Following Donald Trump’s 2016 election victory, a surge in wealthy Americans seeking to leave the United States has been observed. A high-net worth investment consultancy reported a fivefold increase in inquiries about emigration in the 24 hours after the election result was announced. While celebrities like Sharon Stone, Cher, and Barbra Streisand have expressed willingness to consider emigration if Trump were to win a second term, this trend persists despite Kamala Harris’s policy platform proposing higher taxes for earners exceeding $400,000 per year. Popular destinations for these millionaire expats include Canada, Australia, the UK, and New Zealand.
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EU leaders, meeting in Budapest, have signed a declaration aimed at boosting the bloc’s competitiveness, driven by concerns over US protectionist trade policies and a need to address Europe’s own economic stagnation. The declaration calls for reduced bureaucracy, increased investment, easier access to capital, and higher productivity, echoing the recommendations of a report by former Italian prime minister and European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi. This report, warning of a “slow and agonising decline” for the EU, proposes radical reforms, including increased common borrowing and a “true single capital market,” to avert this fate. The summit also recognized the urgency of the situation, with leaders acknowledging the need to address both the economic challenges and the implications of the changing geopolitical landscape.
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The fate of Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 felony counts in New York will be determined next week, with a judge deciding whether to grant his request to dismiss the case. If the judge upholds the conviction, Trump will face sentencing later this month, a move that would be unprecedented in American history. While the judge is unlikely to sentence Trump to jail time due to his status as a sitting president, his legal team is expected to seek delays and appeals. This case, unlike federal charges against Trump, remains a significant legal hurdle due to the unique complexities of sentencing a sitting president and the lack of presidential pardon power in state cases.
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The appointment of Jeffrey Davis, a former clerk for Justice Neil Gorsuch and self-proclaimed “Trump’s viceroy,” as a potential head of the Justice Department signifies a dangerous shift in the department’s direction. Davis’s lack of restraint and his aggressive stance against special counsel Jack Smith, who investigated Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election, are clear indicators of his intent to use the DOJ for retribution and political maneuvering. This appointment, coupled with the departure of many conservative lawyers who refused to participate in Trump’s efforts to subvert the law, highlights the growing influence of MAGA loyalists within the Justice Department, a trend that poses a significant threat to the rule of law and democratic institutions.
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Progressive governors and attorneys general are taking a proactive stance against President-elect Trump’s anticipated policies, mirroring the resistance seen during his first term. States like California, New York, Illinois, and Massachusetts are enacting legislation and mobilizing legal resources to protect vulnerable populations, safeguard environmental regulations, and uphold reproductive rights. This “Trump-proofing” strategy employs state-level laws, lawsuits, and executive actions to counter potential federal overreach. Despite Trump’s improved performance in key blue states and a conservative-leaning judiciary, progressive leaders remain resolute in their opposition, vowing to fight for their constituents and the principles they believe in.
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The Justice Department has charged a man with plotting to assassinate President-elect Donald Trump at the behest of an Iranian government official. The alleged plot, which was revealed just days after Trump’s election victory, involved a plan to surveil and ultimately kill Trump. The official reportedly told the accused plotter that they had already spent a lot of money and that money was not an issue. This incident is just the latest in a series of alleged efforts by Iran to target U.S. government officials, including Trump, on U.S. soil, and underscores the ongoing threat Iran poses to U.S. national security.
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Following President-elect Donald Trump’s re-election victory, Democratic governors across the country are preparing to fight against his second-term agenda. Several governors have spoken of their intentions to safeguard their states’ values, including protecting civil rights, reproductive freedom, and immigrant families. These efforts will likely involve litigation, special sessions, and the creation of task forces to combat policies viewed as harmful. Democratic leaders are committed to using every tool at their disposal to protect their citizens and hold the Trump administration accountable to the rule of law.
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The election of Donald Trump, who campaigned on anti-transgender rhetoric, has left many transgender people feeling scared and vulnerable. This fear stems from Trump’s promises to strip away their rights, including access to gender-affirming healthcare and protections against discrimination. While some find hope in the election of Sarah McBride, the first out transgender member of Congress, the fear of federal-level legislation targeting transgender people is palpable. This fear is further fueled by the wave of anti-trans legislation already enacted in Republican-controlled states, and the uncertainty of whether Democrats will prioritize their rights in the future. However, despite the current climate, transgender individuals remain determined to live their lives authentically, viewing even their existence as an act of resistance.
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A federal judge has struck down the Biden administration’s “Keeping Families Together” program, which aimed to streamline the path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants married to U.S. citizens. The ruling, which was based on a lawsuit filed by Texas and other Republican-led states, found the program violated U.S. immigration law. The program would have allowed eligible immigrants to apply for a green card without having to leave the country, effectively cancelling out their illegal entry. This ruling is a major setback for the Biden administration and is likely to be further challenged by the incoming Trump administration, which has pledged to dismantle the president’s immigration policies.
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Fox News co-hosts Dana Perino and Greg Gutfeld expressed support for the death penalty for prosecutors involved in Donald Trump’s various criminal cases. These remarks came amidst the news that the Department of Justice plans to wind down Trump’s federal cases before his inauguration. While acknowledging that Trump’s legal battles did not impede his presidential victory, Perino suggested that these cases actually galvanized his base, potentially contributing to his success. Notably, Trump’s legal troubles extend beyond the federal level, with ongoing state cases in New York and Georgia, for which he cannot pardon himself.
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John Q. Hosedrinker