memeorandum: US expels 60 Russian intelligence officers in response to ex-spy's poisoning (Jordyn Phelps/ABC News)

10:40 AM ET, March 26, 2018

Top Items:

Anderson Cooper / CBS News:

Stormy Daniels describes her alleged affair with Donald Trump — The adult-film star and director is being threatened with financial ruin, but she wants to set the record straight about her alleged affair with Donald Trump — A week and a half before the 2016 election …

Brian Stelter / CNNMoney:

Anderson Cooper's Stormy Daniels interview draws highest ratings for ‘60 Minutes’ in 10 years — Stormy Daniels: ‘I have no reason to lie’ — Anderson Cooper's interview with Stormy Daniels propelled “60 Minutes” to its highest-rated episode in 10 years, according to Nielsen ratings.

Discussion: FOX2now.com and The Week

Fox News:

Michael Cohen's lawyer sends Stormy Daniels cease and desist letter after ‘60 Minutes’ interview — The lawyer for Michael Cohen, President Trump's personal attorney, sent adult film star Stormy Daniels a cease and desist letter late Sunday following her interview with “60 Minutes” …

Discussion: Mother Jones, ABC News, Law & Crime, The Week, Bustle, Fox News Insider and Raw Story

Dylan Matthews / Vox:

Why the Stormy Daniels story matters, in one paragraph — Her 60 Minutes interview shows it's not about sex. It's about the abuse of power. — You don't have to be a jaded cynic to wonder why the Stormy Daniels scandal matters. Yes, the president having an affair with an adult performer seems scandalous.

Discussion: Bustle, Common Dreams, ABC News, New Republic and The Daily Caller

Lisa de Moraes / Deadline:

Stormy Daniels Bags Best ‘60 Minutes’ Ratings Since Obamas Post-Election Sit-Down In '08 — Stormy Daniels' 60 Minutes interview with Anderson Cooper look to be the newsmag's best since Steve Kroft's interview with Barack and Michelle Obama in November of 2008, shortly after he was elected president, source says.

Discussion: Political Wire and Mediaite

Andrew L. Whitehead / Washington Post:
Despite porn stars and Playboy models, white evangelicals aren't rejecting Trump. This is why.

Discussion: Bustle

Caitlin MacNeal / Talking Points Memo:
Cohen's Lawyer Sends Stormy Daniels Cease And Desist After CBS Interview

Discussion: Daily Kos

Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
Adult Film Star Says She Stayed Silent on Trump Out of Fear

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Bustle, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo, Politico, VICE News, New York Magazine, Mother Jones, Althouse, Splinter, The Daily Caller and ThinkProgress

MaryAlice Parks / ABC News:
The Note: Stormy weather ahead?

Discussion: Associated Press

Matthew Yglesias / Vox:
Stormy Daniels's 60 Minutes interview raises 2 critical questions she can't answer

Discussion: Washington Post, No More Mister Nice Blog, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Bustle

Washington Post:

Trump administration expels 60 Russian officers, shuts Seattle consulate in response to attack on former spy in Britain … The Trump administration on Monday ordered the expulsion of 60 Russian intelligence and diplomatic officers in New York and Washington and the closure of the Russian consulate …

Discussion: Politico

New York Times:

Trump Orders Expulsion of 60 Russians Over Poison Attack in Britain — WASHINGTON — President Trump ordered the expulsion of 60 Russians from the United States on Monday, including 12 people identified as Russian intelligence officers who have been stationed at the United Nations in New York …

Discussion: Mediaite

BuzzFeed:

The US And EU Are Expelling Dozens Of Russian Diplomats In Response To The Poisoning Of A Former Russian Spy In The UK — President Trump's moves came after Western condemnation of Russia for the poisonings — but a muted response from the US up to this point.

Discussion: Axios, Bloomberg and Balloon Juice

Jordyn Phelps / ABC News:
US expels 60 Russian intelligence officers in response to ex-spy's poisoning

Discussion: RedState

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty:
Russia Ambassadors Reportedly Summoned In Poland, Baltics

Discussion: The Guardian

Bloomberg:
At Least 10 European Countries Will Take Action: Russia Update

Discussion: The Week

New York Times:

Fund-Raiser Held Out Access to Trump as a Prize for Prospective Clients — WASHINGTON — For Elliott Broidy, Donald J. Trump's presidential campaign represented an unparalleled political and business opportunity. — An investor and defense contractor, Mr. Broidy became a top fund-raiser …

Discussion: The Hill, RedState and Talking Points Memo

Associated Press:

Mueller probe witness secretly backed UAE agenda in Congress — WASHINGTON (AP) — A top fundraiser for President Donald Trump received millions of dollars from a political adviser to the United Arab Emirates last April, just weeks before he began handing out a series of large political donations …

Discussion: Washington Post and Raw Story

Matthew Haag / New York Times:

Remington, Centuries-Old Gun Maker, Files for Bankruptcy as Sales Slow — Remington Outdoor, one of the oldest firearm manufacturers in the United States, filed for bankruptcy protection on Sunday amid mounting debt and declining sales. — The gun maker had said last month it was nearing …

Discussion: Bustle

Aaron Smith / CNNMoney:
Remington, one of America's oldest gun makers, files for bankruptcy

Discussion: IJR

Scott Neuman / NPR:
Remington Declares Chapter 11 Amid ‘Trump Slump’ In Gun Sales

Discussion: USA Today

Scott Cohn / CNBC:
Remington, the oldest gun maker in the United States, files for bankruptcy protection

Discussion: The Week

Wendy R. Sherman / New York Times:

Trump and Bolton's Plan to Isolate Allies and Encourage Enemies — John R. Bolton, President Trump's new national security adviser, has never met a war he didn't want. — Mr. Bolton defends the 2003 invasion of Iraq and he advocates attacking North Korea, too.

Susan B. Glasser / Politico: 'It's Very Difficult to Overestimate the Potential Danger John Bolton Could Put Us In'

Brett Samuels / The Hill:
Mattis isn't sure he can work with Bolton: report

Discussion: Washington Post, Just Security, Axios, One America News Network, Political Wire and RedState

Orlando Sentinel:

Noor Salman trial: Defense seeks mistrial or dismissal, citing new information about Pulse gunman's father — Defense lawyers in the trial of Noor Salman are asking for the case to be thrown out or declared a mistrial, arguing prosecutors failed to disclose that Pulse shooter Omar Mateen's father …

Discussion: National Review and The Daily Beast

WKMG:
Motion reveals Pulse gunman's father was FBI informant

Discussion: Raw Story

Washington Post:

Former Cambridge Analytica workers say firm sent foreigners to advise U.S. campaigns … LONDON — Cambridge Analytica assigned dozens of non-U.S. citizens to provide campaign strategy and messaging advice to Republican candidates in 2014, according to three former workers for the data firm …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos, VICE News, The Week and Political Wire

New York Times:

At a Crucial Juncture, Trump's Legal Defense Is Largely a One-Man Operation — As President Trump heads into one of the most critical phases of the special counsel's investigation, his personal legal team has shrunk to essentially just one member, and he is struggling to find any top lawyers willing to represent him.

Discussion: The Week, NPR and Washington Post

Michael Rellahan / Daily Local News:

BREAKING! Citing political environment, Costello says he will not seek re-election in 6th District — WEST CHESTER >> Ending weeks of speculation in local and national political circles, U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, R-6 of West Goshen, confirmed to the Daily Local News Sunday that he will not be a candidate for another term in Congress.

Discussion: Philly.com, Talking Points Memo, NBC News, Daily Kos, The Week, New York Magazine and Politico

Talal Ansari / BuzzFeed:

People Are Sharing A Fake Picture Of A Parkland Survivor Tearing Up The Constitution — Emma González, a survivor of the Parkland, Florida, shooting and prominent leader of the #NeverAgain movement, stood in silence for minutes on Saturday at the Washington, DC, March for Our Lives.

Discussion: The Guardian and New York Magazine

Darren Samuelsohn / Politico:

How much is Rick Gates telling Mueller about Trump? — When Rick Gates struck a plea deal last month with special counsel Robert Mueller, the 45-year-old former Trump campaign official likely avoided decades behind bars and salvaged a chance to watch his children grow up.

Discussion: Raw Story