memeorandum: Koch Network, Aiming to ‘Turn the Page’ on Trump, Will Play in the G.O.P. Primaries (New York Times)

9:30 AM ET, February 5, 2023

Top Items:

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, Talking Points Memo, UPI and Just The News

Washington Post:

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

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, Bloomberg and CBS News

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: BizPac Review, The Wrap, New York Post, Mediaite, The Moderate Voice, Fox News, Raw Story, IJR and Breitbart

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

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

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

Discussion: Global Community Weekly and The RL Report

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

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

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

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

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

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

Discussion: NBC News, Bloomberg, Instapundit, Fox News, Politico, Washington Times, CBS 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, PoliticusUSA, Reuters, Rolling Stone, Breitbart and Instapundit

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 …

Isaac Arnsdorf / Washington Post:

Koch network to oppose Trump in primary after sitting out recent cycles — 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: CNN, Wall Street Journal and Raw Story

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, Washington Press, abc7NY and HotAir

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: The Hill, Wide World of News, ABC News, BizPac Review and Bloomberg

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.

Peter Nicholas / NBC News:

Biden's State of the Union address will make his case for re-election in 2024 — Biden will use the speech to reach more people and assure them that he's enacted plans to make their daily commutes shorter and their prescription drug bills lower — WASHINGTON — At the start of his speech Tuesday night …

Discussion: Washington Post, The Hill, NPR, Raw Story, The Guardian, Newsbusters, Politico and Washington Examiner

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

Politico:

The Shows: Sunday listings for Feb. 5, 2023 — CNN “State of the Union”: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg ... Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) ... Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.). Panel: Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), Jonah Goldberg, Karen Finney and David Urban.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars and Associated Press

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

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 …