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January 17, 2026
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/16/trump-minnesota-walz-frey-criminal-investigation
Justice Dept. launches criminal investigation of Minnesota governor
The Justice Department plans to issue subpoenas for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of an investigation into impeding law enforcement.
Justice Dept. launches criminal investigation of Minnesota governor
— Juan Escalante (@juanescalante.com) 2026-01-16T23:28:05.417Z
The Justice Department has issued subpoenas for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of an investigation into impeding law enforcement.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/01/16/trump-minnesota-walz-frey-criminal-investigation
The Justice Department is planning to issue subpoenas for Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey as part of an investigation alleging that the two Democratic leaders are impeding federal law enforcement officers’ abilities to do their jobs in the state, two people familiar with the matter confirmed Friday.
The subpoenas, which are without recent precedent, escalate an already bitter political battle between the Trump administration and state officials following the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an immigration officer last week. That shooting happened amid a surge of federal immigration officers in the state ordered by President Donald Trump.
One of the people familiar with the case confirmed that the plan was to serve the subpoenas Friday. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an open investigation. Neither Walz nor Frey had been served with a subpoena by early Friday evening, spokespeople for the officials said.
Walz and Frey have claimed they have been wrongly excluded from the investigation into the killing of Renée Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer through the window of her SUV as she and others were monitoring and protesting the crackdown. The governor and mayor have publicly said they fear that the Justice Department is not conducting a fair and robust probe. In turn, Trump administration officials have said that Minnesota’s Democratic leaders are corrupt and can’t be trusted to handle an investigation......
Late Friday, a federal judge in Minnesota barred immigration agents from arresting people who are peacefully protesting in Minneapolis. The order from U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez also instructs agents not to use pepper spray and other “nonlethal munitions” against peaceful demonstrators, and said they could not stop people in cars simply for following agents’ vehicles.
The subpoenas, which are without recent precedent, escalate an already bitter political battle between the Trump administration and state officials following the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by an immigration officer last week. That shooting happened amid a surge of federal immigration officers in the state ordered by President Donald Trump.
One of the people familiar with the case confirmed that the plan was to serve the subpoenas Friday. The people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an open investigation. Neither Walz nor Frey had been served with a subpoena by early Friday evening, spokespeople for the officials said.
Walz and Frey have claimed they have been wrongly excluded from the investigation into the killing of Renée Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE officer through the window of her SUV as she and others were monitoring and protesting the crackdown. The governor and mayor have publicly said they fear that the Justice Department is not conducting a fair and robust probe. In turn, Trump administration officials have said that Minnesota’s Democratic leaders are corrupt and can’t be trusted to handle an investigation......
Late Friday, a federal judge in Minnesota barred immigration agents from arresting people who are peacefully protesting in Minneapolis. The order from U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez also instructs agents not to use pepper spray and other “nonlethal munitions” against peaceful demonstrators, and said they could not stop people in cars simply for following agents’ vehicles.
January 17, 2026
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/16/minneapolis-ice-protester-arrests-judge/
Minneapolis judge bars DHS agents from arresting peaceful protesters
The order comes in response to a lawsuit from residents alleging that their rights were violated while they were observing or protesting immigration raids.
Minneapolis judge bars DHS agents from arresting peaceful protesters
— Brooklynwatch (@brooklynwatch.bsky.social) 2026-01-17T03:07:44.285Z
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/16/minneapolis-ice-protester-arrests-judge/
A federal judge on Friday night prohibited Department of Homeland Security agents from arresting people who are peacefully protesting immigration officers in Minneapolis unless they are suspected of criminal activity or obstructing the agents.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez in Minneapolis said her order will remain in effect until the operation concludes or “conditions change such that it is no longer necessary.” It also bars federal agents from retaliating against peaceful protesters, using pepper spray and other nonlethal munitions against demonstrators, and stopping or detaining people in cars for following agents’ vehicles.
A federal judge on Friday night prohibited Department of Homeland Security agents from arresting people who are peacefully protesting immigration officers in Minneapolis unless they are suspected of criminal activity or obstructing the agents.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez in Minneapolis said her order will remain in effect until the operation concludes or “conditions change such that it is no longer necessary.” It also bars federal agents from retaliating against peaceful protesters, using pepper spray and other nonlethal munitions against demonstrators, and stopping or detaining people in cars for following agents’ vehicles....
The lawsuit names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem, Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd M. Lyons and local ICE field office directors and agents as defendants. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is representing the plaintiffs.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez in Minneapolis said her order will remain in effect until the operation concludes or “conditions change such that it is no longer necessary.” It also bars federal agents from retaliating against peaceful protesters, using pepper spray and other nonlethal munitions against demonstrators, and stopping or detaining people in cars for following agents’ vehicles.
A federal judge on Friday night prohibited Department of Homeland Security agents from arresting people who are peacefully protesting immigration officers in Minneapolis unless they are suspected of criminal activity or obstructing the agents.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez in Minneapolis said her order will remain in effect until the operation concludes or “conditions change such that it is no longer necessary.” It also bars federal agents from retaliating against peaceful protesters, using pepper spray and other nonlethal munitions against demonstrators, and stopping or detaining people in cars for following agents’ vehicles....
The lawsuit names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem, Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd M. Lyons and local ICE field office directors and agents as defendants. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is representing the plaintiffs.
January 17, 2026
Minneapolis judge bars DHS agents from arresting peaceful protesters
Source: Washington Post
A federal judge on Friday night prohibited Department of Homeland Security agents from arresting people who are peacefully protesting immigration officers in Minneapolis unless they are suspected of criminal activity or obstructing the agents.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez in Minneapolis said her order will remain in effect until the operation concludes or “conditions change such that it is no longer necessary.” It also bars federal agents from retaliating against peaceful protesters, using pepper spray and other nonlethal munitions against demonstrators, and stopping or detaining people in cars for following agents’ vehicles.
A federal judge on Friday night prohibited Department of Homeland Security agents from arresting people who are peacefully protesting immigration officers in Minneapolis unless they are suspected of criminal activity or obstructing the agents.
U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez in Minneapolis said her order will remain in effect until the operation concludes or “conditions change such that it is no longer necessary.” It also bars federal agents from retaliating against peaceful protesters, using pepper spray and other nonlethal munitions against demonstrators, and stopping or detaining people in cars for following agents’ vehicles....
The lawsuit names Homeland Security Secretary Kristi L. Noem, Immigration and Customs Enforcement acting director Todd M. Lyons and local ICE field office directors and agents as defendants. The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is representing the plaintiffs.
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/01/16/minneapolis-ice-protester-arrests-judge/
Minneapolis judge bars DHS agents from arresting peaceful protesters
— Brooklynwatch (@brooklynwatch.bsky.social) 2026-01-17T03:07:44.285Z
www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/...
January 16, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/polls-show-broad-public-opposition-to-trumps-interventionist-global-agenda
MaddowBlog-Polls show broad public opposition to Trump's interventionist global agenda
When it comes to the president’s foreign ambitions, most Americans just aren’t buying what he’s selling.
When it comes to Trump’s interventionist agenda...
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-15T15:40:17.320Z
- Venezuela
- Greenland
- Iran
- Mexico
... three new polls show that the American mainstream just isn’t buying what he’s selling. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/polls-show-broad-public-opposition-to-trumps-interventionist-global-agenda
With Trump’s second year of his second term poised to get underway, and with his interventionist global agenda reaching radical new heights, there’s fresh evidence that the American mainstream is even less impressed than it was in early 2025. The Associated Press reported:
These top-line results are important, but just as notable are the survey results on the specific international targets Trump has in mind.
If Trump is looking for good news in any of these national surveys, he won’t find any: When it comes to his foreign ambitions, most Americans just aren’t buying what he’s selling.
More than half of U.S. adults believe President Donald Trump has ‘gone too far’ in using the U.S. military to intervene in other countries, according to a new AP-NORC poll.
The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research was conducted Jan. 8-11, after Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s capture. It found that 56% of U.S. adults think Trump has overstepped on military interventions abroad.
These top-line results are important, but just as notable are the survey results on the specific international targets Trump has in mind.
Venezuela: The president said earlier this week that critics of his recent military offensive in Venezuela necessarily “hate our country.” He might want to rethink this: The AP poll found that 57% of respondents disapprove of how Trump is handling the situation in Venezuela. The latest Reuters/Ipsos poll found nearly identical results (59% disapproval). The latest Quinnipiac University poll, meanwhile, found that 55% of Americans oppose taking over Venezuela’s oil sales, and that 57% oppose the U.S. running Venezuela until it is satisfied that the government there will operate the way the U.S. wants it to.
Greenland: The Quinnipiac poll found that 55% of the American public opposes trying to buy Greenland, while a whopping 86% oppose trying to take Greenland by military force. Similarly, the Reuters/Ipsos poll found that only 4% think it would be a good idea “to use military force to take possession of Greenland from Denmark.”
Iran: The Quinnipiac poll found that 70% of Americans believe that the United States should not get involved in ongoing developments in Iran, while the Reuters/Ipsos poll similarly found that only 33% of the public approves of Trump’s policy toward Iran.
Mexico: While Trump continues to talk about possible military strikes against drug cartels in Mexico, the Quinnipiac poll found that 57% of Americans are against the idea, while only 37% support such an offensive.
Congress’ role: As the White House pursues an interventionist agenda abroad, it’s treated Congress as an afterthought, but the Quinnipiac poll found that 70% of Americans believe that presidents, as a general matter, should receive approval from Congress before taking military action against another country.
If Trump is looking for good news in any of these national surveys, he won’t find any: When it comes to his foreign ambitions, most Americans just aren’t buying what he’s selling.
January 16, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/gops-hawley-young-send-an-unsubtle-signal-to-trump-bullying-works
MaddowBlog-GOP's Hawley, Young send an unsubtle signal to Trump: Bullying works
The president wasn’t willing to tolerate any attempt to limit his authority in Venezuela, so he tried to scold Republicans into submission. It worked.
By surrendering in response to Trump’s scoldings, Republican Sens. Josh Hawley and Todd Young sent an unsubtle reminder to the White House:
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-15T13:59:13.639Z
Sometimes, with some people, bullying works. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/gops-hawley-young-send-an-unsubtle-signal-to-trump-bullying-works
The bipartisan breakthrough was, however, on a procedural vote. There was still one more Senate vote necessary to approve the resolution. If the 53 members who backed the measure last week stuck together, it would move to the House for consideration.
That didn’t happen. MS NOW reported:
Three of the five GOP senators who voted with Democrats last week — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky — stuck to their guns, but two did not.....
In the days that followed, MS NOW confirmed that Trump called each member of the quintet, berating the GOP members who defied him. The president, as MS NOW’s source summarized, was “very upset, angry, yelling.” Trump was especially animated with Young, whose phone meeting with the president was “very heated.”....
But Trump wasn’t willing to tolerate any attempt to limit his authority in Venezuela — even if the Senate vote wouldn’t have actually limited his authority in Venezuela — and so he tried to scold Senate Republicans into submission.
By surrendering, Hawley and Young sent an unsubtle reminder to the White House: Sometimes, with some people, bullying works.
In floor remarks after the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked, “Why wouldn’t our Republican colleagues just do what Congress is supposed to do, assert our authority, and say, ‘Let’s have a debate’? Let’s say, ‘If he’s going to go any further in Venezuela, he needs congressional approval.’”
The New York Democrat added, “What has happened tonight is a road map to another endless war, because this Senate, under Republican leadership, failed to assert its legitimate and needed authority.”
That didn’t happen. MS NOW reported:
On Wednesday, Senate Republicans approved a procedural gambit to block the Venezuela war powers resolution from getting a final vote, stopping the bipartisan effort dead in its tracks after it appeared headed for success.
The vote was 51-50, after Vice President JD Vance arrived at the Capitol on Wednesday night to break a tie.
Three of the five GOP senators who voted with Democrats last week — Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Rand Paul of Kentucky — stuck to their guns, but two did not.....
In the days that followed, MS NOW confirmed that Trump called each member of the quintet, berating the GOP members who defied him. The president, as MS NOW’s source summarized, was “very upset, angry, yelling.” Trump was especially animated with Young, whose phone meeting with the president was “very heated.”....
But Trump wasn’t willing to tolerate any attempt to limit his authority in Venezuela — even if the Senate vote wouldn’t have actually limited his authority in Venezuela — and so he tried to scold Senate Republicans into submission.
By surrendering, Hawley and Young sent an unsubtle reminder to the White House: Sometimes, with some people, bullying works.
In floor remarks after the vote, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asked, “Why wouldn’t our Republican colleagues just do what Congress is supposed to do, assert our authority, and say, ‘Let’s have a debate’? Let’s say, ‘If he’s going to go any further in Venezuela, he needs congressional approval.’”
The New York Democrat added, “What has happened tonight is a road map to another endless war, because this Senate, under Republican leadership, failed to assert its legitimate and needed authority.”
January 16, 2026
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-health-2674896698
'Needs to be evaluated': Ex-White House cardiologist highlights worrying Trump health sign
trump is not well
'Needs to be evaluated': Ex-White House cardiologist highlights worrying Trump health sign - Raw Story www.rawstory.com/trump-health...
— Chet Kresiak Photography (@chetkresiakphoto.bsky.social) 2026-01-15T12:40:37.778Z
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-health-2674896698
A former White House cardiologist says Donald Trump "needs to be evaluated" after a recent appearance in the Oval Office.
The president was seen surrounded by a group in the office that included Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK Jr., and Republican Party representative Ben Carson. Despite the large crowd around him, Trump was spotted seemingly falling asleep as he signed off on a policy to bring whole milk back into schools.
A clip of Trump seemingly closing his eyes and nodding slightly has gone viral on X, and Jonathan Reiner believes it is a sign the president needs a check up. Reiner, the former cardiologist to Vice President Dick Cheney, took to X and said an evaluation of the current president is necessary.
He wrote, "The president seems to be struggling with excessive daytime somnolence. Repeatedly falling asleep with a dozen people surrounding your desk is not normal. It needs to be evaluated."
It comes as a separate medical expert, Professor Bruce Davidson of Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, suggested Trump may have had a stroke.
He said, "My impression is that President Trump has had a stroke, and I think there's several lines of evidence supporting that. I think his stroke was on the left side of the brain, which controls the right side of the body." On The Court of History, Davidson was asked what formed his belief about the president's health.
The president was seen surrounded by a group in the office that included Secretary of Health and Human Services RFK Jr., and Republican Party representative Ben Carson. Despite the large crowd around him, Trump was spotted seemingly falling asleep as he signed off on a policy to bring whole milk back into schools.
A clip of Trump seemingly closing his eyes and nodding slightly has gone viral on X, and Jonathan Reiner believes it is a sign the president needs a check up. Reiner, the former cardiologist to Vice President Dick Cheney, took to X and said an evaluation of the current president is necessary.
He wrote, "The president seems to be struggling with excessive daytime somnolence. Repeatedly falling asleep with a dozen people surrounding your desk is not normal. It needs to be evaluated."
It comes as a separate medical expert, Professor Bruce Davidson of Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine, suggested Trump may have had a stroke.
He said, "My impression is that President Trump has had a stroke, and I think there's several lines of evidence supporting that. I think his stroke was on the left side of the brain, which controls the right side of the body." On The Court of History, Davidson was asked what formed his belief about the president's health.
January 16, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/why-trumps-pitiful-new-health-care-plan-is-even-worse-than-it-appears
MaddowBlog-Why Trump's pitiful new health care 'plan' is even worse than it appears
The White House’s health care gambit isn’t just a sham, it also diverts the process from an actually helpful solution.
The important thing to remember about Trump’s new health care “plan†is that it’s not an actual health care plan.
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-16T14:14:18.302Z
It’s a hodgepodge of random conservative ideas, packaged together on a short website, which pushes meaningful solutions even further away. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/why-trumps-pitiful-new-health-care-plan-is-even-worse-than-it-appears
After seeing the new proposal billed by the White House as “The Great Healthcare Plan,” it’s fair to say Trump and his team still haven’t delivered. The New York Times reported:
To characterize the document the White House produced as a health care “plan” is overly generous. The entirety of the proposal — literally, from start to finish — is 386 words. For context, the blog post that you’re reading right now is roughly 650 words, and if your health care blueprint is quite a bit shorter than a blog post, then you don’t actually have a health care plan......
But there is nothing to pass. There is no bill. The plan, for all intents and purposes, does not exist.
Moreover, the White House document is little more than a hodgepodge of conservative ideas, packaged together on a short website. A Washington Post report noted, “The administration released no legislative text nor timeline for related congressional action. … Asked how the proposal would advance in Congress, administration officials said it was a ‘broad architecture’ intended to guide lawmakers on next steps.”
“Broad architecture” is a nice euphemism for “we couldn’t actually come up with anything more than vague goals.”
At the heart of the proposal was a demand for one significant change: The administration wants federal funds that are currently going to insurance companies to go instead to consumers — who in turn would give the money to insurance companies.
Why would that be better than the status quo? I honestly have no idea, and neither the president nor anyone on his team have made any effort to answer questions along those lines.
Under pressure to address affordability issues in the country, President Trump on Thursday released his long-awaited health care plan, urging Congress to pass measures that would codify steps his administration has already taken to try to lower drug costs and providing what a White House official called ‘broad direction’ to back health savings accounts.
The plan was short on specific details and left much of the direction for how to finalize it up to Congress. It amounted to a few paragraphs on a webpage.
To characterize the document the White House produced as a health care “plan” is overly generous. The entirety of the proposal — literally, from start to finish — is 386 words. For context, the blog post that you’re reading right now is roughly 650 words, and if your health care blueprint is quite a bit shorter than a blog post, then you don’t actually have a health care plan......
But there is nothing to pass. There is no bill. The plan, for all intents and purposes, does not exist.
Moreover, the White House document is little more than a hodgepodge of conservative ideas, packaged together on a short website. A Washington Post report noted, “The administration released no legislative text nor timeline for related congressional action. … Asked how the proposal would advance in Congress, administration officials said it was a ‘broad architecture’ intended to guide lawmakers on next steps.”
“Broad architecture” is a nice euphemism for “we couldn’t actually come up with anything more than vague goals.”
At the heart of the proposal was a demand for one significant change: The administration wants federal funds that are currently going to insurance companies to go instead to consumers — who in turn would give the money to insurance companies.
Why would that be better than the status quo? I honestly have no idea, and neither the president nor anyone on his team have made any effort to answer questions along those lines.
January 16, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-received-a-nobel-peace-prize-the-same-way-he-received-a-purple-heart
Trump received a Nobel Peace Prize the same way he received a Purple Heart
The president seems to prefer a model where others do the heavily lifting and then generously turn over their honors.
Trump received a Nobel Peace Prize the same way he received a Purple Heart:
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-16T16:59:30.116Z
He wants the honors without the sacrifice. He prefers a model in which others do the work and then generously turn over their awards to him, because, as he put it, it’s “much easier.†www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-received-a-nobel-peace-prize-the-same-way-he-received-a-purple-heart
That reminded me of a story from almost a decade ago. Politico published this report in August 2016:
“I always wanted to get the Purple Heart,” the then-candidate declared. “This was much easier.”
Purple Hearts are awarded to service members or their families after they’re wounded or killed in the course of their military service. Due to alleged “bone spurs” in his feet, Trump avoided military service, but by his own admission, he “always wanted to get the Purple Heart” anyway.
Having someone who actually served in the military hand him the honor was “much easier” for Trump than actually wearing the uniform and putting his life on the line.
With Machado, the story is similar: Trump wants the accolades without the sacrifice. He apparently prefers a model in which others do the heavily lifting and then generously turn over their honors to him, without him having to do anything to merit the award he covets.
But while the president will likely celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize that ended up in his possession, he’ll know — we all know — that there’s a dramatic difference between a gift and earned honors.
Without setting foot on a battlefield, Donald Trump said he received a Purple Heart medal on Tuesday at his rally in Ashburn, Virginia, from a retired lieutenant colonel and supporter.
‘I said to him, “Is that like the real one, or is that a copy?”’ the Republican nominee said moments after taking the stage at a local high school. Trump recounted the exchange, remarking that the man, who he identified as retired Lt. Col. Louis Dorfman said, ‘That’s my real Purple Heart. I have such confidence in you.’
“I always wanted to get the Purple Heart,” the then-candidate declared. “This was much easier.”
Purple Hearts are awarded to service members or their families after they’re wounded or killed in the course of their military service. Due to alleged “bone spurs” in his feet, Trump avoided military service, but by his own admission, he “always wanted to get the Purple Heart” anyway.
Having someone who actually served in the military hand him the honor was “much easier” for Trump than actually wearing the uniform and putting his life on the line.
With Machado, the story is similar: Trump wants the accolades without the sacrifice. He apparently prefers a model in which others do the heavily lifting and then generously turn over their honors to him, without him having to do anything to merit the award he covets.
But while the president will likely celebrate the Nobel Peace Prize that ended up in his possession, he’ll know — we all know — that there’s a dramatic difference between a gift and earned honors.
January 16, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-muses-on-midterms-when-you-think-of-it-we-shouldnt-even-have-an-election
This was NOT a joke. trump does NOT have a sense of humor and does NOT tell jokes
MaddowBlog-Trump muses on midterms: 'When you think of it, we shouldn't even have an election'
Every time the president talks about not having elections, his authoritarian vision comes into sharper focus
Trump told Reuters this week, “When you think of it, we shouldn't even have an election.â€
— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-01-15T16:33:40.462Z
This wasn’t a one-off: He’s made similar comments too many times before, making his overt hostility toward democracy plain. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-muses-on-midterms-when-you-think-of-it-we-shouldnt-even-have-an-election
This week, the Republican raised a similar observation during an Oval Office interview with Reuters’ Steve Holland — but this time, Trump offered one additional thought. From the Reuters report:
Trump’s incessant focus on the historical pattern seems designed to avoid blame: If and when Republicans fare poorly, the president apparently wants to be able to say, “No one should blame me, this is what always happens.”.....
A year earlier, in the run-up to Election Day 2024, the then-candidate reflected on his professed popularity and asked, “So why are we having an election?”
Conservatives are likely to see the quote Trump offered to Reuters and shrug, brushing it off as a harmless aside. But throughout his career, he’s repeatedly rejected the idea that Americans can resolve their differences at the ballot box and asserted that he’d only accept election results that align with his hopes and expectations.
Every time he muses about the United States not having elections, his authoritarian vision comes into sharper focus.
The president expressed frustration that his Republican Party could lose control of the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate in this year’s midterm elections, citing historical trends that have seen the party in power lose seats in the second year of a presidency.
‘It’s some deep psychological thing, but when you win the presidency, you don’t win the midterms,’ Trump said. He boasted that he had accomplished so much that ‘when you think of it, we shouldn’t even have an election.’
Trump’s incessant focus on the historical pattern seems designed to avoid blame: If and when Republicans fare poorly, the president apparently wants to be able to say, “No one should blame me, this is what always happens.”.....
A year earlier, in the run-up to Election Day 2024, the then-candidate reflected on his professed popularity and asked, “So why are we having an election?”
Conservatives are likely to see the quote Trump offered to Reuters and shrug, brushing it off as a harmless aside. But throughout his career, he’s repeatedly rejected the idea that Americans can resolve their differences at the ballot box and asserted that he’d only accept election results that align with his hopes and expectations.
Every time he muses about the United States not having elections, his authoritarian vision comes into sharper focus.
This was NOT a joke. trump does NOT have a sense of humor and does NOT tell jokes
January 16, 2026
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/hegseth-taunts-mark-kelly-as-another-democratic-veteran-faces-an-investigation
In reality, however, Kelly didn’t do anything wrong. Several Democratic military and intelligence veterans appeared in a video, released in November, in which they urged service members to reject illegal orders. This sparked apoplexy within the Trump administration, as if it were somehow outrageous to remind service members to follow the law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice — as Hegseth himself did before he joined Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
But as it turns out, Kelly isn’t the only target of the crusade. The New York Times reported:
Ms. Slotkin, a former CIA officer who served three tours in Iraq, told the Times that she sees the investigation as an effort by an authoritarian president to weaponize the federal government and intimidate her into silence. “Facts matter little, but the threat matters quite a bit,” the Michigan Democrat said. “The threat of legal action; the threat to your family; the threat to your staff; the threat to you.”.....
The brazen weaponization of the federal levers of power, however, is unmistakable.
“I’s not just about me and my family,” Slotkin added in her comments to the Times. “It’s what happens when the commander in chief takes the arms of the government and turns them against basic free speech and against his own people. And it’s not going to stop with me.”
Maddowblog-Hegseth taunts Mark Kelly as another Democratic veteran faces investigation
“Facts matter little, but the threat matters quite a bit,” Sen. Elissa Slotkin said after being contacted by Trump’s Justice Department.
Hegseth taunts Mark Kelly as another Democratic veteran faces an investigation - MS NOW
— (@oc88.bsky.social) 2026-01-14T17:23:45.917Z
apple.news/AovEB6_7MRsO...
https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/hegseth-taunts-mark-kelly-as-another-democratic-veteran-faces-an-investigation
In reality, however, Kelly didn’t do anything wrong. Several Democratic military and intelligence veterans appeared in a video, released in November, in which they urged service members to reject illegal orders. This sparked apoplexy within the Trump administration, as if it were somehow outrageous to remind service members to follow the law and the Uniform Code of Military Justice — as Hegseth himself did before he joined Donald Trump’s Cabinet.
But as it turns out, Kelly isn’t the only target of the crusade. The New York Times reported:
Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan says she has learned that federal prosecutors are investigating her after she took part in a video urging military service members to resist illegal orders.
Ms. Slotkin, a Democrat, said in an interview on Monday that she found out about the inquiry from the office of Jeanine Pirro, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia and a longtime ally of President Trump’s. In an email sent to the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms, Ms. Pirro’s office requested an interview with the senator or her private counsel.
Ms. Slotkin, a former CIA officer who served three tours in Iraq, told the Times that she sees the investigation as an effort by an authoritarian president to weaponize the federal government and intimidate her into silence. “Facts matter little, but the threat matters quite a bit,” the Michigan Democrat said. “The threat of legal action; the threat to your family; the threat to your staff; the threat to you.”.....
The brazen weaponization of the federal levers of power, however, is unmistakable.
“I’s not just about me and my family,” Slotkin added in her comments to the Times. “It’s what happens when the commander in chief takes the arms of the government and turns them against basic free speech and against his own people. And it’s not going to stop with me.”
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