Crypto News: The chaos is part of Trump's strategy

Less than two weeks into his presidency, Donald Trump has sowed chaos and confusion across the US government. A sweeping order to freeze federal grants and loans issued Monday night sent agencies, nonprofits and local governments scrambling for clarification the next day, before a federal judge temporarily blocked the move minutes before it was set to go into effect. Midday today, Trump rescinded the order entirely.

In the meantime, agencies reported being locked out of the federal system to draw down funds, including housing providers who deliver rental assistance and other aid to millions of US households, Kriston Capps reported. (Read more: Housing Aid Uncertain After Trump's Spending Freeze Memo) The White House stoked further furor and chaos last night with an offer to buy out federal workers who didn't want to end their remote arrangements, while warning of additional aggressive workforce cuts to come.

The onslaught of directives as Trump continues to test the limits of presidential power are emblematic of the "flood the zone" approach espoused by his ally Steve Bannon: Moving quickly and breaking things disorients and demoralizes critics who are mostly powerless to respond, writes Jordan Fabian. Today on CityLab: Trump Buyouts, Spending Freezes Wreak Havoc Across Government

— Linda Poon

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What we're reading

Inside a network of AI-generated newsletters targeting "small town America" (Nieman Lab)
This economist survived a wildfire. Now she's taking on California's insurance crisis (LAist)
Caution ahead! Vietnam's drivers are suddenly following the rules (New York Times)
Rethinking budgeting: A transformative approach for state and local governments (Route Fifty)
An L.L. Bean heiress suspected neighbors of poisoning her trees. What happened next roiled Camden, Maine (Vanity Fair)