Systemic Error Podcast

What happened AlterNet reports that Donald Trump’s own $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC has exposed him to a deposition he sought to avoid. A federal judge ordered Trump to testify by December 11 or face sanctions; U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett warned his lawyers that continued noncompliance could result in dismissal. Trump sued over a 2024 BBC documentary that combined separa...

What happened AlterNet reports that Britt McHenry, a State Department press adviser in President Donald Trump’s administration, was removed from the Washington Wizards’ home opener after a confrontation with other spectators. Video published by TMZ shows her throwing a drink toward a fan while leaving, arguing with a security guard, and exiting amid boos and objects thrown from the crowd. People d...

What happened Christiane Amanpour decided to leave CNN after more than 43 years despite months of appeals from network chief Mark Thompson. AlterNet reports that concerns about CNN’s direction under David and Larry Ellison influenced her decision, while the recurrence of her ovarian cancer—described by Amanpour as “being very well managed”—also played a role. CNN plans to reduce Amanpour to one we...

What happened According to AlterNet, President Donald Trump used a White House ceremony for Melania Trump’s women’s-health initiative to question publicly whether her signature “means anything.” After uncomfortable laughter, he added, “I think it does.” The first lady replied that his signature was “the most important.” Melania Trump presented the directive as a major expansion of research and tre...

What happened Ken Griffin, the billionaire founder of Citadel and a major Republican donor, said President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans made a serious fiscal error by extending tax cuts when the United States lacked the capacity to absorb the lost revenue. Speaking Tuesday at a New York conference, Griffin said Republicans “have their hands dirty” primarily because of the tax cuts, a...

What happened AlterNet reports that legal commentator Elie Mystal warned about activist Ed Blum’s proposal to require universities to disclose extensive applicant data—including test scores, grades, family income, Pell Grant eligibility and coursework—broken down by race and ethnicity. Mystal argues that such disclosure could deter Black and Latino students from applying. The report connects Blum’...

What happened AlterNet reports that The Wall Street Journal editorial board warned President Donald Trump against pursuing a grand bargain with Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping that would divide Ukraine and other regions into great-power spheres of influence. The board argued that such an arrangement would destroy U.S. credibility with its allies while rewarding governments hostile to American intere...

What happened Donald Trump endorsed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a seventh term ahead of an Oct. 27 election, presenting Netanyahu as the leader Israelis should retain. AlterNet argues that the endorsement is less likely to decide the close contest than to advertise Trump’s own preference for aggressive military policy, personal loyalty and dominant leaders. The outlet reports tha...

What happened AlterNet argues that access to President Donald Trump has become a source of power inside the administration as his attention span reportedly declines. Historian Zeb Larson identifies aide Natalie Harp as a power broker because she can reach Trump, though the article says her precise role is unclear and does not document particular decisions she made. The article also cites Washingto...

What happened AlterNet reports that Eric Pratt, the Republican candidate for Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, briefly published an apparent internal instruction on his campaign website: “The president is not popular,” so campaign messaging should emphasize local concerns. A screenshot circulated on X, and AlterNet says an archived version confirmed that the language had appeared in the site...

What happened Some Americans remain loyal to President Donald Trump despite policies that hurt their communities because, sociologist Arlie Hochschild told AlterNet, he has tied their economic losses and wounded pride to a story of betrayal, scapegoats and promised retribution. Voters she interviewed acknowledged that Trump lies and bullies but described him as “our bully”—a powerful figure they b...

What happened AlterNet reports that Trump biographer Michael Wolff predicts President Donald Trump would respond to a Democratic midterm victory by mounting an aggressive campaign to reclaim public attention. Speaking on his Daily Beast podcast, Wolff argued that Trump would try immediately to convince the country that he still controlled the political stage. Wolff did not identify a specific plan...

What happened AlterNet reports that three people close to President Donald Trump told The Atlantic he believes Ukraine is attacking Russian oil refineries partly to raise energy prices and damage Republicans in the 2026 midterms. That is the “singular theory”: Ukraine, in Trump’s view, is not merely pursuing its war against Russia but meddling in an American election to weaken him. The reporting s...

What happened AlterNet reports that federal judges rejected key parts of the Trump administration’s attempt to use the Constitution’s supremacy clause to expand federal authority over immigration enforcement and voting. In New York, U.S. District Judge Ramón Reyes dismissed a Justice Department challenge to New York City’s sanctuary policies on October 15, finding that the federal government lacke...

What happened AlterNet, citing Bloomberg Law, reports that Patrick Davis, the Justice Department’s top congressional liaison, planned to resign at the end of October after roughly a year leading the Office of Legislative Affairs. The report placed his departure before the November elections and an anticipated increase in congressional investigations if Democrats won either chamber. It did not esta...

What happened AlterNet reports that Elon Musk was involved in limiting Starshield service during a major Russian attack on Ukraine. Citing reporting by The Wall Street Journal and CBS News, it says connection-speed caps made some Ukrainian offensive and interceptor drones nearly unusable. The precise chain of command remains disputed: Musk blamed the Trump administration, administration sources bl...

What happened The “bad news” came from Kevin Mahn, chief investment officer at Hennion and Walsh—not from Fox News as an institution. Appearing on Fox on Wednesday, Mahn said investors should not expect oil prices to fall quickly after the midterm elections or assume the Strait of Hormuz will simply reopen. With oil trading above $100 a barrel, he warned that sustained energy inflation could press...

What happened AlterNet reports that the Trump administration wants to pursue tax charges against people accused of profiting from fraud, even as its own staffing and budget decisions have weakened the agencies needed to bring those cases. Justice Department fraud official Colin McDonald said investigators had identified dozens of cases involving an alleged combined $490 million in attempted fraud...

What happened AlterNet reports that CNN analyst Aaron Blake identified a cluster of alleged conflicts, financial entanglements, and possible influence trading around President Donald Trump’s administration. The “no paper trail” allegation concerns former ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle: according to text messages obtained by The Wall Street Journal , she repeatedly discouraged written records while...

What happened AlterNet reports that President Donald Trump initially accused Stephen A. Smith of being “nasty and mean” to him during a White House dinner attended by Smith, Bill Maher, and Kid Rock. Smith said he then challenged Trump over policies he believes discourage private support for historically Black colleges and universities and diversity initiatives. According to Smith, Trump replied t...

What happened AlterNet reports that a Politico poll conducted October 16–19 found 54 percent of Americans—including 25 percent of Republican voters planning to participate in the midterms—said President Donald Trump had committed impeachable offenses. The article’s headline overstates that finding: believing conduct is impeachable is not necessarily the same as wanting Congress to impeach him. Hal...

What happened AlterNet reports that the Trump administration asked a federal appeals panel to condemn U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino’s use of civil contempt against Justice Department attorney Matthew Isihara. In February, Provinzino ordered Isihara to pay $500 a day until the government returned identification documents taken from a Minnesota man, after federal officials repeatedly failed t...

What happened AlterNet reports that former State Department official Ned Price disputed President Donald Trump’s claim that his administration gave Russia “nothing in return” for the release of Stephen Hubbard. Speaking with Nicolle Wallace on Wednesday, Price pointed to actions he characterized as concessions to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Price cited an announced diesel deal, waived sancti...

What happened AlterNet reports that clinical psychologist Vincent Greenwood described President Donald Trump’s conduct as showing “ominous” traits—impulsivity, remorselessness and a drive to dominate—and argued that they justified considering the 25th Amendment. Greenwood warned that the danger could increase if Republicans suffered major losses in the then-upcoming midterm elections. The article...

What happened AlterNet reports that former Kansas Gov. Bill Graves called President Donald Trump’s campaign rallies a “freak show at the carnival” and questioned whether Trump’s Monday appearance in Wichita would help Republican Sen. Roger Marshall win reelection. Graves argued that spectators may attend for Trump’s performance without becoming votes for Marshall—and that the rally could instead e...