Trump’s First Week: Pardons, Power Grabs, and a Nation in Peril

Episode Highlight and Key Takeaways:

1. Trump’s return to office has been marked by vengeance and favoritism, not national progress.
2. He inherited a strong economy, stable security, and progress in social issues—yet he paints America as broken.
3. Trump’s propaganda machine fuels fear and misinformation to justify extreme policies.
4. His mass pardons of January 6th offenders, including violent criminals, undermine the rule of law.
5. Bipartisan criticism highlights the danger of Trump’s actions, with even conservatives condemning his decisions.
6. The fight for democracy is more urgent than ever—citizens must stay informed, engaged, and vocal.

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References for Podcast 117:

• The Week, “Shock and Awe, January 17, 2025, by Peter Baker of The New York Times entitled “The successes Trump will inherit.” (Here is a connection to be a subscriber) https://subscribe.theweek.com/pubs/W0/TWE/self1023_3formats_Dlink.jsp?cds_page_id=275740&cds_mag_code=TWE&id=1738127807258&lsid=50282316471079474&vid=2&cds_response_key=I3FRPKSZ1
• Congresswomen Lizzie Fletcher in her newsletter on January 24, 2025, Friday at 8:39 PM (RepLizzieFletcherTX07Wmail.house.gov if you want to receive her newsletters.)
• The Week, January 31, 2025, “Trump returns with a barrage of orders, pardons,” comments by Aaron Black, , “Many GOP law makers opposed pardoning violent offenders who injured more than 140 police officers, as did three-quarters of Americans, Noah Rothman in National Review, and Jonathan V. Last in The Bulwark. (Can use this link to subscribe.)

https://www.zinio.com/publications/the-week-magazine/3441

• Matt Angel, Lone Star Project, newsletter January 20, 2025, 22:03 AM ([e-mail]).
• Olivia of Troye, newsletter, “The Chaos Presidency: A Warning Ignored” on January 23, 2025, Thursday, 5:11 PM (Olivia of Troye <[e-mail])
• The Washington Post in their newsletter written by Max Boot, Columnist, on January 21, 2025, Tuesday, at 4:59 PM is named the “Prompt”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/01/21/president-trump-day-one-executive-orders/

• Public Citizen on Monday, January 27, 2025, at 2:28 PM (Subscribe to [e-mail]. This organization has a large group of supporters and they are suiting Trump for several of his actions.)
• The Washington Post article by Philip Bump on “The gutting of American institutions has led to Trump gutting America itself.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/01/27/trump-institutions-decay-destruction-power/

Eric H. Holder, JR, The National Democratic Redistricting Committee newsletter, Monday, January 20,