Cuomo Aims to Legalize Recreational Marijuana

Written by Olivia Paschal (@oliviacpaschal) and Madeleine Carlisle (@maddiecarlisle2)

Today in 5 Lines

Republican Senator Lamar Alexander announced that he would not seek reelection in 2020, setting up Tennessee for its second Senate election in two years after Republican Marsha Blackburn won her seat in November.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo explicitly said for the first time that he supports legalizing recreational marijuana in New York and announced that it would be one of his legislative priorities in early 2019.
Two new reports released by the Senate Intelligence Committee detail how Russian trolls attempted to depress voter turnout among African Americans in the 2016 campaign.
Former FBI Director James Comey testified in a closed-door hearing in front of the House Judiciary and Oversight committees, after already testifying for six hours earlier this month.
A former business partner of Michael Flynn, President Donald Trump’s former national-security adviser, was charged with conspiracy and acting as an agent of a foreign country after lobbying to have a Turkish cleric extradited from the U.S.

Today on The Atlantic

The World in 2019: According to foreign-policy experts, this is what lies in wait for the United States—and the world—in the year to come. (Uri Friedman)
The Future of Obamacare: The landmark health-care legislation was struck down in a Texas court this weekend. Here’s what comes next. (Vann R. Newkirk II)
Love Language: In an interview with Franklin Foer, New Jersey Senator Cory Booker talks about his faith, his potential run for president, and why he’s “leaning even more into” love—even for Trump.
Pardon Me, Sir: What would happen if Trump tried to pardon himself? Garrett Epps breaks down the possible scenarios.
The Future of Farming: A small-dollar provision in the new farm bill strengthens programs for farmers outside the current dominant, aging, white demographic. (Olivia Paschal)

Snapshot

Furniture to be moved sits in the hall outside congressional offices weeks before the end of the term, as dozens of outgoing and incoming members of Congress move into and out of Washington. (Reuters / Jonathan Ernst)

What We’re Reading

How to Win in 2020: The Democrats’ best chance to take the White House is to put forward an economic populist, argues David Leonhardt. (The New York Times)

‘A Trump Personality Cult’: The death of The Weekly Standard marks a turning point in not only conservative media, but also conservative ideology. (Seth Masket, Pacific Standard)

Testing the Waters: Julian Castro, the former secretary of housing and urban development, is thinking about running for president. Could he have a shot at turning Texas blue? (Ryan C. Brooks, BuzzFeed News)

Who’s to Blame?: Paul Ryan is on the conservative speaking circuit blaming everybody but himself for the current state of American politics, writes Tara Golshan. (Vox)