A Nation in Peril: Trump's Power Grabs, Broken Promises, and the Fight to Hold on to Democracy

Episode 136 Summary:

1.     Foreign Aid Cuts Cost Lives:

Trump and Rubio continue to lie about the impact of dismantling USAID programs, despite overwhelming evidence—including 300,000+ global deaths—proving these cuts are deadly and unconscionable.

2.     Healthcare and HIV Medications at Risk:

Millions of dollars in critical contraceptives and HIV supplies for poor nations are now closer to destruction than distribution, as Trump’s MAGA administration blocks lifesaving aid.

3.     Chaos at the Core of Government:

After mass firings across 20 federal agencies, Trump’s administration is scrambling to rehire under court order. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is in disarray, threatening vital services like Social Security.

4.     Legal Communities Rise in Resistance:

Lawyers and organizations like the American Constitutional Society and Public Citizen are pushing back—challenging Trump’s power grabs and giving voice to citizens seeking justice.

5.     The Musk-Trump Meltdown:

Their public feud—over budget, tariffs, and ego—exposes just how unstable and self-serving this administration is. Billionaires fighting on social media distract from real crises hurting real people.

6.     Authoritarian Power Grab in California:

Trump’s unauthorized deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles—overriding both Governor Newsom and Mayor Bass—is a dangerous violation of state rights, provoking peaceful protest and civil unrest.

7.     Voter Suppression by Executive Order:

Trump’s latest executive order aims to strip voting rights, enforce surveillance, and punish states defending fair elections. Fortunately, legal injunctions are halting some provisions—for now.

8.     A Chilling Warning for 2026:

As David Frum writes in The Atlantic, Trump’s actions in Los Angeles may be a “dress rehearsal” for stealing the next election. Peaceful protest is now met with militarized force, and the threat of martial law looms.

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References for Podcast 136:

• The Washington Post newsletter [e-mail], May 30^th, 2025, Friday, 10:20 AM, “Rubio’s false claim that no one died from foreign-aid cuts” (Where there are newsletters you will need to write to get on their list.)
• “The U.S. bought #12 million in contraceptives and HIV medications for poor nations Under Trump, the supplies may be destroyed, The Washington Post newsletter on Thursday, June 5, 2025, 12:39 PM.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/the-us-bought-12-million-in-aid-for-poor-nations-under-trump-it-may-be-destroyed/ar-AA1Ga6oI

• “Trump administration races to fix a big mistake: DOGE, fired too many people,” Hannah Natanson, Adam Taylor, Meryl Kornfield, Rachel Sieger and Scott Dance, The Washington Post, June 6, 2025, 6:00 AM EDT.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-races-to-fix-a-big-mistake-doge-fired-too-many-people/ar-AA1GcMct

• American Constitutional Society have a series in June. Joseph [e-mail] or go to the American Constitutional Law Society website https://www.acslaw.org/.
• Forbes newsletter <[e-mail] on Monday, June 9, 2025, 12:-1 PM, “A Breathtaking Display of What Not to Do in Business.”
• The New York Times in their newsletter, [e-mail] on Monday, June 9, 2025, 9:15 AM in “Breaking news: California will sue Trump over National Guard deployment, Newsom says.”
• Public Citizen .css-j9qmi7{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-flex-direction:row;-ms-flex-direction:row;flex-direction:row;font-weight:700;margin-bottom:1rem;margin-top:2.8rem;width:100%;-webkit-box-pack:start;-ms-flex-pack:start;-webkit-justify-content:start;justify-content:start;padding-left:5rem;}@media only screen and (max-width: 599px){.css-j9qmi7{padding-left:0;-webkit-box-pack:center;-ms-flex-pack:center;-webkit-justify-content:center;justify-content:center;}}.css-j9qmi7 svg{fill:#27292D;}.css-j9qmi7 .eagfbvw0{-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;color:#27292D;}