- Jack Date and Alexander Mallin @ ABC News: Judge permanently dismisses Reflecting Pool vandalism case against former Olympian David Hearn
The judge said the decision ensures DOJ can't bring the case against him again.
- Caroline Wilburn @ HuffPost: Trump Defends Taxpayer-Funded Political Ads, Insists They're 'Promoting The Country'
Trump has even faced criticism from some Republicans over the taxpayer-funded ads.
- Ted Johnson @ Deadline: FCC Chairman Doesn’t See Anything “Out Of The Ordinary” About White House Airing Of Taxpayer-Funded Trump Ads
The chairman of the FCC on Wednesday dismissed concerns about the White House use of taxpayer money to pay for a series of ads promoting President Donald Trump.
- Frederick Clarkson @ Church & State: The New Apostolic Reformation’s religious quest for world “dominion”
Long ago Alexander the Great deployed religious myths to conquer much of the known world. Today, a different religious vision animates an intention to conquer the world.
- Jeff Stein @ The Washington Sun: Want Dinner With the President? Buy His Meme Coin.
The $Trump meme coin is offering buyers a new “exclusive” opportunity to meet the president.
- Philip Wegmann and Sadie Gurman @ The Wall Street Journal: Decades After Watergate, Justice Department Reviews Whether Nixon Got a Raw Deal
Revisionist historian went to DOJ headquarters to present his case that former president, his associates weren’t treated fairly.
- Kathryn Wilkens @ Mediaite: GOP Rep Claims Nixon Was ‘Framed’ As Trump’s DOJ Probes Watergate ‘Weaponization’ Against Ex-Prez
Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV) offered a revision of Watergate history, claiming former President Richard Nixon was “framed” and “couped out of office” over a “fake” scandal that ultimately forced him to step down.
- Steven Levitsky and Lucan A. Way @ Journal Of Democracy: Competitive Authoritarianism in America
The United States crossed the line into competitive authoritarianism during Donald Trump’s second presidency: Elections remained real, but incumbents systematically abused state institutions to tilt the playing field against opponents. The administration weaponized the Justice Department, the FBI, and other agencies against critics, universities, law firms, and the press, while national gerrymandering and coerced corporate money skewed competition.
- Brian Slodysko and Jesse Bedayn @ The Associated Press: Inside Ken Paxton’s jet-setting lifestyle: California wineries, European hot spots and ski resorts
When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton launched his campaign for Senate last year, he skipped the local pageantry. Instead, records show, the conservative firebrand announced his bid on Fox News, cleared his calendar and booked a hotel in Augusta, Georgia, during the storied Masters golf tournament, a trip that cost Texas taxpayers at least $25,000.
