Top Items:
Don Moynihan / Can We Still Govern?:
The NIH budget is on a fast track to disaster — An NIH insider explains what Republicans are likely to do next, and what we can do … A Trump administration budget proposal leaked a few days ago specifies a massive budget cut for NIH — 44%, for over $20 billion in cuts.
Discussion:
American Prospect, CBS News and NPR
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Jordain Carney / Politico:
Mike Johnson's tight megabill timeline is on a collision course with reality — While Republicans believe they've made some progress, they're still far from agreement on key disputes. — If Speaker Mike Johnson has his way, the “big, beautiful” domestic policy bill that President Donald …
Nicholas Fandos / New York Times:
Rough Night for Republican at Town Hall in N.Y. Swing District
Discussion:
Raw Story
Jessica Riedl / Politico:
I'm a Conservative Economist. Here Are 6 Reasons Trump's Plans Won't Work.
I'm a Conservative Economist. Here Are 6 Reasons Trump's Plans Won't Work.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Ben Leonard / Politico:
Energy and Commerce Republicans to huddle amid Medicaid debate
Energy and Commerce Republicans to huddle amid Medicaid debate
Discussion:
E&E News
Carl Hulse / New York Times:
Democrats Plan to Capitalize as G.O.P. Begins Outlining Spending Cuts
Democrats Plan to Capitalize as G.O.P. Begins Outlining Spending Cuts
Discussion:
NBC News, CBS News, Washington Examiner, Issues & Insights and The Hill
Katelyn Cordero / Politico:
Medicaid cuts threaten to leave Hochul with political wounds
Medicaid cuts threaten to leave Hochul with political wounds
Discussion:
WBUR
Washington Post:
Public sours on Musk's role, is skeptical that government is cutting waste — Thirty-five percent of Americans approve of the way Musk is handling his job in the Trump administration, while 57 percent disapprove, a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll shows.
Discussion:
Politico, Business Insider, The Hill, RedState, Fortune, The Independent, Washington Times and Washington Examiner
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William Kristol / The Bulwark:
Why Trump's Sinking Poll Numbers Matter — The White House got an early start this morning. Minutes ago, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt took to the briefing-room podium to announce a pair of executive orders: one focused on “strengthening and unleashing” American law enforcement to pursue criminals …
Nikki McCann Ramirez / Rolling Stone:
Trump Melts Down Over Plummeting Popularity, Says Pollsters Are ‘Criminals’ — Multiple recent polls have the president's job approval rating sitting in the thirties just three months into his second term — President Donald Trump is fuming after a series of recent polls have found …
Jaclyn S. Wong / ABC News:
Elon Musk approval low, reflecting opposition to Trump cuts: POLL
Ben Smith / Semafor:
The group chats that changed America — THE SCOOP — Last Thursday morning, a bit before 10 am in Austin and nearly 11 pm in Singapore, Joe Lonsdale had enough of Balaji Srinivasan's views on China. — “This is insane CCP thinking,” Lonsdale, a co-founder of Palantir, wrote to a 300-member Signal group.
Discussion:
How Things Work, emptywheel, New Republic, Notes From The Circus, New York Daily News and Raw Story, more at Techmeme »
Alex Isenstadt / Axios:
Scoop: Trump staff puts immigrants' mug shots on White House lawn — Trump administration officials late Sunday began placing dozens of posters of arrested unauthorized immigrants along the White House driveway. — It's a provocative, sure-to-be-controversial move aimed …
Discussion:
New York Times, CBS News, USA Today, New York Post, Daily Kos, Blaze Media, New Jersey Online, Washington Examiner, The Independent, Fox News and IJR, more at Mediagazer »
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Jordain Carney / Politico:
White House threatens to veto Senate measure nixing Trump's global tariffs
Discussion:
IJR
Washington Examiner:
Trump to sign executive order cracking down on sanctuary cities
Trump to sign executive order cracking down on sanctuary cities
Discussion:
USA Today, The Gateway Pundit, IJR and The San Francisco Standard
Michelle Hackman / Wall Street Journal:
Trump to Sign Order Requiring Nationwide List of Sanctuary Cities and States
Trump to Sign Order Requiring Nationwide List of Sanctuary Cities and States
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Blaze Media and The Post Millennial
The Atlantic:
‘I Run the Country and the World’ … b — efore we begin, a primer on the science of arranging an interview with a sitting American president: — In ordinary times, reporters seeking an on-the-record encounter with the commander in chief first write an elaborate proposal.
Discussion:
The Hill, Washington Examiner, Politico, Axios, New Republic, The Independent, Fox News, Telegraph, The Wrap, No More Mister Nice Blog, Raw Story and Mediaite
RELATED:
New York Times:
Pritzker Thunders Against ‘Do Nothing’ Democrats as He Stokes 2028 Talk — In a fiery speech in New Hampshire, the Illinois governor railed against both President Trump and what he called the “simpering timidity” among some Democrats. — Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois strode into a ballroom filled …
RELATED:
Natasha Korecki / NBC News:
JB Pritzker implores Democrats to fight Trump as the potential 2028 candidate visits New Hampshire
JB Pritzker implores Democrats to fight Trump as the potential 2028 candidate visits New Hampshire
Discussion:
HotAir, The Independent, Fox News, Associated Press and Washington Examiner
Marisa Kabas / The Handbasket:
Queer intel officers targeted by top secret chat leak get their chance to speak — Chris Rufo published the chats. Staffers say a new “lavender scare” is upon us. … As soon as Donald Trump was declared the winner of the 2024 presidential election, Moon knew the threat was imminent.
Discussion:
The Independent
Lori Ann LaRocco / CNBC:
Agriculture isn't nearing trade war tariffs crisis, ‘it is full blown crisis already’ farmers say … The clock is ticking on trade deals that the U.S. will need to strike with many nations, most notably China, to avoid what Trump's Treasury Secretary has described as an “unsustainable” tariffs war.
Discussion:
Axios
Brian Steinberg / Variety:
‘60 Minutes’ Calls Out Paramount for Executive Producer's Exit in Rare On-Air Rebuke — All seemed normal in the first 98% of Sunday's broadcast of “60 Minutes” on CBS. But the remaining 2% may have shocked viewers. — In the show's “Last Minute” segment, correspondent Scott Pelley told …
RELATED:
Sam Levine / The Guardian:
Trump's justice department appointees remove leadership of voting unit — Donald Trump's appointees at the Department of Justice have removed all of the senior civil servants working as managers in the department's voting section and directed attorneys to dismiss all active cases …
Discussion:
Raw Story, The Atlantic and The Hill
Politico:
Connolly to step down as top Dem on Oversight, paving the way for generational change — Rep. Gerry Connolly, the top Democrat on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, will step down from his leadership post on the panel and not run for reelection.
David Shepardson / Reuters:
FCC chair says 'all options" open in CBS ‘60 Minutes’ news distortion review — The chair of the Federal Communications Commission said Monday “all options remain on the table” in the agency's ongoing investigation into a “60 Minutes” interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times
Laurence Darmiento / Los Angeles Times:
Elon Musk's conflicts of interest: $2.37 billion in potential federal penalties, report says — Elon Musk and his companies faced at least $2.37 billion in potential federal fines and penalties the day President Trump took office, according to a congressional report released Monday that highlights …
Discussion:
Musk Watch
RELATED:
Paul Krugman:
Did Peter Navarro Save Democracy? — Economic failure has given us a chance to stop Trump's authoritarianism — Just a few short weeks ago the prospects for American democracy looked bleak. Donald Trump was elected despite the events of January 6th and his clear threats of retribution …
New York Times:
A Road Map of Trump's Lawless Presidency, According to 35 Legal Scholars — In his first hours back as president, Donald J. Trump did an extraordinary thing: He made a direct assault on the Constitution. He declared that his government would no longer treat U.S.-born children …
Discussion:
BBC, Balkinization and Washington Post
Lisa Needham / Public Notice:
Arresting judges is a 5-alarm escalation — 🏛️ ⚖️ 👩⚖️ With corporate outlets obeying in advance, supporting independent political media is more important right now than ever. … 🏛️ ⚖️ 👩⚖️
Discussion:
Tangle, The Post Millennial, WisPolitics, Newsbusters, The Daily Wire, The Daily Caller, Urban Milwaukee, Raw Story and Civil Discourse …
Politico:
UK and EU to defy Trump with ‘free and open trade’ declaration — BRUSSELS — Britain and the European Union are set to sign a formal declaration committing to “free and open trade” in defiance of Donald Trump's tariff agenda. — A leaked draft seen by POLITICO promises a “new strategic partnership” …
Discussion:
Reuters
Steven Greenhouse / The Guardian:
Trump's second term will be the worst presidential term ever — Tragically, the president's second term is already more lawless and more authoritarian than any in US history — In his first 100 days back in office, Donald Trump has made a strong case that his second term will be by far the worst presidential term in US history.
Philip Bump / Washington Post:
The bubble that created Trump is the reason he's stumbling — The White House is now a bubble where loyalty, not ability, defines success. — Consider Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. — No one should be surprised that Hegseth is flailing in his new role, one of the most arduous …

