memeorandum: The Note: The health care costs for Republicans (Veronica Stracqualursi/ABC News)

10:00 AM ET, May 4, 2017

Top Items:

Little-Noted Provision of GOP Health Bill Could Alter Employer Plans — Many people who obtain health insurance through their employers could be at risk of losing protections that limit out-of-pocket costs due to a provision proposed in the House Republican health-care bill.

Discussion: Daily Kos and Raw Story

Erica L. Green / New York Times:

A Little-Noticed Target in the House Health Bill: Special Education — WASHINGTON — While House Republicans lined up votes Wednesday for a Thursday showdown over their bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Vickie Glenn sat in her Murphysboro, Ill., office and prayed for it to fail.

Discussion: The Week

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:

The GOP Health-Care Bill Is an Abdication of Responsibility and a Moral Disgrace — In John Boehner's angry, rousing 2010 floor speech denouncing the Affordable Care Act - the one in which he famously shouted “hell no!” repeatedly - the Republican House leader ended on a magnanimous note.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, NBC News, Daily Kos and Breitbart

David Leonhardt / New York Times:

The New Study That Shows Trumpcare's Damage — When Massachusetts expanded health insurance a decade ago, state officials unknowingly created an experiment. It's turned out to be an experiment that offers real-world evidence of what would happen if the House Republicans' health bill were to become law.

Veronica Stracqualursi / ABC News:

The Note: The health care costs for Republicans — NOTABLES —HOUSE TO HOLD VOTE ON GOP HEALTH CARE BILL TODAY: The House of Representatives will vote today on the Republican-backed health care bill. According to the schedule sent out House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy …

Discussion: Washington Post

Sarah Kliff / Vox:

Congress is voting Thursday on a bill to replace Obamacare. The CBO still hasn't scored it. — This is the web version of VoxCare, a daily newsletter from Vox on the latest twists and turns in America's health care debate. Like what you're reading? Sign up to get VoxCare in your inbox here.

Discussion: ABC News, Politico, Hullabaloo, The Week, CNBC, rubber hose, Marginal REVOLUTION, New York Magazine, The Atlantic, The Daily Caller, Mother Jones and National Review

The Hill:

GOP rushing to vote on healthcare without analysis of changes — House Republicans are once again fast-tracking consideration of their ObamaCare replacement bill without knowing the full impact of the legislation they'll vote on Thursday. — The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office …

Discussion: RedState and The Week

David Nather / Axios:
What to know about today's House health care vote

Discussion: CNBC and Jamie Dupree

Politico:
House to vote Thursday on Obamacare repeal bill

Discussion: Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos and Politicus USA

Matt Fuller / HuffPost:
House Republicans Say They Will Vote On Their Health Care Plan

Discussion: ThinkProgress, NBC News, Common Dreams, The Week and FiveThirtyEight

Jordain Carney / The Hill:
Schumer: House ObamaCare repeal bill can't pass Senate

Discussion: Vox, Raw Story and Politicus USA

Jonathan Cohn / HuffPost: Obamacare Repeal Is Really Just A Giant $1 Trillion Cut To Health Care Programs

New York Times:
With $8 Billion Deal on Health Bill, House G.O.P. Leader Says ‘We Have Enough Votes’

Discussion: Politicus USA, Center for American …, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Hill, Power Line, Washington Post, The Stranger … and CNN

Wall Street Journal:
U.S. House to Vote Thursday on Health-Care Bill

Discussion: Axios

Emily Smith / Page Six:

Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are engaged — MORE FROM: … The first couple of cable news Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are engaged to be married, sources have exclusively confirmed to Page Six. — The MSNBC “Morning Joe” co-hosts got engaged this past weekend during …

Discussion: Raw Story, RedState, The Gateway Pundit, IJR, AOL, New York Magazine, TVNewser, The Week and CBS Philly

Emily Jane Fox / Vanity Fair:

Exclusive: Joe and Mika Are Getting Hitched — After years of rumors, gossip, and intrigue, Morning Joe hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski reveal their engagement, how it all went down, and the unlikely guy (Donald Trump) who asked to oversee their vows.

Discussion: Raw Story, Washington Free Beacon and Axios

Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:

Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are engaged — Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski are engaged. — The news puts an end to years of speculation about a romance between the MSNBC co-hosts. The engagement was confirmed by two “sources with knowledge of the situation.”

Discussion: twitchy.com

George F. Will / Washington Post:

Trump has a dangerous disability — It is urgent for Americans to think and speak clearly about President Trump's inability to do either. This seems to be not a mere disinclination but a disability. It is not merely the result of intellectual sloth but of an untrained mind bereft …

Discussion: The Hill

Gregory Korte / USA Today:

Obama's $400,000 speech could prompt Congress to go after his pension — WASHINGTON — Last year, then-president Barack Obama vetoed a bill that would have curbed the pensions of former presidents if they took outside income of $400,000 or more. — So now that former president Barack Obama …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Scared Monkeys, BizPac Review, AOL, New York Magazine, Joe.My.God., Raw Story, Politicus USA, rubber hose and Balloon Juice

Kristine Phillips / Washington Post:

Colbert finally (and unapologetically) responds to #FireColbert backlash: ‘I would do it again’ — Stephen Colbert finally — and unapologetically — responded to criticism of his vulgar oral-sex joke about President Trump that led to a #firecolbert hashtag and a call to boycott advertisers of his CBS show.

Discussion: Advocate, The Daily Caller, Occupy Democrats, IJR, Mediaite, John Hawkins' Right Wing News, Decider, Taylor Marsh, Deadline and Mashable

Olivia Beavers / The Hill:
Stephen Colbert reacts to online backlash over Trump jokes

Discussion: USA Today, The Gateway Pundit and Instapundit

Sasha Savitsky / Fox News:
FireColbert Twitter campaign gains steam after Stephen Colbert's profane Donald Trump takedown

Discussion: Vox, BizPac Review, TheBlaze, Mediaite, Business Insider, Consequence of Sound, IndieWire, Towleroad, The Moderate Voice, The Daily Caller, Variety, IJR and rubber hose

Raheem Kassam / Breitbart:

Macron's ‘Deplorables’ Moment? Establishment Candidate Brands 8m Le Pen Voters ‘Hateful Cowards’ — French Presidential hopeful Emmanuel Macron this week lashed out at Front National voters, branding them “anti-France” and “true enemies”. — In a moment resembling Hillary Clinton's infamous …

Discussion: Joe.My.God.

Mary Jordan / Washington Post:
Emmanuel Macron is 39 and his wife is 64. French women say it's about time.

Discussion: New York Magazine

France 24:
Key moments of final Macron-Le Pen duel before French presidential run-off

Discussion: The Week and New York Times

Daily Mail:

Queen calls her entire household to ‘highly unusual’ emergency meeting at Buckingham Palace today but mystery surrounds the reason why — By , REBECCA ENGLISH ROYAL CORRESPONDENT and RICHARD KAY FOR THE DAILY MAIL — Speculation amongst Buckingham Palace staff is rampant this morning …

Discussion: Business Insider and Mashable

BBC:
Prince Philip to step down from carrying out royal engagements

Discussion: The Atlantic, IJR and The Week

Jim Sciutto / CNN:

First on CNN: Rice refuses Senate request to testify on Russian hacking — Susan Rice responds to Trump's accusations — Washington (CNN)Susan Rice, President Barack Obama's former national security adviser, on Wednesday declined Sen. Lindsey Graham's request to participate …

Discussion: Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, The Hill, Washington Times, Talking Points Memo, Washington Free Beacon, IJR, TheBlaze and Joe.My.God.

The Hill:

Trump to ease rules on church political activity — President Trump is set to sign an executive order Thursday to make it easier to for churches and other religious groups to participate in politics without jeopardizing their tax-exempt status. — Trump plans to sign an order in the morning …

Discussion: Politico and Joe.My.God.

John Wagner / Washington Post:
Trump to sign executive order making it easier for churches to support political candidates

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, New York Times, New York Magazine and The Week

Amanda Knox / Los Angeles Times:

Op-Ed Amanda Knox: Donald Trump supported me when I was wrongly accused of murder. What do I owe him? — Amanda Knox cries following the verdict that overturns her conviction and acquits her of murdering her British roommate Meredith Kercher, at the Perugia court, Italy, on Oct. 3, 2011.

Ann Coulter / Official:

SWAMP PEOPLE: 47; TRUMP: 0 — If this is the budget deal we get when Republicans control the House, the Senate and the presidency, there's no point in ever voting for a Republican again. — Not only is there no funding for a wall, but — thanks to the deft negotiating skills of House Speaker Paul Ryan …