Between September and at least up until mid-November, the US military has carried out strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean and East Pacific, killing at least 83 people. Those killed include people from Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia and Trinidad and Tobago. The U.S government has justified the strikes based on the assertion that the country is engaged in a non-international armed conflict and that drug traffickers are causing the deaths of thousands of Americans. Several measures to block the strikes under the 1973 War Powers Resolution (a resolution that sought to reaffirm congressional oversight over a war declaration) have failed in the Senate. Though Congress was notified when the strikes began, critics have stressed the need for Congressional approval of military action that exceeds 60 days (which happened on November 4) and is absent a certification of military necessity (as required by the War Powers Resolution). Experts note the need for drug trafficking to be curtailed through law enforcement instead of military action.

Sources: The New York Times (1), CBS News, The New York Times (2), BBC, NBC News, AP News, The New York Times (3), Just Security

On 18 October, an estimated 7 million people across all 50 states and about 2,600 locations took part in the ‘No Kings’ protests against President Donald Trump. The peaceful mobilizations, one of the largest in U.S. history and the largest of this century, voiced opposition to the Trump administration’s policies and agenda, including its immigration strategy, the reversal of respect for certain rights and attempts to broaden presidential power. Trump and other government officials attempted to discredit the movement, labelling it ‘anti-American’ and organized by the ‘radical’ left. Despite attempts by some officials to characterize participants as violent, the demonstrations were overwhelmingly peaceful, with only minor clashes involving counter-protesters. The protest surpassed the attendance records of the first ‘No Kings’ protest in June (nearly 6 million people in attendance) and the 2017 Women’s March (nearly 5.3 million in attendance).

Sources: ACLU, CNN, New York Times

In October, it was revealed that President Donald Trump submitted a claim for compensation from the Department of Justice (DOJ) in which he has demanded payment of USD 230 million. The claims were filed in 2023 and 2024, prior to the start of his second term. One of the claims regards the investigation into alleged Russian interference during the 2016 election, an inquiry that began during his first term in office. The second concerns the classified documents investigation and the search of his Mar-a-Lago property in 2022. The claims have raised concerns over a potential conflict of interest. The DOJ officials who would have the power to approve any settlement—the deputy attorney general and associate attorney general—represented him and a co-defendant, respectively, in the inquiry into the alleged mishandling of classified documentation. Trump has publicly asserted that the final decision over the claims rests in his hands.

Sources: New York Times, CBS, The Guardian, Axios, CNN

On 10 September, conservative political activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University for his youth organization, Turning Point USA. A suspect (a 22-year-old man) surrendered and was arrested the following day and charged with several state crimes, including aggravated murder, obstruction of justice, firearms felonies, witness tampering and violence committed in the presence of a child. Several officials characterized or suggested the assassination was politically motivated, citing Kirk’s conservative activism and the accused’s political beliefs. Evidence against the accused includes texts in which he wrote that he ‘had enough of [Kirk’s] hatred’, and further texts, social media messages and conversations with family members in which he appeared to confess to the killing. The prosecutors’ charges against the accused do not cite a motive. 

Sources: AP News (1), AP News (2), PBS, The New York Times, BBC, 

In the aftermath of the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, government officials announced investigations into ‘left-wing extremism’, suggesting it played a part in Kirk’s killing. Some officials, including Vice-President J.D. Vance, also encouraged people to report negative opinions or comments on Kirk’s assassination to employers or authorities such as the State Department. As a result, reports have emerged of workers being fired or visas being revoked; days after the shooting, up to 33 people had been fired or suspended from their jobs. In this context, political leaders are openly targeting political opponents, who they accuse of fomenting violence without any evidence. Trump administration officials hinted that investigations into left-leaning organizations could take place; without naming specific action on them, some philanthropic organizations such as the Ford Foundation and Open Society Foundations were named. 

Sources: The Guardian, Reuters, BBC, Politico, Newsweek, ABC News

On 17 September, Brendan Carr, Chair of the Federal Communications Commission, made an implied threat to fine or revoke the licenses of the ABC network’s affiliate stations, over a monologue by comedian Jimmy Kimmel. The monologue at issue referred to reaction among conservative politicians to the assassination of Charlie Kirk and to the possible political affiliation of the suspect. The same day, the ABC network issued a statement announcing the suspension of Kimmel’s show. The network reinstated his show days later after public outcry and criticism from politicians, including some Republican lawmakers. Mr. Carr later denied having a role in the suspension, which he characterized as a business decision by Kimmel’s employer.

Sources: The New York Times, CNN, Brookings, The Guardian

In September, the President issued an executive order designating Antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. It was followed by memorandum NSPM-7 on domestic terrorism and ‘organized political violence’. Congress has not established a legal basis for the government to classify domestic terrorism. Antifa (short for anti-fascist), is not an organized group, but an ideology related to radical and far-left beliefs. NSPM-7 selectively references incidents of political violence attributed to people with left-leaning ideologies, uses vague terms such as ‘anti-Americanism’ and ‘anti-Christianity’, directing Joint Terrorism Task Forces to investigate radicalization and the IRS to ensure no tax-exempt entities provide support to political violence or terrorism. The measures raised alarms over the use of broad terms that appear to target groups critical of the administration, and their impact on free speech and civil society.

Sources: The White House (1), The White House (2), ACLU, Washington Post, The Guardian, Axios, Brennan Center

On 19 September, the Department of Defense announced a series of restrictions on journalists covering the Pentagon, arguing security risks. These included a requirement that officials approve journalists’ reporting, even if regarding unclassified information. Credentials and access to the Department of Defense’s headquarters would be revoked for those not in compliance. In the months leading to the announcement, some restrictive measures were implemented, such as the requirement that journalists be accompanied by an escort in some Pentagon locations, a departure from previous practice. On 15 October, ahead of the deadline to sign a pledge regarding the observance of the new guidelines, the vast majority of media organizations covering the Pentagon rejected the conditions, turning in their badges and leaving their workspaces. 

Sources: Politico, NPR, New York Times, Washington Post, AP

On 25 September, a federal grand jury indicted James Comey, a former FBI director on charges of making a false statement and obstruction of justice. Comey pleaded not guilty to the charges, which relate to testimony he gave to the Senate Judiciary Committee in a 2020 hearing, regarding whether he had authorized an FBI official to leak information to the press. It followed President Trump’s statements on social media appearing to pressure Attorney General Pam Bondi to secure indictments against Comey and other perceived political rivals, including Senator Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James. James was subsequently indicted on 9 October on charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution. Given Trump’s public statements and the resignation and replacement of the prosecutor overseeing both cases (apparently after expressing concern over the insufficiency of evidence), critics have widely characterized the prosecutions as politically motivated and an alarming  politicization of the Department of Justice.

Sources: U.S. Department of Justice (1), U.S. Department of Justice (2), BBC, ABC News, NPR, The New York Times

On 30 September, after an impasse in Congress over funding legislation, the federal government shut down. The last time the government shut down was between December 2018 and January 2019. Senate Republicans and Democrats disagreed over the terms of a bill to continue funding the government. Disagreement concerns the extension of health care subsidies and reversal of cuts to Medicaid (a program that assists some low-income families and other eligible people to cover medical costs), which Democrats have prioritized. The Trump administration warned that the lack of funding approval would result in mass firings of officials (thousands of whom have already been dismissed), and the cancellation of government funded programs. By mid-October, the shutdown continued.

Sources: CNN, BBC

On 11 August, President Donald Trump ordered federal control of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (D.C.), after declaring a ‘crime emergency’ and invoking the D.C. Home Rule Act. He further directed the Attorney General to temporarily oversee D.C. police, deployed National Guard units (eventually armed) from D.C. and six states, and tasked federal law enforcement agencies with street-level policing. The decision follows an emergency declaration related to ‘the magnitude of the violent crime crisis’ despite declines in crime rates in recent years. It is the first time that the D.C. Metropolitan Police has been placed under federal control. Mayor Muriel Bowser highlighted the unprecedented nature of the decision and the intrusion on the District’s autonomy, but announced cooperation with federal officials. Pursuant to the Home Rule Act and notification of congressional committees, federal control of police lasted 30 days. National Guard members were still deployed in D.C. in September. The President has indicated that similar moves in other cities could follow.

Sources: The White House, Reuters, The Guardian, CNN

On 29 August, the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, signed a new gerrymandered map of the state’s U.S. House of Representatives districts into law. Responding to a demand from President Donald Trump, the redistricting openly aims to create more U.S. House districts dominated by Republican voters and is expected to result in a gain of five House seats for the Republicans. In response, California lawmakers passed bills that would improve the Democratic Party’s performance by five seats in the U.S. House; these will be voted on by Californians in November. In September, a Republican-majority legislature in Missouri followed suit, as governors of heavily Democratic and Republican states further announcing similar measures. Critics have noted that gerrymandering dilutes the power of individual voters, both by packing voters of colour into fewer districts and reducing the competitiveness of some districts.   

Sources: BBC, New York Times, NPR, CNN, The Guardian 

On 25 August, President Donald Trump attempted to fire Lisa Cook, a Governor and member of the Federal Reserve board, alleging she had engaged in mortgage fraud before she assumed office. Cook sued the Trump administration to block her firing, and she was granted a temporary injunction by a District Judge pending the resolution of the suit. The administration appealed to  the Supreme Court to block the injunction. The decision to dismiss Ms. Cook came after the President’s request that the Federal Reserve cut interest rates. This follows the 1 August dismissal of Erika McEntarfer from the post of Commissioner of Labor Statistics after she released reports showing a deceleration in hiring. Critics argue that these measures constitute interference with economic and regulatory entities that enjoy political independence, as established by Congress.

Sources: The Guardian, AP, CNN, BBC, New York Times, D.C. District Court