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Trump Tyranny Tracker | Day 593: Sept. 8, 2026
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Voters cast their ballots at the Copland Center in Wyandotte, Michigan on Aug. 4. Photographer: Finn Gomez/Getty ImagesHi Friends…
After more than a year of publishing the Tracker every day, I took a few weeks off to catch up with life and am back now. I also included several important stories at the end of this tracker from the weeks I was away that are worth keeping on the record.
Welcome to today’s Trump Tyranny Tracker…
Expanded surveillance of Americans, increased federal involvement in the midterms, and intensified efforts to silence dissent inside and outside the government are among today’s top stories.
Today at a Glance
DHS is using Americans’ financial data to secretly identify people for police stops.
ICE plans to build a national database of Americans’ voting histories ahead of the midterms.
Hegseth subjected dozens of military officers and officials to unprecedented polygraph tests in its hunt for leaks.
What We Need to Pay Attention To
A Secretive DHS ‘Predictive Policing’ Unit is Analyzing Americans’ Financial Habits and Pulling Them Over
What Happened: Border Patrol is operating secretive “predictive policing” units that analyze Americans’ financial activity and other data, then flag people for local police to pull over even when they are not suspected of a specific crime.
Why It Matters: The government is secretly mining Americans’ financial data to decide who should be stopped by police without evidence they committed a crime. This is what a surveillance state looks like when the data it collects starts being used against ordinary people.
Source: 404 Media
Corruption
Witkoff Reports $107 Million From Entity That Held Crypto Stake
What Happened: Trump’s shady envoy Steve Witkoff reported earning $107 million in 2025 from a holding company that owned his stake in World Liberty Financial, the crypto venture he cofounded with Trump and their families. His disclosure does not reveal how much of that income came from the crypto business.
Source: Bloomberg
No SEC Probe of Trump Crypto Deal Despite Alleged “Illegality”
What Happened: The SEC told the Project On Government Oversight it could not find any records of an investigation into Alt5 Sigma, now AI Financial, after its deal with Trump family crypto venture World Liberty Financial generated an estimated $500 million for the Trump family. A shareholder lawsuit alleged “illegality” and “unjust enrichment,” while separate complaints accused Alt5 of withholding material information from investors before its stock collapsed by more than 90%.
Why It Matters: Trump’s family made an estimated $500 million from the deal, while the federal regulator responsible for protecting investors apparently did nothing. This is naked corruption as the Trump’s family profits while the agency meant to police these deals looks the other way.
Source: POGO
Power Consolidation
Trump Administration Asks Supreme Court to Allow Voter-Screening Tool
What Happened: Trump asked the Supreme Court to let states use an expanded DHS citizenship database to screen voter rolls ahead of the midterms. A lower court blocked the system amid challenges over privacy protections and erroneous citizenship determinations.
Why It Matters: Trump is using lies of widespread voter fraud to justify expanding federal power over elections. Now he wants states to use a federal database that has wrongly flagged U.S. citizens to determine who belongs on voter rolls.
Source: New York Times
Weaponization of Institutions
New grand jury subpoenas in investigation targeting Trump-Russia probe
What Happened: The Justice Department is issuing grand jury subpoenas to former government officials in an investigation seeking evidence that intelligence officials conspired against Trump over the 2016 Russia probe. Former CIA Director John Brennan has been told he is a target.
Why It Matters: Trump’s DOJ is using a criminal investigation to pursue the officials involved in investigating Russia’s attack on the 2016 election. Years after multiple investigations, his regime is still trying to turn the Russia investigation into a criminal conspiracy against Trump.
Source: Associated Press
DOJ election monitors in two New Hampshire cities for Tuesday’s state primary
What Happened: The Justice Department deployed Civil Rights Division staff to monitor polling sites in Manchester and Nashua during New Hampshire’s primary, the latest in a series of federal monitoring operations during state primaries. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said the department will now begin ramping up preparations for nationwide monitoring during the November midterms.
Source: MS NOW
DHS Brings PATRIOT Act Tool to Bear in NSPM-7 Investigation
What Happened: Homeland Security used a PATRIOT Act tool to identify financial institutions holding accounts linked to groups swept into an investigation of anti-ICE protests, including unions and climate organizations, without first obtaining a warrant or subpoena. The tool requires investigators to certify that the inquiry concerns money laundering or terrorism.
Why It Matters: A surveillance tool created after 9/11 to investigate terrorism and money laundering is now being used to map the financial networks of domestic political groups, without a warrant or subpoena.
Source: Talking Points Memo
ICE Plans to Pay $5 Million to Create National Voting Database
What Happened: ICE plans to spend up to $5 million collecting voter registration and voting history data nationwide for fraud investigations, with the capability to obtain records from all 50 states.
Why It Matters: An immigration enforcement agency is building the capability to collect voter registration and voting history records from all 50 states just weeks before the midterms. This is part of Trump’s broader effort to seize control of elections.
Source: WIRED
Media Suppression & Authoritarian Tactics
Pentagon imposes polygraph tests on military officers as Hegseth’s culture of fear grows
What Happened: Pentagon investigators subjected roughly 50 Joint Staff officers and civilian employees to polygraph tests as part of a leak investigation focused on reports that the Iran war has depleted critical U.S. munitions, including long range missiles and Patriot interceptors. The NYT reported that mass polygraph testing at this level of the military is unprecedented.
Why It Matters: The Pentagon is subjecting military officers to an unprecedented polygraph dragnet to find out who told the public about critical U.S. weapons shortages. Instead of addressing what the Iran war is doing to military readiness, Hegseth is hunting the people sounding the alarm.
Source: MS NOW
Flock Taught Cops How to Surveil No Kings Protesters
What Happened: Flock Safety taught police how to use its surveillance network to monitor No Kings protests in real-time, combining license plate readers, cameras, drones and law enforcement databases. The company used a No Kings protest as an example while demonstrating how officers could watch demonstrators move through a city without police physically following them.
Source: 404 Media
Human & Civil Rights Abuses
IRS under Trump unlawfully shared taxpayer info with immigration authorities, court rules
What Happened: A federal appeals court ruled that the IRS unlawfully shared roughly 47,000 taxpayers’ addresses with ICE under a Trump policy seeking information on up to 1.28 million people. This violates federal privacy protections that were enacted after Watergate.
Source: Reuters
Pentagon Reportedly Using Medical Records to Identify Transgender Troops
What Happened: The Pentagon is using military medical and personnel records to identify service members with current or past gender dysphoria so they can begin removing them from the military. Advocates estimate several hundred troops have been flagged through electronic health records in the past two months.
Why It Matters: The Pentagon is searching troops’ private medical records to identify people it wants to remove from the military. Service members who sought medical care are now having that information used to target their careers.
Source: Military.com
Republicans are making Muslims a campaign issue in the 2026 US midterms
What Happened: Republican candidates and officials are making Muslims and Islam a campaign issue ahead of the midterms, with JD Vance attacking Muslim Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Meanwhile, Republicans in Texas and Alabama are fear mongering about “sharia” and “radical Islam.”
Source: Reuters
Government Disruption
Conflicting court rulings leave Missouri congressional map in chaos
What Happened: Missouri was left with conflicting court orders over which congressional map to use just as the state finalized ballots for November. Justice Brett Kavanaugh left in place a state ruling blocking a Trump-backed map, only for a federal judge minutes later to order Missouri to use it.
Source: The Washington Post
Administration strips language that criticized Confederate statue at Arlington
What Happened: Trump officials removed language from an Arlington National Cemetery marker and Pentagon website explaining how the Confederate Memorial glorifies the Confederacy and downplays slavery. The monument, which Congress ordered removed in 2023, is now scheduled to be restored to Arlington in 2027.
Why It Matters: Trump officials are rewriting American history, stripping away the truth about slavery and the Lost Cause while preparing to restore a traitorous Confederate monument that Congress ordered removed.
Source: The Washington Post
Imperial & Geopolitical Watch
Iran launches missile barrage at Jordan after US strikes 5 Iranian tankers
What Happened: Iran launched 20 ballistic missiles at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Salti Air Base, used by U.S. forces, after the U.S. destroyed five Iranian oil tankers in response to attempted attacks on a U.S. Navy warship. Jordan said it intercepted 18 missiles, with no casualties reported.
Why It Matters: Trump’s Iran war continues to expand and destabilize the region with no end in sight. More countries are being pulled into the conflict while attacks on oil infrastructure and shipping are driving up energy prices and threatening to further weaken the global economy.
Source: CNN
Bombardier, a Canadian Jet Maker, Is a Target in Trump’s Trade War
What Happened: Trump threatened to bar Canadian aircraft maker Bombardier from selling planes in the U.S. unless it moves production there, escalating his trade fight with Canada. Bombardier employs thousands of Americans and relies on 2,800 U.S. suppliers.
Source: New York Times
E.U. Extends Major Investment Boost to Greenland and Vows ‘Full Solidarity’ Amid Trump’s Annexation Threats
What Happened: The European Union announced a €200 million investment package for Greenland covering infrastructure, clean energy, internet connectivity and critical minerals. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also reaffirmed that Greenland’s future must be decided by Greenland and Denmark, not outside powers.
Why It Matters: Trump’s invasion threats against Greenland are pushing Europe to deepen its economic and political support for the territory. The EU is now putting hundreds of millions behind Greenland while publicly defending its sovereignty against the U.S.
Source: TIME
Iceland summons U.S. ambassador after Trump posts map showing island under American flag
What Happened: Iceland summoned U.S. Ambassador Billy Long after Trump posted a map showing Iceland, Canada, Greenland, Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean covered by the American flag and labeled “United States of America.” Iceland’s Foreign Ministry called the post “completely inappropriate.”
Source: NBC News
Far-Right & Russian Influence Watch
Trump brushes off accusations of Russian sabotage against NATO allies
What Happened: Trump dismissed concerns about suspected Russian sabotage against NATO allies after explosive-laden drones linked by German officials to Russia were discovered at Leipzig airport, including near a Ukrainian aircraft and NATO logistics hub. “Putin is not looking to attack NATO territory,” Trump said when asked about the incident.
Why It Matters: Trump is publicly dismissing Russian attacks on NATO territory even as European officials point to Moscow. Every time he minimizes Russia’s attacks and refuses to hold Putin accountable, he sends Moscow a dangerous message that it can keep escalating against NATO.
Source: Politico
Unmasking RussiaRomania Disrupts Russian Plot Targeting NATO Sites and Ukrainian AircraftEarlier today, Romanian intelligence officials announced that they had disrupted yet another Russian sabotage operation targeting military sites and critical infrastructure across the country. Among the targets were NATO facilities and Ukrainian Antonov cargo aircraft operating on Romanian territory…Read morea day ago · 204 likes · 18 comments · Olga LautmanEconomic News
Canada’s retaliatory tariffs worth CA$27.6 billion take effect as trade rift with U.S. deepens
What Happened: Canada imposed retaliatory tariffs of 15% to 50% on CA$27.6 billion worth of U.S. goods, including steel, aluminum, dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment and electronics. The measures match U.S. tariffs imposed by Trump on CA$27.6 billion in Canadian goods after trade negotiations collapsed.
Why It Matters: Trump’s trade war with Canada is becoming an escalating cycle of retaliation. American businesses and consumers will pay the price through higher costs, disrupted supply chains and lost trade with one of our largest economic partners.
Source: CNBC
Resistance
Check out 50501 for local and nationwide events…
Source: 50501
Veterans fight against arch that would obstruct view of Arlington Cemetery
What Happened: Veterans and preservation groups are trying to stop Trump’s planned 250-foot triumphal arch at Memorial Circle between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery. Opponents say the structure would obstruct the historic sightline to the cemetery, while a federal lawsuit argues the project lacks legal authorization and requires congressional approval. The National Capital Planning Commission has granted preliminary approval but has not yet given final approval.
Source: Military Times
By the Numbers
1,000 — DOJ monitors Trump plans to deploy to polling locations for the midterms
$107 million — Income Steve Witkoff reported from a holding company that owned his stake in Trump’s World Liberty Financial
$500 million — Estimated amount generated for the Trump family by the World Liberty Financial deal with Alt5 Sigma
47,000 — Taxpayers whose addresses a federal court found the IRS unlawfully shared with ICE
50 — Joint Staff officers and Pentagon employees reportedly subjected to polygraphs during Hegseth’s leak investigation
$5 million — Amount ICE plans to spend to create a national voter registration and voting history database
CA$27.6 billion — U.S. goods hit by Canada’s new retaliatory tariffs as the trade war escalates
What to Watch Next
Trump’s DOJ plans to deploy 1,000 federal monitors to polling locations — How far will Trump be allowed to go in his attempts to seize control of the midterms?
Trump is expanding federal access to Americans’ voter data just weeks before the midterms — How far will the government go in using immigration databases, voter histories and federal law enforcement to intervene in state-run elections?
DHS is using surveillance powers and Americans’ personal data — What other financial, immigration and government databases are being used to track Americans without their knowledge?
Hegseth subjected 50 officers and employees to polygraphs to hunt down who was talking to the press — How far will he go to keep Americans from knowing what the Iran war is doing to our military?
Trump’s trade fight with Canada has entered another cycle of tariffs and retaliation — How much further will the dispute escalate, and when will American consumers and businesses begin feeling the full cost?
Key Takeaways
Rising Costs — Higher oil prices, new tariff threats, and growing trade tensions are pushing up the cost of groceries, school supplies, and other everyday essentials.
Surveillance State Expands — Federal authorities are using financial records, voter data, PATRIOT Act tools and other government databases to track Americans and political activity.
Government Secrecy — The Pentagon is using mass polygraphs to hunt leaks about military readiness while surveillance tools are being deployed with limited public visibility.
Personal Profiteering — Trump and Witkoff’s families continue to have substantial financial interests tied to World Liberty Financial while federal regulators oversee the crypto sector.
Iran War Spreads — Another exchange of U.S. and Iranian attacks is adding to regional instability and pressure on global energy and shipping.
Trade War Escalates — Canada has retaliated against U.S. tariffs as the dispute affects goods, manufacturers and supply chains.
Call to Action
Document Everything: Document purges, corruption, and power grabs. Share credible information with journalists, watchdogs, and legal experts. Silence enables authoritarianism—see something, say something.
Defend Press Freedom: Support independent journalism by subscribing to and sharing reporting that challenges Trump’s power grab.
Contact Lawmakers: Demand accountability for Trump’s unchecked power and war on oversight.
Mobilize for Action: Organize or join legal efforts and resistance movements to protect democracy and human and civil rights.
Top Stories While I Was Away…
DOJ Plans to Deploy 1,000 Monitors to Watch Midterm Elections
What Happened: The Justice Department plans to deploy roughly 1,000 monitors to polling locations for the November midterms, a record deployment. The move comes as Trump repeatedly claims Democrats will “cheat” and DOJ sues states for voter roll data.
Source: Bloomberg
Investigators examining foes of Trump seek interviews related to Mar-a-Lago search, AP sources say
What Happened: Justice Department investigators sought interviews with law enforcement officials involved in the 2022 FBI search of Mar-a-Lago, expanding a Florida based inquiry seeking evidence of a “conspiracy” against Trump. The search recovered classified documents and led to criminal charges that were later dismissed.
Source: Associated Press
Pentagon secretly installs military influencers in civilian roles
What Happened: The Pentagon quietly hired several conservative military influencers as civilian employees or special government workers while they continued publicly praising Hegseth and attacking his critics without disclosing their government roles. Some were assigned to Pentagon policy work, including a task force reviewing military education.
Source: The Washington Post
Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leaders who criticized DOD’s interference
What Happened: The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes publisher Max Lederer, editor in chief Erik Slavin and reporter Lara Korte after Slavin and Korte publicly defended the editorial independence of the military outlet. The Pentagon had previously restricted the publication’s content and fired its ombudsman, whose job was to protect that independence.
Source: The Washington Post
Trump Quietly Asserts Control Over Postal Service Amid Plans to Overhaul Voting
What Happened: Trump nominated four Republicans to the Postal Service’s governing board, breaking with the practice of bipartisan pairings, while pushing the agency to police mail voting. His executive order directs USPS to block mail ballots from states that do not comply with new voter verification requirements. The Supreme Court has allowed preparations for the restrictions to continue while the cases move through the courts.
Source: New York Times
Postal Service work to comply with Trump’s executive order is rushed and sloppy, a whistleblower contends
What Happened: A Postal Service whistleblower says USPS rushed to build a new system for Trump’s mail voting restrictions without full testing, warning that a single scanning error could cause entire batches of ballots to be rejected. The system was being prepared for the 2026 midterms despite ongoing court challenges.
Source: Associated Press
Trump Urges FCC to Probe Media Polling, Punish NBC Moderator
What Happened: Trump called on the Federal Communications Commission to investigate news organizations over polls he called “fake” and urged the agency to punish Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker over reporting about his political endorsements. The FCC does not regulate polling and has limited authority over the content at issue.
Source: Bloomberg
C.D.C. Says No Deaths This Year Attributed to Measles
What Happened: The CDC said it had no records listing measles as the underlying cause of any U.S. deaths this year, disputing Pennsylvania’s attribution of two deaths to the disease. The statement came after CDC leadership reportedly directed officials to challenge the state’s reporting rather than follow the agency’s usual practice of accepting state data.
Source: New York Times
Mullin says DHS could deploy to polling sites for ‘specific’ threats, arrests
What Happened: DHS Secretary Mullin said ICE could deploy to polling places if there is a “specific threat” or agents are serving a warrant on someone they have been tracking.
Thanks for reading the Trump Tyranny Tracker. Stay tuned for more updates.
