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8:55 AM ET, December 21, 2018

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 Top Items: 
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 …
RELATED:
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.
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 …
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:
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 …
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 …
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.
David Frum / The Atlantic:
No More Excuses  —  For almost two full years, James Mattis has provided the nation with a collective security blanket—and national-security-minded Republicans with a credible excuse.  Whatever outrageous or weird or even suspicious things President Donald Trump might do …
Discussion: The Root
James N. Mattis / Washington Post:
Read the Jim Mattis resignation letter
John Podhoretz / Commentary:   What the Mattis Resignation Means
Wall Street Journal:
Trump Administration Is Considering Substantial Afghan Troop Drawdown
Washington Post:
‘A morning of alarm’: Mattis departure sends shock waves abroad
Discussion: Sydney Morning Herald
Politico:
POLITICO Playbook: Hurtling toward a shutdown
Jamie Ross / The Daily Beast:   Trump Already Souring on Next Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney Over ‘Terrible Human Being’ Jibe, Says Report
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
Fred Kaplan / Slate:
The Last Grown-Up Is Gone  —  James Mattis is not “retiring with distinction.”
Discussion: CNN, The Atlantic and The Guardian
Nick Wadhams / Bloomberg:   Mattis's Exit Takes Leash Off Trump's ‘America First’ Doctrine
New York Times:
Read Jim Mattis's Letter to Trump: Full Text
Washington Post:   ‘A sad day for America’: Washington fears a Trump unchecked by Mattis
Ali Vitali / NBC News:
‘This is scary’: Mattis' resignation triggers bipartisan chorus of concern on Capitol Hill
Discussion: NPR, CNN and AOL
Washington Post:
Turkish president announces delay of planned offensive in Syria, welcomes Trump decision to pull out troops  —  President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkish forces are still planning to invade northeast Syria in the coming months and “cleanse” the region of both Kurdish militias and Islamic State forces.
RELATED:
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
Doug Bandow / Test Feed Using Fields:
Why Trump Is Right to Withdraw Troops
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
Natasha Bertrand / The Atlantic:
The Special Counsel Is Bearing Down on Roger Stone
Discussion: Washington Post, Daily Kos and Politico
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 …
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 …
BuzzFeed News:
Russian Agents Sought Secret US Treasury Records On Clinton Backers During 2016 Campaign  —  US Treasury Department officials used a Gmail back channel with the Russian government as the Kremlin sought sensitive financial information on its enemies in America and across the globe, according to documents reviewed by BuzzFeed News.
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 …
Associated Press:
After Year of the Woman, 2020 buzz so far focuses on the men  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — A year defined by the political power of women is ending with men enjoying much of the attention.  —  Outgoing Texas Rep. Beto O'Rourke, former Vice President Joe Biden and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders …
 
 
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 More Items: 
Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
Brian Kilmeade Goes Off on Sarah Sanders Over Syria: Trump Just ‘Refounded ISIS’ By Leaving
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
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
 Earlier Items: 
Edward-Isaac Dovere / The Atlantic:
Barack Obama Goes All In Politically to Fight Gerrymandering
Alexander C. Kaufman / HuffPost:
Democrats Just Blocked Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Push For A Green New Deal Committee
Discussion: EcoWatch and E&E News
David Brooks / New York Times:
A New Center Being Born  —  The market and the welfare state go together.
Washington Post:
As stocks drop, Trump fears he's losing his best argument for re-election
Aram Roston / BuzzFeed News:
Jerry Falwell: I Lent $1.8 Million To A Venture Involving A Pool Attendant
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Jessica Toonkel / Wall Street Journal:
Sources: Paramount Global's board is considering replacing CEO Bob Bakish with an “Office of the CEO” made up of division heads on an interim basis

Jeff Jarvis / BuzzMachine:
The New York Times is broken, shown by its entitled, petulant reaction to Politico's report on its tense relationship with Biden

Andrew Marchand / The Athletic:
Sources: Amazon Prime Video has a framework deal for NBA broadcast rights for at least a decade, starting in 2025-26; ESPN/ABC is expected to keep the finals
 
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