memeorandum: Trump lays out plan to reform Veterans Affairs (David McCabe/The Hill)

11:05 AM ET, November 2, 2015

Top Items:

GOP contenders demand greater control over crucial debates — Several Republican presidential campaigns began mapping out new demands Sunday for greater control over the format and content of primary debates, which have attracted big audiences and become strategically critical for the 2016 cycle's expansive field of contenders.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Political Insider blog, Daily Kos, CNNMoney, Hot Air, Raw Story, Mother Jones and Balloon Juice, more at Mediagazer »

David Weigel / Washington Post:

Read the letter that Ben Ginsberg drafted for the GOP summit — At the start of a meeting Sunday night between 12 of the 14 leading Republican presidential campaigns, GOP lawyer and dealmaker Ben Ginsberg distributed a draft of a letter that could be sent to any media sponsor.

Discussion: NBC News, Daily Mail and The Daily Caller

Paul Krugman / New York Times:

Partisan Growth Gaps — Last week The Wall Street Journal published an op-ed article by Carly Fiorina titled “Hillary Clinton Flunks Economics,” ridiculing Mrs. Clinton's assertions that the U.S. economy does better under Democrats. “America,” declared Ms. Fiorina, “needs someone …

Discussion: Washington Post and NPR

Michael Falcone / ABC News:

The Note: Debate Over Debates Riles GOP

Discussion: Raw Story, Mother Jones and The Week

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:

Morning Plum: Republicans shoot themselves in foot with Latinos, again — Republicans are pulling out of their only scheduled debate that would be aired on a Spanish-language TV network. So Democrats may respond by holding a second gathering aired on one.

Discussion: New York Times, Political Wire and The Week

Juan Williams / The Hill: GOP hurts itself with Medicare attacks

Ashley Parker / New York Times:
Republican Campaigns Meet in an Effort to Alter Debates

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Breitbart, CNNMoney and The Week

Peter Schorsch / Florida Politics:

Richard Corcoran, former Marco Rubio chief of staff, endorses Jeb Bush for president — When Jeb Bush campaigns through the Sunshine State on Monday he will be joined by a powerful Florida politician many will be surprised to see at his side. — Richard Corcoran, the Florida House Speaker Designate …

Discussion: Washington Post and Weekly Standard

Candace Smith / ABC News:

Jeb Bush Hopes for Reset With ‘Jeb Can Fix It’ Tour — Jeb Bush launches his “Jeb Can Fix It” tour today. — The embattled GOP presidential candidate is beginning the tour in his home state of Florida, traversing the state with three events in three different cities.

John Hinderaker / Power Line:
It's Time For Jeb To Go — Until now, I have taken a benign view …

Discussion: Progress Pond

Ben Smith / BuzzFeed: What Changed While Jeb Was Gone

Bradford Richardson / The Hill: Ex-Bush family advisor ‘flummoxed’ by Jeb's debate performance

NBC News:
Meet the Press Transcript - November 1, 2015

Discussion: Washington Post and Althouse

Tennessean.com:

Former U.S. Sen. Fred Thompson dies at 73 — Fred Thompson, a former U.S. senator for Tennessee, GOP presidential candidate, Watergate attorney and longtime “Law and Order” star, has died. — Mr. Thompson, 73, died on Sunday from after a recurrence of lymphoma, according to a statement issued from the Thompson family.

Liam Stack / New York Times:
Fred Thompson, Former Senator, Actor and Presidential Candidate, Dies at 73

Discussion: Washington Monthly, New York Magazine, Outside the Beltway and The Week

Ben Kamisar / The Hill:

GOP assigns staffer to handle debates, networks — The Republican National Committee has assigned a new staff member as a liaison between presidential campaigns and the television networks amid controversy surrounding last week's CNBC debate. — An RNC spokesperson confirmed …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and Washington Post

Mike Allen / Politico:
RNC seeks to blunt revolt on debates

Discussion: Bloomberg.com news and NPR

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
GOP campaigns push to take more control of debates

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Bloomberg.com news, Political Wire, Taylor Marsh, CNN and BizPac Review

Katherine Faulders / ABC News:
GOP Presidential Campaigns Meet to Shake Up Primary Debate Process

Discussion: Politico, Bloomberg.com news, Poynter., Hullabaloo and The Hill, more at Mediagazer »

Brian Faler / Politico:

Ryan's move could be big boost for tax reform — Paul Ryan's rise to House speaker is fanning hopes that a once-in-a-generation tax overhaul might be on the horizon. — The Wisconsin Republican who claimed the gavel last week is one of Congress' preeminent tax experts …

Discussion: Balloon Juice and Political Wire

Jake Sherman / Politico:

Ryan hires 8 communications staffers — Speaker Paul Ryan has hired eight communications staffers as he builds what he promises will be a large-scale press shop to lead the GOP messaging operation. — Ryan (R-Wis.) has said he'll spend a lot of time on television communicating the party's message.

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Shakesville, Political Wire, Hullabaloo and The Hill

Chicago Tribune:

Family of man shot by customer with concealed carry license: 'Something doesn't seem right' — The stepson of a 55-year-old suspected robber shot dead Saturday night at a Southwest Side store by a customer with a concealed carry license expressed anger, frustration and doubt about the incident Sunday.

Discussion: The PJ Tatler and Associated Press

Jeremy Gorner / Chicago Tribune:
Police: Customer with concealed carry license kills robber; 6 wounded in other shootings

Discussion: BizPac Review, FOX6Now.com, FOX2now.com and Daily Mail

Anita Bennett / The Wrap:

Quentin Tarantino Expected to Apologize for Police Brutality Comments (Exclusive) — Director is planning to break his silence after the controversial remarks, but Jamie Foxx tells Tarantino to “keep telling the truth” — After a week of silence and rising police outrage …

Discussion: Guardian, Florida Politics and The Daily Caller

Kathianne Boniello / New York Post:
Tarantino rallies against cops, but his own cousin nearly died in line of duty

Discussion: Truth Revolt and Daily Mail

Shane Goldmacher / Politico:

Cruz's silent super PACs a growing worry for campaign — The super PACs backing Cruz's presidential run have yet to reserve any TV time in the early primary states - or anywhere else - despite a combined $38 million warchest that ranks second only to Jeb Bush's $103 million operation.

Discussion: BuzzFeed and Political Wire