https://trumpactiontracker.info Free and independent tracker documenting Trump-related actions using verified news sources. Showing 50 of 4,083 total actions. en-us 2026-10-09T08:37:21.000Z https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmy0r96xygx6o https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmy0r96xygx6o Fri, 09 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the execution of former US Army major Nidal Hasan, scheduled for December 3, will be by firing squad and livestreamed to the public. A public livestreamed execution would be unprecedented in the modern US era, raising concerns about the state turning capital punishment into a public spectacle and using it to send a political message about the consequences of violence. Controlling information Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-states-label-abortion-drugs-public-nuisance-bid-curb-access-2026-10-08/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-states-label-abortion-drugs-public-nuisance-bid-curb-access-2026-10-08/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Alabama, Arkansas and Louisiana (all Republican-run) filed two lawsuits claiming a public nuissance law, to curb access to abortion pills. They claim that medical providers are creating a "public nuisance" by mailing abortion drugs over ‌state lines and that New York, California and Massachusetts have aided that conduct by adopting shield laws that protect abortion providers from out-of-state prosecution and civil liability. Public nuissance law is traditionally applied in environmental pollution and other public harm cases Attacking science https://www.reuters.com/business/us-suspending-permanent-residency-program-for-microsoft-vance-says-2026-10-08/ https://www.reuters.com/business/us-suspending-permanent-residency-program-for-microsoft-vance-says-2026-10-08/ Thu, 08 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Vice President JD Vance announced that the federal government was suspending Microsoft from a programme allowing skilled foreign workers to obtain permanent residency, citing alleged fraud. The Labor Department said other major technology companies would also be suspended. Nine universities, including Harvard, Yale and Stanford, are being investigated over allegations that they recruited international students to undercut American wages. The administration using federal immigration and enforcement powers to investigate prominent companies and universities raises concerns about the use of state power to target organisations perceived as politically or ideologically opposed to its agenda. Attacking education Suppressing dissent https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/trump-eu-disinformation-conference https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/trump-eu-disinformation-conference Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration pressured multiple countries to withdraw their sponsorship of a leading European conference on disinformation, with Canada, Lithuania and the EU’s diplomatic service subsequently agreeing to do so, the Guardian understands. Foreign policy Controlling information Undermining democracy https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6135540-trump-cuellar-pardon-tijerina-texas-midterms/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6135540-trump-cuellar-pardon-tijerina-texas-midterms/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Trump ripped into Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) and called him ungrateful for not switching parties to become a Republican after receiving a presidential pardon in 2025 Corruption Suppressing dissent https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/trump-doj-election-monitor-lawsuit https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/07/trump-doj-election-monitor-lawsuit Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Dept of Justice (DoJ) has planned to send over 1,000 election monitors to polling stations for the midterm elections on Novemner 3rd. Although not illegal, the sheer number of planned election monitors raises concerns over voter intimidation, which has prompted the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to file a law suit Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/world/us-consumer-watchdog-examiners-adopt-lighter-touch-amid-pressure-threats-sources-2026-10-07/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us-consumer-watchdog-examiners-adopt-lighter-touch-amid-pressure-threats-sources-2026-10-07/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the US consumer watchdog has carried out more "expedited reviews" of cases follwing the suspension of much of its work earlier this year. These reviews are less strignent and have been histrorically rare, howerver CFPBs new political leadership had made it clear via policy changes and other communications that thorough scrutiny was unwelcome and that examiners' jobs were at risk. Weakening civil rights Suppressing dissent Hollowing state https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-proposes-boost-transit-funding-areas-with-higher-marriage-birth-rates-2026-10-07/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-proposes-boost-transit-funding-areas-with-higher-marriage-birth-rates-2026-10-07/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Dept of Transport (DoT) proposed to increase funding for transit projects in areas that have above-average marriage and birth rates and impose strict deadlines, raising concerns that historically underfunded urban neighbourhoods might be negatively affected, while more affluent neighbourhoods with larger white populations could benefit. Weakening civil rights https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/award-winning-kashmiri-filmmaker-arfat-sheikh-detained-by-us-immigration-2026-10-07/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/award-winning-kashmiri-filmmaker-arfat-sheikh-detained-by-us-immigration-2026-10-07/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT A Kashmiri film-maker, who according to relatives had a ​pending immigration application and was authorized to work and live in the US following legal entry and seeking asylum in 2020, was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) coming off a plane in DC. Nationalism https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/6134812-trump-epa-methane-oil-and-gas-industry/ https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/6134812-trump-epa-methane-oil-and-gas-industry/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it is planning to rescind the Biden-era "super emitter" program rule that requires companies to act if large leaks ‌of methane from oil and gas operations are reported by third parties through remote sensing. The EPA has already delayed the implementation of this, but now plans to scrap it altogether. Attacking science https://www.reuters.com/world/us/rubio-link-ancient-greek-values-america-first-speech-athens-2026-10-07/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/rubio-link-ancient-greek-values-america-first-speech-athens-2026-10-07/ Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration had chosen “the unapologetic pursuit of national power,” rejecting the idea that enlightened foreign policy should prioritise the global community over national interests. Invoking ancient Greek ideals of loyalty to the nation, Rubio argued that there was “nothing selfish or wrong” with putting one’s own country first. The speech reinforces the administration’s rejection of internationalist foreign policy in favour of an explicitly nationalist conception of US power. Foreign policy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/06/trump-shipyard-anduril-baltimore https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/06/trump-shipyard-anduril-baltimore Wed, 07 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump announced the opening of a new $6.6 billion shipbuilding factory in Baltimore. It will be partly funded by the US Navy ($2.9 billion), will be owned by Anduril Industries, a defense company owned by Palmer Luckey, a Trump ally and major donor for the Republican party. Luckey was recently named as an advisor to the Pentagon's Project Meridian, which will examine the future of warfare. Trump stated that US taxpayers would have a 40% stake in the business, although the practicailties around this remains unclear. Corruption https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/us/politics/trump-taxpayer-funded-ads-pac.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/us/politics/trump-taxpayer-funded-ads-pac.html Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT After more than $10 million in taxpayer-funded television ads promoting Trump aired nationwide, Trump announced that MAGA Inc. would pay for future ads. However, Trump has previously said he controls MAGA Inc.'s funds, and the Campaign Legal Center has filed an FEC complaint alleging that he is unlawfully directing the super PAC's spending. Federal law generally prohibits federal officeholders from directing the spending of super PACs that accept unlimited contributions. The move therefore may address the use of taxpayer funds while creating a separate potential campaign-finance violation. Controlling information Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/06/trump-suggests-let-iran-take-out-los-angeles-san-diego https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/06/trump-suggests-let-iran-take-out-los-angeles-san-diego Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Donald Trump suggested Iran could “take out” Los Angeles and San Diego – two liberal cities in the blue state that has been a frequent target of his administration. At a rally in Nebraska, Trump suggested high prices due to the war with Iran were a “small price to pay for keeping the world safe – keeping our country safe”. “They can take out a city,” Trump said in Grand Island. “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.” The crowd applauded. Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/05/media/politico-white-house-print-pool-media-cnn-msnow https://edition.cnn.com/2026/10/05/media/politico-white-house-print-pool-media-cnn-msnow Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The White House blocked Politico from traveling on Air Force One, leaving the position of "primary print pooler" vacant, despite the White House trying to fill the space. The Washington Post, assigned the secondary print seat for the trip, and TV new outlet CBS shared written updates with the wider press corps in the absence of the primary print pooler. Suppressing dissent https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6130397-trump-media-arrests-ohio-rally/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6130397-trump-media-arrests-ohio-rally/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Following New York Times coverage of his rally in Ohio, Trump on Truth Social demanded that “The New York Times, and many other Artificial Media Outlets, should be arrested for their dishonesty and disservice to our Country,” This follows the NYT reporting the capcity of the venue at a high school of 4,500 and visibly empty upper decks. Trump in return claimed that “The Arena was totally MAXED OUT, including all upper sections,” and in a subsequent post. “What does happen at all of my SOLD OUT Rallies, is that the people in the upper sections tend to migrate down to the Main Floor — The ‘migration’ process always happens! Controlling information Suppressing dissent https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6130651-trump-slur-graham-senate-race/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6130651-trump-slur-graham-senate-race/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT In support of Darlene Graham, the Republican Senate candidate for South Carolina, Trump on Truth Social repeatedly used an anti-transgender slur against the Democratic opponent Dr. Annie Andrews, calling her Annie "Trannie" Andrews. Suppressing dissent https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/health/ken-paxton-pediatricians-vaccines.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/health/ken-paxton-pediatricians-vaccines.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Ken Paxton, attorney general and Republican Senate candidate for Texas has accused pediatricians in his state of conspiring to profit from childhood vaccinations and has launched investigations through the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division, demanding they share vacine purchase records and vaccine policy documents. Attacking science https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5j9x9pr0240o https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5j9x9pr0240o Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration escalated its dispute with Anthropic after the company refused Pentagon demands for unrestricted access to its AI systems, citing concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth subsequently designated Anthropic a national-security “supply-chain risk” and the Pentagon moved to end its use of the company's AI. A federal judge has since ruled that the administration's actions against Anthropic constituted unlawful retaliation Suppressing dissent https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5j9x9pr0240o https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5j9x9pr0240o Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration escalated its dispute with Anthropic after the company refused Pentagon demands for unrestricted access to its AI systems, citing concerns about mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth subsequently designated Anthropic a national-security “supply-chain risk” and the Pentagon moved to end its use of the company's AI. A federal judge has since ruled that the administration's actions against Anthropic constituted unlawful retaliation Suppressing dissent https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6129298-us-military-destroys-alleged-drug-boat/ https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6129298-us-military-destroys-alleged-drug-boat/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The US military carried out another strike against an alleged drug-trafficking boat in the Caribbean, killing four people on board. This is the 71st known strike since September 2025 and at least 239 people have been killed. Foreign policy Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trumps-deportation-push-forces-dozens-lgbt-migrants-onto-hostile-terrain-2026-10-05/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trumps-deportation-push-forces-dozens-lgbt-migrants-onto-hostile-terrain-2026-10-05/ Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Reuters has tracked 40 cases where migrants granted US legal protection after being persecuted for their LGBT status were deported to third countries in Africa that either criminalize same-sex relations or have been described by the State Department as hostile to LGBT people. Nationalism Weakening civil rights https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/05/trump-alaska-lng-south-korea-pay.html https://www.cnbc.com/2026/10/05/trump-alaska-lng-south-korea-pay.html Mon, 05 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump threatened to double tariffs on South Korea if they do not pay for Alaska natural gas pipeline, after Korean officials contradicted Tump's claim that South Korea had agreed to pay for a $54bn natural gas pipeline in Alaska Foreign policy https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/us/politics/kristi-noem-planes-donor.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/04/us/politics/kristi-noem-planes-donor.html Sun, 04 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT In the final hours of Kristi Noem's tenure as Homeland Security secretary, the Dept for Homeland Security (DHS) agreed to buy five aircraft from Daedalus Aviation, whose chairman had donated $10,000 to Noem's political PAC. The agency paid substantially above the prices Daedalus had recently paid for some of the aircraft, while aviation experts said the prices of two 17-year-old Boeing 737s were far above their market value. Daedalus had received more than $900m in DHS contracts under Noem, including a no-bid contract to procure aircraft for deportation flights Corruption https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6127801-hegseth-redeploys-troops-western-hemisphere/ https://thehill.com/policy/defense/6127801-hegseth-redeploys-troops-western-hemisphere/ Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Defense Secretary Hegseth told reporters that some U.S. troops could be redeployed from Europe to the Western Hemisphere as the Trump administration ramps up its deadly campaign against drug cartels in South America. He said “Well, we’re definitely expanding our presence and our footprint in Central and South America with partners, and because of the bold move the president made in Venezuela,” Foreign policy https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/us/politics/kushner-witkoff-russia-oil-deal.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/03/us/politics/kushner-witkoff-russia-oil-deal.html Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration’s talks with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine have expanded to include a multibillion-dollar oil deal that would benefit Middle Eastern business executives with ties to the two main U.S. negotiators, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. Corruption https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/03/trump-tom-cotton-daylight-saving-time https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/03/trump-tom-cotton-daylight-saving-time Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump shared the personal telephone number of Republican senator Tom Cotton, urging Americans to call him to put pressure on him to support a bill to make daylight saving time permanent Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/03/trump-payment-seniors-medicare https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/03/trump-payment-seniors-medicare Sat, 03 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Trump has announced one-off $90 payments to more than 20 million Medicare recipients, to be distributed shortly before the November midterm elections. The payments are being presented as a way of reducing seniors' healthcare costs and are funded from the Medicare Improvement Fund, but the timing places them alongside the administration's $500 ACA payments and Trump's proposed $5,000 payments to adults if Republicans retain Congress. The use of government-funded payments and promises immediately before an election raises concerns about the blurring of government policy and electoral campaigning. Undermining democracy https://www.wired.com/story/ice-has-been-dumping-protester-photos-into-a-palantir-database/ https://www.wired.com/story/ice-has-been-dumping-protester-photos-into-a-palantir-database/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT A partially unsealed court filing alleges that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents created investigative records on people observing ICE enforcement activity, including photographs, vehicle information and personal details, and flagged some as “Threat to Law Enforcement, Professional Protestor.” Agents allegedly used facial-recognition searches and other law-enforcement databases, while records entered into DHS's Investigative Case Management system could automatically be shared with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) for border screening. One observer was allegedly threatened with possible inclusion on a “domestic terrorism watchlist” if she continued observing ICE arrests. DHS disputes the allegations and says the incidents were isolated and contrary to policy Nationalism Weakening civil rights Suppressing dissent https://www.washingtonsun.com/campaigns/abortion-white-house-todd-blanche-susie-wiles https://www.washingtonsun.com/campaigns/abortion-white-house-todd-blanche-susie-wiles Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The White House reportedly instructed Attorney General Todd Blanche to avoid taking significant abortion-related action before the November midterm elections because it could alienate voters. The reported directive includes delaying possible enforcement of the Comstock Act against mailing abortion drugs until after the election. The White House denies the conversations took place. If accurate, the intervention would represent the use of electoral considerations to influence DOJ enforcement and litigation decisions, undermining the principle of an independent Justice Department insulated from partisan political pressure. Attacking science Undermining democracy https://www.wired.com/story/ice-has-been-dumping-protester-photos-into-a-palantir-database/ https://www.wired.com/story/ice-has-been-dumping-protester-photos-into-a-palantir-database/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT A partially unsealed court filing alleges that the US Department of Homeland Security built up dossiers on ICE observers—including their photos, license plate numbers, and other information—and stored them in a system called the Investigative Case Management database, which was built by Palantir. Nationalism Weakening civil rights Undermining democracy https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/us/politics/national-science-foundation-research-funds.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/us/politics/national-science-foundation-research-funds.html Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The National Science Foundation, one of the biggest sources of federal research funding, withheld $1.4 billion that Congress had intended for research over the course of the past year, according to internal data reviewed by The New York Times. Attacking science Undermining democracy https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6126569-justice-department-sues-maryland-over-federal-agent-mask-ban/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6126569-justice-department-sues-maryland-over-federal-agent-mask-ban/ Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Justice Department (DOJ) filed a law suit against the state of Maryland over its new law barring federal law enforcement officers including, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), from wearing masks and requiring them to identify themselves while working. Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/02/ucla-law-school-doj-findings https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/02/ucla-law-school-doj-findings Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Dept of Justice (DoJ) accused the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) of having illegally considered race in admissions and discriminating against white and Asian American students by favoring Black and Hispanic applicants in its 2023, 2024 and 2025 incoming classes. It made a similar accusations against UC SanDiego's School of Medicine and UC Berkeley School of Law. Attacking education Suppressing dissent https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/01/trump-hegseth-overseas-voters-form-midterms/df5efede-bdf6-11f1-81fc-9b76f8343b6c_story.html https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/10/01/trump-hegseth-overseas-voters-form-midterms/df5efede-bdf6-11f1-81fc-9b76f8343b6c_story.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Department of Defense reportedly used an emergency declaration to remove a box from the overseas voter registration form, potentially making it harder for U.S. citizens who have never lived in the country to vote. These voters tend to support Democrats, raising concerns that the change could disenfranchise an electorate that typically votes against the administration. Undermining democracy https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/us/politics/bill-pulte-trump-inspector-general.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/01/us/politics/bill-pulte-trump-inspector-general.html Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Bill Pulte, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), moved to slash the inspector general’s office that scrutinizes his actions. The inspector general's office had remained leaderless since November'25 when Joe Allen, the FHFA’s acting inspector general was removed by the Trump administration. Pulte is now planning to make further cuts which might lead to the office of the inspector general having to wind down its operations entirely Suppressing dissent Hollowing state https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/10/01/trump-defies-democrats-diverts-aid-europe-latin-america-instead/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/10/01/trump-defies-democrats-diverts-aid-europe-latin-america-instead/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration stripped tens of millions of dollars in U.S. military assistance from European and Middle Eastern countries. The funds will instead go to right-wing governments in Latin America including Panama, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. The Trump administration is openly defying Congress with these actions as per the Constitution, only Congress can appropriate money and the president must execute the laws as Congress passes them. Foreign policy Undermining democracy https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6123793-trump-criticizes-time-interview/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6123793-trump-criticizes-time-interview/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump slammed Time’s staff during a lengthy interview after being pressed on pardoning Cabinet members if Democrats retake Congress and whether McConnell should resign. He defended the pardon idea by pointing to Biden's pardons, including Fauci's. He said “But you mean I’m not allowed to give them, but Sleepy Joe’s allowed to give them?” and “This ain’t gonna be much of a story. Here we are doing this. You haven’t asked me one f‑‑‑ing positive question. All of this. What about this? What about that? What about that? What about this? All negative.” Suppressing dissent https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6124187-trump-threatens-iran-peace-deal/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6124187-trump-threatens-iran-peace-deal/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump said that Iran will cease to exist if its leaders do not sign a peace deal with the U.S. He told reporters that “Now I have to make a decision. They’ll either sign a very fair deal, or they won’t exist any longer,” Foreign policy https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/florida-attorney-general-sues-pfizer-ceo-over-covid-19-vaccine-claims-2026-10-01/ https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/florida-attorney-general-sues-pfizer-ceo-over-covid-19-vaccine-claims-2026-10-01/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Florida's attorney general filed a lawsuit against Pfizer and its CEO, accusing the drugmaker of misleading consumers about the safety and effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine Attacking science https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trumps-500-obamacare-rebate-checks-land-prime-political-battlegrounds-2026-10-01/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trumps-500-obamacare-rebate-checks-land-prime-political-battlegrounds-2026-10-01/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The administration is sending $500 payments to around 950,000 ACA enrollees, with 71% of the $339m programme going to 13 states containing many of the most competitive Senate and gubernatorial races. Trump personally told recipients that he was “returning” money to them, while political strategists have said the payments could influence voters in the November midterms. The geographic and electoral timing raise concerns about the use of government payments for political advantage, although the administration says the payments are refunds of excessive fees. Undermining democracy https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6123520-the-trump-kennedy-center-time-magazine-interview/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6123520-the-trump-kennedy-center-time-magazine-interview/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Asked whether he would commit not to demolish the Kennedy Center without congressional approval, Trump said, “I’m not committing to anything,” saying he would wait to see how the case proceeds in court. He has also linked the future of the Center's renovation to whether his name can be restored to the building, despite a federal court ruling that the board lacked authority to rename the federally established memorial Corruption Undermining democracy https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6123220-supreme-court-votes-against-trump/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6123220-supreme-court-votes-against-trump/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Trump revealed in an interview that he regrets nominating conservative Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. “They voted against me too often,” the president continued. “I gave them the position of a lifetime, and they vote against me often. They vote for me too.” When asked if he wants loyalty from his Supreme Court picks, Trump said he wants “good decisions.” Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6122559-trump-midterm-election-insurrection-act/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6122559-trump-midterm-election-insurrection-act/ Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Trump said in an interview that he has not ruled out invoking the Insurrection Act or declaring a national emergency around the midterm elections in November. “I’m not committing to anything,” Trump said in an interview with Time when asked about the limits of his presidential power. “We’re going to see how it plays out in court.” Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-iran-war-poll-ratings-time-interview https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-iran-war-poll-ratings-time-interview Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT Donald Trump deflected responsibility for misleading Americans about the length of the Iran war, dismissed low poll ratings as “fake numbers” and refused to rule out the possibility of declaring a state of emergency before the midterms, in a wide-ranging interview with Time magazine. Controlling information Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/oct/01/nn-white-house-second-removal-media-ban https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/oct/01/nn-white-house-second-removal-media-ban Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT For a second time in a week, the White House has unilaterally removed CNN from its assignment as the primary television pool representative covering Donald Trump. CNN was excluded on Saturday from pool duty onboard Air Force One, despite a district judge’s ruling – two days earlier – overturning the White House’s ban on the network and two other media organizations. Controlling information Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-iran-war-ad-fox-taxpayers https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-iran-war-ad-fox-taxpayers Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The administration has paid for a television advertisement portraying Trump's war in Iran and his leadership in highly favourable terms, including footage of Trump declaring the war and calling for regime change. The advertisement is part of a broader taxpayer-funded campaign of pro-Trump messaging and raises concerns that public funds are being used for political propaganda in violation of federal appropriations law Controlling information Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-us-election-threats https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/oct/01/trump-us-election-threats Thu, 01 Oct 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration has disbanded or weakened federal bodies responsible for investigating threats to election officials and foreign interference, including the DOJ election-threats taskforce and election-security functions at CISA and ODNI. At the same time, the administration has devoted substantial resources to prosecuting alleged noncitizen voting and promoting claims of widespread election fraud, despite evidence that such voting is extremely rare. The shift leaves state and local election officials with less federal capacity to identify and respond to threats while redirecting federal enforcement towards the administration’s claims about voter fraud. Hollowing state Undermining democracy https://www.gadgetreview.com/trumps-border-wall-construction-destroys-6500-year-old-arizona-geoglyph-older-than-stonehenge https://www.gadgetreview.com/trumps-border-wall-construction-destroys-6500-year-old-arizona-geoglyph-older-than-stonehenge Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT Border-wall construction equipment cut through the Las Playas Intaglio, a fish-shaped geoglyph in Arizona's Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge that new research dates to around 6,500–7,300 years old. The site lies within the ancestral homeland of the Tohono O'odham, Hia-Ced O'odham and other Indigenous peoples. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) used its Secure Fence Act waiver authority to set aside specified environmental, cultural and historical protections for border construction, and the damage has been described as irreparable. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says the disturbance was inadvertent and is reviewing construction procedures. Attacking education https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/30/trump-nato-allies-left-out-01100310 https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/30/trump-nato-allies-left-out-01100310 Wed, 30 Sep 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration has not invited key European allies, including the UK, France and the Baltic countries to a NATO meeting in Poland that is spearheaded by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby and plans to explore the future of NATO. Excluding traditional allies raises concerns the U.S. is splitting NATO into countries Trump favors and those he dislikes. Foreign policy