Stay angry, stay informed, and stay focused
Gonzo Report: November 26, 2024
COMMENTARY
Trump has wasted no time sowing destruction from the sidelines, making it clear his only agenda is to completely destroy what’s left of this country.
This bastard’s chaos circus never left town, and now he’s dragging us back into an endless saga of corruption, greed, and authoritarianism. Our new daily (ab)normal is living through another episode of The Trump Show, a reality series no one wanted but we’re all forced to endure.
While any other leader-in-waiting would prepare for office with some semblance of decorum—that’s certainly never been Trump’s bull-in-a-china-shop approach—and he has instead chosen to double triple down on his menacing tyrannical agenda, wasting no time scheming to crush dissent, rig the game, and reward his cronies.
If you thought his first term was a disaster, Act Two promises to eclipse it by a million light-years, catapulting the country straight into the gaping jaws of fascism. Trump 1.0 had guardrails. Trump 2.0 has none.
And let’s be clear: this isn’t just Trump. It’s his entire corrupt administration. It’s MAGA. It’s the GOP and their full embrace of a dictatorship. It’s every fascist grifter who selfishly prioritizes their own power over the rights of the American people. After all, that’s Trump’s brand. This fight isn’t about saving a democracy that’s already been destroyed—it’s about refusing to let their depravity, greed, and autocracy go unchallenged as they tighten their grip on what’s left of America.
But we aren’t going to sit back and take it. That’s why Gonzo Report exists—to call out the lies, expose the corruption, and arm you with the information you need to fight back. As Thomas Jefferson said, “A well-informed citizenry is the best defense against tyranny.” Staying informed isn’t just a right; it’s a responsibility.
Trump’s crime syndicate thrives on ignorance and apathy. We can’t afford either.
if you haven’t already, subscribe to Gonzo Report and we’ll cut through the bullshit together.
Stay angry. Stay informed. Let’s raise hell.
It’s time to fuck up some fascists. ✊🏻
TOP STORIES
#1
WHAT HAPPENED
The Trump transition team finally signed a memorandum of understanding with the Biden administration, enabling coordination with federal agencies. However, they declined government funding and General Services Administration (GSA) support, opting for private facilities and funding instead. This decision leaves them vulnerable to cybersecurity threats and lacks enforceable transparency. Critics warn that the delays and lack of federal support jeopardize national security and the administration’s readiness. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Trump’s team is already setting the stage for incompetence and chaos, because what’s more on-brand than ignoring expertise and winging it? Skipping GSA support isn’t “saving taxpayer money”; it’s cutting corners on cybersecurity, making them a hacker’s dream and risking national security. Their “we’ll disclose donors, trust us” promise is laughable given their track record on transparency—spoiler: they have none. Add in a Cabinet of rookies with zero federal experience, and this isn’t just a shitshow—it’s a full-blown national liability.
#2
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump threatened to slap a 25% tariff on Mexican goods if Mexico doesn’t stop drug trafficking and migration to the U.S. Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum fired back, saying Mexico would retaliate with its own tariffs, potentially hurting shared industries like automaking. Sheinbaum blamed U.S. drug consumption and gun smuggling for worsening the crisis and called for dialogue. Experts warned the tariffs would violate trade agreements and damage the economies of both countries. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Trump’s brilliant plan to fix everything by throwing a tantrum and slapping tariffs on Mexico is peak delusion. Sheinbaum isn’t playing the same submissive game as her predecessor, so Trump’s usual bullying won’t fly. His plan? Punish American consumers with soaring prices on everything from cars to avocados, while screwing over automakers and causing inflation for funsies because he has no idea how the economy works. Meanwhile, his “solution” ignores America’s drug demand and the guns flooding Mexico from the U.S. But sure, let’s pretend this chest-thumping helps anyone other than Trump’s ego. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.
#3
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump announced Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford economist and co-author of the controversial Great Barrington Declaration, as his pick for NIH director. Bhattacharya gained notoriety during the pandemic for opposing lockdowns and advocating for “focused protection,” which public health experts widely criticized as reckless and dangerous. If confirmed, Bhattacharya will oversee a $48 billion agency, despite being dismissed by courts and health authorities as unqualified for such roles. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Appointing Bhattacharya to lead the NIH is like putting an arsonist in charge of the fire department. His pandemic policies would’ve let the virus run wild, killing millions in the name of “natural immunity.” This pick reeks of Trump’s signature style: reward fringe ideologues who pander to his ego while dismantling institutions. Bhattacharya isn’t just unqualified—he’s actively harmful, with a track record of prioritizing debunked theories over science. If another pandemic like H1N1 or H5N1 emerges, his reckless approach could leave Americans dangerously unprepared, with catastrophic consequences. This isn’t leadership—it’s a death sentence for public health.
#4
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump’s advisers are plotting to cut federal funding to sanctuary cities like Chicago and Denver unless they cooperate with ICE deportations. Trump ally Tom Homan, his pick for “border czar,” has even threatened to jail Denver’s Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston for resisting the administration’s mass deportation plans. Sanctuary city leaders argue these policies splinter families, violate local autonomy, and harm public safety. While past efforts to cut funds faced legal challenges, Trump’s team is pursuing untested tactics, risking financial ruin for these cities while pushing a draconian immigration agenda. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Trump’s plan to starve sanctuary cities of funding and jail dissenters reeks of authoritarianism wrapped in xenophobia. Gutting essential federal resources won’t just hurt “blue” cities; it’ll devastate millions of residents who rely on that funding for housing, infrastructure, and policing. Threatening mayors with prison is straight out of a dictator’s playbook, and Homan’s ham-fisted approach could lead to humanitarian crises and economic fallout. If this is their “solution” to immigration, what happens when another crisis arises? This isn’t governance—it’s a vendetta.
#5
WHAT HAPPENED
Russ Vought, a Trump loyalist and champion of “Christian nationism,” is set to lead the White House Office of Management and Budget. (The term “Christian nationism” is sometimes used as a deliberate rebranding of “Christian nationalism” to soften the negative connotations of the latter. In other words, it’s not a typo—just two ways of saying the same thing.) Vought believes America was founded as a Christian nation and plans to embed that ideology into government policies. His history includes pushing for mass deportations, slashing federal programs, replacing civil servants with political appointees, and justifying domestic military deployment to quell protests. He also wants the executive branch to override Congress on spending, a move that would dismantle checks and balances. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Russ Vought running the OMB is a recipe for disaster—think “Handmaid’s Tale,” but with a budget spreadsheet. His vision of a Christian America isn’t just exclusionary; it’s flat-out un-American. He wants to gut democracy, replace experts with cronies, and weaponize government to enforce a theocratic, xenophobic agenda. Deploying the military against protesters? That’s dictatorship 101. And his push to let Trump ignore Congress on spending? Kiss separation of powers goodbye. Vought’s plans don’t just threaten the Constitution—they bulldoze it. This is tyranny disguised as policy.
#6
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump’s return to the White House could spell the U.S.’s withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO), a move he attempted during his first term. The U.S. is the WHO’s largest government donor, providing up to $816 million annually, so its exit would slash funding and jeopardize global health programs. In return, the U.S. would lose access to critical international networks like flu vaccine coordination and global health standards for American drugmakers. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Pulling out of the WHO is classic Trump: burn the house down and call it progress. Losing the U.S. as a donor would devastate the WHO at a time when global health crises are piling up. Meanwhile, America cutting ties means our public health response gets dumber, slower, more dangerous. No flu vaccine coordination? Fantastic idea—let’s just wing it with future pandemics. And U.S. pharma companies losing a global stamp of approval? Genius economic strategy! This isn’t about reform; it’s a spiteful attack on science and international cooperation, driven by Trump’s obsession with undermining anything that promotes global collaboration on public health.
#7
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump has named Jim O’Neill, a Silicon Valley figure with ties to Peter Thiel, as his pick for HHS deputy secretary. O’Neill, who previously worked in HHS under George W. Bush, has a controversial history, including advocating for the FDA to approve drugs based only on safety, skipping proof of effectiveness. He’ll support HHS Secretary pick Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in overseeing health policy and operations. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Jim O’Neill’s appointment to HHS is as reckless and dangerous a move as naming notorious anti-vaccine propagandist RFK Jr. to head the department. O’Neill’s belief that drugs should be approved without proof of effectiveness threatens to flood the market with untested treatments, putting countless Americans at risk of harm. Pairing these two who openly reject scientific consensus and prioritize fringe ideas over public safety, will lead directly to preventable deaths. This isn’t responsible governance; it’s playing fast and loose with millions of American lives.
#8
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump plans to dismantle Biden’s student debt relief efforts, which provided loan forgiveness and eased repayment terms for millions of borrowers. His transition team is preparing to reverse key programs like the SAVE plan, which capped payments at 5% of income. Trump’s Education Secretary pick, Linda McMahon, and his advisers criticize Biden’s initiatives as unlawful and overly generous, but face logistical and legal challenges in unwinding them. Millions of borrowers remain in limbo as courts have already blocked some of Biden’s plans, creating uncertainty over repayment requirements and default collections. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Trump’s rollback of student debt relief will devastate millions of borrowers already drowning under $1.6 trillion in federal loans. Programs like the SAVE plan offered a lifeline, and dismantling them will shove people back into default, restart wage garnishments, and deepen economic inequality. Adding insult to injury, this comes as Americans face skyrocketing prices thanks to unchecked corporate greed, inflation, and a rising cost of living—all of which will worsen under Trump’s plans to slap tariffs on everything in sight. Cancelling debt relief isn’t just cruel; it’s economic sabotage designed to crush ordinary people while Trump and his billionaire buddies profit.
#9
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump has tapped businessman John Phelan, who has no military experience or background with the Navy, to serve as Secretary of the Navy. Phelan, a major Trump donor and private investment firm leader, was chosen over candidates with actual military credentials after interviews at Mar-a-Lago. Trump praised Phelan for his intelligence and leadership, framing the choice as a move to prioritize business acumen and disrupt the status quo within the Navy. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
Phelan’s nomination as Secretary of the Navy is another glaring example of Trump running the government like a goddamned country club for his wealthy backers. Phelan’s complete lack of military experience makes him wildly unfit to oversee such an essential component of national defense. At a time when global threats are escalating, putting a big money donor with literally zero relevant expertise in charge of the Navy isn’t just reckless—it’s profoundly insulting to those who’ve dedicated their lives to service. Once again, Trump’s willingness to put cronies over competence undermines national security and further proves he’s wholly unfit to serve as commander in chief.
#10
WHAT HAPPENED
Trump is reportedly planning to remove traditional media journalists from the White House press briefing room, replacing them with figures from the podcast and influencer world, like Joe Rogan and far-right commentator Michael Knowles of The Daily Wire. Donald Trump Jr. revealed this shift is being discussed, framing it as an opportunity to bring in personalities with large followings who align with Trump’s views. Trump’s hostility toward mainstream outlets like The New York Times—which he derides as biased against him, routinely labeling them as “fake news”—has defined his political strategy, and this move aims to further sideline critical voices in the press. [Source]
WHY IT MATTERS
This plan is a blatant attempt to undermine journalistic accountability and replace it with a propaganda machine. By booting professional journalists and filling the press room with loyalists who won’t challenge him, Trump eliminates one of the few remaining checks on his power. This isn’t about “fairness” or “diversity” in the media—it’s about creating a handpicked media bubble to amplify his agenda while silencing dissent. A free press is vital to democracy, and this move takes us one step closer to a government with no transparency or accountability.
ESSENTIAL READING
’s latest piece expertly unpacks Trump’s perilous conflation of government and business, exposing how his dangerous policies on tariffs, immigration, and government restructuring stand to further devastate the nation. Follow Mark’s work at America’s Fractured Politics for more sharp analysis.
TAKE ACTION
Check Formaldehyde Cancer Risk in Your Neighborhood
In most of the country, formaldehyde contributes more to outdoor cancer risk than any other toxic air pollutant. Look up your address to see risks from the chemical on your block and where it comes from.
COMING UP
In the coming days, look forward to a new resources page packed with helpful info and links. Reach out if you have suggestions or resources to contribute. Drop me an email - chris@gonzoreport.com - and I’ll get back to you.
POSTSCRIPT
If you value the daily content in Gonzo Report, please consider upgrading to a paid subscription. For the price of an impulse buy at the grocery store, your support keeps independent journalism alive, and ensures I can keep bringing you the most important stories that matter. Remember: this machine kills fascists. ✊🏻
Hey Chris, thanks for the brilliant writing, it’s truly the soul scratching I need right now.
We are ushering a new kingdom! The kingdom has arrived! Thank you for being on the right side of history! signed William Bradford