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Trump Tyranny Tracker | Day 608: Sept. 23, 2026
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Signs of support for barred media outlets in the White House press gallery last weekend.Credit...Andrew Leyden for The New York TimesWelcome to today’s Trump Tyranny Tracker…
A Republican senator is calling for an investigation into Don Jr.’s foreign financial ties, hackers exposed thousands of FBI personnel, and sensitive F-35 technology ended up in Chinese government hands are among today’s top stories.
Today at a Glance
Republican senator calls for Congress to investigate Don Jr.’s foreign financial ties.
Massive FBI breach exposes personnel working on Russia, China and secret hacking operations.
Sensitive F-35 stealth technology ends up in Chinese government hands.
What We Need to Pay Attention To
Republican Senator Urges Congress to Investigate Donald Trump Jr.
What Happened: Republican Sen. John Curtis called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to subpoena Donald Trump Jr. and investigate his foreign business relationships and whether he has used his connection to his dad for private financial gain. Curtis specifically cited Russian businessman Umar Kremlev paying for Trump Jr.’s private-island wedding celebrations.
Why It Matters: Kremlev is close to Putin and has longstanding ties to Alexei Rubezhnoi, the head of Putin’s personal security service. Kremlev attended Don Jr.’s wedding celebrations, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for them, and gained private access to the Trump family. His attendance and ties to Russia’s intelligence services create an obvious counterintelligence risk.
Source: New York Times
Corruption News
RFK Jr.’s Enhanced Security Was Funded With Money From Minority Health Office
What Happened: HHS took about $12 million from the Office of Minority Health to help pay for RFK Jr.’s security as his protection costs jumped from roughly $10 million to $17 million a year. HHS also canceled 16 grants for programs including maternal care, chronic disease screenings, and access to fresh food.
Why It Matters: Money meant to provide health care and services to low-income communities was used to help pay for Kennedy’s increasingly expensive security.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Trump made over 1,000 July stock trades worth up to $270m, filings reveal
What Happened: Trump reported more than 1,000 stock trades in July worth between $79 million and $270 million, including more than 440 purchases and 700 sales. The trades involved stocks and bonds across a wide range of companies and industries affected by federal policy.
Why It Matters: Trump has hundreds of millions of dollars moving through the stock market while making decisions that affect many of the same companies and industries. His proposed stock trading ban for lawmakers conveniently excludes him and Vance.
Source: The Guardian
Power Consolidation
How Trump turned a refugee bureau into a $410 million deportation operation
What Happened: Trump officials have authorized or pledged at least $410 million for deportation agreements with 31 countries, allowing the U.S. to send migrants to countries where they have no ties. The program is being run through a new Office of Remigration inside the State Department unit responsible for refugees and humanitarian assistance.
Why It Matters: An office responsible for refugees and humanitarian assistance is now being used to fund deportations to countries where migrants have no ties. Some of the agreements also bypass human rights safeguards and congressional requirements.
Source: The Washington Post
Weaponization of Institutions
These 6 charts show how NIH research funding has been reshaped under Trump
What Happened: Trump officials have delayed or redirected billions of dollars in NIH funding, disrupting grants for universities, scientists and medical research. The NIH still has a $47.5 billion budget, but major changes have been made to which research receives funding and when.
Why It Matters: Trump officials are deciding which areas of scientific and medical research receive federal money. Delaying or cutting grants will stop studies, disrupt medical research and affect patients waiting for new treatments.
Source: NPR
Media Suppression & Authoritarian Tactics
DoJ defends Trump media ban: ‘Access to the White House is a privilege’
What Happened: The Justice Department defended Trump’s ban on CNN, Politico and MS NOW, telling a court that White House press access is a “privilege, not a right.” DOJ cited national security and accused the outlets of publishing sensitive information and failing to meet White House standards.
Why It Matters: Trump banned news organizations whose coverage he dislikes, and now his Justice Department is arguing that he has the power to keep them out. Using federal power to punish unfavorable reporting is a direct attack on press freedom and the First Amendment.
Source: The Guardian
Human & Civil Rights Abuses
ICE mistakenly targets US citizen who was left injured on the ground in Chicago suburb, officials say
What Happened: ICE agents in Evanston, Illinois, targeted a U.S. citizen they mistook for someone else. Surveillance video shows agents pulling him to the ground, leaving him with injuries to his head, neck and teeth before realizing they had the wrong person.
Why It Matters: ICE agents attacked and injured an American citizen who had nothing to do with the person they were looking for. The agency’s aggressive enforcement tactics continue to put innocent people at risk.
Source: CNN
The Priest Preparing to Care for 31 Children If ICE Detains Their Parents
What Happened: A Maryland priest has agreed to become the standby guardian for 31 children whose parents fear being detained by ICE. He already cared for two young children for four months while their mother was detained. When she returned, her one- and four-year-old children did not recognize her.
Why It Matters: Children are being traumatized by prolonged separation from their parents. Families are now making plans for who will raise their children if ICE takes their parents away.
Source: TIME
Government Disruption
FBI Hack Exposed FBI’s Own Hacking Unit
What Happened: Hackers obtained personal information on thousands of FBI employees and applicants, including names, home addresses, phone numbers, and family information. The stolen records exposed personnel working on Russia, China, human intelligence, and electronic surveillance, along with members of the FBI’s secretive Remote Operations Unit.
Source: 404 Media and Associated Press
Delays in Covid shots for kids is latest bid by Trump officials to restrict vaccines
What Happened: Trump officials are withholding updated COVID vaccines from the Vaccines for Children program, delaying access for children in at least 11 states and one U.S. territory. More than half of American children receive vaccines through the program.
Source: The Guardian
Imperial & Geopolitical Watch
China Is Holding Sensitive F-35 Parts Diverted to Hong Kong
What Happened: Sensitive parts from an Australian F-35 being shipped to the U.S. were diverted to Hong Kong and taken into Chinese government custody. The cockpit canopy and weapons bay door contain radar-absorbing material used for the fighter’s stealth capabilities, and China has not returned them.
Source: Bloomberg
Iran Has a Secret Weapon in Its War With America: Help From China
What Happened: Roughly 1,300 shipments of Chinese dual-use components went to Iran’s Defense Ministry in the first half of 2026, including parts used in drones and missile guidance systems. China is also Iran’s largest oil buyer, and U.S. officials linked Chinese-provided satellite imagery to an Iranian strike that killed three American troops.
Why It Matters: China is supplying Iran with technology supporting its war against the United States while buying the oil that helps finance Tehran. Trump is still prioritizing his relationship with Xi, and his officials continue to dismiss China’s role instead of confronting Beijing.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Far-Right & Russian Influence Watch
Trump Invites Putin to Attend Group of 20 Summit in Miami
What Happened: Trump invited Putin to attend the G20 summit in Miami in December, which would be Putin’s first appearance at the annual gathering since 2019. Marco Rubio said Trump would meet with Putin if he accepts.
Source: New York Times
Economic News
Inflation pressures raise prospect of Fed rate hike on eve of elections
What Happened: Rising oil and diesel prices and persistent inflation are putting pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates again. The Fed raised rates last week, and policymakers say another increase will likely be needed this year.
Why It Matters: Americans are paying more for fuel and transportation while borrowing is getting more expensive. Another rate hike would push up costs for mortgages, credit cards, auto loans and businesses.
Source: Reuters
Resistance
Check out 50501 for local and nationwide events…
Source: 50501
Preservation group launches legal defense fund as it battles Trump over ballroom and other projects
What Happened: The National Trust for Historic Preservation launched a $10 million legal defense fund to challenge threats to historic federal properties, including Trump’s White House ballroom project. The group said the fund will support efforts to protect the nation’s “shared civic and cultural inheritance” from actions coming out of Washington.
Source: Associated Press
By the Numbers
~ $270 million — Value of more than 1,000 stock trades Trump reported making in July
$12 million — Minority Health funding HHS used to help pay for RFK Jr.’s security
1,300 — Shipments of Chinese dual-use components sent to Iran’s Defense Ministry in the first half of 2026
31 — Countries Trump has reached or pledged deportation agreements with
$10 million — Legal defense fund created to protect historic federal properties from Trump’s projects
What to Watch Next
Congress is facing calls to investigate Don Jr.’s foreign financial relationships — Will lawmakers investigate what Russian and other foreign interests received in return for money, gifts and access to Trump’s family?
Thousands of FBI personnel have been exposed in a massive data breach — How will the FBI protect agents and their families whose identities and personal information are now compromised?
Trump is bringing Putin back into major international gatherings — What additional concessions or access will Putin receive as Trump continues whitewashing the war criminal?
Key Takeaways
Foreign Access — A Republican senator is calling for an investigation into Don Jr.’s foreign financial relationships after a Russian businessman connected to Putin’s security apparatus paid for his wedding celebrations.
Personal Profiteering — Trump reported more than 1,000 stock trades worth as much as $270 million in a single month while continuing to make decisions affecting major industries.
National Security Failures — Hackers gained access to personnel working on some of the FBI’s most sensitive operations while sensitive F-35 stealth technology remains in Chinese government hands.
Attack on Press Freedom — Trump banned major news organizations from the White House, and his Justice Department is now defending his power to exclude them.
Rising Costs — Higher fuel prices and persistent inflation are pushing the Federal Reserve toward another interest rate hike, increasing borrowing costs for Americans.
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.
Support Whistleblowers: Encourage legal defense funds for government workers facing retaliation for exposing corruption.
Follow my work on YouTube → Subscribe to Unmasking Russia
https://youtube.com/@unmaskingrussia
Thanks for reading the Trump Tyranny Tracker. Stay tuned for more updates.
