https://trumpactiontracker.info Free and independent tracker documenting Trump-related actions using verified news sources. Showing 50 of 3,699 total actions. en-us 2026-08-09T22:01:52.000Z https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/09/us/politics/bobby-zhou-trump-crypto.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/09/us/politics/bobby-zhou-trump-crypto.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump family's cryptocurrency company World Liberty Financial accepted $100 million from Guren "Bobby" Zhou, a businessman who was under investigation for money laundering in Britain and whose two former employees were subsequently charged in the case. Up to $75 million of Zhou's investment was distributed to a company controlled by President Trump and his sons, despite financial-crime experts saying the transaction contained multiple red flags that should have triggered enhanced scrutiny Corruption https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/sec-drops-insider-trading-suit-against-ex-healthcare-executive-pardoned-by-trump-2026-08-08/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/sec-drops-insider-trading-suit-against-ex-healthcare-executive-pardoned-by-trump-2026-08-08/ Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Securities and Exchange Commission moved to dismiss its insider-trading lawsuit against former healthcare executive Terren Peizer after President Trump pardoned him. Peizer had been convicted by a federal jury of insider trading in 2024, and the SEC's decision to abandon the civil case means the pardon has been followed by the termination of further government enforcement against a convicted financial offender Corruption Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/08/greenland-iwarning-trump-linked-oil-firm-prepares-drill https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/08/greenland-iwarning-trump-linked-oil-firm-prepares-drill Sat, 08 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT An American oil company connected to Donald Trump is preparing to sink wells in remote Greenland despite not having received permission from the local authorities. Following a "strong warning" from Greenland's govenrment, Trump again posted an AI generated image on Truth Social depicting his face over a Green land landscape and village with the caption "Hello Greenland" Foreign policy Corruption https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-senate-confirms-trump-nominees-labor-board-cementing-republican-control-2026-08-07/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-senate-confirms-trump-nominees-labor-board-cementing-republican-control-2026-08-07/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's nominees for two ​spots on the agency that enforces federal labor law, giving Republicans enough votes to undo a series ‌of key decisions that were widely seen as a boost to union organizing. The five-member labor board already had a 2-1 Republican majority before ​the Senate vote. By tradition, the board has two Democrats, two Republicans and a chair from the president's party. Trump's appointees are expected to target a series of labor board policies favored by unions that have helped fuel a spike in union organizing in recent years. Weakening civil rights Undermining democracy https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6018220-dhs-ends-tps-myanmar-south-sudan/ https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/6018220-dhs-ends-tps-myanmar-south-sudan/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued two alerts on its website confirming that, effective Aug. 7, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) designation had been halted for Myanmar and Syria. Nationalism https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/07/haitians-us-deportation-tps-immigration https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/07/haitians-us-deportation-tps-immigration Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Hundreds of thousands of Haitians are faced with the prospect of imminent risk of arrest and deportation – to a home country racked with crime, violence and political unrest – after the Trump administration officially stripped them of humanitarian protections that had allowed them to live and work legally in the United States for years. “We’re going after them right now,” the DHS secretary, Markwayne Mullin, said earlier this week. “These individuals can either self-deport or we’ll arrest you and send you back. It’s that simple.” Nationalism Weakening civil rights https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/07/business/trump-lisa-cook-fed.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/07/business/trump-lisa-cook-fed.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Trump opened a new front in his battle with Lisa D. Cook, the Federal Reserve official he tried — and failed — to oust from her position last year. In a letter, the White House informed Ms. Cook, who serves on the Board of Governors, that it was “considering” removing her from her position. The letter, which was signed by Dan Scavino, the White House deputy chief of staff, gave Ms. Cook 21 days to respond to previous allegations that she had committed mortgage fraud. Ms. Cook has not been charged with a crime, even though it has been a year since the administration first made the claims, nor has she been convicted of any wrongdoing Suppressing dissent https://www.justsecurity.org/150631/the-trump-administration-throws-gulf-ai-a-lifeline/ https://www.justsecurity.org/150631/the-trump-administration-throws-gulf-ai-a-lifeline/ Fri, 07 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration lifted export restrictions on advanced AI chips and other sensitive technologies to the UAE, granting its state-backed AI company G42 broad access to U.S. technology despite ongoing security concerns. Critics argued that the decision benefited a company with financial links to the Trump family through cryptocurrency ventures while providing few identifiable strategic concessions for the United States, raising concerns that private financial interests influenced national security policy Corruption https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/06/trump-jeanine-pirro-reflecting-pool-vandalism https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/06/trump-jeanine-pirro-reflecting-pool-vandalism Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Donald Trump has doubled down on his criticism of Jeanine Pirro after the US attorney for the District of Columbia publicly challenged his claims that vandals had damaged the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. “She said there was no vandalism. There was tremendous vandalism,” Trump told NBC News on Thursday. “So, she made a terrible mistake. I don’t understand why she did such a stupid thing.” Controlling information Suppressing dissent https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-vet-social-media-foreign-journalists-applying-visas-report-says-2026-08-06/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-vet-social-media-foreign-journalists-applying-visas-report-says-2026-08-06/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The U.S. State Department will ​vet the social media accounts of foreign journalists applying for visas to work in the United ‌States. It also builds ​on a series of ⁠steps that Trump's administration has taken since he began his second term in taking office in January 2025 to make online speech a factor in immigration and visa decisions. ​These steps have raised concerns among civil liberties advocates about freedom of speech. Nationalism Foreign policy Controlling information https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-suggests-fauci-should-be-prosecuted-2026-08-06/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-suggests-fauci-should-be-prosecuted-2026-08-06/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT President ​Donald Trump suggested that Dr. ‌Anthony Fauci should be prosecuted, hours after Republican Senator Rand Paul said that he would ask the Justice ​Department to do so. Attacking science Suppressing dissent https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/republican-senators-propose-repeal-california-emissions-rules-2026-08-06/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/republican-senators-propose-repeal-california-emissions-rules-2026-08-06/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration sought to revoke California's authority to set vehicle emissions standards stricter than federal rules by submitting the state's Clean Air Act waivers to Congress under the Congressional Review Act. The move would override California's longstanding statutory authority through a procedure the state argues is unlawful, while advancing the administration's broader effort to weaken emissions standards and electric vehicle requirements Attacking science Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/06/fcc-overturns-limit-local-tv-ownership https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/06/fcc-overturns-limit-local-tv-ownership Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Federal Communications Commission voted to replace the long-standing 39% national television ownership cap with a case-by-case approval process for larger media groups, despite the limit having been set by Congress in 2004. Critics, including the FCC's Democratic commissioner and some members of Congress, argued that the agency lacked the authority to override a statutory ownership limit without new legislation and warned the change would accelerate media concentration. Controlling information Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-sign-orders-birthright-citizenship-axios-reports-2026-08-06/ https://www.reuters.com/world/trump-sign-orders-birthright-citizenship-axios-reports-2026-08-06/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Donald Trump signed two executive orders in a new but narrower attempt to curtail birthright citizenship, once again challenging a provision of the U.S. ​Constitution even though the Supreme Court rejected his previous effort. Weakening civil rights Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-senate-panel-votes-hold-fauci-contempt-congress-2026-08-06/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-senate-panel-votes-hold-fauci-contempt-congress-2026-08-06/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul asked the Justice Department to prosecute Dr. Anthony Fauci for refusing to answer questions about the COVID-19 pandemic after a Senate committee voted to hold the former ​top infectious disease official in contempt of Congress. Attacking science Suppressing dissent https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trumps-doj-watchdogs-gutted-misconduct-complaints-soar-2026-08-06/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trumps-doj-watchdogs-gutted-misconduct-complaints-soar-2026-08-06/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration substantially reduced the capacity of the Justice Department's internal watchdog offices responsible for investigating misconduct by DOJ lawyers and officials. Reuters found that staffing cuts, leadership vacancies and fears of political retaliation coincided with a 20-year low in new misconduct investigations despite record numbers of complaints, limiting oversight of alleged departmental misconduct. Hollowing state Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-scrutinizes-more-schools-over-admissions-practices-diversity-pro-palestinian-2026-08-06/ https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-scrutinizes-more-schools-over-admissions-practices-diversity-pro-palestinian-2026-08-06/ Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Donald Trump's administration targeted more universitiesover issues like race and diversity in admissions ‌and pro-Palestinian protests, marking the federal government's latest crackdown against U.S. schools. Attacking education Suppressing dissent https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117051391491903440 https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117051391491903440 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump posts AI image of himself at a campaign rally with the words "Trump 2028". As per the constitution, Trump cannot run for a third term in 2028. Controlling information Undermining democracy https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117051395561975802 https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117051395561975802 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump posts AI image of himself with two great American generals casting himself as a great American war hero. Corruption Controlling information https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117051410601436605 https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117051410601436605 Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump attacks Rosie O'Donnell in a social media post and AI imagery Suppressing dissent https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/climate/rwe-trump-offshore-wind-canceled.html?smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/climate/rwe-trump-offshore-wind-canceled.html?smid=url-share Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The German energy firm RWE announced that the Trump administration will pay them $1.22 billion to abandon plans to build wind farms off the coasts of New York, California and Louisiana. Attacking science https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/us/politics/rfk-jr-head-start-antipoverty-program.html?smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/us/politics/rfk-jr-head-start-antipoverty-program.html?smid=url-share Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration has said it would go ahead with a proposed plan to remove most of HeadStart federal requirements. Head Start is an antipoverty program aimed at helping the nation’s most impoverished young children. and the plan would removed federal requirements for math and literacy curricula, class sizes, medical screenings, home visits. Even a requirement that children brush their teeth after meals would end. Weakening civil rights Attacking education https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/us/politics/fauci-contempt-of-congress.html?smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/us/politics/fauci-contempt-of-congress.html?smid=url-share Thu, 06 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted along party lines to hold the former infectious disease expert Dr Anthony Fauci in contempt for invoking the fifth amendment during a senate committee hearing on the US Covid-19 response. This vote now clears the way for the Committee to ask the Justice Department to prosecute him, although according to Democrats, the federal law requires that the president of the Senate “certify” the “statement of facts” in a contempt resolution before it is transmitted to the U.S. attorney. Attacking science Suppressing dissent https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117045731075584614 https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/117045731075584614 Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump in a social media post attacks Michael Moore as a "failed LOWLIFE" and wrongly asserts that communism has been 'failing' for thousands of years (Karl Marx published The Communist Manifesto as a political pamphlet in 1848). Controlling information Suppressing dissent https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/cia-cuba-task-force.html?smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/us/politics/cia-cuba-task-force.html?smid=url-share Wed, 05 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The CIA has secretly established a Cuba task force, setting in motion plans for a more concerted campaign to pressure the Cuban government to make the economic, political and leadership changes demanded by President Trump, according to people briefed on the action. Foreign policy https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/6009019-gao-fema-staffing-disaster-response/ https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/6009019-gao-fema-staffing-disaster-response/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is at risk of having “critically low” staffing levels if there’s a major disaster, according to a nonpartisan congressional watchdog. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) found in a report issued Tuesday that in Fiscal Year 2025, more than 4,300 staffers departed from FEMA, more than double the departure rate in Fiscal Year 2024. It found that an additional 2,500 staffers have left this fiscal year as of May. Hollowing state https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/6008603-blanche-plans-abortion-rollback/ https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/6008603-blanche-plans-abortion-rollback/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told faith leaders he is planning to roll back abortion access even in states that have laws protecting it. The 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the federal constitutional right to an abortion. The ruling allowed states to set their own policies, stopping short of a national ban. Blanche hinted that restrictions on mail-order abortion drugs are coming. Blanche’s comments went far beyond what he said during his confirmation hearing. Weakening civil rights Attacking science Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/04/us-revokes-brazil-ambassador-visa https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/04/us-revokes-brazil-ambassador-visa Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Donald Trump’s administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the US in a sharp escalation of a diplomatic feud with the country’s president, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The US state department said Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti’s visa had been cancelled in retaliation for Brazil’s refusal to approve Trump’s nominee for ambassador in Brasília and its decision last month to deny visas to two US diplomats seeking to visit ahead of an October election. Brasília swiftly condemned the US action as part of a deliberate campaign to influence the election. Foreign policy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/04/ice-detention-teacher-university-of-maryland https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/04/ice-detention-teacher-university-of-maryland Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT An instructor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore who only just received a “teacher of the year” award has been arrested by federal immigration agents under the command of the Trump administration. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials detained Berhanu Kibret, an instructor at the university’s pharmacy school, at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport in Texas. The university said “Dr Kibret has a valid work authorization, so it is our hope that any issues surrounding his status will be quickly resolved and that he will be permitted to continue his work at the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy,” Nationalism https://www.reuters.com/world/us-consumer-watchdog-supervisor-warned-staff-unpleasant-fallout-if-they-go-too-2026-08-04/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us-consumer-watchdog-supervisor-warned-staff-unpleasant-fallout-if-they-go-too-2026-08-04/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT A top supervision examiner at the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) warned staff they would face "most unpleasant" consequences if they were too aggressive in ​their oversight of financial firms, according to an internal email reviewed by Reuters. The threat, which Reuters is reporting for the first time, was emailed on May 13 by ‌Chief Examiner Fatima Batie to many of the agency's mid-level supervision staff as they were preparing to resume inspections of financial firms following a long hiatus Corruption Weakening civil rights Hollowing state https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-grants-justice-department-bid-dismiss-oath-keepers-prosecutions-2026-08-04/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-grants-justice-department-bid-dismiss-oath-keepers-prosecutions-2026-08-04/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT A U.S. judge on Tuesday granted the U.S. Justice Department's request to dismiss cases against members of the right-wing Oath Keepers militia who took part in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The judge strongly disagreed with the request, saying it excused "criminal acts that caused...the peacedful transfer of presidential power to buckle" but concluded that the Department of Justice had the authority to drop the case. Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/family-man-who-died-ice-detention-new-jersey-alleges-medical-negligence-custody-2026-08-04/ https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/family-man-who-died-ice-detention-new-jersey-alleges-medical-negligence-custody-2026-08-04/ Tue, 04 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The family of a man from El Salvador, who died in ‌a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention center in New Jersey, alleged medical negligence during his custody and demanded an independent investigation into his death. He died at a detention facility after what ICE called a medical emergency. His mother said he relied on a number of medications and the day before he had told her had lost the feeling in his face and arm. Nationalism Weakening civil rights https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-state-department-close-consulates-canada-japan-indonesia-sources-say-2026-08-03/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-state-department-close-consulates-canada-japan-indonesia-sources-say-2026-08-03/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The U.S. ​State Department has notified Congress that it plans to close five foreign missions in a rare downsizing of ‌America's global diplomatic footprint. The expected closures, which have not ​been previously reported, represent a rare example of the U.S. closing multiple foreign missions in a ⁠downsizing that is not tied to a particular geopolitical event. Foreign policy Hollowing state https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/03/trump-jeanine-pirro-reflecting-pool-case https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/03/trump-jeanine-pirro-reflecting-pool-case Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Donald Trump accused US attorney Jeanine Pirro of having “folded like an umbrella” amid reports that he was considering removing her from her post. Trump criticized Pirro on Monday after she dropped vandalism charges against a former Olympian accused of damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/upshot/arch-trump-historic-review.html?smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/upshot/arch-trump-historic-review.html?smid=url-share Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump’s proposed 250-foot-tall triumphal arch would change the skyline of Washington to such an extent that it would intrude on views at dozens of historic sites around the capital, according to an assessment by National Park Service staff. Attacking education https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/trump-mcmahon-colleges-letter.html?smid=url-share https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/trump-mcmahon-colleges-letter.html?smid=url-share Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The head of the Dept of Education Linda McMahon, in an open letter to college leaders asked them to respond to concerns over academic standards, admissions procedures and tuition costs. University presidents and governing boards are asked to address seven subjects — including free speech, foreign influence, artificial intelligence and academic rigor — and post the statements prominently on their websites. The letter does not contain threats of funding cuts or legal repurcussions. Attacking education https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6005494-blanche-trump-immunity-memo-anti-weaponization-fund/ https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6005494-blanche-trump-immunity-memo-anti-weaponization-fund/ Mon, 03 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche signed a memo formally rescinding the $1.776 “anti-weaponization” fund, but which leaves intact immunity for Trump by barring the federal government from any investigation, review or prosecution of any action by Trump or the business empire he runs with his children. Corruption Undermining democracy https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/02/politics/rfk-jr-fauci-medical-misinformation?cid=ios_app https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/02/politics/rfk-jr-fauci-medical-misinformation?cid=ios_app Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT In attempting to rewrite the history of the US Covid-19 response, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Sunday pinned the blame for pandemic lockdowns on Dr. Anthony Fauci, while simultaneously reviving a string of debunked assertions about vaccines, RSV and measles. Attacking science Controlling information Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/donald-trump-pedro-sanchez-ceuta-migrants-b3025722.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/donald-trump-pedro-sanchez-ceuta-migrants-b3025722.html Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Vice President Vance, President Trump and other senior Republicans used the (temporary) migrant influx into Cetua, part of Spain in North Africa, to stoke anti-immigrant sentiment and justify their own anti-immigrant policies. Vance falsely suggested migrants had reached mainland Spain. In fact it was not possible for migrants to reach mainland Europe from Cetua and almost all have now returned to Morocco Nationalism Controlling information https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/us/politics/trump-iran-war-toll-oil-fact-check.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/us/politics/trump-iran-war-toll-oil-fact-check.html Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Trump wrongly blamed the Biden administration’s weapons transfers to Ukraine for current concerns over munitions stockpiles amid the war with Iran Controlling information https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/us/politics/jeanine-pirro-trump-reflecting-pool.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/01/us/politics/jeanine-pirro-trump-reflecting-pool.html Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Trump publicly contradicted his own Justice Department after federal prosecutors withdrew vandalism charges relating to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, having concluded that the damage resulted from a botched government renovation rather than vandalism. Trump rejected those findings, continued to claim that "VANDALS" were responsible, and criticised U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro for abandoning the prosecution. Controlling information Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-make-visa-bond-program-permanent-people-dozens-countries-2026-08-01/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-make-visa-bond-program-permanent-people-dozens-countries-2026-08-01/ Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT The U.S. State Department posted a Federal Register notice which states that a visa bond program for B1 and B2 visas will be made permanent. The programme could require applicants from 50 countries, mostly from Africa, to post bonds of up to $20,000 when seeking U.S. visas Nationalism Foreign policy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/01/senate-committee-todd-blanche-attorney-general-nomination https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/01/senate-committee-todd-blanche-attorney-general-nomination Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Trump vowed to revive the controversial $1.8bn “anti-weaponization” fund, designed to compensate political allies for political lawfare. Its revival is tied to Todd Blanche's nomination for Attorney General and a dispute between Trump and two Republican Senators who want written confirmation that the fund will not be established. Corruption Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/01/border-patrol-reporter-laura-loomer https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/01/border-patrol-reporter-laura-loomer Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT A US reporter, who had been targeted online by right-wing influencer Laura Loomer over a report from Iran, was flagged for 'secondary inspection" by border patrol agents on re-entry to the US. He had his phones seized, which were returned a week later following the filing of an emergency motion by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee Controlling information Suppressing dissent https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/01/subpoena-freelance-new-york-times-reporter https://www.theguardian.com/media/2026/aug/01/subpoena-freelance-new-york-times-reporter Sat, 01 Aug 2026 00:00:00 GMT Freelance New York Times reporter Matthew Cole was subpoenaed over reporting on failed US mission in North Korea and asked by federal prosecutors to hand over two years worth of contacts and sources. Controlling information Suppressing dissent https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/us/politics/david-hearn-reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges.html https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/31/us/politics/david-hearn-reflecting-pool-vandalism-charges.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Federal prosecutors moved to dismiss criminal charges against a man accused of vandalising the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after concluding that the damage had been caused by faulty installation by government contractors rather than vandalism. The dismissal contradicted repeated public claims by President Trump and earlier statements by federal prosecutors that vandals had deliberately damaged the pool, raising concerns about the use of false public claims to justify criminal prosecution. Controlling information Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-iran-not-blame-minnesota-cyber-attack-2026-07-31/ https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-iran-not-blame-minnesota-cyber-attack-2026-07-31/ Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT President Donald ‌Trump told reporters at Camp David on Friday that he does not think Iran is behind a cyberattack on Minnesota water systems, despite U.S. officials reportedly suspecting otherwise. "We heard in Minnesota there was a cyberattack, and they blame it on Iran. I don't think so," Trump said during a ​cabinet meeting. "I think I blame it on Minnesota because they're grossly incompetent," Trump said, calling out Minnesota Governor ​Tim Walz, a Democrat. Controlling information Suppressing dissent Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/31/trump-slush-fund-todd-blanche https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/31/trump-slush-fund-todd-blanche Fri, 31 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Donald Trump has defended controversial plans for a $1.8bn slush fund even as they threaten to derail the nomination of his former personal lawyer Todd Blanche for US attorney general. Blanche “should be immediately approved” by the US Senate, the president declared in a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday morning, defending the payout scheme proposed by his officials in the Department of Justice as it holds up Blanche’s confirmation. Corruption Undermining democracy https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/30/trump-administration-children-immigration https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/30/trump-administration-children-immigration Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT The Trump administration allowed the federal contract providing legal representation to more than 20,000 unaccompanied migrant children to expire without a replacement, ending government-funded legal assistance for children in immigration proceedings. The administration had also withheld around $65 million in payments to legal providers while seeking access to confidential client information that providers argued would violate attorney-client confidentiality. Advocates and former prosecutors warned that removing legal representation from children, including victims of trafficking, abuse and persecution, would significantly increase the likelihood of deportation and undermine statutory protections established to ensure vulnerable children can meaningfully access the immigration system. Nationalism Weakening civil rights https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/30/todd-blanche-attorney-general-doj-nomination-trump https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/30/todd-blanche-attorney-general-doj-nomination-trump Thu, 30 Jul 2026 00:00:00 GMT Donald Trump said on Thursday he may “temporarily” pull the nomination of Todd Blanche to serve as attorney general, but would keep him in the role in an acting capacity until two Republican senators objecting to his confirmation leave office next year – an extraordinary escalation of an intra-party fight over an agreement to create a $1.8bn slush fund and give the president tax immunity. Corruption Undermining democracy