Top Items:
Jeff Merkley / New York Times:
Why I'm Supporting Bernie Sanders — NO decision we make as Americans more dramatically affects the direction of our country than our choice for president. He or she is more than the manager of the executive branch, commander in chief or appointer of judges.
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Lowell McAdam / LinkedIn Pulse:
Feeling The Bern of Reality — The Facts About Verizon and The ‘Moral Economy’ — I read with interest Jeff Immelt's spirited response to Sen. Bernie Sanders putting GE on his hit-list of big corporations that are “destroying the moral fabric” of America. — In fact, I share his frustration.
John Judis / Talking Points Memo:
I'm Voting for Bernie, but on One Condition — “He's not going to get the nomination, is he?” my wife asks anxiously as she gazes out of the kitchen window at the Bernie for President sign on our front lawn. No, I assure her, and he certainly won't win Maryland on April 26.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, New York Magazine and Scripting News
Hollywood Reporter:
Cher Says She's Now Torn Between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders — EMAIL ME — The singer said that after a “marathon research” session she realizes Bernie Sanders mirrors her own beliefs. — Cher has been a vocal supporter of Hillary Clinton during this presidential election year, but now she may be changing her mind.
Everett Rosenfeld / CNBC:
Trump spokeswoman comes out swinging against Zuckerberg — Katrina Pierson, Trump Campaign Spokeswoman, responds to comments made by Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg about not building walls. — Katrina Pierson, a spokeswoman for GOP front-runner Donald Trump's presidential campaign …
Discussion:
The Hill, Business Insider, NBC News, CBS San Francisco, Politico, Mashable and Mediaite
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Ed O'Keefe / Washington Post:
Cruz likely to block Trump on a second ballot at the GOP convention — What's the deal with the Colorado GOP convention? — What is a super PAC? … State of the 2016 race … Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz is close to ensuring that Donald Trump cannot win the GOP nomination …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Politico, Hot Air, The Last Refuge, New York Magazine, RedState, LifeNews.com, The Resurgent, New York Times, CNN, NBC News and Guardian
Steve Benen / MSNBC:
Trump's feud with the RNC reaches a striking new level
Trump's feud with the RNC reaches a striking new level
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Towleroad
Eliza Collins / Politico:
Colorado GOP chairman considers bringing sheriff to convention over Trump supporter threats
Colorado GOP chairman considers bringing sheriff to convention over Trump supporter threats
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, NBC News and Washington Post
Pete Kasperowicz / Washington Examiner:
RNC member predicts: Trump can win with 1,100 delegates
RNC member predicts: Trump can win with 1,100 delegates
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, RedState, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, New York Magazine and Politico
Josh Rosenblat of Vox / CNBC:
Cleveland is spending $20 million in federal money on riot and security gear for the Republican convention
Cleveland is spending $20 million in federal money on riot and security gear for the Republican convention
Nolan D. McCaskill / Politico:
RNC Rules Committee member: Trump will get nomination with 1,100 delegates
RNC Rules Committee member: Trump will get nomination with 1,100 delegates
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Daily Mail, Washington Post and Hot Air
Philip Rucker / Washington Post:
Donald Trump hires veteran GOP operative Rick Wiley
Donald Trump hires veteran GOP operative Rick Wiley
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
Karin Brulliard / Washington Post:
Octopus slips out of aquarium tank, crawls across floor, escapes down pipe to ocean … Inky the octopus didn't even try to cover his tracks. — By the time the staff at New Zealand's National Aquarium noticed that he was missing, telltale suction cup prints were the main clue to an easily-solved mystery.
Discussion:
Stuff.co.nz, New Zealand Herald, The Verge, AOL, Daily Mail, New York Magazine, The Week, Newshub, The Daily Caller, Slantpoint and USA Today
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Dan Bilefsky / New York Times:
Inky the Octopus Escapes From a New Zealand Aquarium — It was an audacious nighttime escape. — After busting through an enclosure, the nimble contortionist appears to have quietly crossed the floor, slithered through a narrow drain hole about six inches in diameter and jumped into the sea.
Discussion:
Guardian, PerezHilton, Radio New Zealand …, Telegraph, The San Diego Union …, ValueWalk and Mashable
Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:
Donald Trump meets with Megyn Kelly at Trump Tower — Donald Trump and the Fox News host Megyn Kelly met at Trump Tower on Wednesday morning, a person with knowledge of the matter told CNNMoney. — The meeting was brokered by Fox News chairman Roger Ailes. — Representatives for Trump and Fox News had no immediate comment.
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Matthew J. Dowd / Wall Street Journal:
How Donald Trump Is Right About Our ‘Rigged’ Politics
How Donald Trump Is Right About Our ‘Rigged’ Politics
Discussion:
ABC News, Washington Post, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, The Daily Caller and The Hill
CBS News:
USS Donald Cook buzzed again by Russian jets in Baltic — Yet again Russian jets made provocatively close passes to an American warship, as tensions continue between Moscow and Washington over the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. — A senior defense official told CBS News that two recent incidents were …
Discussion:
Washington Post, The Daily Caller, USNI News, The Libertarian Republic, Washington Free Beacon and CBS New York
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MilitaryTimes:
Russian attack aircraft just flew within 30 feet of a U.S. Navy ship — In one of the most aggressive actions in recent memory, Russian warplanes conducted “simulated attacks” on the a U.S. Navy vessel in the Baltic Sea Tuesday, repeatedly flying within 30 feet of the ship, according to a defense official.
Barbara Starr / CNN:
Russian fighter jets in extremely close overflights with U.S. destroyer
Russian fighter jets in extremely close overflights with U.S. destroyer
Discussion:
The Right Scoop
David Corn / Mother Jones:
The Time Ted Cruz Defended a Ban on Dildos — His legal team argued there was no right “to stimulate one's genitals.” — In one chapter of his campaign book, A Time for Truth, Sen. Ted Cruz proudly chronicles his days as a Texas solicitor general, a post he held from 2003 to 2008.
Jason Meisner / Chicago Tribune:
In blow to defense, judge to consider lies by Hastert at his sentencing — Former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert through the years. — The federal judge overseeing Dennis Hastert's hush money case said he intends to factor in at Hastert's upcoming sentencing that the former speaker lied …
Discussion:
Washington Post
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Jason Meisner / Chicago Tribune:
Filing: Hastert lawyers question if groin rub amounted to sexual abuse
Filing: Hastert lawyers question if groin rub amounted to sexual abuse
Discussion:
The Daily Beast, The Slot and LawNewz
Office of the Governor of Louisiana:
Gov. Edwards Signs Non-discrimination Executive Order; Rescinds Marriage and Conscience Executive Order — BATON ROUGE - Today, Governor John Bel Edwards signed an executive order providing employment protections for state employees and employees of state contractors on the basis of race …
Discussion:
ABC News, Advocate, NBC News, Gay Star News, The Slot, Fusion, abc7news.com, Daily Kos, Towleroad, Human Rights Campaign, The Week and The Bob and Chez Show
Wall Street Journal:
Regulators Propose Banning Theranos Founder Elizabeth Holmes for at Least Two Years — Startup hopes to avoid sanctions, but Holmes and No. 2 executive could be forced out of blood-testing business for failing to fix problems — Federal health regulators have proposed banning Theranos Inc …
Discussion:
New York Times, STAT, Engadget, Washington Post, Refinery29, Business Insider and The Verge
Travis Gettys / Raw Story:
Trump fans threaten gun violence against protesters ahead of Pittsburgh visit — DON'T MISS STORIES. FOLLOW RAW STORY! — Donald Trump supporters are planning an armed demonstration to intimidate protesters when the Republican presidential candidate visits Pittsburgh for a town hall meeting and campaign rally.
Discussion:
Pittsburgh City Paper
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CNNMoney:
36,000 Verizon workers go on strike — 36,000 Verizon workers have walked off the job Wednesday after failing to reach a new labor agreement. — This is the largest strike in the United States since Verizon workers last walked off the job in 2011, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Gothamist, The Week, Verizon FiOS & Custom TV and OpenMarket
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The Hill:
Clinton's dismal approval ratings prompt Dem fears — 's favorability ratings are historically low and increasingly a concern for her supporters. — Clinton is now viewed unfavorably by 55 percent of the electorate, according to the HuffPost Pollster average, which tracks findings from 42 different polling outfits.
Discussion:
NRL News Today, The Daily Caller and Hot Air
Travis Gettys / Raw Story:
Toddler shot in face when gun stashed in mom's purse goes off while waiting at hospital — DON'T MISS STORIES. FOLLOW RAW STORY! — A child was shot in the face at a Mississippi hospital after a gun went off inside her mother's purse. — The 2-year-old girl was waiting Wednesday morning …
Discussion:
The Clarion Ledger and KFOR-TV
Kevin Drum / Mother Jones:
Hillary Clinton Wants to Eliminate Lead Within Five Years — In a speech on environmental justice today, Hillary Clinton made a bold proposal: … Be still my heart! Hillary's plan has eight parts, and the first one is all about lead poisoning: … I don't think five years is anywhere near feasible …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
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Jeff Grabmeier / news.osu.edu:
The 6 elements of an effective apology, according to science — COLUMBUS, Ohio - There are six components to an apology - and the more of them you include when you say you're sorry, the more effective your apology will be, according to new research. — But if you're pressed for time or space …
Discussion:
Hullabaloo and Mother Jones
Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
A State-By-State Roadmap For The Rest Of The Republican Primary — Three weeks ago, when we last took a detailed look at Donald Trump's quest to win 1,237 delegates, his path looked rocky but endurable. The panel of eight experts FiveThirtyEight assembled projected Trump to wind up with 1,208 …
Discussion:
Business Insider
Bloomberg.com:
Rapper Ice Cube on Hillary Clinton's ‘Super Predators’ Comment — Rapper and actor Ice Cube, who was recently inducted into the Rock and Rock Hall of Fame with his band N.W.A., discusses the Black Lives Matter movement and Hillary Clinton's controversial “super predators” remark from a 1996 speech on “With All Due Respect.”