Well, there it is.

 

President Donald Trump stated in an interview with TIME published on October 1, 2026, that he has not ruled out declaring a national emergency or invoking the Insurrection Act around the November midterm elections.[1]

When asked by TIME reporters about the limits of his presidential power regarding the upcoming midterms, Trump declined to set boundaries, stating: [1]

“I'm not committing to anything.”
“We're going to see how it plays out in court.”
“I don't rule anything out or in. We'll see. You mean the Insurrection Act? No, I've never used it. I could use it. A lot of people think I should use it sometimes.”

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No American president has ever invoked the Insurrection Act during a mid-term election.  

What possible reason could Trump have for even suggesting the use of the Insurrection Act? 

According to a TIME Magazine interview published on October 1, 2026, President Donald Trump’s statements regarding the potential use of the Insurrection Act of 1807 around the 2026 mid-term elections are tied to a combination of political anxieties, escalating pressure from his supporters, and ongoing rhetoric regarding civil unrest. 

Reporting from various media outlets details the primary motivations and arguments surrounding his refusal to rule out invoking the act.

It appears there is no legitimate reason to Trump's idea of invoking the Insurrection Act, except to disrupt the election that he and his administration believe they're going to lose badly. This would be the sort of thing a corrupt president would do, and in historical cases, it is what authoritarians and dictators do.

Dictators and authoritarian leaders frequently interfere with and disrupt their countries' elections by employing a mix of technical, legal, and physical tactics designed to maintain their grip on power. Modern authoritarians often rely on a "digital authoritarianism" playbook, using infrastructure control to tilt the playing field while maintaining a façade of legitimacy. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Data from organizations like Freedom House indicates that election-related digital interference occurs globally, with dozens of countries executing deliberate internet or social media outages specifically timed around electoral cycles to control information and hobble opposition groups. [1, 2, 3]

What are the chances that Trump will attempt this? He's corrupt, dangerous, and stupid. We can only guess what the malignant narcissist will do. 

Via AI Overview:

"The Insurrection Act of 1807 has been officially invoked over 30 times by 15 different U.S. presidents, but historically, it has never been used for the purpose of altering, monitoring, or interfering with an election. 

Legal and historical records from organizations like the Brennan Center for Justice outline that its historical uses have been strictly limited to situations such as suppressing domestic rebellions, enforcing civil rights laws (like school desegregation), and quelling civil unrest or labor violence. Brennan Center for Justice."

The law was last invoked over three decades ago by President George H.W. Bush in May 1992 to restore order during the Los Angeles riots.   

 Legal scholars and constitutional experts note that the Insurrection Act grants the executive branch no authority over election dates, voter eligibility, or election administration, which remain under the purview of states and Congress. Furthermore, defense officials have publicly reinforced that the military has no role to play in administering mid-term elections

JACK SMITH IS AN AMERICAN HERO.

 

We knew, of course, why Trump had to win a second term in office:

 

"Jack Smith testified that Trump committed serious crimes against the nation. 

Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified under oath that the investigative evidence revealed that Donald Trump committed serious crimes against the nation."

(That's not hard to believe about a man who's a convicted felon and adjudicated SA/rapist who's cheated, lied, and committed fraud all through his miserable life.)

********************************

Barry Abrams:

First, from former Special Counsel, Jack Smith, dragged back in front of a wholly supine Senate committee once again to explain how he dared investigate obvious, outrageous criminality by the most unequivocally corrupt president in American history, Smith had none of it.

The high farce of the hearing was when Republicans Eric Schmitt of Missouri and John Kennedy of Louisiana (every reporter’s cornpone savant) tried to land a grand, “gotcha” moment that backfired spectacularly. It’s already playing in heavy rotation on news outlets intermittently banned from the White House.

The assertion by the two Senators, one of whom repeatedly called Smith “a dirtbag” — and considering who they regularly caucus with, Schmitt and Kennedy know a thing or two about dirtbags — was that Smith, then investigating Trump for — well, what do you want to start with? — met up with Atlanta DA Fani Willis while in Georgia for an Atlanta Hawks NBA game.

Their only problem? The team Smith went to see was the Iowa Hawk … eyes. A college team. And in a totally different place. In Maryland. Not Atlanta. Which is 650 miles south. And as a kicker, it was a women’s game … featuring Caitlin Clark specifically … not 10 great big (and scary) black men.

Like almost everything about the Republican party today, it was a farce. Or “La farsa delle farse” as the Italians would say. Maybe not a full on sick farce like so much else in the MAGA hollers, but as down home stupid as it gets outside Loooosiana and the ‘Zarks.

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During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Republican Senator Eric Schmitt of Missouri attempted to trap former special counsel Jack Smith in a perjury accusation, only to embarrassingly fail by confusing the professional NBA team the Atlanta Hawks with the women's college basketball team the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Who's the dirtbag now, Senator Schmitt???

"They were so arrogant. They thought they busted Jack Smith perjuring himself. 

Senator Eric Schmitt accused Jack of traveling to Atlanta in 2024 to collude with Fani Willis, and his "proof" that he held up for about three seconds showed text messages that he was in Atlanta at a Hawks game. It turns out, he was in Maryland watching Caitlin Clark play. She was on the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

Schmitt, who may actually be dumber than Tommy Tuberville, got the teams wrong! This is always how it plays out. 

This isn't Twitter, it's court. 

This is where evidence comes out. Notice that the GOP has targeted all of Trump's enemies and none of them have been prosecuted. All they have is accusations. They know these people aren't guilty and they go through all this for political theater. 

That's why Biden, Obama, the SLPC, Dr Fauci, Willis, Hillary, Leticia James, and Jack Smith are all still walking free. 

If you ever feel like a failure, just take a look at the GOP and you'll feel better about yourself."

This is an actual screenshot of Sen. Schmitt’s staff the moment they realized their massive mistake.

He did what?

 

President Trump has asked Xi Jinping, the leader of China, whether he would like to buy American weapons, David Perdue, the American ambassador to China, said in a television interview on Sunday.

“President Trump continues to say, ‘Hey, we sell arms to other people around the world,’” Mr. Perdue said on “Fox News Sunday” while discussing the state visit by Mr. Xi to Washington last week. “He actually asked President Xi would he like to buy some at one point.”

Mr. Perdue did not give further details and did not reveal Mr. Xi’s reply.

China’s support for Russia and Iran in their respective wars relies on a delicate balance of "pro-neutrality" diplomacy masking deep covert economic and material assistance. Officially, Beijing presents itself as a neutral mediator calling for peace and ceasefires, but Western intelligence and trade data show that China acts as a primary lifeline enabling both nations to continue fighting. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]

China benefits from these drawn-out conflicts because they successfully divert U.S. and Western military assets, attention, and financial resources away from East Asia and the Indo-Pacific. By providing just enough covert assistance to prevent Russia and Iran from losing, Beijing keeps the conflicts bubbling along while positioning itself to look like the responsible, rule-abiding superpower advocating for global peace on the world stage

YOUR SUNDAY MOMENT OF ZEN

 

SATURDAY NIGHT FUNNIES

 

Trump reaches into the sewer to amuse his guest, the Chinese dictator.

 

"During Xi Jinping’s White House visit, President Donald Trump pointed out an 'autopen' image used in place of former President Joe Biden’s portrait and said, “This is the autopen,” using it to ridicule Biden in front of China’s authoritarian leader. 

Xi and members of his delegation laughed, and the White House’s official account amplified the moment online. Trump is ridiculing a former American President to gain favor with a Chinese Dictator while that former president is dying of cancer."        

In my lifetime I have never known a more unprincipled, unrepentant, and morally depraved person who is so utterly cruel and insensitive to the suffering of others.

Trump is dishonorable, cowardly, and completely lacking in even fundamental humanity. He is morally despicable and physically and spiritually repulsive.

Anyone still admiring and supporting this failed human being has, IMO, a questionable moral character themself.

Pay attention:

 

No matter what side of the aisle you’re on, this argument should be chilling. 

Trying to limit freedom of the press under the guise of national security is what tinpot dictators do. That’s not how a functioning democracy works. 

 CNN Breaking News:  

The Justice Department said that three major national media outlets can be shut out from areas of the White House at the president's will, and because their coverage could be a threat to national security.

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Authoritarian governments frequently limit media coverage under the explicit justification of "national security," though human rights groups and researchers note this is often a pretext for maintaining political control and silencing dissent. [1, 2, 3]

Why "National Security" is Used

Pretext for Control: According to reports by organizations like Reporters Without Borders (RSF), vague definitions of national security allow regimes to label critical reporting, investigative journalism, or political opposition as threats to the state. [1, 2]
Maintaining Power: Censorship helps authoritarian leaders suppress information that could destabilize their rule, expose corruption, or mobilize public protest. [1, 2]
Controlling Narratives: During conflicts or crises, restrictions are framed as necessary to preserve "national unity" or protect military operations, while actually serving to block independent verification. [1]

YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP:

 

The guy who never stops whining about wanting a Nobel Peace Prize just threatened to wipe out an entire country in front of the world.

Who would have thought that putting a stupid, corrupt, and incompetent person in the most powerful position on the planet would be a bad idea?

STATE-RUN TRUMP TV -- JUST LIKE AUTHORITARIAN AND COMMUNIST COUNTRIES.

 

Remember all the times Trump and MAGA claimed the Democrats were going to turn America "communist?"

Guess what:

Trump and the First Amendment

Many presidents have had a bad press – but Donald Trump’s decision to ban selected media from the White House is extreme

Who are the Americans who are OK with the president of the United States banning journalists because he doesn’t like what they write about him?

 I’m with Thomas Jefferson who said if we had to make a choice between a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, he would choose the latter rather than the former. 

What’s happened to Americans that make so many accept this assault on our Constitution and the First Amendment? I hate to admit it, but a lot of Americans have become cowardly, frightened little people.

 Do not accept this. Ever! From anyone, least of all a convicted felon President. 

From the NYTimes:  "...the founders were clear in emphasizing, 'That freedom of the press meant the freedom to say things that the government did not like.' As James Madison wrote, 'To the press alone, chequered as it is with abuses, the world is indebted for all the triumphs which have been gained by reason and humanity over error and oppression.' And as the Times reminds, 'The Bill of Rights devotes part of its first item — the First Amendment — to the idea, barring any laws that abridge ‘the freedom of speech or of the press.' "

Jim Wright:

Yesterday, Trump banned specific members of the Free Press from the White House. 

Today, the White House Press Pool walked out in solidarity with CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. The Press won't be traveling with the President to the UN. 

This morning, Vice President JD Vance argued before the Press that a "Republican White House" shouldn't have to give access to reporters who cover the Trump Administration unfavorably.

Trump says he imposed this ban because these reporters only report "fake news." In other words, Trump has declared himself the single authority of truth. HE decides what is true and what is false. It's his reality and you just live in it.

That's their argument. 

A President shouldn't have to give access to the Press if the Press doesn't report favorably on that President and his Administration. 

Think about that. 

No. No. REALLY think about that in terms of the rights enumerated in First Amendment. If Trump is the arbiter of Freedom of the Press, then by implication he also decides the rest of the Bill of Rights. YOUR rights. 

So, 

- a President shouldn't have to allow a citizen freedom of speech if that speech is unfavorable to the president

- a President shouldn't have to allow citizens to assemble if he thinks they'll be unfavorable to him

- a President shouldn't have to allow freedom of religion if that religion isn't favored by the President

- a President shouldn't have to allow a citizen to petition the government for redress of wrongs if the president doesn't think he himself is ever wrong.

Instead of "President," I should have said "King."

Because that's what Trump now is in all but name. 

And we are his subjects.

BREAKING:   Donald Trump was at a ribbon-cutting ceremony today, but there was no audio — because none of the press showed up to cover it due to his bans of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico. Watching a clip on Newsmax I came across online, they had to cut away and point out that they couldn't understand what Trump was saying because there was no press there to cover it. --Allen Clifton

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Major TV networks that rotate covering the president for wider media distribution say they will not do so moving forward after President Trump banned three media outlets from the White House last week. 

Fox News Media, ABC News, CBS News, NBC News and CNN responded to the ban in a rare joint statement, saying “the public has a vital interest in receiving accurate, independent information about its government.”

 

TO THE MAGAs WHO READ MY BLOG AND SOMETIMES COMMENT:

 

Tell us why you're all so upset with New York City Mayor Mamdani and Dr. El-Sayed, who is campaigning to be the U.S. Senator from Michigan,  but not this:

YOUR SUNDAY MOMENT OF ZEN

 

SATURDAY NIGHT MUSIC

 

 

Canada Welcomes EU Proposal to Become "Associate Member"

Canada is not going to become a full member of the European Union, as it is legally ineligible because it is not a European state. However, Canada and the EU are currently negotiating a historic "associate membership"—a newly proposed, unprecedented status that would stop just short of full membership.

Geopolitical Realignment:

Driven by escalating trade tensions and tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump, Canada is looking to diversify its economy away from its heavy dependence on the United States. [1, 2, 3]

Mobility: Ottawa is exploring an arrangement that would allow Canadian citizens to live and work in Europe visa-free. [1]

Sector Cooperation: Deeper Integration is planned across defense procurement, AI, cybersecurity, the Arctic, critical minerals, and clean energy. Canada has already paved the way by becoming the first non-European country to join the EU's €150-billion SAFE defense procurement program

 

Mark Carney just got a standing ovation from European Parliament after he took a stand against Trump. The world doesn’t respect us anymore. The world is partnering against us. 

America first means America alone.

Mark Carney: "We are not fair-weather allies. We do not pursue zero-sum deals. Our commitment to the rule of law and our unyielding defense of human dignity, individual freedom, and democracy share the same deep roots, the same unwavering dedication."

 

President of the European Union Ursula Von der Leyen described the proposed framework as an “Alliance for the Future,” designed to connect European and Canadian economic and security interests more closely. Prime Minister Mark Carney responded: “It will make Europe stronger, it will make Canada stronger. It will make, I’ll speak for Canada, Canada a better partner with the United States. And with respect to sovereignty …. we are looking for partnerships that are complimentary, that reinforce our sovereignty. And that’s what’s on offer here.”

 

Trump did that:

 

BREAKING: 

Judge says government must give 30 days’ notice before demolishing Kennedy Center after Trump seen with demolition plans.

We are close to seeing the John F. Kennedy Memorial Performing Arts Center demolished by a convicted criminal because he was stopped by a judge from putting his name on the building.