memeorandum: White House Rips Politico Report Claiming ‘Exodus of Black Staffers’: ‘Intentionally’ Ignored Staff Who Undermined Narrative (Tommy Christopher/Mediaite)

5:45 PM ET, May 31, 2022

Top Items:

Devlin Barrett / Washington Post:

Sussmann, who worked for Clinton, acquitted of lying to FBI in 2016 — The verdict is a defeat for Special Counsel John Durham, appointed three years ago by then-Attorney General William Barr. — A federal jury found Michael Sussmann, a lawyer for Democrats including the Hillary Clinton …

Discussion: The Daily Beast, POLITICUSUSA, TheBlaze, CBS News, Forbes, Big League Politics, America First Report, Balloon Juice, The Gateway Pundit, Mediaite and Bloomberg

Margot Cleveland / The Federalist:

Even Without The Jury Convicting Michael Sussmann, The Special Counsel Has Won — Measuring Special Counsel John Durham's performance by the outcome in United States v. Sussmann would be a mistake. — The jury in the Michael Sussmann criminal case resumes deliberations today after the long Memorial Day weekend.

Discussion: ABC News, Washington Free Beacon and National Review

Charlie Savage / New York Times:

Michael Sussmann Is Acquitted in Case Brought by Trump-Era Prosecutor — The Democratic-linked lawyer was accused of lying about his clients to the F.B.I. when he passed on a tip about possible connections between Donald J. Trump and Russia. — Give this article- - - Read in app

Discussion: HotAir, The Daily Caller, NewsNation, Daily Kos and MindWar

Byron York / Washington Examiner:

What Durham proved — WHAT DURHAM PROVED. The trial of Michael Sussmann is before a jury in Washington, D.C. Sussmann is the Democratic lawyer who, according to special counsel John Durham, lied to the FBI in 2016 when, working on behalf of the Hillary Clinton campaign, he tried to plant a derogatory story about Donald Trump.

Discussion: Washington Times, Fox News, Breitbart, American Greatness, RedState, New York Post, Townhall, Raw Story and The Gateway Pundit

Carrie Johnson / NPR:

Special Counsel Durham fails first courtroom test in his three-year probe — A jury in Washington DC has acquitted lawyer Michael Sussmann on a single charge of lying to the FBI, dealing a blow to the three-year investigation by special counsel John Durham.

Philip Bump / Washington Post:

What if — and bear with me here — John Durham doesn't have the goods? — The last time anyone saw them, the goal posts were about three miles due west of Ottumwa, Iowa, having been dragged there, foot by painful foot, from their original position just outside of William P. Barr's Department of Justice.

Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Sussmann acquitted on charge brought by special counsel Durham

Discussion: The Reactionary, Raw Story and Power Line

Fox News:
Michael Sussmann found not guilty of charges brought by Special Prosecutor John Durham

Discussion: Mediaite, Insider and RedState

Josh Kovensky / Talking Points Memo:
Sussmann Acquitted In Quick Defeat For Durham Investigation

Discussion: Raw Story

Eric Tucker / Associated Press:
Clinton campaign lawyer acquitted of lying to the FBI

Discussion: CNN, New York Post, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Examiner, Zandar Versus The Stupid, RedState, IJR, The Daily Beast, Bloomberg, POLITICUSUSA, Rolling Stone, The Daily Wire, The Gateway Pundit and CBS News

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
John Durham Tried to Prove Trump's Russiagate Theory. Instead He Debunked It.

Discussion: CNN, Washington Post, Political Wire and Twitchy

Steve Benen / MSNBC:
In a major setback for Durham, jury acquits former Clinton lawyer

Discussion: NBC News, The Guardian and Raw Story

NBC News:

Inside a Biden White House adrift — Biden facing sinking approval ratings ahead of midterm elections — WASHINGTON — Faced with a worsening political predicament, President Joe Biden is pressing aides for a more compelling message and a sharper strategy while bristling at how they've tried …

Mattie Kahn / Harper's BAZAAR:

A First Lady Undeterred — A pandemic. A war. A country at its breaking point. Dr. Jill Biden has faced it all with the grace and conviction that has guided her all her life—showing up for her students, her friends and family, the American people, her husband, and herself. — STORY BY

Discussion: New York Post, Washington Post, Washington Examiner, Insider, IJR, USA Today, RedState, CNN, Mediaite, Breitbart, Althouse, Townhall and The Hill

Daniel Lippman / Politico:

Biden sees exodus of Black staffers and some frustration among those who remain — At least 21 Black staffers have left the White House since late last year or are planning to leave soon. Some of those who remain say it's no wonder why: They describe a work environment with little support …

Discussion: Twitchy, Breitbart, IJR, Townhall, The Daily Caller, New York Post, CNSNews, Washington Examiner, HotAir, Insider and Mediaite

Tommy Christopher / Mediaite: White House Rips Politico Report Claiming ‘Exodus of Black Staffers’: ‘Intentionally’ Ignored Staff Who Undermined Narrative

Guy Benson / Townhall:
NBC News: Biden ‘Rattled’ By Polling, Angry He's Not Getting Enough Credit

Discussion: Newsweek, RedState and Mediaite

Darlene Superville / Associated Press:
Jill Biden says she, president settle arguments by ‘fexting’

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon, Breitbart, The Daily Wire, Townhall and Mediaite

Guillermo Contreras / San Antonio Express-News:

Lawyer: Uvalde teacher did not leave door open that gunman used to enter Robb Elementary School — An employee at Robb Elementary School had propped open a door to carry food from a car to the classroom last Tuesday, but closed it shut after realizing that a gunman was loose and heading toward the school, her San Antonio lawyer said.

Discussion: HotAir, Daily Mail, Insider, POLITICUSUSA and Raw Story

Jesse Ortiz / ABC News:

Uvalde police, school district no longer cooperating with Texas probe of shooting — Texas officials are investigating law enforcement's response to the shooting. — Video by Jessie DiMartino By Josh Margolin and Aaron Katersky — The Uvalde Police Department and the Uvalde Independent …

Jim Geraghty / National Review: What Might Actually Help Stop Mass Shootings

Chantal Da Silva / NBC News:
Memorial Day weekend marked by more than a dozen mass shootings in the U.S.

Discussion: ABC News, New York Post, Axios, HotAir, The Western Journal, Al Jazeera, Reason, KHOU-TV, Alternet.org, Letters From Luke, Raw Story, The Daily Wire, The Mahablog, Streams of Crunchiness and No News Letter

CNN:

Exclusive: Supreme Court leak investigation heats up as clerks are asked for phone records in unprecedented move — (CNN)Supreme Court officials are escalating their search for the source of the leaked draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, taking steps to require law clerks …

New York Times:

We Clerked for Justices Scalia and Stevens. America Is Getting Heller Wrong. — Ms. Shaw is a professor of law at Cardozo Law School. Mr. Bash is an attorney in private practice in Austin, Texas. — In the summer of 2008, the Supreme Court decided District of Columbia v. Heller …

Discussion: National Review, Reason, Washington Monthly and Eschaton

Amber Phillips / Washington Post:
How the Second Amendment was reinterpreted to protect individual rights

Discussion: Fox News and Twitchy

Nate Raymond / Reuters:

Fed judiciary says yes to free PACER searches. Here are the details so far — (Reuters) - Federal judiciary policymakers have approved a plan to eliminate costly fees for online docket searches amid debate in Congress about whether to force the court system to make its PACER electronic court record system free for the general public.

more at Mediagazer »

Edward Luce / Financial Times:

Is America heading for civil war? — A clutch of books makes an alarmingly persuasive case that the warning lights are flashing redder than at any point since 1861 — In the summer of 2015, America caught a glimpse of how its future could unfold. The US military conducted a routine exercise …

Rory Jones / Wall Street Journal:

Expatriate Executives Flee Saudi Arabia's Bad Bosses — The kingdom wants to attract the world's best and brightest to futuristic projects such as Neom. But a difficult workplace culture is driving many away. — In the summer of 2020, two videogame companies canceled sponsorship deals …

Discussion: Bloomberg

Helene Cooper / New York Times:

Russian Military Is Repeating Mistakes in Eastern Ukraine, U.S. Says — President Vladimir V. Putin sent in a new commander in April, but Russian troops are still facing morale and other problems, American officials say. — Give this article- - - Read in app

Discussion: Political Wire

New York Times:

'The Killings Didn't Stop.' In Mali, a Massacre With a Russian Footprint. — Civilian deaths have spiked in Mali since Russian mercenaries of the Wagner Group began operating alongside the military. In late March, hundreds were executed in the village of Moura. — Give this article- - - Read in app

Discussion: Raw Story

Wall Street Journal:

Cracks Show in Western Front Against Russia's War in Ukraine — Allies are increasingly divided on further heavy-weapons shipments to Kyiv — Cracks are appearing in the Western front against Moscow, with America's European allies increasingly split over whether to keep shipping …

Discussion: HuffPost, Marginal REVOLUTION, Associated Press, The Guardian, Washington Post and Next War Notes newsletter

Wall Street Journal:

OPEC Weighs Suspending Russia From Oil-Production Deal — Western sanctions have begun to take a toll on Moscow's petroleum output — Some OPEC members are exploring the idea of suspending Russia's participation in an oil-production deal as Western sanctions and a partial European ban begin …

Discussion: Political Wire

Thomas Lecaque / The Bulwark:

Doug Mastriano, Christian Nationalism, and the Cult of the AR-15 — The Republican nominee for Pennsylvania governor has ties to a gun-worshiping sect. But the real scandal is just how common many of their beliefs have become on the right. — The horrific mass shootings at Buffalo …

Discussion: Alternet.org and Raw Story

David M. Drucker / Washington Examiner:

McCormick wants hand recount in Pennsylvania with GOP Senate primary unresolved — Republican Senate contender David McCormick is headed back to court in Pennsylvania to request a hand recount across a dozen counties as his campaign complained of irregularities and confusion over uncounted ballots.

Discussion: Washington Post, Associated Press and The Daily Wire

CNN:

Georgia attorney general subpoenaed in Trump investigation — An Atlanta-area prosecutor investigating former President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn Georgia's 2020 election results has subpoenaed state Attorney General Chris Carr, according to a copy of the subpoena obtained by CNN.

Discussion: Raw Story

Abby Ohlheiser / MIT Technology Review:

Anti-abortion activists are collecting the data they'll need for prosecutions post-Roe — The Supreme Court is shortly expected to issue its decision on a challenge to Roe v. Wade that will—if a leaked draft version of the opinion holds—end federal protection for abortion access across the US.

Graham Rayman / New York Daily News:

Gunmaker Glock to be sued over mass shooting aboard Brooklyn subway — A Brooklyn woman shot and severely wounded in a mass shooting aboard a Brooklyn N train last month will file a lawsuit Tuesday against Glock, which manufactured the 9-mm. gun used in the 33-bullet attack on straphangers.

Discussion: Bloomberg, Washington Examiner and Breitbart

The Seattle Times:

Group doorbells WA homes, searching for illegal voters and drawing complaints — CLYDE HILL — Clipboards in hand, Jenifer Short and Emily Tadlock strolled a swanky suburban neighborhood on a recent afternoon, checking homes against a list of voter registrations.

Discussion: Raw Story