Senator Cory Booker delivered a 17+ hour speech on the Senate floor, protesting the Trump administration’s policies and actions. His address covered numerous topics, from healthcare and the economy to the rule of law, incorporating constituent letters and comments from world leaders. Though not technically a filibuster, Booker’s speech, inspired by John Lewis’s call for “good trouble,” aimed to highlight what he views as a disregard for the Constitution and American needs. The speech, exceeding even Senator Chris Murphy’s 15-hour gun control protest, continued despite the Senate’s scheduled business, utilizing permissible strategies like yielding to colleagues’ questions to maintain his standing.
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Senator Cory Booker launched a lengthy Senate floor speech protesting the Trump administration’s actions, specifically citing the Department of Government Efficiency’s drastic budget cuts under Elon Musk’s leadership. Booker’s protest, continuing as long as physically possible, highlights concerns over the administration’s disregard for the rule of law and its impact on programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Fellow Democratic Senators expressed support, joining Booker on the Senate floor in solidarity. The speech’s duration remains uncertain, but it’s expected to extend well into the night.
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The Trump administration mistakenly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man with protected status in the U.S., to a notorious El Salvadoran prison despite a court order halting deportations. The government admits the deportation was an administrative error but argues it cannot be compelled to return him, citing his lack of U.S. custody and inability to force El Salvador’s cooperation. This action occurred under the controversial invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, despite Abrego Garcia being neither Venezuelan nor having a criminal record in the U.S., and despite a judge having previously granted him protected status. The administration’s refusal to repatriate him raises serious questions about the legality and consequences of its actions.
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The Trump administration admitted to mistakenly deporting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man with protected legal status, to El Salvador’s “Terrorism Confinement Center.” This deportation, resulting from an “administrative error,” occurred despite ICE’s awareness of his protected status. The administration argues that U.S. courts lack jurisdiction to compel his return, claiming its foreign affairs primacy supersedes Abrego Garcia’s interests. Abrego Garcia’s attorney disputes this, asserting that such actions render immigration laws meaningless. The deportation followed a 2019 incident where Abrego Garcia was falsely linked to MS-13, despite lacking a criminal record.
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Despite possessing protected immigration status, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian immigrant with asylum, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador by ICE due to an administrative error. This resulted in his immediate incarceration in the notorious CECOT prison, prompting his family to sue the U.S. government. The Trump administration claims it lacks jurisdiction to intervene, arguing it no longer has custody of Abrego Garcia. This incident follows a pattern of controversial deportations to El Salvador, raising serious concerns about due process and human rights violations.
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Following a forceful takeover by DOGE, the acting president, a former GSA staffer, seeks to transfer USIP’s $500 million headquarters building to the GSA at no cost. This action, supported by high-ranking administration officials, is part of a broader effort to dismantle the agency, according to former USIP officials who have filed a lawsuit to prevent the asset transfer. A court hearing will determine the fate of the building, with a broader ruling on the lawsuit expected soon. The legality of this action and the Trump administration’s involvement are central to the ongoing legal dispute.
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National Security Advisor Mike Waltz’s use of Signal, the app at the center of “Signalgate,” extended beyond the infamous Yemen strike chat. He reportedly used the app for multiple group chats discussing sensitive national security matters with Trump administration officials, including conversations about Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations and military operations. While President Trump’s anger stemmed primarily from Waltz’s contact with a journalist he dislikes, the incident raised concerns about the handling of classified information. The White House has not yet commented on these new revelations regarding the scope of Waltz’s Signal usage.
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House Republicans are defying the White House’s attempts to downplay the “Signalgate” scandal, with several members publicly disagreeing with the administration’s claim that leaked information wasn’t classified. This information, shared via the Signal app, included sensitive details about a planned military strike, such as attack timings and confidential CIA sources. Rep. Mike Turner, a former chair of the House Intelligence Committee, stated the discussed material should be considered classified. The controversy has reached voters, with town hall meetings erupting in anger over the security breach and calls for resignations.
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The Trump administration’s lawsuit aiming to invalidate dozens of federal union contracts is a brazen move, claiming these contracts hinder the president’s ability to restructure the federal workforce and safeguard national security. This action raises serious questions about the rule of law; can existing legal agreements be simply disregarded because they stand in the way of an administration’s agenda? The decision to file the suit in Texas, rather than Washington D.C., fuels concerns about “judge shopping” – a practice of strategically choosing a court likely to deliver a favorable ruling.
This blatant disregard for established contracts echoes Trump’s business practices, a pattern of relentless litigation to achieve desired outcomes.… Continue reading
The IRS’s Global High Wealth unit, responsible for auditing the ultrawealthy, has suffered a 38% employee loss this year, significantly impacting ongoing audits. This drastic reduction, exceeding overall IRS losses, stems from the Trump administration’s workforce cuts, including terminations and buyouts. The unit’s diminished capacity hinders efforts to recover substantial tax revenue from high-net-worth individuals, reversing recent initiatives to increase tax enforcement among this group. These losses, affecting a unit specializing in complex tax schemes, leave numerous investigations incomplete or stalled.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood