memeorandum: Trump is no longer the worst person in government (George F. Will/Washington Post)

11:10 AM ET, May 10, 2018

Top Items:

How Michael Cohen, Denied White House Job, Was Seen as Its Gatekeeper — After paying off a pornographic film actress and doing other tasks to help his boss win the presidency, Michael D. Cohen was surprised to find that the doors to the White House were mostly closed to him.

Discussion: Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, Raw Story, TIME and Washington Press

CNN:

Inside Michael Cohen's aggressive pitch promising access to Trump — Analyst: This is the swampiest of swampy — (CNN)Michael Cohen served loyally as Donald Trump's right-hand man for more than a decade, taking care of anything and everything the New York real estate baron needed to get done.

Discussion: Politico, Daily Kos, The Week, Raw Story, CNNMoney, The Federalist, Hot Air, Mediaite and Washington Post, more at Mediagazer »

Axios:
The Michael Cohen avalanche

Discussion: Washington Post, New York Times and Political Wire

Chuck Ross / The Daily Caller:
Avenatti Accuses The Wrong Michael Cohens Of Making ‘Fraudulent’ Payments

Discussion: RedState, Conservative News Today, Washington Times, The Gateway Pundit, twitchy.com, Front Page Magazine, Haaretz, Mediaite, his vorpal sword, The Right Scoop, Daily Wire, The Political Insider and Washington Post

Justin Elliott / ProPublica:
Russian Oligarch-Linked Firm That Paid Michael Cohen Was Also Represented by Trump Lawyer Marc Kasowitz

Discussion: CNNMoney, Talking Points Memo, USA Today, The Week, New York Times, Washington Press, Axios, Shareblue Media, HuffPost and Hot Air, more at Mediagazer »

Eli Rosenberg / Washington Post:
Russia-linked company that hired Michael Cohen registered alt-right websites during election

Discussion: NBC News, Political Wire, The Week, Crooked Media, Daily Kos, The Gateway Pundit and Washington Monthly

The Daily Beast:
To ‘Cash In’ on Trump's Presidency, Michael Cohen Sold Clients on Secrecy and Access

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, No More Mister Nice Blog, Raw Story, CNBC and Motherboard

NBC News:

Prisoner release event highlights the best and worst of Trump — WASHINGTON — President Trump's tarmac greeting of the three American prisoners that North Korea released was a definite achievement for the White House ahead of the upcoming summit over North Korea's nuclear program.

Discussion: The Columbus Dispatch, MSNBC and Weekly Standard

Associated Press:

Trump gives freed Americans flag-waving, wee-hours welcome — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. (AP) — Staging a made-for-TV, still-of-the-night arrival ceremony, President Donald Trump welcomed home three Americans freed by North Korea and declared their release a sign of promise toward his goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula.

Discussion: National Review, IJR, Axios and New York Times

John Bolton / Washington Post:
The Iran deal was betrayed by its own abysmal record

Discussion: The American Conservative

Politico:
Trump thanks Kim Jong Un as he welcomes home detainees from North Korea

Discussion: One America News Network and Politico

Associated Press: The Latest: Pence says 1 detainee 'hadn't seen daylight'

Washington Post:

Israel launches massive military strike against Iranian targets in Syria … MOUNT BENTAL, Golan Heights — The Israeli military said Thursday that it had bombed dozens of Iran-linked military facilities in Syria, as tensions between the three countries soared.

Discussion: Haaretz, BBC, Common Dreams, Daily Kos, Al Jazeera English and Just Security

Laurent Lozano / Yahoo:

Israel in major raids on ‘Iran’ targets in Syria after rocket fire — An image released by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA) early on May 10, 2018 purportedly shows what the official news agency said was air defence systems intercepting Israeli missiles over Syrian airspace, without specifying the location

Discussion: Daily Wire

Yonah Jeremy Bob / Jerusalem Post:
Liberman: We hit almost all Iranian infrastructure in Syria

Discussion: The Guardian and VICE News

Judah Ari Gross / The Times of Israel:
After alleged Iranian barrage, Israel launches massive counterattack in Syria

Discussion: The Times of IsraelRaphael … and Breitbart

Associated Press:
Israel hits dozens of Iranian targets in Syria after barrage

Discussion: Wall Street Journal and Defense One

George F. Will / Washington Post:

Trump is no longer the worst person in government … Donald Trump, with his feral cunning, knew. The oleaginous Mike Pence, with his talent for toadyism and appetite for obsequiousness, could, Trump knew, become America's most repulsive public figure. And Pence, who has reached this pinnacle …

Discussion: CNN, Raw Story, Shakesville, Balloon Juice and Contemptor

NBC News:

Fans of Sean Hannity, Black Lives Matter among targets of Russian influence campaign — The ads highlight how Russia's efforts focused on divisive cultural issues — Russian propaganda efforts used ads on Facebook and Instagram to push divisive messages to fans of a variety …

USA Today: Thousands of Facebook ads bought by Russians to fool U.S. voters released by Congress

Charlie Mahtesian / Politico:

Why the Democrats Just Lost the Senate — While Nancy Pelosi is shopping for speaker's gavels, Chuck Schumer should be preparing for another term as minority leader. — For Democrats, the Don Blankenship dream is over. The coal-mining baron and ex-con was a pleasant diversion …

Discussion: Instapundit

Jonathan Swan / Axios:
Donald Trump Jr. plans big midterm role

Discussion: Raw Story, Joe.My.God. and Political Wire

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:
Trump calls Blankenship after pushing for his loss in West Virginia

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Political Wire and Mediaite

Associated Press:

Pence says it's time for Mueller to wrap it up — WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Mike Pence says it's time for special counsel Robert Mueller to conclude his probe of Russian interference in the 2016 election. — He says: “In the interests of the country, I think it's time to wrap it up.”

Discussion: Political Wire

John Wagner / Washington Post:
Pence says it's time for special counsel to ‘wrap up’ Russia investigation

Discussion: Politico and Raw Story

Louis Nelson / Politico:
Pence on Mueller probe: 'It's time to wrap it up'

Discussion: Washington Post and The Daily Beast

Margaret Coker / New York Times:

Five Top ISIS Officials Captured in U.S.-Iraqi Sting — BAGHDAD — Five senior Islamic State officials have been captured, including a top aide to the group's leader, in a complex cross-border sting carried out by Iraqi and American intelligence, two Iraqi officials said Wednesday.

Discussion: Reuters and Task & Purpose

Maher Chmaytelli / Reuters: Exclusive: Iraq used Baghdadi aide's phone to capture Islamic State commanders

Emily Smith / Page Six:

Don Jr. moving on from Vanessa with Fox host Kimberly Guilfoyle — Amid his divorce from his wife of 12 years, Donald Trump Jr. has started dating stunning Fox News host Kimberly Guilfoyle. — Multiple sources exclusively tell Page Six that Don Jr. and Guilfoyle, a co-host of “The Five …

Discussion: The Political Insider, Splinter, Joe.My.God., Washington Press, The Daily Caller, Jezebel and Mediaite

mccain.senate.gov:

STATEMENT BY SASC CHAIRMAN JOHN McCAIN ON THE NOMINATION OF GINA HASPEL TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE CIA — Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on the nomination of Gina Haspel to be Director of the CIA:

Discussion: New York Times, Talking Points Memo, HuffPost, The Hill, Fox News Insider, Althouse, Axios, New York Magazine, Joe.My.God., The Moderate Voice, Raw Story, CNN, Washington Times, The Daily Caller, The Week, Associated Press and Mediaite

Dana Milbank / Washington Post:
Tom Cotton is filled with rage. Thank God he wasn't tapped as CIA director.

Discussion: Hullabaloo, Washington Free Beacon and Clayton Cramer

Politico:

Adelson gives $30 million to help GOP save the House — The donation to the Congressional Leadership Fund is a big boost to Republicans facing a tough midterm environment. — Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has cut a $30 million check to the House GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Daily Caller, Political Wire and Washington Times

Doug Donovan / Baltimore Sun:

Baltimore County Executive, Democratic candidate for governor Kevin Kamenetz dies — Kevin Kamenetz, Baltimore County Executive and Democratic candidate for governor died this morning of cardiac arrest. — Baltimore County Executive Kevin Kamenetz — a Democratic candidate for governor …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Washington Post, Joe.My.God. and Political Wire

Peter Hamby / Vanity Fair:

“People Get Subpoenas, Shit Gets Real”: What John Edwards Should Teach the Media About Covering Trump — If you were in Las Vegas and could win $1 million by placing a simple prop bet on whether Trump enjoyed some pee play with Russian hookers in Moscow in 2013, would you bet yes or no?

Dan Rys / Billboard:

Spotify Removes R. Kelly Music From Its Playlists As Part of New Hate Content & Hateful Conduct Policy: Exclusive — Beginning today (May 10), Spotify users will no longer be able to find R. Kelly's music on any of the streaming service's editorial or algorithmic playlists.

Discussion: Vox, The Verge, The Week and Mashable, more at Mediagazer »

David M. Drucker / Washington Examiner:

Eric Greitens takes aim at Republicans, leaves liberal measures on midterm ballot — Embattled Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican, is declining to block from the November ballot three initiatives that could boost Democratic turnout in the midterm. — Greitens faces possible impeachment …

Allison De Jong / ABC News:

Protestants decline, more have no religion in a sharply shifting religious landscape (POLL) — The nation's religious makeup has shifted dramatically in the past 15 years, with a sharp drop in the number of Americans who say they're members of a Protestant denomination …

Discussion: Political Wire

Gideon Resnick / The Daily Beast:

McCain Confirms He Gave Trump Dossier to Comey: ‘Duty Demanded I Do’ It … In his new book, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) confirms that he gave a controversial dossier about President Trump to former FBI chief James Comey. — “I agreed to receive a copy of what is now referred to as 'the dossier …

Discussion: The Guardian, The Political Insider, The Gateway Pundit, Washington Press, The Hill, Washington Times and Mediaite

Jerry Iannelli / Miami New Times:

Miami Police Union Says Head-Kicking Cop “Used Great Restraint,” Shouldn't Be Charged … Hours after Miami Police Officer Mario Figueroa was charged with misdemeanor assault today after film surfaced of the cop trying to kick a handcuffed man in the head, the city's police union released …

Discussion: RedState, The Daily Caller and CBS Miami

Gwynne Hogan / WNYC News:

Schneiderman Can Use Campaign Cash in Ways Donors Never Imagined — Eric Schneiderman has amassed more than $8.5 million in campaign donations, according to his most recent filing with the state in January. — But New York State doesn't require him to return the funds, even though he's not running for re-election.

David Harsanyi / The Federalist:

The Obama Legacy Deserves To Be Destroyed — Smash the rickety legacy of executive abuse! — It's strange that a president who had such a transformative effect on our national discourse will leave such a negligible policy legacy. But Barack Obama, whose imperial term changed …

The Charlotte Observer:

GOP strategist says ‘fall may be brutal’ for party after North Carolina primary upset — Tuesday's surprising upset in the 9th District Republican primary sets the stage for not only one of North Carolina's most competitive congressional elections but one of the most closely watched in the country.

Jonathan Van Meter / Vogue:

Georgina Chapman on Life After Harvey Weinstein — “I have moments of rage. I have moments of confusion. I have moments of disbelief!” says Chapman. — Photographed by Annie Leibovitz, Vogue, June 2018 — On the day in late February when I arrive at Georgina Chapman's town house …

Discussion: AOL, Glamour and IndieWire

Rebecca Morin / Politico:

Grassley tries to nudge Supreme Court justices into early retirement — Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley on Thursday encouraged Supreme Court justices flirting with retirement to immediately step down, saying he would like to push through a nominee before the midterm elections.

Discussion: Axios and Political Wire