Check out Mini-memeorandum for simple mobiles or memeorandum Mobile for modern smartphones.
5:05 PM ET, February 12, 2025

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Lawrence Hurley / NBC News:
This obscure law is one reason Trump's agenda keeps losing in court  —  Lawsuits challenging Trump policies raise big constitutional questions, but they also rely on a law that requires the government to follow the correct procedures when changing course.  —  WASHINGTON — Lawyers challenging …
RELATED:
Associated Press:
White House says judges balking at Trump's actions are provoking a ‘constitutional crisis’  —  The White House said Wednesday that court rulings going against the Trump administration are coming from “judicial activists” on the bench whose decisions amount to a “constitutional crisis.”
Jaclyn Diaz / NPR:
What happens if Trump starts ignoring court rulings?  We break it down  —  In less than a month in office, President Trump has signed dozens of executive orders that are now facing pushback in the courts.  —  Many are wondering: What happens if he simply ignores them?
Bill Scher / Washington Monthly:
It's a Good Thing Democrats Didn't Pack the Courts
Discussion: The Gateway Pundit
Associated Press:
As Trump pushes whirlwind agenda, DOJ is challenged to defend his orders in court
Discussion: New Republic
New York Times:
Live Updates: Trump Holds Call With Putin to Start Talks on Ending Ukraine War  —  Where Things Stand  — Trump-Putin call: President Trump said that he had “a lengthy and highly productive” call with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia on Wednesday that he characterized as the start of the negotiation to end the war in Ukraine.
RELATED:
NBC News:
Senate votes to confirm Tulsi Gabbard as top U.S. intelligence official  —  Gabbard overcame initial skepticism from some Republican senators about her nomination, underscoring Trump's grip on the party.  —  WASHINGTON — The GOP-controlled Senate early Wednesday morning voted …
Catie Edmondson / New York Times:
Defying Johnson, Graham and Senate G.O.P. Push Their Own Budget Plan  —  Senator Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who relishes being in the middle of the action, is leapfrogging the House G.O.P., which is still tied in knots over how to pass its budget.
RELATED:
Lee Moran / HuffPost:
Donald Trump Taunted Over ‘Most Powerless Image Of A President’ Ever  —  It's “a picture of presidential subservience the likes of which we have never seen,” said MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell.  —  LOADING  —  MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell pointed out the power plays that Elon Musk appeared …
William Kristol / The Bulwark:
When President Musk Speaks, Donald Trump Listens
Discussion: CNN and NBC News
Jenna McLaughlin / NPR:
Tulsi Gabbard confirmed as director of national intelligence, overcoming skepticism  —  The U.S. Senate has confirmed former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to lead the intelligence community as director of national intelligence, despite initial skepticism.  —  Gabbard was confirmed 52-48 …
RELATED:
Alexander Bolton / The Hill:   McConnell only Republican to vote against Gabbard
New York Times:
Trump Softens Tone on Inflation After Pledging to Lower Prices  —  President Trump pledged to lower costs on “Day 1” as a candidate.  His administration now acknowledges it will take more time.  —  President Trump promised voters that, if elected, he would enact policies that would bring prices down on “Day 1” in office.
RELATED:
Colby Smith / New York Times:
CPI Report: Inflation Rose Unexpectedly in January
Haley Ott / CBS News:
Hegseth rules out Ukraine NATO membership as part of any ceasefire with Russia  —  U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia must include security guarantees for Ukraine, but that they “should not be provided through NATO membership …
RELATED:
CNN:
After Putin call, Trump says negotiations to end Ukraine war will start ‘immediately’
U.S. Department of Defense:
Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered)
Steven Erlanger / New York Times:
Hegseth Says Return to Ukraine's Pre-2014 Borders Is ‘Unrealistic’
New York Times:
Family of Venezuelan Migrant Sent to Guantánamo: ‘My Brother Is Not a Criminal.’ … Luis Alberto Castillo, a father of one from Venezuela, entered the United States on Jan. 19, one day before Donald Trump became president for a second term — swept into office on a promise to treat undocumented migrants with a heavy hand.
RELATED:
Judd Legum / Popular Information:
BREAKING: NIH admits funding freeze is illegal, will resume issuing grants  —  On Monday afternoon, Popular Information broke the news that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) had frozen virtually all grant funding in violation of two federal court orders.
New York Times:
Republicans Love Trump's Spending Cuts.  Just Not in Their States.  —  Even as they praise the president's unilateral actions to slash federal spending, G.O.P. lawmakers have quietly moved to seek carve outs or exemptions for their own constituents.  —  Republicans in Congress have responded …
Discussion: Raw Story
RELATED:
Washington Post:
New Kennedy Center board elects Trump as chair.  Rutter departs as president.  —  President Trump's refashioned board of trustees voted him chairman in a meeting Wednesday afternoon.  President Deborah Rutter told staff she was leaving the institution.  —  The Kennedy Center board …
RELATED:
CBS News:
How Trump is reshaping the Kennedy Center, moving away from “woke culture”  —  President Trump is reshaping the Kennedy Center's board and performances, moving away from what he views as “woke culture,” multiple sources tell CBS News.  —  After Mr. Trump announced plans last week to remove …
Discussion: Forbes, Variety, Consequence, them. and Breitbart
New York Daily News:
Trump revokes $80 million from NYC after threat to claw back FEMA cash used to care for migrants  —  The Trump administration has revoked more than $80 million in funds from New York City bank accounts after Elon Musk earlier this week threatened to claw back FEMA money used to house migrants in …
RELATED:
Bobby Allyn / NPR:
Elon Musk's DOGE takes aim at agency that had plans of regulating X  —  Elon Musk made a big leap late last month toward his long-shot goal of turning X into an “everything app,” a service that could encompass a broad range of services, including the ability to transfer money, similar to Venmo or PayPal.
RELATED:
New York Times:
With Attack on Consumer Bureau, Musk Removes Obstacle to His ‘X Money’ Vision
Discussion: Texas Standard
David Zipper / Slate:
Americans Are Actually in a Position to Make Elon Musk Feel Our Rage  —  The company is in a precarious position.  This is a case where buying choices can effectively communicate rage.  —  There are myriad reasons to loathe Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, who has become a top ally of Donald Trump.
Discussion: Raw Story and Forbes
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Her parents were injured in a Tesla crash. She ended up having to pay Tesla damages
Discussion: Electrek and TechCrunch
Ashleigh Fields / The Hill:
House Republican circulates petition to deport Omar  —  Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas) is circulating a petition for his supporters to sign to deport a fellow member of Congress, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).  —  Gil had previously called on Omar to be deported, arguing she is more loyal …
Discussion: New York Post and Axios
emptywheel:
Trump Fired Inspectors General Who Identified $183.5 Billion in Waste, Fraud, and Abuse  —  There have and will be a slew of lawsuits in response to Trump's attack on government.  But this lawsuit, from eight of the Inspectors General that Trump fired on January 24, has been much anticipated.
RELATED:
Ivana Saric / Axios:
Top Dem on DOGE subcommittee calls on Elon Musk to testify … - “While we're sitting here, Donald Trump and Elon Musk are recklessly and illegally dismantling the federal government,” Stansbury said.  — She went on to accuse Republicans of shielding Musk and Trump as they break the law …
RELATED:
Jennifer Bendery / HuffPost:
Dem Lawmaker Sounds Alarm On DOGE ‘Actively Dismantling’ Education Department
Discussion: Carolina Journal
Ryan Grim / Drop Site News:
“Armored Tesla” forecast to win $400 million State Department contract after Trump's election, government document shows  —  The State Department's procurement forecast, revised as of late December 2024, lists Tesla as the recipient of the largest expected contract, with Marco Rubio's department planning …
Justine Calma / The Verge:
The Trump administration restores federal webpages after court order  —  A federal judge told the CDC and FDA to restore pages containing key health information.  —  A federal judge told the CDC and FDA to restore pages containing key health information.
Leah Feiger / Wired:
The GSA Plans to Sell Hundreds of Its Federal Government Buildings  —  The General Services Administration, staffed at its upper levels by Elon Musk associates, plans to sell 500-plus buildings—some of which house government agencies and the offices of US senators.
Greg Sargent / New Republic:
Pope Francis's Stunning Rebuke of JD Vance Exposes MAGA's Dark Soul  —  The other day, JD Vance sought to reconcile President Donald Trump's “America First” vision with the tenets of Christianity.  Vance argued for a “Christian concept” that orders our ethical obligations in a series of concentric circles …
Charles Franklin / Homepage:
New Marquette Law School Poll national survey finds public strongly favors some Trump policies, strongly opposes others  —  Recognizing only two sexes and immigrant orders are most popular, “Gulf of America” naming and Jan. 6 pardons least popular  —  Other highlights:  — Overall opinion is skeptical on tariffs
Michela Moscufo / NBC News:
Reparations bill returns to Congress as Trump leads charge against racial equity in government  —  Rep. Ayanna Pressley will revive a federal reparations push at what she describes as an “inflection point” for the country.  —  Rep. Ayanna Pressley will reintroduce H.R. 40 …
Discussion: Washington Examiner and Fox News
Joyce Vance / Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance:
Cutting Cancer Research  —  Sometimes, it gets personal.  —  My daughter is finishing up a master's degree.  Her work is completely over my head, but it involves the intersection of nutrition, agriculture, and climate change. … In other words, she's doing important work, real work that could help make many lives better.
 
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of memeorandum at 5:05 PM ET, February 12, 2025.

View the current page or another snapshot:


Page version:
 
 See Also: 
memeorandum: site main
memeorandum River: reverse chronological memeorandum
memeorandum Mobile: for phones
memeorandum Leaderboard: memeorandum's top sources
 
 Subscribe: 
memeorandum RSS feed
memeorandum on Mastodon
 
 
 More Items: 
Mitch McConnell / Courier-Journal:
Kentuckians can't afford the high cost of Trump's tariffs
Discussion: Axios, Detroit Free Press and CNBC
Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
Top N.I.H. Official Abruptly Resigns as Trump Orders Deep Cuts
Judy Kurtz / The Hill:
New Kennedy Center board elects Trump as chairman
Discussion: CNN, Politico, NPR and Rolling Stone
Emily Brooks / The Hill:
First DOGE committee hearing becomes referendum on Elon Musk
Discussion: New Republic
Brett Samuels / The Hill:
White House calls judges blocking Trump's agenda ‘real constitutional crisis’
 Earlier Items: 
Jonathan V. Last / The Bulwark:
Wall Street Loves Trump Because LOL Nothing Matters
Max Read / Read Max:
Soy Right ascendant
David Frum / The Atlantic:
Why the COVID Deniers Won
Discussion: The Democracy Labs
Vladimir Isachenkov / Associated Press:
Kremlin says unidentified Russian freed in US in exchange for Moscow's release of Marc Fogel
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Filip Timotija / The Hill:
Source says “most” journalists at Voice of America were put on administrative leave, a day after Trump signed an EO aimed at eliminating the USAGM

Michael Schaffer / Politico:
How The Dallas Express scooped the DC press corps on a congresswoman's dementia, highlighting the importance of local outlets in DC even as their numbers fall

Tara Bennett / AV Club:
How Looney Tunes' first original animated feature got released, as WBD's legacy franchise is at a crossroads, all but abandoned by the studio it helped define

 
Sister Sites:

Techmeme
 Top news and commentary for technology's leaders, from all around the web
Mediagazer
 Top news and commentary for media professionals from all around the web
WeSmirch
 The top celebrity news from all around the web on a single page