memeorandum: China Shows Off Military Might, and Xi Jinping Puts Rivals on Notice (Chris Buckley/New York Times)

1:20 PM ET, July 30, 2017

Top Items:

Kevin D. Williamson / National Review:

Death of a F***ing Salesman — Donald Trump can't close the deal. — A few years ago in New York, Al Pacino starred in a revival of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross, and the casting was poignant: In 1992, a much younger and more vigorous Pacino had played the role of hotshot salesman Ricky Roma …

Peter Baker / New York Times:

Trump Tries to Regroup as the West Wing Battles Itself — WASHINGTON — President Trump enters a new phase of his presidency on Monday with a new chief of staff but an old set of challenges as he seeks to get back on course after enduring one of the worst weeks that any modern occupant …

Discussion: CANNONFIRE, New York Magazine, Taylor Marsh and Political Wire

Olivia Nuzzi / New York Magazine:

Why ‘the Mooch’ Whacked Reince Priebus — “This is really a lesson in life,” a source close to the White House told me last Saturday, “Priebus made a mistake with Anthony because he kept his enemies on the outside, not the inside. Anthony wasn't part of the problem they've been having, so Anthony can look like the solution.”

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Mashable, The Resurgent and The Last Tradition, more at Mediagazer »

Julia Manchester / The Hill:
Gingrich: Trump and Scaramucci ‘speak the same language’

Discussion: RedState, The Daily Caller, Washington Post, AOL and Raw Story

Philip Rucker / Washington Post:
Trump enlists Kelly to enforce order, but can the ‘zoo’ be tamed?

Discussion: ABC News, The Daily Caller, IJR and AOL

David Edwards / Raw Story:

'Let's not waste anymore time': Chris Wallace slams door on Kellyanne Conway's Russia deflections — Kellyanne Conway, counselor to President Donald Trump, on Sunday deflected questions about Attorney General Jeff Sessions by slamming the media over the investigation into Russia's interference in the U.S. election.

Discussion: The Week

Philip Shenon / Politico:

McCain Once Almost Left the GOP. What About Now? — In the long, tumultuous political career of Senator John McCain, it would have been remembered as a turning point. It was only rumored at the time. But the Arizona senator nearly bolted from the Republican Party in 2001.

Erica Martinson / Alaska Dispatch News:
Murkowski faces tough prospect of bipartisan, process-focused health care reform

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, TheBlaze, The Nevada Independent, Politico, Emily Kwong and Politicus USA

David Nather / Axios:

Price hints HHS might weaken individual mandate — Health and Human Services secretary Tom Price suggested this morning that he might expand waivers from the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate — a step that health insurers have warned against because it could drive up premiums.

Discussion: Politico

ABC News:
‘This Week’ Transcript 7-30-17: Tom Price, John Podesta, Sergei Ryabkov

Discussion: Business Insider, TheBlaze and Politicus USA

David Nather / Axios: Trump may end health subsidy for members of Congress

Cleve R. Wootson Jr / Washington Post:

U.S. police chiefs blast Trump for endorsing ‘police brutality’ — Police leaders across the country moved quickly to distance themselves from — or to outright condemn — President Trump's statements about “roughing up” people who've been arrested. — The swift public denunciations came …

Discussion: Business Insider, ABC News, Gothamist and The Week

Brian M. Rosenthal / New York Times:
Police Criticize Trump for Urging Officers Not to Be ‘Too Nice’ With Suspects

Discussion: BostonGlobe.com, CBS Boston, Los Angeles Times, Raw Story, Talking Points Memo, The Hill, IJR, AOL and IACP Blog

Jeffrey Toobin / New Yorker:

Jeff Sessions: This Time, It's Personal — Trump's willful misunderstanding of the obligations of an Attorney General reflects a larger flaw in his Presidency and in his character. — The Attorney General of the United States supervises all federal prosecutors, and one of the rituals …

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Jacqueline Thomsen / The Hill:

Sanders: I'm ‘absolutely’ introducing single-payer healthcare bill … (I-Vt.) said Sunday that he will “absolutely” introduce legislation on single-payer healthcare now that the Senate GOP's bill to repeal ObamaCare has failed. — “Of course we are, we're tweaking the final points of the bill …

Discussion: RedState and The Week

Nicki Zink / ABC News:

Russia's retaliation to US actions ‘long, long overdue,’ Kremlin says — Russia's deputy foreign minister said his country's retaliation over U.S. actions against Russia was “overdue” and that the Kremlin will consider “symmetrical or asymmetrical” responses to new sanctions passed by Congress.

Discussion: Politico

Andrew Roth / Washington Post:
The Kremlin is done betting on Trump and planning how to strike back against U.S. sanctions

Discussion: Power Line

John Bowden / The Hill:

Hackers break into voting machines in 90 minutes at competition — Hackers at at a competition in Las Vegas were able to successfully breach the software of U.S. voting machines in just 90 minutes on Friday, illuminating glaring security deficiencies in America's election infrastructure.

Discussion: The Register and Booman Tribune

Jacqueline Thomsen / The Hill:

Mulvaney: It's White House policy Senate keeps focus on healthcare … White House budget director Mick Mulvaney said Sunday that it's official White House policy that nothing else gets a vote in Congress before healthcare. — “Yes,” it's official policy that the Senate stay focused …

Discussion: Politico, The Week and Mediaite

Debra Birnbaum / Variety:

Late-Night Writers Talk Trump: 'I Don't Want This Job' — While President Donald Trump's administration has given them ample material for comedy, the consensus among some of the writers for late-night shows is that they'd prefer to not to have to cover it. — “I don't want this job” …

Discussion: IJR and twitchy.com

Brooke Seipel / The Hill:

Biden lobbied McCain on healthcare vote: report — (R-Ariz.) ahead of Friday's vote on Senate Republicans' healthcare bill, asking that he oppose the legislation. — According to a report by The Washington Post, McCain was called by both Biden and former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) …