AVDD Press Round Up
23 July 2025
Obama’s office: Trump administration’s treason claims are a distraction; The Washington Post
Key Points:
Former President Obama’s office, in response to the Trump Administration’s claim that the former Obama administration was involved in a "treasonous conspiracy” and that “it’s time to go after people” issued a rare rebuke, calling Trump’s allegations “a weak attempt at distraction”.
Trump made the statements in response to Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard’s allegations that Obama and his national security team “manufactured and politicized intelligence” concerning Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election “to lay the groundwork for what was essentially a years-long coup against President Trump.”
Obama spokesperson Patrick Rodenbush said in a statement, that, while the office “does not normally dignify the constant nonsense and misinformation flowing out of this White House with a response, the administration’s new “bizarre” and “ridiculous” allegations warranted one.
One Tuesday, Trump stated that a criminal investigation should go forward as a result of Gabbard’s allegations and that Obama had been “caught directly”.
Yesterday, a Washington Post analysis argued that Gabbard’s claims are contradicted by four previous U.S. government investigations and an Intelligence Community Assessment (ICA), all of which extensively investigated Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. See, Analysis: Tulsi Gabbard’s ‘seditious conspiracy’ claim is based on thin gruel; Washington Post, Glenn Kessler
See Also: Deflecting Epstein questions, Trump urges DOJ to ‘go after Obama, Politico
MAGA demands arrests after Trump accuses Obama of “treason” Axios
Key Points:
Frustrated with allegations of an Epstein coverup and the Trump administration’s apparent stonewalling, President Trump’s MAGA base wants to see “Deep State” officials and Epstein’s alleged clients prosecuted, putting President Trump under pressure to deliver tangible results.
“If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich power elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People…If not…the base will turn and there’s no going back.” Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga) posted Monday.
Steve Bannon told Axios: “The accused must be indicted, must be prosecuted, must be incarcerated when found guilty. The failure to leave it all on the field after the DNI’s and the president’s charges would be devastating to the MAGA movement and the nation.”
The article ends by stressing that MAGA is still “fiercely loyal” to Trump and will likely weather the Epstein controversy without major fragmentation, even if the administration fails to deliver enough red meat. “I’m sure there will be disappointment, but the MAGA movement trusts this president deeply, emphatically, and deservedly so,” stated MAGA influencer CJ Pearson.
Trump WSJ Lawsuit Raises a New Constitutional Question; Politico
Key Points:
Politico argues that the legal system, due a lack of textual basis in the Constitution, conservative Supreme Court rulings, and Trump’s norm-busting behavior, is increasingly stacked in the Executive’s favor. “The president can sue you, but you can’t sue him.”
The article states: “The Supreme Court has been steadily building up an extraordinary level of immunity for presidents, on both civil and criminal fronts. And Trump has benefitted from–and exploited–the law like no other president in American history.”
Trump became the first president in U.S. history to receive criminal immunity from prosecution following the case concerning his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
Trump continues to invoke presidential immunity, forcing civil plaintiffs, including those seeking to hold him liable for the 6 January Capitol attack to “endure years of litigation just to get into the courthouse.”
Trump secured large settlements against ABC and CBS’ parent company Paramount Global, but has lost cases against The New York Times, CNN and The Washington Post.
The article also argues that Trump will probably lose his current case against the WSJ because of its inherent weakness and the assigned judge is an Obama appointee.
AOC office vandalized with red paint after vote on defense spending bill, The Washington Post
Key Points:
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) received several death threats since a defense spending vote last Friday and her campaign office was vandalized with red paint and left with a sign reading: “AOC FUNDS GENOCIDE IN GAZA”.
Ocasio-Cortez’s vote of no on an amendment to a defense spending bill that would have stripped funding for Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system attracted a backlash from those accusing her of supporting Israel’s war in Gaza, though she has been a vocal critic of the war.
Ocasio-Cortez’s campaign manager stated on X last Monday “Last night our campaign office in the Bronx was vandalized..In the past few days, we also have received multiple threats on the Congresswoman’s life and we are treating this seriously with our security partners to make sure she, our staff, and volunteers are safe.”
President Trump indicates he’ll let Fed Chair Jerome Powell serve out his term, NPR
Key Points:
As of Tuesday, Trump “seemed willing” to allow Fed Chair Jerome Powell to complete his term, which ends in May of next year.
Trump has regularly attacked Powell for not lowering interest rates, and floated the idea of firing Powell last week.
The Federal Reserve was set up to be an independent body free from political pressure. Any attempt to fire Powell would likely spark a legal battle and roil financial markets.
The Fed has held interest rates steady this year because of fears that Trump’s tariffs could cause an increase in inflation. The Fed is unlikely to cut rates at its next policy meeting later this month.
See also: Trump backs off on Powell threats–for now, The Hill