Bolton Indicted, Shutdown Stalls, and Trump Plans a Budapest Summit Can Democracy Even Catch a Breath?

• Former national security adviser John Bolton was indicted on 18 counts under the Espionage Act for allegedly mishandling classified information. Bolton claims he acted lawfully and called Trump’s use of the law “purely political.”
• The Senate failed again to pass the defense spending bill, extending the government shutdown. Trump announced that ICE and border agents will continue to be paid — but everyone else can starve in the name of fascist optics.
• Ukrainian President Zelensky met with Trump, asking for weapons while Trump announced a “peace summit” with Putin in Budapest. The CIA confirmed covert operations in Venezuela, and Trump publicly hinted at “land operations” there — a clear violation of international norms.
• A federal appeals court blocked Trump’s attempt to send National Guard troops into Chicago under his self-declared “rebellion” order, ruling that political protest is not insurrection.
• Meanwhile, more than 340 former national security officials issued a public warning that the U.S. is sliding toward “competitive authoritarianism,” where Trump manipulates every institution for personal gain.

Resistance Wins

• A federal court stopped the illegal troop deployment to Chicago, protecting protest rights and reestablishing that “law and order” doesn’t mean “dictatorship.”
• Over 2,500 cities are prepping for tomorrow’s “No Kings” protests — a coast-to-coast demonstration of anti-fascist solidarity focused on nonviolence and legal safety.
• And hundreds of former intelligence and defense officials just publicly broke ranks to warn the public about Trump’s power grab — a sign that institutional cracks are forming in his cult of loyalty.

Featured Articles and Podcasts

• The Pun Show with Ty Ross
• UNLEASHED
  

Featured Event

• October 18th No Kings National Rally

Featured Petitions

• Young Republicans Leak: Condemn JD Vance’s Hypocrisy
• Stop Trump from Deploying Troops in U.S. Cities
• Invest in the Future. Increase Teacher Pay.
• Thank Marjorie Taylor Greene For Joining Dems On Healthcare
• Tell Congress: Investigate Kristi Noem’s Airport Propaganda
• Tell Congress: Stop Trump’s War on Fair Housing
• Tell ICE: Keep Kids in Classes, Not Cages

Featured Easy Send Letters

Tell Congress: Rein in the Insurrection Act and End Trump’s War on Cities

Tell Congress to Stop the Weaponization of the IRS

Stop Trump’s far-right crusade against his political opponents

Tell Governors: Pass Universal Child Care and Tax Corporations to Pay for It

Tell Congress: Pass the No Political Enemies Act

Stand Up to the Crypto Billionaires

Tell Congress: Protect Our Elections From 2020 Deniers Now

Tell Congress: Reject a government funding bill that doesn’t address our health crisis or hold the Trump administration accountable.

Featured Resisters: The 50501 / “No Kings” Movement

This grassroots coalition has been coordinating peaceful protests, rapid legal defense, and community support in all fifty states. They’re decentralized, diverse, and deadly effective — proving democracy still has claws.

Today’s To-Do List

• Check your local “No Kings” protest location and review your safety plan.
• Call or email your senators and demand they fund all government agencies — not just the border police.
• Support journalists, legal aid orgs, and watchdogs under pressure this week.
• Share this blog and tag your local resisters using #Revolution2025.
• Brush up on your de-escalation techniques and protest safety — knowledge is power.

Boycott of the Day: Palantir

Boycott: ALL Companies tied to Project 2025 and domestic surveillance contracts.
Why: Because if they profit from fascism, they don’t deserve your dollars.

Rallying Call from Resistance Kitty

They want you tired, broke, and quiet. But fascists underestimate how loud hungry people can get. From city halls to kitchen tables, the resistance grows — not with fear, but with fire.
Stay fierce, stay funny, and stay claws-out. Democracy is messy, but it’s ours to defend.

Sources

The Guardian – Trump briefing and Bolton indictment
Reuters – Military spending bill blocked in Senate
Politico – Court rules against Trump’s Chicago troop order
The Guardian – Trump to pay ICE during shutdown
Washington Post – Zelensky visits Trump amid Putin summit plans
The Guardian – U.S. officials warn of authoritarian drift
AP News – No Kings protests planned nationwide

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