memeorandum: In action after action, Trump appeals primarily to his dwindling base (John Wagner/Washington Post)

5:10 PM ET, September 3, 2017

Top Items:

CNN:

Exclusive: Read the Inauguration Day letter Obama left for Trump — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — (CNN)During his final moments in the Oval Office, President Barack Obama folded into thirds a handwritten letter to Donald Trump, slid it into an envelope, and in neat capital letters addressed it to “Mr. President.”

Discussion: Mother Jones, ROMPER, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, New York Times, The Guardian, Fox News Insider, Mashable, Business Insider, Politicus USA, Mediaite, TheBlaze, FOX6Now.com, RedState, Talking Points Memo, The Daily Caller, Axios, IJR and The Root

Choe Sang-Hun / New York Times:

North Korea Says It Tested a Hydrogen Bomb Meant for Missiles — SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea carried out its sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sunday, saying it had detonated a hydrogen bomb that could be mounted on an intercontinental ballistic missile.

Discussion: The Atlantic, Washington Post, Shareblue, New York Magazine, ROMPER, TheBlaze, The National Interest, JustOneMinute, Booman Tribune, Washington Monthly and Political Wire

New York Times:

After North Korea Nuclear Test, Trump Saves Harshest Words for South Korea — WASHINGTON — President Trump on Sunday called North Korea's biggest nuclear test to date “very hostile and dangerous,” but his most significant rhetorical escalation was against South Korea, a close United States ally …

Julia Manchester / The Hill:

Mattis warns North Korea of ‘massive military response’ if it threatens US, allies … on Sunday issued a stark warning to North Korea, saying the country would be met with a “massive military response” if it threatened the U.S. or its allies. — “Any threat to the United States …

Discussion: Axios, The Guardian, CNBC, ABC News and fox13now.com

BBC:
North Korea nuclear test: Hydrogen bomb ‘missile-ready’

Discussion: John Hawkins' Right Wing News and Daily Kos

Daily Mail:
Kim's young 'un: Spies reveal North Korean dictator has a secret son waiting in the wings …

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit

mid.ru:
Statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

Discussion: RT

New York Times:
Amid Nuclear Tensions, Trump Mulls Exit From South Korea Trade Deal

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, The Daily Caller and Washington Post

Choe Sang-Hun / New York Times:
North Korea Claims to Have Developed a Missile-Ready Hydrogen Bomb

Discussion: The Atlantic, Outside the Beltway and New York Magazine

Associated Press:
Trump weighs pulling out of free trade deal with South Korea

Discussion: CNBC, Axios, Politico and ABC News

Neil Irwin / New York Times:

To Understand Rising Inequality, Consider the Janitors at Two Top Companies, Then and Now — ROCHESTER — Gail Evans and Marta Ramos have one thing in common: They have each cleaned offices for one of the most innovative, profitable and all-around successful companies in the United States.

Discussion: Mashable

Heather Caygle / Politico:

The next Kennedy weighs his next move — Democrats are in search of new leaders to take on Donald Trump, and Rep. Joe Kennedy could fit the bill. But it's not clear he wants the job. — In short order, Kennedy has garnered a loyal grass-roots following with a series of viral speeches challenging …

Michael Starr Hopkins / The Hill:

Kamala Harris and Kirsten Gillibrand will lead Democrats to 2020 victory — As Democrats survey the political landscape and focus on rebuilding the party after the disastrous 2016 election, there's no denying that a change in leadership is desperately needed.

Amanda Wicks / Pitchfork:

Steely Dan's Walter Becker Dead at 67 — He and Donald Fagen co-founded the group in 1972 — Steely Dan's guitarist Walter Becker has died, as confirmed by a post on his official website. He was 67 years old. Becker had recently undergone an operation that left him unable to tour …

Discussion: The Guardian, The Ringer - All, CBS San Francisco, myfox8.com and Gothamist

New York Times:

Walter Becker, Co-Founder of Steely Dan, Dies at 67 — Walter Becker, the guitarist, bassist and co-founder of the rock duo Steely Dan, one of the most successful and adventurous groups of the 1970s and early '80s, died on Sunday. He was 67. — His death was announced on his official website, which gave no other details.

Discussion: Scripting News

Natasha Bertrand / Business Insider:

‘Are you on drugs?’: Top Trump lawyer Ty Cobb slams ‘rabid’ press in lengthy response to questions on Comey letter — White House special counsel Ty Cobb, who was appointed to represent President Donald Trump in the Russia investigation, on Saturday issued his lengthiest statement yet …

Discussion: The Daily Caller, IJR and Washington Post

Rebecca Savransky / The Hill:

Blunt: 'I think it's a mistake to get in a fight with the president' — (R-Mo.) said he thinks it's a “mistake” to get into a fight with President Trump. — “It's not a mistake to disagree when you disagree,” he said on NBC's “Meet the Press.” “It is a mistake to suggest that somehow this president …

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Josh Delk / The Hill:
GOP senator blasts Trump's ‘18th-century views of trade’

Discussion: IJR, The Daily Caller and RedState

John Wagner / Washington Post:

In action after action, Trump appeals primarily to his dwindling base — President Trump pardoned a tough-on-immigration Arizona sheriff accused of racial profiling. He threatened a government shutdown if Congress won't deliver border wall funding. He banned transgender people from serving in the military.

Discussion: Raw Story

Max Greenwood / The Hill:

Trump goes hands-on in return to storm-ravaged Gulf Coast — President Trump appeared in good spirits Saturday while taking a more hands-on approach during his second visit to Texas in less than a week in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. — In Houston, Trump and first lady Melania handed …

Discussion: Politico