Top Items:
G. Elliott Morris / Strength In Numbers:
Trump's approval hits new low as Epstein pressure mounts — This is one of those classic weeks in a Trump presidency where too many stories are moving too fast for an individual writer to keep up. There are new tariffs, expansion of deportation operations, a will-he-or-won't-he dance …
Discussion:
masslive.com, Must Read Alaska, Raw Story, Newsweek and New York Magazine
RELATED:
David Wildstein / New Jersey Globe:
Habba tells staff she loves her job, hopes to stay as she awaits judicial meeting (Updated) — U.S. Attorney Alina Habba told her staff on Thursday that her tenure as a federal prosecutor could come to an end on Tuesday when she hits the 120-day limit for appointments made by the U.S. Attorney General …
Discussion:
Above the Law, New Republic, Raw Story and NewsMax.com
Andrew Egger / The Bulwark:
An Enigma Wrapped in a Wonderful Secret — Hey, look, former Trump lawyer Alina Habba is apparently about to be out as U.S. attorney for the District of New Jersey. Seems good! Now on to the big stuff. Happy Friday. — ‘We Have Certain Things In Common, Jeffrey’ — by Andrew Egger
Discussion:
CNN, NewsMax.com, The Moderate Voice and Rolling Stone
Steve Benen / MSNBC:
As Trump threatens the WSJ over new Epstein report, his ‘picture’ claim looks sketchy
As Trump threatens the WSJ over new Epstein report, his ‘picture’ claim looks sketchy
Discussion:
CNBC, USA Today, Politico, The Guardian, HuffPost, Axios, Raw Story, Truth and Consequences, RedState, Newsweek, The Independent, New Jersey Online, New York Daily News, The Hill, CNN and Breitbart, more at Mediagazer »
Tyler Pager / New York Times:
Trump Says He Doesn't ‘Draw Pictures.’ But Many of His Sketches Sold at Auction.
Trump Says He Doesn't ‘Draw Pictures.’ But Many of His Sketches Sold at Auction.
Discussion:
New Republic
Jonathan V. Last / The Bulwark:
America Is a Good Place and Worth Fighting For
America Is a Good Place and Worth Fighting For
Discussion:
Alternet.org, New Jersey Online and American Greatness
Rolling Stone:
Team Trump Was on ‘F-cking Warpath’ to Kill Story About Salacious Letter to Epstein
Team Trump Was on ‘F-cking Warpath’ to Kill Story About Salacious Letter to Epstein
Discussion:
Axios, USA Today, Esquire, Telegraph, New Republic, HuffPost, New Jersey Online, The Independent, Breitbart, HotAir, Newsweek, Townhall, NBC News, RedState, Forbes, The Guardian, Daily Mail, IJR, Mediaite, New York Magazine, Daily Caller News Foundation, NewsMax.com, The Hill, NPR, KFTC-TV, Alternet.org and Off Message
Charlie Sykes / To the Contrary:
Trump's Love Letter to Jeffrey Epstein
Trump's Love Letter to Jeffrey Epstein
Discussion:
Wall Street Journal
Dan Mangan / CNBC:
FBI agents were told to ‘flag’ any Epstein records that mentioned Trump, Sen. Durbin says — FBI agents assigned to review files in the criminal case against Jeffrey Epstein were instructed to “flag” any documents that mentioned President Donald Trump, Sen. Richard Durbin said
Discussion:
The Hill, Variety, NewsMax.com, Forbes, Mediaite, The Federalist, The Dispatch, New Republic, emptywheel, Alternet.org, US Newsper, USA Today, Raw Story and The Week
RELATED:
The United States Senate Committee on Finance:
As Trump Downplays Epstein, Wyden Unveils Details of Treasury's Undisclosed Epstein File — Finance Committee Ranking Democrat Continues Years-Long, Follow-the-Money Investigation of Epstein Finances — Watch a video of Wyden deliver his remarks here — Donald Trump says a lot of outlandish stuff.
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, The Dean's Report and The Hill
Jonathan Stempel / Reuters:
Donald Trump sues Dow Jones, News Corp, Rupert Murdoch, WSJ reporters for libel, court records show — U.S. President Donald Trump filed a lawsuit on Friday against Dow Jones, News Corp (NWSA.O), Rupert Murdoch and two Wall Street Journal reporters, raising claims under federal libel law, court records show.
Discussion:
CNN, Axios, MSNBC, The Hill, BBC, The Wrap, The Hollywood Reporter, Techdirt, Raw Story, The Daily Caller, The Parnas Perspective, The Post Millennial, The Independent, Mediaite, Advocate, twitchy.com, Straight Arrow News, Townhall, Alternet.org, IJR, CBS News, FOX 4 News Dallas-Fort Worth, Diane Ravitch's blog and Political Wire
RELATED:
Washington Post:
Trump sues Wall Street Journal, Rupert Murdoch over Epstein letter story
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, Axios, Alternet.org, Politico, So What, New Republic, Talking Points Memo, Townhall, USA Today, Straight Arrow News and The Independent
Josephine Walker / Axios:
Justice Department asks federal judge to release Epstein grand jury transcripts
Justice Department asks federal judge to release Epstein grand jury transcripts
Discussion:
New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CBS News, Salon, USA Today, Associated Press, Reuters, The Gateway Pundit, Newsweek, Fox News, The Post Millennial, The Daily Caller, Raw Story and The Hill
NBC News:
Trump sues Wall Street Journal's publisher and 2 reporters over Epstein article
Trump sues Wall Street Journal's publisher and 2 reporters over Epstein article
Discussion:
Raw Story, PoliticusUSA and twitchy.com
Mattathias Schwartz / New York Times:
When It Comes to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump Says He Is Ready to Defer to the Courts
When It Comes to Jeffrey Epstein, Trump Says He Is Ready to Defer to the Courts
Elizabeth Crisp / The Hill:
Trump: ‘I absolutely love’ that Colbert ‘got fired’ — President Trump said Friday morning that he was thrilled by the news that CBS is canceling the decade-running “Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” — “I absolutely love that Colbert' got fired,” the president wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Vox, Breitbart, Deadline, Variety, Axios, That Park Place, Ace of Spades HQ, USA Today, masslive.com, Associated Press, Mediaite, Los Angeles Times, HuffPost, New Jersey Online, The Washington Free Beacon, Townhall, Adweek, Plain Dealer, The Wrap, twitchy.com, Decider, Daily Kos, The Hollywood Reporter, Raw Story, Mashable, Fox News, Newsweek, New York Daily News, NewsMax.com, The Gateway Pundit, New York Post and IJR, more at Mediagazer »
RELATED:
Alan Sepinwall / Rolling Stone:
Politics, Not Performance, Killed ‘The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’ — Yes, the long reign of late-night has been coming to a slow end due to the internet, but don't be fooled: There's much more than money at the root of this show's demise — At the start of Thursday night's episode …
Discussion:
New Republic, The Guardian, NPR, The Atlantic, The Mahablog, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Fox News, The Daily Caller, US Newsper, Mediaite, Breitbart and Deadline, more at Mediagazer »
Karen DeYoung / Washington Post:
U.S. swaps Venezuelans sent to El Salvador for Americans held by Caracas — The Venezuelans, labeled terrorists and violent criminals by President Trump, had been deported to the notorious CECOT prison, setting off a tense legal battle over executive power.
Discussion:
Reuters, Scripps News, USA Today, Al Jazeera and Raw Story
RELATED:
New York Times:
Prisoner Swap Frees Americans in Venezuela for Migrants in El Salvador
Discussion:
CNN, CBS News, Axios, Washington Examiner, Democracy Docket, The Hill, Politico, Reuters, NPR, NBC News, ABC News, Talking Points Memo, Associated Press, Raw Story, Bloomberg, NewsMax.com and Daily Kos
Selena Simmons-Duffin / NPR:
ACA health insurance will cost the average person 75% more next year, research shows — Health insurance premiums are going way up next year for people who buy their insurance on Healthcare.gov or the state-based marketplaces, according to an analysis out Friday.
Discussion:
Scripps News and The Texas Tribune
RELATED:
Berkeley Lovelace Jr / NBC News:
Cost of Obamacare expected to soar as subsidies expire and insurers hike premiums — People who get their health insurance through the Affordable Care Act could see increases of more than 75% each month, one expert said. — People who get health insurance through the Affordable Care Act …
Discussion:
CNN, Yellowhammer News and KFF
New York Times:
Where Congress's Cuts Threaten Access to PBS and NPR — President Trump's proposal to eliminate federal funding for public broadcasters threatens scores of radio and TV stations across the United States that air PBS and NPR programs.
Discussion:
Washington Post, Plain Dealer, Salt Lake Tribune, UPI and The Guardian, more at Mediagazer »
RELATED:
Tom Jones / Poynter:
Defunding NPR and PBS passed the Senate — and it's a direct hit to rural America
Discussion:
Puck, The Hill, Daily Caller News Foundation, Axios, The Nevada Independent, NewsMax.com, Variety, Rolling Stone, The Wrap, Fox News and NPR, more at Mediagazer »
Andrew Solender / Axios:
Scoop: Why Dems didn't try to thwart Trump's funding clawback — House Democrats passed up what appeared to be a golden opportunity to block a bill codifying $9 billion in DOGE cuts to public broadcasting and foreign aid. In leadership's telling, victory was never a real possibility.
Discussion:
NBC News, NewsMax.com, Off Message and Punchbowl News, more at Mediagazer »
RELATED:
Associated Press:
For Sale: Trump is leveraging power of his office to reap profits for family businesses — If one theme has emerged in President Donald Trump's second term, it's this: He's leveraged the power of his office for personal gain unlike anyone before in history.
Discussion:
ABC News
RELATED:
Jasper Goodman / Politico:
Trump signs landmark crypto bill into law
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Al Jazeera, Washington Times, New York Sun, The Verge, WFAA-TV and Washington Post, more at Techmeme »
Génesis Miranda Miramontes / NBC Los Angeles:
3 deputies killed after explosion reported at East LA sheriff's training facility — At least three deputies were killed after an explosion was reported early Friday at an LA County Sheriff's Department training facility in East Los Angeles. — The explosion is believed to have occurred …
Discussion:
ABC7, Washington Examiner, Los Angeles Times, CBS News, RedState, Breitbart, UPI, Boston Herald, Reuters, LAist, Raw Story, One America News Network, Townhall, Todd Starnes, The Gateway Pundit, VINnews, The Daily Caller, Fox News, Straight Arrow News, Deseret News and The Post Millennial
Lee Moran / HuffPost:
Comedians Pull Off Brazen Epstein Prank Inside Trump Tower Gift Shop — The Good Liars' stunt comes as MAGA backlash to President Donald Trump over the Epstein files grows. — Pranksters this week trolled President Donald Trump by placing Jeffrey Epstein-themed postcards in the gift shop at Trump Tower in New York City.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Carter Sherman / The Guardian:
Trump administration to destroy nearly $10m of contraceptives for women overseas — As part of president's end to foreign aid, destruction of the long-acting contraceptives will cost US taxpayers $167,000 — The Trump administration has decided to destroy $9.7m worth of contraceptives rather than send them abroad to women in need.
Discussion:
Politico
Jennifer Bendery / HuffPost:
Senators Say Trump Nominated Judge To Their State They've Never Even Met — When a president is nominating someone to be a federal judge, they typically work with the two U.S. senators from that state to vet nominees and ultimately agree on someone together. These are lifetime appointments, after all.
Amalia Huot-Marchand / The Hill:
Indiana's Camp Atterbury to be used to house detained migrants — Indiana's Camp Atterbury and New Jersey's Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will be temporarily used to detain immigrants lacking permanent legal status, according to a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Associated Press:
Trump appointees pushed more marble in Fed building renovation White House now attacks — President Donald Trump has looked to the marble finishes and hefty price tag of the Federal Reserve headquarters to claim grounds to fire Chair Jerome Powell, with whom he has tussled for years over interest rates.
BBC:
Israel levelling thousands of Gaza civilian buildings in controlled demolitions — Israel has demolished thousands of buildings across Gaza since it withdrew from a ceasefire with Hamas in March, with entire towns and suburbs - once home to tens of thousands of people - levelled in the past few weeks.
Marc Caputo / Axios:
Scoop: Trump's new Alcatraz could cost $2 billion … - A “supermax” prison complex that would cost more than $2 billion. … - A scaled-back prison that would cost $1 billion and not occupy the entire island. — Putting the project out to bid for private prison contractors to build and operate.
Discussion:
The Hill, New York Times, Daily Kos, Straight Arrow News, The Independent, KQED, Reuters and Raw Story
Shawn Cohen / Daily Mail:
EXCLUSIVE: ICE Barbie Kristi Noem makes telling move after her cozy living arrangement with Corey Lewandowski is exposed — Donald Trump's Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has moved from her private residence into a U.S. military installation, after her cozy living arrangement …



