memeorandum: I've been a senator for three weeks. Washington is worse than you've heard. (Rick Scott/Washington Post)

2:35 PM ET, February 1, 2019

Top Items:

Excerpts From Trump's Interview With The New York Times — President Trump spoke with The New York Times on Thursday, sitting in the Oval Office for an interview with two White House correspondents, Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman, and A. G. Sulzberger, the newspaper's publisher.

Discussion: Washington Post, Vox, Washington Times, VICE News, Breitbart, The Democrats, POLITICUSUSA, thenationalsentinel.com, Daily Kos, Raw Story and Mediaite

New York Times:

Trump, in Interview, Calls Wall Talks ‘Waste of Time’ and Dismisses Investigations — WASHINGTON — A defiant President Trump declared on Thursday that he has all but given up on negotiating with Congress over his border wall and will build it on his own even as he dismissed any suggestions …

New York Times:

Read Excerpts: The Times Publisher Asks Trump About ‘Anti-Press Rhetoric’ — President Trump spoke with The New York Times on Thursday, sitting in the Oval Office for an interview with A. G. Sulzberger, the newspaper's publisher, and two White House correspondents, Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman.

Discussion: Breitbart, Contemptor and Mediaite

Michael Isikoff / Yahoo News:

Ann Coulter: ‘Lunatic’ Trump could be challenged in 2020 — from the right — Conservative firebrand Ann Coulter called President Trump “lazy and incompetent” and a “lunatic” and warned that he could face a Republican primary challenger from the right if he doesn't fulfill his promise to build a wall across the Mexican border.

Discussion: Joe.My.God., Raw Story, VICE News, AOL and Politico

Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:

Trump Discusses Claims of ‘Fake News,’ and the Impact, With New York Times Publisher — President Trump takes credit for popularizing the term “fake news.” — But the consequences? Not his concern. — In lengthy and at times contradictory remarks on Thursday about the news media …

Discussion: Politico, Political Wire and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:

The President and the Publisher … Listen and subscribe to our podcast from your mobile device: — During an exclusive interview in the Oval Office on Thursday, President Trump spoke with the New York Times reporters Peter Baker and Maggie Haberman about the Russia investigation …

Discussion: Washington Post, CNBC, Raw Story, Talking Points Memo, CNN, The Week and Mediaite

Emma Loop / BuzzFeed News:
The President Said No Site Was Picked For Trump Moscow — But Documents Show His Fixers Were Scoping A Prime Location

Discussion: Vox, Raw Story and Hullabaloo

Tom Moran / New Jersey Online:

Booker is running. I've watched him for 20 years. Here's what I've learned — It was inevitable, and now it's official: Sen. Cory Booker is running for president. — That means he's about to face brutal and unrelenting attacks from competing Democrats, wary Republicans, and probably a few dozen Russian bots.

Discussion: Balloon Juice

Ron Kampeas / The Times of Israel:

5 Jewish things to know about Cory Booker — The Democrat New Jersey senator, who just announced his 2020 presidential run, has a penchant for starting speeches with a Torah analysis — WASHINGTON (JTA) — Five Jewish things about US Sen. Cory Booker, who just announced for the Democratic presidential nomination, you ask?

McClatchy Washington Bureau:
A ‘lane for hope’? Democratic primary to test Booker's message of optimism

Discussion: ABC News, CNBC and WORLD

The Hill:
Booker tells lawmakers he is running for president and seeks their support

Discussion: The Daily Beast, New York Times, NorthJersey.com, Townhall, Politico, RedState, Gothamist, NJ Spotlight, VICE News, Splinter, The Daily Caller, Conservative News Today and The Root

Washington Post:
Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey joins the 2020 presidential race

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA

Edward-Isaac Dovere / The Atlantic: Cory Booker Launched His Presidential Campaign in the Most Cory Booker Way Possible

Caitlin Oprysko / Politico:
Conway suggests Booker is sexist for running against 2020 Dem women

Discussion: The Root

Astead W. Herndon / New York Times:

Elizabeth Warren Apologizes to Cherokee Nation for DNA Test — Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat who is running for her party's presidential nomination, has apologized to the Cherokee Nation for her decision to take a DNA test to prove her Native American ancestry …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Tulsa World, Breitbart, The Week, Hot Air, The Intercept, Daily Wire, twitchy.com, Washington Free Beacon, Splinter, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion and Politico

Natalie Jarvey / Hollywood Reporter:

Vice Media to Reorganize, Lay Off 10 Percent of Staff (Exclusive) — The cuts, which will impact around 250 people, are part of new CEO Nancy Dubuc's strategic plan to tighten spending and achieve profitability. — Vice Media is planning a reorganization that will include laying off …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Politico, The Daily Caller, Splinter, Breitbart and Digiday, more at Mediagazer »

Keach Hagey / Wall Street Journal:
Vice Media Cuts 250 Jobs, 10% of Workforce

Discussion: Instapundit

Rick Scott / Washington Post:

I've been a senator for three weeks. Washington is worse than you've heard. — Rick Scott, a Republican, represents Florida in the U.S. Senate. — I've been a U.S. senator for three weeks now, and I can tell you that reports of hate and incompetence in Washington are severely understated.

Fox Business:

Howard Schultz ‘freaked out’ by Democratic backlash to independent presidential run, rethinks effort — Howard Schultz on opposition to his potential presidential bid: Democrats need a little less caffeine — Howard Schultz is getting burned, like a bad cup of Starbucks coffee and it may force …

Discussion: Splinter

The Daily Beast:
Democratic Opposition Research Group Begins Digging in on Howard Schultz

Discussion: Raw Story

Charles E. Cook, Jr / The Cook Political Report:
There Are Not Enough Electoral Votes for Howard Schultz

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA

Chuck Strouse / Miami New Times:

McClatchy Follows Buzzfeed, Vice, and Others in Cutting Staff … This morning, Craig Forman, CEO of McClatchy Company, emailed all staff saying about 10 percent of the newspaper chain's staff would be offered voluntary buyouts. All of the details were not immediately available …

Cori Murray / Essence:

Jussie Smollett Breaks His Silence After Vicious Attack: 'I'm OK' — “My body is strong but my soul is stronger,” the actor told ESSENCE exclusively. — Jussie Smollett is finally speaking out after the homophobic and racist attack he endured earlier this week.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Breitbart, Gay Star News, theGrio, PinkNews, NBC News, Mashable, AOL, WGN-TV, The FADER, The Week, That Grape Juice.net::, The Blast, Consequence of Sound, The New Civil Rights Movement, Hollywood Life and Towleroad Gay News

Julio Rosas / Mediaite:
Ellen Page Blames Mike Pence for Jussie Smollett's Attack: ‘Connect the Dots’

Discussion: Daily Wire, Chicago Tribune and Politico

Kate Smith / CBS News:

Immigrants drove hours for fake, ICE-issued court dates on Thursday — Fearing deportation if they didn't show up, immigrants across the country traveled to ICE-issued court dates on Thursday only to find out those hearing dates were fake. Some traveled for hours and hundreds of miles for nothing …

Discussion: KTLA, CNN and Law & Crime

Mark Joseph Stern / Slate: ICE Agents Are Using Pennsylvania's Courthouses as a Stalking Ground. The State Supreme Court Can Stop Them.

Sarah Longwell / Washington Post:

The right strategy to primary Trump — Sarah Longwell, a Republican strategist, is executive director of Defending Democracy Together. — President Trump has never looked more vulnerable to a primary challenge. — According to a new Post-ABC News poll, 56 percent of Americans …

Discussion: The Resurgent

Susan B. Glasser / New Yorker:

Trump Lost the Shutdown, But At Least God Made Him President, and He's Building That Wall — Shortly after 7 a.m. on Thursday, President Trump began doing what increasingly passes for his workday: looking at the television and tweeting about it. “So great to watch & listen to all these people …

Associated Press:

Russian escort says she gave Trump info to Russian tycoon — MOSCOW (AP) — A Belarusian model who claims to have information on the ties between Russia and Donald Trump's election campaign says she has turned it over to Russian billionaire businessman Oleg Deripaska.

Discussion: Raw Story and Political Wire

Jonathan V. Last / The Bulwark:

Sherrod Brown Gives America the Bird — It's time for another edition of Logo Watch, where we evaluate the graphic design choices of the growing Democratic field. We begin today with . . . oh my. Oh No. FOR THE LOVE OF GOD WHAT IS HAPPENING? — Sorry. I just . . . I'm sorry. Let's make it smaller.

Discussion: Althouse

James Queally / Los Angeles Times:

Michael Avenatti will not face criminal charges in 2018 domestic violence incident — Michael Avenatti, the Southern California attorney who has repeatedly sparred with Donald Trump over the president's alleged affair with porn actress Stormy Daniels, will not face criminal charges in connection …

Cory Booker / YouTube:

We Will Rise … The lines that divide us are nowhere near as strong as the ties that bind us. When we join together and work together — we will rise.

Discussion: BuzzFeed News, Washington Free Beacon and Roll Call

Sam Levin / The Guardian:

Revealed: FBI investigated civil rights group as ‘terrorism’ threat and viewed KKK as victims — Bureau spied on California activists, citing potential ‘conspiracy’ against the ‘rights’ of neo-Nazis — The FBI opened a “domestic terrorism” investigation into a civil rights group in California …

Discussion: Splinter

Cecilia Kang / New York Times:

Net Neutrality Repeal at Stake as Key Court Case Starts — A lawsuit challenging the Federal Communications Commission's repeal of rules meant to ensure internet users open access to all websites and services is one of several fronts in a broader battle. — Oral arguments are set …

Michelle Goldberg / New York Times:

Fake News About Abortion in Virginia — No, Democrats aren't trying to legalize infanticide. — Under current law in Virginia, third-trimester abortions are permitted when a woman's physician and two other doctors certify that continuing a pregnancy would result in a mother's death, or …

Discussion: Townhall, National Review, The Federalist and Hot Air

Melanie Zanona / Politico:

Freedom Caucus plots with GOP leaders to cause Dem misery — The House Freedom Caucus was created to make life hell for the majority. Now, it's the Democrats' turn to suffer. — After last fall's 40-seat electoral disaster, the conservative hard-liners have agreed to a cease-fire …

Discussion: Shareblue Media, POLITICUSUSA and Raw Story

Annie Correal / New York Times:

No Heat for Days at a Jail in Brooklyn Where Hundreds of Inmates Are Sick and ‘Frantic’ — More than a thousand inmates have been stuck in freezing cells at a federal jail on the Brooklyn waterfront that has had limited power and heat for at least this week, according to federal public defenders …

Bryan Bender / Politico:

Trump makes it official: U.S. to quit missile treaty with Russia — The United States is suspending its participation in a key arms control agreement with Russia, and will leave the pact completely in six months, the Trump administration announced Friday. — The decision to abandon …

Discussion: Breitbart, ABC News, Joe.My.God. and EURACTIV.com

Celine Ryan / Campus Reform:

Harvard creates a ‘hostile environment against men,’ complaint says — After Yale and USC, one California doctoral student is targeting Harvard with a Title IX complaint. — The student alleges that, by using guidelines authored by the American Psychological Association …

Reuters:

Exclusive: Venezuela plans to fly central bank gold reserves to UAE - source — CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuela will sell 15 tonnes of gold from central bank vaults to the United Arab Emirates in coming days in return for euros in cash, a senior official with knowledge of the plan said …

Ari Berman / Mother Jones:

Republicans Could Block a New Election in Contested North Carolina House Race — One new GOP member of the state elections board has a long history of voter suppression. — There's still one empty seat in the House of Representatives because of serious accusations of election fraud.

Discussion: The Charlotte Observer and Political Wire

Jeffrey Young / HuffPost:

Utah Voters Approved Medicaid Expansion At The Ballot Box. The GOP Is Trying To Undo It. — The Republican majority in the Utah Legislature is moving fast to defy the will of Utahns who approved the proposition. — On Election Day, a majority of Utah voters approved a ballot initiative …

Discussion: Rewire.News, Salt Lake Tribune and fox13now.com

Paul Farhi / Washington Post:

It's not just the White House: At Pentagon and State Dept., the press is out in the cold, too — With President Trump sending more troops to the southern border, pulling some out of Syria and causing uncertainty among allies in NATO, now would seem to be a good time for the Pentagon's brass …