memeorandum: Zelensky, in private, plots bold attacks inside Russia, leak shows (Washington Post)

9:00 AM ET, May 14, 2023

Top Items:

Remarks by President Biden at the Howard University Class of 2023 Commencement Address — Washington, D.C. — 11:34 A.M. EDT — THE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you, Mr. President, for that introduction. Dr. Morse, thank you for the incredible honorary degree.

Sara Boboltz / HuffPost:

White Supremacy Is The ‘Most Dangerous Terrorist Threat,’ Biden Tells Howard Grads — “I say it wherever I go,” the president told the crowd. — In a commencement address to graduates of Howard University, President Joe Biden warned: “The most dangerous threat to our homeland is white supremacy.”

Discussion: Fox News, RedState, Politico, The Hill, Twitchy, Washington Times and The Black Wall Street Times

New York Times:

Biden Warns of ‘Sinister Forces’ Trying to Reverse Racial Progress — The president's commencement address at Howard University, a historically Black institution, came as Democratic strategists have expressed concerns about muted enthusiasm for Mr. Biden among Black voters. — Reporting from Washington

Discussion: Althouse, NPR, TMZ.com, Associated Press, Bloomberg and The Daily Caller

CNN:
Biden previews 2024 election pitch to young Black voters in Howard University commencement speech

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Associated Press, Fox News, New York Post, FOX8 WGHP, CBS News, C-SPAN.org, Washington Examiner and New York Times

ABC News:

DeSantis holds events with Iowa conservatives, Trump cancels rally due to weather — The first-in-the-nation GOP caucuses could be critical in choosing the nominee. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, expected to soon launch a 2024 exploratory committee, was in Iowa Saturday pitching a …

Discussion: Political Wire, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Associated Press, NewsNation and New York Times

CBS News:

DeSantis' political operation set to move headquarters, kickstarting window for potential 2024 campaign filing — A 2024 campaign bid for Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is getting closer. — The governor is eyeing a launch into the 2024 presidential race within the next couple weeks …

Discussion: Washington Times, The Guardian, The Hill, Sacramento Bee and USA Today

Associated Press:
DeSantis, Trump look to sway Iowa GOP activists at dueling events

Jennifer Haberkorn / Politico:

Biden world goes to the mat to get Julie Su confirmed — A full-court press is on for the labor nominee as confirmation remains in doubt. — The Biden White House is ramping up its pressure on Senate Democrats to confirm Labor nominee Julie Su and deploying some big guns to get her nomination over the line.

BBC:

Ukraine Eurovision act's city Ternopil attacked before performance — The hometown of Ukraine's Eurovision act was hit by Russian missiles moments before the band took to the stage in Liverpool, officials say. — The head of Ternopil regional state administration, Volodymyr Trush, confirmed two people had been injured.

Discussion: The Guardian, New York Post, Politico, Al Jazeera, One America News Network, Metro.co.uk and Deadline

Politico:

The Shows: Sunday listings for May 14, 2023 — CNN “State of the Union”: DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas ... Rep. Mark Green (R-Tenn.) ... Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) ... Wally Adeyemo. Panel: Scott Jennings, Michael LaRosa, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ashley Allison.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars

Turkish Minute:

Twitter succumbs to Erdoğan's pressure, silences key voices in Turkey on election eve — Bünyamin Tekin — Twitter announced at 6 a.m. Turkish time on Saturday that it was restricting access in Turkey to certain account holders to ensure the platform “remains available to the people of Turkey …

Discussion: Christian Science Monitor, The Hill, Associated Press, New York Post, RedState, The Gateway Pundit, Vox and Common Dreams, more at Techmeme »

Paul Kane / Washington Post:

Defending white nationalists, Tommy Tuberville fears a military that is ‘going wrong’ — The senator from Alabama has drawn bipartisan wrath for his actions against the Pentagon, but his blockade of military promotions remains steadfast — Congressional bureau chief

Discussion: Raw Story and NBC News

Washington Post:

Zelensky, in private, plots bold attacks inside Russia, leak shows — U.S. intercepts reveal the Ukrainian's leader's aggressive instincts, a marked contrast to his public-facing image as the stoic statesman weathering Russia's brutal onslaught — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky …

Discussion: Politico, Radio Free Europe/Radio …, Insider and TASS

Pete Syme / Insider:

Twitter appeared to limit the reach of investigative news site Bellingcat days after Elon Musk suggested its Texas mall shooter investigation was a ‘psyop’ — The investigative news website Bellingcat reported on the Texas mall shooter's apparent neo-Nazi beliefs.

Discussion: Variety, more at Mediagazer »

Susan Rinkunas / Jezebel:

Angry Ex-Staffers Speak Out on ‘Pro-Choice’ Democrat's Stunning Abortion Betrayal — “I wish I could say that she took a giant bag of cash at an IHOP and that's why she did this—but it's so much dumber than that,” her former aide told Jezebel. — Imagine campaigning for a Democratic politician …

Discussion: Alternet.org and Raw Story

Sydney Kashiwagi / CNN:
North Carolina Democratic governor vetoes abortion ban, setting up likely override vote

Emily Olson / NPR:

A Texas woman was killed by her boyfriend after getting an abortion, police say — A man fatally shot his girlfriend in Dallas on Wednesday because he was upset she'd gotten an abortion, court records allege. — Harold Thompson, age 22, is facing murder charges in connection with the death of 26-year-old Gabriella Gonzalez.

Discussion: DeadState, Fox 8 Cleveland WJW, Lawyers, Guns & Money, UPI, Associated Press, CBS News, New York Post and New York Daily News

Jennifer Miller / New York Times:

Why Some Companies Are Saying ‘Diversity and Belonging’ Instead of ‘Diversity and Inclusion’ — The changing terminology reflects new thinking among some consultants, who say traditional D.E.I. strategies haven't worked out as planned. — Jennifer Miller is a freelance reporter who covers American cultural divides.