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News for the public, not the powerful.
Did Trump Just Order the Justice Department to Jail Democrats for Asking Questions?
Donald Trump spent Saturday on Truth Social demanding the Justice Department investigate a criminal act. The crime? Democrats sending oversight letters and talking about impeaching his attorney general. He called it “extortion at the highest level” and said the people behind it belong in prison. He singled out Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, who fired back that Stephen Miller drafted the threat, and that this administration already tried to indict her in February. Politico’s Kyle Cheney noted that aggressive oversight and impeachment threats are exactly what the Constitution allows. Former Republican Senate counsel Gregg Nunziata called it worse than anything in Trump’s first term. NYU law professor Michael Kasdan warned Trump will fight Congress like a caged animal. When a president criminalizes the people elected to check him, checks and balances are over.
Attorney General Blanche Declares Himself Stephen Miller’s Personal Lawyer. So Who’s Working for You?
Congressman Robert Garcia, the top Democrat on House Oversight, wrote that incoming chief of staff Stephen Miller should lawyer up. Attorney General Todd Blanche went on Fox News Friday and answered, “Stephen Miller has a lawyer. It’s me, it’s me and the entire DOJ.” Think about that. The nation’s top law enforcement officer just said the whole Justice Department works for one White House aide. George Conway reminded him that government lawyers represent the government, not individuals. Former federal prosecutor Mimi Rocah, who once worked alongside Blanche, said the remark captures everything wrong with his leadership. Strategist Michelle Kinney asked whether Blanche has a lawyer yet. Your tax dollars pay those attorneys. When they become the private defense team for the president’s inner circle, the Justice Department isn’t yours anymore.
Miller Wants Reporters in Handcuffs. Is the Free Press Next on the Hit List?
The Atlantic reports the White House and Justice Department have discussed arresting journalists to force them to give up their sources on national security leaks. Three people familiar with the talks say Trump has been pressing DOJ to prosecute leakers, and arresting reporters was on the table. Outgoing chief of staff Susie Wiles pushed back. Stephen Miller, who takes her job Monday, was all for it, insisting reporters would fold fast. Trump was reportedly furious with Wiles after Republicans lost Congress Tuesday. The DOJ called the report “absolutely false.” The White House didn’t deny it, saying only leaks won’t be tolerated. Every strongman in history started with the press. If reporters can be jailed for protecting sources, the only news you’ll get is what the powerful want you to hear.
The news you need. Twice every weekday.
Laura Loomer Charged Up to $5,000 a Tweet. Who Was Buying Trump’s Ear?
The Washington Post reports that Laura Loomer, one of Trump’s most influential online allies, has taken money from private clients to post political messages to her 1.9 million followers on X without disclosing it. Former Trump campaign adviser Alex Bruesewitz says he paid her for policy tweets last year. Two others say they paid her directly. Bank records reviewed by the Post appear to show four payments totaling more than $60,000 to Loomer and her Florida company since May 2025. Two sources say her rate runs $3,000 to $5,000 a post. Loomer denies it, insisting she’s a journalist paid for research. Here’s why it matters. Loomer has gotten officials fired with a single tweet. If those tweets are for sale, so is access to the president.
Crazy Alert! Thing 1: Trump Offers the Press Secretary Job to UFC Boss Dana White. Is the Briefing Room Now an Octagon?
From his Florida golf club Saturday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he’d offered the press secretary job to his buddy Dana White, the UFC boss, calling him “a violent Fighter and Warrior.” He asked White to bring a squad of mixed martial arts fighters as assistants, some from Brazil and Russia, to defend him against what he called the lunatic left. White posted a photo of himself at the briefing room podium and says he’ll meet Trump Monday, though CNN reports he’s turning it down. The job’s been empty since Karoline Leavitt left in August. Katie Zacharia lasted five days in October. He’s also floated Nicki Minaj. A press secretary is supposed to answer the public’s questions. Trump wants someone to beat them into submission.
Crazy Alert! Thing 2: Did Trump Pick the Wrong Dana White?
Within hours, a theory took off online. There’s another Dana White, the Pentagon spokesperson from Trump’s first term, who actually has experience facing reporters. Maybe somebody suggested her, and Trump heard the cage-fighting guy. Nothing confirms it. But University of Toronto professor Connor Ewing’s joke about it drew over a million views, landing on the exact anniversary of Rudy Giuliani’s Four Seasons Total Landscaping press conference. George Conway said it’s so absurd it’s probably exactly what happened. Conservative columnist Matt Lewis said the theory sounds crazy, but less crazy than making the UFC boss press secretary. True or not, that millions find it believable tells you everything about this presidency. Laugh now. This is who’s running the country.
And that’s the way it is, Today Monday November 9th, 2026. I’m Thom Hartmann.
