Just when you think you've heard everything there is to hear
about how Democrats covered up Joe Biden's dramatic physical and
cognitive decline as president, there's more.
As RedState recently reported,
there was a point late in his ill-fated re-election campaign when
Biden's handlers had to use fluorescent tape on the floor to keep him
from wandering off during a speaking engagement. That was revealed in a
new book entitled "Fight: Inside the Wildest Battle for the White
House," and more excerpts have been released.
One
incident involved Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), with Biden seemingly not
knowing who the Congressman was. He then had to coach the former
president into remembering him.
Swalwell
had not been invited to the White House often, like most members of
Congress, but when Biden and Swalwell came face to face, Biden didn’t
immediately recognize the congressman, according to the book.
Swalwell needed to note personal details to remind Biden of who he is.
Swalwell may not be the most
well-known politician out there, but he had been a fairly visible part
of the Democratic Party for over a decade, including meeting Biden
face-to-face several times. The former president not knowing who the
congressman was should have been a major red flag, but the cover-up took
precedence over everything, and everyone involved stayed quiet on the
matter.
In another part of the book, one of Biden's former aides
shared how they would use a make-up artist to cover up how deteriorated
his physical appearance had become.
I'll note that the G7 Summit mentioned there was the same one where Biden wandered off
during a photo-op, leading Redstate and other conservative outlets to
report on the incident. The White House and the mainstream press then
spent weeks accusing us of spreading "cheap fakes." Meanwhile, the
former president was so far gone at the time that they had to use an
on-demand make-up artist to make him appear somewhat alive for Zoom
calls. I'm feeling just a bit vindicated as I write this.
Still, there was one person who remained "a thousand percent" behind Biden's re-election bid: Jill Biden.
First lady Jill Biden was “a thousand percent” behind it.
“At
the end of the day, I don’t think anyone in that inner circle was
presenting the president any contrary advice that this thing is not
going to be easy or maybe this is not the best thing for the Democratic
Party,” they said.
That won't surprise anyone who followed her tenure
as First Lady. To say she was ambitious and seemed to revel in living
the high life on the taxpayer's dime would be an understatement. She
wasn't the only one, though. Several of Biden's top advisors were also
doing everything they could to hold onto power. It's a cliche, but this
was "Weekend at Bernie's" going on in the White House, with the former
president's entire inner circle lying to the American people for
personal gain. It wasn't until Biden's historically bad debate
performance that the dam finally broke.
Of course, even with so much out in the open now, the press are still gaslighting about what transpired.
Party and administration officials repeatedly downplayed
these worries, insisting Biden was fully capable of winning and serving
another four-year term in office. Despite Biden’s occasional public
stumbles, they sought to assure the public that behind closed doors,
Biden remained sharp and fully in command.
Ocassional
public stumbles? Are they kidding? I wrote a story almost every day
during the last few years of Biden's presidency on his senility, not
because I loved covering the topic (it got rather boring after a while)
but because he had that many public stumbles to cover. It was a
continual onslaught of material, and by 2024, I was dumbfounded they
were still letting him do events at all.
So, while these tell-all
books are nice to finally see, I can't quite shake the frustration that
no one will ultimately be held accountable for any of this. Is Swalwell
going to be pressed on why he didn't blow the whistle? Of course not.
Will Biden's staffers be cast into the wilderness? On the contrary, most
have already landed new positions. The biggest presidential scandal in
modern history occurred, and it's being treated like a normal news
story. It makes you wonder what they'll try to get away with next.
As Europe goes back to the drawing board, following a mild
setback in its space flight efforts, Elon Musk's SpaceX decided to do
something completely different: Let's go up and down, not right to
left.
On
Monday night, SpaceX once again demonstrated the power of American
ingenuity and free-market innovation with the successful launch of
Fram2, the first crewed mission to orbit Earth’s North and South poles.
Lifting off at 9:46 p.m. EDT from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida,
the Falcon 9 rocket and Crew Dragon capsule carried four civilians from
four nations into low-Earth orbit for a historic five-day journey. This
mission, a testament to the pioneering spirit of private enterprise,
marks a new chapter in space exploration—one driven not by bloated
government NASA programs but by the vision and determination of
individuals willing to push boundaries.
The launch was a spectacle
of precision and teamwork. As mission control counted down—“Three, two,
one, ignition and lift-off!”—cheers erupted from the crowd. Minutes
later, the Falcon 9 reached Main Engine Cutoff (MECO), and the Crew
Dragon separated from the rocket’s second stage, soaring into polar
orbit. The first-stage booster, having burned through its fuel, returned
to Earth and landed flawlessly on SpaceX’s droneship A Shortfall of
Gravitas just over eight minutes after launch. Meanwhile, inside the
capsule, the crew released a stuffed bear—their zero-G
indicator—watching it float freely in the weightless environment. The
Dragon’s nose cone opened, revealing a massive cupola window that will
offer the crew breathtaking views of Earth’s polar regions.
This wasn’t just a technical achievement; it was a moment of national
pride. “We’re honored to deliver you safely to your polar orbit,”
mission control told the crew. “Enjoy the view of the poles, send some
pictures, and our hearts will be with you as you go over the poles. Have
a great flight.” Another controller added, “God speed Fram2. Cheers!”
These words reflect a shared sense of purpose and optimism—values that
have long defined America’s approach to exploration.
The Fram2
crew—dubbed “framonauts” by SpaceX—consists of four remarkable
individuals: mission commander Chun Wang of Malta, a bitcoin
entrepreneur driven by a lifelong curiosity about the unknown; vehicle
commander Janice Mikkelsen of Norway, a skilled cinematographer; pilot
Rabea Rogge of Germany, a robotics expert; and Eric Phillips of
Australia, an adventurer serving as the mission’s medical officer. These
aren’t government-trained astronauts but everyday people who, through
grit and rigorous preparation, have earned their place in space.
Mikkelsen, speaking to CBS News, dismissed the notion of this being mere
“tourism.” “I wish it was tourism,” she said. “Our education has lasted
well over a year, so I have never studied so hard for a
three-and-a-half-day expedition in my life.” Her words underscore the
dedication required—a reminder that excellence isn’t handed out; it’s
earned.
This mission, SpaceX’s third privately funded civilian spaceflight,
embodies the principle that the private sector can achieve what
government monopolies often fail to deliver. Named after a legendary
early 20th-century ship that ventured farther north and south than any
other, Fram2 could set its own records as the first spacecraft to orbit
Earth’s poles. Launching into a 90-degree circular orbit, the flight
path took it south over Miami and Cuba—a rare trajectory from Florida,
where most missions historically veer eastward. Jon Edwards, a SpaceX
vice president, noted the uniqueness: “If you were in Miami and you
looked straight up… you would see the rocket and the crew flying right
overhead.”
Over
the next few days, the crew will conduct over a dozen experiments, from
growing mushrooms to taking X-rays of the human body in orbit—practical
research that could benefit life on Earth. After splashdown in the
Pacific Ocean off Southern California, scheduled for Friday or Saturday,
they’ll exit the Dragon capsule without external assistance, providing
valuable data on human performance post-spaceflight. This self-reliance
aligns with a core value: individuals taking responsibility for their
own success.
Fram2 is more than a mission; it’s a symbol of what’s possible when
innovation is unshackled from bureaucratic red tape. SpaceX, under Elon
Musk’s leadership, has consistently proven that the free market can
drive progress faster and more efficiently than government agencies.
While the crew gazes at Earth’s poles through their cupola window,
Americans can look up with pride, knowing this achievement reflects the
strength of a system that rewards hard work, risk-taking, and vision. In
an era where government overreach often stifles ambition, Fram2 stands
as a bold reminder: the sky’s no longer the limit—it’s just the
beginning.
The Atlantic thought they could get
a scalp with the Signal story involving top Trump officials discussing
anti-Houthi operations. That chat, which was held on an encrypted,
government-approved messenger app, accidentally added the publication’s
editor and notorious anti-Trump writer Jeffrey Goldberg, who claimed
classified information was divulged. It was not, and no one cared
because we know the publication peddled in myth. The DC bubble is not
the people. It barely dented Trump’s approval rating. When the usual
anti-Trump critics come to full froth, it’s usually over nothing. Again,
the people know Trump now; these stories aren’t going to work,
especially when they’re soaked in lies.
So, imagine our surprise when this deportation sob story
in The Atlantic turned out to be fake news trash. It’s another piece of
propaganda aimed at trying to dent the immensely popular mass
deportation policy Trump has initiated. Some father was taken off the
streets and deported. Yeah, first, he’s an illegal alien. Second, he’s
not some father: he’s a member of MS-13, which was buried in the story.
This man was also cited by the courts as a danger to public safety six years ago:
Court
filings show Abrego Garcia came to the United States at age 16 in 2011
after fleeing gang threats in his native El Salvador. In 2019 he
received a form of protected legal status known as “withholding of
removal” from a U.S. immigration judge who found he would likely be
targeted by gangs if deported back.
Abrego Garcia, who is married
to a U.S. citizen and has a 5-year-old disabled child who is also a
U.S. citizen, has no criminal record in the United States, according to
his attorney. The Trump administration does not claim he has a criminal
record, but called him a “danger to the community” and an active member
of MS-13, the Salvadoran gang that Trump has declared a Foreign
Terrorist Organization.
Very important fact that Yoni leaves out (and I can't imagine why!)
An Immigration judge found that Garcia was an MS-13 member, a flight risk, and a threat to the community SIX YEARS AGO https://t.co/fB9uv60fL4
It's like the Venezuelan soccer player and the gay barber
who got deported. The media takes their sob stories as fact when it
turns out both were members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang
designated as a foreign terror group. The media remains laughably inept
at trying to tear down this administration. They’ve been attempting for
nearly a decade and can’t get Trump, who will always beat them.
He owns them. Full stop.
The deportations continue. They will
not stop and keep packing those planes. Even if they’re not criminal
illegal aliens, all who get caught should be deported.
Adios.
Also, nice job, Atlantic. You guys really are the point of the lance in spearing what’s left of the legacy press's credibility.
The market has been volatile.
Canada has been throwing a tantrum over the new tariff policy, and the
legacy media thinks they landed a haymaker on President Trump over the
Signal story. To recap, that inside-the-beltway kerfuffle was admittedly
a self-inflicted wound. Top Trump officials were discussing anti-Houthi
operations on the encrypted messenger app, and someone accidentally
added the anti-Trump fake news writer Jeffrey Goldberg of The Atlantic
onto the chat. Goldberg claims that top-secret war plans were discussed.
That’s a lie.
The mainstream media said that the American people find this to be a
grave issue. Another lie—and the press is not winning. I’ve seen that
talking point tossed around, which provides a funny juxtaposition since
Trump’s approval rating is soaring. Even CNN polls have the president
with a high approval rating. What’s causing it? Believe it or not, it’s
from a swath of new supporters from younger voter blocs (via RealClearPolitics):
In
2024, several new groups of voters joined the Trump movement, including
people who had not voted for him in 2020 or 2016 and were not
previously Republican voters, such as more young, lower-income, and
Hispanic Americans. Whether they can be maintained with post-Trump GOP
candidates remains to be seen, but according to polls so far, they are
more approving of the second Trump administration than they were the
first.
In the latest Gallup polls, Trump’s approval overall was up
three points in the January–March period of his second term compared to
his first, from 42% to 45%.
The biggest gains weren’t in
traditional conservative voters, though. Among adults age 65 and older,
approval dropped by six points from this time during 2017 to now. Among
non-Hispanic white adults, approval dropped by two points.
The
gains in approval instead came with the new sections of Trump voters.
Among younger people ages 18–29 and 30–49, approval grew by six points,
from 31% to 37%. Approval among people of color increased by 12%, and
approval among Hispanic adults increased by 15%. His approval also
increased with Republicans, from 87% to 92%, further proving his
consolidation of support among the Republican Party, of which more were
skeptical during his first term.
These numbers could have been a bit higher if the president had opted
to prioritize passing the budget reconciliation package through
Congress first. This package has some red meat domestic agenda items
rolled into it, like extending the Trump tax cuts, which created a
booming economy during the first Trump presidency. Trump chose to duke
it out with Mexico and Canada over tariffs first, which has led to
market volatility, though a reset was due regardless.
Eye on the prize, though, by getting this budget reconciliation through.
Trans rights activists take part in a protest against the ban on hormone blockers on April 20, 2024 in London, England.
A toddler who had been enrolled in a nursery in the United Kingdom
was reportedly suspended after being accused of “transphobia.”
The incident took place in the 2022-2023 academic school year, though the story just hit media headlines this week. The Telegraph outlet broke the news first.
The child was reportedly “aged either three or four,” and was
suspended for “abuse against sexual orientation and gender identity,”
according to the United Kingdom’s Department for Education, first
obtained by The Telegraph.
Across all primary and state schools, 164 students were suspended for
“homophobia” or “transphobia” in in the 2021-2022 school year — along
with 178 more in the 2022-2023 school year.
Soon after, the surfacing report triggered a wave of mockery and backlash from parents and public figures on social media, with “Harry Potter” author J.K. Rowling characterizing the situation as “totalitarian insanity.”
“If you think small children should be punished for being able to
recognize sex, you are a dangerous zealot who should be nowhere near
kids or in any position of authority over them,” she added.
“It beggars belief that schools are suspending children as young as
five for breaching their ‘transphobia’ policy. I would have thought that
if your ideology is so rigid it justifies you punishing toddlers for
not complying with it, that’s a powerful argument for discarding it in
favor of something less dogmatic,” stated Lord Young, the director of
the Free Speech Union.
“Every once in a while, the extremes of gender ideology throw up a
story that seems too crazy to believe, and a toddler being suspended
from nursery for so-called ‘transphobia’ or homophobia is one such
example,” stated Helen Joyce, the director of advocacy at Sex Matters.
Worse still, this is not an isolated case,” Joyce continued.
“Apparently, 13 four and five-year-olds were suspended or permanently
excluded from school for the same reason. Teachers and school leaders
involved in this insanity should be ashamed of themselves for projecting
adult concepts and beliefs onto such young children. It’s unforgivable
for children’s vital early education to be so traumatically disrupted by
school leaders who prioritize activists’ demands over their charges’
wellbeing.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the British education department
responded, stating: “All pupils and staff should feel safe and protected
at school and should never face violence or abuse. The Education
Secretary has been clear that she expects school leaders to enforce good
behavior and we are committed to a comprehensive program of behavior
support for schools. Our Plan for Change sets out our relentless focus
on making sure every child gets the best life chances, no matter their
background.”
Nevertheless, no details about what the child allegedly said or did
to get suspended has been revealed — exposing a glaring lack of
transparency surrounding the entire case.
Stay informed! Receive breaking news blasts directly to your inbox for free. Subscribe here. https://www.oann.com/alerts
(L) Elon Musk speaks during a town hall meeting at the KI Convention
Center on March 30, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Scott
Olson/Getty Images) / (R) Campaign signs for Circuit Court Judge Brad
Schimel, candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
Special Government Employee (SGE) Elon Musk declared on Sunday that
Tuesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election could have a major effect on
humanity’s “entire destiny.”
At an event in Green Bay, Wisconsin, Musk made the remarks while
urging voters to turn out and support conservative judicial candidate
Brad Schimel.
She has also been funded by left-wing megadonors like George Soros.
Crawford previously sentenced a child rapist to only four years in
prison after he repeatedly assaulted a five-year-old girl.
Crawford, a judge on the Dane County Circuit Court, was questioned
prior by a moderator regarding the contentious child sexual assault case
she ruled on — during a debate segment where candidates were asked
about the multi-million dollar advertisements they had broadcast
disparaging each other’s judicial records.
Moderator to Crawford: “In 2020, you did sentence a
child sex offender to four years in prison after prosecutors requested
10. Do you regret that sentence?”
Crawford: “I don’t regret that sentence, because
I followed the law in that case, as I always do,” Crawford responded. “I
applied the law, which says that judges have to consider every relevant
factor in sentencing, you have to consider both the aggravating and
mitigating factors, and the Supreme Court has said you have to order the
minimum amount of prison time you believe is necessary to protect the
public. That’s what I did in that case and every other case.”
Additionally, Trump made remarks about Crawford in a post on Truth Social last Sunday.
“In the Great State of Wisconsin, a Radical Left Democrat, one who is
insistent on bringing hardened CRIMINALS, that we removed to far away
places, back into our Country, allowing men into women’s sports, Open
Borders, and more, is running against a strong, Common Sense Republican,
JUST CALL HIM BRAD, for the Wisconsin Supreme Court,” Trump wrote.
The election will determine the ideological leaning of the court,
which is currently 4-3, in favor of the liberal wing of judges.
“What’s happening on Tuesday is a vote for which party controls the
U.S. House of Representatives. That is why it is so significant. And
whichever party controls the House, to a significant degree controls the
country, which then steers the course of Western Civilization,” Musk
stated on Sunday, noting that he thought the “entire destiny of
humanity” could be affected by the election.
If Crawford prevails on Tuesday, political analysts have argued that
Democrats will try to remove two Republican seats and persuade the
Supreme Court to impose redistricting that is more in their party’s
favor.
Musk argued further that a Republican loss in the House would
significantly impede the GOP administration’s efforts to overhaul the
government. Additionally, conservative pundits have warned that her
election to Wisconsin’s Supreme Court would undoubtedly lead to more
unfavorable rulings in general — in relation to Trump administration
policies.
According to Musk, the odds still seem “stacked” against Schimel at
the moment, who announced to a roaring audience, while wearing a
“cheesehead” hat, that conservatives would need to stand together now —
more than ever.
Polls in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race now say it's a 50-50 after saying Susan Crawford was winning by a lot.
Get out and vote, Wisconsinites, and give yourselves a check against your tyrannical governor.
Elon Musk explains how the odds are currently stacked against the GOP in Wisconsin:
“We’ve
gotta pull a rabbit out of the hat next level. We actually have to have
a steady stream of rabbits out of the hat… We need to generate an
anomaly in the matrix.”
“The single biggest challenge, I think, is actually just making
people aware that there is this very important election. And its both
very important election for Judge Schimel as well as deciding on adding
voter ID to the Wisconsin constitution, which is very, very important,”
Musk continued.
Additionally, Musk announced that his PAC’s giveaway winners,
Nicholas Jacobs and Ekaterina Diestler, both residents of Wisconsin,
would receive $1 million for signing a petition to prevent activists
from serving as judges.
Soon after, Josh Kaul, the Democrat state attorney general (AG),
filed a case to stop the payouts — but the Supreme Court on Sunday
declined to rule.
During the rally, Musk also revealed a new project that will pay $20
for each photo of a Wisconsin citizen holding a thumbs up and an image
of Judge Schimel.
Sign Up to be a Block Captain in support of Super Judge Brad Schimel:
You will earn $20 for each Wisconsin resident you recruit and they will receive $20 too!https://t.co/gKBuzThot9
You will have to visit houses in your neighborhood and send a picture Monday and Tuesday.… pic.twitter.com/FDM2XLKSS8
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Republican Senator Ron Johnson joined Musk at the event.
“We need to return our Supreme Court to one that has justices and
judges. And by that I mean people who will apply the law, not alter it,”
Johnson said. “We’re not looking for super legislators.”
According to Johnson, many have begun to worry that Crawford could
vote to redistrict Republican congressional districts and repeal Act 10,
a Republican-backed law that drastically changed government labor
unions.
The election, which pits Musk, whose “America” PAC has been
particularly engaged in the race, against left-wing megadonors like
Soros and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker — has reportedly received a
record-breaking $90 million.
When Democrats initially took over the Wisconsin Supreme Court in
2023, the expenditure amount shattered the previous record for the most
costly state judicial contest.
80% of Susan Crawford's donors are from outside of Wisconsin. They expect her to deliver them Congressional seats.
Brad Schimel is backed by Wisconsin farmers, law enforcement, hunters, and small business leaders.
The Trump administration is finalizing an
agreement between the IRS and Immigration and Customs Enforcement for
the sharing of data regarding illegal immigrants, according to a report.
The deal would mean immigration officials could use taxpayer
databases to confirm the names and addresses of people who are in the
country illegally, Politico reported Monday.
Under previous administrations, personal taxpayer information was
shared with federal law enforcement only under limited circumstances.
Laws prohibit improper disclosure of taxpayer information.
The Washington Post reported
that ICE access to tax data would be limited to confirming the
addresses of migrants with final removal orders. Only Homeland Security
Secretary Kristi Noem or acting ICE director Todd Lyons could submit
requests, which must include the name and address of each taxpayer.
Privacy experts have said that disclosing such information would be a
violation of the disclosure laws that the IRS operates under, CNN reported.
Congress has enacted some exceptions, such as for help in criminal
investigations, to the requirement that taxpayer information remain
confidential.
"We've seen that this administration is certainly pulling out all the
stops and trying to use every potential lever of the government to find
and deport undocumented immigrants," said Theresa Cardinal Brown, a
former Department of Homeland Security official under the Bush and Obama
administrations, Politico reported.
"That's their stated goal, and that's what they are doing."
Over the years, the IRS has encouraged illegal migrants to file
taxes, CNN reported. Doing so provides the agency with their addresses,
employers, and earnings.
Illegal migrants have paid nearly $100 billion annually in taxes.
Critics of the plan say the sharing of personal information may
discourage them from paying taxes.
The administration's demand that the IRS share data with ICE has
contributed to the IRS being on its third leader this year, Politico
reported.
Current acting IRS commissioner, Melanie Krause, has been receptive
to requests from the administration and the Department of Government
Efficiency to share tax data, the outlet added.
"If the IRS is willing to do this, it's because of the change of
leadership," said Nina Olson, who served for almost two decades as the
national taxpayer advocate. "It's unprecedented."
Elon Musk, head of the Department of Government Efficiency
(DOGE), indicated he will be turning his crew's attention to members of
Congress who have amassed fortunes despite having base salaries under
$200,000.
The tech mogul and philanthropist made the comments during a rally in
Wisconsin for state Supreme Court candidate Judge Brad Schimel.
"A
lot of strangely wealthy members of Congress - where I just can't - I'm
trying to connect the dots of how did they become rich," he told those
in attendance.
"How'd they get $20 million if they're earning
$200,000 a year? Nobody can explain that," added Musk. "We're gonna try
to figure it out and certainly stop it from happening."
If
you thought members of Congress were losing their minds before over
DOGE's efforts to investigate fraud, you ain't seen nothin' yet.
Members
of Congress may currently purchase and trade stocks and cryptocurrency,
provided they report all transactions. The base salary for Senators and
Representatives is $174,000 per year. Some exceptions include
the Speaker of the House ($223,500), the President pro tempore of the
Senate, and the majority and minority leaders in the House and Senate
($193,400).
Yet some members of Congress have net worths that put them in elite standing—well over $100-$200 million.
A good bulk of the controversy comes from what some critics feel
amounts to insider trading. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) went so far as to
introduce legislation in 2023 that would ban lawmakers in Congress from making stock purchases or trades.
He called it the "Preventing Elected Leaders from Owning Securities and Investments" – or PELOSI – Act.
Pelosi and her husband, Paul Pelosi, have nearly $250 million combined net worth. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi
Gabbard has previously, as a Democrat at the time, called out the
Pelosis trading acumen as evidence that the system is "rigged."
“We
have people in positions of power to pass legislation, to enact new
policies,” she has said. “They can see, ‘OK, here are the industries or
companies that will benefit from this. I’m going to go and make these
investments, buy this stock or that stock, or have my husband or wife do
it and then make money in the process.'”
You
may be shocked to learn that Pelosi has consistently defended members
of Congress's ability to buy and trade stocks despite having insider
knowledge of legislation that may affect certain companies or
industries.
“We’re a free-market economy,” Pelosi, as Speaker, has said to reporters. “They should be able to participate in that.”
She has, however, insisted that lawmakers should be abiding by the STOCK Act and disclosing their transactions.
Pelosi isn't the only beneficiary of insider knowledge, as evidenced
by the success of other congressional members who have had uncanny
success at beating the stock market.
In 2021, Business Insider
released a damning report titled “Conflicted Congress,” revealing “the
myriad ways members of the US House and Senate have eviscerated their
own ethical standards” and “avoided consequences" when it comes to
questionable financial transactions.
Lawmakers, they said, had “blinded Americans to the many moments” when their “personal finances clash with their public duties.”
Bipartisan efforts to stop the practice of trading stocks for members of Congress have consistently stalled.
Can Musk and his DOGE team finally put a stop to it?
The mega law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
has made peace with President Trump before it was targeted by an executive order.
“Over
the past few days, we learned that the Trump Administration intended to
issue an executive order directed at Skadden,” London wrote. “We
believed it would focus on DEI initiatives and our pro bono activities.”
“With
that in mind, we chose to engage proactively and constructively with
the Administration to align on a productive path forward without the
issuance of an executive order,” he wrote. “We entered into the
agreement the President announced today because, when faced with the
alternatives, it became clear that it was the best path to protect our
clients, our people and our Firm.”
“Not
everyone will agree with the decision we made today, and I have great
respect for the different views that make us stronger as a Firm,” he
wrote. “But I firmly believe that an agreement centered around our pro
bono work and complying with the law was an acceptable outcome to ensure
Skadden will continue to thrive long into the future. This agreement
does not change who we are.”
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump revealed the terms of the agreement.
Today,
President Donald J. Trump and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
LLP announce the following agreement regarding a series of actions to be
taken by Skadden:
1. Skadden will provide a total of at least
$100 Million Dollars in pro bono Legal Services, during the Trump
Administration and beyond, to causes that the President and Skadden both
support, in relation to the following areas: Assisting Veterans and
other Public Servants, including members of the Military, Law
Enforcement, First Responders, and Federal, State, and Local Government
Officials; ensuring fairness in our Justice System; and combatting
Antisemitism. Skadden will change its pro bono policy so that all pro
bono moving forward will be done in the Firm name. A pro bono Committee
will be constituted to ensure that pro bono matters are consistent with
the objectives of the program, and that pro bono activities represent
the full political spectrum.
2. The Skadden Foundation will commit
to the mission of providing pro bono Legal Services to a wide variety
of deserving organizations and individuals. Skadden is committed to
funding no fewer than five Skadden Fellows each year dedicated to the
following projects: Assisting Veterans; ensuring fairness in our Justice
System; combatting Antisemitism, and other similar types of projects.
Law Graduates that receive Skadden Fellowships will represent a wide
range of political views, including conservative ideals.
3.
Skadden affirms its commitment to merit-based hiring, promotion, and
retention. Accordingly, the Firm will not engage in illegal DEI
discrimination and preferences. Skadden will engage independent outside
counsel to advise the Firm to ensure employment practices are fully
compliant with Law, including, but not limited to, anti-discrimination
Laws.
4. Skadden will not deny representation to clients, such as
members of politically disenfranchised groups, who have not historically
received legal representation from major National Law Firms, including
in pro bono matters, and in support of non-profits, because of the
personal political views of individual lawyers.
Statement From the
White House: “Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP approached
President Trump and his Administration, and declared the Firm’s strong
commitment to ending the Weaponization of the Justice System and the
Legal Profession. The President will never stop fighting to deliver on
his promises of eradicating partisan Lawfare in America, and restoring
Liberty & Justice for ALL.”
Statement From Skadden Executive
Partner, Jeremy London: “Skadden is pleased to have achieved a
successful agreement with President Trump and his Administration. We
engaged proactively with the President and his team in working together
constructively to reach this agreement. The Firm looks forward to
continuing our productive relationship with President Trump and his
Admin. We firmly believe that this outcome is in the best interests of
our clients, our people, and our Firm.”
Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, and Jenner & Block
have all sued and obtained partial temporary restraining orders. I
would submit they have just achieved counterproductive and ephemeral
victories for the sake of the Resistance. The bottom line is that law is
a business, and businesses require clients. No matter what any court
rules, Trump has the power to set the rules around granting security
clearances and access to classified information. Some of the targeted
law firms seem to have had on-site sensitive compartmented information
facilities, which would have required federal staff to manage them.
Federal agencies can legitimately refuse to contract with any of these
firms for services because they are neither cheap nor uniquely qualified
to do any work. Companies with business before the federal government
might rightfully assume that being represented by a proscribed law firm
is not a great tactical move. They might also assume that hiring a law
firm currently battling the administration in court might cause them
more problems than it is worth.
When Paul Weiss folded like a cheap suit, its chairman Brad Karp emailed
the law firm. In it, he spelled out why Paul Weiss, and now Skadden
Arps, settled and why the firms engaged in performative legal challenges
will also settle.
We were hopeful that
the legal industry would rally to our side, even though it had not done
so in response to executive orders targeting other firms. We had tried
to persuade other firms to come out in public support of Covington and
Perkins Coie. And we waited for firms to support us in the wake of the
President’s executive order targeting Paul, Weiss. Disappointingly, far
from support, we learned that certain other firms were seeking to
exploit our vulnerabilities by aggressively soliciting our clients and
recruiting our attorneys.
We initially prepared to challenge the
executive order in court, and a team of Paul, Weiss attorneys prepared a
lawsuit in the finest traditions of the firm. But it became clear that,
even if we were successful in initially enjoining the executive order
in litigation, it would not solve the fundamental problem, which was
that clients perceived our firm as being persona non grata with the
Administration. We could prevent the executive order from taking effect,
but we couldn’t erase it. Clients had told us that they were not going
to be able to stay with us, even though they wanted to. It was very
likely that our firm would not be able to survive a protracted dispute
with the Administration.
At least for the next four
years, these huge law firms will not be the focal point for lawfare
against the administration and people associated with President Trump.
