Domestic Politics: United States Archives

Risk and Rewards of Bank Deregulation in Trump 2.0

3Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Big Tech, Digital Economy, Domestic Politics: United States, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Types of News: Brief

Risk and Rewards of Bank Deregulation in Trump 2.0

Trump’s Changes Boost Big Banks and AI Carry Market Risks November 3, 2025—Deregulation of industry is a significant feature of Trump 2.0. In his second term, President Donald Trump is signing executive orders and presidential memoranda that require agencies to pause, review, or repeal rules affecting energy production, air quality, environmental protection, and banking. In the financial sector, the Trump administration is: Reducing the amount of cash banks need to hold (a.k.a. capital requirements). Cutting certain exam requirements for small, community banks effective Jan. 1, 2026. These relate to the National Flood Insurance Program, fair lending risk assessments, and other regulatory requirements. (See the Office of Comptroller of the Currency, https://occ.gov/news-issuances/...

Former Trump Security Adviser John Bolton Indicted on Charges of Mishandling Information

17Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Bit, Types of News: Brief

Former Trump Security Adviser John Bolton Indicted on Charges of Mishandling Information

Indictment Alleges Transmitting and Retaining National Defense Information October 17, 2025—A Maryland court indicted John Bolton, the former White House national security adviser during the first term of President Donald Trump. Counts one through eight on the 26-page indictment relate to the “transmission of national defense information,” and counts nine through 18 accuse him of “retention” of the information. The Trump administration’s Department of Justice shared the indictment online. Asked about the indictment on Thursday, Trump said, “I think he’s a bad person. I think he’s a bad guy, but that’s the way it goes.” Bolton pleaded not guilty in court on Friday. Bolton has been publicly critical of Trump since leaving office in 2019. On Thursday, Bolton accused the Trump admi...

Israel Spending Millions on U.S. Influence Campaign Targeting Christians

15Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Domestic Politics: United States, Middle East, Types of News: Analysis

Israel Spending Millions on U.S. Influence Campaign Targeting Christians

PR Campaign Plans to Bring the 10/7 Experience to Mega Churches and College Campuses October 15, 2025—The Israeli government is investing millions of dollars in an influence campaign targeting American Christians. The purpose, according to new filing reports in the Justice Department’s FARA system, is to encourage Christians in the United States to have a favorable view of the Israeli nation-state, question the longstanding U.S. policy of a two-state solution, and associate Palestinians with Hamas and extremism. The story is part of a larger PR blitz by the Israeli Foreign Ministry with an annual budget of $150 million, the Times of Israel reported. It is separate than a $1.5 million a month campaign called the Esther Project run by former Trump campaign strategist Brad Parscale thro...

Judge Orders ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ to Close on Environmental Concerns

29Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Immigration, Migration, Types of News: Analysis

Judge Orders ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ to Close on Environmental Concerns

Florida Spent $245 Million on the Now-Closed Facility August 29, 2025—One of the most notorious migrant detention centers in the United States, located in the Florida Everglades, is closing over environmental concerns. The mass detention center, known as "Alligator Alcatraz," is the center of multiple lawsuits and widespread controversy due to its inhumane conditions and location. The roughly 336 detainees who had been held there have reportedly been moved. In June, President Donald Trump dubbed the massive facility “Alligator Alcatraz” because the surrounding swamp is “not a place I want to go hiking anytime soon.” “We’re surrounded by miles of treacherous swampland, and the only way out is really deportation,” Trump said in June at the announced opening. Deplorable Cond...

Trump Deploys National Guard Soldiers to DC Against Homeless, Civilians

11Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Brief

Trump Deploys National Guard Soldiers to DC Against Homeless, Civilians

August 11, 2025—In the latest display of executive power, President Donald Trump announced plans to deploy National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., taking over the nation’s capital with military force. “This is liberation day in D.C., and we’re going to take our Capitol back. We’re taking it back…. I’m officially invoking Section 740 of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act. You know what that is? And placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control,” Trump said. “In addition, I’m deploying the National Guard to help reestablish law, order, and public safety.” The White House declared a "crime emergency" and placed the District under the control of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. The plan involves 800 National Guard troops charged with removing homel...

U.S. Ships Noncitizen Inmates to Third Countries

20Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Foreign Aid, International Development, Human rights, Immigration, Migration, International Law, Legal Battles, Types of News: Analysis

U.S. Ships Noncitizen Inmates to Third Countries

Eswatini Joins El Salvador and South Sudan for Importing Detainees U.S. ships noncitizens abroad, including convicted criminals July 20, 2025—In undisclosed deals with third countries, the U.S. government is shipping noncitizens abroad to be locked up in detention centers. The latest shipment to the Kingdom of Eswatini included five people who had been previously convicted in U.S. courts of murder, child rape, robbery, and homicide, according to the Department of Homeland Security. DHS released photos of the detainees, along with their convictions, but not their names. DHS says the home countries of Vietnam, Laos, Jamaica, Cuba, and Yemen “refused to take them back.” Notably, neither country disclosed details of the deal or revealed information about the financial agreement. The s...

1Jul

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

Senate Clears Trump’s Mega Budget Bill

Tax Cut Extension Would Increase the U.S. Debt by $4.2 Trillion July 1, 2025--The Senate approved President Trump's signature budget and policy bill today, as Vice President JD Vance broke a tie vote, clearing the bill for the House. The legislation, formerly known as the "Big, Beautiful Bill," would reduce taxes on the wealthy, cut the SNAP food aid program, and reduce the Medicaid healthcare for low-income people by $1 trillion. Furthermore, H.R. 1 would implement significant budgetary and policy changes. The new text totals 887 pages.The bill masks an estimated $3.3 to $3.8 trillion revenue loss to the federal budget. The bill, H.R. 1, would raise the current U.S. national debt of $37 trillion to historic new highs. The House passed a different version of the bill in May, rockin...

U.S. Removes Welcome for Students from China

29May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Domestic Politics: United States, Globalization, Disintegration, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Removes Welcome for Students from China

State Department Announces 'Aggressive Revocation' of Visas for Chinese Students May 29, 2025—In another move to assert control over U.S. universities, the Trump Administration announced an aggressive policy to revoke visas for students from China. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the department and the Department of Homeland Security would “aggressively revoke visas for Chinese students, including those with connections to the Chinese Communist Party or studying in critical fields.” He said the government would also scrutinize future visa applications from China and Hong Kong. The change in policy impacts more than 270,000 students of the 1.1 million international students enrolled in U.S. universities. Moreover, the decision is expected to have a detrimental financial impact ...

Trump Escalates Battle With Universities

23May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Diplomacy, Domestic Politics: United States, Middle East, Types of News: Brief

Trump Escalates Battle With Universities

DHS Says Harvard Conducts ‘Pro-Terror’ Activities May 23, 2025—As part of its ongoing battle to control U.S. federally-funded universities, the Trump Administration amplified its criticism of Harvard University on Thursday, accusing the 388-year old U.S. institution of carrying out “pro-terrorist conduct.” Harvard University responded forcefully, saying the government is trying to "control whom we hire and what we teach." The university was quick to file a lawsuit, which a federal judge supported with a restraining order against the government on Friday. But the federal action leaves both the university and students in limbo. Specifically, the Department of Homeland Security decertify the institution’s student and exchange visitors program. “This administration is holding Harvard...

22May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

House Passes Massive Budget Bill

Big, Beautiful Bill Would Add $3.8 Trillion to the $36.9 Trillion U.S. Debt The House passed a significant budget bill in the wee hours of the morning that would add $3.8 trillion to the U.S. debt of $36.89 trillion. The chamber voted 217-212 on final passage at 2:30 a.m. "The House has passed generational, truly nation-shaping legislation," House Speaker Mike Johnson said. Trump’s party, the Republicans, control both chambers of Congress. They have a 220-212 majority in the lower chamber. Next, the Senate will take up the measure. It is divided on a 53-47 margin. 'Big and Beautiful' Basics Called “The Big, Beautiful Bill,” H.R. 1 is 1,100 pages long. A summary of it is available through Congress.gov here. For details to changes to federal spending, see the CBO. On ...