The Introspective

The week ended with developments in trade, legal battles, and military financing amid the ongoing shutdown.

Trump’s 40th week ended with updates on the Supreme Court, immigration, the ongoing government shutdown, and the continuing trade war. The Supreme Court is set to decide by Nov. 7 whether to hear a case that could overturn Obergefell v. Hodges—the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide—following a previous report from The Introspective detailing that former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who faced backlash in 2015 for refusing to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, filed a petition to the court.

At the same time, as the government shutdown continues, backlash has grown after the Pentagon accepted an anonymous $130 million donation to pay troops, raising concerns as more than 700,000 federal employees remain unpaid. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that voting sites in California and New Jersey will be monitored.

As anti-immigrant sentiment continues, the Trump administration is seeking to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia by Oct. 31, sparking further backlash as Abrego Garcia was granted permanent status in 2019 after entering the United States in 2011. At the same time, following a previous Introspective report detailing the indictment of New York Attorney General Letitia James, she has pleaded not guilty to charges of bank fraud.

Meanwhile, as the trade war continues, Trump suspended all trade negotiations with Canada over an ad that criticized tariffs and quoted former President Ronald Reagan. Trump later increased tariffs against Canada by 10%.

Supreme Court, Pentagon, and Justice Department

Following a previous report from The Introspective detailing former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis filing a petition to the Supreme Court, the court scheduled a private conference for Nov. 7 to decide whether to hear the case that could overturn Obergefell v. Hodges.

“Obergefell was ‘egregiously wrong,’ ‘deeply damaging,’ ‘far outside the bounds of any reasonable interpretation of the various constitutional provisions to which it vaguely pointed,’ and set out ‘on a collision course with the Constitution from the day it was decided,’” wrote Davis’ attorney, Matthew Staver, in a filing obtained by The Introspective.

“This flawed opinion has produced disastrous results, leaving individuals like Davis ‘find[ing] it increasingly difficult to participate in society without running afoul of Obergefell and its effect on other antidiscrimination laws,’” he continued.

“And until the court revisits its ‘creation of atextual constitutional rights,’ Obergefell will continue to have ruinous consequences for religious liberty.”

If overturned, same-sex marriage would be returned to the states, similar to Roe v. Wade being overturned in 2022. Any current same-sex marriages would be grandfathered into law.

At the same time, as the government shutdown continues, backlash has formed after the Pentagon accepted an anonymous $130 million donation to pay troops.

“On Oct. 23, 2025, the Department of War accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million under its general gift acceptance authority. The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” read a statement from Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell obtained by The Introspective.

“We are grateful for this donor’s assistance after Democrats opted to withhold pay from troops.”

Trump later said that the donation came from “a friend of mine” during a press conference at the White House.

“He called us the other day and he said, ‘I’d like to contribute any shortfall you have because of the Democrat shutdown. I’d like to personally contribute any shortfall you have with the military because I love the military and I love the country.’ … And today, he sent us a check for $130 million,” Trump said.

Meanwhile, the Department of Justice announced that voting sites in California and New Jersey would be monitored during local elections in both states next month, stating it will “ensure transparency, ballot security, and compliance with federal law.”

“Transparency at the polls translates into faith in the electoral process, and this Department of Justice is committed to upholding the highest standards of election integrity,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a press release.

“We will commit the resources necessary to ensure the American people get the fair, free, and transparent elections they deserve.”

Alina Habba, acting U.S. attorney and special attorney of the District of New Jersey, said protecting elections ensures that “every eligible voter can participate freely and every lawful vote is counted.”

“Our office is committed to working alongside our federal, state, and local partners to ensure transparency, security, and public confidence in the election process.”

Elections are set to take place in Passaic County, New Jersey; Kern County, California; Riverside County, California; Fresno County, California; Orange County, California; and Los Angeles County.

Immigration and Letitia James

As anti-immigrant sentiment continues, the Trump administration is planning to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia—a West African country—by Oct. 31.

“Liberia is a thriving democracy and one of the United States’ closest partners on the African continent,” wrote the DOJ in a court filing, adding that the administration “received diplomatic assurances regarding the treatment of third-country individuals removed to Liberia from the United States and [is] making the final necessary arrangements for [Abrego Garcia’s] removal.”

Abrego Gracia Oct Filing

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In a statement obtained by The Introspective, Abrego Garcia’s attorney, Simon Sandoval-Moshenberg, called the administration’s actions “punitive, cruel, and unconstitutional,” and accused the administration of inflicting “maximum hardship.”

“After failed attempts with Uganda, Eswatini, and Ghana, ICE now seeks to deport our client, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, to Liberia, a country with which he has no connection, thousands of miles from his family and home in Maryland,” he said.

Meanwhile, following a previous report from The Introspective detailing the indictment of New York State Attorney General Letitia James, she pleaded not guilty to charges of bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution.

“Not guilty, Judge, to both counts,” said James to U.S. District Judge Jamar Walker on Friday.

She later said outside the courthouse that people’s support “strengthened my spirit.”

“This is not about me. This is about all of us and about a justice system which has been weaponized—a justice system which has been used as a tool of revenge … and a weapon against those individuals who simply did their job and who stood up for the rule of law, and a justice system which unfortunately is being used as a vehicle of retribution,” she added.

“Because I believe that justice will rain down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream, and I’m here to say that my work and my job and all that I do throughout my public career—I’ve stood up for the rights of New Yorkers and Americans, and I will not be deterred … I will not be distracted. I will do my job each and every day.”

Trade

As the trade war continues, Trump suspended all trade negotiations with Canada over an ad that criticized tariffs and quoted former President Ronald Reagan.

“The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs,” said Trump on Truth Social.

“Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”

The ad samples a 1987 speech from Reagan that criticized tariffs as hurting “every American worker and consumer” and “triggering fierce trade wars.”

In a post on X, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that the ad campaign would pause on Monday “so that trade talks can resume.”

“Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses,” he said.

“We’ve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels. I’ve directed my team to keep putting our message in front of Americans over the weekend so that we can air our commercial during the first two World Series games.”

Trump later announced that tariffs against Canada would increase by 10% following the ad continuing to be played.

“Canada was caught, red-handed, putting up a fraudulent advertisement on Ronald Reagan’s speech on tariffs,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts and hostile act, I am increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute said on X that the ad “misrepresents” what Reagan said in his speech and added that it was exploring legal action.