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Trump Tyranny Tracker | Day 565-567: Aug 7-9, 2026
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Federal Reserve Board building in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 14, 2025. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz/File PhotoWelcome to this weekend’s Trump Tyranny Tracker…
ICE will hide body camera footage, the Senate confirmed Trump’s lawyer as attorney general, and U.S. intelligence linked Russia to an explosive drone at a German airport.
This Weekend at a Glance
• Trump revives his attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook
• Greenland warns Trump-linked oil company after it brings drilling equipment ashore without approval
• U.S. economy loses 23,000 jobs in July as hiring weakens
What We Need to Pay Attention To
ICE will release body camera video only when seen in the agency’s ‘best interests,’ policy says
What Happened: ICE said that all field officers will have body cameras by the end of August, but the agency can withhold footage of shootings and other serious incidents unless releasing it is in ICE’s “best interests.” The ICE director can block or indefinitely delay footage, and released videos will conceal officers’ faces, names, and badge numbers.
Why It Matters: ICE has repeatedly acted as if the rules don’t apply to it, and this policy makes accountability even harder. The agency can now decide whether the public gets to see evidence of its own officers’ misconduct based on whether releasing it is in ICE’s “best interests.”
Source: Associated Press
Corruption
Major Republican fundraiser winning contracts from Trump administration, emails reveal
What Happened: Republican megadonor Palmer Luckey, co-founder of defense contractor Anduril, has donated $5.9 million to the party while his company receives billions in federal contracts. In March, the Army awarded Anduril a $20 billion sole-source drone contract, and the company could also compete for Trump’s Golden Dome missile defense project.
Why It Matters: Luckey is raising millions for Republicans while his company is getting billions from the government. It is classic pay-to-play cronyism where major political donors gain access and influence while taxpayer money flows to their businesses.
Source: The Guardian
Small law firm with ties to Trump gets massive no-bid contract to aid immigrant kids
What Happened: Trump officials awarded a $150 million no-bid contract to the 24-attorney Burke Law Group to represent unaccompanied immigrant children after ending contracts with dozens of organizations that previously provided those services. Only two of the firm’s attorneys specialize in immigration and asylum law, while two of its leaders have served in Trump’s government.
Why It Matters: Trump officials took legal services for vulnerable immigrant children away from experienced organizations and handed $150 million, without competitive bidding, to a politically connected firm with little immigration expertise. Trump allies get a massive government contract while children facing deportation pay the price.
Source: MS NOW
SEC drops insider trading suit against ex-healthcare executive pardoned by Trump
What Happened: The SEC moved to dismiss its insider trading lawsuit against former healthcare executive Terren Peizer, who was convicted of insider trading and securities fraud and sentenced to 3.5 years in prison. Trump pardoned Peizer in January.
Why It Matters: Trump’s pardon already erased Peizer’s criminal punishment, and now the government is dropping the civil case against him too, removing another consequence for crimes a federal jury found he committed.
Source: Reuters
Power Consolidation
In Confirming Blanche, Senators Endorse a Justice Dept. Under Trump’s Sway
What Happened: The Senate narrowly confirmed Todd Blanche as attorney general after he repeatedly argued that Trump has broad constitutional authority to direct the Justice Department, including ordering investigations. When asked about DOJ independence during his confirmation hearing, Blanche pointed to Article II and said executive power belongs to Trump.
Why It Matters: Trump has put his former personal lawyer in charge of a Justice Department he has already used to target his enemies and protect his allies. Blanche believes Trump can direct investigations and prosecutions. DOJ independence is effectively gone, leaving federal law enforcement in the hands of a Trump loyalist.
Source: New York Times
Trump Revives Attempt to Fire Fed Governor Lisa Cook
What Happened: Trump revived his effort to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over “mortgage fraud” allegations she denies, two months after the Supreme Court blocked his previous attempt because she had not been given enough opportunity to respond. The White House has now given Cook 21 days to answer the allegations before Trump decides whether to remove her.
Why It Matters: Trump wants the Fed to lower interest rates and is again trying to remove a governor who stands in his way. Replacing Cook would give him another chance to install a loyalist and bring an institution that is supposed to operate independently of the president further under his control.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Weaponization of Institutions
Hegseth Strips Security Clearance From Biden’s Air Force Secretary
What Happened: The Pentagon revoked former Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall’s eligibility to access classified information, accusing him of revealing sensitive information about Trump’s Qatari Air Force One. Kendall denies disclosing classified information and says he has not been told what he allegedly revealed.
Why It Matters: Kendall publicly raised security concerns about Trump’s Qatari plane, and now the Pentagon is stripping his security clearance over information it has not even identified. The government is once again using its power to punish someone who criticized Trump.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Trump calls on Jeanine Pirro to ‘re-visit’ Reflecting Pool case
What Happened: Trump publicly called on U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro to revive charges against a former Olympian accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool. Prosecutors dropped the case after finding evidence that faulty installation, not vandalism, may have caused the damage, but Trump insists a crime occurred and has criticized Pirro for dropping it.
Why It Matters: Trump is publicly ordering a federal prosecutor to reconsider a criminal case after her office found the evidence did not support it. Criminal prosecutions are supposed to follow the evidence, not the president’s personal demands.
Source: Politico
Media Suppression & Authoritarian Tactics
US to vet social media of foreign journalists applying for visas, report says
What Happened: The State Department is reportedly expanding social media screening to foreign journalists applying for U.S. visas and requiring them to make their accounts public for government review. The move follows new limits on how long foreign journalists can remain in the country.
Why It Matters: Foreign journalists now have to consider whether their reporting on Trump or his government could jeopardize their ability to enter and work in the U.S. That gives the government enormous power to punish or deter journalists whose coverage it doesn’t like.
Source: Reuters
Human & Civil Rights Abuses
Women’s Share of Top Military Promotions Falls as Hegseth Blocks Nominees
What Happened: Pete Hegseth has blocked at least 40 high-ranking military promotions from reaching the Senate, roughly half involving women and people of color. Women now account for just 4% of nominations for general and admiral positions this year, the lowest share in at least 25 years.
Why It Matters: Hegseth is personally intervening in promotions while openly attacking diversity in the military. Women are reaching lower officer ranks in record numbers, but their path to the military’s highest ranks is being narrowed.
Source: New York Times
The Deaths ICE Doesn’t Count
What Happened: ICE ended a policy requiring it to report and investigate deaths that occur within 30 days of release from detention. Prisciliano Trejo Ricano, 29, became critically ill in ICE custody and died from acute leukemia eight days after his release, but his death does not appear in ICE’s official count.
Why It Matters: ICE can now release gravely ill detainees and leave them out of its death count if they die days later. The government has created a way to hide deaths connected to its brutal detention system.
Source: Mother Jones
Fled to America at 11. Stole at 18. Deported to Vietnam at 44.
What Happened: Trump has deported more than 1,200 people to Vietnam and 400 to Laos, more than during the previous three presidential terms combined. Many came to the U.S. legally as children after the Vietnam War and are now being deported decades later over old criminal convictions after Trump pressured both countries to accept them.
Source: New York Times
New Jersey opens civil rights probe of privately run ICE detention center in Newark
What Happened: New Jersey opened a civil rights investigation into GEO Group’s treatment of detainees at Delaney Hall, days after Edwin Lopez-Cornejo died following a medical emergency. His family says he was not receiving necessary medication. The privately run ICE facility has faced other allegations of inadequate medical care, spoiled food, and unsanitary conditions.
Source: Reuters
Government Disruption
A top US general in Europe abruptly removed from command
What Happened: Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, commander of the Army’s V Corps overseeing U.S. forces and operations across Europe, was abruptly removed nearly two months before his scheduled departure. The Army has not explained why, and Costanza joins more than two dozen senior military officers removed or sidelined under Pete Hegseth.
Why It Matters: V Corps helps coordinate U.S. forces along NATO’s eastern flank and provide support for Ukraine as Russia escalates its attacks across Europe. Removing its commander without explanation adds another senior officer to Hegseth’s growing purge of military leadership at a very dangerous moment.
Source: ABC News
Trump administration considers order on autism and vaccines, source says
What Happened: Trump is considering an executive order on vaccines and autism as his regime continues investigating a connection despite decades of research involving millions of people finding no credible link. Trump has reportedly pressed RFK Jr. privately about whether he believes he can prove such a conspiracy.
Source: Reuters
Imperial & Geopolitical Watch
Oil prices tick higher as Iran issues demands to reopen Strait of Hormuz
What Happened: Oil prices rose Sunday after Iran issued sweeping demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including an end to U.S. attacks, withdrawal of U.S. forces from the region, sanctions relief, and compensation for war damages. Tankers have been unable to use the strait, which normally carries about 20% of global oil supplies, since fighting resumed in July.
Source: CNN
Greenland issues ‘strong warning’ as Trump-linked oil firm prepares to drill
What Happened: Greenland issued a “strong warning” after Greenland Energy, a Texas oil company linked to Trump, brought drilling equipment ashore without government approval. The company claims the area could hold $1 trillion in oil and is preparing to drill as Trump renews threats to seize control of Greenland.
Why It Matters: Trump is threatening to invade Greenland while a company tied to his circle is preparing to exploit its oil without permission. His threats against Greenland are unfolding alongside private efforts to profit from its natural resources.
Source: The Guardian
U.S. Squeezes Cuba Even as It Searches for a New Regime Leader
What Happened: Trump officials have directed U.S. intelligence agencies to identify a current or former Cuban official who could take power in Havana and cooperate with the U.S. At the same time, Trump is pressuring Cuba to open its economy to U.S. businesses, buy American oil, and expel Russian and Chinese intelligence operatives.
Source: New York Times
Far-Right & Russian Influence Watch
U.S. Intel Links Russia to Explosive Drone at German Airport
What Happened: U.S. intelligence assesses that an explosive-laden drone found near a Ukrainian cargo plane at Germany’s Leipzig/Halle Airport likely belonged to the Russian government. The discovery forced the airport to shut down, and German reports say the drone failed to detonate.
Source: Wall Street Journal
Economic News
July jobs report reveals unexpected loss of 23,000 jobs, missing economists’ forecasts
What Happened: The U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs in July, far below economists’ forecast of 95,000 new jobs, while May and June were revised down by another 103,000. The unemployment rate fell to 4.1%, largely because people left the workforce.
Source: CBS News
Resistance
Check out 50501 for local and nationwide events…
Source: 50501
Voter turnout surges in Tennessee after Black-majority district is erased
What Happened: Democratic turnout for House primaries in Shelby County, which includes Memphis, more than doubled from 2024 and reached its highest level in a decade. The surge followed Tennessee Republicans’ decision to dismantle the state’s only majority Black congressional district and divide its voters among three districts after the Supreme Court eroded Voting Rights Act protections.
Source: The Washington Post
By the Numbers
$20 billion — Sole-source Army drone contract awarded to Anduril, whose co-founder Palmer Luckey has donated $5.9 million to Republicans since 2017.
$150 million — No-bid contract awarded to a small Trump-connected law firm to represent immigrant children
4% — Share of general and admiral nominations going to women this year, the lowest in at least 25 years
1,600+ — People deported to Vietnam and Laos under Trump
23,000 — Jobs the U.S. economy lost in July
What to Watch Next
ICE controls the cameras meant to hold its officers accountable — Will Congress step in and force ICE to change a policy that allows it to hide evidence of misconduct?
Trump has an attorney general who says he can direct DOJ investigations — How much further will Trump be allowed to go in using federal prosecutors against his political enemies?
Trump is trying again to remove Lisa Cook from the Federal Reserve — Will he succeed in replacing her with a loyalist and gaining more control over the Fed?
Trump-linked business interests are colliding with his threats to invade Greenland — What happens as Greenland pushes back against unauthorized drilling?
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.
Control Over Justice — Todd Blanche says Trump can direct DOJ investigations, while Trump is already publicly pressuring federal prosecutors over individual criminal cases.
Hiding the Evidence— ICE can decide when to release body camera footage and has stopped counting some deaths that occur shortly after people leave its custody.
Cronyism Pays — Republican donors and Trump-connected firms continue benefiting from enormous federal contracts, including deals awarded without competitive bidding.
Consolidating Control — Trump is again trying to remove a Federal Reserve governor while Hegseth continues to remove or sideline senior military leaders.
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.
Thanks for reading the Trump Tyranny Tracker. Stay tuned for more updates.
