memeorandum: NEWS DETAILS — BARBARA AND PRESIDENT GEORGE H.W. BUSH HONORED (George Kovacik/Houston Methodist)

4:30 PM ET, May 3, 2018

Top Items:

Feds tapped Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's phones — Federal investigators have wiretapped the phone lines of Michael Cohen, the longtime personal lawyer for President Donald Trump who is under investigation for a payment he made to an adult film star who alleged she had an affair with Trump …

Washington Post:

‘I was going to get this over with’: Inside Giuliani's explosive Stormy Daniels revelation — He may have had a strategy, but Rudolph W. Giuliani hatched it almost entirely in secret. — The White House counsel had no idea. Neither did the White House chief of staff …

Discussion: Politico, ABC News, Talking Points Memo, The Week and Breitbart

Niall Stanage / The Hill:

EXCLUSIVE: Giuliani calls for Sessions to ‘step in’ on Cohen investigation — Rudy Giuliani called for Attorney General Jeff Sessions — to intervene in the Michael Cohen case and put the people behind the probe “under investigation” in a phone call with The Hill on Thursday.

Discussion: Political Wire, Joe.My.God. and Mediaite

Betsy Woodruff / The Daily Beast:

Giuliani: I Don't Believe That Michael Cohen Was Wiretapped … President Donald Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani said on Thursday he doubted the veracity of a bombshell NBC News report from earlier in the day that federal authorities wiretapped the president's longtime counsel, Michael Cohen.

Discussion: The Week, IJR, Washington Press and Raw Story

Washington Post:

Giuliani: Trump repaid attorney Cohen for Stormy Daniels settlement … Rudolph W. Giuliani, the former New York mayor and a recent addition to President Trump's legal team, said Wednesday night that Trump made a series of payments reimbursing his attorney Michael Cohen for a $130,000 settlement …

Anna North / Vox:

Donald Trump just tweeted out the rich man's guide to buying women's silence — His tweets make clear how men with money can avoid any repercussions for their actions. — If anyone in America still needed an explanation of how rich people use their money to silence others, President Donald Trump has you covered.

Discussion: Politico, The Atlantic, Washington Post, CNN, HuffPost, The Mahablog and Breitbart

Fox News Insider:

Judge Nap: Giuliani's Claim That Trump Didn't Know About Stormy Daniels Payment Is ‘Unworthy of Belief’ — Rudy Giuliani on Wednesday said that President Trump reimbursed his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, the $130,000 that Cohen paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in exchange …

Discussion: BuzzFeed, Raw Story, The Week, Fox News and Mediaite

CNN:

Trump, Giuliani strategizing leaves White House in the dark — (CNN)Rudy Giuliani's cable rollout as a member of President Donald Trump's legal team, and the torrent of statements he made Wednesday night, caught many in the White House offguard and flat-footed, highlighting the continued chaotic nature …

Discussion: Political Wire and KTLA

Josh Israel / ThinkProgress:
Giuliani follows up disastrous Hannity appearance with equally damaging Fox & Friends spot

Discussion: USA Today, Washington Monthly, Mediaite, Outside the Beltway, Vox, Joe.My.God., IJR and twitchy.com

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Rudes in Twilight — I've heard from a lot of people …

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Vox and Balloon Juice

Eddie Scarry / Washington Examiner:
CNN does live segment on Stormy Daniels at White House prayer event

Discussion: Townhall, IJR and twitchy.com

New York Times:
Giuliani Says Trump Repaid Cohen for Stormy Daniels Hush Money

Eileen Sullivan / New York Times:
Trump Says Payment to Stormy Daniels Did Not Violate Campaign Laws

Discussion: ABC News, Common Cause, NPR, Wall Street Journal, IJR, National Review, Hot Air, RedState and Roll Call

Jordan Libowitz / CREW:
CREW Supplements Criminal, Ethics Complaint on Stormy Daniels Payment

Discussion: Mother Jones

Dan Balz / Washington Post:
The president and his attorney didn't tell the truth. Now Giuliani has. Will that change anything?

Discussion: Breitbart

Philip Bump / Washington Post:
The question underlying Giuliani's very unusual explanation of how Trump repaid Michael Cohen

Discussion: New York Times, Mediaite and Raw Story

Richard L. Hasen / Slate:
Rudy Giuliani May Have Just Implicated President Trump In Serious Campaign Finance Violations

Discussion: Bloomberg, New York Times, Hot Air, Washington Post, Raw Story, NBC News, New York Magazine, Shakesville, ThinkProgress, Daily Kos, Washington Times and VICE News

Associated Press:
Giuliani comments on Stormy payment raise legal questions

Discussion: Axios

Ken Meyer / Mediaite:
Fox & Friends Grills Giuliani on Stormy Daniels Payment: ‘Sounds Like the Story is Changing’

Discussion: Boing Boing, Vox, The Week, twitchy.com, Political Wire and Splinter

New York Times:
What Giuliani Said About Cohen's Payment to Stormy Daniels

Discussion: TIME, Vox, USA Today, twitchy.com, MSNBC, Associated Press, National Review, Raw Story, Media Matters for America, Daily Wire, Power Line and CNN

Dan Mangan / CNBC:
Feds tapped phones of Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, and caught one call with White House: NBC News

Discussion: The Week

Caitlin Flanagan / The Atlantic:
The First Porn President … “I can now retire from politics …

Discussion: NewsBusters

Wall Street Journal:
Giuliani Says Trump Repaid Cohen for Stormy Daniels Payment

Discussion: Washington Post, The Daily Beast, Raw Story, New Republic, No More Mister Nice Blog, KTLA and The Week

Elaina Plott / The Atlantic:

A Pruitt Aide's Attack on Zinke Angers the White House — As Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt faces a seemingly endless stream of scandal, his team is scrambling to divert the spotlight to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke. And the White House isn't happy about it.

Discussion: Daily Kos, The Week, Joe.My.God. and Lawyers, Guns & Money

New York Times:

Pruitt's Coziness With Lobbyists Includes Secretly Buying a House With One — Since moving to Washington, Scott Pruitt, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, has attracted the attention of federal investigators because of his unusual association with lobbyists …

Discussion: ThinkProgress and The Root

Jennifer Jacobs / Bloomberg:

Another Top EPA Official Is Leaving, Sources Say — Liz Bowman's exit follows two other departures just this week — At least 10 federal investigations target EPA Chief Pruitt — A third top EPA official is leaving the agency amid intensifying scrutiny of Administrator Scott Pruitt's travel, spending and condo rental.

Discussion: Political Wire

Brian Schwartz / CNBC:

Special counsel Robert Mueller focusing sharply on links between Trump confidant Roger Stone and former campaign official Rick Gates, sources say — Special counsel Robert Mueller is focusing intensely on alleged interactions between former top Trump campaign official Rick Gates and political operative Roger Stone.

Discussion: Washington Monthly, Political Wire and Joe.My.God.

Brandi Buchman / courthousenews.com:

Mueller Seeks 70 Blank Subpoenas in Manafort Case — (CN) - Special Counsel Robert Mueller on Thursday filed a request for 70 blank subpoenas in the Virginia court presiding over one of two criminal proceedings involving former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort.

Washington Post:

House chaplain rescinds resignation after furor over Speaker Paul D. Ryan's decision to force out the Catholic priest — In a two-page letter, the Rev. Patrick J. Conroy informed Ryan that he gave in to pressure from the speaker's staff when he agreed in mid-April to resign …

Discussion: Political Wire

Paul Kane / Washington Post:

House chaplain rescinds resignation after furor over his ouster by Ryan … The Rev. Patrick J. Conroy, the House chaplain who announced his resignation under pressure last month, informed Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) Thursday that he wanted to rescind his offer and remain in his position at least through the end of this year.

Discussion: Politico

Kelly Mclaughlin / Daily Mail:

EXCLUSIVE: Corey Lewandowski's lawyers fire off demand letter to New York Magazine claiming it is liable for ‘criminal acts’ of reporter who trespassed into his DC townhome — President Trump's former Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski is set to take legal action against New York Magazine the actions of its reporter

Discussion: Raw Story and The Daily Caller

Howard Kurtz / Fox News:
Trump eyes Lewandowski for Kelly's job amid White House infighting

Discussion: Raw Story and The Daily Caller

New York Times:
Kelly Finds Himself in a Familiar Place in the Trump White House: Eyeing the Exits

Discussion: Axios, IJR, CBS Boston, New York Magazine and Deadspin

Charles V. Bagli / New York Times:

Trump Place Does Not Have to be a Forever Name, Judge Says — Over the opposition of lawyers for a company owned by President Donald J. Trump, State Supreme Court Judge Eileen Bransten ruled Thursday that a condominium on the Upper West Side could remove the bronze letters spelling out his name from its 46-story building.

Discussion: Joe.My.God., The Real Deal New York and TheBlaze

David A. Fahrenthold / Washington Post:
Judge rules New York condo board may remove ‘Trump’ name

Discussion: Political Wire, Joe.My.God., New Century Times and Mediaite

Eric Swalwell / USA Today:

Ban assault weapons, buy them back, go after resisters: Ex-prosecutor in Congress — Ban assault weapons and buy them back. It might cost $15 billion, but we can afford it. Consider it an investment in our most important right, the right to live. — Gary Jackson never stood a chance.

Discussion: IJR, NBC News, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, TheBlaze, twitchy.com and Washington Free Beacon

Washington Post:

Charlie Rose's misconduct was widespread at CBS and three managers were warned, investigation finds … Incidents of sexual misconduct by Charlie Rose were far more numerous than previously known, according to a new investigation by The Washington Post, which also found three occasions …

Discussion: BuzzFeed, Breitbart, NBC News, Hot Air, Refinery29, CBS Los Angeles, TheBlaze, Daily Wire, CBS New York, The Daily Caller, Gothamist, TVNewser, Shakesville, The Week, Mediaite, Eschaton and AOL, more at Mediagazer »

Ron Elving / NPR:

Exclusive Audio: In New Memoir, Sen. John McCain Rests His Case — EXCLUSIVE AUDIO: John McCain Reads From ‘The Restless Wave’ — Anyone who has followed the saga of Sen. John McCain or ever reacted with emotion to his words or actions will recognize the man speaking in this valedictory volume.

Discussion: Mediaite

Hollywood Reporter:

Roman Polanski, Bill Cosby Booted From Film Academy — The actor and director have been expelled as “the Board continues to encourage ethical standards that require members to uphold the Academy's values of respect for human dignity,” according to a statement.

Discussion: Daily Wire, The Daily Caller and Mashable, more at Mediagazer »

Monmouth University Polling Institute:

Dems +8 On House Ballot — McConnell, Schumer, Ryan, Pelosi viewed negatively — West Long Branch, NJ - Democrats hold an 8 point lead over Republicans in the generic House ballot as public opinion on the new tax reform law continues to be divided. The Monmouth University Poll also finds …

Discussion: Vox

Chuck Ross / The Daily Caller:

Newest Mueller Prosecutor Donated To Hillary Clinton — The latest addition to special counsel Robert Mueller's team of prosecutors contributed to Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, according to federal campaign records. — Uzo Asonye, an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District …

New York Times:

Army Green Berets Secretly Help Saudis Combat Threat From Yemen Rebels — WASHINGTON — For years, the American military has sought to distance itself from a brutal civil war in Yemen, where Saudi-led forces are battling rebels who pose no direct threat to the United States.

Discussion: Defense One, The Week and The Daily Caller