memeorandum: Vladimir Putin's fifth column in the West (Doug Saunders/Globe and Mail)

3:05 AM ET, June 9, 2014

Top Items:

Eric Schmitt / New York Times:

As Bowe Bergdahl Heals, Details Emerge of His Captivity — WASHINGTON — Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has told medical officials that his captors locked him in a metal cage in total darkness for weeks at a time as punishment for trying to escape, and while military doctors say he now is physically able …

Discussion: CNN, Mashable, Guardian, his vorpal sword, The Dish, The Daily Caller, WAMC, National Review and Balloon Juice

New York Times:

Bergdahl Was in Unit Known for Its Troubles — The platoon was, an American military official would assert years later, “raggedy.” — On their tiny, remote base, in a restive sector of eastern Afghanistan at an increasingly violent time of the war, they were known to wear bandannas and cutoff T-shirts.

Discussion: Fox News, NewsBusters, The Moderate Voice, Prairie Weather and Liberaland

New York Times:

Critics of P.O.W. Swap Question the Absence of a Wider Agreement — WASHINGTON — When the heads of the two major intelligence committees criticized the Obama administration on Sunday for swapping Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl for five members of the Taliban, they homed in on one part of the deal …

Discussion: ABC News, CNN, Politico and The Democratic Daily

Wall Street Journal:

Bergdahl Has Declined to Speak to Family — Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl has declined to speak to his family after five years in harsh captivity that included being held in a cage after one attempted escape, according to a U.S. official familiar with the Army soldier's recovery.

Discussion: Blazing Cat Fur and Mediaite

Laura Vozzella / Washington Post:

Va. lawmaker to resign, paving way for jobs for self, daughter, according to associates — RICHMOND — Republicans appear to have outmaneuvered Gov. Terry McAuliffe in a state budget standoff by persuading a Democratic senator to resign his seat, at least temporarily giving the GOP control …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Business Insider, The Reality-Based Community and Balloon Juice

Thomas L. Friedman / New York Times:

Obama on Obama on Climate — WHEN it comes to dealing with the world's climate and energy challenges I have a simple rule: change America, change the world. — If America raises its clean energy standards, not only will others follow — others who have hid behind our inaction …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, PoliticusUSA, Talking Points Memo, ThinkProgress and The Huffington Post

Chris Good / ABC News:

Hillary Clinton Reveals 2016 Timetable, Won't Say Whether She'll Testify On Benghazi … Hillary Clinton wants more time through the end of the year to think about whether she'll run for president in 2016, the former secretary of state told ABC's Diane Sawyer in an exclusive interview in advance …

Discussion: Gawker, CNN, Politico, Talking Points Memo and Latest from Crooks and Liars

Peter Nicholas / Wall Street Journal:
Your Introduction to a Full Week of Hillary Clinton

Discussion: Hot Air

Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Clinton's book sets foundation for 2016 run

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Politico and New York Times

Kevin D. Williamson / National Review:

Mother Courage — Miss Pennsylvania USA's remarkable mother — Valerie Gatto does not want to talk about abortion. That's probably prudent, inasmuch as she very much desires to be the next Miss USA, and contestants in that pageant are expected to have ruthlessly anodyne interests along …

Natalie Cullen / 8 News NOW:

Dead police officers identified — LAS VEGAS — The two Metro Police officers killed while they ate lunch Sunday have been identified as Officers Alyn Beck, 42, and Igor Soldo, 32, Metro Police said. — The two were shot at a pizza restaurant Sunday near Nellis Boulevard and Stewart Avenue.

Discussion: Hinterland Gazette, Scared Monkeys and Little Green Footballs

Andrew Griffin / The Independent:

Computer becomes first to pass Turing Test in artificial intelligence milestone, but academics warn of dangerous future — Eugene Goostman, a computer programme pretending to be a young Ukrainian boy, successfully duped enough humans to pass the iconic test

Discussion: The Daily Caller and The Week

Washington Post:

How Bill Gates pulled off the swift Common Core revolution — The pair of education advocates had a big idea, a new approach to transform every public-school classroom in America. By early 2008, many of the nation's top politicians and education leaders had lined up in support. — But that wasn't enough.

Discussion: The Verge

Frank Bruni / New York Times:

Dear Millennials, We're Sorry — AMONG Americans age 40 and older, there's a pastime more popular than football, Candy Crush or HBO. — It's bashing millennials. — Oh, the hours of fun we have, marveling at their self-fascination and gaping at their sense of entitlement!

Discussion: Firedoglake and Daily Kos