memeorandum: German protesters prepare for Angela ‘Merkel Must Go’ demonstration (James Dunn/Daily Mail)

2:35 PM ET, July 30, 2016

Top Items:

Steve Turnham / ABC News:

Donald Trump to Father of Fallen Soldier: 'I've Made a Lot of Sacrifices' — In his first response to a searing charge from bereaved Army father Khizr Khan that he'd “sacrificed nothing” for his country, Donald Trump claimed that he had in fact sacrificed by employing “thousands and thousands of people.”

Discussion: The Atlantic, Vox, RedState, Raw Story, MSNBC, Political Wire, Guardian and Associated Press

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Trump's Thunderbolts — Donald Trump is mad at me. He thinks I've treated him “very badly.” But he returned my call on Friday night on his way to a rally in Colorado and agreed to do a lightning round on the Democratic convention. He began, naturally, by bragging about his convention ratings …

Discussion: Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, Politico and BillMoyers.com

Mark Joseph Stern / Slate:

Islam, Equality, and Pocket Constitutions: How the DNC Did Religious Liberty Right — Khizr Khan, a Muslim immigrant whose son was killed while serving in Iraq, brought the Democratic National Convention to tears and raucous applause on Thursday when he held up his pocket Constitution …

Discussion: Vox

Annabelle Timsit / Politico:
Seven Minutes That Shook the Convention

Discussion: The Intercept, Mediaite, Jihad Watch, The Moderate Voice, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Jezebel, New York Times, Washington Post and AOL

MSNBC:
Slain soldier's dad: GOP should call out Trump

Discussion: Friendly Atheist and Balloon Juice

Josh Barro / Business Insider:
I rewatched Khizr Khan's speech — and it made me weep for our country

Discussion: Politicus USA, Politico and MSNBC

Associated Press:

Trump's Russia Reset Ideas Alarming Allies, Many in US — Donald Trump's flurry of offhand remarks and abrupt zingers on Russia — praising Vladimir Putin, dismissing NATO — have jolted the world, not to mention the U.S. presidential campaign. — With Russia's behavior rattling nerves …

Discussion: Politico

Ellen Nakashima / Washington Post:
Clinton campaign denies reports that its computer system was hacked

Discussion: RedState and Independent Journal Review

Eric Lichtblau / New York Times:
Computer Systems Used by Clinton Campaign Are Said to Be Hacked, Apparently by Russians

Discussion: JustOneMinute, War in Context, Althouse and NBC News

Reuters:
Exclusive: Clinton campaign also hacked in attacks on Democrats

Richard Washington / CNBC:

Venezuela calls for mandatory labor in farm sector — The government of Venezuela has issued a decree that “effectively amounts to forced labor” in an attempt to fix a spiraling food crisis, according to a new report from Amnesty International. — A Venezuelan ministry last week announced Resolution …

Discussion: EconLog and Outside the Beltway

Amnesty International:
Venezuela: New regime effectively amounts to forced labour

Discussion: UPI, Power Line, The Daily Caller, Business Insider, Forbes and Infowars

CNNMoney:
Venezuela's new decree: Forced farm work for citizens

Discussion: Liberty Unyielding, The Gateway Pundit and Hot Air

Tristan Lejeune / The Hill:

Trump floats opposition to debate schedule — Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump — tweeted his opposition late Friday to the general election debate schedule against Democrat Hillary Clinton — , calling the current lineup “unacceptable.” — As usual, Hillary & the Dems …

Discussion: The Right Scoop and Joe.My.God.

Matea Gold / Washington Post:

As Trump lavishes Colorado with attention, he faces resistance in GOP enclave — COLORADO SPRINGS — This conservative enclave at the foot of the Rocky Mountains should be a stronghold for the Republican presidential nominee, with its robust military presence and strong evangelical Christian tradition.

Anne Gearan / Washington Post:
On three-day bus tour, Clinton hopes to woo blue-collar voters away from Trump

Discussion: Hillary Clinton Speeches

Kenneth P. Vogel / Politico:
Kochs reject push to meet with Trump

Discussion: RedState, BizPac Review, NBC News, The Week and The Right Scoop

James Dunn / Daily Mail:

German protesters prepare for Angela ‘Merkel Must Go’ demonstration — Merkel's premiership is hanging by a thread today as thousands gathered to call for her resignation while a key political ally dramatically withdrew his support over immigration policy. — More than 5,000 protested …

Discussion: neo-neocon, John Hawkins' Right Wing News and Vox Popoli

Jason Riley / WDRB 41 Louisville News:

VIDEO | Louisville judge furious at Metro Corrections over inappropriately dressed inmate — LOUISVILLE, Ky., (WDRB) - A female Metro Corrections inmate was brought to Jefferson District Court on Friday morning without a jumpsuit - and appearing to not be wearing pants …

Discussion: Raw Story and The Root

Evelyn Rupert / The Hill:

Trump: I wish Ivanka and Chelsea Clinton weren't friends — said Friday that he wishes his daughter Ivanka and Hillary Clinton — 's daughter Chelsea weren't friends. — “I thought Chelsea did a nice job. You know, Chelsea likes Ivanka and Ivanka likes Chelsea,” Trump said at a Denver rally Friday …

Soumya Karlamangla / Los Angeles Times:

Meningitis outbreaks among gay men have experts puzzled — Dr. Jeffrey Gunzenhauser of the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health discusses an invasive meningococcal disease outbreak that has hit gay and bisexual men disproportionately. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times) — Soumya Karlamangla

Discussion: Washington Blade and PinkNews

New York Daily News:

Constance Wu calls out Matt Damon's casting in ‘The Great Wall’ as pushing ‘racist myth,’ says Asians don't need white ‘salvation’ — Actress Constance Wu doesn't think Matt Damon was “Bourne” for this role. — The “Fresh off the Boat” star slammed the casting of Damon …

Discussion: Guardian and John Hawkins' Right Wing News

New York Post:

Cops stage fake traffic stop to help man's marriage proposal — Three NYPD cops staged a fake traffic stop to help a man propose to his girlfriend in Queens after a friend connected to the scandal-plagued Shomrim patrol group asked for a favor, the future bride said Friday.

Discussion: New York's PIX11 and CBS New York

Edwin Mora / Breitbart:

Naval War College Dodges Hatch Act Violation of Faculty Member — The U.S. Naval War College has defended the ardent denunciation of Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump by its national security professor Dr. Tom Nichols, a self-identified “Never Trump Republican,” arguing that he has the right to do so.

Discussion: The Resurgent