Good morning. It is Sunday, July the 27th. President Trump's problem with the Epstein files is not just a scandal anymore.It's starting to feel like a reckoning, not just for Trump, but for a Republican party now being forced to confront how far how far it has left let it lift. Now, there's a reason the Trump administration and right-wing media, the machine, and the entire MAGA ecosystem are in full-blown panic right now. The problem for Trump is that the Epstein files threatened to blow a hole in the mytho ...

Empires don't crumble overnight. Democracies don't fall into authoritarianism in the blink of an eye. But a recent survey of political scientists warns that America under Donald Trump is sliding into a form of authoritarianism that we now see in countries like Hungary. An NPR report defined this as so-called competitive authoritarianism when quote a leader comes to power democratically and then erodess the systems of checks and balances. Typically, the executive fills the civil service and key appointments, ...

Regulatory & Political Influence - The FCC approved the 8 billion USD Paramount Skyance merger shortly after Skyance pledged to end DEI policies, raising concerns about potential weaponization of regulatory authority to control media content [1] - The administration is allegedly seeking an additional 20 million USD from Paramount for advertising and PSAs on causes favored by the administration [1] - The FCC Chairman ominously previewed future "consequences," raising concerns about potential targeting of specific media figures and outlets [1] Concerns & Criticisms - Concerns are raised about the administration using governmental power to retaliate against and control news media organizations, potentially violating First Amendment freedoms [1] - A former Biden administration official expressed concern that American institutions are under attack, experiencing a new sense of trepidation and fear due to potential abuse of power [1][2] - The administration is accused of weaponizing the executive branch to compel behaviors aligned with its political views, impacting various communities including national security, legal, universities, and industry [3][4][5] Impact on Arts & Free Speech - An artist canceled her Smithsonian show due to fears that a painting depicting a transgender woman as the Statue of Liberty might be removed because of the administration's potential reaction, highlighting a climate of censorship and intimidation [8][9][10] - There is a concern that institutions are choosing to comply and remain silent to avoid risking their businesses, nonprofits, or personal income, potentially jeopardizing the future of democracy [11]

If Volodymyr Zelensky values his people’s European future, he must quickly kill the bill that he has just so ill-advisedly signed before it kills the idea of a democratic Ukraine https://t.co/7CiWYtT4V4 ...

Democrats don't have a good track record of making voters care about democracy, writes @MaryEllenKlas. But they need to try again in Texas (via @opinion) https://t.co/WJozTfBcWw ...

Jane Fonda warns of "two essential crises and for both, it’s now or never: democracy and climate" at Bloomberg Green Seattle https://t.co/FakJ8eO2GJ ...

Government Overreach & Abuse of Power - The Department of Justice (DOJ) fired over 20 employees who worked on cases involving January 6th and Trump's classified documents case [1] - The FBI is reportedly using polygraphs to test officials' loyalties, questioning whether they've spoken negatively about FBI Director Cash Patel [2] - The former president threatened to revoke a private citizen's citizenship, highlighting a willingness to target individuals [2][9][10] - Government actions are perceived as veering towards a "police state," where citizens are treated as potential suspects [14] Erosion of Democratic Norms & Institutions - Normal guardrails of democracy are disappearing, with Congress abdicating oversight and courts under siege [17] - Internal watchdogs face pressure from the White House, compromising their independence [17] - There's a concern that the American people may lose trust in law enforcement's apolitical application of force [8][9] Impact on Law Enforcement & Public Servants - Subject matter expertise and operational competence are being sacrificed for ideological purity within the FBI [5] - FBI agents and analysts are reportedly keeping their heads down, focusing on their constitutional oath amidst the turmoil [21] - Senior executives within the FBI are allegedly compromising their integrity to advance under the current leadership [22] - Federal law enforcement is undergoing a massive change, potentially impacting various areas beyond immigration [23] Retribution & Intimidation Tactics - Individuals who speak out against the administration face potential persecution and professional repercussions [18][31] - A fund has been launched to support the legal defense of those targeted for presidential revenge [19] - Speaking out against the administration can lead to isolation, financial threats, and threats to family safety [31][32]

Political Climate & Freedom of Speech Concerns - A German state banned members of the main opposition party AfD from civil service, raising concerns about political freedom [2] - Norwegian police interrogated an individual after they exposed alleged grooming within a religious cult, questioning the extent of free speech [2] - French police raided the party headquarters of the main opposition, indicating potential political suppression [2] - Britain arrests over 12,000 people annually for social media posts, highlighting restrictions on online expression [2]

What keeps you up at night. Um, I would say the state of our democracy. Um, I I would say that I am I am really very interested in getting people to focus and to invest and to pay attention to what is happening in our country and in our government. ...

William Ruto’s tenure is a how-to guide for sowing cynicism about democracy https://t.co/dGN3vngwaN ...