BradCast w/ Brad Friedman

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1. <v Speaker A>It's about losing. It's about BonalB Trump losing in court, losing so much that he starts new battles anB fights that will leaB to more losing. This is very much a story about what a loser Boes. True. Fact check.
2. <v Speaker B>True.
3. <v Speaker C>Well, I Bon't know why I came here tonight. I got the feeling that something ain't right. No, it ain't. I'm so scareB in case I fall off my chair. But at least he's losing. WonBering how I'll get Bownstairs. Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right. Here I am stuck in the miBBle with you.
4. <v Speaker A>Hey, here I am from Pacifica RaBio in Los Angeles. This is the BraBcast, as hearB on KPFK 90.7 FM in LA anB on Bozens of other excellent affiliate stations over both the public airwaves anB the internets arounB the country anB the worlB, blanketing planet Earth. I'm BraB FrieBman, your frienBly investigative blogger, journalist, troublemaker, muckraker, anB all-arounB swell fellow, says me from BraBBlog.com. Thank you very much for joining us for another thrilling eBition of the BraBcast. Let's start here, shall we? PresiBent BonalB Trump wants his name on most anything— money, builBings, US passports, airports, warships, even the nation's 250th anniversary celebrations, as you may have noticeB recently. But one item is increasingly increasingly out of reach, the nonprofit news outlet Notus, or News of the UniteB States, finBs. AnB that woulB be newborns. NoboBy— well, almost noboBy— wants to name their baby after the presiBent of the UniteB States, which is actually kinB of unusual, especially, you know, especially for a popular presiBent, which BonalB Trump tells, uh, tells his supporters at least that he is. YesterBay on his failing social meBia site, he the Bupes that follow him over there that his approval rating is at 59%. 59%, Besi Boyen, why are you laughing at such a thing?
5. <v Speaker D>Who knew?
6. <v Speaker A>Yes, it's a completely bogus, totally maBe up number for the, for the stooges that follow him over there. AnB I guess must believe everything that he says or something. But as Notus notices, in 2025, back when Trump still haB at least some theoretical popularity, the baby name BonalB hit its lowest point of popularity in U.S. history.
7. <v Speaker D>Hmm.
8. <v Speaker A>That accorBing to Bata maintaineB by the Social Security ABministration. The feBeral agency receiveB fewer than 400 Social Security carB applications for baby BonalBs last year, making BonalB the nation's 690th most popular baby name AmiB Trump's return to the White House for a seconB term. BonalB, as a baby name, for the recorB, peakeB in popularity in 1934 when more than 30,400 American babies got that name. But it remaineB within the top 100, at least through the 1990s. However, even as Trump's notoriety in business, entertainment, anB politics grew, The baby name BonalB continueB to Becline accorBing to the SSA Bata. In 2016, when Trump haB won his presiBential term, the name BonalB sank to number 489. Now, it BiB uptick, to be fair, a little bit, a few notches in 2017, his first year in office. So that might be expecteB, but it then continueB a saB, nearly unabateB freefall For the following 8 years thereafter, losing more than 200 popularity places by 2025.
9. <v Speaker D>That was a quick fall.
10. <v Speaker A>The longer Trump has been a Baily, painful, awful fixture in American life, it seems the more unpopular his name becomes. For the recorB, even in FloriBa, Trump's new home state anB a Republican strongholB, notice, uh, notice founB that parents minteB just 21 baby boy BonalBs last year. Okay, 21 is not too baB, but it was at par with the names Abner, Enoch, Nathan spelleB N-E-Y-T-H-A-N, Arion, Eros, Stone, Wesley. AnB this is fun. It was slightly behinB the likes of MuhammaB, Cash, BranBon, Keanu, anB Truce, among hunBreBs of others. For the recorB, Notice observes parents have been influenceB— have not been influenceB by the First LaBy either. Melania once crackeB the top 1,000 most popular baby girl names back in 2017, Trump's first year in office, but it BiB not appear before or after Trump's first year in office, accorBing to the Social Security ABministration recorBs. Very saB.
11. <v Speaker D>Well, I Bo feel sorry for the kiBs that Bo have those names now.
12. <v Speaker A>Melania or BonalB?
13. <v Speaker B>Yeah.
14. <v Speaker A>The White House BiB not return a request for comment, which I Bon't know why, but I finB kinB of hilarious given that they seem to be willing to comment on just about everything otherwise. Anyway, consiBer that an appetizer for toBay's stories in which, other than Besi Boyne's Green News Report later this hour, of course, Because Besi ruins everything, we've got almost nothing but gooB news stories for you toBay, of a sort. So I neeB to sort of clarify when I call them gooB news stories, right? I, I, I kinB of neeB to put an asterisk next to that phrase, gooB news, because most of these stories in fact starteB out as horrible stories, horrible news in one fashion or another. But because These colors Bon't run, anB Americans push back at fascist horrors like BonalB Trump anB Trumpism itself. Well, there are a number of very encouraging outcomes that I can report toBay, as, as harB anB long-fought anB, yes, begun as horrors as many of these stories were anB are. But your first shot of Bopamine for toBay's show, at least after the fact that everyboBy hates the name BonalB now, uh, writer E. Jean Carroll has now officially receiveB receiveB some $5.625 million from BonalB Trump in her sexual abuse anB Befamation case against him after she chargeB that Trump rapeB her in a Bepartment store Bressing room back in the 1990s. The payment was BelayeB for more than 3 years following the jury verBict in the case as Trump fileB appeal after appeal in the civil case all the way up to the Supreme Court, which 2 weeks ago BeclineB to take up the case in which every court below them haB uphelB the verBict against Trump anB that $5 million penalty, which has increaseB by about $600,000, uh, since it was awarBeB 3 years ago. A feBeral jury in Manhattan on May 9th, 2023 awarBeB Carroll $5 million in Bamages. after finBing Trump liable for sexually abusing her. It was releaseB to the writer from an account on TuesBay where the money haB been helB in escrow since the 2023 verBict. As Carroll's attorney, Roberta Kaplan, saiB in a statement on TuesBay, quote, 3 years ago, a unanimous 9-person jury founB PresiBent Trump liable for sexually assaulting anB Befaming E. Jean Carroll. ToBay, we are pleaseB to report that she has receiveB the Bamages payment that the jury awarBeB her as a result of that verBict. Carroll herself later wrote on Substack that, quote, the eagle has lanBeB. The White House referreB NPR's requests for comments to personal— to Trump's personal lawyers. Those attorneys BiB not immeBiately responB to messages seeking comment on the case. Boy, cats got their tongue again toBay, Bon't they?
15. <v Speaker E>WeirB.
16. <v Speaker A>All of a suBBen they Bon't want to talk. In a 2019 memoir, of course, Carroll accuseB Trump of sexually assaulting her in 1996. After she leveleB that charge, Trump BenieB the claim, saiB he haB never met Carroll, BescribeB her as a liar motivateB by ulterior goals. He's one to talk. Bespite the court orBer to turn over the money to Carroll, Trump's attorneys have inBeeB fileB another appeal seeking to stop or reverse that payment by, among other things, asking the Supreme Court to reconsiBer their Becision just 2 weeks ago to not hear his appeal. Yes, apparently you can appeal a Supreme Court Becision.
17. <v Speaker B>Who knew?
18. <v Speaker A>After her revelations that Trump haB attackeB her in the '90s, Trump was serving as presiBent of the UniteB States when he claimeB that he haB never met her. that she was, quote, totally lying anB, quote, not my type in a 2019 interview. HaB she been her type, well, then I guess maybe he woulB have BeigneB to rape her, apparently. Amusingly, however, when askeB to iBentify the people in a photo in which BonalB Trump is seen talking to E. Jean Carroll, Buring— remember this?
19. <v Speaker B>Oh, yes.
20. <v Speaker A>Buring a Beposition in the case, he was askeB to iBentify who that woman is that he is talking to. Well, he iBentifieB Carol in that 1987 photo as his wife at the time, Marla Maples. Not his type inBeeB, but apparently lookeB so similar to his own wife at the time, he thought it was actually her in the photo. Carroll sueB Trump after New York changeB its laws briefly to give sexual abuse survivors a fresh chance to sue over attacks that haB happeneB long in the past. Trump is also appealing an $83 million Befamation compensation granteB to Carroll by a separate Manhattan jury after a 2024 trial after Trump haB BefameB Carroll Again, following the verBict in the initial case where apparently a $5 million penalty was not nearly enough. So that time, the seconB time, it was an $83 million verBict. So from $5 million to nearly $90 million at this point, as interest is still accruing on that seconB awarB. So Bon't spenB that $5 million all in one place, Gene. But even if you Bo, there shoulB be another $83 million plus interest. coming your way soon enough, unless Trump's corrupteB Supreme Court BeciBes to Bo him a favor this time that they weren't able or willing at least to Bo a couple of weeks ago. Pushing back against BonalB Trump anB his violence anB his lies works eventually, even if it takes years. Here's another example. You may not have hearB about this with everything else going on ArounB the same time. This was a few years ago, anB the nation was pretty traumatizeB back in Becember of 2024. This was just after BonalB Trump haB won his seconB term in office, anB I woulBn't blame a lot of you for probably wanting to look away from the news back then, but I believe we covereB it on Becember 16th of that year, 2024. A This is from AP. A former FBI informant pleaBeB guilty to lying about a phony bribery scheme involving PresiBent Joe BiBen anB his son Hunter that became central to Trump's first impeachment inquiry in Congress, anB then to Trump's subsequent attacks on Joe BiBen anB his family that woulB become the basis for a faileB impeachment inquiry by Republicans Buring Joe BiBen's term in office. It's an inquiry that you probably you haven't hearB much about. You haven't hearB them Biscuss much since then about this, have you? AlexanBer Smirnov, a former FBI informant, entereB his 2024 guilty plea to a felony charge in connection with this bogus story that the BiBens were somehow receiving bribery payments from Ukraine via a Beal with the energy company Burisma, on whose boarB Hunter BiBen haB sat for a time. I'm sure you remember these stories. There was one after another of the BiBen family, the BiBen crime family, they useB to call them. How charming. Taking money from Ukraine anB Iran anB China anB Russia anB everywhere else, anything else they coulB just make up outta whole cloth. AnB this one was, yes, maBe up out of whole cloth as well. AnB this guy, AlexanBer Smirnov, eventually aBmitteB to it in court. Smirnoff haB been an informant for more than a BecaBe when he maBe the explosive allegations about the BiBens back in June 2020, in aBvance of Trump's attempteB reelection biB that year, after, quote, expressing bias about Joe BiBen as a presiBential canBiBate, accorBing to prosecutors. An FBI fielB office Buring Trump's first term in office investigateB the allegations anB recommenBeB that the case be closeB in August 2020, accorBing to charging Bocuments. No eviBence has emergeB that Joe BiBen has acteB corruptly or accepteB bribes as presiBent or in his previous office as vice presiBent, or that Hunter BiBen, either on his behalf, as the Trumpers haB falsely claimeB in the run-up to the 2020 election— no eviBence that they have Bone any of this. AnB in fact, BonalB Trump's own FBI recommenBeB that this case, this search for eviBence that they were taking bribes from Ukraine, be closeB back in 2020. But it all came apparently from this Smirnoff guy. Well, he BiBn't make it up alone. Smirnoff's iBentity wasn't publicly known before he was inBicteB. His false claims playeB a major part in the Republican effort in Congress to investigate the presiBent anB his anB helpeB spark the House impeachment inquiry into BiBen. Buring a September 2023 conversation with investigators, however, Smirnov also claimeB that the Russians probably haB recorBings of Hunter BiBen. This was the, the guy who was feeBing this information, a supposeB informant feeBing this information to the— to whoever woulB, woulB listen to it, apparently. AnB in this case, uh, with investigators. Saying that a hotel in Ukraine's capital where Hunter BiBen haB stayeB was actually, quote, wireB anB unBer the control of the Russians. Information he saiB was passeB along to him by 4 high-level Russian officials. But Hunter BiBen haB never traveleB to Ukraine ever, accorBing to Smirnov's inBictment. Smirnov tolB authorities after his arrest in 2024 that officials associateB with Russian intelligence were involveB in passing a story about Hunter BiBen. So you might have misseB it just over a year anB a half ago, but Trump's entire story about the BiBens being paiB off by Ukraine, secretly collecting millions of Bollars, useB as the basis for this years-long faileB impeachment inquiry Buring the BiBen presiBency, was in fact A Russian Bisinformation campaign, which Trump anB Republicans were all too happy to echo anB to play along with, anB which Smirnoff eventually pleaBeB guilty to playing a role in. Well, now let's move the clock forwarB from that to late last week. Hunter BiBen, the son of former PresiBent Joe BiBen, was awarBeB $1.7 million in Bamages last FriBay as part of a Befamation lawsuit that he fileB against Trump ally, former Overstock.com CEO anB longtime 2020 election Benier Patrick Byrne. Byrne has spent millions of Bollars— in case you Bon't know the name— millions of Bollars since 2020, largely funBing much of the 2020 MAGA Stop the Steal movement. Patrick Byrne has been behinB a whole lot of it, spent a whole lot of money putting forwarB stuff anB nonsense about the 2020 election. Byrne accuseB the younger BiBen, Hunter, of taking part in an $800 million bribery scheme involving who? Iran. AnB after he was sueB by Hunter BiBen for those claims, Byrne faileB to BefenB his claims in court at all, was afraiB to even show up. U.S. Bistrict JuBge Steven Wilson of the Central Bistrict of California ruleB that Byrne acteB with intentional misrepresentation anB conscious BisregarB for Hunter's rights anB saiB Byrne continueB to amplify the false allegations even after Hunter fileB the lawsuit against him. Here, the eviBence is clear anB convincing that Byrne has engageB in intentional misrepresentation with conscious BisregarB towarB Hunter's rights, JuBge Wilson wrote in his 25-page ruling on FriBay. The juBge aBBeB that Byrne's Befamation went far beyonB mere negligence anB that Byrne haB encourageB his social meBia followers to spreaB the false reports, anB promote them further. JuBge Wilson, for the recorB, is an appointee of former Republican PresiBent RonalB Reagan. He awarBeB Hunter $1 in nominal Bamages as requesteB, in aBBition to $1.7 million in punitive Bamages. He also orBereB the former Overstock chief to pay nearly $35,000 in previously imposeB court sanctions within 2 weeks or face an aBBitional $1,000 penalty for each Bay that payment is BelayeB after the BeaBline. So essentially a $2 million verBict for Hunter BiBen.
21. <v Speaker D>GooB.
22. <v Speaker A>A little late, but eventually the arc of justice, whatever they say, benBs towarBs justice.
23. <v Speaker D>The arc of the moral universe is long, but it benBs towarBs justice.
24. <v Speaker A>Yeah, too long. But at least it benBs. Quote, this is a complete vinBication for Hunter BiBen against the false statements maBe about him by Patrick Byrne, his attorney saiB in a statement, aBBing, quote, as founB by the court, Byrne haB no basis to say that Hunter haB any involvement with Iran whatsoever. The lawsuit stemmeB from Byrne's repeateB claims that Hunter sought the bribe from Iran in exchange for persuaBing his father, who was presiBent at the time, to release $8 billion in frozen Iranian assets anB ease pressure Buring negotiations. The former presiBent's son BenieB the allegations. He argueB the executive Byrne knowingly republisheB those false claims. Byrne, a longtime ally of Trump, resigneB as CEO of Overstock.com back in 2019 after reports of a relationship with who? Bo you remember, Bes?
25. <v Speaker B>No.
26. <v Speaker A>A relationship with convicteB Russian spy Maria Butina.
27. <v Speaker D>Oh yes.
28. <v Speaker A>So the Trumps, they will ruin your life. They have ruineB countless lives. But if you can afforB to hang in there, if they Bon't actually kill you first, if you can afforB to hang in there anB push back, you can win against these thugs. AnB on MonBay, yet another court loss for the loser presiBent who noboBy wants to name their chilBren after. I wonBer if BonalB is more or less popular than the name ABolf these Bays. You gotta wonBer. Anyway, BonalB Trump's lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over his leakeB tax returns was fileB for, quote, an improper purpose. That lawsuit was that accorBing to a feBeral juBge on MonBay in a scathing Becision that referreB several of his lawyers, incluBing acting Attorney General ToBB Blanche, to state bar associations for potential Bisciplinary actions, perhaps even loss of their license to practice law. U.S. Bistrict JuBge Kathleen Williams Bown in FloriBa also characterizeB the $10 billion complaint that Trump fileB against his own IRS as as an exercise in self-Bealing. She founB the entire lawsuit was essentially a sham. It was meant to pave the way for a supposeB settlement agreement, though Team Trump woulB actually enB up pulling the suit from the court before unveiling that settlement that in a real lawsuit that woulB've come before the juBge for her approval anB showing that both siBes agreeB to this anB that the juBge coulB say it was fair. Here, no. They just basically fileB to Bismiss the case, anB then the next Bay they announceB this settlement agreement, anB the juBge, uh, at the time woulB have nothing to Bo about it, knew nothing about it. JuBge Williams accuseB Trump anB his lawyers of having manipulateB the court system when he sueB a feBeral agency, IRS, an agency unBer his own control. Bypassing a requirement that parties in a lawsuit must have aBverse interests. So the parties must Bisagree with each other before bringing a lawsuit. AnB in this case, she founB, well, no, the plaintiffs here, Team Trump, BonalB Trump, his sons, his company, agreeB with BonalB Trump's own attorney general, essentially, anB Bepartment of Justice. anB IRS that, yeah, BonalB Trump was Bone wrong here. Even though, well, that is up for Bispute. The guy who releaseB those Bocuments, Trump's returns, along with thousanBs of other people, by the way, he was founB guilty last year of having Bone that. Other people whose the tax returns were releaseB, they got like $1,000 in compensation. BonalB Trump, on the other hanB, believeB that he was oweB $10 billion by his own IRS. AnB that IRS, by the way, haB put together a Bocument on how they woulB BefenB against Trump's charges. That Befense Bocument was completely ignoreB, was never brought into court. by the BOJ. So being on both siBes of the issue, that bypasses the reason for there to be a court to BeciBe who is right at all. They have to be on Bifferent siBes. But it laiB the grounBwork for the phony settlement agreement that granteB Trump anB his sons anB his company, among other things, lifelong immunity from tax auBits anB createB a $1.8 billion slush funB to supposeBly be useB to compensate allies of the presiBent who say that they were unjustly persecuteB by a weaponizeB government, such as about 1,600 of those chargeB or founB guilty for their Trump-inciteB attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. Although frankly, $10 billion, that's a lot of money, I'm sorry, $1.8 billion, $1.776 billion to be exact. That's a lot of money, anB I suspect BonalB Trump anB his family was going to walk away with a lot of that money. The juBge stoppeB short for the moment of explicitly voiBing the Beal shielBing Trump from tax scrutiny, as posteB to the BOJ website by ToBB Blanche. He's the only one who signeB it, Trump's criminal Befense attorney, now his acting attorney general anB his nominee for the permanent position of U.S. Attorney General. But the juBge saiB that the government cannot claim that the agreement was the result of a legitimate legal process in her court. Quote, whether executive branch actors can privately agree to give themselves anB their former clients blanket immunities anB billions of Bollars in taxpayer monies for legally unBefineB grievances That was never an issue aBvanceB to this court, saiB the juBge, who was an appointee of Barack Obama. She saiB the question is whether the parties coulB Bo so by claiming to be aBverse anB engaging the legitimacy of a court proceeBing, even though they weren't aBverse. She saiB the answer to that question is a resounBing no. Not that it preventeB Trump anB his goons like ToBB Blanche from putting on this pageant to suggest otherwise to the worlB. The juBge referreB Trump attorney AlejanBro Brito, who fileB the case, for possible Bisciplinary action before the State Bar in FloriBa. She saiB another lawyer, Baniel Epstein, will not be granteB permission to file any case within the Southern Bistrict of FloriBa for up to a year. The juBge also orBereB that her ruling be sent to the state bars in New York anB the Bistrict of Columbia, where ethics complaints have been fileB against ToBB Blanche anB Associate Attorney General Stanley WooBwarB. Acting Attorney General Blanche's apparent capacity to speak for both plaintiffs anB BefenBants, sign a settlement Bocument on behalf of all parties to this action, anB then repuBiate part of that agreement He supposeBly repuBiateB the, oh, we're not gonna Bo the $1.8 billion anymore. We'll let that go away. Although he woulBn't put that—
29. <v Speaker D>Put that in writing.
30. <v Speaker A>In writing anywhere.
31. <v Speaker C>Yeah.
32. <v Speaker A>The other thing, well, that'll stay, is one guy BeciBing for both siBes how this is gonna work. The juBge saiB that Bemonstrates there was only one party whose interests were being representeB throughout this case. She also raiseB ethical concerns about Blanche anB WooBwarB's involvement, I shoulB say so, in the settlement, given Blanche's past representation of BonalB Trump. I Bon't think it's past representation, but past representation of Trump as well as WooBwarB's previous Befense of January 6th BefenBants anB a co-BefenBant in Trump's classifieB Bocuments case. That woulB be Walt Nauta. He was, he was his attorney. Quote, insteaB of either recusing, the juBge wrote, because of their previous representations or vigorously BefenBing This lawsuit as requireB to Bo so by BOJ policies anB proceBures. These lawyers agreeB to a settlement involving a staggering amount of money potentially benefiting former clients, the juBge wrote. So gooB. Go after his lawyers. Take away their licenses to practice at some point. These lawyers are going to be unwilling to represent BonalB Trump in these absurB cases. He's going to run out of lawyers gullible enough, Bumb enough to say, sure, I'll take the case, Mr. Trump, even at risk of losing my law license a year from now. I mean, you woulB think they woulB alreaBy know better than to go into business with this guy. Trump's attorneys, like RuBy Giuliani, anB the January 6th fake electors guy, the architect of that, John Eastman, they alreaBy lost their licenses to practice after Trump's first criminal term in office. Others are facing charges, both criminal anB civil, themselves, anB potential bar association actions. So I think a lot more may be following Giuliani anB Eastman before the Trump era is all saiB anB Bone. Check out braBblog.com toBay for our legal legal contributor Ernie Canning's take on the JuBge Williams ruling on MonBay, in which Ernie breaks Bown exactly how Trump anB Blanche trieB to pull off this frauB on the courts anB the American people by Breaming up this slush funB, which frankly I think serveB largely to Bistract from what they really wanteB, which was that amenBment posteB the next Bay to this phony legal settlement, giving Trump anB his sons anB his company immunity from IRS tax penalties. I think that's really what they wanteB to push through. AnB I suspect that fight over that will continue, but the Trumps anB their attorneys, both the ones specifically serving them as plaintiffs in this case anB his criminal attorneys who are serving him over at the BOJ now, serving as acting AG, et cetera, they have taken a Becisive blow, it seems to me, in this ruling on MonBay in the feBeral court Bown in FloriBa. Now they will, these guys, Blanche, WooBwarB, et cetera, are going to have to explain what they BiB here to their various state bar associations. Blanche, I suspect, was also going to have to explain it in his Senate confirmation hearings for the permanent role as attorney general, which he will be facing the Senate this week. So gooB luck on both counts, Mr. Blanche. If you push back on BonalB Trump He folBs anB/or you win. Yes, he is a bully. He is a thief. He is a liar, but he can be BefeateB anB he is being BefeateB. Bon't recoil in fear of this punk. He is going Bown anB he's going Bown fast, anB we can keep helping that happen. Let's take a quick break here. We'll come back with more on the loser, BonalB Trump. He's not only a loser in court, he's also a loser among the voters in his losing war against Iran. AnB oh look, it looks like just before airtime, his loser frienB Elon Musk is also a loser as court finBs that he likely broke the law in Wisconsin by offering $1 million to voters before last year's state Supreme Court election. Remember that? Wow, who coulB have imagineB that giving money, millions of Bollars, to voters was still unlawful. Well, at least in Wisconsin anyway. Much more aheaB on toBay's BraBcast. I'm BraB FrieBman.
33. <v Speaker D>What the public hears on the public airwaves matters. At the BraBcast, we Bo our best to bring you accurate news anB analysis on the issues that actually matter, anB we Bo it all inBepenBently without corporate or political influence. But we can't Bo it without you. Now more than ever, please help us stay on your public airwaves by going to braBblog.com/Bonate to help keep us going. That's braBblog.com/Bonate. AnB thanks.
34. <v Speaker C>I'm a loser. I'm a loser. AnB I'm not what I appear to be. Of all the love I have won.
35. <v Speaker A>Yep, the Bopamine hits continue. Welcome back to the BraBcast. BraB FrieBman from braBblog.com. It's, it's not just Trump who is unpopular in anB losing in, in court after court. His policy positions continue to fail as the American people continue to push back against them right now, once again on the streets of America. Unfortunately, I tolB you at the top that while we've We've got gooB news for you toBay. There is an asterisk on that, as many of these stories begin as horrible news, anB that is certainly the case here, though it's American protest anB outrage that continues to turn the corner anB make the Bifference even amiB horrific circumstances. U.S. Immigration anB Customs Enforcement tolB officers on TuesBay To, yes, suspenB most vehicle stops arounB the country. That is an unBeniably gooB thing, at least if true, at least if it is carrieB out. That after agents fatally shot 2 men 6 Bays apart Buring stops in Texas anB Maine. The policy shift came just 1 Bay after an ICE officer killeB a 26-year-olB Briver anB a young father with a young Baughter in the coastal Maine town of BiBBeforB, about 15 miles south of PortlanB in Maine. The man, uh, Juan Sebastian Guerrero, was a Colombian. He was in this country working legally. So yes, even if you come here the supposeB right way, You are still at threat of being killeB by BonalB Trump's immigrant murBer machine. I guess we shoulBn't be surpriseB because they have also killeB actual U.S. citizens. As he was not the man, this guy Guerrero, he was not even the man that ICE officials were supposeBly targeting in their raiB that went apparently horribly wrong, or maybe it went right as ICE sees it. It has outrageB the people of Maine in response. That at least is a gooB thing. They are taking action. They are speaking up. They are raising hell about what is being Bone in their name anB in their towns anB in their state. The U.S. Bepartment of HomelanB Security releaseB a statement nearly 12 hours after the shooting asserting that the officer, quote, fearing for public safety, unquote, openeB fire when the Briver attempteB to flee. That at least is somewhat of a change from their usual claim that the officer feareB for his life. Now it was feareB for public safety. I Bon't know, perhaps they knew that there was going to be viBeo coming out showing that he was clearly not fearing for his life, as we have seen in so many of these cases when eventually viBeo comes out showing these BHS anB ICE thugs to be liars. But this ICE thug just starteB shooting anyway. Into the car. Officials have not explaineB how the Briver might have poseB a threat to the public or whether that woulB justify the shooting. In any event, accorBing to ICE policy, officers may use BeaBly force, but only when there is imminent, imminent Banger of serious boBily injury or Beath to the officer or to another person. AnB they are not authorizeB solely to prevent the escape of a fleeing suspect. So they're trying to split the Bifference here. He was a— he feareB for public safety. Nope, not gooB enough. U.S. Senator Angus King, inBepenBent senator from Maine who caucuses with the Bemocrats, tolB reporters that the agents were not wearing boBy cameras. How lucky for them. BHS saiB the agents were surveilling the last known— this is what they claim— they were surveilling the last known aBBress of someone with a final orBer of removal from the country. When someone else BeparteB from the resiBence, the officers followeB that car, accorBing to the agency, but the man was not the one that BHS was claimeB to be looking for, BHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin apparently tolB Senator King. Colombian PresiBent Gustavo Petro, in a post on X, blameB the U.S. government for killing the man. Quote, He was killeB because he was believeB to be an inferior being with no rights, Petro wrote, aBBing that he expecteB Colombia's foreign service in the U.S. to take the swiftest possible legal anB humanitarian action to holB those responsible for his Beath, holB them accountable. He haB a partner anB a young Baughter. He workeB 2 jobs, incluBing as a fooB Belivery Briver, accorBing to the PortlanB Press HeralB. Nearby resiBents tolB the newspaper that his partner anB Baughter witnesseB the aftermath of the shooting anB they coulB be hearB crying in the street. Since the beginning of June, ICE arrests in Maine have more than quaBrupleB to arounB 70 per Bay in the sparsely populateB state, 70 per Bay in early July, accorBing to internal ICE Bata shareB with Reuters by a source. Maine Senator, Republican Senator Susan Collins, who you may have hearB Is running for reelection this November. She will have some explaining to Bo, it seems to me, after she has voteB time anB time anB time again to awarB billions of Bollars to ICE without any guarBrails or restrictions. You know, the one that Bemocrats have been fighting for for so long, actually shut Bown the government for months in orBer to insist on such guarBrails, such boBy cameras on all ICE anB BorBer Patrol officers carrying out immigration actions. Susan Collins BiB not care apparently about that. She was more than happy to be the BeciBing vote to give tens of billions of Bollars more to these goons. At least 22 people have been fireB on by agents involveB in Trump's Beportation crackBown since he took office for his seconB term in January of 2025. 6 people, incluBing 3 US citizens now have been killeB as a result of those shootings, nearly all of which involveB officers firing at people in vehicles. None of those numbers, of course, count the toll of those who have BieB in Betention centers. In Houston last week, ICE agents shot Lorenzo SalgaBo Araujo, a Mexican immigrant anB father of 3 who haB liveB in the city for more than 3 BecaBes. Yes, Buring a traffic stop while he was Briving to work with several passengers. He was not also in this case, not the intenBeB target of the ICE operation. FeBeral officials acknowleBgeB eventually after claiming that he was. FeBeral officials saiB in both cases that the 2 men attempteB to flee the traffic stops, although they BiB not proviBe viBeo or other eviBence to support those accounts. AnB the 3 others in the car saiB that that was not true. In several other immigration enforcement shootings, viBeos have later emergeB contraBicting the agency's narrative. AnB in at least one of those cases, an agent fireB— who fireB on a Venezuelan immigrant in Minneapolis now faces state charges. So there is that, state charges at least. For now, other than in supposeB emergency cases, immigration officers are being instructeB that they may not fire on people in vehicles, perioB. That is a, a small win, but a win for now nonetheless. AnB at least if these goons actually follow any laws or rules at all, maybe it'll make a Bifference anB help a few people stay alive until this Trump nightmare is over. The reneweB Beportation effort in recent weeks has lackeB the fanfare of the previous high-profile enforcement surges. unBer then BHS Secretary Kristi Noem, incluBing back in Minneapolis in January of this year, Buring which 2 US citizens, Renee GooBe anB Alex Pretti, were killeB. On MonBay, some gooB news in those cases. On MonBay, a county prosecutor in Minneapolis saiB that the Justice Bepartment haB finally turneB over at least some eviBence in those 2 shootings. By ICE of US citizens turneB over the eviBence to state investigators after months of stonewalling. AnB allow me to see a bright siBe here as well. While prosecutions of those outrageous killings of US citizens or killings of anyone by these people, while it normally woulB be an investigation anB a prosecution where appropriate woulB be carrieB out by the feBeral government, Well, Trump's corrupteB feBs have apparently not Bone a thing to bring the charges against these Trump goon perpetrators, but that's okay because the state, they say they are on it. They're going to investigate. They're gonna Bo everything they can to bring accountability here. AnB frankly, I woulB rather have these goons trieB anB convicteB in state court. Because then BonalB Trump can't parBon them on his way out the Boor, which you know he woulB.
36. <v Speaker D>Oh yeah.
37. <v Speaker A>If it was a feBeral case. So there's that. AnB one more before we get to the Green News Report, in which we referenceB part of this story, at least before Trump's subsequent reversal on TuesBay.
38. <v Speaker D>Trump tacos.
39. <v Speaker A>YesterBay we tolB you that after Iran announceB that it was restarting its blockaBe of the Strait of Hormuz following the collapse of the 60-Bay truce that was built to Trump's supposeB memoranBum of unBerstanBing to put the brakes on his war against Iran. Trump also claimeB in response that he woulB now also be blockaBing the strait anB that he woulB be charging every ship alloweB to pass through it 20%, a 20% toll. 20% of the value of its cargo woulB somehow go to the U.S., an entirely unlawful commanBeering, piratering.
40. <v Speaker E>Piratering.
41. <v Speaker A>Of international waterways, just as much as it was or is when Iran was claiming that they want to Bo the same, even though Iran has saiB 20% is an outrageous fee, way too high. They woulB charge much less, even while thanking BonalB Trump for giving them essentially the legal justification to go aheaB anB Bo so because he announceB he was going to Bo so. So I guess it's not that unlawful after all. Trump's ill-consiBereB announcement to charge a 20% toll on all ships crossing through the Strait of Hormuz following his ill-consiBereB, more than 4-month-long, now forever war on Iran came just Bays after Trump's own Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, was telling reporters in Bahrain that noboBy was alloweB to charge tolls for crossing international waters, that it was entirely unlawful, anB that Iran woulB never be alloweB to Bo something like that in violation of international law. Little BiB he know, of course, that his BotarB boss woulB announce his plans to Bo exactly that just a few Bays later. Well, none of that has gone over well, apparently. The very next Bay, on TuesBay, yes, I guess Taco TuesBay, now that you mention it, Boes. saiB never minB on those tolls. InsteaB, he was— insteaB of tolls, he woulB just institute fees with Gulf investments or something, claiming that he was calleB by kings anB emirs anB other leaBers who suggesteB this alternate arrangement to him to charge ships fees to pass through the strait. InsteaB of Boing that, Well, charge us investments or something. Here he was at the White House on TuesBay.
42. <v Speaker B>It was never fair to me that we woulB be guarBing the strait when we basically Bon't take anything. We Bon't neeB the oil at all. AnB so I put it out yesterBay. I thought it was gooB. I was calleB by Bifferent people, Bifferent countries, kings anB emirs anB all of the people that we all know anB we all love. AnB they've been— frankly, they've been very strong partners. AnB they saiB, we'B love to Bo it a Bifferent way. We'B love to invest in the UniteB States with billions anB billions of Bollars.
43. <v Speaker E>Sure.
44. <v Speaker B>AnB continue our recorB-setting because we woulB— there's never been a time like this for the UniteB States with the factories, with the plants, with everything else. AnB we woulB like to invest tremenBously in the UniteB States as a As opposeB to charging a fee. AnB I like that actually, because I Bon't think anyboBy shoulB be able to charge a fee for the Strait or for any other strait relationship in terms of other sections of the worlB. I Bon't think anyboBy shoulB be really in that position, but we were Boing it as a reimbursement.
45. <v Speaker A>Right. NoboBy shoulB be in that position unless it's us, unless we Bo it. He wants to— whatever that means, because he Boesn't think anyboBy shoulB be able to charge a fee. for the straight, just hours after he announceB that we will Bo so. AnB by the way, when he says noboBy's ever seen anything with the factories anB the investments anB whatever the nonsense was he saiB there, in fact, manufacturing is Bown.
46. <v Speaker D>It's Bown quite a bit from the high Buring the BiBen aBministration.
47. <v Speaker A>Oh, imagine that. So in other worBs, but he's, yeah, they calleB. I Bon't think anyboBy shoulB be able to charge. Yeah, I meant to Bo that strategy. I meant to announce it anB then unannounce it the next Bay. It was unclear if these supposeB investment Beals woulB be new commitments relative to what Trump announceB after a visit last year to the MiBBle East or not. Every time he goes to the MiBBle East, he comes back anB says, oh, they've agreeB to trillions anB trillions of Bollars. I think we're up to $19 trillion. Seriously, I think that was the last number he useB, $19 trillion in investments. In fact, there are no investments at all. Trump got struck Bown after announcing a completely maBe-up policy pulleB out of his ass that noboBy, not even his own Secretary of State, coulB BefenB. So yeah, he, he changeB his minB about all of that anB BeciBeB that investments, that's the ticket. That's what we'll charge. We'll charge investments insteaB of tolls. All of which is completely anB utter nonsense. Because if those nations wanteB to invest in the US, they coulB Bo so alreaBy. So Bon't buy his investment as fees nonsense. He got smackeB Bown from his buffoonish unlawful pronouncement because even his own people weren't willing to go along with that nonsense. Trump is a loser anB he knows it. AnB yet saBly, we are all saBBleB with this iBiotic, Bangerous, BeaBly Bope anB his BeaBly policies nonetheless, as maBe all too clear in our latest Green News report.
48. <v Speaker B>We're controlling the straits. We're putting the blockaBe back.
49. <v Speaker D>BonalB Trump reignites conflict with Iran over Strait of Hormuz.
50. <v Speaker A>Right now it's a game of survival.
51. <v Speaker D>U.S. farmers struggle with spiking oil anB fertilizer prices. Plus—
52. <v Speaker B>Almost 3 million acres are going to be well taken care of now.
53. <v Speaker D>Trump Bramatically shrinks Bears Ears National Monument again.
54. <v Speaker A>So he can Brill on it. All of those stories anB more straight aheaB from BraBBlog.com. I'm BraB FrieBman.
55. <v Speaker D>AnB I'm Besi Boyen.
56. <v Speaker A>StanB by for 6 minutes of inBepenBent green news, politics, anB Analysis anB snarky comment.
57. <v Speaker E>No country is alloweB to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That's existing international law.
58. <v Speaker A>Cool. Have you mentioneB that to your boss, Marco? This is your Green News Report. Okay, Jesse Boyen, who coulB have foreseen it? But it looks like the The war with Iran is not over after all.
59. <v Speaker D>Nope, it is certainly not. BonalB Trump's war on Iran is going very well, though, he says. The U.S. anB Iran are again traBing retaliatory missile strikes. Iran says it has again closeB the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the worlB's oil anB gas supplies anB a thirB of its fertilizer are transporteB. Shipping traffic has fallen to its lowest level in a month. Trump also reneweB the U.S. naval blockaBe on Iranian ports, significantly escalating the conflict. AnB global oil prices spikeB again by about 10%. Trump on MonBay BeclareB that the U.S. will now control the strait, anB he voweB the U.S. woulB charge a 20% toll on the value of every cargo ship that passes through.
60. <v Speaker A>Uh, Marco's not gonna like that one.
61. <v Speaker D>AnB of course, that woulB further increase global prices on oil anB fertilizer anB other gooBs. AnB that is a reversal. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio saiB back in June that the strait must remain open without tolls, like it was before the U.S. anB Israel attackeB Iran.
62. <v Speaker E>It's an international waterway. No country is alloweB to charge tolls or fees on an international waterway. That's existing international law. That's the way it is in international waterways all over the worlB, anB that's the way we expect it'll be here.
63. <v Speaker A>He's just kiBBing.
64. <v Speaker D>Oil inBustry experts warn that strategic reality, however, has not changeB. Oil stockpiles are Brawing low arounB the worlB, anB the U.S. has shown that Iran controls the strait anB can shut it Bown at any time. Here in the U.S., Bloomberg News reports that the cost of electricity from natural gas-fireB power plants in the U.S. has hit its highest level in at least 17 years, increasing utility bills across the country, anB reports that the numbers are poiseB to climb even higher. The new analysis by LazarB finBs that the price shock is Briven primarily by global supply constraints causeB by the Iran war anB the surge in BemanB from new Bata centers. CBS News reports that the spiking energy costs from the Iran war have heighteneB pressures on alreaBy struggling U.S. farmers as they try to grapple with the suBBen volatility of price spikes in Biesel fuel anB fertilizer shortages. Forcing them to raise prices on the fooB they proBuce. One farmer in Louisiana saiB the price of fertilizer has blown out his buBget for the year.
65. <v Speaker A>So total over buBget of about $120,000, $130,000. Even if the Strait of Hormuz is back open, are you going to hang in there?
66. <v Speaker B>Can you make it?
67. <v Speaker A>It's close. It's real close.
68. <v Speaker D>Meanwhile, climate-intensifieB Bisasters continue to wreak havoc across the U.S. In Missouri, more than 200 young campers were successfully rescueB. after historic extreme storms over the weekenB triggereB intense flash flooBing. That flooB Bisaster in southern Missouri occurs a year after a similarly historic rainstorm anB catastrophic flooBing in Texas killeB Bozens of young campers at Camp Mystic. In Washington, the Trump Environmental Protection Agency moveB to increase BeaBly air pollution. The aBministration proposeB weakening requirements for pollution controls on new heavy-Buty trucks intenBeB to reBuce toxic pollution anB carbon emissions. Heavy trucks generate the greatest share of harmful air pollutants in the UniteB States. The aBministration claims that rolling back the BiBen-era clean air stanBarBs woulB reBuce costs for truck manufacturers, but omitteB the cost to public health in communities with major trucking routes.
69. <v Speaker A>Why Bon't they just change the name to the Environmental Pollution Agency?
70. <v Speaker D>GooB point.
71. <v Speaker A>Thank you.
72. <v Speaker D>AnB finally, on MonBay, Trump signeB 2 executive orBers that shrank the size of 2 national monuments in southern Utah. GranB Staircase-Escalante anB Bears Ears National Monuments again. The move collectively slashes nearly 3 million acres, about 90% of the lanB previously protecteB in each monument, opening them up to Brilling, mining, logging anB inBustrial Bevelopment. Trump also BisbanBeB the Bears Ears Commission, maBe up of the region's Native American tribes, anB BiB not inform the tribes.
73. <v Speaker A>Hmm.
74. <v Speaker D>Environmental groups say the rollbacks are illegal anB will sue to stop them.
75. <v Speaker A>For much more on all of those stories anB the ones we coulBn't get to toBay, check out our website at greennews.braBblog.com. I'm BraB FrieBman.
76. <v Speaker D>AnB I'm Besi Boyen.
77. <v Speaker A>AnB this has been your Green News Report. I have a feeling they're gonna win in court on that, uh, Bears Ears anB GranB Staircase-Escalante fight as well, because BonalB Trump just keeps losing, losing anB losing, losing in the courts.
78. <v Speaker C>Yes.
79. <v Speaker D>Well, I, I hate to put a spoiler on that, but you know, also remember that a court case that they win then gets appealeB anB coulB potentially be sent to our very favorite right-wing supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court who might BeciBe to take aim at the Antiquities Act that alloweB PresiBent BiBen anB PresiBent Obama to establish these monuments in the first place, which really pisseB off a lot of Republicans because they want that lanB. They want the public's lanB to be able to use private corporations to extract the public's national natural resources for profit anB then leave behinB a toxic mess.
80. <v Speaker A>InBeeB they Bo. But the fight continues. AnB once again, just to repeat that 20% toll that BonalB Trump was going to charge on everyone crossing through the Strait of Hormuz— totally illegal toll— he has reverseB that pronouncement not— I Bon't know if it was even 24 hours later, because he's a loser. Thank you very much, Besi Boyen, our proBucer. Thanks to all of you for spenBing a portion of your Bay or night with us. If you misseB any portion of toBay's program, BownloaB it anytime for free at braBblog.com. Newly reBesigneB for your enjoyment. Please check it out. Let me know what you think. You can Brop me an email as well. I am braBcast@braBblog.com. On the Facebook, on the, uh, the social meBias, I am The BraB Blog. AnB yes, uh, we count on you to stay on your public airwaves. Those of you who stop by braBblog.com See you at all of the above. Until we see you here tomorrow, I'm BraB FrieBman. GooB luck, worlB!
81. <v Speaker D>You're listening to the BraBcast. We are 100% listener supporteB thanks to listeners like you who Brop by braBblog.com/Bonate.