memeorandum: CNN Moves Chris Cuomo to Prime Time (Michael M. Grynbaum/New York Times)

2:50 PM ET, March 14, 2018

Top Items:

Three big takeaways from Trump's humiliating Pennsylvania failure … THE MORNING PLUM: — Democrat Conor Lamb is clinging to a lead of around 600 votes in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, but most news organizations have refrained from calling the race.

Discussion: CANNONFIRE, New York Magazine, Daily Kos, RedState and NBC News

HuffPost:

GOP Blames ‘Lackluster’ Candidate And His ‘Porn Stache’ For Pennsylvania Setback — Ice cold. — ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP, Pa. A special election in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District was still too close to call Tuesday night, although the fact that it was this close at all was bad news for Republicans.

Discussion: Vox, Shareblue Media, ThinkProgress, Forbes, National Review, CBS Pittsburgh, USA Today, Daily Kos and The American Conservative

Rob Tornoe / Philly.com:

Pa. 18 congressional district results: Democrat Conor Lamb maintains lead with absentee votes counted — In a highly-watched special election in western Pennsylvania, Democrat Conor Lamb is maintaining a slim lead over Republican Rick Saccone. — With all precincts fully reporting …

Discussion: FiveThirtyEight, Mother Jones, Washington Post, Daily Kos, CNN and electionlawblog.org

Alexi McCammond / Axios:

Pennsylvania's special election, by the numbers — Democrat Conor Lamb is beating Republican Rick Saccone by a razor-thin margin of just 627 votes — with some provisional ballots still outstanding — in last night's special election in Pennsylvania's 18th district. The NRCC is hoping to challenge the results.

Discussion: Washington Post, Vox, ABC News, CNN and The Guardian

Alex Seitz-Wald / NBC News:

Democrat Conor Lamb apparent winner in Pennsylvania upset, deals blow to Trump — WASHINGTON — Democrat Conor Lamb is the apparent winner over Republican Rick Saccone in Tuesday's special election in Pennsylvania's 18th Congressional District, according to an NBC News projection.

Discussion: New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Hill, Reuters, Axios, Boing Boing, Common Dreams, NBC News, WREG-TV, ABC News and Mediaite

Jacob Pramuk / CNBC:
Democrat Conor Lamb is the apparent winner of a House seat …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, The Daily Beast, New York Times, Vox, New Republic, IJR, The Root and CNN

Elena Schneider / Politico:
Republicans prepare for recount in Pennsylvania special election

Discussion: Axios, Vox, Washington Post and Political Wire

New York Times:
Pennsylvania Special Election Results: 18th Congressional District

Discussion: NPR, Washington Free Beacon, Politico, Fox News, Business Insider, Roll Call, NTK Network, Daily Kos, No More Mister Nice Blog, Towleroad and The Daily Caller

Frank Bruni / New York Times:
Conor Lamb Roared. Republicans Should Quake.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, alicublog, The Daily Signal, IJR and Lawyers, Guns & Money

Eric Bradner / CNN:
'It's not over yet:' Nail-biter Pennsylvania special election heads into 2nd day

Discussion: Townhall.com, Fox News, IJR, NPR, theGrio, Joe.My.God., The Resurgent and Splinter

Jane Coaston / Vox:
Rick Saccone's defeat proves yet again that Trumpism only works for Trump

Discussion: NBC News and The Nation

Nate Silver / FiveThirtyEight:
The ‘Enthusiasm Gap’ Could Turn A Democratic Wave Into A Tsunami

Discussion: Townhall.com and New York Times

Harry Enten / CNN:
Pennsylvania's special election isn't an isolated incident. The GOP is in trouble.

Discussion: New York Magazine, Real Clear Politics and RedState

McClatchy Washington Bureau: Too-close race in Pennsylvania signals ominous 2018 for GOP

Rick Klein / ABC News:
The Note: In Pennsylvania's special election, an expensive lesson for Republicans

Discussion: Breitbart and One America News Network

New York Times:

Andrew McCabe, a Symbol of Trump's F.B.I. Ire, Faces Possible Firing — WASHINGTON — Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reviewing a recommendation to fire the former F.B.I. deputy director, Andrew G. McCabe, just days before he is scheduled to retire on Sunday, people briefed on the matter said.

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Talking Points Memo, Axios, Political Wire, Daily Kos, Joe.My.God., KTLA, The Gateway Pundit and Sara A. Carter

CNN: Sessions considering whether to fire McCabe

CNBC:

Trump plans to name Larry Kudlow his top economic advisor, replacing Gary Cohn: Sources — President Donald Trump plans to name Larry Kudlow as his top economic advisor, sources told CNBC. — Trump could announce his decision to choose Kudlow as his National Economic Council director as soon as Thursday.

Discussion: CNN, Politico, National Review, Raw Story, KTLA, IJR, Breitbart, NBC News, WGNO and NTK Network

Washington Post:

Kudlow to be top White House economic adviser as Trump adds longtime loyalist — Larry Kudlow, a conservative economic media analyst and Trump campaign adviser, will be the next chairman of the White House National Economic Council. — Kudlow championed Trump's plan to cut taxes …

Discussion: New York Magazine and Axios

Washington Post:

Kudlow to be top White House economic adviser as Trump adds longtime loyalist … Larry Kudlow on Wednesday accepted an offer from President Trump to head the White House's National Economic Council, according to three people familiar with the decision. — Kudlow had been seen as the front-runner …

Discussion: Politico, The Daily Beast, Mother Jones, Media Matters for America, The Daily Caller and Washington Free Beacon

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:

Theranos, CEO Holmes, and Former President Balwani Charged With Massive Fraud — Holmes Stripped of Control of Company for Defrauding Investors — The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Silicon Valley-based private company Theranos Inc., its founder and CEO Elizabeth Holmes …

Discussion: Politico, CNBC, Boing Boing, STAT, The Verge, Gizmodo, Engadget, CBS San Francisco and Bloomberg, more at Techmeme »

Carolyn Y. Johnson / Washington Post: Theranos chief executive Elizabeth Holmes charged with massive fraud

CNN:

First on CNN: Emails show Ben, Candy Carson selected $31,000 dining set — Washington (CNN)Newly released emails cast doubt on claims by Secretary Ben Carson and his spokesman that he had little or no involvement in the purchase of a $31,000 furniture set for his Department of Housing and Urban Development dining room.

Discussion: American Oversight, ThinkProgress, Mother Jones, RedState, CNBC, IJR, The Root, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Splinter, Raw Story, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo, The Daily Caller, theGrio, Shareblue Media and Mediaite

New York Times:

National School Walkout: Live Updates — Thousands of students, emboldened by a growing protest movement over gun violence, stood up in their classrooms on Wednesday and walked out of their schools in a nationwide demonstration, one month after a gunman killed 17 people at a high school in Florida.

Discussion: Viacom Corporate, Washington Post, NBC News, Fox News, Sun-Sentinel, Monterey County Herald, Raw Story, Hyperallergic, Vox, Outside the Beltway, Media Matters for America, EdSource, Billy Penn and Refinery29, more at Mediagazer »

San Luis Obispo Tribune:
Shooting threat leads to lockdown at Atascadero schools, walkout canceled

Discussion: Raw Story

CNN:
‘A sea of people everywhere’: Students walk out to demand change

Discussion: ThinkProgress, The Root, Daily Wire, miamiherald, WGNO, FOX 61, KTLA, FOX2now.com, Mashable and WTOP

Christal Hayes / USA Today:
National student walkout: Thousands across the U.S. will walk out of class today to protest gun violence

Discussion: The Daily Beast, NPR, Vox, Common Dreams, Daily Kos, FOX2now.com, Houston Public Media, VICE News, thecut, The Resurgent, Education Week and New York Magazine

Ben Shapiro / Daily Wire:
READ: Emails From High School Students Who Oppose Today's Massive Gun Control Walkout

Discussion: RedState

Amy Larson / KSBW:

Seaside High teacher accidentally fires gun in class, students injured — SEASIDE, Calif. — A teacher who also serves as a reserve police officer accidentally fired a gun inside a Seaside High School classroom Tuesday, police said, and three students were injured.

Discussion: Vox, Monterey County Herald, The Daily Beast, The Guardian, New York Magazine, The Root, CBS Los Angeles, VICE News, CNN, Joe.My.God., Mediaite, fox8.com, KTLA, Raw Story, Splinter and thecut

Fred Barbash / Washington Post:

Gun-trained teacher accidentally discharges firearm in Calif. classroom, injuring student … A teacher who is also a reserve police officer trained in firearm use accidentally discharged a gun Tuesday at Seaside High School in Monterey County, Calif., during a class devoted to public safety.

Discussion: Monterey County Weekly, Talking Points Memo, Common Dreams, Boing Boing, Outside the Beltway and CityLab

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:

CNN Moves Chris Cuomo to Prime Time — CNN is turning to one of its morning anchors to shore up prime time. — Chris Cuomo, the outspoken co-host of “New Day” who has gained prominence — and received some right-wing blowback — for his coverage of the Trump administration …

Discussion: Joe.My.God., Daily Wire and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

Jeremy Barr / Hollywood Reporter:
CNN's Chris Cuomo Is Leaving Morning for Primetime

Discussion: Variety, CNNMoney and Washington Free Beacon

Washington Post:

Britain to expel 23 Russian diplomats in nerve agent case and will block all high-level contacts with Moscow … LONDON — Britain ordered the expulsion of 23 Russian diplomats believed involved in espionage-related activities, British Prime Minister Theresa May announced Wednesday …

Richard Pérez-Peña / New York Times:
Britain Expels 23 Russian Diplomats Over Ex-Spy's Poisoning

Discussion: HuffPost, The Guardian, IJR, ThinkProgress, Home Page Rotator and Sputnik International

The Guardian:
May expels 23 Russian diplomats in response to spy poisoning

Discussion: Daily Wire and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Facebook:

Taking Action Against Britain First — People come to Facebook to express themselves freely and share openly with friends and family, sometimes this can include their political views. Some political opinions might be controversial, but it is important that different views can be shared …

Discussion: Gizmodo, New York Times, NBC News, Front Page Magazine, Hit & Run, The Verge, The Next Web, Engadget and VICE News, more at Mediagazer »

Ian Sample / The Guardian:

Stephen Hawking, modern cosmology's brightest star, dies aged 76 — The physicist and author of A Brief History of Time has died, a family member has said … Stephen Hawking, the brightest star in the firmament of science, whose insights shaped modern cosmology and inspired global audiences in the millions, has died aged 76.

Discussion: NPR, Earther, Gizmodo, Sputnik International, Associated Press, The Next Web, The Atlantic and Outside the Beltway

Dennis Overbye / New York Times:
Stephen Hawking, Who Examined the Universe and Explained Black Holes, Dies at 76

Discussion: ThinkProgress, Nature, GetReligion, Friendly Atheist, Mashable, Common Dreams, Press Association, The Verge and Algemeiner.com

BBC:
Stephen Hawking dies aged 76

Discussion: CNN, Daily Mail, ABC News, IJR, STAT, WebMD Health, HeraldScotland, The Daily Caller, The Guardian, NPR, NBC News, KTLA and Raw Story

Washington Post:

Scott Pruitt's $25,000 soundproof phone booth? It actually cost more like $43,000. … Before Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt could install a secure, soundproof phone booth in his office last fall, officials had to create space for the addition in a nearby closet area.

Discussion: American Oversight, thecut and Talking Points Memo

Zachary Warmbrodt / Politico:

Schumer struggles to contain Warren-led rebellion — Midway through Elizabeth Warren's fire-breathing campaign to tank a bank deregulation bill backed by more than a dozen Senate Democrats, Chuck Schumer invited her to his office. — Warren had just sent a fundraising email blasting fellow Democrats …

Discussion: The Resurgent and Washington Post