The recent demolition of the White House’s East Wing by Donald Trump disregards a century-long tradition of consulting architectural experts, a practice established after a similar expansion attempt in 1900. In 1900, architects, led by Glenn Brown, successfully advocated for a design that respected the original White House, leading to the creation of the West and East Wings through a collaborative process. This established a norm of deference to historical context and expert opinions, which was mostly followed by subsequent presidents. However, Trump’s actions, including the proposed ballroom, have ignored these established norms, pushing grandiose projects and reshaping the capital without expert input, which could lead to lasting changes.
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The sudden demolition of the East Wing of the White House in October has raised questions about the scope of the planned replacement. The new addition, at 90,000 square feet, significantly exceeds the size of the original mansion and is larger than what would typically be needed for a ballroom. While official drawings depict a banquet hall, its considerable size suggests it might function more like a convention center. Though the structure will include offices and other facilities, details remain scarce.
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Upon his return to the US, President Trump announced on social media, just prior to a summit with China’s leader, that he had instructed the Department of War to begin nuclear weapons testing, citing other countries’ testing programs. This directive, which remains unclear whether it pertains to weapons system testing or actual explosions, has raised concerns, particularly from China and Russia. Russia questioned the accuracy of Trump’s information, and implied they would conduct their own live warhead tests if the US resumed them. The last US nuclear test occurred in 1992, and such a move would directly contradict the existing Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
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According to CNN, former President Barack Obama, age 64, is reportedly concerned about the future of the Democratic party due to Donald Trump’s attacks. These concerns have led Obama to re-evaluate his previous strategy of maintaining a low public profile. He is now preparing to return to the campaign trail, as demonstrated by his scheduled appearances for moderate Democratic candidates. Obama is also reportedly reaching out to institutional leaders, urging them to resist the current administration’s actions.
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President Trump denied Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s request for an exemption from US sanctions on Russian oil, despite their personal relationship. Orbán had cited Hungary’s reliance on Russian crude delivered via pipelines as the reason for the appeal. The Hungarian leader planned to discuss the matter further during an upcoming meeting with Trump, aiming for a broader economic agreement. This occurred as Hungary was reportedly seeking an alliance within the EU with the Czechia and Slovakia, to oppose support for Ukraine.
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Actor Harrison Ford criticized President Trump, expressing alarm over the president’s climate change policies, labeling them as driven by “whims”. Ford condemned Trump’s actions, citing “ignorance, hubris, lies, and perfidy,” and calling him a criminal in history. Ford remained optimistic, however, believing that collective efforts could mitigate climate change and drive innovation despite a lack of political will. The interview occurred before Ford’s Field Museum appearance where he received a conservation award and continues his history of criticizing Trump.
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The Department of Justice has requested election records from Fulton County, Georgia, related to the 2020 election, citing a provision of the Civil Rights Act and other federal statutes, despite previous investigations clearing the county of malfeasance. The request, spurred by a resolution from the state election board, seeks documents related to voter lists, ballot images, and other election materials. The department’s justification for the request, as stated in a letter from the civil rights division, is to ensure transparency and compliance with federal law, although legal experts have questioned the lack of a specific basis for requesting the records. This action aligns with the administration’s broader efforts to scrutinize voting processes, including requests for voter roll information from numerous states and the hiring of individuals who previously worked to challenge the 2020 election results.
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Casten: ‘I think Trump commits impeachable offenses on a daily basis,’ and frankly, it’s hard to disagree with that assessment. It’s a statement that, in many circles, feels more like an observation of the obvious than a controversial claim. The idea that Trump’s actions, words, and even his business dealings frequently cross the line into impeachable territory is a sentiment echoed by a significant number of people. It’s a point of view that seems to have a lot of momentum behind it.
Casten’s assertion, taken at face value, suggests a pattern. A pattern of behavior that consistently pushes the boundaries of acceptable conduct for a president.… Continue reading
Trump says he is not considering strikes within Venezuela, which, if we’re being honest, probably means the exact opposite is true. The general consensus here, and it’s hard to disagree, is that when he declares he *isn’t* doing something, the likelihood of that thing happening increases exponentially. It’s like a reverse psychology power play. He’s said it before, right? Remember Iran? He was all about waiting and negotiating, and then… well, the bombs started falling practically overnight. So, based on past performance, “not considering” usually translates to “already decided” and “in the process of execution.”
When Trump says he is not considering strikes within Venezuela, it feels less like a statement of fact and more like a carefully crafted smokescreen.… Continue reading
Following a brief return to the U.S., former President Trump took to Truth Social to urge Republicans to abolish the filibuster rule in the Senate, labeling it the “nuclear option.” He argued that eliminating the rule, which requires 60 votes to pass legislation, would grant Republicans “Great Strength” and quickly resolve the ongoing government shutdown. Trump’s call to action echoes similar desires from previous Democratic administrations and is a direct response to the Senate’s failure to pass funding, leading to the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history. While some Republicans have expressed interest, leaders like John Thune and Mike Johnson have expressed opposition to the idea.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood
Harrison Ford Slams Trump: “I Don’t Know of a Greater Criminal”
Actor Harrison Ford criticized President Trump, expressing alarm over the president’s climate change policies, labeling them as driven by “whims”. Ford condemned Trump’s actions, citing “ignorance, hubris, lies, and perfidy,” and calling him a criminal in history. Ford remained optimistic, however, believing that collective efforts could mitigate climate change and drive innovation despite a lack of political will. The interview occurred before Ford’s Field Museum appearance where he received a conservation award and continues his history of criticizing Trump.
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