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Matt Lauer Fields Storm of Criticism Over Clinton-Trump Forum — It was a high-stakes political moment, far from the chummier confines of the “Today” show and, for Matt Lauer, NBC's stalwart of the morning, a chance to prove his broadcasting mettle on the presidential stage. — The consensus afterward was not kind.
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Matt Lauer's Pathetic Interview of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump Is the Scariest Thing I've Seen in This Campaign — I had not taken seriously the possibility that Donald Trump could win the presidency until I saw Matt Lauer host an hour-long interview with the two major party candidates.


Matt Lauer totally blew it on Trump's blatant lying about Iraq and Libya — “I heard Hillary Clinton say I was not against the war in Iraq,” Donald Trump told Matt Lauer during Wednesday night's Commander-in-Chief Forum. “I was totally against the war in Iraq. You can look at Esquire magazine from 2004.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, New York Times, The Wrap, Salon, ThinkProgress, BuzzFeed, Media Matters for America, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Distractify, Towleroad, Mediaite, New York Magazine, Peacock Panache, BizPac Review, Liberty Unyielding, Raw Story, Media Matters for America, The Atlantic, Daily Kos and Guardian


Matt Lauer Failed The Moderator Test — At NBC's “Commander-in-Chief Forum,” the host let Donald Trump slide on false Iraq and Libya claims he's made all campaign. — NEW YORK Wednesday night's “Commander-in-Chief Forum” on NBC should have gone down as the first time the two 2016 presidential candidate shared a stage.

On Israeli TV, Hillary Clinton Says Terrorists Are Praying for a Trump Victory
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JerusalemOnline, Townhall.com, New York Magazine, The Daily Caller, Washington Free Beacon and twitchy.com

Critics blast Lauer's ‘Commander-in-Chief Forum’ performance
Discussion:
TIME, Independent Journal Review and The Week

Media turn on Lauer for not fact-checking Trump
Discussion:
Power Line, The Federalist, NBC News, National Review, Hot Air, Mediaite, Joe.My.God., Vox, Balloon Juice and The Gateway Pundit


‘What Is Aleppo?’ Gary Johnson Asks, in an Interview Stumble — Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor and Libertarian Party presidential nominee, revealed a surprising lack of foreign policy knowledge on Thursday that could rock his insurgent candidacy when he could not answer …
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Bloomberg, Talking Points Memo, Washington Free Beacon, Mother Jones, The Atlantic, The Federalist, The Daily Caller, The Concourse, Mediaite, Hit & Run, The American Conservative, Independent Journal Review, Mashable, Fox News Insider, New York Magazine, The Week, Raw Story, Washington Post, Politico, Instapundit, Hot Air, RedState, Red Alert Politics, Towleroad, Althouse and WDTN-TV
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Gary Johnson asks: What is Aleppo? — Mike Barnicle asks Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson how he would handle Aleppo, Syria as president. Johnson responds. ... more Duration: {{video.duration.momentjs}}
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Washington Monthly, New York Post, Political Wire, Business Insider, Infowars, NPR and Hot Air

Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson: ‘What is Aleppo?’ — Asked what he would do about the Syrian city of Aleppo, the region at the center of that nation's civil war and refugee crisis, Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson responded by asking, “what is Aleppo?”
Discussion:
RedState, Mediaite, CNN, Outside the Beltway, Shakesville, New York Times and The Week

Gary Johnson explains Aleppo flub: ‘I blanked’
Discussion:
RedState, Foreign Policy, Infowars and The Daily Caller

Gary Johnson just has one simple question: ‘And what is Aleppo?’
Discussion:
Infowars, Western Journalism, Common Dreams and New York Magazine

Scarborough rips Johnson after MSNBC interview
Discussion:
Hit & Run, The Week, BizPac Review and Joe.My.God.


Veteran confronts Clinton on handling of classified info — A veteran confronted Hillary Clinton about her handling of classified information as secretary of state during a presidential forum on Wednesday. — An Air Force and Navy veteran, who said he held “the top secret sensitive …
Discussion:
The Gateway Pundit, Hot Air, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Scared Monkeys and White House Dossier
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As debates near, forum shows potential Trump advantage — NBC's “Commander in Chief Forum,” held Wednesday night aboard the USS Intrepid in New York, was the closest thing to a debate between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton until the real thing on Sept. 26.
Discussion:
Politico and Instapundit

RNC Chief Criticized For Telling Clinton To ‘Smile’ During National Security Forum
Discussion:
ABC News, New York Times, CNN and Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times

Clinton laments how Trump ‘trash talked’ generals
Discussion:
ABC News and New Century Times


Clinton campaign warns media to tread carefully — 's campaign is working the refs hard when it comes to reports about her health. — While Clinton responded to a fit of coughing this week with humor, saying she was “allergic” to GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump
Discussion:
RedState, Telegraph, Infowars and John Hawkins' Right Wing News
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Media doesn't ask Clinton about emails — was never asked about her controversial private email server or her family's foundation during her first formal press conference in 278 days on Thursday. — Clinton, the Democratic presidential nominee, addressed reporters on the tarmac in White Plains …
Discussion:
Washington Free Beacon

WATCH LIVE: Clinton To Hold Press Conference On NY Tarmac At 9:15 AM ET
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Balloon Juice

Suffolk University Poll of North Carolina Shows Trump at 44 Percent to Clinton's 41 Percent — With two months to go before the November general election, Republican Donald Trump (44 percent) leads Democrat Hillary Clinton (41 percent), by 3 points in North Carolina, according …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Politico, Washington Times and Joe.My.God.
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Was Hillary Wearing an Earpiece During Last Night's Presidential Forum? — Conservative actor James Woods: “She can't even lie without help” — Was Hillary Clinton wearing an earpiece during last night's presidential forum? That's the latest question swirling around the Internet …


Voters are finding it harder to commit than usual, posing a challenge for Clinton and Trump — Matt Lauer looks on as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks during the NBC News Commander-in-Chief Forum. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) — In this election season of discontent …
Discussion:
The Atlantic, Mother Jones, Red Alert Politics, CNN, New Century Times and The Daily Caller
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Texas high school shooting: 1 shot; 2 on loose, police say — (CNN)One person has been shot at Alpine High School in western Texas, and two shooters are believed to be on the loose, the Brewster County Sheriff's office said Thursday. — CNN Map — The school has been placed on lockdown, the school district said.
Discussion:
ABC News and Business Insider

Trump's shrinking swing state map — Two months from Election Day, Donald Trump's swing state map is shrinking. — Interviews with more than two dozen Republican operatives, state party officials and elected leaders suggest three of the 11 battleground states identified by POLITICO …
Discussion:
The Week


Are Clinton's memory lapses a health issue, or just dishonest dodging? — THE STORIES ABOUT Hillary Clinton's failing health at first glance seemed like more vapors from the gaseous swamp of this year's toxic presidential race. The coughing fits, a photo showing her being assisted in walking …


Hawaiian seafood caught by foreign crews confined on boats — HONOLULU (AP) — Pier 17 doesn't even show up on most Honolulu maps. Cars whiz past it on their way to Waikiki's famous white sand beaches. Yet few locals, let alone passing tourists, are aware that just behind a guarded gate …
Discussion:
Guardian and Associated Press