By Ricky Dana, Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives – Missouri’s 4th District
Donald Trump isn’t just arguing with the press—he’s using the full power of the federal government to punish any outlet that tells the truth about him.
He’s trying to defund NPR and PBS. He’s suing the Wall Street Journal for $10 billion. He’s made one thing clear: if you hold him accountable, he’ll come after you.
This is not just unfair. It’s wrong. And it may be unconstitutional.
🎯 1. Defunding NPR & PBS
In May 2025, Trump signed Executive Order 14290 to cut all federal money from NPR and PBS. He called them “woke” and “anti-American.”
But public stations help keep rural families informed. Now, PBS and NPR are suing, saying Trump broke the First Amendment by punishing speech he doesn’t like.
Trump’s FCC chair started political investigations into ABC, CBS, NBC, NPR, and PBS—but not FOX News. They even talked about taking away licenses and stopping media mergers.
This is not normal. It’s a direct attack on the First Amendment.
Reports say Trump used the Justice Department and IRS to go after his political enemies and journalists. Some actions were kept secret, but leaked memos showed they tried to “name and shame” critics.
Since January 2025, President Trump has used his power to weaken checks on himself, change rules to make voting harder, fill top jobs with loyal but unqualified allies, pressure the Justice Department, and attack the press—moves that cut education jobs, threaten fair elections, and let politics override honest law enforcement, all of which can hurt small towns and farm families in rural Missouri. (Full article about a 5 minute read)
Since January 2025, President Trump has taken actions that weaken our democratic system. This report explains what he has done and why it matters, especially for rural Missourians.
1. Taking More Control in Washington
– New Executive Orders: Trump signed many orders giving the White House more power over federal agencies. This means fewer checks by Congress or judges.
– “Unitary Executive” Idea: He believes the president should control all parts of the government. Most presidents do not go this far.
– Court Rulings: The Supreme Court allowed some of these orders, like cutting thousands of Education Department jobs (Reuters: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-supreme-court-clears-way-trump-gut-education-department-2025-07-14/).
2. Changing Election Rules
– Birthright Citizenship: Trump tried an executive order to end automatic citizenship for babies born in the U.S. Courts stopped it.
– New Voter Restrictions: He signed an order requiring extra ID for voter registration and threatened to cut funding to states if they handle mail ballots too flexibly.
– Threats to Local Control: He talked about sending federal agents to run cities like New York or Washington, D.C.
3. Mixing Politics and Law Enforcement
– Justice Department Shake-Up: Many experienced lawyers quit because they felt pressured to defend policies that break the law (The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/exhausted-doj-team-defending-trump-in-court-hit-by-mass-exodus/).
– January 6 Pardons: Trump quickly pardoned about 1,500 people, many violent, involved in the Capitol attack.
– New FBI Leaders: He picked close allies for top jobs, replacing career agents who work independently.
4. Targeting Critics and the Media
– Limiting Press Access: Some reporters were blocked from White House briefings.
– Media Investigations: The Federal Communications Commission opened probes into outlets like NPR and PBS.
– Threats to Lawyers: The Justice Department warned law firms they could lose government work or security clearances if they sue the administration.
5. Who Is Helping?
Name
Role
Action
Pam Bondi
Attorney General
Disbanded FBI task forces
Kash Patel
FBI Director
Replaced independent agents
Dan Bongino
Deputy FBI Director
Appointed after pardons
Ed Martin
Acting U.S. Attorney (DC)
Pulled prosecutors from Jan. 6 cases
Brendan Carr
FCC Chair
Launched “news distortion” investigations
6. Why This Matters to Rural Missouri
– Local Schools: Cutting Education Department jobs can hurt programs that support rural schools.
– Voting Access: New ID rules and mail ballot threats can make it harder for farm families to vote.
Fair Treatment: When the DOJ changes leaders for politics, it can ignore crimes that affect rural communities, like drug trafficking or farm fraud.
7. Unqualified Cabinet Picks
Since January 2025, President Trump has filled key posts with former Fox News personalities who lacked the usual qualifications. For example, he tapped Pete Hegseth—a Fox & Friends host with no high-level military or Pentagon experience—as Secretary of Defense, even though Senator Thom Tillis warned he was “out of his depth” managing the Pentagon’s complex operations. Trump also chose Dan Bongino—a conservative podcaster and ex-Secret Service agent who’s never served in the FBI—as Deputy FBI Director, a role normally held by career agents. Reuters called the move “a slap in the face” to bureau professionals and noted Bongino’s lack of any FBI background. These picks show a preference for media loyalty over proven public-service expertise.
Conclusion
Trump’s actions since January 2025 show a clear pattern: he is using his power to weaken democratic safeguards. This slow shift toward more control at the top can become dangerous for everyday Americans, especially in rural areas that rely on fair rules and strong local voices.
References
US Supreme Court clears way for Trump to gut Education Department, Reuters, July 14, 2025: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-supreme-court-clears-way-trump-gut-education-department-2025-07-14/
DOJ Lawyers Quit in Droves After Being Ordered to Defend Trump, The Daily Beast: https://www.thedailybeast.com/exhausted-doj-team-defending-trump-in-court-hit-by-mass-exodus/
What Is a Constitutional Crisis and Are We in One Under the Second Trump Administration?, Teen Vogue: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/what-is-a-constitutional-crisis-trump
Reuters, “Hegseth narrowly wins confirmation to become US defense secretary,” January 24, 2025: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/hegseth-narrowly-wins-confirmation-become-us-defense-secretary-2025-01-25/
Reuters, “‘Slap in the face:’ Bongino appointment sends shockwaves through FBI,” February 27, 2025: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/slap-face-bongino-appointment-sends-shockwaves-through-fbi-2025-02-27/
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