Top Items:
Benjamin Wittes / Default:
The Situation: The Cult of Unqualified Authenticity — On Pete Hegseth and the first hearing for a Trump nominee for a major cabinet position — Meet The Authors — Published by The Lawfare Institute in Cooperation With — The Situation on Friday reflected on the sentencing of Donald Trump in New York.
Discussion:
Forbes, Courthouse News Service and Wall Street Journal
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Ben Johansen / Politico:
Joni Ernst says she'll vote to confirm Pete Hegseth — Pete Hegseth has won over Sen. Joni Ernst. The Iowa senator said Tuesday she will be voting to confirm Hegseth to the next Defense secretary, a crucial endorsement for a nomination that seemed to be on shaky ground a few weeks ago.
Discussion:
The Post Millennial, New York Times, NewsNation, Fox News, Washington Times and CBS News
Philip Bump / Washington Post:
Pete Hegseth seems open to ordering soldiers to shoot protesters — Trump's pick to lead the Defense Department indicates he would be willing to do what Mark Esper refused to do. — Soon after the 2020 election, as President Donald Trump was gearing up his efforts to retain power despite his loss …
Discussion:
USA Today, Washington Times, New Republic, The Hill, CBS News, WPMT, TMZ.com, Raw Story, Twitchy, ABC News, The Independent and New York Post
Jane Mayer / New Yorker:
The Pressure Campaign to Get Pete Hegseth Confirmed as Defense Secretary — Supporters of Donald Trump's nominee have intimidated potential witnesses and suppressed the F.B.I. background check of the former Fox News host in the run-up to his Senate hearing.
Discussion:
HuffPost, Washington Examiner, Associated Press, Fox News, RedState, New York Times, The Nation, Slate, Washington Post, Defense One, Daily Caller News Foundation, CBS News, ABC News, Ohio Capital Journal, IJR, The 19th, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Hill, Balloon Juice, Raw Story, Doomsday Scenario, New Jersey Online, Semafor, 19FortyFive, Punchbowl News, USA Today, Politico, Talking Points Memo and Bloomberg
Julia Johnson / Fox News:
GOP Sen. Joni Ernst officially backs Pete Hegseth for DOD after initial uncertainty — 'I will support President Trump's pick for Secretary of Defense,' she told Fox News Digital exclusively — FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, officially endorsed Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense …
Discussion:
NBC News, Washington Examiner, Politico, New York Times, Washington Post, Washington Times, The Guardian, Reuters, IJR and Des Moines Register
Sarah Fitzpatrick / NBC News:
Former Fox anchor Gretchen Carlson makes request ahead of hearing
Former Fox anchor Gretchen Carlson makes request ahead of hearing
Discussion:
Associated Press, Townhall and Al Jazeera
Hafiz Rashid / New Republic:
The Most Damning Lines in Jack Smith's Brutal Trump January 6 Report — Special counsel Jack Smith did not hold back in his final report on the investigation into Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election. — While much of it contains information already made public …
Discussion:
CBS News, The Floridian, New York Magazine, NewsNation, The Times of Israel and Washington Post
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New York Times:
Special Counsel Report Says Trump Would Have Been Convicted in Election Case — “But for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the presidency, the office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial,” the report said.
David Frum / The Atlantic:
Jack Smith Gives Up
Jack Smith Gives Up
Discussion:
New York Magazine, The American Spectator and Raw Story
Washington Post:
What we learned from the Trump Jan. 6 report by special counsel Jack Smith
What we learned from the Trump Jan. 6 report by special counsel Jack Smith
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Guardian, Rolling Stone, NBC News, CBS News, El País, Bloomberg, Daily Kos, The Moderate Voice, The Independent, Deseret News, USA Today, New Jersey Online, Deadline, New York Daily News, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, Townhall, Business Insider, CNN, Politico and Raw Story
Norman Eisen / The Contrarian:
A Contrarian Take on Volume One of Jack Smith's Report
Nicola M White / Bloomberg:
SEC Sues Musk Over Securities Violation in Federal Court — The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Elon Musk in federal court over an alleged securities violation, according to a court docket. — The agency claimed Musk failed to timely disclose a major purchase of Twitter Inc. shares ahead …
Discussion:
CNBC, The Information and Forbes, more at Mediagazer »
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Reuters:
US SEC sues Elon Musk over late disclosure of Twitter stake — Elon Musk was sued on Tuesday by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for having failed to timely disclose purchasing more than 5% of Twitter's common stock in March 2022. — In a complaint filed in Washington, D.C. …
Darlene Superville / Associated Press:
Michelle Obama will skip Trump inauguration, but ex-Presidents Obama, Clinton and Bush will be there — Former first lady Michelle Obama will skip the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the second time in two weeks that she is not attending a gathering of former U.S. leaders and their spouses …
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New York Times:
Michelle Obama Will Skip Trump's Inauguration — Mrs. Obama also declined to attend the funeral of Jimmy Carter last week, which would have put her face-to-face with Mr. Trump. — Michelle Obama, the former first lady, will not attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, her office said in a statement on Tuesday.
Discussion:
CNN, Daily Kos, Fox News, New York Post, Washington Times, Townhall, The Independent, UPI, One America News Network, New Jersey Online, Deadline and Scripps News
Associated Press:
Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners — The Biden administration on Tuesday is notifying Congress of its intent to lift the U.S. designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism, the White House announced …
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Nahal Toosi / Politico:
Marco Rubio Isn't Likely to Last Long as Secretary of State
Marco Rubio Isn't Likely to Last Long as Secretary of State
Discussion:
Daily Caller News Foundation, The Forward, Just Security, Raw Story, NPR and The Conversation
Associated Press:
Cuba — Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners
Cuba — Biden moves to lift state sponsor of terrorism designation for Cuba, part of deal to free prisoners
Discussion:
CNN, Reuters, Politico, Washington Examiner, Washington Times, CBS News, Fox News, Bloomberg, The Daily Register, El País and Al Jazeera
NBC News:
Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg to attend Trump's inauguration — The three will be seated together on the inauguration platform with other prominent guests. — Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg will attend President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on Monday …
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Juliegrace Brufke / The Daily Beast:
GOP Senator Flames Dems for ‘Cheating’ and Voting ‘Drunk’ — “And don't tell me you haven't seen it, because I know you have,” the Republican senator said.
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Bulwark and Washington Examiner
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Jane C. Timm / NBC News:
Minnesota state House Democrats walk out in effort to block GOP speaker vote
Minnesota state House Democrats walk out in effort to block GOP speaker vote
Discussion:
Northern News Now, The Hill, Mother Jones, MPR News, NPR, Alpha News, Minnesota Reformer, Associated Press, LifeNews.com, FOX 7 Austin, Raw Story, Twin Cities, Power Line and The Texas Tribune
Catherine Rampell / Washington Post:
Society is making you sick, GOP says. Too bad their plans will make you sicker.
Society is making you sick, GOP says. Too bad their plans will make you sicker.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Politico:
A Biden-Trump Gaza deal? — With help from Connor O'Brien, John Sakellariadis, Maggie Miller and Daniel Lippman, — An Israel-Gaza cease-fire deal appears closer than ever, and both JOE BIDEN and DONALD TRUMP's camps are scrambling for credit. — Secretary of State ANTONY BLINKEN …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Drop Site News and Reuters
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CBS News:
Israel and Hamas agree in principle to ceasefire and hostage deal, sources say
Israel and Hamas agree in principle to ceasefire and hostage deal, sources say
Discussion:
Politico, The Times of Israel, Frontpage Mag, New York Post, Reuters, The Sun, Washington Examiner, Middle East Monitor, Washington Post and Diplomatic,
Associated Press:
Hamas OKs draft agreement of a Gaza ceasefire and the release of some hostages, officials say
Hamas OKs draft agreement of a Gaza ceasefire and the release of some hostages, officials say
Discussion:
Reuters, CBS News, New York Times, The National, Deseret News, Atlantic Council, The Times of Israel, Associated Press, Fox News, Algemeiner.com, Commentary Magazine, HotAir, Breitbart, Al Jazeera, NPR, Just Security, Los Angeles Times, New York Post, Power Line, Channel 4 News and Crikey
Caitlin Yilek / CBS News:
House passes ban on transgender students in girls sports — Washington — The House on Tuesday passed a Republican measure banning transgender girls and women from competing on school sports teams that match their gender identity after the party leaned into the issue during the 2024 campaign.
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Jonathan V. Last / The Bulwark:
Vice Is a Moat — 1. Secretary Pete — Here is the thing about Pete Hegseth: — Imagine that his character was sterling. That he was a fine, upstanding man, admired by all who know him. That he had dedicated his life to service and been judged to be as good a human being as Mister Rogers or Dolly Parton.
Discussion:
RedState and Digby's Hullabaloo
Mark Lemley / Mark Lemley on LinkedIn:
I have struggled with how to respond to Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook's descent into toxic masculinity and Neo-Nazi madness. While I have thought about quitting Facebook, I find great value in the connections and friends I have here, and it doesn't seem fair that I should lose that because Zuckerberg is having a mid-life crisis.
Sahil Kapur / NBC News:
Mike Johnson eyes April deadline to pass one big MAGA bill through the House, but GOP senators are skeptical — House and Senate Republicans still disagree on the best strategy to advance Trump's policy priorities on the border, energy and taxes. A recent Trump-GOP meeting failed to resolve it.
Discussion:
Semafor and The Post Millennial
Charlie Spiering / Daily Mail:
I was fully indoctrinated into the Democrat ‘cult.’ Here's why I left my liberal influencer life behind to raise money for Trump — A former high energy Democratic fundraiser, failed congressional candidate and social media influencer is now raising money for President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural committee.
Discussion:
The Hill
Julia Mueller / The Hill:
Texas House elects new Speaker in blow to far-right wing — The Texas House on Tuesday elected state Rep. Dustin Burrows (R) to lead the chamber in a blow to the rising far-right wing of the party, defeating a candidate supported by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) and other top state figures.
Discussion:
El Paso Matters, FOX 7 Austin, The Texas Tribune and The Barbed Wire
Reese Gorman / NOTUS:
Republican Hard-Liners Already Have a Problem With the GOP's Reconciliation Strategy — Some Freedom Caucus members think a debt limit increase needs to be part of the reconciliation process. GOP leaders are already signaling that it won't be. — Copy
Discussion:
The Hill, Washington Times, Politico, Raw Story and Washington Examiner
Robert Jimison / New York Times:
Speaker Orders Capitol Hill Flags Raised for Inauguration — President-elect Donald J. Trump had complained that flags were scheduled to fly at half-staff — a symbol of mourning for former President Jimmy Carter — on the day of his inauguration. — Speaker Mike Johnson on Tuesday announced …
Discussion:
Axios, USA Today, Politico, Townhall, HuffPost, UPI, WPMT, The Hill, Raw Story, One America News Network, ABC News, Daily Kos, MeidasTouch News, New York Post, FOX 11 Los Angeles, New Jersey Online, Sun-Sentinel, Esquire, Fox News, Washington Examiner, CBS News, The Gateway Pundit, Associated Press, Florida Politics and RADAR