memeorandum: GOP leaders look to avoid a fight with base over guns (The Hill)

10:10 AM ET, October 8, 2017

Top Items:

Julia Manchester / The Hill:

Trump: I want to focus on North Korea not 'fixing somebody's back' — President Trump praised health care block grants on Saturday, saying they allow the states to focus on health care, but said he would rather focus his energy on tensions with North Korea than “fixing somebody's back or their knee.”

Discussion: NBC News, Washington Post, ThinkProgress and New York Times

Sam Kim / Bloomberg:

Kim Jong Un Boosts Sister Within North Korea's Inner Circle — Younger sister sanctioned by U.S. for ‘human rights abuses’ — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has promoted his 28-year-old sister to the ruling party's political wing, bringing her closer to the center of power and tightening the family's control on the regime.

Brent D. Griffiths / Politico:
Trump on North Korea: ‘Only one thing will work’

Discussion: Axios, CANNONFIRE and TalkLeft

New York Times:

Lisa Bloom, Lawyer Advising Harvey Weinstein, Resigns Amid Criticism From Board Members — The lawyer Lisa Bloom resigned on Saturday as an adviser to Harvey Weinstein, the high-powered film producer facing allegations of rampant sexual harassment, amid harsh criticism of her handling of his defense.

Damian Paletta / Washington Post:

In a switch, GOP deserts its budget-cutting mantra — The Republican Party has largely abandoned its platform of fiscal restraint, pivoting sharply in a way that could add trillions of dollars in federal debt over the next decade. — Cutting spending to balance the budget was almost religion …

Discussion: Mother Jones, Balloon Juice and Political Wire

New York Times:

Erik Prince, Blackwater Founder, Weighs Primary Challenge to Wyoming Republican — WASHINGTON — Erik Prince, the founder of the security contractor Blackwater, is seriously considering a Republican primary challenge for a Senate seat in Wyoming, potentially adding a high-profile contender …

Discussion: Political Wire

Julia Manchester / The Hill:

White nationalists return to Charlottesville … White nationalists returned to Charlottesville, Va., on Saturday less than two months after one person was killed and dozens were injured when violence broke out after the “Unite the Right” rally. — White nationalist leader Richard Spencer led …

Discussion: RedState

Susan Svrluga / Washington Post:
‘We will keep coming back:’ Richard Spencer leads another torchlight march in Charlottesville

Discussion: New York Times, TheBlaze, Raw Story and Al Jazeera English

The Hill:

GOP leaders look to avoid a fight with base over guns — Republican leaders on Capitol Hill are signaling that they want the Trump administration to write new regulations for a gun accessory that may have allowed the Las Vegas shooter to fire hundreds of rounds per minute.

Discussion: Political Wire

Louise Radnofsky / Wall Street Journal:

Trump to Sign Order Easing Health Plan Rules, Official Says — Executive action expected next week would roll back some Obamacare requirements — WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump will sign an executive order next week to start lifting some insurance rules set by his predecessor's Affordable Care Act …

Discussion: Vox and New York Times

The Hill:
Critics see Trump sabotage on Obamacare

Discussion: RedState and Splinter

New York Times:

Hoping to Have Trump Cleared, Legal Team Eases Resistance to Inquiry — WASHINGTON — White House officials once debated a scorched-earth strategy of publicly criticizing and undercutting Robert S. Mueller III, the special counsel investigating Russian efforts to disrupt last year's election.

David Siders / Politico:

Feinstein ‘close’ to announcing reelection bid — Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) says she is “close” to announcing a reelection campaign — the 84-year-old's firmest suggestion yet that she will seek a fifth full term in the Senate. — “I'm ready for a good fight,” Feinstein told NBC News' …

Discussion: Political Wire

Julia Manchester / The Hill:

Trump: I'll give peace ‘a shot’ before moving US embassy to Jerusalem — President Trump said he would like to attempt to establish peace between the Israel and Palestine before moving the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. — “I want to give that a shot before I even think about moving …

Discussion: RedState and Tennessean.com

Christine Dunn / providencejournal.com:

James Woods to sell home in Exeter — PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Oscar-nominated actor James Woods is selling one of his four homes in Rhode Island, a property on Boone Lake in Exeter, for $1.39 million, according to the listing real-estate agent, Allen Gammons. — Gammons said the property …

Discussion: Washington Post, IJR, Deadline and Los Angeles Times