memeorandum: Fireworks in Cuccinelli, McAuliffe debate (Katie Glueck/Politico)

6:05 PM ET, July 20, 2013

Top Items:

Dylan Byers / Politico:

Helen Thomas, trailblazing reporter, dead at 92 — Helen Thomas, whose career covering the White House dated back to the Kennedy administration, died on Saturday at the age of 92, the Gridiron Club announced in an email to members on Saturday. — Thomas was the first woman to join …

Discussion: CNN, Mediaite, The Huffington Post, Scared Monkeys, Mashable, NewsBusters blogs, UrbanGrounds and Blazing Cat Fur, more at Mediagazer »

David Stout / New York Times:

Blunt Chronicler of Presidents From Kennedy Era to Obama — WASHINGTON — Helen Thomas, whose keen curiosity, unquenchable drive and celebrated constancy made her a trailblazing White House correspondent in a press corps dominated by men and later the dean of the White House briefing room, died Saturday at home in Washington.

Discussion: Yahoo! News, Outside the Beltway, Showbiz411, Gawker and The Mahablog

CNN:

Longtime journalist Helen Thomas dead at 92 — Front row with Helen Thomas — (CNN) — Longtime White House journalist Helen Thomas has died at age 92 after a long illness, sources told CNN Saturday. — Thomas covered 10 presidents over nearly half a century, and became a legend in the industry.

Discussion: PolicyMic, The Gateway Pundit, Shot in the Dark and Joe. My. God.

Jake Miller / CBS News:

Veteran White House journalist Helen Thomas dies — Veteran White House journalist Helen Thomas died early Saturday morning in Washington, D.C., CBS News confirms. She was 92 years old. — A cousin of Thomas' confirmed her passing to CBS News White House correspondent Peter Maer.

Discussion: Firedoglake, CBS New York and Booman Tribune

Calvin Woodward / Associated Press:

Pioneering Journalist Helen Thomas Dies at 92 — Helen Thomas, the irrepressible White House correspondent who used her seat in the front row of history to grill 10 presidents and was not shy about sharing her opinions, died Saturday. She was 92. — Thomas, who died at her apartment in Washington …

Discussion: Associated Press, Reuters, Poynter, Yahoo! News and Washington Monthly

Rich Benjamin / Salon:

Obama's safe, overrated and airy speech — The president's remarks gave us context to the episode, but not a single opinion on the issues that brought us here — When people hold their breath for your imminent words, isn't it exasperating when you open your mouth, but don't say much?

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, BREITBART.COM, Mediaite, BizPac Review, Weasel Zippers, NewsBusters blogs and David E's FablogDavid …

Tom Brown / Reuters:

Trayvon Martin's parents lead protests over Zimmerman verdict — (Reuters) - Trayvon Martin's parents were due to lead demonstrations in New York and Miami on Saturday, as protesters across the country rallied to express anger over the acquittal of the man who shot and killed the unarmed black teenager.

Discussion: The Huffington Post, The Hinterland Gazette, The Hill and Informed Comment

Greg Hengler / Townhall.com:
Krauthammer: Obama's Trayvon Speech “Not Enlightening”—The Trial Was Not About Race

Discussion: Scared Monkeys and The Gateway Pundit

Charles M. Blow / New York Times:
Barack and Trayvon — On Friday President Obama picked …

Discussion: neo-neocon, New Republic, Yahoo! News and American Power

Julieparise / CBS New York:
Trayvon Martin's Mother Speaks Out With Sharpton At Rally Outside NYPD

Discussion: Guardian, Alan Colmes' Liberaland and Mediaite

NPR:
Week In Politics: Obama On Race And Trayvon Martin

Discussion: National Review and No More Mister Nice Blog

Adam Kredo / Washington Free Beacon:
Iran's Mullahs Demand Justice for Trayvon

Discussion: Weasel Zippers

Jodi Rudoren / New York Times:

Palestinian Prisoner Release Is Critical Hurdle in Resuming Peace Talks — JERUSALEM — After a week of intense diplomatic meetings with Palestinian leaders, Secretary of State John Kerry is counting on an Israeli government decision to release long-serving Palestinian prisoners …

Discussion: Israel Matzav, Via Meadia, Outside the Beltway and The Back Channel

Katie Glueck / Politico:

Fireworks in Cuccinelli, McAuliffe debate — HOT SPRINGS, Va. — Virginia's gubernatorial hopefuls bashed each other for 90 minutes Saturday over jobs, the ethics scandal that's consumed Gov. Bob McDonnell and social issues as they faced off in their first debate of the most closely-watched election of 2013.

Discussion: CNN and The PJ Tatler

Josh Israel / ThinkProgress:
Virginia GOP Nominee For Governor: I Still Believe Gay People Are ‘Soulless’ And ‘Self Destructive’

Discussion: Alan Colmes' Liberaland, The Raw Story and RH Reality Check

Steven Rattner / Opinionator:

We Have to Step In and Save Detroit — For months, the question in many minds has been not whether Detroit would file for bankruptcy, but when. — But while Detroit's decision this week to enter bankruptcy might make it easier to improve the city's fiscal position, it will prove far tougher …

Discussion: National Review, Conservatives4Palin, The PJ Tatler, detroitnews.com and BREITBART.COM

Washington Post:
Bankrupt Detroit runs out of gas

Discussion: Firedoglake, New York Times, Wonkblog and Wall Street Journal

Ed Rogers / PostPartisan:

The Insiders: Obamacare is falling apart — As the reality of Obamacare emerges, a disastrous calamity imposed on the American people, even the most compliant members of the Obama fan club are beginning to panic. Three union presidents have sent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid …

Discussion: The PJ Tatler, Power Line, NewsBusters blogs, Weasel Zippers, Conservative Intelligence … and Weekly Standard

Elise Viebeck / The Hill:
GOP urges Senate to delay ObamaCare's individual mandate

Discussion: CNN

Erik Wasson / The Hill:
Obama hails Cordray confirmation as CFPB chief in weekly address

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Politico and CNN

Radley Balko / Wall Street Journal:

Rise of the Warrior Cop — Is it time to reconsider the militarization of American policing? — On Jan. 4 of last year, a local narcotics strike force conducted a raid on the Ogden, Utah, home of Matthew David Stewart at 8:40 p.m. The 12 officers were acting on a tip from Mr. Stewart's former girlfriend …

Discussion: Vox Popoli, Cafe Hayek and Postmodern Conservative

Mike Lillis / The Hill:

Congressional Black Caucus members would support Florida boycott — A number of House Democrats are lining up behind the Rev. Jesse Jackson's threat for an economic boycott of Florida following the not-guilty verdict in the death of Trayvon Martin. — The lawmakers, all members …

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Weasel Zippers, Scared Monkeys and Gretawire

Bloomberg:

China's Flying Propaganda Weapon Will Blow Your Mind — What's the latest weapon in the Chinese military's arsenal of high-tech killing machines? It might be an airplane capable of disseminating propaganda so powerful it induces nervous breakdowns, according to report in Tuesday's Global Times …