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12:05 PM ET, May 20, 2026

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Steve Benen / MS NOW:
2 Jan. 6 police officers sue to block Trump DOJ's ‘slush fund’  —  There's no shortage of questions surrounding the Trump administration's controversial new $1.776 billion fund.  White House friends and foes alike have wondered aloud about who'll receive taxpayer-financed checks …
Discussion: The Nation and nomination notes
RELATED:
Ryan J. Reilly / NBC News:
Jan. 6 officers sue over $1.8B pot they call ‘slush fund’ for ‘insurrectionists’  —  The lawsuit seeks to block the Justice Department's new “anti-weaponization fund” created as part of a settlement with President Donald Trump.  —  Two officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 …
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 …
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.
Josh Gerstein / Politico:
Jan. 6 police officers sue to block Trump's ‘anti-weaponization fund’ … The lawsuit, filed in federal district court in Washington, argues that the fund violates the 14th Amendment's prohibition on use of federal money to “pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States.”
Discussion: The Parnas Perspective and MS NOW
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 …
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.
Ryan J. Reilly / NBC News:   John Adams quote projected on DOJ building in protest of $1.8B fund
Hailey Fuchs / Politico:
Johnson won't say whether Jan. 6 rioters will be eligible for new ‘lawfare’ fund
Discussion: Truthout and U.S. Home
Bloomberg Law:
DOJ Anti-Weaponization Fund Lacks Safeguards From Past Programs
Discussion: The Hill and Roll Call
Liz Dye / Public Notice:   Trump's $1.8b slush fund could turn into giant can of worms
Russell Berman / The Atlantic:
Why Thomas Massie Thought He Was Different  —  He wrongly believed his popularity back home made him able to withstand a Trump-backed challenge.  —  For a long time, Representative Thomas Massie confidently defied an ironclad law of modern Republican politics—that to oppose President Trump …
RELATED:
Punchbowl News:
5/20/26☀️ AM: … With less than 24 weeks until Election Day, President Donald Trump seems almost maniacally focused on doing and saying things that could harm Republicans' chances of keeping their House and Senate majorities in November.  —  With voters saying they're frightened …
Ed Morrissey / HotAir:
Better Late Than Never? Trump Endorses Paxton After Voting Starts
Karen Tumulty / Washington Post:   The Trump paradox: What's good for him is weighing down his party
Stephen Groves / Associated Press:
Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as Cassidy, after primary loss, flips to support it
Sarah Fortinsky / The Hill:
Trump scores major victory with Massie's primary defeat in Kentucky
Yasmine El-Sabawi / Middle East Eye:
US: Anti-Aipac congressman Massie unseated in most expensive House primary ever
Alec Hernandez / Politico:
Another Trump enemy falls as Brad Raffensperger loses Georgia primary
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.
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 …
Steven Sloan / Associated Press:
Barney Frank, a liberal congressman and trailblazer for gay rights, dies. He was 86
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:   Tankers exit Strait of Hormuz with 6 million barrels of crude oil
New York Times:
Iran Threatens to Strike Beyond the Middle East if the U.S. Resumes Attacks
Reuters:   Iran is consolidating control of Hormuz with island checkpoints, diplomatic deals - and sometimes ‘fees’
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 …
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 …
Rick Rojas / New York Times:
He Was Jailed Over a Charlie Kirk Post.  The Sheriff Now Owes Him $835,000.  —  Larry Bushart sued a Tennessee sheriff who claimed he wanted to incite hysteria with a post after Mr. Kirk's killing and jailed him for 37 days.  —  A Tennessee man who was jailed for 37 days over a Facebook post …
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
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
Brian Beutler / Off Message:
They're Really Going For It  —  Trump's plan to overturn the midterm elections comes into focus.  —  ∙ Paid  —  There's no contradiction between Donald Trump's deepening unpopularity—and his evident commitment to further unpopular conduct—and his intensifying assault on democracy and the rule of law.
 
 
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 More Items: 
David Smith / The Guardian:
George Soros group pledges $300m to US economic security and civil liberties
Discussion: NewsMax.com
Mark Kennedy / Associated Press:
Stephen Colbert's long goodbye is coming to an end, leaving a void
Discussion: The Guardian
Itxu Díaz / The American Spectator:
Imagine a Better World: More Rich People and Fewer Mamdanis
 Earlier Items: 
Ben Berkowitz / Axios:
All 50 states top $4 a gallon gas as Iran impacts linger
Washington Examiner:
Trump's slush fund is no better than Obama's
Sarah Perez / TechCrunch:
Google Search as you know it is over  —  The era of the “ten blue links” is officially over.
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Andrew Marchand / The Athletic:
Memo: ESPN's Jimmy Pitaro announces layoffs, mostly due to the NFL Network acquisition; sources: on-air personalities Karl Ravech and Ryan Clark are affected

Dan Shanoff / The Athletic:
Nielsen: the World Cup final drew 38.9M viewers on Fox, and 22M+ on Telemundo; taken together, the US audience size rivaled that of NFL playoff games

MJ Franklin / New York Times:
How publishers are cashing in on surging public interest in The Odyssey through splashy reissues; Circana BookScan says sales of The Odyssey rose by 76% YoY
 
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