memeorandum: An order blocking enforcement of Ohio's abortion ban stands after the high court dismissed an appeal (Associated Press)

12:05 AM ET, December 17, 2023

Top Items:

Nathan Layne / Reuters:

Trump repeats ‘poisoning the blood’ anti-immigrant remark — Donald Trump, the Republican presidential frontrunner, said on Saturday that undocumented immigrants were “poisoning the blood of our country,” repeating language that has previously drawn criticism as xenophobic and echoing of Nazi rhetoric.

Discussion: The Messenger, Raw Story, Rolling Stone and Mediaite

Isaac Arnsdorf / Washington Post:

Trump quotes Putin condemning American democracy, praises autocrat Orban — Trump also called Jan. 6 defendants “hostages” and again demonized immigrants as “poisoning the blood of our country” — DURHAM, N.H. — Republican polling leader Donald Trump approvingly quoted autocrats Vladimir Putin …

Discussion: Politico, The Daily Beast, New York Times, Raw Story, The Intercept and NBC News

Steven Shepard / Politico:

Why a Trump conviction might not save Biden's reelection — Pollsters have already started to explore what effect, if any, a criminal conviction before the election would have on Trump's support. — It's the go-to refrain for Democrats watching Joe Biden fall behind Donald Trump in polls: Just wait until Trump is convicted.

Discussion: Althouse and Reuters

Washington Post:

Ron DeSantis wanted to change the way campaigns were funded. Then the fights started. — With just weeks to go before the Iowa caucuses, the GOP candidate's bold strategy is now in tatters and its top architect has resigned — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis entered the Republican presidential race …

Discussion: The Daily Beast, New York Times, NBC News and Politico

Washington Post:

Lawsuit claims CPAC knew of past allegations of sexual misconduct by Matt Schlapp — Officials overseeing the Conservative Political Action Conference knew about past accusations of sexual misconduct by chairman Matt Schlapp but failed to investigate or remove him from his powerful post …

Discussion: Raw Story, KEYT-TV, Washington Examiner, Mediaite and Political Wire

New York Times:

Florida Sex Scandal Shakes Moms for Liberty, as Group's Influence Wanes — The conservative group led the charge on the Covid-era education battles. But scandals and losses are threatening its power. — Moms for Liberty, a national right-wing advocacy group, was born in Florida as a response …

Discussion: Business Insider, Digby's Hullabaloo, Raw Story, No More Mister Nice Blog, Political Wire and The Nation

Politico:

Trump confronts ‘scheduling nightmare’ as court cases collide with campaign — The former president is frontloading his schedule in anticipation that legal proceedings may disrupt the campaign. — DURHAM, New Hampshire — Donald Trump's upcoming court calendar is creating a logistical headache for his presidential campaign.

Aaron Pellish / CNN:
Trump reiterates anti-immigrant rhetoric at New Hampshire rally

Discussion: KEYT-TV, Washington Examiner, ABC News, USA Today, PolitiFact, WHDH-TV, Raw Story, The Messenger, The Daily Beast, NBC News, The Hill, Wall Street Journal, Mediaite, Breitbart, Political Wire and HuffPost

Lauren Irwin / The Hill:

Trump lawyer blasts Jack Smith's urgency for ruling in immunity case: 'It's un-American' — Alina Habba, a lawyer for former President Trump, blasted Special Counsel Jack Smith for his urgency in asking the Supreme Court to take up Trump's federal 2020 election criminal case and weigh in on his immunity defense.

Discussion: Mediaite, Wall Street Journal and Washington Examiner

Associated Press:

An order blocking enforcement of Ohio's abortion ban stands after the high court dismissed an appeal — The Ohio Supreme Court has dismissed the state's challenge to a judge's order that has blocked enforcement of Ohio's near-ban on abortions for the past 14 months.

Discussion: Washington Examiner and The Daily Caller

NBC News:

Senate staffer alleged by conservative outlets to have had sex in a hearing room is no longer employed — Conservative news outlets alleged that the aide to Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., appeared in a leaked video showing men having sex in a Senate hearing room. — Sen. Ben Cardin's office …

US Food and Drug Administration:

Quaker Recalls Granola Bars and Granola Cereals Due to Possible Health Risk — When a company announces a recall, market withdrawal, or safety alert, the FDA posts the company's announcement as a public service. FDA does not endorse either the product or the company. … Summary

Discussion: Associated Press, Fox 8 Cleveland WJW, TIME, The Hill, CBS News, WDTN-TV, ABC7 and Hawaii State Department …

Nick Robertson / The Hill:

McCarthy mentee Vince Fong determined ineligible for congressional candidacy — California Assemblyman Vince Fong (R) isn't eligible to run for Congress in 2024, the state Secretary of State determined Friday, throwing Rep. Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) succession into question.

Discussion: sos.ca.gov, Washington Times, Business Insider, The Messenger, Politico, Washington Examiner, Raw Story, KGET-TV, Los Angeles Times and Political Wire

Alex Horton / Washington Post:

Confederate Memorial at Arlington will be removed despite GOP opposition — Though dozens of congressional Republicans protested the move, the Army says it will begin work in coming days — The U.S. Army intends to remove a Confederate memorial from Arlington National Cemetery next week …

Discussion: The Messenger, Fox News, Associated Press, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, Raw Story and Business Insider

Alexandra Petri / Washington Post:

GOP baffled that 'We Don't Care if You Die' is not a winning slogan — “Republicans struggle as they keep getting forced to talk about abortion” — Politico headline, Dec. 15 — Huh! It turns out “Well, with luck, you probably won't die being forced to give birth to a nonviable fetus over the objections of your doctor!”

Discussion: Politico