Trump’s Fired Congress Wants One Last Power Grab. Not On Our Watch.
I held one back for you. While John Thune rushes Trump’s judges through, his own Senate website still says nominations “should be treated the same regardless of which party controls the White House or the U.S. Senate.” He seems to have forgotten he wrote it. There are 50 days of this left, and I’m glad you’re in it with me. A founding membership is the strongest backing our investigating can get, and a gift subscription brings in someone you trust to read it with you. If you’d like to add to the digging, here’s our Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/dworkinreport Trump’s Fired Congress Wants One Last Power Grab. Not On Our Watch.Republicans want four more things before January. Here’s who’s standing in their way.
Thanks so much for joining me. I’m glad you’re here. I spent the week digging into what Republicans want to ram through before they lose power on January 3, and how far they’ve gotten with it. Thanks to what we accomplished together this election cycle, they’re losing on almost every front, and Trump can’t do a thing about it. Before we get into it, could you tap the ❤️ like button and then the restack button right beside it? Restacking sends this edition out to everybody who follows you on Substack. Trump would love it if nobody knew that his voting bill has failed in the Senate five times. Let’s make sure everyone hears it. Our Lame Duck Watch is fighting Republicans every day until Democrats take the gavel. We track what they’ll try to pass, run social media campaigns that reach millions of people, and pressure Congress to act via direct calls and letters from their constituents. Paid subscribers fund all of that work, on top of our investigating and reporting. We need all hands on deck for what’s next. So if you haven’t yet, join us here.
Sheldon Whitehouse Is About ToClose The DoorOn January 3, Democrats take over the Senate, because voters handed it to them. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island is next in line to chair the Judiciary Committee—the one every federal judge has to get through. For two years, Trump’s used the committee to stack the courts with people who bow to him. Now he only has 50 days left to do it. So of course Republicans are cramming in every judge they can. On Tuesday, the committee sent four more Trump judges to the full Senate for a vote. And there are about two dozen still waiting. One of them is Judge Daniel Domenico, who’s up for the appeals court in Denver. At his hearing on June 24, he was asked who won the popular vote in 2020. He said: “Commenting on a matter of political debate like that is inappropriate for a sitting judge.” Joe Biden won it by roughly 7 million votes—an indisputable fact. Domenico knows exactly who won, but he’s too scared of Trump to say it out loud. That alone should disqualify him. One of Trump’s closest allies who supports his judicial nominees is conservative legal strategist Mike Davis. Last Saturday, in a piece for Fox News, Davis wrote: “The next two years will be bleak for judicial nominees.” I couldn’t agree more. Once Whitehouse has the gavel, Trump’s rubber stamp is gone.
Senate Democrats Beat Trump’sVoting Bill Five TimesTrump’s tried to suppress votes across the country the entire time he’s been in office. Perhaps his worst cover for that is the SAVE America Act, legislation Senate Democrats have already beaten five times this year alone. Under this bill you’d have to show proof of citizenship—like a passport or birth certificate—in order to register to vote. A study by the Center for American Progress found that up to 69 million women took their husband’s last name, so their birth certificate wouldn’t match their legal name. In March, Trump said that if Republicans passed the bill, it would “guarantee the midterms.” The House barely passed it in February by a vote of 218-213, but Senate Republicans couldn’t get it to 60 votes. On March 26, Republicans held a vote on just the photo ID requirement for voting. It fell short 53-47. They tried again in April and twice in June. Their last failed attempt was on August 8, at 4:36 in the morning—this time with only 52 voting in favor. No Democrat voted for it, any of the five times. House Republicans got so desperate that they used the troops. Every year, Congress passes one big bill for the military, and this year’s has a 3.6% raise for our service members. In July, House Republicans slipped Trump’s voting rules into it. That’s how low Speaker Mike Johnson will go for Trump. It still needs 60 votes in the Senate—and that’s not going to happen. Trump knew he couldn’t win the midterms, so he tried to change who gets to vote. Democrats never let him have it, and his party suffered a historic defeat. Senate Democrats have beaten his garbage SAVE Act five times, and if he tries again before January, they’re ready to make it six.
Trump’s Back Door Plan Still Can’tFind 50 VotesDemocrats kept blocking Trump’s voting rules, so Republicans went looking for a way to get them through without a single Democratic vote. There’s a back door in the Senate rules that allows it, and they want to use it for more money for Trump’s war in Iran too. A budget bill can pass with just 50 votes—it’s the only way they can get a bill through without help from Democrats. So that’s what they turned it into. Even though Republicans have more than 50 senators, some of them haven’t gone along with it. In July, House Republicans approved the plan by a vote of 216-214. It had $60 billion for the military and Trump’s war, plus $10 billion for the voting rules. Then it went to the Senate, where it’s been stuck ever since. In October, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said: “It’s an option, but it takes 50 votes, which right now we don’t have, and maybe that changes after the election.” Doesn’t seem like Thune expected a complete wipeout. This week, MAGA House members sent a letter to party leadership demanding it get done before Democrats take over. On Thursday, Trump asked for $350 billion for the military. Thune says by Thanksgiving they’ll decide on whether to even try. Trump started a pointless war which became one of the countless reasons his party lost the election. Now he has 50 days to find 50 votes, and he keeps coming up short. Without those, his war money and his voting rules both go nowhere.
Voters Just Locked Trump Out OfThe Supreme CourtJustice Clarence Thomas is 78 and Justice Samuel Alito is 76. For months, Republicans talked about one of them retiring this year, so Trump could put somebody much younger in the seat while his party still ran the Senate. In July, Thune told Punchbowl News that confirming a new justice before January “can be done.” It’s not happening. On October 6, Alito told Bloomberg Law: “I intend to stick around through this term”—which goes through June. Democrats take the Senate on January 3, and they’ll have at least 55 seats. By June, Trump’s majority will be long gone. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut sits on the Judiciary Committee. He told NBC News this fall: “Given the history of Trump nominees, I think it is slim to none that we would support a nominee from this administration.” On election night, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis posted his own odds on X: “Chance of confirming a worthy successor to Justice Thomas and/or Alito during President Trump’s term: Zero.” He added that under a Republican president from 2029 to 2033, it’s “probably zero.” That’s a Republican governor admitting Trump is finished at the Supreme Court. Trump put three justices on the Supreme Court in his first term, and all three voted to overturn Roe v. Wade. Because of those three seats, women lost a right they’d had for almost 50 years. Trump wanted a fourth. But starting January 3, he can’t get one without Democrats, and that’s thanks to everyone who voted. Republicans will still try and use all of their days left to abuse their power, but we will be tracking all of their schemes—through the entire holiday season. That is our Lame Duck Watch, which is the coalition we put together to fight Trump and the GOP as they try and jam through what they can before they lose control for years. We can only do this work—the reporting, investigating, and organizing—thanks to the fact we are completely independent. No billionaires. No corporate influence. No nonsense. That means we rely only on this amazing community for all of our funding. So if you haven’t yet, join us as a paid subscriber today, and help fuel the fight ahead. If a one-time tip is easier, here’s our Venmo. It all goes to the work: https://venmo.com/u/dworkinreport However you pitched in this year, thank you. I’m proud to be in this with you. Be sure to hit the like and restack buttons before you go. Onward! Scott Two years ago, did you think we’d be here? What are you most proud of from this election? Thanks for your support! Another way to help us out is by gifting subscriptions to friends and family! You can get yours by clicking the link. For all contact Congress links, or to volunteer, you can go here: https://actionnetwork.org/forms/sign-up-for-the-watchdog-coalition |
New campaign today! Trump’s White House lawyer warned Congress that investigating Trump “may cross the line into blatant criminality.” Our answer is four letters. Each takes 30 seconds and goes straight to your members of Congress.
NEW: Don’t back down, issue the subpoenas (first goal: 1,000): https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-dont-back-down-issue-the-subpoenas/
Impeach Clarence Thomas (305 from 3,000): https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-impeach-clarence-thomas-3/
Put Trump’s pardons under oath (7 from 1,500): https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-congress-put-trumps-pardons-under-oath
Subpoena the Epstein files on day one (going for 2,000): https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-the-new-congress-subpoena-the-unredacted-epstein-files-on-day-one
Tell me below which ones you sent.
JUST A FEW COMMENTS:
Sent all 4. C’mon people — let’s make them work for US!!
Sent them all this morning! Thanks for making it so easy! And thanks for the New Letter regarding sending subpoenas for congressional hearings!! Damn straight!! :-)
DeSantis posting “zero” on election night is the quote that should be everywhere. Even he knows the Supreme Court window closed.
DeSantis posting “zero” on election night is the quote that should be everywhere. Even he knows the Supreme Court window closed.
Funny comment! It came down to getting McConnell out of the way before sanity could be restored. I really do blame him for sustaining the corruption and poor quality of the scotus! (Lower case type intended).
I wouldn't exactly call current Republicans sane.
McConnell may have been the worst thing that ever happened to this country. When the clown got impeached, twice, McConnell said both times that he didn't care what the House did: he was going to corral Senate Republicans not to convict. Which he did. This clown 2.0 is entirely thanks to McConnell.
You got my vote Fred. McConnell is such a flaming example of Republicans gone bad. A man with obvious brains who chose to live in a toilet of rotten hopes and bad dreams for his party and our country.
I will never forget or forgive Mitch for what he said and did during trump's first impeachment: 'let the Democrats deal with him'. Spineless, ignorant and definitely not focused on the best interests of America and our future.
DeSantis is a sadistic fascist a hole. and the people would laugh in his face just at the thought of that...........I would-
Have to agree Nancy. Cannot imagine how he gets any votes. He is a true creep hiding behind being a family man! Oh Please!?!?!
DeSantis is slime. He might very well fantasize that in the future, a SCOTUS seat will be available to him.
DESANTIS & REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE have a LONG HISTORY of BRAIN DEAD moves that a large transplanted community of AFFLUENT RETIREES ignore AT THEIR PERIL!
These BOOBS can't pass a BUDGET, too mired with adolescent nonsense to do their jobs....
What other GOVERNOR would be STUPID enough to attack the TOURIST CASH COW: DISNEY?
FLORIDA PUBLIC HEALTH CLOWN JOE LADAPO endorsed the ALIEN SPERM DONOR, now has DENGUE OUTBREAKS, among other health issues.
Scott, I never thought an administration could be this corrupt, this evil, filled with so much hate, uttering so many lies with such ease, be so greedy and so self absorbed. This has been a battle between good and evil. Good will win but at what cost? How many lives have been destroyed? How many families have been torn apart? How many innocent people have been killed? As long as there are so many people who keep extending their hands to help that gives me hope. I am involved with a group called Evict Ice here in Buffalo, NY. I need to do something tangible to help others.
Keep up your good work Scott. We thank you and all independent journalists for your hard work and strength. We all need to stand up to bullies.
We did on Nov 3 and we will continue on Jan 3. , and in '28. that's how I feel
As long as we don't go back to sleep!
'All the Way to 2028!' makes a great yard sign and t-shirt!!!! You go Nancy!!! :-)
Agree Sylvia. It is the same battle that has been fought for eons, the basis for many books, plays, music, poetry, art, movies, et al, ad infinitum. What would happen if we didn't fight against evil? That most certainly would be worse. Capitulation to the evil empire is NOT an option!
Thank you Sylvia for your comment and what you are doing there in Buffalo NY!! Bravo!!! So important! One thing that Dems should be able to do after Jan 3rd, 2027 is get inside ICE facilities for inspections. And to set-up access to legal assistance and medical care for anyone being detained. That medical care should be done by outside sources, perhaps county or city, not by ICE!!! I would love to see all ICE facilities required to have Dept. of Health inspection of food service and sanitation, as soon as possible. This is a doable thing that Dems can show us, how they will be working for the People!!! WE can do this!!!
I have to thank you too, Sylvia, for your post and helping others. My hubby and I have also joined a group for “Disaster Preparedness ” in our neighborhood. Since this administration cares nothing about people, we need to help the most vulnerable, in case of a disaster. We may be in our 70's but we have skills and resources that can be used. We will all continue to work to help in many ways until this regime is gone. POWER TO THE PEOPLE!
I don't know why this doesn't get frequent mention, but Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett were each asked in Senate confirmation hearings about Roe v Wade. Each of them "reassured" that it was "settled law." And each then overturned it.
That's what I have thought. Although they'll probably claim that the facts and dynamics in Dobbs were different from those in Roe. They'll pretend it was apples and oranges.
Yes. When nobody did one thing--msm barely mentioned the bait & switch!-- about this blatant betrayal, I felt hopelessness settling in. It took quite a bit more betrayal & cruelty to stir people to action. Thank goodness for people's willingness to act. Now to sustain momentum through January. One day at a time.
It is obvious that saying anything that gets you through a Senate confirmation hearing for a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court means nothing
I think that we should pass a law that holds a Potential justice to the position they State in their confirmation hearing - And if they do not Maintain what they said to be confirmed they may be removed at the end of the Supreme Court yearly session
We do have that law. We could impeach them for perjury. But 1) a Republican majority Congress is not going to impeach Republican justices, and 2) the justices are going to point to subtle differences between Roe and Dobbs, and say that they have not reversed Roe except that the subtle differences mean that Dobbs has displaced Roe. I don't know what the differences are, so I can't predict what they'll allege.
I believe perjury is for telling a known lie to Congress - I don’t think Perjury can be applied when the reverse of what they stated in their confirmation hearing had not been done yet
They stated that Roe was settled law, and then they reversed it. Do you think it's not perjury because they forgot they said it was settled law?
They said one thing, and did the opposite. I don't know why perjury isn't the right word for that.
“By Thanksgiving they’ll decide” 🤣. The real tell is that they still don’t have 50 for reconciliation. Judges are the only thing moving, and even that hits a wall on January 3
Back in 2017 when the orange smear won his election, I knew I would have to put on my activist shoes again because I knew what had happened was going to be hard on our country. Granted, I didn't even come close to how hard it really was!! I worked hard during his presidency the first-time signing petitions, writing letters and sending emails, so when President Biden came into office, I breathed a sigh of relief. That was short lived because January 6 happened and I knew maga would continue their assault on our country. I kept up with all of the good things that President Biden did to fix the orange man's first term mistakes and was elated as he started moving us back in the right direction. When he announced he would not run for a second term, I was devastated! I began to campaign hard for Vice-President Kamala Harris; however, in the back of my mind, I had that sinking feeling that because she was a woman, we would not see her victory. Now, during his second term, I have fought hard and resisted as hard as I possibly could. I protested, wrote letters, made phone calls, sent emails and signed petition after petition. The blue tsunami on November 3 was absolutely beautiful!! It reenergized me!! I am so happy when I read your report, Scott, because I know the Lame Duck Watch is onto every single corrupt, dirty, sneaky trick these republicans will try before our Congress takes over. Thank you so much for all of your hard work!! Keep fighting, America! Stay strong and stay safe!!
Oh I am with you absolutely, You expressed my views and experiences a 100%. It will be hard going until January but all of us should keep watch to prevent any disaster by this horrible group of Trumpists!
I’m most proud of the fact that people from all over the country decided they want democracy over fascism. People power💪
Thank you for the ongoing positive news reporting.
I am most proud of the millions of voters who showed up to defend our democracy.
People knocked on doors, sent postcards, made phone calls, invested their time to attend RALLIES, REGISTERED VOTERS - young people got involved....
People have supported web sites that DOCUMENT tRump's LAWLESS ICE GESTAPO ABUSE, KILLINGS and injuries, as well as DETAINING U.S.CITIZENS and CHILDREN!
PEOPLE PROTESTED!
People protested outside tRump's ICE GESTAPO CONCENTRATION CAMPS, protested INHUMANE CONDITIONS, MOLDY FOOD, WORMS IN FOOD, LACK OF MEDICAL CARE,
and DEATHS!
DETAINING KIDNAPPED CHILDREN in CONCENTRATION CAMPS?
Young people voted to protect their futures!
DEMENTIA DON's America is not what VOTERS accept!
THANK YOU TO THE MANY WHO STOOD UP FOR DEMOCRACY and AMERICAN VALUES!
WE are one nation, a COMMUNITY, regardless of COLOR, skin color or origin!
Two years ago, I thought American voters had lost their minds, especially those who didn't even bother to vote!! Trump's 2nd term was a gut punch so forceful, I'm still nauseous from it. However, thanks to lawless, fiendish ICE & miserable lies, deceit, exorbitant wealth flowing away from citizens & into trump fam & friends’ pockets, & all-around maga failure, we the people took action & asserted our power (yay!). I'm most proud of the little people--voters, independent reporters, & newly elected officials--for tenacious determination & resolve to return decency & justice to governance. Two years ago, I didn't see an end to indecent, unserious, deeply flawed policy & spending. Today, I think we may find our way back to liberty & justice for all. Thanks for your work, Dworkin Report Team.
Two years ago I could barely get out of bed. I felt hollowed out.
I am most proud of the resisters. From us grandmas in our chairs on the corner to the amazing independent media. You kept us going, picked us up when we fell, and kicked our butts when necessary. I’m proud of everyone who showed us their heart and those that actually heard us. Thanks Scott
2 years ago, I was skeptical, however with the swelling of the grassroots movement, I was pretty confident that we would have a Blue Tsunami.
I love our new Congress because of our multi Cultural members and the number of women elected. We face a wonderful 2 years with accountability being the operative word. Thank you America!
👏🏼 I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, but we can’t stop now! Keep up the pressure! Keep talking about the Epstein files! 🗄️
And we have a new scandal that's bigger than Epstein: the Chinese spy endangering our national security.!
I never thought I would ever see the level of blatant corruption from #47 and his family and a Congress that silently ignores it all. They are all traitors to the constitution and rule of law.
I am most proud of the voters who came out to vote in support of civil rights and voting rights! All the organizing and door knocking worked! Keep it up. 👍
Honestly, 2 years ago I was lower than a snake’s belly. That’s why I spend 5-6 hours a day on Substack. Constantly searching for pearls of hope !
I am so proud we flipped Texas! I lived there 17 years and know how stubborn those voters are.
If we are vigilant, and do a good job for Texas, we could have those voters for a long time.
While we aren’t off to a solid start, by Jan 3 folks should have their heads and fortitude screwed on straight.
I’m most proud of the huge crowds who rejected Trump and his corruption at the polls! I had been wondering if a maga mindset had taken over.
I am most proud of Ohio voters who broke the super majority in the Ohio State House and flipped 3 seats in the Ohio State Senate! Four House seats are headed for recounts due to outstanding overseas, military, and provisional ballots. These races are SO CLOSE! Two years ago, my district 44 was won by a Republican with a margin of over 10,000 votes. Right now the Democratic candidate, Dave Fournier is behind by just 56 votes. Seventy people worked last Saturday to locate voters to cure their provisional ballots. Please send any and all the thoughts, good vibes, prayers to these 4 Dems to help push them to a win! Thank you! ❤️🤍💙
Two years ago, did you think we’d be here?
I have been on anti-depressants for the past two years and am stunned I have not been swept up by ICE. I am their demographic -->old (78), white, Jewish, female with middle fingers at the ready. I expect to be bodyslammed every time I go out in public. I'm going out later today and believe every moment is my last. I am not kidding. These goons tackle and maim/kill anyone they can catch. Illegals my wrinkled old fanny.
What are you most proud of from this election?
I am not proud. I am relieved and disappointed. Those defeats of cretin MAGAs were not large enough, Jeffries and Schumer are bloody tone-deaf and didn't hear the last two years of our demands for ACCOUNTABILITY. They utterly piss me off and I write daily to my Rep and Senators to dump them. I won't be proud until those two stand down and we get genuine Democratic leadership, not AIPAC bought and paid for, billionaire bought and paid for toadies. I think I've made myself clear.
Schumer has taken more than $6.5 million (!) from AIPAC and Jeffries’s AIPAC handout exceeds $5.5 million. Sad to say, they’re not alone: only 4 out of 100 Senators refuse to accept AIPAC cash (Sanders and Welch of VT, Merkley of OR, and Van Hollen of MD — who is challenging Schumer for Majority Leader). Only 17 members of the 435-member House don’t take AIPAC handouts. All of these Senators and Reps are Dems.
MITCH MCCONNELL!
Without re-hashing his history, he doesn't know where he is!
Clearly whatever his 'medical' diagnosis was or is, he's INCOMPETENT.
KENTUCKY IS ENTITLED TO A COMPETENT SENATOR TO MOVE FORWARD!
Ex-McConnell staffers lobbied on Russian-backed Kentucky project
By Natasha Bertrand and Theodoric Meyer07/31/2019
excerpt:
Two former top staffers to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have lobbied Congress and the Treasury Department on the development of a new Kentucky aluminum mill backed by the Russian aluminum giant Rusal, according to a new lobbying disclosure.
The disclosure comes as Democrats are pushing the Trump administration to review Rusal’s $200 million investment in the Kentucky project — concerned that the mill will supply the Defense Department — and as McConnell weathers criticism for helping block a congressional effort to stop the investment.
The Russian firm was only able to make the investment after it won sanctions relief from penalties the Treasury Department initially imposed in April 2018 on Rusal and other companies owned by Oleg Deripaska, a Russian oligarch and Kremlin ally accused of facilitating Moscow’s nefarious activities, such as seizing land in Ukraine, supplying arms for the Syrian regime and meddling in other countries’ elections.
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin announced in December that the department would lift the sanctions on Deripaska’s companies, which had roiled global aluminum markets, if the oligarch agreed to drastically reduce his stake in the businesses. The deal was reportedly potentially beneficialto Deripaska, however. Deripaska himself still remains under U.S. sanctions.