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12:40 PM ET, March 21, 2025

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
New York Times:
Pentagon Set Up Briefing for Musk on Potential War With China  —  The access would be a major expansion of Elon Musk's government role and highlight his conflicts of interest.  —  The Pentagon was scheduled on Friday to brief Elon Musk on the U.S. military's plan for any war that might break out with China …
RELATED:
Csongor Körömi / Politico:
Elon Musk threatens Pentagon leakers after NYT report on secret China war briefing  —  “They will be found,” warns U.S. President Donald Trump's billionaire adviser as White House lashes out at the media.  —  Donald Trump's top adviser Elon Musk has openly threatened Pentagon employees …
Wall Street Journal:
Musk to Receive Top-Secret Briefing on U.S. War Plans for China  —  The Trump adviser is expected to get a look at the Pentagon blueprint despite his companies' financial stakes in China and defense contracts  —  WASHINGTON—Elon Musk will receive a briefing Friday on the U.S. military's top-secret war plans …
Lakshya Jain / Politico:
We Dug Into the Polls.  Democrats in Congress Should Be Very Afraid.  —  Democratic voters are even angrier than you think.  —  As Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer knows better than anyone, the Democratic base is pissed off.  And not just a little.  —  The intensity of the anger roiling …
RELATED:
Ben Rhodes / New York Times:
There Is a Way for Democrats to Stop Trump and Save America
Stephen Neukam / Axios:   Scoop: Democrats open whistleblower portal aimed at DOGE
Oriana González / NOTUS:
Inside Democrats' Reshuffling on Trans Issues
Discussion: Newsmax
Tudor Dixon / Washington Examiner:   Democratic governors are making a mockery of democracy
Politico:
Universities are caving to Trump with a stunning speed and scope  —  Some of the nation's oldest and wealthiest institutions are swiftly bending to President Donald Trump, who is acting on longstanding conservative criticisms of universities as elitist and progressive.
RELATED:
Wall Street Journal:
‘No Way’ to Please Everyone: Columbia's President Confronts Trump's Ultimatum  —  With Trump intent on making an example of Columbia, Katrina Armstrong is at the center of a fight over the future of higher education  —  Columbia University's interim president, Katrina Armstrong, faces no easy way forward.
Discussion: The Boston Globe and Townhall
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Big Law Firm Reaches Deal With Trump Over Executive Order  —  Paul, Weiss — one of three law firms targeted by President Trump as part of his retribution campaign — said it resolved the conflict by agreeing to a range of commitments.  —  President Trump and the head of the law firm Paul …
RELATED:
Zachary Basu / Axios:   Trump's overflowing grudge list
Bloomberg:
Social Security Acting Head Says DOGE Ruling Threatens Agency  —  The Trump administration is threatening to all but shut down the Social Security Administration in response to a judge's ruling blocking activities by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency — an action that could delay payments …
RELATED:
Politico:
GOP push to ratify DOGE cuts runs into political reality  —  Despite widespread interest on Capitol Hill, it's not clear the White House is interested in rescissions.  —  Senate Republicans want to put their stamp on President Donald Trump's cost-cutting campaign and are urging …
RELATED:
Paris Martineau / The Information:
Exclusive: Section 230 May Finally Get Changed as Lawmakers Prep New Bill  —  In June 1995, two young congressmen reached across the aisle to introduce legislation that would become the defining legal protection of the internet era: Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act …
Sarah D. Wire / USA Today:
Trump calls on Justice Roberts to stop nationwide injunctions against his policies  —  President Donald Trump demanded that Chief Justice John Roberts and the U.S. Supreme Court rein in federal judges who have issued injunctions around the country that have impeded an array of his policies.
RELATED:
Adam Liptak / New York Times:
Supreme Court Rules for Chicago Politician in Bank Fraud Case  —  The justices unanimously said a law prohibiting “any false statement or report” did not cover misleading assertions that fell short of outright lies.  —  The Supreme Court on Friday overturned a Chicago politician's conviction …
Discussion: SCOTUSblog
RELATED:
Ella Lee / The Hill:   Supreme Court sides with ex-Chicago alderperson in corruption conviction appeal
Noah Shachtman / Vanity Fair:
“Ludicrous” Situation: Jeffrey Epstein Case Redaction Takes Over FBI's New York Office  —  The bureau's New York field office normally chases drug dealers and spies.  Right now, according to multiple sources, priority one is redacting the sex trafficker's case files.
Bill Scher / Washington Monthly:
J.D. Vance Is the Most Disliked New Vice President in History  —  The public isn't taking to his obnoxious style, which bodes well for politics in the post-Trump era.  —  Kamala Harris's likability, competence, and political acumen were publicly questioned throughout her vice presidency.
Discussion: The Free Press and Breitbart
NBC News:
The Bidens want back in  —  With the Democratic Party struggling to find a new direction, former President Joe Biden and former first lady Jill Biden have offered to jump in and help with fundraising and rebuilding.  —  WASHINGTON — Former President Joe Biden has told some Democratic leaders …
Abhirup Roy / Reuters:
Exclusive: Tesla trade-ins on pace for record high amid Musk backlash  —  Motorists have traded in a record number of Tesla (TSLA.O) electric vehicles this month, Edmunds data showed, amid a wave of protests against CEO Elon Musk's work as an adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump.
Discussion: InsideEVs
Alex Isenstadt / Axios:
Scoop: Musk's PAC offers $100 to Wisconsin voters in pitch against “activist judges”  —  Elon Musk's political action committee is offering Wisconsin voters $100 to sign a petition expressing their opposition to “activist judges,” a cause that President Trump is pressing as judges block or delay several parts of his agenda.
Paul Krugman:
Is the Sleeping Giant Awakening?  —  Europe is a superpower, if it wants to be  —  Travel day; in fact, filing from the airport lounge.  And I can't really say that I learned a lot — no conversations with the powerful, or for that matter wise taxi drivers.
Mike Stone / Reuters:
Trump awards Boeing much-needed win with fighter jet contract  —  U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday awarded Boeing (BA.N) the contract to build the U.S. Air Force's most sophisticated fighter jet, handing the company a much-needed win.  —  The Next Generation Air Dominance program …
Maryam Khanum / Latin Times:
Anti-Vaxx Mom Whose Daughter Died From Measles Says Disease 'Wasn't That Bad'  —  The child's parents doubled down on their decision not to vaccinate their child even after her death  —  The parents of an unvaccinated Texas child who died from measles appeared in a video formulated …
Tom Pepinsky:
Deep Civil Society and Collective Action  —  Journalism.  Higher education.  The federal bureaucracy.  Nonprofits.  The military.  And now the law firms.  —  Across the United States right now, the same conversation is happening in these and other establishment professions.
Steve Holland / Reuters:
UAE commits to $1.4 trillion investment framework in US, White House says  —  The United Arab Emirates has committed to a 10-year, $1.4 trillion investment framework in the United States after top UAE officials met President Donald Trump this week, a White House official said on Friday.
Katherine Long / Politico:
Will Trump's tariffs come with a pink tax?  —  Happy Friday and second official day of spring!  Today we're talking all about tariffs.  Let's get to it:  —  The U.S. is in the midst of a trade war.  And, as consumers and companies brace themselves for the war's fallout …
Discussion: Washington Times, The Hill and The Hub
Amy Mackinnon / Politico:
Cuts to federal workforce could create opening for foreign spies  —  The intelligence community has long feared the potential threat posed by disgruntled former employees.  —  The Trump administration's rapid slashing of the government workforce creates fertile ground for foreign adversaries …
Ben Berkowitz / Axios:
Trump suggests sending Tesla vandals to El Salvador prisons  —  President Trump on Friday suggested sending anti-Tesla protesters to a notorious prison in El Salvador if convicted.  —  Why it matters: Trump has put the full weight of the U.S. government behind defending and promoting …
President Donald J. Trump / The White House:
Improving Education Outcomes by Empowering Parents, States, and Communities  —  By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to enable parents, teachers, and communities to best ensure student success, it is hereby ordered:
Matt Brown / Associated Press:
Democrats' new digital strategy tops trending charts but also draws mockery from allies and foes  —  For weeks, Democratic lawmakers have met with and mimicked figures they believe may offer them a path back to power in Washington: online influencers and content creators.
Discussion: WTOP News
Stephen Robinson / Public Notice:
Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk are not your friends  —  🎙️ With corporate outlets obeying in advance, supporting independent political media is more important right now than ever.  Public Notice is possible thanks to paid subscribers.  If you aren't one already …
Discussion: Los Angeles Times
Frances Vinall / Washington Post:
State senator resigns after being charged with soliciting sex from a minor  —  Republican lawmaker Justin Eichorn was caught in a sting operation, allegedly soliciting sex from a 17-year-old girl, who turned out to be a law enforcement officer.  —  Just now
Ed O'Keefe / CBS News:
Small Business Administration cutting 43% of staff in latest move to downsize executive branch  —  Washington — The Small Business Administration on Friday said it is cutting more than 40% of its staff as part of the Trump administration's wider effort to shrink the federal bureaucracy.
 
 
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 More Items: 
Magdalena Del Valle / Bloomberg:
Former Federal Workers Find an Outlet in Local Elections
Heather Cox Richardson / Letters from an American:
March 20, 2025  —  It seems as if the Trump administration is rushing to tear apart …
Discussion: Talking Points Memo
Lora Kolodny / CNBC:
Elon Musk received court summons in SEC suit over failure to properly disclose Twitter stake
Discussion: Reuters
Brian Barrett / Wired:
Elon Musk and Donald Trump Have Chosen Chaos
Russell Contreras / Axios:
Trump travel ban may hit MLB players from Cuba, Venezuela
 Earlier Items: 
Daniel Greenfield / Frontpage Mag:
Who Will Miss the Department of Education?
Discussion: Ace of Spades HQ
Sopan Deb / New York Times:
Americans Are Unhappier Than Ever. Solo Dining May Be a Sign.
Discussion: Deseret News, UPI and RTÉ
Reuters:
Exclusive: FBI scales back staffing, tracking of domestic terrorism probes, sources say
Oliver Darcy / Status:
Penta-Gone in 60 Seconds  —  Pentagon spokesperson John Ullyot is being reassigned …
Fred Lambert / Electrek:
Tesla confirms it can't sell the Cybertruck even with tax credit and discounts
Discussion: Adventus
Matt Ott / Associated Press:
In latest blow to Tesla, regulators recall nearly all Cybertrucks
 

 
From Techmeme:

Joe Rossignol / MacRumors:
Kuo: A20 chips in iPhone 18 models will be made using TSMC's 2nm process, as TSMC's trial production of 2nm chips reached yields well above the 60%-70% range

Coco Feng / South China Morning Post:
Tencent unveils Hunyuan T1, a new reasoning AI model powered by its Hunyuan Turbo S AI model, and claims it rivals DeepSeek's R1 in both performance and pricing

Ashley Carman / Bloomberg:
As Spotify pushes its new video monetization program, sexually explicit videos have appeared on its top podcast charts, violating the company's terms of use

 
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