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Talking Points Memo (TPM) is an independent news organization that publishes reporting and analysis about American politics, public policy and political culture.

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LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025Mar 20th, 2025

### [Hang Together or Hang Separately](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/hang-together-or-hand-separately)

by [Josh Marshall](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/author/josh_m)

From TPM Reader _BM_ …

> I was shocked that Paul Weiss, of all firms, capitulated, but not surprised.

> 

> When Trump singled out Perkins Coie, there was an effort to get all of the largest law firms to file an amicus brief and stand together with Perkins. As you’ve seen, that effort failed. Apparently, most firms wouldn’t join the brief, out of fear. Without collective action, they get picked off one by one.

> 

> I was really disappointed yesterday that the president of Princeton’s article in The Atlantic was not co-signed by all of the presidents of the major research universities. If they don’t stand together to oppose the illegal demands of the Administration, they will all hang separately.

> 

> Thanks for your reporting.

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 202516m ago

### [Paul, Weiss Has Gone ‘America First’](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/paul-weiss-has-gone-america-first)

by [Josh Marshall](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/author/josh_m)

Pretty surreal moment today. Paul, Weiss is one of three firms targeted in new Trump executive orders. The firm’s chairman, Brad Karp, has [reached an agreement with President Trump](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/paul-weiss-deal-trump-executive-order-withdrawn.html) that essentially allows the White House to dictate its internal personnel policies as well as what cases it agrees to take on. Most notably it obligates the firm to provide $40 million of pro bono legal services to pro-Trump causes including “the President’s Task Force to Combat Antisemitism, and other mutually agreed projects.” Note that “other mutually agreed projects.” So this is essentially a pro-bono legal defense fund at President Trump’s personal disposal. It appears this “agreement” is between Karp and the President personally.

At this point I wouldn’t imagine that many potential clients will be choosing Paul, Weiss to sue the administration. But even on a more general standard of zealous representation, if you were involved in litigation antagonistic to the White House and represented by Paul, Weiss, is there any possible way you could feel confident in the integrity of your defense or its lawful loyalty to your interests?

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025Mar 20th, 2025

[DOGEr in DC, A Different Story Back Home](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/doger-in-dc-a-different-story-back-home)

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by [Josh Marshall](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/author/josh_m)

My favorite congressman, Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY), has been cheering on the DOGE wilding spree down in DC. And now his constituents are paying the price.

In fairness to Rep. Lawler, he’s one of many Republicans who are cheering on DOGE in DC and fretting about its impact back home and trying to cut special deals with the White House or directly with Elon Musk to soften the blow in their districts. This cut has been on the books for a few weeks and it came up in my reporting on the SSA late last month.

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025Mar 20th, 2025

[DOGE Hits the Institute of Museum and Library Services](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/doge-hits-the-institute-of-museum-and-library-services) 

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by [Josh Marshall](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/author/josh_m)

I am and we are still putting together information on this. First, this is a call to see who reading this might have information about the situation today at the Institute of Museum and Library Services in DC. (This is a federal agency heavily involved in libraries around the country.) I’m also trying to find out details about IMLS contracts that were canceled today. If you have any information I hope you’ll contact me confidentially either on Signal at joshtpm.99 or via encrypted email at joshtpm at protonmail dot com.

The following information is tentative: I’m sharing it with you on that basis because I want to find other people who know details. I’m told DOGE showed up at the IMLS offices today and started sending employees home. This was presaged in an executive order from last week which ordered it to shut down to “statutory minimum” levels. A new “acting” director was sworn in in the lobby. From what I understood DOGE operatives immediately starting canceling contracts/grants. In at least one state, these cuts are draconian for the state library system. But I’m trying to understand whether this is happening across all states or whether states that Trump sees as hostile are getting hit especially hard. If you know anything about events today in DC or canceled grants through IMLS please be in touch.

* * *

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025Mar 20th, 2025

[Listen To This: The Costs Of Not Shutting Down](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/listen-to-this-the-costs-of-not-shutting-down)

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by [Jackie Wilhelm](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/author/jackiewilhelm)

A new episode of The Josh Marshall Podcast is live! This week, Kate and Josh discuss fallout from Senate Democrats’ decision to vote for the Republican continuing resolution as well as the ongoing menacing of Washington D.C.

[Read More](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/listen-to-this-the-costs-of-not-shutting-down) 

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 19th, 2025Mar 20th, 2025

[Zoom In On This](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/zoom-in-on-this)

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by [Josh Marshall](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/author/josh_m)

Following up on [my piece](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/breaking-doge-strong-armed-usip-security-contractors-to-switch-sides) below about events at the U.S. Institute of Peace, you can see Kate Riga’s [story](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/judge-denies-tro-institute-peace-doge) based on the court hearing today.

I want to draw out a critical element of what happened on Monday which we learned today. DOGE went to the private security contractor working for USIP and essentially said, you don’t have a clear legal or ethical ability to do this. But if you don’t want to lose all your federal contracts, you have to. And they did.

[Read More](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/zoom-in-on-this) 

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LIVE COVERAGE

[Elon Gives House GOP A Little Incentive For Helping The Executive Defy The Judiciary](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/elon-gives-house-gop-a-little-incentive-for-helping-the-executive-defy-the-judiciary)

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This is your TPM evening briefing.

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/elon-gives-house-gop-a-little-incentive-for-helping-the-executive-defy-the-judiciary)

The federal judge overseeing the Alien Enemies Act case is growing increasingly irate over the Trump administration’s refusal to provide details about the removal of hundreds of people from the country last week.

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/woefully-insufficient-trump-doj-keeps-giving-alien-enemies-act-judge-the-runaround)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025Mar 20th, 2025

|

[News](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news)

[‘Woefully Insufficient’: Trump DOJ Keeps Giving Alien Enemies Act Judge The Runaround](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/woefully-insufficient-trump-doj-keeps-giving-alien-enemies-act-judge-the-runaround)

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[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/maga-is-raging-hard-against-the-judges-who-get-in-its-way)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025Mar 20th, 2025

|

[Morning Memo](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo)

[MAGA Is Raging Hard Against The Judges Who Get In Its Way](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/maga-is-raging-hard-against-the-judges-who-get-in-its-way)

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INSIDE: James Boasberg … Beryl Howell … Mahmoud Khalil

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025

AP

[Federal judge blocks DOGE from accessing Social Security personal information for now](https://apnews.com/article/social-security-trump-administration-acfdd0d7a53b7e5a1b5105baa456c5d0) 

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LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025

NBC

[Trump signs executive order to dismantle the Education Department](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/trump-signs-executive-order-dismantle-education-department-white-house-rcna197251) 

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LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025

NYT

[Administration officials believe order lets immigration agents enter homes without warrants](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/trump-alien-enemies-immigration-agents.html?unlocked_article_code=1.5U4.I-az.c2sJMDGTtLCE&smid=url-share) 

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LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025

WaPo

[Amtrak CEO abruptly resigns as Trump administration threatens funding cuts](https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/03/19/amtrak-ceo-resigns-trump-cuts/) 

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LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025

NYT

[Musk donates to GOP members of Congress who support impeaching judges](https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/us/politics/musk-donations-congress-judges.html) 

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LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 20th, 2025

USA Today

[Trump to sign order Thursday aimed at eliminating Education Department](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2025/03/19/trump-eliminate-education-department-order/82235735007/?taid=67db3cffea562000016a0b1f) 

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[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/podcasts/the-josh-marshall-podcast/ep-365-the-costs-of-not-shutting-down/)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 19th, 2025Mar 19th, 2025

|

[Podcast](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/live-blog)

[Ep. 365: The Costs Of Not Shutting Down](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/podcasts/the-josh-marshall-podcast/ep-365-the-costs-of-not-shutting-down/)

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Kate and Josh discuss fallout from Senate Democrats’ decision to vote for the Republican continuing resolution as well as the ongoing menacing of Washington D.C.

[listen](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/podcasts/the-josh-marshall-podcast/ep-365-the-costs-of-not-shutting-down/) 

In case You Missed It

---------------------

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/the-problem-with-needing-trump-to-whip-your-votes)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 19th, 2025Mar 19th, 2025

|

[Where Things Stand](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand)

### [The Problem With Needing Trump To Whip Your Votes](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/the-problem-with-needing-trump-to-whip-your-votes)

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/judge-denies-tro-institute-peace-doge)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 19th, 2025Mar 19th, 2025

|

[News](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news)

### [Judge Denies Emergency Relief For Fired USIP Members After Armed DOGE Takeover](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/judge-denies-tro-institute-peace-doge)

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/emails-reveal-top-irs-lawyer-warned-trump-firings-were-a-fraud-on-the-courts)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 19th, 2025Mar 19th, 2025

|

[News](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news)

### [Emails Reveal Top IRS Lawyer Warned Trump Firings Were a ‘Fraud’ on the Courts](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/emails-reveal-top-irs-lawyer-warned-trump-firings-were-a-fraud-on-the-courts)

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/incredulous-judge-gives-admin-one-day-reprieve-on-producing-evidence-on-flouted-court-order)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 19th, 2025Mar 19th, 2025

|

[News](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news)

### [Incredulous Judge Gives Admin One Day Reprieve On Producing Evidence On Flouted Court Order](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/incredulous-judge-gives-admin-one-day-reprieve-on-producing-evidence-on-flouted-court-order)

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-admin-insults-judge-in-bid-to-hide-evidence-that-it-flouted-court-order)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 19th, 2025Mar 19th, 2025

|

[News](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news)

### [Trump Admin Insults Judge In Bid To Hide Evidence That it Flouted Court Order](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-admin-insults-judge-in-bid-to-hide-evidence-that-it-flouted-court-order)

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/trump-suffers-series-of-court-setbacks-on-dramatic-day)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 19th, 2025Mar 19th, 2025

|

[Morning Memo](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo)

### [Trump Suffers Series Of Court Setbacks On Dramatic Day](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/trump-suffers-series-of-court-setbacks-on-dramatic-day)

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/before-stop-the-steal-ed-martin-was-blaming-nonexistent-voter-fraud-for-his-2010-house-race-loss)

LIVE COVERAGE

Mar 18th, 2025Mar 18th, 2025

|

[Where Things Stand](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand)

### [Before Stop The Steal, Ed Martin Was Blaming Nonexistent Voter Fraud For His 2010 House Race Loss](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/before-stop-the-steal-ed-martin-was-blaming-nonexistent-voter-fraud-for-his-2010-house-race-loss)

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featured

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[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/doge-rampage-may-have-immediate-long-term-effects-for-courts-judicial-branch-warns)

LIVE COVERAGE

[News](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news)

### [DOGE Rampage May Have ‘Immediate,’ ‘Long-term’ Effects For Courts, Judicial Branch Warns](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/doge-rampage-may-have-immediate-long-term-effects-for-courts-judicial-branch-warns)

by [Josh Kovensky](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/author/josh_kovensky)

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/trump-department-of-education-public-school-funding)

LIVE COVERAGE

[Cafe](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe)

[Demolishing The Dept. Of Education Dumps Fuel On A Public Ed Crisis Already Underway](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/trump-department-of-education-public-school-funding)

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Schools are already facing significant financial pressures, many created by Trump-backed policies separate from the assault on DOE.

by [Conor P. Williams](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/author/conor-p-williams)

[](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/doj-trump-fire-women-over-40-agency)

LIVE COVERAGE

[News](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news)

[DOJ Asserts Trump Hypothetically Has Power To Purge All Female Agency Heads, Or Those Over 40](https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/doj-trump-fire-women-over-40-agency)

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