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12:10 PM ET, April 19, 2026

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Wall Street Journal:
Behind Trump's Public Bravado on the War, He Grapples With His Own Fears  —  The president's impulsive style has never before been tested during a sustained military conflict; ruminating on Jimmy Carter  —  It seemed like Donald Trump's appetite for risk had run out, and his fears were ramping up.
RELATED:
Cheyanne M. Daniels / Politico:
Trump says US-Iran talks to continue Monday in Pakistan … “They'll come down fast, they'll come down easy and, if they don't take the DEAL, it will be my Honor to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years.,” he continued.
RELATED:
Associated Press:
Live updates: Standoff escalates after Iran closes Strait of Hormuz over US blockade  —  Confusion over the critical chokepoint threatened to deepen the energy crisis roiling the global economy and push the two countries toward renewed conflict, even as mediators expressed confidence a new deal was within reach.
Discussion: Agence France-Presse and Reuters
Prof Robert Pape / Escalation Trap:
Why the Ceasefire Keeps Failing
Discussion: Wide World of News
Eric Lipton / New York Times:
Syrian Billionaires Needed a Favor in Washington.  They Invoked the Trump Name.  —  The attempt by the Khayyats to influence foreign policy while discussions are underway about potential Trump family deals is an increasingly common feature of the president's second term.
Washington Post:
Trump's fixation on White House ballroom is increasing, Post analysis finds  —  The president has publicly highlighted his ballroom project on roughly a third of the days this year.  —  Summary  —  President Donald Trump had just begun a Jan. 9 meeting at the White House with oil …
Discussion: NBC News and Althouse
RELATED:
Darlene Superville / Associated Press:
Construction on Trump's White House ballroom can continue for now, US appeals court says
NBC News:
Pancreatic cancer mRNA vaccine shows lasting results in an early trial  —  Scientists caution that more research is needed, but nearly all of the patients who responded to the personalized vaccine are still alive six years later. … Donna Gustafson had a harder time than usual shaking off …
Discussion: STAT
NBC News:
Poll: Trump's approval rating hits second-term low as Americans sour on the economy and Iran war  —  Two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of inflation, according to an NBC News Decision Desk Poll, with some cracks emerging in his GOP support.
Discussion: Washington Times, Forbes and Mediaite
Joyce Vance / Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance:
Justice According To Trump  —  The Justice Department has moved to drop the last remaining January 6 insurrection criminal matters: the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys seditious conspiracy cases.  It's a gratuitous move.  On the first day of his second term, Trump issued full pardons …
Discussion: Raw Story
RELATED:
Simon Tisdall / The Guardian:
JD Vance could yet save his political skin.  But it will mean turning on Trump - and soon  —  The vice-president has endured his most humiliating - and damaging - week as his boss's fall guy.  How much more can Maga's great hope take?  —  For a would-be president, JD Vance has an unfortunate habit …
Discussion: Raw Story
RELATED:
Politico:
Battleground Republicans are starting to worry about the Senate … “Republicans have the best candidates that they've had in a long time but are facing serious headwinds,” said New Hampshire GOP strategist Mike Dennehy.  —  “I wouldn't say I feel warm and fuzzy about things right now,” …
Discussion: Raw Story
Advocate:
A forceful opening  —  The opinion opened with unusually blunt language, calling out the case as a broader test of the rule of law.  —  “Unserious leaders are unsafe.  There is nothing more serious than our leaders' dedication to the rule of law so that we might maintain the integrity of our constitutional democracy,” Kasubhai wrote.
Troy Closson / New York Times:
They're Young.  They're Conservative.  And They're Split Over the War.  —  On college campuses from the Northeast to the Southwest, the conflict in Iran is testing the fealty of young Republicans during the second Trump administration.  —  As a teenager, Alex Johnson joined rallies …
Emily Cochrane / New York Times:
Muslim Southerners Face a Fresh Wave of Hateful Political Rhetoric … The young student in an emerald-green hijab spoke first, tumbling through the speech she had carefully practiced with her teacher.  Her classmates followed, repeatedly explaining to state lawmakers in Tennessee why they felt …
Amy Harder / Axios:
Trump-branded AI data center megaproject stalls, CEO departs  —  The world's largest data center project — backed by Trump allies and bearing his name — is stalled by delays and logistical hurdles that could stop it before it even starts.  — The latest sign of trouble emerged Friday: CEO Toby Neugebarger abruptly departed.
Eric Berger / The Guardian:
FBI's Kash Patel denies excess drinking amid officials' US security concerns  —  Agency director threatens to sue Atlantic for report citing allegations from two dozen current and former colleagues  —  The FBI director, Kash Patel, is denying allegations detailed in a new report that he drinks …
RELATED:
The Independent:
White House officials ‘openly discuss’ firing Kash Patel as FBI chief threatens to sue over report about ‘excessive drinking’
Jim VandeHei / Axios:
Behind the Curtain: China wins by watching  —  Chinese President Xi Jinping has spent the Iran war doing what he does best — patiently exploiting America's distraction and discord. … - The implications touch supply chains, energy procurement, geopolitical risk, and the race for superior AI and weaponry.
 
 
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 More Items: 
Natalie Fertig / Politico:
In wake of political violence, states use campaign cash for personal security
Financial Times:
Trump family's World Liberty crypto venture faces investor backlash
Wall Street Journal:
Justice Department Rebuffs French on X Probe, Musk Interview
Discussion: The Hill and NewsMax.com
Politico:
'A trend that can't be ignored': Dems have made up ground in nearly every election since Trump took office
Jesse McKinley / New York Times:
In Trump's Orbit, Women Aren't the Only Ones Concerned About Their Looks
Discussion: Raw Story
 Earlier Items: 
Irie Sentner / Politico:
Forced out of the military — and into the redistricting wars
Matt Labash / Slack Tide:
The End Times Customer Service Desk
Miami Herald:
Ex-model, arrested by Aventura police and deported, causes White House stir
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Pete Hegseth Nailed It. No Really.
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Matthew Keys / TheDesk.net:
A district court judge in California issues a preliminary injunction blocking Nexstar's acquisition of Tegna while an antitrust lawsuit proceeds

Wendy Davis / MediaPost:
The FTC ends a demand for info from NewsGuard after settling a case against Dentsu, Publicis, and WPP; NewsGuard has sued the FTC over restrictions on Omnicom

Mandy Dalugdug / Music Business Worldwide:
FICCI-EY: India's paid music streaming subscriptions rose 37% YoY to 14.4M in 2025, generating $118.2M in revenue; only ~8% of total music streamers paid for it

 
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