memeorandum: Jeb Bush on rumored campaign death spiral: ‘Blah, blah, blah’ (Will Femia/MSNBC)

4:35 PM ET, October 24, 2015

Top Items:

Will Femia / MSNBC:

Jeb Bush on rumored campaign death spiral: ‘Blah, blah, blah’ — Jeb Bush responded to suggestions that recent cuts in his campaign staff and spending are an indication that his under-performing campaign is beginning to run out of steam. — A Bush campaign memo summarizing …

Discussion: New York Times, PoliticusUSA, Slantpoint, Political Wire, Daily News Bin, The Daily Caller and Hit & Run

Ashley Killough / CNN:

In shadow of campaign shakeup, Bush tears into Trump — Jeb Bush and Donald Trump spar over 9/11 — Bush got an enthusiastic reception and delivered one of his strongest campaign performances to date — Daniel Island, South Carolina (CNN)If Jeb Bush's campaign is struggling to stay afloat, he didn't show it on Saturday.

Discussion: New York Times and Washington Post

New York Times:

Bush Cuts Costs, Carson Eclipses Trump in Iowa and G.O.P. Frets — A beleaguered Jeb Bush slashed his campaign spending. Donald J. Trump lost his lead in Iowa. And a surging Ben Carson galvanized his support among social conservatives. — With Hillary Rodham Clinton emerging …

Discussion: Mediaite, Bloomberg View, Ben Swann's Truth In Media, Daily Wire, Independent Journal and addictinginfo.org

Gloria Steinem / CBS News:

Jeb Bush hunkers down with family to assess his candidacy — Jeb Bush will attend a finance meeting this weekend in Houston convened by former President George H. W. Bush and attended by Bush's brother, former President George W. Bush, CBS News has learned.

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Moderate Voice, Hullabaloo and Politico

Katherine Krueger / Talking Points Memo:

Megyn Kelly Grills Jeb Over His Double Standard On Benghazi And 9/11 (VIDEO) — Fox News host Megyn Kelly riled former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Thursday night when she pressed the Republican presidential candidate about his efforts to fend off criticism of his brother's handling of 9/11 …

Discussion: addictinginfo.org, The Daily Banter, Ethics Alarms and The Huffington Post

The Advocate:

Man arrested after trying to record Jefferson Sheriff Newell Normand and his breakfast club; sheriff suspects David Vitter behind it — The arrest could have been ripped from a Hollywood script, playing out on the eve of a statewide election. But was it a drama or a comedy?

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and RedState

Kevin Robillard / Politico:

Vitter rivals pounce after private investigator's arrest — <p>A private investigator working for Sen. David Vitter's gubernatorial campaign was arrested Friday and charged with illegally recording a conversation involving a local sheriff, throwing a last-minute wrench into Saturday's …

Discussion: Political Wire

WVUE-TV:

Private investigator arrested after allegedly trying to record Sheriff Newel Normand — Jefferson Parish deputies arrested a private investigator Friday after Sheriff Newell Normand says he tried to record a conversation Normand was having with associates at an Old Metairie coffee shop.

Discussion: Politico, NOLA River, Raw Story and Talking Points Memo

Jackie Salo / International Business Times:

Donald Trump Offensive Iowa Tweet Update: Campaign Intern Denies Having Access To Twitter Account — Donald Trump quickly shifted blame Thursday to a “young intern” employed on his campaign after an insult to Iowa voters was retweeted on his account — but one Trump intern says running …

Discussion: Mediaite, Slantpoint and New York Times

Ben Schreckinger / Politico:
Trump tees off on Carson, pollsters at Miami golf club rally

Discussion: Business Insider, Daily Kos, Washington Post, Althouse, Bloomberg.com news, Conservative Intelligence …, Trail Blazers Blog and Bloomberg Business

Edward-Isaac Dovere / Politico: GOP is like ‘Grumpycat,’ Obama says

New York Times:

F.B.I. Chief Links Scrutiny of Police With Rise in Violent Crime — CHICAGO — The F.B.I. director, James B. Comey, said on Friday that the additional scrutiny and criticism of police officers that has come in the wake of highly publicized incidents of police brutality may be the main reason for the recent increase in violent crime.

Discussion: Hullabaloo, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Free Thought Project, Independent Journal and The Week

Scott Johnson / Power Line:

Live from Council Bluffs, it's Ted Cruz — Nebraska attorney David Begley continues his series of reports on appearances of the presidential candidates in Iowa for us. Yesterday Dave attended the appearance of Texas Senator Ted Cruz in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

Discussion: Omaha World-Herald

Taryn Luna / BostonGlobe.com:

Staples founder Thomas Stemberg dies at 66 — Thomas G. Stemberg, who cofounded Staples Inc. and invented the office superstore, died Friday at his home in Chestnut Hill, two years after he was diagnosed with gastric cancer. He was 66. — His death was confirmed by his son, Will Stemberg.

Evan Perez / CNN:

First on CNN: DOJ closes IRS investigation with no charges — The Justice Department is closing its two-year investigation into whether the IRS improperly targeted tea party groups — The IRS mishandled the processing of tax-exempt applications in a manner that disproportionately …