memeorandum: The inside story of how the U.S. shot down the Chinese balloon (David Ignatius/Washington Post)

11:35 AM ET, February 5, 2023

Top Items:

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: The Hill, Letters from an American, CNN and Fox News

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, Just The News, Washington Examiner, Breitbart, Defense One, The Gateway Pundit, Talking Points Memo and UPI

U.S. Department of Defense:

Senior Defense Official and Senior Military Official Hold an Off-Camera, On-Background Press Briefing Update on the High-Altitude Surveillance Balloon — STAFF: So good afternoon, everyone. Thank you for joining us for today's background briefing regarding the U.S. military takedown …

Discussion: Global Community Weekly and The RL Report

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: Fox News, Washington Examiner, The Gateway Pundit, No More Mister Nice Blog, The Wrap, BizPac Review, Mediaite, The Moderate Voice, New York Post, Raw Story, IJR and Breitbart

Washington Post:
U.S. military downs Chinese balloon over Atlantic Ocean

New York Times:
Before Chinese Spy Balloon Sighting, Classified Report Highlighted Foreign Aerial Spying

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

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

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

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Washington Post, ABC News, RedState, The Daily Caller, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Fox News and TheBlaze

Melina Delkic / New York Times:
The Chinese spy balloon moved from Alaska to South Carolina, prompting fear, jokes and political debate.

Discussion: HotAir, Townhall, USNI News, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, RedState, New York Post, Associated Press, Politico, Waliullah's Substack, Reuters and The Daily Beast

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

Discussion: Associated Press, KLAS, The Hill and NPR

Isaac Arnsdorf / Washington Post:

Koch network to back alternative to Trump after sitting out recent primaries — The return of one of the biggest spenders in American politics to the presidential primary field poses a direct challenge to the former president's comeback bid — The network of donors and activist groups led …

Discussion: Insider, CNN, PoliticusUSA, Wall Street Journal and Raw Story

New York Times:

Koch Network, Aiming to ‘Turn the Page’ on Trump, Will Play in the G.O.P. Primaries — The move by the alliance of conservative donors could provide an enormous boost to a Republican alternative to the former president. — The donor network created by the billionaire industrialist brothers Charles G …

Dan Balz / Washington Post:

Few Americans are excited about a Biden-Trump rematch, Post-ABC poll finds — Most say they would feel dissatisfied or angry if either wins the general election — President Biden and former president Donald Trump may have each drawn a record number of votes in 2020 …

Discussion: Politico, Washington Examiner, The Hill, ABC News, National Review, Wide World of News, BizPac Review and Bloomberg

Wall Street Journal:

Moscow, Tehran Advance Plans for Iranian-Designed Drone Facility in Russia — The two countries are deepening a military partnership that has alarmed the West — How We Know Russia Is Using Iranian Drones in Ukraine — Created with sketchtool. … 1x

Discussion: The Times of Israel

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: The Guardian and Insider

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

Discussion: Fox News, abc7NY, Washington Press and HotAir

Madison Burinsky / ABC News:

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu ‘definitely thinking about’ 2024 presidential run — Sununu, who was just reelected, touted his track record at the state level. — New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu said Sunday that he — is considering a run — for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination.

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.

Isaac Chotiner / New Yorker:

Imran Khan's Double Game — Following an assassination attempt, Pakistan's former Prime Minister discusses his views on the Taliban, his relationship with the military, and why he's more “evolved” than other people. — Thirty years ago, Imran Khan led the Pakistani national team to victory …

Discussion: New York Times and Bloomberg

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: 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: Raw Story, Washington Press, The Capitolist, The Hill, Orlando Sentinel and TheBlaze