WHATEVER WORKS

This may save our democracy

With the Trump administration openly defying a Supreme Court order, deporting migrant workers without due process, and threatening to do the same to American citizens—there’s no denying that things are very bad right now.

• But there is one thing that may save American democracy: Trump’s own stupidity.

WHAT’S GOING ON: At the same time as his assault on the rule of law, Trump is also waging war against the economic status quo—but in a clumsy, ham-handed manner.

• Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs—and subsequent tariff pause—wiped out trillions from the stock market in just a matter of days.

And even though he partially retreated, both on tariffs and now China, Trump’s incompetence has rattled the market’s confidence in the American financial system.

• So much so that Trump is driving international trading partners—once considered key allies—right into the hands of our perceived adversaries: China.

As the New Republic aptly put it, Trump seems hell-bent on destroying our economy.

WHAT IT MEANS: All of this economic chaos on a macro level means higher prices on a micro level for consumers.

• In fact, the Federal Reserve issued a report Wednesday saying businesses are already passing along higher prices to consumers.

Perhaps even worse in such a materialistic society, some businesses are warning that Trump’s disastrous trade policies will lead to empty shelves.

BIG PICTURE: All of this could spell disaster for Trump and his fellow Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

• Trump is already taking a hit in the polls. A survey released this week found that only 37% of Americans approve of his handling of the economy—lower than any point in his first term, when he floated between 40 and 50% approval.

And don’t forget, the economy is what got Trump elected.

• As CNN reported, voters consistently and repeatedly said issue No. 1 in the 2024 election was the economy.

YES, AND: Despite the fact the economy always does better under Democratic presidents than Republican ones, voters trusted Trump to handle the economy better than Kamala by 9 whole points.

• As Trump proves to the rest of the population what we already know—he’s a nepo baby idiot wholly unprepared to help realign the economy to favor the working class—he will most likely lose one—if not both—Houses of Congress.

And while Democrats won’t have the numbers to impeach and remove Trump, controlling the House will give Democrats major leverage in stopping Trump’s fascist agenda—on trade, immigration, due process, and everything else.

• Because while conservatives and “independents” might be fine with fascism—what they will not live with is high prices.

That means Trump’s own stupidity just might be the thing that saves us.

🗳️ Question of the day

Do you agree with Andrew’s take above? Will Donald Trump’s stupidity save American Democracy? Tell us why after you vote!

TUESDAY’S QUESTION Following the death of Pope Francis, we asked how do you think he will be remembered? Overwhelmingly you thought he was a true inspiration.

READERS WRITE: Jack wrote, “He was a breath of fresh air and an inspiration for the world. He reflected the word of Jesus Christ.”

Karen wrote, “I felt closer to Pope Francis than any other pope in my lifetime. He was truly moral and a person of deep compassion. He understood the times that we live in and he wasn’t stuck in black-and-white scenarios. He understood that our purpose here is not to control others, but to show them love through our actions.”

However, Margie voiced the concern of many, “Sexual assaults in the church was not dealt with seriously enough.”

GO DEEPER: Will the next pope be as progressive as Francis?

📰 Most important stories

There’s a lot of BS out there. Here’s what’s actually important—and why.

Trump’s plan to slash Medicaid could cost tens of thousands of lives

Why it matters: Medicaid is the nation’s single largest health insurance provider, covering roughly 1 of every 4 Americans. And now, in the middle of a self-inflicted economic crisis, Trump and Republicans want to cut our healthcare to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. But the cost we will pay for that tax cut will come in the form of thousands of lives. Full story from the Center for American Progress.

As controversies pile up, Trump allies increasingly turn on one another

Why it matters: Americans love to see rich people miserable (think Real Housewives, The White Lotus), and it’s even better when those miserable rich people are fascists. Of course, the stakes are much higher, but knowing how incompetent these people are gives us hope that they can’t do too much damage. Full story from the Associated Press.

Trump is pushing a “peace deal” in Ukraine, but actually it’s a big win for Russia

Why it matters: If the Russians do have something on Donald (which was never conclusively proved otherwise), they sure are getting their money’s worth. Trump’s latest “peace plan” lets Russia keep all the land it’s illegally stolen from Ukraine, and gives Ukraine no written assurance of U.S. security help. Full story from The Telegraph (a U.K. paper).

DEPT OF PROPAGANDA

The truth about RFK Jr.'s food dye "ban"

On Tuesday, HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced a plan for the FDA to "phase out" eight artificial food dyes.

• RFK Jr. framed it as a bold move in his “Make America Healthy Again” campaign—which corporate media happily swallowed.

But what Kennedy actually unveiled was a toothless, optics-driven play.

BILLIONAIRES UNITED

Meet the nepo baby destroying 60 Minutes

For nearly 60 years, 60 Minutes has been an institution of American journalism—fearlessly pursuing truth, righting wrongs, and asking questions no one else dared.

• But now, with its parent company facing pressure from Donald Trump, 60 Minutes’ owner is intent on destroying the show—and the rest of CBS News—to protect her own largesse.

SOME BACKGROUND: 60 Minutes is owned and operated by the entertainment behemoth Paramount—which is controlled by another idiot nepo baby, Shari Redstone.

• Shari is the oldest child of Sumner Redstone, who built a media empire by combining Viacom, CBS, and Paramount Pictures before his death in 2020.

Since then, (already super-wealthy) Shari has been angling to sell the company and cash in on her inheritance.

• Last year, yet another nepo baby, David Ellison, son of Oracle founder and multi-billionaire Larry Ellison, offered to buy Paramount in a $28 billion merger.

BUT BUT BUT: That deal is currently under review by the now Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission—which could block the merger and cost Shari a $400 million break-up fee.

• Trump has weaponized several, formerly independent agencies to punish his enemies—and 60 Minutes has been in Trump’s crosshairs for years.

WHY TRUMP HATES 60: Of course, Trump hates any media outlet that dares question the alternative facts universe he’s created, and 60 Minutes never toed the line.

• The program has run multiple stories criticizing his botched handling of Covid-19, his authoritarian agenda, and his election denialism.

Not to mention, Trump famously stormed out an interview with Lesley Stahl in 2020, claiming it was “nasty” and unfair.

• But what really matters is that last year, Trump filed a $20 billion lawsuit claiming their interview with Kamala Harris was “election interference.”

CAPITALIST COWARDICE: Rather than standing up for what’s right and fighting Trump, Shari Redstone has decided to enter mediation with him, meaning she will most likely pay a big sum of cash to Trump to make the lawsuit go away—just like ABC did.

• Even worse, to protect her coming payday, Shari has also taken to personally policing the work of 60 Minutes journalists.

It’s gotten so bad that the show’s executive producer—only the third in its storied run—resigned in protest Tuesday while fighting back tears.

• Shari also inflamed tensions with the news division earlier this year when she attacked management for disciplining a host that used a racist trope on air.

WHAT IT MEANS: Trump is attacking anything and everything that could possibly curb his power—including a free press.

• If the capitalist “owners” of that free press are more about money than about journalism and holding the powerful to account, then one powerful weapon we have in the fight against fascism is effectively neutered.

‼️ We need your help

Unlike Shari Redstone, we’ll never sell you out for Trump or a big bucket of cash.

NOTICE News isn’t owned by billionaires, corporate shareholders, or shadowy political donors. We’re 100% independent—and we plan to stay that way. But that only works if people like you support what we do.

By joining NOTICE News+, you’ll get our Sunday Deep Dives, access to a troll-free online community, and the satisfaction of knowing you’re funding anti-fascist journalism that tells the truth—not serving the powerful.

Join NOTICE News+ today. Let’s build something they can’t buy off.

👀 Under the Radar

Here are some stories the algorithm may have kept out of your feed.

• The 19 richest families added (stole) $19 trillion to their wealth last year

• The despicable reason Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s wife had to move to a safe house

• Is Trump using a “miracle” weight loss drug? Here’s the evidence

• Elon Musk got in a screaming match with a cabinet secretary… in the West Wing

• Jimmy Kimmel thinks there's only one way Elon Musk can save Tesla

• The dumb reason MAGA is so protective of Pete Hegseth

• Jasmine Crockett told Kimmel she’ll go head to head with Trump on this

• Hmm… maybe this is why all police agents should have to identify themselves

• This government program helped lift 3 million Americans out of poverty

• Michelle Obama explains why she really skipped Trump’s inauguration

• Pete Buttigieg schools manosphere podcaster for trusting Trump’s promises

• Columbia canceled her Race and Media course, but she’s going to teach it anyway—and you can sign up for it