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Donald Trump directed me to pay hush money, says Michael Cohen – live Trump considering five people for White House chief of staff – live
(35 minutes later)
Bill Kristol, one of the founders of the Weekly Standard, tweets an elegy to the magazine.
All good things come to an end. And so, after 23 years, does The Weekly Standard. I want to express my gratitude to our readers and my admiration for my colleagues. We worked hard to put out a quality magazine, and we had a good time doing so. And we have much more to do. Onward!
Alice Lloyd at the magazine also wrote a lovely piece about “Last Lines” that was published this morning.
Julián Castro is still playing coy about a presidential bid but his brother isn’t.
2/2You can't say it, but twin can..JULIAN: I'm going to make an announcement on Jan 12th.COLBERT: Why do you have to wait? JOAQUIN: I'll speak on his behalf here. He's going to run for president.... For the FEC lawyers, he didn't say it. https://t.co/r1A78chluU
The owners of the Weekly Standard are apparently not treating its staffers with kid gloves as they close down the venerable publication only days before Christmas.
So there are non-disparagement clauses in the severance packages being given to the staffers at the Weekly Standard.I'm not a staffer.There will be much disparagement in this space and elsewhere, and factual disparagement as well.
Clarity Media said everybody had to leave Standard by 5, and didn't provide boxes for people to put their stuff in.
In discussing the intrigue about the next White House chief of staff, spokesman Hogan Gidley told reporters this morning that Trump is “expected to make an announcement imminently.”
“The president said yesterday he has about five names in the hopper. We expect him to make an announcement pretty quickly. ... Obviously, if the president and the chief of staff make another deal and extend it, they can do that. It’s their prerogative to do so. Right now, currently, John Kelly is expected to leave at the first of the year. The president is also expected to make an announcement imminently. I’m not going to tell you who that’s going to be and I definitely don’t have any tips for you.”
The conservative magazine which has long been a thoughtful outlet on the right is reportedly shutting down. The magazine was founded in 1995. Its last issue came out today with a cover story on Nikki Haley by Michael Warren.The conservative magazine which has long been a thoughtful outlet on the right is reportedly shutting down. The magazine was founded in 1995. Its last issue came out today with a cover story on Nikki Haley by Michael Warren.
Per source: The Weekly Standard is shutting down. No merger with the Washington Examiner.Per source: The Weekly Standard is shutting down. No merger with the Washington Examiner.
Reporters in Washington DC are hanging around a courtroom where a sealed grand jury is hearing arguments in a case that may be related to the Mueller investigation. All information about the case is sealed.Reporters in Washington DC are hanging around a courtroom where a sealed grand jury is hearing arguments in a case that may be related to the Mueller investigation. All information about the case is sealed.
The DC Circuit is about to hear arguments in the sealed grand jury matter. They've sealed not only the courtroom, but the whole floor, so we've been moved away. Haven't recognized anyone going in earlier as being connected to Mueller's office, now we won't be able to seeThe DC Circuit is about to hear arguments in the sealed grand jury matter. They've sealed not only the courtroom, but the whole floor, so we've been moved away. Haven't recognized anyone going in earlier as being connected to Mueller's office, now we won't be able to see
Hogan Gidley also told reporters that John Kelly’s tenure as chief of staff might be extended and that Trump is currently looking at five people for the job.Hogan Gidley also told reporters that John Kelly’s tenure as chief of staff might be extended and that Trump is currently looking at five people for the job.
White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley attacked the media’s coverage of Michael Cohen as giving “credence” to a convicted felon while speaking with reporters just now.White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley attacked the media’s coverage of Michael Cohen as giving “credence” to a convicted felon while speaking with reporters just now.
Former senator and vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman has been hired by a Chinese telecom company, ZTE.Former senator and vice presidential candidate Joe Lieberman has been hired by a Chinese telecom company, ZTE.
ZTE has long been the subject of warnings that its equipment is used for espionage by the Chinese government and it was almost banned from doing business in the United States earlier this year as a result.ZTE has long been the subject of warnings that its equipment is used for espionage by the Chinese government and it was almost banned from doing business in the United States earlier this year as a result.
SCOOP -- Joe Lieberman is now working for Chinese telecom giant ZTE as it tries to fend off concerns that it poses a threat to U.S. national security -- he's been hired to conduct an "independent" national security assessment: https://t.co/yuoAewkWk7SCOOP -- Joe Lieberman is now working for Chinese telecom giant ZTE as it tries to fend off concerns that it poses a threat to U.S. national security -- he's been hired to conduct an "independent" national security assessment: https://t.co/yuoAewkWk7
Scott Walker will either sign or veto legislation that will greatly weaken the power of incoming Democrat Tony Evers this afternoon.Scott Walker will either sign or veto legislation that will greatly weaken the power of incoming Democrat Tony Evers this afternoon.
Republican controlled state legislature passed legislature to take power away from Evers as well as to limit early voting and require the state to be a party to a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act.Republican controlled state legislature passed legislature to take power away from Evers as well as to limit early voting and require the state to be a party to a lawsuit seeking to overturn the Affordable Care Act.
.@GovWalker will take action on the lame-duck/extraordinary session bills at noon in Green Bay, per his office.@GovWalker will take action on the lame-duck/extraordinary session bills at noon in Green Bay, per his office
Jon Kyl, the appointed replacement for John McCain’s seat, will resign at the end of the year.Jon Kyl, the appointed replacement for John McCain’s seat, will resign at the end of the year.
Kyl, a former three-term senator who retired in 2012, was appointed as a temporary placeholder by Republican governor Doug Ducey.Kyl, a former three-term senator who retired in 2012, was appointed as a temporary placeholder by Republican governor Doug Ducey.
His brief tenure raised scrutiny because he has since become a lobbyist in Washington.His brief tenure raised scrutiny because he has since become a lobbyist in Washington.
Ducey will appoint a replacement for Kyl who will serve until a special election is held in 2020 for the remainder of McCain’s term.Ducey will appoint a replacement for Kyl who will serve until a special election is held in 2020 for the remainder of McCain’s term.
BREAKING #AZSEN NEWS: Jon Kyl will resign from the U.S. Senate on Dec. 31, setting up another appointment by Ducey to John McCan's seat https://t.co/4cbBLuEE43 via @azcentralBREAKING #AZSEN NEWS: Jon Kyl will resign from the U.S. Senate on Dec. 31, setting up another appointment by Ducey to John McCan's seat https://t.co/4cbBLuEE43 via @azcentral
Jerome Corsi, one of the targets in Mueller’s investigation, raised $25,000 online for a cancer patient’s treatment with an Israeli doctor. However, there’s no evidence that the doctor exists and the owner of the doctor’s clinic is the patient.
Jerome Corsi pushed a fundraiser over the summer to raise $25,000 for a guy who claimed he needed surgery for bladder cancer. But there are some problems: https://t.co/1JvGnpeIS4 @dailycaller
There has already been speculation that Michael Cohen might testify before congressional Democrats next year before his prison term begins in order to have a “John Dean” moment.
This clip from his interview this morning with George Stephanopoulos points to that likelihood.
EXCLUSIVE: Michael Cohen to @GStephanopoulos: "One of the hopes that I have out of the punishment that I've received, as well as the cooperation that I have given—I will be remembered in history as helping to bring this country back together." https://t.co/qBfZpX6n4s pic.twitter.com/hYSdOaj0el
Jon Ossoff, the Democrat whose unsuccessful congressional special election sparked national progressive activism, may be mounting another run.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Ossoff is holding events in the rural part of the state in advance of a potential 2020 bid for the Senate.
Ossoff recently wrote an op-ed in the Guardian as well.
Jon Ossoff considering GA SEN bid in 2020, holding town hall meetings in rural parts of the state - https://t.co/mNhX3gDDD8
Outgoing Illinois Republican governor Bruce Rauner tried an unusual strategy to defeat his Democrat opponent, JB Pritzker, in the midterms: getting taken off the ballot.
The Chicago Tribune reports that Rauner spent much of the past year seeking Republicans to replace him after Rauner almost lost his primary to an underfunded conservative.
A millionaire, Rauner alienated social conservatives by signing abortion rights legislation while serving as a vocal opponent of organized labor. He lost by 16% to Pritzker, the billionaire member of the clan that owns Hyatt hotels.
Politico has a tick-tock on how Nancy Pelosi locked down the votes to become House speaker in January.
It captures the politics of how she out maneuvered her critics to get the 218 votes required to be elected speaker.
Colorado representative Ed Perlmutter, a leader of a group of Democratic rebels trying to push Pelosi out of House leadership, had flown back to Washington to negotiate with her face-to-face. Pelosi had already flipped several critics and shown momentum in her bid to reclaim the gavel. Perlmutter’s group was under siege from Pelosi allies both in and outside the Capitol.
But Pelosi still didn’t have the votes to become speaker. And she was ready to make a dramatic overture to lock down support. During the meeting in her office on the second floor of the Capitol, Pelosi told Perlmutter she was open to term limits on her leadership.
It was the first time Pelosi had expressed a willingness to accept an end-date on her power after 16 years atop the Democratic Caucus. It proved to be the decisive moment in Pelosi’s weeks-long slog to ensure she would be the first lawmaker since the legendary Sam Rayburn in the 1950s to win the speaker’s gavel a second time.
As Trump’s chief of staff search continues, the Associated Press reports that he met with former New Jersey governor Chris Christie about the position on Thursday.
The hunt for John Kelly’s replacement has turned frantic after Mike Pence’s chief of staff, Nick Ayers, turned down the position at the beginning of the week.
Progressives in the Democratic party will have to face a clear choice in 2020 as both Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are poised to run for the White House.
The New York Times reports that the two had a meeting Wednesday night in Warren’s DC condo to discuss the 2020 race.
The Weekly Standard, the prominent conservative magazine that has consistently challenged the Trump administration, has been threatened with being shut down by its owners.
An all-staff meeting is being held today at 10.30 where the magazine’s fate will be revealed.
Weekly Standard Editor-in-Chief Steve Hayes just sent the following note to staff: “I’m not sure what today will bring” pic.twitter.com/7HsNIX0Vim
Congress is already out of town for the weekend with the House not scheduled to return until 19 December.
The federal government is only fully funded through 21 December.
Good morning.
Michael Cohen told ABC News that Donald Trump knew paying hush money to women was wrong, Trump’s re-election campaign has hired a top RNC official to oversee their operations in Ohio and we are a week away from a partial government shutdown.
It’s Friday in American politics.