memeorandum: Ex-staffer claims George Santos sexually harassed him, violated pay rules (Melissa Klein/New York Post)

7:00 AM ET, February 5, 2023

Top Items:

U.S. military downs Chinese balloon over Atlantic Ocean — A U.S. military aircraft on Saturday downed the suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that had been floating over the United States for several days, according to a U.S. official and eyewitness videos circulating on social media.

Discussion: New York Times, Fox News, New York Daily News, The Daily Beast, The Hill, Snapshot, Task & Purpose, One America News Network, Raw Story, Insider, Al Jazeera, Sean Hannity, New York Post and Kevin Drum

Jim Garamone / U.S. Department of Defense:

F-22 Safely Shoots Down Chinese Spy Balloon Off South Carolina Coast — A U.S. Air Force fighter safely shot down a Chinese high-altitude surveillance balloon today, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a written statement. — President Joe Biden ordered the action on Wednesday …

Discussion: Al Jazeera, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, Washington Examiner, Breitbart, Defense One, UPI and Talking Points Memo

Melina Delkic / New York Times:

The Chinese spy balloon moved from Alaska to South Carolina, prompting fear, jokes and political debate. — The Chinese government said the downing of the “civilian” aircraft was an “excessive reaction,” and that it “retains the right to respond further.” — The Chinese foreign ministry declared its …

Discussion: USNI News, New York Post, RedState, Associated Press, Politico, Waliullah's Substack and Reuters

Matt Novak / Forbes:

Yes, Chinese Spy Balloons Flew Over The U.S. When President Trump Was In Office Too — Talking heads on cable TV are up in arms about the Chinese spy balloon that was floating across the continental U.S., before it was shot down Saturday afternoon. Conservative commentators …

Discussion: The Wrap, Mediaite, The Moderate Voice, Fox News, BizPac Review, Raw Story, IJR, Breitbart and Washington Times

David Ignatius / Washington Post:

The inside story of how the U.S. shot down the Chinese balloon — Intelligence analysts distinguish between secrets and mysteries. The bizarre Chinese balloon overflight of the United States that ended with Saturday's shoot-down over the Atlantic coast has elements of both.

Discussion: Letters from an American, CNN, Fox News, CBS News and Bloomberg

New York Times:

Before Chinese Spy Balloon Sighting, Classified Report Highlighted Foreign Aerial Spying — Before a Chinese spy balloon was discovered in the United States, American officials said a rival power may have used advanced technology to surveil U.S. military sites.

Discussion: Raw Story, Fox News, Breitbart, Variety, New York Post, Wall Street Journal and Washington Post

U.S. Department of Defense:
Statement From Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III

Discussion: Washington Post, ABC News, RedState, Global Community Weekly, The Daily Caller, Washington Examiner, Fox News, TheBlaze, The Hill and GLOBAL STRAT VIEW

CNN:
US fighter jets shoot down Chinese spy balloon off East Coast

Discussion: Reuters UK, Drezner's World, Althouse, MyNorthwest.com, New York Post, 6abc and Politico

Associated Press:
China balloon: Many questions about suspected spy in the sky

Wall Street Journal:
U.S. Shoots Down Suspected Chinese Spy Balloon

Discussion: Instapundit, Bloomberg, Fox News, Washington Times, CBS News, Just The News and TASS

Peter Alexander / NBC News:
U.S. has downed Chinese spy balloon off the Carolina coast and will attempt to recover debris

Discussion: Associated Press and The Hill

Associated Press:
China plays down Blinken's canceled visit over balloon

New York Times:
U.S. Close to Shooting Down Chinese Spy Balloon Over the East Coast

Discussion: The Drive, The Gateway Pundit, Fox News, Associated Press, PoliticusUSA, Reuters, Rolling Stone, Breitbart and Instapundit

Lily Kuo / Washington Post:
China rushes to cap damage over suspected spy balloon as Blinken delays trip

Melissa Klein / New York Post:

Ex-staffer claims George Santos sexually harassed him, violated pay rules — A short-term staffer for George Santos claims he was sexually harassed by the disgraced Long Island representative, who allegedly touched his groin and invited him home, according to an ethics complaint the man says he filed.

Discussion: Fox News, Washington Press, abc7NY and HotAir

New York Times:

George Santos Is Accused of Sexual Harassment in His Capitol Office — The complaint was made by a man seeking work as a House aide, whose bid for a job was rejected because he faced criminal wiretapping charges in Ohio. — A prospective congressional aide has accused Representative George Santos …

Discussion: Insider and Slate

Nate Raymond / Reuters:

Ban on marijuana users owning guns is unconstitutional, U.S. judge rules — A federal law prohibiting marijuana users from possessing firearms is unconstitutional, a federal judge in Oklahoma has concluded, citing last year's U.S. Supreme Court ruling that significantly expanded gun rights.

Discussion: Truthout

Liz Truss / Telegraph:

Liz Truss exclusive: ‘I assumed upon entering Downing Street my mandate would be respected. How wrong I was’ — In her first intervention since she quit, former PM writes for The Telegraph about how she was brought down - and the lessons she learnt — One year ago this week …

Discussion: Reuters, Politico and The Guardian

Sara Boboltz / HuffPost:

Ron DeSantis Moves To Strip Florida Venue's Liquor License For Christmas Drag Show — The Orlando Philharmonic Plaza Foundation is the Florida governor's latest target as he wages war against drag performers. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration moved on Friday to strip …

Discussion: Washington Press, The Capitolist, The Hill, Orlando Sentinel, Fox News, TheBlaze, Washington Times, The Western Journal, National Review, New Republic and The Daily Caller

Francis Farrell / The Kyiv Independent:

One night in Bakhmut: Civilians wait for the end as Russia draws closer — Editor's Note: This piece tells the story of the lives of civilians and first responders in Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, directly through the personal experience of a Kyiv Independent reporter who stayed overnight …

Discussion: CBS News

Daniella Silva / NBC News:

Family found dead in Pennsylvania made a ‘joint decision’ to kill themselves, police say — A Pennsylvania family found shot dead in their backyard last week in what police say appears to be a suicide pact, included a mother and daughter who loved bowling and were devout Christian conservatives, people who knew them said.

Discussion: New York Post

James Kirchick / Air Mail:

Armie Hammer Breaks His Silence — For the vast majority of humanity, January 1, 2021—a year into the coronavirus pandemic, when most of the world remained under some form of lockdown and vaccines were not yet widely available—brought little to celebrate. Not for Armie Hammer.