Top Items:
Reuters:
Exclusive: Order by Hegseth to cancel Ukraine weapons caught White House off guard — NEW YORK/WASHINGTON - Roughly a week after Donald Trump started his second term as president, the U.S. military issued an order to three freight airlines operating out of Dover Air Force Base in Delaware …
Discussion:
Rolling Stone, The Independent, Mediaite, New Republic, Raw Story and The Kyiv Independent
Lucia Mutikani / Reuters:
US trade deficit surges to record high in March — The U.S. trade deficit widened to a record high in March as businesses boosted imports of goods ahead of tariffs, which dragged gross domestic product into negative terrain in the first quarter for the first time in three years.
Discussion:
U.S. Bureau …
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Bloomberg:
EU Eyes €100 Billion of US Goods With Tariffs If Talks Fail … The European Union plans to hit about €100 billion ($113 billion) in US goods with additional tariffs in the event ongoing trade talks fail to yield a satisfactory result for the bloc, according to people familiar with the matter.
Discussion:
Euractiv, Financial Times, Politico and Reuters
Punchbowl News:
Ed Martin confirmation in doubt even after Trump weighs in … Late Monday night, Senate Judiciary Committee Republicans noticed an executive business meeting for Thursday that didn't include Martin's nomination. Time is running out for Martin, who can only serve 120 days as the interim U.S. attorney …
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Jennifer Rubin / The Contrarian:
Words & Phrases We Can Do Without
Reuters:
Merz fails to be elected chancellor by German parliament — Germany's parliament will hold a second vote on Tuesday on backing Friedrich Merz as chancellor after the veteran conservative failed to secure enough support in a first round, throwing politics in Europe's largest economy into disarray.
Discussion:
The Guardian, Bloomberg, Deutsche Welle, Human Events, Wall Street Journal, Breitbart, Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion, Fox News, El País, New York Times, Reuters, Euractiv, Politico and Al Jazeera
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New York Times:
What the setback for Merz means for the German economy.
Discussion:
Reuters, Bloomberg, Le Monde, Politico, CNBC, The Japan Times and Al Jazeera
Associated Press:
Friedrich Merz's bid to become Germany's chancellor fails in parliament in a stunning defeat
Friedrich Merz's bid to become Germany's chancellor fails in parliament in a stunning defeat
Discussion:
CNBC, Politico, CNN, Bloomberg, Al Jazeera, Euractiv, UPI, San Diego Union-Tribune, NPR, The Gateway Pundit, Reuters, Washington Examiner, Euronews, The Japan Times, New York Times and Semafor
New York Times:
Declassified Spy Memo Contradicts Trump on Venezuela Gang Ties — The release of the memo further undercuts the Trump administration's rationale for using the Alien Enemies Act to deport scores of Venezuelans to a prison in El Salvador. — A newly declassified memo released on Monday confirms …
Discussion:
Reason, Fox News, emptywheel, New York Post, Axios and Mediaite
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Josh Gerstein / Politico:
He was protected from deportation by a legal settlement. Trump deported him anyway. — Court documents, news reports and pleas from his family reveal new details about the 20-year-old Venezuelan man a judge ordered returned from El Salvador. — The Trump administration's deportation …
Discussion:
Raw Story, UnHerd, Washington Monthly and Reason
Kyle Ingram / Raleigh News & Observer:
Federal judge orders NC to certify Riggs as winner in Supreme Court election — In a ruling that could put an end to nearly six months of legal battles over North Carolina's contested Supreme Court election, a federal judge on Monday ruled against the Republican candidate's effort to overturn his narrow loss.
Discussion:
Mother Jones, Raw Story and Democrats
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Elise A. Spenner / The Harvard Crimson:
Far-Right Thinker Curtis Yarvin Argues for Remaking of Harvard at Faculty Club Debate — The far-right thinker Curtis Yarvin joined University Professor Danielle Allen for a debate Monday evening, where Yarvin in turn derided Harvard as “an essentially oligarchic institution” …
Helene Cooper / New York Times:
Hegseth Orders 20 Percent Cut in Four-Star Officers — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has already fired a raft of military leaders, many of them women and people of color, including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a 20-percent reduction …
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Tara Copp / Associated Press:
Hegseth directs 20% cut to top military leadership positions
Hegseth directs 20% cut to top military leadership positions
Discussion:
Washington Post, Fox News, The Western Journal, Federal News Network, @amuse, CNN, Reuters, Washington Examiner, Al Jazeera, Business Insider, Axios, Military and Veteran …, Raw Story, Associated Press, Air & Space Forces Magazine, New York Post, Bloomberg, The Hill, Task & Purpose, Breaking Defense, Defense One, IJR, USA Today and The Gateway Pundit
Meredith Lee Hill / Politico:
House Republicans plan major SNAP food aid overhaul in Trump megabill — House Republicans are preparing one of the largest overhauls to the country's largest anti-hunger programs in decades, with a plan to limit future increases to benefits, implement new work requirements and push costs …
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David Lim / Politico:
Key Republican: GOP ‘hard pressed’ to wrap megabill by Memorial Day
Key Republican: GOP ‘hard pressed’ to wrap megabill by Memorial Day
Discussion:
The Hill
G. Elliott Morris / Strength In Numbers:
What do disengaged voters think about Trump now? — In the 2024 election, Donald Trump gained a surprising edge from an unlikely group: Americans who typically don't vote. According to a New York Times analysis, these low-turnout voters backed Trump by a double-digit margin …
Discussion:
The Liberal Patriot and Talking Points Memo
Wall Street Journal:
Hegseth Used Multiple Signal Chats for Official Pentagon Business — In at least one message, he asked aides to tell foreign countries about a military operation — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used Signal more extensively for official Pentagon business than previously disclosed …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Washington Examiner, Mediaite, Raw Story and Lawyers, Guns & Money
Jordain Carney / Politico:
Thune says GOP senators are ‘still looking’ at nixing California emissions waiver — Senate Republicans are discussing whether and how to nix California's longstanding emission standards waiver — a decision that could also have dramatic consequences for the state of the Senate.
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Todd Phillips / American Prospect:
How to Tie Up the Most Precious Resource in Washington
How to Tie Up the Most Precious Resource in Washington
Discussion:
The Federalist and GovExec.com
ABC News:
Justice Department investigating 2022 Abrego Garcia traffic stop: Sources — A federal inmate was questioned about possible connections, sources said. — Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 9, 2025. — Abrego Garcia Family via Reuters
Angry White Men:
Matt Walsh Defends White People Using The N-Word — On Monday, Daily Wire contributor Matt Walsh used his show to defend Shiloh Hendrix, a racist woman accused of calling a Black child the N-word. After lauding the people who contributed to her online fundraiser, Walsh complained that it's …
Hans Nichols / Axios:
Scoop: Senate Democrats to host Ezra Klein as retreat special guest — Senate Democrats have invited New York Times columnist Ezra Klein and Democratic data guru David Shor to talk to senators at their annual one-day issues retreat on Wednesday, sources tell Axios.
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Jack Blanchard / Politico:
Elbows up — With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine — Good Tuesday morning.
Elbows up — With help from Eli Okun, Garrett Ross and Bethany Irvine — Good Tuesday morning.
Discussion:
USA Today
The Hill:
Live updates: Trump to sit down with new Canadian prime minister; Bessent set to testify in House — Canada's new prime minister, Mark Carney, will visit the White House on Tuesday for his first visit with President Trump, who continues to advocate for America's neighbor to the north to become its 51st state.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner
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Associated Press:
Canadian Prime Minister Carney arrives in Washington for a high-stakes meeting with President Trump
Canadian Prime Minister Carney arrives in Washington for a high-stakes meeting with President Trump
Discussion:
CNBC, Associated Press, ABC News, Scripps News, CBS News, New York Times, NBC News, Bloomberg, New York Daily News, WNYW-TV, UPI, Washington Post, Raw Story, Reuters, Daily Mail, Global News, NPR, Fox News, CityNews Montreal, Metro.co.uk, The Hill, The Independent, Canada's National Observer, Semafor, IJR and NewsNation
Jocelyn Kaiser / Science:
'It's been a tough period': NIH's new director speaks with Science — Jay Bhattacharya discusses staff morale, grant cuts, and “rumors” — When Jayanta “Jay” Bhattacharya took the helm of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) on 1 April, the agency was in turmoil.
Discussion:
CBS News and The Gateway Pundit
Edward Luce / Financial Times:
Elon Musk's painful departure — The Tesla founder's much-heralded war on government waste has had uncertain results — Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free — Your guide to what Trump's second term means for Washington, business and the world — What began with a chainsaw is ending in a whimper.
Discussion:
The Guardian
ProPublica:
Internal VA Emails Reveal How Trump Cuts Jeopardize Veterans' Care, Including To “Life-Saving Cancer Trials” — Earlier this year, doctors at Veterans Affairs hospitals in Pennsylvania sounded an alarm. Sweeping cuts imposed by the Trump administration, they told higher-ups in an email …
Discussion:
Military and Veteran … and Forbes
Richard Rubin / Wall Street Journal:
Republicans Flesh Out Trump's ‘No Tax on Overtime’ Idea—With Limits — New bill for deduction would exclude some top earners and be capped at $20,000 for married couples — WASHINGTON—A new Republican proposal aims to turn President Trump's open-ended “no tax on overtime” …
Discussion:
Washington Times and al.com
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Bill Scher / Washington Monthly:
This Republican Just Cracked the Doors Open to Higher Taxes on the Wealthy (Or Did He?)
This Republican Just Cracked the Doors Open to Higher Taxes on the Wealthy (Or Did He?)
Discussion:
Punchbowl News and Fox News
Wall Street Journal:
America's Air Traffic Fiasco — Here's why you're waiting hours to land at Newark airport. — Thousands of flights in and out of Newark airport in recent days have been delayed, diverted or canceled owing to a long runway of air traffic control failures.
Sophie Hayssen / Teen Vogue:
UVA Tried To Shut Down Its Historical Tours Discussing Slavery. These Students Resisted. — A conservative alumni group took issue with the discussion of difficult parts of UVA's history. — Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take
Rebecca Hersher / NPR:
Most Americans use federal science information on a weekly basis, a new poll finds — Most people in the United States rely on federal science in their daily lives but don't realize it, a new nationwide poll of U.S. adults shows. — The poll was conducted in early April by the Association …
Kate Knibbs / Wired:
Trump's Tariffs Are Threatening America's Apple Juice Supply Chain — Most of the apple juice Americans drink is imported, with a large share coming from China. Experts say families should expect to start paying higher prices for the beloved beverage. — Few foods are more American than apple pie …
Lisa Needham / Public Notice:
The Hope Florida scandal, explained — 🛟 🏖️ 🌊 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 …
Mike Gonzalez / Washington Examiner:
Diversity is not our strength — That “diversity is our strength” is one of those obvious contradictions that people with common sense instantly recognize as hooey. It is poisonous hooey, mind you. As the British historian Arnold Toynbee said, “Civilizations die from suicide, not by murder.”
Zachary Basu / Axios:
Trump's new nationalism — President Trump's grand economic vision relies on a simple tradeoff: that Americans will accept short-term personal sacrifice — higher prices, fewer options, slimmer profits — in service of long-term national strength. — Why it matters: Trump is breaking sharply …
New York Times:
G.O.P. Targets a Medicaid Loophole Used by 49 States to Grab Federal Money — States have long used taxes on hospitals and nursing homes to increase federal matching funds. If Republicans end the tactic, red states could feel the most pain. — In 1989, New Hampshire's Republican governor …
Discussion:
Raw Story, NOTUS, Washington Examiner and KFF

