The Daily Dean Newsletter: Friday, October 17, 2025 Top 5 Stories Democracy Lovers Need To Know Today Dean Blundell Oct 17 October 17, 2025 Welcome to the Daily Dean Newsletter, where we slice through the bullshit and tell you what’s really happening. Today’s edition is a five-alarm fire for anyone who gives a damn about democracy. From Ottawa to Washington to Budapest, the clowns are running the circus and setting the tents on fire. We couldn’t be more grateful to have you as part of this incredible community! So, we extended the half-price annual subscription deal for October. Get 50% off yearly plans and unlimited access, and never pay more. Redeem the offer by October 31, and feel free to share or gift a subscription to support fearless, independent journalism wherever you find it. Here are the top 5 stories you need to know. 1. Poilievre’s Temu Trump Act Is a Threat to Canada Pierre Poilievre, Canada’s Conservative leader, is digging through Donald Trump’s political bargain bin and pulling out the most failed, divisive policies he can find. He’s now targeting birthright citizenship and DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs, taking his cues directly from the Trump playbook that spectacularly backfired in the U.S. It’s a cut-and-paste job of failed American culture war garbage. Trump tried this stuff, and it cost him dearly, alienating moderate voters and leading to a “blue wave” that crushed his agenda. Yet, Poilievre seems to think this reheated nonsense will play well in a country built on multiculturalism. He’s not offering solutions to Canada’s real problems; he’s offering borrowed anger and resentment. This isn’t just lazy politics; it’s a cynical bet that Canadians are too dumb to notice he’s cosplaying as a low-rent strongman. It’s an insult to our intelligence and a direct threat to the Canadian social fabric. Temu Trump: Poilievre is Now Just Copy and Pasting The Trump Regime's Failed Birthright/DEI Policies, Because, of Course he is Dean Blundell · Oct 16 Editor’s note: You asked for more Canadian Content in a recent survey. I can’t thank you all enough for your input. We will try to bring more relevant CanCon to DeanBlundell.Substack.com as we move forward. Read full story 2. A Federal Judge vs. The Trump Administration in Chicago In Chicago, a federal judge is getting a front-row seat to the Trump administration’s contempt for the rule of law. U.S. District Judge Sara Ellis expressed “serious concerns” that federal agents are completely ignoring her court order to stop using violence against protesters and journalists. Her response was to order all federal agents to keep their body cameras on—a move the Department of Justice whined would require “tremendous resources.” This isn’t just about one protest; it’s about whether the judicial system has any power left to check an executive branch that acts like a law unto itself. When federal agents can seemingly defy court orders with impunity, the checks and balances that protect us from authoritarianism are crumbling. This is what democratic erosion looks like in real time: a government that treats court orders like suggestions and constitutional rights as inconveniences. BREAKING: Federal judge expresses “serious concerns” as Trump administration appears to ignore court order protecting Chicago protesters and journalists. Dean Blundell · Oct 16 Oct 16, 2025 Read full story 3. Hegseth Gags the Press at the Pentagon If you wanted to see authoritarianism in action, look no further than the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office just told the entire Pentagon press corps to sign a new “access policy” or get out. This policy is a gag order, allowing the Pentagon to revoke press credentials if reporters ask about certain unclassified information without pre-approval. In a stunning act of solidarity, more than 30 news organizations—from left to right—packed their bags and walked out. The only outlet that reportedly signed the loyalty pledge? One America News Network (OAN). This move effectively silences independent oversight of the world’s most powerful military. Hegseth’s team is creating a state-media echo chamber where the only news you’ll get from the Pentagon is the news they want you to hear. It’s a dark day for press freedom and a chilling step toward a future where accountability dies in darkness. Sign the Gag Order or Get Out: Hegseth’s Just Kicked the Press out of the Pentagon Press Corp Dean Blundell · Oct 16 Reporters were told to pledge silence/loyalty or face criminal charges regarding their Pentagon Reporting, or surrender their badges. Most chose the door. One outlet stayed. Guess which one. We couldn’t be more grateful to have you as part of this incredible community! So, we extended the half-price annual subscription deal for October. Get 50% off yea… Read full story 4. Two-Week Donnie Is Back: Trump’s Shady Budapest Summit with Putin Just when you thought it couldn’t get sleazier, Donald Trump pulls another fast one. While the world expected him to meet with Ukrainian President Zelensky, Trump was on the phone with Vladimir Putin, setting up a “peace” summit in Budapest. This isn’t diplomacy; it’s a delay tactic. “Two-Week Donnie” is stalling on sending crucial long-range weapons to Ukraine, giving Putin more time to pulverize the country. Russia is launching record-breaking missile and drone attacks, targeting energy facilities to plunge Ukraine into a brutal winter. Meanwhile, Trump is on the phone with Putin discussing post-war business deals. It’s a betrayal of an ally for personal profit and a photo-op. Trump is holding Ukraine hostage, betting that Putin can crush them just enough for him to swoop in and claim he brokered “peace.” This is a disgusting transaction, trading Ukrainian lives for a cheap headline. Lev Remembers Breaking: Two-Week Donnie Is Back: The Deal Behind Trump’s Budapest Summit With Putin For those of you who’ve been reading, listening, and supporting Lev Remembers and Voice from Ukraine, you’re not shocked by Trump’s latest flip-flop. The media’s acting surprised — pretending this is… Read more 21 minutes ago · 38 likes · 1 comment 5. Bolton Indicted as Project 2025 Kicks into High Gear The political revenge tour has officially begun. Former National Security Advisor John Bolton was just hit with an 18-count federal indictment related to his time in the Trump administration. This isn’t a show; it’s a serious move to punish enemies and consolidate power. It’s a clear signal that anyone who has stood against Trump is now a target. This indictment is just one piece of the larger, terrifying puzzle called Project 2025—the far-right’s detailed plan to dismantle American democracy from the inside. While the media was sleeping, Trump and his allies have been busy turning their authoritarian fantasies into reality. The indictment of Bolton, the secret talks with Putin, and the whispers of a potential military operation in Venezuela are not separate events. They are all part of a coordinated effort to rewrite history, silence dissent, and secure absolute power. The guardrails are on fire, and we are watching it happen. Lev Remembers BREAKING: Bolton Indicted, Trump’s Secret Putin Summit Revealed — Project 2025 Is Now in Full Effect The stories breaking right now are not separate events. They are two fronts of the same operation unfolding in plain sight — an operation called Project 2025… Read more 12 hours ago · 362 likes · 16 comments · Lev Parnas We couldn’t be more grateful to have you as part of this incredible community! So, we extended the half-price annual subscription deal for October. Get 50% off yearly plans and unlimited access, and never pay more. Redeem the offer by October 31, and feel free to share or gift a subscription to support fearless, independent journalism wherever you find it.