This Week in Democracy – Week 59: An Illegal War Abroad, More Madness at Home
*Protesters rally against the war in Iran in Chicago, Illinois, on Feb. 28, 2026. Photo by Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto via Getty Images*
We didn’t need Donald Trump to launch an illegal war to show that he’s wrecked American democracy – but if there was any doubt about just how much damage he’s done, this week certainly has cleared things up.
Americans didn’t vote for Trump’s illegal war with Iran – nor do they [support it today][1]. Their representatives in Congress didn’t authorize it. But that doesn’t matter to a man who cares about no one but himself, nor to the cronies who do his bidding.
Hey, at least there was one small piece of good news: Trump finally got rid of [puppy-killer Kristi Noem][2]… only to replace her with another crony: Senator Markwayne Mullin.
[Subscribe now][3]
From launching an illegal war with no clear strategy to obstructing a DHS inspector general, here’s what Trump and his allies did this week that harm democracy, undermine the Constitution, and hurt societies worldwide:
#### **Saturday, Feb. 28 – Trump’s Illegal Regime Change War**
Trump, with Israel, [launched an illegal war with Iran][4], carrying out massive airstrikes across the country, killing hundreds, and assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
In a video [posted][5] to Truth Social, Trump attempted to justify the war by saying Iran posed an imminent threat – despite previously claiming that the US obliterated Iran’s nuclear program last year.
He also told the Iranian people to “take over your government” when the war is finished. “This will be probably your only chance for generations,” he added.
*Smoke is seen over Tehran after US-Israeli airstrikes on March 6, 2026. Photo by Contributor/Getty Images*
#### **Sunday, March 1 – A Pentagon Admission**
During closed-door briefings with Congress, the Pentagon [admitted][6] that it had no intelligence to suggest Iran was planning to attack US forces first.
Meanwhile, Trump [told][7] the *New York Times* that US involvement in the Iran war could last “four to five weeks,” and [said][8] in a video that there will “likely be more” deaths of US troops before the war ends.
[Subscribe now][9]
#### **Monday, March 2 – Bovino Investigated**
A Minnesota county attorney’s office launched an [investigation][10] into former top Border Patrol official Greg Bovino in relation to an incident during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota when he tossed a canister of tear gas at protesters in a park.
Bovino’s incident is just one of 17 being investigated for criminal charges by the office as part of a project to probe “potentially unlawful behavior” by federal agents.
#### **Tuesday, March 3 – Homeland Security’s ‘Egregious’ Obstruction**
The *Wall Street Journal* [reported][11] that the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to Congress detailing nearly a dozen instances of DHS “systematically obstruct[ing]” him from accessing records and information, including a “particularly egregious” refusal to cooperate in a federal criminal investigation with national security implications.
#### **Wednesday, March 4 – Trump’s Autopen Obsession**
The *New York Times* [reported][12] that, due to pressure from Trump, his Justice Department investigated former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen – which Trump has admitted to using himself – to sign presidential documents.
While the *Times* said the DOJ ultimately failed to build a criminal case against Biden and his aides, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro suggested the case isn’t completely closed, tweeting, “We cannot comment on ongoing investigations.”
#### **Thursday, March 5 – Trump Axes Puppy-Killer**
Following a disastrous pair of congressional hearings, Trump [fired][13] Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, replacing her with Senator Markwayne Mullin.
Mullin, a staunch defender of Trump’s policies, has [said][14] the ICE officer who shot and killed Renee Good “had the right to defend” himself, [called for][15] “no amnesty for illegal aliens,” and [argued][16] that babies born in the US to undocumented parents should “go with” them if they are deported.
#### **Friday, March 6 – Republicans Go After Key Witness in Jan. 6 Probe**
CNN [reported][17] that Republican lawmakers are pushing the Justice Department to bring charges against former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who gave explosive testimony against her former boss over the Jan. 6 insurrection.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) recently made a criminal referral of Hutchinson, accusing her of lying to Congress in 2022 when she testified about Trump’s role in the insurrection.
[Share][18]
***Did you miss previous weeks of ‘This Week in Democracy’? Catch up [here][19]. And check out more of Zeteo’s reporting from this week below:***
[1]: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/06/nx-s1-5737627/iran-us-military-poll-trump-approval
[2]: https://zeteo.com/p/trump-kristi-noem-dhs-fired-puppy-killer
[3]: https://zeteo.com/subscribe?
[4]: https://zeteo.com/p/breaking-us-and-israel-ilegally-attack
[5]: https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/2027651077865157033
[6]: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pentagon-tells-congress-no-sign-that-iran-was-going-attack-us-first-sources-say-2026-03-02/
[7]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/us/politics/trump-iran-war-interview.html
[8]: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/01/trump-more-deaths-military-iran
[9]: https://zeteo.com/subscribe?
[10]: https://www.startribune.com/greg-bovino-other-federal-agents-investigated-for-actions-during-operation-metro-surge/601591378
[11]: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/inspector-general-says-kristi-noems-dhs-has-systematically-obstructed-its-work-32496cfe
[12]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/trump-biden-autopen.html
[13]: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116178030946996760
[14]: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5683794-sen-mullin-officer-minneapolis-ice-shooting-defend-himself/
[15]: https://www.facebook.com/mullinforamerica/posts/no-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens/1476953797127532/
[16]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQFACZ1OVqU
[17]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/cassidy-hutchinson-january-6-house-republicans-criminal-referral
[18]: https://zeteo.com/p/this-week-in-democracy-week-59-trump?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share
[19]: https://zeteo.com/s/this-week-in-democracy
https://zeteo.com/p/this-week-in-democracy-week-59-trump
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npub1yd…64t7x
2026-03-07 00:01:22 UTC
Author Public Key
npub1ydk2a3wzaff58vk0fngg9v3t0vuks7lvjfrhagx2ethmgxaceazst64t7xSeen on
wss://nos.lolPublished at
2026-03-07 00:01:22 UTCEvent JSON
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"content": "This Week in Democracy – Week 59: An Illegal War Abroad, More Madness at Home\n\n*Protesters rally against the war in Iran in Chicago, Illinois, on Feb. 28, 2026. Photo by Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto via Getty Images*\n\nWe didn’t need Donald Trump to launch an illegal war to show that he’s wrecked American democracy – but if there was any doubt about just how much damage he’s done, this week certainly has cleared things up.\n\nAmericans didn’t vote for Trump’s illegal war with Iran – nor do they [support it today][1]. Their representatives in Congress didn’t authorize it. But that doesn’t matter to a man who cares about no one but himself, nor to the cronies who do his bidding.\n\nHey, at least there was one small piece of good news: Trump finally got rid of [puppy-killer Kristi Noem][2]… only to replace her with another crony: Senator Markwayne Mullin.\n\n[Subscribe now][3]\n\nFrom launching an illegal war with no clear strategy to obstructing a DHS inspector general, here’s what Trump and his allies did this week that harm democracy, undermine the Constitution, and hurt societies worldwide:\n\n#### **Saturday, Feb. 28 – Trump’s Illegal Regime Change War**\n\nTrump, with Israel, [launched an illegal war with Iran][4], carrying out massive airstrikes across the country, killing hundreds, and assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.\n\nIn a video [posted][5] to Truth Social, Trump attempted to justify the war by saying Iran posed an imminent threat – despite previously claiming that the US obliterated Iran’s nuclear program last year.\n\nHe also told the Iranian people to “take over your government” when the war is finished. “This will be probably your only chance for generations,” he added.\n\n*Smoke is seen over Tehran after US-Israeli airstrikes on March 6, 2026. Photo by Contributor/Getty Images*\n\n#### **Sunday, March 1 – A Pentagon Admission**\n\nDuring closed-door briefings with Congress, the Pentagon [admitted][6] that it had no intelligence to suggest Iran was planning to attack US forces first.\n\nMeanwhile, Trump [told][7] the *New York Times* that US involvement in the Iran war could last “four to five weeks,” and [said][8] in a video that there will “likely be more” deaths of US troops before the war ends.\n\n[Subscribe now][9]\n\n#### **Monday, March 2 – Bovino Investigated**\n\nA Minnesota county attorney’s office launched an [investigation][10] into former top Border Patrol official Greg Bovino in relation to an incident during Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota when he tossed a canister of tear gas at protesters in a park.\n\nBovino’s incident is just one of 17 being investigated for criminal charges by the office as part of a project to probe “potentially unlawful behavior” by federal agents.\n\n#### **Tuesday, March 3 – Homeland Security’s ‘Egregious’ Obstruction**\n\nThe *Wall Street Journal* [reported][11] that the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security sent a letter to Congress detailing nearly a dozen instances of DHS “systematically obstruct[ing]” him from accessing records and information, including a “particularly egregious” refusal to cooperate in a federal criminal investigation with national security implications.\n\n#### **Wednesday, March 4 – Trump’s Autopen Obsession**\n\nThe *New York Times* [reported][12] that, due to pressure from Trump, his Justice Department investigated former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen – which Trump has admitted to using himself – to sign presidential documents.\n\nWhile the *Times* said the DOJ ultimately failed to build a criminal case against Biden and his aides, US Attorney Jeanine Pirro suggested the case isn’t completely closed, tweeting, “We cannot comment on ongoing investigations.”\n\n#### **Thursday, March 5 – Trump Axes Puppy-Killer**\n\nFollowing a disastrous pair of congressional hearings, Trump [fired][13] Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, replacing her with Senator Markwayne Mullin.\n\nMullin, a staunch defender of Trump’s policies, has [said][14] the ICE officer who shot and killed Renee Good “had the right to defend” himself, [called for][15] “no amnesty for illegal aliens,” and [argued][16] that babies born in the US to undocumented parents should “go with” them if they are deported.\n\n#### **Friday, March 6 – Republicans Go After Key Witness in Jan. 6 Probe**\n\nCNN [reported][17] that Republican lawmakers are pushing the Justice Department to bring charges against former Trump aide Cassidy Hutchinson, who gave explosive testimony against her former boss over the Jan. 6 insurrection.\n\nRep. Barry Loudermilk (R-Ga.) recently made a criminal referral of Hutchinson, accusing her of lying to Congress in 2022 when she testified about Trump’s role in the insurrection.\n\n[Share][18]\n\n***Did you miss previous weeks of ‘This Week in Democracy’? Catch up [here][19]. And check out more of Zeteo’s reporting from this week below:***\n\n[1]: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/06/nx-s1-5737627/iran-us-military-poll-trump-approval\n[2]: https://zeteo.com/p/trump-kristi-noem-dhs-fired-puppy-killer\n[3]: https://zeteo.com/subscribe?\n[4]: https://zeteo.com/p/breaking-us-and-israel-ilegally-attack\n[5]: https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/2027651077865157033\n[6]: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pentagon-tells-congress-no-sign-that-iran-was-going-attack-us-first-sources-say-2026-03-02/\n[7]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/01/us/politics/trump-iran-war-interview.html\n[8]: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/01/trump-more-deaths-military-iran\n[9]: https://zeteo.com/subscribe?\n[10]: https://www.startribune.com/greg-bovino-other-federal-agents-investigated-for-actions-during-operation-metro-surge/601591378\n[11]: https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/inspector-general-says-kristi-noems-dhs-has-systematically-obstructed-its-work-32496cfe\n[12]: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/trump-biden-autopen.html\n[13]: https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116178030946996760\n[14]: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5683794-sen-mullin-officer-minneapolis-ice-shooting-defend-himself/\n[15]: https://www.facebook.com/mullinforamerica/posts/no-amnesty-for-illegal-aliens/1476953797127532/\n[16]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQFACZ1OVqU\n[17]: https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/politics/cassidy-hutchinson-january-6-house-republicans-criminal-referral\n[18]: https://zeteo.com/p/this-week-in-democracy-week-59-trump?utm_source=substack\u0026utm_medium=email\u0026utm_content=share\u0026action=share\n[19]: https://zeteo.com/s/this-week-in-democracy\n\n\nhttps://zeteo.com/p/this-week-in-democracy-week-59-trump",
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