After Ivanka Request: 'They'll Go After Children' — Former president Donald Trump has criticized the House committee investigating the January 6 insurrection for seeking his daughter Ivanka Trump's testimony. — The committee sent a letter on Thursday requesting …

Discussion: Insider

Tom Boggioni / Raw Story: Trump may let his kids take the fall as the legal net tightens around him: DC insider

Mark Murray / NBC News:

‘Downhill,’ ‘divisive’: Americans sour on nation's direction in new NBC News poll — WASHINGTON — Overwhelming majorities of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction, that their household income is falling behind the cost of living, that political polarization …

Discussion: The Hill

Washington Post:

Va. Gov. Youngkin's assertive first week in office leaves Republicans jubilant, Democrats fuming — RICHMOND — The big unknown about Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) as he ran for office last year — apart from the exact size of his vast fortune — was just how red the political newcomer really was behind that easygoing demeanor.

Discussion: Washington Examiner

Mychael Schnell / The Hill:

Sanders says Republicans are ‘laughing all the way to Election Day’ — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday said Senate Republicans are “laughing all the way to Election Day” because “they have not had to cast one bloody vote” on the Democrats' roughly $1.2 trillion social spending and climate package …

Discussion: The Daily Beast and The Guardian

Lauren O'Neil / The Cavalier Daily:

University Counsel Tim Heaphy removed by Attorney General Jason Miyares — Heaphy's removal continues a multitude of firings this week by the attorney general — University Counsel Tim Heaphy was removed from his role by Attorney General Jason Miyares, per a statement issued by the University Saturday. ending a three-year tenure.

Dean Obeidallah / MSNBC:

Biden can't let Manchin and Sinema block voting rights act without consequences — Two Democratic senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, made a choice Wednesday night to side with the 50 Senate Republicans to block changes to the Senate's filibuster rule and …

Discussion: RedState, The Atlantic, Mother Jones and NBC News

Makini Brice / Reuters:
Arizona Democratic Party formally censures Sinema

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Arizona Republic, Breitbart, The Daily Caller, New York Times, Slate, RedState and CNN

Maeve Sheehey / Politico:
Arizona Democratic Party censures Sinema over voting rights stance

Discussion: NPR, NBC News, TheBlaze, CBS News, James's Newsletter, The Daily Wire, MSNBC, Deseret News, Washington Post, Mock Paper Scissors and KNXV

Margaret Sullivan / Washington Post:

If local journalism manages to survive, give Evan Smith some credit for it — The Texas Tribune founder has been a “true pioneer” in finding ways to cover local communities as a non-profit. — When Evan Smith co-founded the Texas Tribune back in 2009, digital-first nonprofit newsrooms were something of a rarity.

Philip Jankowski / Dallas Morning News:

Democrat Beto O'Rourke: ‘No interest’ in Texas gubernatorial campaign help from President Joe Biden — O'Rourke said he wants help from no Washington politicians in his ongoing campaign for governor. — AUSTIN — Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke on Friday …

Discussion: The Hill

Mississippi Free Press:

Black Mississippi Senators Walk Out As ‘CRT’ Bill Earns White Lawmakers' Approval — Every Black member of the Mississippi Senate walked out today as their white colleagues voted to approve a bill that Republicans have described as legislation to prevent so-called “critical race theory” from being taught in schools.

Discussion: Fox News, Breitbart and New York Post