GOP's Fake News Sites, McGahn Suggested To Porter That He Resign, And Trump Lawyer Admits To Paying Stormy Daniels

February 14th, 2018 Top Stories --------------------------------------------------------------- [Nunes Campaign Site Latest GOP Venture To Masquerade As News]( The Gist: Last month, a site called the Maine Examiner reported that Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, was the state’s only member of Congress to vote to shut down the government. Two weeks ago, another site, the California Republican, shared an article promising to explain “the process behind #ReleaseTheMemo,” House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes’ (R-CA) push to release a document that he has said shows anti-Trump bias at the FBI. Both sites look like news outlets. But neither have staff writers, editorial guidelines, or physical offices. Instead, the Maine Examiner appears to be linked to the state’s Republican Party. And the California Republican is a project of Nunes’ reelection campaign. [NYT: McGahn Suggested To Porter That He Resign In November]( The Gist: White House Counsel Don McGahn suggested to Rob Porter in November that he resign from his position as staff secretary after Porter’s ex-girlfriend contacted McGahn about Porter’s behavior, the New York Times reported Tuesday night, citing people familiar with the discussion. [Trump’s Lawyer Says He Paid Stormy Daniels Out Of His Own Pocket]( The Gist: Michael Cohen, the longtime lawyer for President Donald Trump, said on Tuesday that he paid $130,000 to porn star Stephanie Clifford, who uses the stage name Stormy Daniels, out of his own pocket. From The Reporter's Notebook --------------------------------------------------------------- [TPM’s Allegra Kirkland reported]( on GOP operatives’ use of fake “news” sites to promote a political agenda. While those who use them insist voters are capable of figuring out the purpose and ideological bent of online content on their own, studies on “fake news” consumption suggest otherwise. Of hundreds of middle schoolers [surveyed]( as part of a Stanford University study, some 80 percent believed a sponsored content ad hosted by Slate was a real news story." Agree Or Disagree? --------------------------------------------------------------- Josh Marshall: "In the current climate, any suspicion of Trump associates’ ties to Russia is treated as [prima facie evidence of bias against Trump](. I suspect there are lots of documents and transactions we have yet to see which paint a significantly darker and more harrowing picture than most reporting has led us to believe." Say What?! --------------------------------------------------------------- "It was all done right." - White House Chief of Staff John Kelly [expressing satisfaction]( with the way he handled the Rob Porter situation. BUZZING: Today in the Hive --------------------------------------------------------------- From a TPM Prime member: "Is Pruitt just being paranoid, or is it that his policies and practices at the EPA are so thoroughly repugnant that he has every reason to fear for his life? In my opinion as a taxpayer, I say make him fly in economy on the least expensive airlines available." Related: [Pruitt Says He Takes First Class And Military Flights Due To ‘Level Of Threat’]( Have something to add? Become a [Prime]( member and join the discussion [here](. What We're Reading --------------------------------------------------------------- Louise Linton Is Super-Duper Sorry ([Elle]( He Tried To Woo A Woman By Chartering A Helicopter For A Fake Military Mission, Officials Say ([The Washington Post]( [unsubscribe from this list]( | [update subscription preferences]( | [view email in browser](