memeorandum: It's 2004 All Over Again — Lately we've been hearing a lot about truth. (John Hinderaker/Power Line)

12:35 AM ET, April 3, 2017

Top Items:

Donald Trump in his own words — The US president speaks to Lionel Barber, Gillian Tett and Demetri Sevastopulo — Read next … You are the master of ‘the art of the deal’ . . . can you cut a deal with Xi Jinping when you see him in Mar-a-Lago? — I have great respect for him.

Discussion: CNBC, The Guardian, The Daily Caller, RT, NBC News, Business Insider, Politico, Raw Story, The Daily Beast and Axios

Mark Meckler / The Hill:

Why is Trump attacking the Freedom Caucus? Simple: They won, he lost — “The Freedom Caucus will hurt the entire Republican agenda if they don't get on the team, & fast,” President Donald Trump — wrote on Twitter Thursday. “We must fight them, & Dems, in 2018!”

Discussion: Raw Story, BizPac Review and CNN

Abby Phillip / Washington Post:

Trump remains the center of attention, but he's increasingly isolated politically — For a second consecutive weekend, President Trump remained in Washington — tweeting in the morning, holding meetings at the White House and heading to his Virginia golf club on Sunday …

Discussion: Raw Story, IJR and The Daily Caller

Mallory Shelbourne / The Hill:
Trump will deal with Dems on healthcare 'if we don't get what we want'

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, RedState and Axios

Stan Collender / Forbes:
This Is The Clown Show That Could Lead To A Government Shutdown This Month

Discussion: CNN, Washington Examiner, Politico, Talking Points Memo, The Week, Fox News Insider, NPR and The Guardian

Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:

Fox braces for fallout from Bill O'Reilly scandal — If Bill O'Reilly weren't the biggest star at Fox News, would he still have a job at Fox News? — Many media industry observers, reading about the harassment allegations that have cost O'Reilly and Fox millions of dollars, are saying he would not.

Discussion: Raw Story, Media Matters for America, Politicus USA, Daily Kos, Showbiz411, NewsHounds blog, The Week and Mediaite

Erik Wemple / Washington Post:

Bill O'Reilly: An awful, awful man — As Fox News last year was plowing through the sexual harassment scandal involving now-former network chief Roger Ailes, King of Cable News Bill O'Reilly couldn't have been more dismissive of the victims. “In this country, every famous, powerful or wealthy person is a target.

Discussion: Raw Story, Media Matters for America and The Week, more at Mediagazer »

Steve Holland / Reuters:

Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner visits Iraq: U.S. official — White House Senior Adviser Jared Kushner, U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law, is visiting Iraq with Marine General Joseph Dunford, the chairman of the U.S. military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, a senior Trump administration official said on Sunday.

Discussion: The Week and IJR

Associated Press:

Jared Kushner travels to Iraq — NEW YORK — President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, Jared Kushner, is visiting Iraq with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, an official said Sunday night. — Details about the trip to the Middle East with Gen. Joseph Dunford were not released.

Discussion: ABC News

Mark Landler / New York Times:
China Learns How to Get Trump's Ear: Through Jared Kushner

Discussion: Axios

Los Angeles Times:

Editorial Donald Trump's train-wreck presidency — The Times Editorial Board — It was no secret during the campaign that Donald Trump was a narcissist and a demagogue who used fear and dishonesty to appeal to the worst in American voters. The Times called him unprepared and unsuited …

Discussion: Breitbart, Occupy Democrats, Business Insider, The Hill and Political Wire

David Edwards / Raw Story:

'That's an absurd question': Mitch McConnell melts down as Chuck Todd grills him for blocking Merrick Garland — DON'T MISS STORIES. FOLLOW RAW STORY! — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on Sunday blamed the American people for the decision of Senate Republicans …

Discussion: TheBlaze

U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana:
Donnelly Announces Support for Gorsuch

Discussion: TheBlaze, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Talking Points Memo, IJR and twitchy.com

Elana Schor / Politico:
Donnelly becomes third Dem to back Gorsuch; Tester to vote no

Discussion: Axios

New York Times: The Government Gorsuch Wants to Undo

Associated Press:
Washington's high-court fights date to Washington himself

Discussion: Politico and ABC News

Kali Holloway / Salon:

Vacate Trump Tower: People want Melania Trump to be forced to leave New York City — A petition requests that Melania leave and save the city a ton of money — The exorbitant cost of keeping Melania and Barron Trump in their gold-plated penthouse in New York City has inspired thousands …

John Hinderaker / Power Line:

It's 2004 All Over Again — Lately we've been hearing a lot about truth. It started with hysteria over “fake news” during the last election season. The “truth” narrative went into overdrive with President Trump's unexpected (by most) victory. Here are a few of the many instances that could be cited.

Discussion: Instapundit

Leah McElrath / Shareblue:

Watching the hearings, I learned my “Bernie bro” harassers may have been Russian bots — When it was revealed during the Senate Intelligence Committee hearing that Russian bots (computer algorithm controlled social media accounts) on Twitter had masqueraded as “Bernie Bros” …

Joel B. Pollak / Breitbart:

Adam Schiff's Weak CNN Interview Supports Nunes, Trump Claims on Surveillance — Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), the ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee, told CNN's Jake Tapper on State of the Union on Sunday morning that he “can't say whether anything was masked or unmasked properly” …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit

Naomi Jagoda / The Hill:

IRS chief is unexpected survivor in Trump era — One of Republicans' least favorite Obama administration officials remains in his position: IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. — Some Republicans lawmakers have asked President Trump to ask for Koskinen's resignation.

Discussion: Political Wire

Donald Trump / ABC News:

‘This Week’ Transcript 4-2-17: Ambassador Nikki Haley, Ash Carter, Sen. John McCain, and Dmitry Peskov — THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT FOR ‘THIS WEEK’ on April 2, 2017 and it will be updated. — MARTHA RADDATZ: But we begin with the first Sunday morning interview with a member …

Discussion: RT, Talking Points Memo and AOL