memeorandum: Trump says Iran war is worth the economic pain. These rural voters agree. (Brad Brooks/Reuters)

2:50 PM ET, May 16, 2026

Top Items:

Brad Brooks / Reuters:

Trump says Iran war is worth the economic pain. These rural voters agree. — Perched behind the cash register at Stubs liquor store, Amy Van Duyn gazed out the window at a red-and-green gasoline price sign, which she said seemed to tick up daily. — The price was $4.34 per gallon …

Discussion: Raw Story

Chris Buckley / New York Times:

Trump Uses Taiwan Arms Sales as Bargaining Chip With China, in a Risky Move — The president said a potential arms deal for Taiwan was a “very good negotiating chip” in talks with Beijing. His words raise questions about the reliability of U.S. support. — President Trump has described …

Discussion: Associated Press, Fox News, RTÉ, The Hill, Mediaite, Grabien and Axios

William Vaillancourt / The Daily Beast:
This Proves Trump Is Shrinking in Every Way: Political Guru

Discussion: New York Post, CBS News, Townhall, Washington Examiner, Financial Times, Politico and Bloomberg

Financial Times:
What did Donald Trump achieve in talks with Xi Jinping?

Discussion: Newsbusters, BizPac Review, en.people.cn, MS NOW, The Hill, Rolling Stone, The Guardian, GZERO, NewsMax.com, The Japan Times, Bloomberg, Semafor, Axios and The Independent

Sarah-Jane Collins / The Daily Beast:

Pardoned Capitol Rioter Who Vowed to ‘Bring Violence’ Arrested Again — LAW AND DISORDER — The number of pardoned Jan. 6 rioters re-arrested is starting to add up. — Yet another pardoned Jan. 6 rioter has been arrested—the latest for allegedly threatening a man with a gun in a church parking lot.

Discussion: Los Angeles Times and MS NOW

Ramon Antonio Vargas / The Guardian:

At least five people pardoned by Trump for Capitol attack accused of new crimes — Ryan Nichols is the latest such person to face charges after he allegedly brandished a gun during an argument — The number of president's supporters accused of committing new crimes after Donald Trump pardoned …

Sarah Fortinsky / The Hill:

Massie primary tests Trump's grip on GOP — President Trump's quest to unseat Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) will come to a head Tuesday, as primary voters weigh whether there is room in the Republican Party for a lawmaker willing to openly defy the president. — The race has become …

Politico:

Poll: MAGA is largely aligned with Israel as GOP divides deepen … The Republican Party is starting to splinter over support for Israel — and President Donald Trump's most loyal supporters are largely aligned with the embattled U.S. ally. — New results from The POLITICO Poll find that self-identified …

Discussion: NewsMax.com and Raw Story

Wall Street Journal:
Inside Trump's Midterm Strategy: a Mountain of Cash to Stem GOP Losses

Discussion: NewsMax.com, Raw Story and U.S. Home

New York Times:

Tina Peters, Colorado Election Denier, Will Be Freed by Governor — Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, commuted the sentence of Ms. Peters, a former county clerk serving a nine-year sentence for her role in a plot to examine voting machines after the 2020 election.

Discussion: The Guardian, MS NOW, Breitbart, NOTUS, The Daily Caller, Grabien and Lawyers, Guns & Money

Denver Post:
Gov. Jared Polis reduces Tina Peters' sentence, says she will be released June 1

Discussion: New York Sun, The Colorado Sun, The Gateway Pundit, twitchy.com, Raw Story, NewsMax.com, The Post Millennial, Newsweek, Advocate and The Guardian

CNN:
Election denier Tina Peters will get clemency after admitting she ‘made a mistake,’ Colorado's Democratic governor says

Bill Tracker / Colorado Governor Jared Polis:
Governor Polis Announces Clemency Actions

Discussion: Denver Post, CBS News, BizPac Review, Blaze Media, The Colorado Sun, Mediaite, The Daily Wire and Grabien

Bente Birkeland / NPR:
Colorado's Democratic governor will let Trump ally Tina Peters out of prison early

Discussion: NBC News, Raw Story and The Gateway Pundit

africom.mil:

ISIS Number Two Killed in Nigeria — At the direction of the President of the United States and the Secretary of War, and in coordination with the Government of Nigeria, U.S. Africa Command conducted an operation against ISIS in Northeastern Nigeria on May 16, 2026. — View Gallery

Reuters:
Trump says ISIS second-in-command Abu-Bilal al-Minuki killed by US and Nigerian forces

Discussion: Breitbart, Associated Press, Al Jazeera and Politico

Karen Sloan / Reuters:

American Bar Association votes to eliminate DEI rule for law schools — A longstanding diversity and inclusion requirement for U.S. law schools is teetering amid mounting pressure from the Trump administration and Republican states. — The American Bar Association council …

Discussion: The Daily Caller, The Post Millennial and Blaze Media

Tatyana Monnay / Bloomberg Law:
Trump Pressure Forces ABA Weakening of Law School DEI Standard

Discussion: NewsMax.com

Politico:

Would-be sponsor balked at paying for Sean Duffy's tour across America … The unidentified company declined after considering Barnes' request for its sponsorship on The Great American Road Trip, the person involved in the outreach said. The company and the person were granted anonymity …

Discussion: Raw Story

ABC News:

Trump administration to create $1.776B ‘Truth and Justice Commission’ to compensate allies: Sources — Trump plans to drop his IRS suit in exchange for creating a compensation fund. — Katherine Faulders, Peter Charalambous, and Alexander Mallin — President Donald Trump speaks …

Discussion: Mediaite

Maria Sacchetti / Washington Post:

She was deported without her toddler. Then ICE blamed her for his killing. — ICE accused Wendy Hernandez Reyes of leaving her child with a violent uncle, but she says her son would still be alive if officers hadn't detained and deported her. — Summary

Discussion: The Independent

Public Notice:

Josh Marshall on how US democracy can be saved — “You simply can't do it with the filibuster and this Supreme Court in place.” — ∙ Paid — This special Saturday edition of the newsletter is supported by paid subscribers. Become one 👇

Brentin Mock / Democracy Docket:

Trump seeks passage of SAVE America Act via housing and FISA bills — President Donald Trump is pressuring lawmakers to pass the SAVE America Act voter suppression bill by attaching it to housing and foreign intelligence surveillance legislation currently pending before Congress.

Discussion: Politico and NewsMax.com

Mark Sherman / Associated Press:

Supreme Court rejects Virginia's bid to restore congressional map favoring Democrats — The Supreme Court on Friday rejected Virginia's bid to restore a congressional map that would have given Democrats a chance to pick up four seats in the closely divided House of Representatives.

Discussion: Scripps News, New York Times, Raw Story, The Daily Caller, Cardinal News, Roll Call, Axios, RedState, LifeNews.com, Washington Times, The Hill, The Daily Signal, MS NOW, Newsweek and Townhall

Lawrence Hurley / NBC News:
Supreme Court rejects Virginia Democrats' attempt to revive new congressional map

Discussion: The Hill, CBS News, New York Times, CNN, Breitbart, SCOTUSblog, HotAir and The Post Millennial

Yunior Rivas / Democracy Docket:
Supreme Court refuses to restore Virginia redistricting plan approved by voters

Discussion: Straight Arrow, Wall Street Journal, Cardinal News, The Independent, WLT Report, Blue Virginia and NPR

NBC News:

Sen. Bill Cassidy faces a primary for the first time since his Trump impeachment vote — The Louisiana Republican is running for re-election against Trump-backed Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming. … Sen. Bill Cassidy's political career is at stake on Saturday …

Diana Nerozzi / Politico:

Midwest Republicans want Vance out in full force ahead of midterms … “Having [President Donald Trump and Vance] come here is absolutely vital,” Runestad said. — Vance made the Midwest his stomping ground in the 2024 election. While chief of staff Susie Wiles has vowed Trump …

Discussion: NewsMax.com