From legal battles to health policy shifts, Trump’s agenda sparks new controversy at home and abroad.
Trump’s 35th week ended with updates on censorship, LGBTQ+ rights, immigration and public health. Following a previous report from The Introspective detailing the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk, Congress passed a “National Day of Remembrance” set for Oct. 14 —his birthday. At the same time, Trump threatened to pull licenses of TV networks that cover him negatively, raising implications as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced new restrictions on reporters covering the Department of Defense (DOD). Meanwhile, Trump publicly told Attorney General Pam Bondi to go after political rivals.
As backlash toward LGBTQ+ rights and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) continues, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is allegedly preparing to designate all transgender people as violent “extremists.” This comes as the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to restrict sex designations on passports to “male” and “female,” based on a previous executive order that limited federal recognition of gender to assigned sex at birth. Meanwhile, a judge struck down a lawsuit against The New York Times filed by Trump, calling the filing “improper” and “impermissible.”
As anti-immigrant sentiment escalates, the Trump administration asked companies to pay $100,000 a year for H-1B worker visas—a program for U.S. employers to hire foreign workers with a bachelor’s degree. That same day, California banned Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from wearing masks during arrests.
In public health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for people 6 months and older, instead advising only those 65 and older and those with health risks to get the vaccine. Meanwhile, health officials in Northeastern states formed a health alliance independent of the CDC, following a previous report from The Introspective detailing how West Coast states—Oregon, Washington and California—launched the Western Health Alliance.
Charlie Kirk, Political Tensions, and Press Access
Following the assassination of political commentator Charlie Kirk, Congress passed a “National Day of Remembrance” for the Trump ally set for his birthday, Oct. 14.
“Charlie was a good man—a devout husband, father and friend. His life was shaped by his faith and the idea that in America, debate and discussion are crucial to the betterment of our country,” said Sen. Rick Scott, who led the legislation.
According to the resolution, the Senate “recognizes Charlie Kirk for his contributions to civic education and public service” and “encourages educational institutions, civic organizations and citizens across the United States to observe this day.”
Senate Charlie Kirk Resoulution
This comes as President Trump threatened to revoke the broadcast licenses of TV networks following a previous report that detailed “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” being suspended by ABC after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) threatened to revoke the network’s license over Kimmel’s criticism of the polarized response to Kirk’s assassination.
“I mean, they’re getting a license. I would think maybe their license should be taken away. It will be up to Brendan Carr,” Trump said, referring to the FCC chairman.
“I think Brendan Carr is outstanding. He’s a patriot. He loves our country, and he’s a tough guy, so we’ll have to see.”
Trump later criticized evening news shows on broadcast TV, claiming that they are “against me.”
“All they do is hit Trump. They’re licensed. They’re not allowed to do that. They’re an arm of the Democrat Party,” he said.
The next day, the Pentagon announced new restrictions on reporters covering the Department of Defense—also referred to as the Department of War—directing them not to publish information that hasn’t been authorized by the Trump administration or risk losing press access.
“[The Department of War] remains committed to transparency to promote accountability and public trust,” read a memo obtained by The Introspective.
“However, DOW information must be approved for public release by an appropriate authorizing official before it is released, even if it is unclassified,” the memo continued.
“Failure to abide by these rules may result in suspension or revocation of your building pass and loss of access.”
In a statement, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell defended the directive, claiming that the new guidelines protect national security.
“These are basic, common-sense guidelines to protect sensitive information as well as the protection of national security and the safety of all who work at the Pentagon,” he said.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth later posted to X that the “press does not run the Pentagon, the people do.”
“The press is no longer allowed to roam the halls of a secure facility. Wear a badge and follow the rules—or go home,” he wrote.
Meanwhile, Trump publicly told Attorney General Pam Bondi to go after political rivals.
“Pam: I have reviewed over 30 statements and posts saying that, essentially, ‘same old story as last time, all talk, no action. Nothing is being done. What about Comey, Adam “Shifty” Schiff, Leticia??? They’re all guilty as hell, but nothing is going to be done,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to former FBI Director James Comey, Sen. Adam Schiff and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
“We can’t delay any longer, it’s killing our reputation and credibility. They impeached me twice, and indicted me (five times!), OVER NOTHING. JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED, NOW!!! President DJT.”
Trump fired Comey as FBI director during his first term in 2017, while Schiff led Trump’s first impeachment trial over the War in Ukraine. Letitia James led a lawsuit against his business holdings, which Trump called a “witch hunt.”
Trans Rights, New York Times, and Lisa Cook
A report from journalist Ken Klippenstein alleged that the FBI is preparing to designate transgender people as “violent extremists” in the wake of the mass shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church by a transgender woman and the Charlie Kirk assassination, despite the suspect, Tyler Robinson, not being transgender.
“The administration has convinced itself that the Charlie Kirk murder exposes some dark conspiracy,” a senior intelligence official told Klippenstein in the report.
Under the new directive, the FBI would prosecute transgender suspects under a new category, Nihilistic Violent Extremists (NVE), defined as “individuals who engage in criminal conduct within the United States and abroad, in furtherance of political, social, or religious goals that derive primarily from a hatred of society at large and a desire to bring about its collapse by sowing indiscriminate chaos, destruction and social instability.”
Suspects prosecuted as NVEs were found to be radicalized on platforms such as Discord and Telegram, with the majority under age 25 and some under 18.
This comes as the Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to enforce a policy ending the use of gender-neutral “X” on passports and requiring sex designations to be restricted to “male” and “female.” This follows a previous Introspective report detailing a federal judge blocking the administration from enforcing the directive.
“Even assuming a preliminary injunction inflicts some constitutional harm on the Executive Branch, such harm is the consequence of the State Department’s adoption of a passport policy that likely violates the constitutional rights of thousands of Americans,” Judge Julia Kobick wrote in the report.
Trump later asked the Supreme Court to allow him to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, following previous reports from The Introspective detailing Cook filing a lawsuit alleging her firing was “illegal” after Trump accused her of lying on a mortgage application and the Justice Department launching a criminal investigation against her.
“The president has determined that, because of Cook’s serious misconduct, the American people and he cannot have ‘full confidence’ in her ‘integrity’ and that ‘faithfully executing the law requires [her] immediate removal,’” Solicitor General John Sauer wrote in the court filing.
“That the Federal Reserve Board plays a uniquely important role in the American economy only heightens the government’s and the public’s interest in ensuring that an ethically compromised member does not continue wielding its vast powers,” Sauer continued.
“Put simply, the president may reasonably determine that interest rates paid by the American people should not be set by a governor who appears to have lied about facts material to the interest rates she secured for herself—and refuses to explain the apparent misrepresentations.”
Trump Lisa Cook Request
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled earlier this week that Cook could remain as Federal Reserve governor while the lawsuit continues.
Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday struck down a defamation lawsuit against The New York Times filed by Trump, calling the filing “improper” and “impermissible.”
“As every lawyer knows (or is presumed to know), a complaint is not a public forum for vituperation and invective,” Merryday wrote in the court filing.
“A complaint is not a megaphone for public relations or a podium for a passionate oration at a political rally or the functional equivalent of the Hyde Park Speakers’ Corner.”
NYT Lawsuit Struck Down
Merryday later gave Trump’s attorneys 28 days to refile the lawsuit, directing them to do so in a “professional and dignified manner.”
Immigration and Health
With anti-immigrant sentiment ongoing, President Trump directed companies to pay a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa holders.
“A hundred thousand dollars a year for H-1B visas, and all of the big companies are on board. We’ve spoken to them,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
“If you’re going to train somebody, you’re going to train one of the recent graduates from one of the great universities across our land. Train Americans. Stop bringing in people to take our jobs.”
American companies such as Microsoft, JPMorgan and Amazon responded to the directive by advising H-1B holders to remain in the United States to avoid potential deportation.
“H-1B visa holders who are currently in the U.S. should remain in the U.S. and avoid international travel until the government issues clear travel guidance,” read an email sent to JPMorgan employees, obtained by Reuters.
At the same time, California banned ICE officers and local officials from wearing masks during arrests under the “No Secret Police” Act.
“The No Secret Police Act is a bold step that builds on a remarkable record of leadership defending our immigrant communities and democracy itself,” said California Sen. Scott, who led the legislation, in a press release.
“No one wants masked officers roaming their communities and kidnapping people with impunity. As this authoritarian regime expands its reach into every aspect of daily life— including terrorizing people where they work, where they live, where they go to school, where they shop, where they seek health care—California will continue to stand for the rule of law and for basic freedoms.”
Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin criticized the legislation, calling it “despicable” and a “flagrant attempt to endanger our officers.”
“While our federal law enforcement officers are being assaulted by rioters and having rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown at them, a sanctuary politician is trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers,” she said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to McLaughlin, stating that reports of doxxing agents have not been proven.
“There’s an assertion that somehow there is an exponential increase in assaults on officers, but they will not provide the data,” he said.
“All they have provided is misinformation and misdirection.”
Meanwhile, in public health, the CDC will no longer recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for people 6 months and older, instead advising only those 65 and older and those with health risks to get the vaccine.
“Individual decision-making is referred to on the CDC’s adult and child immunization schedules as vaccination based on shared clinical decision-making,” the CDC said in a press release.
“It includes an emphasis that the risk-benefit of vaccination in individuals under age 65 is most favorable for those who are at an increased risk for severe COVID-19 and lowest for individuals who are not at an increased risk, according to the CDC list of COVID-19 risk factors.”
At the same time, health officials in Northeastern states — including New York, Massachusetts, Maine, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware and Vermont —launched the Northeast Public Health Collaborative, independent of the CDC.
“The Collaborative’s shared purpose is to work together in new ways—optimizing the use of shared resources, innovating and reimagining core services—to ensure trust in public health, respond to public health threats, advance community health and strengthen confidence in vaccines and science-based medicine,” the coalition announced in a press release.
“The group’s shared goal is to protect the health, safety and well-being of all residents by providing information based on science, data and evidence, while working to ensure equitable access to vaccines, medications and services.”
The Northeast Public Health Collaborative later issued its first recommendations, which included recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for children up to age 2 and for those who are pregnant.
The Introspective 
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