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☆ How Tabloids Used ‘Catch-and-Kill’ to Trade on Secrets of Celebrities
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Michael Rothfeld | More About Michael Rothfeld | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

“Catch-and-kill” is a term coined by old-time tabloid editors for buying the exclusive rights to stories, or “catching” them, for the specific purpose of ensuring the information never becomes public. Why would anyone want to spend money on a story that it never intends to publish? In the world of tabloid journalism, where ethical lines are blurry, deciding what to publish and why is often a calculus that covers favors doled out and chits called in. In 2003, Mr. Pecker’s company, American Media Inc., bought several muscle magazines founded by a mentor of Arnold Schwarzenegger, the bodybuilding legend and movie star. When Mr. Schwarzenegger, who was often featured in those magazines, jumped into the recall election to replace California’s governor, Mr. Pecker ordered his staff to buy up negative stories about him in order to protect his investment, former employees said.

Persons: ”, chits, David Pecker, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Schwarzenegger, Pecker Organizations: National Enquirer, American Media Inc

☆ Some House Republicans need this reminder that Russia is not their friend
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There is a major disconnect between two CNN stories on Wednesday about Russia and the US. While it is mostly Republicans who oppose additional funding for Ukraine, they are still a minority, even within their own party. In February, 22 Republicans in the Senate joined all but three Democrats to form a 70-vote majority in favor of the funding. Asked about that propaganda comment by Tapper earlier this month, Rep. Mike Turner of Ohio, who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, agreed. The two appeared together at Mar-a-Lago last week, and Johnson has bought into Trump’s proposal to structure some Ukraine aid as a loan rather than direct aid.

Persons: Sean Lyngaas, ”, Mike Johnson, Johnson, “, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, “ We’re, Matt Gaetz, Chip Roy didn’t, he’s, it’s, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Defense Lloyd Austin, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Tucker Carlson, Vladimir Putin, Ralph Norman, Thomas Massie, Chip Roy, Tom Williams, It’s, Liz Cheney, Donald Trump, Michael McCaul, Puck, Tapper, Mike Turner of Ohio, ” Turner, Greene, Ken Buck, Moscow Marjorie ”, Putin, Trump Organizations: CNN, Capitol Hill, GOP, White, Conservative, Ukraine, Republicans, Senate, Florida, ” Texas, Defense, Republican, Fox News, Putin, Texas Republican, Foreign Affairs, House Intelligence, Trump, Mar, Lago Locations: Russia, Texas, Russian, Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Wyoming, Colorado

☆ McCarthy foes face blowback as primary threats grow and GOP donors shut wallets
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-11 | by ( Melanie Zanona | Manu Raju | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Donors no longer want to contribute to their campaigns. So we obliged her,” one House Republican told CNN. Rep. Tim Burchett of Tennessee told CNN some “very wealthy folks” shut their wallets to him in the aftermath of his vote. “If you’ve watched, just her philosophy and the flip-flopping, I don’t believe she wins reelection,” McCarthy told CNN. “We are an incumbent-driven organization and support all House Republican incumbents call,” said a spokesman for the National Republican Campaign Committee.

Persons: Kevin McCarthy, Manu Raju ”, Nancy Mace, Bob Good, Matt Rosendale, McCarthy, Mace, “ I’m, Trump, Kevin McCarthy’s, ” Mace, “, ”, Ron DeSantis, Donald Trump, Good, Mace aren’t, Tim Burchett, “ They’ve, ” Burchett, I’m, Burchett —, —, “ He’s, I’d, Andy Biggs of, Biggs, Matt Gaetz, ” Biggs, Bob, Nancy, Mike Johnson, “ McCarthy couldn’t, ” Gaetz, he’s, Gaez, Drew Angerer, Brian O, Walsh, you’ve, Catherine Templeton, John McGuire, Jeff Miller, Marjorie Taylor Greene, McGuire, Tim Sheehy, Rosendale, McCarthy’s, Mark Lamb, Eli Crane, Lamb, Crane, hasn’t, ” Crane, “ Crane, there’s, Mace —, Mace doesn’t, ” McCarthy, Tom Williams, Johnson, Greg Steele, CNN’s David Wright, Sam Fossum, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: Republicans, CNN, Capitol, GOP, Senate, Good, Main Street Caucus, Republican Governance Group, Republican, 1st Congressional District, Freedom Caucus, Florida, ”, Politico, Navy SEAL, Montana Senate, Trump’s, Burchett, Tennessee Republican, Caucus, National Republican Campaign Locations: Washington, South Carolina, Virginia, Montana, Tennessee, Andy Biggs of Arizona, Florida, Washington ,, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Rosendale, California, Arizona, Crane, Trump’s Nevada, Las Vegas, Israel

☆ Opinion: Jim Jordan’s pressure campaign backfired
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Julian Zelizer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Over the past few days, Jordan tried to pressure fellow Republicans into voting for him. He mounted an intense campaign over the weekend to whip up the vote and undermine support for Louisiana Republican Steve Scalise. Arkansas Republican Steve Womack decried the “attack, attack, attack” methods that Jordan has been using. Within the GOP, Jordan has not been a figure who is well loved. At a potential turning point moment for the party, Jordan doesn’t have many chits he can call in to round up the votes.

Persons: Julian Zelizer, Jim Jordan’s, speakership, Jordan, Louisiana Republican Steve Scalise, Arkansas Republican Steve Womack, ” Womack, Donald Trump, Trump, MAGA, shutdowns, –, John Boehner, Newt Gingrich, Patrick McHenry –, hasn’t, don’t, Jordan doesn’t Organizations: CNN, Princeton University, New York Times, America, Twitter, Louisiana Republican, Arkansas Republican, Republican, Trump, Tea Party, Fox News, GOP, Ohio State University Locations: Arkansas, legislating, New York

President Donald Trump is boxing his own shadow as he seeks the Republican presidential nomination — and that’s not likely to change anytime soon. Dan Eberhart, a Republican fundraiser who once backed Trump but now wants DeSantis to be the party’s nominee in 2024, said there's time. In the world of GOP elites, the field is quickly narrowing to Trump and DeSantis, and the Florida Republican source said there is something unique about their rivalry. “The fact is Ron is different from any other Republican who might run against Trump,” the Republican said. But more than that, he said, Republican voters are exhausted.

☆ Tim Ryan doubles down on his go-it-alone strategy in Ohio's crucial Senate race as Democratic leaders campaign elsewhere: 'They don't need to rescue me. I need to rescue them'
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-05 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Democratic Senate hopeful Tim Ryan is facing off against Trump-backed challenger JD Vance in Ohio. He added, somewhat defiantly, "They don't need to rescue me. Fans of Democratic Ohio Senate hopeful Rep. Tim Ryan chat in front of his campaign bus during a rally in Xenia, Ohio on November 4, 2022. "We don't need people from the outside coming in to sell us something, because his message is so strong," Saul added. Matheny said, adding that it "shows working-class people that you don't need all that extra money in your pocket."

House Democrats have unified as they fight to retain their fragile majority in next month’s midterms. But given Biden’s unpopularity and the GOP lead on the generic congressional ballot (which asks only which party people would support), the more likely scenario is a bad election night for House Democrats. If Pelosi, Hoyer and Clyburn head for the exits, the leadership matchups become pretty clear. Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., conducts a news conference in the Capitol Visitor Center on Sept. 20. The Massachusetts Democrat has significant support from fellow female members and has stayed close to the Black, Hispanic and Asian caucuses — big voting blocs in the diverse 220-member Democratic Caucus.

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