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Books and analysis on politics, government & public life. Home of THE MAGA AUDIT by Anton LeBeau. Promises made. Promises audited. PolicyAtPlay.com
Trump’s Ukraine post is circulating again, so a reminder: the U.S. had not spent $350B, Europe had not spent $200B less, half the aid was not “missing,” and millions had not died. Nearly every number in the post was wrong or misleading. Criticize Ukraine policy if you want. Start with real numbers.
Zelensky says Ukraine is “losing a strong partner” and that Trump is choosing “the wrong side.” Whatever label you use, the pattern is getting harder to ignore: more pressure on Ukraine, fewer constraints on Russia, and continued Russian strikes on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Republicans Against Trumpism@rpsagainsttrump.bsky.social · 16h agoZelensky: It's a pity that we are losing a strong partner. Morgan: You think you're losing America? Zelensky: Yeah, but not because of us. We can’t be weak. Otherwise, we can’t survive… This is why it’s painful when Trump chooses to be on Russia’s side. This is not the right side of history.
Update: Axios reports White House officials told Ukraine they “don’t have control over SpaceX” and would ask the company what happened. Musk says Starshield is controlled by the U.S. government and its limits are ultimately decided by POTUS. Those explanations don’t fit together.
Axios@axios.com · 12h agoThe rupture between President Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over last week's diesel deal deepened today after an Elon Musk-owned satellite system used by Kyiv unexpectedly restricted service — undercutting Ukraine's fight against Russia.
Trump says Taiwan’s Alaska LNG commitment “guarantees success.” Taiwan does plan to buy 6 million tons a year and may invest up to $4.4 billion. But the deal is still being negotiated, no binding sales agreement has been signed, and the project itself has not reached final investment decision.
Politico@politico.com · 12h agoTrump says Taiwan will buy Alaska LNG. The project is still in flux. politi.co/4i4k2ql
Update: Ukraine says Starlink connectivity up to 160 km/h is being restored. The higher-speed Starshield restriction remains, and Fedorov says removing it entirely is still critical for Ukraine’s defense.
Olga Nesterova@onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 15h agoSame Fedorov who partners with Palantir?
The U.S. has spent years using economic pressure to reduce Russia’s ability to finance its war. Now the U.S. is turning to Russian diesel to help bring fuel prices down. Even Giorgia Meloni calls the deal a “very risky choice.” That tradeoff deserves more scrutiny.
U.S.-Russia deal on diesel is 'very risky choice,' Italy PM Meloni says
The deal between the United States and Russia over diesel supply is a "very risky choice" that runs counter to efforts to force Vladimir Putin to sit at a negotiating table with Ukraine, Italian Prim...
reuters.com
Republicans have long treated the economy as their strongest political ground. Gallup now has Democrats ahead 51%–37% on which party Americans trust to keep the country prosperous — their first clear lead since 2012. Among independents, it’s 50%–32%.
The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 21h agoAmericans trust the Democratic Party more than Republicans “to keep the country prosperous,” marking the Democratic party’s first clear lead with voters on the economic issue in more than a decade in Gallup’s annual governance poll.
Yesterday this was a credential question. Today a watchdog filed a California State Bar complaint asking whether Katie Zacharia illegally held herself out as a lawyer without a license. A complaint isn’t a conviction—but the White House still hasn’t produced a bar admission.
Forbes@forbes.com · 18h agoThe complaint cites reporting from independent journalist Judd Legum alleging Zacharia is not licensed to practice law in any state.
Ukraine hits Russian refineries and Washington threatens consequences because Americans might pay more for fuel. Russia hits facilities tied to Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, McDonald’s and Oreo in Ukraine, and the administration is largely silent. The asymmetry is becoming impossible to miss.
CNN@cnn.com · yesterdayAs President Donald Trump and his administration have ratcheted up pressure on Ukraine to stop striking Russian refineries, citing harm to American consumers, they have remained silent on recent Russian strikes on US businesses in Ukraine. https://cnn.it/4jVaEaL
Hormuz isn’t just an oil story anymore. The UN warns blocked fertilizer shipments could trigger a food crisis in Asia and Africa if planting seasons are missed. Five ships a day could keep critical supplies moving. The longer this war drags on, the more the costs spread beyond the battlefield.
Reuters@reuters.com · 21h agoFailure to activate Hormuz fertilizer plan could trigger food crisis, UN official says reut.rs/4yNUx3p
An Air Force major awaiting trial has reportedly spent nearly two months in 24/7 solitary confinement. He hasn’t been convicted of anything. Whatever the charges, military law bars pretrial confinement more rigorous than necessary. Months of isolation deserves serious scrutiny.
Cindy 📎🇨🇦⚢🏳️🌈@bilbow.bsky.social · 2d ago#MajorJasonWatson is being held in solitary confinement 24/7. Military law draws hard line in cases such as this. Article 13, UCMJ prohibits punishing service member who's awaiting trial & says confinement may not be "any more rigorous than the circumstances require" www.military.com/air-force-ma...
The Strait of Hormuz may technically be “open,” but a container ship has now sunk after being hit by a projectile, another damaged vessel is reportedly sinking, and Iran is escalating attacks on shipping. “Open” doesn’t mean safe, normal or economically stable.
Reuters@reuters.com · 21h agoContainer ship sinks near Hormuz after being hit by projectile, sources say reut.rs/4e643qo
Inflation is back up to 3.7%. Gasoline jumped 9.1% in September alone and accounted for more than half the monthly increase. Hours earlier, Trump called higher fuel costs “a small price to pay.” For households actually paying those prices, it isn’t small.
The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 21h agoBreaking news: Inflation rose to a 3.7 percent annual pace in September, extending a relentless climb this year pushed by surging energy prices and souring Americans on the economy as they head to the polls in three weeks.
A watchdog has logged 1,088 reports of Meta restrictions affecting mostly pro-Lula accounts during Brazil’s election. That deserves investigation—but “1,088 accounts censored” overstates the evidence. Some were reach complaints or technical issues. Transparency from Meta is what’s needed now.
Mike Elk@mikeelk.bsky.social · 2d agoMeta has censored more than 1,000 pro-Lula accounts during the Brazilian Presidential Election. Evidence shows that the social media giant clearly interfered in the election. paydayreport.com/meta-censors...
Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” and said both sides had agreed. Russia never confirmed it. Now Russia says it launched a “massive strike” on Ukrainian power plants, leaving hundreds of thousands without electricity. You can’t declare an agreement into existence.
Bloomberg News@bloomberg.com · 23h agoRussia said it attacked Ukrainian electricity plants in a “massive strike” overnight, further undermining Trump’s claim of an energy truce between the two warring countries
Ukraine says Starlink restrictions disrupted missions without warning as Washington pressures Kyiv to stop striking Russian oil targets. SpaceX hasn’t explained why. Maybe there’s a technical reason—but when battlefield communications change amid political pressure, transparency matters.
The Guardian@theguardian.com · yesterdayUkrainian soldiers in combat have access to Starlink satellite internet restricted
Billions in trades anticipated Trump’s Iran reversal 15 minutes before he announced it. CFTC analysts reviewed the timing and traders, referred it for an insider-trading investigation—and were then told to retract the referral. That doesn’t prove insider trading. It demands an explanation.
Catherine Rampell@crampell.bsky.social · yesterdayBillions of dollars’ worth of contracts predicting oil would fall and the S&P 500 would rise were placed about 15 minutes before Trump announced a U-turn on Iran in a post on Truth Social. CFTC staff began to investigate...then were told to lay off. www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...
The concern goes beyond Ilhan Omar. When federal agents raid a naturalized citizen’s home weeks before an election over immigration paperwork dating back to childhood, the message can reach millions of Americans: citizenship may never feel fully secure if the government decides to reopen your past.
The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · yesterdayAnalysis: Legal experts argued the Trump administration’s raid of the home of Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) has many of the makings of an intimidation effort — not just for Democratic members of Congress, but for naturalized immigrants who can legally vote.
Elon Musk accused a career FEMA official of criminal conduct. A federal judge has now found the claims were false and called the campaign against her “state sanctioned intimidation.” She was fired anyway. Government power plus a viral accusation can ruin a reputation long before the facts catch up.
CNBC@cnbc.com · 2d agoJudge says Musk engaged in intimidation of ex-FEMA CFO Mary Comans, clears her name
Trump won Alaska by 13 points in 2024. Two years later, Republicans are sending a president 3,400 miles to ruby-red Wasilla to help save a Senate seat, with Democrat Mary Peltola now slightly ahead in polling averages. That tells you a lot about the 2026 map.
The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 2d agoPresident Trump’s 3,400-mile trip to a ruby-red pocket of Alaska — Wasilla, the home of former governor and vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin — shows how urgently his party needs to mobilize its base to keep control of the Senate.
The Iran war’s estimated cost to Americans has now reached $265 billion—about $2,000 per household on average, according to Moody’s. Roughly $1,100 is higher energy costs, $540 higher borrowing costs and $360 military spending. Wars fought abroad still arrive in the household budget.
CNN@cnn.com · 2d agoFrom $4 gas and 7% mortgage rates to surging airfares, the Iran war is significantly raising the cost of living for inflation-weary consumers ahead of the midterm elections. https://cnn.it/4hLQGxR
The Supreme Court will decide whether DOGE was a federal agency subject to FOIA or just an advisory body. If an office can help remake government, fire workers and redirect policy, calling it “advisory” shouldn’t automatically hide its records.
Supreme Court agrees to hear watchdog lawsuit seeking records on Elon Musk’s DOGE
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear arguments in a watchdog’s lawsuit seeking public records about trillionaire Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
apnews.com
Reuters found Trump granted clemency to 85 public officials charged with or convicted of corruption. Most were Republicans or MAGA allies. Pardons are constitutional—but when mercy tracks political loyalty this closely, accountability looks partisan.
In Trump’s pardons for public officials, Republicans win most of the mercy
Trump has pardoned scores of US public officials charged with or convicted of crimes related to corruption. But his clemency skews right. A Reuters analysis shows the vast majority of recipients were ...
reuters.com
FIFA is paying $4 million for a seven-year Trump Tower lease on an office it barely uses, despite already having two Miami offices. FIFA says the rent is market-rate. Maybe so—but paying the president’s family business for space you apparently don’t need is an obvious conflict-of-interest problem.
The New Republic@newrepublic.com · 2d agoGianni Infantino and FIFA are helping Trump profit even further off the presidency. trib.al/OGZCc8e
The costs of the Iran war aren’t staying inside Iran. Houthi attacks have now killed civilians at Riyadh’s airport and threatened Saudi Arabia’s investment and tourism ambitions. Washington can choose escalation; nearby allies are the ones increasingly living with the blowback.
The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 2d agoThe Houthi missile strikes at Riyadh’s international airport have raised broader questions about whether the country’s immediate security and economic interests are in conflict with Washington’s war in Iran and with Israel’s goals in the Middle East.
> Ukraine really did hit Russian data centers, and Yandex “bot” traffic collapsed. But those were largely web crawlers—not proof Russian propaganda bots vanished. A claim can fit our expectations perfectly and still be wrong. That’s when verification matters most.
Mother Jones@motherjones.com · 2d agoDrone strikes didn’t take out a Russian bot farm, but we were primed to believe it.
Trump says he doesn’t believe Russia or China are helping Iran. The record says otherwise: China buys most Iranian oil Chinese firms supplied satellite imagery Russian satellites reportedly aided targeting weapons/procurement links continue Trump’s own officials say both are helping
Newsweek@newsweek.com · 2d agoDonald Trump doesn't believe China and Russia are helping Iran in its war with the U.S. The record suggests otherwise.
If Somali immigrants arrived with nothing and became Minnesota’s top buyers of BMWs and Mercedes, that sounds more like an immigrant success story than an indictment. But there’s no public data supporting that claim anyway. The “no pants” and “low IQ” lines are just ethnic contempt.
The Bulwark@thebulwark.com · 2d agoTrump: "In Somalia where they don't have pants to wear. They come here, they go in BMWs and Mercedes...And they're the number one buyers of Mercedes-Benz and BMWs in the state of Minnesota. The whole thing is crazy. It's crazy. low IQ people."
Medicare for All still doesn’t have majority support—43% back it—but supporters now outnumber opponents nearly 2-to-1. The bigger signal: two-thirds of Americans, including half of Republicans, want Washington willing to spend more to lower health costs. Affordability is moving the debate.
Axios@axios.com · 2d ago🏥 NEW: Supporters of Medicare for All now outnumber opponents by nearly 2-to-1, according to a new Axios-Ipsos American Health Index survey