memeorandum: Negotiators Close In on Hostage Deal That Would Halt Fighting in Gaza for Weeks (Peter Baker/New York Times)

6:55 AM ET, January 28, 2024

Top Items:

Biden offers fresh assurances he would shut down border ‘right now’ if Congress sends him a deal — COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) — Bidding to salvage a border deal in Congress that also would unlock money for Ukraine, President Joe Biden offered fresh assurances Saturday night …

Discussion: Politico, The Hill, Townhall, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, Los Angeles Times, Washington Times, Twitchy, Washington Post, RedState, Reuters, UPI, Associated Press, Fox News, Washington Examiner, Honolulu Star-Advertiser, The Universe As A Causal Set and The Messenger

Tara Suter / The Hill:

House Majority Whip: Biden only interested in border because it's a ‘political liability’ — House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) criticized President Biden Saturday for what he believes to be an increased interest in securing the southern border, as lawmakers continue to battle over a Senate-backed border deal.

Discussion: The Messenger, Washington Times, Fox News, Political Wire, TASS, The White House and Politico

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

Discussion: The Hill, RedState, New York Post, Vanity Fair, HuffPost, USA Today, NBC News, Politico, Political Wire, ABC News and New Republic

New York Times:

Key Network of G.O.P. Megadonors to Meet With Trump and Haley Camps — Assessing the presidential race, the American Opportunity Alliance has invited representatives from both the Trump and Haley campaigns to make their pitches at a meeting next week. — A network of Republican megadonors …

Discussion: Political Wire

Dan Balz / Washington Post:

Nikki Haley taunts Trump and he takes the bait. Will she keep it up? — Haley is the latest strong, persistent woman to find a soft spot in Trump's armor. That makes the Republican race much more interesting if she decides to keep tormenting him. — Donald Trump doesn't respond well to women who challenge, question or mock him.

Discussion: The Guardian

Steven Shepard / Politico:
The 2024 door is closing faster than Haley thinks. Here's what the delegate math shows.

Discussion: USA Today, Business Insider and Breitbart

Peter Baker / New York Times:

Negotiators Close In on Hostage Deal That Would Halt Fighting in Gaza for Weeks — A written draft agreement calls for the phased release of captives held by Hamas in exchange for a cessation in Israel's military offensive for about two months. — American-led negotiators are edging closer …

Discussion: Politico, The Guardian, The Japan Times, SAN, The Times of Israel, Political Wire, FDD, Benzinga, Reuters, Associated Press and Axios

Roger Sollenberger / The Daily Beast:

Trump's $50 Million Mystery Debt Looks Like ‘Tax Evasion’ — Donald Trump has long claimed he personally owed tens of millions to an obscure entity related to his Chicago tower. But court docs claim Trump Org. now says it never existed. — Always read the footnotes.

Discussion: Business Insider, The Messenger and MeidasTouch

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: New York Times, HuffPost, Mother Jones, RedState, The Guardian, The Daily Caller, The Hill, USA Today, Fox News, New York Post, The Messenger, Washington Examiner, Political Wire, Politico and The Sun

Rotimi Adeoye / The Daily Beast:

Texas' Border Stunt Is Based on the Same Legal Theory Confederate States Used to Secede — Gov. Greg Abbott says the federal government has “broken the compact between the United States and the States” with its immigration policies. … A clash between Texas and the Biden administration …

Discussion: Associated Press, Vox, Mediaite, HuffPost and Washington Examiner

Filip Timotija / The Hill:

Former senator says new film shows ‘how close’ we came to losing democracy on Jan. 6 — Former Alabama Sen. Doug Jones (D) said that the new film “War Game” shows “how close” the U.S. came to losing democracy on Jan. 6, 2021. — During his appearance on CNN Saturday …

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.

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.

Discussion: Raw Story, The Daily Beast, VICE, NBC News, The Hill, HotAir, Washington Post, New York Magazine, Fox News, Politico, RedState and The 19th

Kelly Rissman / The Independent:

Rudy Giuliani targets Donald Trump for ‘unpaid legal fees’ in new bankruptcy filing — Mr Giuliani filed for bankruptcy last month after he was ordered to pay $148m to Georgia election workers he defamed — Rudy Giuliani announces lawsuit against Joe Biden

Discussion: Law & Crime, Benzinga, UPROXX, Business Insider, The Daily Beast, Bloomberg, Talking Points Memo and The Messenger

Alec Dent / The Messenger:

Trump Trade Adviser Peter Navarro Criticizes His ‘Death Sentence’ of 4 Months in Prison — Navarro was found guilty of two counts of contempt of Congress for ignoring a subpoena to testify about events leading to the violent insurrection — Former Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro complained …

Discussion: Washington Times, The Hill, Breitbart, Fox News, Political Wire and The Daily Caller

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, The Daily Beast and emptywheel, 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 …

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: American Thinker, RedState, PoliticusUSA, Digby's Hullabaloo, The Hill and Raw Story