Category: Policies

FCC Officials Took Gifts From Paramount While It Had Business Before Them — ProPublica

FCC officials who voted on Paramount’s merger accepted luxury Kennedy Center gala tickets worth over $260,000 from the company they regulate, violating federal ethics rules that explicitly prohibit gifts from entities with pending business before the agency. FCC Chair Brendan Carr attended the December 2025 gala in a private $125,000 skybox with Paramount CEO David Ellison after the company sought FCC approval for its $110 billion merger with Skydance Media, while Commissioner Olivia Trusty received tickets worth $12,000 before casting a decisive vote approving the deal.

Ethics experts, including former Office of Government Ethics director Walter Shaub and former White House ethics lawyer Virginia Canter, said the commissioners violated federal law by accepting gifts from a regulated entity with business pending before them. Shaub stated that “there’s no way that any top federal regulator should ever accept a gift from a regulated company with interests their work will foreseeably affect,” and Canter called the conduct “shocking” and “disturbing.” The experts warned that Carr and Trusty compromised the agency’s impartiality and should have recused themselves from voting on the merger.

Seven of ten FCC commissioners who served since 2016 accepted Kennedy Center tickets from CBS or its parent company, totaling over $260,000 according to ProPublica’s analysis of ethics disclosures. Carr alone has accepted tickets at least seven times since 2017, totaling over $63,000. Federal ethics rules explicitly ban employees from accepting gifts from entities that do business with, are regulated by, or seek official action from their agency, yet the FCC claimed agency ethics officers approved the practice as consistent with law—a justification Shaub dismissed as equivalent to a “school child” excuse.

The timing of the gifts intensified the conflict. Paramount filed its Skydance merger paperwork in September 2024, and the December gala occurred as the company prepared its hostile takeover bid for Warner Bros. Discovery. Hours after the gala ended, Paramount launched the hostile bid. Trump has systematically pressured the FCC to strip broadcast licenses, and Carr reopened a CBS investigation days after taking office, later requiring Paramount to eliminate diversity initiatives and appoint a bias ombudsperson to secure the merger’s approval.

Multiple ethics experts told ProPublica that the Justice Department should investigate potential violations of federal ethics rules and that the commissioners’ gift-taking could become central in legal challenges to the merger. California, New York and ten other Democratic states filed a lawsuit seeking to block the $110 billion consolidation under federal and state anti-monopoly laws, citing concerns about job elimination and industry independence from consolidated ownership.



(Source: https://www.propublica.org/article/paramount-mergers-fcc-kennedy-center-gala?fbclid=IwdGRleATEdV1wZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKl7HV6hSpBeYhKKEUCD5qTfb1VVhGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5j5tj7vuKcNF4EYkiA-zdtgiNLF39w-xW5ou0h_zK0uZfJ56eQA2uIrEgulg_aem_j4wlCLmUFGCAM_E3ngC6aw)state anti-monopoly laws, citing concerns about job elimination and industry independence from consolidated ownership.

Trump Flat-Out Says ‘I Don’t Want To Negotiate’ End To War

President Donald Trump explicitly rejected negotiations to end hostilities with Iran during a Fox News interview on Tuesday, stating “I don’t want to negotiate now.” This declaration came amid renewed U.S. military strikes on Iran, which U.S. officials claim violated a memorandum of understanding designed to pause fighting while both countries negotiated terms.

The conflict centers on control of the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran has attacked and struck tankers transiting through Omani territorial waters. Iran asserts that Article 5 of the memorandum requires vessels to arrange safe passage through Iranian waters; the U.S. has resumed its blockade of Iranian ships in the Gulf of Oman in response. When Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst asked whether Trump was negotiating with the wrong Iranian leadership, Trump doubled down, saying “Three days ago, we had a deal” but refused further discussions.

Trump later threatened Iran with annihilation, stating the country should make a deal or “You’re not gonna have anybody left.” This escalation reflects the trajectory set in February when Trump launched the war in coordination with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who reportedly assured the president that military action could swiftly topple Iran’s government and that the Strait of Hormuz would remain open.

Trump’s refusal to pursue diplomatic resolution contradicts the framework of the existing memorandum and eliminates any immediate path to de-escalation. His explicit rejection of negotiation while simultaneously threatening annihilation demonstrates an intent to prosecute military conflict without diplomatic constraints.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/trump-flat-out-says-i-dont-want-to-negotiate-end-to-war/)rejection of negotiation while simultaneously threatening annihilation demonstrates an intent to prosecute military conflict without diplomatic constraints.

Trump Demands Senate Confirm ‘Loyal’ Todd Blanche

President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Todd Blanche as acting attorney general on Truth Social, praising him as “100% LOYAL” and highlighting crime statistics and enforcement actions the administration attributes to Blanche’s leadership. Trump’s post, made one day before Blanche’s Senate confirmation hearing, emphasized crackdowns on what Trump called “vicious Criminal Thugs” and “dangerous Illegal Aliens,” as well as what he framed as ending the “Weaponization of our Justice System.”

Trump credited Blanche with overseeing murder rates he claimed were at the lowest level since 1900 and a record one-year drop in violent crime, along with seizures of over 500 million doses of drugs. The president also highlighted Blanche’s record on religious liberty, free speech protection, and what Trump described as strengthening “Election Integrity” through an “all-out-WAR against Fraud.”

Trump specifically referenced Blanche’s role defending him during what the president characterized as unlawful prosecution by the Biden administration. “When the Corrupt Biden ‘Injustice’ Department and Radical Left Prosecutors tried to throw me in jail, and interfered in our Historic 2024 Presidential Campaign, Todd stood by my side and fought off the Lawfare,” Trump stated, demanding that Republican senators vote to confirm Blanche immediately.

Blanche became acting attorney general in April 2026 after Trump dismissed Pam Bondi. Trump previously indicated his support for Blanche’s confirmation last month, stating Blanche was performing a “very good job.” The confirmation hearing follows Trump’s pattern of demanding absolute loyalty from appointees, as evidenced by his attacks on officials resisting his directives and his administration’s defiance of judicial oversight.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/trump-gushes-like-a-proud-parent-over-100-loyal-todd-blanche-before-confirmation-hearing/)

Trump Reignites Blockade Against Iran in Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump declared the United States the “Guardian of the Strait of Hormuz” on Monday, announcing a blockade targeting Iranian vessels and a 20% toll on all cargo transiting the waterway. Trump stated that while other nations retain passage rights, Iranian ships and their customers will be barred from entering or leaving, framing the seizure of control over this critical international shipping lane as a matter of “fairness” for American protection costs. The announcement followed retaliatory U.S. military strikes against Iran after Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship and falsely claimed to have closed the strait.

Trump told Fox News the U.S. will “keep” and “probably run” the strait, extracting substantial revenue from global commerce while positioning American forces as enforcers. He claimed the United States had negotiated “a done deal” with Iran before Iran violated a ceasefire agreement over the weekend, stating “we’re just going to hit them very hard and keep the strait, and probably run it.” Trump asserted that Iran has a pattern of breaking agreements, citing ten previous deals he said the regime had violated.

The unilateral seizure of control over an internationally recognized waterway through which approximately one-third of global seaborne oil passes represents Trump’s assertion of military dominance over a crucial global chokepoint. By imposing a 20% toll and explicitly blocking Iranian commerce, Trump transforms a shared international passage into a revenue-generating American territory, a move that contradicts international maritime law and conventions governing freedom of navigation. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed U.S. military strikes followed Iran’s attack on the merchant vessel, but Trump’s subsequent assertion of permanent control expands the conflict beyond defensive response.

Trump’s escalation abandons the pretense of negotiation in favor of direct territorial and economic control, structuring the international order around American military power and financial extraction. Trump previously claimed the strait was open following overnight military strikes, but his Monday declarations reveal intent to monopolize control and profit from global energy transit. The president’s rhetoric conflates security provision with commercial exploitation, justifying American toll collection on international commerce as compensation for military operations initiated at his direction.

This consolidation of control over a vital international waterway exemplifies Trump’s model of authoritarian resource extraction, in which the U.S. military apparatus becomes an instrument for enriching American leadership and subordinating global commerce to Trump’s financial interests. The blockade of Iranian vessels and imposition of cargo fees establish a de facto American empire over a region critical to global trade, enforced by military force and defended through nationalist framing that obscures the seizure of international territory.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-dubs-usa-guardian-of-the-hormuz-strait-and-relaunches-blockade-against-iran/)financial interests. The blockade of Iranian vessels and imposition of cargo fees establish a de facto American empire over a region critical to global trade, enforced by military force and defended through nationalist framing that obscures the seizure of international territory.

Trump Claims Strait of Hormuz Open After Iran War

President Trump claimed during a Sunday NBC News appearance that the Strait of Hormuz remains open, contradicting Iran’s assertion that it had closed the waterway. When host Kristen Welker pressed Trump on the conflicting statements following overnight U.S. military strikes on Iranian targets, Trump stated the strait was open but refused further discussion, citing a desire to honor the memory of late Senator Lindsey Graham.

Trump’s account of recent events with Iran contradicts the pattern of escalation documented by U.S. Central Command. Trump asserted that Iran had agreed to a ceasefire deal the previous day before launching a drone attack on a commercial vessel within an hour, describing Iranian officials as “sick people.” According to CENTCOM, the United States completed a third round of strikes against Iran on July 11, targeting approximately 140 Iranian military positions with precision munitions launched from fighter aircraft, drones, and naval vessels.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed Saturday that U.S. military strikes followed Iran’s attack on a Cyprus-flagged container ship, which resulted in a missing crew member and significant vessel damage. The escalation marks a third military engagement between the two nations in one week, with Trump ordering strikes after Iran violated a ceasefire agreement.

Trump’s dismissal of substantive discussion about the military conflict and the Strait of Hormuz underscores his pattern of deploying military force while avoiding detailed accountability for the consequences. His refusal to engage with Welker’s direct questions about the strategic waterway’s status and his response strategy reflects his authoritarian approach to governance, where military decisions operate outside meaningful public scrutiny or democratic oversight.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-claims-the-strait-of-hormuz-is-open-in-testy-retort-to-nbcs-welker/)

Rubio Controls Venezuela as De Facto Viceroy

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has established de facto control over Venezuela since U.S. forces captured President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, functioning as what officials call a “viceroy” over the nation. Rubio oversees Venezuela’s finances, natural resource distribution, government appointments, and foreign policy from Washington without visiting the country in person, maintaining close contact with acting president Delcy Rodríguez through WhatsApp messages where he directs her decisions on defense ministers, business licenses, and public statements.

The U.S. Treasury receives revenue from Venezuela’s oil exports and disburses funds to the country through its banking system, giving Rubio’s team control over spending priorities and conditions. Rubio sets the terms for international business licenses, decides which companies can operate in Venezuela, and has prioritized American oil firms over European competitors while pressuring Rodríguez to abandon partnerships with U.S. adversaries like Russia’s Rosneft. This financial leverage compels Rodríguez to comply with his directives to maintain her government’s ability to pay workers and stabilize the currency.

On taking power, Trump told Rodríguez she could either cooperate with the United States or face attacks on Venezuela’s infrastructure and military bases. When Rodríguez sought assurances after the Justice Department began investigating her, Rubio texted her a Trump social media post praising her performance, then approved her thank-you response before she posted it. The Trump administration halted prosecution of Rodríguez, demanded she extradite Maduro ally Alex Saab for extradition to the U.S., and directed her to remove a foreign minister’s post criticizing the American attack on Iran, effectively stripping Venezuela of independent foreign policy.

Trump has explicitly stated he intends to “run the country” for years and has suggested Venezuela could become the 51st state, framing the arrangement as part of his broader agenda for American expansionism in Greenland, Canada, and the Panama Canal. The administration has deployed 900 military personnel to Venezuela, committed nearly $400 million in aid, and delivered cash following recent earthquakes, using disaster relief to strengthen Rodríguez’s interim government while indefinitely postponing democratic elections.

Rubio has abandoned his previous advocacy for Latin American democracy to enforce what the article describes as “Trump-era American power, in which the winner takes all regardless of sovereignty and international law.” Representative Sean Casten questioned Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent about the constitutional authority for controlling Venezuelan assets, but received no substantive answer, exposing the absence of legal justification for this colonial arrangement.



(Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/us/politics/how-marco-rubio-runs-venezuela.html?fbclid=IwVERDUATAoTpwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKYQUlJUuA-60cymLc92kaDcnOpodWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR75FDCaExV3rlk91kk5_b8v36cHEzSx3Qwf3JsS6cVvp7BbQIB_JyAgCH6pqQ_aem_WS82o4yXRWvIVoDhBvB24A)

Trump Rushed Kennedy Center Renovations for FIFA Ceremony

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse disclosed whistleblower allegations that the Kennedy Center accelerated renovations with disregard for federal contracting standards to prepare for Trump’s December 2025 FIFA “peace prize” ceremony. Multiple former project managers documented rushed work, including an $8 million no-bid flooring contract awarded to a firm lacking concert-hall experience, corner-cutting that left steel columns rusting and a reflecting pool already deteriorating, and the demolition of a brand-new bathroom floor because Trump objected to its color.

The Kennedy Center rewrote its own contracting rules retrospectively to justify the no-bid awards, according to whistleblower disclosures submitted through the Government Accountability Project. Trump’s preferred contractor cut corners on repainting the center’s columns, leaving taxpayers responsible for repairs. Whitehouse characterized the work as driven by Trump’s aesthetic preferences rather than the building’s actual maintenance needs, describing the facility’s transformation into a personal renovation project rather than stewardship of a national memorial.

The center received $257 million from Congress for repairs and restoration, yet whistleblowers documented that rushed cosmetic work prioritized televised events in December over legitimate building preservation. The reflecting pool revamp is already rusting and peeling and will require complete reconstruction. Representative Rick Larsen, the senior Democrat on the House infrastructure committee, called the allegations serious and expressed concern that approved federal funds were diverted to temporary cosmetic fixes instead of durable, necessary repairs.

The Kennedy Center claimed in a statement that it operates with rigorous financial oversight and that whistleblower assertions about bypassed contracting standards were incorrect, emphasizing commitment to responsible stewardship. The White House responded by blaming previous Democratic leadership for allowing the center to deteriorate and credited Trump with providing “bold leadership and proper resources” to restore the facility, a characterization contradicted by whistleblower documentation of hastily executed, substandard work prioritizing Trump’s personal preferences over institutional integrity.

Whitehouse requested documents and answers from the Kennedy Center’s executive director by July 23. The allegations expose how Trump’s administration subordinated federal procurement standards and institutional accountability to serve the President’s demand for a visually impressive venue for his December events, similar to prior no-bid contracts for gilding statues and court battles over Trump’s name on the Kennedy Center.



(Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/11/trump-kennedy-center-renovations-whistleblowers?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=fb_us&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwdGRjcATAevNwZG9mA2ZkaWQWUKYiNODhW95UC_hl8jPYLSjXsM3cHGV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR7aC5SJbx88IIvHH-f68kmhFbzdYEeAYiviNm5AHVOQSiBU-7k98aGx-Vgz1w_aem_2d5c2v98ms2nkNujtGXHcA#Echobox=1783794823)

Hegseth Confirms U.S. Military Strikes Iran Over Hormuz

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth confirmed Saturday that the U.S. military launched retaliatory strikes against Iran after the country attacked a Cyprus-flagged container ship and declared the Strait of Hormuz closed. According to U.S. Central Command, Iran’s attack on the merchant vessel resulted in a missing civilian crew member and significant damage that left the ship unable to continue its journey. Hegseth posted on X that “Iran made a poor choice. Now they pay,” following Trump’s orders to execute the strikes at 4:15 p.m. ET.

CENTCOM identified Iran’s actions as a violation of a 14-point Memorandum of Understanding both nations agreed to in mid-June, which provided a 60-day window for negotiating a long-term peace accord. Vice President JD Vance had been sent to Switzerland shortly after the agreement to lead negotiations, claiming progress was being made despite describing the Iranians as “extremely confusing.” The latest Iranian assault demonstrates the deal’s collapse and Iran’s continued breach of the fragile ceasefire through multiple violations.

U.S. military operations targeted Iran’s air surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, launch sites, and ground-to-air missile systems, according to a senior American official cited by Axios journalist Barak Ravid. CENTCOM stated the strikes imposed “a heavy cost” to degrade Iran’s capacity to attack civilian vessels and commercial shipping in the strategically vital waterway. This marks the third round of American military action against Iranian targets in recent weeks.

Trump’s rhetoric toward Iran has intensified as diplomatic efforts deteriorated. The president called Iran’s theocratic leaders “scum” last week and warned Friday night that the U.S. has 1,000 missiles “Locked and Loaded” if Iran attempts to kill him. Trump’s escalating language and military strikes reflect his abandonment of negotiation as the administration authorizes direct military confrontation with Iran over control of critical shipping lanes.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/pete-hegseth-vows-us-will-make-iran-pay-for-attacking-ship-and-closing-strait-of-hormuz/)

Trump Fortifies White House, Calls Entrance ‘Deplorable’

President Donald Trump used Truth Social on Saturday to attack the White House’s physical condition, calling the front entrance “deplorable” and claiming it reflects the state of the country he inherited from President Biden. Trump’s posts framed his ongoing construction projects as restoration efforts, stating the White House will be returned to “the Glory of 100 years ago” and become “a Symbol of Extraordinary Beauty and Pride.”

Trump’s latest construction initiative involves fortifying the North Portico entrance amid what he describes as security threats from Iranian factions, a project expected to continue through mid-September according to CNN. The Secret Service has long advocated for these fortifications, which include scaffolding and tarping that currently obscure the exterior columns under repair at Trump’s direction.

Trump is simultaneously advancing a 90,000-square-foot ballroom project that he has justified on security grounds, claiming it will include a drone port, sniper perches, and a secure underground bunker. These extensive construction undertakings at the White House represent Trump’s assertion of control over federal property for both structural and security purposes.

Trump’s Saturday posts came after spending part of the day attacking New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan on social media, demonstrating his continued use of the platform for both personal grievances and announcements regarding his building agenda.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/donald-trump-slams-condition-of-white-house-while-fortifying-entrance-deplorable/)

Trump Strikes Back At Iran After Strait of Hormuz Is Closed

Trump ordered U.S. military strikes against Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday after Revolutionary Guard forces fired on a Cyprus-flagged container ship and declared the strategic waterway closed. U.S. Central Command confirmed the strikes targeted air surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, launch sites, and ground-to-air missile systems, marking the third round of American military action against Iran this week. The attack on the merchant vessel left one civilian crew member missing and caused significant damage, according to CENTCOM.

Iran’s state media claimed the IRGC fired “warning shots” at a vessel traveling an unapproved route, escalating tensions after Trump had threatened to occupy Iran entirely if Tehran did not reopen the strait. The blockade directly threatens global trade and fuel prices, with CNN military analyst Cedric Leighton warning the latest Iranian action could trigger further increases in gasoline costs and disrupt international commerce. Trump has previously threatened Iran with total occupation over the strait closure.

U.S. officials told CNN that diplomatic negotiations cannot resume until the strait is secured, even as mediators attempt to return both nations to the negotiating table. Leighton cited Trump’s past interest in seizing Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil hub, as potential military leverage, though he cautioned such ground operations could trigger broader escalation and economic damage Trump wants to avoid. A senior Iranian lawmaker warned that “not a single American soldier will return alive” if the United States attempted an invasion of the island.

The cycle of attacks underscores Trump’s pattern of military confrontation with Iran, following his earlier threats to annihilate Iran over ceasefire violations and his demands that gas retailers cut prices amid the conflict-driven energy crisis. Trump authorized the strikes directly, positioning himself as commander-in-chief while claiming to avoid economic damage from further escalation. The standoff demonstrates how Trump’s aggressive foreign policy and military orders are directly driving consequences for American consumers and global stability.



(Source: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/trump-strikes-back-at-iran-after-irgc-declares-strait-of-hormuz-is-closed-again/)

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