Power Plays and Political Battles
Donald Trump exerts his power.
It’s been another busy day over at Political Wire, so let’s break it down.
President Trump and his allies launched a broad offensive against their political opponents today. A major news report detailed how the administration is leveraging government powers to hobble Democratic-aligned institutions—from targeting prominent liberal law firms to probing Democratic fundraising networks, even hinting at stripping certain nonprofits of their tax-exempt status.
It’s a playbook that echoes Richard Nixon’s infamous “enemies list” era, marking a deeply partisan use of executive power to weaken the rival party.
At the same time, legal experts are warning of a looming constitutional showdown. In one high-profile deportation case, Trump officials appear to be flirting with defying a court order outright, blurring the line between legal argument and open disregard for the judiciary.
Such behavior has Americans recalling historical red flags—like President Andrew Jackson’s defiance of the Supreme Court—when a president undercuts the separation of powers and puts our constitutional system to the test.
Meanwhile, the administration is quietly making it harder for Americans to access Social Security benefits. The Social Security Administration will now force people who apply for benefits by phone to verify their identities online or show up in person at an office—an added hurdle that hits elderly and disabled folks the hardest. This change comes as the Trump team, influenced by billionaire Elon Musk’s push to shrink government, is slashing thousands of agency jobs and closing local offices.
It’s a strategy reminiscent of past efforts to chip away at New Deal programs by burdening them with obstacles, sparking concern that vulnerable citizens will pay the price.
On the international stage, President Trump is facing early tests of his deal-making promises. His much-touted phone call with Russia’s Vladimir Putin underscored how elusive “peace” in Ukraine may be—Putin reportedly assured Trump he’d ease up on attacks, but within hours Russian forces bombed Ukraine’s power grid again, a sign that Trump’s trust in Putin was misplaced.
And in the Middle East, Trump has sent Iran’s supreme leader a letter giving a two-month deadline to reach a new nuclear agreement, warning that if Tehran balks, military action could be next.
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