Musk's DOGE seeks access to personal taxpayer data, raising alarm at IRS  —  The unusual request would put sensitive data about millions of American taxpayers in the hands of Trump political appointees.  —  Elon Musk's U.S. DOGE Service is seeking access to a heavily-guarded Internal Revenue Service system …

Mass firings continue across nation's health agencies  —  The cuts have raised questions about the extent of the impact on public health.  —  The Trump administration carried out more mass firings across the Health and Human Services Department this weekend, continuing a chaotic purge …

125. The Court's First Trump II Case Won't Be a Bellwether  —  The challenge to Trump's removal of the head of the Office of Special Counsel raises unique procedural and substantive issues likely to prevent it from serving as a referendum—in either direction.

Playbook: Europe's split-screen moment  —  With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine  —  Good Monday morning, and happy Presidents' Day.  This is Jack Blanchard, still trying to forgive Gen. George Washington for that whole armed rebellion business.  Give it another 250 years, we'll get there.

Washington Post backs out of ‘Fire Elon Musk’ ad order  —  The Washington Post this week backed out of a “Fire Elon Musk” advertising order that was to run as a wrap on some of its Tuesday editions, according to the advocacy group Common Cause.  —  The group said it signed a $115,000 agreement …

Adams Forcefully Resists Calls to Resign: ‘I Am Going Nowhere’  —  Mayor Eric Adams spoke at two Black churches in Queens and pushed back at those who “are dancing on my grave.”  —  Whenever Mayor Eric Adams has faced adversity, he has sought refuge in the pulpit of Black churches …

Jan. 6 Rioters Argue Pardons Apply to Charges Including Murder Plot, Child Porn  —  Defendants argue that Trump pardons should absolve them of additional crimes, some discovered during investigations of the Capitol riot

Trump Voters Splinter Over His Rapid Shake-Up of Washington  —  Some core supporters love his no-holds-barred approach, but several swing voters are taken aback at his early moves

Trump Fired, Then Unfired, National Nuclear Security Administration Employees.  What Were Their Jobs?  —  The administration asked some of the agency's workers, who were part of last week's massive layoffs across the federal government, to come back.  —  When termination letters were sent …

This is Not Marco Rubio's State Department  —  The secretary of State is taking positions that were once anathema and sounding very Trumpy online.  —  It is becoming increasingly clear that Marco Rubio is secretary of State in name only.  —  Since taking over Foggy Bottom …

Five pressing questions as RFK Jr. takes HHS reins  —  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has spent decades as an outsider railing against federal health authorities.  His entire Make America Healthy Again movement is based largely on undermining the scientific and public health messaging from the federal government …

2/17/25 ☀️ AM:  —  Senate GOP readies to consider budget plan with House out  —  Introducing the first speakers at The Conference  —  DOGE on the rampage but cracks start to emerge  —  Senate GOP readies to consider budget plan with House out … And happy Presidents' Day.

Birthright Citizenship: Barnett & Wurman's NY Times Essay and their Bates/Blackstone Double Backfire  —  Randy Barnett & Ilan Wurman had a guest essay in the N.Y. Times on Feb. 15th: “Trump Might Have a Case on Birthright Citizenship.”  The bottom line is that their essay backfires …

Crypto Gamblers, Tech Oligarchs, Wall Street Opportunists.  What Could Go Wrong?  —  Over the past two decades, America has built an unprecedented arsenal of economic security tools that have anchored U.S. foreign policy.  —  Republican and Democratic administrations together developed …

The Week Ahead  —  Who you vote for is a political choice.  Whether a fully eligible citizen can vote isn't about politics, it's about your fundamental rights as an American.  For decades now, the Republican party's trajectory has involved making it more difficult for eligible people to vote …

As Trump Targets Research, Scientists Share Grief and Resolve to Fight  —  At a conference in Boston, the nation's scientists commiserated and strategized as funding cuts and federal layoffs throw their world into turmoil.  —  At the annual gathering in Boston this past week …

Under Trump, CIA plots bigger role in drug cartel fight  —  The spy agency is developing plans to fulfill the president's campaign pledges, but critics warn of a backlash.

World's ‘first openly gay imam’ shot dead in South Africa  —  Muhsin Hendricks, a pioneering figure dubbed the world's first openly gay imam, has been shot dead in South Africa.  —  The 57-year-old cleric ran a mosque in Cape Town intended as a safe haven for gay and other marginalised Muslims.