memeorandum: Trump downplays whistleblower claims in Oval Office (Kevin Liptak/CNN)

1:45 PM ET, September 20, 2019

Top Items:

Whistleblower complaint about President Trump involves Ukraine, according to two people familiar with the matter — A whistleblower complaint about President Trump made by an intelligence official centers on Ukraine, according to two people familiar with the matter, which has set off …

Anna Nemtsova / The Daily Beast:

Ukrainian Official: Trump is Looking for Dirt ‘To Discredit Biden’ — Ukraine officials see no indication Biden or his son broke their laws. If Trump wants them investigated in Kyiv, his government will need to say why and what for. — KYIV—Ukraine is ready to investigate …

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Politico, The Atlantic, NBC News, Washington Post, New York Times, Hot Air, CNN, Political Wire, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Spectator USA, Daily Kos, The Resurgent, Law & Crime, Mediaite, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Alternet.org

Greg Sargent / Washington Post:

As whistleblower scandal deepens, Trump bets on the coverup working — President Trump and his minions went to great lengths in 2016 to coordinate with a foreign power's interference in our election on his behalf. Then Trump engaged in extensive corruption and lawlessness to try to prevent it from coming to light.

Discussion: Deadline, twitchy.com, New York Post, Raw Story and RedState

Jonathan Bernstein / Bloomberg:

How Long Will Republicans Tolerate Trump's Lawlessness? — There's only so much Democrats can do about the president's increasingly bold misconduct. — I was going to write today about how House Democrats are handling the impeachment question. But the truth is, it's largely irrelevant.

Discussion: New York Times, Washington Post and The Week

New York Times:

‘Urgent Concern’ About the President — A whistle-blower's report has alarmed the intelligence agencies' watchdog. Why won't the administration share it with Congress? — The editorial board represents the opinions of the board, its editor and the publisher. It is separate from the newsroom and the Op-Ed section.

Discussion: KTLA, CNN, Washington Post, Daily Kos, The Week, Althouse, The Daily Caller and Talking Points Memo

Associated Press:

Trump defends himself against whistleblower complaint — WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump repeatedly defended himself Friday against an intelligence whistleblower's potentially explosive complaint, including an allegation of wrongdoing in a reported private conversation Trump had with a foreign leader.

Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Why Ukraine being the focus of Trump's whistleblower complaint is particularly ominous

Discussion: Raw Story, ABC News, U.S. Political News … and The Daily Beast

Kevin Liptak / CNN:
Trump downplays whistleblower claims in Oval Office

Discussion: Political Wire and KTLA

Philip Rotner / The Bulwark:
Everything You Need to Know About the DNI, the IG, and the Whistleblower Report

Discussion: Washington Post and RedState

Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Hannity: ‘I Was Happy’ That Whistleblower Complaint Is About Ukraine

Discussion: Hullabaloo and Salon

Kyle Cheney / Politico:
‘Of course I did’: Giuliani acknowledges asking Ukraine to investigate Biden

Discussion: ABC News, Vox, Washington Post, BizPac Review, CNN, Outside the Beltway, Raw Story and The Week

Politico: POLITICO Playbook: How Trump has handcuffed Washington

The Daily Beast:
Trump Whistleblower Saga Threatens to Blow Up 2020 Campaign

Discussion: Washington Post, New York Times, CNN, The Week and Raw Story

Colby Itkowitz / Washington Post:
Giuliani admits to asking Ukraine about Joe Biden after denying it 30 seconds earlier

Discussion: Fox News, Talking Points Memo, Shareblue Media and Breitbart

Mayor Bill de Blasio / NBC News:

Why I'm ending my 2020 presidential campaign — and what I promise to do next — My presidential campaign may be over, but I am going to keep fighting for working people — and ensuring that New York City remains the vanguard of progressivism. — There is a framed picture hanging …

Discussion: New York Times, Politico, The Root, IJR, VTDigger, Axios, CNN, Sara A. Carter, Vox, Reason, Breitbart, The Daily Caller, PJ Media Home, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Talking Points Memo, VICE, Slate, Deadline, Rolling Stone, Outside the Beltway and Towleroad Gay News

Adam Edelman / NBC News:
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio drops 2020 bid

Discussion: FiveThirtyEight, Real Clear Politics and WTVR-TV

Zach Montellaro / Politico: DNC set to squeeze Dem debate stage again

Brooklyn Eagle: New York Mayor Bill de Blasio drops 2020 presidential bid

Matthew Continetti / Washington Free Beacon:

Kavanaugh and the Crisis of Legitimacy — It is impossible to separate the latest attack on Justice Brett Kavanaugh from the political strategy of the Democratic Party. On September 16, two days after the New York Times “Sunday Review” section told of another allegation …

Discussion: The Bulwark

Becket Adams / Washington Examiner: NYT reporters haven't kept their story straight about Brett Kavanaugh asking them to lie

Peggy Noonan / Wall Street Journal:
Why They'll Never Stop Targeting Kavanaugh

Discussion: twitchy.com

Astead W. Herndon / New York Times:

Young Black Voters to Their Biden-Supporting Parents: ‘Is This Your King?’ — An organic effort by black millennials and Gen Z-ers to influence older family members against Mr. Biden may be important in the Democratic primary. — HOUSTON — A groan erupted at a debate watch party …

Discussion: Slate and Washington Blade

New York Times:

Why Republicans Play Dirty — They fear that if they stick to the rules, they will lose everything. Their behavior is a threat to democratic stability. — Mr. Levitsky and Mr. Ziblatt are political scientists and the authors of “How Democracies Die.” — The greatest threat …

Des Moines Register:

New Iowa Poll to be released Saturday, will show how presidential candidates are faring in first-in-the-nation caucus state — Results of a new Des Moines Register/CNN/Mediacom Iowa Poll on Democratic presidential candidates will be released online at 7 p.m. CST Saturday.

Discussion: Political Wire

Wall Street Journal:
Kamala Harris's Iowa Strategy Is Well-Worn—and Risky

Discussion: Political Wire

NBC News:

Trump admin ignored its own evidence of climate change's impact on migration from Central America — An internal report obtained by NBC News showed migration surged from those areas where climate change is hurting crops and farmers. — GUATEMALA CITY — Research compiled one year ago …

Fadel Allassan / Axios: Trump administration ignored internal report on climate change and migration

Andrew Kaczynski / CNN:

GOP Senate candidate Jason Lewis said Republicans have ‘dual loyalties’ to Israel, ‘Jewish lobby’ controls the party — GOP rep. defends prior comments on ‘slut’ women — (CNN)Jason Lewis, a Republican running for US Senate in Minnesota, once said Republicans had “dual loyalties” to Israel …

Discussion: National Review and Political Wire

Washington Post:

Kushner to attend Saudi economic conference hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman — Jared Kushner is expected to visit Saudi Arabia next month for an economic conference, one year after a slew of businesses and political figures boycotted the event following the grisly killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

Discussion: One America News Network and Political Wire

Kareem Fahim / Washington Post:
Twitter suspends account of former top Saudi aide implicated in Khashoggi killing

Discussion: Twitter, CNN and Mercury News, more at Techmeme »

Meg Kinnard / Associated Press:

Nikki Haley moves back to SC, fuels political speculation — COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is moving back to her native South Carolina, re-establishing a home base and also fueling speculation that a return to politics is next on her to-do list.

Discussion: Political Wire

Christina Zhao / Newsweek:

GOP Rep. Dan Crenshaw Tries to Hide in Elevator While Confronted by Combat Veterans Over His Support for Trump: ‘Do Your Duty’ — Republican congressman Dan Crenshaw unsuccessfully tried to lose two combat veterans by ducking into a private elevator as they confronted him about his support …

Discussion: Daily Wire, Splinter, twitchy.com and Raw Story

Hannah Natanson / Washington Post:

Frederick Douglass photos smashed stereotypes. Could Elizabeth Warren selfies do the same? — They look nothing alike. — Frederick Douglass — a black man campaigning for the abolition of slavery in the 1840s — appears alone in almost every photograph, staring down the camera in isolated, thoughtful splendor.

Discussion: Althouse

Colleen Long / Associated Press:

APNewsBreak: US, El Salvador to sign asylum deal — NEW YORK (AP) — The United States planned to sign an agreement on Friday to help make one of Central America's most violent countries, El Salvador, a haven for migrants seeking asylum, according to a senior Trump administration official.

Discussion: Washington Post

Alex Isenstadt / Politico:

How Trump's Florida ‘field general’ got kneecapped — In the homestretch of the 2018 campaign for Florida governor, Donald Trump walked into the hold room before a big rally, looked GOP nominee Ron DeSantis in the eye and pointed to a nearby political operative.

Discussion: Raw Story

Emily Stewart / Vox:

Elizabeth Warren has just one plan — Elizabeth Warren's quiet ruthlessness could reshape the Democratic Party from the inside out. Drew Angerer/Getty Images — A detailed look at Warren's successes and failures at the start of the CFPB — and what they tell us about how she might govern.

Alexi McCammond / Axios:

Democrats target over 26,000 local races to unseat Republicans — Contest Every Race, a new coalition of Democratic groups, is launching a seven-figure campaign to challenge Republican incumbents in 26,849 down-ballot local races, Axios has learned. — Why it matters: 2020 is more than just the presidential election.

Susan B. Glasser / New Yorker:

“It Won't End Well”: Trump and His Obscure New National-Security Chief — Flattery will get you everywhere with Donald Trump. The President demonstrated this powerfully on Wednesday, when he named the State Department's little-known hostage negotiator, Robert O'Brien …

Pete Williams / NBC News:

Topless women win big as Colorado city drops ban — Officials in Fort Collins decided it's not worth the money to fight for its ordinance banning women from appearing topless in public. — Fort Collins, Colorado has decided it's not worth the money to fight for its ordinance banning women from appearing topless in public.

Discussion: Breitbart and New York Post

NBC News:

Pentagon is last holdout as Stephen Miller tries to slash number of refugees allowed in U.S. — The Pentagon is the lone voice inside the Trump admin defending the U.S. refugee program. — WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is fighting against proposals by White House officials to drastically cut …

Jennifer Valentino-DeVries / New York Times:

Secret F.B.I. Subpoenas Scoop Up Personal Data From Scores of Companies — The F.B.I. has used secret subpoenas to obtain personal data from far more companies than previously disclosed, newly released documents show. — The requests, which the F.B.I. says are critical to its counterterrorism efforts …

Discussion: CNN, Mashable and The Crime Report