What to know today
- The Trump administration rescinded a controversial memo that went out this week that aimed to temporarily freeze federal aid.
- President Donald Trump signed the Laken Riley Act into law, the first legislative win of his presidency. The act empowers Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain undocumented immigrants based on their criminal records.
- Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced this evening it would pay $25 million to settle a four-year-old lawsuit from Trump over its decision to suspend his accounts after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
- The Senate confirmed former Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., to be the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, and it invoked cloture on the nomination of former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to lead the Interior Department.
- Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump's nominee to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, appeared before the Senate Finance Committee in his first of two confirmation hearings. Kennedy was grilled about his anti-vaccine activism, abortion views and level of support for public health insurance.
- Former Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who was convicted on corruption charges last year, was sentenced to 11 years in prison. Prosecutors had recommended at least 15 years behind bars.
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What the polls say about the start of Trump’s second term
Trump made quick work of his first week-plus back in office — ticking off a number of campaign trail promises, issuing a boatload of pardons (some controversial) and taking retribution on his political opponents.
So far, the early polling shows Trump starting with more backing from voters — and more wiggle room — than he had going into his first term in the White House. But it remains to be seen how voters will judge his first actions as president.
‘It’s a small victory’: Democrats find their voice fighting Trump’s federal funding freeze
Trump’s flurry of actions in his first week knocked Democrats back on their heels, dividing the party over how to respond to major parts of his agenda and several of his high-profile nominees.
But on Monday, Trump’s haphazard attempt to impose a sweeping freeze on federal aid across the government awakened Democrats into furious opposition. The pressure, alongside the chaos and confusion it caused, spurred the White House to backtrack two days later and rescind the budget memo.
Trump signs executive order 'ending radical indoctrination in K-12 schooling'
The White House announced this evening that Trump signed an executive order aimed at "ending radical indoctrination in K-12 schooling," according to its title.
The order directs several Cabinet members within 90 days to "provide an Ending Indoctrination Strategy to the President" that includes "protecting parental rights" and eliminating funding for "illegal and discriminatory treatment and indoctrination in K-12 schools."
The order also cites the 1776 Commission, an initiative from Trump's first term in office that his administration argued would reintroduce patriotism into school curricula.
Trump signs sweeping executive order to expand school choice
Trump signed a sweeping executive order today that would prioritize and free up federal funding to expand school choice programs.
The order, which affects several federal departments, directs the Education Department to prioritize school choice programs through its discretionary grants, in addition to issuing guidance to states about federal allocations to districts and schools, a senior White House official said.
Meta agrees to pay $25 million to settle Trump lawsuit over suspended accounts
Meta said today it would pay $25 million to settle a four-year-old lawsuit from Trump over the social media company’s decision to suspend his accounts after the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Meta, the parent company of Instagram and Facebook, filed a notice of the settlement in federal court in San Francisco, where the lawsuit was pending. Meta spokesperson Andy Stone separately confirmed the terms: a $25 million payment from the company, with $22 million going toward a fund for Trump’s presidential library and the balance dedicated to legal fees and other plaintiffs in the case.
Attorney for Eric Adams has contacted DOJ officials about dropping the case against him
An attorney for New York Mayor Eric Adams has contacted Justice Department leadership with a plea to drop the case against him, and officials in Washington have discussed the request with prosecutors in New York, two people briefed on the matter confirmed to NBC News.
The outreach is not unusual for a high-profile defendant like Adams, hoping for a fresh look at a case from a new administration’s Justice Department. There is no indication, however, that federal prosecutors in Manhattan are going to drop the case, a person familiar with the matter said.
Pelosi endorses Ben Wikler for DNC chair
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the former House speaker, said today she's endorsing Ben Wikler, the chair of the Wisconsin Democratic Party, for chair of the Democratic National Committee ahead of its election Saturday.
“As a former State Chair and longtime DNC member, I have enormous respect for the DNC and the grassroots activism it engenders. It is with great confidence that I endorse Ben Wikler for Chair as the candidate best suited to lead us to a stronger DNC and many Democratic victories,” Pelosi said in a statement.
Wikler thanked Pelosi, saying the endorsement was the "honor of a lifetime."
Other declared candidates include former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and former Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defends revoking Mark Milley's security clearance
In his first interview as defense secretary, Pete Hegseth defended the Defense Department's decision to revoke Gen. Mark Milley's security clearance and remove his portrait from the walls.
"We have the opportunity to review things he may have done inside the chain of command while President Trump was president that undermined those authorities, so security clearance, in the interim, is revoked," Hegseth said on Fox News. "There will be a review of the rank he will retain upon retirement, and he’ll have that process."
Hegseth acknowledged President Joe Biden's pardon of Milley, former chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, and said officials are reviewing his actions.
Milley served in Trump's first term and in Biden's term, as well.
Senate votes to advance Doug Burgum's nomination to a final vote
The Senate has voted to advance to a final vote the nomination of former North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum to be secretary.
The cloture vote, or the vote to end debate on Burgum's nomination, passed by a bipartisan tally of 78-20, teeing up a final confirmation vote this week.
Bob Menendez defiant as he leaves court
Menendez was unrepentant as he left court after he was sentenced to 11 years in prison on bribery charges, claiming he was the victim of a “political witch hunt.”
“President Trump was right. This process is political, and it’s corrupt to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool and restores the integrity to the system,” said Menendez, a lifelong Democrat who voted to convict Trump during both of his impeachment trials.
