Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Trump Administration Continues to Engage in Actual Lawfare

A federal judge blocked the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from investigating Media Matters for America, the liberal watchdog group that has criticized the spread of hate speech on X since Elon Musk purchased the platform.

Posted by jpw at 09:30 PM | 36 COMMENTS | permalink

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In a victory for free speech, Media Matters won a preliminary injunction against the retaliatory FTC investigation. Below are a statement from @goangelo.bsky.social and some key excerpts from the ruling.

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-- Media Matters for America (@mmfa.bsky.social) Aug 15, 2025 at 6:54 PM

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Another view ...

Elon Musk's "thermonuclear" Media Matters lawsuit may be fizzling out
arstechnica.com

... In her opinion granting MMFA's preliminary injunction, US District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan -- a Joe Biden appointee -- agreed that the FTC's probe was likely to be ruled as a retaliatory violation of the First Amendment. ...

FTC staff social posts may be evidence of retaliation ...

A huge part of the problem for the FTC was social media comments posted before some senior FTC staffers were appointed by Ferguson. Those posts appeared to show the FTC growing increasingly partisan, perhaps pointedly hiring staffers who they knew would help take down groups like MMFA.

As examples, Sooknanan pointed to Joe Simonson, the FTC's director of public affairs, who had posted that MMFA "employed a number of stupid and resentful Democrats who went to like American University and didn't have the emotional stability to work as an assistant press aide for a House member."

And Jon Schwepp, Ferguson's senior policy advisor, had claimed that Media Matters -- which he branded as the "scum of the earth" -- "wants to weaponize powerful institutions to censor conservatives."

And finally, Jake Denton, the FTC's chief technology officer, had alleged that MMFA is "an organization devoted to pressuring companies into silencing conservative voices." ...




#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-19 12:10 PM

Farcical misuse of the law

#2 | Posted by hamburglar at 2025-08-20 06:41 AM

Is Jeff clutching his pearls yet?

#3 | Posted by Nixon at 2025-08-20 10:42 AM

The left accusing the right of Lawfare after what they did to Trump the last 9 years? Priceless.

#4 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-08-20 03:34 PM

Trump earned it by breaking every law possible.

Name one thing you would get away with that trump does 100 times.

#5 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-08-20 03:37 PM

So, Media Matters is exempt from even being investigated?

#6 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-08-20 06:02 PM

So, Media Matters is exempt from even being investigated?
#6 | Posted by BellRinger

Congratulations on finding a way to Maximize Your Victimhood!

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-20 06:04 PM

Trump & MAGA are little more than practitioners of "Psychological Projection" i.e. doing what they falsely accuse others of doing.

Bondi is ACTUALLY practicing weaponization of the DOJ

#8 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-08-20 10:03 PM

@#8 ... Trump & MAGA are little more than practitioners of "Psychological Projection" i.e. doing what they falsely accuse others of doing. ...

I do not disagree.

And I have stated a similar sentiment in the past on this most august site.

#9 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-20 10:12 PM

What's the problem with lawfare,?

Now Lumpers have a problem with it?

I recall this Asian getting harassed for saying "lawfare", now the Lumpers use it with impunity.

Losers

#10 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-08-20 10:47 PM

Trump earned it by breaking every law possible.
Name one thing you would get away with that trump does 100 times.

#5 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-08-20 03:37 PM | Reply | Flag:

Telling my bank that my house is worth a certain amount and the bank agreeing, giving me a loan and then I pay it back with interest and the bank is happy.
Or his opponents creating fake evidence, the dossier, to justify a 3 year trial to remove him from office and then impeaching him over it.
Using a liberal NY court to turn a potential misdemeanor into a felony without offering the defence due process by creating a second crime when giving the jury final instructions.

I can go on.

#11 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-08-21 12:52 PM

I can go on.

#11 | Posted by fishpaw

But instead you'll run away when I ask you why trump chose a russian asset to run his campaign, out of everyone in the world he could have chosen.

#12 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-08-21 12:54 PM

I can go on.
#11 | POSTED BY FISHPEDO

Please do.

It's like a study on MAGA ignorance reading your posts.

#13 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-21 12:56 PM

Trump & MAGA are little more than practitioners of "Psychological Projection" i.e. doing what they falsely accuse others of doing.
Bondi is ACTUALLY practicing weaponization of the DOJ

#8 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-08-20 10:03 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

You mean like what the latest evidence shows that Hillary colluded with Russia to have them hide evidence that she wasn't stable?

#14 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-08-21 01:00 PM

So now it's clear. Visitard is perfectly ok with fraud.

As long as Convicted Felon Trumpy does it.

Intentionally inflating your assets to secure a larger loan or more favorable loan terms is considered loan fraud.

Trumpy is still proven to be a conman and a fraud in a court of law even if he does wiggle out of paying the fines using Lawfare.

And Visitard is perfectly ok with that. In fact he is elated!

#15 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-21 01:05 PM

But instead you'll run away when I ask you why trump chose a russian asset to run his campaign, out of everyone in the world he could have chosen.

#12 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-08-21 12:54 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

Manafort was a Georgetown University and Georgetown Law grad who was a political consultant who knew his way around DC politics. He actually worked with Ukraine politicians, not Russians. Trump was naive as well.
And now we know what we knew then, the entire Russian collusion hoax was made up by the Dems. Hillary came up with it, Obama played along and Brennon, Clapper, Comey and Schiff did the dirty work.

#16 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-08-21 01:09 PM

The left accusing the right of Lawfare after what they did to Trump the last 9 years? Priceless.

#4 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

Investigating criminal behavior isnt lawfare you stupud f*^%.

#17 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-21 01:14 PM

So, Media Matters is exempt from even being investigated?

#6 | POSTED BY BELLRINGER

Of course, Gutes Deutsch will show up to carry the maga water.

What an idiot.

#18 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-21 01:15 PM

Intentionally inflating your assets to secure a larger loan or more favorable loan terms is considered loan fraud.
Trumpy is still proven to be a conman and a fraud in a court of law even if he does wiggle out of paying the fines using Lawfare.
And Visitard is perfectly ok with that. In fact he is elated!

#15 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-21 01:05 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

I'll make a wager with you, if it doesn't get over turned on appeal I won't post for a year, if it does you won't.

That case was the biggest joke of them all. Banks don't loan on real estate based on what an applicant tells them what they think the real estate is worth, they do their own appraisals. Someday if you ever try to buy a house and need a mortgage see how the process works.

#19 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-08-21 01:16 PM

The left accusing the right of Lawfare after what they did to Trump the last 9 years? Priceless.

#4 | POSTED BY FISHPAW
Investigating criminal behavior isnt lawfare you stupud f*^%.

#17 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-21 01:14 PM | Reply | Flag:
(Choose)

Creating false evidence and using your current DOJ, FBI and CIA in a court that has a judge and jury that hates your opponent to bankrupt or jail him is lawfare you ------- moron.

#20 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-08-21 01:19 PM

Creating false evidence
#20 | POSTED BY FISHPEDO

False evidence?

Are you saying Trump hired incompetent lawyers who were unable to get the false evidence thrown out?

Or are you simply spinning as fast as you can for dear Cult Leader?

#21 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-21 01:37 PM

#16 | Posted by fishpaw

Manafort worked with Russian puppets running Ukraine. They were ousted, arrest warrants issuedd, and fled to Russia.

Take your "whataboutism" and shove it.

Replace Biden or Clinton's name for any of the myriad of things Trump's done and you'd be having a stroke over them.

#22 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-08-21 01:40 PM

"Trump Proudly Declares End of Fighting Between 'Aberbaijan' and Albania"

You'd also be declaring Trump mentally unfit if his name was Biden for the plethora of head-shakingly idiotic misspeaks.

Just Tuesday, he asked where the president of Finland was. Who was SITTING RIGHT ACROSS THE TABLE FROM HIM!

#23 | Posted by AMERICANUNITY at 2025-08-21 01:43 PM

You mean like what the latest evidence shows that Hillary colluded with Russia to have them hide evidence that she wasn't stable?

#14 | Posted by fishpaw

Why did trump choose russian asset paul manafort as his campaign manager? Did hillary make him do that?

#24 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-08-21 02:35 PM

Creating false evidence and using your current DOJ, FBI and CIA in a court that has a judge and jury that hates your opponent to bankrupt or jail him is lawfare you ------- moron.

LOL--- trying to overturn an election where the limits of legal appeal were exhausted....yeah.....he should AT A MINIMUM have been impeached.

But when that was taken away by our so called elected officials - the only avenue left was seek legal action.

Admit it, Trump did it to himself.

As as far as Russia, most every unbiased critic will tell you that an investigation into Trump was warranted. Read the Senate's very own report - Trump's election team was a clear and present danger.

#25 | Posted by brass30 at 2025-08-21 02:43 PM

Replace Biden or Clinton's name for any of the myriad of things Trump's done and you'd be having a stroke over them.

For goodness sake - for LESS we've already seen the reaction.

#26 | Posted by brass30 at 2025-08-21 02:45 PM

Admit it, Trump did it to himself.

They never will.

They can't.

Blind loyalty demands it.

#27 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-21 03:06 PM

Creating false evidence and using your current DOJ, FBI and CIA in a court that has a judge and jury that hates your opponent to bankrupt or jail him is lawfare you ------- moron.

#20 | POSTED BY FISHPAW

That's some really nice fantasy.

Idiot.

#28 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-21 03:06 PM

And of course let's not just throw out the obstruction of justice incurred by Trump during the Russia investigation.

Bill Barr, and now the Supreme Court, now permit it legally.

Welcome to the new age of zero consequences.

#29 | Posted by brass30 at 2025-08-21 03:11 PM

And of course let's not just throw out the obstruction of justice incurred by Trump during the Russia investigation.

Bill Barr, and now the Supreme Court, now permit it legally.

Welcome to the new age of zero consequences.

#29 | Posted by brass30

Garland could have prosecuted him for that. But garland decided letting fascists topple democracy was preferable to having republicans upset at him.

#30 | Posted by SpeakSoftly at 2025-08-21 03:58 PM

"Creating false evidence and using your current DOJ, FBI and CIA in a court that has a judge and jury that hates your opponent to bankrupt or jail him ... "

lol. And I bet you just have tons of evidence to support that "sedatious" claim.

The judge hated him. The jury hated him!

They say it was probably the rancid smell emanating from Trumpy's overloaded diapers and they just wanted it to be over. I don't know for sure but that's what the people say.

#31 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-21 04:15 PM

Intentionally inflating your assets to secure a larger loan or more favorable loan terms is considered loan fraud.
Trumpy is still proven to be a conman and a fraud in a court of law even if he does wiggle out of paying the fines using Lawfare.
And Visitard is perfectly ok with that. In fact he is elated!

#15 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-21 01:05 PM

LOL, the case was overturned today you idiot. Read the opinions. Never seen something so insulting to the judge and AG

#32 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-08-21 04:46 PM

LOL, the case was overturned today you idiot. Read the opinions. Never seen something so insulting to the judge and AG

POSTED BY FISHPAW

lol

TOTALLY EXONERATED!!

The case was not "overturned" liar.

while narrowly upholding a finding he engaged in fraud by exaggerating his wealth for decades. The ruling spares Trump from a potential half-billion-dollar fine but bans him and his two eldest sons from serving in corporate leadership for a few years.

The fine was determined to be excessive for the crime he committed. He still committed the fraud and he and his fraudulent sons are not allowed to be a CEO of any company in NY.

Reading comprehension is fundamental

#33 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-21 05:05 PM

#33. The fine was overturned in one count. Separate appeal, other appeal is the Trump can't do business case, that will be over turned as well. Want to bet?

#34 | Posted by fishpaw at 2025-08-21 08:23 PM

As usual trump gets away with something fishpaw would go to jail for.

#35 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-08-21 08:29 PM

Fistedp^** cheers when Trump gets away Scot free.

Then also cheers when Trump claims to be about law and order.

You have to be sub room temp IQ to have that level of cognitive dissonance.

#36 | Posted by jpw at 2025-08-21 08:31 PM

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