memeorandum: Rep. Adam Smith says he trusts Speaker Johnson will ‘not abandon Ukraine’ (Miranda Nazzaro/The Hill)

1:15 PM ET, April 7, 2024

Top Items:

Steven Shepard / Politico:

The polls are suggesting a huge shift in the electorate. Are they right? — It's a significant reversal from recent history: President Joe Biden is struggling with young voters but performing better than most Democrats with older ones. — Something weird is happening beneath …

Discussion: New York Magazine

Tamara Keith / NPR: Yes, Biden is really running in November. But a lot of voters say they doubt it

Nicholas Nehamas / New York Times:
Biden Waves His First-Term Résumé at a Skeptical America

Discussion: USA Today and New York Daily News

Axios:

Gaza buildings and land decimated in 6 months of war … - More than 100 Israelis are still being held hostage in Gaza. — Even prior to Oct. 7, years of Israeli blockade and military operations in the densely-populated enclave left many in Gaza with inadequate access to clean water, electricity or sewer.

Barak Ravid / Axios:
6 months in, the Gaza war is in limbo — which may help Bibi stay in power

Discussion: Rolling Stone, The Times of Israel and Raw Story

Marianna Sotomayor / Washington Post:

‘Increasingly chaotic’: Why House Republicans are heading for the exits — The decision by 21 Republican lawmakers to step back is indicative of the broader morale problem within the GOP conference — House Majority Leader Steve Scalise thought he had a good argument for Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.).

Discussion: Raw Story

Shauneen Miranda / Axios:

Trump: Would be a “great honor” to be jailed for gag order violation … - “We have to Save our Country from these Political Operatives masquerading as Prosecutors and Judges, and I am willing to sacrifice my Freedom for that worthy cause,” he said. … - Merchan expanded the gag order …

Discussion: Rolling Stone, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Raw Story, HuffPost and CNBC

NBC News:

Trump tells billionaires he'll keep their taxes low at $50 million fundraising gala — Biden hit Trump for promising to extend the tax cuts in a video released Saturday. — WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump emphasized the importance of extending his signature tax cuts …

Discussion: CNN and Associated Press

CNN:
Biden hauls in $90 million in March as campaign embarks on general election blitz

Miranda Nazzaro / The Hill:

Rep. Adam Smith says he trusts Speaker Johnson will ‘not abandon Ukraine’ — Democratic Rep. Adam Smith (Wash.) said on Sunday that he trusts House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) 's pledge not to abandon Ukraine and predicted Johnson's ability to fulfill that pledge would give little reason to Democrats to oust him.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times, KDFX-TV and Wall Street Journal

Rachel Leingang / The Guardian:

‘Mischief and problems’: rightwing activists ramp up drive to hand-count ballots — Mike Lindell and fellow influencers have hit the road since Donald Trump's 2020 loss, threatening chaos for the 2024 election — The fight for democracy is supported by — This article was published …

Discussion: Raw Story and Alternet.org

Filip Timotija / The Hill:

Former GOP rep says Trump ‘appeals to the worst of us,’ calls on Biden ‘to recognize the moment’ — Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh (Ill.) said that former President Trump “appeals to the worst of us” when discussing his rhetoric and called on President Biden to “recognize the moment” …

Discussion: Washington Examiner

Washington Post:

Inside Donald Trump's secret plan to end the Ukraine-Russia war — Foreign policy experts and some Republicans warned that pressuring Ukraine to cede land would reward Putin — Former president Donald Trump has privately said he could end Russia's war in Ukraine by pressuring Ukraine …

Discussion: Reuters

Politico:

Trump promises a ‘deal’ on abortion that will please everyone. It likely doesn't exist. — Should Trump appear vague or duck the issue, some of his supporters fear it will allow the Biden campaign to tie him to the more extreme wing of the anti-abortion movement.

Politico:

Navy cancels ship briefings after damning internal report — As China's fleet grows, the U.S. is struggling with fresh delays in building new subs and warships. — As the Navy's largest U.S. trade show gets underway on Monday, officers in charge of the service's marquee shipbuilding programs …

Discussion: nationalinterest.org

Sarah Fortinsky / The Hill:

Intel Chair Turner: ‘Absolutely true’ that Russia propaganda has infected US Congress — House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) on Sunday stressed the expansive reach of Russian propaganda and said it has even presented itself on the floor of the U.S. Congress.

Discussion: Politico, USA Today, Raw Story, Washington Examiner, NBC News, CNN, Rolling Stone, The American Conservative, KDFX-TV, Mediaite, Washington Times, Breitbart and Crooks and Liars

Filip Timotija / The Hill:

RNC chair: We're ‘going to be in the room’ when votes are cast, counted in November — Republican National Committee (RNC) Chair Michael Whatley said the committee will ensure they are “going to be in the room” when the early votes are cast and counted in the November election.

Discussion: Breitbart and Fox Business

Jennifer Brown / The Colorado Sun:

Colorado Sun politics reporter kicked out of GOP state assembly — A Colorado Sun politics reporter was escorted out of the state GOP assembly by a sheriff's deputy Saturday after being told that party Chairman Dave Williams found her “current reporting to be very unfair.”

Discussion: The Guardian and Raw Story