memeorandum: Exclusive: US preparing to seize more tankers off Venezuela's coast after first ship taken, sources say (Reuters)

6:45 PM ET, December 11, 2025

Top Items:

Adam Wren / Politico:

Indiana GOP rejects Trump's map in major blow to his gerrymandering push … The members held out in spite of pipe bomb threats, unsolicited pizza deliveries to their homes, and swattings of their homes. — It's a major setback for the president as well and a blow to his party's hopes …

Discussion: New York Times, The Indianapolis Star, New York Magazine, France 24, Talking Points Memo, Mother Jones, PoliticusUSA, The Post Millennial, The Parnas Perspective and Mediaite

Peter Sullivan / Axios:

Senate rejects rival Obamacare bills — The Senate voted down competing health care proposals on Thursday, likely guaranteeing that the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits will expire at the end of the year. … - Democrats got the vote on their proposal in exchange for ending this fall's government shutdown.

Mary Clare Jalonick / Associated Press:

Senate rejects extension of health care subsidies as costs are set to rise for millions of Americans — The Senate on Thursday rejected legislation to extend Affordable Care Act tax credits, essentially guaranteeing that millions of Americans will see a steep rise in costs at the beginning of the year.

Christa Dutton / NOTUS:

Indiana Republicans Reject Redistricting Despite Trump's Primary Threats — Indiana Republicans rebuked President Donald Trump's calls to pass a new congressional map, voting to keep the state's current map. — The Indiana state senate voted 19-31 against adopting a proposed map …

Dylan Scott / Vox:
Blame Republicans for our health insurance mess

Discussion: The Hill, The Status Kuo, ABC News, The Daily Signal, CBS News, Raw Story, Politico, The Parnas Perspective, Fox News and KDFX-TV

Jordain Carney / Politico:
Senate rejects dueling health care bills as Obamacare deadline looms

Discussion: Esquire, Straight Arrow News, Mercury News and Washington Times

Brakkton Booker / Politico:
Maryland Democratic state leaders say redistricting won't be on the special session agenda

Discussion: HuffPost

Lawrence Ukenye / Politico:
House passes bill to restore federal workers' bargaining rights

Discussion: Federal News Network, Associated Press, Washington Times, The Daily Caller, Bangor Daily News, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and Representative Jared Golden

Arika Herron / Axios:
Indiana Senate rejects Trump's redistricting effort

Discussion: Indianapolis Star, CNN, Chicago Sun Times, Washington Times, Raw Story, Associated Press, NPR, Mediaite, Newsweek, So What, Washington Examiner, The Hill, Pluribus News, LifeNews.com and New York Sun

Matt Brown / Associated Press:
House squashes second attempt to impeach Trump from Rep. Al Green

Discussion: Fox News, Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, The Hill, Axios, Townhall, RUMBLE, The Gateway Pundit, The Independent, Blaze Media, The Daily Signal, Washington Times, RedState, Newsweek and IJR

Kelly Hooper / Politico:
Health insurers ask GOP to fix their fraud problem — and extend Obamacare subsidies

Discussion: NBC News, Breitbart and Deseret News

Joe Perticone / The Bulwark:
Concepts of Health Care Plans → Humiliation Trying to Pass Them

Discussion: One America News Network and TPR

New York Times:

A Grand Jury Again Declines to Reindict Letitia James — It was a striking rejection of the administration's retribution campaign. — A grand jury in Alexandria, Va., on Thursday rejected the Trump administration's effort to bring new charges against Letitia James, the New York attorney general …

Discussion: New York Magazine and Los Angeles Times

NBC News:

Justice Department fails in its 3rd attempt to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James — The Justice Department also tried and failed last week to secure a new indictment against James in Norfolk, Virginia. — ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A federal grand jury in Alexandria, Virginia …

Discussion: CBS News

Washington Post:

Administration fails again to indict N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James — A second grand jury refuses request to indict the Trump foe, a serious setback for the administration — Just now — Make us preferred on Google — The Justice Department once again failed to convince …

Associated Press:
Justice Department again fails to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James, AP source says

Discussion: Associated Press, The Guardian and MS NOW

CNN:
Justice Department fails to reindict Letitia James for a second time

Discussion: Washington Examiner, Straight Arrow News, Democracy Docket, MS NOW, CNBC, RUMBLE, Raw Story, Townhall, emptywheel, Mediaite and The Independent

ABC News:
2nd grand jury refuses to indict New York AG Letitia James: Sources

Discussion: UPI, Raw Story, The Gateway Pundit and Joe.My.God.

MS NOW:
Trump seeks Senate confirmation for prosecutor whose cases were thrown out

Discussion: Talking Points Memo and CNBC

Associated Press:

Trump's handling of the economy is at its lowest point in AP-NORC polling — President Donald Trump's approval on the economy and immigration have fallen substantially since March, according to a new AP-NORC poll, the latest indication that two signature issues that got him elected barely …

Discussion: Bloomberg, The Bulwark, Washington Examiner, Mediaite, CNN, Alternet.org, The Hill, WTTG-TV and Raw Story

AP-NORC:

Trump's approval rating slips on the economy and immigration — Approval of Trump's handling of the economy and immigration are down about 10 points since March. Border security remains Trump's best issue with 50% approval. … In March 2025, a few months into Donald Trump's second term, his overall job approval was 42%.

Discussion: Politico, Forbes, Wonkette, New York Times, Raw Story and The Hill

Aaron Parnas / MeidasTouch News:

Kristi Noem Caught Lying About Why She Left Committee Hearing Early — Congressman Moskowitz has confirmed that the FEMA meeting Noem left today's hearing for was cancelled. — In a surprising development this afternoon, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem left …

Discussion: The Hill and Raw Story

Rachel Frazin / The Hill:

Highly anticipated meeting on the future of FEMA abruptly canceled — A highly anticipated meeting at which the Trump administration was expected to reveal its plans to reform the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been abruptly canceled. — A spokesperson for the Department …

Discussion: Politico, Washington Examiner, GovExec.com, Washington Post, NOTUS, Roll Call, KDFX-TV, The Independent, Associated Press, New York Times, New Republic, CNN, Newsweek, Raw Story and NewsMax.com

Aaron Parnas / The Parnas Perspective:
Kristi Noem Accused of Lying Under Oath and Trump Officials Fail to Answer Basic Questions in Explosive Hearing

Discussion: Meidas+, CBS News, Mother Jones, twitchy.com and New Jersey Online

Associated Press:

Judge orders Kilmar Abrego Garcia to be immediately released from immigration detention — A federal judge in Maryland ordered Kilmar Abrego Garcia freed from immigration detention on Thursday while his legal challenge against his deportation moves forward.

Jacob Knutson / Democracy Docket:
Judge Orders Abrego Garcia's Immediate Release from Immigration Custody

Discussion: The Hill, Washington Examiner, NOTUS, Fox News, RedState, New York Times, UPI, Joe.My.God. and New Republic

Dan Friedman / Mother Jones:

I Asked the Pentagon About Pete Hegseth's Mentor. Then the Threats Started. — Six weeks ago, Jack Posobiec asked me to comment on whether I have a “creepy fetish for Asian women.” — That was one of several false and wildly personal allegations that the far-right pundit and newly minted member …

Discussion: The Bulwark and Raw Story, more at Mediagazer »

Walker Bragman / Important Context:

Liam Neeson Narrates Anti-Vax, Pro-RFK Documentary — This report has been updated to reflect a post-publication comment provided to Important Context by Liam Neeson's publicist. — Liam Neeson has a very particular set of skills—skills he recently lent to a new anti-vax documentary …

Discussion: The Hill

NBC News:

AI toys for kids talk about sex and issue Chinese Communist Party talking points, tests show — New research from Public Interest Research Group and tests conducted by NBC News found that a wide range of AI toys have loose guardrails. — Listen to this article with a free account

Discussion: HotAir, New York Post, NewsMax.com and Futurism

Reuters:

Exclusive: US preparing to seize more tankers off Venezuela's coast after first ship taken, sources say — The U.S. is preparing to intercept more ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure of a tanker this week, as it increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro …

Reuters:

Heading into midterms, Republicans hold edge with older voters, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds — Recent electoral victories have given Democrats increasing hope of taking back one and perhaps both houses of the U.S. Congress in next year's midterm elections, but a new Reuters/Ipsos poll suggests …

Discussion: The Hill and The Daily Caller

Camille Mumford / Emerson Polling:
Ohio 2026 Poll: Democrats Make Gains in Races for Governor and US Senate

Discussion: NewsMax.com, Plain Dealer and The Hill

Mary Whitfill Roeloffs / Forbes:

Olivia Nuzzi's ‘Canto’ Sells Just 1,200 Print Copies In First Week — By Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,Forbes Staff. Mary Roeloffs is a Forbes breaking news reporter covering pop culture. — Topline — Viral blog posts about her alleged affair with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. …

Discussion: Lawyers, Guns & Money, Fox News, Politico and The Independent

Time:

The Architects of AI Are TIME's 2025 Person of the Year — Jensen Huang needs a moment. — The CEO of Nvidia enters a cavernous studio at the company's Bay Area headquarters and hunches over a table, his head bowed. — At 62, the world's eighth richest man is compact, polished …

Discussion: CNN, Wall Street Journal, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, BBC, Fox News, Deseret News, Breitbart, WWL-TV, 404 Media, Gizmodo, Futurism, Washington Examiner, NextDraft and TechCrunch, more at Techmeme »

Aaron Rupar / Public Notice:

A band-aid on a festering hand wound — PN is supported by paid subscribers. Become one ⬇️ — 🤝 Subscribe to PN 🤝 — The Epstein files and illegal boat strikes aren't the only coverups taking place right now in the White House.

Discussion: Raw Story and Atlanta Black Star

Aisha Down / The Guardian:

Meta shuts down global accounts linked to abortion advice and queer content — More than 50 organisations report sites being restricted or removed, with abortion hotlines blocked and posts showing non-explicit nudity triggering warnings — Meta has removed or restricted dozens …

Discussion: LGBTQ Nation

Zachary Cohen / CNN:

Navy delivers report to Hegseth on potential punishment for Sen. Mark Kelly over ‘illegal orders’ video — Pete Hegseth Immigration — The US Navy has submitted its recommendations on potential punishments for Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly over his participation in a video that reminded US troops …

Discussion: Arizona Republic, The Hill, NewsMax.com, Joe.My.God., Raw Story and KDFX-TV

Betsy Klein / CNN:

Trump takes steps toward demolishing four federal buildings, preservationist alleges — Donald Trump — After demolishing the White House's East Wing, President Donald Trump is now eying four federal buildings for the same treatment and is circumventing a key government agency with his plans …

Discussion: Raw Story

Brock Hrehor / The Lever:

The Secret Algorithm Behind Your $20 Burger — According to private and federal lawsuits, the country's biggest meat processors have been using a secretive data company to share sensitive information, enabling them to hike up prices and suppress wages for decades.

Emily Mullin / Wired:

RFK Jr.'s Health Department Is Pondering a National Men's Health Initiative — At an FDA discussion of testosterone replacement therapy, a top official called for special health centers to address a “men's health crisis.” Others called to ease men's access to hormones.

Discussion: New York Post

Nicholas Wu / Politico:

Henry Cuellar will retake key spending post after Trump pardon — Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee voted Thursday to return Rep. Henry Cuellar to his leadership position on a powerful spending panel following his pardon on federal corruption charges. “We got ratified,” Cuellar told reporters following the vote.

Discussion: NOTUS and NewsMax.com

Rebecca Falconer / Axios:

Trump admin reveals new militarized zone plan for California-Mexico border — The Trump administration announced plans Wednesday for a new militarized zone in California, along the U.S.-Mexico border. … - President Trump's administration has since April designated several new militarized zones along …

Discussion: Associated Press, U.S. Department …, The Guardian, The Independent and The Hill

Wall Street Journal:

Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says U.S. May Be Drastically Overstating Jobs Numbers — The country could be losing 20,000 jobs a month, Powell said, a concern that was part of the decision to cut interest rates — Fed Chair Jerome Powell pointed on Wednesday to a job-market risk that economists …

Discussion: CNBC, The Free Press, The Information, San Diego Union-Tribune, Quartz and New Republic