memeorandum: Congressional leaders reach deal that would avert government shutdown (Jacob Bogage/Washington Post)

5:20 PM ET, January 7, 2024

Top Items:

Special counsel probe uncovers new details about Trump's inaction on Jan. 6: Sources — Aides allegedly said Trump was “not interested” in doing more to stop the riot. — In a video message posted to Twitter on the afternoon of Jan. 6, 2021, President Donald Trump addresses supporters participating in the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Discussion: USA Today, New York Post, Business Insider, Digby's Hullabaloo, emptywheel, The Messenger, Raw Story, Mock Paper Scissors, Mediaite and PoliticusUSA

Ben Blanchet / HuffPost:

‘Piece Of S**t’: Meghan McCain Rips Trump For Mocking Her Late Father — McCain criticized the former president for dishing out another attack at the late senator. — LOADING — Meghan McCain slammed former President Donald Trump for mocking her late father, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) …

Discussion: The Messenger and Associated Press

Chris Geidner / Law Dork:

Trump engaged in insurrection three years ago today. The Supreme Court must say so. — I told my family and out-of-town friends on Jan. 6, 2021, that the people invading Capitol were more than three miles away and I was safe in my apartment in Dupont Circle. — “People are still using the dog park!”

Discussion: CBS News, The Hill and Houston Style Magazine

Dan Pfeiffer / The Message Box:
How the GOP Became the Party of Insurrection

Discussion: Salon and The Hill

Cate Cadell / Washington Post:
Trump skips Illinois loyalty oath promising not to overthrow government

Discussion: USA Today, Mock Paper Scissors, Raw Story, Political Wire, Chicago Sun Times and WBEZ Chicago

New York Times:
A Warning About Donald Trump and 2024

Discussion: Washington Examiner, The Messenger, The Dispatch, USA Today, The Nation and National Review

Shane Goldmacher / New York Times:
Trump Takes Aim at Haley as Primary Enters Final Phase in Iowa

Discussion: The Messenger, Mother Jones, CNN, Politico, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Florida Politics and Washington Examiner

Washington Post:
Trump tries reappropriating ‘insurrection’ on Jan. 6 anniversary

Discussion: USA Today, The Hill, Axios, Political Wire and The Messenger

Roger Sollenberger / The Daily Beast:

Lauren Boebert's Ex Called The Cops After Physical Fight in Public on Saturday Night — Police confirmed an “active investigation” into the incident, while a Boebert aide told The Daily Beast that the congresswoman was acting in self-defense. … On Saturday night, three years …

Discussion: Washington Post, Raw Story, Politico, The Guardian, New York Post, The Messenger, TMZ.com and UPROXX

Noelle Phillips / Denver Post:

Silt police investigating incident involving U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband — The Silt Police Department is investigating a Saturday night incident at a restaurant involving U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and her ex-husband Jayson Boebert. — Silt police Chief Mike Kite confirmed …

Discussion: CBS News, The Hill, The Daily Caller and Raw Story

Jacob Bogage / Washington Post:

Congressional leaders reach deal that would avert government shutdown — The negotiated totals would preserve funding for key domestic and social safety net programs despite GOP demands for cuts — Congressional leaders reached a $1.66 trillion agreement Sunday to finance the federal government in 2024 …

Discussion: The Hill, ABC News, NBC News, NPR and Forbes

Kevin Freking / Associated Press:

Congressional leaders announce agreement on topline spending levels, a key step to averting shutdown — Congressional leaders have reached an agreement on topline spending levels for the current fiscal year that could help avoid a partial government shutdown later this month.

Discussion: CNBC, CBS News, Washington Examiner, Axios, Washington Times, Roll Call, KSLTV.com and Press Herald

Politico:

Johnson strikes his first bipartisan deal — a $1.7T funding accord — Ahead of a government shutdown cliff on Jan. 19, angst among House Republicans could still derail efforts to avert a funding lapse. — Congressional leaders have clinched a deal on overall budget totals that could pave …

Discussion: Bloomberg

Elizabeth Elkind / Fox News:

House, Senate release bipartisan agreement on government funding as shutdown deadlines loom — The deal will see a government funding topline of $1.59 trillion — House and Senate negotiators reached an agreement on a government funding topline Sunday, taking a critical step toward avoiding a shutdown later this month.

Discussion: New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, The Messenger, Washington Times and Twitchy

Summer Concepcion / NBC News:

GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik won't commit to certifying the 2024 election results — “We will see if this is a legal and valid election,” Stefanik, a member of House GOP leadership and Donald Trump ally, said in an interview with “Meet the Press.” — Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., on Sunday …

Discussion: HuffPost, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Business Insider, Fox News, Axios, The Messenger, New York Post, Politico and Mediaite

Miranda Nazzaro / The Hill:
Johnson defends Trump's ‘poisoning’ immigrant remark: 'It's not hateful'

Discussion: Washington Examiner, New Jersey Online, Vanity Fair, The Messenger, NBC News, CBS News and Salon

Washington Post:
Trump mocks Biden over stutter

Discussion: Business Insider

Politico:

The Lloyd Austin fallout is growing: 'Someone's head has to roll' — The defense chief is facing criticism for keeping his bosses in the dark. — At a White House meeting last week, Jake Sullivan, the national security adviser, noticed that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was absent.

CNN:

Deputy defense secretary was not told Austin had been hospitalized when she assumed his duties — When the deputy secretary of defense began assuming some of Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin's responsibilities on January 2, not even she knew that it was because Austin was hospitalized, two defense officials told CNN.

Fred Backus / CBS News:

Americans increasingly see border as crisis, call for tougher measures, CBS News poll finds — Americans are increasingly concerned about the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, and the percentage who think the Biden administration should be tougher on immigrants trying to cross it is up to the highest percentage yet.

Discussion: The Messenger and The Hill

CBS News:
Pressured by record migrant crossings, White House weighs tough concession in border talks with Congress

Discussion: The Hill and Deseret News

CBS News: CBS News poll finds fewer Americans expecting economic slowdown now

Associated Press:
The US sees a drop in illegal border crossings after Mexico increases enforcement

Discussion: Washington Times, HotAir and Washington Examiner

Wall Street Journal:

Elon Musk Has Used Illegal Drugs, Worrying Leaders at Tesla and SpaceX — Some executives and board members fear the billionaire's use of drugs—including LSD, cocaine, ecstasy, mushrooms and ketamine—could harm his companies — Elon Musk and his supporters offer several explanations …

Discussion: Bloomberg, The Daily Beast, The Messenger, New York Post and Outside the Beltway, more at Techmeme »

Jaclyn Lee / ABC News:

Investigators seek fallen Alaska Airlines door plug, ask for public's help — NTSB experts arrived on Saturday to investigate Alaska Airlines Flight 1282. — Alaska Airlines N704AL, a 737 Max 9 which made an emergency landing at Portland International Airport after a part …