memeorandum: Got a medical question? Ask Dr. Trump! (Dana Milbank/Washington Post)

1:20 PM ET, March 7, 2020

Top Items:

Erik Prince Recruits Ex-Spies to Help Infiltrate Liberal Groups — Mr. Prince, a contractor close to the Trump administration, contacted veteran spies for operations by Project Veritas, the conservative group known for conducting stings on news organizations and other groups.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit and The Week

David Nakamura / Washington Post:

‘Maybe I have a natural ability’: Trump plays medical expert on coronavirus by second-guessing the professionals — The Debrief: An occasional series offering a reporter's insights — President Trump likes to say that he fell into politics almost by accident, and on Friday …

Washington Post:

What went wrong with the coronavirus tests in the U.S. — Since Renee Schwartz developed shortness of breath and a severe cough two weeks ago, she has been trying desperately to get a coronavirus test. She has already been tested for the flu — she was negative — and other problems have been ruled out.

New York Times:

With Test Kits in Short Supply, Health Officials Sound Alarms — Despite efforts by President Trump and others to reassure the public that tests are getting disseminated quickly, several states, doctors and patients complained that access was limited. — President Trump claimed again …

Discussion: CNBC

Joanne Kenen / Politico: How testing failures allowed coronavirus to sweep the U.S.

Washington Post: 21 people test positive for coronavirus on California cruise ship, out of 46 tested so far

ABC News: 2 die from coronavirus in Florida, raising US death toll to 17

Marlow Stern / The Daily Beast:

Bill Maher Goes Full Sexist, Defends Chris Matthews and Mocks His Sexual Harassment Accuser — It was a truly ugly, outrageously sexist display from the “Real Time” host. — After an extended (and terribly lame) opening monologue bit on the coronavirus and the bang-up job that “Donald Trump …

Discussion: Breitbart and Raw Story

Masha Gessen / New Yorker:

The Innocuous Story of Bernie Sanders's Trip to Russia — On Thursday night, the Times published an article titled “As Bernie Sanders Pushed for Closer Ties, Soviet Union Spotted Opportunity.” The subtitle: “Previously unseen documents from a Soviet archive show how hard Mr. Sanders worked …

Discussion: New York Times, Media Matters for America, Townhall, Fox News, The Federalist and Mother Jones

Washington Post:

Trump picks Mark Meadows to be new White House chief of staff — WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President Trump announced Friday that he has selected outgoing Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) as his next White House chief of staff, tapping one of his most stalwart congressional allies to run the White House …

Discussion: Slate, Outside the Beltway, The Week, POLITICUSUSA, FOX6Now.com, Breitbart, The Daily Beast and ABC News, more at Mediagazer »

New York Times:
Trump Names Mark Meadows Chief of Staff, Ousting Mick Mulvaney

Discussion: Vox, CNN, Bloomberg, The Week, New York Post, Breitbart, Big League Politics, HuffPost, Raw Story, Roll Call, The Daily Caller and The Guardian, more at Mediagazer »

Tamara Keith / NPR:
Mick Mulvaney Out, Mark Meadows In As White House Chief Of Staff

Discussion: NBC News, IJR, HuffPost, Talking Points Memo and The Gateway Pundit

Sharon LaFraniere / New York Times:

Barr Increasingly Appears Focused on Undermining Mueller Inquiry — A judge's criticism cast light on the first in a series of steps by the attorney general to take aim at the Russia investigation. — WASHINGTON — Attorney General William P. Barr testified before Congress last spring that …

Discussion: emptywheel, Talking Points Memo, The Gateway Pundit, Redstate, Law & Crime, POLITICUSUSA and Reason

Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Another judge orders review of Russia-probe related document

Discussion: Letters from an American

Taylor Locke / CNBC:

Amtrak suspends nonstop Acela service between DC and New York due to coronavirus — The Acela nonstop service will be temporarily suspended starting Tuesday, March 10 until Tuesday, May 26. — Amtrak has also waived change fees on all existing or new reservations made before April 30.

Daniel Dale / CNN:

Fact check: White House falsely claims the coronavirus has been ‘contained’ in the US — Washington (CNN)President Donald Trump's top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, falsely claimed on Friday that the coronavirus “is contained” in the US. Another senior Trump official …

Discussion: HuffPost and Vanity Fair

Politico:

Bad Air: Pilots worldwide complain of unsafe cabin fumes — In 2014, while flying a plane full of passengers for a subsidiary of United Express, pilot Richard Papp said he became so overwhelmed with nausea and dizziness that he “couldn't think straight” and could barely fly safely …

Matt Wilstein / The Daily Beast:

Fox News Catches Kellyanne Conway Lying for Trump About Cutting Entitlements — “He didn't say that,” Conway said just before Fox News played a clip of Trump saying just that. — “Oh, we'll be cutting.” — Those four words—spoken in response to a question about entitlements during …

Discussion: The Hill and Vox

Bloomberg:

Iranian Lawmaker Dies of Coronavirus as Infections Spread — An Iranian lawmaker died from the new coronavirus, the first member of parliament to succumb to the disease, as the government reported another surge in infections. — Fatemeh Rahbar, 55, went into a coma on Thursday and never recovered …

USA Today:

Trump praises CDC amid coronvirus outbreak, calls Washington governor ‘a snake’ during visit to agency — Courtney Subramanian David JacksonUSA TODAY — WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump tried to calm nerves amid the global outbreak of coronavirus while touring the Centers for Disease Control …

Discussion: The Root

Matthew Choi / Politico:
Trump calls Inslee a ‘snake’ over criticism of coronavirus rhetoric

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Financial Times, The Gateway Pundit, Outside the Beltway, HuffPost and The Hill

Steven Nelson / New York Post:
How the White House protects Trump and his staff from coronavirus

Discussion: Jezebel, The Intellectualist, The Gateway Pundit and The Daily Caller

New York Times:

Coronavirus Live Updates: Outbreak Spreads in U.S. and Surges in Europe; American Sailor Infected in Italy — U.S. cases pass 310, Amtrak cancels nonstop service between New York and Washington for lack of demand and thousands on a cruise ship off California await testing.

Jon Campbell / lohud.com:

Coronavirus: Concern over New Rochelle case stretches to Washington D.C. — ALBANY - A 50-year-old New Rochelle man attended a few events at his local synagogue the weekend before last — a bat mitzvah, a funeral, regular services. Hundreds of other people were there, too.

Discussion: Politico

KGO / ABC7:

Live coronavirus updates: Stanford canceling all in-person courses for remainder of winter quarter amid COVID-19 concerns — SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) — The outbreak of novel coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, is having a major impact across the world but also in cities across Northern California.

Discussion: New York Post, KRON4 and NPR

Politico:

Biden, Bullock boost Dems' Senate hopes — Democrats' bid to recapture the Senate got a major boost this week. — Joe Biden surged to the top of the presidential primary, temporarily calming widespread fear about running with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) at the top of their ticket.

Discussion: Associated Press and Raw Story

Washington Post:

As the U.S.-backed government in Bolivia unleashes a wave of political persecution, the Trump administration remains silent — LA PAZ, Bolivia — The knock at Orestes Sotomayor's door on the outskirts of this high-altitude metropolis came just as he was about to leave for work.

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money

Paul Brandus / USA Today:

On coronavirus, Trump owes us straight talk and a push for guaranteed paid sick leave — Trump and his aides should be honest about the medical and financial predicaments millions of Americans could face, and try to do something to help. — We knew, at some point, that it would come to this.

Sabrina Tavernise / New York Times:

A Sanders Voter, Weary of Debt at 29: ‘I Have Nothing to Lose’ — Brian Michelz has never worn a political T-shirt or been to a campaign rally. But when he voted for the first time in his life, it was for Bernie Sanders. What will he do if Mr. Sanders loses?

Mark Landler / New York Times:

Boris Johnson Launches War on U.K.'s Own Deep State — A juicy boss-from-hell story illuminates the tensions between Britain's radical new government and its solicitous but unyielding civil service. — LONDON — She is accused of flinging a folder at an aide, hitting the staffer in the head.

Vanessa Gera / Associated Press:

Poland's President Signs Bill Funding Public Media Amid Reelection Campaign — (WARSAW, Poland) — Poland's president has signed a bill earmarking nearly 2 billion zlotys ($510 million) to fund public television and radio, broadcast outlets that have become mouthpieces for the country's right-wing government …

Katy Tur / MSNBC:

Columbia U doctor on federal response to coronavirus: ‘gross amateur hour incompetence’ — This morning President Trump signed an emergency bill for $8.4 billion coronavirus funding. Dr. Irwin Redlener, Director Of Columbia University's National Center For Disaster Preparedness joins Yasmin Vossoughian …

Dana Milbank / Washington Post:

Got a medical question? Ask Dr. Trump! — Do you have a nagging medical concern? A rash that won't go away? Unexplained hearing loss? Are you currently bleeding out from a severed femoral artery? — Well, fret no more. America now has a leading medical expert — some say the best …

Aamer Madhani / Associated Press:

Trump's challenge: keeping his act fresh in reelection year — WASHINGTON (AP) — The Donald Trump show has a consistent script. Same villains. Same nicknames. Same grievances. Same hero: himself. — At raucous rallies held mostly in states that are friendly to him …