Democracy Now! Wednesday, June 3, 2026
The Trump administration has abandoned its $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' for January 6 rioters and allies, but the broader settlement that permanently blocks the IRS from investigating Trump, his family, and businesses remains in place—raising alarms among former federal judges who call the entire process a 'fraud on the court.' Retired judge Nancy Gertner and former New Jersey Attorney General Matt Plotkin argue the lawsuit was a sham, with the president suing himself to justify a slush fund, and that the acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, a former personal lawyer for Trump, has now reversed course under bipartisan pressure. Meanwhile, in Chicago, the charges against the 'Broadview Six'—activists protesting ICE abuses—were dismissed after a federal judge uncovered shocking prosecutorial misconduct, including the U.S. attorney personally addressing the grand jury and prosecutors redacting and withholding key evidence. The case reveals a pattern of political prosecutions weaponizing the justice system, with calls growing for the resignation of the interim U.S. attorney and broader accountability. In Gaza, Israel's strikes killed at least four Palestinians, while Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The episode paints a picture of systemic erosion of democratic norms, from judicial corruption to mass deportations and the weaponization of federal agencies.
The Trump administration abandoned the $1.8 billion slush fund for January 6 rioters, but the underlying settlement that blocks IRS investigations of Trump and his family remains intact.
35 former federal judges filed a motion to reopen the Trump-IRS case, calling it a 'fraud on the court' and alleging collusion between the president and his own legal team.
The U.S. attorney in Chicago admitted to widespread prosecutorial misconduct in the Broadview Six case, including the U.S. attorney personally addressing the grand jury and prosecutors redacting and hiding evidence.
The Broadview Six were charged for peacefully protesting ICE abuses at the Broadview Processing Center, which activists describe as a 'concentration camp' where detainees are denied food, water, and medical care.
A federal judge found that prosecutors deliberately misled the court by withholding entire pages of grand jury transcripts and blacking out misconduct, which led to the dismissal of all charges.
…and 3 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Trump Abandons $1.8B Slush Fund for January 6 Rioters
“We're not moving forward with the fund, period.”
Iran Attacks Kuwait and Bahrain After U.S. Strikes
Iran launched a barrage of missiles and drones at Kuwait and Bahrain, killing one and wounding 60, in retaliation for U.S. strikes on Qeshm Island, while Trump warned the Strait of Hormuz could be closed by Labor Day.
Israel's Gaza Strikes Kill Four, Wound 130+
“I personally picked up pieces of his skull, pieces of his head and pieces of his flesh from the ground.”
Supreme Court Upholds Alabama's Racial Gerrymander
“Now the court is squarely faced with a record of the turmoil it's caused and the harm it's wrought.”
CBS Fires Veteran Correspondent Scott Pelley
Scott Pelley, a 37-year veteran of CBS News, was fired after confronting new management, accusing them of destroying 60 Minutes, amid a broader purge of critical voices at the network.
“I personally picked up pieces of his skull, pieces of his head and pieces of his flesh from the ground.”
“In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, quote, Now the court is squarely faced with a record of the turmoil it's caused and the harm it's wrought.”
“There was no effort to defend it in any meaningful way. In fact, as the judge found, there was a document from the IRS which made it clear what their defenses were in like cases, defenses that they were just not raising in this case because they were just rolling over.”
Host
Guests
Trump administration
organization
Todd Blanche
person
Broadview Six
organization
ICE
organization
IRS
organization
Nancy Gertner
person
Israel
place
Matt Plotkin
person
Iran
place
Supreme Court
organization
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