memeorandum: Iran's Whip Hand (Wall Street Journal)

11:15 AM ET, September 19, 2019

Top Items:

Trump's communications with foreign leader are part of whistleblower complaint that spurred standoff between spy chief and Congress, former officials say — The whistleblower complaint that has triggered a tense showdown between the U.S. intelligence community and Congress involves President …

David Frum / The Atlantic:

The Question Posed by Trump's Phone Call — On the 20th of July 1787, Gouverneur Morris rose inside the stiflingly hot Independence Hall, in Philadelphia, to explain why he had changed his mind and now favored including a power of impeachment in the constitutional text.

Discussion: U.S. Political News …

Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:

CNN Analyst Condemns Whistleblower Complaint: Intel Community Should Not ‘Snitch’ on Trump to Congress — “The president can say what he wants to Putin, he can say what he wants to Kim Jong Un!” — CNN counterterrorism analyst Phil Mudd expressed outrage Wednesday night over a report …

Discussion: Washington Post, The Week and Mediaite

Zachary Cohen / CNN:
Trump's communications with a foreign leader sparked whistleblower complaint

Discussion: Washington Post, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story and Lawyers, Guns & Money

globalnews.ca:

Exclusive: Video shows Trudeau in blackface in 3rd instance of racist makeup — Watch: Global News has obtained video showing Justin Trudeau in blackface. — Global News has obtained video showing Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau in blackface, the third instance of racist dress to come to light in 12 hours.

Discussion: Townhall, New York Times, VICE, Breitbart, The Independent, Political Wire, Splinter, twitchy.com, New York Post, Mediaite, Politico, The Daily Beast and The Week

TIME:

Justin Trudeau Wore Brownface at 2001 ‘Arabian Nights’ Party While He Taught at a Private School — Justin Trudeau, Canada's prime minister, wore brownface makeup to a party at the private school where he was teaching in the spring of 2001. TIME has obtained a photograph of the incident.

Toronto Star:
‘I should have known better’: Trudeau apologizes for wearing brownface in 2001

Discussion: Washington Post and Outside the Beltway

Peter Zimonjic / CBC News:
Trudeau says he is ‘deeply sorry’ he appeared in brownface at school gala in 2001

Discussion: Toronto Star, The Daily Caller, ABC News, Louder With Crowder, The Gateway Pundit and Townhall

Nick Paton Walsh / CNN:

Exclusive: Zarif threatens ‘all-out war’ in case of military strike on Iran — Tehran, Iran (CNN)Iran's foreign minister has raised the specter of “all-out war” in the event of US or Saudi military strikes and that Saudi Arabia would have to fight “to the last American soldier.”

Discussion: New York Times, Politico, Washington Post, Bloomberg, Fox News, Common Dreams, New York Post, Reuters, Associated Press and Alternet.org

David Martin / CBS News:

Saudi oil attack was approved by Iran's supreme leader, U.S. official says — Washington —The recent attack on Saudi oil facilities was approved by Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, but only on the condition that it be carried out in a way that made it possible to deny Iranian involvement, a U.S. official told CBS News.

Discussion: Defense One, The Daily Beast, The Drive, Radio Free Europe, New York Post and CNN

Eric Schmitt / New York Times:

Trump's National Security Officials to Meet on Possible Iran Options — WASHINGTON — Senior national security officials from across the government are scheduled to meet Thursday to refine a list of potential targets to strike in Iran, should President Trump order a military retaliation …

Discussion: Hullabaloo and Slate

Wall Street Journal:
Iran's Whip Hand

Discussion: The American Conservative

Nicholas Kristof / New York Times:
We're Not the Saudis' Mercenaries — Trump brought the crisis with Iran on himself.

Discussion: Shareblue Media, Foreign Policy and Common Dreams

Nancy Cook / Politico:

An unshackled Trump finally gets the presidency he always wanted — The China trade war, talks with the Taliban, the response to Iran after Saudi attacks, gun control, new tax legislation and a long list of other policy issues are up in the air and awaiting decisions from President Donald Trump …

Discussion: Raw Story

Daniel Lippman / Politico:

Bolton unloads on Trump's foreign policy behind closed doors — John Bolton, President Donald Trump's fired national security adviser, harshly criticized Trump's foreign policy on Wednesday at a private lunch, saying that inviting the Taliban to Camp David sent a “terrible signal” and that it was …

Discussion: Vanity Fair, Washington Post, Outside the Beltway, CNN, VICE, Axios, Hot Air, Reason, Talking Points Memo, Alternet.org, The Week, New York Post, Daily Kos, Political Wire, U.S. Political News … and RedState

New York Times:
Robert O'Brien ‘Looks the Part,’ but Has Spent Little Time Playing It

Discussion: Washington Post, The Week, The Last Refuge, Deseret News, Daily Kos, Talking Points Memo and Politico

Associated Press:
Despite his tough talk, Trump is leery of foreign conflict

Discussion: KTLA

Franco Ordoñez / NPR:
Once A ‘Rocket Ship,’ National Security Council Now Avoided By Government Pros

Discussion: Raw Story

New York Times:

San Francisco to Get Environmental Violation for Homelessness, Trump Says — WASHINGTON — President Trump said late Wednesday that his administration would issue a notice of environmental violation against the city of San Francisco because of what he described as its homelessness problem.

Discussion: Snopes.com, U.S. Political News …, twitchy.com, Daily Wire, Accuracy in Media, Washington Post, BizPac Review, fox5sandiego.com and Daily Kos

Rich Lowry / Politico:
The Ridiculous Campaign Against Vaping

Discussion: The Federalist, Breitbart, Mother Jones and New York Times

Rebecca Ballhaus / Wall Street Journal:
‘Cities Going to Hell’: Trump to Hit San Francisco With Pollution Violation Over Homelessness

Discussion: ABC News, Slate, Shareblue Media, Bloomberg, The Week and Axios

Christopher Cadelago / Politico:

Kamala Harris bets it all on Iowa to break freefall — Kamala Harris is putting her stumbling campaign on the line with a new Iowa-or-bust strategy: She's shifting away from the closed-door fundraisers that dominated her summer calendar to focus on retail politicking in the crucial kickoff state.

Discussion: FiveThirtyEight and PJ Media Home

Aaron Blake / Washington Post: Why the 2020 Democratic race is still a mystery

Dana Blanton / Fox News:
Fox News Poll: Biden at new low in Democratic primary race

Discussion: No More Mister Nice Blog, Washington Times, Washington Post, Grabien News and Political Wire

Wall Street Journal:

Netanyahu Calls for Unity Government After Election Deadlock — Benny Gantz vows to lead a broad coalition from across Israel's political spectrum — Israel's former military chief Benny Gantz declared victory Thursday in Israel's election and rebuffed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu 's calls …

Discussion: Alternet.org and Progress Pond

Washington Post:
Election setback has Netanyahu now seeking to share power in a unity government

Discussion: New York Times and Outside the Beltway

Tia Goldenberg / Associated Press: Israelis contend with prospect of third poll days after vote

Nicholas Fandos / New York Times:

This Picture Tells You Everything You Need to Know About Impeachment — A Renaissance-style tableau for a divided Washington. — WASHINGTON — The photograph has all the trappings of a Renaissance painting — crowded with characters, action and emotion — only this one is set …

Discussion: Washington Post, The Gateway Pundit, CNN, Yahoo News, Breitbart and Daily Kos

Heather Caygle / Politico:
Pelosi says Corey Lewandowski deserves to be held in contempt

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Daily Kos, The Hill, Axios, POLITICUSUSA, RedState, Washington Post and Towleroad Gay News, more at Mediagazer »

Michael Kruse / Politico:

The Final Lesson Donald Trump Never Learned From Roy Cohn — One of Donald Trump's most important mentors, one of the most reviled men in American political history, is about to have another moment. — Roy Cohn, who has been described by people who knew him as “a snake,” “a scoundrel” …

Discussion: Hullabaloo, Alternet.org, Associated Press, Political Wire, The Daily Beast, US Macmillan and New Republic

Kyle Kondik / Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball:

The Electoral College: Expanding the Map — Trump is at least a small underdog in all the Clinton states, but trying to play offense is wise — KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE — We don't really think President Trump can win New Mexico, where he campaigned earlier this week.

Discussion: Political Wire

Reuters:

U.S. drone strike kills 30 pine nut farm workers in Afghanistan — JALALABAD/ KABUL (Reuters) - A U.S. drone strike intended to hit an Islamic State (IS) hideout in Afghanistan killed at least 30 civilians resting after a day's labor in the fields, officials said on Thursday.

Colby Itkowitz / Washington Post:

Beto O'Rourke calls for federal legalization of marijuana, government stipends for ex-offenders — Democratic presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke unveiled his plan Thursday for federal legalization of marijuana, which includes a tax on the industry to fund a monthly stipend to repay people …

Discussion: The Crime Report, Axios and Politico

Dan Freedman / Albany Times Union:
Schumer brushes aside O'Rourke remark on gun seizures

Discussion: Axios, CNN and Political Wire

Paul Crookston / Washington Free Beacon:
Manchin: 'Beto O'Rourke's Not Taking My Guns Away From Me'

Discussion: The Atlantic, The Hill and New York Times

Leigh Ann Caldwell / NBC News:

Pence taps former DHS press aide as new press secretary — WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence has hired Katie Waldman to be his new press secretary, NBC News has learned. — Waldman, who is currently communications director for Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., previously served …

Discussion: twitchy.com, The Week, Raw Story, Vox, Splinter and The National Interest

WTOP:

Amid terrorism talk, bail denied in aircraft sabotage case — MIAMI (AP) — A mechanic accused of sabotaging an American Airlines jetliner had expressed a desire for Allah to hurt non-Muslims, stored violent Islamic State videos on his cellphone and has a brother in Iraq possibly involved …

Discussion: Daily Caller News Foundation, American Greatness and Big League Politics

Mihir Zaveri / New York Times:
American Airlines Mechanic Accused of Plane Sabotage May Have Ties to Terrorists, U.S. Says

Discussion: The Crime Report

Mike Brest / Washington Examiner:

UPDATED: Ilhan Omar accuses Trump of putting her life in danger after retweeting false claim — Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar accused President Trump of spreading “lies that put my life” in jeopardy after he retweeted a false claim about her on Wednesday. — Conservative pundit Terrence K …

Discussion: U.S. Political News …, Informed Comment and WCCO | CBS Minnesota

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:
Are Democrats ready for the coming disinformation tsunami?

Discussion: Deadline, Vox, RedState, Shareblue Media and Occupy Democrats

Maureen Groppe / USA Today:

GOP group slams Mike Pence for ‘who cares?’ comment in response to Trump business conflicts — The Trump family may have been all smiles after Donald Trump's surprising 2016 presidential win but it wasn't the same for the Pence family according to a new book. Veuer's Susana Victoria Perez has more.

Discussion: The Week

Carla Herreria / U.S. Political News …:

NY Times Reporters Say Kavanaugh Asked Them To Lie In Exchange For An Interview — Reporters Robin Pogrebin and Kate Kelly said that Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed to speak to them as long as they publicly said he declined the interview. — New York Times reporters Robin Pogrebin …

Discussion: RedState, Fox News, Alternet.org and BizPac Review

Washington Post: He wanted nonpartisan federal solutions. Now his Kavanaugh tip has thrust him into a partisan brawl.

Caroline Kelly / CNN:

DeVos to visit school that refuses to accommodate trans students — Anderson Cooper: That's an epic non-response — (CNN)Education Secretary Betsy DeVos will attend a roundtable on Thursday at a Pennsylvania Catholic school that subscribes to an anti-trans student policy.

Discussion: Townhall, twitchy.com and Daily Wire

Heidi Przybyla / NBC News: Barr praised 2017 book that claims colleges unfairly went after male students accused of sexual assault

The Boston Globe:

Joe Kennedy to formally announce he'll run for Senate — Representative Joseph P. Kennedy III, the last member of the Democratic dynasty serving in Washington, plans to formally announce Saturday that he is launching a primary challenge to Senator Edward J. Markey, an audacious political move …

Discussion: Daily Kos, Associated Press, Axios, Washington Post, Politico, U.S. Political News …, New York Times, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Talking Points Memo and New York Post

Nicole Lafond / Talking Points Memo:

Interior Dept. Transfers 500 Acres Of Public Land To Pentagon For Border Wall — The Interior Department is transferring about 500 acres of public land to the Pentagon in order to construct about 70 miles of President Trump's border wall, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit and Wall Street Journal

Wall Street Journal: More Than 500 Acres of Public Land to Be Used for Border Wall Construction

Gideon Resnick / The Daily Beast:

Why These Wall Streeters Are Giving to Elizabeth Warren — The senator wants to go after Wall Street and supposedly inspires fear among its top brass. But a few employees of major financial firms are excited to see her doing it. — Jhoana Ocampo has worked in finance for 14 years.

Discussion: Raw Story