BILLBOARD News Now
Unchecked Power
(Editor’s note: Axios has taken a hard look at President Trump’s pursuit of unchecked power. Axios’ Zachary Basu has produced an excellent piece. Such that we thought it worth sharing with our readers.) .
President Trump is gradually testing, stretching and gutting the independence of America’s major institutions, leaving few stones unturned in his pursuit of unchecked power.
Why it matters: In Trump’s vision of America, authority flows only from his consent. The firing of Fed governor Lisa Cook — a first in modern history — shows that even the central bank’s legendary independence is no longer untouchable.
The big picture: In just seven months, Trump has consolidated vast power by following a simple playbook: Capture what he can, contest what he can’t and punish those who resist.
- “I have the right to do anything I want to do. I’m the president of the United States,” Trump told reporters Tuesday when discussing his threat to send the National Guard into Chicago.
- Captured institutions: T rump has exerted decisive control over every inch of the executive branch, leaving little pretense of independence anywhere in the federal bureaucracy.
- Justice Department: Trump has declared himself — not the attorney general — as America’s “chief law enforcement officer.” He’s stacked the DOJ with loyalists who now are leading criminal investigations into Democrats, Obama-era intelligence officials and other Trump critics.
- Intelligence community: Security clearances have been stripped from alleged leakers, and intelligence staff have been cut Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth even fired the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency after a preliminary assessment by the DIA suggested Trump’s Iran strikes were less successful than he claimed.
- Independent agencies: An executive order moved all regulatory bodies under White House control, erasing decades of autonomy and enabling the gutting of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and U.S. Agency for International Development. Trump has fired more than 20 inspectors general responsible for internal oversight, as well as the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Washington, D.C.: Trump has seized control — literally and figuratively — over much of the nation’s capital, deploying the National Guard, taking over the Kennedy Center and threatening the Smithsonian over what he deems “anti-American” content, such as images of undocumented immigrants crossing the border.
- Contested battlegrounds: These arenas face constant interference, but Trump hasn’t yet achieved full capture.
- Military: Trump has fired top generals and required new four-star nominees to meet with him. He has delivered highly partisan speeches in historically apolitical military settings, and ordered the creation of “specialized” National Guard units to be used for domestic law enforcement.
- Congress: The White House has eroded the legislature’s core powers on tariffs, spending and war — sidelining lawmakers with emergency declarations or outright defiance. Trump has bullied dissenters and demanded Texas redraw its congressional map to add five GOP seats.
- Academia and law: The Trump administration has extracted over $1 billion in settlements from elite universities and law firms, weaponizing the federal government’s enormous funding leverage to browbeat liberal power centers.
- Corporate America: Trump casts himself as the chairman of all boards, routinely meddling in the private sector with threats of tariffs, harassment and regulatory action.
- Remaining resistance: These are the institutions that still act as counterweights, even if Trump is trying to kneecap them.
- Courts: Federal judges have frozen dozens of Trump’s most aggressive policies and spoken out against intimidation. Still, the White House has escalated attacks on “rogue” judges, testing whether the judiciary can withstand sustained pressure.
- Media: Major outlets continue to investigate and expose contradictions in Trump’s presidency, even as he curtails access, threatens regulatory action against broadcasters, and promotes loyalist voices in the press corps.
- Democratic Party: Despite their unpopularity, Democrats remain a legitimate opposition force — using congressional hearings, lawsuits and state governments to challenge Trump.
White House official Stephen Miller called the party a “domestic extremist organization” on Monday, laying the groundwork for a potential crackdown ahead of the 2026 midterms.
What they’re saying: “The President’s only retribution is success and historic achievements for the country,” White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement.
- “While the Biden administration corruptly weaponized our justice system to persecute political rivals and censor Americans’ free speech, the Trump administration will continue to legally use every lever of power granted to the Executive Branch by the Constitution and Congress to finally put Americans and America First.”
The bottom line: Every institution — whether captured, contested or resisting — operates under Trump’s shadow.
Use icons and envelope above to forward this post to your friends.
Follow us on Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
Happy Birthday, Senator Randolph
Today is the 108th birthday of Senator Jennings Randolph. He was a man of vision and accomplishment. He worked tirelessly for West Virginia. Jennings Randolph was a Senator for 26 years and a member of the House of Representatives for 14 years. He never considered...
Glad I am Not An Incumbent Democrat
President Obama made it clear he does not care about the re-election of Democrats as he wrapped up the health care summit. After warning if there is not enough serious effort in a month’s time “….then I think we’ve got to go ahead and make some decisions,” the...
Obama Is No Bill Clinton
When consideration of health care reform started we were told President Obama did not want to make the same mistake as former President Clinton. You will recall the Clinton administration presented its own bill to Congress. President Obama turned the writing of...
Speaker Thompson Positioning
Speculation has centered on House Speaker Rick Thompson (D-Wayne) as a candidate for the Democrat nomination for Governor in 2012. He was elected Speaker in 2007 with the strong support of Labor. Many political and business leaders have seen Labor's support as a...
It’s Not About Your Survival, Mr. President
It’s about the survival of those without jobs. But that is not where President Obama spent his time since the election returns from the bluest of blue states on Tuesday. Instead he is pulling together those who helped him win in 2008. The concern at The White House...
How Could He Promise Change
I have been reading “The Audacity to Win” a book by David Plouffe about the campaign of Barack Obama. It is a firsthand account about the speeches, news conferences and messages he delivered. This brought back his passionate promise of “change you can believe in”. ...
Capito Leads the Way
West Virginia’s lone Republican in Congress, Shelley Moore Capito, held a sit down meeting with Lisa Jackson Administrator of the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). Sometime ago Capito requested the “face to face” meeting to express concern about the...
Manchin Declares War on EPA
Governor Manchin is preparing to lead a battle against the Obama Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after its decision to review 23 pending coal-mine permits. He spoke with MetroNews Talkline from Berlin, Germany. Joining in the war Obama has declared on the...
Obama Takes Two Hits at West Virginia in Five Days
Last Friday world leaders in Pittsburgh for the Group of 20 summit agreed to phase out fossil fuel subsides. The Obama administration championed the wording of the statement according to The Washington Post. The wording of the statement was a signal from the world’s...
Service Employees International Union, ACORN & Healthcare
Last May when various national healthcare organizations met with President Obama at the White House I wondered why the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) was present. Of course, I recalled the major role SEIU played in the election of President Obama....
An Idea for the Gazette
Here is an idea for The Charleston Gazette. The Washington Post is asking it’s readers to weigh in as its editorial board prepares an endorsement in the Virginia gubernatorial race. Readers may send an email making a case for their candidate in 200 words or less. ...
A Must Read
Charles Krauthammer had a great column in today's Sunday Gazette-Mail. It should be read by everyone. Their web site did not carry it so I hunted it down.
BILLBOARD Archives
West Virginia Strike Back
West Virginia needs to strike back at the Obama administration. The anti-coal mining decision to withhold approval of 79 coal mining permits needs to be answered. There is a new organization growing in Appalachia that provides such an opportunity. It supports coal...
Obama Strikes Out At West Virginia
President Obama is getting even with West Virginia that rejected him in the 2008 primary and general election. The Obama run Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) made a vindictive decision today which will withhold approval of 79 coal mining permits. The President...
My Reaction
First, let me say I believe we need to find a way to provide healthcare to those who need it but without destroying our current system. I believe Americans are willing to fix the healthcare system but will not buy into schemes that break the bank. Now let’s talk...
Manchin Numbers
Governor Joe Manchin has been an outstanding Governor. This clearly explains the impressive numbers in the survey of West Virginia voters by Mark Blankenship Enterprises. Manchin’s overall approval rating was 78 percent. Unless Manchin is planning in 2012 to seek a...
Any Healthcare Bill Will Do
Obama has been struggling with healthcare reform since entering the presidency. The problem is two fold. First, he turned the drafting of legislation over to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Secondly, he never could explain what...
Does Obama Face a 2012 Challenge In His Own Party?
This Rasmussen Report I am sending to you verbatim. “Leading liberals are already thinking the unthinkable: Challenging President Obama for the Democratic nomination in 2012. According to a report on the left-leaning Huffington Post website, MSNBC host Keith...
Democrats Are Losing Independents Support
Congress returns from a summer recess on Tuesday. President Obama will address a joint session of Congress mid-week. He must believe another speech or a more “prescriptive” health care plan will put his Democrats colleagues at ease. Well, he may be too late....
“Me and Mrs. Palin”
My hobby is following the national political news. This weekend I saw where Vanity Fair will hit the newsstands nationwide on September 8th with an article “Me and Mrs. Palin”. No doubt Levi Johnston – father of Bristol’s baby – has earned real money for this one. ...
West Virginia Voter Surveys
Our readers have asked if I could get a copy of the recent voter opinion surveys conducted by Mark Blankenship Enterprises (MBE). I gather not all the media have reported on the findings. The first survey addresses political favorability ratings and economic...
Democrat Governor’s Race Continues in Central WV
Central West Virginia Democrats must think the primary election for Governor is near. Serving as Marshal of the Grand Feature Parade at the Barbour County Fair this week was House Speaker Richard Thompson (D – Wayne, District 17). The Speaker is known to be...
Manchin Traveling, Tomblin Moving North
A West Virginia tradition has been for the Governor to crown the Queen at the Mountain State Forest Festival in Elkins. The Inter-Mountain has reported Governor Manchin will be on an out-of-country trip. Senate President Earl Ray Tomblin (D – Logan District 7th) will...
Democrats Can Retreat On Healthcare
Columnist Dick Morris offered an interesting perspective on how Democrats can retreat on healthcare. His theory comes from a criticism Senator Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) offered on the Obama healthcare initiative. I thought I would share the Morris piece. In the...