Today in Politics, Bulletin 210. 9/19/25

… ABC: “President Trump is expected to fire the US attorney for the Eastern District of VA after investigators were unable to find incriminating evidence of mortgage fraud against NY AG Letitia James. Federal prosecutors in VA had uncovered no clear evidence to prove that James had knowingly committed mortgage fraud when she purchased a home in the state in 2023, but Trump officials pushed US Attorney Erik Siebert to nevertheless bring criminal charges against her.”

… “Admin officials have told Siebert of Trump's intention to fire him. Siebert's last day on the job is expected to be today. The decision to fire Siebert could throw into crisis one of the most prominent US attorney's offices, which handles a bulk of the country's espionage and terrorism cases, and heighten concerns about Trump's alleged use of the DOJ to target his political adversaries.”

… “Trump admin officials have argued that James committed mortgage fraud because one of the documents related to her 2023 home purchase, they say, falsely indicated the property would be her primary residence. The investigation began after Bill Pulte sent the DOJ a criminal referral about James in April: "I believe this is riddled with mortgage fraud, and frankly, I think that's why she knew so much about the law in terms of how to go after Trump. She was the fraudster, not Trump."

… “However, investigators have so far determined that the document - a limited power of attorney form used by James' niece to sign documents on her behalf when James closed on the home - was never considered by the loan officers who approved the mortgage.”

… Comedian Marc Maron on Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air: “It’s happening. This is govt censorship. This is the the Trump admin coming after people who speak out against him. This is the end of it. If you have any concern or belief in real freedom or the Constitution or free speech, this is it. This is the deciding moment. This is what authoritarianism looks like right now in this country.”

… “This isn’t fucking Twitter. This isn’t people getting canceled because of a cultural pile-on. This is the US govt silencing voices that they disagree with. If they can come for Kimmel, they can come for anybody. This is happening. It’s time to act. Figure it out. Find a way. Come together. Push back. Because if this goes, it’s over.”

… Comedian Patton Oswalt: “I think everybody sees what’s happening, even the people that are benefiting from this who are pretending like they don’t see what’s happening. Isaac Asimov said that there’s only 3 science fiction plots: ‘What if?’ ‘If only’ and ‘If this goes on.’ And, unfortunately, we are at the dark end of ‘if this goes on.’ That line that when we cross it, we’re all supposed to rise up? That’s way, way behind us. So we can’t just stand up anymore, we gotta roar up screaming and link arms. All of us. This thing is coming for all of us.”

… Showbiz411: “Unexpected on ‘The View’ this morning. Coming on the heels of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension by ABC from his talk show, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, et al remained silent. They seem like they’ve been gagged by ABC. The opening segment is a rerun of yesterday’s conversation about with discussion of Kash Patel’s Congressional Hearing. Basically, the show opened with a birthday greeting to Sarah Haines, with a white background and colorful sprinkles on the floor.”

… “Then the lighting darkened and the show subbed in yesterday’s segment about Patel’s hearing. They returned from commercial to a discussion about RFK Jr and nothing about Kimmel or anything referring to what happened to Kimmel. There’s absolutely no way Whoopi or Joy would not have commented on the Kimmel suspension unless ABC forbade them. Goldberg and Behar must be beyond angry.”

… Meanwhile, FCC Chair Brendan Carr was on Scott Jennings’ new podcast: "I think it's worthwhile to have the FCC look into ‘The View’ and some of those other programs."

… Of all people (I hope you are sitting down) Ted Fucking Cruz: “That’s right out of Goodfellas. That’s right out of a mafioso coming into a bar going ‘Nice bar you have here, it’d be a shame if something happened to it.’ It is unbelievably dangerous for govt to put itself in the position of saying, ‘We’re going to decide what speech we like and what we don't, and we're going to threaten to take you off air if we don't like what you're saying.’ And it might feel good right now to threaten Jimmy Kimmel. But when it is used to silence every conservative in America, we will regret it. And so again, I like Brendan Carr. But we should not be in this business. We should denounce it.”

… WaPo: “Since taking over the chairmanship, Carr has criticized nearly every major media company. He launched a still-ongoing investigation of NPR and PBS over sponsorship practices, demanded answers from YouTube parent Alphabet over allegations that it discriminated against faith-based programming, threatened to block mergers of companies engaged in DEI practices, and approved Skydance’s $8 billion merger with Paramount with an ombudsman - who has been a Trump donor - installed at CBS News as a concession.”

… Frank Sesno on CNN: "It's not just Jimmy Kimmel. It's a $15B lawsuit against NYT. It's a lawsuit against the Des Moines Register because we don't like a poll. It's settlements with George Stephanopoulos or 60 Minutes because we don't like the way you edit. I come back to Brendan Carr, the chair of the FCC, who said, and I quote, in 2022, 2023, 'Censorship is the authoritarian's dream.'"

… Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT): “The Kimmel suspension is a much bigger deal than you know. It's really about a growing alliance between Trump and the companies that own America's local TV stations - like Nexstar - to turn local TV into Trump propaganda. In Aug, Nexstar announced they wanted to buy another TV station company, Tegna. But that's illegal - because it would give Nexstar control of stations in nearly half the country. FCC rules prohibit ONE company from having THAT much control over local TV content. Why? Because one company shouldn't control local speech in half the country.”

… “Also, we want our local TV stations to be run by local actors to preserve local identity and prevent our culture from becoming soullessly flattened - which Nexstar was already doing! But good news for Nexstar! Brendan Carr, Trump's FCC Chair, said he's open to an unprecedented change in the rules to allow the Nexstar-Tegna merger to go through - which would be good ONLY for the filthy rich owners of both companies. Which means Nexstar has to play ball. So when Carr threatened to revoke the licenses of local stations that continued to air Kimmel - at the same time he was whispering to Nexstar that he might bend the rules to approve their billion dollar merger - Nexstar knew what to do: BEND THE KNEE.”

… “Perry Sook, the Nexstar CEO, is already worth over $500 million. This deal could make him a billionaire. If Nexstar controls local TV news content in half the country - and Sook owes his fortune to Trump - then Trump effectively controls content in half the nation. And it’s not just Nexstar! Sinclair, another right-leaning media group that owns local TV stations, demanded Kimmel apologize and make a donation to Charlie Kirk’s organization.”

… “Guess what? Sinclair also wants the FCC to increase the ownership cap for TV stations. So here's how it would work. Nexstar/Sinclair pledge loyalty to Trump. He gives them control over America's local TV. And they act as his political enforcers, silencing his critics. But if we see the scheme, we can stop it. By mobilizing and speaking out.”

… Fox host Kayleigh McEnany: "For all the concern about the 'the First Amendment, the First Amendment,' what about all the amendments that Charlie Kirk lost? Because Charlie Kirk has no amendments right now. None."

… I’m not really ready to scrap the Bill of Rights because some nut shot Kirk. Apparently, Kayleigh is though.

… Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) is also willing to give up our constitutional rights because of Kirk: "Under normal times, in normal circumstances, I tend to think that the First Amendment should always be sort of the ultimate right. I don't feel that way anymore."

… NYT columnist David French responded: “Absolutely pitiful. The Constitution is most vital when times are most contentious. The First Amendment exists precisely because the founders knew there would be times when free speech would be deeply unpopular. This is one of those times.”

… Cardinal Timothy Dolan was on Fox & Friends talking about Kirk: "This guy is a modern day St Paul. He was a missionary, he's an evangelist, he's a hero. He's one I think that knows what Jesus meant when he said 'the truth will set you free.'"

… I followed Kirk for many years. I am not familiar with the guy Dolan is describing.

… George Conway: “To hear a member of the Sacred College venerate a serial race-baiter is disheartening, to say the least. Showing respect for someone so tragically murdered does not require this.”

… Carr bragging about his accomplishments: “NPR has been defunded. PBS has been defunded. Colbert is retiring. Joy Reid is out at MSNBC. Terry Moran is gone from ABC and is now admitting that they are biased. CBS has now made some commitments to us that they are going to return to more fact-based journalism.”

… Other late-night hosts mocked Trump’s fragile ego with sarcastic praise on their shows last night. Jon Stewart: “Father has been gracing England with his legendary warmth and radiance. Gaze upon him, with a gait even more majestic than that of the royal horses that pranced before him!”

… Jimmy Fallon: “Well, guys, President Trump just wrapped up a three-day trip to the U.K. and he — ”

Announcer: “Looked incredibly handsome.”

Fallon: “As always, his tie was — ”

Announcer: “Exactly the right length.”

Fallon: “And his face looked — ”

Announcer: “Like a color that exists in nature.”

Fallon: “And his hair looked — ”

Announcer: “Better than Conrad’s from ‘The Summer I Turned Pretty.’”

… Seth Meyers: “I just want to say before we get started here that I’ve always admired and respected Mr. Trump. I’ve always believed he was a visionary, an innovator. A great president and even better golfer. And if you’ve ever seen me say anything negative about him, that’s just AI. I have been told there’s some clips of me on the internet making jokes about him from a few years back, those are obviously deepfakes.”

… Stephen Colbert: “So a company apparently capitulating to the whims of the president, in order to ensure their merger goes through? Has that ever happened before?” He then turned and looked to the side of the stage: “What’s that? … Oh, I’m being told not to answer that question.”

… The Free Press: “After the killing of Charlie Kirk, officials at the WH National Security Council have discussed the govt using federal statutes related to ‘treason, sedition, and subversive activities.’ At the WH, a draft executive order has circulated that aims to target people identifying as Antifa.”

… “Another senior WH official said if DOJ investigates any left-wing nonprofits—staff at NSC have discussed the idea of agencies partnering with the DOJ to share any records on federal funding. Other sources familiar with the matter said the Trump admin is mulling an investigation into left-wing voter turnout groups and their tax status.”

… USA Today: “A federal judge threw out President Trump's $15 billion libel and defamation lawsuit against the NYT. US District Judge Steven Merryday in FL rejected the complaint but gave Trump 28 days to file another version of the lawsuit. Trump had accused the paper of defaming him with malicious accusations, but the lawsuit lacked "any legitimate legal claims."

… Merryday, who was a Bush appointee, ridiculed the complaint: "As every lawyer knows (or is presumed to know), a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective − not a protected platform to rage against an adversary. A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally or the functional equivalent of the Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner."

… Trump told reporters that he wants the women who yelled at him in the DC restaurant put in jail. Q - “You said the women that were protesting when you were at the restaurant should be in jail. Do you actually think that is an offense that deserves jail time? Trump: I thought it was very inappropriate. When you look at the way they acted, the way they behaved. So yeah, I think they were a threat.”

… Politico: “The House Friday passed a 7-week govt funding bill ahead of a Sept. 30 shutdown deadline, setting up a Senate clash over the GOP-led plan. The 217-212 vote went almost along party lines — a victory for Speaker Johnson, who could only afford to lose two votes if all Democrats stuck together in opposition. GOP Reps. Thomas Massie and Victoria Spartz ‘no,’ while Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) voted ‘yes’ in the only party defections.”

… “The short-term patch spearheaded by Republicans is aimed at buying lawmakers more time to negotiate new funding levels for agencies across the federal government. But Democrats in both chambers are irate Republicans are plowing ahead with a product they say was crafted with little input from their side of the aisle. As such, the measure is expected to fail in the Senate, prolonging the brinksmanship as lawmakers prepare to leave town for a weeklong break ahead of the midnight deadline at month’s end.”

… Sen. Chris Murphy to Meidas: “There’s no negotiation happening because Trump has told Republicans not to talk to Democrats. We are now less than two weeks away from the govt running out of money, and Republicans are refusing to engage. It looks like they’re gunning for a shutdown. And what are we even asking for in these negotiations? We’re not asking for the moon or for some big new healthcare program. We’re simply saying: don’t raise premiums by 10–20% on everyone with an Affordable Care Act. Don’t make the situation worse.

… “And when it comes to the budget, we’re saying: just have Trump follow the law. If we write a budget, we expect him to implement it - not act like a king who can spend money however he wants to reward political friends or withhold funds to punish political enemies. So really, we’re saying: don’t raise people’s premiums, don’t break the law, and you might get our votes. But Republicans won’t even talk to us. They seem to like the chaos. They seem to like the idea of a shutdown. And that’s where they’re driving us - straight into a catastrophe for the country.”

… Speaker Mike Johnson: “Democrats are now officially threatening a government shutdown.”

… Rep. Sean Casten (D-IL) responded: “Dude. You are in the majority. Either you have the votes or you’ll have to work with us instead of trying to jam your hateful policy priorities on us. But don’t blame us for your failure to (a) manage your caucus, (b) stand up to Trump and (c) work across the aisle.”

… Pete Buttigieg responded to Kamala Harris’s claims in her new memoir that he was her first choice for a running mate but she didn’t pick him because he’s gay: “He would have been an ideal partner — if I were a straight white man. We were already asking a lot of America: to accept a woman, a Black woman, a Black woman married to a Jewish man. Part of me wanted to say, Screw it, let’s just do it. But knowing what was at stake, it was too big of a risk.”

… Harris claimed that she spoke to Buttigieg about it and he agreed with her assessment, “to our mutual sadness.”

… But Buttigieg said he was surprised by Harris’ comments and said he never spoke to her about that: “My experience in politics has been that the way that you earn trust with voters is based mostly on what they think you’re going to do for their lives, not on categories. You just have to go to voters with what you think you can do for them. Politics is about the results we can get for people and not about these other things.”

… He added: “It’s not something that we ever talked about.”

… Trump was asked about Fox News polling that shows 52% of people think Trump has made the economy worse with only 30% saying he’s made it better: "Fox polling, I have to tell you, it's the worst polling I've ever had. I have told Rupert Murdoch, 'Go get yourself a new pollster because he stinks.'"

… New AP-NORC Poll on Trump: Approve-39%. Disapprove-60%.

… New Washington Post/Ipsos poll on Trump: Approve-43%. Disapprove-56%.

… Same poll: Would you rather see the next Congress controlled by the (Democrats, to act as a check on Trump), or controlled by the (Republicans, to support Trump’s agenda): Democrats-53%. Republicans 42%.

No Bulletin tomorrow since I’m off Saturdays. We are going to the Common Ground Country Fair which is run by the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Assn. I love this one a lot. With everything sold there Made in Maine, I get to stock up on some jams, syrup, honey, and lots other stuff from small local producers. Also going to these classes: History of Maine Herbs, Roasting Chestnuts, and Tree Identification.

See you on Sunday night with the Weekend Bulletin. If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin you can find it here.

… Sen. and corn farmer Chuck Grassley (R-IA) continues to grumble about the Trump admin putting farmers out of business: “ I heard about a company that will no longer make high fructose corn syrup because of a false MAHA claim. High fructose corn syrup is $.22 of $3.82 corn. The last thing family farmers need is another hit to corn prices. Corn sugar = real sugar.”

… I don’t agree with Grassley about the sugar thing, but it is wild how Trump is absolutely crushing farmers, who vote for him overwhelmingly in every election. There is no USAID to sell food to, they can’t sell it overseas because of tariffs, tariffs on fertilizer and farm equipment is driving up costs, and RFK Jr has declared war on corn