Blue 812 News Issue 40 - October 5

Oct 05, 2025

Lordy, lordy - it’s issue 40!

Is Donald Trump feeling any pressure to come to the bargaining table to end the shutdown? If his social media feeds are any indication… probably not.

He posted an AI-generated video (no, not that one) depicting one of his most widely-feared public servants as the Personification of Death. Cloaked in black and scowling, Trump repeatedly strikes a cowbell to the tune of “Don’t Fear the Reaper.” Vice President JD Vance bangs on the drums. The camera pans past a racist portrait of Hakeem Jeffries wearing a sombrero. Then, White House budget chief Russ Vought emerges from storm clouds — wielding a scythe. “Russ Vought is the reaper. He wields the pen, the funds and the brain,” the synthetic voice intones. “Here comes the reaper, Dems you babies. Here comes the reaper, gonna tie your hands … Here comes the reaper, cry baby end your plan.”

The video is a dark example of how divided and toxic American politics are right now. Democrats want Republicans to extend healthcare subsidies that millions of Americans rely on. Republicans want Democrats to keep the government open without any concessions. The president, meanwhile, is seemingly in his own world, reposting AI slop like an amused grandparent on Facebook.

When asked about the video today, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt explained that Trump “likes to have a little fun.”

One State Department employee put it bluntly to Crooked’s What a Day newsletter: “This batshit messaging is so dystopian. It’s so insane, it’s almost funny. Trump and Republicans have done nothing but terrorize feds since January, they threatened to fire us during this shutdown, and yet they expect to convince us Dems are the problem? Lol wut??”

Here are a few points from Emily in Your Phone to keep in mind:

1. There was clearly a PLAN in place to blame democrats that was quickly rolled out. The decimation of the government’s internal checks and balances (OSC Hatch Act enforcement) meant that they could go ahead unbothered. One thing you may not have heard is that at the Department of Education furloughed employees had their out of office messages changed to blame democrats or the “radical left” for the shutdown.

The administration is literally forcing employees to engage in partisan speech against their will.

2. They are using this as an opportunity to punish blue states. They’ve cut $8 billion in green energy projects, major New York infrastructure projects - the Hudson tunnel and the Second Avenue subway - have been put on hold because of ‘DEI, ’ and they are cancelling billions in energy projects in California.

Trump leads with vengeance - but backing down to bullies is not a winning strategy.

3. Unions are already suing to stop mass layoffs. Russell Vought is jubilant over his machiavellian plan to decimate the federal government per Project 2025. Can the courts move fast enough to stop it?

4. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the White House is looking at proposals to extend the Obamacare subsidies, proving the shutdown pressure is working and Democrats must hold the line!

Last week, Secretary of “War” Pete Hegseth called all of the top generals from all over the world to all go to a single location that everyone in the world knew about for a very safe and very necessary meeting, so he could fat-shame them and try to push women out completely. Hegseth’s speech was so self-promoting and weird, that some saw it as a sign he’s gearing up to run for president himself in 2028.

While the former FOX News host did not explicitly call for the US to abandon the Geneva Conventions, he did suggest that troops should not have to “fight with stupid rules of engagement.” Hegseth’s remarks did not name specific ROE policies, but his tone suggested a desire to loosen constraints that prevent excessive or indiscriminate force. Other directives mentioned included efforts to largely roll back efforts made over the last decade to eradicate toxic culture in the military, both to decrease harmful behaviors like harassment, but also to meet practical needs of getting people in uniform and keeping them there as the military has faced years of struggles filling the ranks.

On a related note that’s sure to get folks lined up to enlist, the Defense Department is planning to require thousands of its employees to sign non-disclosure agreements and agree to random lie detector tests, as part of SecDef Hegseth’s attempt to crack down on leaks, according to the Washington Post. For how much this guy preaches about “warrior ethos,” he sure is a snowflake.

Babies have 300 bones, while adults only have 206. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.

Do you want to go on a tinfoil-hat journey with me? It’s about Trump’s Executive Order from Sept. 22nd, Designating Antifa as a ‘Domestic Terror Organization.’ It’s a precursor to some of the worst stuff you can imagine. Let’s rip into it!

First, Antifa doesn’t exist as a group, so it’s defined in the executive order as a militarist, anarchist enterprise that explicitly calls for the overthrow of the United States government, law enforcement authorities, and our system of law.

However, there is no such thing in the law as a ‘domestic terror organization.’ The closest thing is the enhancement that they’re using against Luigi Mangione, who is was charged with terrorism offenses for the death of one healthcare CEO (that charge was later dropped). It defines domestic terrorism so that the law can use that definition. It actually doesn’t say who a terrorist is, but instead, defines the acts that a terrorist does. So Trump is just making this distinction up completely.

Also, considering his comments from the general’s meeting that ‘there’s a bunch of people that don’t wear uniforms that are enemies among us’ - this administration is trying to take the logic of foreign terrorist organization and apply it domestically so they can utilize all applicable authorities to investigate, disrupt, and dismantle any and all illegal operations, especially those involving terrorist actions conducted by Antifa. It’s funny in theory that Trump designated a thing that doesn’t exist as a terrorist organization, but it’s terrifying in practice - because if nobody’s Antifa, then everybody’s Antifa.

Also, it’s an excuse masquerading as pretext for investigation, which is a real concern. A related national security memo came out a few days later on September 25th. This one is pretty scary. NSPM-7: “Countering Domestic Terrorism and Organized Political Violence” directs federal agencies to aggressively investigate and disrupt domestic political violence, focusing on left-leaning groups and activists. They’re looking for a new law enforcement strategy that investigates all participants in these as criminal and terrorist conspiracies, including the organized structures, networks, entities, organizations, funding sources, and predicate actions behind them. What they say they’re targeting is political violence that is a culmination of sophisticated, organized campaigns of targeted intimidation, radicalization, threats and violence designed to silence opposing speech, limit political activity, change or direct policy outcomes. Common threads animating this violent conduct include anti-Americanism, anti-capitalism, and anti-Christianity (notice, anti-Semitic is not included, for all the sturm und drang we’ve heard about that on college campuses). If you believe that Trump’s immigration policies are actually bad and fascist, you are an extremist. If you believe that the traditional one-man, one-woman definition of marriage should be expanded to everyone, you are an extremist. In this memo, the administration is saying anybody who calls them fascist is an anti-fascist and is therefore a member of Antifa. That’s the point we’ve reached.

In the wake of NSPM-7, federal agencies are ramping up efforts to dismantle what they call “organized political violence,” casting a wide net that includes doxing ICE officers, online dissent, and even nonprofit funding. The memo prioritizes enforcement under 18 U.S.C. §111 — a statute so broad it criminalizes not just assault, but resisting, impeding, or intimidating federal officers. Consider how this could be weaponized against online speech, protests, or even elected officials who challenge immigration enforcement. One sandwich thrown too close to an ICE agent, and suddenly you’re in federal crosshairs. Let’s not forget that now they’re also pulling in Treasury so the IRS can start looking into where people are getting their money because they’re obsessed with the idea that George Soros is specifically funding some of this stuff. They’re going to start looking at the funding of nonprofits and harassing any of the ones that are the most effective at fighting fascism and organizing people politically.

The expansion of the Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF, previously seen harassing Black Lives Matter protestors) from purely foreign investigations into domestic territory is especially alarming. Since 2008, the FBI can open “assessments” — investigations without any factual basis — allowing surveillance, informants, and deceptive tactics. They can use informants, they can lie, they can do physical surveillance that usually would have required some kind of reason to start investigating. This echoes the post-9/11 playbook, now aimed inward at civil society and an example of ‘small f-fascism’: a creeping normalization of authoritarian tools dressed in national security language.

Resistance doesn’t require violence — just vigilance, strategy, and solidarity. You can hear more about this vast conspiracy that is our federal government in the latest episode of Opening Arguments. Need something shorter? Under the Desk News made an explainer video. There’s also an opinion piece in Rolling Stone.

A forensic audit of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) dropped last week, and it reads like a season finale of Succession. The 127-page report, commissioned by Gov. Mike Braun and conducted by FTI Consulting, flagged undisclosed conflicts of interest, lavish travel spending, and opaque donor relationships that raise serious questions about how taxpayer money is being used. Among the findings: 30 entities received IEDC funding while being connected to board members or staff — but only one was reported to the State Ethics Commission. One former executive, Dave Roberts, left IEDC to lead a vendor receiving state funds, without filing the required ethics waiver. His new salary? Over 80% funded by an IEDC contract.

Meanwhile, the agency’s nonprofit arm, the Indiana Economic Development Foundation, spent $13.4 million on travel, including $200,000 in airfare for a single trip to Egypt, $86,000 on international race tickets, and $167,000 on family travel perks. Of the foundation’s 107 donors, 46 received payments or tax credits from IEDC, and auditors found no documentation of any “quid pro quo” review process. The LEAP district project alone accounted for $495 million in land purchases and payments, much of it awarded without competitive bidding. Elevate Ventures, a state-funded nonprofit, also failed to submit required financial statements during the review period.

Gov. Braun has promised reforms, including freezing foundation spending, winding down Elevate Ventures, and requiring full board votes for future decisions. But critics say the audit reveals a pattern of favoritism and weak oversight that demands more than just policy tweaks.

This audit is essentially the forensic follow-up to the patterns IndyStar exposed in their Three Kings series investigating how three politically connected men (David Roberts, Clay Robbins, and Mark Miles) wielded outsized influence over Indiana’s economic development deals.

Terre Haute’s 2026 city budget is officially locked in at $129 million, up 1.47% from last year despite a $1 million drop in state funding thanks to Senate Enrolled Act 1 and inflation doing its usual gremlin dance. Mayor Brandon Sakbun’s administration pulled off what he called “blocking and tackling” — a fiscal strategy that somehow includes zero percent health insurance hikes, early lease payoffs, and bulk vehicle purchases, which sounds like a Costco trip but for municipal fleets.

The real headline? Historic 18% raises for police and fire personnel. Base pay for first responders jumps to $63,926 in year one, then $69,294 in year two. Chiefs will earn $95,749, and Sakbun himself will take home $107,073 — a number that’s either modest or majestic depending on your feelings about potholes and pool renovations. Speaking of which, the city is investing in Deming Park Pool upgrades, $119,240 for road paving, and $22,210 for a new shed for the Cemetery Department, because even the dearly departed deserve decent storage.

And yes, the Terre Haute Casino Resort is now officially part of the city’s budget narrative. The council approved using $648,820 in casino revenue to fund new fire gear and pay down interest. Council President Todd Nation warned that while casino cash helped balance the books, it’s not a long-term fix - more like a fiscal Band-Aid with blackjack.

One wrinkle: Street and Transit Department salaries didn’t make the final cut and will be revisited on October 9, so stay tuned for Round Two of Budget Theater.

from Citizen’s Action Coalition: Duke Energy wants to build the most expensive power plant project in Indiana since their $3.5 billion dollar Edwardsport boondoggle over a decade ago. They just got a $244 million rate hike last year, which translates to $19 more a month on your bill, and now they want another $3.3 billion to replace some coal plants with some gas plants. Click here to tell regulators to reject Duke’s greedy plan.

State Rep: 317-232-9600 | State Senator: 317-232-9400 | Gov. Braun: 317-232-4567

This week (October 5th-11th) is Banned Books Week, so Blue812News is spotlighting a troubling case close to home - the Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community School Corporation in northeastern Indiana recently voted to remove six acclaimed titles from its high school curriculum and library: Forrest Gump, Brave New World, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The Handmaid’s Tale, A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. The books were all targeted for “explicit or implied sexual content,” and the decision was made in a special board session lasting less than 20 minutes, with only one member, Dottie Fuentes, voting against the ban, arguing that curriculum decisions should be left to trained educators, not elected board members.

What’s especially notable is that the board cited SEA 442, a new Indiana law requiring school boards to approve all instructional materials related to human sexuality. But even the Republican lawmaker who authored the bill expressed confusion over its use to justify banning classic literature, saying the law was not intended to apply this broadly.

This case underscores how vague legislation can be weaponized to suppress ideas — and why vigilance matters. If you want to take action, visit UnitedAgainstBookBans.org for toolkits, talking points, and ways to support intellectual freedom. You can also explore resources from PEN America, the National Coalition Against Censorship, and the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. Let’s keep stories on shelves and curiosity alive.

Nasty Women - Vigo County calendar | Indivisible Wabash Valley calendar

Wednesday, October 8th at 6pm: Nasty Women Meeting at the Vigo County Public Library main branch meeting room A.

Thursday, October 9th at 6pm: Terre Haute City Council Meeting at City Hall.

Sunday, October 12th at 2pm: Craftivism in the Park at Fairbanks Park from 2-4pm. Join us! Let’s make art, not war! 2nd Sunday of every month. More info & register here.

Monday, October 13th at 5pm: VigoDem’s Pasta and Politics dinner with special guest James Carville at Operating Engineers Local 841 from 5-8pm. $50 tickets and more info here.

Tuesday, October 14th at 3pm: Mingle with the Mayor at Grand Traverse Pie Co. At this informal and relaxed gathering, various topics will be covered each month with opportunities to ask questions and voice concerns. Free pie and coffee will be served courtesy of Clinton Gardens.

Saturday, October 18th at 12pm: On October 18, residents of Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley will join millions across the country to say loud and clear: No Thrones. No Crowns. No Kings. Vigo County Courthouse, 12 - 2pm. More info & register here.

The Supreme Court ruled that Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook can remain in her job for now, despite Donald Trump’s attempt to fire her. The court will hear Trump’s case against Cook in January.

A 10-foot-tall statue of Donald Trump and deceased child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein holding hands reappeared at the National Mall Thursday, a week after the president ordered its removal. Does the shutdown mean that there’s no one around to remove the statue? Will Trump angrily try to remove it himself? It can’t be ruled out!

Sarah Mullally is the first woman to be named archbishop of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church worldwide.

Actress Jane Fonda relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, in an effort to battle the Trump administration’s attacks on free speech. The organization was supported by her father, Henry Fonda, decades ago amid the rise in McCarthyism. “Those forces have returned. And it is our turn to stand together in defense of our constitutional rights,” the group said in a statement.

The White House withdrew its nomination of E.J. Antoni, an unqualified and hyper-conservative economist, to take charge of the nation’s jobs statistics. It’s a stunning walkback by the Trump administration, after public complaints from conservative economists that this guy can’t be trusted to provide reliable data.

A federal judge delivered a remarkable rebuke of the Trump administration’s actions, describing its attempt to deport pro-Palestinian activists on college campuses as a “full-throated assault on the First Amendment.” Judge William G. Young, a Reagan appointee, also raised broader concerns about the president: “I fear President Trump believes the American people are so divided that today they will not stand up, fight for, and defend our most precious constitutional values so long as they are lulled into thinking their own personal interests are not affected. Is he correct?” That’s what you call a benchslap!

Trump’s time in the White House runs out in:

MLK Jr. paid the hospital bill for Julia Roberts’ birth. Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.