Wertheimer Political Report, April 2, 2026
DEMOCRACY 21
President Trump suffered a remarkable series of losses in the courts this week. Lower court judges seem to have little problem ignoring Trump’s attempts to harass, intimidate and bully them.
In one case, D.C. district court Judge Richard Leon stopped construction of Trump’s huge ballroom to dominate the White House. Judge Leon found that “The President of the United States is the steward of the White House for future generations of First Families. He is not, however, the owner!” As a result, the court told Trump he had to get approval from Congress for the changes he wanted to make to the White House.
In another case, D.C. district court Judge Amit Mehta found that Trump did not have immunity in a civil lawsuit brought against him by police officers and Democratic lawmakers alleging that on January 6 Trump incited the mob that attacked Congress and police officers. Judge Mehta found that “President Trump has not shown that the Speech reasonably can be understood as falling within the outer perimeter of his Presidential duties. The content of the Ellipse Speech confirms that it is not covered by official-acts immunity.” Thus, the civil case against Trump continues.
In another case, D.C. district court Judge Randy Moss ruled that Trump’s executive order directing agencies to eliminate funding for NPR and CPB was unconstitutional. Judge Moss ruled that “the First Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government power—including the power of the purse—’to punish or suppress disfavored expression’ by others.” The executive order “crosses that line.”
In another case, Boston district court judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled that the Trump administration’s termination of the legal status of many thousands of migrants allowed to temporarily live and work in the United States was unlawful. Judge Burroughs instructed the administration to reverse course and withdraw its order for the migrants to leave the country.
Finally, at oral argument in the Supreme Court yesterday, the Justices appeared broadly skeptical of Trump’s efforts to deny birthright citizenship. This follows a ruling in February by the Court that struck down Trump’s sweeping tariffs.
Recently, Trump said he wanted Republicans to pass a new crime bill that, among other things, “cracks down on rogue judges. We got rogue judges that are criminals. They are criminals, what they do to our country. The decisions that they hand down and hurt our country.” This huffing and puffing by Trump will, of course, go nowhere in Congress.
TRUMPWATCH 2.0
Trump Ousts Attorney General Pam Bondi.
“President Trump ousted Attorney General Pam Bondi, ending a yearlong tenure atop the Justice Department marked by failed efforts to prosecute his favored targets and a view by the president and his advisers that she mismanaged the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.” – Wall Street Journal
‘What the hell did he just say?’ GOP Iran worries build after Trump speech.
“Republicans wanted a clear message on the war from Trump. Instead, some feel like they got the runaround.” – Politico
Supreme Court appears likely to side against Trump on birthright citizenship.
“On Jan. 20, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that would end birthright citizenship – the guarantee of U.S. citizenship to virtually everyone born in this country. Trump’s order has never gone into effect; since then, every federal court that has considered a challenge to the order has struck it down. After just over two hours of oral arguments on Wednesday, before an audience that included (at least for part of the morning) Trump himself, a majority of the Supreme Court seemed likely to do the same.” – SCOTUSblog
Trump’s Justice Department Dropped 23,000 Criminal Investigations in Shift to Immigration.
“In the first days after Pam Bondi was appointed attorney general last year, the Department of Justice began shutting down pending criminal cases at a record pace.” – ProPublica
Democratic senators demand answers from Hegseth over reported defense investment inquiry ahead of Iran war.
“‘This would be a profound conflict of interest,’ the senators wrote to Hegseth.” – ABC News
Trump shares a conversation with Sharpie maker that apparently never occurred.
“As a rule, when the president talks about imaginary conversations, his descriptions are vague. Occasionally, he slips up.” – MS Now
Bruce Springsteen Slams Trump, ‘the Richest Men in America’ and Pam Bondi in Fiery Speeches at Minneapolis Tour Opener: ‘We Have a President Who Can’t Handle the Truth’.
“Bruce Springsteen has said that his 2026 ‘Land of Hope and Dreams American Tour’ with the E Street Band will be political, and he was not exaggerating.” – Variety
Trump slams Bruce Springsteen in social media post hours after pivotal Iran speech.
“The president’s Thursday morning social media posts have focused on personal grudges.” – Politico
New York Times accuses Pentagon of flouting judge’s order blocking its press access policy.
“The Pentagon has flouted a court order blocking it from enforcing a policy limiting news reporters’ access to the Defense Department’s headquarters, a New York Times attorney asserted Monday in urging a federal judge to compel the government’s compliance with the 10-day-old order.” – Associated Press
3 FBI agents fired after investigating Trump file class action suit alleging retribution campaign.
“Three fired FBI agents sued on Tuesday to try to get their jobs back, saying in a class action lawsuit that they were illegally punished for their participation in an investigation into President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat.” – PBS News
MEANWHILE, ON CAPITOL HILL
Senate gives House a second chance to deliver DHS funding. The early morning vote in a mostly empty chamber paves the way for an end to the record-setting agency shutdown.
– Politico
Conservatives seethe after Johnson backs Senate plan he previously called ‘a joke’. – The Hill
Lawmakers said they wanted to rein in their own stock trading. What happened? For a core group of believers, the last few months have brought frustration, broken promises and competing efforts. – Roll Call
MONEY IN POLITICS, VOTING, ELECTION & OTHER RELATED INFO
Trump mail-in voting order sparks lawsuit from Democrat. – The Hill
ActBlue may have misled Congress on vetting foreign donations, its lawyers warned. The Democratic fund-raising group is facing investigations from the Justice Department and congressional Republicans ahead of the midterm elections. – New York Times
Trump’s clout faces its first real test of 2026. A slate of early races in Indiana, Georgia, Louisiana and more will measure Trump’s hold on Republican voters. – Politico
New pro-AI group preps $100M midterm blitz to boost Trump’s agenda. – Axios
Over half of Florida voters say mid-cycle redistricting is ‘bad idea’. – The Hill
The unlikely ensemble leading Trump’s hunt for 2020 election fraud. Senior officials are pursuing theories the Trump campaign had earlier dismissed. – Wall Street Journal
