memeorandum: On The Record with Will Lewis — ON THE RECORD — Semafor Business' signature interview series … (Ben Smith/Semafor)

3:40 PM ET, January 27, 2024

Top Items:

Steven Shepard / Politico:

The 2024 door is closing faster than Haley thinks. Here's what the delegate math shows. — Nikki Haley isn't wrong when she says it's early in the GOP primary — less than 3 percent of delegates have been awarded so far. — But the rest of the states are coming fast …

Discussion: The Messenger and Breitbart

Nick Reisman / Politico:

Democrats' not-so-secret weapon in House races: Donald Trump — Democrats trying to claim competitive House seats in New York are hoping to tie GOP opponents to the former president. — ALBANY, N.Y. — A noun, a verb and Donald Trump. — Democrats are banking on the former president again …

Discussion: PoliticusUSA and Raw Story

David Smith / The Guardian:

Trump's ‘achilles heel’? Haley's refusal to drop out infuriates ex-president — A surprisingly disciplined campaign risks derailment as Trump lashes out at his former UN ambassador for staying in race — It was a moment for Donald Trump to be gracious, magnanimous, perhaps even presidential.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Hopium Chronicles, Raw Story and RedState

Paul Kane / Washington Post:

On Trump-Biden rematch, many senators say bring it on — Republicans and Democrats see the general election as historic moment pitting clearly different visions and records — Congressional bureau chief — Unlike some American voters, senators have come to grips with the reality …

Discussion: The Forward and CNN

Mary Papenfuss / The Messenger:
Trump Bashes ‘Worst’ Ever Border as He Arm-Twists GOP Lawmakers to Block Border Bill

Discussion: The Hill, HuffPost, Vanity Fair, New Republic, The Universe As A Causal Set, ABC News and Political Wire

Lauren Irwin / The Hill:

George Conway calls Trump an ‘evil man’ with ‘no conscience’ after defamation verdict — Conservative attorney George Conway railed against former President Trump, calling him an “evil man,” after a jury ruled Trump must pay columnist E. Jean Carroll for defaming her by repeatedly denying her sexual assault allegations.

Discussion: Mediaite, Mother Jones, Raw Story, Rolling Stone, New York Daily News, USA Today, New York Post, Bloomberg, Business Insider and CNBC

New York Times:

Details of Trump's $83.3 Million Payment to E. Jean Carroll — Donald J. Trump — the rare defendant who can afford a judgment of this size — could secure a bond to cover it while his appeals play out. — Donald J. Trump might one day have to pay E. Jean Carroll the $83.3 million she was awarded, but that day is not today.

Discussion: The Messenger, No More Mister Nice Blog, Raw Story, Progress Pond, Mediaite, The Atlantic, Business Insider, Advocate, The Guardian and The Mahablog

Joyce Vance / Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance:

$83.3 Million — I had not intended to write about the E Jean Carroll trial again tonight; I was going to give you a night off. But it's impossible not to, with the jury reaching its decision after just a few hours of deliberation. Beyond the verdict, there were some interesting …

Discussion: The Daily Beast, Raw Story, The Hill, NBC News and The Daily Caller

Matthew Chapman / Raw Story:
Jurors awarded ‘astronomical’ amount because they knew Trump had ‘to be thwarted’: expert

Discussion: The Hill, The Daily Beast, Deadline, New York Post, Associated Press, NBC News and The Messenger

Lucian K. Truscott IV / Lucian Truscott Newsletter:
Ka-ching: $18.3 M + $65 M = $83.3 million verdict against Trump

Discussion: Raw Story, The Hill, The Daily Beast and Fox News

Victoria Bekiempis / The Guardian:
Donald Trump ordered to pay E Jean Carroll $83.3m in defamation trial

Discussion: Digby's Hullabaloo, Al Jazeera and TASS

Washington Post:
Trump ordered to pay E. Jean Carroll $83.3M in defamation damages trial

Discussion: Letters from an American, The Daily Caller, New York Times, Mock Paper Scissors, Washington Examiner, National Review, Raw Story, Politico, CBS News, The Messenger, New Republic, Honolulu Star-Advertiser and The Hill

New York Times:
Trump-Carroll Defamation Trial

NBC News:
Trump trial live updates: Closing arguments in E. Jean Carroll case begin

Reuters:

Nikki Haley targeted in ‘swatting’ incident at her South Carolina home — Authorities responded to a fake emergency at the South Carolina home of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley last month after a man claimed to have shot a woman and threatened to harm himself at her home, according to town records obtained by Reuters.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, USA Today, Fox News, Politico, The Messenger, New York Post, The Daily Caller, The Gateway Pundit, New York Times and The Sun

GOV.UK:

Statement on allegations about UNRWA staff and 7 October attacks — The FCDO has issued a statement in response to allegations that UN Relief and Works Agency staff were involved in the 7 October attack against Israel — An FCDO spokesperson said: … Media enquiries — Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

Discussion: The Hill, Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller, The Guardian, Middle East Monitor, HotAir and UN Press

BBC:
UNRWA claims: UK halts aid to UN agency over allegation staff helped Hamas attack

Associated Press:
US pauses funding to UN agency for Palestinians after claims staffers were involved in Hamas attack

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, New York Post, KUSA-TV, The Times of Israel, Algemeiner.com, Al Jazeera, New York Times, The Japan Times, CBS News, Israpundit, Washington Examiner, NPR, The Guardian, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, The Daily Beast, Politico, The Daily Caller and The Forward

New York Times:
UNRWA Is Investigating Charges of Workers' Involvement in Oct. 7 Attacks

Myah Ward / Politico:

Biden says he'll shut down the border if deal gives him authority — The White House statement comes after a week of frantic negotiations in the Senate. — President Joe Biden on Friday urged Congress to pass a bipartisan bill to address the immigration crisis at the nation's southern border …

Discussion: The Hill, Townhall, Fox News, New York Post, NBC News, UPI, Boston Herald, Reuters, New York Times, Washington Times, Bloomberg, Breitbart, TASS, Associated Press, Political Wire and Twitchy

The White House:
Statement from President Joe Biden On the Bipartisan Senate Border Security Negotiations

Discussion: Fox News, The Hill, The Daily Caller, New York Post, MeidasTouch, The Messenger and Washington Examiner

Manu Raju / CNN:
Key senators cut deal to give US new power to clamp down on border crossings

Discussion: USA Today, El País, Washington Examiner, Raw Story, BizPac Review, CBS News, Political Wire and Axios

Michael Galant / The Hill:

Trump's sanctions are still hurting everyday Venezuelans — and fueling migration — Five years ago Sunday, Donald Trump announced a major escalation of U.S. sanctions against Venezuela. On top of sweeping financial restrictions imposed in 2017, the new measures targeted the very heart of the Venezuelan economy, oil.

Discussion: Associated Press, Raw Story, New York Times, Breitbart and Bloomberg

Jason Koebler / 404 Media:

We Need Your Email Address — Join the newsletter to get the latest updates. — Success — Great! Check your inbox and click the link. — Error — Please enter a valid email address. — You might have noticed that over the last few days, we've begun requiring readers to sign …

more at Mediagazer »

Perry Bacon Jr / Washington Post:

Journalism may never again make money. So it should focus on mission. — America is struggling with several crises, most notably a radical, antidemocratic leader and movement controlling one of its major political parties. America's journalism industry is also in crisis …

Discussion: CNN

Olivia Alafriz / Politico:

Cheney accuses Stefanik of deleting 2021 statement condemning Jan. 6 protesters — As of Saturday morning, Stefanik's House website showed no press releases prior to 2023. — Former GOP House chair Liz Cheney on Saturday accused her successor Elise Stefanik of deleting a press release …

Discussion: Raw Story and The Messenger

Ben Smith / Semafor:

On The Record with Will Lewis — ON THE RECORD — Semafor Business' signature interview series, On The Record, brings you conversations with the people running, shaping, and changing our economy. Read Liz Hoffman's earlier conversations with Mattel CEO Ynon Kreiz on Hollywood's golden age of IP …

Discussion: Politico, more at Mediagazer »

Jeff Stein / Washington Post:

Donald Trump is preparing for a massive new trade war with China — The former president has talked to advisers about imposing a 60 percent tariff sure to enrage Beijing — Former president Donald Trump is weighing options for a major new economic attack on China if reelected …

Discussion: The Messenger

Edith Olmsted / The Daily Beast:

Giuliani Notes Trump's ‘Unpaid Legal Fees’ in Bankruptcy Filing — He says his monthly net income is just $2,308. — A beleaguered and broke Rudy Giuliani listed a “possible claim for unpaid legal fees against Donald J. Trump” in bankruptcy filings submitted to court Friday.

Discussion: HuffPost, Law & Crime, Business Insider, The Messenger and Political Wire