Category: Authoritarian

Trump Accused of Denying Aid For Flood Victims to Punish Dem

President Trump denied federal disaster assistance to Colorado on Saturday night following devastating wildfires and flooding that affected the state in fall 2025, triggering accusations he weaponized aid to punish Democratic Governor Jared Polis. Governor Polis stated Trump was “playing political games” and announced Colorado would appeal the decision, noting that both disasters exceeded FEMA criteria for major presidential disaster declarations under the Stafford Act.

Senator Michael Bennet (D-CO) directly accused Trump of weaponizing disaster relief, calling the denial “malicious and obscene” and stating that Trump “continues to use Coloradans for political games.” Bennet vowed to exhaust all available avenues to reverse the decision alongside Governor Polis and the Colorado delegation.

The White House offered no specific justification for denying aid but claimed the administration “responds to each request for Federal assistance under the Stafford Act with great care and consideration.” Spokesperson Abigail Jackson asserted there was “no politicization to the President’s decisions on disaster relief,” citing Trump’s mobilization of aerial firefighting resources during the actual fire response.

Trump had attacked Governor Polis the previous week over his refusal to release Tina Peters, a former county clerk convicted of tampering with voting machines to leak voter data. Peters is a Trump supporter who claimed to be acting on Trump’s 2020 election fraud allegations; Trump issued a pardon for Peters this month that carried no legal effect since she was not convicted in federal court.

Trump has a documented pattern of withholding or delaying federal funds to states and cities governed by Democratic officials, including Virginia and Maryland earlier in 2025, establishing a practice of conditioning disaster aid on political alignment.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/malicious-and-obscene-senator-accuses-trump-of-withholding-help-for-states-flood-and-fire-victims-to-punish-dem-governor/)

Trump Called His Twitter The Modern-Day Gettysburg Address

During a White House tour with Fox News anchor Jesse Watters, President Donald Trump compared his Twitter account to Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, claiming it represented the modern-day equivalent of the historic 1863 speech. Watters recounted the exchange at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona on Saturday, stating Trump said “some people say my Twitter account is the modern-day equivalent of the Gettysburg Address” while standing next to the glass-encased original document. Watters responded by questioning whether Trump meant “some people, meaning you,” drawing laughter from the crowd.

The comparison exemplifies Trump’s pattern of inflating his own significance through false historical analogies. Trump previously falsely claimed the “fake news” media of Lincoln’s era “excoriated” the Gettysburg Address, a fabrication unsupported by historical evidence. In 2024, Trump also stated he had “done more for the Black individual” than Lincoln, further demonstrating his pattern of positioning himself as equivalent to or superior to one of America’s most revered leaders.

The tour included Fox News personalities Sebastian Gorka and Stuart Varney, and Watters revealed that Trump intended to take a Claude Monet painting—formerly belonging to Jackie Kennedy—from the White House when departing. Watters stated he advised Trump against removing the artwork, though Trump’s response was not disclosed.

Lincoln’s 272-word address, delivered at the Battle of Gettysburg battlefield in Pennsylvania, honored Union soldiers killed in combat and articulated a vision of democratic governance enduring “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Trump’s social media posts, by contrast, are archived by the National Archives and Records Administration as official presidential records.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump/trump-called-his-twitter-posts-the-modern-day-equivalent-of-the-gettysburg-address/)

US seizes second vessel off Venezuelan after Trump’s blockade threat, reports say | The Independent

The United States Coast Guard seized the Panama-flagged tanker Centuries off the coast of Barbados in the Caribbean Sea, marking the second vessel confiscated in recent weeks as part of Trump’s blockade of Venezuelan oil. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem stated the Coast Guard would “continue to pursue the illicit movement of sanctioned oil that is used to fund narco terrorism in the region,” though legal experts dispute the justification for seizing unsanctioned vessels.

Jeremy Paner, a former U.S. Treasury Department sanctions investigator, directly contradicted Trump’s stated policy by confirming the Centuries had not been sanctioned by the United States. Paner stated the seizure of an unsanctioned vessel “marks a further increase in Trump’s pressure on Venezuela” and “runs counter to Trump’s statement that the U.S. would impose a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers,” exposing the operation’s scope beyond its stated legal framework.

The Centuries carried 1.8 million barrels of Venezuelan crude bound for China under a false vessel name and was part of a shadow fleet designed to evade sanctions. Since Trump’s first tanker seizure last week, Venezuelan crude exports have collapsed sharply, with an effective embargo forcing loaded vessels to remain in Venezuelan waters rather than risk confiscation, despite many not being under U.S. sanctions.

Trump’s military campaign against Venezuela has killed at least 100 people through more than two dozen strikes on vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean, with announced plans for imminent land operations. Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro contends the military buildup aims to overthrow his government and seize the nation’s vast oil reserves, the world’s largest crude deposits.

The seizure strategy contradicts international law governing unsanctioned vessels and exposes economic objectives beyond counter-narcotics claims. If the blockade persists, the loss of nearly one million barrels daily will drive global oil prices higher, shifting market leverage and destabilizing energy markets while demonstrating Trump’s use of military and economic coercion to control foreign governments and resources.

(Source: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/us-seizing-vessel-venezuela-trump-blockade-oil-tanker-b2888347.html)

Trump: ‘I Hereby Give Myself $1 Billion’ in Taxpayer Money

President Donald Trump announced at a North Carolina rally that he is demanding the U.S. government pay him $1 billion in settlement of a lawsuit he filed against the Department of Justice. Trump claimed he would give the money to charity, then contradicted himself by suggesting he might keep it.

In October 2024, the New York Times reported Trump had filed administrative claims demanding $230 million from the DOJ as compensation for federal investigations into his activities. The claims, filed in 2023 and 2024, reference the FBI’s search warrant execution at his Mar-a-Lago residence in 2022 and the bureau’s investigation into alleged ties between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia.

At the rally, Trump stated he is “suing” the United States and simultaneously must “settle” the suit himself as president. He declared, “I hereby give myself $1 billion,” then wavered on whether the funds would go to charity, saying “maybe I shouldn’t give it to charity. Maybe I should keep the money.”

Trump characterized the situation as unprecedented, claiming no president has faced such circumstances. He described the position as “strange” and said he must “negotiate with myself” regarding the settlement terms.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/trump-brags-about-suing-the-government-and-declares-i-hereby-give-myself-1-billion/)

Kennedy Center Board Moves to Rename It the Trump-Kennedy Center – The New York Times

The Kennedy Center board, composed predominantly of Trump appointees, voted to rename the performing arts center the Trump-Kennedy Center, according to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Representative Joyce Beatty, a Democrat board member, stated she was muted during the call and prevented from voicing opposition to the measure. The center’s legal name—the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts—remains unchanged by federal law, and Congress retains authority to alter official designations.

Trump assumed the Kennedy Center chairmanship after purging Biden-appointed board members and installing loyalists including Susie Wiles, Pam Bondi, Usha Vance, Dan Scavino, Elaine Chao, and Ric Grenell. Trump voted on a measure to rename an institution after himself while serving as board chairman, then claimed the vote was a surprise. House Republicans previously advanced separate proposals to rename the Opera House after Melania Trump and the entire center the Donald J. Trump Center for the Performing Arts.

Under Trump’s leadership, the Kennedy Center has undergone dramatic institutional changes in 54 years. Dozens of employees were fired or resigned, and staffing declined approximately 30 percent according to the center’s human resources head. Unqualified outsiders received top positions within the organization.

Box-office revenue collapsed during Trump’s chairmanship, with ticket sales down approximately 50 percent during a typical October week compared to the same period the previous year, according to internal New York Times data. The institutional deterioration reflects a pattern consistent with Trump’s business approach of affixing his name to properties regardless of operational substance or public benefit.

(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/us/politics/trump-kennedy-center-name.html?fbclid=IwdGRleAOxSx1leHRuA2FlbQExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5Rts1bRUVy4gb3uxg7mWzNldCDc7SfZjfTMFmmKnD643sGSrEwcBIkByVAQA_aem_Li3V-I_KdUwfOokDTDecjw)

Stephen Miller Announces Chilling Hunt for “Fifth Column” | The New Republic

Stephen Miller announced a government crackdown on what he termed a “violent fifth column of domestic terrorists” following the Department of Justice’s claim to have stopped a bombing plot in California. Miller’s statement referenced NSPM-7, a September Trump administration memo directing federal agencies to focus on domestic extremism and defining it to include anti-capitalism, anti-immigration positions, and subjective stances on race and gender.

Attorney General Pam Bondi stated the DOJ foiled a New Year’s Eve bombing plot allegedly planned by “The Turtle Island Liberation Front,” described as a far-left, pro-Palestine, anti-government group. The memo’s expansive definition of extremism—which encompasses common liberal and left-wing viewpoints—creates a framework enabling the government to target broad categories of political dissent under the guise of counterterrorism.

Miller’s invocation of “fifth column,” a term historically used by authoritarian regimes to delegitimize internal opposition, signals an intent to brand political adversaries as traitors requiring state suppression. His known history of advancing xenophobic and anti-immigrant policies compounds the threat, as administration officials have already coordinated military deployments against civilian protesters.

The memo’s vague language and Miller’s pattern of attacking judicial independence demonstrate how executive power is being weaponized to criminalize dissent. By framing opposition to Trump policies as terrorism, the administration constructs legal justification for deploying federal resources against political opponents rather than genuine security threats.

This framework mirrors authoritarian governance models, where state repression targets ideological enemies under security pretexts. Combined with officials relocating to military housing, the pattern reflects institutional militarization designed to insulate power holders from accountability while enabling mass surveillance and prosecution of ordinary citizens exercising constitutional rights.

(Source: https://newrepublic.com/post/204449/stephen-miller-fifth-column?utm_campaign=SF_TNR&utm_source=Facebook&utm_social_handle_id=161419311535&utm_social_post_id=624140450&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwdGRleAOty3ZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEewS58jQJO2GedKIE5XxJHDrOeOt2Cf3qrTaYXcL2jPF_87-w5t1hVzqEHRY8_aem_3eybXmmt1E8x4bN-0QM4fg)

Trump administration to dismantle National Center for Atmospheric Research – The Washington Post

The Trump administration announced plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR), a leading Colorado-based institution for Earth and atmospheric science research. The administration cited concerns about “climate alarmism” as justification for the closure, marking a direct attack on scientific infrastructure studying climate change and global warming.

NCAR conducts fundamental research on atmospheric systems, weather patterns, and climate dynamics that informs policy decisions and public understanding of environmental trends. The facility’s dismantling would eliminate a major hub for peer-reviewed climate science and eliminate institutional capacity for atmospheric monitoring and modeling.

The timing of the announcement coincides with the Trump administration’s escalating attacks against Colorado’s Democratic elected officials, suggesting the action serves political retaliation rather than policy rationale. The closure exemplifies broader efforts to suppress climate research and defund institutions that contradict the administration’s anti-science agenda.

Dismantling NCAR removes independent scientific capacity to document climate trends and threatens the nation’s ability to understand atmospheric processes essential for weather forecasting, disaster preparedness, and environmental protection. The action prioritizes ideological opposition to climate science over institutional preservation and research continuity.

(Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/12/17/trump-national-center-atmospheric-research-climate/?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_source=bluesky,facebook,threads,twitter&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwdGRleAOvnWdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeSeCCzP2GCweingyC6zHt-V11mfgLSKuNB2sgNbWmaoOWd_KCTuFzIlRXu84_aem_3ZrxZA21Dd1nEtiQyoDcjw)

Dershowitz tells Trump the Constitution is unclear on third term, WSJ reports     | Reuters

Donald Trump reviewed a draft manuscript by lawyer Alan Dershowitz arguing the Constitution may permit a third presidential term, according to the Wall Street Journal. Dershowitz claimed he told Trump during an Oval Office meeting that constitutional language on presidential term limits is ambiguous, contradicting the 22nd Amendment, which explicitly bars anyone from being elected president more than twice.

The 22nd Amendment, ratified after Franklin D. Roosevelt served four terms, states unequivocally: “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice.” Dershowitz’s unpublished book, titled “Could President Trump Constitutionally Serve a Third Term?”, examines scenarios potentially circumventing this restriction.

Trump has previously signaled interest in circumventing constitutional term limits. He spent months publicly teasing the idea of testing the Constitution’s language before stating in October that he would not pursue a third term, calling the restriction “too bad” but acknowledging it prevented him from running again. Trump’s pattern of attacking institutions and officials who oppose him extends to questioning constitutional boundaries when they constrain his power.

White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson responded to the report by stating “the American people would be lucky to have President Trump in office for even longer,” signaling openness to the idea without committing to it. White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles told Vanity Fair that Trump “knows he can’t run again,” creating contradictory messaging from the administration.

Trump has continuously falsified that he lost the 2020 election to widespread voter fraud, a claim rejected by numerous investigations and courts. His willingness to entertain arguments that constitutional limits may be negotiable reflects a broader pattern of treating constitutional constraints as obstacles rather than foundational law.

(Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/lawyer-dershowitz-told-trump-constitutionality-third-term-is-unclear-says-wsj-2025-12-17/)

Laughing Trump Drops Stunning Admission to Screaming Fans — ‘Sh*thole Countries’ Rant He Denied Was Real

During a recent rally at the Mount Airy Casino Resort, President Donald Trump openly acknowledged his infamous “sh*thole countries” comment, revealing that he still holds disdain for predominantly Black nations while favoring those like Norway and Denmark. Laughter erupted among his supporters as Trump recounted how he questioned the rationale behind accepting immigrants from troubled nations like Somalia and Haiti.

In his speech, Trump faced mounting economic criticism, calling concerns over rising prices a “con job,” and asserted that he had already resolved these issues. The rally was a response to unfavorable polling data that highlighted his declining popularity concerning economic management.

Trump’s emphasis on a permanent pause on immigration from what he termed “hell holes” illustrates his continued focus on anti-immigration rhetoric. This tone has become a hallmark of his public speaking, which resonates with his base but raises alarms regarding his attitudes toward race and immigration.

The event showcased the former president refining his controversial views in front of a supportive crowd, reaffirming his commitment to restricting immigration from certain countries while promoting his narrative of economic recovery. Such language and themes are indicative of his broader attempts to solidify his political base amid ongoing scrutiny.

Trump’s remarks not only reignite the debate over his immigration policies but also reflect his enduring brand of divisive politics, as he leverages humor and inflammatory statements to maintain his support during tumultuous times.

(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/laughing-trump-drops-stunning-admission-to-screaming-fans-shthole-countries-rant-he-denied-was-real/)

Trump Rejects ASL Access, Claims It’s a Threat to Control

The Trump administration is embroiled in a lawsuit concerning American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation services, which the Department of Justice claims would impede the President’s ability to control his public image. This follows a lawsuit filed by the National Association for the Deaf, arguing that halting ASL interpretation denies the deaf community access to essential information from the White House. The association highlights the ongoing struggle for meaningful communication access, particularly during significant national events.

Government attorneys assert that providing real-time ASL interpretation could disrupt Trump’s carefully crafted image and messaging. They suggested alternative forms of access, such as online transcripts and closed captioning, while questioning whether other government branches would face similar demands for such services. Critics note the lack of a compelling argument for why ASL interpretation might damage Trump’s image.

Despite having begun to provide some ASL interpretation, the White House has appealed a federal judge’s ruling that mandated real-time interpreting for Trump’s comments. The administration’s ongoing refusal to comply fully aligns with its broader trend of dismantling diversity and inclusion initiatives. This effort has been part of Trump’s agenda since returning to office, reflecting an administration characterized by its opposition to inclusivity efforts.

The Biden administration had previously utilized ASL interpretation regularly for press briefings and public communications. By contrast, Trump’s refusal has raised significant backlash from advocates for the deaf community, who argue that the right to access information is fundamental. The criticism highlights a troubling disregard for inclusivity that many see as indicative of Trump’s broader governance style.

In the context of broader cultural changes, Trump’s administration has made headlines for reversing various diversity, equity, and inclusion strategies. These actions extend beyond communication access and reflect a more general trend of retrenchment against modern inclusion standards across federal institutions.

(Source: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/sign-language-services-intrude-on-trumps-ability-to-control-his-image-administration-says?fbclid=IwdGRleAOqX5BleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeHJfMLdhICo9nd7vHzSUY2cYHrNRToiWt-kC7POMm7phct9AN-695oabeAjw_aem_UWDFChTHUxTGRfUzJy8nAA)

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