via US news | The Guardian — Fears grow that loyalists in key states could use critical period when votes are counted to amplify false claims Election experts have warned Donald Trump’s administration could use the crucial hours and days after November’s midterm elections to disrupt the results after struggling to enforce a crackdown on voting. With less than six weeks remaining until polls close, and control of US Congress in the balance, the post-election “counting window” is seen as as a particularly vulnerable moment by

A Scathing Report from House Judiciary Committee Finds Cost of Trump Pardons Continues to Soar

via PBS News Hour - The Latest — David Brooks of The Atlantic and Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW join Amna Nawaz to discuss the week in politics, including this week's midterm primary results, the economy taking center stage, President Trump lashing out at key allies and the controversy surrounding a Trump aide.

via US news | The Guardian — Elections in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming provide a sense of how voters are feeling ahead of November’s midterms Primaries in Florida, Alaska and Wyoming held on Tuesday provided the latest view into how voters are feeling ahead of November’s US midterm elections. One candidate aligned with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) netted an extraordinary win while another was defeated handily. Donald Trump’s handpicked candidates received a mixed reception from voters. In Alaska, voters chose t

via BBC News — A president used to bending US politics to his will faces two stinging losses in a matter of days, writes the BBC's Anthony Zurcher.

via PBS News Hour - The Latest — An advisory council packed with Trump allies voted to weaken federal oversight of construction projects affecting historic sites. Critics are concerned that this move will open the floodgates to endangering preservation of historic and cultural places across the country. Jeffrey Brown discussed more with Phillip Kennicott of The Washington Post. It's for our arts and culture series, CANVAS.

The Supreme Court recently rejected an appeal from Roy Moore, a former Alabama Supreme Court chief justice and Trump ally, in a defamation case involving allegations of sexual misconduct. Moore sought to reinstate a $8 million judgment against a political group that accused him of soliciting sex from a minor at a mall. Legal expert Robert Davis noted the irony of Justice Clarence Thomas, who handles 11th Circuit appeals, denying the petition despite his usual alignment with victims of sexual misconduct. Moore's conservative organization, The Foundation for Moral Law, adds to the controversy. Attorney Shant Karnikian highlighted the contradiction of Moore appealing his case while promoting conservative values, questioning how such figures justify Trump's alleged transgressions. The case underscores ongoing legal and ethical debates surrounding high-profile figures and their accountability.

Justice Department insists the fund is ‘not moving forward’ but officials are reportedly telling allies another story

A report by journalist Jonathan Larsen examines longstanding connections between the family of Bill Pulte, the acting U.S. national intelligence director, and a religious organization known as The Family, also called The Fellowship Foundation. According to the report, Pulte’s grandfather, the late billionaire homebuilder William J. Pulte, maintained a close relationship with Doug Coe, the influential leader of the organization for several decades. The Fellowship is known for organizing the National Prayer Breakfast and maintaining relationships with political, business, and religious leaders in the United States and abroad. The report states that both Pulte’s grandfather and father supported charitable and religious initiatives associated with the organization. However, it notes that there is no clear public evidence establishing Bill Pulte’s own direct involvement with The Fellowship. Larsen argues that if such ties exist, they would not be unusual within Republican political circles, citing figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and Trump ally Mark Burnett as individuals who have had connections to Fellowship-related activities. The article also highlights claims that Pulte had a personal relationship with Doug Coe through family connections. Additionally, it references a separate report concerning Pulte’s father, Mark Pulte, and his role in a well-known Palm Beach real-estate bidding contest involving Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein. According to the cited account, Mark Pulte outbid Epstein during the process, contributing to the eventual price paid by Trump. Overall, the report focuses on the historical and financial links between members of the Pulte family and The Fellowship Foundation, while noting that Bill Pulte’s personal involvement remains uncertain.

ARIZONA "FAKE ELECTOR" TRIAL DATE SET: Trump Allies Including Giuliani, Meadows Face 2026 Court Date for Alleged 2020 Election Subversion, Conspiracy,

Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced plans to pursue a new indictment against several allies of President Donald Trump who were involved in efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results in Arizona. This decision follows the Arizona Supreme Court's rejection of her appeal to revive the original two-year-old indictment. The high court issued a brief ruling without explanation, effectively ending the prior case that had targeted prominent figures including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, attorney John Eastman, and 11 Arizona Republicans who acted as fake electors. The original charges accused the defendants of scheming to keep Trump in office against the will of Arizona voters by submitting false electoral certificates. Trump was named as an unindicted co-conspirator. Prosecutors alleged the group deceived the public by claiming their actions were contingent on legal challenges when their true intent was to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to reject certified Biden-Harris votes on January 6, 2021. The case faltered last year when a judge dismissed the indictment, citing prosecutors' failure to present the full text of the Electoral Count Act to the grand jury. Mayes' office will now present the entire case to a new grand jury. The Attorney General has emphasized her commitment to protecting democracy. Federal pardons issued by Trump in November 2025 do not apply to state-level charges. Similar election-related prosecutions in Georgia, Michigan, and federally have faced significant setbacks or dismissals. Cases in Nevada and Wisconsin continue to move forward. This development highlights ongoing legal battles over the 2020 election even after Trump's reelection.

via US news | The Guardian — Lawsuit says settlement fund was ‘fraud on the court’ that would funnel taxpayer dollars to Trump allies Dozens of former federal judges have joined the push to thwart Donald Trump’s creation of a $1.776bn “ anti-weaponization fund ” that would funnel taxpayer dollars to the president’s political allies. The bipartisan group of 35 judges filed a lawsuit in the southern district of Florida on Wednesday seeking to reopen Trump’s legal case against the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) over the leakin

via The Hill News — Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) is expected to introduce two new pieces of legislation targeting payouts from the Department of Justice’s new $1.776 billion anti-weaponization fund. One piece of legislation would block the DOJ from issuing payouts from the fund to Trump, Vice President Vance, members of Congress, congressional staff, political appointees, senior executive branch employees,…

via NBC News Top Stories — GOP senators abandoned a planned vote on a proposed $1.8 billion “anti-weaponization” fund that would compensate Trump allies who say they were unfairly prosecuted by the Biden administration. NBC News’ Garrett Haake reports.

via ABC News: Top Stories — Jan. 6 defendants and allies of President Trump are lining up to seek their share of the DOJ's $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" announced this week.

via The Hill News — The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board decried the Justice Department’s (DOJ) new “anti-weaponization fund,” which could serve to benefit some of President Trump’s political allies. In a Tuesday opinion piece, the board slammed the “rotten” nearly $2 billion fund. The payment deal was created as part of a settlement for Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal…

via The Hill News — The Department of Justice (DOJ) could soon provide access to a $1.776 billion compensation fund to allies of President Trump who claim they were wrongfully targeted by the Biden administration. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche on Monday announced the creation of an “anti-weaponization fund” that will “have the power to issue formal apologies and monetary…