memeorandum: Giuliani loses defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers (Katelyn Polantz/CNN)

5:00 PM ET, August 30, 2023

Top Items:

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: PoliticusUSA, Raw Story, New York Post, Associated Press, NPR, The 19th and Outside the Beltway

Politico:

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: Associated Press, Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Guardian, Patterico's Pontifications, Resolute Square, Semafor, Raw Story and UPROXX

Katelyn Polantz / CNN:

Giuliani loses defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers — A federal judge has determined Rudy Giuliani forfeits the defamation lawsuit from two Georgia election workers against him, a decision that could lead to significant penalties for the former Donald Trump attorney.

Discussion: RedState, New York Daily News, The Guardian and Lawyers, Guns & Money

Dan Mangan / CNBC:
Rudy Giuliani liable for defaming Georgia election workers, hit with sanctions by judge

Discussion: UPI, New Republic and Washington Times

Nikki McCann Ramirez / Rolling Stone:
Rudy Giuliani Is Going to Have to Pay Damages to the Election Workers He Defamed

Discussion: Reason

Lucien Bruggeman / ABC News:
Giuliani sanctioned by judge in defamation case brought by 2 Georgia election workers

Discussion: Media Matters for America, Talking Points Memo, Washington Examiner, Reuters, USA Today, CBS News, Raw Story, The Daily Beast, Insider, The Hill, NBC News, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Forbes, The Daily Caller, Deadline, Associated Press, The Messenger and Just The News

Frank Thorp V / NBC News:

Sen. Mitch McConnell appears to freeze again at a Kentucky event — The Republican leader was silent for more than 30 seconds after being asked if he will run for re-election. He previously froze during a July press conference. — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared …

Annie Karni / New York Times:

McConnell Freezes Up a Second Time While Addressing Reporters — The episode, which took place in the Republican leader's home state of Kentucky, intensified questions about his future in the Senate. — Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the longtime Republican leader who suffered …

Discussion: Politico, CNN, USA Today, The Messenger, The Hill, Bloomberg, UPI, The Daily Caller, TMZ.com, Alpha News, The Gateway Pundit, Power Line, Roll Call, Mediaite, The Daily Signal and Deadline

Marisa Iati / Washington Post:
Mitch McConnell appears to freeze again while talking with reporters

Aris Folley / The Hill: McConnell on government funding prospects: 'It's a pretty big mess'

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, NBC News, Associated Press, The Hill, The Root, The Post Millennial, Insider, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, NPR, Political Wire and PBS NewsHour

CBS News:
Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio's sentencing delayed in seditious conspiracy case

Discussion: Reuters, UPI, CNBC, Associated Press, The Gateway Pundit, Forbes, Washington Examiner, ABC News, Florida Politics, Just The News, Political Wire and Raw Story

CNN:
Proud Boys sentencing over January 6 riot rescheduled

Discussion: The Hill and Political Wire

NBC News:

Judge rejects former Trump aide Peter Navarro's executive privilege claim, paving way for trial in contempt case — U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta's ruling means Navarro's trial on charges he snubbed a congressional subpoena can begin next week. — A federal court judge in Washington …

Discussion: Politico, The Hill, UPI, PoliticusUSA, CBS News, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, The Messenger, Mediaite and Just The News

Paul Duggan / Washington Post:
Judge says Peter Navarro can't use privilege as defense in contempt case

Discussion: CNN, The Hill and The Messenger

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 and CNN

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

Mark Niesse / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
AJC poll: Republican voters believe Georgia 2020 election fraud claims

Discussion: Mediaite, New Republic and The Hill

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.

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: Associated Press, The Messenger, The Root, Reuters, Insider, Washington Post, UPI, Raw Story, CBS News, The Daily Caller and New York Daily News

Nick Niedzwiadek / Politico:
Biden Labor Department moves to expand overtime pay for millions

Discussion: NPR, CNN, Wall Street Journal, Washington Examiner, NBC 7 San Diego, Roll Call, The Hill and New York Times

Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:

Tucker Carlson: ‘Obviously’ We're ‘Speeding Toward Assassination’ of Trump — According to Carlson, “both parties have decided that there's something about Trump that's so threatening to them, they just can't have it.” — Twitter podcaster Tucker Carlson is pounding home the theory …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, The Messenger, DC Enquirer, UPROXX and Mediaite

Mike Cason / al.com:

Madison County lawmaker David Cole arrested on illegal voting charge — Alabama State Rep. David Cole of Madison was arrested Tuesday on a charge of voting at multiple or unauthorized locations. — Cole, 52, was booked into the Madison County jail Tuesday afternoon on the charge, which is a Class C felony.

Discussion: USA Today, The Hill and The Messenger

Associated Press:
GOP State Rep. Arrested On Voter Fraud Charge

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Crooks and Liars and Political Wire

Politico:

Blake Masters plans another Arizona Senate bid — this time for Sinema's seat — Masters lost to Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly last year — a critical blow to Republicans' bid to take back the upper chamber. — Blake Masters is making plans to launch another Arizona Senate bid …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, The Daily Caller and The Post Millennial

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

Lulu Garcia-Navarro / New York Times:

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on How She's Changed — 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: Insider, The Hill and IJR

Bloomberg:

Gabon Junta Appoints Army Officer as Transitional President — General Nguema's appointment comes hours after coup announced — Deposed president Bongo has been placed under house arrest — Soldiers in Gabon appointed the head of the republican guard as the OPEC member state's new leader …

Discussion: Associated Press, Reuters, Washington Examiner, France 24, BBC, Mintupdate, New York Times, Washington Post, Al Jazeera, Breitbart, Forbes, The Guardian, ABC News, Semafor, Metro.co.uk, CBS News, RedState, TASS, Lawyers, Guns & Money, UPI, The Messenger and Politico

Riley Griffin / Bloomberg:

US Health Officials Urge Moving Pot to Lower-Risk Category — Change would remove drug from most restricted designation — Cannabis industry stocks respond with double-digit jumps

Discussion: Politico, The Hill, Reuters, Forbes, Washington Examiner, New York Post, Fortune, KTLA and Financial Times

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 …