memeorandum: Nationalists in Finland Hurl Rocks at Iraqis Seeking Asylum (Robert Mackey/New York Times)

12:55 PM ET, September 27, 2015

Top Items:

Mark Murray / NBC News:

NBC/WSJ Poll: Trump and Carson Lead GOP; Clinton Loses Ground — Donald Trump and Ben Carson are running neck and neck in the national Republican presidential horserace, while Carly Fiorina is now tied for third place with Marco Rubio, according to the latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Guardian, Pamela Geller, OnPolitics and abc7.com

Frank Bruni / New York Times:

John Boehner Exits, Donald Trump Storms On — ON Thursday, when John Boehner grew weepy in the presence of the pope, I assumed that we were seeing the tears of a proud Catholic. — On Friday, when he announced that he'd be resigning as the speaker of the House of Representatives …

Discussion: Washington Post, No More Mister Nice Blog and Hullabaloo

Kyle Cheney / Politico:

Jeb Bush: Early polls 'really don't matter' — Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, who has persistently trailed Donald Trump and Ben Carson in the Republican presidential polls, is questioning the accuracy of them showing him way behind. "These polls really don't matter," Bush said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday.”

Discussion: The Moderate Voice and Bloomberg Business

Patrick O'Connor / Wall Street Journal:

Carson, Fiorina, Sanders Gain Ground in Their Parties' Primary Races, Poll Shows — Carson is preferred pick of 20% of GOP primary voters, while 21% favor Donald Trump — Republicans Ben Carson and Carly Fiorina and Democratic Sen. Bernie Sanders have gained significant ground …

Discussion: Business Insider and Political Wire

ABC News:

‘This Week’ Transcript: Dr. Ben Carson and Samantha Power — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) ANNOUNCER: Starting right now on ABC's THIS WEEK, two stunning shake-ups. The House speaker abruptly resigns... (singing) ANNOUNCER: — rocking the GOP.

Discussion: Politico

ABC News:
5 Stories You'll Care About in Politics This Week

Discussion: Politico and abc7.com

The Hill:
Cruz wins Values Voter Summit straw poll for third straight year

Discussion: BREITBART.COM and John Hawkins' Right Wing News

Hadas Gold / Politico:

Third GOP debate sets off wave of anxiety — The uncertain terms of the next Republican debate are setting off a wave of anxiety among middle and bottom tier campaigns, with several lashing out at the Republican National Committee for failing to provide clarity on how many candidates …

Discussion: Political Wire

Kyle Cheney / Politico:

Hillary Clinton: ‘Another conspiracy theory’ — A seemingly frustrated Hillary Clinton strove on Sunday to link the latest flap over her personal email server with the string of scandals and attacks Republicans raised against her in the 1990s. "During the '90s …

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon

Rachael Bade / Politico:
Clinton camp: Clinton did not sign form on Abedin job change

Discussion: Gretawire

Amy Chozick / New York Times:

Bill Clinton Blames G.O.P. and Press for Wife's Email Woes — Former President Bill Clinton blamed Republicans who hope to undercut his wife's presidential chances and a voracious political news media uninterested in substance for the furor surrounding Hillary Rodham Clinton's use …

Discussion: MichelleMalkin.com, Power Line, Liberaland, Washington Free Beacon, Slantpoint, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Associated Press

Theodore Schleifer / CNN:
Bill Clinton on email scrutiny: 'I've never seen so much expended on so little'

Discussion: OnPolitics, Guardian, The Week, Detroit News and Independent Journal Review

CNN:
New Hillary Clinton email chain discovered

Discussion: Slantpoint and Washington Free Beacon

Reuters:
Government finds new emails Clinton did not hand over

Discussion: Independent Journal Review and Vox Popoli

Ali Breland / Politico:
Bill Clinton blames Republicans — but no ‘plot’ — for Hillary's campaign woes

Discussion: Front Page Magazine

Meghashyam Mali / The Hill:

Graham fears post-Boehner ‘meltdown’ — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is warning Republicans to act wisely following the impending departure of Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio), which he fears could lead to a party “meltdown” in 2016. — “It's a fresh start, and what's the goal here?

Discussion: Politico, ABC News, Political Wire and NBC News

Katherine Faulders / ABC News:

Ben Carson ‘Certainly Willing’ to Give Kanye West a Chance as President

Discussion: Politico, National Review, OnPolitics, The Week and EW.com

Taryn Asher / WJBK-TV:

Man starts gas station blaze trying to kill spider with lighter — CENTER LINE - A man tried to kill a spider at a gas station using a lighter causing a dangerous fire. — Using a lighter to kill the bug, he started a blaze that quickly engulfed the gas pump.

Discussion: Fox News, New York's PIX11, Fox News Insider, John Hawkins' Right Wing News and Guardian

Andrew C. McCarthy / National Review:

On Islam, Ben Carson Is Right and Charles Krauthammer Is Wrong — Ben Carson campaigning in California, September 9, 2015 (Kevork Djansezian/Getty)

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Progress Pond, Power Line and The Elder Statement

Niall Stanage / The Hill:

Media thumps Trump, but polls show he's winning big — Rumors of Donald Trump's demise may have been greatly exaggerated. — Ever since rival Carly Fiorina was widely perceived to have bested Trump at the second GOP debate in California on Sept. 16, media outlets have been lining up to suggest that the front-runner is waning.

Discussion: BizPac Review

Elspeth Reeve / New Republic:

Sympathy for the Boehner — The internet is thick with cruel GIFs of John Boehner crying today after he announced he was resigning as Speaker of the House and quitting Congress. But it's hard not to have a little sympathy for the guy. He was an old-school, chain-smoking Republican who liked …

Discussion: Booman Tribune