CBS News poll — Trump has positive approval amid “energetic” opening weeks; seen as doing what he promised  —  With most describing him as “tough,” “energetic,” “focused” and “effective” — and as doing what he'd promised during his campaign — President Trump has started his term with net positive marks from Americans overall.

Vance and Musk question the authority of the courts as Trump's agenda faces legal pushback  —  Top Trump administration officials are openly questioning the judiciary's authority to serve as a check on executive power as the new president's sweeping agenda faces growing pushback from the courts.

Trump Suggests Musk Found ‘Irregularities’ in Effort at Treasury  —  President Donald Trump suggested that Elon Musk's government efficiency team has found irregularities while examining data at the US Treasury Department, and intimated that may lead the US to disregard some payments.

‘Bama Senator Howls Like Stuck Pig After She Sees NIH Cuts’ Impact in State  —  Yesterday I made the point that while research universities and academic medical centers may be coded blue in many ways, they're far from limited to blue states.  Indeed, overall they tend to be more crucial …

Trump Plans to Unveil 25% Steel, Aluminum Tariffs on Monday  — Steel, aluminum duties to apply to imports from all countries  — President to announce reciprocal tariffs this in coming days … President Donald Trump said he will announce 25% tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum on Monday.

More Than 800K Have Lost $2B on Trump's Meme Coin  —  The token's price has crashed from $75 to $17.  —  ‘Thug’: Richard Gere Drags Trump in Award Acceptance Speech  —  ‘MILLIONAIRE CLOWNS’  —  “The millionaire clowns surrounding Trump are immature and narcissistic—a deadly mix,” Gere said.

Kristi Noem: ‘Get rid of FEMA the way it exists today’  —  The DHS secretary backed Trump's proposal to shutter the disaster response agency.  —  Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said she supports the idea of getting “rid of FEMA” as part of President Donald Trump's massive overhaul of the federal government.

Some Democrats vow to use leverage in government funding fight  —  At least one Democrat is saying explicitly that the party should fight back against Trump and Musk by refusing to help Republicans reach a government funding deal.  —  Some Democrats warned they will not cooperate with Republicans …

Prebunking Elon Musk's Super Bowl Propaganda  —  Perception is reality.  —  I normally don't write on Sundays, but I have seen some alarming rumors that Elon Musk has purchased a $40 million Super Bowl ad in which he will expose the “fraud” and “corruption” at USAID.  (See here and here.)

Trump's Shameful Campaign Against Transgender Americans  —  Some of the most deplorable episodes in U.S. history involve the government wielding the power of the state against minority groups: Black people, Indigenous people and gay people, to name just a few.

Exclusive: Inside Trump's Iran fear … - Iran clearly is still on Trump's mind: Last week, he said he'd given his team instructions to “obliterate” Iran if its operatives were to kill him.  — He later tempered that remark by saying he wanted a “verified nuclear peace agreement” with Iran …

In Breaking USAID, the Trump Administration May Have Broken the Law  —  ProPublica's reporting provides new details about what legal risk officials were prepared to take and what laws they may have violated on their way to creating a “constitutional crisis.”  —  Reporting Highlights

NOAA told to search grant programs for climate-related terms … - Any potential challenges to NOAA's peer-reviewed grants are “myopic and misguided,” said Rick Spinrad, who led NOAA during the Biden administration. … - It appears to be separate from DEI-related searches …

Venezuelans backed Trump.  Now some worry he'll deport them.  —  Venezuelans in the Miami suburb of Doral have been some of Trump's biggest proponents.  Many feel betrayed after he revoked temporary protected status for thousands.  —  DORAL, Fla. — Ronald Bellorin decided to flee Venezuela …

2 Million Baked Goods Are Recalled Over Listeria Risk  —  The recall, which was initiated on Jan. 7 and upgraded on Wednesday, includes several Dunkin' products, federal safety officials said.  —  About two million baked goods, including some doughnuts and coffee rolls sold at Dunkin' …

Federal Financial Watchdog Ordered to Cease Activity  —  In an email to staff of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the agency's acting director ordered workers to cease “all supervision and examination activity.”  —  Employees of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau were instructed to cease …

A Quick Guide to the Lawsuits Against the Trump Orders  —  Dozens of suits have been filed that seek to stop some of President Trump's executive orders.  Here's a brief rundown.  —  The legal war over President Trump's blizzard of executive actions is intensifying, with new lawsuits and fresh rulings emerging now day and night.