memeorandum: White House Has a Message for Republican Candidates: Stay Close to Trump (Maggie Haberman/New York Times)

10:25 PM ET, October 2, 2018

Top Items:

Trump Engaged in Suspect Tax Schemes as He Reaped Riches From His Father — The president has long sold himself as a self-made billionaire, but a Times investigation found that he received at least $413 million in today's dollars from his father's real estate empire, much of it through tax dodges in the 1990s.

New York Times:

11 Takeaways From The Times's Investigation Into Trump's Wealth — Donald J. Trump built a business empire and won the presidency proclaiming himself a self-made billionaire, and he has long insisted that his father, the legendary New York City builder Fred C. Trump, provided almost no financial help.

Discussion: CNBC, Raw Story, POLITICUSUSA, Joe.My.God. and Mediaite

New York Times:

4 Ways Fred Trump Made Donald Trump and his Siblings Rich — In Donald J. Trump's version of how he got rich, he was the master dealmaker who parlayed an initial $1 million loan from his father into a $10 billion empire. It was his guts and gumption that overcame setbacks, and his father, Fred C. Trump, was simply a cheerleader.

Discussion: Raw Story, VICE and Mediaite

New York Times:

Kavanaugh's 1983 Letter Offers Inside Look at High School Clique — The beachfront property was rented, the guests were invited and an ever-organized Brett M. Kavanaugh had some advice for the seven Georgetown Preparatory School classmates who would be joining him for the weeklong escapade.

Discussion: CNN, Talking Points Memo, KRTV-TV, Splinter, The Daily Caller, The Week, Mediaite, Raw Story and The Right Scoop

Mollie Hemingway / The Federalist:

THE NEW YORK TIMES PREPARING HIT PIECE ON BRETT KAVANAUGH FOR PARTY PLANNING — Multiple sources tell The Federalist that the New York Times is prepping yet another attack piece on Brett Kavanaugh for his party planning efforts in the 1980s. — Having failed to corroborate any allegations …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Mediaite, Townhall, Daily Wire, Washington Times, Breitbart, The Daily Caller, National Review, Washington Free Beacon, NTK Network and TheBlaze, more at Mediagazer »

Jason Schwartz / Politico:
New York Times says it made mistake by assigning opinion writer to Kavanaugh story

Discussion: Splinter and NewBostonPost

Wall Street Journal:

FBI Probe of Kavanaugh Is Expected to Wrap Up Very Soon — People familiar with the process said Tuesday that the FBI investigation into the allegations of sexual misconduct against Judge Kavanaugh could wrap up very soon, well ahead of the end-of week deadline.

Brian Ries / CNN:

Trump mocks Christine Blasey Ford's sexual assault testimony at Mississippi rally — President Donald Trump for the first time directly mocked Christine Blasey Ford's testimony before the Senate Judicary Committee at a rally in Mississippi, casting doubt on her testimony about her alleged sexual assault.

Discussion: New Republic and Mediaite

United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary:

Judiciary Committee Receives Statement Regarding Swetnick Allegations — WASHINGTON - The Senate Judiciary Committee today received a signed statement from Mr. Dennis Ketterer, the former Democratic candidate for Congress and weatherman for WJLA Channel 7 in Washington …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, National Review and The Gateway Pundit

Jennifer Bendery / HuffPost:

2 Of Brett Kavanaugh's Former Classmates Withdraw Support For Him — “We fear that partisanship has injected itself into Judge Kavanaugh's candidacy,” write Michael J. Proctor and Mark Osler. — WASHINGTON Two former law school classmates of Brett Kavanaugh's who previously vouched …

Jordain Carney / The Hill:

McConnell says only senators will see FBI's Kavanaugh report — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on Tuesday that only senators will see the FBI's report on its investigation into the sexual assault allegations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. — “We'll get an FBI report soon.

Discussion: Washington Post, Politico, Breitbart, Townhall, Joe.My.God., The Intellectualist, Axios and ABC News

Elaina Plott / The Atlantic:
Jeff Flake: 'We Can't Have That on the Court'

Discussion: Hot Air, The Week, TheBlaze, The Gateway Pundit, Taylor Marsh, CNN, The Resurgent, Talking Points Memo, Political Wire and Common Dreams

NBC News:
FBI has no current plans to interview Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, source says

Discussion: HuffPost, Splinter, The Intellectualist, Talking Points Memo, Washington Free Beacon, Daily Kos, CNBC, ThinkProgress and Mediaite

Sean Davis / The Federalist:
CHRISTINE BLASEY FORD'S EX-BOYFRIEND TOLD SENATE JUDICIARY HE WITNESSED HER COACH A FRIEND ON POLYGRAPHS

Discussion: Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, twitchy.com and The Daily Caller

Elise Viebeck / Washington Post:
Republicans on Senate panel release explicit statement about Kavanaugh accuser's sex life

Discussion: Politico and Breitbart

Michael Reynolds / Bangor Daily News:
Kavanaugh is unfit for Supreme Court

Discussion: USA Today, Splinter, Mashable, Shareblue Media, Right Wing Watch, Vox and Daily Kos

NBC News:
FBI could wrap up Kavanaugh probe as early as Tuesday night

Discussion: Vox, Mother Jones, Axios, Hot Air, The Guardian, Little Green Footballs, Mashable, The Week, Wall Street Journal, Daily Kos, Mediaite, Splinter, Refinery29, The Intellectualist, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Washington Post and The Root

Fox News:
State of play on Kavanaugh confirmation: McConnell preparing to hold votes

Discussion: Chicks On The Right, Townhall, Breitbart and The Daily Signal

Jordan Fabian / The Hill:
Trump defends Kavanaugh: ‘Very scary time for young men in America’

Discussion: Breitbart and Washington Post

Wall Street Journal:
With Uncertainty in GOP Ranks, McConnell Plans Votes on Kavanaugh

Discussion: ThinkProgress, CNBC and CBS News

Cheyenne Haslett / ABC News:
Hillary Clinton says Kavanaugh's political ‘revenge’ claim ‘deserves a lot of laughter’

Discussion: Washington Post and Breitbart

Jason Kander:

I Suffer From Depression and Have PTSD Symptoms — After 11 years, I'm finally ready to do something about it — About four months ago, I contacted the VA to get help. It had been about 11 years since I left Afghanistan as an Army Intelligence Officer, and my tour over there still impacted me every day.

Discussion: Military Times, Politico, Daily Kos, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, CNN, HuffPost, ThinkProgress, Associated Press, IJR, Washington Post, Mediaite, Talking Points Memo and Axios

Benjamin Wittes / The Atlantic:

I Know Brett Kavanaugh, but I Wouldn't Confirm Him — If I were a senator, I would not vote to confirm Brett Kavanaugh. — These are words I write with no pleasure, but with deep sadness. Unlike many people who will read them with glee—as validating preexisting political, philosophical …

Discussion: Washington Post, Politico, Raw Story, Above the Law, Just Security and Instapundit

Associated Press:

Mueller shedding more attorneys in Russia investigation — WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Robert Mueller is shedding more attorneys, another sign that his team of prosecutors has begun winding down parts of their investigation. — Two prosecutors detailed to the Russia investigation …

Sara Murray / CNN:
Roger Stone built a ‘dirty trickster’ image. Now Robert Mueller might build a case on it.

Discussion: Raw Story

Kadhim Shubber / Financial Times: Money laundering expert to leave Robert Mueller team

RealClearInvestigations:

Renovation Records Undercut Ford's Exit-Door Account — Real estate and other records undercut a key part of Christine Blasey Ford's account of why she finally came forward with charges of attempted rape against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh after some 30 years.

Discussion: RedState, LifeNews.com and twitchy.com

Thomas Lipscomb / Real Clear Politics:
Records Raise Questions About Ford's Double-Door Story

Discussion: Daily Wire

Dan Alexander / Forbes:

How Trump Is Trying—And Failing—To Get Rich Off His Presidency — When Donald Trump opened Trump Tower in 1983, it marked a seminal moment in American retail, as six stories of glitzy shops like Harry Winston and Cartier beckoned luxury buyers who strode past a live pianist and a 60-foot indoor waterfall.

Discussion: Washington Post, The Daily Beast, Joe.My.God., CNBC and Politico

Wall Street Journal:
Trump Directed Legal Action to Enforce Stormy Daniels's Hush Agreement

Discussion: Newsweek, The Atlantic, Raw Story, Washington Post, The Root, Shakesville, HuffPost, Vox, Washington Monthly, Talking Points Memo, Chicks On The Right, Spectator USA, Daily Kos, Joe.My.God., Splinter, NPR, KRTV-TV, The Week, CNBC, Political Wire, Washington Times and Mediaite

The Harvard Crimson:

Students Filed Title IX Complaints Against Kavanaugh to Prevent Him From Teaching at Harvard Law — In the days before Harvard Law School announced embattled Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh will not teach in Cambridge this January, undergraduates eager to block his return to campus struck …

Discussion: Chicks On The Right, twitchy.com, Daily Wire, BostonGlobe.com and The College Fix

Robby Soave / Hit & Run:
Harvard Students Filed Multiple Title IX Complaints Against Brett Kavanaugh To Get Him Fired

Discussion: New York Post, ABC News, ThinkProgress and Instapundit

Robert Costa / Washington Post:

Michael Bloomberg jolts Senate battle with $20 million for Democrats — Michael R. Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City who is considering a 2020 presidential campaign, will give $20 million to the main Democratic Senate super PAC this week — jolting the national battle …

Discussion: Politico, TheBlaze, Joe.My.God., Talking Points Memo and Political Wire

Maggie Haberman / New York Times:

White House Has a Message for Republican Candidates: Stay Close to Trump — SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — President Trump's advisers are planning an aggressive schedule in the month before the midterm elections for Mr. Trump to campaign with House candidates who have supported his agenda …

Devlin Barrett / Washington Post:

FBI navigates political minefield and deadline in Kavanaugh inquiry — FBI leaders are warily trying to navigate their way through the politically charged background-check investigation into Supreme Court nominee Brett M. Kavanaugh, as the bureau seeks to protect itself now …

Discussion: The Atlantic, The Daily Caller, Daily Wire, National Review and New York Times

Ellen Knickmeyer / Associated Press:

APNewsBreak: Trump's EPA moving to loosen radiation limits — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is quietly moving to weaken U.S. radiation regulations, turning to scientific outliers who argue that a bit of radiation damage is actually good for you — like a little bit of sunlight.

Discussion: The Intellectualist

Scott Snowden / NBC News:

A colossal elevator to space could be going up sooner than you ever imagined — Researchers are racing to make this science-fiction idea a reality. — For more than half a century, rockets have been the only way to go to space. But in the not-too-distant future, we may have another option …

Jonah Goldberg / National Review:

You Idiot Reporters Are Making It Worse — Every 15 seconds, you're demonstrating why millions of people love it when Trump calls you the fake news. — Before I get started, let me clarify something. Groupthink, mob behavior, panic, etc. have a powerful capacity to make smart people dumb.

Molly K. Hooper / The Hill:

Corker predicts Kavanaugh will be confirmed, says Dems ‘overplayed their hand’ — Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennesee Republican who at times has been at odds with President Trump, told Hill.TV on Tuesday evening that he is confident Senate Republicans will have enough votes to confirm Supreme Court …

Gabriel Hays / NewsBusters:

Celebs Try to Make Voting Sexy: ‘Slide It In’ for That ‘First Time’ — Famous faces always do well in selling a product - and sex does even better. So if Carl's Jr. can do it for burgers, why can't Hollywood do it for midterm election votes? Same principle, right?

Josh Rogin / Washington Post:

Days before trade deal, Trump said Canada's foreign minister ‘hates America’ — President Trump publicly praised Canada's leaders this week after announcing a new trade deal, sending them his “highest regards.” But only three days before the deal was announced, Trump privately railed …

Rich Lowry / National Review:

Atticus Finch Was on the Wrong Side — In today's #BelieveAllWomen environment, due process isn't what it used to be. — It's time for To Kill a Mockingbird to give up its treasured place in American culture. — The 1960 novel by Harper Lee was published to instant acclaim …

Discussion: Mother Jones and Instapundit

caps.gov.harvard.edu:

CAPS - Harris Poll on Kavanaugh Nomination and Economic Attitudes — The September 2018 CAPS - Harris Poll study features pre- and post- Kavanaugh hearings research, as well as polling on the Russia investigation and economic attitudes. The poll was conducted September 26-27 …

Discussion: The Federalist, LifeNews.com, National Review and twitchy.com