Top Items:
US Department of Justice:
The Justice Department Takes Actions to Strengthen the Federal Death Penalty — For Immediate Release — President Trump's Day-One Executive Order Directed the Department to Prioritize Seeking and Implementing Death Sentences to Protect Public Safety — Today, the Department of Justice acted …
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Michael M. Grynbaum / New York Times:
Inside Trump and David Ellison's Private Party in Washington — The president spoke for nearly an hour at a Paramount-hosted event that raised questions about journalistic and regulatory conflicts of interest. — David Ellison, the billionaire media mogul, feted President Trump and top members …
Discussion:
NBC News, The Hollywood Reporter, The Wrap, The Independent, Variety, Associated Press, Raw Story, Mediaite, Breitbart and Jewish Insider, more at Mediagazer »
Milan Singh / The Argument:
The anti-market delusion at the heart of the housing crisis — Breaking news: Housing is a market — It's very easy to get a reservation at Olive Garden, which has over 900 locations in the United States. It's almost impossible to get a reservation at Rao's in New York City, which is one of only three locations.
Mary Clare Jalonick / Associated Press:
Congress keeps holding all-nighters, creating dysfunction after dark — Just as the Senate prepared to launch into a late-night vote series, Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana went to the floor to vent. Frustrated and seemingly exhausted Wednesday, Kennedy said he wanted more time to debate …
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Al Weaver / NOTUS:
Senate Republicans Bench Trump's Voting Bill
Senate Republicans Bench Trump's Voting Bill
Discussion:
The Daily Caller, Raw Story, Crooks and Liars and Townhall
Politico:
White House insiders see Rubio on the rise as a potential 2028 pick … “JD Vance is a fantastic vice president, and Marco Rubio is a great Secretary of State,” said Trump adviser Alex Bruesewitz. “[Rubio] could have gone one of two routes after the 2016 campaign.
Michael Crowley / New York Times:
Rubio's Absence From Iran Talks Highlights Stay-at-Home Role — President Trump has outsourced much of his diplomacy to others, while Mr. Rubio focuses on his second job as national security adviser. — When President Barack Obama negotiated a nuclear deal with Iran more than a decade ago …
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Washington Post:
Iran says no direct talks planned as U.S. envoys set to leave for Pakistan
Iran says no direct talks planned as U.S. envoys set to leave for Pakistan
Discussion:
France 24, Associated Press, NPR, Breitbart, The Hill, Vox, Al Jazeera, New York Times, NewsMax.com, BusinessDay, The Daily Wire, Townhall, New York Post, The Times of Israel, Bloomberg and Forbes
Kathryn Wilkens / Mediaite:
Trump Aide Called GOP Candidates ‘Fat Jewish Zionist F*cks’ in Leaked Group Chat: Report — Paul Ingrassia, an aide to President Donald Trump, is under fresh scrutiny after a Friday report from the Daily Mail alleged he sent a string of inflammatory messages targeting fellow Republicans …
Greg Ryan / Bloomberg:
Maine Governor Mills Vetoes Statewide Data Center Moratorium — Maine Governor Janet Mills vetoed what would have been the first statewide freeze on large data center development, saying it would hurt a part of Maine in need of an economic boost. — Mills, a Democrat running for US Senate …
Discussion:
Reuters and Associated Press, more at Techmeme »
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Trevor Aaronson / The Intercept:
Kash Patel Got Arrested for Public Urination After a Night of Drinking — FBI Director Kash Patel was twice arrested in incidents involving alcohol, once for public intoxication and once for public urination after leaving a bar, he admitted in a 2005 letter about disclosures on his Florida Bar application.
Discussion:
Mediaite, The Parnas Perspective, The Independent, TMZ.com, Raw Story and New Republic
The Japan Times:
Japan assesses feasibility of sending minesweepers to Strait of Hormuz — The Japanese government and ruling parties have begun seriously studying the feasibility of sending Maritime Self-Defense Force minesweepers to the Strait of Hormuz, in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's request …
Olivia Rinaldi / CBS News:
White House mulls using Defense Production Act in Spirit Airlines takeover — Add CBS News on Google — The Trump administration is exploring using the Defense Production Act as part of a strategy to save the beleaguered Spirit Airlines, according to U.S. officials familiar with the discussions.
Discussion:
NewsMax.com, New York Post, UPI, Bloomberg, Raw Story, The Hill, CNBC, Mediaite and Associated Press
New York Times:
The ‘Lasting Damage’ of Pirro's Abandoned Fed Investigation — The Trump administration's attacks on the Federal Reserve have rattled confidence in the central bank's ability to operate independently before a leadership transition. — The Justice Department's criminal investigation …
Christine Chung / New York Times:
Jet Fuel Shortages Could Make Travel a ‘Total Mess’ This Summer — Facing sky-high fuel costs linked to the war in Iran, airlines are cutting routes and raising prices. European vacations are looking a lot less affordable. — This summer is shaping up to be an expensive and uncertain time to fly …
Discussion:
Wired, CBS News and The Daily Caller
Paul McLeary / Politico:
Hegseth declares victory while preparing for more war with Iran … Hegseth opened his remarks by saying that the operation is not an endless war like Vietnam or Iraq and Afghanistan, all of which dragged on for years amid shifting or unachievable strategic goals.
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William Kristol / The Bulwark:
Trump Isn't Thinking Strait
Discussion:
The Daily Signal, MS NOW and CNN
Jeet Heer / The Nation:
Trump and Hegseth Are Winning the War Against Their Own Military
Trump and Hegseth Are Winning the War Against Their Own Military
Discussion:
Daily Kos, Lawyers, Guns & Money and New York Times, more at Mediagazer »
ABC News:
Republican lawmaker who's missed a month of votes dealing with ‘health matter,’ Johnson says — Rep. Thomas Kean Jr. hasn't personally provided explanation for his absence. — Lauren Peller, John Parkinson, and Oren Oppenheim — Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., arrives for the House Republican …
Discussion:
NOTUS, The Gateway Pundit, Raw Story, The Guardian, Washington Examiner, NBC News, Townhall, New Republic and New York Times
Kadia Goba / NOTUS:
Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick Just Resigned. She's Still Seeking Reelection. — The embattled Florida Democrat filed for reelection four days before resigning. — Copy — Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, the embattled, now-former congresswoman who resigned from Congress this week ahead …
Discussion:
Mediaite, Charleston Daily Mail, Townhall, Raw Story and Newsweek
Joe Sommerlad / The Independent:
Atlantic writer sued by Kash Patel says she's been ‘inundated’ with new sources corroborating her reporting — Sarah Fitzpatrick reiterates that she stands by ‘every single word’ of her story and says the people she spoke to were ‘frightened’ by the FBI director's alleged conduct creating a national security vulnerability
Discussion:
The Nation, Techdirt and New Republic
Associated Press:
Appeals court overturns $8.2 million defamation win for Alabama politician Roy Moore — Moore lost a Senate race after his campaign was rocked by misconduct allegations that he denied. The lawsuit centered on a TV ad that recounted the accusations against him.
Scott Calvert / Wall Street Journal:
A Mayor With No Pants Has Become the Talk of This North Carolina Town — A fight over footage of a 2024 incident is drawing unwanted attention to Mooresville—and locals are angry, bewildered and a little amused — MOORESVILLE, N.C.—Dave Homick loves this fast-growing town's nickname, Race City USA, a nod to its deep Nascar ties.
Discussion:
Raw Story
Aaron Rupar / Public Notice:
Matt Gertz on the Fox News presidency — This week's Nir & Rupar features a very special guest — Matt Gertz, senior fellow at Media Matters and one of the foremost experts on right-wing media. — Gertz and I discussed the ways in which Fox News is even worse now than it was during Trump's first term …
Discussion:
Media Matters for America
Peter Charalambous / ABC News:
Judge orders Trump, DOJ to justify why president's $10B IRS lawsuit should proceed — Trump sued the IRS over the public disclosure of his tax information in 2019. — President Donald Trump delivers remarks during a Health Care Affordability event in the Oval Office at the White House, in Washington, April 23, 2026.
Greg Sargent / New Republic:
The Incredible Shrinking MAGA — If you follow politics on social media, you've probably encountered a claim about Donald Trump that goes like this: “LOL Trump's support is rock-solid LOL, his base will never leave him LOL.” And it's true: The white-hot core of MAGA does remain with him.
Discussion:
Fox News
Lindsey Holden / Politico:
Voter ID measure qualifies for the California ballot … “Voters will be able to restore election integrity in our state, citizenship verification, auditing voter rolls and, yes, requiring ID to vote,” DeMaio said in a social media video celebrating the qualification.
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, Democracy Docket, Washington Examiner, New York Post, Daily News and CalMatters

