Monday, December 22, 2025. Chump's war on the economy leaves few survivors, his crowd size dwindles, ICE can't protect those in its custody as evidenced by four recent deaths, Pam Bondi and others release redacted photos of Diana Ross and Michael Jackson at a charity event with former President Bill Clinton, and much more.
As he's learned recently, Chump can no longer attract a crowd. Vendors left an event early last week when the turnout was in the hundreds and not the thousands. In fact, the big rallies these days are the protests against his actions. For example, Minnesota Saturday.
Feven Gerezgiher (MPR NEWS) reports;
Thousands rallied in south Minneapolis on Saturday to protest increased immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
The Trump administration launched “Operation Metro Surge” on Dec. 1, a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement effort in Minneapolis, following President Donald Trump’s disparaging remarks about Somalis.
At least 400 people have been arrested during the operation, according to ICE, though advocates say the majority had no criminal records.
Protestors carried signs reading “ICE out MSP” to denounce the operation.
“Our people are getting snatched every day from the streets. We have people who are missing; we don’t know where they are,” said Nimco Ahmed, an organizer with the Somali American Coalition Action Fund. “We’re here to protect our community, our assets and everything that we stand for.”
Silvia Ibanez, a Minneapolis teacher, said immigrants feel under attack. She said many of her students are afraid and families are also concerned about sending them to school.
Kyeland Jackson and Susan Du (MINNESOTA STAR TRIBUNE) offer:
“My dad was with the Dutch resistance, and he helped hide Jews and others who were fleeing Nazi persecution,” the 73-year-old said. “I met some of the people that he saved, and I never dreamt that I’d be seeing the same thing going on in this country.”
Thousands descended on East Lake Street on Saturday to march against ongoing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in Minnesota.
“It’s cold out, people are hungry, our economy is suffering. Those are things we should be working on,” said Je’taylor Coylewright, 49. “But instead, we’re coming out to have to fight against masked officers taking people off the street. That’s horrible. What a waste of time.”
Groups on hand pushed back on the idea that ICE is detaining "the worst of the worst."
"Most of the immigrants here are working very hard," said Silvia Ibanez of the Immigrant Defense Network. "They are here because they are trying to find a better future for their family, and that's not a crime."
Saturday's march ended at Karmel Mall, which organizers said was symbolic of the way the city's Latino and Somali communities have both been targets of the latest DHS enforcement.
The gestapo snatches people off the street. Illegally. ICE doesn't suddenly develop a code of ethics once they've snatched you. Which is why the deaths in ICE custody are not at all surprising. Marianne LeVine and Doublas McMillan (WASHINGNTON POST) report, "Four people in immigration detention have died over a four-day period this month, increasing concern among advocates and some members of Congress over detention conditions. One death took place Dec. 12, another two took place on Dec. 14 and the fourth on Dec. 15, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement news releases." I'm sorry, wasn't the sanctimonious liar Todd Blanche just on NBC'S MEET THE PRESS claiming it was his job to guarantee the safety of those who were locked up?
From the transcript:
KRISTEN WELKER:
All right, a couple more and we're almost out of time. I do want to ask you about Ghislaine Maxwell who was of course convicted in 2021 for her role in helping Jeffrey Epstein traffic his victims. In July, you interviewed her in Florida where she was serving a 20-year sentence in federal prison. Just a week later, Maxwell was moved to a more permissive prison camp in Texas. Why was she moved just days after you interviewed her, Mr. Blanche?
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCHE:
So that's a Bureau of Prison security issue that I will not talk about –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Did you have anything to do with it?
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCHE:
– but I think it’s fair to say –
KRISTEN WELKER:
Did you have anything to do with it?
DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL TODD BLANCHE:
Let me finish. First of all, I am responsible for the Bureau of Prisons. So every decision that they make lands on my desk to the extent it needs to. But just let me talk about the security issue. At the time that I met Ms. Maxwell, there was a tremendous amount of scrutiny and publicity towards her. And the institution she was in, she was suffering numerous and numerous threats against her life. So the BOP is not only responsible for putting people in jail and making sure they stay in jail, but also for their safety. And so she was moved. She is in federal prison. She was in federal prison before. And she's in federal prison now. She's doing 20 years because she was convicted. And the fact that she was moved, she might be moved to another institution tomorrow if security requires it. And that's true of any federal inmate across this country.
A convicted pedophile has more rights to protection in US custody then someone's whose 'crime' was walking on a US street. How telling and how sad.
Tracey Tully and Luis Ferré-Sadurní (NEW YORK TIMES) report:
A 41-year-old man from Haiti who had been detained by immigration officials died last week after a medical emergency, federal officials said, in what is believed to be the first death linked to the troubled, privately run migrant detention facility in Newark where he was held.
The man, Jean Wilson Brutus, was taken to a hospital within hours of arriving at Delaney Hall, a two-story jailhouse where six months ago four men escaped through a flimsy wall during unrest over crowded conditions and a lack of regular meals. He died last Friday, according to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Mr. Brutus was one of four men detained by ICE and facing deportation to die in custody in the past week across the country. Deaths of migrant detainees have spiked this year as ICE has ramped up its deportation campaign, filling detention centers to record levels. The agency was holding more than 65,700 people as of Nov. 30.
And WLS (ABC7) reports:
A Bulgarian man from Chicago arrested during the recent fall immigration enforcement 'blitz' has died while in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a Michigan private prison.
Nenko Gantchev, 56, died Monday at the North Lake Correctional Facility in Baldwin, MI, which is contracted by ICE to hold undocumented migrants.
After multiple inquiries from the ABC7 I-Team, a DHS statement published online said Gantchev's death is "suspected to be from natural causes," but "the official cause of death is still under investigation."
But Gantchev's family and friends tell the I-Team questions are mounting surrounding his deteriorating medical condition the past few months while he was in custody at North Lake, leading up to what happened the day he died.
Next topic . . .
The release of the Epstein files is a joke. The administration is non-compliant and breaking the law with the trickle they provided starting Friday. The release included a photo having nothing to do with Epstein -- but picturing Diana Ross, her son Evan and Michael Jackson with two of his children as they met with Bill Clinton. Katie Francis (THE DAILY BEAST) explains:
The White House has been accused of “having no shame” after a redacted image of Diana Ross and Michael Jackson released in the latest Epstein files wave was found to be a photo of the duo with their own children.
In the photo, which is publicly available unredacted, the iconic musicians and longtime friends stand on either side of Bill Clinton alongside their kids Evan Ross, Michael “Prince” Jackson Jr., and Paris Jackson.
The shot was taken in Washington, D.C. on Dec. 19, 2003, by photographer Jonathan Exley, who took multiple photos of Jackson throughout his career.
Alongside
multiple online users identifying the image, Ross’s son Evan clarified
that the redactions were not hiding potential victims. “That’s me, not
unidentified women,” he commented on an Instagram post.
White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson was also corrected by a community notice when she shared the redacted image on X on Friday.
“Per the Epstein Files Transparency Act, DOJ was specifically instructed only to redact the faces of victims and/or minors. Here is a picture of Bill Clinton with his arm around Michael Jackson, and redacted individuals,” she wrote alongside the photo.
What? Pam Bondi didn't have access to "We Are The World" footage? Next up, she releases footage from THE WIZ?
Trickery and deceit, it's all Chump has left to offer. On the topic of photos, Alan Feuer, David Enrich and Dylan Freedman (NEW YORK TIMS) report:
More than a dozen photos — including one featuring President Trump — were removed without explanation from the large collection of files connected to the investigations of Jeffrey Epstein that the Justice Department released on Friday.
A total of 16 photos were taken down at some point on Saturday from the website that the department created to house files — among them, one of the few that contained Mr. Trump’s image. It was a photo of a credenza in Mr. Epstein’s Manhattan home, with an open drawer containing other photos, including at least one of Mr. Trump.
The Justice Department did not explain on the site why the images had been removed, and a department spokesman did not respond to a message seeking comment.
Democrats on the House Oversight Committee immediately seized on the missing photo of Mr. Trump, reposting it on social media and asking Attorney General Pam Bondi if it was true that the image had been removed.
Here's the photo Bondi apparently decided to remove.
While rushing to protect Chump, they once again didn't give a damn about the survivors. David McAfee (RAW STORY) reports:
Donald Trump's administration committed a "grave and indefensible violation" with a mistake it made in the production of certain Epstein files, according to a survivor of the deceased financier's abuse.
Lawyer and journalist Aaron Parnas flagged the letter from the Epstein survivor on social media. Parnas wrote, "Jane Doe Epstein Survivor, who reported Epstein to the FBI in 2009, sent the following letter to the Department of Justice today after it failed to redact her name in the release of the files. I have confirmed her name is currently not redacted in multiple public files."
The letter itself says in part, "I am a survivor of Jeffrey Epstein. I write to place the Department of Justice on formal notice of a grave and indefensible violation arising from the December 19, 2025 release of records under the Epstein Files Transparency Act."
The White House reduces it all to a political stunt. But there are some things in the release that are news worthy. Edith Olmsted (THE NEW REPUBIC) reports:
Surprise, surprise: President Donald Trump was in Jeffrey Epstein’s contact list.
Buried in the massive trove of documents released by the Department of Justice Friday was Epstein’s 90-page contact book filled with names of high-profile celebrities—including Donald Trump and his family members.
Contact information for “Trump, Donald,” now redacted, was kept separately from the information on how to reach Trump’s daughter Ivanka, his ex-wife Ivana, his brother Robert, and Robert’s wife, Blaine.
A handwritten note indicated the contact book was from Palm Beach, dated 2004–2005.
There also appeared to be contact information for Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, where Epstein reportedly scouted young women to abuse and traffic, and from where he was supposedly banned in October 2007.
The whole family was connected to him. That's not a casual acquaintance. Not at all. And this wasn't the release ordered. Ordered by an actual act of Congress. "That's going to take an act of Congress." You may have heard that before in your life. Well this had an actual act of Congress and still the administration refused to comply and they got Speaker of the Closet Mike Johnson to send the House home so that Chump could try to escape the outrage of Congress. Will it work? MOTHER JONES' Clint Hendler notes:
According to Rep. Thomas Massie, the Kentucky Republican who broke with his party to champion the Epstein Files Transparency Act, what the government has so far provided “grossly fails to comply with both the spirit and the letter of the law.”
Epstein’s victims have similar complaints. “They are proving everything we have been saying about corruption and delayed justice,” Jess Michaels told the New York Times. “What are they protecting? The coverup continues.”
The release is being overseen by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the president’s former personal defense attorney, who represented him in the criminal case related to Trump’s attempt to coverup his affair with Stormy Daniels, the adult film star. Blanche has said that the Justice Department remains at work preparing more files for disclosure in the “coming weeks,” in apparent violation of Friday’s deadline.
Moving over to the economy . . .
Donald Chump keeps insisting he's save the economy when, in fact, he's wrecked it. And all of his lies are not going to make people deny what they see with their own eyes, the pain they feel in their own pocketbooks. Making tamales this Christmas? Prepare to spend a lot more this year. Rob McMillan KABC logo (ABC 7) notes, "CNN recently reported that a pound of masa, on average, costs about $1.99. That's up about 30 cents from this time last year. Plus, rising business costs across the board aren't making it any easier." The Mexican cuisine staple is consumed year round but, yes, tamales are a Christmas tradition for many in the US. Chump thinks he can out argue people who know what they're experiencing, people who are having to make difficult choices when doing basic grocery shopping. Like that morning coffee but not that morning coffee price? Well doesn't look like coffee prices are going down anytime soon. NEWS.AZ explains, "US consumers — the world’s largest coffee drinkers — are expected to face higher prices well into 2026, limiting the White House’s ability to ease food inflation ahead of the November midterm elections." Nathan Layne and Aleksandra Michalska (REUTERS) notes, "On a recent snowy morning in a Trump-loving part of rural Michigan, three dozen cars idled outside a firehouse-turned-food pantry. Inside, volunteers packaged lettuce, apples and other household staples that have surged or stayed high in price this year." Food pantries at Christmas -- Donald Chump's America. They trusted him. He didn't deliver. He didn't even try to deliver.
He destroyed our economy. He destroyed us as a travel destination. What foreign tourist wants to come to the US when his gestapo attacks foreigners and perceived foreigners on the streets? No one. He's destroyed the travel industry. Christine Chung (NEW YORK TIMES) reports:
The United States routinely tops the list of foreign travelers’ dream destinations. They can’t seem to get enough of Manhattan’s skyscrapers, the mountains of Vermont, the hedonistic nightlife of Las Vegas, Hawaii’s pristine beaches and the dreamscapes of Disney parks.
But that’s changing.
Steep new fees, travel restrictions, visa hurdles, uncertainty at the border, and President Trump’s aggressive language toward Canada and other countries are all taking a toll.
Postpandemic travel growth has stalled and 4.5 million fewer international visits are expected this year compared with 2024, according to industry estimates.
He doesn't know what he's doing and he never has. Hannah Broughton (THE MIRROR) reports, "World-renowned whiskey brand Jim Beam has announced plans to pause production in 2026, amid struggles in the face of the Trump administration's trade wars. Operations at the company's Happy Hollow distillery in Clermont will cease on January 1, while the visitor center will remain open." Chump's destroyed the economy. He continues to believe he can lie about it and get away with it. Diccon Hyatt (INVESTOPEDIA) notes:
On
Wednesday evening, Trump took to the airways to defend his economic
policies, responding to criticism from Democrats and others that the
cost of living has risen too quickly under his administration, and has
been exacerbated by his tariff campaign. Trump said he is tackling
inflation, blamed his predecessor, Joe Biden, for the problem, and
singled out groceries as an example of his success.
"Democrat [sic] politicians also sent the cost of groceries soaring, but we are solving that too," Trump said. "The price of a Thanksgiving turkey was down 33 percent compared to the Biden last year. The price of eggs is down 82 percent since March and everything else is falling rapidly and it's not done yet, but boy, are we making progress."
If you have noticed your groceries have gotten more expensive this year, the government's consumer price surveys back up your gut feeling with hard data.
Chump just doubles down on his lies. Sarah Sharkey (MONEYWISE) adds:
Over the weekend, the president posted to Truth Social that “tariffs have made our Country Rich, Strong, Powerful, and Safe.” Later in his post, he pressed the Supreme Court to rule in his favor relating to emergency tariff powers. (1, 2)
But governors across the country are reporting impacts that differ from the White House’s assessment. Here’s what they’re saying.
[. . .]
But prices aren’t down. The latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics showed an inflation rate of 3.0%. Some categories with spiking costs include food, with food at home costing 2.7% more than this time last year and food away from home costing 3.7% more than last year. Electricity prices are also up 5.1% from last year. (7)
A recent survey of Colorado businesses found that the effects of import taxes have had negative financial impacts on their business. Additionally, the governor of Michigan’s office recently found that the state’s residents are facing higher grocery prices, more expensive housing, and uncertain employment due to tariffs. (8, 9)
He keeps lying. And we're supposed to ignore the prices when we go grocery shopping and ignore all the news of closings and layoffs. PENNYWISE notes, "On November 21, 2025, Tyson Foods announced it will close its Lexington, Nebraska plant and cut Amarillo, Texas to one shift by January 20, 2026, eliminating 4,900 jobs." PENNYGEM adds, "Under pressure Wendy’s shuts 300 restaurants—8,000 workers face layoffs." Ash Frost (PENNYWISE) has a report that begs the question of where was the federal oversight: :
Farmers across the Midwest and South faced a sudden financial crisis in late October when payments for their harvested grain failed to arrive. From Nebraska to Texas, producers who had delivered crops to a major grain buyer found themselves waiting for checks that never came. Phone calls to the company went unanswered, and as days passed, concern turned to alarm. By early November, the scale of the problem became clear: thousands of farmers and agribusinesses were owed millions, with no explanation in sight.
When the creditor list finally surfaced, it revealed the breadth of the disaster. Kansas alone had 128 unpaid creditors, Nebraska 87, and Texas 72. The list included both small family farms and agricultural giants—Cargill was owed $2.6 million, while Viterra Canada awaited $4.7 million. Beyond the largest claims, there were dozens of pages of smaller operations, all left in limbo after trusting the wrong buyer. In total, court documents would later show liabilities between $100 million and $500 million, with as many as 5,000 creditors affected.
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