“The American people voted overwhelmingly for us to pass laws to root out corruption and abuse. The Trump Administration continues to weaponize the government with threat of unconstitutional attacks on Congress. We are a co-equal branch of government and will not be deterred by baseless threats from a weaponized DOJ or from the President’s lawyers.”
Archiv: Gewaltenteilung / Gewaltensammlung / checks and balances / accumulation of power
White House steps up threat to prosecute Democrats over congressional oversight
The letter, obtained by Punchbowl News, cherry-picks statements from Garcia and other House Democrats to suggest the incoming majority will abuse its oversight powers.
The threats are unlikely to dissuade Democrats. In a statement Wednesday morning, Garcia refused to back down.
“It appears Donald Trump has something to hide. Let’s be clear: Congress’ authority comes from Article I of the Constitution, not from the permission of the White House,” Garcia wrote.
Jeffries Dragged for ‘Serious Leadership Problem’ as Hegseth Impeachment Bid Falls 7 Votes Short With 11 Dem No-Shows
As House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries seeks to become speaker when Democrats retake Congress in January, critics questioned his leadership Tuesday after the Republican-led lower chamber effectively blocked a bid to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth by just seven votes—an outcome that may have been averted if more Democrats showed up to vote.
The 211-204 procedural vote effectively torpedoed Congressman Thomas Massie’s attempt to impeach Hegseth by sending the outgoing Kentucky Republican’s resolution to the House Judiciary Committee, where it will likely gather dust during the remainder of the GOP-controlled congressional term.
AI data centers comprehensively defeated at US midterm elections — 45 measures put on the ballot as Americans overwhelmingly vote against developments
(November 4, 2026)
Several counties in the U.S. have put data center concerns on the midterm ballot, and early results show that Americans are overwhelmingly voting against them. According to Data Centers on the Ballot, 33 measures restricting data center development have already won, with six more questions leading
‘Let’s Be Clear,’ Expert Says, There Is ‘No Role’ for DOJ or Todd Blanche in Election Certification
Election experts pushed back Friday after US Attorney General Todd Blanche refused to rule out the possibility that the Department of Justice could try to stop states from certifying elections in November.
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Article. I.
(…)
Section. 4. The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
Sondierungspapier: Das planen Linke, Grüne und SPD für Berlin
– Die Parteien planen Vergesellschaftung großer privater Wohnungskonzerne ab einem Bestand von 10.000 Wohnungen in Berlin, – betroffen wären rund 160.000 Wohnungen
Mietendeckel für die 440.000 kommunalen Wohnungen erlaubt maximal zwei Prozent Mieterhöhung pro Jahr
– Neubauprogramm für 100.000 bezahlbare Wohnungen mit 100.000 Baugenehmigungen bis 2031
– Aufbau einer „Mietenaufsicht“ und einer Schwerpunktabteilung bei der Staatsanwaltschaft gegen überhöhte und „Wuchermieten“
(…)
– Der Verfassungsschutz soll in seiner jetzigen Form erhalten bleiben bei Stärkung der Transparenz und parlamentarischen Kontrolle
AI Under Control
Bring the World Along
• International Public Cooperation and Governance Boards: We should negotiate a US-China treaty to pause and ban superintelligence, modeled on the Cold War deal in which Reagan and Gorbachev eliminated a class of nuclear missiles through inspections. A verification board would count chips and data centers, a scientific panel would share threat assessments, and a 24-hour hotline would flag incidents. Access to American chips and cloud services should be conditioned on signing and complying, and we should tighten chip export controls now.
• No AI in Nuclear Command and Control: Humans, and only humans, should decide whether to use nuclear weapons. That is already US policy: Biden and Xi agreed to it in 2024. We must make it permanent, cover early warning and decision support, keep frontier AI out of the chain, and get every nuclear nation to sign on.
Safeguards Everyone Can Count On
• Independent Audits: Outside experts test frontier AI before release. Even leading AI companies now accept this.
• Protect Whistleblowers: Insiders who sound the alarm should get legal protection, back pay, and rewards.
• Hands Off State Laws: No weak federal law should block states from protecting their people more strongly.
• Be Ready: We need a national AI emergency plan, with regular drills across government.
• Get AI Money Out of the Fight: Full disclosure of AI-industry political spending, including through super PACs and other dark money entities.
NEW: As Big Tech Billionaires Let AI Wreak Havoc, Abdul El-Sayed Releases Plan To Get AI Under Control
Plan Builds On Sanders-Casar Bill To Ban AI Superintelligence And Impose Severe Criminal Penalties For AI Abuse
New Proposals Address Growing Concerns In Wake Of AI Whistleblowers, Follows Release Of Abdul’s AI Under Democracy Proposal
In Stark Contrast, Mike Rogers Has Up To $2.6 Million In Investments In Tech Companies That Stand To Benefit From AI Boom, Calls Concerns About AI “Fearmongering”
»Viele intelligente Menschen«
(December 17, 2006)
SPIEGEL: Am ehesten müsste darüber doch das Parlamentarische Kontrollgremium Auskunft geben können.
Neskovic: Diese Veranstaltung ist ein Witz. Seit dem Praktikum bin ich mir noch sicherer, dass wir das Kontrollgremium in der vorhandenen Form gleich abschaffen können. Der Begriff der Kontrolle der Dienste durch das Parlament ist eine Irreführung der Öffentlichkeit, ein Placebo. Das Gremium hat keine effektiven Mittel. In erster Linie bestimmt der zu Kontrollierende Umfang und Ausmaß der Kontrolle. Das ist absurd.
SPIEGEL: Der BND arbeitet Ihrer Meinung nach de facto unkontrolliert?
Neskovic: Die neun Mitglieder des PKG haben nicht den blassesten Schimmer, was die 6000 Mitarbeiter des Dienstes tun.
Von Notz über BND-Spionage-Verdacht: „Weisen seit Jahren auf Problem hin“
Ex-BND-Chef Hanning sitzt wegen Spionage-Verdachts in U-Haft. Grünen-Politiker Konstantin von Notz gehört zum Gremium des Bundestages, das die Geheimdienste kontrolliert.
Marc Henrichmann, CDU/Vorsitzender Parlamentarisches Kontrollgremium, zur Festnahme von Hanning
tagesthemen, Das Erste, 06.10.2026 • 22:15 Uhr
70 Jahre BND 2026: Marc Henrichmann, MdB und PKGr-Vorsitzender
(February 9, 2026)
Federal Judge Rejects Trump’s Rationale for Hiding Memo on ‘Cold-Blooded Murder’ at Sea
A key memo from the Office of Legal Counsel at President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has underpinned the administration’s yearlong campaign of bombing boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, and the White House has been adamant that the document should be kept secret.
But on Wednesday, Judge Paul Engelmayer in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York rejected the administration’s rationale for keeping the memo hidden, saying that the Department of Defense and US Southern Command have adopted its contents as its “working law” while conducting 70 strikes on boats and killing at least 234 people who officials claimed, without evidence, were “narco-terrorists.”
BND und Verfassungsschutz: So weit sollen die Befugnisse der Nachrichtendienste reichen
(September 24, 2026)
Zudem werden Analyse- und Überwachungsbefugnisse ausgebaut, beispielsweise mit Blick auf den Einsatz künstlicher Intelligenz, Speicherfristen oder die Übermittlung von Informationen an andere Behörden.
(…)
Im Fall des BND heißt es im Entwurf, er soll bei einer „spezifischen Gefährdungslage“ auf Ziele „einwirken“ dürfen. Gemeint sind beispielsweise Hackbacks, also Gegenangriffe im Netz oder Manipulationen von Bauteilen.
Im Fall des Verfassungsschutzes sind einige konkrete Maßnahmen bereits im Entwurf aufgezählt, etwa das „Verfälschen“ von Informationen oder die Beeinträchtigung von „Tatmitteln“.
US Democrats look to stop Trump’s Saudi nuclear deal
Trump sent the proposed agreement to Congress in August, opening a 90-day window for lawmakers’ review and giving them an opportunity to try to pass a resolution of disapproval.
Democrats and nonproliferation advocates have criticized the nuclear pact for not barring Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing nuclear waste, two potential pathways to a nuclear weapon. The United Arab Emirates agreed to such measures, known as the gold standard, in its 2009 civil nuclear deal with Washington.
Judge orders Trump to give 30-day notice before any demolition of Kennedy Center
A federal judge effectively blocked President Donald Trump from taking immediate action to demolish the Kennedy Center, ordering on Sept. 17 that the center provide a 30-day notice to plaintiffs before any demolition or other major changes to the center‘s main building can begin.
It means the legality of any attempt to demolish the Kennedy Center ‒ which Trump has argued is necessary without substantial renovations ‒ would likely be subject to the judge‘s review during the 30-day period.
Trump seen with ‘Kennedy Center demolished’ poster; judge orders 30-day notice before any major changes
Trump has sought to rename the memorial to President John F. Kennedy after himself, recasting it as the “Trump-Kennedy Center” last year. Cooper had ruled that only Congress can enact such a change and the name was removed from the building’s facade.
Die „Authorization For Use of Military Force“ vom 14. September 2001 im Wortlaut
(August 19, 2014)
Radio Utopie dokumentiert dieses in jeder Hinsicht verheerende historische Ermächtigungsgesetz im Wortlaut.
Supreme Court rejects Missouri’s request to use congressional map with extra GOP seat
The decision was issued by conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who handles emergency cases rising from parts of the Midwest. Kavanaugh did not refer the case to the full court, a signal that he didn’t think the emergency appeal was significant enough to do so. He also did not explain his reasoning, and there were no dissents.
‘We Are in a Constitutional Crisis’: Congress Urged to Sue Trump to End Iran War
With no end in sight to President Donald Trump’s illegal war with Iran, Congress is being urged to take legal action to bring the conflict to an end.
Jamal Abdi, executive director at National Iranian American Council (NIAC) Action, said on Wednesday that Congress must go to court to enforce the war powers resolution that passed in the House and the Senate earlier this year.
C.I.A.-Affäre: Der Offenbarungseid von Dianne Feinstein – Video, Zusammenfassung, Einschätzung
(12. März 2014)
Die Rede von Senatorin Dianne Feinstein vor dem Senat der Vereinigten Staaten von Amerika über die Sabotage der verfassungsmäßigen Kontrolle des Parlaments über die Central Intelligence Agency durch die Central Intelligence Agency ist vielleicht das Erbärmlichste, was ich in meinem Leben je gesehen und gehört habe. Es ist nicht nur der Offenbarungseid eines Ausnahmezustands, eines über sich selbst und die Welt verhängten Kriegsrechts des mächtigsten Imperiums auf dem Planeten, in seinem Krieg „on terror“, weltweit geführt mit seinen „Einflussgebieten“, „Alliierten“, Ablegern, schlechten Kopien und Kolonien. Es ist der Offenbarungseid seiner bis auf die Knochen korrupten, feigen, abgetakelten, unfähigen Zuträger, Mitwisser, Kollaborateure und Funktionäre.
Was Senatorin Feinstein hier zeigt, was sie da zeigt, ist so unbeschreiblich, das sogar mir die Worte fehlen um es zu beschreiben. Ich will hier den Inhalt ihres Statements nur deshalb zusammenfassen, weil ich davon ausgehe dass die ganzen Feinsteins der deutschsprachigen Presse dies alles weder hören, lesen, geschweige denn darüber berichten wollen, genauso wie deren KundInnen…..
Senator Feinstein on the Intel Committee‘s CIA Detention, Interrogation Report
Mar 11, 2014
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Dianne Feinstein‘s speech about the committee‘s study on the CIA Detention and Interrogation Program.
25 Years Ago, 9/11 Triggered a US Crusade of Torture
Despite public pressure, Bush vetoed a version of the Intelligence Authorization Act in March 2008 that would have required CIA interrogators to adhere to Army Field Manual regulations. As soon as Barack Obama became president, he issued an executive order rescinding the free hand for the CIA director on interrogations that Bush had reaffirmed in a July 2007 order. Obama’s directive removed the CIA’s detention power and required the agency to follow Army Field Manual rules.
Yet five and a half years went by before President Obama acknowledged, in his notable words, “We tortured some folks.” He told a news conference: “When we engaged in some of these enhanced interrogation techniques, techniques that I believe and I think any fair-minded person would believe were torture, we crossed a line.”
The acknowledgement came four months before the long-awaited release of a report in December 2014 by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. While heavily redacted, it was a political indictment of torture. “CIA personnel, aided by two outside contractors, decided to initiate a program of indefinite secret detention and the use of brutal interrogation techniques in violation of US law, treaty obligations, and our values,” wrote the committee’s chair, Senator Dianne Feinstein. …
Ranking Members Meeks, Smith, Himes, and Thompson Introduce War Powers Resolution to End Trump’s Illegal Boat Strikes
September 2, 2026
Washington, DC — Marking one year since the Trump administration’s first boat strike, U.S. Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; and Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, introduced a War Powers Resolution today to block the administration from continuing to use U.S. Armed Forces to conduct strikes in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific.
“One year ago today, the Trump administration launched a campaign of extrajudicial killings, using the U.S. military and taxpayer dollars to execute at least 227 individuals without due process or a credible national-security justification. The administration calls this counternarcotics. However, it remains unclear whether these operations have made any real difference in stemming the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, and they were never authorized by Congress. A year later, the administration has little to show for this lawless campaign except a mounting body count, a massive price tag, and a stain on the American conscience.
ACLU Demands End to the Trump Administration’s Illegal Year-Long Boat Strikes Campaign
In Just One Year, the Trump Administration’s Bombing Campaign Has Killed at Least 227 People, Including Fishermen and Farmhands
Trump Condemned for 200+ Extrajudicial Killings After Yearlong Murder Spree at Sea
Wednesday marked one year since President Donald Trump began bombing boats allegedly smuggling drugs in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean—a grim anniversary that sparked a fresh wave of condemnation from rights advocates across the United States and beyond.
Six months of Trump’s illegal war of choice. It’s cost us dearly.
(August 28, 2026)
Merkley criticizes Trump’s 6-month Iran war while urging War Powers vote
(August 31, 2026)
In his address, Merkley outlined the severe consequences of the conflict, saying it has failed to control nuclear materials while at the same time has strengthened Iranian hardliners, fractured alliances, and enriched Russia. He also highlighted the human and military costs, pointing to deaths and injuries among U.S. service members and depleted domestic munitions.
Since the start of the war on February 28th, 18 service members have died and 757 have been wounded. Furthermore, Merkley warned that the war is financially pressing Americans against the wall as skyrocketing gas, diesel, and fertilizer prices hit families and farmers hard.