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2:35 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 …
Wall Street Journal:
Elon Musk Leaves Pentagon After Discussions About China and Tech
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:
Stephen Neukam / Axios:   Scoop: Democrats open whistleblower portal aimed at DOGE
Ben Rhodes / New York Times:
There Is a Way for Democrats to Stop Trump and Save America
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
Andrew Perez / Rolling Stone:
Trump Admin Threatens to Stop Social Security If DOGE Can't Have Personal Data  —  Trump's interim Social Security chief says he wants to turn off the program if Musk and DOGE can't access Americans' most sensitive data … “My anti-fraud team would be DOGE affiliates.
RELATED:
Heather Cox Richardson / Letters from an American:
March 20, 2025  —  It seems as if the Trump administration is rushing to tear apart …
Bloomberg:
Social Security Acting Head Says DOGE Ruling Threatens Agency
Politico:
Trump wants adverse rulings overturned ASAP.  Appeals courts are taking their time.  —  The Trump administration is pleading with a federal appeals court to quickly reverse a judge's directive blocking President Donald Trump's ability to deport Venezuelan nationals under rarely used wartime powers.
Discussion: Mediaite
RELATED:
Sarah D. Wire / USA Today:
Trump calls on Justice Roberts to stop nationwide injunctions against his policies
Financial Times:
Trump says he would be happy for US to become ‘associate’ Commonwealth member  —  US president posted Sun news story that referred to a supposed ‘secret offer’ King Charles is due to extend  —  Donald Trump has suggested he would be happy for the US to become an “associate member” …
RELATED:
Andrew Feinberg / The Independent:
Trump weighs in on report King Charles will offer U.S. membership to British Commonwealth: ‘Sounds good!’  —  Trump indicates willingness to have America become 57th Commonwealth member … Your support helps us to tell the story  —  From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech …
RELATED:
Beth Mole / Ars Technica:
Mom of child dead from measles: “Don't do the shots,” my other 4 kids were fine
Discussion: The Texas Tribune and STAT
Paris Martineau / The Information:
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, which shields internet companies …
Bill Scher / Washington Monthly:
J.D. Vance Is the Most Disliked New Vice President in History  —  Kamala Harris's likability, competence, and political acumen were publicly questioned throughout her vice presidency.  Viewed through the lens of poll numbers, that was understandable.  According to Real Clear Politics …
Discussion: The Free Press and Breitbart
Esteban L. Hernandez / Axios:
Federal judge orders ICE not to deport immigration advocate Jeanette Vizguerra  —  A federal judge in Colorado on Friday issued an order calling on Immigration and Customs Enforcement not to deport prominent local immigrant rights activist Jeanette Vizguerra.
RELATED:
Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton / Denver Post:
Federal judge orders ICE not to deport Jeanette Vizguerra with court case still pending
Discussion: Townhall
New York Times:
Paul Weiss Chair Says Deal With Trump Adheres to Firm's Principles  —  In an email message on Thursday evening, Paul Weiss Chairman Brad Karp reassured employees that the deal with President Trump was in keeping with the firm's principles.  —  The chairman of Paul Weiss sought to reassure employees …
RELATED:
Michael S. Schmidt / New York Times:
Big Law Firm Reaches Deal With Trump Over Executive Order
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.
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 …
Ali Bianco / Politico:
Small Business Administration plans to slash staff by over 40 percent amid agency-wide reorganization  —  “Just like the small business owners we support, we must do more with less,” SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler said.  —  The Small Business Administration announced a wide reorganization …
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 …
The Daily Beast:
Trump Attempts to Use 18th Century Law to Allow Feds to Enter Homes Without a Warrant  —  Federal agents will soon be allowed to enter homes without a warrant, the president's lawyers have argued, thanks to an 18th Century law recently used to deport Venezuelan gang members.
Discussion: Reason, Raw Story and New York Times
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
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 and Capitol Fax.com
RELATED:
Ella Lee / The Hill:   Supreme Court sides with ex-Chicago alderperson in corruption conviction appeal
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:
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: Fortune, DNyuz and InsideEVs
Dan Pfeiffer / The Message Box:
Trump's Politically Insane Decision to Shut Down the Dept. of Education  —  Trump may have just handed Democrats an issue than break through all of the noise.  —  Every day, Donald Trump does several unprecedented, potentially unconstitutional, deeply damaging, and politically insane things.
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 …
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 …
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.
 
 
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 More Items: 
Anna Mehler Paperny / Reuters:
US government blocks Canadian access to border-straddling library, Canadian town says
Shayla Colon / New York Times:
Workers Say They Were Pressured to Pay for N.Y.C. Election Jobs
Jem Bartholomew / The Guardian:
First Thing: Trump signs order to dismantle Department of Education
Discussion: The Independent
Adam Isacson:
Who Did the Trump Administration Just Send to El Salvador's Dungeons?
Steven Erlanger / New York Times:
In Germany, ‘Orphaned’ by U.S., Shock Gives Way to Action
Discussion: Althouse
Tom Pepinsky:
Deep Civil Society and Collective Action
 Earlier Items: 
Magdalena Del Valle / Bloomberg:
Former Federal Workers Find an Outlet in Local Elections
Matt Brown / Associated Press:
Democrats' new digital strategy tops trending charts but also draws mockery from allies and foes
Stephen Robinson / Public Notice:
Steve Bannon and Charlie Kirk are not your friends
Discussion: Tangle and Los Angeles Times
Frances Vinall / Washington Post:
State senator resigns after being charged with soliciting sex from a minor
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 …
 

 
From Techmeme:

Simon Willison / Simon Willison's Weblog:
DeepSeek releases MIT-licensed DeepSeek-V3-0324, the latest version of their enormous DeepSeek v3 model; the previous DeepSeek v3 version had a custom license

Simon Willison / Simon Willison's Weblog:
Alibaba releases Qwen2.5-VL-32B, a 32B open model under Apache 2.0, claiming better alignment with human preferences and math reasoning than earlier 2.5 models

Chris Welch / The Verge:
Apple says the AirPods Max will get 24-bit, 48 kHz lossless audio, including Personalized Spatial Audio, and ultra‑low latency in April via a software update

 
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