Talking Points Memo

A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. The Trump II Cancer Metastasizes At DOJ I hate to break it to you, but the failure of Ed Martin’s nomination to be D.C. U.S. attorney has not … In The Trump II Presidency, Things Can Always Get Worse … And Often DoRead more

As the white smoke cleared, Robert Prevost of Chicago became Pope Leo XIV, the first ever American pope.

Two days ago I wrote about a pattern operating largely under the radar in the President’s war against higher education. We know about the general grant freezes on about half a dozen elite universities. Then there are countless other grant terminations across a much larger group of universities. … The NIH Funds-Ghosting, A Follow Up ReportRead more

A new episode of The Josh Marshall Podcast is live! This week, Kate and Josh discuss the Trump administration’s muteness on abortion (so far), their losses in recent Alien Enemies Act cases and the sweet, sweet downfall of eagle Ed Martin.

A short time ago, President Trump announced in the Oval Office that he is pulling the nomination of Ed Martin as U.S. attorney for D.C. Saying he was “disappointed” that Martin’s nomination foundered in the Senate, Trump floated the possibility of bringing Martin into the administration – and … BREAKING: Trump Yanks Ed Martin NominationRead more

The way attorney Jamie Diez describes it, visiting the El Valle Detention Center was usually straightforward. After making the 50-minute drive from Brownsville, he told TPM, he would usually stroll in unannounced. Officials would, after a wait, bring Diez, an immigration attorney, whichever client he was seeing that … Inside One Venezuelan’s Last-Minute Escape From a Flight to CECOTRead more

From an anonymous TPM Reader … As a former OPM appointee, this seems suspect for numerous reasons. Going through the Federal News Network article, the first thing that doesn’t make sense is in the second paragraph. Leading with retirement applications and RIFs is really odd, since the federal … Very Interesting Follow Up About that OPM ContractRead more

After firing much of its staff, the Office of Personal Management, under Elon Musk’s effective control since late January, has handed out a no bid contract to cloud-AI-based HR company Workday to help handle the mountain of terminations, retirements and layoffs built up over the first three months … Elon’s OPM Hands Out No Bid Contract to Cloud-Based AI HR CompanyRead more

A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. It’s Happening Slower Than You Can See The historic constitutional clash over President Trump’s lawless immigration policies continues at a pace that is difficult for casual observers to … Courts Rush To Beat Back A New Round Of Trump LawlessnessRead more

I am reading a April 21, 2025 letter from Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, Dr Stephen Ferrara, which provides guidance for discontinuing treatment of minors with gender dysphoria at military medical treatment facilities. After noting the Pentagon policy banning the initiation or continuation of treatment … Sic Transit, DeTransitioning EditionRead more

Over the weekend University of Michigan President Santa Ono announced that he was leaving his post to take up the leadership of the University of Florida. It was an interesting choice. It’s been reported that Ono had been warier of resisting or challenging the dictates of the Trump … Outgoing UMich Prez Santa Ono Pulls His Name from Academic Freedom LetterRead more

This is largely preaching to the choir. But it’s absent enough from the news coverage that is worth stating clearly. Most right-thinking people are aghast at Trump’s onslaught on higher education. The range of reasons is endlessly discussed and doesn’t need to be enumerated here. But through those … Let’s Remember Why There’s a System of Federal Research Grants to UniversitiesRead more

Jefferson Griffin (R) surrendered in his six-month-long battle to steal a North Carolina Supreme Court election from Allison Riggs (D) on Wednesday, the same day that North Carolina Republicans’ other ratfuckery — trying to strip power from the state’s elected Democrats to seize control of election administration in … On Day Griffin Concedes, Another Republican Power Grab In North Carolina Becomes OfficialRead more

This story first appeared at ProPublica. ProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox. For more than two months, the Trump administration has been subject to a federal court order stopping it from … Trump’s NIH Axed Research Grants Even After a Judge Blocked the Cuts, Internal Records ShowRead more

Here is a brief follow up on the question TPM Reader MA addresses below: why does the Trump administration have it in for biomedical/disease research? It’s a really good question and one I have not seen a really adequate explanation for. But having been reporting on this for … Why Do They Have It In For Biomedical Research?Read more

There it is. Six months after Election Day, Republican challenger Jefferson Griffin has conceded the North Carolina Supreme Court race to Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs.

A note from TPM Reader MA on biomedical research. I’m sharing it because it’s a good simple explanation not only of the nuts and bolts reality of “your cure isn’t going to be there when you need it” but the massive hit to global competitiveness and economic advantage … Self-DestructionRead more

A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. The Damage Will Be Done It wasn’t just what the Supreme Court did Tuesday with President Trump’s ban on trans service members in the military. It’s how it … SCOTUS Allows Trump’s Purge Of Trans In Military To ProceedRead more

House Republicans’ work of making sweeping cuts to Medicaid — the social safety net program that provides health care coverage for 72 million low-income and disabled Americans — while publicly pretending they are not doing so continues this week. 

As judges begin to rule on the merits of President Trump’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to give him wide latitude to expel alleged Venezuelan gang members, the administration is starting to rack up losses.

The following is very important news about the Trump White House’s unfolding war against biomedical/disease-cure research in the United States. But the set up is a bit complicated. So I want to flag both the complexity and the importance in advance. Because I want to really encourage you … Conspiracy of Silence: How Trump is Covertly Strangling Billions in Disease Cure ResearchRead more

The White House creates AI slop of weeping immigrants being deported, President Trump performs a mocking imitation of a trans weightlifter, the Pentagon wipes government webpages of the military achievements of nonwhite men — this is an administration that luxuriates in Fox News’ A block.

Donald Trump’s Truth Social recently started a streaming service for MAGAs and “pro-family” Christians called Truth+. Hunter Walker was surprised to find that among the top ten most watched movies featured for viewers was a “documentary” about how alien lizard people secretly rule the earth. And that was … So This HappenedRead more

Less than two minutes into the movie, the narrator makes a shocking claim.  “The evidence we are about to present to you has the potential to rewrite thousands of years of human history. It will present evidence that suggests ancient serpent or lizard-like aliens came to earth thousands … President Trump’s Media Company Is Offering Movies About ‘Lizard People’ And Other Wild Conspiracy Theories Read more

A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo. Sign up for the email version. Last Undecided Race Of 2024 Nears End Six months after Election Day, a federal judge ordered the North Carolina Board of Elections to certify Democratic incumbent Allison Riggs … Federal Judge Orders Dem Win Certified In NC Supreme Court RaceRead more

Politico Nightly has a very interesting observation tied to Trump’s latest fever-dream about a tariff on movies produced outside the United States. Studios are spooked about it and the idea even pushed down entertainment stocks. (As I’ve noted a few times, the current hiatus on the law mattering … Very InterestingRead more

While most Trump administration officials have avoided weighing in on specifics while House Republicans grapple with how exactly they will try to discreetly slash funding for Medicaid, the Trump admin guy tasked with running the very office overseeing Medicaid and Medicare services offered his opinion on Monday.

About a week ago, both Matt Yglesias and Jonathan Last at The Bulwark had pieces up arguing different electoral strategies for the Democratic Party. Yglesias argued that while the current Democratic Party is at least competitive in national majority votes (good enough for bragging rights and probably the … Into the Wilds of Democratic Navel-Gazing and Big ThinkRead more

Brian Kemp just formally announced he’s not going to run for Senate next year against Senator Jon Ossoff. It’s difficult to convey how big a coup this is for Democrats and how big a setback it is for Republicans for the 2026 midterms. Candidate choice is always important … Kemp OutRead more

Morning Memo comes to you today from Pittsburgh, where my son – whose harrowing path through his college years I’ve previously shared with you – graduated yesterday. Not Normal Three career prosecutors resigned from the Justice Department over a highly unusual post-verdict plea agreement struck by the Trump-appointed … 3 Prosecutors Resign Over DOJ’s Highly Irregular Move In Police Brutality Case In LARead more