memeorandum: Charter school CEOs get massive paychecks thanks to private donors (Melissa Klein/New York Post)

11:30 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, ThinkProgress, Washington Times, The Guardian, One America News Network, Political Wire and Mediaite

CBS News:

“I think the European Union is a foe,” Trump says ahead of Putin meeting in Helsinki — Coming off a contentious NATO summit and a trip to the U.K. in which he seemed to undercut the government of America's closest ally, President Trump took aim at another Western institution just days …

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 …

Discussion: The Hill and Politico

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.

Quint Forgey / Politico:

Rand Paul on Russian election meddling: ‘We all do it’ — Sen. Rand Paul on Sunday sought to justify Russia's interference in America's 2016 presidential race, claiming that all countries meddle in foreign elections. — “I think really we mistake our response if we think it's about accountability from the Russians.

David Rothkopf / The Daily Beast:
The Way Trump and the GOP Deal with Russian Attacks is ‘Textbook Treason’

Discussion: Politico, RedState, Breitbart and The Hill

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:
Trump, Having a Bawl in Europe

Discussion: LewRockwell

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

Discussion: Roll Call, Fox News Insider and Breitbart

New York Times: Just Sitting Down With Trump, Putin Comes Out Ahead

Seung Min Kim / Washington Post:
'I hadn't thought' of asking Putin to extradite indicted Russian agents, Trump says

Discussion: ABC News and The Week

Associated Press: Summit fever: Trump reaches for big moment with Putin

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

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

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: RedState, HuffPost, The Intercept, The Gateway Pundit and Common Dreams

Taryn Luna / Sacramento Bee: California Democrats endorse de León for US Senate race, snubbing Feinstein

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
Kevin De León Beats Feinstein for California Democrats' Endorsement

Discussion: Washington Monthly and Outside the Beltway

Associated Press:
California Democratic Party snubs Feinstein, endorses rival

Discussion: Politico and Axios

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, Political Wire, Raw Story, AOL and Politico

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: Talking Points Memo, BostonGlobe.com and 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

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

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

Emily Stewart / Vox:

Theresa May says Donald Trump told her to sue the European Union — May revealed the “suggestion” Trump made to her on handling Brexit negotiations. — When United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May and Donald Trump met Friday, the US president had a “suggestion” on handling Brexit negotiations.

Discussion: Axios and Washington Times

BBC:
Theresa May: Trump told me to sue the EU

Discussion: RedState, Financial Times, NPR and Washington Post

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 …

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, HuffPost, Axios, Political Wire, The Guardian, RT, The Gateway Pundit and Mediaite

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

Maura Lerner / Star Tribune:

He, she or ze? Pronouns could pose trouble under University of Minnesota campus policy — Draft policy would punish those who ignore personal pronoun preferences. — Using the wrong pronoun could turn into a firing offense at the University of Minnesota.

Discussion: Power Line

CBS News:

Western allies plan White Helmets evacuation from Syria — As Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's regime violently assaults the southern region of Syria, an area formerly protected by the Trump administration, the members of the all-volunteer rescue organization known as the White Helmets are in danger of assassination.

Discussion: Politico