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9:55 AM ET, August 20, 2025

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Alex Thompson / Axios:
Exclusive: Newsom pollster sees big support for California redistricting  —  Gov. Gavin Newsom's bid to redraw California's congressional seats to create more Democrat-friendly districts has a 22-point advantage in support among the state's voters, Newsom's longtime pollster writes in an internal memo obtained by Axios.
RELATED:
Nick Mourtoupalas / Washington Post:
These states could redistrict before the 2026 midterms  —  As Trump pushes for a more Republican-friendly House map, more than half a dozen states are potential targets for mid-decade tweaks to congressional boundaries.  —  The redistricting arms race sparked by President Donald Trump's push …
The Barbed Wire:
‘Women Have Always Been on the Front Lines.’ How Five Women at the Texas Capitol Stood Up to ‘Fascism.’
New York Times:
The Democratic Party Faces a Voter Registration Crisis  —  The party is bleeding support beyond the ballot box, a new analysis shows.  —  Florida has had a significant shift of registered voters in the Republican direction, a remarkable inversion that explains the state's transformation …
Discussion: Deseret News
RELATED:
Punchbowl News:
Cornyn shows signs of closing polling gap … The poll was conducted via SMS by TSU's Barbara Jordan Policy Research and Survey Center.  —  This is a significant improvement for Cornyn, who has trailed by much larger margins for much of the year in public and private polling.
Discussion: The Hill and American Thinker
Punchbowl News:   8/20/25 ☀️ AM: … Nowhere in the country are those divisions more pronounced …
Helene Cooper / New York Times:
National Guard Troops in Washington Stick to Tourist Areas  —  The number of troops in the city is expected to grow.  But Army officials appear to be trying to keep them on the sidelines of President Trump's mission.  —  The number of troops in the city is expected to grow.
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Politico:
Playbook: How Gavin Newsom took over your X feed  —  With help from Eli Okun, Bethany Irvine and Ali Bianco  —  On this morning's Playbook Podcast, Adam Wren and Dasha Burns talk through Gavin Newsom's new Trumpian approach to social media, the latest in the diplomatic scramble over Ukraine …
Salvador Rizzo / Washington Post:
Pirro's office won't pursue gun charges over carrying rifles, shotguns  —  D.C.'s top prosecutor said her office would continue charging violent crimes and firearms trafficking that involve those weapons.  —  Federal prosecutors in D.C. have been instructed not to seek felony charges …
Discussion: New York Post
Anemona Hartocollis / New York Times:
Trump's Tactics Mean Many International Students Won't Make It to Campus  —  Students from some countries won't make it to class this fall because of President Trump's travel ban.  Others can't get visa appointments.  Some are simply scared.  Universities are panicking.
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Jeremy Barr / Washington Post:
Jeanine Pirro bragged about helping Trump and GOP while a Fox News host  —  The former Fox host complained of “CENSORSHIP” by Fox over her coverage of the 2020 election, according to newly unredacted documents in the Smartmatic defamation case.  —  Jeanine Pirro, then a weekend host on Fox News …
RELATED:
Katie Robertson / New York Times:
New Details Emerge on Fox Hosts' Efforts to Bolster Trump in 2020
Discussion: Mediaite and The Independent
Alicia A. Caldwell / Bloomberg:
Trump Orders Border Wall Painted Black So It's Too Hot to Touch  —  President Donald Trump ordered the entire southern border wall to be painted black to stop migrants from crossing because it'll be too hot to touch, according to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Discussion: twitchy.com
RELATED:
Rebecca Falconer / Axios:
Trump administration revives plan to paint border wall black
Discussion: Fox News and Washington Examiner
Filip Timotija / The Hill:
Noem: Trump wants border wall painted black so it is too hot to climb
Brian Schwartz / Wall Street Journal:
Elon Musk Pledged to Start a Political Party.  He Is Already Pumping the Brakes.  —  The billionaire has sought to maintain ties with JD Vance, a potential heir to Trump's MAGA political movement  —  The billionaire Elon Musk is quietly pumping the brakes on his plans to start a political party …
Lara Jakes / New York Times:
Preparations for a Move on Gaza City Have Started, Israel's Military Says  —  Troops have reached the city's outskirts, an Israeli official said, adding that more reservists are being asked to report for duty to cover for other soldiers who will be involved in going into Gaza City.
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Anat Peled / Wall Street Journal:
Israel to Call Up 60,000 Reservists for Gaza City Invasion  —  The announcement comes as most Israelis want the war to end in a deal that will free the remaining hostages held by Hamas  —  The Israeli military said on Wednesday that it will begin calling up around 60,000 reservists for duty …
Michael Goodwin / New York Post:
Trump's unique talents make him a true leader - and have redefined what it means to be commander-in-chief  —  If you need a laugh, try to imagine Joe Biden or any recent president holding court in the way Donald Trump is doing it.  —  To double the laugh, try to imagine …
RELATED:
Wall Street Journal:
Putin Calls Zelensky the West's Illegitimate Puppet. Can He Talk Peace With Him?
Discussion: Asia Times and New York Times
Associated Press:
Trump administration revokes security clearances of 37 current and former government officials  —  The Trump administration has ordered the revocation of the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials, including some who worked on the intelligence community's assessment …
RELATED:
New York Times:
Trump Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Former and Current Officials
CNN:
Tulsi Gabbard revokes security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials
Washington Post:
Hegseth's expansive security requirements tax Army protective unit  —  The agency tasked with protecting Defense Department leaders is under significant strain, and the secretary's atypical needs are becoming untenable, officials say.  —  Just now  —  Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's …
Discussion: The Independent and Raw Story
Washington Post:
Most D.C. residents oppose Trump's city police takeover, poll finds  —  Though crime continues to be a concern, most residents don't think Trump's actions will make D.C. safer, according to a Washington Post-Schar School poll.  —  Washington, D.C., residents overwhelmingly oppose President …
Liz Dye / Public Notice:
Dan Bongino's babysitter  —  Public Notice is reader funded.  Support us by becoming a paid subscriber 👇  —  🕵️ Subscribe to PN 🕵️  —  On Monday, the Trump administration announced that Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey will be appointed …
Sharon Lerner / ProPublica:
RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism.  Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That.  — Slashed Autism Funding: RFK Jr. promised to identify the causes of autism but has eliminated parts of his agency actively investigating them and has cut millions in funding for autism research.
Discussion: New York Times
Politico:
Adam Schiff forms legal defense fund … Trump specifically alleges that Schiff illicitly claimed his primary residence was Maryland for financial benefit, and his administration has tapped Ed Martin — now pardon attorney and director of DOJ's Weaponization Working Group — to oversee the matter.
Molly Taft / Wired:
FEMA Now Requires Disaster Victims to Have an Email Address  —  Workers at FEMA worry that demanding disaster survivors access services using email could shut out people without internet connectivity from receiving government aid.  —  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) …
Perry Bacon / New Republic:
The Democratic Establishment's Shunning of Mamdani Is Disqualifying … In the weeks after he won the 2021 Democratic primary for mayor of New York City, Eric Adams was enthusiastically embraced by the party's establishment.  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi posed for a picture with Adams and described herself as …
Discussion: Chronology, The Guardian and Politico
Amanda Friedman / Politico:
RFK Jr. attacks pediatricians' group over vaccine recommendations … In May, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dropped its recommendation that all children 6 months and older get Covid shots.  Kennedy at the time said the move was based on “common sense” and “good science.”
Washington Post:
‘The city is dead’: D.C. restaurant reservations drop amid federal crackdown  —  Local restaurant owners hope for a Restaurant Week boost, but the heavy law enforcement presence in the city is keeping some diners away.  —  Just now  —  Since President Donald Trump announced his takeover …
Discussion: Fortune, WTOP News and WTTG-TV
Kate Knibbs / Wired:
Government Staffing Cuts Have Fueled an Ant-Smuggling Boom  —  “It's getting out of hand,” one seller says.  “They realize the US market is a gold mine.”  —  It's hard to keep track of all the ways that the United States has changed since Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
Erica Orden / Politico:
Trump bypasses the Senate — and the courts — to install loyal US attorneys … And when district judges have then rejected Trump's choices by exercising a 160-year-old power allowing them to appoint someone to the office after an interim U.S. attorney's term ends, the administration …
Discussion: Washington Examiner and Bloomberg
Didi Martinez / NBC4 Washington:
Detentions of D.C. delivery drivers leave immigrant communities on edge … Washington, D.C., resident Tyler DeSue woke up tired and craving breakfast Saturday morning, so he did what many people in that situation would do: He used Uber Eats to put in an order for burritos.
Discussion: New Republic and The Independent
 
 
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 More Items: 
RNS:
Attendance drops, fear rises in immigrant churches as Trump takes over DC
Jamelle Bouie / New York Times:
What Trump Is Really Up to in Washington  —  You do not need the strongest powers of observation …
Discussion: The Contrarian and NBC4 Washington
Meryl Kornfield / Washington Post:
Trump administration cancels annual employee survey amid civil service tumult
Mary Cunningham / CBS News:
Trump administration could block student loan relief for some workers in public service
Discussion: Federal Register
 Earlier Items: 
Nathaniel Weixel / The Hill:
CDC funding changes inject ‘chaos’ into local health programs
Discussion: NPR and Ars Technica
Josh Funk / Associated Press:
Nebraska announces plan for immigration detention center dubbed the ‘Cornhusker Clink’
Financial Times:
US drops probe of gun-sales payment company backed by Donald Trump's son
Discussion: Breitbart
Laura Bliss / Bloomberg:
Yosemite Employee Fired After Flying Trans Pride Flag
New York Times:
Arkansas Housing Development Restricted to White Residents Sparks Legal Concerns
Marisa Kabas / The Handbasket:
DC National Guard members actively training to carry pistols in capitol mission
Discussion: HotAir