Wertheimer Political Report, May 28, 2026

DEMOCRACY 21

This is obscene:

Exclusive: Justice Department launches a criminal investigation into Trump accuser E. Jean Carroll.

It brings to mind Chief Justice Roberts’ disastrous opinion in the presidential immunity case, which not only gave the president criminal immunity but also gratuitously gave him sweeping control over the Justice Department:

CJ Roberts in his opinion: Investigative and prosecutorial decision-making is “the special province of the Executive Branch,” Heckler v. Chaney, 470 U. S. 821, 832 (1985), and the Constitution vests the entirety of the executive power in the President, Art. II, §1. For that reason, Trump’s threatened removal of the Acting Attorney General likewise implicates “conclusive and preclusive” Presidential authority. ….

This is also obscene:

Trump appointees push $250 banknote with his portrait. The printing director who resisted the effort said she was reassigned last month. “The buck stopped here,” she wrote in her goodbye.

And this was a great concert last night by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band:

Springsteen taunts White House in D.C. concert — and promises more pre-election ‘ruckus. The show at Nationals Park was the second-to-last in a tour that the 76-year-old rocker has cast as an act of resistance against President Donald Trump.

TRUMPWATCH 2.0

Donald Trump drops to a new low for presidential job approval.
“Only one-third of Americans approve of how Donald Trump is handling his job as president, lower than Trump’s approval in any weekly Economist / YouGov Poll over his two terms as president, and lower than Joe Biden ever received during his term. 34% of Americans strongly or somewhat approve of Trump’s job handling, and 59% disapprove, for a net job approval of -26. Trump’s net approval of -26 is also a record low for either of his terms or Biden’s term.” – YouGov

Trump’s approval plunges among his White working-class base.
“In a striking shift, White voters without college degrees who voted to reelect Trump by a huge margin are now net-negative on his job approval.” – Washington Post

The White House Intervened to Get a $620 Million Deal for a Company Tied to Donald Trump Jr.
“About three months before the Pentagon announced plans to lend money to Vulcan Elements, Trump Jr.’s venture capital firm took an undisclosed stake in the company.” – ProPublica

As Trump Politicizes Justice Dept., Prosecutors Struggle With Grand Juries.
“Judges and grand juries have increasingly lost faith in the Justice Department as the president uses it to reward his friends and go after his opponents.” – New York Times

Were the Constitution’s Authors a Little Too Optimistic?
“The nation’s founding document has a blind spot. Trump is making it visible.” – New York Times

Trump’s ‘Anti-Weaponization Fund’ could carry a big tax bill, some experts argue.
“Federal income tax experts tell POLITICO money from the DOJ’s Judgment Fund, which the new $1.8 billion program is drawing on, is generally taxable.” – Politico

To Understand Pope Leo’s Efforts on A.I., Look at the Man Shaking His Hand.
“The co-founder of a prominent A.I. company was nearby as the pope implored A.I. leaders to slow down and consider the technology’s possible perils.” – New York Times

Trump’s IRS case should be reopened so court can probe possible ‘fraud,’ ex-judges argue.
“President Donald Trump’s recently dismissed $10 billion lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service should be reopened so the judge who oversaw it can investigate ‘whether a fraud occurred,’ 35 former federal judges argued Wednesday.” – CNBC

MEANWHILE, ON CAPITOL HILL

Trump has made his Senate math a lot harder. The president’s list of frenemies in the Senate keeps getting longer, even as his demands on lawmakers grow more outrageous. – MS Now

Trump and Senate Republicans prepare for a showdown over his $1.8 billion compensation fund. Lawmakers return next week without a clear plan on how they’re going to pass a reconciliation bill without blocking Trump’s “anti-weaponization” fund. – MS Now

House Democrats announce bill to block construction of Trump’s arch. The legislation would explicitly bar new construction on the small island on the edge of Washington where Trump seeks to put the arch. – Washington Post

Democrats need to face a hard truth. While Republicans’ approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has failed, so has ours. – New York Times

DNC X account tells Miller: ‘Shut up you ugly f—‘. – The Hill

Epstein survivors have little faith Pam Bondi interview will produce answers. – The Hill

 

MONEY IN POLITICS, VOTING, ELECTION & OTHER RELATED INFO

Judge declines to block parts of Trump mail voting order for now. Democrats, civil rights groups had urged court to intervene ahead of midterms. – Roll Call

A GOP dirty tricks operation, exposed. Following the breadcrumbs from a “progressive” super PAC to a powerful Republican operative. – Popular Information

Paxton win sparks GOP money panic. The challenge for both parties is that Texas is a uniquely expensive state to campaign in. – Politico

South Carolina lawmakers turn aside redistricting push. Measure targeted seat of Democrat Rep. James E. Clyburn. – Roll Call

Federal court blocks Alabama’s midterm gerrymandering plan, a blow for Republicans. The three-judge panel blocked the state from reimplementing its 2023 congressional maps they found as “tainted by intentional race-based discrimination.” – Politico

Poll: Republicans and Democrats agree on 1 big election issue. As campaign spending hits record highs, voters across parties question how deeply money shapes elections. – Politico

Millions of people have been placed in new voting districts. A redistricting effort before the November elections has reshaped congressional voting districts for millions of Americans. – ABC News