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2:20 AM ET, August 12, 2026

memeorandum

 Top Items: 
Will Bunch / The Philadelphia Inquirer:
We need the truth about Trump's alleged ‘ballroom’  —  Do rich guys have to ruin everything?  Apparently so.  There came a time about 15 years ago when my soccer obsession got to the point where I felt I needed to pick an English Premier League team to root for, in addition to the U.S. national teams and the Union.
Discussion: PBS NewsHour
RELATED:
Peter Baker / New York Times:
With Trump Secretly Evacuated, Imperiled Air Force One Became a Flying Decoy  —  In response to a threat against the jet last month, the president was clandestinely removed in a catering container.  But the plane was sent into the skies anyway with government employees and reporters onboard.
Will Weissert / Associated Press:
Why the elaborate ruse Trump used in Turkey isn't like other secret presidential trips  —  President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he slipped away from Air Force One after a recent summit in Turkey because the Secret Service and military wanted him on a “different plane” due to a threat.
New York Times:
See How Trump's Secret Air Force One Swap Unfolded  —  The extraordinary subterfuge was aimed at protecting an American president who has been in Iran's cross hairs for years.  —  President Trump boarded Air Force One on July 8 as a ruse.  —  On the final day of the NATO summit in Turkey …
Margaret Hartmann / New York Magazine:
Trump Used Air Force One Passengers As Decoys, Saved Himself  —  At first glance, reports that President Trump secretly slipped off Air Force One in a catering truck to thwart an Iranian assassination threat sound like a blockbuster political thriller come to life.
Brian Stelter / CNN:
After Trump plane ruse, WHCA presses White House on press pool safeguards
Discussion: Politico and The Wrap
Ryan J. Foley / Associated Press:
ICE plans to give officers gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks  —  Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon be outfitted with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks intended to gain compliance from combative individuals.  —  ICE plans to spend up to $20 million …
Wall Street Journal:
White House Asks Justice Department to Consider New Reflecting-Pool Prosecution  —  Officials asked the department whether it is possible to bring new charge against Olympic canoeist after U.S. attorney dropped case  —  WASHINGTON—White House officials have asked the Justice Department …
RELATED:
Todd Spangler / Variety:
David Ellison Says He'll Pull Paramount Out of California Starting Oct. 1 if States Refuse to Negotiate Settlement in Antitrust Suit … And, in a move seemingly aimed at gaining leverage in the showdown, he's prepared to start moving Paramount out of California as soon as October unless …
RELATED:
NBC News:
Minnesota Governor Primary Results 2026  —  Democratic Gov. Tim Walz is retiring, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar is the heavy favorite for their party's nomination.  The Republican primary includes Trump ally Mike Lindell, the former MyPillow CEO, as well as state House Speaker Lisa Demuth and other candidates.
RELATED:
Max Grinstein / Washington Examiner:
Trump-backed Mike Lindell falls to Lisa Demuth in Minnesota governor primary
New York Times:
How Iran Adapted Its Attacks as U.S. War Munitions Dwindled  —  The Iranian strikes that killed three U.S. soldiers in Jordan show how quickly Iran's war-fighting skills have evolved, as the Pentagon runs low on interceptors.  —  During five intense days last month, Iran launched waves …
RELATED:
Reuters:
Pakistan says US and Iran close to ‘some sort’ of deal despite attacks on shipping
Maryam Tahmasebi / The Nation:
One Woman's Message From the Hell of ICE Detention  —  My husband, son, and I have been locked up for months—despite being permanent residents with no criminal record.  It is an unendurable, unending nightmare.  —  Pocket  —  My name is Maryam Tahmasebi, and I am a professor of psychology …
Zoe Tillman / Bloomberg:
Judge Widens Block on Trump Mail-in Voting Plan for Midterms  —  A federal judge in Boston entered a nationwide order blocking the US Postal Service from carrying out President Donald Trump's directives to overhaul mail-in voting policies before the November midterm elections …
RELATED:
Nicholas Johnston / Axios:
Robot book club  —  AI has become my reading buddy as I've plowed through my summer book list, helping me keep track of plots and characters, unpack themes, and make sense of wordy, old prose.  — Why it matters: The way many of us actually read books — a few pages before bed …
Andrew Kaczynski / CNN:
‘Fireworks suck’: Removed El-Sayed videos urged getting rid of the 4th of July tradition, raised replacing 2nd Amendment  —  Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed once asked his YouTube viewers whether Americans could “PLEASE” find another way to celebrate the Fourth of July …
Dustin Gardiner / Politico:
Pelosi: Those who knew of Biden's decline ‘should have acted’  —  SACRAMENTO, California — Nancy Pelosi said those close to Joe Biden during his reelection campaign should have shared what they knew about his mental acuity — and confirmed she had private conversations with him about her polling concerns.
Kevin Robillard / HuffPost:
The Socialist Threatening A 15-Year-Long Political Comeback  —  The state party establishment fears Democrats are throwing away a once-in-a-generation chance at a trifecta.  —  Wisconsin Democrats are on the precipice of completing a 15-year comeback from the political wilderness.
Jason Wilson / The Guardian:
Pete Hegseth's Pentagon picks raise questions over Trump family business ties  —  Two advisers have links to a venture fund co-investing in US defense companies that benefit from federal spending  —  Pete Hegseth's appointments to a key Pentagon advisory body include two men with ties …
Jeff Stein / NOTUS:
A Group of Centrist Senators Sees a Window to Overhaul Social Security  —  A group of eight centrist senators is attempting to compel Congress to revamp Social Security, in what many in Washington see as the first real effort at overhauling the government's biggest program in more than a decade.
Talking Points Memo:
READ: A New Draft Rule for the Census Seeks Sweeping Changes to How Political Power Is Allocated  —  TPM is publishing the Trump administration's plan for changes to political apportionment and Census data collection.  —  The Trump administration is planning to dramatically reshape the data …
Discussion: Staff Stories
Mack Liederman / New York Times:
Son-in-Law of Sean Duffy Wins G.O.P. House Primary in Northern Wisconsin  —  Michael Alfonso, 26, had the support of the transportation secretary and an endorsement from President Trump.  —  Michael Alfonso, 26, clinched the Republican nomination for Wisconsin's Seventh Congressional District …
Ryan Mancini / The Hill:
Former Hartford mayor ousts Larson in Connecticut House primary  —  Luke Bronin, the former Democratic mayor of Hartford, Conn., is projected to defeat incumbent Rep. John Larson (D-Conn.) and will advance to the November general election, according to preliminary results from Decision Desk HQ (DDHQ).
Julia Mueller / The Hill:
Graham, Norman advance to runoff in South Carolina GOP primary for Senate  —  The race to replace late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on the November ballot is projected to head to an Aug. 25 runoff, according to Decision Desk HQ, with Sen. Darline Graham (R) and Rep. Ralph Norman (R) duking it out for the nomination.
Andrew Solender / Axios:
The Democratic money machine is coming for Max Miller  —  Democrats have gone from treating Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio) as a best-case-scenario target to a genuinely vulnerable incumbent whose downfall is worth a real investment. … - Phil Gardner, a spokesperson for the centrist Blue Dog Action Fund …
Dharna Noor / The Guardian:
Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from oil and gas assets since joining supreme court, analysis shows  —  Critics argue US high court justice should recuse himself from upcoming fossil fuel firms' climate accountability case  —  Democracy, climate and justice is supported by
Discussion: New Republic and Mother Jones
Matt Taibbi / Racket News:
Cliché Alert: Return of the “Beer Test”  —  The New York Times reverts to old form, thanks to a blue-party schism.  —  Had a chuckle reading the New York Times story this morning about Nebraska Independent Senate candidate Dan Osborn, whose interesting take on the two traditional parties is, “I think they both kind of suck.”
 
 
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 More Items: 
Cate Cadell / Washington Post:
Scientists say U.S. will suffer if White House bars research with China
Discussion: DCReport.org
Tim Balk / New York Times:
5 Things to Know About the Minnesota Senate Candidate Michele Tafoya
Discussion: The Gateway Pundit
Keith Johnson / Foreign Policy:
Trump Has His Own Communist Manifesto
Discussion: The Hill, Ms. Magazine and NewsMax.com
 Earlier Items: 
Associated Press:
FACT FOCUS: Trump makes false claims as he signs order urging revisions around childhood vaccines
Aaron Mak / Politico:
Trump administration employees can use TikTok again
S. Baum / Erin In The Morning:
Police Called on Trans Men Using Women's Restroom As Required By Kansas Law
Discussion: LGBTQ Nation
Mike Masnick / Techdirt:
SpaceX's Earnings Show Elon Wiped Out Two-Thirds Of Twitter's Ad Business
Ashlyn Webb / WSB-TV:
US citizen detained by ICE at Atlanta Airport as he boarded flight
Silver Bulletin:
FLIPR 2026 midterm election forecast
Discussion: Blue Virginia
G. Elliott Morris / Strength In Numbers:
Voters say the political system needs big changes — and that's driving Democratic gains for 2026
Avery Lotz / Axios:
DOJ seeks to shield Trump advisers from Dem probes