memeorandum: The re-emergence of Kavanaugh controversy could hurt Democrats' Senate chances in 2020 (Harry Enten/CNN)

11:30 AM ET, September 18, 2019

Top Items:

John Bresnahan / Politico:

‘Feel free to leak this’: Inside the Pelosi-Nadler impeachment schism — In a closed-door meeting last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi stunned lawmakers and aides with a swipe at Democratic staff on the House Judiciary Committee. — Pelosi criticized the panel's handling of impeachment in harsh terms …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, New York Times, Raw Story, The Week, Fox News, Washington Post and Axios

Alexander Nazaryan / Yahoo News:

After hours of questioning Lewandowski, Democrats finally land punches — more than five hours of confrontational exchanges, but Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee finally managed to regain the narrative in their questioning of Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump's former campaign manager …

Discussion: Washington Post, Talking Points Memo and Washington Free Beacon

CNN:

Lewandowski hearing was a disaster — In this weekly column “Cross-exam,” Elie Honig, a CNN legal analyst and former federal and state prosecutor, gives his take on the latest legal news. Post your questions below. The views expressed in this commentary are his own. View more opinion articles on CNN.

Discussion: ABC News

Harry Litman / Washington Post:
Corey Lewandowski is the perfect model for a sustained Trumpian legacy

Discussion: Daily Wire, CNN, Daily Kos and Politico

Melanie Zanona / Politico:
Inside the Pelosi-Nadler impeachment divide …

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Washington Post, Washington Times and Breitbart

Rick Wilson / gen.medium.com:
Corey Lewandowski Just Made the Democrats Look Utterly Bloodless

Discussion: Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit and The Hill

Zachary Basu / Axios:
Corey Lewandowski: “I have no obligation to be honest with the media”

Discussion: Towleroad Gay News, Politico and Breitbart

Olivia Beavers / The Hill:
Nadler considering holding Lewandowski in contempt

Discussion: Politico, Reason, twitchy.com, Breitbart, POLITICUSUSA and Townhall

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:

How Electable Is Elizabeth Warren, Anyway? — Elizabeth Warren is not leading the polls (yet), but she is on a trajectory to win the Democratic presidential nomination. She is well-liked by supporters of other candidates, giving her room to grow. And the sequence of votes gives …

Discussion: Splinter

Bill Barrow / Associated Press:

Jimmy Carter says he couldn't have managed presidency at 80 — ATLANTA (AP) — Weeks shy of his 95th birthday, former President Jimmy Carter said Tuesday he doesn't believe he could have managed the most powerful office in the world at 80 years old. — Carter, who earlier this year became …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Vanity Fair, The Hill, Daily Wire, U.S. Political News … and Axios

Ernie Suggs / Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Jimmy Carter says Trump re-election would be ‘a disaster’

John Wagner / Washington Post:
'I hope there's an age limit': Jimmy Carter questions whether he could have handled the presidency at 80

Discussion: The Hill and Breitbart

Paul Kane / Washington Post:

In whiplash moment, Democrats are now backing away from Kavanaugh allegations — In a head-spinning few days, Republicans have moved into a full offensive posture over the latest allegations against Supreme Court Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh, leaving congressional Democrats in a defensive crouch as they try to change the subject.

Discussion: twitchy.com

Noah Rothman / Commentary:
Brett Kavanaugh Breaks the Democrats

Discussion: American Greatness and Fox News

Haley Byrd / CNN: Pelosi and other Democrats say no to Kavanaugh impeachment

Kate Kelly / The Atlantic:
We Spent 10 Months Investigating Kavanaugh. Here's What We Found.

Discussion: Daily Wire, Hot Air, The Federalist and Washingtonian

John Kass / Chicago Tribune: Column: The latest smear against Justice Brett Kavanaugh part of left's scorched-earth strategy

Harry Enten / CNN:
The re-emergence of Kavanaugh controversy could hurt Democrats' Senate chances in 2020

Discussion: National Review, Weekly Standard, Opinion Today, twitchy.com and Stupid Girl

Iowa State University:

Nearly a third of likely caucus-goers do not want Biden, poll finds — AMES, Iowa - Sen. Elizabeth Warren leads the Democratic field of presidential candidates in a new Iowa State University/Civiqs poll. Warren was the top choice of 24 percent of likely Iowa caucus-goers.

Discussion: Political Wire

NBC News:
NBC/WSJ poll shows both Biden and Warren building formidable coalitions

Discussion: Washington Post

Mark Murray / NBC News:
NBC/WSJ poll: Biden leads Dem 2020 field, Warren's support grows

Discussion: Washington Post, Fox News, Daily Caller News Foundation, The Bulwark, The Resurgent, Washington Times, Daily Kos, Axios, CNN, Politico, Hot Air, National Review, POLITICUSUSA and Breitbart

John Harwood / CNBC:
Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren separate themselves from the 2020 Democratic pack in new NBC/WSJ poll

Discussion: The Last Refuge

Wall Street Journal: Campaign Wire: 2020 Election

Marc Caputo / Politico:

‘The ground is shifting’: Arizona emerges as a 2020 trouble spot for Trump — Arizona has long been touted as a potential swing state in the presidential election. Its time may have finally come. — Demographic shifts, progressive organizing efforts and President Donald Trump's potential weakness …

Owen Daugherty / The Hill:

Arizona Democratic Party will hold vote to censure Sinema — The Arizona Democratic Party is planning to hold a vote this week to determine whether Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) should be censured. — The Arizona Republic reports the censure vote is due to the fact that progressives …

Discussion: Althouse and Patterico's Pontifications

Yvonne Wingett Sanchez / Arizona Republic:
Arizona progressives seek to censure Democratic Sen. Kyrsten Sinema

Discussion: Alternet.org, Fox News, Daily Kos, Washington Free Beacon and Balloon Juice

New York Times:

Acting Intelligence Chief Refuses to Testify, Prompting Standoff With Congress — WASHINGTON — The acting director of national intelligence will not testify before Congress this week or immediately hand over a whistle-blower complaint to lawmakers, escalating a standoff between Capitol Hill and leaders of the intelligence agencies.

Discussion: Washington Post and Axios

Kyle Cheney / Politico:
Schiff: Top intel official has refused to turn over ‘urgent’ whistleblower complaint

Discussion: Just Security and Wall Street Journal

Kel McClanahan / Just Security:
Q&A on Whistleblower Complaint Being Withheld from Congressional Intelligence Committees

Discussion: Washington Post

Los Angeles Times:

Democratic donor Ed Buck charged with operating drug house after 2 men found dead in home — Prominent Democratic donor and LGBTQ political activist Ed Buck was arrested Tuesday and charged with operating a drug house, with prosecutors calling him a violent sexual predator who preys on men struggling with addiction and homelessness.

Discussion: Washington Post, Fox News, CBS Los Angeles, The Root, Breitbart, LGBTQ Nation, Slate, New York Times, Splinter, The Gateway Pundit, Towleroad Gay News, The Week, KTLA and Axios

Steve Ganey / KTLA:
Dem Donor Ed Buck Arrested After 3rd Man's Overdose, Charged With Operating West Hollywood Drug House

Discussion: NPR, Washington Free Beacon, The Gateway Pundit and BizPac Review

John Wagner / Washington Post:

Trump taps Robert C. O'Brien to replace John Bolton as national security adviser — President Trump on Wednesday named Robert C. O'Brien, who has served as the U.S. hostage negotiator, as his new national security adviser, replacing the ousted John Bolton. — “I am pleased to announce …

Discussion: VICE and Political Wire

Natasha Bertrand / Politico:

Trump names U.S. hostage negotiator Robert O'Brien as national security adviser — President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he will appoint U.S. hostage negotiator Robert O'Brien to replace John Bolton as his national security adviser. — “I am pleased to announce …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Fox News, Outside the Beltway, The American Conservative and Shareblue Media

New York Times:

White House Fires Homeland Security Dept.'s General Counsel — WASHINGTON — The White House on Tuesday fired John Mitnick, the general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, after months of shake-up at an agency responsible for carrying out President Trump's immigration agenda.

Discussion: CNN, Heritage Foundation and U.S. Political News …

Quint Forgey / Politico:

Trump says he plans to ‘substantially increase’ sanctions on Iran — President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he had directed Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin “to substantially increase” U.S. sanctions on Iran following an attack on oil facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Discussion: New York Times, Washington Post, Townhall and CNN

Brett Bruen / NBC News:
Even if Iran attacked Saudi Arabia's oil field, Trump's responsible for the fallout

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, Just Security, U.S. Political News … and The Week

David E. Sanger / New York Times:
Trump's Challenge: Can His Word on Iran Be Trusted?

Discussion: VICE and Washington Post

Savannah Behrmann / USA Today:

6 things to know about teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg — WASHINGTON — Teen climate change activist Greta Thunberg will be one of the witnesses to testify before a joint hearing of two House committees Wednesday on the “global climate crisis.”

Discussion: The Guardian, Alternet.org and Breitbart

Karol Markowicz / New York Post:
The ‘Climate Strike’ is a crock that exploits kids

Discussion: Fox News, Vox, Axios and New York Times

Natasha Korecki / Politico:

Why it will be hard for Trump to win Wisconsin again — They hate Donald Trump's tweets. They worry about his temperament. They're still uncomfortable with the name-calling. — But many voters in Milwaukee's Republican suburbs like his court appointments. And they approve of his stewardship of the economy.

Discussion: Raw Story

Christina Maxouris / CNN:

A Georgia man shot and killed 3 masked teens as they tried to rob him at his home, police say — (CNN)A Georgia homeowner shot and killed three teens as they approached his residence with their faces covered, authorities said. — The masked teens — a 15-year-old and two 16-year-olds …

Discussion: Hot Air, National Review, BizPac Review, The Gateway Pundit, Althouse, The Daily Caller, FOX59, New York Post and WTKR-TV

USA Today:

For mayors, politics isn't a blood sport: Why we need Pete Buttigieg in the White House — Pete Buttigieg is a role model to mayors. We proudly endorse him from heartland towns, coastal cities and suburban communities across this country. — CONNECT — As we face unprecedented challenges …

Discussion: The Week and American Thinker

Elena Schneider / Politico:
Nearly 60 mayors and ex-mayors endorse Buttigieg

Discussion: Political Wire

New York Times:

New Mexico Announces Plan for Free College for State Residents — Under the plan, tuition to all state colleges would be free for students regardless of family income. — ALBUQUERQUE — In one of the boldest state-led efforts to expand access to higher education, New Mexico is unveiling …

Discussion: The Week and Slate