Check out Mini-memeorandum for simple mobiles or memeorandum Mobile for modern smartphones.
10:05 AM ET, December 21, 2018

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Axios:
Pre-Christmas Trump: Rebuked, rampaging  —  The last member of an informal alliance of top Trump officials with enough swat or stature to stand up to President Trump — the Committee to Save America, as Jim VandeHei and I called these officials 16 months ago — resigned in epic fashion.
RELATED:
Axios:
What should worry Trump most: Republican allies are turning on him  —  Another reason this is a historic week — and what President Trump should really worry about — is that lots of different Republicans have been turning on him over different topics.  —  Why it matters: A former Trump aide …
Helene Cooper / New York Times:
Jim Mattis, Defense Secretary, Resigns in Rebuke of Trump's Worldview  —  WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, whose experience and stability were widely seen as a balance to an unpredictable president, resigned Thursday in protest of President Trump's decision to withdraw American forces …
Jamie Ross / The Daily Beast:
Trump Already Souring on Next Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney Over ‘Terrible Human Being’ Jibe, Says Report  —  Donald Trump is reportedly already turning on Mick Mulvaney—who hasn't even started his new job as acting White House chief of staff yet—due to a two-year-old video uncovered by The Daily Beast …
Discussion: POLITICUSUSA
Washington Post:
‘A tailspin’: Under siege, Trump propels the government and markets into crisis  —  President Trump began Thursday under siege, listening to howls of indignation from conservatives over his border wall and thrusting the government toward a shutdown.  He ended it by announcing the exit …
Associated Press:
Trump call with Turkish leader led to US pullout from Syria  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw American troops from Syria was made hastily, without consulting his national security team or allies, and over strong objections from virtually everyone involved …
Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
Mattis Puts Trump's Presidency in Peril  —  This resignation stings because it's not about policy, it's about values.  —  Donald Trump may not know it yet, but his presidency is collapsing.  —  His tweets Thursday announcing the resignation of Defense Secretary James Mattis by the end of February were polite and respectful.
New York Times:
U.S. to Withdraw About 7,000 Troops From Afghanistan, Officials Say  —  President Trump made the decision at the same time he decided he was pulling American forces out of Syria, one official said.  —  Turmoil in Congress, National Security and Markets: The State of Play  —  A lot has happened in the last couple days.
Discussion: Politico
Susan B. Glasser / New Yorker:
The Year in Trump Freakouts  —  Jim Mattis is out, the President is leaving Syria without consulting anyone, and that's just this week in crises of the President's own making.  —  President Trump is ending the year as he began it: outraging Washington with a Twitter diktat, one that was cheered in Moscow and jeered on Capitol Hill.
Paul Kane / Washington Post:
In budget brinkmanship, Republicans once again hold themselves hostage  —  House Republicans are ending their eight-year run in the majority exactly the way it began — grabbing a hostage and seeking ransom.  —  This week's standoff, like so many others this decade, pits an alienated House GOP caucus …
Associated Press:
Analysis: As advisers leave, Trump's guardrails come off  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Last year, during one particularly frenetic stretch in Donald Trump's presidency, a top Republican senator said there were three men guarding the country from chaos: Defense Secretary Jim Mattis …
David Frum / The Atlantic:
No More Excuses  —  For almost two full years, James Mattis …
Discussion: New York Times, CNN and The Root
Jeffrey Goldberg / The Atlantic:
Mattis Always Understood Trump's Severe Defects
Discussion: The Week
Wall Street Journal:
Trump Administration Is Considering Substantial Afghan Troop Drawdown
James N. Mattis / Washington Post:
Read the Jim Mattis resignation letter
John Podhoretz / Commentary:   What the Mattis Resignation Means
Washington Post:
Mattis resigns after clash with Trump over troop withdrawal from Syria and Afghanistan
Fred Kaplan / Slate:
The Last Grown-Up Is Gone  —  James Mattis is not “retiring with distinction.”
Discussion: CNN, The Atlantic and NPR
Paul Szoldra / Task & Purpose:
In 2014, Mattis Said What Would Make Him Resign In Protest. In 2018, He Actually Did It
Discussion: New York Times
Washington Post:
‘A morning of alarm’: Mattis departure sends shock waves abroad
Discussion: Sydney Morning Herald
Washington Post:   ‘A sad day for America’: Washington fears a Trump unchecked by Mattis
Nick Wadhams / Bloomberg:   Mattis's Exit Takes Leash Off Trump's ‘America First’ Doctrine
Julia Ioffe / Washington Post:
Please don't wish me ‘Merry Christmas’  —  It's impolite and alienating to assume I follow your religion.  —  'Twas five nights before Christmas, and my Lyft driver was the umpteenth person to wish me a “Merry Christmas” that day.  He probably just meant it the way most people do …
Erin Dunne / Washington Examiner:
In leaving Syria, the US sells out its Kurdish allies to bloodthirsty Turkey  —  In the fight against the Islamic State, the Kurds have been our best and most reliable ally.  In Syria, in partnership with U.S. Special Operations, the Kurdish-led militia, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces …
Discussion: The Hill, The Resurgent and NPR
RELATED:
Washington Post:   Turkish president announces delay of planned offensive in Syria, welcomes Trump decision to pull out troops
Hugh Hewitt / Washington Post:   In withdrawing from Syria, Trump makes a major error
Joyce Karam / The National:   Trump decided to leave Syria after call with Erdogan, says US defence official
NBC News:
Founder of viral fundraiser for Trump's border wall has questionable news past  —  Brian Kolfage told NBC News he didn't want to mention his previous projects because he “didn't want it to be a distraction.”  —  An internet fundraiser for Donald Trump's border wall took in more than $7 million …
Washington Post:
Ethics officials said Whitaker should recuse from the Mueller probe, but his advisers told him not to, officials say  —  A senior Justice Department ethics official concluded acting attorney general Matthew G. Whitaker should recuse from overseeing special counsel Robert S. Mueller III's probe …
RELATED:
NBC News:
Mueller may submit report to attorney general as soon as mid-February, say sources
Discussion: Law & Crime and The Week
New York Times:
A Top Aide's Exit Plan Raises Eyebrows in the White House  —  WASHINGTON — After weeks of discussions about his future, Zachary D. Fuentes, the 36-year-old deputy White House chief of staff, had a plan.  —  Mr. Fuentes told colleagues that after his mentor, John F. Kelly …
Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
Brian Kilmeade Goes Off on Sarah Sanders Over Syria: Trump Just ‘Refounded ISIS’ By Leaving  —  Brian Kilmeade grilled Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Friday by saying President Trump essentially “refounded ISIS” if he pulls the U.S. military out of Syria.  —  The White House press secretary gave …
John Wagner / Washington Post:
Trump threatens government shutdown ‘will last for a very long time’ if Democrats oppose House bill that includes border wall money  —  President Trump on Friday threatened that a partial government shutdown would last “for a very long time” if Congress does not meet his demand Friday …
Eli Lake / Bloomberg:
Nikki Haley Isn't So Sure About the UN  —  The departing ambassador has a question for the American public: Should the U.S. remain a member?  —  As Nikki Haley finishes her tenure this month, the woman who has spent the last two years representing the U.S. at the United Nations has a question …
 
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of memeorandum at 10:05 AM ET, December 21, 2018.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 See Also: 
memeorandum: site main
memeorandum River: reverse chronological memeorandum
memeorandum Mobile: for phones
memeorandum Leaderboard: memeorandum's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
memeorandum RSS feed
memeorandum on Mastodon
 
 
 More Items: 
Sonny Bunch / Washington Free Beacon:
‘Vice’ Review  —  The best superhero origin story of the year
Julie Zauzmer / Washington Post:
‘Hand yourself over to human justice’: Pope Francis tells priests guilty of abuse that the church won't shield them
Nouransalahiehktla / KTLA:
Signage Up for Section of 134 Highway Renamed After President Barack Obama
Tyler Pager / New York Times:
After Big Losses, a N.Y. House Republican Clashes With Her Party
Associated Press:
After Year of the Woman, 2020 buzz so far focuses on the men
Caitlin Flanagan / The Atlantic:
Kirsten Gillibrand's Invocation of ‘Intersectionality’ Backfires
Sarah D / Los Angeles Times:
He lost his reelection bid in California.  Now, Jeff Denham could be joining the Trump administration
Jacqueline Thomsen / The Hill:
Trump faces new test with midterm election interference report
Discussion: POLITICUSUSA and Raw Story
 Earlier Items: 
Steven Shepard / Politico:
Gallup retreats from political polling again under new leadership
Washington Post:
President Trump has made 7,546 false or misleading claims over 700 days
Alex Thompson / Politico:
Perez nixes ‘undercard’ debates for 2020 primary
Zoya Sheftalovich / Politico:
Gatwick reopens after airport implements anti-drone measures
Washington Post:
As stocks drop, Trump fears he's losing his best argument for re-election
New York Times:
Planned Parenthood Is Accused of Mistreating Pregnant Employees
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Alexandra Bruell / Wall Street Journal:
The Atlantic is profitable, has 1M subscribers, and revenue grew 10% in 2023 thanks to a 50% price hike, a harder paywall, and a shift to in-depth reporting

New York Times:
The NBC News-Ronna McDaniel saga highlights the perks and perils of partisan talk TV; a source says McDaniel is now seeking $600K+ for her two year deal

New York Times:
Karlie Kloss' Bedford buys Life publication rights from Dotdash Meredith and plans to resume regular print publication in 2025; Josh Kushner will be publisher

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page