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Trump urges court to reject BBC's bid to secure records from his family in defamation case

Trump urges court to reject BBC's bid to secure records from his family in defamation case

President Donald Trump has urged a federal judge to reject the BBC’s request for the court’s help in securing testimony and documents from three members of the president’s family in response to his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the British broadcaster

President Trump Threatens Lawsuit Against Think Tank Over National Guard Crime Report

President Trump Threatens Lawsuit Against Think Tank Over National Guard Crime Report

President Trump is threatening to sue the Center for American Progress, a left-leaning think tank, for $5 billion unless it retracts a report published on July 13. The report claims that President Trump's deployment of the National Guard to various cities did not reduce crime as he asserted. The Center for American Progress, through its president and chief executive Neera Tanden, has refused to retract the report, stating it is a 'transparent attempt to silence us' and that their findings are based on analysis of crime data. The report concluded that the National Guard deployments 'had no measurable effect on violent crime trends' and criticized the administration for taking credit for a decline in violent crime that was already underway. President Trump's attorney, Alejandro Brito, sent a letter demanding the retraction of 'false, malicious, and defamatory statements' and warned of 'overwhelming financial and reputational harm' if the report is not withdrawn.

Trump Sued Over Truth Social Early Access Service, Alleging First Amendment Violations

Trump Sued Over Truth Social Early Access Service, Alleging First Amendment Violations

President Trump and several White House staffers are facing a lawsuit filed by The Intercept and the Freedom of the Press Foundation. The lawsuit challenges Truth Social's new service, which charges up to $100,000 per month for early access to President Trump's posts. Truth Social, a social media company founded by President Trump's parent company, where he holds a plurality stake, announced this subscription API service, claiming it is a common business practice in the tech, finance, and media sectors. However, the plaintiffs argue that this service violates their First Amendment rights to speech, press, and association, as well as Fifth Amendment equal protection rights. They contend that charging for early access to public information from the President creates an unconstitutional burden and an unlawful restriction on access to a public forum. The lawsuit also suggests that President Trump would personally profit from this service, which could violate federal laws against a president enriching themselve...

Trump’s ballroom survives — for now

Trump’s ballroom survives — for now

And it's already more than half finished.

Supreme Court Temporarily Permits White House Ballroom Construction to Continue

Supreme Court Temporarily Permits White House Ballroom Construction to Continue

The Supreme Court has issued a temporary order allowing President Trump to continue construction on a new ballroom at the White House, effectively pausing a lower court ruling that would have mandated a halt to the project. This administrative stay, issued by Chief Justice John Roberts, does not address the legality of the project itself, which two lower courts have deemed unlawful due to the absence of congressional approval. The order is intended to provide the justices with additional time to consider President Trump's request for an indefinite pause on adverse rulings. According to filings from the Trump administration, construction is rapidly progressing, with a 250-person crew working 20-hour days, seven days a week, and the complex is reported to be 65% complete. The project's cost has escalated from an initial estimate of $200 million to approximately $400 million, with some reports suggesting the total cost for various White House complex changes could reach $900 million.

Emergency Appeal Asks Federal Court to Keep Trump’s Name Off Kennedy Center

Emergency Appeal Asks Federal Court to Keep Trump’s Name Off Kennedy Center

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has ruled that the President’s East Wing ballroom project can proceed.

President Trump Petitions Supreme Court in 'Big Lie' Defamation Appeal Against CNN

President Trump Petitions Supreme Court in 'Big Lie' Defamation Appeal Against CNN

President Donald Trump has filed a petition with the Supreme Court, seeking to reinstate his defamation lawsuit against CNN. The lawsuit centers on CNN's use of the phrase 'big lie' in reference to his claims about the 2020 election. Trump argues that the network's use of this phrase was intended to associate him with Adolf Hitler and Nazi propaganda. This petition follows the Atlanta-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit's decision in March to decline his case. A three-judge panel of the appeals court had upheld a district judge’s ruling against Trump, with two of the three appellate judges and the district judge being Trump appointees. The lower courts dismissed the suit on the grounds that the statements were opinion, not factually false, and that Trump had not demonstrated 'actual malice' on CNN's part. The appellate panel also deemed Trump's claim that the term 'big lie' is clear enough to be a factual statement as 'untenable' and his other claims as 'meritless'.

ABC and Disney Sue FCC Over Alleged First Amendment Violations and License Review

ABC and Disney Sue FCC Over Alleged First Amendment Violations and License Review

ABC and its parent company, The Walt Disney Company, have filed a federal lawsuit against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), alleging that the Trump administration violated their free speech rights. The lawsuit claims that administration officials attempted to influence broadcast licenses and launch investigations due to President Trump's disapproval of their talk show opinions, news coverage, and late-night comedians. This action follows an early review order by the FCC in April for all eight ABC-owned station licenses, years before their scheduled expiration. The FCC cited the network's diversity and inclusion practices as a reason for the review, which occurred shortly after late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, a vocal critic of President Trump, made comments that angered the administration. The lawsuit argues that these actions constitute an "existential threat" to the network and are a direct retaliation for their First Amendment-protected speech. FCC Chair Brendan Carr, appointed by President Trum...

President Trump's Aide Natalie Harp Operated Without Routine Security Clearance for Over a Year

President Trump's Aide Natalie Harp Operated Without Routine Security Clearance for Over a Year

Natalie Harp, President Trump’s 35-year-old executive assistant, reportedly worked for over a year without obtaining the routine security clearance typically required for West Wing staffers, according to MS NOW. This revelation, citing two people familiar with the matter, caused alarm among the Secret Service, the White House counsel’s office, and security officials due to her unfettered access to the president and sensitive information. President Trump eventually intervened personally, and Harp completed the necessary forms for a federal background investigation and received her clearance 'in recent months.' Harp, a former host at One America News, has become one of President Trump’s closest aides, serving as a gatekeeper to the president. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended Harp, stating she has a security clearance and is a loyal team member.

Kennedy Center Delays Reinstatement of President Trump's Name Amidst Legal Challenges

Kennedy Center Delays Reinstatement of President Trump's Name Amidst Legal Challenges

The Kennedy Center has informed a federal court that it will not attempt to restore President Trump's name to the building's facade before September 8, at the earliest. This decision comes amidst ongoing legal battles and opposition from individuals, including Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty, who argue that the Kennedy Center's Trump-aligned board is attempting to defy a previous court order. A federal judge had previously ruled that the initial placement of President Trump's name on the building was illegal and ordered its removal. Despite this, a recent board meeting, which was expected to focus on renovation options, instead resulted in a resolution to name the plaza in front of the building after President Trump and add his name to the venue's facade. The proposed inscription would read, 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump,' with an additional reference if the Trump Kennedy Center Fund reaches $100 million. The Kennedy Center also voted t...

Kennedy Center Delays Reinstatement of President Trump's Name on Facade Amid Legal Battle

Kennedy Center Delays Reinstatement of President Trump's Name on Facade Amid Legal Battle

The Kennedy Center has informed a federal court that it will not attempt to restore President Trump's name to the building's facade before September 8. This decision comes amidst ongoing legal challenges regarding the display of President Trump's name on the performing arts venue. Opponents of the move, including Representative Joyce Beatty, an Ohio Democrat and ex officio board member, argue that certain Trump-aligned board members are intent on defying a previous court order that mandated the removal of President Trump's name. The Kennedy Center stated that the delay is to allow time for legal arguments. A recent board meeting, initially focused on renovation options, instead resulted in a resolution to name the plaza in front of the building after President Trump and to add his name to the facade, specifically reading 'The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Restored and Renovated By President Donald J. Trump.' An additional reference would be added if the Trump Kennedy Center Fund reached $1...

Podcast 'The Run-Up' Navigates Post-President Trump Political Landscape

Podcast 'The Run-Up' Navigates Post-President Trump Political Landscape

The podcast 'The Run-Up,' hosted by Astead Herndon, a politics reporter, is attempting to chart a future for political discourse that is less centered on President Trump. Initially launched by The New York Times in 2016 to cover the presidential election, and later revived for the 2022 midterms, the podcast has evolved to explore the broader context of American politics beyond immediate electoral races. Herndon aims to provide a 'Trump-free' or at least 'decentered Trump' perspective, acknowledging the difficulty of this task given President Trump's pervasive influence on the political monoculture. The show seeks to understand the country's political landscape and the growing disillusionment with democracy by examining underlying issues rather than solely focusing on daily political drama. Despite the challenge, Herndon and his guests have largely succeeded in resisting the gravitational pull of President Trump's presence in their discussions.