The Fine Print of Trump Fascism The Trump regime is taking over every major institution in America. Here's how. Robert Reich Jul 31 Friends, Today I want to describe for you the specific mechanism of control the Trump regime is using over the core institutions of America — the media, higher education, our largest corporations, and Wall Street. It's all in the fine print. Start with CBS. It’s now owned by Skydance Media. Under its Trump-appointed chairman, Brendan Carr, the Federal Communications Commission insisted, as a condition of allowing Paramount to sell CBS to Skydance, that the new owner install an “ombudsman.” What will that ombudsman do? According to Skydance Media’s agreement with the FCC, the ombudsman will “receive and evaluate any complaints of bias or other concerns involving CBS” for at least two years. The agreement doesn’t specify the meaning of “bias,” nor does it define whose “complaints” are to be responded to, nor enumerate what “other concerns” might trigger action. But none of this is difficult to imagine. Trump himself could complain of CBS’s bias or anything else. In fact, he probably will. He already has at least once. If the ombudsman then decides that any complaint of bias or other concern is justified, CBS will have to remedy it. If the ombudsman decides that CBS has not remedied it, Skydance Media’s new president, David Ellison, must do so. If Ellison does not remedy it — or if Trump believes the problem continues, regardless of what the ombudsman decides — the Trump regime can claim that CBS has reneged on its agreement, in which case Skydance’s ownership of CBS could be contested by the FCC. Its stock price would plummet. Note that this method of Trump control is indirect but powerful. The regime doesn’t have to assert control over CBS; it just retains the power to do so. And it’s up to Trump to determine what CBS will have to do to avoid being found to be “biased” or avoid any “other concern.” This mechanism of control is similar at Columbia University, whose new agreement with the Trump regime stipulates a mutually agreed-upon “monitor” who will, like CBS’s ombudsman, respond to complaints about “bias.” Columbia will provide the monitor detailed information about the race of students who are admitted and rejected, including grade point averages and standardized test scores broken down by race. All data related to faculty and administrative staff hiring and promotion practices must be provided to the monitor annually, and hiring data will be subject to a “comprehensive audit.” The monitor is also charged with assuring that the university establishes processes to guarantee “civil discourse, free inquiry, open debate, and the fundamental values of equality and respect.” And the monitor will review data to assure Columbia is meting out discipline without regard to a student’s immigration status. The monitor’s decisions are advisory. If the Trump regime is dissatisfied with the monitor’s decision or feels that the university is not acting in accordance with it, the Trump regime reserves the right to open a new investigation of Columbia and possibly revoke current or future federal research funds. Just like the CBS agreement, the Columbia agreement gives final power to the Trump regime. It allows the regime to maintain control over Columbia by holding a cudgel over the university. As Linda McMahon, Trump’s secretary of education, told Fox Business, “This is a monumental victory for conservatives who wanted to do things on these elite campuses for a long time because we had such far-left-leaning professors.” Or consider the Trump regime’s agreement allowing Nippon Steel to acquire U.S. Steel. During his 2024 campaign, Trump denounced Nippon Steel’s acquisition of U.S. Steel as a threat to American manufacturing. “I am totally against the once great and powerful U.S. Steel being bought by a foreign company, in this case Nippon Steel of Japan,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “As President, I will block this deal from happening. Buyer Beware!!!” On resuming office, though, Trump approved the deal. But this was after forcing Nippon Steel to give a “golden share” to the Trump regime — essentially giving Trump veto power over strategic decisions by the company. You see the pattern? Veto power over strategic decisions. Ombudsmen. Monitors. They’re all mechanisms for giving the Trump regime power to prevent these institutions — a television network, university, or corporation — from doing something that the Trump regime doesn’t want it to do. But because that power is held in reserve, Trump doesn’t have to display it. The heads of these institutions will do all the work for him; they’re likely to go out of their way to avoid offending the regime. The potential chilling effect is enormous. It’s much the same with major law firms that have surrendered to Trump. And with ABC. And with Jeff Bezos’s control over The Washington Post’s editorial page — which appears to be motivated by fear that Trump might retaliate against Bezos’s other businesses unless Bezos forces the Post to toe the line. It’s the same even with Wall Street. “I have been working on multiple deals where I have people inside the White House telling me what I can and can’t do,” a top dealmaker involved in mergers and acquisitions unrelated to the government recently told the Financial Times. “It’s a level of intrusion I have never experienced before.” Note these words: A level of intrusion I have never experienced before. That from a dealmaker on Wall Street! The words apply to more and more institutions in America that used to be free from government control. This level of intrusion inhibits public criticism of Trump, which is what Trump wants. It also deters so-called “conservative bias” in university hiring, however the Trump regime wants to define it. It eviscerates whatever Trump dislikes, such as corporate “diversity, equity, and inclusion” programs, or transgender women in women’s sports, or contracts with people or institutions against which Trump holds grudges. In short, this level of intrusion gives the Trump regime potential control over almost every institution and organization in America, every aspect of American life — but indirectly, quietly, and as a default if the leaders of the institution go too far. I’m old enough to remember when conservative Republicans stood for limited government and accused Democrats of wanting too much government. No longer. We’re now at a point in American history when a so-called Republican regime in Washington is extending its control far beyond the wildest dreams of the most left-wing of Democrats — or even socialists. But this control is not exercised publicly. It’s behind the scenes. It’s found in the fine print. And it is personal. It depends on Trump’s whims. This is what fascist control looks like, people. By the way, my memoir of my life and times, entitled Coming Up Short, will be out next Tuesday, August 5. If you wish, you can preorder here from Bookshop.org, which supports local bookstores, or find it wherever books are sold. I wrote it to share what I’ve learned about stopping bullies — at a time in American history when we’re dealing with an authoritarian bully who is encouraging bullying throughout the nation and the world. I hope you find it helpful for understanding how we combat the bullies. And why I believe so passionately that we will.

 

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MUST READ! USAID BOUGHT FOOD FROM US FARMERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN PAID - FOOD ROTTING IN STORAGE! 

USAID MONITORS DISEASES IN OTHER NATIONS - EBOLA IS PRESENT IN AFRICA, TB IS PRESENT IN PAKISTAN....A VISITOR FROM EITHER NATION CAN INTRODUCE EITHER TO THE US - THIS IS SELF-PROTECTION! 

FUNDS WERE ABRUTLY SLASHED IN VIETNAM WHERE THEY WERE REMOVING AGENT ORANGE  -  THE CONTAMINATION WAS LEFT UNCOVERED DURING RAINY SEASON THAT CAN WASH & SPREAD THE AGENT ORANGE!

THOSE ABRUPT FUNDING CUTS LEFT WORKERS AT RISK & NON-PROFITS IN JEOPARDY! 

SLASHING FUNDING WITHOUT COMPREHENSION DEFINES THE GROSS STUPIDITY OF THESE INCOMPETENTS!

Top Trump official tasked with dismantling USAID is out

Pete Marocco was tasked with dismantling the foreign aid agency.

ByWill Steakin and Lucien Bruggeman   March 19, 2025

 

Judge says dismantling of USAID was unconstitutional. The judge ordered Elon Musk and DOGE to immediately give USAID employees access to their "email, payment, security notification, and all other electronic systems."

Pete Marocco, the Trump administration official tasked with dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development, told State Department staff on Tuesday night that he is stepping away from his role at USAID and returning to his previous role at the State Department, according to an email obtained by ABC News.

"It's been my honor to assist Secretary Rubio in his leadership of USAID through some difficult stages to pivot this enterprise away from its abuses of the past," Marocco said in the email. "Now that USAID is under control, accountable and stable, I am going to return to my post as the Director of Foreign Assistance to bring value back to the American people."

Secretary of State Marco Rubio named Marocco USAID deputy administrator in early February, and Marocco -- along with Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency -- led the widespread effort to dismantle the agency by laying off thousands of employees, revoking funding for more than 80% of its programs, and shedding its Washington, D.C., headquarters.

MORE: 'Radical change': Inside Trump's State Department takeover of USAID

Marocco said in his email that he is leaving now that "USAID is under control, accountable, and stable" -- however many of the administration's moves are currently being challenged or stalled in the courts, with a judge on Tuesday ruling that the dismantling of USAID was unconstitutional.

A State Department official confirmed that Marocco would return to his role as the agency's Director of Foreign Assistance, and that two political appointees would assume the responsibilities of the deputy administrator.

Those two individuals are Jeremy Lewin, who will serve as USAID COO and Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programs, and Ken Jackson, who will be USAID CFO and Deputy Administrator for Management and Resources, according to Marocco's email.

Lewin, 28, has been working with DOGE at the State Department, helping in the effort to dismantle USAID, sources told ABC News. He graduated in 2022 from Harvard Law School, where he co-authored multiple op-eds with renowned liberal constitutional law expert Laurence Tribe.

The USAID logo is seen on a machine that processes recycled plastic into construction blocks at the Pasig Eco Hub, a project impacted by the Trump administration's freeze on foreign aid, on March 10, 2025, in Pasig, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Ezra Acayan/Getty Images

He was later hired as an associate in the Los Angeles office of the law firm Munger, Towles & Olsen, according to a now-defunct profile on the firm's website.

Lewin appears to have no apparent government experience, though his law firm bio claimed that he had "confidentially advised senior global policymakers -- including the U.S. President and senior Congressional leaders, Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zekelsnkyy, and senior members of the G7 and UN -- on matters of international law and policy."

Critics of the Trump administration say its efforts to nullify the agency will cripple American influence overseas and carry devastating effects for some of the most vulnerable populations in the world, which relied on U.S. funding for health care, food, and other basic needs.

In a statement shared by the State Department, Marocco said that "the crisis-level issues that had plagued USAID were far worse than we anticipated," and that "It has been an honor and a privilege to help restore accountability and transparency at USAID."

ABC

 

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ABC Gave Us The Middle Finger AGAIN…Let’s Fight Back NOW

Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network Dec 19

Written by Ben Meiselas

I’ll keep this short.

After entering into a pathetic $15 million settlement with Trump last week, ABC and George Stephanopoulos just announced moments ago that they entered into a new multi-year deal together. Seriously?!

The monetary terms of George Stephanopoulos’ contract renewal with ABC are not yet public, but he was previously making about $15 million a year. It seems likely he’s getting paid significantly more now. Also, if I had to bet, his new contract probably includes strong non-disclosure and non-disparagement clauses prohibiting him from discussing the settlement with Trump.

How pathetic is that?!

For those who told me I shouldn’t blame Stephanopoulos for the settlement in the Trump defamation case, and that it was just the fault of ABC, I hope this shows you that both he and ABC were complicit.

ABC is owned by Disney, and Disney reports to oligarch shareholders, including the Murdoch Family Trust. The oligarchs are fully on board with Trump’s Project 2025 agenda.

Stephanopoulos is a company guy who has demonstrated he’s more impressed by his million-dollar salary paid by the oligarchs than by his integrity or the truth. Seriously, how am I supposed to take his reporting seriously ever again if he folds like a napkin in situations like this?

The courageous thing to do in this situation would have been to quit. The worst thing to do is to take more money and double down. Stephanopoulos loves his money, I guess. He loves that oligarch gravy train. But let’s face it, this isn’t unique to Stephanopoulos when it comes to corporate media hosts. Most of them are basically just actors at this point, pretending to report the news but caring most about their million-dollar salaries. They “both sides” their news coverage because they don’t care about the side that’s the truth. That’s sad, and it needs to change.

The good news is this: we are changing that dynamic. You are changing that dynamic. Change is here. Finally.

Tomorrow morning at 9 AM ET, we are releasing a 30-minute interview I did with President Biden from the West Wing of the White House. It’s not airing on a fancy TV network or cable news channel. It’s airing on the MeidasTouch YouTube channel and our podcast platforms.

Guess what?

We were able to land this interview with zero outside investors. With no oligarchs.

Ben Meiselas Interview with President Biden — First Look 👀 Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network · Dec 18 Read full story

With a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a fraction of the resources ABC has, we now get more views and engagement than them at the MeidasTouch Network. They’re on the ropes, and they know it. They’re now just in “protect oligarchy mode.”

I want to send a powerful message right here and right now to ABC and Stephanopoulos. I want to try to get 1,000 new subscribers to this Substack to celebrate that the Meidas Mighty landed the President Biden interview that airs December 19.

I know it’s an ambitious goal to hit 1,000 new subscribers, but if you can subscribe now and help us keep growing bigger than ABC and Stephanopoulos, let’s send a message together right now!

Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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Bye Bye George Stephanopoulos… You Sold Out!

Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network Dec 15

By Ben Meiselas

I once admired ABC host George Stephanopoulos. I thought he was smart and fearless. Silly me. So many people I admired are revealing themselves as cowards now. It’s pathetic.

One day after ABC and Stephanopoulos settled with Trump for $15 million, Stephanopoulos deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account. He was getting mocked on X by MAGA accounts for kissing the ring. Stephanopoulos doesn’t have a Threads or Bluesky account, but he is also getting roasted by MAGA accounts on his Instagram. He is swarmed with comments on his Instagram like this:

This is why you never obey in advance. As I say, I prefer to die once than to have my soul ripped apart and die a thousand deaths in a lifetime for being a coward like so many journalists now.

Stephanopoulos looks like a total coward to those who oppose the settlement, and he has been beclowned by MAGA, who treat him as a pathetic loser. I wonder if he will delete his Instagram soon as well.

I’ve heard some try to say it’s not Stephanopoulos’ fault that ABC settled since he works for them. This is wrong. Stephanopoulos makes $15 million a year from ABC. By the way, if you wanted to know how Trump arrived at the $15 million settlement amount, that’s a hint right there.

Stephanopoulos was not forced into the settlement agreement. He has the right to his own lawyers, and ABC’s insurance would be obligated to pay for his defense if he didn’t settle.

Stephanopoulos’ net worth is probably close to $100 million. He has more money than anyone needs in multiple lifetimes. He could do what Harry Litman did at the LA Times and resign. If he believed in his talents, I’m sure he could land another job somewhere, or he could start his own show. But Stephanopoulos is a company guy who wanted to stay employed at ABC to keep those fat $15 million-a-year checks. So he settled as well when ABC/Disney cut Trump a $15 million check.

Stephanopoulos literally signed on the dotted line of the settlement agreement. He has free will. He exercised it the way he did, and now he is compromised. MAGA mocks him, while pro-democracy fans of his are fans no longer.

Look, here is my promise to you: MeidasTouch Network will never obey. We will never cave. Trump attacked us in a recent court filing, and I couldn’t care less. There is nothing he or MAGA could do to us to ever make us submit.

URGENT: Trump Just Attacked Meidas in Criminal Motion Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network · Dec 4 Read full story

We need to rebuild media from its ashes.

We are doing that now.

This fight is not going to be easy.

We need your help.

For real.

I don’t love asking for help, but it is what it is.

We need to grow bigger.

We need to prepare for the fight ahead.

We have zero investors. We are independent. No billionaires are pulling our strings.

The market cap of Disney/ABC is over $200 billion, and the market cap of Fox is over $20 billion.

We, on the other hand, have this Substack and a YouTube channel.

But hey, we get more views than both of them.

So if you can, please become a subscriber to this Substack now.

Goodbye George Stephanopoulos.

Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.