Wertheimer Political Report, November 20, 2025

 

TRUMPWATCH 2.0

Trump’s Grip on Republicans Shows First Signs of Slipping
“GOP support for releasing Epstein files is latest pushback against president from his own party” – Wall Street Journal

Comey case hanging by a thread as judge squeezes DOJ over Halligan’s handling
“The judge also appeared puzzled after a lead prosecutor said he couldn’t reveal whether career attorneys initially recommended against charging the former FBI director.” – Politico

Fannie Mae officials saw no evidence of mortgage fraud against Letitia James, filing shows
“Senior fraud investigators at Fannie Mae believed there was no clear evidence to prove that New York Attorney General Letitia James committed mortgage fraud” – Reuters

Trump Administration Faces Record 530 Lawsuits in 2025 
“With 530 lawsuits filed in 2025, Trump faces historic legal battles, Supreme Court rulings, and challenges to executive power.” – The Fulcrum

The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
“Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.” – ProPublica

Joe Rogan on Trump’s 2020 election claims: “I feel like if you say that, you’ve got to have some, like, really good evidence”
“Joe Rogan: But [Trump’s] also saying they stole the ******** election. And I feel like if you say that, you’ve got to have some, like, really good evidence that you could give out. Like, if you said to me, if I ran for president and I told you, dude, they stole the election, and you’re like, how? I would have an answer. I would have an answer. No one has an answer. ” – Media Matters

The Crypto Industry’s $28 Billion in ‘Dirty Money’
“As President Trump has championed crypto and the industry has gone mainstream, funds from scammers and other criminal groups have flowed onto major crypto exchanges.” –  New York Times

Firm Tied to Kristi Noem Secretly Got Money From $220 Million DHS Ad Contracts
“The company is run by the husband of Noem’s chief DHS spokesperson and has personal and business ties to Noem and her aides. DHS invoked the ’emergency’ at the border to skirt competitive bidding rules for the taxpayer-funded campaign.” – ProPublica

Family Affair: Commerce Secretary’s Sons Cash In on A.I. Frenzy
“Howard Lutnick is helping push data center projects. His family companies are profiting from them.” – New York Times

MEANWHILE, ON CAPITOL HILL

Supreme Court set to wade into a case that could tip the scales for the midterms. A lower court order on Texas’ new congressional map has made its way to the high court. It could be the first of several mid-decade redistricting pushes.  – Politico

Trump calls for Democratic lawmakers to face trial for ‘seditious behavior’ – Politico

GOP senators warn Bondi not to slow-walk release of Epstein files – The Hill

Republicans Dump On Trump’s Tariff Rebates: ‘Crazy Idea’. The president has proposed sending tariff “dividend” checks ahead of next year’s midterm elections. – HuffPost

In Greene’s Georgia congressional district, much of the MAGA base has her back against Trump, who has called her a “traitor.” – Washington Post

President’s stance complicates bipartisan talks – Roll Call

Senator Ron Wyden, an Oregon Democrat, wants to examine how the nation’s largest bank handled the reporting of more than $1 billion in suspicious transactions.  – New York Times

VOTER SUPPRESSION, MONEY, & OTHER ELECTION THREATS

As Trump plans backfire, Democrats are ahead in House redistricting fight – Washington Post

Cleta Mitchell and activists from a top anti-voting group with close ties to the White House met last week to discuss plans to push for severely limiting early and mail voting.  – Democracy Docket

The upcoming special election to replace retired Rep. Mark Green is bringing top Democratic names to a district Donald Trump carried by more than 20 points. – Politico

DOJ’s Anti-Democratic Demand for State Voter Rolls Threatens Fair Elections – Democracy Docket