A pair of legal experts were astounded on Monday while discussing a trap the Trump Department of Justice may have laid for itself in a recent case. One of the arguments Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche made when the DOJ created the $1.776 billion settlement between the Trump administration and the IRS was that Trump had been irreparably harmed by a government contractor or employee, which is why they sought such a large payout. However, that argument could get the Trump DOJ into trouble in other cases where privacy matters are concerned, according to Lisa Graves, co-host of the "Court Accountability Action" podcast and Christopher Swartz, the senior ethics counsel for the Democracy Defenders Fund. The two legal experts reacted to the trap in a new episode on Monday. "This is a clear case of failure of those baseline duties of any lawyer, whether they're a first-year lawyer or a lawyer who's been out practicing for 20 or 30 years," Graves said about the settlement agreement. "The misconduct, the failure to defend the interests of the United States, the IRS, and the other agencies, is jaw-dropping."The $ 1.776 billion settlement was initially established to pay claims from people who were wrongfully prosecuted by the federal government. However, the idea was quashed after it received strong bipartisan pushback. Even so, the Trump administration has refused every attempt to make it put in writing that the fund will never be established. Swartz, whose organization filed an ethics complaint against Blanche over the IRS settlement, argued that Blanche's argument "prejudices the government's position" in other cases that involve privacy matters. The ethics complaint was filed at a time when Blanche was seeking confirmation for the full Attorney General role. Some Republicans have already said they won't support Blanche's nomination, which sets the stage for a contentious confirmation battle.
Rachel Maddow kicked off her Monday night MS NOW program with a discussion of Star Wars — and specifically, how one track from the original trilogy just cost the Trump administration a big settlement payout for unlawful police conduct."The Empire Strikes Back is just as exciting as the first Star Wars movie, but it is darker, it is definitely darker, right?" said Maddow. "Our heroes aren't, you know, just plucky underdogs like they were in the first movie. It really, really feels like they are losing ... it's dark. The whole vibe of The Empire Strikes Back is this, you know, the dark dread of this tyrannical force having the upper hand, seeming like it's winning."Even if you aren't a Star Wars fan, Maddow continued, or have even seen the movies, you're likely to know one iconic piece of media from them, she continued. "This sound from The Empire Strikes Back still takes you right back to it, still puts you right back in that fear and dread of the terrible, evil Galactic Empire. John Williams' Imperial March from The Empire Strikes Back ... instant American pop culture shorthand for 'you're looking at tyranny,' right?"Enter Sam O'Hara, Maddow said — a protester who took it upon himself, during the initial Trump-mandated deployment of Washington, D.C., by the National Guard, to walk behind them blasting the Imperial March on his iPhone. She put up a clip of the incident.For that, she said, "a National Guardsman summoned the D.C. police to arrest him for it. And they put him in handcuffs. For having done that, for having played that song." As of today, however, he has gotten a $50,000 settlement for that unlawful treatment by the police. Moreover, she noted, "his lawsuit against the National Guard is still pending. So there may yet be more to come."As for O'Hara now, said Maddow, "he notes to the Washington Post today that he does still go out and do this, only now he doesn't just do it with his iPhone, now he does it louder. With a portable speaker. And now he's just been paid $50,000 for the way they overreached and handcuffed and tried to lock him up for doing it." - YouTube youtu.be
Reactions were rolling in Monday after President Donald Trump and his Republican Party were dealt a serious blow in the Supreme Court's ruling on mail-in ballots.Reporters asked Trump for his thoughts during a press conference in the Oval Office after the high court upheld a Mississippi law that allows mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day, rejecting the president's attacks on the voting practice. Trump was asked what comes next for the SAVE America Act, which the president has referred to as a priority. "Because of the mail-in ballot ruling, which was a little bit surprising, it gives people more time to vote illegally," Trump said.Trump himself has voted by mail — and the internet was quick to point that out."If it's a weekday afternoon in America, reporters are nodding sagely and respectfully and pretending it's normal for a president to say things your family would put your uncle in a padded room with non-toxic crayons and a ball of string if he said them," the political commentary account Recovering Journalist wrote on X."Yes, the 'illegal' mail-in votes, even though Trump votes by mail. It’s like OJ telling you driving a Ford Bronco should be illegal," progressive political commentator Chris Robinson wrote on X."Trump’s an idiot. It doesn’t give any more time to vote," Vince Wilson, liberal political commentator and YouTuber, wrote on X."Adjudicated rapist says what?" Dane Rauschenberg, long-distance runner and author, wrote on X.If it's a weekday afternoon in America, reporters are nodding sagely and respectfully and pretending it's normal for a president to say things your family would put your uncle in a padded room with non-toxic crayons and a ball of string if he said them. https://t.co/ixmhMNxxXD— Recovering Journalist (@JournoRehab) June 29, 2026
The 2023 verdict found Trump liable for sexually abusing writer and then defaming her – key US politics stories from Monday 29 June at a glanceThe US supreme court on Monday declined Donald Trump’s request to review a New York jury’s 2023 verdict that found him liable for sexually abusing writer E Jean Carroll, and then defaming her.The justices did not provide an explanation or reasoning, and no public dissents were noted. The decision leaves intact the $5m civil judgment against Trump that was returned by the jury after the two-week trial in 2023. Continue reading...
White House staffer Margo Martin, whom President Donald Trump has called his "most beautiful" aide, faced mockery Monday over a video she posted on social media trying to flatter Trump.Martin recorded Trump walking through Lafayette Square on Sunday with Interior Secretary Doug Burgum as they discussed recent renovations tied to the president's "beautification" projects, according to The Daily Beast. The video generated unexpected responses from social media users who questioned Trump's health and commented on his movement through the Washington, D.C., park. Multiple social media users commented on Trump's appearance, particularly his walk. Watch the video below. Your browser does not support the video tag.
Democrats in the US House of Representatives quickly fired back on Monday after President Donald Trump called pending affordable housing legislation a “big yawn” compared to the attack on voting rights that he wants Republicans to pass.Trump last Wednesday canceled a planned signing ceremony for the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act and demanded that Congress, which is narrowly controlled by Republicans, pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE America, Act. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Monday sent Trump the bipartisan housing bill—which will become law with no action by the president after 10 days.Asked by reporters whether he’ll sign the housing legislation, Trump replied: “It hasn’t been sent to me yet. It’s coming, I understand, and then I’ll make a de—Here’s what I would like to say... It’s a yawn. Some people say it’s wonderful. To me, compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn.”Sharing a clip of the president’s remarks on social media, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) declared, “He truly doesn’t give a damn about you.”Other Democrats delivered similar responses. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (Wash.) said that “Trump does not care about lowering housing prices,” while Rep. Becca Balint (Vt.) wrote of his comments, “Donald Trump literally does not care about your cost of living, part one million.”Democratic Colorado Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen said: “A yawn? Try telling that to the families who can’t afford rent, can’t afford to buy gas or groceries, and are one paycheck away from losing everything. Believe him when he tells you who he is.”Rep. Christian D. Menefee, a Texas Democrat, charged that “Trump cares more about rigging elections than Americans affording homes.”The Democratic National Committee’s (DNC) rapid response director, Kendall Witmer, said in a statement that “Donald Trump continues to mock what everyday Americans are experiencing. Time and again, Trump has had the chance to lower costs for working families, but without fail, he has chosen to prioritize his own interests and those of his wealthy friends.”“As Americans struggle to put a roof over their heads and afford basic necessities,” Witmer added, “Trump continues to double down on his disastrous policies and self-serving agenda—and Americans are fed up.”Trump’s comments came just over four months away from the November midterm elections, in which Democrats aim to regain control of both chambers of Congress. In the lead-up to the midterms, Trump has ramped up pressure on Republicans in Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would force Americans to show proof of citizenship when registering to vote, and photo identification at the ballot box. Critics have warned that the former requirement could disenfranchise millions of Americans who may not have access to documents such as a birth certificate or passport with their current name.Johnson said Sunday on Fox News that “we’re going to try to pass it again, and this time we’re going to try to put it on a reconciliation bill,” which “prevents the necessity of 60 votes in the Senate.” The speaker on Monday also sent a message to his GOP colleagues who might block unrelated legislation in a bid to pressure senators to pass the SAVE America Act: “Whomever is thinking that stopping the work of House Republicans to make Americans safer right now and to bring down the cost of living—impeding that progress just because stubborn Senate Democrats won’t do the job of the American people is self-defeating. It doesn’t make any sense.”Punchbowl reported on Monday that GOP leadership has also expressed interest in creating a $4 billion grant program that would incentivize states to enact parts of the bill. Some Republican state lawmakers have already pursued copycat legislation.As elected Republicans attack voting rights at the national level, the US Supreme Court—whose right-wing supermajority has often rubber-stamped Trump’s agenda—delivered a surprise victory for voting rights on Monday: Two conservatives joined the three liberal justices in rejecting the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) challenge to states counting mailed ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but received afterward. “The DNC is proud to have stood with the state of Mississippi to defeat the RNC’s latest attack on Americans’ voting rights,” said the Democrats’ chair, Ken Martin. “Trump and Republicans are attacking our elections and trying to rig the system in their favor because they know the American people are ready to reject their chaos and corruption this November.”
President Donald Trump still won’t say whether he’ll sign a bipartisan housing bill that’s coming to his desk Monday, declaring it “a big yawn” compared to his voter suppression bill.Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office Monday, Trump brushed aside mention of the legislation, which aims to boost housing supply and address affordability issues.“Big deal. It’s a yawn,” Trump said. “Some people say it’s wonderful. To me, compared to the SAVE America Act, just about everything is a big yawn,” Trump said.Trump on Housing Bill: To me, compared to the Save America Act, everything is a big yawn! pic.twitter.com/Z49vLFK1WP— Acyn (@Acyn) June 29, 2026The SAVE America Act would require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, and a photo ID when voting. Citizenship is already a requirement to vote, and instances of noncitizens voting is incredibly rare. Plus, the bill as written doesn’t have enough support to pass the Senate; making it law before the housing bill, like Trump wants, is essentially impossible.“I think it’s so unimportant by compared to the SAVE America Act. I think the SAVE America Act is exactly what it says—it’s saving America from crooked elections. And the housing bill is a bill that can get approved, they worked on it long and hard. It’s very bipartisan—that means the Democrats like it,” Trump said, seemingly insinuating that the bipartisanship of the housing bill was a flaw.Reporter: What are your plans for the housing bill?Trump: I don’t know. I think it's so unimportant compared to the Save America Act. Democrats like it. They are getting things that I wouldn’t necessarily agree to. I made a lot of money with housing. pic.twitter.com/8aQYHfEPs0— Acyn (@Acyn) June 29, 2026“They’re getting things that I wouldn’t necessarily agree to,” he continued. “Nobody knows more than housing in the history of the presidency, nobody did well like me in housing. I made a lot of money with housing. But when I look at that bill, it’s a bill. But when I look at the SAVE America Act, it’s about saving America,” Trump said, demonstrating his ability to read.Republicans and Democrats alike are looking to the passage of the housing bill for a pre-midterm reputation boost. Republicans have a lot riding on this in particular. However, it seems like Trump would rather talk about his glory days as a slumlord than help out the vulnerable members of his own party—not to mention the millions of Americans who can’t afford homes.
