memeorandum: Democrats stop faking it — and have a serious debate (John F. Harris/Politico)

9:30 AM ET, October 16, 2019

Top Items:

Sen. Bernie Sanders to be endorsed by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, an influential voice among young liberals — Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, one of the most influential voices among young liberals and a rising Democratic star, plans to endorse Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) …

Dylan Scott / Vox:
Everybody went after Warren over Medicare-for-all

Discussion: Politico and The Week

Nolan D. McCaskill / Politico:
Dems go after Warren, and other big moments from Tuesday's debate

Discussion: NBC News, Fox News, Washington Post, The Daily Beast, One America News Network and Breitbart

Brian Slodysko / Associated Press:
Warren and Sanders stockpile millions more than 2020 rivals

Discussion: Axios, Politico and The Hill

John F. Harris / Politico:
Democrats stop faking it — and have a serious debate

Discussion: Washington Post, CNN and The Hill

New York Times:
Which Candidates Got the Most Speaking Time in the Democratic Debate

Discussion: Salon, Bloomberg, The Daily Caller, Vox, Daily Kos and The Guardian

New York Times: 6 Takeaways From the October Democratic Debate

John Verhovek / ABC News:
5 key takeaways from the 4th Democratic debate

Discussion: The Guardian, Breitbart and Fox News

Associated Press:
AP FACT CHECK: Claims from the Democratic debate

Discussion: Washington Post and Axios

Steve Krakauer / NBC News:
Who is Tom Steyer, the Democratic debate newcomer hellbent on impeaching Trump?

Discussion: The Hill, Vox, The Week, New York Post and Fox News

Steve Peoples / Associated Press:
Analysis: Elizabeth Warren growing into front-runner status

Discussion: Washington Post, KRON4 and Politico

Sydney Ember / New York Times:
Ilhan Omar Endorses Bernie Sanders, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Will Do So as Well

Discussion: Washington Post, CNN, PJ Media Home, Politico, NBC News and Axios

Scott Jennings / USA Today:
Democrats want to close churches, raise taxes and pay for sex reassignment surgery. Great.

Discussion: Washington Post, Washington Free Beacon and Townhall

New York Times:

White House Is Said to Open Internal Review of Ukraine Call — Some advisers fear that the inquiry is a hunt for a scapegoat, people familiar with it said. — WASHINGTON — President Trump has for weeks sought to unmask the whistle-blower who shed light on his Ukraine dealings.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, CNN, The Hill, Washington Post, BizPac Review, Washington Free Beacon, Shareblue Media, JustOneMinute, Vox and Daily Kos

Washington Post:

Mulvaney emerges as a key facilitator of the campaign to pressure Ukraine — In late May, acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney organized a meeting that stripped control of the country's relationship with Ukraine from those who had the most expertise at the National Security Council and the State Department.

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, The Hill, The Week and Mother Jones

Jake Sherman / Politico:

POLITICO Playbook: D.C. stays in the fight — HEY, WASHINGTON ... Good Wednesday morning. For the first time since 1933, you're waking up in a World Series town. Even if the Washington Nationals aren't your team, this might be your city, so soak it in. There's a lot to learn from the Nats …

Discussion: Washington Post, The Week, The Seattle Times and Political Wire, more at Mediagazer »

Wall Street Journal: Bolton, Mulvaney on Opposite Sides of Pivotal Ukraine Debate

Eric Tucker / Associated Press:
Sondland prepared to deny he was warned about Ukraine work

Discussion: The Hill, Hullabaloo, ABC News and twitchy.com

Rebecca Ballhaus / Wall Street Journal:

Ex-Rep. Sessions Subpoenaed Over Interactions With Giuliani, Giuliani Associates — Giuliani is primary focus of subpoena; Pete Sessions cooperating with prosecutors — A grand jury has issued a subpoena related to Manhattan federal prosecutors' investigation into Rudy Giuliani …

Discussion: Dallas Morning News, Washington Post, The Week, The Daily Caller, CNN, Law & Crime, The Hill, Talking Points Memo, Mediaite, Axios, New York Post, Raw Story, Lawyers, Guns & Money and Politico

John Santucci / ABC News:

Giuliani says he won't comply with a congressional subpoena — President Donald's Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani told ABC News on Tuesday he is not complying with a congressional subpoena. — Giuliani tells ABC News “if they enforce it then we will see what happens.”

Chris Sommerfeldt / New York Daily News:
Rudy Giuliani says he won't comply in ‘abomination’ impeachment inquiry, parts ways with his lawyer ‘for now’

Discussion: The Week

Brett Samuels / The Hill:
Giuliani says he won't comply with subpoenas from Democrats

Discussion: Axios, BizPac Review, Breitbart, Washington Post, The Daily Caller, Washington Times and The Root

Heather Vogell / ProPublica:

Never-Before-Seen Trump Tax Documents Show Major Inconsistencies — The president's businesses made themselves appear more profitable to lenders and less profitable to tax officials. One expert calls the differing numbers “versions of fraud.” — Stay up to date with email updates …

Justin McCarthy / Gallup:

Congress Approval, Support for Impeaching Trump Both Up — WASHINGTON, D.C. — As Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives work through an impeachment inquiry regarding alleged abuses of office by President Donald Trump, approval of Congress is now at 25%.

Discussion: Political Wire

CNN:
Mounting frustration inside White House over Hill depositions as refusals to comply with subpoenas increase

Discussion: East Bay Times

Sarah Ferris / Politico:
Pelosi holds off on vote to authorize Trump impeachment inquiry

Discussion: National Review, The Hill, JONATHAN TURLEY, The Daily Caller, Above the Law, POLITICUSUSA, Breitbart, The Last Refuge, Boing Boing, Associated Press, The Week, Raw Story and Political Wire

CNN:
Pelosi holding off on vote for impeachment inquiry for now: 'We're not here to call bluffs'

Discussion: CNBC and NB Blog

Leigh Ann Caldwell / NBC News:
Pence refuses House request to provide documents related to Ukraine call

Discussion: The Hill and The Daily Caller

Associated Press:

Live Updates: Erdogan Snubs Pence: ‘When Trump Comes, I Will Meet With Him’ — Russian troops move into Syrian territory abandoned by U.S. ■ Erdogan: ‘There will be no ceasefire ... We are not worried about any sanctions’ ■ Assad forces make territorial gains near Manbij following pact …

Discussion: Foreign Policy

Washington Post:

Giuliani pressed Trump to eject Muslim cleric from U.S., a top priority of Turkish president, former officials say — Rudolph W. Giuliani privately urged President Trump in 2017 to extradite a Turkish cleric living in exile in the United States, a top priority of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan …

Discussion: Hot Air, New York Times, Just Security, One America News Network, The Week, Diplopundit, The Hill and New Republic

Axios:

Turkey's Erdoğan says he won't meet with Pence and Pompeo — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan told Sky News Wednesday that he will not meet with Vice President Mike Pence, who is currently leading a delegation with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Turkey to discuss a ceasefire in northern Syria.

Discussion: VICE and Raw Story

Marianne LeVine / Politico:
Republicans drop their revolt against Trump on Syria

Discussion: Associated Press, Political Wire and One America News Network

Michael Holden / Reuters:

U.S. security chief ‘heaped pain’ on grieving parents of UK teen: lawyer — LONDON (Reuters) - Donald Trump's national security adviser heaped pain and grief on the parents of a British teenager killed in a car crash by trying to hold a meeting at the White House between them and a U.S. diplomat's wife …

Discussion: Political Wire

Barbie Latza Nadeau / The Daily Beast:
Grieving Parents ‘Ambushed’ by Trump, Who Had Teen's Killer Waiting at White House

Discussion: Sky News, Raw Story and Scotsman

Ezra Klein / Vox:

Sorry, but Democrats need to talk about Hunter Biden — Democrats are afraid to talk about Hunter Biden. Trump won't be. — Democrats need to talk about Hunter Biden. Sorry, but they do. — The fourth Democratic presidential primary debate opened by asking all 12 participants about impeachment.

Discussion: New York Post, The Federalist and American Greatness

Justin Baragona / The Daily Beast:
Meghan McCain: It's ‘Breaking My Heart’ That Warren Is Beating Biden in the Polls

Discussion: Breitbart, Mediaite and Contemptor

Tom Bartlett / Chronicle of Higher Education:

Trump's ‘China Muse’ Has an Imaginary Friend — Who is Ron Vara? He only seems to exist in the books of Peter Navarro. — Ron Vara has strong opinions. He thinks you've “got to be nuts to eat Chinese food.” He doles out little scraps of wisdom, like “Don't play checkers in a chess world.”

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Law & Crime, Raw Story and Political Wire

Urban Institute:

From Incremental to Comprehensive Health Insurance Reform: How Various Reform Options Compare on Coverage and Costs — Brief: — Policymakers, including candidates in the 2020 presidential campaign and members of Congress, have proposed a variety of options to address the shortcomings of the current health care system.

Discussion: Axios and CNN

Stephen Rex Brown / New York Daily News:

‘Confidential informants’ part of Manhattan DA Cy Vance's investigation involving President Trump's tax returns — Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance revealed Tuesday that “confidential informants” are part of his probe involving President Trump's tax returns.

Michael R. Bloomberg / Washington Post:

Voters must demand that 2020 candidates answer this question — Michael R. Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg LP and Bloomberg Philanthropies, served as mayor of New York from 2002 to 2013. — Over the course of the 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, candidates have been asked time and again …

Discussion: The Hill