We Are Watching

They want to keep us on edge - overwhelmed. We aren’t giving in. Keep track.

Mar 2026

U.S. and Israeli strikes continue in Iran. Three U.S. fighter jets are downed by friendly fire - crews eject safely. Iran’s leader, Ali Khamenei, is killed. American casualties rise. Oil prices surge. Global markets fall. U.S. embassies across the Middle East close after drone threats. Evacuations are ordered. A U.S. submarine sinks an Iranian warship. Trump demands Iran’s unconditional surrender. Military leaders warn of long-term risks. Civilian casualties are reported from U.S. strikes. Oil prices spike above $100. Emergency measures are launched to stabilize shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Tariff disputes continue after Supreme Court limits. The administration opens new trade investigations and expands tariff threats. Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and her replacement, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, is confirmed as her successor. Multiple resignations hit the Labor Department. A national security official resigns, criticizing the justification for war. Courts block or review multiple administration policies on immigration, healthcare, and tariffs. States file lawsuits over funding cuts and education rules. Congress pushes to limit war powers but fails to take meaningful action. Subpoenas and investigations tied to Epstein-related matters continue. The administration expands immigration enforcement and detention authority. ICE deployments increase, including at airports during the ongoing shutdown. New election measures target mail-in voting. Federal agencies face rulings forcing compliance on funding and programs. Trump makes conflicting statements on war strategy and oil security. Social media posts escalate rhetoric. Officials face backlash for statements and actions, including religious remarks tied to the war. Trump flounders in getting help from leaders in Europe and Asia. The U.S. calls for allied naval support in the region, then signals possible withdrawal. Sanctions are briefly lifted to ease oil supply. No Kings 3 protests grow nationwide, drawing millions. Military investigations examine incidents involving civilians and U.S. forces. Federal judge blocks construction of Trump’s ballroom (for now). (Summarized from daily listings at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_second_Trump_presidency_(2026_Q1) ; see link for sources)

Feb 2026

A federal judge orders the release of some ICE detainees. New TSA fees and SNAP work rules take effect. Plans emerge to close the Kennedy Center. Lawsuits challenge visa bans. ICE expands detention capacity. Trump proposes nationalizing elections. A trade deal with India is announced. A strategic minerals reserve is launched. Census survey changes proposed, draw backlash. Trump promotes election conspiracy claims. FBI Director Kash Patels Winter Olympic appearances spark criticism. Budget reports show rising deficits. Federal workforce protections face rollback. Epstein-related legal disputes continue. The SAVE ACT, a voting restrictions bill, passes the House. High-profile pardons are issued. Education and civil rights investigations widen. Mid-month A partial shutdown resumes after failed talks in Congress - Republicans hold all of Homeland Security hostage to avoid ICE and Border Patrol accountability. Gregory Bovino, the face of Border Patrol in Minneapolis and LA before, is pushed aside. he Supreme Court limits tariff authority. Trump responds by raising tariffs. Markets react with volatility. Trump delivers rambling and aggressive State of the Union. Iran nuclear talks resumed this month, but Trump signaled possible strikes on Iran. As February closed, the United States and Israel launched military strikes on Iran. (Summarized from daily listings at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_second_Trump_presidency_(2026_Q1) ; see link for sources)

Jan 2026

The U.S. carried out airstrikes in Venezuela and captured Nicolás Maduro. Trump threatens Iran over protest crackdowns. Seizure of sanctioned oil tankers. European allies pressured on Greenland acquisition while warning of tariffs. ICE operations led to the killings of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota, the detention of a 5-year-old child, and expanded enforcement actions. Policies ended protections for some migrants and restricted visas from dozens of countries. Federal funds were paused or cut to states and programs, childhood vaccine guidance was reduced, mental health funding briefly slashed, and new dietary guidelines introduced. Federal investigations were launched into 2020 election materials - revisiting conspiracy claims. (Summarized from daily listings at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_second_Trump_presidency_(2026_Q1) ; see link for sources)

Dec 2025

Congress reviews military strikes on boats in the Caribbean and the reports of 2nd strikes after boats disabled - concern over war crimes. Boats continue to be attacked and destroyed by U.S. Indiana legislators say no to redistricting, but US Supreme Court says yes to GOP-friendly map in Texas. ICE and Border Patrol move on New Orleans. US seizes Venezuelan oil tanker and then later orders a blockade on Venezuela. Trump blames Democrats for poor economy in televised speech. Some Epstein files are released, but little new. Europe loans Ukraine funds and the show of half-hearted and inconsistent US diplomacy goes on. Trump issues warnings to Iran. (ap)

Nov 2025

Democratic candidates won victories that were seen as repudiation of MAGA - including governor races in Virginia and New Jersey and the mayor of NYC, Zohran Mamdani. California's redistricting plan passed - which was itself a direct response to Trump's efforts in Texas and other GOP states. Government shutdown ended on the 13th, after 43 days - longest shutdown in history. Democrats drew attention to health care cost cliff. Trump used shutdown period to punish rather than lead: federal employees, SNAP beneficiaries and airline travelers, to name a few. In the wake of reopening, Trumps wall against release of Epstein files collapsed, with the bill to release in 30 days (though with loopholes) passed and signed by Trump himself. A separate tranche of 23,000 emails obtained by Congress from the Epstein estate are released, showing Trump much closer to Epstein that previously admitted. The "sandwich man" was acquitted of misdemeanor charges. AP and other reports counted 83 people killed in 21 strikes against boats off the coasts of Venezuela and Columbia. A secret DOJ memo supposedly tries to justify attack by labeling all the boaters as narco-traffickers with "combatant" status. Pushback is growing. Trump's B-team diplomats get caught up trying to pass off Russia's wish list as their 28-point plan for peace --- Ukraine and Europe work quickly to contain the damage. Two members of the West Virginia National Guard are shot in a targeted attack the day before Thanksgiving. One has died. An Afghan refugee who reportedly worked with the CIA was arrested on scene. Trump uses the opportunity for more politicized attacks on immigrants and immigration broadly. Trump pardons the senior leadership of his 2020 efforts to steal the Presidential election, among them Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, John Eastman, Jeffrey Clark and various state republicans who signed on as fake "electors." To date, AP reports that the Supreme Court has sided with the Trump administration over 20 times through its "emergency docket". DOJ continues to "retaliate" against Kilmar Abrego Garcia for his efforts to be railroaded and abused in deportation proceedings. Trump floats the idea of a $2,000 tariff dividend for every American - economists question where the money would come from. EPA moves to limit wetland protections. FEMA's acting chief David Richardson steps down. Trump welcomes Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to the White House. Salman is considered responsible for ordering the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi .... Border Patrol and ICE take their roving immigration mob squad to Charlotte and Raleigh in North Carolina, with New Orleans also announced. Court cases continue in the wake of prior immigration actions in Los Angelos, Portland and Chicago. A federal judge throws out the indictment of former FBI director James Comey after grand jury irregularities. RFJ Jr gets personally involved in directing CDC to put out misinformation on vaccines. Trump calls one female reporter "piggy" and another "stupid." (ap, nytimes)

Oct 2025

16-31: Massive turnouts across the US for No Kings 2! protests. Economy remains uncertain, with 5 polls showing Trump approval on the economy below 40% and inflation remaining persistent. Pentagon continues crackdown on communications with Congress, after seating right wing journalists in press pool following main stream media refusal to sign censorship agreements. Trump strikes a sour note with US ranchers, proposing to flood the US market with Argentine beef. China's boycott of US farm commodities, esp. soybeans, is hurting the Midwest. Trump demolishes the East Wing of the White House (construction equipment just showed up and down it went in a week - because he says so). White House confirms that CIA is conducting covert missions in Venezuela, and a US carrier strike force is directed to Caribbean. Trump continues to strike boats without providing proof of his claims about drug trafficking. US Admiral who headed Southern Command resigns early. Trump claims the US owes him $230 million for legal harassment. US Government shutdown continues - Trump cancels SNAP benefits for November and chides the Senate to get ride of the filibuster. Trump cancels trade talks with Canada in a fit of anger. Russian oil sanctions are tightened. Violence continues in Gaza despite cease fire. (nbc, ap, nytimes, hcr)

1-15: US Government shuts down. Vought of OMB says he'll use the shutdown to conduct massive layoffs of federal workers, Government websites put up partisan messages blaming Democrats for shutdown, and Administration revokes numerous federal grants to Blue state projects (none of which is legal or proper). Speaker Johnson puts House on recess to avoid negotiating. Democrats make clear they intend to preserve Affordable Care Act market stability and premium support. Strikes continue against boats off Venezuelan coast. Nobel Committee Awards Peace Price to Venezuelan opposition leader, Maria Corina Machada. ICE and other federal agents in Chicago become increasingly aggressive. Courts intervene on National Guard deployments, mostly to block but with enough contradictions to keep everyone confused. Naked cyclists protest in Portland - as does a caped frog and other inflatable characters. NY AG Letitia James is indicted by politicized DOJ. Trump helps broker cease fire in Gaza - Hamas releases last of living Israeli hostages and repatriates remains of those killed. Palestinians assess the ruins of Gaza. Hamas reportedly conducts retribution killings. Trump awards Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to Charlie Kirk. Trump dabbles in Ukraine War - taking slightly harder line with Putin but also withholding key supports from Ukraine. Supreme Court refused to take up Alex Jones appeal of $1.5 billion in damages to Sandy Hook families. US AG Pam Bondi gives disgraceful performance at Senate Judiciary Committee - combative, evasive and condescending. Sen Schiff holds her feet to the fire. Trump administration bails out Argentine ally Pres. Milie with at least $20 billion in US Treasury support. (nbc, ap, nytimes, heather cox richardson)

For older entries, back to Nov 5, 2024, visit the archive.

(photo at top by Charl Durand on unsplash)