#lawsuit
9 entries with this tag
Trump's Ban of CNN Backfired Into a Rare Show of Press Solidarity: The Five Networks in the White House TV Pool — Fox News Among Them — Refused to Replace CNN and Suspended Televised Pool Coverage of the President Rather Than Help Him Sideline It, Leaving Him Without Independent TV Coverage on the Eve of His U.N. Trip While CNN, MS NOW, and Politico Sue Over the First Amendment
On Monday, September 21, 2026, the White House television press pool suspended its coverage of Donald Trump — a rare, coordinated act of protest against his ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico three days earlier. The pool is the five-network consortium (ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox News, and CNN) that takes turns covering the president's events on behalf of all outlets. CNN was scheduled to run Monday's pool coverage and accompany Trump to New York for the United Nations General Assembly; when the White House barred CNN from performing that duty, the other networks refused to replace it. Fox News' Washington bureau chief Bryan Boughton — the acting chair of the TV pool consortium — announced that "the TV pool will not be covering events designated as pool coverage of the President," and that "there will be no replacement pool." That Fox, Trump's friendliest network, stood with CNN rather than help the White House route around the ban is the most striking part. All five networks issued a joint statement: "The public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government. No administration should restrict a news organization because it objects to its reporting." CNN, MS NOW, and Politico announced they are filing a First Amendment lawsuit. Trump set out to punish outlets whose coverage he dislikes; he ended up with no independent TV pool coverage of himself on the way to address the world, a unified press corps rebuking him, and a lawsuit — an own-goal on top of an abuse.
ABC and Disney Went on the Offensive Against Trump's FCC — Suing in Federal Court and Alleging the Agency Waged a "Retaliatory Campaign" Against the Network, Ordering an Early Review of All Eight of Its Station Licenses Years Ahead of Schedule, to Punish It for Jimmy Kimmel's Jokes, "The View," and Its News Coverage
On August 18, 2026, the Walt Disney Company and ABC — along with the eight ABC-owned stations whose licenses are at stake — sued the Federal Communications Commission in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., alleging a First Amendment violation. Their claim is blunt: the FCC "has waged a retaliatory campaign against ABC for a single reason: it disapproves of what ABC broadcasts." The trigger was the FCC, under Trump ally and chairman Brendan Carr, ordering in April an "early" review of all eight ABC-owned station licenses — years before they are set to expire — nominally citing the company's diversity practices, but (per the suit) actually to punish ABC for its news coverage, the talk show "The View," and late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, who relentlessly mocks Trump. The lawsuit cites Trump's own social-media posts attacking all three, and his repeated public demands that ABC be stripped of its licenses. Two clarifications matter: this is a suit against Trump's FCC, not against Trump personally, and no court has ruled yet — the "win" that preceded it was Kimmel's reinstatement after he was pushed off the air under FCC pressure. What ABC has done now is take the government's retaliation for constitutionally protected speech and force it into open court, where using broadcast-license power to punish a network for its content is exactly what the First Amendment forbids.
Only 16% of Americans Think a UFC Fight at the White House Is Appropriate — It's Costing $60 Million, Trump Bought the Stock, and They're Selling $12,000 Coins with His Face
A Reuters/Ipsos poll finds only 16% of Americans think Trump's UFC cage match at the White House is appropriate — 46% say it's inappropriate, and only 31% of Republicans support it. The event costs $60 million, requires 494 port-a-potties, a 90-foot lighting rig called "The Claw," and 5,000 seats on the South Lawn. TKO expects to lose $30 million. Trump bought $15,000-$50,000 in TKO stock before promoting the event — the stock rose 8.86% after the announcement. The Trump Organization is selling commemorative coins with Trump's face for up to $11,999.99. A federal lawsuit alleges the event violates park regulations and is "deeply corrupt." The DOJ's response: "No one is holding Plaintiffs in a jiu jitsu lock." UFC — not the White House — controls press credentials. Dana White invited celebrities; most declined. Joe Rogan objected to the outdoor venue. The president turns 80 during a cage fight he's profiting from on the South Lawn of the people's house.
The $1.776B Slush Fund Is Built on a Lawsuit That Was Filed Too Late — And Video Proves Trump Knew
Video evidence shows Trump's own lawyer Alina Habba was in federal court in October 2023 condemning the IRS leak on Trump's behalf — but Trump's lawsuit claims he didn't learn about it until January 2024. The two-year statute of limitations ran from when he knew, not when the IRS sent a letter. He filed in January 2026 — months too late. A leaked IRS memo confirmed the suit was time-barred. The DOJ settled it anyway, creating the $1.776B fund, two days before a judge was set to rule on whether the case could even proceed.
Jan. 6 Officers Who Were Beaten by Rioters Sue to Block $1.776B Fund That Would Pay Their Attackers
Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn and DC officer Daniel Hodges — both beaten defending the Capitol on Jan. 6 — filed a federal lawsuit to block Trump's $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund." They call it an illegal slush fund to reward insurrectionists, citing the 14th Amendment's ban on paying debts incurred in aid of rebellion. The same pardoned rioters who attacked them could now be paid with taxpayer money — from a fund with no congressional authorization, no transparency, and no statutory basis.
Trump Drops His IRS Lawsuit, Creates $1.776B "Anti-Weaponization Fund" to Reimburse Jan. 6 Rioters With Taxpayer Money
Trump's DOJ officially established the $1.776 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" — taxpayer money to reimburse MAGA allies including Jan. 6 rioters. In exchange, Trump dropped his $10 billion IRS lawsuit over the Mar-a-Lago raid. The president settled a lawsuit with himself to create a slush fund he controls. A House Democrat: "the largest single act of grand larceny in American history."
Trump's "Pool Guy" Reflecting Pool Contract Hits $13.1M — 7x What He Promised — and Now Faces a Lawsuit
Trump promised the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool would cost $1.8M to fix. The no-bid contract to his "pool guy" (a culvert waterproofer with no pool experience) started at $6.9M. The Interior Dept. then added $6.2M more — total now $13.1M, over seven times Trump's promise. A preservation nonprofit is suing to halt the blue paint job for violating historic landmark protections.
Judge Tosses Patel's Defamation Suit: Calling Him a "Nightclub Regular" Is "Rhetorical Hyperbole"
A federal judge dismissed FBI Director Kash Patel's defamation lawsuit against ex-FBI official Frank Figliuzzi, who said Patel was "visible at nightclubs far more than the seventh floor of" FBI HQ. The judge ruled it was "rhetorical hyperbole" — not defamation. The next day, Patel filed a new $250 million lawsuit against The Atlantic over its 26-source exposé on his drinking.
"Jane Doe" Alleged Trump Raped Her at 13 at Epstein's Apartment — Dropped After Death Threats
A woman using the pseudonym "Jane Doe" filed a federal lawsuit alleging Trump raped her at age 13 at Epstein's Manhattan apartment in 1994. A press conference was cancelled and the case was dropped days before the 2016 election after she received death threats.