Top Items:
Jonathan Lemire / The Atlantic:
Epstein Returns at the Worst Time for Trump — Since his return to office, President Donald Trump has missed few chances to flex the power he wields over the nation's most formidable institutions and its wealthiest people. So when the White House announced that Trump would host the latest …
Discussion:
Salon, The Independent, New York Post, The Parnas Perspective, Breitbart, The Wrap, ABC News, The Daily Beast and The Hill
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New York Times:
America First? Some Trump Supporters Worry That's No Longer the Case. … President Trump has been dining with Wall Street bigwigs. He has embarked on an opulent revamp of the White House at a time when Americans are struggling to pay their bills. He has expressed support for granting visas …
Alex Gangitano / Politico:
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blasts Trump's Epstein focus
Discussion:
CBS News, New Republic, HuffPost, Joe.My.God., Washington Post, NewsMax.com, The Daily Beast, Fox News and Newsweek
Susan B. Glasser / New Yorker:
The Epstein Scandal Is Now a Chronic Disease of the Trump Presidency
The Epstein Scandal Is Now a Chronic Disease of the Trump Presidency
Discussion:
Martin Longman
Lucy Campbell / The Guardian:
Trump turns up heat on Republicans to block release of Epstein files
Trump turns up heat on Republicans to block release of Epstein files
Discussion:
HuffPost, The Intellectualist, Newsweek, FITSNews, Bangor Daily News, Mediaite, The Independent, The Daily Caller, Grabien and Meidas+
NBC News:
Epstein survivors urge Congress to release all the files on the sex trafficker
Epstein survivors urge Congress to release all the files on the sex trafficker
Discussion:
New Republic, Raw Story, Joe.My.God. and Newsweek
CNN:
Johnson shifts strategy on Epstein files vote - as GOP leaders brace for mass defections
Johnson shifts strategy on Epstein files vote - as GOP leaders brace for mass defections
Discussion:
HuffPost, NewsMax.com, Straight Arrow News, Politico, The Sun, ABC News, CBS News, Salon, The Hill, Grabien, Al Jazeera, The Moderate Voice, Washington Examiner, Daily Mail, Washington Post, Mediaite, TMZ.com, Courier-Journal and PoliticusUSA
ProPublica:
Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts — On Oct. 2, the second day of the government shutdown, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrived at Mount Rushmore to shoot a television ad. Sitting on horseback in chaps and a cowboy hat …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
Jason Wilson / The Guardian:
Jeffrey Epstein advised Steve Bannon during 2018 pro-Trump media campaign — Text messages released by US House show convicted sex offender coaching Maga influencer on political messaging — The convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein apparently served as a behind-the-scenes adviser …
Discussion:
Media Matters for America, Raw Story, CBS News and New York Times
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Jesse Bedayn / Associated Press:
Epstein emails reveal enduring ties with influential figures even after his sex crime conviction — By the time Jeffery Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to soliciting prostitution from an underage girl, he had established an enormous network of wealthy and influential friends.
Discussion:
IJR, WTOP News, MyNorthwest.com, The Intellectualist and Daily Mail
Paul Krugman:
The Decline and Fall of the Heritage Foundation — Its descent into conspiracy-mongering and blatant bigotry was utterly predictable — There's deep turmoil at the Heritage Foundation, the right-wing “think tank” that calls itself “America's most influential policy organization,” and is responsible for Project 2025.
Discussion:
New York Times, Liberal Currents, Jewish Insider and The UnPopulist
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William Kristol / The Bulwark:
The Conservative Old Guard Wakes Up and Smells the Groypers — Sen. John Fetterman had an apparent health scare yesterday, falling during a walk near his home and being briefly hospitalized with injuries to his face. A spokesperson said that Fetterman felt lightheaded and fell due to a …
Kate Brumback / Associated Press:
New prosecutor to take on Georgia election case against Trump and others — The leader of a nonpartisan organization announced he will take over the Georgia election interference case against President Donald Trump and others after Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was removed from the case.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, The Hill, CBS News, IJR, New York Sun, The National Pulse, Raw Story, Daily Caller News Foundation and Newsweek
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Jason Morris / CNN:
Georgia election interference case against Trump and allies will carry on with new prosecutor to replace Fani Willis
Patrick Marley / Washington Post:
Georgia prosecutor keeps case against Trump alive for now
Georgia prosecutor keeps case against Trump alive for now
Discussion:
Forbes
New York Times:
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump's Claims About Cartels — Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president's desired course of action. — A secret Justice Department memo blessing President Trump's boat strikes …
Discussion:
Joe.My.God., LewRockwell, Raw Story and The Independent
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April Rubin / Axios:
Most oppose Trump's military strikes against alleged drug boats: poll — A majority of U.S. adults oppose the U.S. military killing suspected drug traffickers without judicial process, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll released Friday. … - The White House did not immediately comment …
Discussion:
Reuters, The Sun, CNN and The Atlantic
NBC News:
GOP senators distance themselves from provision allowing them to sue over phone record searches — The senators' comments came after House Speaker Mike Johnson said he would hold a vote on the House floor to repeal the provision inserted by his Senate counterparts.
Discussion:
Politico, HuffPost, Washington Examiner, KING-TV, al.com, CBS News, Newsweek, New York Sun, NOTUS and The Daily Caller
Zoe Tillman / Bloomberg:
Michael Flynn, DOJ in Settlement Talks Over $50 Million Claim — The Justice Department has been discussing settlements with two former officials from Donald Trump's first term who — like the president — claim they're owed major payouts from the US government as victims of politically-motivated actions.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Daniel Lippman / Politico:
Trump taps Ingrassia for new role after texting scandal … “It's been the greatest honor to serve Secretary [Kristi] Noem and President Trump, alongside all of you,” he wrote in Thursday's email. He added, “I genuinely feel this is the strongest group of political appointees anywhere …
Discussion:
MSNBC, The Daily Beast, The Gateway Pundit, Jewish Insider, The Independent, The Hill, NewsMax.com and Raw Story
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Meryl Kornfield / Washington Post:
Trump moves loyalist to GSA posting after previous nomination fell apart
Trump moves loyalist to GSA posting after previous nomination fell apart
Discussion:
Joe.My.God.
Noor Nanji / BBC:
BBC apologises to Trump over Panorama edit but refuses to pay compensation — The BBC has apologised to US President Donald Trump for a Panorama episode that spliced parts of his 6 January 2021 speech together, but rejected his demands for compensation. — The corporation said the edit had given …
Discussion:
The National Pulse, UPI, Telegraph, Columbia Journalism Review, Washington Post, Fox News, The Daily Sceptic, MSNBC, Straight Arrow News, New Republic, Mediaite, Washington Examiner, Politico, NewsMax.com, HotAir, Associated Press, Reuters, RedState, New York Sun, Deadline, Bloomberg, Ace of Spades HQ, Semafor, The Daily Caller, Joe.My.God. and Axios, more at Mediagazer »
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Mark Landler / New York Times:
BBC Apologizes to Trump but Refuses to Pay Compensation
BBC Apologizes to Trump but Refuses to Pay Compensation
Discussion:
BBC, Townhall, Al Jazeera, France 24, Mediaite, Metro.co.uk, The Sun, Reason, The Gateway Pundit and Telegraph, more at Mediagazer »
Brian Slodysko / Associated Press:
Top Fannie Mae officials ousted after sounding alarm on sharing confidential housing data — A confidant of Bill Pulte, the Trump administration's top housing regulator, provided confidential mortgage pricing data from Fannie Mae to a principal competitor, alarming senior officials …
Discussion:
Dean Baker, emptywheel and Washington Examiner
Lindsay Ellis / Wall Street Journal:
Companies Predict 2026 Will Be the Worst College Grad Job Market in Five Years — Hires from the Class of 2026 will stay largely flat, employers project, as layoffs rise and AI is able to do more entry-level tasks — Employers rate the job market for college graduates
Discussion:
Derek Thompson
The Harvard Crimson:
Harvard Faculty Disturbed by Revelations of Summers' ‘Cozy Friendship’ With Epstein — Harvard professors responded with outrage to a tranche of emails showing a close yearslong correspondence between former Harvard President Lawrence H. Summers and sex offender Jeffrey E. Epstein …
Discussion:
New York Post and Lawyers, Guns & Money
New York Times:
Trump Administration Prepares Tariff Exemptions in Bid to Lower Food Prices — If the proposal goes into effect, it would be the latest rollback of one of President Trump's key economic policies over concerns about affordability. — The Trump administration is preparing broad exemptions …
Discussion:
NOTUS, Bloomberg, CNBC, Politico, New Republic, New York Post, Associated Press, Fox Business, El País, Reuters, Raw Story and Mediaite
Washington Examiner:
Gorsuch warns about this ‘greatest danger’ facing the country today — Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch was on Fox and Friends on Thursday morning to promote his new children's book, Heroes of 1776. — During his interview with Fox News's Lawrence Jones, Gorsuch discussed the contents of his book …
Discussion:
Fox News, The Gateway Pundit and The Federalist
Bloomberg:
Epstein's Library — The disgraced financier purchased books about making money, treating narcissism, negotiating with anyone, achieving ecstasy and understanding life — In October 2016, when a new book about Jeffrey Epstein came out, he bought 17 copies. A few months after that, he picked up six books about narcissism.
New York Times:
Kennedy Walks a Tightrope on Trump Deal for Obesity Drugs — The weight loss medicines are proving to be a test case for Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary, in straddling divisions between his supporters and the president. — Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nation's health secretary …
Discussion:
Althouse
The Guardian:
US designates four European anti-fascist groups as terrorist threats — State department claims groups in Germany, Italy and Greece ‘conspiring to undermine foundations of western civilization’ — The US state department has announced that it will designate four European self-described anti-fascist groups …
Reese Gorman / NOTUS:
A New Litmus Test For Republicans Running for Senate: Ending The Filibuster — Republicans running in Senate primaries have a new litmus test for who the Trumpiest candidate is: Do you support nuking the filibuster? — President Donald Trump has repeatedly called on Senate Republicans …
Discussion:
The Contrarian and Talking Points Memo
Christopher Condon / Bloomberg:
Janet Yellen Says the US Is Undermining Its Economic Success — The former Treasury secretary warns that Trump's attacks on the rule of law, the Fed and universities threaten the foundations of American prosperity. — In May 2024, eight months before the end of her tenure as US Treasury secretary …
Amie Parnes / The Hill:
Ocasio-Cortez hears growing calls for her to challenge Schumer in New York — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was already seen as a strong contender to challenge Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) for his Senate seat before the government shutdown. — Calls for the progressive star …
Ron Dicker / HuffPost:
Epstein Email About Giving Girlfriend To Trump Enrages Model ‘Groped’ By Him — The former Sports Illustrated model said Epstein, whom she dated in the early 1990s, “delivered” her to Trump. — A newly released email in which Jeffrey Epstein bragged about giving a girlfriend to Donald Trump angered …
Discussion:
The Independent and New Republic
Jon Gambrell / Associated Press:
Iran seizes tanker in Strait of Hormuz, US official says, as tensions remain high in region — Iran seized a Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker as it traveled through the narrow Strait of Hormuz on Friday, a U.S. official said, turning the ship into Iranian territorial waters …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Bloomberg, Associated Press and Reuters
Piper Hudspeth Blackburn / CNN:
Display about Black soldiers in World War II removed from US military cemetery — In the winter of 1944, as some of the bloodiest fighting in World War II ramped up in Europe, 19-year-old then-1st Sgt. Jefferson Wiggins, along with hundreds of other Black soldiers, were tasked with burying the dead in the southern Netherlands.
Discussion:
Washington Post and The Independent
Wall Street Journal:
Seattle Elects Mamdani West — Mayor-elect Katie Wilson is soft on crime but tough on businesses. — New Yorkers, take perverse comfort: At least you'll have company in your socialist future. Forty-three-year-old community organizer Katie Wilson eked out a victory in Seattle's mayoral race last week …
Discussion:
Associated Press and PJ Media
Kathrin Hille / Financial Times:
Xi Jinping's purge of military officers raises doubts about China's readiness for war — Analysts link removal of top commanders to change in People's Liberation Army operations near Taiwan — When Xi Jinping presided over the lavish commissioning of China's newest aircraft carrier this month …
Julianne McShane / Mother Jones:
Megyn Kelly Suddenly Finds Pedophilia Very Hard to Define — When a 16-year-old accused Russell Brand of rape, Kelly begged conservatives to condemn him. Now she's splitting hairs about men “into the barely legal type.” — Megyn Kelly is known for offering absurd takes that nobody asked for.
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, Wonkette, The Independent, Raw Story, The Wrap, Salon, Newsweek, al.com, HuffPost and Mediaite
First Branch Forecast:
Interview: Ruth Bloch Rubin — “I think the idea that there can be flavors to partisanship is good when voters chafe at the two-party structure.” … Daniel Schuman: Dr. Bloch Rubin, welcome. — Ruth Bloch Rubin: Thank you guys for having me. — Daniel: We're thrilled to have you.
Department of Homeland Security:
Secretary Noem Gives TSA Officers $10,000 Bonus for Above and Beyond Service During Democrats' Shutdown — Trump administration rewards public servants who kept airports safe despite the Democrats' games — HOUSTON, Texas - On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem announced …
Discussion:
New York Times, Straight Arrow News, UPI, Breitbart, MSNBC, The Hill, CBS News, Fox News, The National Pulse, Federal News Network, New York Times, One America News Network, Blaze Media, Houston Public Media, The Daily Caller, Washington Examiner, The Gateway Pundit, New York Sun, Washington Times, Bloomberg, NewsMax.com, Newsweek, Joe.My.God., PinkNews and National Politics
