Latest news with #MAGA-branded
India Today
16-06-2025
- Business
- India Today
Donald Trump might launch his own phone and telecom network, patent filing suggests
Donald Trump could be planning his next big move — and this time, it's not politics or real estate. Two new trademark applications filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) hint at a possible Trump-branded mobile phone and telecom network. The filings were made on June 12 by DTTM Operations LLC, the company that handles the former president's trademarks, and include applications for the names 'TRUMP' and 'T1'. The documents mention products like mobile phones, phone cases, battery chargers, and wireless telecom services, along with plans to open physical retail stores under the Trump brand. While nothing is official yet, the level of detail in these filings does spark curiosity and speculation about what Trump's next business venture could to the paperwork, the filings were submitted under what's known as an 'intent-to-use' basis. This means Trump's company isn't selling the products just yet, but has made a formal declaration that it genuinely plans to do so. A lawyer for the Trump Organisation even signed a sworn statement confirming this attorney Josh Gerben, who first spotted the applications and shared insights in a blog post, said that while a trademark filing doesn't guarantee a product will launch, the specifics point to 'serious consideration.' If the venture goes ahead, it would mark a notable shift for Trump's business, which has traditionally focused on property, hotels, and merchandise. What's also interesting is the name T1. While it sounds like a catchy label for a phone or network, it could face legal trouble. Gerben notes that T-Mobile might challenge the trademark, given the similarity to its own brand. If the telecom giant argues that consumers might mistake T1 as being linked to or endorsed by T-Mobile, it could raise a trademark infringement these potential roadblocks, the filings suggest a clear ambition — to build a MAGA-branded alternative in the mobile space. Trump supporters could soon be carrying not just red hats, but possibly red phones too. Whether this idea will go beyond paper remains to be seen, but the groundwork has certainly been latest filings also add to a growing list of trademarks filed by Trump's companies in 2025 alone. As of June 13, there have been 27 such applications since he returned to office in January, indicating that branding remains a key part of Trump's broader strategy, whether in business, politics, or In
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump unleashes MAGA rebellion on Federalist Society
President Trump and his allies are waging war with the Federalist Society as he sees parts of his second-term agenda blocked by some of his own judicial appointees. Simmering tensions broke into full public view after Trump called longtime Federalist leader Leonard Leo a 'sleazebag' after a court blocked the bulk of Trump's tariffs. The boiling point has unleashed a rebellion pitting the Make America Great Again movement against the conservative legal stronghold that helped Trump reshape the courts during his first term by offering up conservative judges as suggestions to fill benches across the country. As the president embarks on choosing his next set of judicial nominees in his second-term, his decisions are now being shaped by a new, MAGA-branded team. Inside the White House, judicial appointments are being spearheaded by chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House counsel David Warrington and Deputy White House counsel Steve Kenny. The Federalist Society once played a central role in advising Trump's White House on those decisions. But in the president's second term, the process has shifted to include outside influence from the Article III Project, which is spearheaded by close Trump legal ally Mike Davis. Davis served as chief counsel for nominations to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during Trump's first term, where in that role he helped clear the way for the president's judicial nominees. David also previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trump's first nominee to the high court. His relationship with Trump grew closer after the FBI raided the president's Mar-a-Lago resort and he defended the president in the press. Meanwhile, the Federalist Society looked the other way, Davis said in an interview with The Hill. 'They abandoned President Trump during the lawfare against him,' he said. 'And not only did they abandon him — they had several FedSoc leaders who participated in the lawfare and threw gas on the fire.' It's a major shift from Trump's first term, when Trump's alliance with Leo was bountiful. Trump ushered in a Supreme Court 6-3 conservative supermajority that left Federalist Society panelists popping champagne at one recent convention to celebrate their success. Leo built the lists that Trump chose from to select his three high court nominees: Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. The three justices have delivered significant wins for the conservative legal movement, including expanding the Second Amendment, overturning the constitutional right to abortion, reining in federal agency power and reinforcing religious rights. It culminated decades of efforts by Leo to challenge liberal legal orthodoxy by building a pipeline that propels young conservative attorneys into powerful judicial roles. Fueled by a network of donors, Leo's groups have directed massive sums to conservative legal, political and public relations organizations, gaining him a villainous reputation among Democrats. The Federalist Society has become a bastion of that project, with Leo serving as its longtime former executive vice president. Formed in 1982 by a group of law students opposed to liberal ideology at prominent law schools, the Federalist Society has become a dominant force, though it officially takes no position on any legal or political issue as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. But Trump is souring on the group in his second term as he expresses frustration with his judicial picks who've blocked parts of his agenda. Last week, the president turned his ire toward Leo and the Federalist Society after the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked the bulk of his tariffs. 'I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges,' Trump wrote in a winding post. 'I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.' In a statement responding to the attack, Leo declined to attack Trump, instead praising him for 'transforming' the federal courts and calling it the president's 'most important legacy.' Trump's post went on to slam the Federalist Society for the 'bad advice' it gave him on 'numerous' judicial nominations. 'This is something that cannot be forgotten!' Trump said. A Federalist Society spokesperson did not return multiple requests for comment. It remains unclear why Trump specifically targeted Leo in his response to the tariff ruling. The trade court panel included one of Trump's own appointees, Judge Timothy Reif. Reif is a Democrat, as federal law required Trump to keep partisan balance on the trade court. Steven Calabresi, who co-chairs the Federalist Society's board with Leo, submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in the case alongside other prominent conservative attorneys calling Trump's tariffs unlawful. And the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a libertarian group that has received funding from entities associated with Leo, is suing Trump over his China tariffs on behalf of a small business, though that case was not the subject of last week's ruling. But the splintering relationship between Trump and the Federalist Society has been 'brewing for years,' Davis said. In January, allies of the president grew outraged online after Politico reported that a public relations firm chaired by Leo was assisting an advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence in a campaign to derail Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination. Pence defended Leo and the Federalist Society on X Monday, calling them 'indispensable partners' throughout Trump's first term and suggesting conservative Americans owe the group a 'debt of gratitude.' And beyond the cabinet, some prominent conservative attorneys have criticized Trump's nomination of Emil Bove, a close legal ally who worked as Trump's former criminal defense attorney, to a federal appeals court. Ed Whelan, a Federalist Society mainstay and prominent conservative attorney who has been critical of Trump, has particularly gone after Trump's nomination of Bove, describing the attorney as a bully. 'Bove's admirers call him 'fearless,' but the same could be said of mafia henchmen,' Whelan wrote for the National Review. Whelan's comments sparked rebuttals from the top levels of Trump's Justice Department. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who represented Trump with Bove, accused Whelan of being envious, saying he was leveling 'cheap shots.' Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department's civil rights division, called it one of 'dumbest and nastiest headlines' she had ever seen. 'Some small minded men appear to be jealous and bitter that the best they can do is dictate their unedited mean girl thoughts into their phones and have some other mean girls publish the same,' Dhillon wrote on X. Trump's second term presents another chance to elevate conservative-minded judicial nominees nationwide. Davis said there's no going back to the 2016 playbook. 'We have to update our playbook, and we have to have a different prototype for judges,' he said. 'They need to be bold and fearless, like Emil Bove.' 'And I'm not saying they need to be bold and fearless for Trump, he added. 'They need to be bold and fearless for the Constitution.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
04-06-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Trump unleashes MAGA rebellion on Federalist Society
The Gavel is The Hill's weekly courts newsletter. Sign up here or in the box below: Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here President Trump and his allies are waging war with the Federalist Society as he sees parts of his second-term agenda blocked by some of his own judicial appointees. Simmering tensions broke into full public view after Trump called longtime Federalist leader Leonard Leo a 'sleazebag' after a court blocked the bulk of Trump's tariffs. The boiling point has unleashed a rebellion pitting the Make America Great Again movement against the conservative legal stronghold that helped Trump reshape the courts during his first term by offering up conservative judges as suggestions to fill benches across the country. As the president embarks on choosing his next set of judicial nominees in his second-term, his decisions are now being shaped by a new, MAGA-branded team. Inside the White House, judicial appointments are being spearheaded by chief of staff Susie Wiles, White House counsel David Warrington and Deputy White House counsel Steve Kenny. The Federalist Society once played a central role in advising Trump's White House on those decisions. But in the president's second term, the process has shifted to include outside influence from the Article III Project, which is spearheaded by close Trump legal ally Mike Davis. Davis served as chief counsel for nominations to Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) during Trump's first term, where in that role he helped clear the way for the president's judicial nominees. David also previously clerked for Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, Trump's first nominee to the high court. His relationship with Trump grew closer after the FBI raided the president's Mar-a-Lago resort and he defended the president in the press. Meanwhile, the Federalist Society looked the other way, Davis said in an interview with The Hill. 'They abandoned President Trump during the lawfare against him,' he said. 'And not only did they abandon him — they had several FedSoc leaders who participated in the lawfare and threw gas on the fire.' It's a major shift from Trump's first term, when Trump's alliance with Leo was bountiful. Trump ushered in a Supreme Court 6-3 conservative supermajority that left Federalist Society panelists popping champagne at one recent convention to celebrate their success. Leo built the lists that Trump chose from to select his three high court nominees: Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. The three justices have delivered significant wins for the conservative legal movement, including expanding the Second Amendment, overturning the constitutional right to abortion, reining in federal agency power and reinforcing religious rights. It culminated decades of efforts by Leo to challenge liberal legal orthodoxy by building a pipeline that propels young conservative attorneys into powerful judicial roles. Fueled by a network of donors, Leo's groups have directed massive sums to conservative legal, political and public relations organizations, gaining him a villainous reputation among Democrats. The Federalist Society has become a bastion of that project, with Leo serving as its longtime former executive vice president. Formed in 1982 by a group of law students opposed to liberal ideology at prominent law schools, the Federalist Society has become a dominant force, though it officially takes no position on any legal or political issue as a 501(c)3 nonprofit. But Trump is souring on the group in his second term as he expresses frustration with his judicial picks who've blocked parts of his agenda. Last week, the president turned his ire toward Leo and the Federalist Society after the U.S. Court of International Trade blocked the bulk of his tariffs. 'I was new to Washington, and it was suggested that I use The Federalist Society as a recommending source on Judges,' Trump wrote in a winding post. 'I did so, openly and freely, but then realized that they were under the thumb of a real 'sleazebag' named Leonard Leo, a bad person who, in his own way, probably hates America, and obviously has his own separate ambitions.' In a statement responding to the attack, Leo declined to attack Trump, instead praising him for 'transforming' the federal courts and calling it the president's 'most important legacy.' Trump's post went on to slam the Federalist Society for the 'bad advice' it gave him on 'numerous' judicial nominations. 'This is something that cannot be forgotten!' Trump said. A Federalist Society spokesperson did not return multiple requests for comment. It remains unclear why Trump specifically targeted Leo in his response to the tariff ruling. The trade court panel included one of Trump's own appointees, Judge Timothy Reif. Reif is a Democrat, as federal law required Trump to keep partisan balance on the trade court. Steven Calabresi, who co-chairs the Federalist Society's board with Leo, submitted a friend-of-the-court brief in the case alongside other prominent conservative attorneys calling Trump's tariffs unlawful. And the New Civil Liberties Alliance, a libertarian group that has received funding from entities associated with Leo, is suing Trump over his China tariffs on behalf of a small business, though that case was not the subject of last week's ruling. But the splintering relationship between Trump and the Federalist Society has been 'brewing for years,' Davis said. In January, allies of the president grew outraged online after Politico reported that a public relations firm chaired by Leo was assisting an advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence in a campaign to derail Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s nomination. Pence defended Leo and the Federalist Society on X Monday, calling them 'indispensable partners' throughout Trump's first term and suggesting conservative Americans owe the group a 'debt of gratitude.' And beyond the cabinet, some prominent conservative attorneys have criticized Trump's nomination of Emil Bove, a close legal ally who worked as Trump's former criminal defense attorney, to a federal appeals court. Ed Whelan, a Federalist Society mainstay and prominent conservative attorney who has been critical of Trump, has particularly gone after Trump's nomination of Bove, describing the attorney as a bully. 'Bove's admirers call him 'fearless,' but the same could be said of mafia henchmen,' Whelan wrote for the National Review. Whelan's comments sparked rebuttals from the top levels of Trump's Justice Department. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, who represented Trump with Bove, accused Whelan of being envious, saying he was leveling 'cheap shots.' Harmeet Dhillon, who leads the Justice Department's civil rights division, called it one of 'dumbest and nastiest headlines' she had ever seen. 'Some small minded men appear to be jealous and bitter that the best they can do is dictate their unedited mean girl thoughts into their phones and have some other mean girls publish the same,' Dhillon wrote on X. Trump's second term presents another chance to elevate conservative-minded judicial nominees nationwide. Davis said there's no going back to the 2016 playbook. 'We have to update our playbook, and we have to have a different prototype for judges,' he said. 'They need to be bold and fearless, like Emil Bove.' 'And I'm not saying they need to be bold and fearless for Trump, he added. 'They need to be bold and fearless for the Constitution.'
Black America Web
24-05-2025
- Business
- Black America Web
The Midnight Medicaid Cuts: Why The GOP's Reconciliation Bill Is A Raw Deal For The American People
Source: Douglas Rissing / Getty In the early hours of the morning, while most Americans were asleep, House Republicans convened a hearing that stretched into an eight-hour marathon to push through a sweeping 1,100-page reconciliation bill. The timing was no coincidence. It was a calculated attempt to avoid scrutiny and quietly advance a legislative agenda that disproportionately benefits the wealthy, undermines essential public services, and fuels divisive culture wars. This bill is not about economic growth or fiscal responsibility. It's the latest chapter in a long-standing political grift: one where working families are told to tighten their belts while the powerful receive handouts disguised as policy. At the heart of the bill are aggressive cuts to Medicaid and food assistance—critical lifelines for millions of Americans. By moving up the timeline for mandatory work requirements to 2026, House Republicans are putting an estimated 14 million people at risk of losing their healthcare and three million households in danger of losing food security. These aren't just numbers—they represent real families who are already navigating an economy marked by uncertainty, inflation, and widening inequality. Meanwhile, the bill remains generous to the wealthiest Americans, offering trillions in tax breaks to those who need them least. But it doesn't stop there. In a bizarre twist, it also includes a provision to create $1,000 'Trump Accounts' for babies born between 2025 and 2029. Ostensibly designed to support long-term savings, these MAGA-branded investment funds are more about political branding than substantive policy. It's a campaign slogan masquerading as a fiscal tool. Simultaneously, the bill strips healthcare access from some of the country's most vulnerable populations. It imposes a sweeping ban on Medicaid and CHIP funding for gender-affirming care, not just for minors, but for all recipients. This isn't about protecting public funds; it's a targeted attack on the transgender community, one that erodes the foundational principle that healthcare should be accessible to all. And if the stakes weren't high enough, the bill also includes provisions that compromise public safety. Language quietly added in the final hours eliminates the federal tax and registration requirement for gun silencers, long established as safeguards to help law enforcement trace weapons used in violent crimes. As Rep. Mary Gay Scanlon (D-Pa.) noted, this change is not just reckless—it's radical. Even more troubling, an earlier draft of the bill included language that would have shielded former President Trump and his administration from contempt citations if they violated court orders. While the provision was ultimately removed, its mere presence reflects a dangerous willingness to circumvent the judiciary and concentrate power in the executive branch. The bill also threatens access to reproductive and preventative health services by targeting Planned Parenthood. If passed, up to one-third of Planned Parenthood health centers—nearly 200 facilities—could be forced to close due to funding restrictions tied to abortion and gender-affirming care. This would severely limit access to cancer screenings, birth control, and general health care in underserved communities. One of the most telling moments during the hearing, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández (D-N.M.) held Republicans accountable for the sheer absurdity—and hypocrisy—of their priorities. When questioning a provision that repealed the federal excise tax on indoor tanning services, she asked the bill's sponsor to read the line item aloud. He refused. 'Oh, he doesn't want to read it,' Rep. Leger Fernández said. 'This is in their bill. They don't want to read a line from their own bill.' Fernández then delivered a blistering critique: 'So if you have a tanning bed, you get a little bit of a tax break. And if you need a hospital bed in rural America, I'm sorry, you're out of luck.' Her words underscored the bill's deeply skewed values, where luxury perks are prioritized over basic healthcare access. This is not a comprehensive plan for economic recovery or public well-being. It's a deeply flawed document that prioritizes political loyalty, culture war distractions, and corporate interests over the everyday needs of American families. It represents the erosion of public trust, transparency, and responsible governance. While some provisions—such as the nonprotection of public lands in Utah and Nevada—were rightfully removed, and attempts to strip federal employees of earned retirement benefits were reversed, these adjustments cannot redeem a bill that is fundamentally out of step with the priorities of the American people. As this bill heads to the Senate, lawmakers—and the public—must remain vigilant. Because this isn't just bad policy. It's a dangerous precedent. Governance should be transparent, equitable, and rooted in service to the people, not pushed through under the cover of darkness to serve the ambitions of a few. The American people deserve better. SEE ALSO: SPLC: U.S. Hate Groups Declined—Is It Really A Good Thing? Harvard Fights Back Against Trump International Student Ban SEE ALSO The Midnight Medicaid Cuts: Why The GOP's Reconciliation Bill Is A Raw Deal For The American People was originally published on Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE
Global News
01-05-2025
- Automotive
- Global News
Elon Musk says he's stepping back from White House, DOGE duties
Tech billionaire Elon Musk is preparing to scale back his role in the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to focus on his electric car company, Tesla. Musk made the announcement following U.S. President Donald Trump's Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, where he wore two MAGA-branded hats on top of each other with the words 'Gulf of America' printed on them. 'They say I wear a lot of hats, and as you can see, it's true. Even my hat has a hat,' joked Musk. Musing about his and DOGE's incongruous role in the U.S. government, he said, 'It is funny that we've got DOGE.' 'Doesn't the absurdity of that seem, like, like, are we in a simulation here or what's going on? But, like, it was a meme coin at one point,' he said, laughing. 'How did we get here?' he said. Story continues below advertisement View image in full screen Elon Musk, wearing two hats, looks on as U.S. President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting in the White House in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2025. JIM WATSON / Getty Images Later, Musk defended DOGE as he prepares to reduce his role, but gave vague answers about the work he's done thus far and the future of the pseudo-governmental agency before addressing the widespread backlash he has received during his short tenure as department chief. 2:06 Musk to step back from DOGE, focus on Tesla after Q1 profit plunge 'Being attacked relentlessly is not super fun,' he said. 'Seeing cars burning is not fun.' Story continues below advertisement In protest of Musk's far-reaching role, people across the U.S. and beyond have vandalized and set fire to Teslas. In one instance, suspects rigged multiple vehicles with explosives. During the first four months of 2024, the once-popular car brand struggled to sell vehicles. The company reported a large 71 per cent drop in first-quarter profits to US$409 million, or 12 cents a share. That's far below analyst estimates. Tesla's revenue fell nine per cent to $19.3 billion in the January through March period, below Wall Street's forecast. Get daily National news Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day. Sign up for daily National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy DOGE is charged with reducing government spending and has made billions of dollars in cuts across multiple federal departments by slashing the workforce and shuttering entire departments. According to CNN, during Trump's first 100 days in office, his administration laid off 121,000 federal employees, eviscerated the Department of Education and the Department for International Development (USAID), and made significant cuts to the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Story continues below advertisement The gutting of federal agencies has led to dozens of lawsuits, while DOGE's attempts to access sensitive government information, including Social Security data, have met resistance in court, a move Musk openly defended on Wednesday, by claiming the U.S. is already accessing people's private information. 'Don't we already have a surveillance state?' he said, arguing DOGE needs to access the systems in its hunt for fraud, adding, 'There has to be some way to reconcile the improper payments.' DOGE had set a target to reduce federal spending by $1 trillion, though Musk estimates he's cut $160 billion so far and acknowledged the $1 trillion target was ambitious. 'It's sort of, how much pain is the Cabinet and the Congress willing to take?' Musk said. 'It can be done, but it requires dealing with a lot of complaints,' he said. Finally, when asked who will take over his role at DOGE when he departs, Musk responded, 'DOGE is a way of life … like Buddhism.' — With files from The Associated Press
