memeorandum: The Journey to Mars Begins in South Texas (Marina Koren/The Atlantic)

10:45 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, 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, Washington Post, Breitbart and One America News Network

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: Politico, Washington Post and New York Times

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: Politico, Vox, One America News Network, New York Times, Washington Post, HuffPost, Althouse and Townhall

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

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

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

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

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

Discussion: The Hill

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

Axios:
Bloomberg's Super Tuesday splurge

Discussion: Washington Post, Vox and Financial Times

Petra Cahill / NBC News:
It's showtime in New Hampshire, coronavirus death toll tops 1,000 and who will win ‘Best in Show?’:

Discussion: One America News Network

Dartunorro Clark / NBC News:
Buttigieg: Sanders would have difficulty defeating Trump because of ‘labels’ and his ‘approach’

Discussion: Washington Times, Fox News and COURIER

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

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

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

Discussion: Newsweek

CNN:
Amy Klobuchar leads midnight vote in New Hampshire

Discussion: Redstate, The Week and KTLA

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 »

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

Politico:
Trump's GOP guardrails obliterated after impeachment

Discussion: The Hill and Raw Story

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

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

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

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: The Daily Caller, Joe.My.God., Raw Story and The Hill

Matt Keeley / Newsweek:
DOJ gave $500K grant to ‘Hookers for Jesus’ instead of established anti-trafficking groups: Report

Discussion: The Root

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 …

Chuck Ross / The Daily Caller:

Government Recommends Up To 9 Years In Prison For Roger Stone — Federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., on Monday recommended that longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone serve up to nine years in prison following his conviction on false statements and witness tampering charges related to the Russia investigation.

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

Zachary Basu / Axios:
Prosecutors recommend Roger Stone serve 7-9 years in prison

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Politico, The Week, ABC News, The Last Refuge, Fox News and Newsy

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

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, NBC News and Yang Gang Wisdom

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 …

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

Megan Messerly / The Nevada Independent:

Nevada Democrats to use scannable ballot for early voting, iPad with Google Forms for check in — A Washoe County Democratic Party button as seen at a rally at the University of Nevada, Reno on Thurs., Oct. 25, 2018. (David Calvert/The Nevada Independent)

Megan Messerly / The Nevada Independent:
With five days until early voting begins, top Democratic presidential campaigns still in the dark …

Discussion: Mediaite

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.

Jonathan V. Last / The Bulwark:

Bernie Bros and the Internet of Beefs — What if Bernie Sanders' internet mobs are an asset, and not a liability? — 1. Bernie's Bros — I was reading the 417th piece about how Bernie supporters form online mobs that are basically the mirror-image of Twitter MAGA world. — It's this one, from CNN:

Discussion: The Daily Beast, Twitchy, BizPac Review, Raw Story, Common Dreams, The Insurgents, CANNONFIRE, Mediaite and Contemptor

Stephen L. Miller / Spectator USA: 2020 is a mirror image of 2016 — A perfect storm enabled …

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

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

Julia Davis / The Daily Beast:

Russians Think Triumphant Trump Is More Their Man Than Ever — Russian commentators note that in Trump's “mythologized world, he is now a superhero,” and they see him as even easier prey than before. — Russian state media have welcomed enthusiastically the recent U.S. Senate acquittal of President Donald J. Trump.

Discussion: Raw Story