We begin this hour with new allegations that President Trump is expanding his retribution campaign beyond the Justice Department. A new report alleges Defense Secretary Pete Hgsith is using the Pentagon to wage retaliation on Trump's behalf. According to the Washington Post, a retired Army general speaking on the condition of anonymity out of fear for retaliation says after Trump won re-election, he made a list of the ways he could be attacked again.He came up with three possibilities. Civil lawsuit, IRS au ...

Legal & Political Analysis - The White House defends attacks on suspected drug-smugglers as lawful combat operations [1] - Legal experts condemn the strikes as illegal extrajudicial killings [1]

Legality of Military Actions - The report questions the legality of U S military strikes against alleged drug traffickers without congressional authorization [3][5][11] - Senator Rand Paul and Congressman Jim Himes have not seen evidence supporting the administration's claims that those targeted are narco-terrorists [7][9] - The Trump administration expanded strikes against alleged drug traffickers, killing 14 people in attacks on multiple boats off Mexico's Pacific coast [6] - Senator Lindsey Graham believes the President has the authority for these actions and welcomes a debate on the issue [15] Potential Misuse of Military Assets - There are concerns that military assets are being deployed for purely performative reasons, rather than effectively interdicting drugs [4][5] - Congressman Jim Himes suggests military assets could be better used to save lives in Jamaica, which is facing devastation [6] - The shift of military assets to humanitarian aid could help alleviate the gutting of USAID [19][21] Political and Ethical Implications - The White House believes the operations are popular with American voters and may not need congressional approval [14] - There are concerns about the potential for abuse if the government can take lethal action without oversight, raising questions about where such actions might stop [12][13] - The discussion highlights the potential dangers of setting a precedent where the government can kill people illegally based on public support [17][18] Impact of Government Shutdown - The government shutdown is impacting the ability to respond to international crises, as USAID has been significantly reduced [19][21] - The shutdown is also affecting essential services like air traffic control, as federal employees are not being paid [23][24]