#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3269   Pete Hegseth signed a memo last month giving the Pentagon permission to test a military-grade heat ray and develop tactics to potentially use it in operations at the southern border. Known as the “Active Denial System,” it is a non-lethal weapon that shoots an invisible beam of electromagnetic waves that can reach a little more than a half a mile away. It causes a burning sensation when it comes into contact with human skin. It’s been compared to feeling a blast of heat when opening a hot oven. A “tingling effect“ lasts between 10 and 15 minutes, generating an urge to run from the effect. There has been discussion about it being used as crowd dispersal along the US-Mexico border.    The current administration has also discussed using it during moments of civil unrest, including during protests over George Floyd. The Pentagon is trying to absolve itself of any liability by stating, “It shall not be operated by Department of War personnel.” They will loan it to DHS (Department of Homeland Security), and they say the DHS will be solely responsible.
 The US military deployed the system to Afghanistan, but decided not to use it during active combat operations. Customs and Border Protection officials have previously discussed using it in areas where there’s a high concentration of illegal crossings, but it has never been deployed. Among the concerns are the use of it across the border in Mexico on those who had not yet crossed into the United States and could be harmed. Typically, these type of inhumane treatments get rejected. But Trump sees immigrants as enemy combatants. Currently the need is low as the border is seeing far fewer border crossings. Will that stop Trump?

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3268   Before the midterm election has even taken place, President Trump‘s administration has filed a lawsuit to block the results of the Alaska Senate race.
The addition of a similarly named candidate—another Republican named Dan J. Sullivan, Jr. —They say it’s an attempt to mislead voters into voting for the wrong candidate. If the incumbent loses by a margin less than the number of votes his same named challenger receives, the administration asked the federal judge to bar the state from certifying the race’s results. Trump told reporters he has asked the Justice Department to pursue the legal challenge - “I’m the one that said do it.”
Attorney General Todd Blanche downplayed the reports, outside of a “doomsday scenario…but if, you know, to say there’s no circumstances that we would ever do that, of course I’m not going to say that.”
 The Trump administration has kept up pressure on state-run elections, and to create doubt. The Associate Attorney General of Alaska Stanley E. Woodward has claimed in a filing, “The sole purpose of Dan J. Sullivan’s candidacy is to benefit the Peltola campaign by reducing the number of votes for Senator Sullivan.”
Dan J. Sullivan is a former independent, a retired teacher who registered as a Republican shortly before filing to enter the race this year. The state court ordered him back on the ballot after Alaskan officials tried in June to remove him. He claims he is not affiliated with Peltola’s campaign or the Democrats.
 Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, and takes longer than others to count votes. If the results are close, this will increase the chances of litigation, unless it’s a blowout for the Democrats. Please #VoteBlue.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE   WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3267   Recent reporting show even though polls are suggesting Democrats will win both houses of Congress, the addition of $2.7 billion by Republicans and Elon Musk will not make it a sure thing. Elon Musk has become the largest donor in modern American history with his pouring of $446 million of his own money into this election, according to federal election commission filings. Former mayor Mike Bloomberg has given $60 million to Democrats. Republicans are hoping to blanket the airwaves and they are deploying more canvassers to voters’ doors.
 Democrats are trying to compete in states that President Trump won by large margins. Trump is traveling from red-state to red-state, playing defense. Some strategists worry about the reality of big challenges and growing expectations. Some deep red states have not seen the Democratic win in decades.
 Can huge amounts of Republican’s money defeat huge Democratic advantages on issues, the candidates, and the current political climate? Some pollsters say it may just be a type of modern blue wave where you win far more than normal, around all the “overheated expectations,” Molly Murphy, who has worked on previous campaigns said. Murphy said gerrymandering has left few House seats truly competitive.
 Democrats must flip four Republican-held seats and keep all of their own. In the ten Senate battleground races, four feature Republican incumbents, five are happening in states that Trump won by 11 points or more in 2024. Polling does show that Democrats are more enthusiastic about voting than Republicans this cycle, but there are still more Republicans in Iowa and Kansas than there are Democrats. Trump continues to say at his rallies, “I’m asking you to pretend I’m running… pretend I’m on the ballot.” 
 The Economist found the more partisan a state, the more polls have underestimated the strength of the dominant party. Ignore all polls, and just #VoteBlue.
Defy expectations.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3266   The American Foreign Service Association, the union for foreign service officers has heard anecdotes of senior foreign service members not getting jobs after going through interviews with questions that were political. If you are up for promotion as a foreign service official, you will be asked how you voted in the 2016, 2020 and 2024 presidential elections, a violation of federal law. Those at the top of Donald Trump’s State Department have made it clear—only Trump voters will be eligible for mid-to-upper-level foreign service roles. They were also told their political donation history would be examined, and any donations to Democrats would disqualify them.   “We are working with the house and other relevant committees to thoroughly investigate…all such claims,“ said Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The majority of the government workforce are permanent career staff intended to be protected by political influence.
 The State Department has added a “Fidelity“ section to the foreign services evaluation process, saying “Fidelity means upholding the constitution and the law and executing policy with loyalty to the American people and their interests...It emphasizes the critical importance of service, integrity and policy alignment about executing the president’s vision for foreign policy.” A recent test taker said there were questions about Reagan‘s tax policies, and the accomplishments of Mike Pompeo, the former Secretary of State on the exam. The Trump administration is facing legal actions against their efforts to identify supporters among the civil service.
A court order already required them to stop asking applicants to write a short essay on their favorite Trump policies. That’s fascism.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    NOSOTROS, EL PUEBLO   Una combinación de negociaciones y diplomacia de alto riesgo ha definido los intentos de Trump por poner fin al conflicto más sangriento de Europa desde la Segunda Guerra Mundial, según los reportes del New York Times. Una de las mayores compañías energéticas de Rusia, Novatek, se beneficiaría de cualquier acuerdo discutido, ya que se usaría la tecnología de Novatek y la empresa rusa tendría una participación en cualquier acuerdo de gas natural de Alaska con Polar LNG.   Esto se suma a la posible venta de LUKOIL, uno de los gigantes energéticos de Rusia. Geoffrey R. Pyatt, exsecretario asistente de Estado para recursos energéticos en la administración de Biden, ha dicho que la idea de llevar a Novatek al norte de Alaska sería terrible por motivos ambientales, económicos y geopolíticos.  “Esto alimenta la creencia de que Putin puede conseguir una carta de libertad.” Por supuesto, el acuerdo implicaría a alguien con vínculos con la familia Trump.   Gentry Beach, un amigo de la universidad de Donald Trump Jr., dijo que él sostuvo negociaciones con Novatek sobre llevar su tecnología de gas natural a Alaska. La propuesta de Polar LNG es comprar un enorme dispositivo de 640,000 toneladas de concreto y acero de Novatek llamado “estructura basada en gravedad”, que se colocaría en el mar justo frente a la costa norte de Alaska. Se suponía que la financiación no vendría de Rusia. Novatek ya está bajo sanciones de EE. UU. Donald Trump levantó las sanciones la semana pasada como un pretexto para mantener las conversaciones de paz. Algunos altos ejecutivos han renunciado en protesta por permitir que una empresa vinculada a sanciones invierta en secreto en el posible acuerdo.   Es un insulto adicional a Ucrania y no debería ser parte de las negociaciones para terminar la guerra, dijo Ilya Zaslavskiy, consultor de la industria del gas. Pero hemos visto de qué lado está Trump. Tenemos que #VotarAzul.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   A combination of deal-making and high-stakes diplomacy has defined Trump‘s attempts to end Europe’s bloodiest conflict since World War II, according to the New York Times’ reporting. One of Russia’s biggest energy companies, Novatek, would benefit from any deal discussed as it would use Novatek’s technology and the Russian company would own a stake in any Alaskan natural gas deal with Polar LNG.
 This is in addition to the possible sale of LUKOIL, one of Russia’s energy giants. Geoffrey R. Pyatt, former assistant Secretary of State for energy resources in the Biden administration, has said the idea of bringing Novatek into the high north of Alaska would be terrible on environmental, economic, and geopolitical grounds.
“This feeds the belief that Putin can get an out-of-jail-free card.” Of course, the deal would involve someone with ties to the Trump family.    Gentry Beach, a college friend of Donald Trump Jr’s, said he held negotiations with Novatek about bringing its natural gas technology to Alaska. Polar LNG‘s proposal is to buy a giant 640,000 ton concrete-and-steel device from Novatek called a “gravity based structure,” that would be placed in the sea just above the northern coast of Alaska. Financing was not supposed to come from Russia. Novatek is already under US sanctions. Donald Trump waived the sanctions just last week as a pretense to keep peace talks going. Some top executives have resigned in protest over a company tied to sanctions being allowed to invest secretly into the possible deal.
 It’s a further insult to Ukraine, and should not be part of talks to end the war, said Ilya Zaslavskiy, a gas industry consultant. But we have seen what side Trump is on.  We have to #VoteBlue

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3265   “We will not allow disputed incidents to be exploited to demonize the hundreds of thousands of law-abiding Jewish residents of Judea and Samara,” Prime Minister Netanyahu recently said. In his statement, he said the facts of the incident “remain unclear and are under investigation.“ What’s not in dispute are the injuries suffered by Heidi Levine, an American photojournalist who was severely beaten with rocks and sticks by Israeli settlers. The IDF stood by and fired teargas, refusing to intervene. She suffered lacerations across her body, a broken rib and four broken vertebrae. She will need surgery on one hand after a finger was ripped open exposing bone.
These Israeli settlers coordinated a massive attack—dozens of men attacked Palestinian villagers trying to gather olives from their trees. The settlers set the trees on fire and were slinging rocks at them.
 If the incident is as disputed as Netanyahu claims, where are reports or photos of Israeli injuries? The occupied West Bank has seen escalating violence, just ahead of the October elections there. Israeli settlers are reshaping the map, seizing more territory. It’s a coordinated effort between settlers and the highest levels of government, according to the Washington Post, while attention is diverted by the US-Israeli war against Iran. Between January and August there were 1600 settler attacks documented by the United Nations, an average of more than six a day since February 28 and the start of the Iran war. At least 76 Palestinians have been killed by gunfire from Israeli forces or settlers. It’s not only Netanyahu. It is the far right cabinet such as finance minister Smotrich and National Security minister Ben-Gvir. Israel wants to reestablish territory it occupied in the 1967 war. Many in the world see that land as illegally settled Palestinian land. Israel has increased settlements even in violation of Israeli law.
 At least 4300 Palestinians have been displaced this year. Israel wants to “bury the idea“ of Palestinian statehood. Groups of Palestinian militias are working alongside Israel, receiving weapons and funding, and attacking fellow Palestinians in their homes. These militias are made up of criminal gangs and want to decrease the ability of Hamas to stay in power, but are unlikely to ever replace Hamas. Israel’s motive is to destabilize them so the rest of the world blames Hamas. So much for any cease-fire agreement. Israel has never kept one.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3264   Missouri Republicans aren’t going to let 86 years of their nonpartisan system for electing judges get in the way of gerrymandering desires. Their own state Supreme Court overruled their recent attempts they want to give additional seats to Republicans. Some state lawmakers are calling to overturn their own system to choose top judges under what is known as the Missouri Plan. Missouri lawyers help choose a slate of three candidates—then the governor makes an appointment for the state Supreme Court, appeals court, and in some areas, the circuit courts. This became a model for many states around the country.    Conservative judge-maker Leonard Leo sees Missouri as a crucial battleground—he attempted to convince Governor Matt Blunt in 2007 to reject some Supreme Court candidates in an attempt to weaken the selection system. In 2012, the GOP put a proposed issue before the voters to give the governor more control. Voters rejected that idea. State Republican legislators have tried many things to wrench power of referendums away from the voters— redrawing a gerrymander mid-decade, then Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins attempted to ignore it when the Supreme Court ordered an older map restored, resulting in 14 Republican lawmakers calling to impeach the members of the court if they held Hoskins in contempt. Hoskins finally backed down.   Republicans have tried to weaken all the guardrails that could limit their power nationwide. North Carolina, Wisconsin, and New York all have tried to enforce gerrymanders or take power away from Democrats. Republicans hold every statewide elective office, have supermajorities in both chambers, and six of the state’s congressional seats—but they still want more power. The voters keep rejecting their proposals at the ballot box, especially over use of the ballot initiative. Five of seven Supreme Court justices were appointed by Republican governors, even though some Republicans have called them liberal activists. Any changes to the Missouri plan ultimately will have to be approved by the voters.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE   WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3263   The Wesleyan Media Project has found over 220 videos full of “generated fakery,” videos often without any disclaimer that they were made with AI. Any election will result in a flood of ads but this time around, they are full of fakes— mostly tied to Republicans or Republican aligned Political Action Committees. Using AI has allowed some candidates to be placed alongside the most polarizing figures in politics, such as Hillary Clinton or AOC. One ad even showed Abdul El-Sayed laughing at cards that read ”Death to America,” and “celebrate 9/11.”
 The media group stated there is more reluctance for Democrats to use ads with AI since their voters are generally in favor of some kind of regulation. 30 states require disclosure that AI is used for these deepfakes in political ads. An ad that normally cost $2 million to produce traditionally only will cost $200,000 with AI. The overall problem with political advertising is the use of deception. Voters should carefully study what issues a candidate supports directly from their websites and take ads with a grain of salt.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3262   “My thought was they could keep it in their back pocket to invalidate any [election] results they don’t like,” one of the former officials said. “This goes against everything CISA represents.” First they cut the budget of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), then the Trump administration wants the results of hacking a voting machine sent to the White House? Why would the Trump administration do this?
 The Trump administration has undermined CISA, election officials across the country say. The Trump administration’s attacks have left them to solve security issues themselves with the midterms almost here. The employees of CISA have told administration officials that the task of hacking a machine wasn’t possible since Elon Musk‘s DOGE laid off the agency’s personnel who could’ve pulled that off. Isn’t this a very Russian technique? Create instability, then blame a problem on that instability? One third of CISA’s employees were laid off—over 1000 of them. The president’s 2027 budget proposal would reduce funding for another $700 million—that would result in 900 more layoffs. Trump himself signed the act in 2018.
 In 2025 through mid-September 2026, the preparations for this election have been nonexistent. Some state authorities said they no longer trusted the administration enough to share information with CISA. “They violated the entire premise of that information-sharing relationship,“ said one official. Machine vendors are coming up with contingency plans if the federal government seizes their machines or declares them unusable. Donald Trump losing the election in 2020 has been too much for his fragile ego to take. It was CISA and the FBI that convinced former Attorney General Bill Barr that there wasn’t any systemic fraud in 2020. By the way, what happened to the ballots Tulsi Gabbard seized from Fulton County, Georgia? Make sure you get out and vote. We need to restore integrity.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    NOSOTROS, EL PUEBLO   La frustración por la economía es el tema principal en las elecciones de mitad de mandato. Muchos estadounidenses, especialmente los de bajos ingresos, están muy ansiosos ya que la inflación y el aumento de los precios de la gasolina se ven influenciados por la guerra en curso en Irán. El 61 por ciento de los encuestados dijo que hay demasiada desigualdad de ingresos y el 24 por ciento siente que la economía necesita una revisión completa. 4 de cada 10 demócratas ahora dicen que ningún nivel de desigualdad es aceptable. La confianza en que el sistema económico pueda cambiarse eficazmente para abordar la desigualdad es baja. Republicanos y demócratas no están de acuerdo sobre las causas. Los republicanos atribuyen las causas a las elecciones personales, mientras que los demócratas más a menudo citan nuestro sistema tributario y la regulación insuficiente de las grandes corporaciones.   La mayoría de los estadounidenses piensa que el gobierno federal debería tener un papel importante en reducir la desigualdad económica, y que las personas ricas deberían tener mucha responsabilidad en disminuirla. Investigaciones de PEW han dicho que la economía es el tema principal en las elecciones intermedias para todos los votantes. #VoteBlue.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   The frustration over the economy is the defining issue for the midterm elections. So many Americans, especially lower income individuals are very anxious as inflation and higher gasoline prices are influenced by the ongoing war in Iran. 61 percent of those surveyed have said there is too much income inequality and 24 percent feel the economy needs a complete overhaul. 4 of 10 Democrats now say no amount of inequality is acceptable. Confidence that the economic system can be effectively changed to address inequality is low. Republicans and Democrats disagree on the causes. Republicans will attribute the causes to personal choices, but Democrats most often will cite our tax system and insufficient regulation of major corporations.
 Most Americans think the federal government should play a large role in reducing economic inequality, and says wealthy people should have a lot of responsibility in reducing it. PEW research has said the economy is the top issue in the midterms for all voters. #VoteBlue.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3261   It’s reported Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, the Housing official Bill Pulte and EPA administrator Lee Zeldin are all angling for Chief of Staff Susie Wiles’ position as rumors circulated she may step down. Wiles has given no indication recently that she plans to leave. High-level staffers regularly rotate out of their jobs after 18 months to two years. Trump had four Chiefs of Staff including an acting one during his first term. Anonymous interviews with 20 staffers and people close to the president say apparently they are bracing for widespread midterm election losses and internal upheaval.
 Last week Trump reached out to Katie Zacharia, hired her as the new Press Secretary, then abruptly fired her. He never consulted with Susie Wiles said sources, but when has President Trump ever respected anyone other than himself? Observers say the recent turmoil is similar to his first administration. The president has told allies he feels like no one is publicly defending him. His frenetic schedule of rallies is one indication he feels the need to gin up enthusiasm. The president has historically low approval ratings. Even Republicans are frustrated by high prices. Trump has been calling people and voicing his fears that he is not receiving enough outside information. He’s also complained about James Blair and Chris LaCivita, advisors with close ties to Wiles. Trump has been in contact with Corey Lewandowski, Wiles’ rival who has been rumored to be pushing for Bill Pulte, but Lewandowski claims he has never spoken to the president about Bill Pulte replacing Wiles.
Danielle Alvarez, a White House spokesperson said “These anonymous sources know nothing. President Trump, whose priority is delivering for the American people…has assembled a strong, talented and united team.” After the Dallas Republican convention, polls show support for Republican candidates cratering. Voters don’t feel the party is in tune to their economic concerns. How can you blame them when Trump has made statements like, “I love the inflation.” He has focused and wasted time on construction projects rather than attempt to help regular Americans. Trump’s Super PAC MAGA Inc. has spent a lot in recent weeks. Money also has come from the Senate Leadership Fund. It was Susie Wiles’ discipline that resulted in more than 100 Executive orders during his first 100 days. Blair and LaCivita are still running Trump‘s midterm strategy. It’s hard to keep track of all the machinations of those with low morals who work with this president.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3260   In the movies, the guys in suits that bulldoze and tear down parks are the villains. Now there are 430 cut-down trees piled up by the killer storm called Donald Trump, the leading villain. It’s not routine upkeep, like the administration claims. The East Potomac Golf Course, a municipal course meant for the general public—an alternative for the expensive and exclusive golf courses that Trump usually builds, has fallen to the wayside. Another example of his interference. The National Park Service under this president follows his orders, no matter the consequences. The trees were cut down in defiance of a court order, naturally.
 Trump has a long history of destroying things. He destroyed the historic friezes on the Bonwit Teller department store after promising them to the Metropolitan Museum of Art long ago, and he’s been doing it ever since. A normal resident of Washington DC has to abide by the restrictive rules regarding the removal of trees with huge fines and fees to replant, but not Donald Trump. What will the Republican Congress do? We already know the answer— not a thing.  Tom Fazio is Trump‘s preferred designer of his golf courses, and already has a signed contract with the administration. $49 million in construction contracts have been announced and another to an engineering firm for almost $400,000. A 1897 law was created to keep this course for the “pleasure of the people.” The Trump administration has moved to disqualify the judge over the lawsuit over his “renovation.”   Stealing a public park in daylight: what about contempt of court?

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE   WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3259   Donald Trump wants you to believe that his economic handouts to Russia will somehow lower the price of gasoline here in America. Not true. He has written a new executive order exempting Russia from any sanctions. A law named known as the Graham Act, named for Trump’s devotee Lindsey Graham, was passed just last month. It was Intended to target Russian officials, oligarchs and financial institutions. Lindsey Graham died in July and spent more than a year gathering support for the law. He was a supporter of Ukraine’s fight for survival. It provided additional tariff power to punish the countries who continue to trade with Russia.  Two days before the law was to take affect, Trump used his powers to dismiss it. He claims it is in the national interest. He doesn’t give any justification for that claim.    Russia will not be exporting any oil products to the US, they have none to spare and the rest they sell in secret, utilizing their “shadow fleet” of oil tankers. The largest cause of rising fuel costs is President Trump‘s war of choice with Iran, alongside Israel. The restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz are the result. Mr. Putin has refused to stop attacking Ukraine, so you have to wonder what the real motive is for Donald Trump. 
 Don Beyer (D-VA) said, “Trump‘s latest surrender to Putin again betrayed our Ukrainian partners and defies clear congressional intent of legislation designed to punish Russia for its illegal war of aggression.” President Zelenskyy said he believes the diesel deal and the rollback of new sanctions were only “the first step,“ and that Mr. Trump would continue lifting sanctions on Russia.   Until the war with Iran is resolved, fuel prices will continue to rise. Remember that when you vote.

#TrumpIsUnfitForOffice    #wtpBLUE    WE THE PEOPLE   wtp3258   “It looks way too cozy to be legitimate. I think taxpayers should be appalled,“ said Virginia Canter, a former federal government ethics lawyer. Propublica has reported that in June the Pentagon signed a contract with a firm connected to a Pentagon power broker. Experts have said a no-bid consulting contract designed to secretly develop weapons prototypes was extraordinary. George K Kollitides II, was brought into the Pentagon during Donald Trump‘s second term. He has a mandate to improve procurement of weapons and critical minerals. Kollitides has claimed his work will benefit the country, but it appears it’s a help instead to his old friends in the private sector. Months after he was appointed, he was listed in a securities filing as continuing to work as a senior advisor for his old company, private equity firm Alvarez and Marsal Capital. Two months later the Defense Department finalized a $281 million no-bid contract with Alvarez and Marsal Federal to advise Kollitides’ new Pentagon office. Since December almost $350 million in military spending has been spent on this firm—an unusually high amount. This amounts to about five times as much as they received in the two decades preceding Donald Trump as president. 
The Defense Department signed these contracts with unusual secrecy, using a method to fund experimental weapons. This is work A&M has never before claimed to do. It is unclear whether Kollitides will benefit personally from the windfall of military spending. He is allowed to keep his financial disclosures confidential under a special classification at the Pentagon. Ethic experts say it’s generally illegal for executive branch officials to play a role in awarding contracts that would have a direct impact on their finances, unless granted a waiver. The investment firm claims there’s no connection between the day-to-day operations and the consulting business, of course. They did not answer any of ProPublica’s questions. Jacob Bliss, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary, said in an email that Kollitides is “in full compliance with all ethics laws and regulations.” Where have we heard this before?
 The Pentagon‘s procurement systems need radical reform, and the massive spending under President Trump for connected consultants is reflective of this corrupt administration. Please #VoteBlue.