Jackson 🥥🌴🏳️‍🌈: WEEK 101 of Trump/Pence: Dec 17-23, 2018. The Trump Foundation closes after investigators found rampant corruption. North Korea says they'll continue to produce nuclear weapons, despite Trump’s public fawning adoration of Kim Jong-un. The government shuts down after Trump waffles on the border wall.

WEEK 61 of Trump: March 12-18, 2018. After a brief flirtation with gun control, including some small positive steps like banning bump stocks, Trump changes course and bows to the NRA. Trump replaces Rex Tillerson (who correctly called Trump a “fucking moron”) with toady Mike Pompeo as Sec. of State.

Conceding to N.R.A., Trump Abandons Brief Gun Control Promise (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com After a made-for-television moment in which he appeared to embrace expansive gun control, President Trump completed his reversal on Monday.

WEEK 61 of Biden: March 14-20, 2022. The battle of Kyiv is ongoing this week, while Russia takes control of Kherson to the south. This week, Biden announces a new $800 million in US weapons and supplies sent to the Ukrainian defenders. Ukraine defeated Russia in Kyiv & has since retaken Kherson.

Biden announces hundreds of millions in new security aid for Ukraine following Zelensky’s speech | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine as he sought to answer his Ukrainian counterpart’s impassioned call for help and leadership deli...

WEEK 62 of Trump: March 19-25, 2018. Trump is “accidentally” too friendly to Putin. In a phone call, Trump congratulates Putin on his re-election, despite briefing papers warning him “DO NOT CONGRATULATE.” Trump advances his plan requiring the military to discriminate against trans people in hiring.

Briefing papers warned Trump: 'DO NOT CONGRATULATE' Putinwww.pbs.org President Donald Trump was warned in briefing materials to refrain from congratulating Russian President Vladimir Putin on his re-election, but he did so anyway, a senior administration official said ...

WEEK 62 of Biden: March 21-27, 2022. Biden is “accidentally” too hostile to Putin. In a speech in Poland, Biden says “Ukraine will never be a victory for Russia, for free people refuse to live in a world of hopelessness and darkness” and of Putin “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.”

Biden says Putin 'cannot remain in power' in sweeping speech on Russian invasion of Ukrainewww.cnbc.com President Joe Biden said Russian leader Vladimir Putin

WEEK 63 of Trump: March 26 - April 1, 2018. Trump announces a plan to include a citizenship question on the 2020 census, which would have led to a severe undercount of vulnerable populations, reducing their political power. Twelve states sue him in protest. SCOTUS blocked this plan in 2019.

At Least Twelve States to Sue Trump Administration Over Census Citizenship Question (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com Opponents said the question was certain to depress response to the census from noncitizens and even legal immigrants.

WEEK 63 of Biden: March 28 - April 3, 2022. Biden’s proposed budget includes millions more in aid for Ukraine, and increased taxes only on the richest 0.01% of US taxpayers (> $100 million/year). Moderates & GOP have since blocked him in both of these areas, and Biden continues to push for them.

Biden’s budget proposal includes billions to counter Russian aggression and new tax on wealthiest Americans | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Joe Biden unveiled his fiscal year 2023 budget proposal on Monday, and while it includes increased funding for security and reduces the deficit, officials admit inflation could continue to c...

WEEK 64 of Trump: April 2-8, 2018. As part of the GOP’s plan to win the midterm elections by stoking fear and hatred of immigrants, Trump deploys the National Guard to the border, warning of "caravans." The plan failed to win the midterms for the GOP, but surely succeeded in stoking fear and hatred.

President Trump Signs Proclamation To Send National Guard Troops To Mexican Borderwww.npr.org The move has many precedents. Every president since Ronald Reagan has called on the National Guard for limited, temporary missions along the frontier.

WEEK 64 of Biden: April 4-10, 2022. Biden’s nominee for the Supreme Court, Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first black woman on the court, is confirmed 53-47 by the senate. She would later join Kagan and Sotomayor in dissenting on Dobbs, the decision where Trump & Bush justices removed abortion rights.

In historic first, Ketanji Brown Jackson is confirmed to Supreme Court - SCOTUSblogwww.scotusblog.com By a vote of 53-47, the Senate on Thursday afternoon confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. Jackson will become the first Black woman to serve on the cou...

WEEK 65 of Trump: April 9-15, 2018. Trump tweets wantonly about imminent US military operations, before US intelligence confirmation. After Assad once again attacks civilians with chemical weapons, the US, UK, and France strike “targets associated with the chemical weapons capabilities” of Assad.

After warning Russia, Trump tweets on possible Syria strike timingwww.cbsnews.com Day after telling Russia to "get ready," president says timing of U.S. response to suspected chemical attack still fluid

WEEK 65 of Biden: April 11-17, 2022. Biden speaks with Zelensky, reaffirming support for Ukraine. After Russia is roundly defeated in Kyiv, Putin refocuses on eastern Ukraine. Sweden and Finland take first steps towards NATO membership (they are both now members). Elon Musk threatens to buy Twitter.

Despite Russian Warnings, Finland and Sweden Draw Closer to NATO (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com The invasion of Ukraine has heightened security fears, pushing even formally nonaligned countries toward the Western alliance.

WEEK 66 of Trump: April 16-22, 2018. Trump decides not to impose new sanctions on Russia for their support of Assad, embarrassing Nikki Haley who had just announced them publicly. Meanwhile, Trump lies about North Korea, claiming they had agreed to denuclearize (North Korea still has nukes today).

Sanctions Flap Erupts Into Open Conflict Between Haley and White House (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com A top White House official said Nikki Haley experienced “momentary confusion” by announcing new sanctions on Russia. “I don’t get confused,” she replied.

WEEK 66 of Biden: April 18-24, 2022. Biden meets with the prime minister of Ukraine, continuing to highlight the new $800 million in US military assistance. Putin, defeated in Kyiv, vows to continue the war and engages in some nuclear saber-rattling as he tests a new ICBM.

Warning Ukraine’s Friends to ‘Think Twice,’ Putin Tests Advanced Missile (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com Vladimir Putin said Russia’s test-firing of its new I.C.B.M. sends a message, as his forces prepare for a broad offensive in eastern Ukraine.

WEEK 67 of Trump: April 23-29, 2018. Trump resists pressure from Macron to keep the US in the Iran nuclear deal. The historic agreement had limited Iran’s nuclear capabilities and fostered peace, diplomacy, and cooperation between Iran and the rest of the world. Trump blew it up to spite Obama.

Macron Doesn't Believe He Changed Trump's Mind On The Iran Dealwww.npr.org Trump has said since he was a presidential candidate that he wanted to scrap the nuclear agreement with Tehran.

WEEK 67 of Biden: April 25 - May 1, 2022. Biden pushes for billions more in military assistance to Ukraine. US congress would soon approve this, along with dozens of other countries around the world. GOP now blocks new aid. Elon moves forward with buying Twitter. Macron beats Le Pen a second time.

Biden seeks $33 billion war chest to support Ukraine, Zelenskiy wants quick approval | Reuterswww.reuters.com President Joe Biden asked Congress for $33 billion to support Ukraine - a dramatic escalation of U.S. funding for the war with Russia - and the Ukrainian president pleaded with lawmakers to give the r...

WEEK 68 of Trump: April 30 - May 6, 2018. Trump ends Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Honduras, devastating families of 57,000 Hondurans living legally in the US for 20+ years with extended TPS. Trump ended TPS for almost all countries. Biden has reversed these decisions and expanded TPS.

Trump administration ends special immigration protections for 57,000 Honduranswww.usatoday.com About 57,000 Hondurans will lose legal status as the Trump administration phases out the Temporary Protected Status for legal immigrants.

WEEK 68 of Biden: May 2-8, 2022. Politico leaks a draft of Alito’s majority opinion in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women’s Health, in which 3 Trump-appointed justices and 3 Bush-appointed justices overturn Roe vs. Wade and remove the federal right to abortion. Biden harshly denounces the leaked opinion.

Biden blasts 'radical' Roe draft, warns other rights at riskapnews.com President Joe Biden is blasting what he calls a “radical” leaked draft opinion suggesting the Supreme Court is poised to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v.

WEEK 69 of Trump: May 7-13, 2018. Despite Macron’s best efforts (see week 67), Trump announces this week that the US is withdrawing from the Iran nuclear agreement. As a consequence, Iran’s nuclear capabilities are now growing, unconstrained by the limits of the deal. Melania starts “Be Best.”

Trump withdraws from Iran nuclear deal, isolating him further from world | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he is quitting the Iran nuclear deal, pitting him against the United States’ closest allies and leaving the future of Tehran’s nuclear ambitions in question.

WEEK 69 of Biden: May 9-15, 2022. While everyone is paying close attention to Ukraine, Biden’s request to congress for billions of dollars in Ukraine aid passes with little to no debate or resistance. In 2024, now that news about Ukraine penetrates less often, the GOP is happy to block Ukraine aid.

House Passes $40 Billion More in Ukraine Aid, With Few Questions Asked (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com As lawmakers have embraced more than $50 billion to Kyiv within two months, they have largely refrained from raising concerns or questioning the Biden administration’s strategy.

WEEK 70 of Trump: May 14-20, 2018. During protests at the Gaza border, sparked by Trump’s decision to move the US embassy, Israel had recently shot and killed 50 Palestinians. This week, Trump’s UN ambassador Nikki Haley defends those killings, and walks out when the Palestinian ambassador speaks.

Nikki Haley defends Israel after Gaza violence, walks out of meetingwww.cbsnews.com The U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations defended Israel over the violence at the Gaza border

WEEK 70 of Biden: May 16-22, 2022. After a mass shooting in Buffalo, Biden gives a speech condemning the white supremacist rhetoric that inspired it, calling it “a poison running through our body politic.” Biden uses the Defense Production Act to help fix a baby formula shortage.

Biden gives emotional speech after Buffalo shooting: ‘White supremacy is a poison’ | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Joe Biden on Tuesday did not hesitate to call the deadly mass shooting in Buffalo, New York, an act of domestic terrorism, condemning the racist ideology of the suspected shooter.

WEEK 71 of Trump: May 21-27, 2018. Trump’s partial repeal of Dodd-Frank passes in the House, a dangerous deregulatory gift to banks. Trump’s summit with Kim is canceled, later to be uncanceled. There were 2 of these. The outcome of both was Trump heaping praise on Kim and getting nothing out of it.

Congress Approves First Big Dodd-Frank Rollback (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com The bipartisan legislation will now head to President Trump, leaving fewer than 10 big banks subject to stricter post-crisis oversight.

WEEK 71 of Biden: May 23-29, 2022. With the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act blocked in the senate by Sinema +Manchin + GOP, Biden does the best he can alone with an executive order. A shooter kills 19 children in Uvalde, TX, and Biden renews calls to ban assault weapons (congress blocks this).

Biden signs executive order on policing 2 years after George Floyd's deathwww.cbsnews.com The order is aimed at reforming federal police practices and establishing a national database of police misconduct.

WEEK 72 of Trump: May 28 - June 3, 2018. Related to partial Dodd-Frank repeal, Trump further loosens banking regulations around the Volcker Rule, allowing big banks to make riskier bets. After further negotiations with North Korea, the summit canceled the previous week is now uncanceled.

Big Banks to Get a Break From Limits on Risky Trading (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com The Fed proposed loosening the Volcker Rule, which prevents banks from trading with depositors’ money. The move is expected to give banks more room for complex trades.

WEEK 72 of Biden: May 30 - June 5, 2022. In the wake of Uvalde, Biden continues to push for a federal assault weapons ban and other gun control measures. He asks “how much more carnage are we willing to accept?” He also works on providing rockets to Ukraine and fixing the baby formula shortage.

'Enough!': Biden calls for assault weapons bannews.yahoo.com One day after a gunman killed four people at a hospital in Tulsa, Okla., President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House, vowing to pressure Congress into enacting new gun control measur...

WEEK 73 of Trump: June 4-10, 2018. At the G7 meeting, Trump gets into a fight with prime minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, throws a temper tantrum and leaves early. Trump’s advisor Peter Navarro said Trudeau has a “special place in hell.” Navarro is currently in prison for contempt of Congress.

Trump rips ‘meek and mild’ Trudeau for criticizing US tariffsthehill.com President Trump criticized Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Saturday for acting “meek and mild” during their meetings at the weekend’s Group of Seven (G-7) summit…

WEEK 73 of Biden: June 6-12, 2022. Responding to Biden’s call, the House passes a bill raising the age for purchasing assault rifles to 21. It dies in the Senate. At an international summit, Biden gets along well with leaders he is ideologically in step with (Trudeau), and opposed to (Bolsonaro).

House passes sweeping gun bill to raise assault rifle purchase age to 21; plan faces long odds in the Senatewww.cnbc.com The House passed a sweeping gun bill that would raise the minimum age to purchase an assault rifle to 21, but it faces long odds in the Senate.

WEEK 74 of Trump: June 11-17, 2018. We learn that over six weeks, Trump’s “zero tolerance” border policy has separated 2000 children from their families. Trump and Kim finally meet and agree to “work towards” denuclearization, but it never happened. North Korea very much still has nukes.

US child migrants: 2,000 separated from families in six weekswww.bbc.com Figures show the scale of family separations under a crackdown on illegal immigrants at the Mexico border.

WEEK 74 of Biden: June 13-19, 2022. Biden gives an interview in which he discusses efforts to fight inflation and says a recession is “not inevitable.” As of April 2024, we are not in recession. Unemployment is 3.8%, down from 6.4% when Biden took office. Inflation is 3.5%, down from 9.1% at peak.

AP Interview: Biden says a recession is 'not inevitable'apnews.com President Joe Biden says the American people are “really, really down” after a tumultuous two years with the coronavirus pandemic, volatility in the economy and now surging gasoline prices that are hi...

WEEK 75 of Trump: June 18-24, 2018. For days, Trump doubles down and angrily defends his “zero tolerance” border policy causing family separations. This week, he caves to the near-unanimous public outrage and signs an order stopping the separations – by detaining entire families. The damage is done.

Trump Retreats on Separating Families, but Thousands May Remain Apart (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com “It is still very early, and we are awaiting further guidance on the matter,” Brian Marriott, the senior director of communications for the Administration for Children and Families.

WEEK 75 of Biden: June 20-26, 2022. After 6 GOP-appointed justices overturn Roe vs. Wade, Biden pledges to fight the decision and asks for help from voters. Biden signs a modest gun control bill including expanded (but not universal) background checks. It does not restrict assault weapons sales.

Biden calls abortion decision a 'sad day,' urges Americans to elect pro-abortion rights officialswww.cnbc.com The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark abortion rights decision, on Friday morning.

WEEK 76 of Trump: June 25 - July 1, 2018. After SCOTUS upholds Trump’s revised muslim ban, Anthony Kennedy announces his retirement (Trump would replace him with Kavanaugh). Meanwhile in the Bronx, voters give a shocking upset primary victory to a young progressive named Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

Justice Kennedy to retire; Trump can cement court's conservative majoritywww.nbcnews.com The president is likely to nominate someone more conservative than Kennedy, a swing vote who has sometimes sided with liberals on key opinions, including on the landmark ruling that legalized gay marr...

WEEK 76 of Biden: June 27 - July 3, 2022. Biden’s nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson is sworn in, the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. After 6 GOP-appointed justices – including Brett Kavanaugh – overturn Roe vs. Wade, conservatives fight for statewide abortion bans, while progressives fight back.

The Ruling Was Just the Beginning: Both Sides Mobilize Over Abortion (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com Lawyers, politicians and advocacy groups responded to Friday’s Supreme Court ruling with fresh plans for the fight over abortion rights.

WEEK 77 of Trump: July 2-8, 2018. Trump’s EPA head Scott Pruitt, a climate change denier and fossil fuel supporter, resigns due to ethics scandals. Trump’s rumored SCOTUS short list includes Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. He would ultimately name both, 2 votes to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

Scott Pruitt Out At EPAwww.npr.org After months of ethics scandals and investigations, the embattled Environmental Protection Agency head has resigned, the president said Thursday.

WEEK 77 of Biden: July 4-10, 2022. As state governments across the country fight over their abortion laws in the wake of the reversal of Roe vs. Wade, Biden immediately does what he can by executive order, including expanding access to medication abortion.

Biden signs executive order on abortion, declares Supreme Court 'out of control'www.reuters.com The order offered few specifics and promises to have limited impact in practice.

WEEK 78 of Trump: July 9-15, 2018. In an interview, Trump describes the European Union as a “foe” of the United States. Trump nominates Brett Kavanaugh to replace Anthony Kennedy on the Supreme Court, one of 3 Trump-appointed votes to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

Trump calls European Union a 'foe' – ahead of Russia and Chinawww.theguardian.com Washington worries as Trump flies to meet Putin in Helsinki while Theresa May says president told her to sue EU

WEEK 78 of Biden: July 11-17, 2022. Biden’s climate bill is threatened when Manchin announces his opposition this week. Manchin would later reverse course and sign on to climate provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. Inflation fell from its June 2022 peak of 9.1%, to under 4% since July 2023.

Biden urges Democrats to pass slim health care bill after Manchin nixes climate actionwww.npr.org West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin's vote is key in the evenly divided Senate, and he already rejected President Biden's larger spending package in December.

WEEK 79 of Trump: July 16-22, 2018. At a summit, Trump is deferential and fawning to Putin, saying the reason US-Russia relations had worsened is “the United States has been foolish." We also learn this week that Michael Cohen secretly taped Trump discussing hush money payment to Karen McDougal.

Trump sides with Russia against FBI at Helsinki summitwww.bbc.com The US president contradicts intelligence agencies over claims of interference in the US election.

WEEK 79 of Biden: July 18-24, 2022. The Respect for Marriage act, requiring US govt to recognize same-sex marriages, passes the House with support from 100% of Democrats and 23% of Republicans. Eventually signed by Biden, the law is a response to Clarence Thomas’ threat to "reconsider" Obergefell.

House Moves to Protect Same-Sex Marriage From Supreme Court Reversal (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com The legislation, which garnered some Republican support, would recognize same-sex marriages at the federal level. It faces an uncertain path in the Senate.

WEEK 80 of Trump: July 23-29, 2018. Trump threatens to revoke the security clearance of several former Obama officials who dared speak publicly against Trump after leaving office. Meanwhile, the “hush money” tape, in which Trump discusses payment to Karen McDougal with Michael Cohen, is made public.

Trump, citing politics, looking to revoke security clearances | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Donald Trump is considering stripping a half-dozen former national security officials of their security clearances, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Monday, calling their publi...

WEEK 80 of Biden: July 25-31, 2022. Biden’s plan to fight climate change gets new life when Joe Manchin changes course and agrees to vote for the bill, now named the Inflation Reduction Act. This law does more than any other legislation in US history to reduce emissions and fight global warming.

Surprise Deal Would Be Most Ambitious Climate Action Undertaken by U.S. (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com The announcement Wednesday of an agreement in the Senate almost instantly reset the role of the United States in the global effort to fight climate change.

WEEK 81 of Trump: July 30 - Aug 5, 2018. Trump channels Lucille Bluth: “you know, if you go out and you want to buy groceries, you need a picture on a card, you need ID.” North Korea continues building nukes, despite Trump’s deal. The criminal trial of Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort begins.

Trump Said You Need ID to Buy Groceriestime.com And the internet promptly chimed in with thoughts

WEEK 81 of Biden: Aug 1-7, 2022. Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act passes the US senate on a 51-50 vote, with all Democrats voting for it, all Republicans voting against it, and Vice President Kamala Harris casting the tie-breaking vote. The bill invests billions in reducing carbon emissions.

Senate passes Democrats' sweeping health care and climate billamp.cnn.com The Senate is continuing to work Sunday on a series of amendment votes but faced new drama early afternoon as Democrats look to pass their sweeping climate, health care and tax package.

WEEK 82 of Trump: Aug 6-12, 2018. We learn that Trump’s own staff had to negotiate with NATO behind his back to avoid him blowing it up. Also this week, according to Omarosa Manigault, corroborated by Penn Jillette, we learn Trump repeatedly used the n-word on tape while filming The Apprentice.

U.S. Officials Scrambled Behind the Scenes to Shield NATO Deal From Trump (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com John R. Bolton, the national security adviser, pushed NATO ambassadors to finish a critical policy document before the alliance’s summit meeting last month so the president could not reject it.

WEEK 82 of Biden: Aug 8-14, 2022. Biden officially endorses Finland and Sweden joining NATO. Popular support for joining NATO skyrocketed in both countries after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, so they had both formally applied to join earlier in 2022. Two years later, they are both full NATO members.

Biden signs ratification documents approving NATO membership for Finland and Swedenwww.cnbc.com Last week, the Senate voted 95 to 1 to ratify the entrance of Finland and Sweden into the world's most powerful military alliance.

WEEK 83 of Trump: Aug 13-19, 2018. Trump tries to scare his critics into silence by revoking security clearances. It doesn’t work. The leader of the bin Laden raid dares Trump to add him to the list. Trump calls Omarosa, who claims he is on tape repeatedly saying the n-word, a “lowlife” and a “dog.”

Architect of bin Laden raid issues stunning rebuke of Trump | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com Retired Adm. William McRaven, the man who oversaw the 2011 Navy SEAL raid that killed Osama bin Laden, issued a stunning rebuke of President Donald Trump’s decision to revoke the security clearance of...

WEEK 83 of Biden: Aug 15-21, 2022. Biden signs the Inflation Reduction Act into law. The new law lowers prescription drug prices, raises taxes on corporations, increases IRS enforcement to go after billionaires, and invests billions in clean energy, reducing carbon emissions, and ACA subsidies.

Biden signs Inflation Reduction Act into lawwww.npr.org NPR's Ari Shapiro speaks with The New New Deal author Michael Grunwald about President Biden signing the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which addresses climate change, drug prices and taxes.

WEEK 84 of Trump: Aug 20-26, 2018. Trump’s campaign chair Paul Manafort is found guilty of tax evasion and bank fraud. Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen pleads guilty to tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations. David Pecker reaches an immunity deal in a related case.

Jury Finds Paul Manafort Guilty In Federal Tax And Bank Fraud Trialwww.npr.org Donald Trump's former campaign chairman was convicted of eight of the 18 counts with which he had been charged. A mistrial was declared on the other 10.

WEEK 84 of Biden: Aug 22-28, 2022. Biden announces student loan forgiveness of $10,000 per borrower for people earning under $125,000 a year. Unfortunately, the six GOP-appointed justices on the Supreme Court would block this plan in June 2023, despite dissent from the three Dem appointees.

Biden to Cancel $10,000 in Student Debt; Low-Income Students Are Eligible for More (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com The debt forgiveness comes after months of deliberations in the White House over fairness and fears that the plan could make inflation worse ahead of the midterm elections.

WEEK 85 of Trump: Aug 27 - Sep 2, 2018. Trump is unsurprisingly not invited to John McCain’s funeral. Trump had said of McCain, who was tortured as a POW, “I like people who weren’t captured.” He would later complain “I didn’t get a thank you” for allowing this funeral to happen.

In McCain Memorial Service, Two Presidents Offer Tribute, and a Contrast to Trump (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com Barack Obama and George W. Bush were among the political figures from both parties who came to mourn not just a giant of the Senate, but also an ideal that he represented.

WEEK 85 of Biden: Aug 29 - Sep 4, 2022. Biden gives a speech warning of threats to US democracy. Republicans online say the red lighting behind him means he’s evil. The IAEA visits the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine, occupied by Russia, and makes safety recommendations.

Biden attacks Trump and MAGA Republicans as threat to American democracyabcnews.go.com "Too much of what's happening in our country today is not normal," Biden said as he urged the American people to unite against threats to our democracy.

WEEK 86 of Trump: Sep 3-9, 2018. The Senate holds confirmation hearings for Trump’s Supreme Court nominee, Brett Kavanaugh. The New York Times publishes an op-ed by an anonymous “member of the resistance inside the Trump administration.” We would later learn it was DHS chief of staff Miles Taylor.

Over 200 protesters arrested during Kavanaugh hearingsthehill.com U.S. Capitol Police arrested more than 200 people over three days this week amid protests surrounding Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings.Sixty-nine demonstrato…

WEEK 86 of Biden: Sep 5-11, 2022. Having weaned themselves off of Russian gas, just as Biden did with the US, countries in the EU are prepared when Putin cuts it off. A fire at the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant causes a scare. Liz Truss becomes Prime Minister. Queen Elizabeth II dies.

Europe Says Putin’s Gas Power Is Weakening (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com In Germany and elsewhere, leaders are growing more confident that months of work to stockpile and line up alternate energy sources may help them blunt Russia’s weaponization of exports.

WEEK 87 of Trump: Sep 10-16, 2018. After the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings have ended, but before the scheduled vote, Senate Democrats announce that a woman has approached them accusing Kavanaugh of sexual assault. Her name, Christine Blasey Ford, would only be revealed the following week.

A Sexual-Misconduct Allegation Against the Supreme Court Nominee Brett Kavanaugh Stirs Tension Among Democrats in Congresswww.newyorker.com A letter describing an incident when Kavanaugh was in high school was forwarded to Senator Dianne Feinstein, who initially decided not to publicize or share it with colleagues.

WEEK 87 of Biden: Sep 12-18, 2022. The Ukrainian resistance roundly defeats the invading Russian forces in northeastern Ukraine, forcing them to retreat and refocus on the southeast. Biden had sent billions in military aid to Ukraine. Biden travels to London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.

In Reclaimed Towns, Ukrainians Recount a Frantic Russian Retreat (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com Residents of towns recently retaken by Ukraine described a chaotic flight by disorganized Russian troops, suggesting morale and inexperience remain major problems for Russia.

WEEK 88 of Trump: Sep 17-23, 2018. The woman who accused Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault is identified as Christine Blasey Ford. Trump defends Kavanaugh. The Senate Judiciary confirmation vote, scheduled for this week, is delayed so Ford and Kavanaugh can testify.

Trump stands by Kavanaugh, supports ‘a full process’ | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Donald Trump on Monday praised Judge Brett Kavanaugh as “one of the finest people that I’ve ever known” in his first public comments since the Supreme Court nominee was publicly accused of s...

WEEK 88 of Biden: Sep 19-25, 2022. In a speech at the UN, Biden once again harshly denounces Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Having recently suffered major military setbacks, Putin announces he will draft 300,000 more soldiers, annexes the occupied parts of Ukraine, and threatens nukes.

Biden tells the United Nations that Putin’s attempts to ‘extinguish’ Ukraine should ‘make your blood run cold’ | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Joe Biden on Wednesday declared Russia’s invasion of Ukraine a violation of the global order, sharpening his rebukes of President Vladimir Putin as the war entered a tense new moment.

WEEK 89 of Trump: Sep 24-30, 2018. Trump’s Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh is accused by two more women of sexual assault. At a senate hearing, Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh testify. At the UN, the world audibly laughs at Trump when he brags about what he has "accomplished."

The Ford-Kavanaugh sexual assault hearings, explainedwww.vox.com If you want to know why women don’t come forward with allegations of sexual assault, today’s Senate hearings offered a clue.

WEEK 89 of Biden: Sep 26- Oct 2, 2022. Biden announces new sanctions against Russia, vowing that the US will never recognize the newly-annexed parts of Ukraine as Russian territories. Russia justifies its annexation of these territories with sham “referendums.” The world recognizes this as a farce.

Ukraine war: US will never recognise Russia's annexation attempts, Biden vowswww.bbc.com Within hours, Vladimir Putin is expected to declare that four Ukrainian regions are joining Russia.

WEEK 90 of Trump: Oct 1-7, 2018. Despite multiple allegations of sexual assault, Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed by the Senate in a 50-48 vote, the closest such vote in US history. Days earlier, Trump taunted Christine Blasey Ford at a rally. In 2022, Justice Kavanaugh voted to overturn Roe vs. Wade.

How senators voted on Brett Kavanaugh | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com The Senate confirmed Brett Kavanaugh to the US Supreme Court Saturday on a 50-48 vote.

WEEK 90 of Biden: Oct 3-9, 2022. Biden, who said in week 27 that no one should be in jail for marijuana use, this week pardons thousands convicted on federal marijuana possession charges. As of May 2024, Biden’s DOJ is currently moving to reschedule marijuana as a lower-risk drug.

Biden Pardons Thousands Convicted of Marijuana Possession Under Federal Law (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com The move represents a fundamental change in America’s response to a drug that has been at the center of a clash between culture and policing for more than a half-century.

WEEK 91 of Trump: Oct 8-14, 2018. Trump’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley resigns. Notable moments in Haley’s tenure include defiantly taunting the UN in support of Israel (weeks 49 and 70) and a feud with Trump over contradictory statements on Assad (week 66). Brett Kavanaugh is sworn in this week.

Trump’s UN Ambassador Nikki Haley resigns | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday that US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has resigned and will leave her post by the end of the year.

WEEK 91 of Biden: Oct 10-16, 2022. Biden criticizes Saudi Arabia after OPEC slashes oil production. As Putin continues to bomb civilian areas in Ukraine, NATO and Biden’s USA continue to send support to Ukraine. A jury orders conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay $1 billion to Sandy Hook families.

Biden warns Saudi Arabia will face "consequences" over OPEC oil production cutwww.axios.com OPEC+ decided to cut oil production by 2 million barrels per day starting next month.

WEEK 92 of Trump: Oct 15-21, 2018. Details come to light about the assassination of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This week Trump acknowledges that Khashoggi has died. When the CIA determined a month later that Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the assassination, Trump denied this to protect MBS.

In Shift on Khashoggi Killing, Trump Edges Closer to Acknowledging a Saudi Role (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com But the president stopped short of saying the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, was responsible for Mr. Khashoggi’s death.

WEEK 92 of Biden: Oct 17-23, 2022. Biden hits the campaign trail as the midterm elections loom. Many pundits and commentators predict a “red wave” of Republican victories. This red wave did not materialize. Liz Truss resigns as UK Prime Minister (she assumed office in week 86).

Biden Promotes Infrastructure Law in Pennsylvania Swing With Fetterman (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com The fate of a Senate race in President Biden’s home state could determine the prospects of the rest of his legislative agenda.

WEEK 93 of Trump: Oct 22-28, 2018. Trump announces he plans to direct the federal government to define gender as immutable and fixed at birth, causing alarm among the transgender community and condemnation from scientists worldwide. Trump’s Project 2025 reprises this promise for his second term.

Transgender advocates decry Trump administration proposal to define gender as fixed at birthwww.latimes.com L.A.'s LGBTQ community reacts to word that the federal government may soon define gender as a fixed biological condition determined by a person's sex organs at birth.

WEEK 93 of Biden: Oct 24-30, 2022. Biden continues to make his case against Republicans, with differences on issues that are all still relevant in 2024. Elon Musk buys twitter and immediately starts ruining it. The political press continues to incorrectly predict a “red wave” in the midterms.

Biden’s Agenda Hangs in the Balance if Republicans Take Congress (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com On a wide array of issues like abortion, taxes, race and judges, President Biden’s opportunities would shrink as Republicans vow to dismantle much of his legislative accomplishments.

WEEK 94 of Trump: Oct 29-Nov 4, 2018. In the runup to the midterms, Trump and the Republicans spend every day fearmongering about immigration, talking about an “invasion” from a “caravan” of “very bad people.” Close senate races include FL (Scott vs. Nelson) and AZ (Sinema vs. McSally).

Trump: Migrant caravan ‘is an invasion’thehill.com President Trump on Monday called a caravan of Central American migrants heading toward the U.S.-Mexico border an “invasion” and pledged to use the military to stop people from…

WEEK 94 of Biden: Oct 31-Nov 6, 2022. In the runup to the midterms, Biden and the Democrats talk about the infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act. Brazilian voters defeat Bolsonaro, reelecting Lula. Close senate races include NV (Cortez Masto vs. Laxalt) and WI (Johnson vs. Barnes).

Biden won on infrastructure. Democrats are struggling to get voters to care.www.politico.com Polls show that most Americans don’t even know the law was enacted, and it may be years before voters see improvements in their communities.

WEEK 95 of Trump: Nov 5-11, 2018. Voters choose legislators in midterm elections. Democrats win control of the House, with a 41-seat gain and an 8.6% popular vote margin. In Senate, Dems win purple states (WI, MI, PA, NV, AZ), but GOP nets 2-seat gain, flipping FL & already-red states (ND, MO, IN).

Mid-term elections: Democrats win House in setback for Trumpwww.bbc.com Republicans lose control of the House of Representatives but consolidate their hold on the Senate.

WEEK 95 of Biden: Nov 7-13, 2022. Voters choose legislators in midterm elections. Republicans narrowly win control of the House, with a 9-seat gain and a 2.8% popular vote margin. GOP wins Senate races in FL, NC, and WI, but Dems win Senate races in NV, AZ, GA, and PA, netting a 1-seat Dem gain.

The red wave that wasn’t: 5 takeaways from a disappointing night for the GOPwww.politico.com Donald Trump’s favored candidates prove a drag to Republicans, running well behind others in their party.

WEEK 96 of Trump: Nov 12-18, 2018. In the wake of a bad set of midterm results for the GOP, an angry Trump vents by yelling at world leaders and firing cabinet members. Surveying damage from a wildfire in CA, he again minimizes the role of climate change and blames “forest management.”

Inside Trump's angry Paris trip: Tantrums, sleepless nights and rants at staffwww.independent.co.uk US leader 'like a bull carrying his own china shop', presidential historian Douglas Brinkley says

WEEK 96 of Biden: Nov 14-20, 2022. The Respect for Marriage Act, which requires the federal government to recognize same sex marriages, advances in the Senate with support from 50 Dem and 12 GOP senators. Biden would later sign it. This week Donald Trump officially announces his 2024 candidacy.

Senate advances Respect for Marriage Act in bipartisan 62-37 votewww.cbsnews.com The bill would enshrine protections for same-sex and interracial marriages into federal law.

WEEK 97 of Trump: Nov 19-25, 2018. After a judge rejected a Trump policy creating obstacles for asylum seekers, Trump again attacks the independent judiciary on Twitter. John Roberts rebukes him, to no effect. Trump rejects the CIA’s assessment that MBS killed Khashoggi, protecting the crown prince.

Roberts, Trump spar in extraordinary scrap over judgesapnews.com WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Chief Justice John Roberts clashed Wednesday in an extraordinary public dispute over the independence of America's judiciary, with Roberts bluntly rebuking...

WEEK 97 of Biden: Nov 21-27, 2022. After the successful Ukrainian counteroffensives in Kherson and Kharkiv, Russia continues to bomb Ukrainian civilians and begins to surround Bakhmut. Weapons from the EU and the Biden-led US are crucial to Ukraine’s ability to fight back.

Russia fired 65 missiles at homes, energy stations in single day: Ukrainewww.newsweek.com Kyrylo Tymoshenko, deputy head of the Ukrainian president's office, said that Wednesday's attack struck "critical infrastructure facilities in several regions."

WEEK 98 of Trump: Nov 26 - Dec 2, 2018. In between tweets scapegoating and attacking immigrants, Trump calls for his political opponents to be tried for treason. Trump also cancels a meeting with Putin and avoids criticizing him for his growing aggression against Ukraine.

Trump retweets call for 'treason' trials of political opponents, false immigration claimabcnews.go.com President Trump retweeted multiple false claims from a pro-Trump Twitter account Wednesday.

WEEK 98 of Biden: Nov 28 - Dec 4, 2022. Biden signs a bill preventing a rail strike by imposing a “tentative” agreement between unions and rail companies that was unpopular with workers and progressives due to lacking sick leave. In Ukraine, the battle of Bakhmut intensifies.

House Passes Bill to Avert a Rail Strike, Moving to Impose a Labor Agreement (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com The House voted to force rail companies and workers to accept a pending agreement and to add seven days of paid leave, a key demand of the employees. But it met with a rocky reception in the Senate.

WEEK 99 of Trump: Dec 3-9, 2018. We learn this week that lobbyists for the Saudi Arabian government Trump is mysteriously protecting have paid for 500 rooms at the Trump hotel. Also this week, even GOP senators publicly disagree with Trump's defense of MBS in the killing of Jamal Khashoggi.

Saudi-funded lobbyist paid for 500 rooms at Trump’s hotel after 2016 electionwww.washingtonpost.com Those bookings have fueled a pair of federal lawsuits alleging Trump violated the Constitution by taking improper payments from foreign governments.

WEEK 99 of Biden: Dec 5-11, 2022. Biden trades arms dealer Viktor Bout for athlete Brittney Griner in a prisoner swap with Russia. Raphael Warnock defeats Herschel Walker in GA senate runoff. The House passes the Respect for Marriage Act protecting marriage equality (signed by Biden a week later).

WATCH: Biden lauds Brittney Griner's release from Russia as part of prisoner swapwww.pbs.org Russia freed WNBA star Brittney Griner in a dramatic high-level prisoner exchange, with the U.S. releasing notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. Paul Whelan, an American jailed for nearly four ye...

WEEK 100 of Trump/Pence: Dec 10-16, 2018. In a meeting with Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, Trump threatens to shut down the government in order to force the construction of a border wall with Mexico. Michael Cohen is sentenced to three years in prison.

Trump, Pelosi and Schumer get into a heated Oval Office fight over border wall and shutdownwww.cnbc.com Trump says he would be "proud" to shut down parts of the government if it results in his border wall.

WEEK 100 of Biden/Harris: Dec 12-18, 2022. Biden signs a one-week extension averting a government shutdown. Before the end of the year, he would sign a full spending bill including funding for Ukraine. This week Biden also signs the Respect for Marriage Act into law, protecting same-sex marriage.

Biden signs short-term funding bill, averting government shutdownwww.cbsnews.com The short-term funding bill will fund the government through Dec. 23, giving Congress additional time to finish crafting a massive longer-term spending package.

WEEK 101 of Trump/Pence: Dec 17-23, 2018. The Trump Foundation closes after investigators found rampant corruption. North Korea says they'll continue to produce nuclear weapons, despite Trump’s public fawning adoration of Kim Jong-un. The government shuts down after Trump waffles on the border wall.

Trump Foundation to shut down under agreement with New York attorney generalwww.politico.com The attorney general's lawsuit, which seeks millions of dollars in restitution, will continue, even as the foundation agrees to cease existence.

WEEK 101 of Biden/Harris: Dec 19-25, 2022. Zelensky visits Washington. Biden pledges continuing support for Ukraine, though he limits the kind of weapons that are sent. Zelensky says Ukraine is grateful but needs more, and that the aid is an investment in global security and democracy.

U.S. Aid Is ‘Not Charity,’ Zelensky Tells Congress as a Lengthy War Looms (Published 2022)www.nytimes.com President Volodymyr Zelensky described military assistance for Ukraine as an investment in global security and democracy in the face of Russian aggression.

WEEK 102 of Trump/Pence: Dec 24-30, 2018. At Trump’s insistence in an attempt to force construction of a border wall with Mexico, the federal government is partially shut down all week. Meanwhile, Trump signs an executive order freezing the pay of federal workers in 2019.

Trump Issues Order Freezing Federal Workers’ Pay in 2019 (Published 2018)www.nytimes.com Congress may still approve a raise, perhaps as part of legislation to reopen the government. But union leaders condemned the order as unnecessary provocation.

WEEK 102 of Biden/Harris: Dec 26, 2022 - Jan 1, 2023. A government shutdown is avoided this week as Biden signs a 2023 spending bill. One of Biden’s major legislative efforts, antitrust legislation to rein in big tech companies, loses steam as a leader of this effort, Tim Wu, leaves the White House.

Biden signs $1.7 trillion government spending bill into law | CNN Politicswww.cnn.com President Joe Biden on Thursday signed a $1.7 trillion federal spending bill that includes a number of administration priorities and officially avoids a government shutdown, ending what he called a “y...

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