memeorandum: Senior U.S. Official: Intercepted Al Qaeda Communications Indicate Planned Attack ‘Big,’ ‘Strategically Significant’ (Martha Raddatz/ABC News)

6:00 PM ET, August 4, 2013

Top Items:

Martha Raddatz / ABC News:

Senior U.S. Official: Intercepted Al Qaeda Communications Indicate Planned Attack ‘Big,’ ‘Strategically Significant’ — ABC News' Martha Raddatz and Jonathan Karl report: — On the day that almost two dozen U.S. embassies and consulates across North Africa and the Middle East are closed following …

Discussion: Fox News, CNN, Scared Monkeys, The PJ Tatler, CBC News, Examiner, Christian Science Monitor, The Moderate Voice, Weasel Zippers, Mediaite and msnbc.com

Jonathan Easley / The Hill:

Graham: Al Qaeda ‘on steroids’ since Benghazi attack — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday called the latest terror threat “scary,” and said that an emboldened al Qaeda has been “on steroids” since the last year's deadly strike on the U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya.

Discussion: Politico and Mediaite

John Hinderaker / Power Line:
So, What Is the Benghazi Cover-Up All About?

Discussion: Washington Monthly, The Other McCain, American Thinker and Business Insider

Ashley Killough / CNN:
Graham praises Obama administration; trip to Egypt still on

Discussion: Politico

interpol.int:
INTERPOL issues global security alert advising increased vigilance for terrorist activity

Discussion: Weekly Standard, World News, BBC and Weasel Zippers

Glenn Greenwald / Guardian:

Members of Congress denied access to basic information about NSA — Documents provided by two House members demonstrate how they are blocked from exercising any oversight over domestic surveillance — • Morgan Griffith's requests for NSA information — • Alan Grayson's requests for NSA information

Discussion: The Hill, Mediaite, The Hill, The Raw Story and Boing Boing

New York Times:

Other Agencies Clamor for Data N.S.A. Compiles — WASHINGTON — The National Security Agency's dominant role as the nation's spy warehouse has spurred frequent tensions and turf fights with other federal intelligence agencies that want to use its surveillance tools for their own investigations, officials say.

Discussion: Quartz, Via Meadia, No More Mister Nice Blog and Eschaton

Brendan Sasso / The Hill:

Chambliss: NSA spying uncovered threat — Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.), the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, revealed on Sunday that the National Security Agency's controversial surveillance programs uncovered information about current terrorist threats to the United States.

Discussion: The PJ Tatler

Ashley Killough / CNN:
Debate over NSA programs gets renewed attention amid terror threat

Discussion: Politico

Michael Gartland / New York Post:

Pay-up time for Brawley: '87 rape-hoaxer finally shells out for slander — Just $431,000 to go — Twenty-five years after accusing an innocent man of rape, Tawana Brawley is finally paying for her lies. — Last week, 10 checks totaling $3,764.61 were delivered to ex-prosecutor Steven Pagones …

Discussion: Weasel Zippers, The Hinterland Gazette, Scared Monkeys, The PJ Tatler and The Gateway Pundit

Scott Wong / Politico:

Schumer calls Putin a ‘school-yard bully’ — Russian President Vladimir Putin is nothing more than a “school-yard bully,” and President Barack Obama should cancel their meeting in Moscow next month, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.) said Sunday. — Last week, Putin granted National Security …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice

Jonathan Easley / The Hill:

Schumer: Obama should stand up to ‘schoolyard bully,’ cancel Putin meeting — The New York Democrat pressed President Obama to cancel a bilateral summit and move the international economic G20 summit. — Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said President Obama should cancel …

Discussion: Hot Air

Sheldon Alberts / Hillicon Valley:

Unknown Republican blocks bill requiring email search warrants — An anonymous Republican senator has delayed a vote on legislation that would require police to obtain a warrant before accessing emails and other online messages. — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit

Jen Psaki / US Department of State:

Statement on Update of Embassy and Consulate Closure — Press Statement — Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson — Washington, DC — Given that a number of our embassies and consulates were going to be closed in accordance with local custom and practice for the bulk of the week …

Discussion: The Hill and Mediaite

Michael Froomkin / Discourse.net:

Democracy in Action (Missouri Edition) — ProPublica's The Payday Playbook: How High Cost Lenders Fight to Stay Legal is a little different from what they teach in high school civics classes. … Someone raised $2.8 million to fight the initiative. We don't get know exactly who:

ProPublica: The Payday Playbook: How High Cost Lenders Fight to Stay Legal

Ruby Cramer / BuzzFeed:

Martin O'Malley Putting Together “Framework” For Presidential Bid — The Maryland governor is openly making preparations for a White House run. “I think we're on course to have a body of work that lays the framework of a candidacy for 2016,” says O'Malley. — Image by Charlie Neibergall, File / AP

Discussion: JustOneMinute and Outside the Beltway

Craig Howie / Politico:

Mitch McConnell, Alison Lundergan Grimes face off at Fancy Farm — Kentucky Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell faced off Saturday against Democratic challenger Alison Lundergan Grimes at the heavily anticipated 133rd Fancy Farm political forum. — The candidates pulled no punches …

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Impolitic, Taylor Marsh, Lexington Herald-Leader and The Raw Story