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12:30 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:
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.”
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 …
Luke Broadwater / New York Times:
Jan. 6 Police Officers Sue to Block Trump's Payout Fund  —  The two officers accused the administration of creating a “slush fund” to reward rioters and groups that committed violence on behalf of President Trump.  —  Two police officers who defended the Capitol against a pro-Trump mob on Jan. 6 …
Discussion: Axios, CBS News, KTVZ-TV and Forbes
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 …
Luke Fountain / CNBC:
Blanche won't rule out Jan. 6 rioters getting Trump DOJ fund payouts
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
Liz Dye / Public Notice:
Trump's $1.8b slush fund could turn into giant can of worms
Discussion: Zeteo
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 …
Ben Johansen / Politico:
Trump demands Senate Republicans fire parliamentarian
Discussion: Washington Examiner
Layla A. Jones / Talking Points Memo:
Raffensperger, Who Wouldn't Steal Election For Trump, Loses Governor Race to Two Election Denialists
Karen Tumulty / Washington Post:   The Trump paradox: What's good for him is weighing down his party
Ed Morrissey / HotAir:
Better Late Than Never? Trump Endorses Paxton After Voting Starts
Sarah Fortinsky / The Hill:
Trump scores major victory with Massie's primary defeat in Kentucky
Stephen Groves / Associated Press:
Senate advances bill aimed at ending Iran war as Cassidy, after primary loss, flips to support it
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 …
Daniel Arkin / NBC News:
Former Rep. Barney Frank, champion of Wall Street reform and gay rights trailblazer, dies at 86  —  The most prominent gay member of Congress of his generation, the Democrat represented southern Massachusetts in the House for more than 30 years. … Barney Frank, the quick-witted Massachusetts congressman …
Steven Sloan / Associated Press:
Barney Frank, a liberal congressman and trailblazer for gay rights, dies. He was 86
Anna Schecter / CBS News:
Teen attackers in San Diego Islamic Center shooting were wallowing in hate, investigators say  —  Add CBS News on Google  —  The two teens who carried out a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday were wallowing in a world of hate.  —  “These subjects did not discriminate in who they hated …
RELATED:
New York Post:
Shocking manifesto reveals teen shooters' vile motivations behind San Diego mosque shooting
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
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 …
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.
Reuters:
US expected to unveil criminal charges against Cuba's Raul Castro  —  See more of our coverage in your search results.  —  Add The New York Post on Google  —  The Trump administration is expected to announce criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro on Wednesday …
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 …
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, Raw Story, RNS and Advocate
 
 
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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
 Earlier Items: 
Itxu Díaz / The American Spectator:
Imagine a Better World: More Rich People and Fewer Mamdanis
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
Holly Baxter / The Independent:
Trump called a sudden, urgent press conference. What followed was a fever dream
Discussion: The Hill
New York Times:
Early War Goal Was to Install Hard-Line Former President as Iran's Leader
 

 
From Mediagazer:

Borys Kit / The Hollywood Reporter:
Netflix wins rights to the Sesame Street movie; Rideback, the production company behind live-action Lilo & Stitch and Aladdin movies, will produce the feature

Max Tani / Semafor:
The Atlantic ramps up its video podcasts, doubling its video team from ~10 to ~20, and says its podcast revenue is up 104% YoY and downloads rose ~50% YoY

New York Times:
People Inc., a major food content creator, is ramping up social media video production that emphasizes human-made recipes and testing to stand out from AI slop
 
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