Today’s edition of quick hits.
* A big court victory for USAID: “A federal judge ordered the government to reinstate U.S. Agency for International Development systems on Tuesday, ruling that the accelerated shutdown of the agency led by Elon Musk ‘likely violated the United States Constitution in multiple ways.’”
* The ceasefire’s future is in doubt: “More than 400 Palestinians were killed in overnight Israeli strikes on Gaza, with hundreds injured, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces struck Hamas targets throughout Gaza in an effort to secure ‘the release of all our hostages — living and dead,’ Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said, adding that Israel would act against Hamas ‘with increasing military force.’”
* As is always the case, the details matter: “President Donald Trump said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed during their phone conversation Tuesday on an ‘immediate’ ceasefire on all energy and infrastructure in Ukraine.”
* The closely watched Alien Enemies Act case: “The Justice Department on Tuesday refused to answer questions from a federal judge seeking more details on deportations carried out under a rarely used wartime act, leading the judge to issue a new order for the information.”
* In Texas: “A midwife in Texas has been arrested and charged with performing illegal abortions and practicing medicine without the appropriate license. Ken Paxton, the state attorney general, announced the arrest, which he said Monday happened earlier this month, after an investigation by his office.”
* A FOIA request of note: “Top Democrats on the House Judiciary and House Oversight committees have filed a lengthy Freedom of Information Act request questioning whether the Trump administration’s DOGE Service is operating ‘outside the bounds of federal law,’ The Associated Press has learned. Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Rep. Gerald Connolly of Virginia are seeking detailed information about the authority of the Department of Government Efficiency Service, including billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and some 40 other people, to carry out firings of federal workers and dismantling of federal agencies.” * A shambolic process: “The Pentagon said Monday that internet pages honoring a Black Medal of Honor winner and Japanese American service members were mistakenly taken down — but staunchly defended its overall campaign to strip out content singling out the contributions by women and minority groups, which the Trump administration considers ‘DEI.’” * Is the future of the Kennedy Center in doubt? “President Donald Trump visited the Kennedy Center on Monday, where he presided over a meeting of its refashioned board of trustees and discussed changes to the institution’s annual Honors, including possibly hosting the ceremony himself.” See you tomorrow.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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