No more kings, Trump's grand ballroom, Merkley's marathon floor speech, more drug strikes, Gaza

Appeal

I've been asked to post this West Virginia special appeal:

Folks, I need you to know what's happening RIGHT NOW in West Virginia.

Our special education programs are being SLASHED while Meals on Wheels for seniors faces devastating cuts. This isn't happening by accident.

As a former special education teacher in Appalachia, I've seen firsthand the "light bulb moment" when people realize the politicians they voted for are cutting services their families depend on.

Here's what Trump and his allies are doing:
→ Eliminating critical 504 plans for special needs children
→ Cutting Meals on Wheels for vulnerable seniors
→ Dismantling clean water protections in Appalachia

We're fighting back HARD by hosting town halls in areas that most folks write off as "too red" and by putting up powerful billboards with real local faces that can't be ignored.

The only way to win this fight is to give working people a dignified path away from the harmful policies of this MAGA administration. Your donation today funds our FIRST billboard and town hall in West Virginia - we'll keep you updated on every step, then expand this work across the country.

Please chip in $25 or $100 and stand by us: p-up.us/justice?t=PHIlLy

Robin Cutlip
President, People's Unity Project

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I've also been requested to post this international appeal regarding China:

In this just released short video -- https://x.com/HudsonInstitute/status/1980979402164117906 -- Hudson Institute Scholars sent an appeal on behalf of prominent Chinese Pastor Ezra Jin. This Protestant mega church leader was arrested and jailed on October 10^th  in a massive crackdown on Christian churches by the Chinese Communist Party.

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Meanwhile, here at home: 

Republicans are ridiculing ‘No Kings.’ A striking new poll shows Americans aren’t laughing | CNN Politics https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/22/politics/no-kings-rallies-trump-analysis

An estimated 7 million people turned out for the anti-Trump rallies. 

Yahoo News, Organizers say nearly 7 million people took to the streets for the "No Kings" rallies in 

more than 2,000 cities and towns to protest what they call an abuse of power by President Donald Trump.

Yes, lots of folks turned out against Trump, even here in traditionally conservative Berkeley Springs, West Virginia. 

President Trump hit his lowest approval rating on the economy in a Quinnipiac University Poll released on Wednesday. 

Trump approval on economy hits new low: Quinnipiac poll

Just 38% of respondents said they approve of the president’s handling of the economy, while 57% disapproved and 5% did not provide an opinion. Trump’s previous low on the economy was a 39% approval rating, a mark he has hit four times — including last month — since the start of his first term in 2017. 

Trump wants DOJ to pay him $230 million for previous investigations: Sources

Trump is suing the government of which he is now president; so, as he says, he is suing himself. Whew! 

Now what? 

Maybe the Supreme Court will have to figure this one out.

Wash. Post, Trump has claimed the government owes him millions. 

He has power to order payment.

House Judiciary Committee Democrats announced that ranking member 

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., is launching an investigation into the president's 

"shakedown of taxpayers" in his efforts to be paid $230 million. 

Majority of Americans think Trump is targeting enemies, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds

                                                            (Note how Trump often covers his right hand.)

"How Trump Used His Goons to Ignore White House Teardown Laws" 

https://www.thedailybeast.com//how-trump-used-his-goons-to-ignore-white-house-teardown-laws/?via=ios

Ignoring both law and precedent, Donald Trump has now authorized the building of a presidential 

ballroom. The 90,000-square-foot ballroom will more than triple the capacity of the East Room, which 

is the largest existing event space in the White House, holding a maximum of 200 people.

The money Trump is trying to extract now from the government would cover the cost of this new 

ballroom. 

No doubt, Mr. Trump is looking forward to the ballroom's grand opening, over which he will preside. 

White House says it will submit ballroom plans for review, with demolition already under way.  Reuters https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-says-it-will-submit-ballroom-plans-review-with-demolition-already-2025-10-22/

From crypto billionaires to cabinet members: 

What to know about the donors paying for Trump’s ballroom

Wash. Post, 

Senate blocks bills to pay federal workers during shutdown

As the government shutdown stretches into a fourth week, lawmakers are no closer to ending it.

U.S. District Judge April Perry on Wednesday blocked the deployment of Guard troops to the Chicago 

area until the case has been decided either in her court or else in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Federal judge extends order blocking National Guard deployment in Illinois

Courthouse News, courthousenews.com 

Evidence appears to undercut claims against James, prosecutors found

Yahoo News, Prosecutors who investigated New York Attorney General Letitia James for possible mortgage fraud found 

evidence that would appear to undercut some of the allegations in the indictment of James secured earlier this month --

 including the degree to which James personally profited from her purchase of the property -- according to a memo 

summarizing the state of the case in September, sources told ABC News.

Prosecutors who led the monthslong investigation into James' conduct concluded that any financial benefit derived from 

her allegedly falsified mortgage would have amounted to approximately $800 in the year she purchased the home, sources 

said.

The government lawyers also expressed concern that the case could likely not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt because 

federal mortgage guidelines for a second home do not clearly define occupancy, a key element of the case, according to sources.

Fox News,Jack Smith pushes for public testimony to confront 

‘mischaracterizations’ of Trump probes

Washinton Times, ‘He lost us’: Generals, senior officers say trust in Hegseth has evaporated .

Pentagon is at risk of enduring damage amid firings, resignations and early retirements.

Democratic Sen. Merkley ends floor speech protesting Trump at 22 hours and 36 minutes

Is America ready for another Trump in the White House? New poll suggests Republicans are

Apparently Trump's oldest son, Don Jr., has now expressed a keen interest in becoming 

president himself. When will our country be rid of takeover threats from the entire Trump 

family?  

We Americans and the whole world have already suffered enough! I may regret saying this, 

but even JD Vance almost seems better than having yet another Trump as president. 

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Wash. Post, In ‘historic moment,’ King Charles prays with Pope Leo at Sistine Chapel

Can Christiany ever come together again? 

B-1 bombers fly over Caribbean in another show of force against Venezuela

Wash. Post, U.S. kills five on alleged drug boats in Pacific, widening Trump’s campaign

Trump, Colombia leader trade threats as US strikes boats in Pacific

President Trump is at war with the whole world, now authorizing the killing of boaters in the Pacific, 

as well as in the Caribbean. So far, a total of 37 people have been killed, apparently most of them

Colombians. Trump is acting really crazy, killing boaters willy nilly, just based on his suspicions. 

Maybe they are actually carrying illegal drugs, or maybe not. If he is so concrned about illegal drug

use, what about tackling the US domestic demand side of the problem?. 

And what about due process? What about actually proving his suspicions? Does being a drug trafficker, 

if that is what they actually are, merit the death penalty without even a trial? Can Mr. Trump simply 

authorize the killing of people anywhere just on his suspicions without providing any actual proof?

Colombia's president, Gustavo Petro, to protect his own citizens, now plans to challenge Trump's 

impulsive orders in US courts.

CBS 19 News

https://www.cbs19news.com › trump-colombia-leader-tra...

Trump has branded Petro a "thug" and has suggested he is a drug trafficker. (How many people actually

 believe that? Can we ever again believe anything that Trunp says?)

NY Times, U.S. Says 6 Are Killed in Its Latest Strike on a Boat in the Caribbean

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Wash. Post, U.N. court says Israel not meeting obligations as occupying power in Gaza

THE HAGUE, Oct 22 (Reuters) - The United Nations' top legal body, the International Court of Justice, 

on Wednesday gave an advisory opinion saying that Israel is under the obligation to ensure the basic 

needs of the civilian population in Gaza are met. The panel of 11 judges added Israel has to support 

relief efforts provided by the United Nations in the Gaza Strip, and U.N. entities.

Israeli authorities have called the decision "shameful." 

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Yes, someone out there knows I am bilingual in Spanish: ¿Tiene Medicare y Medicaid? Un Plan de 

Necesidades Especiales de Doble Elegibilidad (D-SNP)...puede hacer la vida un poco más fácil. 

                        Now let's end this posting with a cheery family photo.