Top Items:
Eliza Collins / Politico:
Trump rises, Carson collapses in Post/ABC poll — Donald Trump has hit his highest level of support yet in a new Washington Post/ABC News poll of registered Republicans out Tuesday: 38 percent. — Despite the widespread blowback over Trump's proposal to ban Muslims from entering the U.S. …
Discussion:
Bloomberg.com news and Washington Post
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Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
5 things to watch in tonight's debate — LAS VEGAS — With the Republican establishment's anguish rising along with the ascent of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz, Tuesday night's debate could be the most dramatic yet, coming just 48 days before voters have their say in Iowa. — All eyes, as ever, will be on Trump.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, more at Mediagazer »
Dan Balz / Washington Post:
In face of criticism, Trump surges to his biggest lead over the GOP field — Following his proposal to temporarily bar Muslims from entering the country, Donald Trump has increased his lead in the Republican primary to its largest margin yet, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.
Discussion:
Politico, Political Wire and Talking Points Memo
Nate Cohn / New York Times:
How Trump Could Win, and Why He Probably Won't — Despite controversy after controversy, Donald Trump still dominates the polls. With his seemingly impervious lead, it is tempting to declare that he is a clear front-runner for the nomination. — He has, after all, defied all expectations …
Discussion:
FiveThirtyEight, Slantpoint and American Prospect
ABC News:
Trump Plan Is Supported in His Party But Widely Opposed Outside the GOP (POLL)
Trump Plan Is Supported in His Party But Widely Opposed Outside the GOP (POLL)
Discussion:
addictinginfo.org, Business Insider and abc7.com
Rush Limbaugh:
Cruz Forces Trump Blunders
Cruz Forces Trump Blunders
Discussion:
Independent Journal, Betsy's Page, American Spectator, Hot Air and Politico
Damian Paletta / Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Working on Plan to Scrutinize Social Media in Visa Reviews — Move is part of new focus following San Bernardino shootings — WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is working on a plan to scrutinize social media posts as part of its visa application process …
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Mark Murray / NBC News:
Terrorism Fears Drag Down Obama's Support in New Poll — The recent terrorist attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., have vaulted terrorism and national security to become the American public's top concern, and they've helped drive President Barack Obama's job rating to 43 percent …
Discussion:
Real Clear Politics, Slantpoint, Politico, Boing Boing, The Daily Signal, The Daily Caller and Hit & Run
Borys Kit / Hollywood Reporter:
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ Director Tackling Ted Kennedy Thriller ‘Chappaquiddick’ (Exclusive) — The script was just named to the 2015 Blacklist. — Sam Taylor-Johnson, who directed Fifty Shades of Grey, is in talks to direct Apex Entertainment's feature Chappaquiddick.
Discussion:
Guardian, Washington Free Beacon, Truth Revolt, Instapundit and MichelleMalkin.com
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John Hinderaker / Power Line:
First Truth, Now Chappaquiddick — Some time ago-several decades, actually-a group of us at my law firm formed a Chappaquiddick Book Club. We read three or four books on the fatal car accident that should have ended Ted Kennedy's public career. The facts are much worse than most people realize …
Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Obama spokesman takes a dig at Trump's medical report — President Obama's top spokesman isn't buying Donald Trump's medical report declaring the GOP front-runner would be the healthiest person ever elected president. — “Is the suggestion that Mr. Trump's doctor conducted …
Discussion:
JustOneMinute and Talking Points Memo
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Jason Horowitz / New York Times:
On ‘Princess Bride’ Portrayals, Mandy Patinkin Thinks Ted Cruz Doesn't Get It — In recent days, the actor Mandy Patinkin, who played the master swordsman Inigo Montoya in the classic 1987 film “The Princess Bride,” has received emails from friends alerting him to pictures on the Internet …
Discussion:
addictinginfo.org, Mediaite, Raw Story, Althouse and The Daily Caller
Burgess Everett / Politico:
McConnell vows ambitious agenda in treacherous 2016 — Mitch McConnell vowed when he took over as Senate majority leader to get the notoriously gridlocked Senate moving again. Eleven months later, he can claim bona fide progress on several fronts — such as a bipartisan budget deal …
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Annie Snider / Politico:
EPA's water-rule blitz was ‘covert propaganda,’ GAO says — The EPA broke the law with its social media campaign promoting a controversial Obama administration water rule that has drawn fierce resistance from farming, development, oil and other industries, government watchdogs said Monday.
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Kyle Cheney / Politico:
Carson, Huckabee, Fiorina earned speaking fees during campaign — Presidential candidates typically take a timeout from the paid-speech circuit to avoid potential conflicts of interest and thorny restrictions on mixing campaign and personal business. But that hasn't stopped Ben Carson …
Richard A. Oppel Jr / New York Times:
Bowe Bergdahl to Face Court-Martial on Desertion Charges — A top Army commander on Monday ordered that Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl face a court-martial on charges of desertion and endangering troops stemming from his decision to leave his outpost in 2009, prompting a huge manhunt in the wilds …
Discussion:
Hot Air, Outside the Beltway, RedState, NPR, The Daily Caller, National Review, Army Times, Mother Jones, Fox News Insider and Balloon Juice
Yahoo Sports:
NBA referee Bill Kennedy reveals he is gay; Rajon Rondo alleged to have made slur to him — Bill Kennedy, one of the NBA's top referees, has revealed he is gay. — “I am proud to be an NBA referee and I am proud to be a gay man,” Kennedy told Yahoo Sports on Sunday night.
Discussion:
WCMH-TV, Towleroad, Mashable, ThinkProgress, The Week, NBCSports.com, alan.com and The Daily Caller
Summer Ballentine / Associated Press:
Missouri Bill Would Strip Scholarships If Athletes Strike — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A state legislator is proposing that student athletes should lose their scholarships if they go on strike, a response to a threat by University of Missouri football players not to play over criticism …
Daisy Hernández / The Atlantic:
Pharma Bro's Latest Move Targets Latinos — After dropping $2 million on a Wu-Tang Clan album, the pharmaceutical executive Martin Shkreli has found a new project: making an essential treatment unaffordable for poor immigrants from Latin America. — Shkreli, otherwise known as “pharma bro …
Discussion:
STAT and Balloon Juice
Chicago Sun Times:
Chicago Teachers Union votes to back strike — Sign-up for Chicago Sun-Times newsletters. … Nearly every one of the thousands of Chicago teachers who cast ballots last week to determine whether they could go on strike voted to do so, blowing past a 75 percent approval mandated by the state.
Discussion:
Mother Jones and Washington Post
Brad Wilmouth / NewsBusters:
MSNBC's Harris-Perry Gripes Over ‘Totally Black Guy’ Darth Vader As Evil Character — Share it Tweet it — On her eponymously named Sunday morning show, MSNBC host Melissa Harris-Perry went into a mini-rant about racism in Star Wars as she complained about villain Darth Vader being …
Discussion:
Mediaite and Rush Limbaugh
Tim Culpan / Bloomberg Business:
Apple Opens Secret Laboratory in Taiwan To Develop New Screens — Engineers developing LCD, OLED technologies for devices — Facility in remote science park has no external signs of Apple — Apple Inc. opened a production laboratory in northern Taiwan where engineers are developing …