memeorandum: California's wildfire smoke plumes are unlike anything previously seen (Matthew Cappucci/Washington Post)

12:17 PM ET, September 13, 2020

Top Items:

Biden gains edge in Arizona over Trump and has big lead in Minnesota — Battleground Tracker poll — Every four years it can seem like the path to the presidency runs through the same list of well-trodden battleground states. But this time, we're on some newer turf: Democrats are contesting …

Discussion: Politico

Dana Blanton / Fox News:

Fox News Poll: Biden-Trump a 5-point race in post-convention poll — Both tickets have secured the backing of their key voting blocs — The Joe Biden-Kamala Harris ticket is ahead of the Donald Trump-Mike Pence ticket by a 51-46 percent margin. That 5 percentage-point advantage sits right …

Discussion: The Atlantic, The Hill, The Message Box and New York Post

Kendall Karson / ABC News:

Deep skepticism for Trump's coronavirus response endures: POLL — Trump's approval on the coronavirus lands at 35% in a new ABC News/Ipsos poll. — Most Americans are skeptical of President Donald Trump's performance on the coronavirus pandemic — disapproving of his response …

Discussion: Ipsos, Political Wire, The Hill and ABC7

Michael Scherer / Washington Post:

Mike Bloomberg to spend at least $100 million in Florida to benefit Joe Biden — Former New York mayor Mike Bloomberg plans to spend at least $100 million in Florida to help elect Democrat Joe Biden, a massive late-stage infusion of cash that could reshape the presidential contest in a costly toss …

Discussion: Bloomberg, Mother Jones, NBC News, Fox News, CNN, The Hill, Breitbart, New York Post, New Yorker, Althouse, The Guardian, Raw Story and Conservative Review

Axios:

Bloomberg to spend $100 million to help Biden win Florida — Billionaire Mike Bloomberg plans to spend at least $100 million to help Joe Biden win Florida in November's election, the Washington Post reports. — Why it matters: Taking Florida would be a knockout blow for Biden …

Discussion: NBC News, Washington Post, New York Post, NPR and Raw Story

Marc Caputo / Politico:
Bloomberg to spend up to $100 million to beat Trump in Florida

Discussion: NBC News, TMZ.com, Florida Politics and ABC7

Capi Lynn / Oregonian:

The desperate fight to save his family ends in tragedy — SALEM — Chris Tofte blew past the blockade, his green Jeep Cherokee aimed for the bowels of the raging Beachie Creek fire. — It was around 4 a.m. Tuesday morning, and he was desperately searching for his wife, son and mother-in-law.

Politico:

The surprise religious group that could decide Trump's fate — In 2016, Mormons rejected Donald Trump in numbers unheard of for a Republican nominee — viewing the thrice-married, immigrant-bashing Republican as an affront to their values. — In 2020, the president is going all-out to change …

Discussion: Rolling Stone and Raw Story

Matthew Cappucci / Washington Post:

California's wildfire smoke plumes are unlike anything previously seen — Smoke plumes have reached 55,000 feet in height, with embedded thunderstorms, lightning and possible tornadoes — More than 3.1 million acres have burned in California this year, part of a record fire season that still has four months to go.

Axios:

L.A. mayor: “Talk to a firefighter if you think that climate change isn't real” — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti on Sunday rebuked President Trump over his claims that the California wildfires are simply a result of poor forest management, telling CNN's “State of the Union” …

Discussion: Politico, The Hill, Breitbart and The Daily Beast

Annie Karni / New York Times:
Trump to Visit California After Criticism Over Silence on Wildfires

Discussion: Axios, The Guardian, Common Dreams, Daily Kos, Conservative Review and Talking Points Memo

Megan Messerly / The Nevada Independent:

Trump sows doubt on election integrity with false assertions at Douglas County rally amid coronavirus pandemic — President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Minden-Tahoe Airport on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020. (Trevor Bexon/The Nevada Independent)

Discussion: Las Vegas Review-Journal, Washington Times and The Hill

Shannon Pettypiece / NBC News:
Trump tries his luck in Nevada

Discussion: Politico, The Daily Caller, Reuters, Raw Story, POLITICUSUSA, New York Times, Associated Press and The Nevada Independent

Wall Street Journal:

Warren Buffett Silent So Far in 2020 Presidential Election — Omaha district that billionaire investor calls home could play role in close White House race — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett was an active fundraiser and campaigner for the past two Democratic presidential nominees.

Meredith Deliso / ABC News:

All Michigan State students asked to quarantine due to ‘exponential growth’ of COVID-19 — Cases rose once students returned to the area for the fall, officials said. — All local Michigan State University students have been asked to self-quarantine immediately for the next two weeks to contain the …

Discussion: The Hill

Zachary Petrizzo / Mediaite:

Roger Stone Wants Daily Beast Reporters To Be Arrested Over ‘Seditious’ Activities — Longtime President Donald Trump advisor and convicted felon Roger Stone floated the idea of arresting Daily Beast staff members and shutting down their offices if the news organization engages in “seditious” …

Discussion: The Guardian, The Daily Beast, Raw Story and Washington Monthly

Mary Papenfuss / Yahoo News:
Roger Stone Calls For Trump To ‘Declare Martial Law’ To Seize Power If He Loses

Discussion: CANNONFIRE, Balloon Juice and Political Wire

Rebecca Hersher / NPR:

Longtime Climate Science Denier Hired At NOAA — David Legates, a University of Delaware professor of climatology who has spent much of his career questioning basic tenets of climate science, has been hired for a top position at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Spencer Hsu / Washington Post:

Court-appointed adviser in Michael Flynn case says Justice Dept. yielded to corrupt ‘pressure campaign’ led by Trump — A retired federal judge accused the Justice Department on Friday of yielding to a pressure campaign led by President Trump in its bid to dismiss the prosecution …

Jacob Magid / The Times of Israel:

US assured UAE it won't back Israel annexation before 2024 at earliest, ToI told — UAE prioritized receiving assurances from Washington, sources say, given that Netanyahu has made clear he won't advance controversial move without US support — NEW YORK — The Trump administration gave …

Michael Goodwin / New York Post:

The Democrats' partisan damage — First, it was the United Arab Emirates and Israel making peace. Then it was Serbia and Kosovo agreeing to set aside political disputes to sign an economic deal. And now Bahrain and Israel are set to sign a peace treaty.

Lisa M. Krieger / Mercury News:

Stanford doctors take aim at former colleague Scott Atlas, Trump's new adviser on the COVID-19 pandemic — The former chief of neuroradiology is harming public health, according to public letter health — In the tight-knit world of academic medicine, scientists pride themselves on presenting …

Washington Post:

Warmer. Burning. Epidemic-challenged. Expensive. The California Dream has become the California Compromise. — SAN FRANCISCO — The cityscape resembles the surface of a distant planet, populated by a masked alien culture. The air, choked with blown ash, is difficult to breathe.

Siena College Research Institute:

Biden Favorability Rating Outpaces Trump's in Four States — The New York Times / Siena College Battleground Polls: — Minnesota: Biden 50% - Trump 41% — Nevada: Biden 46% - Trump 42% — New Hampshire: Biden 45% - Trump 42% — Wisconsin: Biden 48% - Trump 43%

Discussion: New York Post, Yahoo News, The American Spectator, Breitbart, The Daily Caller, IJR and Twitchy

New York Times:

Wildfires Live Updates: Dozens Missing as States Look to Weather for Relief — President Trump will visit California on Monday to be briefed about blazes that have burned more than three million acres. Tens of thousands of people have evacuated in Oregon.