memeorandum: Ricin found on letter to Obama; police investigate packages on Hill (Politico)

1:35 PM ET, April 17, 2013

Top Items:

David Sirota / Salon:

Let's hope the Boston Marathon bomber is a white American — There is a double standard: White terrorists are dealt with as lone wolves, Islamists are existential threats — As we now move into the official Political Aftermath period of the Boston bombing — the period that will determine …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, No More Mister Nice Blog, The PJ Tatler, CNN, The Jawa Report, Tim Wise, NewsBusters, Atlas Shrugs, Outside the Beltway, Shot in the Dark, Weasel Zippers, Restoring Liberty, Mediaite, Jihad Watch, protein wisdom, Right Wing Watch and Post Politics

Dale Russell / Atlanta News, Weather …:

EXCLUSIVE PHOTOS: Boston Marathon bomb — The bomb that exploded at the finish line of Monday's Boston Marathon sent shock waves across the country. Crime scene photos obtained exclusively by FOX 5 Atlanta are the first look at what is left of the first deadly device.

Discussion: Fox News, Wall Street Journal, Quartz, Deadspin, Doug Ross, Gawker, Mediaite, Ed Driscoll, Hot Air, nation.foxnews.com, New York Times and iOwnTheWorld.com

Tom Watkins / CNN:

Source: ‘Substantial progress’ in Boston bombings investigation — Nation mourns Boston bomb victims — (CNN) — Investigators believe they have identified a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombings, a source who has been briefed on the investigation told CNN's John King exclusively.

Discussion: New York Times, Pat Dollard, Weasel Zippers, NationalJournal.com, The Week, The Daily Beast, Lynn Sweet, Business Insider, Macleans.ca, AMERICAblog and Politico

CNN:

Boston Marathon bombs have hallmarks of ‘lone wolf’ devices, experts say — (CNN) — The devices used in the Boston Marathon attack Monday are typical of the “lone wolf:” the solo terrorist who builds a bomb on his own by following a widely available formula.

Discussion: Donklephant, The Jawa Report, Weasel Zippers, Restoring Liberty, Politico and AMERICAblog

Susan Tran / WHDH-TV:

EXCLUSIVE: New pics from moments before, after blasts — BOSTON (WHDH) — Photos sent to 7News by a viewer show the scene just before and right after the bombs went off on Boylston Street. — 7News has provided these pictures to the FBI as they continue their investigation.

Discussion: The Jawa Report, U.S. News, The PJ Tatler, ABC News, Telegraph, The Right Scoop, Scared Monkeys, The Gateway Pundit, CNN, Doug Ross, Riehl World News, The Boston Globe and New York Post

Amy Davidson / News Desk:

The Saudi Marathon Man — A twenty-year-old man who had been watching the Boston Marathon had his body torn into by the force of a bomb. He wasn't alone; a hundred and seventy-six people were injured. But he was the only one who, while in the hospital being treated for his wounds …

Discussion: The Week, Wonkette, Mediaite, Hullabaloo, CNN, Gawker, Boston Herald, Taylor Marsh, New Republic, Macleans.ca, Talking Points Memo and Washington Post, more at Mediagazer »

Chris Buckley / New York Times:

China Mourns the Death of a Student in Boston Blast — HONG KONG - Mourning for a Chinese student who was the third victim killed in the Boston Marathon bombing rippled across her home country on Wednesday, when Internet sites and news reports described and celebrated a young woman whose ambitions …

Discussion: FP Passport, nyconsulate.prchina.org, The Week, CNN, Obsidian Wings and Business Insider

Ben Levine / Deadspin:
I Watched The Marathon Bombing From Above. These Are My Photos.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit and The American Conservative

Jim Hoft / The Gateway Pundit:
IS THIS THE BOMBER? Man With Black Backpack Before Bombing - Then Without Backpack Moments Before Blast

Discussion: Gawker, Riehl World News and Doug Ross

Tim Rohan / New York Times:
In Grisly Image, a Father Sees His Son

Discussion: Washington Wire, Telegraph, Macleans.ca, ABCNEWS, The Atlantic Wire, U.S. News, Business Insider and The Week

Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:
Bring on the Next Marathon

Discussion: JustOneMinute and Hit & Run

Bloomberg:
Bombing Hit Close to Home as Obama Aide E-Mails Mom

Discussion: ABCNEWS and Politico

Jade Walker / The Huffington Post:
Lu Lingzi Dead: Boston University Graduate Student Identified As Third Fatality In Marathon Bombings

Discussion: Firedoglake, Bloomberg, Foreign Policy, Associated Press, Riehl World News and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Alexander Mooney / CNN:

Suspicious letter addressed to Obama — (CNN) - A letter addressed to President Barack Obama that contained a “suspicious substance” has been intercepted at the White House's off-site mail facility, a Secret Service spokesman said Wednesday. The letter arrived Tuesday …

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland and The Raw Story

CNN:

Portions of Senate office buildings evacuated — The Capitol Police have alerted Senate staffers the situation involving a suspicious package has been resolved. — “The U.S. Capitol Police have removed the suspicious package from the Hart Senate Office Building and the envelopes …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

Justin Sink / The Hill:

New poison letter sent to Obama; police clear packages at Capitol — Authorities said Wednesday they had intercepted a letter to the White House that tested positive for ricin poison. — The Secret Service acknowledged the letter addressed to President Obama contained a suspicious substance …

Discussion: The Hill and Outside the Beltway

U.S. News: Letter sent to Obama tests positive for ricin, officials say

Politico:
Ricin found on letter to Obama; police investigate packages on Hill

Discussion: NPR, CNN and Gawker

CNN:
Suspicious letter for Obama intercepted, Secret Service says

Discussion: Business Insider, Taylor Marsh, Mediaite and Towleroad News #gay

Fox News:
Letter sent to Obama tests positive for ricin, FBI says

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Weasel Zippers and The Gateway Pundit

John Bresnahan / Politico:
Letter sent to Roger Wicker tests positive for ricin

nbcmiami.com:

Sen. Manchin: Background Checks Won't Survive Today's Vote — Potential GOP supporters out front on immigration won't risk second battle with conservative base on guns, Manchin tells NBC News.. — In this April 10, 2013 file photo, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., left, and Sen. Patrick Toomey …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Raw Story, Taylor Marsh, ABCNEWS, The PJ Tatler and Arizona Republic

Talking Points Memo:
Kelly Ayotte Will Oppose Senate Gun Background Checks Deal

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Slate, Weasel Zippers, Washington Free Beacon and Hot Air

Bruce Smith / bigstory.ap.org:

AP: Ex-wife says former SC Gov. Sanford trespassed — You are here — Home » United States House of Representatives » AP: Ex-wife says former SC Gov. Sanford trespassed — CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford must appear in court two days …

Discussion: Ballot Box, PoliticusUSA, Politico, The Fix, Daily Kos, FishbowlDC, Prairie Weather, Hot Air, CNN, Post Politics, Roll Call and National Review

The Post and Courier:

Jenny Sanford accuses Mark Sanford of trespassing at Sullivan's Island home — Republican congressional candidate Mark Sanford is accused of trespassing at his ex-wife's home and faces a court appearance two days after the 1st District special election, according to published reports that surfaced late Tuesday night.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, ThinkProgress and The Week

Brian Beutler / Talking Points Memo:

Why Republicans Suddenly Became Afraid Of Their Own Budget Shadow — Republicans spent the last four years criticizing Senate Democrats for failing to pass a budget resolution, and for operating outside of what's known as “regular order” on Capitol Hill, resorting instead to informal processes and “back room deals.”

Discussion: Washington Post and Booman Tribune

Cameron Joseph / The Hill:
House Dems show better first-quarter fundraising than at-risk Republicans

Discussion: Yahoo! News and The Political Carnival

Mark Murray / First Read:

Bush is back — but not his popularity — Former President George W. Bush has returned to the news — in both big and small ways. — He's a brand-new grandfather after his daughter Jenna gave birth to a baby girl. — He recently gave a wide-ranging interview to the Dallas Morning News …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Taegan Goddard's …, The Reaction, The Political Carnival and Outside the Beltway

Glenn Thrush / Politico:
Boston aftermath: No bipartisan moment?

Discussion: CNN and Right Wing News

Jon Schuppe / nbcnewyork.com:

Anthony Weiner at 2nd Place in Democratic Mayoral Poll by NBC New York/Marist — Disgraced former New York Rep. Anthony Weiner could mount a serious Democratic primary challenge against City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, whose lead in the mayoral race is slipping, a new NBC New York/Marist College poll shows.

Discussion: Guardian, Politicker, Associated Press, Hot Air, Capital New York, msnbc.com and Outside the Beltway

First Read:
First Thoughts: Background-check measure expected to fall short

Discussion: Marist Poll, Mother Jones, Wonkblog, CBS New York, Outside the Beltway and The Hill

Janet Adamy / Washington Wire:

Roofer Union Calls for Repeal of Obama Health Law — A labor union representing roofers is reversing course and calling for repeal of the federal health law, citing concerns the law will raise its cost for insuring members. — Organized labor was instrumental in getting the Affordable Care Act passed …

Discussion: Michelle Malkin, Weekly Standard, Wonkblog, Sister Toldjah and Via Meadia

Sean Higgins / Washington Examiner:
Roofers union calls for Obamacare's repeal

Discussion: Weekly Standard and The Gateway Pundit

David Taintor / Talking Points Memo:

NBC News: More Search Warrants Could Be Issued Wednesday — Federal prosecutors are preparing more search warrants in the investigation of the Boston Marathon bombings, and those warrants could be issued as early as Wednesday, NBC News' Michael Isikoff reported Wednesday on MSNBC's “The Daily Rundown.”

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Joe Pompeo / Capital New York:

‘Daily News’ doctored front-page photo from Boston bombing — Detail from the original photo (left) and the News' version. via Charles Apple — Looking for answers for nypost.com, Rupert Murdoch and Col Allan rely on a standby general: Jesse Angelo — The New York Post was derided Tuesday …

Discussion: NY Daily News, Politico, Mediaite, Weasel Zippers and Poynter, more at Mediagazer »

Paul Krugman:

Further Further Thoughts On Death By Excel — A few somewhat unrelated notes on the Reinhart-Rogoff fiasco: — 1. I thought I remembered another recent Excel disaster — and sure enough, spreadsheet coding played a role in the London Whale disaster at JP Morgan:

Discussion: The Reaction, Business Insider, Quartz, The Mahablog, FP Passport and The Tell