memeorandum: Fmr. government watchdog says Trump stock trades are ‘completely unprecedented’ (NBC News)

7:10 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: IJR, Associated Press, The Hill, Fox News, RTÉ, Mediaite, Grabien and Axios

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, Bloomberg, The Japan Times and Semafor

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

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

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: MS NOW and Los Angeles Times

Ramon Antonio Vargas / The Guardian: At least five people pardoned by Trump for Capitol attack accused of new crimes

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: Raw Story and NewsMax.com

Diana Nerozzi / Politico:
Midwest Republicans want Vance out in full force ahead of midterms

Discussion: NewsMax.com

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

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

NBC News:

Fmr. government watchdog says Trump stock trades are ‘completely unprecedented’ — NBC News Senior National Political Reporter Jonathan Allen and Don Fox, former acting director and general counsel of the U.S. Office of Government Ethics, join Meet the Press NOW to discuss the new scrutiny …

The Hill:

Live results: Cassidy fights for political life in Louisiana Senate GOP primary — Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy (R) is fighting for his political life in a GOP Senate primary Tuesday. Trump has endorsed Rep. Julia Letlow (R) in her challenge against Cassidy.

Discussion: HuffPost, Newsweek, KEYT-TV, Politico, louisianaradionetwork.com, Associated Press, Fox News and E&E News

NBC News:
Sen. Bill Cassidy faces a primary for the first time since his Trump impeachment vote

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: Associated Press, WLT Report, Breitbart, Al Jazeera and Politico

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: UPI and 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: U.S. Home and The Independent

Jennifer Hansler / CNN:

As global crises multiply, scores of US diplomats say they have been forced out — The Middle East Federal agencies Donald Trump — Amid ongoing foreign policy crises around the globe and as the Trump administration struggles to reach a deal to end the war with Iran …

Discussion: Raw Story

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 👇

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: The Independent and Raw Story

Adam Liptak / New York Times:

At Supreme Court, Virginia Democrats Pressed Legal Theory Embraced by Trump — A long-shot emergency request to restore a voting map was the latest salvo in an all-out legal war over control of the House. — Virginia Democrats suffered a stinging loss in their state Supreme Court this month.

Discussion: oag.state.va.us, Truthout, Straight Arrow, Lawyers, Guns & Money, Wall Street Journal, LifeNews.com, Washington Times, Staff Stories, The Hill, MS NOW and Democracy Docket

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: NewsMax.com 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 Post Millennial, The Daily Caller and Blaze Media