Friday brought new twists in President Trump’s intensifying battle with major legal firms.

Trump has targeted several firms with executive orders that rescind their security clearances and banish them from the use of government facilities. If such orders stand, they would call the survival of the firms into question, since they would create enormous logistical problems for any client that had a case involving the government.

Opposition to Trump’s actions is driven by the idea that he is seeking to intimidate the legal world by creating massive disincentives for representing his opponents or challenging his actions. His critics say this is part of a broader effort to clamp down on dissent.

Supporters back Trump’s claim that he was the victim of malicious investigations and prosecutions, and that he is now striking back. Trump himself claims he is opposed to “weaponization” of the justice system.

On Friday, one firm preemptively settled with Trump. Another two announced they would fight his orders.

Here are the latest takeaways as the battle continues to build.

Trump crows as Skadden bends

“This was essentially a settlement.”

That was Trump’s verdict on the decision by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom to, in essence, bend the knee rather than risk an executive order being issued against it.

Skadden Arps, as it is more commonly known, has agreed to do $100 million worth of pro bono work on causes and issues that Trump supports during his administration "and beyond." The president said such work might include representing “members of the military, law enforcement and on and on.”

Skadden Arps has also agreed to review its........

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