Week 32 — The Return

This was a troubling and chaotic week for our country. At home, political violence continued to unfold, as a Minnesota man carried out a gruesome assassination of a Democratic state representative and her husband, and injured another Democrat as well, both on his long list of targeted individuals. An act of political violence would normally be a moment for the president to call for calm and a lowering of tensions. Trump, however, did the exact opposite. We are also observing a disturbing, growing trend of Democratic officials being manhandled and arrested in public view by federal immigration agents, and a Department of Homeland Security that only further escalates, rather than apologizing. As the week came to a close, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) wondered, “Do the members of Congress need security details to defend themselves from the executive branch? God, I hope not.”

Trump finally got his long sought after military parade, but as I wrote here, it was a day of humiliation. His parade drew mere thousands to Washington D.C., and Trump could be seen pouting at the mundanity of it all! Magnifying the failure of his event, on that same day, millions of Americans protested at more than 2,000 demonstrations in 50 states in what was dubbed ‘No Kings’ protests. Trump’s military parade also highlighted dichotomies in his deployment of U.S. military forces: Trump has deployed nearly 7,000 National Guard and Marine troops to Los Angeles, while being reluctant to send troops to battle alongside Israel in one of his long-stated goals of ending Iran’s nuclear program. While the Republican Party had a very public rift over U.S. involvement in the Middle East, Trump appeared indecisive and uncertain, and questions arose about whether his National Security Council, now composed mostly of loyalists, was up to the task.

Notably this week, Trump’s polling numbers are falling, with his net approval matching its low point for this second regime. He is also seeing public approval of his number one issue, immigration, fall below 50% in most polls, and his so-called big, beautiful bill is highly unpopular, with two polls finding approval in the 20s. As we hit the 70th day of Trump’s 90 day pause, the regime has yet to finalize a single trade deal, and the U.S. dollar, a measure of global perception of Trump, continued to fall, now down 10%.

1. Quinnipiac Polls found Trump’s approval at the lowest of the second regime so far, with 38% approving and 54% disapproving. Just 43% approve of his handling of the issue of immigration, and 40% approve of deportations. Just 27% approve of his tax bill.
2. An NBC News poll found 81% of U.S. adults say that if a federal court rules that an action is illegal, then the Trump regime has to follow its ruling. Among Trump supporters, the opinion was split 50%-50%, while 87% of Independents and 96% of Democrats agree.
3. WAPO reported that for the first time in at least half a century, more people will leave the U.S. than arrive in 2025, citing a sharp decrease in people coming into the country, more so than Trump’s deportations. Economists say the net outflow of migrants could stoke inflation and stall growth.
4. On Monday, a federal judge found the Trump regime’s cuts to NIH funding were “void and illegal,” citing the regime arbitrarily canceled more than $1 billion in research grants because of their perceived connection to DEI initiatives. The judge reinstated the grants.
5. Judge William Young, who was appointed by Ronald Reagan, said in his four decades on the bench he had “never seen a record where racial discrimination was so palpable,” adding, “Any discrimination by our government is so wrong that it requires the court to enjoin it.”
6. The NAACP said it would not invite Trump to its national convention, breaking the largest and oldest civil rights organization’s 116 year tradition, citing, “Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights.”
7. WAPO reported the Trump regime is taking steps to scrap the traditional system of a nonpartisan, merit-based civil service, and replacing it with a system that hires and rewards loyalty to Trump and his agenda. Civil servants say the changes underway could upend the workforce.
8. The regime is requiring job applicants to write a short essay detailing how they plan to advance Trump’s agenda. The House passed a proposal that would give new federal workers an ultimatum to accept “at-will” status, or pay a higher retirement contribution.
9. NYT reported that federal financial disclosures just released show that many of the people in Trump’s orbit are making millions through side deals with think tanks, advocacy groups, consulting, and businesses, all overlapping efforts to advance Trump’s interests.
10. Examples include Chief of Staff Susie Wiles made millions in consulting fees. Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino earned close to $2 million in consulting fees from Trump Media & Technology Group. Miller was paid nearly $1 million by nonprofit group America First Legal.
11. ABC News reported the U.S. Army is reviewing how pro-Trump merchandise, including “Make America Great Again” hats and other swag, was sold at Fort Bragg in Week 31 when Trump gave a speech, at odds with a longstanding practice of armed forces being non-political.
12. On Wednesday, the board of the prestigious Fulbright program resigned, citing political interference by the Trump regime, who they said had no right to cancel scholarships for nearly 200 American professors and researchers who had been selected over the winter.
13. The board said the State Department was also reviewing applications for 1,200 scholars from other countries who have already been approved. The board said they resigned “rather than endorse unprecedented actions that we believe are impermissible under the law.”
14. On Wednesday, Trump attended a performance of “Les Misérables” at the Kennedy Center, the first since he replaced the board of trustees and made himself board chair. He was booed by half the crowd, with many seats empty, and included a strong contingent of drag queens.
15. On Wednesday, Sec. of HHS Robert Kennedy, Jr. announced on X that he had named eight doctors and researchers, including four who have spoken out against vaccinations, to replace about half of the members he fired from an expert CDC panel in Week 31.
16. NYT reported that three of the new vaccine advisers — Vicky Pebsworth, Dr. Robert Malone, and Martin Kulldorff — have filed statements in court casting doubt about the efficacy of vaccines.
17. Reuters reported Dr. Fiona Havers, the scientist who oversees the team responsible for collecting data on COVID-19 and RSV hospitalizations used to shape national vaccine policy, has resigned, telling CDC colleagues she no longer had confidence in how data would be used.
18. More than 450 previously fired CDC employees received notices that their previous terminations were rescinded. It was unclear how many would be willing to return given how they were fired. In some cases, entire labs have already been shuttered due to firings.
19. The Environmental Protection Agency ended limits on greenhouse gases from power plants, and weakened restrictions on hazardous emissions, including mercury, arsenic, and lead. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called efforts to fight climate change “a cult.”
20. The EPA said in a court filing it was reconsidering its ban on chrysotile asbestos, the last type of asbestos used in the U.S., halting the ban in place for several years during reconsideration. Chrysotile asbestos is banned in 50 countries over links to lung cancer and mesothelioma
21. NYT reported that Trump fired Christopher Hanson, a board member of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the independent federal agency that oversees the safety of America’s nuclear reactors, without providing a reason for why. Hanson was appointed by Trump in 2020.
22. Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who has been vocal about his opposition to Trump’s tax bill, accused the Trump regime of “immaturity” and “petty vindictiveness,” after he and his family were disinvited from the longtime annual White House picnic that is held for both parties.
23. On Wednesday, Trump said he would send letters to trading partners in the next week or two, ahead of the end of the 90 day pause on July 9, to set unilateral tariffs, saying we are “telling them what the deal is.” It was unclear if Trump would follow through.
24. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent however testified to Congress that the regime was open to extending the 90-day pause for countries that are showing “good faith” in ongoing trade negotiations. Prior, the regime had said no pauses unless “terms of an agreement” were reached.
25. On Tuesday, two toy manufacturers challenging a major part of Trump’s tariffs asked the Supreme Court to take their case on an emergency basis, leapfrogging over the appeals courts after they won at the district court ruling that Congress had not authorized the tariffs.
26. Bloomberg reported under Trump, the U.S. dollar lost 10% of its value against several major currencies, a global repudiation of his tariff war, his tax cuts that would bloat the deficit, his bullying the Federal Reserve chair, and his legal tactics against those who oppose his policies.
27. Hours before the Fed was expected to keep rates unchanged at its June meeting, Trump told reporters that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is “a stupid person,” adding, “He’s a political guy who’s not a smart person, but he’s costing the country a fortune.”
28. On Wednesday, Sen. Chris Murphy led Democrats in an effort to block more than $3 billion in proposed weapons sales to Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, saying Trump was using the sales to enrich himself with investments and the gift of a luxury Boeing 747.
29. On Thursday, the bipartisan Congressional Budget Office released an analysis showing Trump’s tax bill would reduce resources for the poorest households by about $1,600 per year, while households in the top 10% would see gains of about $12,000 per year.
30. On Wednesday, a federal judge blocked the Trump regime from detaining or deporting former Columbia University student Mahmoud Khalil, but paused implementation to give the regime time to appeal. Khalil has been detained since March.
31. On Friday, in a court filing, the Trump regime switched their rationale for detaining Khalil, claiming he was being held for failing to disclose his membership in certain organizations when he applied for legal residency in 2024.
32. On Thursday, a federal judge ordered the Trump regime to release Russian-born Harvard researcher Kseniia Petrova on bail. She was first sent to a holding facility in Vermont, then transferred by ICE to a detention facility in Louisiana.
33. On Wednesday, anti-ICE protests took place in more than a dozen cities, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Raleigh, and the Twin Cities. Protests continued to be mostly peaceful.
34. On Wednesday, the commander overseeing military operations in LA said National Guard troops can detain protestors, but not make arrests. He added about 500 troops had been trained to accompany ICE on raids in order to provide them with protection.
35. On Thursday, California Sen. Alex Padilla was forcibly removed by federal agents after confronting DHS Sec. Kristi Noem during a news conference she was holding down the hall. After being removed from the room, agents put Padilla on the floor and handcuffed his hands behind his back.
36. Padilla had approached as she was speaking and questioned the authenticity of a bank of mug shots behind her. He is also heard identifying himself, saying “I am Senator Alex Padilla,” as he was being removed. Noem claimed he should have identified himself.
37. On Thursday, LA Mayor Karen Bass said ICE agents have started to target emergency rooms and homeless shelters in her city, which ICE denied. Bass said, “Let me be very clear: We want peace to come to our city…And peace begins with ICE leaving Los Angeles.”
38. On Thursday, in a social media post, Trump claimed that “changes are coming” to protect the agriculture and hospitality industries from losing workers to his aggressive deportation campaign. Senior regime officials involved with immigration said no such policy changes were underway.
39. Later Thursday, NYT reported the Trump regime abruptly shifted the focus of their mass deportations. In new guidance from ICE, agents were instructed to pause most raids on farms, hotels, and restaurants, an acknowledgement that Trump was hurting his own constituents.
40. NYT reported Trump’s abrupt shifts and conflicting messages on immigration policy have left industries that rely on migrant workers reeling, causing havoc in farming and other sectors over how to operate, and having workers afraid to show up for work.
41. NYT reported that Latinos who are U.S. citizens were also being targeted by ICE in California raids. ICE tactics raised concerns that agents were racially profiling Hispanics, and at times detaining them and questioning them on the streets.
42. A study by Stanford University also showed that parents of immigrant and non-immigrant students were keeping their children out of school for fear of being swept up in raids, creating an absence crisis in schools.
43. In the first week of the LA protests, a total of 160 people were arrested, the majority on Monday, when 100 were arrested for failure to disperse.
44. NYT reported the Trump regime launched a P.R. campaign in an effort to persuade migrants without legal status to self-deport, to encourage citizens to turn in migrants, and to make clear that the regime will not tolerate violence.
45. Homeland Security posted an image of Uncle Sam on social media, with the verbiage, “Every American citizen should support federal law enforcement in their just effort to deport criminal illegal alien invaders from our country,” and gave a phone number to call.
46. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard told Fox News that the DOJ and FBI are probing who is funding the LA protests opposing federal immigration, a conspiracy theory, falsely claiming the question is not “if” but “who.”
47. Later Thursday, a federal judge blocked Trump from deploying National Guard troops in LA, and said the forces should return to the control of Gov. Newsom by noon on Friday, saying, “The protests in Los Angeles fall far short of ‘rebellion.’”
48. The judge added, “His actions were illegal — both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment,” adding, “Individuals’ right to protest the government is one of the fundamental rights protected by the First Amendment.”
49. The judge said it would be premature to issue an order restricting the Marines’ actions, citing they have not done anything yet that would violate the Posse Comitatus Act.
50. Later Thursday, a federal appeals court delayed the order, and set a hearing for June 17. Trump praised the appeals court decision on Truth Social, falsely claiming in a post, “If I didn’t send the Military into Los Angeles, that city would be burning to the ground right now.”
51. On Thursday, Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe activated his state’s National Guard in what he called a “precautionary” measure, the second Republican governor to do so.
52. On Friday, Marines were spotted guarding the Wilshire Federal Building, the federal building in LA where the day prior Sen. Padilla was forcibly removed.
53. On Friday, the Marines carried out their first known detention of a civilian outside the Wilshire building, apprehending a man and restraining his hands with zip ties, and then handing him over to civilians from DHS.
54. On Friday, all 45 Senate Democrats and two independent senators sent a letter to Trump urging him “to immediately withdraw all military personnel that have been deployed to Los Angeles,” saying the deployment undermined the “constitutional balance of power.”
55. On Tuesday, ICE arrested New York City Comptroller Brad Lander at a federal immigration court, where he was serving as an advocate for defendants, after he asked agents to see a warrant for a migrant they were detaining. Lander was grabbed by a group of masked agents.
56. Video showed Lander repeatedly asking agents to see the warrant. He also said that they did not have the authority to arrest a U.S. citizen. DHS claimed Lander had assaulted and impeded a law enforcement officer. Shortly after, Lander was released and the charges were dropped.
57. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, asked by reporters about Lander’s arrest. said, “It’s bull — -,” adding, “How dare they take an elected official, who’s been going down there for weeks, to escort people who are afraid to walk into a courthouse in the United States of America?”
58. Also Tuesday, in remarks on the Senate floor, Sen. Padilla called Trump a “tyrant” over his efforts to deploy the National Guard and Marines, saying it “simply is not the mission of federal law enforcement and the U.S. military,” and that Trump tests “the boundaries of his power.”
59. NYT reported the arrests and manhandling of Padilla and Lander by federal agents, several in masks, reflects a growing trend of elected Democrats being harshly treated, and mark an expanding battle over due process, the rule of law, and the system of checks and balances.
60. Padilla noted if this is what is happening in “full view of the public, imagine what is happening in communities across the country when the cameras are off.” Others raised concerns around autocratic behavior and DHS running out of control.
61. The heightened tension also came after the Minneapolis shooting. Democratic Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota, who was on the target list of the murderer, noted, “Do the members of Congress need security details to defend themselves from the executive branch? God, I hope not.”
62. Reuters reported according to an internal State Department memo, the Trump regime is considering adding an additional 36 countries to its travel ban, to protect the U.S. from “foreign terrorists” and other national security threats.
63. AP reported two top advisers to HHS Sec. Kennedy ordered the handover of personal data, including immigration status, of millions of Medicaid enrollees to DHS. Medicaid officials unsuccessfully tried to block the data transfer.
64. On Friday, a second federal judge blocked Trump’s March 25 executive order to overhaul U.S. elections, siding with a coalition of Democratic attorneys general, saying, “The Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections.”
65. On Friday, after Israel successfully attacked Iran overnight, which Secretary of State Marco Rubio initially said was a “unilateral action,” Trump sought to take credit, telling reporters he was fully in the loop, and posting, “Today is day 61…I told [Iran] what to do, but they just couldn’t get there.”
66. On Friday, NYT reported that an Interior Department internal document advised National Park Service to delete or cover up any content that “disparages Americans,” and encourages park visitors to report any “negative” information about past or living Americans.
67. On Friday, a federal appeals court rejected Trump’s appeal to challenge the 2023 $5 million civil judgment for the battery and defamation of the writer E. Jean Carroll, saying they found “no manifest error by the district court” that would warrant additional review.
68. Later Friday, a federal judge ordered the State Department to hold off from firing 1,900 employees as planned on Saturday. The judge had previously ordered a pause on firing at 20 federal agencies.
69. On Friday, seven partners of Willkie Farr & Gallagher resigned over the firm’s capitulating to Trump. The seven will be joining Cooley, a law firm that successfully defended Jenner & Block in their lawsuit against Trump, as partners in its global litigation department.
70. Law firm Goodwin Procter faced backlash for capitulating to Trump’s EEOC in turning over data about its employees and cutting ties with three diversity programs. Goodwin said Bryson Malcolm, a recruiter whose firm worked for the firm, started trying to poach their lawyers.
71. NYT reported that while usually the Trump regime appeals cases when they lose, the regime has not appealed losses to three law firms, or a temporary block on the order targeting a fourth, indicating the regime looked to intimidate law firms, knowing the orders would not stand.
72. The American Bar Association sued the Trump regime over his orders targeting law firms, saying he was trying to intimidate lawyers and law firms, and calling it “unprecedented and uniquely dangerous to the rule of law.” The ABA was represented by Susman Godfrey.
73. On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in an interview that Floridians have a right to hit protesters with their car if they need to “flee for your safety.”
74. On Thursday, in a directive to 93 U.S. Attorney’s Offices, the DOJ said to be on alert for planned protests on Saturday, saying there should be “zero tolerance” for acts of “rioting, looting, arson, destruction of property, assaults on officers…and obstruction of federal agents.”
75. On Thursday, asked by reporters about the ‘No Kings’ demonstrations planned for Saturday around the country, Trump bristled, saying, “I don’t feel like a king, I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.” In a February social media post, Trump had likened himself to a king.
76. WSJ reported that on social media platforms X, Truth Social, and Telegram, the Proud Boys and other far-right groups shared information on how to respond with violence to the ‘No Kings’ protests, as well as information on where the protests were taking place and the organizers.
77. The Guardian reported that millions were expected to protest at more than 2,000 ‘No Kings’ demonstrations around the country on Saturday. Organizers said interest in the event had risen after Trump deployed the National Guard and Marines to LA.
78. On Saturday, Democrats former House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband were assassinated, and Sen. John Hoffman and his wife injured in the Minneapolis suburbs by a man dressed as a police officer in what Gov. Tim Walz called “an act of targeted political violence.”
79. Authorities said the suspect had a target list of other Democratic lawmakers and other officials in his car, as well as ‘No Kings’ flyers. Authorities tried to cancel the scheduled ‘No Kings’ demonstrations in the area, but large events went on anyway.
80. Trump condemned the shootings as “horrible” on Saturday, but as of Sunday had yet to call Walz. Trump told ABC News, “Well, it’s a terrible thing. I think he’s a terrible governor. I think he’s a grossly incompetent person. But I may, I may call him, I may call other people too.”
81. On Monday, Trump shifted focus, instructing ICE on Truth Social to “expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens” in Democratic-run cities, “such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside.”
82. Trump baselessly added that Democrats “use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base,” and “cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens,” calling Democrats “sick of mind” who “hate our Country.”
83. Later Monday, on the way back from the G7, reporters asked Trump if he had called Walz yet as would be customary. Trump said, “I think the governor of Minnesota is so whacked out, I’m not calling him. Why would I call him?” and “The guy doesn’t have a clue, he’s a mess.”
84. On Saturday, millions of protestors demonstrated at more than 2,100 ‘No Kings’ marches and events around the country. California cities had some of the largest crowds, including more than 30,000 in Downtown Los Angeles. Many red states also had thousands at events.
85. The demonstrations at streets, parks, and plazas were overwhelmingly peaceful. In Salt Lake City, where more than 10,000 protested, police were investigating a shooting that injured one protestor. In Portland, police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.
86. LA Mayor Bass said her city had a “successful, peaceful” day that included 15 demonstrations. At the Downtown protests, the LAPD used flashbangs and teargas at one point. Bass said the “disruption and fear” caused by the immigration raids have had a “devastating effect” on LA.
87. Later Saturday, Trump held his military parade to honor the 250th anniversary of the Army and his 79th birthday. The parade came amid the shootings in Minnesota, and an escalating war between Israel and Iran with Trump denying troops there, while deploying troops to LA.
88. Although the regime had planned for 200,000 attendees, turnout was extremely low, measured in the thousands, with muted enthusiasm among the crowd, some of which dispersed early due to a light drizzle. Trump could be seen visibly pouting during the event.
89. Conservative commentators tried to portray the event as an appreciation for armed services and not political. Trump finally got his parade, which was denied during the first regime by Defense Secretary Mark Esper and John Kelly, and Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.
90. NYT reported that at least four brands that have strong financial and political ties to Trump sponsored the military parade, including the Ultimate Fighting Championship, Palantir, Coinbase, and Oracle, raising ethical concerns.
91. Federal regulations prohibit the use of public office for private gain. The four brands advertised their products and services at the parade. It was unclear how much each entity donated, and the Trump regime suggested the Times was insulting the Army with its reporting.
92. On Monday, Trump’s sons said they would launch Trump Mobile Wireless Company, which it claimed would offer a U.S.-built “sleek, gold smartphone” later this summer for $499, and take on wireless giants that manufacture overseas. Trump claimed he was not involved.
93. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth renamed an Army base in Prince George County, Virginia, which had been named for Confederate General Robert E. Lee from 1917 until 2023, back to Fort Lee using the name of Pvt. Fitz Lee, who was Black and fought in the Spanish-American War.
94. On Monday, the DOJ asked a federal appeals court to dismiss a case challenging race-conscious admissions at the U.S. Naval Academy, citing the policy of is no longer being enacted.
95. On Tuesday, a federal judge granted class action status to transgender and nonbinary Americans and extended the preliminary injunction in their lawsuit against the State Department, over requiring passports to reflect only the holder’s sex recorded on their original birth certificate.
96. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court upheld a Tennessee law that bans some medical treatments for transgender youths, in a 6–3 ruling. The Biden administration had sided with the doctor and three families who sued Tennessee, while the Trump regime reversed that position.
97. On Sunday, as Trump considered whether to send U.S. troops into an unfolding war between Israel and Iran, an internal rift in his base between Republican hawks and MAGA isolationists played out in public. Trump said he decides what “America First” means.
98. On Tuesday, Trump deployed another 2,000 National Guard troops to LA, joining 4,100 National Guard soldiers and 700 Marines already there. It was unclear what the rationale was for the additional deployment domestically.
99. Bloomberg reported before leaving the G7 early due to the war in the Middle East, Trump had pushed for the inclusions of non-democracies in the group, like Russia and possibly China.
100. Unlike past years where a single joint communique was released at the end of the summit, six statements were released on specific topics, a sign of disunity. European leaders were unable to move Trump on increasing sanctions on Russia.
101. Trump planned to sign his third 90 day extension of the deadline for TikTok to sell its U.S. operations. Trump repeatedly declined to enforce the law that the Supreme Court upheld in January. The app’s future is viewed as a bargaining chip in his trade war discussions with China.