memeorandum: Debate standings: Perry in 11th place (Steven Shepard/Politico)

6:40 PM ET, August 2, 2015

Top Items:

Carrie Dann / NBC News:

Donald Trump Surges in New NBC News/WSJ Poll — Days before the first Republican debate, Donald Trump has surged into the national lead in the GOP primary race, with Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush following, a new NBC News/ Wall Street Journal poll shows.

Discussion: Politico, CNN, Guardian, Outside the Beltway, SaintPetersBlog, Yahoo Politics, OnPolitics, ThinkProgress, Scared Monkeys, Sun-Times National, Towleroad and Observer

Janet Hook / Wall Street Journal:

Donald Trump Leads Republican Presidential Pack, WSJ/NBC Poll Finds — Share of GOP voters choosing Mr. Trump as their first and second choice rises, despite controversial statements — Donald Trump has jumped to the front of Republicans' 2016 presidential candidate field nationally …

Discussion: Political Wire, Business Insider and Washington Post

Kevin Cirilli / The Hill:

Trump builds his political machine — Donald Trump is assembling a team of political strategists and campaign staffers charged with sustaining his lead in the Republican presidential polls. — While strategists say Trump still got a ways to go to catch up to his rivals for the White House …

Discussion: Politico

Steven Shepard / Politico:

Debate standings: Perry in 11th place — Christie and Kasich hold the last 2 spots in the field - for now. — Chris Christie, John Kasich and Rick Perry are fighting for the last two spots on the debate stage - and after a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll Sunday morning, Perry is still most in danger of failing to qualify.

Discussion: McClatchy Washington Bureau, Washington Monthly and NBC News

Zachary Warmbrodt / Politico:
Trump leaves door open to third-party run

Discussion: ABC News

ABC News:
Donald Trump Plays Down Expectations, Says 'I'm Not a Debater'

Discussion: Political Wire and Daily Mail

ABC News:

‘This Week’ Transcript: Donald Trump — ANNOUNCER: Starting right now on ABC's THIS WEEK, breaking news — new debris found. — Is it from Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 and will it help pinpoint where the plane went down? — Crunch time — Donald Trump surging in the polls, ahead of the crucial first GOP debate.

Discussion: Slantpoint and The Week

Heather / Latest from Crooks and Liars:
Trump: Compared To Chopping Off Heads, 'Waterboarding Doesn't Sound Very Severe'

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Kaitlyn Schallhorn / TheBlaze.com:

Black Memphis Police Director Has Chilling Message After Officer was Fatally Shot During Traffic Stop — Speaking to reporters after Officer Sean Bolton was fatally shot during an apparent traffic stop Saturday night, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong had a message for the community.

Discussion: CNN, Hinterland Gazette, Young Conservatives, John Hawkins' Right Wing News and BizPac Review

Philip Elliott / TIME:

Scott Walker Still Isn't Sure If President Obama Is Christian — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker still isn't sure President Obama is Christian. — “I don't know,” the Republican presidential candidate said Saturday during an appearance before 450 donors to the political network backed by conservative billionaires Charles and David Koch.

Discussion: PoliticusUSA

Richard Winton / Los Angeles Times:

Overdoses suspected in deaths of 2 women at HARD Summer music festival — Two 19-year-old women died of suspected drug overdoses after collapsing at the HARD Summer music festival at the Fairplex in Pomona, authorities said Sunday. — Both women were found unresponsive at the festival Saturday evening …

Discussion: Daily Mail, KTLA and KRON4.com

Amir Taheri / New York Post:

Iran publishes book on how to outwit US and destroy Israel — While Secretary of State John Kerry and President Obama do their best to paper over the brutality of the Iranian regime and force through a nuclear agreement, Iran's religious leader has another issue on his mind: The destruction of Israel.

Discussion: BizPac Review, The PJ Tatler, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Israel Matzav and Power Line

New York Times:

Obama to Unveil Tougher Climate Plan With His Legacy in Mind — WASHINGTON — In the strongest action ever taken in the United States to combat climate change, President Obama will unveil on Monday a set of environmental regulations devised to sharply cut planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions …

Discussion: Chicago Boyz, ThinkProgress, Common Dreams, Washington Monthly and John Hawkins' Right Wing News

Joby Warrick / Washington Post:
White House set to adopt sweeping curbs on carbon pollution

Discussion: Facebook and Slantpoint

Kenneth P. Vogel / Politico:

Charles Koch: We're warriors ‘seeking to right injustices’ — He compares the conservative movement to America's heroic crusaders for freedom. — DANA POINT, Calif. — Charles Koch, in a Sunday afternoon speech to conservative donors and GOP dignitaries, compared the causes …

Discussion: Washington Post, Common Dreams, Slantpoint and Hullabaloo

Maryalice Parks / ABC News:

Bernie Sanders Responds to Possible Joe Biden Run — Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders said he's “very fond” of Vice President Joe Biden, but that “the American people... want to go beyond conventional establishment politics.” — Sanders made the statements in response to a question …

Discussion: Daily Mail