memeorandum: The ‘Red Wave’ Washout: How Skewed Polls Fed a False Election Narrative (New York Times)

3:35 PM ET, December 31, 2022

Top Items:

The ‘Red Wave’ Washout: How Skewed Polls Fed a False Election Narrative — The errant surveys spooked some candidates into spending more money than necessary, and diverted help from others who otherwise had a fighting chance of winning. — Senator Patty Murray, a Democrat …

Discussion: Raw Story

New York Times:

Pope Benedict XVI Dies — Updates: Pope Francis Will Preside Over Benedict's Funeral on Thursday … The first pope to step down in six centuries dies in retirement. — Pope Benedict XVI, the eminent German theologian and conservative enforcer of Roman Catholic Church doctrine who broke …

Washington Post:

How Benedict's death could reshape the Catholic Church — VATICAN CITY — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI's death Saturday is an epochal loss for a church that was defined first by his resolute conservatism and later by his radical decision to abdicate power. — The Vatican said that Benedict died …

Discussion: America Magazine, TMZ.com and New York Post

Nicole Winfield / Associated Press:

Benedict XVI, first pope to resign in 600 years, dies at 95 — Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, the shy German theologian who tried to reawaken Christianity in a secularized Europe but will forever be remembered as the first pontiff in 600 years to resign from the job, died Saturday. He was 95.

ABC News:

Barbara Walters, trailblazing TV icon, dies at 93 — The pioneering TV news broadcaster was the first female anchor in evening news. — Barbara Walters, the trailblazing television news broadcaster and longtime ABC News anchor and correspondent who shattered the glass ceiling and became …

Los Angeles Times:

Barbara Walters dies at 93; news anchor broke the boy's club of network television — Barbara Walters, the first woman to break up the all-male club of network television anchors and one of the last remaining megastars in broadcast news who deftly coaxed world leaders and celebrities alike …

Discussion: BizPac Review, Variety, People.com, The Western Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, Rolling Stone, The Sun, NPR, CBS News, ABC7, New York Daily News, New York Post and UPI

Alessandra Stanley / New York Times:
Barbara Walters, a First Among TV Newswomen, Is Dead at 93

Discussion: CNN, claytoonz, Bustle, The Hollywood Reporter, Praxis Habitus, The Forward, Associated Press, New York Amsterdam News, Deadline, Page Six, New York Post, The Post Millennial, TheBlaze and Variety

David Cay Johnston / The Daily Beast:

Trump's Taxes Are the Best Case Yet for Putting Him in Prison — This Friday news dump is a huge deal, and should be the final nail in his coffin. … Don't let the cynics who know little about our tax system trick you into thinking there was nothing all that new or important in the six years …

Discussion: Raw Story, Althouse, Wall Street Journal, Associated Press, NBC Boston, ABC News, NewsNation, The Hill, Bloomberg, Florida Politics, UPI, HuffPost and New Republic

Washington Post:
House panel releases Trump tax returns in another setback for former president

Washington Post:

The talented Mr. Santos: A congressman-elect's unraveling web of deception — Even by the low standards for truth-telling in politics, the scope of the falsehoods from the newly elected House Republican has been breathtaking — The Republican who won a congressional seat on Long Island …

Discussion: NewsOne

Nicholas Confessore / New York Times:

The Invention of Elise Stefanik — To rise through the Trump-era G.O.P., a young congresswoman gave up her friends, her mentors and her ideals. Will it be enough? — Elise Stefanik had had enough. — In the wake of the 2018 midterms, the young congresswoman was sick of commuting …

Ronald G. Shafer / Washington Post:

When the House needed two months and 133 votes to elect a speaker — For the first time in exactly 100 years, the U.S. House of Representatives may need more than one round of voting to elect a speaker when the new Congress convenes on Tuesday. — But a few extra rounds of balloting …

Discussion: Roll Call, Insider, CNN, New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Politico

Dan Primack / Axios:

Fidelity slashes Twitter value by 56% — Fidelity slashed its carrying value of Twitter by 56% during the first month of Elon Musk's ownership, according to a new disclosure. — Driving the news: Fidelity was among the group of outside investors that helped Musk finance his $44 billion takeover …

Discussion: Mock Paper Scissors, TechCrunch and Political Wire

New York Post:

Shameless George! Santos plans ‘questionable’ fundraiser off swearing-in — Public backlash is not stopping Long Island and Queens Rep.-elect George Santos from trying to milk still-loyal supporters for money when he gets sworn into office on Jan. 3. — The 34-year-old Republican …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Wide World of News, Wall Street Journal and Raw Story

New York Times:

A Charity Tied to the Supreme Court Offers Donors Access to the Justices — The Supreme Court Historical Society has raised more than $23 million in the last two decades, much of it from lawyers, corporations and special interests. — In some years, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. does the honors.

Discussion: Al Jazeera and Politico

Associated Press:

Divisive social media star Andrew Tate detained in Romania — Andrew Tate, a divisive social media personality and former professional kickboxer, was detained in Romania on charges of human trafficking and rape, an official said Friday. Tate, a British citizen who previously was banned …

Gary D. Robertson / Associated Press:

AG: Meadows won't face voter fraud charges in North Carolina — Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff to President Donald Trump, won't face voter fraud charges related to his 2020 registration and absentee vote in North Carolina, the state's attorney general announced Friday.

Discussion: BizPac Review, McClatchy Washington Bureau, Fox News and Washington Post