The crackdown on “leftist” groups and . . . well, mostly just that.
Tuesday, September 16, 2025
Today’s brief, let's be honest, is mostly just me trying to round up all the news about the authoritarian consolidation in process now after the Charlie Kirk assasination. Not great, Bob!
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The Trump Administration
Headline: After Charlie Kirk’s death, Trump team calls for dismantling leftist groups | Reuters
What?
Vice President JD Vance and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller vowed to use DOJ and DHS authorities to “identify, disrupt, dismantle and destroy” alleged left-wing networks, with Vance naming Open Society Foundations and Ford Foundation; both groups denied current funding ties to The Nation.
So What?
Signals potential federal moves against nonprofits and speech-adjacent activity, raising civil liberties and selective enforcement concerns for advocacy groups.
Now What?
Watch for: any DOJ/DHS tasking memos, RICO/terror designations or IRS reviews of tax-exempt status; responses from OSF/Ford; legal challenges from civil liberties groups. Further reading: Reuters.
Headline: JD Vance threatens crackdown on ‘far-left’ groups after Charlie Kirk shooting | The Guardian
What?
Guest-hosting Kirk’s podcast from the White House, Vance said the administration would dismantle institutions “that promote violence and terrorism,” and urged people to call out those celebrating Kirk’s killing; Miller said the government would use “every resource” at DOJ and DHS.
So What?
Adds on-the-record political framing to a policy push, normalizing employer pressure campaigns and expanding the target set to include perceived amplifiers.
Now What?
Watch for: executive actions, agency guidance, or interagency task forces announced via White House or DOJ; potential court fights over First Amendment limits. Further reading: The Guardian.
Headline: White House promises crackdown on left-wing ‘terror’ after Kirk killing | Al Jazeera
What?
On the podcast, Miller and Vance pledged to “uproot and dismantle” alleged left-wing “terror networks,” despite investigators not establishing a political motive; Utah’s governor said the suspect held leftist views.
So What?
Cements a federal narrative before full facts are known, increasing risk of overbroad enforcement and political retaliation against liberal groups.
Now What?
Watch for: arrest affidavit details; whether “terror” framing migrates into official designations; congressional oversight requests. Further reading: Al Jazeera.
Headline: Charlie Kirk: White House plans broad crackdown on liberal groups | The Irish Times
What?
Reporting (from NYT content) details Trump allies floating RICO cases, possible “domestic terror” labels, and efforts to target funders, with legal uncertainties around First Amendment limits.
So What?
Highlights legal friction points if the administration tries to criminalize protest support networks.
Now What?
Watch for: any formal RICO announcements from DOJ; state AG pushback; nonprofit sector legal defenses. Further reading: The Irish Times.
Headline: Trump hints at how he could arrest flag burners despite free speech protections | The Independent
What?
Trump said he would pursue flag-burning arrests on an “incitement of violence” theory, despite Supreme Court precedent protecting flag burning as symbolic speech.
So What?
Signals a test of speech doctrine and potential chilling effects on protest tactics.
Now What?
Watch for: arrests citing “incitement” around flag protests; rapid ACLU-style litigation; any EO or DOJ guidance attempting to narrow protections. Further reading: The Independent.
Climate
Headline: Black communities, shaken by Trump cuts, feel ‘left behind again’ | The Washington Post
What?
Post analysis identifies 22 axed or halted projects addressing pollution, sewage and flooding in Southern Black communities after the administration ended DEI/EJ programs across DOJ, EPA, Interior and USDA.
So What?
Cuts could worsen health inequities and climate resilience gaps; several cancellations are already being challenged in court.
Now What?
Watch for: litigation outcomes; local gap-filling efforts; congressional oversight on EJ/DEI rollbacks. Further reading: Washington Post.
Headline: EPA moves to end greenhouse gas emissions reporting | Smart Cities Dive
What?
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin proposed eliminating the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, citing burdens on business; city leaders and advocates say it would hinder accountability and public health protections.
So What?
Removing core data could undercut local climate plans and complicate enforcement, while spurring lawsuits from environmental groups.
Now What?
Watch for: Federal Register notice and comment period; related lawsuit timelines; interactions with the proposed rescission of the 2009 endangerment finding (comments due Sept. 22). Further reading: Smart Cities Dive.
What?
Vermont Public reports EPA’s New England office has lost about 25% of staff under the administration, fueling fear and low morale.
So What?
Capacity cuts may reduce oversight of pollution, permitting and enforcement in the region.
Now What?
Watch for: updated workforce figures; IG/GAO reviews; state agencies and NGOs stepping into enforcement gaps. Further reading: Vermont Public.
Culture
What?
Citing the Washington Post, The Independent reports NPS officials are removing exhibits about slavery, including the 1863 “Scourged Back” photo, under an executive order to purge materials that “disparage Americans.”
So What?
Removes foundational evidence of slavery’s brutality from public interpretation, drawing fire from historians and equity advocates.
Now What?
Watch for: internal NPS guidance; lawsuits or congressional inquiries; responses from museum partners and local stakeholders. Further reading: The Independent.
What?
LAist (via KQED) details an NPS-wide directive to scrub materials deemed to “disparage Americans,” leading to exhibit removals (e.g., Muir Woods) and confusion over timelines and decision-makers.
So What?
Raises stakes for inclusive storytelling at high-traffic parks; California advocates fear erasure of LGBTQ+, Indigenous and civil rights histories.
Now What?
Watch for: September federal deadlines; House Natural Resources oversight; state AG engagement. Further reading: LAist.
Free Speech
What?
AP-based explainer notes firings of workers (including a TV analyst) over posts about Kirk’s killing; employment law gives private employers wide latitude; the Pentagon announced “zero tolerance” for celebratory posts by personnel.
So What?
Clarifies real-world speech risks for employees and communicators amid doxxing campaigns and politicized employer pressure.
Now What?
Watch for: HR policy updates; union guidance; early lawsuits alleging wrongful termination or protected concerted activity. Further reading: First Amendment Watch.
What?
NYT reports coordinated campaigns to identify and pressure employers of people alleged to be celebrating Kirk’s death, prompting firings and discipline in multiple sectors. (Link may require subscription.)
So What?
Escalates reputational risk and online harassment dynamics for journalists, educators and public-facing workers.
Now What?
Watch for: platform moderation steps; employer social media policies; legal threats around defamation and tortious interference. Further reading: New York Times.
Big Picture Politics
What?
Assessment says federal rollbacks and weaker platform moderation will ease foreign online influence operations; ODNI staff cuts—especially at the Foreign Malign Influence Center—heighten risk. (Paywalled; summary view available.)
So What?
Suggests a more permissive environment for disinformation targeting elections and social fault lines.
Now What?
Watch for: further ODNI restructuring; state/local cyber info-sharing; platform transparency or rule changes under federal pressure. Further reading: RANE Worldview.
Headline: Can Resistance Succeed? | The American Prospect (Opinion/Analysis)
What?
Robert Kuttner argues that escalating authoritarian moves are prompting effective opposition across courts, state/local governments and grassroots groups, with midterm stakes high.
So What?
Frames opportunities for pro-democracy coalitions, litigation strategies and targeted civic mobilization despite institutional headwinds.
Now What?
Watch for: key court rulings on tariffs, birthright citizenship and federal power; state-level election administration fights; organizing metrics heading into 2026. Further reading: The American Prospect.
