memeorandum: With ISIS in Cross Hairs, U.S. Holds Back to Protect Civilians (Eric Schmitt/New York Times)

12:25 PM ET, May 26, 2015

Top Items:

Four Words That Imperil Health Care Law Were All a Mistake, Writers Now Say — WASHINGTON — They are only four words in a 900-page law: “established by the state.” — But it is in the ambiguity of those four words in the Affordable Care Act that opponents found a path to challenge the law, all the way to the Supreme Court.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, Power Line, Patterico's Pontifications, The Week, Washington Free Beacon, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Althouse

Marisa Schultz / New York Post:

George Pataki to announce presidential bid Thursday — Former New York Governor George Pataki — WASHINGTON - Ignoring the polls and pundits, former New York Gov. George Pataki plans to announce Thursday that he's joining the crowded Republican field for president.

Discussion: Liberaland, Talking Points Memo and The Reaction

Nick Gass / Politico:
Report: George Pataki to announce presidential bid Thursday

Discussion: The Week

Eric Schmitt / New York Times:

With ISIS in Cross Hairs, U.S. Holds Back to Protect Civilians — WASHINGTON — American intelligence analysts have identified seven buildings in downtown Raqqa in eastern Syria as the main headquarters of the Islamic State. But the buildings have gone untouched during the 10-month allied air campaign.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Associated Press, Business Insider, The Week, The Intercept and Washington Free Beacon

Matt Schiavenza / The Atlantic:

Why Iraq's Military Has No Will to Fight — Displaced Sunni people fleeing the violence in the city of Ramadi arrive at the outskirts of Baghdad, May 16, 2015 (Reuters) — The Obama administration has run out of patience with Iraq's Army. On Sunday, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter appeared on CNN's …

Donna St. George / Washington Post:

Maryland's ‘free range’ parents cleared of neglect in one case — A Maryland couple investigated for neglect after they let their two young children walk home alone from local parks have been cleared in one of two such cases, according to the family's attorneys and documents.

Discussion: Hit & Run, Hot Air and Daily Mail

Scott Walker / Medium:

Reflections on My Recent Trip to Israel … But I never expected to have the opportunity to stand at the top of the Mount of Olives myself or to walk where Jesus walked in Jerusalem. — Earlier this month, I was blessed to have such an opportunity, to visit Israel and to marvel at the sites …

Discussion: OnPolitics and JSOnline

John Harwood / CNBC:

Bernie Sanders questions morality of US economy — Democratic Presidential Candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders talks with CNBC's John Harwood about his views on income inequality, Hillary Clinton and whether he stands a chance of winning. — Every candidate in the 2016 presidential race talks …

Discussion: Liberaland, Business Insider and Hot Air

Steve Kornacki / msnbc.com: Don't count Bernie Sanders out

Sam R. Hall / The Clarion Ledger:

Cochran marries longtime aide Kay Webber — U.S. Senator Thad Cochran married his longtime aide Kay Webber in a private family ceremony in Gulfport on Saturday, according to a one-sentence statement released by his office Monday. — Cochran's relationship with Webber became the topic …

Discussion: Fox News, The Week, Washington Post, Politico and The Daily Caller

Paul Waldman / Washington Post:

The Koch brothers try to rein in the GOP presidential clown show — If you're a Republican primary voter, you're probably feeling pretty good about the presidential primaries. Even if you haven't yet found the candidate who will make you swoon, one thing you've got is choices.

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog

Politico:

Republicans grope for Obamacare replacement — An upcoming Supreme Court verdict complicates matters. — iStock — Preparing for a Supreme Court decision that could strike down Obamacare's subsidies for nearly 7.5 million people this summer, Senate Republicans are coalescing around …

Discussion: Washington Monthly

Nick Gass / Politico:

Rand Paul: I'm not being unreasonable — Sen. Rand Paul says he does not think he is being unreasonable in his stand against government surveillance practices. — “I'm just asking for two amendments and a simple majority vote” on ending the National Security Agency's bulk data collection …

Discussion: The Week

Bruce Alpert / NOLA River:

Mary Landrieu takes job at Washington lobbying firm — WASHINGTON — Former Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., is joining the Washington lobbying firm Van Ness Feldman, the firm will announce later Tuesday (May 26). — Landrieu said she will join Van Ness Feldman as a senior policy advisor …

Discussion: Washington Post

John Lehman / Wall Street Journal:

Obama Torpedoes the Nuclear Navy — The president disregards a policy that for decades has ensured effective leadership of the nuclear fleet. — President Obama, possibly unaware of the implications, has made a mistake by nominating Adm. John Richardson as the new chief of naval operations.

Discussion: RedState

Sci-Fi Bulletin:

RIP Tanith Lee — British writer Tanith Lee passed away on Sunday May 24th, aged 67. — Lee was the author of over 90 books and 300 short stories, as well as four BBC Radio plays, and two highly-regarded episodes of the BBC's SF series Blake's 7 (Sand and Sarcophagus).

Discussion: Tor.com and Vox Popoli

Claire Cain Miller / New York Times:

When Family-Friendly Policies Backfire — In Chile, a law requires employers to provide working mothers with child care. One result? Women are paid less. — In Spain, a policy to give parents of young children the right to work part-time has led to a decline in full-time …

Discussion: Hit & Run, Hot Air and Althouse

Bloomberg Business:

Charter Agrees to Acquire Time Warner Cable for $55 Billion — Charter Communications Inc. agreed to buy Time Warner Cable Inc. for about $55 billion in cash and stock, scooping up the cable provider after getting last-minute competition from French billionaire Patrick Drahi.

Discussion: Bloomberg View, New York Times, Washington Post, Daily Mail, The Verge, Common Dreams, CNNMoney, VentureBeat, Mashable, Engadget and The Week, more at Mediagazer »

Wall Street Journal:
Charter Communications Reaches Deal for Time Warner Cable

Discussion: Business Insider, Engadget, The Verge, The Week, New York Times, NPR, Deadline and Bloomberg Business, more at Mediagazer »

Emily Cahn / Roll Call:

Kirkpatrick to Challenge McCain in Arizona — Kirkpatrick is running for Senate in Arizona. (Jason Dick/CQ Roll Call File Photo) — Updated, 10:50 a.m. | Arizona Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick will challenge Republican Sen. John McCain for Senate, according to a source with knowledge of Kirkpatrick's plans …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

Ben Brumfield / CNN:

4 dead after record storms in Texas, Oklahoma; 12 missing in one county — Story highlights … (CNN)Record-setting rains left officials in Texas and Oklahoma scrambling to assess the scope of the damage and destruction Monday as an emergency coordinator told reporters that a dozen people were missing in one county.

Discussion: Austin American-Statesman, Shakesville, The Week, CBS St. Louis and Mashable

Cbssonia / CBS Baltimore:

29 Shootings, 9 Fatal, Over Memorial Day Weekend In Baltimore — BALTIMORE (WJZ)-It's been a violent weekend in Baltimore after a surge of shootings-some deadly across the city. — Amy Yensi has more. — Police say 29 people were shot, 9 of them killed over this weekend, adding to the record-breaking violence.

Discussion: BREITBART.COM, RT, The Daily Caller, John Hawkins' Right Wing News and The Gateway Pundit