memeorandum: Voters are connecting the dots — and it's bad news for Republicans (CNN)

8:35 AM ET, October 11, 2026

Top Items:

Peter Nicholas / NBC News:

Bracing for the midterms, Trump says he will be blamed if Republicans lose — Trump is looking to defy historical trends by rallying core supporters who might be inclined to sit out the elections. — CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Even as he makes a case that Republicans should win …

Discussion: Trump's Truth and CBS News

Alexandra Marquez / NBC News:

Republicans stay bullish on Texas governor's race, but two key groups present hurdles — The red-state contest between GOP Gov. Greg Abbott and Democrat Gina Hinojosa has grown more competitive in the final stretch. — In the final weeks before Election Day, Democrats across the country …

Discussion: Newsweek and Washington Examiner

CNN:

Voters are connecting the dots — and it's bad news for Republicans — Donald Trump Congressional news Tariffs PACs — Of all the dynamics threatening the GOP this year, the most menacing may be the unusually direct connection voters are drawing between their economic frustrations …

Discussion: New York Times

Karen Tumulty / Washington Post:

Democrats are running on a scant agenda. Do they need more? — They lack a specific plan for governing, beyond turning back Trump and holding him accountable. — SummaryLoading... With everything going their way in the final weeks before an election in which Democrats …

New York Times:

In the Senate, Collins Often Defies Trump but Rarely Stops Him … It was approaching midnight on the Senate floor, and a vote that had been meant to last 15 minutes had dragged on for nearly three hours as Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, weighed whether to kill one of President Trump's top priorities.

Michael Sinkewicz / New York Post:

Trump says he'd ‘love’ to have Sen. John Fetterman as a Republican amid growing speculation — President Donald Trump praised Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., as a “great guy” on Saturday, saying he would welcome the Pennsylvania Democrat into the Republican Party.

Associated Press:
Trump urges Sen. John Fetterman to switch parties and become a Republican

Discussion: Newsweek

Aaron Blake / CNN:
The possibility that Trump will cost the GOP the Senate is coming into focus

Discussion: The Gateway Pundit

Politico:
‘Ship has sailed’: New poll shows even an end to the war or lower gas prices may not save Republicans

Discussion: Financial Times and NewsMax.com

Axios:
The big unknown behind Democrats' polling leads

Discussion: NewsMax.com and Washington Examiner

New York Times:

Justice Dept. Is Investigating TV Networks Over Trump Pool Coverage — Major TV networks were notified on Friday that the department was examining whether they violated antitrust laws when they suspended pool coverage of President Trump. — The Justice Department is investigating whether …

Discussion: The Hill, The Reporters Committee …, CNN, Washington Examiner, Daily Mail, NBC News, Civil Discourse …, American Greatness, The Gateway Pundit, Variety, The Wrap and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »

Washington Post:
DOJ investigating five TV networks over White House pool coverage

Discussion: Reuters, Newsweek, Bloomberg, Deadline, GB News, Associated Press, CBS News, RTÉ and PoliticusUSA

Axios:

House Republican, invoking Reagan, moves to block Trump's Russia oil deal — Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) vowed Saturday to force a House vote to block Russian oil purchases, challenging President Trump's diesel deal with President Vladimir Putin. … - “It will be forced to the Floor via discharge …

Discussion: The Mahablog and NewsNation

New York Times:

Some Republicans Reject Trump's Move to Import Diesel Fuel From Russia — High diesel costs have posed a problem for Republicans in the midterms, but President Trump's decision did not satisfy some candidates in key Senate races. — President Trump's announcement of a deal …

Discussion: HuffPost, The Hill, The Atlantic, NewsNation, The Japan Times, MS NOW and Washington Post

Michelle Del Rey / The Washington Sun:
Trump Blames Zelenskyy for High American Diesel Prices

Discussion: Axios, NPR, The Hill, Telegraph, The Spectator, RTÉ, HuffPost, GB News, Straight Arrow, Human Events, News Talk 105.9, KTVZ-TV, TMZ.com, Fox News, Mediaite, RedState, Politico, Al Jazeera, National Politics, CBS News, OutsideTheBeltway, The Japan Times and NewsMax.com

Associated Press:
Trump says Ukraine should get a new president as he blames Zelenskyy for US diesel prices

Discussion: HuffPost, Breitbart, The Independent, Washington Examiner, Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera, Metro.co.uk, NewsMax.com, Politico and CBS News

Washington Post:
Trump says Ukraine should ‘get a new president’ after U.S.-Russia diesel deal

Tim Balk / New York Times:

A Senator Facing Re-Election Settles a Bakery Bill, 6 Years Later — Senator Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican in a difficult race, paid an old campaign debt for cookies, muffins and brownies after a baker's story went viral online. — Senator Roger Marshall, a Kansas Republican …

Discussion: Mediaite and Crooks and Liars

Wall Street Journal:

At Davos, Kimberly Guilfoyle Boasted of Private Jet Trips, Luxury Stays — Recording captures U.S. ambassador saying Greek businessmen were paying for her travels and pleading for an invite to an event with Eric Trump — Kimberly Guilfoyle, as America's newly minted ambassador to Greece …

Discussion: The Daily Caller and Mediaite

New York Times:
Exasperation and Resignation in Greece Over Allegations Against Kimberly Guilfoyle

Discussion: The Parnas Perspective

Niall Stanage / The Hill:
The Memo: Guilfoyle furor rises as Trump stops short of expressing support

Discussion: Us Weekly

Dan Diamond / Washington Post:

Trump suggests ‘Ocean of Americas’ as new name for Atlantic or Pacific — The president also floated the idea of naming an ocean after himself. — SummaryLoading... President Donald Trump on Saturday floated the idea of renaming more bodies of water, following his efforts to change the names of the Gulf of Mexico and Lake Ontario.

Discussion: Daily Mail, The Gateway Pundit, Fox News, Mediaite and Althouse

New York Times:

Riyadh Airport Attacked Again, Diplomats Say, After Days of Houthi Strikes — The strike on Saturday was the deadliest attack in a Gulf Arab country since the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran began in February, and forced the airport to temporarily suspend operations.

Discussion: Reuters, New York Post, RTÉ, The Daily Caller, Mediaite and NewsMax.com

Samy Magdy / Associated Press:
Missile strikes passenger terminal at Riyadh airport and many are wounded, official says

New York Times:

Threats of Political Violence Have America's Elected Officials Living in Fear — In January, a caller began leaving threats in the voice mail inboxes of members of Congress: “I want to see their throat cut from ear to ear.” — Another caller left a blunt threat for a U.S. senator …

Discussion: RTÉ

Alex Gangitano / Politico:

‘Get in line:’ Donors strike new tone about helping Paxton — For months, Republican donors insisted they didn't want to bankroll Ken Paxton's Texas Senate race after President Donald Trump endorsed him over long-time incumbent John Cornyn. — To them, that decision made bailing out Paxton the president's responsibility.

NBC News:

Trump says he'll decide whether to livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan — The livestream plan floated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced pushback from Republicans and others. — President Donald Trump on Saturday said he hasn't yet made a final decision …