memeorandum: Democrats descend on Chicago as specter of '68 convention looms (Shia Kapos/Politico)

7:00 AM ET, April 15, 2024

Top Items:

US to Israel: Don't do something you'll regret — In private calls and public moves, President Joe Biden and his aides are pointing to reasons to look for an off-ramp. — The Biden administration's main message for Israel following Iran's aerial assault comes down to this: Stop and think.

Discussion: Politico, Semafor, The White House, NBC News, Washington Post, The Guardian, Diplomatic,, Al-Monitor, RedState, Washington Examiner, CNN, israelhayom.com, Twitchy and Breitbart

Olivia Reingold / The Free Press:

American Anti-War Activists Cheer for Iran's War — At a left-wing conference in Chicago, activists believe Iran is ‘part of the arc of resistance because the enemies are Israel and the USA.’ — CHICAGO — About 300 anti-war activists crowded into the basement of the Teamsters Union's headquarters …

Discussion: RedState, New York Daily News, The Post Millennial, FRSO, Atlantic Council, Reuters, Instapundit, The Gateway Pundit and Associated Press

Washington Post:

Forces intercepted nearly all 300 Iranian drones and missiles, Israel says — Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles toward Israel in its first full-scale military assault against the country. U.S. military forces in the region helped Israel intercept the strikes, President Biden said.

Politico:
US tells Israel it won't join counter-strike on Iran, urges caution

The White House:
Statement from President Joe Biden on Iran's Attacks against the State of Israel

Reuters:
Israel's Netanyahu vows victory after Iran strikes, fears of wider conflict grow

New York Times:
After Iran's Barrage, Israel Questions What Might Be Next for the Gaza War

NBC News:
Iran strike live updates: Israel says over 300 drones, missiles were shot down during attack

Discussion: Voice of America, abc7NY, 6abc, WTOP News, The Sun, Associated Press, The Guardian, Fox Business, RedState, New York Post, The Hill, Reuters, CNBC, UPI, Press Herald, The Times of Israel, Al Jazeera, Al-Monitor, Digby's Hullabaloo, Fox News and The Japan Times

Kyle Cheney / Politico:

How to pick a jury that can judge Donald Trump — Tailoring questions to probe prospective jurors' political biases and opinions of the former president is more art than science. — Former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York begins Monday with an immediate and fundamental challenge …

Discussion: CBS News, New York Times, Associated Press, The Daily Beast, Civil Discourse …, abc7NY, Axios and USA Today

Nick Robertson / The Hill:

Trump attorney calls hush money case a ‘6-week-long media extravaganza’ — An attorney for former President Trump brushed off the significance of his first criminal trial, which is scheduled to begin Monday, saying the case is merely a “six-week-long media extravaganza.”

Discussion: HuffPost

Washington Post:

COULD YOU JUDGE TRUMP IMPARTIALLY? — Here is what 12 New Yorkers said. — When Donald Trump walks into a Manhattan courtroom on Monday, it will kick off a process unprecedented in American history: jury selection for a former president's criminal trial.

Discussion: New York Times, NPR, Althouse and Associated Press

Shia Kapos / Politico:

Democrats descend on Chicago as specter of '68 convention looms — Protests over Israel-Gaza war expected as party nominates President Joe Biden. — Democrats from across the country are converging in Chicago this week to lay the groundwork for their upcoming convention …

Discussion: American Prospect

Kwan Wei Kevin Tan / Business Insider:

Mark Cuban says he's proud to pay $288 million in taxes this year, unlike a certain former president — Mark Cuban says he'll be paying $288 million in taxes to the IRS. — “I pay what I owe,” Cuban wrote on X. — The billionaire says he's “proud to pay my taxes every single year,” unlike one ex-president.

Discussion: Associated Press

Hans Nichols / Axios:

Scoop: Teamsters make another move toward GOP … - In the past, the PAC has given overwhelmingly to Democrats, but Hawley has made a point to align himself with the labor movement, joining picket lines with the Teamsters and the United Auto Workers. — In total, Hawley's …

Alex Tabet / NBC News:

‘The damage is done’: Ruben Gallego says repealing Arizona's near-total abortion ban now would be too little, too late — Gallego argued a repeal through the state is just the first step in rectifying what he sees as injustice. — PHOENIX — Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego argued this week …

Discussion: Washington Examiner, HuffPost and The Guardian

Giulia Carbonaro / Newsweek:

Donald Trump's Rambling Rally Speech Raises Questions — Donald Trump's mention of the “beautiful” Battle of Gettysburg during a campaign rally in Schnecksville, Pennsylvania, on Saturday got the former president some attention on social media, with users wondering what his rambling “rant” was about.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, HuffPost, Digby's Hullabaloo and Mediaite

Washington Post:

Migration's human toll overwhelms a border county in Texas — EAGLE PASS, Tex. — The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. — The woman had been fished out of the Rio Grande minutes earlier.

Miles Parks / NPR:

If convicted this year, Trump could lose the right to vote for himself — Pundits and analysts have spent much of the past year debating the political impact should Donald Trump be convicted before November's election of any of the 88 felony charges he faces.

Discussion: The Daily Beast

Drew Harwell / Washington Post:

Small-time investors in Trump's Truth Social reckon with stock collapse — Some Trump supporters who invested in his social media company have seen their share values plunge — Jerry Dean McLain first bet on former president Donald Trump's Truth Social two years ago …

Discussion: Digby's Hullabaloo, Raw Story, Mock Paper Scissors and New York Post