Trump targets law firms with new presidential memo

Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of law firms. He released a memo that lets the attorney general and the homeland security secretary penalize firms that they consider filing "frivolous" lawsuits against his administration. This memo instructs the attorney general, Pam Bondi, to suggest that some lawyers lose their security clearances or federal contracts if their lawsuits are thought to be unreasonable. The memo follows Trump’s previous executive orders targeting three law firms. These firms include Covington & Burling, Perkins Coie, and Paul Weiss. Trump lifted a restriction against Paul Weiss after they reached a compromise. Some legal experts criticized Trump’s actions as an attempt to intimidate legal professionals who challenge him. They also pointed out that Trump's own lawyers have made false claims in court regarding the 2020 election results. In other news, wildfires have ravaged parts of North and South Carolina over the weekend, burning thousands of acres. Fires in Polk County, North Carolina, are causing evacuations as they remain largely uncontrolled. The Black Cover Fire has burned over 2,000 acres, while the Deep Woods Fire has impacted more than 2,500 acres. Meanwhile, a fire in South Carolina's Table Rock State Park has grown to over 300 acres. On the international front, the United States and Russia have started new talks about a possible ceasefire in Ukraine. These discussions come amid disagreements about previous negotiations. American officials are optimistic about making progress, while the Kremlin has warned that negotiations might be tough. Sadly, amidst this hope, recent drone strikes by Russia in Ukraine have resulted in civilian casualties, including a father and his child.