Author | Lightnews

Poll finds most Americans doubt Trump’s commitment to free speech, fair justice

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 5h

A new poll found that nearly two-thirds of Americans believe Trump has gone too far in expanding the powers of the presidency while failing to uphold his commitment to protecting freedom of speech and preserving free and fair elections.

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

The American people also don’t seem to know quite what to make of the criminal cases against two of Trump’s perceived opponents.

www.washingtonpost.com

Shutdown threatens to delay home heating aid for millions of low-income families

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 1d

Millions of low-income families are at risk of losing heating aid this winter. The shutdown has frozen funding for LIHEAP, which helps nearly 6 million households pay their energy bills — on top of suspended SNAP benefits and rising fuel costs.

www.pbs.org/newshour/nat...

With temperatures beginning to drop in areas across the U.S., some states are warning that funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program is being delayed because of the federal government ...

www.pbs.org

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Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 1d

The Republican-caused shutdown is on track this week to hit the 35-day mark. The duration eclipses the longest government shutdown in history, which occurred in 2019, also under Trump.

www.politico.com/news/2025/11...

‘Utterly shameful’: Congress to crush US record this week for longest shutdown

There’s no chance for Congress to resolve the shutdown and reopen the government before crossing the historic threshold Tuesday.

Trump administration faces Monday deadline on use of contingency funds for SNAP

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Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 1d

As millions of Americans watch their SNAP benefits and livelihoods hang in the balance, President Trump hosted an extravagant "Great Gatsby"-themed Halloween party with the theme being “As little party never killed nobody.”

www.npr.org/2025/11/03/g...

President Trump's administration faces deadlines on Monday to tell two federal judges whether it will continue to fund SNAP, the nation's biggest food aid program, using contingency funds.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Defend Democracy Project

Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 4d

Confusing questions, cherry-picked testimony, & a politically appointed U.S. attorney

Comey’s case shows what happens when prosecutions serve politics instead of justice

Rep & Dem legal leaders agree that it's an assault on the system

Read here 👇 - TN
www.cbsnews.com/news/comey-s...

Comey seeks to have indictment tossed, arguing senator's questions were "confusing," "ambiguous"

Former FBI Director James Comey is arguing his testimony in response to Sen. Ted Cruz's questions was "literally true" and cannot support a conviction.

www.cbsnews.com

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Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 4d

According to a new Washington Post, ABC News, and Ipsos poll, more than half of Americans disapprove of President Trump’s demolition of the White House’s East Wing to make way for a $300 million ballroom.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

More than half of Americans disapprove of Trump demolishing East Wing – poll

Survey, in which one-third respondents voted for the president, found 56% disagree with move

Trump Calls on Republicans to End Filibuster in Shutdown Fight

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 4d

Trump has ordered Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster to force an end to the government shutdown. This would strip away a deeply-rooted Senate rule.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/31/u...

Judge questions the Trump administration's plan to suspend SNAP benefits for millions

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 4d

Trump administration’s plan to suspend SNAP benefits for millions is being questioned by a federal judge. The federal judge told lawyers that if the government can’t afford to cover the cost, there is a process to follow rather than simply suspending all benefits.

www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

During a hearing over a request by 25 Democratic-led states to keep the funding flowing, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani told lawyers that if the government can't afford to cover the cost, there's ...

www.pbs.org

Guard Troops Were Sent to Portland, Ore., Despite a Court-Ordered Halt

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 5d

On Wednesday, the federal government revealed that it sent National Guard Troops into Portland, Oregon, only hours after a court-ordered halt. Judge Karen Immergut raised the possibility that the Trump administration was in contempt of court.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/29/u...

Trump’s DOJ scrubs mention of Jan. 6 and Trump from Taylor Taranto sentencing memo

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Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 5d

The Trump Justice Department has removed all references to January 6 and Trump from the sentencing memo of Taylor Taranto. This revision erases any mention of the violent attempted insurrection that Taranto participated in, and was later pardoned for, by Trump.

www.msnbc.com/deadline-whi...

After two prosecutors told the truth about things the president doesn’t like, they were replaced by new ones who told a new story.

www.msnbc.com

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 6d

Trump has fired all six members of the federal arts board who were in charge of reviewing his White House ballroom and planned ‘Arc de Trump’, looking to replace them with members who “align with Trump’s policies.”

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump fires federal arts board in charge of reviewing White House ballroom and ‘Arc de Trump’

White House says it will appoint new Commission of Fine Arts members ‘more aligned with … America First Policies’

Agriculture secretary accused of unlawfully refusing to use emergency fund to prevent food stamp disruption – as it happened

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 6d

Democracy Defenders Fund has accused Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins of unlawfully refusing to tap a $5 billion emergency fund that was specifically created to prevent food stamp shortages and protect 42 million Americans during government shutdowns.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...

Democracy Defenders Fund says Brooke Rollins is legally obliged to use $5bn SNAP contingency fund to continue benefits for 42 million Americans

Judge extends order barring mass firings of federal workers during shutdown

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 6d

An order banning the Trump administration from mass-firing federal employees during the government shutdown has been indefinitely extended by a federal judge. This is a vital defense against a lawless attempt to weaponize the shutdown to dismantle the government.

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston said she found some accounts from impacted federal employees “very affecting.”

The Last Word | Democracy Defenders Action × Public Citizen

Reposted by Defend Democracy Project

Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 7d

Democracy depends on people willing to stand up, for our rights, our democracy, and the rule of law

Authoritarianism wins only if we stay silent

Proud to share this new video from us at @democracydefendersaction.org & @publiccitizen.bsky.social: youtube.com/watch?v=XrDW...

YouTube video by Democracy Defenders Action

youtube.com

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Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 7d

Trump is appealing his criminal conviction on charges from the New York election interference case when he concealed information from the American public ahead of the 2016 election, after a New York jury made him a convicted felon in 2024.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/28/p...

Trump appeals New York hush money conviction | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump appealed his criminal conviction on state charges related to a hush money scheme, arguing the case should never have been brought and the verdict should be overturned.

www.cnn.com

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 7d

House Speaker Mike Johnson is backing the Trump administration’s decision not to tap emergency funds for food aid, leaving 42 million Americans without vital funds or resources as the shutdown nears the one-month mark.

www.politico.com/live-updates...

Johnson backs Trump's plans not to tap contingency dollars for food aid ahead of funding cliff

The White House is warning 42 million low-income Americans will start to miss SNAP benefits Saturday if Democrats don’t vote for the funding stopgap this week.

Calling This Court "Supreme" Is Obeying in Advance

Reposted by Defend Democracy Project

Michael Podhorzer @mikepod.bsky.social · 7d

1️⃣ Calling This Court “Supreme” Is Obeying in Advance

When will legal and media elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?

Why “Supreme Court Poised to Weaken Voting Rights Act,” when it should be “Republican Justices Appear Poised to Entrench Republican House Control"?

When will legal elites stop passing off tyranny in robes as the rule of law?

www.weekendreading.net

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Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 8d

The Trump administration is deploying election monitors to five California counties on Election Day. Sending federal “monitors” only to Democratic-led states fits a clear pattern: targeting perceived political enemies while ignoring red flags in states run by allies.

ktla.com/news/califor...

ktla.com

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 8d

A Portland, OR, federal judge rejected the Trump administration’s request to lift her order blocking deployment of the national guard troops into the city, reasoning that the matter would be decided on by Monday.

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Portland judge rejects Trump request to allow national guard deployment

Karin Immergut to decide by Monday whether to lift her order blocking federalized troops from patrolling city

Ex-special counsel Jack Smith asks to testify publicly before Congress, his lawyers say

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 8d

Jack Smith, former DOJ special counsel, is offering to testify publicly before Congress regarding his federal investigations into President Trump's handling of sensitive documents and efforts to subvert the transition of power after the 2020 election.

www.cbsnews.com/news/jack-sm...

Lawyers for former special counsel Jack Smith said he is asking to testify in open hearings before the House and Senate Judiciary Committees.

www.cbsnews.com

Trump Is Wasting No Time in Tearing Down the East Wing

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 11d

Trump started construction on his $250 million ballroom by demolishing the entire White House East Wing, without any review or approval, despite promises not to dismantle parts of the White House.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...

Steve Bannon says ‘there’s a plan’ for Trump 2028

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 11d

Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon has claimed that Trump has a plan to run again in 2028, even though the Constitution bars him from seeking another term.

www.newsweek.com/steve-bannon...

Bannon said during his interview that Trump will run for a third term because "we have to finish what we started."

www.newsweek.com

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 11d

DOJ investigators have privately warned that the supposed “mortgage fraud” case against New York Attorney General Letitia James doesn’t hold up.

newrepublic.com/post/202198/...

Prosecutors Find Evidence Ruining Their Own Case Against Letitia James

Prosecutors who investigated the New York attorney general for months warned that the actual evidence undermined the allegations in the indictment.

newrepublic.com

Defend Democracy Project @defdemocracy.bsky.social · 12d

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes filed a lawsuit against House Speaker Mike Johnson for refusing to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, arguing that “constitutional rights cannot be used as a bargaining chip.”

www.politico.com/news/2025/10...

Arizona attorney general sues Mike Johnson for failing to seat Adelita Grijalva

“Constitutional rights cannot be used as a bargaining chip,” Kris Mayes wrote.