memeorandum: Trump gives his team a ‘10’ for its Puerto Rico hurricane response (Nolan D. McCaskill/Politico)

3:30 PM ET, October 19, 2017

Top Items:

Arlette Saenz / ABC News:

Bush blasts bigotry and white supremacy, says US politics ‘vulnerable’ to ‘outright fabrication’ — In a rare public speech today, former President George W. Bush blasted the divisive state of American politics, rejecting nativism and warning of a “crisis of confidence.” — “Bigotry seems emboldened.

Edward-Isaac Dovere / Politico:

George W. Bush slams Trumpism, without mentioning president by name — Former President George W. Bush offered an unmistakable denunciation of Trumpism on Thursday without mentioning the president by name, urging citizens to oppose threats to American democracy. — “Bigotry seems emboldened.

Discussion: New York Magazine

Peter Baker / New York Times:

Without Saying ‘Trump,’ George W. Bush Delivers an Implicit Rebuke — Former President George W. Bush never mentioned his name but delivered what sounded like a sustained rebuke to President Trump on Thursday, decrying nationalism, protectionism and the coarsening of public debate while calling …

Politico:

Full text: George W. Bush speech on Trumpism — Below is a transcript of George W. Bush's speech delivered Oct. 19, 2017 at the at the “Spirit of Liberty: At Home, In The World” event in New York. — Thank you all. Thank you. Ok, Padilla gracias. So, I painted Ramon. I wish you were still standing here.

Discussion: Vox, ABC News and Mother Jones

Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
George W. Bush's unmistakable takedown of Trumpism — and Trump

Discussion: Washington Free Beacon

Eli Meixler / TIME:

The Defense Department Is Looking Into Why Four U.S. Soldiers Died in Niger — The Defense Department is opening an investigation into the deaths of four U.S. soldiers in Niger earlier this month, as President Trump faces criticism for how he has approached the bereaved families.

Discussion: CNN, Axios, Vox, KTLA, Common Dreams and Washington Examiner

Ashley Killough / CNN:
McCain: Administration not being up front about Niger attack

Discussion: AOL, New York Magazine, ABC News and WTVR-TV

New York Daily News:
Brooklyn dad of soldier killed in Iraq says he hasn't heard from the White House, calls Trump ‘a liar’

Discussion: Raw Story and Business Insider

Kristine Phillips / Washington Post:
The private life of Sgt. La David Johnson, the slain soldier ensnared in a Trump controversy

Discussion: France 24, The Root, Slate and New York Post

Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Trump's unmoored week shows just how aimless he is

Discussion: Daily Kos, RedState, Politicus USA and Mediaite

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:

Trump is thrashing around in a straitjacket of GOP lies — THE MORNING PLUM: — It is common enough for lawmakers to set policy goals and devise talking points that are designed to build a case for them. But in the battle over President Trump's ongoing sabotage of Obamacare …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, New York Magazine, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, New York Times, USA Today, Politico, CNN, CNBC and The Daily Signal

Jennifer Haberkorn / Politico:
Senate Republicans urge Trump to back bipartisan Obamacare deal

Discussion: Political Wire, Axios and Business Insider

Seung Min Kim / Politico:
Flake takes on Trump — and risks it all

Discussion: Mediaite

New York Times:

Senators Demand Online Ad Disclosures as Tech Lobby Mobilizes — WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain and two Democratic senators will move on Thursday to force Facebook, Google and other internet companies to disclose who is purchasing online political advertising, after revelations …

Discussion: Vox, mccain.senate.gov, Hit & Run, Quartz, Feeds, Mashable and Politico, more at Mediagazer »

Axios:

McCain's latest surprise: Regulate Facebook — Republican Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) knows his time in the public eye is short, so his big statements in recent weeks are especially resonant. Today, McCain will join with two Democrats — Sens. Mark Warner (Va.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.) …

Discussion: Bloomberg, RedState, Business Insider, Washington Times and The Daily Caller, more at Techmeme »

Nolan D. McCaskill / Politico:

Trump gives his team a ‘10’ for its Puerto Rico hurricane response — President Donald Trump on Thursday gave the federal government the highest marks for its response to the hurricane devastation in Puerto Rico. — “I'd say it was a 10,” the president, who sat beside Puerto Rico …

Discussion: ABC News

Ali Rogin / ABC News: Puerto Rico governor airs grievances before meeting with Trump

Joseph Hincks / TIME:
Here Are the Disturbing Numbers on Puerto Rico One Month After Hurricane Maria

Discussion: CNN, Washington Post, Daily Kos, Shakesville and Vox

New York Times:

Signaling Frustration, Senior House Republican Plans to Quit Early — In a sign of mounting frustration among Republicans in Washington, Representative Pat Tiberi of Ohio, a senior lawmaker with close ties to his party's leaders, is expected to resign and take up an executive post …

Discussion: Shareblue Media, The Hill, CNN, The Daily Caller, Washington Post, NBC News, Talking Points Memo, Politicus USA, Politico, Business Insider and Washington Free Beacon

Zack Beauchamp / Vox:

Trump just publicly accused the FBI of having conspired against him — The tweet is not only false, but creepily authoritarian. — As president, Donald Trump is in charge of the FBI. Which makes it incredibly striking that, in a Thursday morning tweet, Trump accused the bureau …

Discussion: CNN, RedState, Washington Monthly, Political Wire, Politicus USA and IJR

Louis Nelson / Politico:
Trump questions if Russia, FBI or Democrats paid for dossier

Discussion: Bloomberg, Media Matters for America, Talking Points Memo, Associated Press, Washington Post, Shareblue Media and Mediaite

Noah Gray / CNN:

Gotta catch 'em all: Secret Service nabs Pikachu-dressed man at WH — STORY HIGHLIGHTS — Washington (CNN)A man dressed as the Pokémon character Pikachu attempted to infiltrate the White House Tuesday morning before he was caught by Secret Service officers manning the perimeter, authorities said.

John Bowden / The Hill:
Man dressed as Pikachu jumps White House barrier: report

Discussion: RedState

Kieran Nicholson / Denver Post:

A Cub Scout questioned a Colorado state senator at a meeting. Now he's been kicked out of his den. — Sen. Vicki Marble spoke to Broomfield scouts last week — A Cub Scout in Broomfield has been kicked out of his den, allegedly for asking pointed questions of a Colorado state senator at meeting organized by the Boy Scouts.

Discussion: Raw Story

Karl Rove / Wall Street Journal:

Steve Bannon's Motley Crew of Challengers — One is fresh out of prison. Another held a town hall to discuss ‘chemtrail’ theories. — Steve Bannon, the failed presidential adviser and alt-right sympathizer, has declared war on incumbent Republicans, particularly Sen. Mitch McConnell.

Mark Joseph Stern / Slate:

Why rumors of a Gorsuch-Kagan clash at the Supreme Court are such a bombshell. — Following his nomination to the Supreme Court, Neil Gorsuch was packaged by his wealthy benefactors as the judicial equivalent of a carrot cake: mild and wholesome with the occasional hint of spice.

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money

Washington Post:

Michael Flynn, Nicki Minaj shared content from this Tennessee GOP account. But it wasn't real. It was Russian. — Russian operatives used a fake Twitter account that claimed to speak for Tennessee Republicans to persuade American politicians, celebrities and journalists to share select content …

The Daily Beast:
Trump Campaign Staffers Pushed Russian Propaganda Days Before the Election

Discussion: Vox, IJR, Last Men and OverMen, ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES, Mediaite and Raw Story, more at Mediagazer »

John Bowden / The Hill:

Nikki Haley: Russia committed ‘warfare’ against US in 2016 — said Thursday that the Russian government committed “warfare” against the U.S. last year when hackers tied to Moscow meddled in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. — In remarks first reported by the Washington Examiner …

Joel Gehrke / Washington Examiner:
Nikki Haley: Russia committed ‘warfare’ against US in 2016

Discussion: IJR

Craig Whitlock / Washington Post:

In the military, trusted officers have become alleged assailants in sex crimes — The Army is grappling with a resurgence of cases in which troops responsible for preventing sexual assault have been accused of rape and related crimes, undercutting the Pentagon's claims that it is making progress against sexual violence in the ranks.

Lukas Mikelionis / Fox News:

Florida Democrat Wilson no friend of veterans, vote record shows — The Florida Democrat who criticized President Donald Trump this week for being “insensitive” toward the widow of a U.S. soldier slain in Africa might be facing similar criticism herself. — It turns out that U.S …

Discussion: CNN, WPLG-TV, RealClearPolitics, CBS Miami, bizpacreview.com, Weekly Standard, Last Men and OverMen, Common Dreams, 105.9 FM and AM 630 and Daily Wire

Jacqueline Thomsen / The Hill:
Dem rep threatened after sharing account of Trump's call to soldier's widow: report

Discussion: CBS Miami, RedState, ABC News and The Last Tradition

Charles M. Blow / New York Times:

Trump Isn't Hitler. But the Lying ... It is a commonly accepted rule among those who are in the business of argument, especially online, that he or she who invokes Adolf Hitler, either in oratory or essays, automatically forfeits the argument. — The reference is deemed far too extreme …

Discussion: Daily Wire and twitchy.com

Brian Beutler / Crooked Media:

LEAKED MEMO REVEALS WHITE HOUSE WISH LIST — Since federal courts first enjoined President Donald Trump's Muslim travel ban, lawyers for his administration have been at pains to insist that anti-Muslim animus is not a driving force of policymaking in his government.

Discussion: The American Conservative, CNN and FOX6Now.com

Alex Seitz-Wald / NBC News:

Shakeup at Democratic National Committee, Longtime Officials Ousted — WASHINGTON — A shakeup is underway at the Democratic National Committee as several key longtime officials have lost their posts, exposing a still-raw rift in the party and igniting anger among those in its progressive wing …