memeorandum: In Jim Cooley's open-carry America, even a trip to Walmart can require an AR-15 (Terrence McCoy/Washington Post)

12:50 PM ET, September 18, 2016

Top Items:

Powerful Blast Injures at Least 29 in Manhattan; Second Device Found — A powerful explosion caused by what the authorities believe was a homemade bomb injured at least 29 people on a crowded sidewalk in the bustling Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan on Saturday night, according to the authorities …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, CNN, Associated Press, Gothamist, Jihad Watch, The Daily Caller, Vocativ, The Atlantic, The Week, Daily Kos and Mashable

Steve Visser / CNN:

New York explosion leaves dozens injured — Witness: Everything shut down, seems like chaos — (CNN)A explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York on Saturday night injured at least 25 people, the fire department said. — Gas has been ruled out as the cause of the explosion, a law enforcement source said.

Gilad Shiloach / Vocativ:

ISIS Supporters Rush To Celebrate NYC Explosion — “We cause you pain inside your house,” one ISIS supporter bragged online — Supporters of the Islamic State rushed to celebrate Saturday night's powerful explosion in New York's Chelsea neighborhood that injured at least 29 people …

Discussion: Pamela Geller, Althouse and Jihad Watch

Sean Sullivan / Washington Post:

Trump says ‘bomb’ went off in New York before details of explosion confirmed — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Donald Trump said at a campaign rally here Saturday night that a “bomb went off” in New York City, as initial reports about a possible explosion in Manhattan were circulating.

Discussion: CBS News, The Hill, RedState, Hot Air, CNN, USA Today, Vocativ, Patterico's Pontifications, alan.com, AOL, Slate, Independent Journal Review and The Gateway Pundit

Christopher Mele / New York Times:

Chelsea Explosion: What We Know and Don't Know — A powerful explosion went off on West 23rd Street in Manhattan around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, injuring 29 people, shattering windows and prompting widespread street closures. — Mayor Bill de Blasio held a news conference late on Saturday night …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Associated Press, CNN, Infowars, The New Civil Rights Movement, Jihad Watch, Sputnik International, Business Insider, AOL, Hullabaloo and The Week

CNN:
New York blast ‘obviously an act of terrorism,’ but not linked to international group, Cuomo says

Discussion: The Week and Gothamist

Marc Santora / New York Times:
Manhattan Blast That Injured 29 Does Not Appear to Be International Terrorism

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Daily Kos

New York Post:
Explosion rocks Chelsea in New York City

Discussion: Fox News, Haaretz, ABC News, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Infowars, The Week, TVNewser, The Last Refuge and The Jawa Report

New York Daily News:
Explosion rips through Chelsea street: ‘Everybody started running and screaming’

Discussion: Pamela Geller, CBS New York, Gothamist, The Root, Breitbart, Jihad Watch, AOL, Raw Story, LawNewz, New York's PIX11 and New York Magazine

Elizabeth Weise / USA Today:
Explosion in New York's Chelsea neighborhood

Discussion: The Daily Caller, New York Post, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, CNBC, Sputnik International, alan.com, Mashable, twitchy.com, NBC News, Mediaite, BizPac Review, CBS Pittsburgh, New Urban Legends, Vocativ, WREG-TV, The Week, Independent Journal Review and Instapundit

St. Cloud Times:

Police: Suspect dead after Crossroads stabbing — Several people were injured and the suspect died at Crossroads Center Saturday after a stabbing was reported about 8:15 p.m. — St. Cloud Police Sgt. Jason Burke told the Times multiple victims were taken to the hospital.

Discussion: Washington Post, New York Times, Power Line, NPR, Infowars, Freedom Outpost, NBC News, New York Magazine and Shot in the Dark

Fox News:

Minnesota mall attacker referenced Allah before stabbing rampage, police chief says — Sept. 17, 2016: People stand near the entrance on the north side of Crossroads Center mall between Macy's and Target as officials investigate a reported multiple stabbing incident in St. Cloud, Minn. (Dave Schwarz/St. Cloud Times via AP)

Discussion: RedState, The Daily Caller, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Last Refuge, Bearing Arms and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS

David Chanen / Star Tribune:
Off-duty officer kills man who stabbed 8 at St. Cloud mall

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Associated Press, Liberty Unyielding and Independent Journal Review

Faith Karimi / CNN:
Minnesota mall attack: Man shot dead after stabbing 8 people

Discussion: Associated Press, RedState, Mediaite and The Week

KSTP-TV:
St. Cloud Mall Closed Sunday Amid Stabbing Investigation

Discussion: Pamela Geller, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, twitchy.com, BizPac Review and Independent Journal Review

Evelyn Rupert / The Hill:

Trump: Robert Gates 'probably has a problem that we don't know about' — carried his attacks on former Defense Secretary Robert Gates from Twitter to a rally in Colorado Springs Saturday night, calling Gates a “nasty guy.” — “We had a clown today, an absolute clown.

Discussion: Booman Tribune, alan.com, Washington Post, ThinkProgress, Wall Street Journal and Political Wire

Jessie Hellmann / The Hill:

Trump's campaign manager: Insults don't mean he's thin-skinned — has the right do defend himself against critics, his campaign manager said Sunday, but that doesn't make him thin-skinned. — Kellyanne Conway said on CBS's “Face the Nation” that Trump was defending himself when he went …

Discussion: RedState

Sean Sullivan / Washington Post:
Trump goes hard after Robert Gates, saying he likely has undisclosed ‘problem’

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Electoral-vote.com, FOX2now.com, ABC News, Politico and Politicus USA

Ines de la Cuetara / ABC News:
GOP Vice Presidential Candidate Mike Pence on Birtherism: 'It's Over'

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Business Insider, Guardian, CNN, Washington Free Beacon, Mediaite, The Daily Caller, AOL, Politico, Politicus USA, Talking Points Memo and Fox News Insider

CNN:

Obama: Would be ‘personal insult’ to legacy if black voters don't back Clinton — “I will consider it a personal insult — an insult to my legacy — if this community lets down its guard,” Obama said — Washington (CNN)President Barack Obama delivered an impassioned plea …

Discussion: AOL, Raw Story, Washington Free Beacon, BizPac Review and Front Page Magazine

Ines de la Cuetara / ABC News:

Mike Pence Says His Role Model for Vice President Is Dick Cheney

Discussion: Political Wire

ABC News:
‘This Week’ Transcript: Sen. Tim Kaine and Gov. Mike Pence

Discussion: Politicus USA and Associated Press

Terrence McCoy / Washington Post:

In Jim Cooley's open-carry America, even a trip to Walmart can require an AR-15 — WINDER, Ga. — All Jim Cooley wants to do is buy some soda. — “You want to come to Walmart?” he asks his wife. — “No,” Maria says. — “Pretty please?” Jim asks. — “I'm not going to sit there and have the police called on you.

Discussion: Balloon Juice

The Morning Call / Associated Press:

New Morning Call/Muhlenberg College poll shows Clinton ahead in Pennsylvania … Privacy Policy — WASHINGTON — Democrat Hillary Clinton has a 9-point lead among likely Pennsylvania voters as Republican Donald Trump continues to struggle among groups key to winning the state …

Discussion: Washington Post and Talking Points Memo, more at Mediagazer »

miamiherald:

Police union asks deputies to not escort Dolphins until players stand for anthem — The Dolphins will open up with their first home game of the season next week against the Cleveland Browns. The question is will the Broward Sheriff's Office be escorting them to the game?

Discussion: USA Today and alan.com

Asbury Park Press:

FBI ‘unaware of any known threat;’ residents of Seaside Park can go home — SEASIDE PARK — The FBI said it was “unaware of any known threat” to public safety Saturday evening and that residents of Seaside Park could go home, after a bomb explosion Saturday morning before a Marine Corps charity race.