Trump's Revenge, Shutdown Showdown & Microsoft Breaks with Israel

DEVELOPING: This morning, Trump announced he has directed the DOD to “provide all necessary Troops to protect War ravaged Portland.”

War ravaged Portland?

There is no evidence of domestic terrorism or “war” in Portland. The city—like dozens across the U.S.—has seen protests (a Constitutionally protected right) against ICE arrests and deportations.

Trump has made similar claims before, using them as justification to send troops to Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles, and has floated plans to deploy them to Memphis with support from Tennessee’s Republican governor. He also threatened to send forces to Chicago but backed off after local Democratic leaders pushed back.

1. On Thursday, a grand jury indicted former FBI director James Comey, one of Trump’s most vocal enemies. (More in Top Story below.)
2. On Monday, Trump and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. announced—without scientific backing—that acetaminophen use in pregnancy may be linked to higher autism rates in children.

• Trump repeatedly went “off script,” telling women to “tough it out.” “I’m not a doctor, but I’m giving my opinion,” he said.
• NBC reported Trump also floated other unverified claims: that vaccine additives may cause autism, children receive too many vaccines, and the Amish “don’t experience the disorder”—a claim experts have disproven.
• The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists called the claims “irresponsible,” warning they could deter women from taking necessary medication. (FDA announcement)
• Per the WSJ, (🎁 link) Kennedy and Trump’s inner circle argued the “real story” should be leucovorin, a little-known generic drug they claim could ease autism symptoms.
• But Kennedy had spent weeks reviewing acetaminophen studies and concluded Tylenol manufacturer Kenvue lacked strong evidence for the drug’s safety. He felt a “moral duty” to sound the alarm.
• “Trump was thrilled with Kennedy’s plan” to tout the acetaminophen angle and "relished the chance to tell the world their possible reason for why one in 31 children nationwide had been diagnosed with autism... Trump for years has publicly aired his keen interest in the condition.”

3. Also on Monday, Disney announced it would reinstate Jimmy Kimmel’s show after suspending him over comments about the Charlie Kirk murder investigation.

• The reversal followed sharp blowback from across the spectrum: Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, the ACLU, and Democrats.
• Nexstar and Sinclair resisted for days but on Friday restored Kimmel to the 70 ABC affiliates they own.
• Money Talks: Advertisers pulled campaigns, subscribers canceled Disney+, and shareholders demanded documents on why Kimmel was suspended and how it affected revenue. Disney’s market cap fell $6.4 billion between Thursday and Monday.
• Kimmel’s return show has 22 million views on YouTube and averaged more than 6 million viewers on ABC—triple its usual audience, despite not airing on Nexstar/Sinclair affiliates.

4. On Tuesday, Trump gave a speech to the UN General Assembly, telling world leaders their countries were “going to hell” due to “open border” policies, calling climate change “the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world,” and falsely claiming he's ended seven wars since January.

• Trump also complained that the UN was sabotaging him: the teleprompter wasn’t working, and an escalator had stalled, forcing him to take the stairs. Both mishaps were later linked to White House staff.

5. On Wednesday, officials say a gunman opened fire at an ICE facility in Dallas, killing one detainee and injuring two others before dying by suicide.

• The FBI said the suspect wrote “anti-ICE” on a bullet casing, and was targeting ICE officers. Republicans blamed “the left.” His family said he was not politically involved.
• This was the third shooting at Texas detention centers this year; two others occurred in July.

Next Week

🗓️ Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are scheduled to meet at the White House on Monday. The chatter is that Trump will push a “21-point” peace to Netanyahu. During a meeting with Arab and Muslim countries at the UN this week to discuss the plan, Trump promised that he will not allow Israel to illegally annex the occupied West Bank.

🗓️ The government could shut down on Tuesday, September 30 unless Congress passes the necessary spending bills or even a short-term fix (known as a continuing resolution) to keep the government open when the new fiscal year begins on Wednesday, October 1. Hundreds of thousands of government employees could be furloughed.

🗓️ Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asked hundreds of senior military leaders from across the world to come to Washington, DC next week so he can give them “a short speech on military standards and the ‘warrior ethos,’” according to The Washington Post. (🎁 link) The gathering is raising concerns about the risks of having so many top military officials concentrated in one place at the same time.

• For the first time, a U.S. tech company has broken with Israel: Microsoft cut ties with Unit 8200, Israel’s elite surveillance division. Microsoft had partnered with Unit 8200 in 2021 to store intelligence on Azure, its cloud platform.
  • Recent investigations by The Guardian, Drop Site News, and +972 revealed the unit used Azure to build a mass-surveillance system capable of handling a million calls per hour and storing 8,000 terabytes of intercepted Palestinian communications.
  • In an internal email announcing the change, Micrsoft's Vice Chair Brad Smith told employees: “We do not provide technology to facilitate mass surveillance of civilians. We have applied this principle in every country around the world, and we have insisted on it repeatedly for more than two decades.”
  • In July, 60 Microsoft investors holding $80 million in shares demanded the company review whether its tech was enabling genocide or other crimes. Microsoft said those reports triggered the review.
  • Microsoft still holds other contracts with Israel, including hosting data for managing Palestinian work permits. It’s unclear if those will also be reviewed.
• A total of 157 states now recognize a Palestinian state. On Sunday, Britain, Canada, Australia, and Portugal formally announced recognition; on Monday, France, Monaco, Malta, and Luxembourg followed during a UN conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia.
  • Symbolically, the move shifts momentum toward a peace agreement—but in practice, Israel has no interest.
  • As The Intercept pointed out, it’s also hypocritical: many of these same countries continue to sell arms to Israel.
  • Nearly 50 Democratic members of Congress signed a letter urging Trump to recognize Palestine.
• On Friday, more than 100 delegates walked out during Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s UN speech during which he repeated a slew of falsehoods and declared that countries who have recognized a Palestinian state are "disgraceful." Adding that the move sends "a very clear message. Murdering Jews pays off."
  • In several stunts that can only be described as psychological warfare, Netanyahu:
    • announced Israel had hacked cell phones in Gaza and surrounded the enclave with loudspeakers to broadcast his speech to Palestinians
    • hired trucks to drive around Manhattan with digital billboards calling on people to "Remember October 7"
    • met with American influencers, telling them to use social media as a "weapon" to fight for Israel against the "woke Reich"
    • arranged for a screening of a film about October 7 at the UN
• Israeli forces have surrounded Gaza City, destroying infrastructure and storming the Jordanian Field Hospital, according to Al Jazeera's Hind Khoudary.
• Doctors Without Borders says it can no longer operate in Gaza City due to dangerous conditions. "The escalating attacks from Israeli forces have created an unacceptable level of risk for our staff, forcing us to suspend lifesaving medical activities."
• Spain announced an embargo on weapons to Israel and banned products made in illegal settlements, though parliament must still approve it.
• Tens of thousands of Italians protested across dozens of cities against their government’s inaction, with dockworkers blocking ports over suspected arms shipments.
• On Tuesday, activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla, said Israel attacked them in international waters. The flotilla is an international initiative of 50+ boats attempting to break Israel’s naval blockade and deliver aid. This is the third time in recent months that a flotilla has attempted to deliver aid to Gaza. All have been intercepted by Israel. In July, Israel illegally boarded a flotilla and detained passengers, including activist Greta Thunberg, before deporting her.
  • Despite opposition from Italy’s prime minister, the country’s defense minister and Spain sent naval escorts for the flotilla.
  • Democratic Sens. Markey, Warren, Van Hollen, and Merkley sent a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, urging him to protect several U.S. citizens on board.
• Slovenia announced it will arrest Netanyahu if he enters the country, citing international law.
• Several nations and dozens of international soccer players are pushing FIFA and UEFA to ban Israel from competition ahead of next year’s World Cup, citing genocide in Gaza and the killing of Palestinian soccer star “the Palestinian Pele.” UEFA may suspend Israel, which would block then from playing in World Cup qualifiers. FIFA is less likely, given its leader’s ties to Trump. (Both banned Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.)

This week, Trump escalated his campaign to punish political enemies. It’s as if he wants someone—ideally a rival—to rack up more indictments than his own 34, or to look worse than him in history books. (He's the only U.S. president impeached twice. And the only convicted criminal elected to the White House).

Last week on Truth Social, Trump urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to target his foes, writing: “We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility.” Days later, the DOJ secured two indictments against former FBI Director James Comey.

Trump’s Long Feud with Comey

Trump has despised Comey for years. Appointed by Obama in 2013, Comey oversaw the FBI’s 2016 probe into Trump’s alleged ties to Russia (which lacked sufficient evidence to prosecute). In 2017, Trump asked Comey to pledge allegiance in a private Oval Office meeting. Comey says he refused—and was promptly fired.

The New Indictments

The turning point came after U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert resigned last week, reportedly under pressure to pursue Trump’s vendettas but unwilling to move forward without probable cause. Trump replaced him with Lindsay Halligan, a former insurance lawyer and Trump’s personal attorney with no prosecutorial experience.

On Monday, Halligan filed charges against Comey. A grand jury voted 14–9 to indict him on two of three counts: lying to Congress and obstruction.

The DOJ alleges Comey misled senators during a 2020 hearing when asked if he, as FBI director, had authorized someone (believed to be then–Deputy Director Andrew McCabe) to leak details about the Clinton email probe to the press before the 2016 election.

In 2018, Trump’s DOJ concluded McCabe was less than forthcoming, and that Comey’s version of events was more credible—essentially clearing Comey at the time. But Trump made little distinction, accusing both men of wrongdoing.

A Weak Case?

The indictment Halligan filed is unusually short—just a few pages, compared to the 30–40 page filings against Trump himself. That raises questions about what, if any, evidence the DOJ presented to the jury.

Comey posted a defiant video after the news broke:

“My family and I have known for years that there are costs to standing up to Donald Trump, but we couldn’t imagine ourselves living any other way. We will not live on our knees, and you shouldn’t either.”

If convicted, Comey faces up to five years in prison. He’s set to be arraigned on October 9.

Wider Crackdown

This week, Trump also issued a memo directing the DOJ to investigate “domestic terrorism and organized political violence,” citing Charlie Kirk’s murder as justification. The order specifically targeted groups under the “anti-fascism” umbrella:

“These movements portray foundational American principles (e.g., support for law enforcement and border control) as ‘fascist’ to justify and encourage acts of violent revolution. This ‘anti-fascist’ lie has become the organizing rallying cry used by domestic terrorists to wage a violent assault against democratic institutions, constitutional rights, and fundamental American liberties.”

The DOJ has also signaled investigations into Democrats like George Soros.

Also relevant:

• In July, the DOJ fired Comey’s daughter Maurene, an assistant U.S. attorney who had prosecuted high-profile cases including Jeffrey Epstein’s. She’s now suing for wrongful termination.
• Comey’s son-in-law Troy Edwards, a senior national security prosecutor at DOJ, resigned on Thursday after his father-in-law’s indictment.

• The Pentagon is imposing new restrictions on journalists that news organizations call censorship. The new policy states that “journalists who report on news outside of the explicit commands of the Pentagon could be deemed ‘a security or safety risk’ and have their credentials stripped.” Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also changed guidelines requiring reporters inside the Pentagon to be escorted, ending their previous ability to move freely. Hegseth posted about the changes on X.
• The FTC has ordered Amazon to pay $1.5 billion in penalties and refunds for “deceptive subscriptions that feel impossible to cancel.” The lawsuit was filed under then-FTC chair Lina Khan. Customers who signed up for Prime between 2019 and 2025 will receive automatic refunds capped at $51 per person.
• Trump announced sweeping new tariffs, including:
  • 100% on imported pharmaceutical drugs (effective October 1)
  • 50% on kitchen and bathroom cabinets
  • 30% on upholstered furniture
  • 25% on heavy trucks

• Trump replaced a White House photo of Biden with one of his autopen signature. Trump has long claimed Biden was too incapacitated to sign documents himself—though every president uses an autopen. The swap is the latest attempt to delegitimize Biden, whose 2020 win Trump still refuses to acknowledge.
• After tearing up the White House’s famous Rose Garden, Trump built the “Rose Garden Club,” a private lounge for allies. He’s also constructing a 90,000-square-foot ballroom adjacent to the White House. His team touted the club as “the hottest place to be in Washington, or perhaps the world.” The first event: a tech CEO gathering billed as the “Tech Broligarchy.”
• Trump is pushing to sell TikTok to U.S. investors including Rupert Murdoch and Oracle’s Larry Ellison—in exchange for billions in payments to the government. Traditionally, companies don’t pay the U.S. for national-security approvals, and some lawyers warn such arrangements may be illegal.
• Trump’s “border czar” Tom Homan accepted a $50,000 bribe from an undercover FBI agent in 2024—caught on tape. Homan promised to help secure border-security contracts if Trump won reelection. Trump’s DOJ quickly shut down the investigation; Democrats are demanding the tapes be released.
• The FBI fired at least 20 agents who were photographed kneeling in protests after George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
• Democrats on the House Oversight Committee say new documents from Epstein’s estate mention Elon Musk, PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel, and former Trump strategist Steve Bannon. They reference Musk possibly flying to an “island” in 2014, and Thiel and Bannon dining with Epstein as recently as 2017 and 2019.
• Trump’s net worth has grown by more than $3 billion since last year, boosted by business ventures that surged after his return to office. His son Barron is now worth $150 million through family cryptocurrency businesses. His granddaughter Kai launched a clothing line—promoted using the White House as a backdrop—that is projected to earn millions.
• Trump has asked the Supreme Court to let him ban birthright citizenship, guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, for children of undocumented immigrants. Legal experts say the effort is dubious, but the Supreme Court has repeatedly sided with Trump in emergency rulings. On Friday, the Court also allowed the administration to freeze $4 billion in foreign aid.
• NBC reports officials have found no link between Charlie Kirk’s accused killer and left-wing groups: “Every indication so far is that this was one guy who did one really bad thing because he found Kirk’s ideology personally offensive.” DOJ has declined to comment.

• France: Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (2007–2012) was sentenced to five years in prison for conspiring to solicit campaign funds from Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in exchange for political favors. The ruling makes Sarkozy the first modern French president ordered to serve prison time.
• Lebanon: Israel killed five people in an air strike, including a father and his three children, all of whom Lebanon says were U.S. citizens. The U.S. disputes that claim. Israel said the strike targeted a Hezbollah operative, expressed “regret” for the other deaths, and called the incident “under review.” In most cases, Israel does not release findings from such reviews or hold anyone accountable.

• A new study shows the CEO-to-worker pay gap has exploded: CEO compensation is now 1,094% higher than in 1978, while typical worker pay rose just 26%. Researchers say this reflects CEOs using their power to set their own pay, not a rise in skills or productivity.
• Ryan Routh was found guilty of attempting to assassinate Trump last year while he played golf in Florida. After the verdict, Routh tried to stab himself with a pen in court but was stopped by police. He will be sentenced in December.
• The FAA is loosening oversight of Boeing, reversing strict rules imposed after two deadly 737 MAX crashes raised concerns the company was cutting corners on safety.
• New data shows inflation rose 2.7% year over year in August—above the Fed’s 2% target. Normally, the Fed would hold or raise interest rates to cool inflation. But with the job market weakening, more cuts are expected, as job losses are seen as a bigger threat than price increases.
• FEMA Director David Richardson is “frequently inaccessible, especially on evenings and weekends,” despite his role overseeing disaster response, according to The Washington Post. Sources say he rarely uses secure government communication systems. His boss, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, micromanages FEMA and delays travel approvals—even in emergencies. Richardson was missing for nearly four days after catastrophic flooding in Texas killed 136 people, including 27 children at Camp Mystic.
• Apple indefinitely postponed the debut of a Jessica Chastain thriller about a woman infiltrating white nationalist groups. Apple gave no explanation. Chastain, an executive producer, said the show highlights “the heroes who work every day to stop violence before it happens, and honoring their courage feels more urgent than ever.”

Have suggestions, feedback, or questions? Email me at huma@fromthefifth.com.

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