memeorandum: Susan Collins: “Very Difficult” To Back Trump After His Attack On Federal Judge (Andrew Kaczynski/BuzzFeed)

4:35 PM ET, June 7, 2016

Top Items:

Trump self-destructive rambling baffles GOP strategists — How did the controversy begin over Donald Trump's attacks on the judge in the Trump University lawsuit? It began when Donald Trump couldn't stop talking about the Trump University lawsuit. — In the normal course of events …

Discussion: RedState, The Week, neo-neocon and Hot Air

Ben Jacobs / Guardian:

Iowa state senator is first elected official to leave Republican party over Trump — David Johnson changes registration to No Party in response to Donald Trump accusing federal judge Gonzalo Curiel of bias based on his race — Iowa state senator David Johnson became the first elected official …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Raw Story and Politicus USA

Chris Cillizza / Washington Post:

It's time for GOP leaders to choose sides on Donald Trump — This post has been updated. — Donald Trump has been the Republican presidential nominee for five weeks as of Tuesday. Those 35 days have been filled with self-inflicted wounds — the latest being Trump's insistence that a judge …

Discussion: Vox, CNN, New York Times, New York Magazine, Talking Points Memo, Common Dreams, No More Mister Nice Blog, RedState and Politico

Niels Lesniewski / Roll Call:

Rubio Says He Won't Speak on Trump's Behalf at GOP Convention — Florida senator says he would talk about own beliefs to Republican audience — McConnell to Trump: Don't Try to Fight Over the GOP Platform Chamber Backs Toomey With Cheesy Ad Would Rubio Be Pushing Zika Aid If He Were Still Running?

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Political Wire, Business Insider, RedState and Hot Air

Lynn Sweet / Chicago Sun Times:

Sen. Mark Kirk withdraws support for Trump — WASHINGTON - Sen. Mark Kirk R-Ill., facing a big challenge from Rep. Tammy Duckworth D-Ill., said Tuesday he will not support presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump after earlier saying he will back him. — " I cannot and will not support …

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money

Andrew Kaczynski / BuzzFeed:

Mitch McConnell: This Election Is About Choosing The Lesser Of Two Evils — “This is a choice that many Americans are not happy with.” — w.soundcloud.com — Asked on Monday if the general election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump was a “lesser of two evils election,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell answered yes.

Discussion: RedState and Talking Points Memo

Jordain Carney / The Hill:

GOP senator: 'I can't see myself voting for Donald Trump' … (R-Ariz.) on Tuesday doubled down on his skepticism of Donald Trump — , saying he currently doesn't believe he'll support the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee in November. — “As of now, unless he changes significantly …

Discussion: Politico, RedState, Bloomberg.com, Daily Wire and Politicus USA

Andrew Kaczynski / BuzzFeed:

Susan Collins: “Very Difficult” To Back Trump After His Attack On Federal Judge — “The comments like the comments Trump made about the judge make it very difficult for me. It makes the decision a hard one.” — Astrid Riecken / Getty Images — w.soundcloud.com

Nick Gass / Politico:

Christie: Trump ‘not racist,’ has ‘right’ to express opinions on judge — Donald Trump has the “right” to express his opinion about the U.S. federal judge presiding over Trump University lawsuits, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie asserted Tuesday, defending the presumptive Republican nominee …

Discussion: Bloomberg, Mediaite, ABC News, New York Times, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, The American Spectator, The Root, Daily Mail, Vox, Real Clear Politics, Washington Monthly, Media Matters for America, Power LinePower Line, The Week, Media Matters for America and Shakesville

CNN:

Paul Ryan rips Donald Trump remarks as ‘textbook definition of a racist comment’ — (CNN)House Speaker Paul Ryan ripped Donald Trump's recent remarks saying a judge presiding over a lawsuit involving his business was biased because of his Mexican heritage as “the textbook definition of a racist comment.”

Discussion: Heat Street, Media Matters for America and Right Wing Watch

J.D. Durkin / Mediaite:

GOP Congressman Bizarrely Defends Trump: ‘You Could Easily Argue’ Obama Is Racist — This was probably not the interview that New York state Representative Lee Zeldin had in mind. — The Republican Congressman sat down with CNN's John Berman and Kate Bolduan Tuesday morning to address …

Discussion: alan.com, National Review and RedState

Joey Nolfi / EW.com:

Meryl Streep dons a fat suit and orangeface as Donald Trump — Further proving there's no role she can't tackle, acting legend Meryl Streep has gone from complete Margaret Thatcher to full Donald Trump, sporting messy hair, a low-hanging red tie, a fat suit, and comically-applied self-tanner …

Discussion: CNN, Business Insider, Raw Story, The Verge, The Gateway Pundit, Gothamist, CBS New York and Mediaite

Associated Press:
The Latest: Scott calls Trump's comments ‘racially toxic’

Discussion: Raw Story and Mediaite

William Petroski / Des Moines Register:
Iowa GOP lawmaker dumps party to protest Trump

Discussion: Politicus USA

Bridget Bowman / Roll Call:
Grassley: Senate Can Be a Check on Trump's Judges

Discussion: Des Moines Register, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos and Politico

Jay Newton-Small / TIME:
Susan Collins Says She's Not Yet Ready to Back Donald Trump

Discussion: RedState, Business Insider, Mediaite and WMUR

Sara Jerde / Talking Points Memo:
Ryan: Trump's Judge Attacks ‘The Textbook Definition Of A Racist Comment’

Discussion: Daily Wire, Hit & Run, The Daily Caller, Politico and Associated Press

David M. Herszenhorn / New York Times:
Paul Ryan Calls Donald Trump's Attack on Judge ‘Racist,’ but Backs Him Still

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Talking Points Memo and rubber hose

Allegra Kirkland / Talking Points Memo: Trump Spox Suggests Trump's Sister Could Be ‘Biased’ As A Female Judge

New York Times:
The Judicial System According to Donald Trump

Discussion: Washington Post, Business Insider, Vox, BuzzFeed, Mediaite, Yahoo, Media Matters for America, NPR, New Yorker and BizPac Review

CNBC:
Paul Ryan: Trump's judge remarks ‘textbook definition of a racist comment’

Discussion: AOL, National Review and Reuters

The Intercept:

Perfect End to Democratic Primary: Anonymous Super-Delegates Declare Winner Through Media — Last night, Associated Press - on a day when nobody voted - surprised everyone by abruptly declaring the Democratic Party primary over and Hillary Clinton the victor.

New York Times:
Hillary Clinton Has Clinched Democratic Nomination, Survey Reports

Discussion: Independent Journal …, Hit & Run, The Mahablog, Mediaite, Mother Jones, Althouse, Outside the Beltway, The Week, The Nation and Politico

Bloomberg: Clinton's Historic Moment Tempered by Sanders, Who Won't Go Away

Joe Perticone / Independent Journal Review:
Bernie Sanders Delegate Forced to Withdraw from Democratic National Convention Over Drug Charges

Discussion: Politico, Talking Points Memo and The Daily Caller

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:
Bernie Sanders Has Some Strange Ideas About Why He Deserves the Nomination

Discussion: FiveThirtyEight, Salon, Florida Politics, USA Today, Vox, Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Week, Politico, Mediaite, CANNONFIRE and Washington Post

Robert Costa / Washington Post:
In San Francisco, Berniecrats lash out at media for calling nomination for Clinton

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Fox News, Argus Leader, Guardian, Politico, The Week, Political Insider blog, ABC News, Instapundit and Sky Dancing

Lisa Hagen / The Hill:
Clinton will call Sanders Tuesday night

Discussion: Politico, The Atlantic, Common Dreams, Mediaite, Daily Kos and New York Times

Benjamin Siegel / ABC News:
Nancy Pelosi ‘Proud to Endorse’ Hillary Clinton for President

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, NBC News, Sky Dancing, Mediaite, Hot Air, No More Mister Nice Blog, Washington Times, The Week, Shakesville, Washington Free Beacon, CBS New York and Politico

MSNBC:
Hillary Clinton makes history

Discussion: Washington Post, NBC News, The Daily Caller and Booman Tribune

Wlady Pleszczynski / The American Spectator:

Trump Is Right: The Shame of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell — The GOP Establishment is in full flight. — No Abraham Lincolns here. — In a shameful haste to embrace identity politics, the latter the political descendant of slavery and segregation, Speaker Paul Ryan …

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, Raw Story and Media Matters for America

Brian Tashman / Right Wing Watch:
Pat Buchanan: Stop ‘The Lynching’ Of Donald Trump Over Racist Attack On Judge

Discussion: Politico

Adrian Carrasquillo / BuzzFeed:
The RNC Approached Two Hispanic Operatives Who Weren't Interested Because Of Trump

Discussion: alan.com and The Week

Tierney Sneed / Talking Points Memo:
Trump Surrogate: Paul Ryan Is ‘Racist’ For Condemning Judge Attacks

Discussion: Daily Kos

Pat Buchanan / Townhall.com:
The Donald & The La Raza Judge

Discussion: Daily Wire

Associated Press:

Florida AG asked Trump for donation before nixing fraud case — WASHINGTON (AP) — Florida's attorney general personally solicited a political contribution from Donald Trump around the same time her office deliberated joining an investigation of alleged fraud at Trump University and its affiliates

Discussion: RedState, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, Daily Kos, LawNewz, Washington Free Beacon and Politico

Julian Hattem / The Hill:

FBI asks to make new secret filing in Clinton email case — The FBI has asked a federal judge for permission to file a second secret declaration detailing its probe into Hillary Clinton — 's private email server. — In the request, which came as part of a Freedom of Information Act …

Discussion: LawNewz and Hot Air

Lisa Hagen / The Hill:
State would need 75 years to compile Clinton emails

Discussion: CNN and MichelleMalkin.com

Gabriel Sherman / New York Magazine:

Dick Morris Is in Talks to Join the Trump Campaign — The controversial former Clinton adviser could play a key roll in Trump's anti-Hillary strategy. — Before Donald Trump's campaign was derailed by his racist attacks on a federal judge, the GOP nominee was surprisingly disciplined in his attacks on Hillary Clinton.

Discussion: RedState, The Huffington Post, Media Matters for America, Independent Journal …, The Daily Caller, The Moderate Voice and Politico

Donovan Slack / USA Today:

Paul Ryan starts unveiling plan for ‘better GOP’ — WASHINGTON - Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday will start detailing policy prescriptions that are part of a positive Republican vision that he says will show Americans what the party is for, rather than focusing on what it's against.

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon