đ Trump Tyranny Tracker: June 5
Welcome to todayâs Trump Tyranny Tracker, where Iâm breaking down the key news from the day alongside ongoing developments as Trump and his regime move swiftly to consolidate power, undermine democracy, and dismantle civil rights and freedoms.
Authoritarianism 101: How It Happens â And How We Fight Back with Zev and Olga Session #2
Google Meet: June 10, 2025 @8:00 PM EST
Join Zev Shalev and me for a relaxed, interactive session breaking down the basics of authoritarian ruleâhow it works, how it spreads, and what we can do to fight back. This is the 2nd in a summer series of Google Meet conversations for our paid subscribers. Bring your questions and insights.
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Registration Link:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Ize2tO9wo7BCGqa0AGeK82sK_6DFVny5TRM4SQiRAD8/edit
đĽ In Corruption News
This Is How Much Trump Has Made From CryptoâSo Far
What Happened: Trump has raked in an estimated $1.2 billion from crypto ventures tied to his 2024 campaign and second term. The empire spans NFTs, $TRUMP memecoins, token sales from World Liberty Financial, and a $2.2 billion stablecoinânow worth more than Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower combined. His net worth has jumped to $5.6 billion.
Why It Matters: Trump continues to openly cash in on the presidency, turning public power into private profit. This creates a dangerous merger of political influence and unregulated financial schemes, posing a serious national security threat.
Source: ForbesđĄď¸ In Power Consolidation News
âBig Ballsâ Is Officially a Full-Time Government Employee
What Happened: Key Musk operatives â Edward âBig Ballsâ Coristine, Luke Farritor, and Ethan Shaotran â have become full-time government employees at the GSA with top-tier salaries and wide access across federal agencies.
Why It Matters: Despite Muskâs claimed âexit,â unauthorized DOGEâs influence is expanding. These hires embed his surveillance-driven agenda deep inside government, allowing continued restructuring of federal power with no transparency or oversight.
Source: WIREDGabbard Installs Top Ally in Intelligence Watchdog Office
What Happened: Tulsi Gabbard placed a loyal adviser, Dennis Kirk, inside the Office of the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community, raising alarms about political interference in an ongoing investigation into classified Signal messages. Kirk answers directly to Gabbard, not the IG.
Why It Matters: The move guts the watchdogâs independence amid an active probe into classified military leaks. Itâs part of Trumpâs broader purge and takeover of independent intelligence oversight.
Source: Washington PostCards in Deck: Trump Keeps Stack of Orders Ready to Play as Needed
What Happened: Trump has kept a stockpile of prewritten executive ordersâsome drafted before his presidencyâthat he releases based on political headlines. His latest travel ban was planned long ago, like many of the 157 orders already signed this term.
Why It Matters: Trumpâs stockpiled orders let him bypass Congress and hijack the news cycleâtiming major announcements to bury scandals, distract from backlash, or dominate headlines. Itâs a classic authoritarian tactic: flood the zone, control the narrative, and keep the public reactive.
Source: Washington Postâď¸ In Weaponization of Institutions News
As Ousters Continue, FBI Forces Out Agents Linked to Trump Critics
What Happened: The FBI pushed out or reassigned three senior agents in a widening purge of officials deemed disloyal to Trump. One resigned under pressure for ties to former agent Peter Strzok, while others were removed over past COVID enforcement and a memo on Catholic extremism.
Why It Matters: The hijacked FBI continues carrying out a political purgeâtargeting agents over past affiliations or loyalty to their oath, not Trump. It no longer serves the rule of law, but enforces his personal agenda.
Source: New York Timesđ˘ In Media Suppression and Authoritarian Tactics News
Trump Threatens to Cut Off Muskâs Federal Subsidies, Escalating Feud
What Happened: Trump threatened to cancel federal subsidies and contracts to Muskâs companies, including Tesla and SpaceX, which would cost them billions. Musk responded by briefly threatening to halt SpaceXâs Dragon spacecraft program before backtracking.
Why It Matters: Trumpâs authoritarian instinctâthreatening to strip federal contracts to punish dissentâmirrors Kremlin-style tactics, using state power to enforce loyalty and silence any opposing views.
Source: CBS NewsCongressional letter obtained by AP outlines drastic job cuts expected at Voice of America
What Happened: Trump plans to purge Voice of Americaâs staff from over 1,000 to just 81. Most employees have been on leave since March, and the VOA building is now listed for sale. Kari Lake confirmed the cuts align with Trumpâs order to scale operations to the legal minimum.
Why It Matters: This move dismantles a historic pillar of independent journalism and paves the way for authoritarian state media. Replacing VOA content with pro-Trump right-wing outlet OAN reiterates a shift from credible news to regime-aligned propaganda.
Source: Associated Pressđ In Human and Civil Rights Abuses News
Trump's Travel Ban Bars Afghans Awaiting U.S. Resettlement
What Happened: Trump enacted a new travel ban targeting citizens from a dozen countries, including Afghanistan. The order blocks nearly all Afghan nationals from entering the U.S. and freezes most refugee resettlement programs. Over 200,000 Afghans who worked with U.S. forces remain stranded abroad.
Why It Matters: This is a direct betrayal of Americaâs promises to Afghan allies. Rights groups warn it puts lives at risk under Taliban rule and abandons those who sacrificed for U.S. troops during the war.
Source: NPRNew Travel Ban Sparks Fear, Family Separation for U.S. Immigrants
What Happened: Trumpâs new travel ban blocks entry from 12 countries, mostly in Africa and the Middle East, including Afghanistan, Somalia, Haiti, and Iran. Though some visa holders are exempt, the order has upended plans for families, students, and workers nationwide, reviving fears from Trumpâs first-term bans.
Why It Matters: The policy is sowing fear, confusion, and anger in immigrant communities, separating families and reinforcing Islamophobic and xenophobic stereotypes. Another inhumane Trump political stunt that betrays American values.
Source: New York TimesTrump Wants to Eliminate 105-Year-Old Office Supporting Women Workers
What Happened: Trumpâs Labor Department is proposing to eliminate the Womenâs Bureau, a century-old office created to promote womenâs rights in the workforce. The move, framed as eliminating a ârelic of the past,â coincides with efforts to repeal laws mandating its existence and erase gender-related content from federal websites.
Why It Matters: Staffers and experts warn this is part of a broader attempt to push women out of the workforce and dismantle protections on pay equity, childcare, and workplace harassment.
Source: Mother Jonesđ Government Services Disruption and Collapse Watch
Millions Could Lose Obamacare Coverage Under Trumpâs New Bill
What Happened: A Trump-backed Republican policy bill would gut Obamacare coverage through backdoor rule changesâshortened sign-up periods, burdensome paperwork, and cuts to subsidies for many legal immigrants. The CBO projects that 4 million will lose coverage, with millions more at risk if temporary subsidies lapse.
Why It Matters: While not a full repeal, the bill effectively dismantles the Affordable Care Act, making insurance harder to get and more costly for low-income, immigrant, and self-employed Americans. Experts warn this could destabilize markets and leave millions uninsured.
Source: New York TimesMillions of Low-Income Children Excluded from GOP Child Tax Credit Expansion
What Happened: The House-passed Republican domestic policy bill raises the child tax credit to $2,500 per childâbut excludes or limits benefits for 22 million low-income children, per a Columbia University study. New income thresholds and ID rules block access for many working-class and mixed-status families.
Why It Matters: The bill diverts aid away from the poorest families, disproportionately harming Black, Latino, single-parent, and rural households. Critics say it revives work-based welfare cuts and undermines efforts to reduce child poverty.
Source: New York Timesđ Imperial and Geopolitical Watch
Iran Orders Material From China for Hundreds of Ballistic Missiles
What Happened: Iran has ordered thousands of tons of ammonium perchlorate from Chinaâenough to produce up to 800 ballistic missiles, according to officials. The materials, essential for solid-fuel rockets, may also be transferred to Iran-backed militias like the Houthis, amid ongoing nuclear talks with Trump.
Why It Matters: This major missile stockpile move signals Tehran's determination to rebuild regional military strength, even as it resists curbs on its missile program.
Source: Wall Street Journalđ Far-Right & Russian Influence Watch
Ukraine Got a Major Battle Victory. Trump Is Not Happy.
What Happened: Ukraineâs long-range drone strikes hit Russian airfields, destroying bombers and earning praise in Europe. Predictably, Trump privately responded with angerâblaming Zelenskyy for âescalating tensionsâ and claiming the attacks hurt talks.
Why It Matters: As Ukraine scores battlefield wins, Trump continues siding with Putin, vilifying Kyiv instead of confronting Moscowâs genocidal war. His regime keeps undermining NATO, enabling Russian aggression, and destabilizing Western security.
Source: The Atlanticđľ In Trump Economic Downturn News
US Worker Productivity Slumps in First Quarter
What Happened: U.S. nonfarm productivity fell at a 1.5% annualized rate in Q1 2025, worse than the earlier 0.8% estimate. Unit labor costs jumped 6.6%, and corporate profits declined as Trumpâs erratic tariff policies fueled trade uncertainty. Key sectors like airlines and automakers are cutting financial forecasts in response.
Why It Matters: Falling productivity and rising labor costs point to a weakening economy, with higher inflation and shrinking consumer power on the horizon. Trumpâs trade policies are fueling instability that could tip the economy into a deeper downturn and squeeze struggling businesses.
Source: ReutersImports Plummet as Trump Tariffs Trigger Record Drop in Trade
What Happened: U.S. imports fell by 16.3% in April as Trumpâs aggressive tariff policies disrupted global trade. Purchases of foreign pharmaceuticals, cars, cellphones, and machinery plummeted, especially from China and Europe. The trade deficit shrank to $61.6 billion, down from a record $138.3 billion in March.
Why It Matters: While a shrinking trade deficit may lift short-term GDP, economists warn Trumpâs tariffs will raise prices, cut consumer spending, and slow growth. His economic nationalism is already straining U.S. factories, supply chains, and household budgets.
Source: New York Timesđđź In Resistance News
6/14- Next National Day of Action
Check out the link for other local eventsâŚ
Source: 50501Judge Orders Trump to Reinstate AmeriCorps Grants
What Happened: A federal judge ordered Trump to restore AmeriCorps grants in 24 states and D.C., ruling the cancellation likely violated federal procedures. However, the judge did not block Trumpâs plan to purge most of AmeriCorpsâs workforce later this month.
Source: Washington PostJudge Blocks Trumpâs Ban on Harvardâs Foreign Students from Entering the U.S.
What Happened: A federal judge in Boston blocked Trumpâs attempt to bar Harvardâs international students from entering the U.S., siding with the universityâs argument that the ban lacked legal justification and was retaliatory. Trumpâs proclamation accused Harvard of âendangeringâ national security and being tied to foreign adversaries, but the court found the claims unsubstantiated.
Source: The GuardianRights Groups Sue to Overturn U.S.-El Salvador Agreement Sending Migrants to Brutal Jail
What Happened: Civil rights groups filed a federal lawsuit to block a secretive Trump agreement that sends U.S. deportees to El Salvadorâs notorious gulag, a prison known for human rights abuses. The suit argues the deal violates constitutional rights and international law, including the UN Convention Against Torture.
Source: New York Timesđ By the Numbers
6/14 â Next nationwide National Day of Action
$1.2 billion â Estimated Trump earnings from crypto tied to campaign ventures
$2.2 billion â Valuation of Trump-backed stablecoin
4 million â Projected Americans to lose Obamacare coverage under new GOP bill
22 million â Low-income children excluded from GOP child tax credit expansion
1,000+ to 81 â Planned purge of Voice of America staff
1.5% â Q1 2025 drop in U.S. worker productivity
6.6% â Surge in unit labor costs in Q1
16.3% â Drop in U.S. imports in April
$61.6 billion â April trade deficit, down from $138.3 billion in March
đ What to Watch Next
Trump is laying the groundwork to go after Social Security and Medicare â How soon before seniors and disabled Americans feel the full impact?
When political loyalty overtakes professional expertise â As Trumpâs federal purges deepen, whoâs left to keep government functioning?
Trumpâs FBI purge â Can the courts stop the purge, or will the bureau become an unaccountable political weapon?
The collapse of independent media â With Voice of America gutted, NPR and PBS under attack, ABC under investigation, and propaganda outlets rising, who controls the narrative?
đĄ Key Takeaways
Trumpâs Economic Warfare â His erratic tariff policies are pushing the U.S. into a recession or worse and destabilizing global markets. Prices are already spiking, and manufacturers warn of supply chain disruptions. This is not economic nationalismâitâs economic destruction.
Trumpâs Allies Are Hijacking Independent OversightâGabbardâs placement of a loyalist in the intelligence watchdogâs office undermines accountability and threatens to suppress investigations into classified leaks, turning watchdog roles into tools of political control.
Authoritarian Restructuring Is Accelerating â From mass purges to loyalty hires, Trump is rebuilding government in his image, with no room for dissent, law, or institutional independence.
The Rule of Law Is Being Rewritten â The FBI, DOD, DOJ, and DHS are being weaponized to serve political ends, targeting critics, immigrants, and anyone seen as disloyal.
Trumpâs Crypto Schemes Arenât Just About ProfitâItâs a shadow financial system that evades oversight, invites foreign influence, and risks turning digital assets into tools of authoritarian power.
đ¨ Call to Action
Document Everything: Document purges, corruption, and power grabs. Share credible information with journalists, watchdogs, and legal experts. Silence enables authoritarianismâsee something, say something.
Defend Press Freedom: Support independent journalism by subscribing to and sharing reporting that challenges Trumpâs power grab.
Contact Lawmakers: Demand accountability for Trump and Muskâs unchecked power and Trumpâs war on oversight.
Protest: Join local and national demonstrations against Trumpâs authoritarian overreach, purges, and attacks on civil rights.
Attend Town Halls: Confront lawmakers and demand answers about government purges, deregulation, and threats to constitutional rights.
Stay Vigilant: Watch for court rulings, executive overreach, and attempts to rewrite the Constitution. Document everything.
Mobilize for Action: Organize or join legal efforts and resistance movements to protect democracy and human and civil rights.
Support Whistleblowers: Encourage legal defense funds for government workers facing retaliation for exposing corruption.
Thanks for reading the Trump Tyranny Tracker. Stay tuned for more updates.
Great overviews (as usual) !
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