memeorandum: Photos: President Biden makes historic visit to war-torn Ukraine (NBC News)

5:15 PM ET, February 20, 2023

Top Items:

Eliot A. Cohen / The Atlantic:

Biden Just Destroyed Putin's Last Hope — The president's visit to Ukraine was a gut punch to the Russian leader. — The long-range missiles matter. So do the super-accurate artillery shells, the surface-to-air missiles, and the winter weather gear; the training in the English countryside …

Discussion: USA Today, Reuters, Fox News, CBS News and Political Wire

David Rothkopf / The Daily Beast:

Biden's Trip to Kyiv is the Ultimate Humiliation for Putin—and Trump — Biden joined a great history of American presidents standing up to Russian aggression, and significantly broke from the shameful actions of his predecessor. — Kennedy and then Reagan in Berlin. Now Biden in Kyiv.

Discussion: The White House, Washington Post, The Kyiv Independent, Balloon Juice, CBS News and Resolute Square

New York Times:

Biden Visits Kyiv, Ukraine's Embattled Capital, as Air-Raid Siren Sounds — President Biden took a nearly 10-hour train ride from the border of Poland to show his administration's “unwavering support” a year into Russia's invasion of Ukraine. — KYIV, Ukraine — President Biden …

Anne Applebaum / The Atlantic:

Biden Went to Kyiv Because There's No Going Back — The president's surprise visit sent a message to Moscow—and to European leaders. — An American AWACS began patrolling the skies west of Ukraine last night; Kyiv was locked down this morning. Motorcades crisscrossed the city and rumors began to spread.

Discussion: Wall Street Journal, PJ Media, Sputnik News, Just The News, The Sun and Vanity Fair

Andrea Mitchell / MSNBC:

Rep. Crow: ‘Not even worth my brain space’ to respond to Republicans criticizing Biden Ukraine trip — Intelligence Committee member Representative Jason Crow (D-CO) joins Andrea Mitchell to weigh in on President Biden's trip to Kyiv, as one of the House members who signed …

Discussion: NBC News, Al Jazeera, RedState, Breitbart and Raw Story

Associated Press:

Sneaking a president from DC to Kyiv without anyone noticing — Read full article — APTOPIX Biden US Ukraine — President Joe Biden's motorcade slipped out of the White House around 3:30 a.m. Sunday. No big, flashy Air Force One for this trip — the president vanished into the darkness …

Discussion: Fox News, USA Today, WHNT-TV, KTAB, Snapshot, Washington Post and Political Wire

Mark Antonio Wright / National Review:

Biden's Secret Trip to Kyiv Took Guts — President Biden's secret visit to wartime Kyiv is an example of America in its finest tradition. — The New York Times reports that after a “trans-Atlantic flight to Poland, Mr. Biden crossed the border by train, traveling for nearly 10 hours to Kyiv …

Discussion: The Post Millennial, IJR, Washington Examiner and CBS News

Washington Post:
On surprise trip to Kyiv, Biden vows enduring support for Ukraine

NBC News:
Photos: President Biden makes historic visit to war-torn Ukraine

Discussion: Fox News and The Hill

The Guardian:
US informed Russia of Joe Biden's Kyiv visit hours before departure

Discussion: HotAir, NPR, Metro.co.uk, Wall Street Journal, Armageddon Prose, Fox News, The Daily Caller, Mediaite, Fox News, Insider, The Post Millennial, Twitchy and Associated Press

Alexander Ward / Politico:
What Chris Coons tells world leaders about Biden

Discussion: TASS

Associated Press:
Biden declares ‘Kyiv stands’ in surprise visit to Ukraine

Peter Nicholas / NBC News:
Biden's foray into Ukraine deepens his investment in defeating Russia

Discussion: The Guardian, Washington Post, New York Post, Bloomberg, The White House, The Federalist, Raw Story, Fox News, Washington Times, The Nation, WGN-TV, The Sun, PoliticusUSA, The Post Millennial, Washington Examiner and Politico

New York Times:

James O'Keefe Is Removed as Project Veritas' Leader — Mr. O'Keefe had been the face of the group since he founded Project Veritas in his father's garage in suburban New York in 2010. — James O'Keefe, the embattled leader of the conservative group Project Veritas, has been removed …

Discussion: Washington Post, The Hill, The Gateway Pundit, The Post Millennial, Mediaite and RedState

Will Sommer / The Daily Beast:

James O'Keefe Resigns From Project Veritas After Employee Complaints — The founder of the right-wing nonprofit resigned without striking a severance deal, The Daily Beast has learned. … Right-wing activist James O'Keefe resigned Monday morning from his position leading Project Veritas …

Discussion: New York Magazine, Mock Paper Scissors, Politico, RedState, The Wrap, The Wildfire Newsletter, Just The News, The Post Millennial, Rolling Stone, TheBlaze, The Last Refuge, Raw Story, Big League Politics, The Daily Caller, NewsNation and Ace of Spades HQ, more at Mediagazer »

Steve Benen / MSNBC:

Despite her role, Marjorie Taylor Greene backs ‘national divorce’ — As Marjorie Taylor Greene endorses the dissolution of the United States, the question is whether House GOP leaders will bother to care. — In late 2021, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene briefly referenced “a National Divorce scenario” …

Discussion: Insider, The Hill, Raw Story, Digby's Hullabaloo, RedState, New Republic, The Wrap, The New Civil Rights Movement, Mediaite, The Western Journal, Crooks and Liars, The Post Millennial, Fox News and New York Daily News

Shannon Pettypiece / NBC News:

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for a ‘national divorce’ between liberal and conservative states — WASHINGTON — Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called for the U.S. to be separated by red and blue states and for a shrinking of the federal government in a tweet on President's Day …

Discussion: Washington Times, The Hill, Raw Story, IJR and Mediaite

Julia Jacobs / New York Times:

‘Rust’ Prosecutors Downgrade Alec Baldwin's Manslaughter Charges — The actor's lawyers had argued that a firearm law included by the prosecutors was not in effect at the time of the fatal shooting. It would have carried a mandatory five-year sentence. — Prosecutors have downgraded …

Mike Allen / Axios:

Scoop: McCarthy gives Tucker Carlson access to trove of Jan. 6 riot tape — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has given Fox News' Tucker Carlson exclusive access to 41,000 hours of Capitol surveillance footage from the Jan. 6 riot, McCarthy sources tell me. — Carlson TV producers …

Jack Mirkinson / The Nation:

“The New York Times” Is Repeating One of Its Most Notorious Mistakes — The paper's anti-trans coverage parallels its failings over gay rights and AIDS. But the Times appears determined not to learn from its own history. — On March 11, 1998, New York Times copy editor Donna Cartwright posted …

more at Mediagazer »

Los Angeles Times:

Arrest made in killing of L.A. Bishop David O'Connell, sources say — Authorities investigating the killing of a Los Angeles bishop Saturday have made an arrest in the case, law enforcement sources said Monday. — Auxiliary Bishop David G. O'Connell, 69, was killed Saturday afternoon …

Cat Zakrzewski / Washington Post:

Supreme Court hears a case that could transform the internet — Oral arguments begin in Gonzalez v. Google, a landmark case tackling whether tech companies should be liable for harmful content their algorithms surface — In November 2015, three rifle-wielding ISIS gunmen opened fire …

Discussion: PBS NewsHour, Wall Street Journal, New York Times and HuffPost

Rebecca Kern / Politico:
Big Tech is about to have an epic week in the Supreme Court

Discussion: ABC News, Conservative Brief, Los Angeles Times, Axios, jihadwatch.org, New York Post, New York Times, Slate, Lawfare, Reason, Sputnik News, SCOTUSblog, The Hill, Fox News, HuffPost and Associated Press, more at Mediagazer »

Jill Lawrence / USA Today:

Medicaid expansion is a compassion test many 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls fail — There is no excuse for leaving people vulnerable to illness, death and financial ruin. We should all care, even if it costs money. — As governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley was a firebrand …

New York Times:
Chris Sununu Eyes the G.O.P.'s ‘Normal’ Lane in 2024. Does It Exist?

Discussion: The Hill and The Guardian

David Folkenflik / NPR:

The ‘wackadoodle’ foundation of Fox News' election-fraud claims — A woman who says the wind talks to her and put forth claims of election fraud in the 2020 presidential race that she admitted were “pretty wackadoodle” turns out to be a key source of allegations that Fox News presented …

Discussion: The Guardian, PennLive, The Nation and Mediaite

Rasmussen Reports:

Trump Dominates Presidents Day Poll — As the nation celebrates Presidents Day, a plurality of Americans consider former President Donald Trump both the best and worst of recent leaders. — The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone and online survey finds that 20% …

Paul Bedard / Washington Examiner:
Only Donald Trump: #1 ‘best’ and ‘worst’ president

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Peach State Politics …, The Daily Caller and Just The News

Alex Leary / Wall Street Journal:

Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis to Court Big-Money Donors at Dueling Palm Beach Events — The former president and the Florida governor this week intensify fight for campaign cash — Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis have battled in polls for months over who has a better shot at the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

Discussion: New Republic, Mock Paper Scissors, BizPac Review, Raw Story and Fox News

Erin Doherty / Axios:
Michigan GOP selects 2020 election denier as party leader

Discussion: CNN, Just The News, Michigan Advance, Associated Press, Raw Story, Reuters, Nikki Haley's Road … and RedState

Rex Huppke / USA Today:

Anti-transgender rules, rhetoric and legislation are a shameful stain on America's soul — Is another person's identity threatening to you? Do you have so little respect for your own children that you think the mere mention of gender identity is going to turn them into someone they aren't?

Melissa Block / NPR:
Parents raise concerns as Florida bans gender-affirming care for trans kids

Discussion: Digby's Hullabaloo and Twitchy

Gary Leff / View from the Wing:

United's New Family Seating Policy Helps Customers, Hurts Competitors, And Curries Political Favor — United Airlines airlines has announced a new family seating policy that makes it easier for families to have assigned seats together without extra cost. This puts them out ahead of competitors …

Discussion: abc7NY and UPI