Letters from an American

May 22, 2026
In a graduation speech at the University of Michigan in 1964, President Lyndon Johnson laid out his vision for “the Great Society,” It was a forward looking vision of a country that used its post-World War II prosperity to look toward greater things, and to advance civil rights and end poverty, Congress would pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, and the Food Stamp Act, Democrats were able to pass 84 new laws to put the Great Society into place, Congress took on voting rights, access to education, health insurance, and the rights of consumers, It enacted laws protecting the environment and supporting the arts, In his speech at the University of Michigan, Johnson charged the graduates to lead America toward a new age, reminding them that Americans have the power to shape the civilization that we want.
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May 21, 2026Congress has left for the Memorial Day holiday, It appears some Republican members of Congress have mutinied against Trump, Republican senators met in what is described as a hostile meeting with acting attorney general Todd Blanche, Republican senators are speaking out against Trump’s slush fund, Repubicans are also frustrated by Trump intervening in Republican primaries, Senate leadership decided not to try and pass funding for immigration agencies, and left Trump’s request for $1 billion for his ballroom out of the funding package, In the House, Republicans pulled a vote to stop the war on Iran, as they did not have the votes to defeat it, Republicans may be starting to crack.  
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May 20, 2026
Daniel Hodges aed Harry Dunn, who defended the Capitol on January 6, sue Trump to block the creation of his slush fund to pay off those convicted of crimes related to that attack, The lawsuit covers what actually happened on January 6, in detail, In the House, Rep Jamie Raskin has introduced an act to prohibit use of federal funds to pay off anyone claiming to have faced “weaponization,” Trump is making it clear that making money and building monuments to himself are his priorities, Funding for the ballroom could not go into a budget reconciliation measure, so Trump is trying to replace the Senate parliamentarian, Republicans are taking note of Trump’s cratering approval ratings, Trump has backed Ken Paxton against John Cornyn in Texas, and successfully backed the challenger to Kentucky’s Thomas Massie, but shrinking margins suggest that his hold may be loosening.
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May 19, 2026
Department of Justice announces $1.776 billion “Anti-Weaponization Fund," Administration continues to blame others for actions that they themselves are doing, The fund is not part of a legal settlement of Trump’s case against the IRS, which Trump has withdrawn, But Trump has reached an agreement with the DOJ, giving him full control of the fund, Trump loyalists are looking to compensate participants in the January 6 insurrection, The agreement was then amended to add a blanket promise to stop all IRS audits of Trump, his sons, and the Trump Organization, Described as a "pardon on steroids,” it appears intended to stop the government from convicting Trump of tax evasion, Meanwhile, Trump held a press conference to talk about the White House ballroom.
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May 17, 2026
Trump administration organizes a taxpayer funded evangelical worship event in Washington DC, Administration seeks to use the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence to promote its ideology, Trump loyalists have taken over planning for the nation’s birthday celebration from Congress, Trump’s Freedom 250 project showcases Trump more than the nation’s history, In a false reading of history, speakers at the event assured the crowd that the US was founded as a Christian nation, The founders were clear that government should be separate from religion, MAGA politics requires obedience rather than self-government, But questioning and debating is essential for advancing the nation’s core political values, A belief in the principles of democracy, and a commitment to America’s civic identity unifies the nation and is the story of America. 
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