Trump Action Archive

Supporting reports

• Judge Cannon interrupts and cuts off Ryan Routh's opening statement in Trump assassination attempt trial — Ryan Routh, 59, representing himself without legal training, began his opening statement in his trial for attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Florida golf resort in September 2024. Judge Aileen Cannon interrupted him three times within five minutes, citing improper procedure and accusing him of making "a mockery of the court" after he discussed evolution, global conflicts, and Hitler rather than mounting a defense. Cannon excused the jury to reprimand him, then suspended his remarks entirely. The trial proceeded with prosecution witnesses including Secret Service agent Robert Fercano, who testified he spotted a rifle near Trump and fired at the armed person.

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• First Circuit Court of Appeals lifts injunction, allows Trump administration to block Medicaid reimbursements to Planned Parenthood — The U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that the Trump administration may proceed with blocking Planned Parenthood from receiving Medicaid reimbursements under a provision in its tax and spending bill. The decision lifts a lower court's preliminary injunction. Planned Parenthood estimates up to 200 clinics may close, affecting 1.1 million Medicaid-eligible patients who rely on the organization for cancer screenings, STI testing, contraception, and other services. Litigation continues as the court prepares to hear substantive arguments in coming weeks.

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• Brazilian Supreme Court convicted Bolsonaro of coup plotting — Four out of five justices on a panel of the Brazilian Supreme Court found former president Jair Bolsonaro, a close ally of Donald Trump, guilty of plotting a coup, attempting to overturn the country's 2022 election, and committing violent acts against state institutions. They sentenced him to 27 years and three months in prison.

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• Rear Admiral questioned legal basis for boat strike — Rear Admiral Donald J. Guter, a retired top judge advocate general for the Navy from 2000 to 2002, questioned the legal basis for the boat strike, noting that if the men on the boat were retreating, there was no "imminent threat" to justify the use of force under the laws of war.

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• Iowa county official defies governor's half-staff flag order for Charlie Kirk — Jon Green, chair of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors in Iowa, publicly announced he would not comply with Governor Kim Reynolds's directive to lower flags at half-staff in honor of Charlie Kirk, a rightwing activist fatally shot on September 11. Green cited Reynolds's failure to issue similar orders after other prominent gun violence cases, including the killing of Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman. Reynolds responded by criticizing Green's decision as "disgraceful" and putting "politics above human decency." Green stated he would accept any legal or electoral consequences for his refusal.

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• Three former FBI agents filed lawsuit against Kash Patel — Three former FBI agents filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Kash Patel portraying him as a "partisan neophyte more interested in social media and swag" than professional law enforcement, occurring on the same day Patel mishandled the Kirk shooting investigation.
• Three former FBI officials sue Kash Patel for wrongful termination over Trump investigations — Three senior FBI officials—Brian Driscoll Jr., Steven Jensen, and Spencer Evans—filed a federal lawsuit in Washington DC against FBI Director Kash Patel and the federal government, alleging wrongful termination and unlawful political influence. The complaint alleges Patel stated he was instructed by the White House to fire agents who worked on Trump investigations, and that Emil Bove pressured officials to compile lists of agents involved in January 6 investigations. The officials seek reinstatement, backpay, and a declaration that their firings were illegal.
• Three former FBI officials sued Patel and DOJ for politicizing the FBI — Three former top officials at the FBI filed a lawsuit against FBI Director Patel, the FBI, Attorney General Bondi, the Department of Justice, and the president, accusing them of unlawfully politicizing the FBI and purging anyone who had ever worked on a criminal investigation of Trump. The lawsuit suggests Bongino had an "intense focus on [using] his social media profiles to change his followers' perceptions of the FBI."
• FBI director and deputy director focused on social media rather than investigation — FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino, both MAGA influencers without law enforcement experience, appeared to prioritize social media activity over the investigation into Kirk's shooting. Hours after the shooting, Patel's personal social media account posted a picture of himself and Kirk; minutes later, Patel's official FBI account posted conflicting updates about the suspect's custody status. Both officials appeared focused more on posting than conducting investigative work.

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• House passes Stop Illegal Entry Act imposing mandatory 10-year sentences for migrants re-entering after removal — The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed HR3486, the Stop Illegal Entry Act, on 11 September 2025, imposing mandatory minimum sentences of 5–10 years for migrants convicted of illegal re-entry combined with other crimes. The bill passed largely along party lines with 11 Democratic votes and White House support. Criminal justice groups warn it would incarcerate thousands for non-violent offenses, cost approximately $440,000 per person, paralyze federal courts by eliminating plea incentives, and disproportionately affect migrants fleeing violence or seeking family reunification. Senator Ted Cruz is advancing the measure in the Senate, where it requires 60 votes to proceed.

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• Texas Redistricting Lawsuit Filed — A lawsuit has been filed challenging the newly drawn congressional maps in Texas, alleging that the maps are a partisan gerrymander favoring the Republican Party. The plaintiffs argue that the redistricting process violates the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution by diluting the voting power of minority communities. The case has been filed in federal court, and the plaintiffs are seeking a court order to block the use of the maps in upcoming elections.
• Missouri Republicans approve mid-decade congressional redistricting eliminating Democratic seat — Missouri Republicans approved a new congressional map on September 12, 2025, that eliminates a district currently held by Democrat Emanuel Cleaver in Kansas City and redistributes voters into GOP-friendly districts, increasing Republican seats from six to seven of eight. The map now goes to Republican Governor Mike Kehoe for signature. Opponents plan to gather signatures for a statewide referendum within 90 days to force a voter decision on the maps in 2026.

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• Trump administration walked back Guatemalan deportation claims — The Trump administration walked back its claims that hundreds of Guatemalan children it tried to deport back to their home country last month had been requested to return by their parents after a Justice Department attorney acknowledged that the claims had no factual basis and had been contradicted by a Guatemalan government review, which concluded that most of the parents couldn't be located and the majority who were had wanted their children to remain in the US.

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• Alabama petitions Supreme Court to reverse private right of action in Milligan v. Allen — Alabama filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to consider new arguments to reverse the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals' determination that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act provides a private right of action. The petition, filed in the case Milligan v. Allen, also raises the constitutional questions at stake in Louisiana v. Callais regarding whether majority-minority districts violate the Fourteenth Amendment.
• Alabama requests stay in redistricting lawsuit pending Callais decision — Alabama filed a request with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals for a stay of a lower court's decision ordering the state to draw new congressional maps. The stay request seeks to pause the redistricting order until the Supreme Court issues its decision in Louisiana v. Callais, signaling that the outcome of that VRA case will determine Alabama's redistricting obligations.

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• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals rules Section 2 contains no private right of action in Arkansas case — The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act does not provide a private right of action, meaning only the Attorney General—not private plaintiffs such as voters or voting-rights organizations—can enforce the provision. This decision effectively gutted Section 2 enforcement in Arkansas, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The plaintiffs in that case declined to appeal to the Supreme Court, fearing it would entrench the decision nationwide.
• Eighth Circuit rules Section 208 of VRA contains no private right of action — The 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act, which ensures that voters with disabilities or limited English proficiency can receive assistance casting their ballots, does not explicitly provide a private right of action. The decision upheld an Arkansas law that makes it a crime for anyone other than a poll worker to assist more than six people in casting their ballots.

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• Louisiana reverses legal position in Callais, joins conservative plaintiffs in attacking VRA Section 2 — After the Supreme Court's reargument order in Louisiana v. Callais, Louisiana reversed its legal strategy. Previously, the state had argued its congressional map was drawn with political rather than racial considerations. The state now joined the conservative plaintiffs in directly attacking Section 2's remedy—the creation of a second majority-Black congressional district—as unconstitutional under the Fourteenth Amendment.

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• Mississippi petitions Supreme Court to rule on Section 2 private right of action — Mississippi filed a petition with the U.S. Supreme Court asking it to rule on whether Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act provides a private right of action. The petition appeals a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that had determined private plaintiffs do have a right to sue under Section 2.

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• Republican National Committee urges Fifth Circuit to adopt no-private-right-of-action interpretation for Section 208 — The Republican National Committee filed a brief with the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals urging it to adopt the same interpretation as the 8th Circuit—that Section 208 of the Voting Rights Act does not provide a private right of action. This follows the 8th Circuit's decision upholding an Arkansas law criminalizing assistance to more than six voters per person.

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• Supreme Court schedules reargument in Louisiana v. Callais on VRA Section 2 remedy — The U.S. Supreme Court delayed issuing an opinion in Louisiana v. Callais during summer 2025 and announced a reargument scheduled for October on whether Louisiana's creation of a second majority-minority congressional district violates the Fourteenth or Fifteenth Amendments. The case originated after Louisiana was ordered in 2024 to redraw maps with an additional majority-Black district following a successful Section 2 challenge. The reargument signals the Court may be preparing a sweeping ruling that could substantially narrow or eliminate the VRA's most powerful remaining provision.

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• Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians appeals to Supreme Court on Section 2 private right of action — Native American plaintiffs led by the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians are appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court after the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that private plaintiffs cannot bring Section 2 claims via Section 1983. The tribes had successfully challenged North Dakota's state legislative maps under both Section 2 and Section 1983, resulting in a VRA-compliant map used in 2024. The Supreme Court agreed to pause the 8th Circuit's ruling while it deliberates the appeal.

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• Department of Justice reverses position on voting rights cases under Attorney General Pam Bondi — Under Attorney General Pam Bondi, the U.S. Department of Justice has reversed its position on numerous voting rights cases, including Louisiana v. Callais. The reversal signals a shift away from federal enforcement of voting-rights protections and aligns the DOJ with conservative legal arguments attacking the Voting Rights Act.

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• Supreme Court uses shadow docket to overturn lower court rulings without explanation — The Supreme Court has dramatically expanded its use of the "shadow docket"—unsigned, unexplained decisions traditionally reserved for emergencies—to overturn lower court rulings in favor of Trump. The court, three of whose justices Trump appointed, has sided with him in shadow docket decisions more than 70% of the time. These decisions lack hearings, briefs, or written justification, undermining judicial transparency and the rule of law while supporting the administration's narrative that courts are subverting Trump's presidency.

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• Complaint filed — Driscoll v. Patel (D.D.C. 1:25-cv-03109) — Three senior FBI officials, including former FBI Acting Director Brian J. Driscoll, Jr., filed suit in federal district court challenging their summary dismissal by FBI Director Kash Patel on August 8, 2025. The plaintiffs claim they were entitled to statutory protections under the FBI Senior Executive Service (5 U.S.C. § 3151), which permits removal only for specified causes such as misconduct or neglect of duty. They allege their terminations violated the Fifth Amendment Due Process Clause and the First Amendment, arguing the dismissals were retaliatory and based on perceived political disloyalty rather than lawful cause. Plaintiffs seek reinstatement and an injunction against further adverse action without due process.

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• Supreme Court agreed to hear Trump's tariff appeal — The Supreme Court said it would take up Trump's emergency appeal related to the legality of his global tariffs, with oral arguments expected in November. In the meantime, the tariffs will remain in place. The decision allows the contested tariffs to continue while the Court considers their constitutionality.
• SCOTUS grants certiorari before judgment and expedites consolidated cases on Trump tariff authority — The Supreme Court granted a petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump (No. 24-1287) and granted the motion to expedite and petition for certiorari in Trump v. V.O.S. Selections, Inc. (No. 25-250). The cases were consolidated with one hour allotted for oral argument. Briefing schedule compressed: respondents' opening brief due September 19, 2025; response briefs due October 20, 2025; reply brief due October 30, 2025. Argument set for the first week of November 2025 argument session.

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• Supreme Court partially stays District Court order in Department of State v. AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition — The Supreme Court, in an emergency application, partially stayed a September 3, 2025 District Court order (D.D.C., cases 1:25-cv-400 and 1:25-cv-402) for funds subject to the President's August 28, 2025 rescission proposal pending before Congress. The stay applies only to those funds and remains in effect pending further order of the Chief Justice or the full Court. Respondents were ordered to file a response by September 12, 2025, at 4 p.m. EDT.

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• Democrat James Walkinshaw won special election for Virginia's 11th Congressional District — Democrat James Walkinshaw easily won the special election to replace the late Representative Gerry Connolly (D-VA) in Virginia's 11th Congressional District. According to Strength in Numbers analyst Elliott Morris, the district has swung 16 percentage points toward the Democrats since the 2024 election.

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• Republicans block release of Epstein files in Rules Committee vote — All eight Republicans on the House Rules Committee voted to block the release of the Epstein files after Trump warned them it would be a "hostile act" to vote for release. The Republicans who voted to block were Virginia Foxx (NC), Michelle Fischbach (MN), Ralph Norman (SC), Chip Roy (TX), Nick Langworthy (NY), Austin Scott (GA), Morgan Griffith (VA), and Brian Jack (GA). Democrats have secured 216 signatures on a discharge petition and expect two special election victories to provide the votes needed to force a floor vote on release.

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• Michigan judge dismissed fake elector charges — A Michigan state judge dismissed charges against a group of fake electors who signed certificates that falsely stated Trump won the state in the 2020 presidential election, ruling that there wasn't sufficient evidence to prove their intent to commit fraud. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel called the dismissal "the most dangerous slippery slope for American democracy" and expressed terror about the 2026 elections.
• Michigan judge dismisses charges against 15 Trump fake electors — Judge Kristen Simmons in Michigan dismissed felony charges against 15 of 16 people accused of falsely signing documents claiming Trump won the 2020 election. The judge ruled the state had not provided sufficient evidence of intent to prove fraud, characterizing the defendants' actions as exercising their constitutional right to seek redress. The dismissal represents a significant setback for efforts to hold Trump and allies accountable for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results.

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• Federal judge blocked Trump from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook — A federal judge temporarily blocked Trump from firing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, finding that the president's decision to terminate her over accusations of mortgage fraud that allegedly occurred before her tenure is outside the bounds of the "for cause" provision, which is limited to her behavior in office. The ruling prevented the removal while litigation continues.