memeorandum: 5 major issues dominating the midterm elections: ANALYSIS (Rick Klein/ABC News)

11:20 AM ET, October 21, 2018

Top Items:

White House privately doubts Saudi account of journalist's killing — President Trump and his aides have begun to privately express doubts about Saudi Arabia's explanation for the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi even as the administration stands publicly in support of the oil-rich monarchy, according to U.S. officials.

Discussion: ABC News, The Guardian, POLITICUSUSA, CNN, The Week, Raw Story, IJR, France 24, Hit & Run, New York Times and Axios, more at Mediagazer »

Marwa Rashad / Reuters:

Amid skepticism, Saudi official provides another version of Khashoggi death — RIYADH (Reuters) - As Saudi Arabia faced intensifying international scepticism over its story about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a senior government official laid out a new version of the death inside …

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA

Maureen Dowd / New York Times:

Step Away From the Orb — WASHINGTON — I was having dinner here once with a Saudi muck-a-muck. Midway through the interview, he passed an oblong velvet box across the table. Inside I found an expensive piece of jewelry. — I began laughing and explained that I was a reporter and could not take such baubles.

Discussion: twitchy.com, Althouse and Lawyers, Guns & Money, more at Mediagazer »

The Guardian:

Khashoggi murder exposes Trump administration's dependency on Saudis — It's not just arms sales and business contacts, Trump needs Saudi Arabia to boost oil production when Iran sanctions kick in and to fund US plans for Syria — The murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi …

Discussion: Spectator USA and Press Association

Josh Dawsey / Washington Post:

In Post interview, Trump calls Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed a ‘strong person’ who ‘truly loves his country’ — President Trump retreated late Saturday from his stance that Saudi Arabia's story about the killing of journalist Jamaal Khashoggi inside their Turkish consulate was credible …

Discussion: Politico, Talking Points Memo, CNN, The Guardian, New York Times, ABC News, Joe.My.God. and The Week

Sarah El Deeb / Associated Press: Saudi writer saw Turkey as base for a new Middle East

Wall Street Journal: Scandal Over Dead Journalist Jolts Heir to Saudi Throne

New York Times:
Saudi Explanation of Jamal Khashoggi's Killing Fails to Squelch Skepticism

Discussion: Daily Kos and Joe.My.God.

New York Times:
A Saudi Prince's Fairy Tale

Discussion: Fox News, Amnesty International UK and POLITICUSUSA

Ian Shapira / Washington Post:
Corey Stewart says Khashoggi was a “mystery guy” and his death not worth clashing with Saudis

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA and ThinkProgress

New York Times:

Trump Administration Eyes Defining Transgender Out of Existence — WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a governmentwide effort to roll back recognition …

Discussion: RedState, Talking Points Memo, Towleroad Gay News, Law & Crime, The American Conservative, Althouse and Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times

Mark Murray / NBC News:

NBC/WSJ Poll: Democrats hold nine-point advantage for midterm elections — Two weeks out, Democrats retain an edge but “unprecedented enthusiasm” is fueling both parties. — WASHINGTON — Fueled by increased enthusiasm from women, Latinos and young voters for the upcoming midterm election …

Discussion: Political Wire

Janet Hook / Wall Street Journal:

Interest in Midterms Surges, Boosting Trump Approval Rating — Democrats' still favored by voters in latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll as the party to lead Congress — Voter interest in the midterm elections has surged to record highs within both parties, helping to drive …

Discussion: Booman Tribune and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

John Harwood / CNBC:

Democrats appear more likely to vote in midterms than GOP: NBC-WSJ poll — As the president's job approval rose to an all-time high of 47 percent, Republicans narrowed their double-digit September deficit for control of Congress to seven percentage points among all registered voters.

The Guardian:

Trump says US will withdraw from nuclear arms treaty with Russia — Experts warn of ‘most severe crisis in nuclear arms control since the 1980s’ as Trump confirms US will leave INF agreement — Donald Trump has confirmed the US will leave an arms control treaty with Russia dating …

Discussion: Home Page Rotator, Common Dreams, Daily Kos, Press Association and The Hill

Christal Hayes / USA Today:
Trump says U.S. will pull out of nuke treaty with Russia that limited number of missiles

Discussion: The Daily Caller and Brookings

Associated Press:
Trump says US will pull out of intermediate range nuke pact

Discussion: Front Page Magazine, WTVR-TV and Politico

Burgess Everett / Politico:

‘Campaign gold’: McConnell delivers election gift to Manchin and red-state Dems — The majority leader's comments on entitlements allow Democrats to change the conversation from Brett Kavanaugh. — MARTINSBURG, W.Va — Joe Manchin looked like a solid bet for reelection after he voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh.

Discussion: Daily Kos

Michael Goodwin / New York Post:

Count on Hillary Clinton running again in 2020 — This is beyond odd, but here goes. I rise to defend Hillary Clinton. — She is under attack and this time, the long knives are wielded by members of her own clan. Suddenly, after two years of indulging Clinton's blame games and pity parties …

Benjy Sarlin / NBC News:

Carrying a ‘black enough’ message, Democrats target young African-Americans to power a Florida revival — Organizers are not focusing on hostility to Trump to turn out voters; instead, they're talking about issues like racial justice and health care. — JACKSONVILLE, Fla. …

Scott Johnson / Power Line:

Fake news: Two case studies — I was asked by our local chapter of the Cardozo Society — an affinity group of Jewish lawyers of which I am a member — to speak over lunch as a counterpart to ABA Foundation Fellow and historian Victoria Saker Woeste on the subject of fake news …

Adam Smith / Tampa Bay Times:

Ron DeSantis is ‘uniquely dislikable candidate,’ says Andrew Gillum — The Democrat uses tough language to criticize his Republican opponent's negative campaign tactics — When Andrew Gillum and Ron DeSantis join one another for an 8 p.m. CNN debate tonight at 8 p.m., it will be their first time meeting.

Rick Klein / ABC News:

5 major issues dominating the midterm elections: ANALYSIS — The 2018 elections are a sprawling affair, with some 500 federal and gubernatorial races up for grabs in what's routinely being described as one of the most consequential midterm elections in recent history.

Danny Hakim / New York Times:

Josh Hawley, Missouri Senate Candidate, Oversees an Office in Turmoil — ST. LOUIS — Josh Hawley's tenure as Missouri's attorney general has been brief. And turbulent. — Mr. Hawley, a Republican who is now trying to unseat Senator Claire McCaskill in one of the most closely watched races …

Amber Athey / The Daily Caller:

WaPo Ran Kavanaugh Story With Knowingly False Information — The Washington Post falsely suggested that Georgetown Preparatory School was hiring a new employee to deal with fallout from the Kavanaugh hearings, despite the school directly contradicting WaPo's report.

Discussion: Louder With Crowder

Josh Gerstein / Politico:

What Is Harvard Trying to Hide? — For years, reporters have been trying to get elite universities to be more transparent about their admissions process. It might take a court to pry it all open — with unforeseen consequences. — The long war over affirmative action turned hot again last week …

Michelle L. Price / Associated Press:

Biden rallies union for Democrats in tight Nevada races — Former Vice President Joe Biden spoke of working class struggles and said President Donald Trump is shredding American values as the Democrat rallied union members in Las Vegas to support Jacky Rosen and other Nevada Democrats.

Discussion: Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit and Politico