During a recent Oval Office meeting focused on trade, former President Donald Trump veered into culture war politics, mocking transgender people in the presence of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The meeting, which was intended to be a display of cooperation between the two countries, instead saw Trump attack Democrats, the media, and transgender individuals, boasting about his policies on gender and sports. Carney, whose child identifies as nonbinary, remained silent throughout Trump’s remarks, reflecting the high stakes of the trade relationship between the two nations. Trump’s comments align with his established pattern of targeting transgender and nonbinary people, a recurring theme of his political messaging.
Read More
Following her victory in a special election, Adelita Grijalva of Arizona awaits being sworn in to the House of Representatives. Despite having been duly elected, Speaker Mike Johnson has delayed her swearing-in, which is thought to be related to her intent to sign a discharge petition requiring the Justice Department to release Epstein files. This delay has prompted criticism, especially since it is contrasted with the Speaker’s swift action for Republican members in the past. Grijalva emphasizes that she is unable to represent her constituents fully until she can officially take office.
Read More
In a surprising turn of events, photographic evidence revealed the contents of a folder used by Bondi during questioning. The folder contained notes that appeared unrelated to official Department of Justice matters. Inside, Bondi had gathered social media screenshots, pre-written responses, and handwritten notes. These were designed to help her prepare “gotcha” moments during her interaction with Whitehouse, including a response to a post about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Read More
Governor JB Pritzker criticized President Trump’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Chicago and Portland, attributing it to a mental impairment and “something stuck in his head.” Pritzker announced that the state will address Trump’s actions in court. Trump, however, is exploring options to circumvent legal challenges, including using the Insurrection Act. Pritzker also threatened to leave the National Governors Association, citing its silence on Trump’s mobilizations, and defended the timing of the lawsuit against the National Guard deployments.
Read More
Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego confronted House Speaker Mike Johnson in the Capitol regarding the delayed swearing-in of Representative-elect Adelita Grijalva. Johnson initially stated Grijalva would be sworn in “as soon as she wants,” but later linked the swearing-in to the end of the government shutdown. Democrats believe the delay is due to Grijalva’s intention to sign a petition forcing a vote on the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The petition requires 218 signatures to force the vote and Grijalva would make that the number.
Read More
A Chicago pastor, Rev. David Black, injured during a protest outside a Broadview ICE facility, is now a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s response to demonstrations. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit on behalf of journalists, media organizations, clergy, and local residents, alleging that federal agents used excessive force, including tear gas and pepper balls, against peaceful protestors. The plaintiffs argue that these actions violated First Amendment rights and are seeking to restrict federal tactics at the facility. The court is currently considering a temporary restraining order while the case proceeds.
Read More
Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., has yet to be sworn into office nearly two weeks after her election. During an interview, Grijalva expressed suspicion at the delay, as she has not received any communication from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., regarding a timeline. Grijalva believes the hold-up may be due to her planned signature on the discharge petition for the Epstein files, which would become the 218th vote needed to force a full chamber vote. She also highlighted the negative impact on her constituents, who are left without representation during a crucial time.
Read More
Speaker Mike Johnson raised concerns regarding back pay for furloughed federal workers, citing a new White House memo challenging the long-standing practice of automatically compensating them after a government shutdown. The memo suggests Congress must explicitly approve back pay, a departure from the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, which was previously interpreted to guarantee reimbursement. This shift has sparked controversy, with Democrats criticizing the move, while some Republicans express uncertainty. The uncertainty surrounding back pay adds tension to the ongoing budget standoff, with an estimated 750,000 federal workers facing an uncertain future.
Read More
Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem visited Portland, Oregon, where she surveyed a small group of protesters, described by some as an “army of Antifa.” Accompanied by conservative influencer Benny Johnson, Noem viewed the demonstration from the roof of an ICE facility, the site of recent protests. The scene consisted of roughly a dozen people, including photojournalists, protesters, and even a man in a chicken costume, prompting mockery from liberal commentators. Despite the administration’s characterization of the protests as dangerous, the actual scene appeared far less dramatic, with critics highlighting the disparity between the described threat and the reality on the ground.
Read More
During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Attorney General Pam Bondi’s prepared notes, inadvertently revealed in photographs, offered insight into her strategy for the session. The documents included attack lines, such as accusations of hypocrisy and associations with “dark money groups,” targeted at specific senators like Sheldon Whitehouse. Bondi also had a question prepared regarding potential financial ties between Whitehouse and Reid Hoffman, a known associate of Jeffrey Epstein, indicating her focus on deflecting criticism. These notes, which also included attacks on former special counsel Jack Smith, reveal a preemptive and defensive approach to the hearing, particularly concerning the Epstein files and investigations.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker