Top Items:

Elon Musk's Blitz Shakes U.S. Government as He Sweeps Through Agencies — The billionaire is creating major upheaval as his team sweeps through agencies, in what has been an extraordinary flexing of power by a private individual. — The billionaire is creating major upheaval …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Mediaite, DNyuz and The Daily Wire, more at Techmeme »
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Elon Musk Installs Illegal Server to Seize All Federal Workers' Data — Elon Musk has taken control of government employees' private data by having his cronies illegally install a commercial server at the Office of Personnel Management. — Musk and his handpicked associates at the fake …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Musk Watch, American Greatness, NBC News, Mediaite and USA Today, more at Techmeme »

Elon Musk Suggests Getting Rid Of All Regulations In Midnight Call — “If it's not possible now, it'll never be possible,” Musk said of his proposal to simply ignore all federal regulation as a baseline. — LOADING — President Donald Trump's “government efficiency” …
Discussion:
Fortune, Axios, The Daily Wire, The Information and USA Today

DOGE's access to federal data is ‘an absolute nightmare,’ legal experts warn — The latest moves at Treasury have already triggered a lawsuit, with a fight over the dissolution of USAID looming. — Elon Musk's headlong rush to take control of crucial federal agencies and functions …
Discussion:
American Prospect

I'm a Federal Worker. Elon Musk's Government Data Heist Is the Entire Ballgame. — On Friday night, reports emerged that Elon Musk's aides had tussled with Office of Personnel Management and Treasury staffers while demanding access to troves of information about federal employees.
Discussion:
Vox

The ‘Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly’ of the United States Government — Elon Musk's bureaucratic coup is underway. — Elon Musk is not the president, but it does appear that he—a foreign-born, unelected billionaire who was not confirmed by Congress—is exercising profound influence …
Discussion:
Raw Story, NPR, Advocate, Americans for Financial Reform, Techdirt, New York Post, The Post Millennial and Associated Press

Elon Musk Is President — He did not receive a single vote. He did not get confirmed. He does not receive a government paycheck. — The world's richest man has declared war on the federal government and, in a matter of days, has moved to slash its size and reach, while gaining access to some of its most sensitive secrets.
Discussion:
The UnPopulist, Axios, New Republic, New York Magazine, Daily Mail, RedState, Reuters and USA Today

CONSTITUTIONAL STANDOFF — *Special Alert from The Contrarian* — Public opposition to the most wholesale and jaw-dropping violation of Americans' privacy and President Trump's unilateral outsourcing of the executive branch's operation to a private individual, Elon Musk, has taken hold.
Discussion:
New York Times, FedScoop and Mediaite
Joan Westenberg / The Index:
Elon Musk Is an Existential Threat to Big Tech
Politico:
Unions sue to block Musk team's access to Treasury payments
Unions sue to block Musk team's access to Treasury payments
Discussion:
The Hill, Axios, Bloomberg, The Verge, PoliticusUSA, KTLA and The Post Millennial
Alan Rappeport / New York Times:
Warren Questions Bessent Over Musk Access to Treasury Payment System
Warren Questions Bessent Over Musk Access to Treasury Payment System
CNN:
Elon Musk is serving as a ‘special government employee,’ White House says
Elon Musk is serving as a ‘special government employee,’ White House says
Discussion:
Business Insider, Rolling Stone, Wall Street Journal, Drop Site News, NPR, Mediaite and Forbes
Associated Press:
Trump and Musk move to dismantle USAID, igniting battle with Democratic lawmakers
Trump and Musk move to dismantle USAID, igniting battle with Democratic lawmakers
Discussion:
NBC News, United States Department …, American Prospect, Reuters, The Daily Beast, Crooks and Liars, IJR, Raw Story, Roll Call, New York Magazine, Denver Post, Forbes, Mercury News, Federal News Network, The Independent, WUSA, DNyuz, RedState, Daily Kos, Steady, NOTUS, Common Dreams, The Daily Sceptic, Slate, Washington Examiner, WTOP News, The Gateway Pundit, New York Times, ABC News, Associated Press, WSVN-TV, Politico, New York Post, The Daily Wire, Mediaite and Breitbart
Sean Seddon / BBC:
What is USAID and why is Trump reportedly poised to close it?
What is USAID and why is Trump reportedly poised to close it?
Discussion:
Forbes, LewRockwell, New Republic, The Daily Caller, Associated Press, UnHerd, Blaze Media, Al Jazeera, Mashable, CBS News, Fox Business, Daily Mail and USA Today

Democratic Senator Says He Will Stall Trump Nominees Until USAID Is Back — Schatz said he would hold up Trump's diplomatic confirmations — WASHINGTON—Sen. Brian Schatz (D., Hawaii) said he would place a “blanket hold” on all of President Trump's State Department nominees until …
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Democrats flood the zone with acts of anti-Trump resistance
Discussion:
NCJA
NBC News:
Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz puts a hold on Trump's State Department nominees
Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz puts a hold on Trump's State Department nominees
Discussion:
The Hill
David Edwards / Raw Story:
‘What is happening here is illegal’: Dem senator confronts security at USAID headquarters
‘What is happening here is illegal’: Dem senator confronts security at USAID headquarters
Discussion:
CBS News, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Politico, GovExec.com, MPR News and Mediaite
Meredith Lee Hill / Politico:
Republicans eye bigger farm bailout amid Trump trade wars
Republicans eye bigger farm bailout amid Trump trade wars
Discussion:
Washington Post, Mediaite, Tennessee Star, Raw Story, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, DNyuz and Axios
Sam Sutton / Politico:
The oracle of Biden's inflation woes has a warning for Trump
The oracle of Biden's inflation woes has a warning for Trump
Discussion:
New York Times, Fox News, Fortune, Business Insider, New Republic and E&E News
New York Times:
Trump's Trade Move Could Increase Costs for Many Online Goods
Trump's Trade Move Could Increase Costs for Many Online Goods
Discussion:
The Information, Daily Mail, New York Post, Fox Business, The Independent, IJR, Forbes, Breitbart, The Verge, Fortune, Quartz and CNBC
Nicholas Wu / Politico:
Hakeem Jeffries wants funding freeze ‘choked off’ in spending deal
Hakeem Jeffries wants funding freeze ‘choked off’ in spending deal
Discussion:
Democratic Leader …, Axios and Daily Kos

Trump preps order to dismantle Education Dept. as DOGE probes data — Closing the agency would require congressional approval, so the new administration hopes to diminish it in the meantime. — President Donald Trump is preparing an executive order aimed at eventually closing the Education Department and …
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Trump Advisers Weigh Plan to Dismantle Education Department — Administration officials are discussing executive order that could shut down key functions of the agency — Trump administration officials are weighing executive actions to dismantle the Education Department as part of the campaign …
Discussion:
Reuters, Politico, Washington Examiner, USA Today, New York Post, RedState, The Guardian, Raw Story, Jewish Insider, Townhall, Scripps News and The Gateway Pundit

Trump administration finalizing plans to shutter Education Department
Discussion:
NBC News
Josh Kovensky / Talking Points Memo:
Trump II Punishes Fed Workers For Attending Trump I Diversity Training
Trump II Punishes Fed Workers For Attending Trump I Diversity Training
Discussion:
ABC News

USAID personnel told to stay away from headquarters after Elon Musk's shutdown comments — Marocco held several national security positions during the first Trump administration, including at USAID, where he tried to consolidate power and slash funding. — WASHINGTON — Secretary …
Discussion:
The Independent, The Root, Daily Mail and The Gateway Pundit
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Elon Musk's DOGE Is Still Blocking HIV/AIDS Relief Exempted From Foreign Aid Cuts — The Trump Administration claims it is allowing “lifesaving” foreign aid to continue, but in reality, DOGE is preventing vital work on HIV and AIDS from saving lives. — One of President Donald Trump's …
Discussion:
NBC News, C-SPAN.org, Global Dispatches, Mother Jones and Washington Examiner

DOJ Says Trump Administration Doesn't Have to Follow Court Order Halting Funding Freeze — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) argued Monday that a federal court order blocking President Donald Trump's federal funding freeze doesn't halt the administration's efforts.
Discussion:
Roll Call, Law & Crime and Washington Examiner
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Judge Further Blocks White House Spending Freeze
Discussion:
Raw Story, Civil Discourse … and DNyuz
Politico:
Judge signals plan to further block Trump spending freeze
Judge signals plan to further block Trump spending freeze
Discussion:
Axios, Ohio Capital Journal, WUSA, WTTG-TV, USA Today, Reuters, Bloomberg, E&E News and Associated Press
Elena Moore / NPR:
Federal judge issues restraining order blocking federal spending freeze
Federal judge issues restraining order blocking federal spending freeze
Discussion:
Raw Story, RedState, Advocate and Scripps News
Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
A Coup Is In Progress In America — A coup is underway in the United States, and we must stop pretending otherwise. The signs are unmistakable and accelerating: in just the past 48 hours, Elon Musk's DOGE commission has seized control of Treasury payment systems and gained unauthorized access …

Top ‘60 Minutes’ Producer Says He Will Not Apologize Over Trump Lawsuit — Bill Owens, the show's executive producer, addressed his staff as CBS's parent company, Paramount, pursues a legal settlement with the president. — The head of “60 Minutes” told the show's staff on Monday …
Discussion:
Fox News and DNyuz, more at Mediagazer »
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Brian Stelter / CNN:
The FCC's battle with CBS over its Harris interview is raising red flags
The FCC's battle with CBS over its Harris interview is raising red flags
Discussion:
New York Post, Daily Mail, Washington Examiner and Newsbusters

Trump appoints speechwriter fired for attending conference with White nationalists to top State Department role — Darren Beattie, a former Donald Trump speechwriter who was fired in 2018 after CNN revealed he spoke at a conference attended by White nationalists, has been elevated to a top job …
Discussion:
Raw Story, Associated Press, Mediaite and The Independent
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CFPB halts work after Trump appoints Bessent as acting head — The consumer watchdog agency was formed in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis. Elon Musk wants to “delete” it. — President Donald Trump on Monday appointed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent as the acting director …
Discussion:
Bloomberg Law, Reuters, The Independent, NBC News and New Republic, more at Techmeme »
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Laurel Wamsley / NPR:
Treasury Secretary Bessent, tapped to run CFPB, orders staff to halt work
Treasury Secretary Bessent, tapped to run CFPB, orders staff to halt work
Discussion:
Scripps News, CNBC, Consumer Financial …, consumerbankers.com, Politico, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, RedState, UPI, Fox Business, Bloomberg, The Daily Caller and Daily Kos

Texas National Guard to make immigration arrests under agreement with Trump administration, Abbott says — Gov. Greg Abbott said that the agreement was effective immediately. — Texas National Guard soldiers now have the authority to make immigration arrests and help detain …
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Al Weaver / The Hill:
GOP's Susan Collins to back Tulsi Gabbard confirmation — Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced on Monday that she will support Tulsi Gabbard to become director of national intelligence (DNI), giving her a key boost in her confirmation push. — Collins was considered a crucial swing vote …
Discussion:
Washington Examiner, Fox News, Raw Story, RedState, Townhall, New York Post, Mediaite, The Gateway Pundit, DNyuz, CBS News, Blaze Media, The Daily Caller, New York Times and Politico
RELATED:
Connor O'Brien / Politico:
Collins, Lankford back Gabbard for top Intel job ahead of committee vote
Collins, Lankford back Gabbard for top Intel job ahead of committee vote
Discussion:
Bangor Daily News

Musk Says He's ‘Deleted’ Popular Free IRS Tax Filing Program — WHO ASKED FOR THIS? — The online tax filing option on the IRS website had a strong bipartisan 76% approval rating from registered voters. — Kanye West's Naked Grammys Stunt Could Cost Him $20M — THE NAKED TRUTH

Trump orders creation of US sovereign wealth fund, says it could buy TikTok — U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday ordering the U.S. Treasury and Commerce Departments to create a sovereign wealth fund and said it may purchase TikTok. — “We're going to stand this thing up within the next 12 months.