memeorandum: Reeling Republicans desperate for a win on Gorsuch (Burgess Everett/Politico)

9:05 AM ET, March 29, 2017

Top Items:

Ryan Lizza / New Yorker:

How the White House and Republicans Blew Up the House Russia Investigation — The evidence is now clear that the White House and Devin Nunes, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, have worked together to halt what was previously billed as a sweeping investigation of Russian interference in last year's election.

Discussion: Axios, New York Magazine, Politico, Occupy Democrats, Talking Points Memo, New York Times, Mother Jones, The Guardian, Washington Monthly, Yahoo and Political Wire

Rep. Devin Nunes / National Review:

Devin Nunes Should Step Down as Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee — Nunes's unforced errors have undermined public faith. — Let's begin with two assertions, both of which should be inarguable. First, no one in Washington is entitled to any position of power or responsibility.

Discussion: CANNONFIRE, Reuters, Hot Air, NewsHounds blog and Politico

Tim Mak / The Daily Beast:

Devin Nunes Could Be Facing an Ethics Probe for Spilling Secrets — The controversy surrounding House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes may just be getting started. Nunes could soon be staring down the barrel of a House Ethics Committee investigation, lawyers familiar with the House's rules tell The Daily Beast.

Discussion: Washington Post, Just Security, New York Times and Axios

Scott Wong / The Hill:
First GOP lawmaker calls for Nunes to recuse himself

Discussion: Shareblue, Raw Story, Talking Points Memo, Washington Times and New York Magazine

Alex Seitz-Wald / NBC News:

Embattled DNC Asks All Staffers For Resignation Letters — Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez has launched a major overhaul of the party's organization, which has been stung by recent crises — and the DNC has requested resignation letters from all current staffers.

Discussion: Daily Wire, Townhall.com, The Gateway Pundit, Business Insider, Occupy Democrats, Raw Story, Liberal Values, Hot Air, TheBlaze, The Daily Caller and SARAH PALIN

John Hinderaker / Power Line:
Why Is the Democratic National Committee “Embattled”?

Discussion: Scared Monkeys and Geller Report

The White House:

S.J.Res. 34 - Disapproving the Federal Communications Commission's Rule on Privacy of Customers of Broadband Services — The Administration strongly supports House passage of S.J.Res. 34, which would nullify the Federal Communications Commission's final rule titled “Protecting the Privacy …

Discussion: CNNMoney, Washington Post, Occupy Democrats, New York Times, ABC News, Motherboard, Common Dreams, The FADER, Daily Kos, NPR, Mashable, Axios and Engadget, more at Mediagazer »

Sam Gustin / Motherboard:

Here's the Data Republicans Just Allowed ISPs to Sell Without Your Consent — Financial and medical information. Social Security numbers. Web browsing history. Mobile app usage. Even the content of your emails and online chats. — These are among the types of private consumer information …

Discussion: Hot Air, Associated Press and New York Times

Jacob Kastrenakes / The Verge: Congress just cleared the way for internet providers to sell your web browsing history

Burgess Everett / Politico:

Reeling Republicans desperate for a win on Gorsuch — Mitch McConnell told his leadership team in private this week what's becoming increasingly obvious on Capitol Hill: Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch probably won't get 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. — But the Senate majority leader …

Discussion: Raw Story

Burgess Everett / Politico:
Trump breaks the silent treatment with Schumer: ‘Hello, Chuck’

Discussion: Axios

Matt Hamilton / Los Angeles Times:

Antiabortion activists face 15 felony charges over undercover videos that targeted Planned Parenthood — David Daleiden, right, leaves a courtroom after a hearing in Houston last year. (Pat Sullivan / AP) — Two antiabortion activists whose controversial undercover videos accused Planned …

Discussion: Mother Jones

Samantha Schmidt / Washington Post:

Two activists who filmed undercover videos of Planned Parenthood charged with 15 felonies — The two antiabortion activists who mounted a hidden-camera investigation against Planned Parenthood officials have been charged with 15 felonies for violating the privacy of health-care providers …

Discussion: The Federalist, The Gateway Pundit, NBC News and The Center for Medical …

Sylvan Lane / The Hill:
Ryan: Don't tie Planned Parenthood to government funding fight

Discussion: Politico and Mashable

CBS News:

Republicans blame bill, not Trump, for health care defeat — President Donald Trump's overall job approval is at 40 percent, underpinned by continuing strong support from Republicans who don't appear to blame him for the failed health care bill, a new CBS News Poll shows.

Discussion: Political Wire

Cameron Easley / Morning Consult:
Trump Approval Underwater After GOP's Obamacare Repeal Effort Stalls

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Sarah Westwood / Washington Examiner:
Trump demands intel panel probe Clinton Foundation ties to Russian uranium deal

Discussion: Mother Jones, Morning Consult, MSNBC, USA Today and John Hawkins' Right Wing News

Erik Wemple / Washington Post:

April Ryan on Sean Spicer's insulting behavior: 'I'll be back' — Thanks to the dysfunction stemming from his boss, White House press secretary Sean Spicer is getting heavy exposure to the public via televised daily sessions in the briefing room. And the more we see of him, the nastier he appears.

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit, IJR, Hot Air, ThinkProgress, Vox and Politico

CNN:
Hillary Clinton makes most political remarks since losing election

Discussion: Talking Points Memo, NBC News, AOL, CNNMoney and TheBlaze

Paulina Firozi / The Hill:
Clinton defends April Ryan, Rep. Maxine Waters in speech

Discussion: ABC News, The Atlantic, Daily Wire, Politico, Politicus USA, The Daily Caller, twitchy.com, Business Insider, New York Magazine, Mediaite, Joe.My.God., ThinkProgress, BizPac Review, Shakesville and Shareblue

The Hill:

How North Korea could kill 90 percent of Americans — The mainstream media, and some officials who should know better, continue to allege North Korea does not yet have capability to deliver on its repeated threats to strike the U.S. with nuclear weapons. False reassurance is given …

Oren Dorell / USA Today:

Trump's business network reached alleged Russian mobsters — To expand his real estate developments over the years, Donald Trump, his company and partners repeatedly turned to wealthy Russians and oligarchs from former Soviet republics — several allegedly connected to organized crime …

Discussion: WhoWhatWhy, Balloon Juice, Occupy Democrats, CANNONFIRE, Raw Story and Talking Points Memo

Glenn Garner / Out Magazine:

BREAKING: Trump Administration Omits LGBTQ People from 2020 Census … The Trump Administration recently submitted a list of data categories it will collect for the 2020 Census and the American Community Survey (ACS). Although the Supreme Court, in 2013, struck down the Defense of Marriage Act …

Nate Cohn / New York Times:

Why Democrats Have a Shot in a Georgia District Dominated by Republicans — In a special election, anything can happen. — “Anything” may already be happening in the special election in Georgia's Sixth Congressional District, heralded as a key test of whether Democrats can capitalize on President Trump's unpopularity.

Discussion: Daily Kos

Jessica Estepa / USA Today:

Rep. Maxine Waters claps back at Bill O'Reilly after hair insult — 2.8k Shares — Fox News host Bill O'Reilly said Tuesday he was distracted by Rep. Maxine Waters' hair, comparing it to a “James Brown wig.” — During Fox & Friends, O'Reilly watched a clip of Waters …

Discussion: Associated Press, CBS Miami, Refinery29 and Occupy Democrats

Lindsey Ellefson / Mediaite:
Calls For Bill O'Reilly to Be Fired Intensify After Maxine Waters Comment

Discussion: Media Matters for America, Shareblue, Business Insider, Joe.My.God., Salon, TheBlaze and IJR

BBC:

Article 50: UK set to formally trigger Brexit process — Theresa May has signed the letter that will formally begin the UK's departure from the European Union. — Giving official notice under Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, it will be delivered to European Council president Donald Tusk later.

Discussion: The Daily Caller

Rodi Said / Reuters:

Islamic State shelling stops work on damaged Syrian dam — Islamic State shelled positions held by the U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) at the Tabqa Dam on the Euphrates River on Wednesday, forcing engineers to temporarily halt efforts to stop a potential collapse, a Reuters witness said.

Scott Bland / Politico:

Trump serves as rocket fuel for Democratic fundraising — Democrats are on a torrid fundraising pace in the first months of the Donald Trump era, powered by enraged small donors who are plowing millions of dollars worth of online contributions into campaign and committee treasuries.

Discussion: Political Wire

Joshua Green / Bloomberg:

With Trump Struggling, Wealthy Backers Rush in to Shore Him Up — Supporters prepare 10-state television advertizing blitz — Campaign comes in wake of failed GOP bid to repeal Obamacare — With President Donald Trump trying to find his footing after his failed effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act …

Niraj Chokshi / New York Times:

2 Black Women Sue Fox News, Claiming Racial Discrimination — Fox News, whose chairman, Roger Ailes, was ousted last year after a string of sexual harassment claims, is facing new allegations of discrimination. — In a lawsuit filed Tuesday night in State Supreme Court in the Bronx …

Discussion: Mediaite and Raw Story, more at Mediagazer »

Megan R. Wilson / The Hill:

Schock staffer was FBI informant, court filings reveal — The FBI wired a congressional staffer and turned him into a secret informant during its investigation into former Rep. Aaron Schock's (R-Ill.) alleged misuse of government and campaign funds, Schock's attorneys said Tuesday in federal court filings.

Discussion: Politico

Sarah K. Burris / Raw Story:

Notorious Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke gets a new election challenge from Major League Baseball VP — DON'T MISS STORIES. FOLLOW RAW STORY! — Notorious Sheriff Joe Arpaio might be gone, but Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke has taken up many of his causes.

Discussion: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Tim Molloy / The Wrap:

Bret Easton Ellis: Barbra Streisand, Lena Dunham Shouldn't Blame Trump for Their Own ‘Neuroses’ — Ellis says “childish meltdowns” by liberals are ruining his dinners out and even hurting his relationship with his boyfriend — Bret Easton Ellis says “childish meltdowns” …

Ashley Parker / Washington Post:

Karen Pence is the vice president's ‘prayer warrior,’ gut check and shield — During the first of Vice President Pence's two unsuccessful races for Congress, he rode a single-speed bicycle more than 250 miles around his district, much of it accompanied by his wife, Karen, along for the journey.

Discussion: New York Magazine