memeorandum: Johnson warns Mall of America patrons (Eric Bradner/CNN)

12:20 PM ET, February 22, 2015

Top Items:

Walker says he is unaware whether Obama is a Christian — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a prospective Republican presidential contender, said Saturday he does not know whether President Obama is a Christian. — “I don't know,” Walker said in an interview at the JW Marriott hotel in Washington …

James Hohmann / Politico:

Walker feeling the heat — He says he's ready for 2016 but the Wisconsin governor hasn't faced anything like this. — Scott Walker likes to say that the recall election he survived three years ago, when national media descended on Madison to cover his showdown with Big Labor, prepared him for the rigors of a presidential campaign.

Anomaly / FreakOutNation:
Gov Scott Walker Derps: I Don't Know If Obama Is A Christian

Discussion: Washington Post and FOX News Radio

Alexandra Jaffe / CNN:
Rudy Giuliani's Obama critique puts 2016ers in a bind

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, Booman Tribune and The Huffington Post

Stephen Collinson / CNN:
Rudy Giuliani's fall from America's Mayor

Discussion: New York Times, The Gateway Pundit and No More Mister Nice Blog

Eric Bradner / CNN:

Johnson warns Mall of America patrons — DHS Secretary: ‘You have to be vigilant’ 04:06 — Washington (CNN)Shoppers at the Mall of America need to be “particularly careful” after a terror group singled out the Minnesota super-mall for attacks, Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson says.

Discussion: Fox News, Gawker, BuzzFeed, Pamela Geller, Atlas Shrugs, The Week and Hot Air

Judy Kurtz / The Hill:

Dems cash in with Oscar noms — Democrats are the biggest winners when it comes to raking in political donations from Academy Award nominees. — Some of the Oscars' most famous contenders — including this year's hopefuls Reese Witherspoon, Edward Norton, Mark Ruffalo, Bradley Cooper …

Juan Williams / Wall Street Journal:

America's Most Influential Thinker on Race — Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's insights are reshaping law and policy for the better. — In his office hangs a copy of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in America. When his critics, and he has many, call him names …

Discussion: Balloon Juice and Cafe Hayek

New York Times:

Deeper Ties to Corporate Cash for Doubtful Climate Researcher — For years, politicians wanting to block legislation on climate change have bolstered their arguments by pointing to the work of a handful of scientists who claim that greenhouse gases pose little risk to humanity.

Discussion: Gawker, Vocativ, Guardian, Common Dreams, Little Green Footballs, Liberaland, Greg Laden's Blog and Lawyers, Guns & Money

Washington Post:

The making of Hillary 5.0: Marketing wizards help re-imagine Clinton brand — Is Hillary Rodham Clinton a McDonald's Big Mac or a Chipotle burrito bowl? A can of Bud or a bottle of Blue Moon? JCPenney or J. Crew? — As she readies her second presidential campaign …

Discussion: Power Line

Anomaly / FreakOutNation:

University Apologizes For Black History Month Dining Menu Featuring Fried Chicken, Collard Greens — After a menu featuring fried chicken and collard greens under a photo of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and other African American leaders for Black History Month, the president …

Discussion: FOX News Radio

Sebnem Arsu / New York Times:

Turkish Military Enters Syria to Evacuate Soldiers and Move Tomb's Remains, Reports Say — ISTANBUL — The Turkish Army launched an operation into Syria to evacuate soldiers guarding the Tomb of Suleyman Shah, which has been besieged by Islamic State militants, and move the tomb's remains …

Discussion: KVNF Public Radio

New York Times:

Bush Spouse Backs Jeb, but Is Wary of Family Business — CORAL GABLES, Fla. — For 20 years, Columba Bush anticipated the day she would have to answer one big question: Would she support her husband, Jeb Bush, if he decided to run for president? — Last summer and fall …

Discussion: FOX News Radio and Liberaland

Eric Jon Engberg / Facebook:

Did Fox News bloviater Bill O'Reilly commit Brian Williams type fabrications when he claimed he had been in a “combat situation” while working as a reporter for CBS News during the Falklands War in 1982? Did he pad his resume' as he was laying claim to personal knowledge about what happens in war?

Discussion: TVNewser, Mediaite, Raw Story, Daily Kos, Washington Post and The Huffington Post, more at Mediagazer »

lohud.com:

Retired officer killed 2 daughters, self, sources say — Sources say former White Plains Police Officer Glen Hochman killed two of his daughters Saturday before killing himself. — CONNECT — HARRISON A retired White Plains police officer killed his two daughters Saturday before killing himself, officials said.

Discussion: Hinterland Gazette and New York Times