Top Items:
New York Times:
Trump Sets Fraudster Free From Prison for a Second Time — The president issued a raft of clemency grants this week, including pardoning a woman he had given relief to once before and a man whose daughter had donated millions to a Trump super PAC. — President Trump was in a merciful mood this week …
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Washington Examiner and New York Magazine
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Darlene Superville / Associated Press:
Trump plans to pardon ex-Puerto Rico Gov. Vázquez in campaign finance violation case, official says — President Donald Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez, a White House official said Friday. Vázquez pleaded guilty last August to a campaign finance violation …
Discussion:
CBS News, Washington Examiner, Fox News and The Hill
CNN:
CNN poll finds majority of Americans say Trump is focused on the wrong priorities — Public opinion on nearly every aspect of President Donald Trump's first year back in the White House is negative, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds, with a majority of Americans saying Trump is focused …
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Axios:
Trump's immigration erosion worries his team … The results, reflected in public surveys, bolstered internal concern about the administration's confrontational enforcement tactics. — Now, as the chaotic scenes from Minnesota play out around the clock on TV and social media …
Discussion:
New Republic, The Hill, Chop Wood, Carry Water, Mediaite, HotAir, MPR News, The Independent and al.com
Associated Press:
Are Trump's supporters getting what they want from his second term? Here's what a new poll shows — Nearly a year into his second term, President Donald Trump's work on the economy hasn't lived up to the expectations of many people in his own party, according to a new AP-NORC survey.
Discussion:
WTTG-TV, Raw Story and The Independent
New York Times:
Video Analysis of ICE Shooting Sheds Light on Contested Moments — Newly available videos and existing footage synchronized and assessed by The Times provides a millisecond by millisecond look at how an ICE officer ended up shooting and killing a motorist in Minneapolis.
Discussion:
HotAir, The Weekly Dish, The Atlantic and MS NOW
The Bulwark:
The People Are Turning Against ICE. Will the Politicians Take Notice? — Strongly worded statements will not stop the terrorization of the country. — Days after threatening military action against Iran over its brutal treatment of protesters, Donald Trump is stepping back from the brink.
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Heather Cox Richardson / Letters from an American:
You know what Americans aren't talking about very much today after Trump's threat to detonate …
Philip Bump / MS NOW:
Trump could be close to unleashing the state violence he's always wanted
Trump could be close to unleashing the state violence he's always wanted
Discussion:
The Mahablog, New Yorker, Eurasia Review, Media Matters for America and CBC News
Jordain Carney / Politico:
'Dumbest thing I've ever heard': Republicans amp up their resistance to Trump's Greenland push … “If there was any sort of action that looked like the goal was actually landing in Greenland and doing an illegal taking ... there'd be sufficient numbers here to pass a war powers resolution and withstand a veto,” Tillis said.
Discussion:
Mediaite, NOTUS, Media Matters for America, USA Today, MS NOW, Raw Story, CBS News, New Republic and Daily Mail
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Associated Press:
Trump says he may punish countries with tariffs if they don't back the US controlling Greenland
Discussion:
Washington Post, Politico, Associated Press, Washington Examiner, ABC News, The Hill, CNBC, Blaze Media, UPI, Townhall, KTVZ-TV, The National Pulse, CBS News, New York Daily News, Al Jazeera, Columbian, Washington Times, RTÉ, New York Post, The Post Millennial, The Independent, France 24, We Got This Covered, Mediaite, Bloomberg, NewsMax.com, Forbes, Grabien, Time and Wonkette
Rebecca Shabad / NBC News:
Trump says he could impose tariffs on countries that oppose his goal of acquiring Greenland
Trump says he could impose tariffs on countries that oppose his goal of acquiring Greenland
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, CBS News, The Guardian, The Independent, Fox News and Modern Diplomacy
New York Times:
Mexico's president defends her nation's antidrug efforts following U.S. criticism.
Mexico's president defends her nation's antidrug efforts following U.S. criticism.
Discussion:
The National Pulse and Dame Magazine
Seb Starcevic / Politico:
US senator threatens to use congressional ‘tools’ to block Trump's Greenland grab
US senator threatens to use congressional ‘tools’ to block Trump's Greenland grab
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Bacon and Politico
Politico:
‘Unconstitutional conspiracy’: Judge slams Trump administration over targeted deportations … “I find it breathtaking that I have been compelled on the evidence to find the conduct of such high-level officers of our government — cabinet secretaries — conspired to infringe the First Amendment rights …
Discussion:
Gazette, Reuters, The Guardian, The Daily Caller, The Gateway Pundit and Bloomberg
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Joanna Slater / Washington Post:
Trump Cabinet secretaries conspired to violate Constitution, judge says — “The Cabinet secretaries and ostensibly, the president of the United States, are not honoring the First Amendment,” U.S. District Judge William Young declared. — A federal judge Thursday decried what he said were …
Discussion:
New York Times
Evan Mandery / Politico:
They Wanted a University Without Cancel Culture. Then Dissenters Were Ousted. … The inaugural year of the University of Austin, or UATX as it's known, had been marked by the frenzy and occasional chaos that one might expect from a start-up aimed at disrupting American higher education.
Justin Baragona / The Independent:
Cheek kisses between Bari Weiss and Donald Trump following ‘60 Minutes’ interview rankle CBS staff — EXCLUSIVE: In a moment that sources said led to stunned reactions and dropped jaws, Bari Weiss excitedly introduced herself to the president and leaned in for a kiss on the cheek following his ‘60 Minutes’ interview.
Jane C. Timm / NBC News:
Virginia lawmakers pass redistricting amendment, sending it to voters for approval — If voters support the constitutional amendment, Virginia's Democratic-controlled Legislature would be able to redraw the state's congressional map before the midterms. — The Virginia state Senate passed …
Discussion:
NOTUS, Bolts, Democracy Docket, Associated Press, UPI, The 19th and Blue Virginia
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Fredreka Schouten / CNN:
Virginia Democrats set up a referendum to try to flip as many as 4 GOP-held US House seats
Virginia Democrats set up a referendum to try to flip as many as 4 GOP-held US House seats
Discussion:
Politico, The Hill, The Guardian, New York Times, Washington Post and New York Sun
New York Times:
Trump Praises Hassett, but Casts Doubt on Making Him Fed Chair — The blowback set off by the Justice Department's criminal investigation into Jerome H. Powell, the chair of the central bank, has shaken up the race to replace him. — President Trump on Friday expressed hesitation in naming …
Discussion:
Associated Press, The Guardian, Wall Street Journal and Politico
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Associated Press:
Newly Released Records Detail Chaos During Fatal ICE Shooting in Minneapolis — Reports from the city's police and fire departments show that Renee Good, who was killed by an ICE agent last week, was found with two gunshot wounds to her chest and one to her forearm. — Jamie Kelter Davis for The New York Times
Discussion:
Mediaite, New Republic, Raw Story, CBS News, Slate, The Independent, KARE-TV, New York Times, HotAir and Mother Jones
Ken Moritsugu / Associated Press:
Canada agrees to cut tariff on Chinese EVs in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products — Breaking with the United States, Canada has agreed to cut its 100% tariff on Chinese electric cars in return for lower tariffs on Canadian farm products, Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday.
Discussion:
Prime Minister of Canada, Canadian Press, The Hill, New York Times, Washington Post, Washington Examiner, Axios, Al Jazeera, BBC, NewsMax.com, The Verge, TechCrunch, The Daily Caller, Bloomberg, New York Sun, KTVZ-TV, The Gateway Pundit, Electrek, Politico, UPI, Associated Press, CityNews Calgary, Wall Street Journal, Louder With Crowder, Semafor, Modern Diplomacy and Rest of World
MPR News:
Minneapolis church has delivered more than 12,000 boxes of groceries to families in hiding — ListenMinneapolis church has delivered more than 12,000 boxes of groceries to families in hiding — Audio transcript — NINA MOINI: Since federal immigration enforcement began in December …
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Jeremy Barr / The Guardian:
CBS News report on ICE officer's injuries drew ‘huge internal concern’ — Anonymously sourced report that Jonathan Ross ‘suffered internal bleeding’ after killing Renee Good faced skepticism inside CBS newsroom — Some CBS News employees expressed concern after the network cited two anonymous …
Discussion:
Salon, The Independent, Raw Story and Mediaite, more at Mediagazer »
Chris Geidner / Law Dork:
Kristi Noem says that virtually anyone could face a Kavanaugh stop — As President Donald Trump ramped up his threats against the people he is supposed to be working for, his administration's extreme immigration enforcement led Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to admit that anyone …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Civil Discourse …, Christian Science Monitor, Raw Story, Bloomberg and New York Sun
Michelle Goldberg / New York Times:
The Right Is Furious With Liberal White Women — If you read conservative media, you might have heard about a new danger stalking our besieged country. — This week, Fox News warned about “organized gangs of wine moms” using “antifa tactics” against ICE.
Discussion:
Raw Story, No More Mister Nice Blog and Althouse
Washington Free / The Washington Free Beacon:
Hunter Biden's Baby Mama Wants Him Jailed Over Broken Child Support Deal — The mother of Hunter Biden's 7-year-old daughter, Lunden Roberts, filed a motion in an Arkansas court Tuesday asking a judge to jail the former first son for failing to comply with their 2023 child support agreement.
Discussion:
New York Post, Mediaite, IJR and The Gateway Pundit
Financial Times:
Donald Trump's first Venezuela oil sale deal goes to megadonor's company — Senior Vitol trader met US president at White House last week and gave millions to his re-election campaign — The first US sale of Venezuelan crude was to a company whose senior oil trader donated …
Heidi Kitrosser / Lawfare:
The Trump Administration's Fear-Based Governance — A review of Patrick G. Eddington, “The Triumph of Fear: Domestic Surveillance and Political Repression from McKinley to Eisenhower” (Georgetown University Press, 2025). — heidikitrosser — Meet The Authors
G. Elliott Morris / Strength In Numbers:
Backlash to Trump has been more severe in his second term — This is my free Chart of the Week — a data-driven look at what's happening in American politics right now. If you find this useful, consider becoming a paid subscriber to get Tuesday's premium Deep Dive, access to exclusive polling data …
Discussion:
NewsMax.com
Elie Mystal / The Nation:
It's Official: The People, Not the Politicians, Are Leading — In this week's Elie V. US, our justice correspondent explores the fecklessness of the Democratic Party, MAGA racism, and fighting despite unwinnable odds. — Pocket … It's a problem that whenever I listen to Democratic leaders …
Associated Press:
ICE says a Cuban man died during a suicide attempt. A witness says a guard fatally choked him — A Cuban immigrant died in a Texas immigration detention facility earlier this month during an altercation with guards, and the local medical examiner has indicated that his death will likely be classified as a homicide.
Discussion:
El Paso Times, The Guardian, New York Daily News, Salon, New Republic, The Independent, Raw Story, Mediaite and Washington Post
Politico:
Trump launches bid to tame electricity prices in the Northeast … At a White House meeting, the administration and bipartisan group of governors from the 13-state power market that stretches from Midwest to Virginia called on the electric grid operator to hold an emergency auction for tech companies to buy power for the next 15 years.
Discussion:
New York Times, Washington Examiner, KTVZ-TV, Forbes, Salt Lake Tribune and Washington Post, more at Techmeme »
Greg Olear / PREVAIL:
Ramble On: The Perils of Invading Greenland — It would be catastrophically, existentially stupid. … Here is the transcript, edited for clarity: — Good morning. It is Friday, January the 16th, five o'clock in the morning—the sun not yet risen here in upstate New York.
Discussion:
New York Times, MS NOW, The Guardian and Politico
Dareh Gregorian / NBC News:
Extreme makeovers: Federal Reserve vs. White House renovations — Both President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell are involved in controversial — and costly — rehabs of government buildings. — Add NBC News to Google — President Donald Trump …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner
Paul Waldman / The Cross Section:
What Happened to the “Don't Tread On Me” Conservatives? — Guess what, they never cared about individual rights or had a problem with state violence. It just depends on who's on the receiving end. … As you've watched masked, anonymous, ill-trained, hyper-aggressive federal agents brutalize …


