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LetMyPeopleVote's Journal
April 5, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/stephen-miller-2676667670/
Stephen Miller at crossroads in Trump admin after he 'backpedaled' on key issue: report
Stephen Miller is a major league racist who has pushed the immigration crackdown. It was Miller who told ICE and Border Patrol to use harsh tactics and ignore the due process rights. It was Miller who set quotas for arrests. It seems that Miller is being forced to tone things down due to the backlash to the tactics used by ICE and Border Patrol.
Stephen Miller at crossroads in Trump admin after he 'backpedaled' on key issue: report #RawStory
— #TuckFrump (@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social) 2026-04-05T21:58:41.000Z
https://www.rawstory.com/stephen-miller-2676667670/
One of President Donald Trump's fiercest allies in his administration faces a crossroads after he was forced to backpedal on a key issue, according to a new report.
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, is facing questions about how he can continue to drive the Trump administration's hard-line approach to enforcing immigration law, given the waning appetite of the Republican Party and the American public over the brutal images of immigrants being forcibly detained by federal agents.
Miller has been a key architect of the Trump administration's immigration policies, and at one time seemed to be telling federal agents to "Push the limits" when it comes to the tactics they use to deport people, according to the report.
"Eight months later, Mr. Miller did something startling — he backpedaled," the report added.
"Now, Mr. Miller, 40, one of the most influential presidential advisers in recent memory and an unabashed champion of Mr. Trump’s hard-line immigrant crackdown, is at a crossroads," it continued. "He faces questions about how aggressively he can continue to drive the deportation campaign, and how much appetite his party and the country have for tactics that proved successful in helping to boost arrests of immigrants but reignited a polarizing debate over what it means to be American."
The New York Times reported on Sunday that Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy, is facing questions about how he can continue to drive the Trump administration's hard-line approach to enforcing immigration law, given the waning appetite of the Republican Party and the American public over the brutal images of immigrants being forcibly detained by federal agents.
Miller has been a key architect of the Trump administration's immigration policies, and at one time seemed to be telling federal agents to "Push the limits" when it comes to the tactics they use to deport people, according to the report.
"Eight months later, Mr. Miller did something startling — he backpedaled," the report added.
"Now, Mr. Miller, 40, one of the most influential presidential advisers in recent memory and an unabashed champion of Mr. Trump’s hard-line immigrant crackdown, is at a crossroads," it continued. "He faces questions about how aggressively he can continue to drive the deportation campaign, and how much appetite his party and the country have for tactics that proved successful in helping to boost arrests of immigrants but reignited a polarizing debate over what it means to be American."
April 5, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2676667394/
Trump spotted skipping Easter service in lieu of 'bizarre tour' of DC: report
trump was evidently trying to escape Easter Services and still provide some proof that he was still alive. trump took a strange tour of DC today.
Trump spotted skipping Easter service in lieu of ‘bizarre tour’ of DC: report #RawStory
— #TuckFrump (@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social) 2026-04-05T18:19:54.000Z
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2676667394/
President Donald Trump was spotted Sunday taking a “bizarre tour” of Washington, D.C., including a stop at his golf course, and in lieu of attending any of the three Easter services held that morning at the church he’s “frequently” attended, The Daily Beast reported.
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., often called the “Church of the Presidents,” has been attended at least once by every president since its construction in 1816. The church held three Easter services Sunday morning – none of which, the Beast reported, were attended by Trump.
“The 79-year-old president spent Easter Sunday taking a ‘ceremoniously slow’ presidential motorcade tour around Memorial Circle – close to the Arlington Memorial Bridge, where he hopes to build an arch honoring himself, according to pool reports,” the Beast’s report reads. “During his travels, he also stopped at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.”
Trump did find time Easter Sunday, however, to issue a major threat against Iran in a profanity-laced social media post, while also lavishing praise on “Allah,” the Arabic word for God.
St. John’s Episcopal Church in Washington, D.C., often called the “Church of the Presidents,” has been attended at least once by every president since its construction in 1816. The church held three Easter services Sunday morning – none of which, the Beast reported, were attended by Trump.
“The 79-year-old president spent Easter Sunday taking a ‘ceremoniously slow’ presidential motorcade tour around Memorial Circle – close to the Arlington Memorial Bridge, where he hopes to build an arch honoring himself, according to pool reports,” the Beast’s report reads. “During his travels, he also stopped at Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia.”
Trump did find time Easter Sunday, however, to issue a major threat against Iran in a profanity-laced social media post, while also lavishing praise on “Allah,” the Arabic word for God.
April 5, 2026
🐰💞✨Hoppy #Easter from #WaltDisneyWorld!
My middle child sent this to me. We are Jewish but we do love Disney World and bunnies
https://x.com/WaltDisneyWorld/status/2040776343097381019
April 4, 2026
77 years ago today, NATO was founded in Washington, D.C., with 12 founding members
https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/2040472631166538054
April 4, 2026
Trump's Pentagon Is Undercounting Troop Casualties in Middle East
An investigation found that the Department of Defense has sent out outdated statements about the number of troops wounded or killed in Iran.
https://x.com/newrepublic/status/2040428981120303597
https://newrepublic.com/post/208551/pentagon-iran-troop-casualties-donald-trump
The Pentagon appears to be engaged in a “casualty cover-up” of U.S. soldiers killed as a result of Donald Trump’s military onslaught in Iran, a U.S. defense official told The Intercept.
An analysis by The Intercept found that the Department of Defense has used outdated numbers in statements on casualties, resulting in undercounts of how many troops have been wounded or killed.
In a statement sent Monday, CENTCOM said that “approximately 303 U.S. service members have been wounded” since the launch of Operation Epic Fury. But that number was three days old, and excluded the at least 15 troops wounded in a strike at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia last week.
CENTCOM would not provide any information about the number of U.S. troops who have been killed since the start of the war, but The Intercept placed the number at around 15. Six soldiers were killed in a strike on a makeshift operations center in Kuwait, and another six died serving aboard a KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in Iraq. Another soldier was killed on March 1, during an enemy attack on the base in Saudi Arabia.
“This is, quite obviously, a subject that [Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth and the White House want to keep under major wraps,” said the defense official, who spoke to The Intercept on the condition of anonymity.
An analysis by The Intercept found that the Department of Defense has used outdated numbers in statements on casualties, resulting in undercounts of how many troops have been wounded or killed.
In a statement sent Monday, CENTCOM said that “approximately 303 U.S. service members have been wounded” since the launch of Operation Epic Fury. But that number was three days old, and excluded the at least 15 troops wounded in a strike at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia last week.
CENTCOM would not provide any information about the number of U.S. troops who have been killed since the start of the war, but The Intercept placed the number at around 15. Six soldiers were killed in a strike on a makeshift operations center in Kuwait, and another six died serving aboard a KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in Iraq. Another soldier was killed on March 1, during an enemy attack on the base in Saudi Arabia.
“This is, quite obviously, a subject that [Defense Secretary Pete] Hegseth and the White House want to keep under major wraps,” said the defense official, who spoke to The Intercept on the condition of anonymity.
April 4, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-white-house-2676665160/
Trump exposed in latest White House East Wing court filing: analysis
This is mind blowing to me. The DOJ let trump draft part of the filing in the trump ballroom appeal. It is clear that trump drafted a good amount of this brief. I have trouble imaging any attorney who would put their name on this filing
Trump exposed in latest White House East Wing court filing: analysis #RawStory
— #TuckFrump (@realtuckfrumper.bsky.social) 2026-04-04T14:49:50.000Z
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-white-house-2676665160/
Donald Trump may have partly written the most recent White House East Wing court filing with his legal team, an analyst has claimed.
Trump has faced a series of legal challenges against his White House renovations, particularly a $400 million ballroom project and the refurbishing of the Eisenhower Building's exterior. A legal team working for Trump asked an appeals court yesterday (April 3) for an emergency ruling, which, if granted, would allow construction on the East Wing to continue.
The documents making the argument to the appeals court appear to have been partly written by the president himself, according to CBS News' Arden Farhi.
He wrote, "The opening pages of the court filing are loaded with exclamation points ('Time is of the essence!'), parenthetical asides, misplaced capital letters ('Almost 400 Million Dollars of private donations'), and multiple adjectives for emphasis ('shocking, unprecedented, and improper injunction') – all rhetorical flourishes of the president's online posts.
"One sentence runs 130 words and covers more than half a page. 'Private donors and American Patriots singlehandedly funded the 300 to 400 Million Dollar project (depending on finishes), which is on budget and ahead of schedule.
"'No taxpayer dollars are being used for the funding of this beautiful, desperately needed, and completely secure (for national security purposes) ballroom,' the filing reads."
Trump has faced a series of legal challenges against his White House renovations, particularly a $400 million ballroom project and the refurbishing of the Eisenhower Building's exterior. A legal team working for Trump asked an appeals court yesterday (April 3) for an emergency ruling, which, if granted, would allow construction on the East Wing to continue.
The documents making the argument to the appeals court appear to have been partly written by the president himself, according to CBS News' Arden Farhi.
He wrote, "The opening pages of the court filing are loaded with exclamation points ('Time is of the essence!'), parenthetical asides, misplaced capital letters ('Almost 400 Million Dollars of private donations'), and multiple adjectives for emphasis ('shocking, unprecedented, and improper injunction') – all rhetorical flourishes of the president's online posts.
"One sentence runs 130 words and covers more than half a page. 'Private donors and American Patriots singlehandedly funded the 300 to 400 Million Dollar project (depending on finishes), which is on budget and ahead of schedule.
"'No taxpayer dollars are being used for the funding of this beautiful, desperately needed, and completely secure (for national security purposes) ballroom,' the filing reads."
April 4, 2026
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell today: "There is effectively zero net job creation in the private sector."
https://x.com/amconmag/status/2040230252291510518
April 4, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/2676663322/
Trump seeks 'mammoth' amount for even more White House renovations: report
These numbers are crazy
— Raw Story (@rawstory.com) 2026-04-03T23:20:22.854Z
https://www.rawstory.com/2676663322/
President Donald Trump seeks hundreds of millions of dollars to renovate the White House residence, according to a new budget request.
The administration’s fiscal 2026 proposal includes more than $377 million “for repairs and renovations to the executive residence,” with another $174 million projected for 2027, according to budget documents reported by Politico.
That represents “a mammoth 866 percent increase over the $39 million estimated to have been spent in fiscal 2025 on sprucing up the area of the White House where the president lives.”....
Trump has made upgrading the White House complex a priority in his second term.
“At the center of that effort is the proposed new White House ballroom, a roughly $400 million project that would dramatically expand the complex’s capacity for large-scale events,” Politico reported. “The plan envisions a sprawling addition capable of hosting hundreds of guests at once, replacing the current reliance on temporary tents on the South Lawn for state dinners and major receptions.”
The administration’s fiscal 2026 proposal includes more than $377 million “for repairs and renovations to the executive residence,” with another $174 million projected for 2027, according to budget documents reported by Politico.
That represents “a mammoth 866 percent increase over the $39 million estimated to have been spent in fiscal 2025 on sprucing up the area of the White House where the president lives.”....
Trump has made upgrading the White House complex a priority in his second term.
“At the center of that effort is the proposed new White House ballroom, a roughly $400 million project that would dramatically expand the complex’s capacity for large-scale events,” Politico reported. “The plan envisions a sprawling addition capable of hosting hundreds of guests at once, replacing the current reliance on temporary tents on the South Lawn for state dinners and major receptions.”
April 4, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/team-trump-isnt-done-pursuing-cassidy-hutchinson-over-jan-6-testimony
MaddowBlog-Team Trump isn't done pursuing Cassidy Hutchinson over Jan. 6 testimony
Years after the former White House aide’s stunning revelations, many Republicans still seem to want to bring her down.
Team Trump isn’t done pursuing Cassidy Hutchinson over Jan. 6 testimony
— Toni Growell (@togrowell.bsky.social) 2026-04-03T21:51:10.139Z
Story by Steve Benen •
www.msn.com/en-us/news/p...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/team-trump-isnt-done-pursuing-cassidy-hutchinson-over-jan-6-testimony
According to the partisan panel led by Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia, Hutchinson lied to Congress about Donald Trump’s awareness for violence ahead of the insurrectionist riot on Jan. 6, 2021.
Under normal circumstances, the DOJ would blow off a criminal referral like this, recognizing it as more of a political stunt than a serious recommendation. However, note this detail that featured in a report The New York Times published Thursday on the DOJ’s efforts to please the president by pursuing his political foes:
...What’s more, during a recent congressional hearing with former special counsel Jack Smith, GOP members pressed the prosecutor with questions about Hutchinson, reinforcing the perception that she’s a key party target. (Smith made it clear that Hutchinson’s testimony played little to no role in his decision to bring criminal charges against Trump.) Relatedly, Kash Patel, prior to the podcast personality becoming the FBI director, included Hutchinson on his notorious “government gangsters” enemies list.
Based on the publicly available information, there’s no reason to believe Hutchinson, who delivered stunning Jan. 6 testimony nearly four years ago, did anything wrong. But the president himself recently used his social media platform to talk about Hutchinson; he clearly controls the DOJ; and the Republican administration remains determined to punish Trump’s perceived political foes. Watch this space.
Under normal circumstances, the DOJ would blow off a criminal referral like this, recognizing it as more of a political stunt than a serious recommendation. However, note this detail that featured in a report The New York Times published Thursday on the DOJ’s efforts to please the president by pursuing his political foes:
[Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche] have gotten the president’s message. They have stepped up efforts to investigate several other Trump targets. … They have also pushed prosecutors to investigate a former White House aide, Cassidy Hutchinson, whom the president has accused of lying about his actions on Jan. 6, 2021, according to two officials briefed on the effort.
...What’s more, during a recent congressional hearing with former special counsel Jack Smith, GOP members pressed the prosecutor with questions about Hutchinson, reinforcing the perception that she’s a key party target. (Smith made it clear that Hutchinson’s testimony played little to no role in his decision to bring criminal charges against Trump.) Relatedly, Kash Patel, prior to the podcast personality becoming the FBI director, included Hutchinson on his notorious “government gangsters” enemies list.
Based on the publicly available information, there’s no reason to believe Hutchinson, who delivered stunning Jan. 6 testimony nearly four years ago, did anything wrong. But the president himself recently used his social media platform to talk about Hutchinson; he clearly controls the DOJ; and the Republican administration remains determined to punish Trump’s perceived political foes. Watch this space.
April 3, 2026
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/03/trump-plans-spending-377m-on-executive-residence-renovations-and-wants-174m-more-00858810
Trump plans spending $377M on executive residence renovations - and wants $174M more
The fiscal 2027 budget shows an 866 percent funding request jump for renovations to the White House living space and possibly other areas.
Trump plans spending 7M on executive residence renovations – and wants 4M more
— Politico (@politico.com) 2026-04-03T22:28:37Z
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/04/03/trump-plans-spending-377m-on-executive-residence-renovations-and-wants-174m-more-00858810
President Donald Trump plans to spend more than $377 million renovating the White House executive residence in fiscal 2026 — and is estimating another $174 million on top of it for the next year, according to the White House’s fiscal 2027 budget request.
The budget document, which proposes slashing domestic programs to help fund a $1.5 trillion bump to defense spending, estimates spending $377 million in fiscal 2026 under an account for repairs and renovations to the executive residence. That’s a mammoth 866 percent increase over the $39 million estimated to have been spent in fiscal 2025 on sprucing up the area of the White House where the president lives.
An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson told POLITICO that the totals reflect budgetary projections that include not only rehabbing the White House but also security spending costs. The person added that it’s for a number of renovations, not just the executive residence. The spokesperson did not answer questions about what specific projects the money would go toward.....
An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson told POLITICO that the totals reflect budgetary projections that include not only rehabbing the White House but also security spending costs. The person added that it’s for a number of renovations, not just the executive residence. The spokesperson did not answer questions about what specific projects the money would go toward.
Though the budget doesn’t spell out exactly what the renovation funds are to be used for, Trump has repeatedly expressed his fixation on repairing the White House — publicly sharing upgrades to the living quarters, including bathrooms, to more ambitious projects like expanding entertainment space.
The budget document, which proposes slashing domestic programs to help fund a $1.5 trillion bump to defense spending, estimates spending $377 million in fiscal 2026 under an account for repairs and renovations to the executive residence. That’s a mammoth 866 percent increase over the $39 million estimated to have been spent in fiscal 2025 on sprucing up the area of the White House where the president lives.
An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson told POLITICO that the totals reflect budgetary projections that include not only rehabbing the White House but also security spending costs. The person added that it’s for a number of renovations, not just the executive residence. The spokesperson did not answer questions about what specific projects the money would go toward.....
An Office of Management and Budget spokesperson told POLITICO that the totals reflect budgetary projections that include not only rehabbing the White House but also security spending costs. The person added that it’s for a number of renovations, not just the executive residence. The spokesperson did not answer questions about what specific projects the money would go toward.
Though the budget doesn’t spell out exactly what the renovation funds are to be used for, Trump has repeatedly expressed his fixation on repairing the White House — publicly sharing upgrades to the living quarters, including bathrooms, to more ambitious projects like expanding entertainment space.
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