memeorandum: RFK Jr. says COVID was ‘ethnically targeted’ to spare Jews (Jon Levine/New York Post)

5:40 PM ET, July 15, 2023

Top Items:

RFK Jr. says COVID was ‘ethnically targeted’ to spare Jews — Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dished out wild COVID-19 conspiracy theories this week during a press event at an Upper East Side restaurant, claiming the bug was a genetically engineered bioweapon that may have been …

Associated Press:

At least 4 killed in mass shooting in small Georgia city outside Atlanta, spokeswoman says — The shooting occurred at around 10:40 a.m. in Hampton, a city south of Atlanta, officials said. — HAMPTON, Ga. — A county government official in Georgia says at least four people have been killed …

Discussion: Associated Press, The Hill, The Messenger, CBS News, New York Daily News, Metro.co.uk, One America News Network, WGN-TV, Fox News and NewsNation

Tim Carman / Washington Post:

A gay couple ran a rural restaurant in peace. Then new neighbors arrived. — Deep Reads features The Washington Post's best immersive reporting and narrative writing. — As soon as she spotted the lifeless vermin, Tiffany Foster had a hunch about how it appeared near the trash bins behind …

Lawrence Mower / Tampa Bay Times:

Veterans quit DeSantis' Florida State Guard over militialike training — One retired Marine Corps officer called the police on instructors, alleging abuse. — Emma Rose BrownMiami Herald — When the first recruiting class of Gov. Ron DeSantis' new Florida State Guard showed up for training …

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money, The Guardian, Joe.My.God., New York Times, Florida Politics, The Messenger, Diane Ravitch's blog and Raw Story

William Vaillancourt / The Daily Beast:

GOP Rep Flip-Flops on ‘Asshole’ Abortion Bill: Just Travel — ‘CONSISTENT’ — Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) was grilled Friday on why she voted in favor of an amendment that she had previously characterized as a move that equates to “being assholes to women.” Appearing on CNN Primetime …

Discussion: The Guardian, HuffPost, Mediaite, Joe.My.God., Daily Kos, Politico, HotAir and New Republic

Steven Shepard / Politico:

The Electoral College is the big factor in a third-party nightmare for Democrats — Battleground states may actually be the least likely places for non-major party candidates to draw support. — Democrats are rightly spooked by the prospect of credible third-party candidates this cycle.

Discussion: National Review and Washington Examiner

NBC News:

DeSantis visits Dairy Queen in Iowa after Trump's ‘Blizzard’ flub — The GOP presidential candidate used the campaign stop to praise the state's governor, who angered Trump this week when she declined to weigh in on the primary race. — BOONE, Iowa — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stopped …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Insider, HuffPost, Florida Politics, The Gateway Pundit, Iowa Capital Dispatch, Politico and Fox News

Amy Walter / Cook Political Report:

Three Things To Watch This Summer That Could Impact The GOP Primary Race — By any reasonable measure, the news this summer hasn't been slow. — Congress and the White House agreed on a debt ceiling deal in early June. Two weeks later, Special Counsel Jack Smith announced a 37-count indictment …

Discussion: NBC News, Daily Kos, Raw Story and Metro.co.uk

Kelly O'Donnell / NBC News:

Christie campaign raised $1.65 million in 25 days to close out second quarter — The super PAC backing the former New Jersey governor also brought in nearly $6 million. — Chris Christie's presidential campaign will report raising $1.65 million in the second quarter …

Discussion: CNN, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Associated Press, Bloomberg, New York Post, Washington Post and Political Wire

Khristopher J. Brooks / CBS News:

AAA pulls back from offering insurance in Florida, following Farmers — AAA will not renew the auto and home insurance policies for some customers in Florida, joining a growing list of insurers exiting the Sunshine State amid a growing risk of natural disasters.

Discussion: The Guardian, Raw Story, Outside the Beltway, Joe.My.God., The Hill, The Capitolist and New York Times

Fred Grimm / Sun-Sentinel:
MAGA propaganda collides with Florida reality

Discussion: Raw Story and Washington Post

Nick Robertson / The Hill:

Russia investigating if North Korean test missile crashed in its waters — The Russian government is investigating whether a missile test-fired by North Korea on Wednesday ended up in its territorial waters in the Sea of Japan. — Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said the country …

Discussion: TASS, UPI and Metro.co.uk

James Davey / Reuters:

UK defence minister Wallace to step down as lawmaker at next election — British defence minister Ben Wallace will not stand as a member of parliament (MP) in the next UK national election, he told The Times newspaper on Saturday. — Wallace, MP for Wyre and Preston North …

Discussion: Politico, The Sunday Times, Bloomberg, Metro.co.uk and The Guardian

Steff Danielle Thomas / The Hill:

Judge upholds stringent Oregon gun control law as constitutional — A federal judge on Friday found Oregon's new gun law — which bans large capacity magazines and requires residents to obtain a permit to purchase firearms - does not violate the Second Amendment.

Discussion: Oregon Firearms Federation, Oregon Capital Chronicle and Oregonian

Claire Thornton / USA Today:

Vermont flooding updates: State reports first fatality, braces for more heavy rains — Officials in Vermont said a man drowned in his home this week, the first death linked catastrophic flooding in parts of the state. — Stephen Davoll, 63, of Barre, died on Wednesday, the state's emergency management department said.

Discussion: UPI, Media Matters for America, ABC22 & FOX44 and Talking Points Memo