Top Items:
Mitt Romney / Facebook:
It is disqualifying for a modern-day presidential nominee to refuse to release tax returns to the voters, especially one who has not been subject to public scrutiny in either military or public service. Tax returns provide the public with its sole confirmation of the veracity …
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Timothy L. O'Brien / Bloomberg:
I Saw Trump's Tax Returns. You Should, Too. — In January, Donald Trump had this to say when he was asked about whether he would release his tax returns: “I have very big returns, as you know, and I have everything all approved and very beautiful and we'll be working that over in the next period of time.”
Discussion:
The Week, Slate, Politico and Hullabaloo
Jeremy Diamond / CNN:
Donald Trump: I'll release tax returns after audit — (CNN)Donald Trump said Wednesday that he plans to release his taxes when an IRS audit is completed, despite telling the Associated Press the previous day before that he would not release his tax documents.
Discussion:
Breitbart, Raw Story, Media Matters for America and Media Matters for America
Josh Feldman / Mediaite:
George Zimmerman Says He's Auctioning Off His Gun from Trayvon Martin Shooting — George Zimmerman is auctioning off the gun he used to fatally shoot Trayvon Martin. — Zimmerman, who was found not guilty of second-degree murder and manslaughter after arguing self-defense, explained in an interview with WOGX, “I'm a free American.
Discussion:
AOL, Latest from Crooks and Liars, WFLA-TV, Raw Story, AMERICAblog NewsAMERICAblog …, Mashable and New York Magazine
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New York Daily News:
George Zimmerman puts gun that killed Trayvon Martin up for auction — SALE: One .9-mm pistol — and whatever's left of George Zimmerman's bankrupt soul. — The Florida neighborhood watchman who fatally shot unarmed teen Trayvon Martin in 2012 is putting the killer handgun up for auction — and hoping to fetch at least $5,000.
Discussion:
Hot Air
Valerie Boey / WOFL:
George Zimmerman's gun up for auction
George Zimmerman's gun up for auction
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo and The Atlantic
CNN:
House GOP warns Ryan to back Trump — Washington (CNN)Rank-and-file House Republicans are urging Speaker Paul Ryan to get behind presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, warning his resistance could lead to the party fracturing rather than uniting if he withholds his endorsement.
Discussion:
Bloomberg, AMERICAblog NewsAMERICAblog … and Hot Air
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Numbers / Pew Research Center's Social …:
America's Shrinking Middle Class: A Close Look at Changes Within Metropolitan Areas — The middle class lost ground in nearly nine-in-ten U.S. metropolitan areas examined — The American middle class is losing ground in metropolitan areas across the country, affecting communities from Boston to Seattle and from Dallas to Milwaukee.
Discussion:
Pew Research Center, Informed Comment and CityLab
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Emily Badger / Washington Post:
The middle class is shrinking just about everywhere in America
The middle class is shrinking just about everywhere in America
Discussion:
Pew Research Center's …, Pew Research Center and Marginal REVOLUTION
Mark Hensch / The Hill:
Producer defends film on Reagan's Alzheimer's — A producer linked to a controversial movie about former President Ronald Reagan's Alzheimer's disease says backlash over its subject matter is unfair. — “I've never been close to a movie like that where so little information became such a tidal wave …
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Marlow Stern / The Daily Beast:
Adam McKay on ‘The Iron Virgin,’ the Rise of Trump, and His Aborted Reagan Alzheimer's Project
Adam McKay on ‘The Iron Virgin,’ the Rise of Trump, and His Aborted Reagan Alzheimer's Project
Discussion:
Mediaite and The Daily Caller
Jonathan Updated / Glenn Beck:
Glenn Makes Wild Prediction About Trump — Donald Trump has faced consistent pressure and scrutiny from Glenn, so his prediction Wednesday on The Glenn Beck Program came as a surprise. — “I'm going to make a prediction about Donald Trump,” Glenn said. “I could say he's going to be the nominee of the Republican Party.
Discussion:
The Hill, Hot Air and Fire Andrea Mitchell!
Seung Min Kim / Politico:
Harry Reid to Rep. Alan Grayson: ‘I want you to lose’ — Rep. Alan Grayson angrily confronted Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday, disrupting a meeting of the Congressional Progressive Caucus in front of dozens of staffers and members of Congress.
Discussion:
Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Week and Talking Points Memo
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Hanna Trudo / Politico:
Trump: Muslim ban was ‘just a suggestion’ — Donald Trump has demoted his proposed Muslim immigration ban to a mere “suggestion.” — In a radio interview with Fox News' Brian Kilmeade on Wednesday, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee softened his call to temporarily prohibit Muslims from entering the United States.
Discussion:
Arizona Republic, Betsy's Page, The Hill, Hot Air, Hit & Run, CNN, mrctv.org/videos, Vox and Fox News Insider
Wall Street Journal:
Malaysian Leader Najib's Stepson Allegedly Funded U.S. Property Deals With 1MDB Money — At least $50 million allegedly diverted from state investment fund was spent on luxury real estate in the U.S. — At least $50 million allegedly diverted from a state investment fund in Malaysia …
Rush Limbaugh:
Flashback 2012: Trump Endorses Hillary — RUSH: I found the YouTube last night, and I'm gonna play this for you and I'm curious to know how Trump supporters react to this. Because this is gonna be in an ad, too. This may end up being an ad. It may be chopped up and edited into an ad, but it's gonna be an ad.
Discussion:
Washington Times
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Matt Donnelly / The Wrap:
Woody Allen Slapped With Rape Joke at Cannes Opening Night Ceremony — “You've shot so many of your films here in Europe and yet in the U.S. you haven't even been convicted of rape,” said Laurent Lafitte — French comic Laurent Lafitte helped the 2016 Cannes Film Festival kick off to an awkward start …
Patrick Svitek / The Texas Tribune:
Cruz Running for Re-election in 2018 … *Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout. — U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is officially running for re-election in 2018. — Cruz filed paperwork Wednesday afternoon to seek a second term, adding some clarity to his political future …
Discussion:
The Hill, Off the Kuff, CNN, Independent Journal …, The Week and The Last Refuge
Atrios / Eschaton:
Think Pieces About MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE And How I Could Possibly Be Wrong — I'm tired of reading think pieces about WHY WE ALL THOUGHT DONALD TRUMP WOULD LOSE (I'm looking at you, Chait). First of all, we all didn't, you and your circle jerk did. Secondly, I don't care what your prior beliefs about the Republican party were.
Discussion:
Mother Jones and New York Magazine
Elisabetta Povoledo / New York Times:
Italy Approves Same-Sex Civil Unions — ROME — After decades of struggle by gay rights groups, and months of contested political negotiations, the Italian Parliament on Wednesday evening gave final approval to a law recognizing civil unions of same-sex couples.
Discussion:
The Atlantic, Washington Blade, The Week and Guardian
Gabriel Debenedetti / Politico:
Sanders' California director leaves campaign — Bernie Sanders' campaign parted ways with its California state director Michael Ceraso on Wednesday morning, 27 days before the primary in the state that Sanders has repeatedly said is crucial to his effort to capture the Democratic nomination.
Jack Healy / New York Times:
Judge Finds Planned Parenthood Shooting Suspect Unfit for Trial — COLORADO SPRINGS — A Colorado judge on Wednesday declared the confessed gunman in a shooting rampage last November at a Planned Parenthood clinic here mentally incompetent to stand trial. Three people were killed and nine were wounded in the attack.
Discussion:
CNN, Little Green Footballs, LawNewz and Independent Journal …
Matthew Yglesias / Vox:
A Trump adviser's plan for a multitrillion-dollar budget surplus, explained — Speaking at a Pete Peterson Foundation fiscal summit on Wednesday, Donald Trump adviser Sam Clovis said that the Trump campaign's economic program would unleash so much growth that the federal budget surplus …
Discussion:
bradford-delong.com and MarketWatch
People.com:
Megyn Kelly Opens Up About Surviving the ‘Ugly’ and ‘Threatening’ Donald Trump Attacks: ‘I Just Wanted It to Stop’ — When Donald Trump publicly attacked Megyn Kelly a day after she moderated the presidential debate last August, the Fox News host had no idea it would last as long as it did.
Discussion:
Politico, Mediaite, Hullabaloo, Daily Mail, The Daily Caller, Guardian and TVNewser
I Quant NY:
The NYPD Was Systematically Ticketing Legally Parked Cars for Millions of Dollars a Year- Open Data Just Put an End to It — New York City is a complex place to drive. And when it comes to parking, there are plenty of rules and regulations to follow. It's no wonder that sometimes people …
Rebecca Ballhaus / Wall Street Journal:
Billionaire T. Boone Pickens Backs Donald Trump, Muslim Ban — LAS VEGAS—Oil billionaire T. Boone Pickens, who previously backed former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's presidential campaign, on Wednesday endorsed presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump and said he supports the candidate's proposal …
Discussion:
Politico, Weekly Standard and ThinkProgress
Los Angeles Times:
Column Trump's ‘Crooked Hillary’ label may stick — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks with young parents during a roundtable discussion at the Family Care Center in Lexington, Ky. on May 10. — Donald Trump dispatched his Republican rivals by branding each …
Discussion:
Slantpoint