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3:10 PM ET, December 19, 2018

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
New York Times:
Trump Considering Full Withdrawal of U.S. Troops From Syria  —  WASHINGTON — President Trump is considering pulling 2,000 United States ground troops out of Syria in a move that would seek to describe the four-year American-led war against the Islamic State as largely won, officials said Wednesday.
RELATED:
Dion Nissenbaum / Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Military Preparing for a Full Withdrawal of Its Forces From Northeastern Syria  —  Move throws campaign against Islamic State into question  —  WASHINGTON—In an abrupt reversal, the U.S. military is preparing to withdraw its forces from northeastern Syria, people familiar with the matter …
CNN:
Trump orders rapid withdrawal from Syria in apparent reversal  —  Washington (CNN)Planning is underway for a “full” and “rapid” withdrawal of US troops from Syria, a US defense official told CNN Wednesday.  —  The decision, which would be a reversal from previously stated US policy …
Jessica Hopper / ABC News:
President Trump's troop withdrawal from Syria a ‘huge’ mistake: Senator Lindsey Graham
Discussion: Politico, CBS News and CNBC
Josh Rogin / Washington Post:
Trump undermines his entire national security team on Syria
Discussion: The Atlantic, USA Today and KXLF-TV
Kate Sullivan / CNN:
Trump signed letter of intent for Trump Tower Moscow project despite Giuliani insisting he didn't  —  (CNN)A newly obtained document shows President Donald Trump signed a letter of intent to move forward with negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Russia, despite his attorney Rudy Giuliani claiming …
RELATED:
New York Daily News:
Rudy Giuliani admits President Trump signed ‘bulls—t’ letter of intent for Moscow tower during 2016 campaign  —  President Trump signed a “bulls—t” letter of intent to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 campaign, Rudy Giuliani conceded Tuesday - just two days after the former …
Nicole Lafond / Talking Points Memo:
Giuliani Walks It Back: Trump Signed ‘Bullsh*t’ Letter Of Intent For Moscow Tower
Discussion: Balloon Juice
Lawfare:
The Former National Security Advisor's Sentencing Hearing: Flynncompetent Judging  —  A number of years ago, a group of singing lawyers put together an excellent parody song about the egomania of federal district judges.  Set to the tune of the old Turtles song, “Happy Together,” it opens: “Imagine me as God—I do.
RELATED:
emptywheel:
In Defense of Emmet Sullivan: Van Grack Suggested Mueller Did Review Whether Flynn's Behavior Amounted to Treason  —  I'd like to defend Judge Emmet Sullivan's intemperate mentions of unregistered foreign agents and treason in the Mike Flynn sentencing hearing yesterday.
Chris Baynes / The Independent:   Trump critics celebrate as Flynn judge smashes right-wing conspiracy theory about Russia prosecution at hearing
Stephen Collinson / CNN:
Reality deals more blows to Trump's alternative narrative
Discussion: USA Today, Washington Post and CNBC
Dan Mangan / CNBC:
New secret filing in case of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen placed in NY federal court vault  — A document that is sealed from public view was placed in a New York federal court vault in a criminal case against President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen.
Discussion: Raw Story
RELATED:
Dareh Gregorian / NBC News:
Federal judge strikes down Trump asylum rules for domestic and gang violence victims  —  In a ruling Wednesday, Judge Emmet Sullivan struck down large portions of Justice Department policies that made it harder for immigrants to claim asylum.  —  A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed Justice …
Griffin Connolly / Roll Call:
Rep. Adam Schiff: If Michael Cohen Goes to Jail, Why Wouldn't Trump?
Discussion: Washington Monthly
Alan Gomez / USA Today:   Federal judge blocks another attempt by Trump to limit asylum
David M. Drucker / Washington Examiner:
South Carolina GOP could scrap 2020 primary to protect Trump  —  The South Carolina Republican Party could cancel its marquee presidential nominating contest in 2020 in a move to protect President Trump from any primary challengers.  —  Drew McKissick, chairman of the South Carolina GOP …
Jeff Cox / CNBC:
Fed hikes rate, lowers 2019 projection to 2 increases  — Central bank officials now forecast two hikes next year, down from three rate raises previously projected.  — However, the Fed continued to include in its statement that further ‘gradual’ rate hikes would be appropriate.
RELATED:
Victoria Guida / Politico:
Fed raises rates, defying Trump
Discussion: Axios and Board of Governors …
Binyamin Appelbaum / New York Times:   Fed Raises Rates, Demonstrating Confidence in Health of Economy
New York Times:
As Facebook Raised a Privacy Wall, It Carved an Opening for Tech Giants  —  Internal documents show that the social network gave Microsoft, Amazon, Spotify and others far greater access to people's data than it has disclosed.  —  For years, Facebook gave some of the world's largest technology companies …
RELATED:
Washington Post:
D.C. attorney general sues Facebook over alleged privacy violations from Cambridge Analytica scandal  —  The attorney general for the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit on Wednesday against Facebook for allowing Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy, to gain access to the names …
Kate Riga / Talking Points Memo:
In Party Switch, 3 Kansas Lawmakers Will Start The New Session As Democrats  —  When the Kansas state government reconvenes in January, three of its formerly Republican members will report as freshly minted Democrats.  —  The two state senators and one state representative, all women …
Discussion: Shawnee Mission Post
RELATED:
Tim Carpenter / Topeka Capital-Journal:
Kansas Sen. Dinah Sykes, Rep. Stephanie Clayton flip from Republican to Democrat
Discussion: Raw Story and Political Wire
ClickHole:
Legal Bombshell: Mueller Flipped Trump's Confidant's Lawyer's Friend's Associate Gorpman (Who Could Testify Against Bleemer!)  And It's Not Even Lunchtime  —  The day's just getting started, and the Trump house of cards is already crumbling.  This morning, Special Counsel Robert Mueller dropped …
Discussion: The Week
Washington Post:
Senate to pass bill that would keep government open, deny Trump wall funding  —  The Senate prepared Wednesday to pass a short-term spending bill that would keep the government open through the New Year but deny President Trump the money he wanted for his border wall — a stark retreat …
RELATED:
Bloomberg:
Trump Ready to Remove Sanctions on Deripaska's Rusal in 30 Days  —  The Trump administration is ready to remove sanctions on Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska's aluminum company, United Co. Rusal, after he agreed to significantly reduce his ownership stake.
Discussion: Raw Story
RELATED:
Wall Street Journal:   U.S. Treasury Levies Fresh Sanctions Against Russian Agents for 2016 U.S. Election Interference And Nerve-Agent Attack
NBC News:
United States added to list of most dangerous countries for journalists for first time  —  At least 63 professional journalists were killed doing their jobs in 2018, a 15 percent increase over last year, Reporters Without Borders said.  —  PARIS — The murder of the Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi …
Discussion: The Daily Caller
Rebecca Traister / The Cut:
The Imagined Threat of a Woman Who Governs Like a Man  —  On Tuesday, Politico posted a provocative, anonymously sourced piece claiming that New York congresswoman elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez might be planning, in concert with Justice Democrats, to recruit a Democratic primary challenger …
Discussion: The Wrap, IJR and Observer
Andrew Kerr / The Daily Caller:
Revealed: Antifa Leader Relied On Anonymity To Push Radical, Violent Communist Agenda  —  Editor's note: The subject of this story is being identified because he's pushed radical rhetoric and has advocated for politically-motivated violence from behind a mask.
Discussion: Instapundit
Domenico Montanaro / NPR:
Warning To Democrats: Most Americans Against U.S. Getting More Politically Correct  —  Heading into the 2020 Democratic primaries, a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll has a warning for Democrats: Americans are largely against the country becoming more politically correct.
Jeremy Pelzer / Plain Dealer:
John Kasich says he couldn't beat President Donald Trump in a GOP primary  —  COLUMBUS, Ohio—Gov. John Kasich on Wednesday voiced doubts about challenging President Donald Trump in 2020, saying right now he couldn't beat the president in a Republican primary.
Discussion: Political Wire
Speaker.gov:
Full Text: Speaker Ryan's Farewell Address  —  WASHINGTON—House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) today delivered his farewell address at the Library of Congress.  Watch the address live on Speaker.gov.  —  Following are Speaker Ryan's remarks, as prepared for delivery:
Jason Schwartz / Politico:
Ousted NPR news chief, ex-Fox News execs team up on new site  —  One was ousted from NPR amid allegations of sexual harassment.  The other left Fox News shortly after writing a column widely panned as racist and anti-gay.  Now they've been recruited to help launch a digital news startup …
Susan Page / USA Today:
Impeach Trump?  Lessons learned from Clinton's impeachment, 20 years later  —  WASHINGTON - Democrats who are contemplating impeaching President Donald Trump after they take control of the House of Representatives next month are considering a cautionary tale: what happened the last time a president was impeached.
 
 
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 More Items: 
Kriston Capps / CityLab:
Why Not Try a Cap-and-Trade System for Low-Income Housing?
Jennifer Rubin / Washington Post:
Why not indict the Trump Organization?
Tatiana Siegel / Hollywood Reporter:
Harvey Weinstein Criminal Case May Be Crumbling, Experts Say
WNYC News:
Longtime New York Public Radio President Laura Walker Will Step Down Next Year
Ryan C. Brooks / BuzzFeed News:
There Are Now Two Groups Trying To Draft Beto O'Rourke To Run For President
Associated Press:
AP Investigation: Migrant kids held in mass shelters
Discussion: The Week
Brendan Duke / Center on Budget and Policy Priorities:
Pass-Through Deduction in 2017 Tax Law Could Weaken Wages and Workplace Standards
Discussion: HuffPost
 Earlier Items: 
Cato Institute:
Bump Stock Rule Bumps Up Against the Constitution
Discussion: The Week, Associated Press and Townhall
Senator Bernie Sanders / Senator Sanders's Feed:
Sanders, Feinstein Oppose Inclusion of Israel Anti-Boycott Act in Appropriations Bill
Michael R. Strain / National Review:
Is the Working Class in Crisis?
Discussion: Mother Jones and Bloomberg
careers.ap.org:
Temporary Newsperson, Politics
John Bresnahan / Politico:
Cummings puts Trump on notice for wave of investigations
Center for Public Integrity:
Why did Donald Trump's national security adviser want to meet with a Ukrainian billionaire?
Discussion: Bloomberg
 

 
From Techmeme:

Alex Heath / The Verge:
Meta details Llama 3: 8B- and 70B-parameter models, a focus on reducing false refusals, and an upcoming model trained on 15T+ tokens that has 400B+ parameters

David Pierce / The Verge:
Google announces a new Platforms and Devices team overseeing Pixel, Android, Chrome, Photos, and more, to integrate AI across its products, led by Rick Osterloh

Ryan Morrison / Tom's Guide:
Microsoft researchers introduce VASA-1, an AI model that creates a realistic talking face video from a portrait photo and an audio file, in research preview
 
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