This Week in Democracy – Week 90 highlights recent developments undermining democratic integrity in the United States ahead of the midterm elections. Key events include revelations about potential corruption involving oil deals tied to Trump administration officials and a suspicious multi-million-dollar plane agreement signed by former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on her last day, coinciding with donations from the company’s owner. Additionally, the article details how former President Donald Trump refused to commit to reimbursing taxpayers for over $10 million spent on his campaign-style ads, despite initial claims he would cover costs himself. Another incident reported is a whistleblower disclosure indicating that under the Trump administration, the FBI was directed to investigate anti-ICE protesters in Los Angeles, raising concerns about violations of First Amendment rights.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-10,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
We’re now just 25 days away from the U.S. midterm elections, which will be a test for a democracy that has been undermined, battered, and beaten since Donald Trump retook the White House less than two years ago.
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Trump → ’re → House
This week in democracy saw revelations of more possible corruption, another ICE shooting, and racism at its purest form.
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week → see → form
Here’s just a taste of how Trump and his cronies harmed democracy, undermined the Constitution, and hurt Americans and societies worldwide over the last seven days:
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Trump → ’ → days
Saturday, Oct. 3 – Talks to End War in Ukraine Include Oil Deal Tied to Trump Envoys
The New York Times reported that a multibillion-dollar oil deal has been discussed as part of the Trump administration’s negotiations with Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
The deal, which would cover oil fields, refineries, and gas stations owned by one of Russia’s biggest energy companies, is being sought by an arm of the U.S. government, a U.S. investor who donated $2 million to Trump-related causes, and two Middle Eastern investor groups with ties to Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner – the two main U.S. negotiators to end the war in Ukraine.
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who → end → Ukraine
Sunday, Oct. 4 – On Her Last Day at DHS, Kristi Noem Secured Deal With Political Donor
The Times also reported that on Kristi Noem’s last day as Homeland Security secretary, the agency signed a multi-million-dollar agreement to buy five airplanes from a company whose owner had been one of Noem’s political donors.
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owner → secure → donors
In a statement, Noem said “the purchase of these planes was not completed” during her tenure, but didn’t answer specific questions about the agreement.
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purchase → say → agreement
The agreement, which saw the planes purchased at a substantial markup, came after the company’s chairman, William Walters, donated $10,000 to Noem’s PAC in 2024.
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chairman → see → 2024
During her time as Homeland Security secretary, the agency gave more than $900 million in contracts to companies led by Walters.
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agency → give → Walters
Monday, Oct. 5 – Trump Says He’ll Pay for Ads Himself, But Won’t Commit To Reimbursing Taxpayers
On Truth Social, Trump said he would pay for his campaign-style TV ads himself, “and with money I raised for MAGA, INC,” a pro-Trump super PAC.
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I → say → INC
Democrats, legal experts, and even some Trump officials have labeled the ads illegal, with some saying they could be an impeachable offense.
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they → label → ads
A day after Trump’s post, the White House said the super PAC isn’t planning to reimburse taxpayers for over $10 million the government had already spent on the ads, and Trump himself refused to commit to pay back the funds himself.
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Trump → say → funds
Tuesday, Oct. 6 – Whistleblower Reveals Trump Wanted Protesters Investigated By FBI
NBC News reported that the Trump administration ordered the FBI to investigate protesters engaging in anti-ICE demonstrations in Los Angeles last year, according to a whistleblower report from a former agency employee.
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administration → reveal → employee
The complaint alleged that the investigations violated protesters' First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly and also went against FBI policy.
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investigations → allege → policy
While the whistleblower said there wasn’t sufficient evidence to justify the probe, she was told by a colleague that “the president wants this investigation.”
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president → say → investigation
Wednesday, Oct. 7 – ICE Reviewed Voter Records, Targeted Nonprofits
Democracy Docket reported that ICE obtained the voting records of tens of millions of U.S. citizens.
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ICE → review → citizens
The agency also investigated hundreds of nonprofit organizations across the country last year that help people register to vote, and considered deploying undercover agents as part of its probe.
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people → investigate → probe
The effort targeted nonprofits in Ohio, New Jersey, D.C., Minnesota, and Pennsylvania, including the latter’s state branch of the Council on American-Islamic Relations – the country’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization.
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effort → target → Relations
Thursday, Oct. 8 – ICE Shoots Man in New York
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ICE → shoot → York
In New York City, an ICE agent posing as a construction worker shot 28-year-old Oscar Belgal in the neck after firing seven rounds into his vehicle, while a 5-year-old was in the backseat.
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old → pose → backseat
Wired later reported that the agent who shot Belgal has repeatedly been accused of unlawful arrests and excessive force, including tackling a pregnant woman to the ground, during arrests in New York and Minneapolis.
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who → report → York
Meanwhile, Trump went on his latest racist tirade on Truth Social, disgustingly claiming that Somali immigrants have “taken over” Minnesota and urging residents to “fight back.”
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immigrants → go → residents
Friday, Oct. 9 – Trump Renews Push to Fire Lisa Cook
Trump signed a presidential memo establishing a panel to investigate Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook over unproven allegations of mortgage fraud she has steadfastly denied.
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she → renew → fraud
The panel will ultimately report to Trump on whether there is “cause” for her removal.
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panel → report → removal
The latest push to fire Cook follows a Supreme Court ruling in June allowing her to continue in her position.
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her → fire → position
The ruling, however, didn’t prevent Trump from attempting to remove Cook from her post again.
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ruling → prevent → post
Did you miss previous weeks of ‘This Week in Democracy’?
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you → miss → Democracy
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