Today in Politics, Bulletin 53. 1/21/25 Ron Filipkowski Jan 22 ∙ … Trump was fuming at the Bishop after the Inaugural Prayer Breakfast, as he and JD Vance sat in the front row and listened to this from Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde: "I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian, and transgender people in Democratic, Republican, and Independent families, some who fear for their lives. And the people who pick our crops, clean our office buildings, labor in poultry farms and meat packing plants - they may not be citizens or have the proper documentation, but the vast majority of immigrants are not criminals.” … As he was leaving the service, Trump was asked by a reporter what he thought of the sermon: “What did you think about it? Did you find it exciting? Not too exciting, was it? I didn’t think it was a good service. No. They can do much better.” … Right-wing provocateur and Post Millenial writer Jack Posobiec: “Why should the National Cathedral be allowed to maintain its tax exempt status if their Bishopess is attacking the President at a National Prayer Service?” … I don’t think Trump will be attending another one of Edgar-Budde’s sermons. Just a hunch. … Elise Stefanik was asked by Sen. Chris Murphy whether she thought Elon Musk was giving a Nazi salute yesterday at Trump’s rally: “No. Elon Musk did not do those salutes. I've been at many rallies with Elon Musk who loves to cheer when President Trump says we need to send our US space program to Mars.” … Marge Greene was upset when she found out at the inauguration that seating was assigned by seniority in Congress, which resulted in many Democrats getting better seats than her. She said, “Democrats who voted to impeach President Trump should not get front row seats.” She then went to the front of the line and said she was going to “line up by who supports President Trump the most.” … The war in Ukraine is still going on, despite the fact that Trump promised repeatedly - on videos he released, on TV and podcast interviews, and in rally speeches that he would “end the war in 24 hours,” said that “it wouldn’t even be tough for me to do,” and “everybody will be happy” with the result. The war is still going, and Trump hasn’t said a word about how he is going to end it in the last 24 hours. … Marco Rubio was asked on CBS what happened to that promise: “The promise the president made really, if you look at it, is it's going to be official policy of the US that the war in Ukraine needs to come to an end. We want it to end.” Yeah, everyone wants that. Except Putin. Trump said HE would end it easily in one day. … Barron Trump has formed a real estate company with two of his college friends. It is called Trump, Fulcher & Roxburgh Capital, Inc. Barron’s partner Cameron Roxburgh told the NY Post that they will launch this spring and focus on “high-end real estate , including golf courses.” … It seems that Elon Musk will not be working in the Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House after all. The NYT is reporting that Musk has now been able to convince Trump to give him an office in the West Wing of the White House. President Musk. … President Zelensky addressed leaders of the EU in Davos today, where his entire speech was centered around the premise that European countries can no longer count on security support from the US or free trade with us, so they must focus on become more of a collective military and economic power that no longer relies on interdependent ties to its other traditional allies. … Netflix announced they were raising their prices. Since I had to read like 10 million MAGA posts over the last 4 years blaming the cost of every product in the world on Biden, I decided to trigger my many MAGA snowflake trolls on X by posting that Trump is causing the cost of entertainment to go up already. Needless to say, the replies are less than polite. … I love my MAGA fans! … Crypto scam monitor CRM on the Pastor who gave the opening prayer yesterday at Trump’s event, then promptly launched a crypto coin, while promising not to cash out his percentage to leave investors holding the bag: “Fresh off his inauguration speech—and before his 15 minutes of fame truly died—Lorenzo Sewell promoted the token $LORENZO, which has now rug-pulled. As I’ve been saying, the grift is real and will be never-ending with these people.” … Rug-pulled in the crypto world means he pulled the rug out from under the investors who bought in to the scam and took all their money. As Pastor Sewell said yesterday when launching the crypto: “All glory to God!” … Trump immediately fired the first woman to serve as the head of any branch of the military - Coast Guard Commandant Linda Fagan. … Just last week, Trump’s transition team floated that he was only looking at granting pardons to 1,100 of the roughly 1,500 defendants - which seemed to be a signal that the defendants who committed acts of violence would not be included. JD Vance went on Fox two Sundays ago and said, “If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned.” … But then a backlash ensued from many MAGA activists, J6 defendants and their families who were furious and said they felt betrayed that all of them would not be included. As with every controversial issue whether it is abortion or covid vaccines - this is always Trump’s move. Have a surrogate float his original plan, gauge the reaction from the base, and if there is significant backlash he always caves to the base. … This is why I have said for many years that Trump reacts to and does things that MAGA influencers and his base wants much more than the other way around. He tries to move them in certain directions on certain issues, but virtually ALL of Trump’s proposals and actions started with a MAGA influencer or podcaster - or he changes his position because of what they are saying. This mistake people commonly make is to look at MAGA as a top-down movement where Trump issues orders and they all obey. That is not how it works. That has never been how it worked. … Which is why, unlike legacy media, I have always paid close attention to what the key influencers in the MAGA movement are saying. The reason why I am able to accurately predict what Trump is going to do before he does it is not a secret formula - it is simply because I listen to the people that he listens to. I know when they float certain ideas or positions, or object to certain things, sooner or later that will be Trump’s position. It is very much a middle-up-down movement, where things start at the influencer level, go up to Trump, then go down to the cult. That is because Trump has no ideas, so they have to come from somewhere. I’ve just identified the places where they come from. … In addition to commuting the sentences of the leaders of the Proud Boys and Oathkeepers, Trump also commuted the sentence of the man who beat Officer Brian Sicknick with a deadly weapon, another who bashed an officer with a fire extinguisher, and other who beat officers with a metal baton. … Sicknick’s brother, Craig to ABC: “This is a betrayal of decency. We now have no rule of law. Trump is a poor excuse of a man.” … Officer Aquillino Gonnell: “It’s a desecration to our service and the sacrifices made to keep everyone safe.” … Another current officer: “I just worked about 14 hours making sure Trump's inauguration was secure and peaceful, got home, read about this. Thanks America.” … Rep. Jamie Raskin: “Why were they pardoned? Were they innocent? Were they denied due process? Are they reformed and rehabilitated and no longer a threat to society? Or were they pardoned simply because they were willing political soldiers for Donald Trump when he incited an insurrection against the government?” … House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries to Spectrum News: “House Republicans are celebrating pardons issued to a bloodthirsty mob that violently assaulted police officers. What happened to backing the Blue? Far right extremists have become the party of lawlessness and disorder. Don’t ever lecture America again about anything” … But the Editor of the right-wing website The Blaze still isn’t satisfied. Daniel Horowitz: “One of the things we need to do is to finally use impeachment against corrupt federal judges. A good place to start is with DC district judges like Beryl Howell, Trevor McFadden, and Randolph Moss who violated all legal norms on J6 cases at every stage of the legal process. There needs to be a reckoning.” … Republican members of Congress, who assured America over the last few weeks that there was no way Trump was going to pardon J6 defendants who beat up cops and destroyed property, were asked to weigh in on the fact that Trump pardoned all of them. Sen. Majority Leader John Thune to CNN: “We’re not looking backwards, we’re looking forward.” … Sen. Chuck Grassley to Semafor: “I’m just talking about the Biden pardons.” … Sen. Bill Cassidy to CNN: "I'm a big 'back-the-blue' guy. I think people who assault police officers — if they do the crime, they should do the time." … Sen. Lisa Murkowski: “I don't think that the approach of a blanket pardon that includes those who caused harm, physical harm, to our police officers, to others that resulted in violence, I'm disappointed to see that. And I do fear the message that is sent to these great men and women that stood by us.” … Sen. Thom Tillis: “I’ve got concerns with any pardons for people who did any harm to police officers. Full stop.” Tillis later told Reuters: “I saw an image today in my news clippings of the people who were crushing that police officer. None of them should get a pardon. You make this place less safe if you send the signal that police officers could be assaulted and there is no consequence.” … Rep. Mike Lawler to Spectrum News: “Those who committed acts of violence should be held accountable. However, as President Biden proved by preemptively pardoning his entire family, the President has absolute pardon authority.” … Sen. Susan Collins told CBS that she does not support pardons for those who were violent, but she wasn’t sure if Trump pardoned anyone who committed any violence. (Apparently she was the only one who didn’t know today). … Later in the day, Collins told HuffPost that a Capitol police officer who heard about her comments sent her a video of J6 insurrectionists physically assaulting him. Collins then said it was “a terrible day for our justice system for two reasons - Trump and Biden’s pardons.” … Sen. Tommy Tuberville: “I am 100% for every one of the pardons. They’ve been there long enough.” When asked if that included rioters who injured police officers, he said, “No, that’s not acceptable. But I didn’t see anyone do that. Now, if I see it, I would believe it, but I didn’t see that video.” … Sen. Lindsey Graham to Fox before Trump issued the pardons: “To seek a pardon of these people would be wrong. I think it would destroy President Trump. And I hope we don’t go down that road.” … Gayle King asked Marco Rubio about the pardons: “In 2021, even you issued a statement saying the images of J6 stirred up anger in you, 'the nation was embarrassed.' How do you reconcile those feelings with Trump's pardons?” Rubio: “I’m not going to engage in domestic political debates. I used to be a Senator, and now I'm about to be sworn in as the Secretary of State. That's what I'm thinking. I work for Donald Trump.” … Trump’s AG nominee Pam Bondi was asked last week at her confirmation hearing about whether Trump would pardon J6ers who beat up cops. She told the Senate: “The president does not like people who abuse police officers.” … Convicted J6 defendants also reacted to their pardons. Jake “QAnon Shaman” Chansley: “I just got news from my lawyer. I got a pardon baby! Thank you, President Trump! Now I am gonna buy some motha fu*kin guns!!!” … Steve Baker: “I’m going to pick up my firearms. I’m going to start drunk-texting my FBI agent. There will be ‘ex parte’ communication with Judge Cooper.” Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. … Trump also commuted the two life sentences being served by dark web Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht. His site facilitated more global drug transactions than perhaps any other in history. Millions of pills were bought and sold using his encrypted site. Trump never even heard of Ulbricht before and knows nothing about his case. He even spelled his name “Ulbright” in the announcement. … How did Ulbricht get a pardon? When Trump was about to speak before the Libertarian Party convention during the campaign, he badly wanted their endorsement. A straw poll was done there earlier that day which revealed that one of their top five issues was a pardon for Ulbricht. So Trump came out and announced that he would pardon Ulbricht if he won, despite the fact that he never heard of him. … Trump, who tried to ban Tik Tok for years citing it as a national security threat, was asked why he suddenly changed his mind about it: “Because I got to use it. And remember, TikTok is largely about kids. Young kids. If China is gonna get information about young kids, I don't know - to be honest with you, I think we have bigger problems than that.” It’s just a bunch of kids, so no big deal. … Trump was asked about brutal, murderous N. Korean dictator Kim Jong-Un, whose troops are currently fighting for Russia in Ukraine: “I think he’s happy to have me coming back. I think he has tremendous condo capabilities - he has a lot of shoreline.” … Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) was asked on Fox about his bill to authorize Trump to begin negotiations to buy Greenland: “Strategically when you look at it, it’s wealthy in resources. It’s important for the US to assert itself and say, ‘look, this is on our doorstep and we are the dominant predator.’” … Rep. Mark Harris was asked on Fox about Trump’s plan to abolish the Department of Education: “I totally agree with that. The best education is done when it's led by those that are at home.” … Border Czar Tom Homan says there is a good chance ICE agents will go into school classrooms to seize migrant children to take them to detention facilities for deportation. He was asked on Fox whether doing that would be highly impactful to all students and negatively affect the learning environment at those schools: “Absolutely. But then again, you know, what's our national security worth?” … Trump then reposted a screenshot from a fake Tom Homan parody account (thinking it was actually Homan) on his Truth Social app that said elected officials who protect migrants from deportation should be put in jail and charged with felonies. … Trump signed a blizzard of executive orders last night, most of which he announced during the campaign on his website and at rallies. These included: Order giving him the authority to grant Top Secret security clearances to whoever he wants on an interim basis before any background checks have been completed. End birthright citizenship to children born on US soil if their parents are migrants. Rescind Biden’s initiative to lower prescription drugs costs through government negotiation. Abolish the office that monitors AI companies to ensure safe, secure and trustworthy development. ‘Putting People Over Fish’ which is supposed to divert water from northern CA to southern CA based on a right-wing conspiracy theory. Cancel the resettlement in the US of 1,660 Afghans, some of whom are family members of active-duty US service members. Remove regulations on the oil and gas industry. The US government will only recognize two genders for all purposes including passports. Withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord Withdraw from the World Health Organization Tik Tok ban delayed 75 days 90 day pause on all foreign aid Transgender people shall not be permitted to serve in the military All remote work for federal employees is terminated Revoke John Bolton’s security clearance and Secret Service protection … Bolton’s reaction: “I am disappointed but not surprised that Trump has decided to terminate the protection previously provided by the Secret Service. Notwithstanding my criticisms of Biden's national-security policies, he nonetheless made the decision to extend that protection to me in 2021. DOJ filed criminal charges against an Iranian Revolutionary Guard official in 2022 for attempting to hire a hit man to target me. That threat remains today.” … Caitlyn Jenner was at the inaugural events, but did not comment on Trump’s anti-trans executive orders. … Trump also brought up his campaign promise that he was going to build an Iron Dome system around the US similar to much smaller Israel’s missile defense system: “We're also doing the Iron Dome. All made in America. We're gonna have a nice Iron Dome. I’m gonna protect us with the use of the Iron Dome." … The ACLU immediately filed a lawsuit against the birthright citizenship executive order on the grounds that it is unconstitutional and violates the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution. … The Attorneys General in 17 states filed their own lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts challenging the birthright citizenship XO. … Right-wing Blaze Editor Daniel Horowitz: “As always, the ACLU makes sure to pick the most liberal circuit. They filed their birthright lawsuit in New Hampshire federal court. The First Circuit has only Democratic appointees on its active bench, and zero Trump appointees among senior judges.” … Rep. Yvette Sanchez to Spectrum News: “Trump promised us he would be a dictator on ‘Day One’. Having seen our new president sign numerous executive orders that either override Congress, overrule the courts, or undo the Constitution altogether, it is entirely clear that Trump has kept his word." … In addition to her dissatisfaction with Trump’s pardons of J6ers, Lisa Murkowski followed up her quick comment yesterday about Trump renaming Mt. Denali to Mt. McKinley with a social media post: “I strongly disagree with the President’s decision on Denali. Our nation’s tallest mountain, which has been called Denali for thousands of years, must continue to be known by the rightful name bestowed by Alaska’s Koyukon Athabascans, who have stewarded the land since time immemorial.” … Alaska’s other Republican Senator Dan Sullivan told CNN that he also wasn’t happy: “My view on this is to keep it Denali —that’s what the Athabaskan people named it 10,000 years ago. They’re brave. They’re strong. They’re patriotic.” (But not white). … After Republicans in the House and Senate almost unanimously passed the bill to force the Chinese owners of Tik Tok to divest for national security reasons, Trump extended the deadline by 75 days and his Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard sat next to Tik Tok CEO Shou Zi Chew during the inauguration ceremony. … Former Intercept reporter and current “independent journalist” Lee Fang: “Trump surrounded himself at his rallies with everyday Americans, coal miners, police officers, teachers, factory workers. Why only politicians and billionaires for the inauguration?” … Independent journalist Aaron Rupar responded to Fang: “It's possible, and hear me out on this, that Trump is full of shit.” … Keith Olbermann responded to Fang: “You are neither ‘independent’ nor a ‘journalist.’ You are the victim of a three-card monte game, you damned fool.” … Rep. Andy Biggs filed paperwork to run for Arizona governor in 2026. … MSNBC contributor Donny Deutsch on Morning Joe today on Trump: “He’s putting on a show and he’s very good at it. The Democrats talked about ‘joy’ - you know, running on it.” The Trump campaign “was walking around. Their chests are out. They’re feeling like winners. And the Democrats feel like whiners and nerds.” … Megyn Kelly continued to rant and rave about Jeff Bezos’ girlfriend Lauren Sanchez’s revealing top at the inauguration: “She looked like a hooker. Her look is not natural. No one should be talking about your tits at the inauguration.” … Trump also went out of his way to post that he was firing Chef Jose Andres from the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness and Nutrition. Andres responded: “I submitted my resignation last week. My 2 year term was already up. I was honored to serve. My fellow council members - unpaid volunteers like me - were hardworking, talented people who inspired me every day. I’m proud of what we accomplished on behalf of the American people - like a historic partnership between the WH and every major sports league to increase access to sports and health programs for kids.” … Andres concluded: “I hope Trump exercises his presidential authority so the Council can continue to advocate for fitness and good health for all Americans. These are bipartisan issues - nonpartisan issues. May God give you the wisdom, Mr. President, to put politics and name calling aside, and instead lift up the everyday people working to bring America together. Let’s build longer tables.” Nice thoughts. Not happening though.