memeorandum: Amid skepticism, Saudi official provides another version of Khashoggi death (Marwa Rashad/Reuters)

11:35 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, POLITICUSUSA, The Week, Raw Story, IJR, Politico, France 24, Hit & Run and New York Times, more at Mediagazer »

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 »

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

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

Patrick Temple-West / Politico:

Corker says Saudi prince likely directed journalist's murder — Sen. Bob Corker said on Sunday he thinks Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman directed the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. — “It is my thinking that MBS was involved in this, that he directed this and that this person …

Discussion: Politico, The Guardian, CNN and Breitbart

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

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:
A Saudi Prince's Fairy Tale

Discussion: Fox News, Amnesty International UK and POLITICUSUSA

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

Discussion: Daily Kos and Joe.My.God.

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, Mashable, Law & Crime, Towleroad Gay News, 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: Political Wire, 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

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 …

Ben Jacobs / The Guardian:

2020 vision: Democratic hopefuls warm up for White House race — Biden spars with Trump in Nevada, Booker and Harris are in South Carolina. The field is already crowded — It's a crisp fall weekend and more than a half-dozen prominent Democrats are in states that hold early primaries.

Discussion: New York Times

David Siders / Politico:
Sanders hints at reckoning with Warren over 2020 ambitions

Discussion: Political Wire

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

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 and Press Association

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: The American Conservative, Front Page Magazine, WTVR-TV and Politico

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.

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. …

Associated Press:

Migrant caravan swells to 5,000 resumes advance toward US — CIUDAD HIDALGO, Mexico (AP) — Despite Mexican efforts to stop them at the border, a growing throng of Central American migrants resumed their advance toward the U.S. border early Sunday in southern Mexico.

Anita Snow / KSAZ: Big numbers of Central Americans arriving at Arizona border

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