We Are Watching

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

April 2026

Attorney General Pam Bondi is fired and replaced by Todd Blanche. Later in April, Blanche released a report suggested using firing squads, electrocution, and gas asphyxiation as methods of executing people, citing shortages of lethal injections. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigns following misconduct probes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removes Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George, along with two other Army leaders. Navy Secretary John Phelan, who was known to conflict with Hegseth, is removed. Warn in Iran continues, with Trump oscillating between inflammatory language and negotiations. Downed airmen were rescued in a major operations. On April 5, Trump posts a profanity-heavy post to Truth Social threatening Iran. On April 7, he posts "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." - Threats that amount to war crimes. Defense secretary Hegseth holds a briefing were he claims the Iranian military was defeated. We get a two-week ceasefire, with talks in Islamabad that failed to yield a conclusion. US launches a maritime blockade - though Iran had already throttled shipping through the Straits of Hormuz. Vice President Vance goes to Hungary to stump for Vicktor Orban - Orban loses. More than 50 Democratic members of Congress call for Trump's cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment - joined by Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, former Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, and even MAGA figures Candace Owens and Alex Jones. First Lady Melania Trump issued a public statement that she "never had a relationship" with Jeffrey Epstein or Ghislaine Maxwell, and called on Congress to provide the Epstein survivors with a public hearing. For Easter, Trump reposts an AI-generated image of himself as Jesus Christ. A federal judge dismisses Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against Rupert Murdoch and the Wall Street Journal. The DC Circuit Court of Appeals stops US District Judge James Boasberg from holding the administration accountable for flouting his orders about deportation flights. FBI Director Kash Patel filed a lawsuit seeking $250 million in damages from the Atlantic magazine over an article alleging that Patel was a chronic drinker and had frequent absences from work. The US Justice Department dropped its criminal investigation of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The District of Columbia Court of Appeals struck down the closing of US borders to asylum-seekers by the Trump administration, stating it violated the Immigration and Nationality Act. US District Judge Susan Brnovich found that Title III of the Civil Rights Act of 1960 does not grant the Justice Department the power to demand Arizona turn over its voter registration lists. The Supreme Court ruled that Louisiana's 2024 election map that empowered black voters was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander narrowing Section 2 in the Voting Rights Act. The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously approves a Senate bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security,Secret Service, Coast Guard, FEMA, TSA, and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency to end the 76-day government shutdown. President Trump signs the bill. President Trump attends the 2026 White House Correspondents' Dinner and is evacuated after a shooting incident. King Charles III of the United Kingdom arrives for a four-day state visit at the end of the month. (Summarized from daily listings at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_second_Trump_presidency_(2026_Q2); see link for sources)

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)

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

(photo at top by Charl Durand on unsplash)