memeorandum: Mike Nichols, 83, Acclaimed Director on Broadway and in Hollywood, Dies (Bruce Weber/New York Times)

1:15 PM ET, November 20, 2014

Top Items:

Reagan and Bush Acted Unilaterally on Immigration, Too—for the Same Reason That Obama Will — On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that two previous Republican presidents—Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush—had taken unilateral action to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation …

Discussion: The Federalist, Hot Air, The Dish, Washington Post, Politico, National Review, ThinkProgress, The Atlantic Online, Bloomberg, Daily Signal and Bloomberg View

New York Times:

At Long Last, Immigration Action — President Obama says he will speak to the nation on Thursday night about making major changes to immigration policy, including shielding several million unauthorized immigrants from deportation. He intends to do this under executive authority, because he has given up waiting for Congress to act.

Discussion: The New Republic, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, The Week, Washington Post and Daily Signal

Esther Yu-Hsi Lee / ThinkProgress:

Republicans Plotting Extreme Measures To Sabotage Obama's Immigration Action — To the consternation of congressional Republicans, President Obama will make a prime time announcement on Thursday that he will take executive action to fill the void left by Congress on immigration reform.

Discussion: Balloon Juice, CNN, Business Insider and OnPolitics

Stephen Collinson / CNN:
Immigration action is daring test of Obama's power

Discussion: CNNMoney.com

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Democrats face major challenges in selling executive action

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Guardian, Bloomberg Politics, Townhall.com, Business Insider and Politico

Hadas Gold / Politico:

White House hits TV networks for skipping immigration address — The White House is exasperated with the major broadcast networks - ABC, CBS and NBC — for skipping out on President Barack Obama's Thursday primetime address on his executive actions on immigration.

Discussion: Weekly Standard, Washington Monthly, Mediaite, New York Magazine, Betsy's Page, The PJ Tatler and White House.gov Blog

John Hudson / Foreign Policy:
White House Putting Up ‘Fierce’ Fight to Conceal Torture Report

Discussion: Hullabaloo, BillMoyers.com and The World's Greatest …

The Hill:
Networks won't air Obama speech

Discussion: Deadline and The Huffington Post

ABC News:

Entertainment Icon Mike Nichols Has Died at Age 83 — Mike Nichols, the entertainment icon and husband of ABC News Anchor Diane Sawyer, died suddenly Wednesday at the age of 83. — Nichols' death was announced in a statement by ABC News President James Goldston.

Discussion: American Spectator, Gawker, International Business Times, NPR and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

ABC News:
Mike Nichols passed away suddenly on Wednesday evening. He was 83.

Discussion: Mashable and Jewish Telegraphic Agency

Bruce Weber / New York Times:
Mike Nichols, 83, Acclaimed Director on Broadway and in Hollywood, Dies

Discussion: Althouse, The Daily Caller, alicublog and BBC

Charles M. Blow / New York Times:

The Solid South Will Rise Again — Democrats have abandoned Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, who is in a tough runoff election. (Tough is the mild way of putting it. Polls show her down by double digits to her Republican opponent.) — Not only has the Democratic Party pulled …

Discussion: Democratic Strategist and Vox Popoli

Politico:
GOP leaders warn ‘impeachment’ is a dirty word

Discussion: Daily Kos

Maggie Haberman / Politico:

Jim Webb launches 2016 committee — Former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb became the first well-known Democrat to launch an exploratory committee to run for president on Wednesday night, saying the nation is at a “serious crossroads.” — “I have decided to launch an Exploratory Committee …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Bloomberg Politics, BuzzFeed, RedState, Shakesville, Political Insider blog, CANNONFIRE and Outside the Beltway

Rebecca Shabad / The Hill:

Appropriations panel: Defunding immigration order ‘impossible’ — It would be “impossible” to defund President Obama's executive actions on immigration through a government spending bill, the House Appropriations Committee said Thursday. — In a statement released by House Appropriations …

Discussion: Political Wire, The Federalist and Daily Kos

Dennis Myers / RN&R Weekly Contents:

On paper — Republican leader left a trail — Nevada Assembly speaker-designate Ira Hansen would be one of the most controversial speakers in Nevada history. — In a surprise, he was named by the new Republican majority on Nov. 7 as their candidate for speaker.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Mediaite and Political Wire

Joseph Curl / Washington Times:

Obama sets off on scorched-earth rampage — ANALYSIS/OPINION: … President Obama, fresh off a shellacking in the 2014 midterm elections — in which he made himself a centerpiece, much to the chagrin of embattled Democrats — is about to embark on a scorched-earth rampage that will change the face of America forever.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog and The PJ Tatler

James Hohmann / Politico:

Scott Walker plots 2016 rollout — The Wisconsin governor is putting together the pieces of a campaign. — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, pivoting from his bigger-than-expected reelection win this month, is taking active steps toward a presidential campaign that would launch next summer …

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Esquire, JSOnline, Washington Post and National Review

Peter Wehner / Commentary Magazine:

Obama Is About to Commit an Act of Constitutional Infamy — The president will present his case on behalf of his forthcoming executive order on amnesty tomorrow at 8 p.m. I certainly hope President Obama addresses the arguments against his action that were repeatedly and passionately made by ... President Obama.

Discussion: Power Line and The Hugh Hewitt Show

Mark Leibovich / New York Times:

Chris Christie Is Back — Credit: Tobias Hutzler for The New York Times — “If I fix this, you have to start the story with it,” Chris Christie told me, yanking the string of the venetian blind in the diner window. We were eating a late lunch at a place called Howley's …

Discussion: OnPolitics and Washington Post

Stephen Dinan / Washington Times:

McConnell: Obama's executive action will lead to immigrant deaths — Sen. Mitch McConnell warned Thursday that some would-be illegal immigrants could die trying to reach the U.S. thanks to President Obama's plans to offer a temporary amnesty, saying it will amount to an invitation for a new wave …

Discussion: FOX News Radio

Frank Newport / Gallup:

Majority Say Not Gov't Duty to Provide Healthcare for All — Story Highlights — PRINCETON, N.J. — For the third consecutive year, a majority of Americans (52%) agree with the position that it is not the federal government's responsibility to ensure that all Americans have healthcare coverage.

Discussion: ThinkProgress and US News

Robert Booth / Guardian:

Prince Charles will not be silenced when he is made king, say allies — Exclusive: Sources close to heir say he will break with Queen's habit of discretion by continuing to speak out on issues that matter to him — Prince Charles is ready to reshape the monarch's role when he becomes king and make …

Discussion: Althouse and Eschaton

Charlie Savage / New York Times:

N.S.A. Phone Data Collection Could Go On, Even if a Law Expires — WASHINGTON — A little-known provision of the Patriot Act, overlooked by lawmakers and administration officials alike, appears to give President Obama a possible way to keep the National Security Agency's bulk phone records program …

Discussion: The Hill, The Daily Caller, US News and Prairie Weather

David Nather / Politico:
Rand doesn't stand — The Kentucky senator helped block NSA reform.

Discussion: US News, Associated Press, Liberaland, Balloon Juice, Daily Kos, Hullabaloo and Liberal Values

Samantha Miller / FIRE:

Brown University's Two-Faced Attitude Toward Free Speech — This afternoon, Brown University's Janus Forum will be hosting a debate titled, “How Should Colleges Handle Sexual Assault?” The debate will feature Wendy McElroy, ifeminists.com editor and “rape culture” skeptic, facing off against Feministing.com founder Jessica Valenti.

Discussion: National Review, Hit & Run, Brown Daily Herald and Raw Story

Yahoo! News:

John McCain says President Obama's ISIS strategy reminds him of Vietnam — Power Players 1 hr ago — Jeff Zeleny, Richard Coolidge and Jordyn Phelps — Sen. John McCain says the “gradual escalation” in the fight against ISIS reminds him of the failed strategy that caused the United States to lose the Vietnam War.

Discussion: ABC News and Political Wire

Daisuke Wakabayashi / Wall Street Journal:

Inside Apple's Broken Sapphire Factory — How $1 Billion Bet on iPhone Screens Failed; the ‘Boule Graveyard’ — These are defective sapphire boules produced by GT Advanced Technologies at an Arizona factory built with Apple. The photos were sent by Apple to GT's creditors. — By

Discussion: Business Insider and The Verge

Phillip M. Bailey / Salon:

EXCLUSIVE: Rand Paul sounds off to Salon on race, 2016, Hillary and Republicans — GOP senator tells Salon about his potential White House bid, the GOP establishment and race in America — With an eye on a potential 2016 bid for the White House, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul continues to test whether …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and National Review

Burlington Free Press:

Vermont paychecks stop for consultant Gruber — Vermont expects economist Jonathan Gruber to finish his health-care consulting, but without any additional pay. — Lawrence Miller, the state's chief of health care reform, announced the decision Wednesday.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and Mediaite