memeorandum: Trump's legal bills drain millions more from his political committees (Washington Post)

10:40 AM ET, April 21, 2024

Top Items:

David Frum / The Atlantic:

Trump Deflates — It wasn't just Putin who lost in the House vote on Ukraine aid. — Ukraine won. Trump lost. — The House vote to aid Ukraine renews hope that Ukraine can still win its war. It also showed how and why Donald Trump should lose the 2024 election.

Discussion: HotAir, Alternet.org, Raw Story, New York Times and Associated Press

Alexandra Marquez / NBC News:

Zelenskyy: ‘We will have a chance at victory’ thanks to weapons provided to Ukraine in new US aid package — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked U.S. leaders for passing a $60.8 billion aid package through the House earlier in the weekend. — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy …

Discussion: Politico, The Hill and Metro.co.uk

Annie Karni / New York Times:

Johnson, Like Pence, Draws Praise for Defying His Party and Doing His Job — In the Republican Party of 2024, styled in the image of former President Donald J. Trump, a norm-preserving, consensus-driven act — even a basic one — can be a career-ending offense.

Discussion: CNN, Daily Kos and El País

Roll Call:
House passes $95.3B aid package for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan

Discussion: Al Jazeera, Washington Times, Axios, Mediaite, The Daily Caller, Mother Jones and The Hill

Associated Press:
The House votes for possible TikTok ban in the US, but don't expect the app to go away anytime soon

Politico:
Johnson temporarily dodges ouster vote as House passes foreign aid

Discussion: Washington Times, The Moderate Voice, The American Conservative, New York Times, USA Today, The Hill, Daily Caller News Foundation, PoliticusUSA, ABC News and Fox News

Politico:
Playbook: How the push to unseat Johnson could unfold

Discussion: Digby's Hullabaloo

The Guardian:
US House approves $61bn in military aid for Ukraine after months of stalling

Catie Edmondson / New York Times:
House Approves $95 Billion Aid Bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan

Barbara Sprunt / NPR:
House passes foreign aid bills to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan

Discussion: CNN, The Guardian, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Agence France-Presse, New York Times, MeidasTouch, One America News Network, abc7NY, HuffPost, New York Post, Bloomberg, Washington Examiner, Daily Caller News Foundation, Associated Press and Washington Post

Maggie Haberman / New York Times:

Trump's Trial Challenge: Being Stripped of Control — The mundanity of the courtroom has all but swallowed Donald Trump, who for decades has sought to project an image of bigness and a sense of power. — “Sir, can you please have a seat.” — Donald J. Trump had stood up to leave …

Discussion: Raw Story, The Guardian, Associated Press and NBC News

Rolling Stone:

Trump Privately Rages About His Sketch Artist, Courtroom Nap Reports — The former president's anger during the first week of his New York hush money trial was “maxed out, even for him,” a source tells Rolling Stone — Donald Trump, if you take it from him, is cherishing the opportunity …

Discussion: Raw Story, New York Magazine, Alternet.org and Mediaite

Dan Morrison / USA Today:
Supreme Court weighs Donald Trump case, abortion bans, homeless camps in blockbuster week

Discussion: Vox and New York Times

Isaac Arnsdorf / Washington Post:

Proud Boys appear at Trump rally, drawing condemnation from Biden — Members of the violent extremist group were calling for the release of everyone charged in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Trump has pledged to pardon rioters. — WILMINGTON, N.C. — At least 10 men wearing …

Michael Gold / New York Times:
Trump Rally, a Return to the Campaign Trail, Is Called Off Because of Storms

Discussion: Politico, Bloomberg, Washington Examiner, Associated Press, Raw Story and Twitchy

Washington Post:

Trump's legal bills drain millions more from his political committees — The former president's legal bills account for more than a quarter of the spending by his political committees in March, new campaign finance filings show — Donald Trump is picking up his fundraising pace …

Discussion: Politico, CNN, PoliticusUSA, Alternet.org and New York Times

Henry Meyer / Bloomberg:

Netanyahu Condemns Reported US Plan to Blacklist Military Unit — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned a reported US plan to sanction an ultra-Orthodox army battalion over human rights abuses in the West Bank, a move which could fuel tensions over Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza.

Discussion: The Guardian, Breitbart, The Times of Israel, Fox News, Washington Examiner, Axios and New York Post

Jonathan Larsen / Salon:

Evangelicals with ties to “The Family” met Mike Johnson and Zelenskyy ahead of Ukraine vote — We're getting nearly a real-time look at The Family's anti-LGBTQ+ religious diplomacy in action — If you see evangelical House Republicans softening their opposition to military aid for Ukraine, don't assume it's divine intervention.

Adam Gabbatt / The Guardian:

Residents push for renaming of Trump Plaza to disassociate from ex-president — Tenants of the high-rise in New Rochelle, New York, want to abandon the name which has at times affected real estate value — While Donald Trump endures the ignominy of being the first former US president …

Discussion: Raw Story

Lauren Sforza / The Hill:

Israeli strikes on southern Gaza kills 18 people, including 14 children — Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah overnight killed 18 people, mostly children, as U.S. lawmakers advanced an aid package that would send millions of dollars to Israel.

Discussion: Associated Press, Politico, Al-Monitor, Middle East Monitor and The Guardian

Sarah Polus / The Hill:

Biden marks 25th anniversary of Columbine shooting — President Biden, joined by other members of his administration, on Saturday marked the 25th anniversary of the Columbine High School Massacre and attempted bombing. — On April 20, 1999, two twelfth-grade students murdered 12 students …

Discussion: The White House, RedState, CBS News, Washington Examiner and Alternet.org

A.R. Moxon / The Reframe:

Americans Who Want To Kill Americans — The Reframe is totally free for all readers, and is supported with voluntary subscriptions by about 5% of readers. — If you find value in these essays, and only if you can afford to, please consider becoming a paid sponsor.

Jon Levine / New York Post:

Michael Avenatti says he's talking to Trump's legal team — and would testify for the ex-prez — Disgraced Stormy Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti has been in contact with former President Trump's legal defense team and is ready and willing to testify against his former client, he told The Post in an interview from jail.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Breitbart, RedState, The Daily Caller, Fox News, Twitchy and The Gateway Pundit

Theresa Maher / The Hill:

Biden celebrates Tennessee Volkswagen plant's vote to join UAW — President Biden celebrated the “historic vote” Friday for workers at a Tennessee Volkswagen plant to join the United Auto Workers (UAW) union. — “Congratulations to the workers at Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee …