memeorandum: Last of Trump defendants in Fulton election probe gets bond (Chris Joyner/Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

9:15 AM ET, August 30, 2023

Top Items:

How Mark Meadows' Testimony May Have Just Helped Prosecutors — Mark Meadows made his surprise appearance in court on Monday, and while what he said may have seemed innocuous, it could be much more damning than anyone thinks. — For years now, Mark Meadows has avoided answering questions …

Discussion: Raw Story and Pharyngula

Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Mark Meadows struggles to distance himself from Trump's plot

Discussion: The Hill, Insider, ABC News, The Status Kuo, JONATHAN TURLEY, Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, CBS News, Raw Story and Digby's Hullabaloo

Tierney Sneed / CNN:
Here's how Trump may try to challenge Jack Smith and delay his March 4 trial

Discussion: NaturalNews.com, NBC News, Raw Story, New York Times, Washington Examiner, Political Wire, Digby's Hullabaloo and The Gateway Pundit

CNN:
The testimony from Trump's White House chief of staff could change everything

Discussion: Washington Post, Forbes, Raw Story, NBC News, Slate, The Messenger, The Hill and HuffPost

Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
The Jolt: Trump loyalists mount ‘defund’ movement targeting Fulton DA

Discussion: HuffPost, Raw Story, Mediaite and PoliticusUSA

Brianna Herlihy / Fox News:

Over 100 former clerks of Justice Thomas sign open letter defending his integrity, independence — 112 of Justice Thomas' former clerks say news stories attacking him are ‘part of larger attack on the Court’ and its ‘legitimacy’ — EXCLUSIVE - Over 100 former clerks of Supreme Court Justice …

Discussion: Raw Story, The Gateway Pundit, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Talking Points Memo, New York Magazine, The Daily Caller, Just The News and The Daily Signal

NBC News:
Recently indicted John Eastman is among those vouching for Clarence Thomas' integrity

Discussion: Political Wire, The Messenger and Associated Press

Brady Knox / Washington Examiner: Over 100 former clerks of Clarence Thomas defend integrity and character in open letter

CBS News:

Trump may not attend arraignment in Fulton County — Washington — Former President Donald Trump may not show up to his arraignment in Georgia next week, according to two sources familiar with his plans. — Trump is considering waiving his arraignment appearance, which is scheduled …

Discussion: The Guardian, CNN, Raw Story, Political Wire, UPI, NBC News, Fox News, The Hill and Washington Examiner

Brooke Singman / Fox News:

Trump fundraising spikes after Fulton County mugshot, surpassing $20M in August — Trump campaign says funds will only be used for political, campaign activities, not to cover legal expenses — EXCLUSIVE: Former President Trump has raised more than $9.4 million since being processed …

Discussion: The Messenger, ABC News, New York Post, Political Wire and Townhall

Vaughn Hillyard / NBC News:

Secretaries of state get ready for possible challenges to Trump's ballot access — Arizona's secretary of state is the latest to say his office is grappling with the potential effects of a move to block Trump from the ballot. — Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said Tuesday …

Discussion: RedState and Washington Times

Kelly Garrity / Politico:
N.H. attorney general ‘carefully reviewing’ arguments that could keep Trump off state's ballot

Discussion: NH Department of Justice, The Post Millennial, UPROXX, NBC Boston, Florida Phoenix, DC Enquirer, Forbes, Washington Examiner, Raw Story and NH Journal

David Frum / The Atlantic:
The Fourteenth Amendment Fantasy

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Washington Examiner, The Bulwark, Boston Herald and The Daily Caller

Robert King / Politico:

‘Go after it’: GOP strategists say Republicans need to hit Biden on drug pricing — Republicans are working to persuade Americans that the Biden plan will stifle innovation and lead to price controls. — As President Joe Biden touts the first 10 drugs subject to Medicare price talks …

Discussion: Digby's Hullabaloo, Boston Herald, The American Independent, New York Times, The Hill and Daily Kos

Washington Post:
Biden administration names 10 prescription drugs for price negotiations

Twitter:

Supporting people's right to accurate and safe political discourse on X — More than half a billion people from around the world gather on X to talk about their interests in real-time, and that includes elections. X enables people to directly engage on important topics with elected representatives …

Discussion: 9to5Mac, The Daily Caller, Al Jazeera, Gizmodo, ABC News, Breitbart, The Hill, The Messenger and Variety, more at Mediagazer »

Kari Paul / The Guardian:
Twitter allows US political candidates and parties to advertise in policy switch

Discussion: Raw Story, The Daily Caller, Deadline and The Hill

Shia Kapos / Politico:

A 6-figure Donald Trump donor is now a No Labels adviser — A major Republican donor and one-time financial backer of former President Donald Trump is now a leader in the Florida chapter of No Labels' third-party presidential bid. — Allan Keen, a Florida-based real estate developer …

Discussion: The Messenger, Political Wire and The Hill

Frank Bruni / New York Times:

When I Tell You Nikki Haley Is Pathetic, That's an Understatement — I wish it were as simple as that one Republican debate. — I wish the Nikki Haley onstage in Milwaukee last week — who called out Donald Trump for his profligate government spending, who implored her fellow Republicans …

Discussion: Raw Story, The Hill and Fox News

Matthew Chapman / Raw Story:

GOP lawmaker arrested again after domestic violence charges: report — A Republican state representative in Ohio has been arrested for violating a protective order — while awaiting trial for a prior arrest for domestic violence. — According to Fox 8 News, Rep. Bob Young allegedly breached …

Discussion: Fox 8 Cleveland WJW and Plain Dealer

Erin McCullough / WKRN-TV:

Special session ends in chaos on TN House floor — NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The special session of the Tennessee General Assembly ended in chaos, including pushing and shoving between lawmakers and shouting from the public. — Republican lawmakers rammed through an adjournment …

Discussion: The Messenger, Washington Post, NBC News, Reuters, RedState, The Hill, WPLN News, Fox News, Associated Press, Daily Kos, Political Wire and USA Today

The Tennessean:
TN special session live updates: Gov. Lee says he is hopeful after special session

Discussion: Tennessee Lookout, Bearing Arms, Talking Points Memo, WKRN-TV, Washington Examiner, New Republic, The Daily Beast and WPLN News

Miami Herald:

Florida reviewers of AP African American Studies sought ‘opposing viewpoints’ of slavery — When Florida rejected a new Advanced Placement course on African American Studies, state officials said they objected to the study of several concepts — like reparations, the Black Lives Matter movement and “queer theory.”

Discussion: HuffPost, Lawyers, Guns & Money, New Republic, Rolling Stone, Daily Kos, Raw Story and Political Wire

Liz Dye / Public Notice:

Is Judge Cannon preparing to kneecap Trump's Florida documents case? — Spoiler alert: Yes. … Last year, Judge Aileen Cannon tried valiantly to derail the Justice Department's investigation of Donald Trump's retention of classified documents at his Florida country club.

Politico:

Playbook: The House GOP mulls some impeachment hypocrisy — Presented by With help from Eli Okun and Garrett Ross — DRIVING THE DAY — FLORIDA LATEST — Via the National Hurricane Center: “IDALIA RAPIDLY INTENSIFIES INTO A CATEGORY 4 HURRICANE ... CATASTROPHIC STORM SURGE AND DESTRUCTIVE WINDS …

Discussion: Raw Story, Political Wire, The Hill, Washington Times, Washington Examiner and Fox News

Reuters:

Exclusive: Russia will not probe Prigozhin plane crash under international rules — Russia has informed Brazil's aircraft investigation authority that it will not probe the crash of the Brazilian-made Embraer (EMBR3.SA) jet that killed mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin under international rules …

Discussion: The Messenger, Politico and Political Wire

Michael Scherer / Washington Post:

No Labels preps playbook to select presidential candidates, broaden support — The group that's preparing a potential third-party bid is seeking ways to grow grass roots before deciding whether to field candidates next year — The organizers of No Labels, the bipartisan group preparing …

Discussion: Political Wire

Reuters:

Canada, citing potential dangers, warns LGBTQ travelers of US risks — Canada, citing the risk of potential dangers, is advising LGBTQ travelers planning trips to the United States to check how they might be affected by recently passed laws in some states, Ottawa said on Tuesday.