memeorandum: President Trump pardons Oregon ranchers whose plight led to refuge occupation (Maxine Bernstein/Oregonian)

1:40 PM ET, July 10, 2018

Top Items:

Akhil Reed Amar / New York Times:

A Liberal's Case for Brett Kavanaugh — The nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to be the next Supreme Court justice is President Trump's finest hour, his classiest move. Last week the president promised to select “someone with impeccable credentials, great intellect, unbiased judgment …

David Brooks / New York Times:

It Took a Village to Raise Kavanaugh — In the weeks ahead, we're going to spend a lot of time going over Brett Kavanaugh's biography — where he's from and what he's written. But that's not the most important way to understand the guy. — Kavanaugh is the product of a community.

Discussion: Hot Air and Althouse

Politico:

How a private meeting with Kennedy helped Trump get to ‘yes’ on Kavanaugh — While he was eager to keep the suspense alive, the president was always leaning toward Kennedy's former clerk. — After Justice Anthony Kennedy told President Donald Trump he would relinquish his seat on the Supreme Court …

Discussion: Townhall, New Republic, ThinkProgress, Hot Air, Bloomberg, Talking Points Memo, Daily Wire, Mediaite, Washington Post, Daily Kos, Hill Reporter, Joe.My.God., The Root, Towleroad, Splinter, The Daily Beast and New York Times, more at Mediagazer »

Louis Nelson / Politico:

Schumer lays out path to block Kavanaugh — Senate Democrats can successfully orchestrate the rejection of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday morning, if they can convince the American people that his confirmation will lead to the undoing …

Discussion: CBS News, The Daily Beast and Axios

Anna Palmer / Politico:

POLITICO Playbook Power Briefing: The Kavanaugh reality — THE BLUNT REALITY ... AT THIS POINT, it seems abundantly clear that SENATE MAJORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL has a better hand than SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-N.Y.) as the two face off over Brett Kavanaugh's nomination to the Supreme Court.

Ross Douthat / New York Times:
After Kavanaugh, the Deluge — In the second year of his presidency …

Discussion: National Review, Axios, Weekly Standard, The American Conservative and Bloomberg

Fox News:
Kamala Harris' office allegedly rejected SCOTUS courtesy call: ‘We want nothing to do with you’

Discussion: Breitbart, twitchy.com, PinkNews and Washington Free Beacon

Mark Joseph Stern / Slate:
How Brett Kavanaugh Will Gut Roe v. Wade

Discussion: ThinkProgress, The White House, NPR, Shareblue Media, RealClearPolitics and American Family Association

Jonathan H. Adler / Reason:
Justice Kavanaugh — Initial thoughts on the nomination …

Discussion: Hit & Run

Senate Democratic Leadership:
Schumer Statement On Nomination Of Judge Brett Kavanaugh To The Supreme Court

Discussion: USA Today, National Review, CNN, IJR, CNBC, Breitbart, Politico, Townhall, twitchy.com, The Hill, CBS Los Angeles, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, GoLocalProv.com, NPR, Bustle, Jon Tester and The Daily Caller

Tony Mauro / National Law Journal:
Seven Brett Kavanaugh Opinions That Will Find Renewed Attention

Discussion: Economist, SCOTUSblog, CNN and LAW.com

William McGurn / Wall Street Journal: Dick Durbin's Supreme Sacrifice

New York Times:
There's So Much You Don't Know About Brett Kavanaugh

Discussion: Shareblue Media, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Washington Free Beacon, New Republic, Law & Crime, AOL and Bustle

Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
A Way Forward on the Eager Brett Kavanaugh

Discussion: Politico, The Mahablog, Pacific Standard, Outside the Beltway, Mother Jones and CANNONFIRE

Monique O. Madan / miamiherald:
New Supreme Court nominee Kavanaugh has ties to big Florida moments

Discussion: Washington Post, Associated Press and CBS Miami

Liz Goodwin / BostonGlobe.com:
Susan Collins is no maverick with GOP judicial nominees

Discussion: New York Times, Associated Press, Politico, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal

Mariam Khan / ABC News:
Kavanaugh faces a contentious confirmation fight in the Senate

Discussion: New York Times, One America News Network and Breitbart

Leigh Ann Caldwell / NBC News:
Key senators already facing a campaign-like blitz on Kavanaugh confirmation fight

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA, NewsWars and MSNBC

Timothy Cama / The Hill:

Trump pardons Oregon ranchers at center of 40-day standoff — on Tuesday pardoned a pair of Oregon ranchers whose arson conviction became a focus for opponents of federal government land ownership. — Dwight Hammond, 76, and his son Steven Hammond, 49, were convicted in 2012 and sent to prison on arson charges.

Discussion: Washington Post, Axios and Associated Press

The White House:

Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Clemency for Dwight and Steven Hammond — Today, President Donald J. Trump signed Executive Grants of Clemency (Full Pardons) for Dwight Lincoln Hammond, Jr., and his son, Steven Hammond. The Hammonds are multi-generation cattle ranchers …

Discussion: Politico, Front Page Magazine, FRONTLINE, Shareblue Media, Splinter, thenewcivilrightsmovement.com and The Guardian

Maxine Bernstein / Oregonian:
President Trump pardons Oregon ranchers whose plight led to refuge occupation

Discussion: CNN, National Review, Washington Free Beacon, TheBlaze, IJR, MSNBC and Joe.My.God.

Vivian Salama / Wall Street Journal:
President Trump Grants Pardons for Oregon Ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond

Discussion: Mother Jones

Alexi McCammond / Axios:

Brutal poll: Democrats' Senate dream slips away — To win the Senate, Democrats need to keep all 10 seats they're defending in states that President Trump won in 2016 — plus pick up two more seats. — Why it matters: That's not happening. A new Axios/SurveyMonkey poll of key states shows Dems …

Discussion: Vox and RedState

Mina Al-Oraibi / The National:

Mike Pompeo: Qassem Soleimani is causing trouble in Iraq and Syria ... we need to raise the cost for him — US Secretary of State speaks exclusively to The National about America's commitment to Gulf security — United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is on a mission to garner …

Adam Entous / New Yorker:
Israeli, Saudi, and Emirati Officials Privately Pushed for Trump to Strike a “Grand Bargain” with Putin

Discussion: emptywheel

David J. Kramer / Washington Post:
Putin is about to con Trump in Helsinki. Here's how.

Discussion: Hullabaloo

Lorne Cook / Associated Press:

EU official criticizes Trump over attitude toward allies — BRUSSELS (AP) — A senior European Union official lashed out Tuesday at President Donald Trump, lambasting the U.S. leader for his constant criticism of European allies and urging him to remember who is friends are when he meets Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.

Discussion: MSNBC, NBC News, New York Times and Political Wire

Michael Birnbaum / Washington Post:
'Dear America, appreciate your allies. After all, you don't have that many,' E.U. leader warns Trump

Discussion: Washington Times

Veronica Stracqualursi / CNN:
Trump says Putin meeting ‘may be the easiest of them all’

Discussion: Hill Reporter, Joe.My.God. and Politico

Washington Post:

Giuliani works for foreign clients while serving as Trump's attorney — Rudolph W. Giuliani continues to work on behalf of foreign clients both personally and through his namesake security firm while serving as President Trump's personal attorney — an arrangement experts say raises conflict …

Discussion: CNN, New Republic, Axios, Talking Points Memo and Raw Story

NBC News:

Secret tape recordings rock Georgia governor race — Georgia GOP gubernatorial candidate Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle can be heard saying the Republican primary had devolved into “who could be the craziest.” — ATLANTA — Another secret recording is shaking up Georgia's Republican primary runoff in the governor's race.

Discussion: MSNBC and Political Wire

Meagan Flynn / Washington Post:

In honor of Trump visit, Brits launch campaign to lift ‘American Idiot’ to top of the charts — President Trump loved seeing “American Idiot,” the Green Day Broadway musical, on its opening night in 2010, calling it “an amazing theatrical experience!” on Twitter.

Discussion: CNN, NewsBusters, Consequence of Sound, DCist, Mediaite, Washington Free Beacon, The Daily Caller and Daily Wire

Madeleine Thompson / CNN:

Another former OSU wrestler says Jim Jordan knew about alleged abuse — (CNN)A fifth former OSU wrestler has told CNN that Jim Jordan knew about the actions of Dr. Richard Strauss, the former Ohio State University medical doctor who treated athletes, and called Jordan, who is now a US Congressman …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Political Wire, Towleroad, POLITICUSUSA, Raw Story and AMERICAblog NewsAMERICAblog …

David Weigel / Washington Post:

Republicans pull endorsement of New Jersey candidate, citing ‘bigotry’ — The National Republican Congressional Committee has withdrawn its endorsement of a candidate in New Jersey, after reporters dug up a offensive comments he'd made about black and Hispanic people.

Discussion: Shareblue Media, MSNBC, Media Matters for America and Mediaite

Media Matters for America:
NRCC withdraws support for New Jersey congressional candidate and right-wing pundit Seth Grossman over bigoted remarks

Discussion: Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Weekly Standard, CNN and Joe.My.God.

Charles C. W. Cooke / National Review:

NBC's Capitol Hill Reporter Demonstrates Why So Many Dislike the Press — Every time I criticize the mainstream press, I am treated to a saccharine lecture on how wrong I am to cast aspersions about America's most valuable profession. “You don't understand,” I am informed.

Discussion: Hot Air, twitchy.com, Shakesville and Raw Story

Washington Post:

Anatomy of a Trump rally: 76 percent of claims are false, misleading or lacking evidence — We're doing something new today: Analyzing every factual claim from President Trump's campaign rally in Montana on July 5. — According to The Fact Checker's database, the president had made 3,251 false …

Discussion: Washington Monthly

Associated Press:

All 12 boys, coach rescued from flooded Thai cave — MAE SAI, Thailand (AP) — All 12 boys and their soccer coach have been rescued from a flooded cave in northern Thailand, the Thai navy SEALs said Tuesday, ending an 18-day ordeal that riveted people around the world.

Discussion: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE, The Moderate Voice, The Last Refuge and Yahoo

Maxwell Tani / The Daily Beast:

Business Insider Pulls Conservative Column About Scarlett Johansson Playing Trans Man … Business Insider removed a post about portrayals of trans individuals in Hollywood after staff complained internally about the column, saying the article did not meet the publication's standards.

Discussion: CNNMoney, more at Mediagazer »

Heather Caygle / Politico:

Tim Ryan weighs new challenge to Pelosi amid Democratic unrest — Joe Crowley's primary defeat is fueling a rapid push to overhaul House Democratic leadership. — Rep. Tim Ryan is considering taking on House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi again in November despite previously ruling out the idea …

Discussion: CNN, Rolling Stone, Talking Points Memo, Fox News Insider, IJR, CBS San Francisco, RT, Breitbart and Mediaite

Gregg Re / Fox News:
Pelosi vows to ‘avenge President Obama’ in Supreme Court fight

Discussion: CNN, Washington Examiner, Power Line, Daily Wire, The Atlantic, The Gateway Pundit, Front Page Magazine and ABC News

Courier-Journal:

Hecklers spoil another Mitch McConnell meal by blaring ‘Fight The Power’ — Provided by Ben Norton, Louisville Courier Journal — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell may need to start ordering takeout in Louisville. — The Kentucky Republican abruptly left Sarino …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and Eater