memeorandum: In his first speech to Congress, Biden rejects autocracy — including from Trump (Philip Bump/Washington Post)

11:45 PM ET, April 28, 2021

Top Items:

Federal Investigators Execute Search Warrant at Rudy Giuliani's Apartment — Prosecutors obtained the warrant as part of an investigation into whether Mr. Giuliani broke lobbying laws as President Trump's personal lawyer. — Federal investigators in Manhattan executed a search warrant …

ABC News:

Rudy Giuliani's home, office searched by federal agents as part of lobbying probe, sources tell ABC News — Sources say Giuliani's electronic devices were confiscated by authorities. — Feds consider Rudy Giuliani email probe … Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE

Discussion: Raw Story and Insider

Benjamin Hart / New York Magazine:

Preet Bharara Thinks Rudy Giuliani Is in ‘Deep Trouble’ — On Wednesday, federal agents raided Rudy Giuliani's apartment as part of an investigation into his dealings in Ukraine, which included digging up dirt on Joe Biden in that country. The investigation is being led by prosecutors in the Southern District of New York.

Discussion: CNN, Fox News, CBS New York and No More Mister Nice Blog

Aaron Blake / Washington Post:
Giuliani's long quest to put himself in legal jeopardy appears to have paid off

Discussion: CNN, The Gateway Pundit and Raw Story

Wall Street Journal:
Rudy Giuliani's New York Apartment Searched by Federal Investigators

Discussion: Raw Story, Mediaite, POLITICUSUSA, The Guardian and The Week

Shayna Jacobs / Washington Post:

Trump supporter found guilty of threatening to kill members of Congress after Jan. 6 insurrection — NEW YORK — Brendan Hunt, an enthusiastic Trump supporter who called for killing members of Congress days after the Jan. 6 insurrection, was found guilty Wednesday of making a death threat against elected officials.

Discussion: CNN, Joe.My.God., Mediaite, New York Times, Raw Story and Associated Press

ABC News:
In 1st, two women will sit behind a president for a speech to Congress

Discussion: Fox News, NPR, Washington Post, Roll Call, Associated Press, The Wrap, WZVN-TV, The Guardian and Defense One

Andrea Mitchell / MSNBC:
Pelosi on Biden address: ‘We are so pleased with what has happened so far in the first 100 days’

Discussion: HuffPost, Associated Press, The 19th, Real America's Voice News, Washington Post, The Guardian and Raw Story

Aris Folley / The Hill:
Harris and Pelosi make history at Biden's first address to Congress

Discussion: New York Times, POLITICUSUSA and The Root

Liz Peek / The Hill:
Border crisis torches Kamala Harris's presidential prospects

Discussion: Breitbart

Joe Schoffstall / Fox News:
Pelosi's PACs flooded with over $1M in cash from teachers' unions as debate raged over school reopenings

Discussion: The Federalist, Roll Call, Breitbart and Townhall

Michelle Stoddart / ABC News:

Biden's speech to joint session of Congress: Live updates — The president is set to lay out his policy agenda in his prime-time address. — LIVE NOW — ABC News Live — ABCNL Prime with Linsey Davis — President Joe Biden is set to lay out his policy agenda and provide an update …

Discussion: Politico, Deseret News, Breitbart, The Week, The Crime Report and Political Wire

Meredith Newman / delawareonline: Delaware man to deliver first joint address to Congress Wednesday night

Ben Leonard / Politico:
What Jill Biden's guest list tells us about the president's speech tonight

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Fox News, The Hill and Washington Free Beacon

Philip Bump / Washington Post:
In his first speech to Congress, Biden rejects autocracy — including from Trump

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Fox News, Mediaite, The Atlantic, The Sun, Boston Herald, Just The News, Washington Times, CNN and Brookings

Naomi Lim / Washington Examiner:
Biden strikes optimistic tone with joint address to Congress ahead of his 100th day in office

Discussion: Politico, Fox News and New York Post

Nick Niedzwiadek / Politico:
Biden's big speech tonight is like no other

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Washington Free Beacon, Washington Post, KARK-TV, Al Jazeera, Raw Story, NPR and USA Today

New York Times:

Cuomo Aides Spent Months Hiding Nursing Home Death Toll — Aides to the New York governor, Andrew M. Cuomo, repeatedly prevented state health officials from releasing the number of nursing home deaths in the pandemic. — The effort by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office to obscure the pandemic death toll …

Discussion: New York Post, Fox News, Washington Examiner, National Review, Mediaite, Insider, The Daily Caller, New York Magazine, RedState, OutKick, The Hill, IJR, Townhall, Politico, HotAir, Twitchy, The Week, Washington Post and CBS New York

Alayna Treene / Axios:

Senate Democrats resist Biden's $1.8 trillion pay-for plan — President Biden will ask Congress to pay for the entirety of his $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, yet some Democratic senators want him to finance it with deficit spending, lawmakers and their aides tell Axios.

Discussion: ABC News, Insider, Deadline and National Review

CNN:
Read President Joe Biden's first address to Congress

Discussion: ABC News, Politico and Washington Times

The White House:
Fact Sheet: The American Families Plan

Ted Cruz / Wall Street Journal:

Your Woke Money Is No Good Here — Corporations have taken advantage of Republicans for too long. I won't take their PAC dollars anymore. — Georgia's new election law runs 98 generously spaced pages. A fast reader can get through it in one sitting. If you're the CEO of a major corporation …

Discussion: Mediaite

Spencer Buell / Boston Magazine:

They Wanted to Call Roller World. Instead They've Been Calling the New York Times — The calls come out of the blue. He'll be relaxing on a weekend afternoon, wrapping up work on deadline, or chatting with friends on a Zoom call. And then all of a sudden, his phone will buzz …

Andrea Salcedo / Washington Post:

A lawmaker wanted to ban ‘divisive’ teaching on race. Then he mentioned ‘the good’ of slavery. — When a Louisiana lawmaker questioned state Rep. Ray Garofalo Jr. (R) during a House committee meeting on Tuesday over his bill that would ban schools and colleges from teaching “divisive concepts” …

Discussion: The American Independent, The Root, Louisiana Illuminator, Crooks and Liars, The Intellectualist and Hackwhackers

Caleb Howe / Mediaite:

Roll The Tape: CNN's New Day Claims to be Straight News, But Adopts Dunks-and-Owns Format — The new New Day debuted last week on CNN. Brianna Keilar is now the co-host alongside John Berman. The show's reboot comes with a new attitude as they chase audience share.

U.S. Department of Justice:

Three Georgia Men Charged with Federal Hate Crimes and Attempted Kidnapping in Connection with the Death of Ahmaud Arbery — Three Georgia men were indicted today by a federal grand jury in the Southern District of Georgia and charged with hate crimes and the attempted kidnapping of Ahmaud Arbery.

Discussion: New York Times, Washington Examiner, NPR, WKBN-TV, The Hill, CBS News, Raw Story, The Daily Caller, Joe.My.God., UPI and Law & Crime

Alex Bollinger / LGBTQ Nation:

Concerned father arrested while peacefully testifying against Arkansas trans health care ban — He was arrested for going 30 seconds over his allotted two minutes to speak. The anti-LGBTQ hate group representative who spoke before him talked for 40 minutes.

Ed Lavandera / CNN:

GOP precinct chair in Texas arrested in US Capitol riot — Dallas (CNN)A Texas man arrested for storming the US Capitol and assaulting police officers on January 6 also serves as a Republican Party precinct chair and has been an election poll worker in north Texas.

Discussion: Raw Story

Gabby Orr / CNN:

‘Not an easy transition’: Inside Trump's unconventional first months out of office — Palm Beach, Florida (CNN)Most Mondays and Tuesdays, former President Donald Trump skips golf to confer with aides about the week ahead. — Together they decide which Republican candidates he will meet …

Discussion: Breitbart, National Review, The Daily Caller, The Week, The Gateway Pundit, Raw Story, Insider, Washington Examiner and The Hill

Jonah Goldberg / The Dispatch:

Outrage Overload — You will be assimilated into the rage machine. — 1 hr ago — The York Minster Police are a small but proud lot. There are only eight of them (the North Yorkshire Police are the major crime fighting force in the area), but they do important work.

Laurie McGinley / Washington Post:

Biden administration expected to announce plan to ban menthol cigarettes — A prohibition on menthol cigarettes is a priority for Black health advocates and anti-tobacco groups, which note that African Americans have been disproportionately harmed by the product

Greg Suskin / WSOC-TV:

‘I did a stupid thing’: Volunteer fire chief apologizes for racially charged social media post — LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. — A volunteer fire chief in Lancaster County is receiving criticism for an offensive, racially charged post he made on Facebook. — The Facebook post from Butch Ghent read:

Discussion: The Root and Raw Story

Mead Gruver / Associated Press:

Cheney: ‘Wishful thinking’ by Trump she won't seek 4th term — CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Speculation by former President Donald Trump that she won't seek re-election next year is “wishful thinking,” Liz Cheney said Wednesday. — Trump suggested Tuesday that Wyoming's congresswoman would become a lobbyist or …

Discussion: Washington Examiner

Benjamin Din / Politico:

‘America is not a racist country’: Sen. Tim Scott delivers GOP response — Sen. Tim Scott on Wednesday accused Democrats of using race as a political weapon in order to pass their agenda. — “Race is not a political weapon to settle every issue the way one side wants,” he said. “It's far too important.”

Discussion: New York Magazine, USA Today, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Washington Post, CBS News, Washington Times, Associated Press, National Review, The Gateway Pundit, New York Post, CNN and The Week

Brent Budowsky / The Hill:

How Biden can win the midterm elections — When President Biden addresses the nation and a joint session of Congress, he could fairly ask Americans, similar to what former President Reagan once asked, are you better off then you were a year ago? Do you feel safer than you did a year ago?

Discussion: Washington Examiner, ABC News, Associated Press, Deadline, Breitbart and New York Times

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission:

Alex Oh Resigns from SEC; Melissa Hodgman Named Acting Director of Enforcement — The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced that Alex Oh has resigned her position as Director of the Division of Enforcement for personal reasons. Melissa Hodgman will return to the role of Acting Director of the Division of Enforcement.

Discussion: Bloomberg

David Gilbert / VICE:

This Crossfit Chiropractor Is Secretly One of QAnon's Leading Influencers — IET, a leading and hugely antisemitic voice in the Q community, has gone to great lengths to conceal his identity, which VICE News can now reveal. — DG — Under his pseudonym of InevitableET, or IET …

David Crary / Associated Press:

US Catholic bishops may press Biden to stop taking Communion — When U.S. Catholic bishops hold their next national meeting in June, they'll be deciding whether to send a tougher-than-ever message to President Joe Biden and other Catholic politicians: Don't receive Communion if you persist in public advocacy of abortion rights.

Discussion: Fox News, The Daily Caller, The Hill and IJR

Jake Dima / Washington Examiner:

Biden renews push for ‘assault weapon’ ban and prohibition on ‘ghost guns’ — President Joe Biden, in his first address to a joint session of Congress, renewed a push to ban so-called “assault weapons,” “high-capacity magazines,” and “ghost guns” amid a wave of mass shooting incidents in recent weeks.

Discussion: The Hill, National Review and Forbes

Washington Post:

Deadly air pollutant ‘disproportionately and systematically’ harms Americans of color, study finds — Black, Latino and Asian Americans face higher levels of exposure to fine particulate matter from traffic, construction and other sources — Nearly every source of the nation's most pervasive …

Discussion: New York Times and Earther

Sen. Kelly Statement / Senator Mark Kelly:

Sen. Kelly Statement on President Biden's Address to Congress — Today, Arizona Senator Mark Kelly issued this statement following President Biden's first address to a joint session of Congress: — “When I talk with Arizonans across the state, they tell me they want Washington working together …

Discussion: National Review

Jerry Iannelli / The Appeal:

Lori Lightfoot's Record Shows the Limits of ‘Police Reform’ — In various offices across two decades, Mayor Lightfoot has failed to bring change to the Chicago Police Department. — Lori Lightfoot has had several chances to hold the Chicago Police Department accountable for its actions.