memeorandum: ‘I would trust Alex with my life’: Trump's decision to boot Lt. Col. Vindman was 'designed … (David Choi/Business Insider)

11:15 AM ET, February 11, 2020

Top Items:

WMUR:

First results of 2020 New Hampshire Primary are in. Amy Klobuchar, Donald Trump lead — Midnight voting took place in Dixville Notch, Hart's Location & Millsfield — HIDE TRANSCRIPT SHOW TRANSCRIPT — DIXVILLE NOTCH, N.H. — The first votes in the 2020 New Hampshire primary …

Discussion: Associated Press, CNN, Redstate, JustOneMinute, The Hill, Fox News, emersonpolling.com, IJR, The Week and NBC News

Ryan Lizza / Politico:

This Democratic field is so flawed that even Biden still has a chance — MANCHESTER, N.H. — The final Joe Biden event in New Hampshire took place at a church in Manchester, the state's biggest city. Over the weekend I saw two of his opponents, Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar …

Discussion: NBC News, Associated Press, The Hill, The Daily Beast, Breitbart, Washington Post and One America News Network

New York Times:

What's at Stake in the New Hampshire Primary — PLYMOUTH, N.H. — Iowa, for all its problems counting its caucus results, also failed in its traditional role of winnowing the presidential field. For the first time since 2004, nobody dropped out after Iowa, sending the full field of candidates on to New Hampshire.

Discussion: NBC News, Politico, Vox, New York Times, Washington Post, HuffPost, Althouse and Townhall

Axios:

Mike Bloomberg's 2020 chances rise while Joe Biden crashes — MANCHESTER, N.H.— The political market is rendering two unambiguous trend lines: Mike Bloomberg's TV monopoly is fueling his surge into the top tier of Democratic presidential rivals, and cash-strapped Joe Biden is crashing.

Discussion: Vox, Politico and HuffPost

Eli Yokley / Morning Consult:

Sanders Takes the Lead, but Bloomberg and Buttigieg Reap Spoils of Biden's Decline — Vermont senator is the national front-runner for first time following Biden's stumble in Iowa — Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks during a stop at the Coffee Coffee roasters on Feb. 10 in Salem …

Discussion: Townhall, Breitbart, FiveThirtyEight, The Hill, New York Times and The Federalist

Clay Aiken / USA Today:

Clay Aiken on 2020 primary: Why I'm changing my vote from Joe Biden to Amy Klobuchar — It was difficult for me to move my support from Joe Biden. But Amy Klobuchar is simply a better candidate for the 2020 race against Donald Trump. — For 2020, for Democrats, for America, Amy Klobuchar is the answer.

Discussion: Althouse and Redstate

Axios:
Bloomberg's Super Tuesday splurge

Discussion: Washington Post, Vox, Financial Times and National Review

Travis Pittman / WUSA: With 8 votes, Amy Klobuchar takes early lead in New Hampshire primary

Natasha Korecki / Politico:
Biden super PAC warns of ‘doomsday scenario’

Discussion: The Hill

Matt Flegenheimer / New York Times: Elizabeth Warren Is Running Her Race. The Real One May Be Passing Her By.

Robert Stacy McCain / The American Spectator:
The Great Liberal Freakout Has Begun

Discussion: POLITICUSUSA, New York Post, Althouse and The Guardian

Ben Terris / Washington Post:
On the trail with Joe Biden: What happens when the ‘electability candidate’ starts to lose?

Discussion: Raw Story

Igor Bobic / HuffPost:
Trump Rallygoers Confident He Can Beat Any Democrat This November

Discussion: Newsweek

David Lauter / Los Angeles Times:
With hours to go, New Hampshire primary voters just can't make up their minds

Discussion: Fox News

QU Poll:
Release Detail — February 10, 2020 - Sanders Takes Top Spot …

Associated Press: The Latest: Biden calls himself ‘underdog’ in New Hampshire

Greg Miller / Washington Post:

For decades, the CIA read the encrypted communications of allies and adversaries. — For more than half a century, governments all over the world trusted a single company to keep the communications of their spies, soldiers and diplomats secret. — The company, Crypto AG …

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money, more at Techmeme »

Joseph Wulfsohn / Fox News:

Bloomberg heard in 2015 audio clip defending ‘stop and frisk,’ throwing minority kids against wall: report — A newly surfaced recording from a 2015 speech by Michael Bloomberg, in which the former three-term mayor of New York City gives a full-throated defense of the controversial policing procedure known …

Discussion: National Review, Mediaite, BizPac Review, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Post Millennial and New York Post

Emily Jacobs / New York Post:

Leaked Bloomberg audio shows him defending ‘throw them up against the walls’ stop-and-frisk — Newly released audio from a 2015 speech given by Michael Bloomberg shows the former NYC mayor vehemently defending his controversial “stop-and-frisk” policy — a policing procedure …

Discussion: Breitbart, Spectator USA, Big League Politics and InsideSources

Mark Niquette / Bloomberg:

Purported Bloomberg Audio Emerges of His Stop and Frisk Defense — Bloomberg backs aggressive policing, according to audio — Recording of Aspen talk posted online by progressive activist — An unverified recording of Michael Bloomberg discussing his stop-and-frisk policy …

Discussion: Washington Post, National Review and Townhall

David Choi / Business Insider:

‘I would trust Alex with my life’: Trump's decision to boot Lt. Col. Vindman was ‘designed to humiliate,’ his former Army commander says — President Donald Trump's early dismissal of US Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council staff on Friday came as a shock …

Discussion: Task & Purpose, Talking Points Memo, The American Independent and Mother Jones

Grace Panetta / Business Insider:

‘Fear and chaos’: Andrew Yang staffers are furious over sudden layoffs and a campaign near collapse — Yang's staff said they were blindsided by the layoffs. Many found out something was amiss when they suddenly lost their email accounts or heard about it from the rumor mill.

Discussion: Politico, New York Times and NBC News

Ronn Blitzer / Fox News:

Trump stirs pardon speculation with condemnation of DOJ's Roger Stone treatment — President Trump's fiery reaction to the Justice Department's sentencing recommendation for Roger Stone is stoking renewed speculation that he could end up pardoning his former associate.

Discussion: PJ Media Home

Chuck Ross / The Daily Caller:
Government Recommends Up To 9 Years In Prison For Roger Stone

Discussion: National Review, Talking Points Memo, The Guardian, The Gateway Pundit, Raw Story, Joe.My.God., Redstate, emptywheel and Althouse

Jim Gomez / Associated Press:

Philippines notifies US of intent to end major security pact — MANILA, Philippines (AP) — The Philippines notified the United States on Tuesday it would end a major security pact allowing American forces to train in the country, in the most serious threat under President Rodrigo Duterte to their 69-year treaty alliance.

Jason Gutierrez / New York Times: Philippines Tells U.S. It Will End Military Cooperation Deal

Norimitsu Onishi / New York Times:

A Pedophile Writer Is on Trial. So Are the French Elites. — For decades, Gabriel Matzneff wrote openly of his pedophilia, protected by powerful people in publishing, journalism, politics and business. Now cast out, he attacks their “cowardice” in a rare interview.

The Daily Beast:

The FBI Makes a Bizarre Claim About Pro-Choice Terrorism — The bureau revamped its homegrown-terror efforts to include “people on either side” of the abortion debate. But there's almost no evidence of pro-choice violence. — The FBI is expanding its focus on domestic terrorism …

Lydia Saad / Gallup:

Socialism and Atheism Still U.S. Political Liabilities — WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than nine in 10 Americans say they would vote for a presidential candidate nominated by their party who happened to be black, Catholic, Hispanic, Jewish or a woman. Such willingness drops to eight in 10 …

Discussion: The Hill

CNBC:

Former CNBC anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera will challenge Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in House Democratic primary — Former longtime CNBC correspondent and anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera filed late Monday to run for Congress in New York's 14th District. — The seat is currently held …

Discussion: Axios, The Hill, Breitbart and Joe.My.God.

Politico:

Trump's GOP guardrails obliterated after impeachment — Five days after President Donald Trump was acquitted in the Senate's impeachment trial, whatever restraints the Republican Party envisioned for him going forward are being utterly obliterated. — The president is ousting impeachment …

Discussion: The Hill and Raw Story

Tina Nguyen / Politico:
Trump world's latest attack on Romney: Tie him to Burisma

Discussion: The Week, New York Times, Raw Story, National Review and IJR

BBC:

Native burial sites blown up for US border wall — Native American burial sites in Arizona have been blown up by construction crews building the US-Mexico border wall, according to lawmakers and tribal leaders. — Authorities confirmed that “controlled blasting” has begun …

Discussion: Raw Story

Paul D. Shinkman / Associated Press:

Trump Proposes 25 Percent Drop in Fund Designed to Deter Russia — The president's skepticism of the European Deterrence Initiative has prompted widespread criticism in the past and formed part of the argument for his impeachment. — PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP has proposed a 25 percent cut …

Discussion: Joe.My.God.

Bob Cesca / Salon:

How should Democrats fight back against Trump's billion-dollar “Death Star”? — Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale has built a $1 billion disinformation machine. Here's how to beat it — They're calling it the “Death Star.” While supporters of the various Democratic candidates …

Sarah N. Lynch / Reuters:

Exclusive: Justice Department anti-human trafficking grants prompt whistleblower complaint — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Justice Department anti-human trafficking grant program is facing internal complaints, after two nonprofits were denied funding in favor of two less established groups whose applications …

Discussion: Newsweek, The Daily Caller, The Root, Joe.My.God. and Raw Story

Marina Koren / The Atlantic:

The Journey to Mars Begins in South Texas — BOCA CHICA, Texas—Mary McConnaughey was watching from her car when the rocket exploded on the beach. The steel-crunching burst sent the top of the spacecraft flying, and a cloud of vapor billowed into the sky and drifted toward the water.

Zak Cheney-Rice / New York Magazine:

NYC's Police-Union Leaders Are Unhinged — Over the span of 12 hours between Saturday night and Sunday morning, a gunman in New York City opened fire on two police officers in a parked car, then stormed a Bronx precinct and shot another before surrendering.

Discussion: Redstate, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, ABC News and Talking Points Memo

David Dayen / American Prospect:

The Day One Agenda Polls Pretty Well — And where the polling is more mixed says a lot about where Democratic politics focuses its energies these days. — As his position for the nomination improves, Bernie Sanders has signaled that he wants to use the powers of the presidency to advance his agenda.

Jonathan Chait / New York Magazine:

Here's What I Do Like About Bernie Sanders — I have devoted a lot of space to criticizing Bernie Sanders (and, especially, bad arguments made on his behalf). I will probably continue to do so, in part because I have disagreements with his worldview, and mainly because I think the available evidence …

Discussion: Deseret News

Quin Hillyer / Washington Examiner:

As Louisiana GOP censures Mitt Romney, David Duke laughs — The same Louisiana Republican Party that 30 years ago refused to censure former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke decided last Saturday to censure Sen. Mitt Romney. — The mind reels. The stomach sickens.

Discussion: his vorpal sword