They’re Coming for the $5 Donor

ActBlue in the Crosshairs: Trump’s Quiet War on Democratic Fundraising Escalates—Plus Domestic Power Plays, a Rallying Cry, and Baltic Shadows

As the year ends, Trump’s grip tightens on federal agencies, from DHS scandals to Supreme Court showdowns, while ActBlue faces a DOJ probe that could cripple Democratic fundraising. Abroad, Russia’s shadow fleet escalates risks in the Baltic, and NATO fortifies the Nordic front. Here’s the digest.

Domestic

• ActBlue under fire: Trump’s DOJ probe escalates, but no charges yet. In a chilling parallel to the administration’s broader assault on independent watchdogs, President Trump’s April memorandum directed Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate ActBlue for alleged “straw donor” schemes and foreign contributions—claims rooted in Republican congressional probes that found no systemic fraud after years of digging. As of December, the inquiry has led to subpoenas for resigned executives and whistleblower scrutiny, but no indictments or grand jury—echoing the “asymmetric warfare” CEO Regina Wallace-Jones described in our recent conversation. With ActBlue processing 90% of small-dollar donations, this isn’t just politics; it’s an existential threat to grassroots funding, potentially freezing accounts via FinCEN or de-banking before any court rules.

• Trump weighs firing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem amid “ICE Barbie” romance scandal. Insiders report President Trump is considering ousting his Homeland Security chief—derisively nicknamed “ICE Barbie” for her hardline immigration stance—over alleged affair rumors with married advisor Corey Lewandowski, now a major Washington distraction. Three ex-DHS officials told The Bulwark the pair’s drama, including a botched $10 million jet buy from bankrupt Spirit Airlines, has top aides fuming; Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin is eyed as replacement, with action possibly in January when Democrat Abigail Spanberger succeeds him. Noem and Lewandowski deny romance, but the White House calls the buzz “fake news”—a loyalty test Trump rarely fails.

• Supreme Court conservatives eye chainsaw for Trump’s agency purge. Arguments concluded in Trump’s bid to fire independent-agency board members, with the court’s right-wing bloc signaling readiness to expand presidential power by gutting a 90-year Humphrey’s Executor precedent. Trump lawyer John Sauer mocked the ruling as a “decaying husk,” urging its scrap to let presidents oust FTC watchdogs like Rebecca Kelly Slaughter (fired in March despite “for cause” protections). Liberals like Sonia Sotomayor warned of governmental “destruction”; a June ruling could greenlight Trump’s removals from two dozen agencies, from EEOC to consumer boards—paving the way for unchecked executive overhauls.

• A rallying cry against Democratic silence. The silence of weakness is not quiet—it is deafening. It echoes in the empty promises of leaders too timid to confront injustice, in the hollow slogans crafted to comfort billionaires while families cry out for relief. It is the silence of those who choose safety over struggle, metaphors over courage, donors over dignity. But history teaches us that silence has always been broken by the brave: from the marchers at Selma to the voices that demanded civil rights, justice was won when ordinary people refused to accept weakness as their fate. Today, that same silence hangs over our democracy—and it is up to us, the base, to shatter it. For generations, progress in America has never come from timid words—it has come from struggle, sacrifice, and the courage to confront injustice head-on. From Selma’s bridge to Memphis’s streets, ordinary people forced leaders to act when they would not. Today, families are crushed by debt, inequality, and corruption, yet too many Democratic leaders offer metaphors instead of courage. We don’t need slogans crafted to comfort billionaires—we need fighters who will name the villains, stand with the people, and carry forward the tradition of justice that won civil rights, voting rights, and dignity in the past. Our fight is the next chapter in that story, and history will remember whether we rose to meet it.

International

• Kremlin cheers Trump’s new security strategy as “aligned” with Moscow’s worldview. The U.S.’s freshly unveiled 2025 National Security Strategy—slamming the EU as unreliable and Europe as a “spoiled child” risking “civilizational erasure” through migration and over-reliance on America—drew rare praise from the Kremlin. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov hailed it as “largely consistent” with Russia’s vision, hinting at hope for Ukraine peace talks: “This could be a modest guarantee for constructive work.” EU foreign ministers like Kaja Kallas acknowledged some truths on Europe’s Russia underestimation but stressed U.S. alliance strength; Sweden’s Maria Malmer Stenergard called for greater European self-reliance without overreacting. Critics like ex-PM Carl Bildt decried its “extremist sludge,” accusing it of echoing Kremlin lines on Ukraine and far-right European “suppression.”

• Russia’s shadow fleet ramps up Gulf of Finland patrols to dodge sanctions. The Russian shadow fleet—hundreds of tankers hauling oil to evade Western sanctions—has adopted new tactics in the Gulf of Finland, per Estonia’s Navy chief Ivo Värk. For months, Russian warships have conducted constant patrols to shield the fleet, with fighter jets occasionally providing air cover—escalating risks in the narrow strait. “This implies a high risk for escalation,” Värk warned, citing a May incident where a Su-35 jet buzzed Estonian forces inspecting the sanctioned tanker Jaguar. Finland’s defense minister confirmed the armed escorts as a “serious development,” amid EU threats to slash the oil price cap further.

• Sweden to lead NATO base in Finnish Lapland, aimed at thwarting Russian blitz. To prevent a Russian assault over the Nordic high north, NATO is establishing a base in Finnish Lapland from next year, with Sweden leading for the first time abroad. Anchored by Sweden’s Norrbotten Brigade, the 4,000–5,000-troop Forward Land Forces unit in Rovaniemi/Sodankylä will integrate UK, French, Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic contingents, focusing on rapid response to blitzkrieg threats. Finnish Army Chief Pasi Välimäki called it a show of “determination,” amid challenges like mismatched mine rules and sparse cross-border roads; Swedish Col. Mathias Wallin emphasized deterrence: “We’re ready to meet that type of threat,” adding that attacks “won’t happen without warning” and that robust monitoring ensures forces from the main base in Boden can mobilize and arrive in time despite the limited routes. The setup revives Cold War-era “Kalix Line” defenses, now extended into Finland.

• Estonia launches popular civilian drone course amid Ukraine war lessons. In response to drones’ growing role in Ukraine, Estonia has rolled out a “green flying” course for civilians—quickly drawing 200 completers, including Soviet-era survivors like 72-year-old trainee Jõeäärne Paakonen. Funded by the Defense Ministry, the hands-on program uses top simulators for jamming/fire scenarios, aiming to boost societal defense: “If everyone knows how to fly drones, our capabilities skyrocket,” said instructor. Participants, from elders to youth, cite personal stakes—Paakonen: “Under Soviet occupation, we couldn’t fight back; now we can help if needed.” It’s part of broader Baltic prep, echoing Ukraine’s “drone wall.” Ukraine has stopped using Chinese chips in its drones after discovering they leak geoposition data to Russia, exposing operator locations; the same issue has emerged with newly purchased buses in Norway, where Chinese components pose remote access risks during crises.

• Russia’s weekend barrage hammers Ukraine’s energy grid. Russian attacks continued unabated over the weekend, with missiles and drones striking multiple cities and crippling heat, power, and water supplies—no civilian deaths reported yet, but damage was widespread. Overnight into Saturday, Moscow launched 653 drones and 51 missiles, downing 585 by Ukrainian defenses; targets included Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant (brief off-site power loss, per IAEA) and rail hubs near Kyiv. Eight wounded, blackouts in eight regions; Zelenskyy slammed it as “meaningless terror” amid U.S. peace talks. Ukraine hit back, torching Russia’s Ryazan refinery.

• Arne Slot admits ‘no clue’ if Mohamed Salah has played his last Liverpool game. Following a tense 3-3 draw at Leeds—Salah’s third benching this season—the Egyptian star accused the club of “throwing him under the bus” and claimed his relationship with new manager Slot had broken down. Omitted from the Champions League squad vs. Inter Milan, Salah’s future hangs in the balance amid contract uncertainty. Slot, in his presser, offered no reassurance: “I have no clue whether he has played his last game for Liverpool.

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