memeorandum: Johnson sounds out key Republicans with speakership and Ukraine aid on line (CNN)

6:45 AM ET, April 1, 2024

Top Items:

Paige Skinner / HuffPost:

Caitlyn Jenner ‘Disgusted’ Over Trans Day Of Visibility Being On Easter — Transgender Day of Visibility has been on March 31 since its inception in 2009. Easter is a different date each year, however. — LOADING — Caitlyn Jenner, a trans woman, wrote on social media Saturday that she is …

Discussion: New York Post, The Gateway Pundit, WGN-TV, MeidasTouch, Breitbart, Alpha News, Mother Jones, Fox News, CNN and Washington Examiner

Nick Robertson / The Hill:

Here's what Trump and Biden said in their Easter messages — President Biden and former President Trump shared starkly different Easter messages Sunday. — Biden marked the holy day with a solemn message, while Trump lashed out at political opponents in an all-caps post on Truth Social.

Discussion: The White House, Raw Story, Politico, Breitbart, The Gateway Pundit, Boston Herald, PoliticusUSA, Crooks and Liars and New York Post

Chris Geidner / Law Dork:

“Trending: Easter Controversy,” or: How little lies pave the way for the next big lie — No-News Weekend Internet is stupid-dangerous in the Trump era — as this weekend's attack on the Transgender Day of Visibility shows. — This weekend's gaslighting from the right around Easter falling …

Discussion: HuffPost, New York Post and The Gateway Pundit

Josh Boak / Associated Press:
The Trump camp and the White House clash over Biden's recognition of ‘Transgender Day of Visibility’

Peter Wade / Rolling Stone:

Trump Launches Another Attack on Judge's Daughter, This Time with Photos — The former president accused Judge Juan Merchan's daughter of presenting a conflict of interest, possibly violating a gag order — Donald Trump launched yet another attack against the daughter …

Discussion: The Bulwark, Raw Story and The Gateway Pundit

The Insider:

“Unit 29155's scope is global for conducting lethal operations and acts of sabotage. Their mission is to find, fix, and finish, all in support of Vladimir Putin's imperial dreams." — Originally conceived as a training unit within the GRU, it was reorganized and expanded in 2008 …

Discussion: Politico, CBS News, Axios and The Daily Beast

David McAfee / Raw Story:

NBC host under fire for ‘profoundly irresponsible’ reporting on Trump's judicial attacks — NBC host Kristen Welker is in hot water after a report in which she told viewers that Donald Trump's attacks against the daughter of a judge in the former president's criminal case are a “reminder” that this is a “deeply divided nation.”

Discussion: PoliticusUSA

Alexandra Marquez / NBC News:

Rep. Don Bacon: 'It's possible' Mike Johnson could lose speakership over Ukraine — Speaking to NBC News' “Meet the Press” on Sunday, Bacon said he has a “commitment from the speaker and the chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee” that a Ukraine aid bill will get a floor vote.

Discussion: The Hill, Mediaite, Washington Examiner and New York Post

CNN:

Johnson sounds out key Republicans with speakership and Ukraine aid on line — Days after his speakership was put on notice by a far-right member, Mike Johnson strategized with a key - and perhaps surprising - source: firebrand GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, the architect of the last effort to remove a speaker.

Discussion: The Hill, Washington Examiner, New York Post, USA Today, KDFX-TV, Raw Story, Axios, Breitbart and Washington Times

Miranda Nazzaro / The Hill:
House Intel chair says Ukraine aid will have ‘overwhelming support’ in Congress after recess

Discussion: Breitbart, CBS News, Mediaite and Washington Times

Kelly Garrity / Politico:

GOP congressman tempers ‘Nagasaki and Hiroshima’ comments on Gaza: ‘I used a metaphor’ — Rep. Tim Walberg said he really wasn't advocating using nuclear weapons. — Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) on Sunday said that his recent comment that the war in Gaza should “be like Nagasaki and Hiroshima” was not meant to be taken literally.

Associated Press:

In setback to Turkey's Erdogan, opposition makes huge gains in local election — Turkey's main opposition party retained its control over key cities and made huge gains elsewhere in Sunday's local elections, in a major upset to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who had set his sights on retaking control of those urban areas.

Discussion: Business Insider, CNBC, Agence France-Presse, Euronews, Wall Street Journal, Balkan Insight, Bloomberg, JNS.org, Associated Press, Al Jazeera, Politico, Reuters, Fox News, Algemeiner.com, The Japan Times and New York Times

CNN:

Embittered Republicans plot to knock off House GOP's hard-right leader in Virginia primary feud — Rep. Derrick Van Orden is done with Rep. Bob Good. — Good, the leader of the House Freedom Caucus and one of eight Republicans who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy from the speakership …

Discussion: Raw Story

Daniel Borunda / El Paso Times:

El Paso judge orders release of migrants accused of ‘border riot’ — An El Paso magistrate judge on Easter Sunday ordered the release of migrants accused in a “border riot” when a stampede overwhelmed National Guard troops along the Rio Grande. — Court officials noted that undocumented migrants …

Discussion: Frontpage Mag, Fox News, New York Post, The Daily Caller and RedState

NBC News:

Conservatives shell long-standing White House Easter Egg contest — Conservative outlets zeroed in on a flyer banning religious themes from an Easter Egg decorating contest, though the policy has been in place for decades, according to the White House. — Several conservative outlets did not …

Discussion: NBC 7 San Diego, The Gateway Pundit, The Floridian, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, Raw Story and RedState

Shannon Pettypiece / NBC News:

They came for Florida's sun and sand. They got soaring costs and a culture war. — Florida has seen a population boom in recent years, but many longtime residents and recent transplants say rising costs and divisive politics have them fleeing the Sunshine State.