Check out Mini-memeorandum for simple mobiles or memeorandum Mobile for modern smartphones.
4:20 PM ET, February 19, 2025

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Raheem J. Kassam / The National Pulse:
EXCLUSIVE: VP J.D. Vance Warns Zelensky Over ‘Disgraceful’ Public Attacks on Trump, Confirms Ukrainian Elections Are Now U.S. Policy.  —  EXCLUSIVE: VP J.D. Vance Warns Zelensky Over ‘Disgraceful’ Public Attacks on Trump, Confirms Ukrainian Elections Are Now U.S. Policy.
RELATED:
William Kristol / The Bulwark:
The Cruelty Isn't the Point.  It's the Pleasure.  —  Over the years, we've piled up some indelible images of gutless Republican surrender to Trump.  Ted Cruz's face of pure pain as he phone-banked for Trump in 2016.  Mitt Romney's rueful smile at dinner with Trump after that election.1 And now …
Discussion: New York Post, Daily Kos and Bloomberg
Csongor Körömi / Politico:
Trump blaming Ukraine for Putin's war leaves Europe reeling  —  The U.S. president called out Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a diatribe against Kyiv.  —  Donald Trump's statement that Kyiv “started” the war Russia launched on Ukraine has left Europeans dumbstruck …
Anton Troianovski / New York Times:
Zelensky and Trump Trade Blows as Feud Escalates Over Peace Talks
Washington Post:
Echoing Kremlin, Trump calls Zelensky a dictator, angering Ukrainians
Ali Bianco / Politico:
Macron to visit Washington next week, Waltz says
Discussion: Politico, The Hill and Reuters
CNN:
Zelensky says Trump lives in ‘disinformation space’
Troy Matthews / MeidasTouch News:
Trump Says Ukraine ‘Should Have Never Started’ War With Russia
David Smith / The Guardian:
Trump blames Ukraine over war with Russia, saying it could have made a deal
Liz Goodwin / Washington Post:
After ceding power of the purse, GOP lawmakers beg Trump team for funds  —  Republican senators are asking Cabinet secretaries and other Trump officials to let money flow back into their states.  —  Republican senators find themselves in an unusual position these days …
RELATED:
Katherine Tully-McManus / Politico:
‘You would see lawsuits:’ Susan Collins fires new warning shot at Trump on spending  —  The senior Republican senator negotiating a deal to avoid a government shutdown in less than one month says the Trump administration might be breaking the law — and flouting the U.S. Constitution.
Discussion: Advocate
Axios:
Trump faces growing DOGE revolt from GOP lawmakers … - DOGE's efforts to shutter the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other agencies could bring matters to a head, one House Republican told Axios.  — “I think you're going to see a clash …
Filip Timotija / The Hill:
Trump says ‘inflation is back’: ‘I had nothing to do with it’  —  President Trump is seeking to distance himself from a rise in inflation, arguing that the uptick had “nothing to do” with his return to the Oval Office.  —  Trump instead placed the blame on former President Biden in an interview Tuesday …
Charlie Savage / New York Times:
Trump Issues Order to Expand His Power Over Agencies Congress Made Independent
Sahil Kapur / NBC News:
Despite DOGE, Trump's agenda calls for adding trillions of dollars to U.S debt
Discussion: UPI and Roll Call
Justine Brent / KGUN-TV:
One confirmed dead in Marana Regional Airport crash Wednesday morning  —  KGUN 9 has a crew on scene  —  MARANA, Ariz. (KGUN) — A crash has occurred at Marana Regional Airport, 11700 W. Avra Valley Road, Wednesday morning, KGUN 9 has confirmed with airport personnel.
RELATED:
NBC News:
Aircraft collision at Arizona airport leaves at least 1 person dead  —  The crash happened Wednesday at the Marana Regional Airport in Marana.  —  At least one person has died after two planes collided Wednesday morning at an Arizona airport, police said.  —  The crash happened …
Andre Tartar / Bloomberg:
DOGE Says It's Saved $55 Billion; Data Show Much Less  — Cost-cutting effort itemizes about $8.6 billion in savings  — Data includes error that inflates value of DOGE savings so far  —  The federal cost-cutting effort dubbed the Department of Government Efficiency says it has saved $55 billion …
RELATED:
New York Times:
DOGE Claimed It Saved $8 Billion in One Contract. It Was Actually $8 Million.
Jason Lange / Reuters:
Trump's approval rating slips as Americans worry about the economy  —  U.S. President Donald Trump's approval rating has ticked slightly lower in recent days as more Americans worried about the direction of the U.S. economy as the new leader threatens a host of countries with tariffs, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found.
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Trump administration orders Pentagon to plan for sweeping budget cuts  —  The directive, detailed in a memo dated Tuesday, exempts a handful of programs, including the president's expanded military mission along the U.S.-Mexico border.
New York Post:
NYC congestion pricing axed as Trump pulls approval of hated toll  —  Congestion pricing, we hardly knew ye.  —  New York City's spectacularly unpopular congestion pricing scheme is on death row as the Trump administration will announce Wednesday it is pulling its approval of the toll …
RELATED:
New York Times:
Trump Administration Moves to End New York's Congestion Pricing Tolls
Greg Sargent / New Republic:
Oops: Trump-Musk Cuts Just Wrecked an NIH Org Championed by GOPers  —  With co-Presidents Donald Trump and Elon Musk now inflicting deep cuts on federal agencies that sponsor medical research, thousands of scientists, researchers, and medical professionals are getting fired.
Sam Stein / The Bulwark:
The DOGE Brain Drain Has Begun  —  THREE DAYS AFTER the National Institutes of Health abruptly announced it would place a strict, low cap on the money it sends to universities and research institutions for the administrative costs of scientific research, the University of Iowa made an abrupt announcement of its own.
Wired:
These Are the SpaceX Engineers Already Working Inside the FAA  —  SpaceX engineers were said to be simply touring the Federal Aviation Administration on Monday.  In fact, some were already being onboarded at the agency under a policy designed to increase “employment opportunities for people with disabilities.”
New York Times:
Migrants, Deported to Panama Under Trump Plan, Detained in Remote Jungle Camp  —  The group of unauthorized migrants, which includes children, were bused to the camp late Tuesday night.  “It looks like a zoo, there are fenced cages,” said one of the detainees.
New York Times:
A Frustrated Trump Wants His New Air Force One Planes Pronto  —  Among the ways being discussed to force faster delivery of two presidential planes are relaxing security clearances for Boeing workers and even purchasing a temporary luxury plane and retrofitting it.
Jack Nicas / New York Times:
Trump Media Group Sues Brazilian Judge Weighing Arrest of Jair Bolsonaro  —  The lawsuit came hours after the justice received an indictment of Brazil's former president, who is an ally of President Trump.  —  President Trump's media company sued a Brazilian Supreme Court justice on Wednesday …
Kyle Cheney / Politico:
Judge says Trump administration made a ‘mess’ of plans for overseas USAID workers  —  The judge said the Trump administration's latest statement contradicted a “crystal clear” understanding about how overseas government workers would be treated.  —  A federal judge on Wednesday …
Adam Przeworski / Adam's Substack:
Diary  —  I decided to keep a record of my thoughts as events transpire, a diary.  I have read several reactions by Germans to the rise of Nazism and I was struck by their difficulty to understand where the daily events they lived through could or would lead.  In retrospect, we will know, analyze, and make sense.
Pew Research Center:
How Americans view Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg  —  Americans' views of two prominent tech executives - Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg - tilt more negative than positive.  Musk is a deeply polarizing figure, with Republicans largely viewing him favorably and Democrats largely unfavorably.
Discussion: The Daily Caller
Popular Information:
As measles outbreak rages in Texas, RFK Jr. pushes anti-vaccine message  —  The largest measles outbreak Texas has seen in over 30 years is sweeping through the western part of the state.  According to information released yesterday by the Texas Department of State Health Services, 58 cases have been confirmed throughout five counties.
Lora Kolodny / CNBC:
Tesla's law firm drafts Delaware bill that could salvage Musk pay package … A law firm that represents Tesla and Elon Musk has written proposed legislation that would alter Delaware corporate law, according to a person directly familiar with the drafting of the bill who asked to remain unnamed in order to speak about the matter.
Dave Zirin / The Nation:
Why Democrats Won't Throw a Real Punch  —  Faced with existential threats from the right, the Democratic leadership remains timid; faced with demands for justice from the left, it goes on the attack.  —  Bluesky  —  Pocket  —  A relative of mine—an older gent with a penchant for salty language …
Amanda Marcotte / Salon:
RFK 's plan to make America healthy again?  Round up people with mental health conditions in camps  —  Robert F. Kennedy wants to replace standard psychological care with unpaid labor on “wellness farms”  —  Robert F. Kennedy's “make America healthy again” motto is meant to convey …
 
 
 Archived Page Info: 
This is a snapshot of memeorandum at 4:20 PM ET, February 19, 2025.

View the current page or another snapshot:


 
 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: 
The Atlantic:
DOGE Has ‘God Mode’ Access to Government Data
Discussion: GovExec.com
Kelly Hooper / Politico:
Biden CMS chief warns DOGE is moving too fast
Discussion: The Hill, WisPolitics and KOIN-TV
Bernie Sanders / The Guardian:
We are on the road for democracy and justice
Discussion: The Hill
Andrew Perez / Rolling Stone:
Trump Admin. Spends Big Taxpayer Money on Ads Thanking Trump
 Earlier Items: 
Matt Wilstein / The Daily Beast:
Trump Wanted ‘Millions’ for 15-Minute Meeting With Execs
Laura Strickler / NBC News:
New Immigration and Customs Enforcement data shows administration isn't just arresting criminals
Katie Roof / Bloomberg:
Musk's X in Talks to Raise Money at a $44 Billion Valuation
Ryan Cooper / American Prospect:
Musk and Trump Are Causing the Dumbest Imperial Collapse in History
Discussion: Raw Story
Liz Dye / Public Notice:
Unelected billionaire breaks laws to “restore” democracy
Andrew Beaujon / Washingtonian:
Trump's Kennedy Center Cancels Pride Concert That Would Have Featured Gay Men's Chorus of Washington
Discussion: The Daily Caller, Advocate and WUSA
The White House:
Ensuring Accountability for All Agencies
 

 
From Techmeme:

Daniel Thomas / Financial Times:
Netflix agrees to buy WBD's studios and streaming business in an $82.7B cash-and-stock deal; the transaction is expected to close after Q3 2026

Foo Yun Chee / Reuters:
The EU fines X €120M for breaching online content rules, the first fine under the DSA, citing issues including the deceptive design of its blue checkmarks

Kif Leswing / CNBC:
Apple says general counsel Kate Adams and policy chief Lisa Jackson will retire, and Jennifer Newstead, Meta's former chief legal officer, will replace Adams

 
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