memeorandum: Suicides Surge in a Hopeless Venezuela (Andrew Rosati/Bloomberg)

12:45 PM ET, October 24, 2018

Top Items:

William K. Rashbaum / New York Times:

Explosive Device Found in Mail Sent to the Clintons — An explosive device was found on Wednesday morning by a technician who screens mail for Bill and Hillary Clinton, who live in a suburb of New York City, a law enforcement official said. — The official said the device was similar …

William K. Rashbaum / New York Times:

Explosive Devices Found in Mail Sent to Hillary Clinton and Obama — Two explosive devices were found in mail sent to former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, officials said on Wednesday, sparking an intensive investigation into whether a bomber is targeting prominent Democratic figures.

Tucker Higgins / CNBC:

Suspicious package addressed to the White House intercepted: CNN — A suspicious package apparently containing a pipe bomb that was addressed to the White House was intercepted on Wednesday, according to CNN, which cited a law enforcement official. — Reuters later reported …

Discussion: Mediaite, RedState, Breitbart and KRTV-TV

Washington Post:

‘Potential explosive devices’ sent to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton intercepted by Secret Service — The Secret Service said Wednesday that it had intercepted packages containing “potential explosive devices” addressed to former first lady Hillary Clinton in New York and former president Barack Obama in Washington.

Discussion: CNBC, WHDH-TV, Media Matters for America, Joe.My.God., Splinter and Patterico's Pontifications

Jared Holt / Right Wing Watch:

‘False Flag’ Conspiracies Fly after Explosives Mailed to Prominent Democrats — It was reported this morning that suspicious packages believed to have contained explosive devices had been sent to Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, while a similar device was found on Monday at the home …

Discussion: Telegraph

Elizabeth Landers / CNN:

Secret Service intercepts 2 ‘suspicious packages’ addressed to Obama, Clinton — (CNN)The United States Secret Service intercepted two “suspicious packages” addressed to former President Barack Obama and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton earlier this week, the agency said Wednesday.

Discussion: Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Washington Free Beacon, Raw Story, WPIX 11 New York, WTVR-TV, KTVQ-TV, fox8.com, KTLA, KFOR-TV and Mediaite

Reid J. Epstein / Wall Street Journal: For Senate Success, Democrats Must Regain Obama-Era Black Support

Alexander Soros / New York Times:
The Hate That Is Consuming Us

Discussion: The Week and twitchy.com

WPLG-TV:
WATCH LIVE: Wasserman Schultz office, building evacuated after bomb threat

Discussion: Raw Story, RT and Roll Call

NBC News:
Suspicious packages sent to Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, CNN's New York City office

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Resurgent and Mediaite

NBC 6 South Florida:
Police Investigating Suspicious Package at Sunrise Office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, CNN, Joe.My.God., The Guardian and NTK Network

Josh Margolin / ABC News:
Explosive devices addressed to Hillary Clinton, Obama intercepted; CNN evacuated after suspicious package found

Discussion: Vox, Daily Wire, Talking Points Memo, Fox News Insider, Towleroad Gay News and Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times

NBC New York: 4 Apparent Explosive Devices Sent to Hillary Clinton, Obama, CNN Correspondent and George Soros Are Linked: Sources

CNN:
Suspicious packages sent to Time Warner Center, Clinton and Obama

Discussion: Bloomberg, Reuters, CBS News, Joe.My.God., The Week, CBS Miami, DCist, TheBlaze, IJR, CBS Philly and Daily Kos

Jonathan Dienst / NBC New York:
Officials: Suspicious Package Found at Clintons' Chappaqua Home

Discussion: Shakesville, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, Daily Wire, Mediaite and Gothamist

Rebecca Morin / Politico:
Suspicious packages sent to Clintons, Obamas, CNN

Discussion: Associated Press and Axios

Kevin Breuninger / CNBC:
Feds investigating suspicious packages sent to Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama

Discussion: The Daily Beast, ThinkProgress, NPR, Press Herald, BBC, The Resurgent, LifeZette, POLITICUSUSA, The Gateway Pundit, Shot in the Dark and NTK Network

Michael Balsamo / Associated Press:
Agents nab possible explosive devices sent to Obama, Clinton

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Observer and Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion

Washington Post:

Saudi crown prince calls Khashoggi murder ‘heinous crime,’ vows perpetrators will be brought to justice — RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — In his first public comments since the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi security agents in Istanbul three weeks ago, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman …

Zachary Basu / Axios:
Saudi crown prince calls Khashoggi killing “heinous” and “unjustified”

Discussion: One America News Network and Reuters

Deborah Barfield Berry / USA Today:

Georgia NAACP files complaints alleging voting machines incorrectly registered votes — Democrat Stacy Abrams' campaign team says Brian Kemp should resign as Secretary of State amid allegations he's blocking thousands of voter registrations. Kemp's team said applicants can still vote if they verify their information at the polls.

Discussion: Asbury Park Press

Dale Russell / WAGA-TV:
Brian Kemp owes more than $800,000 in insider loans to bank he helped start

Discussion: The Week and New York Times

Wall Street Journal:

Trump Steps Up Attacks on Fed Chairman Jerome Powell — President says central banker 'almost looks like he's happy raising interest rates' — WASHINGTON—President Trump escalated his attacks on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, blaming him for threatening U.S. economic growth …

Discussion: Bloomberg, New York Times, CNBC, Washington Post, Reuters, The Week, KRTV-TV, TheStreet, Politico and Axios

Wall Street Journal:
Transcript of President Trump's Interview With The Wall Street Journal

Discussion: Politico

Washington Post:

‘In the service of whim’: Officials scramble to make Trump's false assertions real — The great election-eve middle-class tax cut began not as a factual proposal, but as a false promise. — When President Trump abruptly told reporters over the weekend that middle-income Americans would receive …

Discussion: Shareblue Media, Associated Press, Talking Points Memo, POLITICUSUSA, Wall Street Journal, CNN, Los Angeles Times, Raw Story, The Week and Politico

Jacqueline Alemany / Washington Post:
Power Up: Democrats aren't a lock on retaking the House majority

Discussion: Breaking Defense, SpaceNews.com and Conservative Review

USA Today:

USA TODAY/Suffolk poll: There is a ‘Kavanaugh effect,’ and it boosts Democrats more than the GOP in midterms — Trump called the Democrats ‘an angry leftwing mob.’ (Oct. 9) — WASHINGTON - Brett Kavanaugh now sits on the Supreme Court, but the contentious battle over his nomination continues …

Discussion: Political Wire

Lyndsay Winkley / sandiegouniontribune.com:

San Diego Union-Tribune staff, others evacuate after suspicious package spotted — The San Diego Union-Tribune and other businesses were evacuated Wednesday morning after a stack of suspicious looking packages was spotted in front of the building they all share in downtown San Diego, police said.

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Raw Story and Talking Points Memo

Associated Press:

Senate slipping away as Dems fight to preserve blue wave — NEW YORK (AP) — In the closing stretch of the 2018 campaign, the question is no longer the size of the Democratic wave. It's whether there will be a wave at all. — Top operatives in both political parties concede …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, National Journal, Daily Wire, Shakesville, The American Conservative and Washington Post

Erich Schwartzel / Wall Street Journal:

Disney World's Big Secret: It's a Favorite Spot to Scatter Family Ashes — Fans say treating the parks as a final resting place is the ultimate tribute, assuming they can sneak the remains past security — Custodians at the Walt Disney Co. theme parks in Orlando, Fla., and Anaheim, Calif. …

The Daily Beast:

Trump's Own Team Knows His Caravan Claims Are Bullshit — Asked for evidence supporting the president's claims about the caravan, a senior administration official told reporters to ask ‘the Mexican authorities.’ — Donald Trump and his political allies have embarked on an aggressive …

Discussion: ThinkProgress, The Federalist, New York Times, Raw Story, New Republic and Daily Kos

Tony Romm / Washington Post:

Apple's Tim Cook delivers searing critique of Silicon Valley — Apple chief executive Tim Cook on Wednesday warned the world's most powerful regulators that the poor privacy practices of some tech companies, the ills of social media and the erosion of trust in his own industry threaten to undermine …

more at Techmeme »

New York Times:

F.B.I. Arrests White Nationalist Who Fled the Country — The F.B.I. has arrested the leader of a violent California neo-Nazi gang on a federal conspiracy charge after he apparently fled to Central America earlier this month. — Robert Paul Rundo, 28, a resident of Huntington Beach, Calif. …

Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball:

New polls: Nevada, Texas, Wisconsin — New Reuters/Ipsos/University of Virginia Center for Politics polls show Republicans ahead in key races in Nevada and Texas, while Democrats lead in the Wisconsin Senate race and both parties are locked in a close race for the Badger State's governorship.

Discussion: Washington Times and The Week

Devan Cole / CNN:

Scaramucci says Trump is a ‘liar’ — Anthony Scaramucci: I think Trump likes lying — Washington (CNN)Former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci said Wednesday that President Donald Trump “is a liar” and that he “should probably dial down the lying.”

Discussion: Political Wire

Marc Hogan / Pitchfork:

XXXTentacion Confessed to Domestic Abuse and Other Violent Crimes in Newly Obtained Secret Recording — The late rapper can be heard talking about assaulting an ex-girlfriend and stabbing nine people on the tape — Note: This article contains references to domestic violence, assault, and rape that some readers may find disturbing.

Discussion: New York Times, The Blast and Jezebel

Reuters:

Americans' anger may help Democrats in Nov. 6 vote: Reuters/Ipsos poll — NEW YORK (Reuters) - Ben Chico, 67, a Republican in California, says his annoyance with Democrats morphed into full-blown outrage when he heard they might try to impeach President Donald Trump after the Nov. 6 elections.

Andrew Rosati / Bloomberg:

Suicides Surge in a Hopeless Venezuela — The patients arrive by night or in broad daylight, alive and sometimes dead. — A record surge of suicides in troubled Venezuela is wearing down doctors who work at the university hospital in the Andean state of Merida.

Dana Branham / Dallas Morning News:

Campaign signs for Beto O'Rourke and Colin Allred set ablaze in Richardson yards — Five yard signs for Democratic candidates were set on fire in a Richardson neighborhood Monday night, officials said. — Police received three calls in a 30-minute span — one at 11 p.m. …

Timothy L. O'Brien / Bloomberg:

Trump Lobs a Nationalist Grenade Into the Midterms — The president's brand of allegiance to country is steeped in uncomfortable, racially charged echoes. — Speaking at a political rally in Houston on Monday night, President Donald Trump revisited some of his familiar “America First” themes.

Discussion: Keith and Mediaite

Heidi Przybyla / NBC News:

Exclusive: Priorities USA launches new ad campaign targeting McConnell entitlement talk … LATEST POSTS FROM THE RUNDOWN — October 23, 2018 — Exclusive: Priorities USA launches new ad campaign targeting McConnell entitlement talk — Heidi Przybyla