memeorandum: Ousted Billboard CEO John Amato Being Probed for Sexual Misconduct (The Daily Beast)

10:10 AM ET, July 15, 2018

Top Items:

Trump on Putin meeting: “I go in with low expectations” — President Trump is keeping expectations in check in advance of his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to an interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor Jeff Glor. “I go in with low expectations,” Mr. Trump said.

Discussion: ABC News, Washington Post, Washington Times, The Guardian, One America News Network, Political Wire and Mediaite

Jonathan Swan / Axios:

Why Trump gives Putin a pass on Mueller revelations — President Trump no longer doubts the basic intelligence assessment that Russia interfered in the 2016 election — he just seems incapable of taking it seriously, and tells staff that is simply what nations do, several sources close to Trump tell me.

Quinn Scanlan / ABC News:

‘I find it hard to believe’ Putin didn't know about Russian interference in U.S. election: White House national security adviser — President Donald Trump's top national security adviser said he finds it “hard to believe” Vladimir Putin didn't know about top Russian military intelligence …

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Trump, Having a Bawl in Europe — WASHINGTON — I had dinner with Vladimir Putin once. He made me lose my appetite. — The then-fledgling president of Russia was polite and smiling at first with me and the other journalists present at the 21 Club. — But then Katie Couric asked …

Discussion: LewRockwell

Masha Gessen / New Yorker: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the Triumph of Nothing Over Everyone

Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times:

Kevin de León wins endorsement of California Democrats in rebuke of Dianne Feinstein … California Democratic Party leaders took a step to the left Saturday night, endorsing liberal state lawmaker Kevin de León for Senate over Democratic icon Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, The Intercept and Common Dreams

Taryn Luna / Sacramento Bee:

California Democrats endorse de León for US Senate race, snubbing Feinstein — The California Democratic Party on Saturday endorsed U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein's challenger, highlighting the moderate lawmaker's political disconnect with liberal activists in her home state.

Associated Press:
California Democratic Party snubs Feinstein, endorses rival

Discussion: Politico and Axios

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
California Democratic Party Snubs Feinstein and Endorses Kevin De León

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Political Wire

Jill Serjeant / Reuters:

U.S. lawmakers shown backing fake kindergarten gun scheme in Sacha Baron Cohen satire — LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - In Sacha Baron Cohen's provocative new comedy show, American politicians are filmed backing a fictitious program to teach kindergartners how to use guns to defend themselves in school shootings.

Discussion: Common Dreams

Matt Wilstein / The Daily Beast:

Sacha Baron Cohen Convinces GOP Congressmen to Arm Toddlers in ‘Who Is America?’ Premiere … Sacha Baron Cohen's new surprise Showtime series is ostensibly trying to answer the question, Who Is America? Another question it answers is, “Where has Sacha Baron Cohen been when we've needed him most?”

Matt Wilstein / The Daily Beast: Ex-GOP Rep. Joe Walsh: Sacha Baron Cohen Tricked Me Into Saying We Should Arm Preschoolers

The Times & The Sunday Times:

Royal family ‘snub’ Donald Trump during UK visit — Queen left to go it alone as Charles and William avoid president — Prince Charles and Prince William were unwilling to meet Donald Trump on his visit to Britain, leaving the Queen to greet the US president alone.

Discussion: The Week, Politico, Raw Story and AOL

David Rothkopf / The Daily Beast:

The Way Trump and the GOP Deal with Russian Attacks is ‘Textbook Treason’ … The indictments of the 12 Russian military officers who engaged in a coordinated attack on the United States to try to make their preferred candidate our president are a vital reminder that the Mueller investigation cannot …

Discussion: RedState, Breitbart and The Hill

Jason Easley / POLITICUSUSA:
It Was Mitch McConnell Who Stopped Obama From Blocking Trump's Treason

Discussion: Breitbart, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and The Gateway Pundit

New York Times:
Trump Opens His Arms to Russia. His Administration Closes Its Fist.

Discussion: The Daily Beast, Law & Crime, Washington Free Beacon, Jamie Dupree - AJC, CBS New York, TheBlaze and The Mahablog

Washington Post:

Mueller, pushing to wrap up parts of Russia probe, faces question of American involvement — In a 29-page indictment Friday, special counsel Robert S. Mueller III blamed specific officers in the Russian government for the 2016 hacking of Democrats, answering one of his investigation's central questions …

Discussion: One America News Network

New York Times:

Warren is Preparing for 2020. So Are Biden, Booker, Harris and Sanders. — RENO, Nev. — During a campaign-style tour of the West late last month, Senator Elizabeth Warren did not announce she was running for president. But in private events and public speeches, her message about 2020 was as clear as it was rousing.

Discussion: Althouse

Piers Morgan / Daily Mail:

PIERS MORGAN up close and VERY personal with Trump on Air Force One — PIERS MORGAN talks with President Donald Trump as the Republican concludes his tour of the UK, boarding Air Force One to foreign policy, the Royal family - and personalised snacks.

Discussion: USA Today, New York Times, Axios, HuffPost, The Guardian, RT, The Gateway Pundit and Mediaite

Guy Faulconbridge / Reuters:
President Trump says intends to run for president in 2020: Mail on Sunday

Discussion: Axios

Howard Cohen / miamiherald:

He said he was ‘going to burn down the building with all the f— Jews,’ Miami Beach cops say — A resident at a Miami Beach condo was angry after learning he was about to be evicted so he planned to burn down the building and had one group, in particular, targeted, police say.

Discussion: RT

Cindy Chang / Los Angeles Times:

Judge orders L.A. Times to alter story about Glendale cop, sparking protest from newspaper — A federal judge on Saturday ordered the Los Angeles Times to remove information from an article that described a plea agreement between prosecutors and a Glendale police detective accused of working …

Discussion: KTLA

CNN:

Judge blasts HHS official's warning of endangering children as ‘cover’ to Trump admin in key immigration case — You heard her cry for her mom. See their reunion — (CNN)A federal judge has blasted a declaration from a senior official at the Department of Health and Human Services …

Maria Sacchetti / Washington Post:
Government says it will reunite up to 200 migrant children a day with their parents

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA, Bustle and Politico

Paul Mirengoff / Power Line:

Kamala Harris, fabulist — On July 9, Sen. Kamala Harris tweeted: … Harris' election to the Senate is one of the lesser reasons to celebrate Brown v. Board. Moreover, it's far from clear that Harris wouldn't have become a lawyer without attending an integrated public school.

Discussion: Front Page Magazine

emptywheel:

As the Summit Arrives, Keep in Mind that Putin Manages Trump with Carrots and Sticks — As I laid out last week, I provided information to the FBI on issues related to the Mueller investigation, so I'm going to include disclosure statements on Mueller investigation posts from here on out.

Discussion: CNN