memeorandum: 'We'll be fine': Top US military officer confident there won't be a Jan. 6 repeat (Caleigh Bartash/ABC News)

11:25 AM ET, September 17, 2023

Top Items:

Philip Pullella / Reuters:

Letter shows Pope Pius XII probably knew about Holocaust early on — Wartime Pope Pius XII knew details about the Nazi attempt to exterminate Jews in the Holocaust as early as 1942, according to a letter found in the Vatican archives that conflicts with the Holy See's official position …

Discussion: Insider, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times and Bloomberg.com

Elisabetta Povoledo / New York Times:

Pope Pius XII Likely Knew of Holocaust, Newly Discovered Letter Suggests — The newly discovered letter, written by a German Jesuit to Pope Pius XII's personal secretary, suggests that the pope knew of Hitler's atrocities but chose to remain silent. — A letter found among the private papers …

Discussion: The Messenger and UPI

Jon Levine / New York Post:

Man groped by Lauren Boebert during frisky ‘Beetlejuice’ date owns gay-friendly bar that hosts drag shows — A bar owned by Rep. Lauren Boebert's apparent new beau has staged at least one drag show, according to a review of social media posts. — In January, the Hooch Craft Cocktail Bar in Aspen …

Discussion: Twitchy, American Wire News, The Daily Caller, Raw Story, CBS News, The Messenger, Advocate, New York Daily News, Washington Examiner and Insider

NBC News:

Full transcript: Read Kristen Welker's interview with Trump — NBC's “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker conducted a wide-ranging interview with former President Donald Trump. — Full Trump Interview: 'I don't consider us to have much of a democracy right now'

Discussion: The Messenger

New York Times:

Democratic Leaders Are More Optimistic About Biden 2024 Than Voters — Party leaders have rallied behind the president's re-election bid, but as one top Democratic strategist put it, “The voters don't want this, and that's in poll after poll after poll.” — As President Biden shifts …

Discussion: CBS News and Digby's Hullabaloo

Caleigh Bartash / ABC News:

'We'll be fine': Top US military officer confident there won't be a Jan. 6 repeat — Gen. Milley said he was not concerned about more riot threats after he retires. — As former President Donald Trump continues to falsely claim he won the last election while he campaigns …

Discussion: The Hill

The Sunday Times:

Russell Brand accused of rape, sexual assaults and abuse — Four women, including one who was just 16, make allegations after an investigation by The Sunday Times, The Times and Channel 4 Dispatches — The comedian and actor Russell Brand has been accused of rape, sexual assaults …

Steven McIntosh / BBC:
Russell Brand accused of rape and sexual assault

Discussion: Metro, Deadline, Los Angeles Times, The Sun, Mediaite, KTLA, ABC7, The Messenger, Fox News, Page Six, The Hollywood Reporter, The Daily Caller, inews.co.uk and ET Canada

Erin Prater / Fortune:

COVID levels are so high, they're hovering near 2020's initial peak, as the WHO urges those at high risk to take any booster they can get their hands on — IRFAN KHAN, LOS ANGELES TIMES VIA GETTY IMAGES — U.S. COVID infections are hovering near levels of the pandemic's first peak in 2020 …

Aria Bendix / NBC News:

Sore throat, then congestion: Common Covid symptoms follow a pattern now, doctors say — Doctors who treat Covid describe the ways the illness has gotten milder and shifted over time to mostly affect the upper respiratory tract. — How Covid symptoms have evolved since the pandemic

Jane C. Timm / NBC News:

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton acquitted in impeachment trial — Paxton was impeached for allegedly taking bribes, but ultimately members of his party chose not to vote for his conviction and removal from office. — Impeached Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted …

Josh Fiallo / The Daily Beast:
Texas AG Ken Paxton Survives Fiery Impeachment Trial

Discussion: KERA News, Associated Press and The Texas Tribune

Donald Trump / The Washington Stand:

Presidential Straw Poll Results: Pray Vote Stand Summit 2023 — These are the results from the straw poll held at the Pray Vote Stand Summit 2023 in Washington, D.C. — Votes for President: — CandidateCountPercent — 63.9% — 27.3% — 2.2% — 1.9% — 1.7% — 1.5% — 0.9%

Discussion: Scottie's Playtime, Breitbart, Washington Examiner, Mother Jones and Florida Politics

Stephanie Lai / Bloomberg:

Trump Plans Two Mar-a-Lago Fundraisers for Campaign, Legal Fees — Separate events said to include a dinner for $100,000 per seat — Former president has been fundraising on his four indictments — Former President Donald Trump is planning separate fundraisers at Mar-a-Lago in October …

Discussion: Political Wire, Fox News, CNN and Politico

Tara Copp / Associated Press:

Military officers begin to speak out on the harm done by Sen. Tuberville's holds on promotions — In the months since a single senator froze military promotions over the Pentagon's abortion policy, the uniformed officers affected have been largely silent, wary of stepping into a political fray.

Discussion: HuffPost, The Hill, Iowa Starting Line, Washington Examiner and Washington Times

Lauren Irwin / The Hill:

GOP senators ask Biden to provide Ukraine with missiles needed to win war — A group of Republican senators on Saturday sent a letter to President Biden urging him to “immediately” provide the missiles Ukraine needs to win its war against Russia. — Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) …

Discussion: Bloomberg and The Atlantic