memeorandum: Voters to choose between Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire for Houston mayor (Associated Press)

9:20 AM ET, December 9, 2023

Top Items:

J. David Goodman / New York Times:

Texas Supreme Court Temporarily Halts Court-Approved Abortion — The court, responding to an appeal from Attorney General Ken Paxton, put on hold a lower court order allowing an abortion for a woman whose fetus has a fatal condition. — The Texas Supreme Court late Friday temporarily halted …

Politico:

Dems want to focus on abortion rights. A Trump ally may have just helped. — A Texas case underscores the legal and ethical gray areas physicians have faced since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. — A showdown in Texas over one woman's right to terminate a non-viable pregnancy …

Discussion: The Hill and CNN

Washington Post:

Trump camp escalates attempt to limit second-term talk from outside allies — Top officials in Donald Trump's campaign sought Friday to quell discussions about his possible second term in the White House, amid alarms about authoritarianism and reports about personnel.

Discussion: Breitbart, Washington Examiner, Raw Story, The Messenger and The Hill

New York Times:

Fears of a NATO Withdrawal Rise as Trump Seeks a Return to Power — Current and former European diplomats said there was growing concern a second Trump presidency could mean an American retreat from the continent and a gutting of NATO. — For 74 years, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization …

Discussion: Political Wire

Alexandra Hutzler / ABC News:

Liz Cheney says Donald Trump's ‘dictator’ remark should be taken ‘literally and seriously’ — Cheney spoke with ABC's Jonathan Karl for “This Week.” — ABC “This Week” co-anchor Jonathan Karl interviews former Wyoming Congresswoman Liz Cheney. — Former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, HuffPost and Resolute Square

Zachary Leeman / The Messenger:
GOP Kansas Sen. Marshall Wants to Impeach Biden, But Also Wants Him on 2024 Ticket

Discussion: Political Wire and Mediaite

CBS News:
Republican Adam Kinzinger says he's politically “homeless,” and if Trump is the nominee, he'll vote for Biden — The Takeout

Discussion: The Hill, The Atlantic and Politico

Rafael Bernal / The Hill:

Federal judge bars separating migrant families for 8 years — A federal judge on Friday blocked the federal government from separating families solely as part of border enforcement policy for the next eight years, stopping any potential return to the short-lived zero tolerance policy of 2018.

Discussion: Voice of America, Sputnik News and Political Wire

Elliot Spagat / Associated Press:
Federal judge prohibits separating migrant families at US border for 8 years

Discussion: CBS News, The Daily Caller, NPR and Axios

Alexander Burns / Politico:

Her Online Sex Life Was Exposed. She Lost Her Election. Now She's Speaking Out. — Susanna Gibson's campaign was rocked when an opponent exposed her private digital life to the public. She won't be the last. — It is not often that a state legislative campaign in an off-season election seizes the national spotlight.

Associated Press:

US vetoes UN resolution backed by many nations demanding immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza — UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States vetoed a United Nations resolution Friday backed by almost all other Security Council members and dozens of other nations demanding an immediate humanitarian cease-fire in Gaza.

NBC News:

Trump PAC paid for expert witness testimony in N.Y. civil fraud trial — Eli Bartov, an accounting professor at New York University, said that his $900K in expert witness fees were paid by the Trump Organization and Trump's Save America PAC. — An expert witness in the $250 million civil fraud trial …

Discussion: CBS News, Alternet.org, CNBC, Raw Story, The Messenger, Washington Examiner and The Guardian

Danny Hakim / New York Times:

As More ‘Fake Electors’ Face Charges, a Key Witness Emerges — Kenneth Chesebro, an architect of the plan to deploy people claiming to be Trump electors in states won by President Biden, is cooperating with inquiries in Michigan, Arizona and Nevada. — Twenty-four of the so-called fake Trump electors …

Discussion: Alternet.org, Raw Story, Reuters and CNN

The Harvard Crimson:

‘I Am Sorry’: Harvard President Gay Addresses Backlash Over Congressional Testimony on Antisemitism — Harvard President Claudine Gay apologized for her remarks at the end of her congressional testimony, which sparked fierce national criticism and led the leadership of Harvard Hillel …

Matt Egan / CNN:
UPenn President Liz Magill under fire over her testimony on antisemitism: ‘An utter disgrace’

Discussion: Washington Post, Reuters, The Philadelphia Inquirer, KEYT-TV, Fox News, Associated Press, Politico, Forbes, The Boston Globe, Washington Free Beacon, Axios, Washington Examiner, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, The Messenger, Power Line and New York Post

Associated Press:

Voters to choose between Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee and state Sen. John Whitmire for Houston mayor — The new mayor will have to deal with new laws from the GOP-led state government over control of local elections and the ability to impose local regulations. — HOUSTON — Two of Houston's …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, The Texas Tribune, CBS News, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, New York Times and ABC News

Steff Danielle Thomas / The Hill:

Billionaire GOP donor endorses Haley, says Trump's time has ‘come and gone’ — Home Depot co-founder and billionaire Ken Langone put his support behind GOP hopeful Nikki Haley on Friday, calling her approach to the 2024 election “smart.” — “I think she's just what we need right now.

Discussion: New York Post, Fox News, KEYT-TV, Mediaite and Political Wire

Isabella Murray / ABC News:

Why are the 14th Amendment lawsuits seeking to bar Trump failing? — So far, all 14th Amendment lawsuits against Trump have been rejected by courts. — Former President Donald Trump attends a Manhattan courthouse trial in a civil fraud case in New York, October 18, 2023.

Discussion: Raw Story

ABC News:

Appeals court largely upholds Trump gag order in federal election interference case — Trump is prohibited from making public statements about potential witnesses. — Former President Donald Trump speaks during a Commit to Caucus rally, Dec. 2, 2023, in Ankeny, Iowa.

Discussion: Slate, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, Digby's Hullabaloo, RedState, Default, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, Alternet.org, The Guardian, New York Post, The Messenger, Daily Kos and NBC News

Misty Severi / Washington Examiner:

Casey DeSantis causes Iowa caucus confusion with call to descend on state — Casey DeSantis, the wife of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), briefly caused confusion on Friday when she appeared to call for supporters of her husband across the country to descend on Iowa and seemingly take part in the Iowa caucuses in January.

Discussion: HuffPost, Raw Story, Louisiana Illuminator, Florida Politics, The Messenger, The Daily Beast and Associated Press

Morgan Phillips / Daily Mail:

Nancy Mace and her entrepreneur fiancé Patrick Byrant split after 18 months - as staff quit her office and she's accused of discussing her sex life with aides — The South Carolina lawmaker - who was one of the eight to vote out former Speaker Kevin McCarthy - split with her fiancé last month

Discussion: New York Post, Breitbart and The Daily Caller

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:

RNC officially bows out of hosting primary debates — The organization steps aside as television networks plan more early state debates. — The Republican National Committee is pausing its participation in 2024 GOP primary debates, the organization decided Friday.

Discussion: New Yorker, The Gateway Pundit, Adweek, Washington Times, HuffPost, ABC News, CNN, The Daily Caller, Axios, The Hill, Deseret News, Florida's Voice, Washington Examiner, The Messenger, Political Wire and New York Magazine, more at Mediagazer »

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
‘What the Heck?’ CNN's Debate Plans Leave New Hampshire Officials Confused.

Discussion: Bloomberg, Drake University Newsroom, Fox News, The Daily Caller, The Messenger, Florida's Voice, HotAir, The Daily Beast, Mediaite, Axios and The Hill

Lauren Irwin / The Hill:

What to know about Trump-appointed judge in Hunter Biden tax case — Mark Scarsi, a U.S. district court judge, has been assigned to the case involving a federal indictment against President Biden's son, Hunter Biden. — Scarsi is based in the Central District of California and oversees Los Angeles.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, US Department of Justice, Fox News, NBC News, Deseret News, New York Post, Breitbart, RedState, Associated Press, KTLA, The Messenger and Washington Post

ABC News:

FDA approves 2 new gene therapies for sickle cell disease, a ‘functional cure’ for many patients — Sickle cell disease is a genetic condition affecting at least 100,000 Americans. — Research for sickle cell disease. — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) …

Discussion: Sputnik News, New York Times, Associated Press, CBS News, Washington Examiner and NBC News