memeorandum: Rev. Al Sharpton's front and center (Mackenzie Weinger/Politico)

11:55 PM ET, July 20, 2013

Top Items:

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: BREITBART.COM, No More Mister Nice Blog, Little Green Footballs, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite, BizPac Review, NewsBusters blogs and David E's FablogDavid …

Ravi Somaiya / New York Times:

Demonstrations Across the Country Commemorate Trayvon Martin — Thousands of demonstrators gathered in dozens of cities on Saturday to mourn Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teenager shot to death in a confrontation with a neighborhood watch volunteer early last year, and to add their voices …

Discussion: Althouse

Javier Manjarres / The Shark Tank:

Trayvon Martin Alledged to Have Assaulted His Teacher, Dad Denies It — During the National Action Network's rally in Miami, Florida, where 2000 supporters of the groups efforts to pressure the Department of Justice to file civil rights charges against George Zimmerman, Tracy Martin …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, The Last Refuge and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Tom Brown / Reuters:
Trayvon Martin's parents lead protests over Zimmerman verdict

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

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

Discussion: Guardian and Mediaite

Mackenzie Weinger / Politico:
Rev. Al Sharpton's front and center

Discussion: NewsBusters blogs, BizPac Review and Reuters

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

Discussion: Associated Press, Power Line and Weasel Zippers

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

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

David Stout / New York Times:

50 Years of Tough Questions and ‘Thank You, Mr. President’ — 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: Showbiz411, Yahoo! News, Gawker, Outside the Beltway and The Mahablog, more at Mediagazer »

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: “The Lid”, Mediaite, The Huffington Post, CNN, Mashable, The Other McCain, UrbanGrounds, Scared Monkeys, NewsBusters blogs and Blazing Cat Fur

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

Jake Miller / CBS News:
Veteran White House journalist Helen Thomas dies

Discussion: Firedoglake, CBS New York and Booman Tribune

Calvin Woodward / Associated Press:
Pioneering Journalist Helen Thomas Dies at 92

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

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’ — In his first gubernatorial debate against Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinellii II (R) admitted Saturday that his extreme anti-LGBT views have not changed.

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

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

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: Cafe Hayek, Vox Popoli and Postmodern Conservative

Washington Post:

Bankrupt Detroit runs out of gas — DETROIT'S MUNICIPAL bankruptcy is undeniably unique in one respect: This is the largest U.S. city to ask a federal court for protection against its creditors, whether you measure by population (approximately 700,000) or by accumulated debt (up to $20 billion).

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

Steven Rattner / Opinionator:
We Have to Step In and Save Detroit

Discussion: National Review, Hot Air, Conservatives4Palin, The PJ Tatler, AEIdeas, ABC News and BREITBART.COM

Richard Pildes / Election Law Blog:

Did Election Fraud Help Win the Civil War? — One remarkable feature of the American Civil War is that in its midst we nonetheless held regularly scheduled elections. And as is well-known, in the 1862 mid-term election, President Lincoln and the Republican Party suffered devastating losses in the U.S. House.

Discussion: Balkinization

Greg Hengler / Townhall.com:

Krauthammer: Obama's Trayvon Speech “Not Enlightening”—The Trial Was Not About Race — I appreciate Krauthammer shooting down Steve Hayes' attempt to praise Obama's White House Press Conference appearance on the George Zimmerman verdict. Sadly, I've heard too many conservatives give …

Discussion: Scared Monkeys and The Gateway Pundit