logo
House budget provision exempts executive branch from following court orders

House budget provision exempts executive branch from following court orders

Yahoo08-06-2025

A two legged stool cannot stand. Neither can a democracy with only two branches. I read with horror the Journal Sentinel article, 'House bill could neutralize court orders' (June 2).
In the 1,000+ page 'big beautiful bill' is a provision that would exempt the executive branch from following a court's orders. This means they would be above the law! The courts would live out a Shakespeare quote 'being full of sound and fury but signifying nothing.' There would be no guardrails or accountability for the executive branch; one leg on our stool of democracy would be gone. Regardless of your political affiliation, this should concern you.
I'm troubled that another leg of our democratic stool, the legislative branch, are not up in arms about this provision, but though their timidity, ignorance or fear have not stood up and provided a strong statement that this shall not pass.
Letters: Real issue behind need for retail lockboxes ignored. Don't make excuses.
We the people need to demand that our elected representatives do what is right for all Americans. We can disagree and debate, but we all live here. When it is no longer 'we the people' but an elite group of self interested people making the rules, America as we and the whole world know it will be gone.
Glenn Luedtke, Franklin
Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state:
Please include your name, street address and daytime phone.
Generally, we limit letters to 200 words.
Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter.
Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing.
Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person.
We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions.
We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters.
Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months.
All letters are subject to editing.
Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@jrn.com or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Congress is absent, guided by timidity, ignorance and fear | Letters

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Trump Media Board Member Who Led SPAC Deal Sells 90% Of His Shares
Trump Media Board Member Who Led SPAC Deal Sells 90% Of His Shares

Forbes

time32 minutes ago

  • Forbes

Trump Media Board Member Who Led SPAC Deal Sells 90% Of His Shares

Eric Swider, one of seven board members at Trump Media & Technology Group (NASDAQ: DJT) and a leader in the deal to take Truth Social public, has sold around 90% of his company stock—netting around $4.4 million before taxes—since November, according to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Truth Social is seen on a mobile device with an image of President Donald Trump in the background in ... More Warsaw, Poland in February 2022. (Photo by STR/NurPhoto via Getty Images) NurPhoto via Getty Images Swider became CEO of the blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp.—the SPAC that merged with Truth Social parent company Trump Media—in March 2023. After the merger was finalized in March 2024, former Congressman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., became CEO and Swider remained on the board. Swider received 153,000 shares when the merger closed, and another 26,000 in January 2025 through an incentive plan. In November 2024, Swider sold about 136,000 shares at $28.23 apiece, netting roughly $3.8 million. Since March 2025, Swider has made four additional sales—most recently 8,500 shares earlier in June—reducing his holdings to 17,500 shares. Swider and Trump Media did not respond to requests for comment. It's unclear why Swider has sold about 90% of his holdings, and he does not appear to have commented on the transactions. Contra No other Trump Media insiders have sold comparable amounts, according to SEC filings. President Donald Trump, whose 114.8 million shares are held in a revocable trust where he is the sole beneficiary and donor, has not reported any sales. Others, including Nunes, have only sold shares to cover tax withholdings, not directly receiving any cash proceeds. Big Number $4.8 million. That's how much Swider has made so far from Trump Media—counting stock sale proceeds, the current value of his remaining shares and a $45,000 cash retainer. Key Background Swider joined Digital World's board in 2021 and became CEO in 2023, as the SPAC pursued a drawn-out merger with Trump Media that took 29 months to complete. During that time, a former Digital World board member was convicted of insider trading, the company admitted to two years of unreliable financials and it paid $18 million in penalties to the SEC for failing to disclose early Trump Media talks. After the merger finalized in March 2024, turmoil continued: Trump Media's cofounders sued over allegedly diluted stakes, prompting a countersuit. The company also replaced its auditor after the SEC accused its accounting firm, BF Borgers, of 'massive fraud' involving more than 250 clients (Borgers agreed to pay a $12 million fine and an industry ban). Swider's term on Trump Media's board is set to expire in 2027. In a 2024 filing, Trump Media disclosed Swider failed to report a change in his stock holdings to the SEC within the required timeframe. What To Watch For In March, Swider and Nunes launched a new blank-check firm, Renatus Tactical Acquisition Corp I, targeting acquisitions in cryptocurrency, cybersecurity and dual-use tech—sectors with significant regulatory and government involvement, in which the Trump administration has major influence. Swider holds 50,000 shares directly and controls another 5 million through an LLC. Surprising Fact Trump Media warned in May that 'material misstatements' may have appeared in its financial filings, citing weak internal controls and a lack of SEC reporting expertise—though a company spokesperson told Forbes the filing was 'a routine disclosure that TMTG has repeatedly made in the past, and is typical for former shell companies, that does not in any way indicate an intention to restate any of TMTG's financial reporting.' News Peg Trump Media is in the midst of reshaping its finances, raising $2.3 billion from institutional investors in May to fund bitcoin purchases, registering a crypto ETF with the SEC and announcing plans Monday to buy back up to $400 million in shares. Forbes estimates Donald Trump's net worth at $5.2 billion, with $2.1 billion tied to his 114.8 million shares in Trump Media, as of the market close on Tuesday. Most of his fortune is now tied to crypto holdings. Editor's Note In November 2023, Trump Media sued 20 media outlets, including Forbes, for reporting that included calculations of its financial results while still a private company. The defendants have moved to dismiss the claims but the case is currently ongoing. Further Reading The 3 Easy New Ways Anyone Can Funnel Money Directly To Donald Trump's Businesses (Forbes) CEO Devin Nunes Made $47 Million While Truth Social Parent Company Reported $401 Million In Losses In 2024 (Forbes) Trump Media Shares Rise After Planning Fintech Brand—Trump's Net Worth Spikes Over $200 Million (Forbes) Truth Social Hosted Party At Trump's Mar-A-Lago (Forbes) Trump-Linked SPAC Spent $10.8 Million On Legal Fees Amid Regulatory Probes (Forbes) When It Comes To Truth Social, Republicans In Congress Aren't Buying What Trump's Selling (Forbes)

Trump Says He Thinks Middle East War is 'Over'
Trump Says He Thinks Middle East War is 'Over'

Bloomberg

time39 minutes ago

  • Bloomberg

Trump Says He Thinks Middle East War is 'Over'

President Donald Trump said the US would hold a meeting with Iran next week, but cast doubt on the need for a diplomatic agreement. Trump claimed that US bombing had "obliterated" Iran's key nuclear sites, including Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow facilities, and that the country's nuclear materials were buried under "granite, concrete and steel". The US and Iran are set to resume talks, with Trump citing Iran's foreign ministry assessment that its nuclear installations were "badly damaged" by US airstrikes. Bloomberg's Ethan Bronner reports. (Source: Bloomberg)

CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown defend US military members involved in Iranian attacks
CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown defend US military members involved in Iranian attacks

CNN

timean hour ago

  • CNN

CNN's Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown defend US military members involved in Iranian attacks

Coming out of President Trump's news conference in the Netherlands, CNN anchors Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown rejected Trump's claim that CNN has "demeaned" the service of military members who were involved in the US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. "I speak as a former Pentagon correspondent and we appreciate, we love the men and women of the United States military who risk their lives to protect all of us," Blitzer said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store