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10:40 AM ET, May 20, 2026

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Alex Rogers / Financial Times:
Donald Trump and sons to be ‘forever’ exempt from tax audits  —  Justice department deal comes day after government set up $1.8bn fund to pay president's allies hit by alleged ‘lawfare’  —  US tax authorities will be barred from pursuing claims against Donald Trump, his eldest sons …
RELATED:
Steve Benen / MS NOW:
Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn files suit to block Trump's ‘slush fund’  —  The existence of the new lawsuit is a reminder that the “slush fund” controversy is unfolding on multiple fronts.  —  There's no shortage of questions surrounding the Trump administration's controversial new $1.776 billion fund.
Ryan J. Reilly / NBC News:
DOJ official told GOP ally that big payouts were coming for Jan. 6 defendants  —  Months before the $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund was announced, Ed Martin predicted Capitol rioters would get millions, even if it took until 2028, two people told NBC News.
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Justice Department expands Trump settlement to cover his tax audits … The waiver specifically encompasses “tax returns filed before the effective date” of the settlement, which was Monday.  —  Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed the addendum, dated Tuesday.
CNN:
New settlement term bars IRS from investigating Trump, his family for past tax issues  —  IRS barred from investigating Trump or his family for past tax issues, as part of controversial lawsuit agreement  —  Trump says strikes on Iran were imminent Blanche, pressed on Epstein, says: 'He's dead'
New York Times:
I.R.S. to Drop Audits of Trump and Family  —  As part of the Justice Department's compensation fund deal, officials vowed not to pursue any matters, including those involving President Trump's tax returns, that are pending.  —  The Justice Department has granted President Trump …
Politico:
Trump's $1.8 billion ‘lawfare’ fund is making Republicans nervous … “There is no level below which these folks will not go,” Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I) said in an interview.  “It is just disgusting, having come off Law Enforcement Week, to have set up a slush fund to pay off people who attack police officers.”
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Jan. 6 police officers sue to block Trump's ‘anti-weaponization fund’
Discussion: HuffPost
New York Times:
I.R.S. Prohibited From Pursuing Audits of Trump and His Family
Ryan J. Reilly / NBC News:   John Adams quote projected on DOJ building in protest of $1.8B fund
Jenna Monnin / NOTUS:
Trump's Anti-Weaponization Fund Gets Its First Applicant
Discussion: Raw Story
Liz Dye / Public Notice:   Trump's $1.8b slush fund could turn into giant can of worms
NBC News:   Longtime Trump ally Michael Caputo files first known claim for ‘anti-weaponization’ fund
Stephen Groves / Associated Press:
Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as Cassidy, after primary loss, flips to support it  —  The Senate advanced legislation Tuesday that seeks to force President Donald Trump to withdraw from the Iran war, as a growing number of Republicans defied the president's wishes.
RELATED:
Sarah Fortinsky / The Hill:
Trump scores major victory with Massie's primary defeat in Kentucky
Wall Street Journal:
Why Trump Bucked His Party and Made a Risky Bet on Ken Paxton
Politico:
Trump completed his revenge tour. Allies wonder what it cost.
Discussion: Bloomberg, HuffPost and Raw Story
Yasmine El-Sabawi / Middle East Eye:
US: Anti-Aipac congressman Massie unseated in most expensive House primary ever
Lisa Kashinsky / Politico:
Trump picks off Massie in Kentucky
Alec Hernandez / Politico:
Another Trump enemy falls as Brad Raffensperger loses Georgia primary
NBC News:
Senate advances resolution to end Iran war as GOP Sen. Bill Cassidy flips to support it
Steven Sloan / Associated Press:
Barney Frank, a liberal congressman and trailblazer for gay rights, dies.  He was 86  —  Barney Frank, the longtime Democratic congressman and leading liberal who brought new visibility to gay rights and crafted the most significant reforms to the financial system in a generation, has died.
RELATED:
Katharine Q. Seelye / New York Times:
Barney Frank, Gay Pioneer and Liberal Stalwart in Congress, Dies at 86 … Barney Frank, the brassy, lightning-quick former Massachusetts representative who for decades was the most prominent gay politician in the country and who was an author of the most significant overhaul …
Discussion: Washington Post and The Forward
Matt Prichard / NBC Boston:
Former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank dies at age 86 … Former Rep. Barney Frank, D-Massachusetts, has died at the age of 86, his sister and a close family friend confirmed.  —  He had been in hospice care at his home in Ogunquit, Maine, in recent months, being treated for congestive heart failure.
Kim Dong-ha / The Chosun Daily:
South Korean Tanker Exits Hormuz Strait Without Fees  —  South Korea's largest shipping company, HMM, reported that its ultra-large crude carrier, the *Universal Winner*, successfully exited the Strait of Hormuz on the 20th (local time), which Iran has effectively blockaded.
Discussion: The Korea Herald and UPI
RELATED:
Reuters:   Iran is consolidating control of Hormuz with island checkpoints, diplomatic deals - and sometimes ‘fees’
Reuters:
Tankers exit Strait of Hormuz with 6 million barrels of crude oil
Discussion: Al Jazeera
The Colorado Sun:
Jared Polis says his Tina Peters decision “will be remembered fondly,” despite growing outrage  —  Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday said he doesn't regret his decision to commute the prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, despite widespread condemnation from Democrats …
Discussion: LGBTQ Nation
New York Times:
James Murdoch, Intent on ‘Thoughtful Journalism,’ Buys Half of Vox Media … James Murdoch is acquiring roughly half of Vox Media, a dramatic expansion in American media for the younger son of the media mogul Rupert Murdoch.  —  The deal includes Vox Media's podcast network as well as New York magazine …
New York Times:
Early War Goal Was to Install Hard-Line Former President as Iran's Leader  —  An Israeli strike designed to free Mahmoud Ahmadinejad from house arrest in Tehran, U.S. officials said, was part of an effort to bring about regime change and put him in power.  —  Days after Israeli strikes …
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Google Search as you know it is over  —  The era of the “ten blue links” is officially over.  —  Google unveiled on Tuesday an AI-powered overhaul of Search centered around a reimagined “intelligent search box” — what the company describes as the biggest change to this entry point …
Ben Berkowitz / Axios:
All 50 states top $4 a gallon gas as Iran impacts linger  —  All 50 states have average gas prices above $4 a gallon, AAA said Wednesday, with seven now topping $5 a gallon. … - California is the nation's high, at $6.15 per gallon, while Georgia is the lowest at $4.01 a gallon.
Discussion: Washington Examiner
David Gilbert / Wired:
Election Officials Are Getting Ready for ICE to Show Up at the Polls  —  The Trump administration keeps threatening to send federal agents to oversee elections.  State and local officials are preparing, and even gaming out what happens if they're arrested.  —  Last week, as President Donald …
Discussion: Raw Story
Shannon Butler / WFTV:
Former ‘gay cure’ ministry leader Alan Chambers charged in underage sex sting  —  DEPUTIES SAY ALAN CHAMBERS COMMUNICATED FOR MONTHS WITH SOMEONE HE BELIEVED WAS A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY  —  ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A former leader of an Orlando-based ministry that claimed for years it could cure homosexuality …
Discussion: PinkNews, RNS and Advocate
 
 
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 More Items: 
Itxu Díaz / The American Spectator:
Imagine a Better World: More Rich People and Fewer Mamdanis
Washington Examiner:
Trump's slush fund is no better than Obama's
 Earlier Items: 
Dan Diamond / Washington Post:
House GOP resurrects Trump's plan for year-round daylight saving time
Patrick McNeil / nomination notes:
Eight Democrats vote to confirm a lifetime judge who wouldn't say Biden won in 2020
Discussion: Mediaite
 

 
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Matthew Sparkes / New Scientist:
Levent Alpöge, a mathematician who works at Anthropic, says he was able to disprove the 87-year-old Jacobian conjecture with the help of Fable 5

John Velasco / Tom's Guide:
Samsung debuts Samsung Galaxy Card, its first-ever US credit card, a Visa from Barclays; it offers 5% rewards for purchases directly from Samsung
 
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