memeorandum: Kaiser Health Tracking Poll: Preview of the Role of Health Care in the 2018 Midterm Campaigns (Ashley Kirzinger/The Henry J. Kaiser …)

12:35 PM 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, New York Magazine, Wall Street Journal, The Real Deal New York, Raw Story, Washington Press and TIME

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

Axios:
The Michael Cohen avalanche

Discussion: New York Times, Washington Post and Political Wire

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

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Shakesville, No More Mister Nice Blog, Raw Story, CNBC and Motherboard, more at Mediagazer »

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

Discussion: Axios, ThinkProgress, CNNMoney, USA Today, The Week, Talking Points Memo, Washington Press, New York Times, Shareblue Media and BuzzFeed

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

Discussion: Mother Jones, NBC News, Political Wire, The Week and Crooked Media

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, Taylor Marsh, 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, Yeshiva World News and Axios

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

Discussion: The American Conservative

John Wagner / Washington Post:
Trump announces June 12 summit in Singapore with North Korean leader

Discussion: National Review, New York Times, RedState and Outside the Beltway

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

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

Discussion: ABC News, One America News Network and Politico

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

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

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: Hot Air, Mediaite, Real Clear Politics, Political Wire and Talking Points Memo

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: RedState, Haaretz, BBC, The Times of Israel, Reuters, Common Dreams, Al Jazeera English, Just Security and Daily Kos

Laurent Lozano / Yahoo:
Israel in major raids on ‘Iran’ targets in Syria after rocket fire

Discussion: Daily Wire and The Daily Caller

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

Discussion: The Guardian and VICE News

Eli Okun / Politico:
White House slams Iran for suspected strikes on Israel

Discussion: Breitbart and Politico

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

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, The Daily Caller and Defense One

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 …

more at Mediagazer »

USA Today:

Thousands of Facebook ads bought by Russians to fool U.S. voters released by Congress — SAN FRANCISCO — Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee released thousands of Russian Facebook ads on Thursday, offering the public its first in-depth look at the troubling messages used …

Discussion: Althouse

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: Mediaite, CNN, New York Magazine, Raw Story, Balloon Juice, Shakesville and Contemptor

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, NBC News, IJR and Task & Purpose

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

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

Eli Okun / Politico: Dick Cheney: Restart enhanced interrogation programs

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

New York Times:

Giuliani Resigns From Law Firm Amid Tensions Over Comments About Trump — WASHINGTON — President Trump's personal lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, abruptly resigned from his law firm after weeks of tensions over his public comments. — Mr. Giuliani took a leave of absence last month from the firm …

Discussion: Raw Story

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:

Sheldon Adelson kicks in $30M to stop Democratic House takeover — Las Vegas casino mogul Sheldon Adelson has cut a $30 million check to the House GOP-aligned Congressional Leadership Fund, a massive cash infusion that top Republicans hope will alter the party's electoral outlook six months before Election Day.

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

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, Baltimore County Police …, The Daily Caller, Joe.My.God. and Political Wire

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, Breitbart, Raw Story and The Daily Beast

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: New Century Times, The Political Insider, Daily Wire, Splinter, Joe.My.God., Mediaite, Washington Press, The Daily Caller and Jezebel

John McCain / Wall Street Journal:

‘Vladimir Putin Is an Evil Man’ — In an excerpt from his new memoir, Sen. McCain discusses his longstanding opposition to the Russian strongman—and his own role in receiving ‘the Steele dossier’ about Donald Trump — I regularly attend an annual security conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Discussion: Raw Story

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.

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 …

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?

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 and Friendly Atheist

Duane Patterson / The Hugh Hewitt Show:

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley on President Trump's Nominees — The audio: — 05-10hhs-grassley — The transcript: — HH: I am so pleased to welcome United States Senator Charles Grassley. He is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. It's great to have you on, Senator, good morning.

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

Ben Shapiro / Weekly Standard:

How Conservatives Can Win Back Young Americans — There's a generational age gap, but it's not insurmountable. — Young Americans are moving to the left. On virtually every issue, they support the Democratic party. A Harvard University poll taken in December 2017 found …

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: New York Times, Jezebel, Engadget, theGrio, Vox, newsroom.spotify.com, The Verge, CBS Chicago, The Week and Mashable, more at Mediagazer »

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.