memeorandum: A new Titanic expedition is planned. The US is fighting it, says wreck is a grave site (Ben Finley/Associated Press)

1:05 PM ET, August 30, 2023

Top Items:

Rudy Giuliani is liable for defaming Georgia election workers, judge rules — U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell ordered Giuliani to pay the two election workers punitive damages. — A federal judge ruled Wednesday that Rudy Giuliani is legally liable for defaming two Georgia election workers …

Discussion: Resolute Square, UPROXX, Deadline and Just The News

Alan Feuer / New York Times:

Giuliani Is Liable for Defaming Georgia Election Workers, Judge Says — The ruling means that a defamation case against Rudolph W. Giuliani, stemming from his role in seeking to overturn the 2020 election, can proceed to a trial where damages will be set. — A federal judge ruled on Wednesday …

Discussion: CNN, Insider and NBC News

Dan Mangan / CNBC:

Rudy Giuliani liable for defaming Georgia election workers, hit with sanctions by judge — A federal judge issued a default judgment against former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani in a civil conspiracy lawsuit filed by two Georgia election workers. — Judge Beryl Howell also ordered …

Discussion: Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Washington Times, Raw Story and Political Wire

Ashley Oliver / Washington Examiner:

Proud Boy Enrique Tarrio's January 6 sentencing abruptly postponed due to ‘emergency’ — The sentencing for Enrique Tarrio, the former chair of the Proud Boys, was postponed unexpectedly on Wednesday morning “due to an emergency,” according to the U.S. attorney's office in Washington, D.C.

Discussion: Washington Post, Insider, NBC News, The Hill, Associated Press, The Post Millennial, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, Florida Politics, NPR, Political Wire and PBS NewsHour

CBS News:

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio's sentencing delayed in seditious conspiracy case — Washington — Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio's sentencing hearing has been delayed, due to an emergency, the U.S. attorney's office said in a press release Wednesday morning.

Discussion: CNBC, UPI, Reuters, Associated Press, The Root, Just The News, Forbes, The Hill, Washington Examiner, ABC News, Political Wire and Raw Story

Jose Pagliery / The Daily Beast:

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, Pharyngula, CNN and Washington Post

Greg Bluestein / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Georgia Senate leader seeks ways to sanction ‘tainted’ Willis over Trump charges

Discussion: Raw Story, Washington Times, HuffPost and PoliticusUSA

CBS News:
Trump may not attend arraignment in Fulton County

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

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.

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: Washington Examiner, The Messenger, Political Wire and The Hill

Michael Scherer / Washington Post:
No Labels preps playbook to select presidential candidates, broaden support

Discussion: NBC News and Political Wire

Judd Legum / Popular Information:

Tennessee House Speaker silences critic, avoids vote on alleged residency fraud — On Monday, Tennessee Representative Justin Jones (D) distributed a letter to his colleagues in the Tennessee House announcing his intention to call a vote of no confidence in House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R).

Discussion: CNN, Washington Post, RedState, The Hill, WKRN-TV, The Tennessean, Raw Story, Associated Press, Forbes, Daily Kos, Digby's Hullabaloo, The Messenger, Axios, USA Today and Washington Examiner

Erin McCullough / WKRN-TV:
Special session ends in chaos on TN House floor

Discussion: The Messenger, Washington Post, NBC News, Tennessee Lookout, Reuters, WPLN News, Washington Examiner, New Republic, Fox News, Political Wire and The Tennessean

New York Times:

Trump Could Clinch the Nomination Before the G.O.P. Knows if He's a Felon — The federal election interference case — one of four — is set to start just before Super Tuesday and a cascade of consequential primaries. — By the time Donald J. Trump is sitting at his federal trial on charges …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Mediaite, Political Wire and The Hill

Matthew Chapman / Raw Story:
RNC member: State parties should develop ‘options’ to deny Trump nomination if he's a convicted felon

Discussion: CNN

Jennifer Haberkorn / Politico:

DeSantis tells Biden: Keep your IRA money — The governor is blocking Biden's IRA benefits from Floridians. There's not much Dems can do about it. — President Joe Biden is offering one of his White House challengers hundreds of millions of dollars to spend in his state.

Discussion: PoliticusUSA, The Daily Caller, Washington Examiner, NBC News and Political Wire

Lulu Garcia-Navarro / New York Times:

A.O.C. at 33: ‘Evolving,’ ‘Learning,’ But Not Ready to Call Herself an Insider — The congresswoman from New York says she's different from when she first took office. But she's not ready to call herself an insider. — Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is used to being a lightning rod.

Discussion: The Hill and Insider

Nicholas Wu / Politico:

Jeffries endorses Ilhan Omar amid AIPAC primary threat — Democratic leadership is sending a message to progressives who are worried about primary challenges from the pro-Israel group: Caucus leaders plan to support all incumbents. — When Pramila Jayapal faced fierce blowback in mid-July …

Wall Street Journal:

Joe Manchin and Daughter Pitch $100 Million Project to Boost Centrist Policies — West Virginia senator and former Mylan CEO Heather Manchin have held meetings with major donors — Sen. Joe Manchin and his daughter Heather Manchin are pitching major political donors on a nascent effort …

Discussion: The Hill, The Messenger, Digby's Hullabaloo and Political Wire

Riley Griffin / Bloomberg:

HHS Calls for Moving Marijuana to Lower-Risk US Drug Category — US health officials are recommending easing restrictions on marijuana, a move that sets the stage for potentially expanding the cannabis market. — A top official at the Department of Health and Human Services wrote Drug …

Paul Duggan / Washington Post:

Judge says Peter Navarro can't use privilege as defense in contempt case — A judge ruled Wednesday that Peter Navarro, a Trump White House adviser charged with criminal contempt of Congress, cannot argue to a jury that he was barred by executive privilege from providing testimony and documents …

Discussion: CNN, The Hill, The Messenger, Talking Points Memo and Just The News

Burgess Everett / Politico:

Dem Senate plots move amid spending clash with House GOP — Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is tentatively planning to bring up several spending bills for floor votes in mid-September. — The Senate is preparing its first big move in the fall spending fight.

Discussion: Fox News, Tennessee Lookout and The Hill

Ron Dicker / HuffPost:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Gushes Over Donald Trump's Mug Shot On Jesse Watters' Show — The long-shot Democratic presidential candidate asked the question about Trump's mug shot that many may be thinking. — LOADING — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. not surprisingly praised Donald Trump's mug shot on …

Discussion: Breitbart, The Daily Caller and New York Times

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

DOL:

Department of Labor announces proposal to restore, extend overtime protections for 3.6 million low-paid salaried workers — Proposed rule would ensure that more workers receive extra pay for long hours — WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a notice of proposed rulemaking …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Reuters, Insider, New York Times, The Hill, CBS News, UPI, New York Daily News, The Daily Caller and Associated Press

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: Washington Examiner, The Gateway Pundit, DC Enquirer, Los Angeles Times, Breitbart, Raw Story, The Hill, Political Wire, Washington Times and Fox News

Lydia Saad / Gallup:

More in U.S. See Unions Strengthening and Want It That Way — WASHINGTON, D.C. — Labor unions continue to enjoy high support in the U.S., with 67% of Americans approving of them, similar to the elevated level seen in recent years after more than a decade of rising support.

Discussion: Semafor and The Hill

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 …