memeorandum: Cassidy Hutchinson Reappears. She Has More Trump Stories to Tell. (Robert Draper/New York Times)

10:45 PM ET, September 23, 2023

Top Items:

McCarthy reverses on Ukraine aid as GOP scrambles on funding bills — The backtrack comes as Republicans try to shore up votes to move forward after two setbacks. — Speaker Kevin McCarthy is backtracking on his plan to remove Ukraine aid from a massive military spending bill …

Discussion: Washington Post, RedState, The Hill, Political Wire and ABC News

CNN:

McCarthy works through weekend but no progress on short-term fix with just one week until shutdown — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Saturday he still lacks support from a handful of GOP hardliners to put a Republican stopgap measure on the floor next week, making a government shutdown likely with just one week until the deadline.

Discussion: Mediaite and The Daily Beast

Paul Kane / Washington Post:

Was McCarthy distracted from governing by impeachment inquiry? — House Republicans pledge a slow, methodical pace on the Biden impeachment inquiry, but some rank-and-file believe that their leaders have missed the target on priorities — Congressional bureau chief

Discussion: Raw Story

Mychael Schnell / The Hill:

McCarthy backtracks, says he will keep Ukraine aid in Pentagon funding bill — Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Saturday said he will keep Ukraine aid in the Pentagon funding bill, a reversal from his announcement one day earlier that he would strip the money out due to opposition from Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.).

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, Washington Times, The Georgia Star News and Washington Examiner

Politico:
McCarthy stares into the shutdown abyss

Discussion: Associated Press, CNN, Raw Story, The Hill, Washington Examiner, Political Wire and The Guardian

Slate:

Clarence Thomas' Latest Pay-to-Play Scandal Finally Connects All the Dots — ProPublica released a new report on Friday detailing Justice Clarence Thomas' close relationship with the Koch brothers with previously undisclosed and extraordinarily damning new details.

Discussion: CNN, Fox News, USA Today, Washington Post, Washington Times, Breitbart, Raw Story, Talking Points Memo, The Mercury News, Wall Street Journal and NPR, more at Mediagazer »

Shan Wu / The Daily Beast:
Clarence Thomas' Koch Party Is Latest Shocking Ethics Breach

Discussion: Raw Story and Twitchy

Nick Robertson / The Hill:

New Jersey rep. announces challenge to unseat Menendez following indictment — Rep. Andy Kim (D-N.J.) announced Saturday that he will primary Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) after the senator was indicted on corruption charges Friday. — “After calls to resign, Senator Menendez said 'I am …

Mia McCarthy / Politico:

Fetterman calls for Menendez to resign — Menendez was indicted for accepting bribes Friday. — Sen. John Fetterman (D-Penn.) called for Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) to resign from the Senate on Saturday, making him the first Democratic senator to call for his resignation.

Discussion: The Messenger, PennLive, Associated Press, New York Post, Vanity Fair, The Hill, New Jersey Online, Political Wire, New Jersey Globe, Twitchy, One America News Network, HuffPost, acecomments.mu.nu, CNN, Roll Call, Reuters, Washington Times and The Post Millennial

CBS News:
Eye Opener: New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez indicted

Discussion: NBC New York, The Daily Caller, New York Times, NBC News, Washington Times, USA Today, CNN, Toledo Blade, RedState, New York Magazine, Washington Examiner, Daily Kos and Crooks and Liars

Matt Friedman / Politico:
‘This is horrifying’: Top New Jersey Democrats call on Bob Menendez to resign after his second indictment

Washington Post:

Misinformation research is buckling under GOP legal attacks — An escalating campaign, led by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) and other Republicans, has cast a pall over programs that study political disinformation and the quality of medical information online — Academics, universities …

Discussion: The Daily Caller, Raw Story and Political Wire, more at Mediagazer »

Tim Murphy / Mother Jones:

Joe Biden Is About to Go Where No President Has Gone Before — A picket line. — On September 15, the United Auto Workers began a targeted strike against Ford, GM, and Stellantis (the conglomerate that includes Chrysler) in an effort to secure higher wages, a four-day work week, and other protections in the union's next contract.

Discussion: Outside the Beltway, Washington Times, The Daily Caller, Jacobin, Daily News, CNBC, Financial Times, USA Today, WCTX-TV and Politico

Carter Sherman / The Guardian:

US mother sentenced to two years in prison for giving daughter abortion pills — Jessica Burgess pleaded guilty in July to providing an abortion after 20 weeks and tampering with human remains — Jessica Burgess, a Nebraska mother accused of helping her teenage daughter use pills to end her pregnancy …

Discussion: scheerpost.com, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Eschaton, Newsbusters, The Messenger and New York Daily News

Austin Svehla / The Norfolk Daily News:
Norfolk woman who facilitated daughter's illegal abortion sentenced to prison

Discussion: RedState, CNN, HotAir, New York Post, Washington Examiner, NBC News and Los Angeles Times

Carl Hulse / New York Times:

The Wrecking-Ball Caucus: How the Far Right Brought Washington to Its Knees — Right-wing Republicans who represent a minority in their party and in Congress have succeeded in sowing mass dysfunction, spoiling for a shutdown, an impeachment and a House coup.

Discussion: Politico and Raw Story

Robert Draper / New York Times:

Cassidy Hutchinson Reappears. She Has More Trump Stories to Tell. — “I would like not to be a hermit,” the former White House aide says upon the publication of a memoir about her journey down a political rabbit hole. — Cassidy Hutchinson dropped out of sight last year after she testified …

Discussion: Raw Story, CBS News, Insider and Political Wire

New York Times:

U.S. Provided Canada With Intelligence on Killing of Sikh Leader — American intelligence gave assistance, but communications intercepted by Canada were more definitive in linking India to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar. — American spy agencies provided information to Ottawa …

Discussion: The Intercept, Breitbart, Bloomberg and Al Jazeera

Nicholas Nehamas / New York Times:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Flirts With the Libertarian Party — Mr. Kennedy sat down with the party's chair in July, a previously undisclosed meeting, as Democrats fret about a third party bid. — For months, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he plans to continue his long-shot challenge …

Discussion: RedState, Washington Examiner and Political Wire

Lauren Irwin / The Hill:

Richard Branson to climate change deniers: 'it's a fact of life' — While in New York for the United Nations General Assembly, Virgin Group founder Richard Branson shared details of his next endeavor: combating climate change. — The billionaire British businessman announced Monday …

Discussion: NBC News