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Congress's $12 billion giveaway to health insurers — As Congress rushes to pass an omnibus tax/spending bill for the coming year, it's concocting a special tax break for health-insurance companies. — And it amounts to a back-door bailout. — Until this week, insurance-company lobbyists …
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Newsalert
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White House praises sweeping omnibus, tax deal — The White House gave a thumbs-up on Wednesday to a sweeping year-end deal on taxes and government funding. — “We feel good about the outcome, primarily because we got a compromise budget agreement,” White House press secretary Josh Earnest told reporters.
Discussion:
Politico, Fox News, The Week, Newsmax, MichelleMalkin.com and Western Journalism


The Paul Ryan Compromise — The new speaker's first big deal is just like all of the ones that infuriated conservatives under Boehner. — When Paul Ryan was handed the speaker's gavel in late October, he pledged to restore normal order to the People's House and eliminate the sort …
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The Week


Budget Deal Raises Spending, and the Deficit, Through Tax Breaks
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Washington Post

What Congress Has Included In Its Massive Spending and Tax Bills
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Breitbart, Associated Press and Politico
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Fiorina Stands by Claim Ex-General Keane Was Pushed Out by Obama (Which Keane Refuted) — Carly Fiorina today stood by her debate claim about a general she said was pushed out by President Obama, even though that general did not serve in this administration.
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alan.com


Strike Two For Pair of New York Times Reporters — Today, FBI director James Comey said that the San Bernardino shooters never talked openly about violent jihadism on social media: “So far, in this investigation we have found no evidence of posting on social media by either of them at that period …
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Lawyers, Guns & Money, Hullabaloo, Washington Post, The Verge and Independent Journal, more at Mediagazer »
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GOP chair probes if Cruz unveiled classified info during debate — A key Senate Republican is looking into whether Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) discussed classified information during Tuesday night's Republican presidential debate. — “I'm having my staff look at the transcripts of the debate right now …
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Did Ted Cruz Reveal Classified Information During The GOP Debate?
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emptywheel, Balloon Juice, Independent Journal, Townhall.com, The Bob and Chez Show, Washington Post, Vocativ, Vox, WJTV, Roll Call, twitchy.com, EcoWatch and FOX 61

Joe Scarborough Notices Something During Debate That Has Him Convinced Trump, Cruz Made 'Inside Deal …
Discussion:
Hot Air and The Daily Caller


Defense Secretary Conducted Some Official Business on a Personal Email Account — WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter relied on a personal email account to conduct a portion of his government business during his first months at the Pentagon, according to White House …
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Politico, Washington Post, NBC News, Associated Press, The Week and Washington Times


The GOP's worst nightmare: A runaway convention — With the Republican presidential debate in Las Vegas dramatizing again the divisions plaguing the GOP, the unfolding battle for the presidential nomination suggests the growing odds of a runaway convention that could choose an unelectable nominee …
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Trump: 'I really don't want Jeb's endorsement'
Discussion:
Western Journalism

2016: The Trump Election — The best Republican debate of the year was also the last.
Discussion:
New York Times, Hot Air and Vox


Sheldon Adelson responds to speculation he bought Las Vegas paper — “I have no personal interest” in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, billionaire casino mogul Sheldon Adelson said Tuesday night, in his first public comments about the mysterious sale of Nevada's biggest newspaper.
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Las Vegas Review-Journal, Talking Points Memo, Political Wire and Politico, more at Mediagazer »
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Pressure to go public grows for new Review-Journal owners
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Gawker, Slantpoint, Techdirt, Mother Jones, Mediaite and Washington Post, more at Mediagazer »


Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz Diverge in Approach to Their Hispanic Identity — MIAMI — One candidate, Marco Rubio, nurtured by the sprawling Cuban-American community here, bounces effortlessly between two cultures — fritas and hamburgers, Spanish and English — in a city so comfortably bilingual …
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Latino USA, Associated Press, whorunsGov and Trail Blazers Blog
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Fact Check: While Suggesting Rubio Lied, Cruz Misstates Own Immigration Record
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Betsy's Page, National Review, The Right Scoop, Bloomberg View and FiveThirtyEight

Marco Rubio's Gordian knot
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Hot Air, National Review, RedState and The Daily Beast


Wheaton College professor put on leave after wearing hijab in solidarity with Muslims — A tenured Wheaton College professor who wore a hijab in solidarity with Muslims was put on administrative leave Tuesday by the evangelical Christian school. — Larycia Hawkins, a Christian political science professor …
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Telegraph, RedState, Washington Post and Daily Herald
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Wheaton College Statement Regarding Dr. Larycia Hawkins
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Washington Post, Religion News Service, Refinery29, Truth Revolt, Hit & Run, ThinkProgress, U.S. Uncut, Raw Story, NBC News, USA TODAY College and myfox8.com

Wheaton College suspends Christian professor who wore a hijab
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Mediaite and Talking Points Memo


Harvard placemat serves up social justice for Christmas — The placemat was created by the Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in collaboration with the Freshmen Dean's Office and were distributed in an undergraduate dining hall. — The Office for Equity, Diversity …
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The Placemat Problem — In Annenberg Hall and at least …
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BizPac Review


Mistrial declared in trial of Officer William Porter in death of Freddie Gray — Protesters took to the streets on Wednesday evening, marching and chanting for justice in reaction to the mistrial in the case of Officer William Porter. (Lloyd Fox/Baltimore Sun video)
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Los Angeles Times, Power Line, American Spectator, The Week, Common Dreams, U.S. Uncut, CNN and Above The Law


Fiscal deal winners and losers — The sweeping year-end tax and spending bills unveiled this week in Congress follow months of lobbying by industry and public interest groups and weeks of intense negotiations on Capitol Hill. — The final legislation, at nearly 2,250 pages …


“Blow-Me.org” Congressman: Clinton “An Idiot” And “A Liar” For Use Of Private Email Server — “To think that Mrs. Clinton could secure something like that in her home is ludicrous.” — Win Mcnamee / Getty Images — w.soundcloud.com — Republican Rep. Blake Farenthold of Texas …


Julie Bishop defends ASIO chief Duncan Lewis over calls schooling Coalition MPs — ASIO chief: ‘No guarantees’ against future attacks — ASIO director-general Duncan Lewis says intelligence and security authorities can offer ‘no guarantees’ there is no possibility of another terror attack in Australia.
Discussion:
Jihad Watch and John Quiggin


Dana Loesch Explodes on ‘Godless Left’ in Furious Rant: 'I Do Have a Problem...and I'm Not Watching My Language' — Dana Loesch tore into Democrats Tuesday night in a fiery rant on the “godless left,” taking aim elected officials and the New York Daily News for “mocking prayers” and “attacking” the National Rifle Association.
Discussion:
Hit & Run, ABC News, abc13.com and Independent Journal