🌡️ RollingBoil Daily - November 11, 2025
On this Veterans Day, while Americans honor those who served our democracy, we're tracking a president who continues to dismantle accountability for those who attacked it. Today's newsletter is dominated by Trump's sweeping use of executive power to shield allies from consequences—issuing pardons to Rudy Giuliani and dozens of co-conspirators involved in the 2020 fake electors scheme, even as his legal team asks the Supreme Court to overturn the $83 million defamation verdict in the E Jean Carroll case. The message is unmistakable: loyalty to Trump places you above the law, while those who dare to hold him accountable must be fought at every level of the judiciary.
What makes today particularly striking is the brazenness of it all. These aren't controversial clemency decisions that spark legitimate debate about justice—these are get-out-of-jail-free cards for people who participated in a coordinated effort to overturn an election. Meanwhile, Trump's willingness to publicly attack Marjorie Taylor Greene for "losing her way" reminds us that this administration's only consistent principle is personal fealty. As we track these developments, the stakes couldn't be clearer: we're watching the systematic erosion of accountability in real-time, and documenting it is more critical than ever.
⚡ Quick Hits
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Trump Is Said to Propose Opening California Coast to Oil Drilling
Trump administration proposes opening California's coast to oil drilling, directly challenging Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom's environmental stance. This represents a core right-wing policy priority of energy independence and deregulation while escalating Trump's confrontational approach toward Democratic-led states. -
If the Supreme Court orders Trump to repay tariffs, U.S. importers say it wouldn't be 'messy'
The article examines potential Supreme Court intervention in Trump's tariff collection strategy, which has generated nearly $200 billion since early 2025. This represents a significant legal and policy challenge to a core Trump administration economic initiative, with implications for executive authority and trade policy under Republican leadership. -
House travels to DC for shutdown vote; Trump's fiery Fox News interview
The article covers Republican legislative actions regarding a government shutdown vote, Trump's media presence on Fox News, and policy positions on mortgages. This represents significant right-wing political activity involving Trump, congressional Republicans, and conservative media engagement during a fiscal crisis. -
Trump asks Supreme Court to hear appeal of E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse, defamation verdict
Former President Trump is appealing an E. Jean Carroll sexual abuse and defamation verdict to the Supreme Court, representing a significant legal battle with implications for Trump's political future and potential 2024 candidacy. This case directly impacts Trump's legal standing and remains a focal point in discussions about accountability and presidential conduct within right-wing political discourse. The Supreme Court appeal represents a critical moment in ongoing litigation affecting Trump's political viability. -
Speaker Johnson shuttered the House and amassed quiet power with Trump
Speaker Mike Johnson employed unprecedented tactics by shuttering the House for nearly two months during a government shutdown, effectively ceding legislative power to the Trump executive branch while consolidating his own control over the Republican majority. This strategy demonstrates the alignment between Johnson's leadership and Trump's priorities, with Johnson using institutional rule changes to limit amendments and congressional oversight while maintaining party unity. The article highlights how Johnson has amassed significant quiet power through procedural changes and strategic inaction, fundamentally shifting the balance between branches of government in favor of executive authority. -
Lawsuit alleges 'political retribution' in Trump energy project cancellations
The Trump administration faces legal challenge over cancellation of energy projects concentrated in Democratic-led states, with plaintiffs alleging politically motivated retribution. This reflects the administration's pattern of using executive authority to target political opponents and represents a significant policy shift in energy spending. The lawsuit highlights tensions between Trump's energy agenda and Democratic-controlled jurisdictions. -
For Trump, Nothing Was Off Limits During the Shutdown
The article examines Trump's unprecedented use of executive pressure tactics during a government shutdown, highlighting actions that departed from historical precedent. This demonstrates Trump's willingness to employ aggressive negotiating strategies against Democratic opposition, reflecting a distinctive approach to executive governance within right-wing political strategy. -
Then They Came for the Dreamers
Article documents ICE enforcement action against a DACA recipient, directly relevant to Trump administration immigration policies and Republican hardline stance on undocumented immigrants. The arrest of a 'Dreamer' reflects the administration's aggressive deportation approach that reverses previous protections, a key right-wing policy priority.
đź“Š By The Numbers
- 77 - People pardoned by Trump tied to 2020 election efforts
- $200 billion - Tariffs collected by U.S. Customs since beginning of 2025
- 8 weeks - Duration House was shuttered by Speaker Mike Johnson
đź“° Today's Big Stories
1. Trump asks Supreme Court to overturn E Jean Carroll verdict
Trump Asks Supreme Court to Overturn E. Jean Carroll Verdict
Donald Trump has taken his legal battle with writer E. Jean Carroll to the Supreme Court, asking the justices to overturn a jury's unanimous verdict that found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. The former president is now banking on the court—which includes three justices he appointed—to rescue him from an $83.3 million judgment. This represents Trump's final avenue of appeal after lower courts consistently ruled against him, affirming that he defamed Carroll by calling her a liar when she accused him of sexually assaulting her in a Manhattan department store in the 1990s.
The case has become a defining example of Trump's decades-long pattern of evading accountability through endless litigation. Two separate juries heard extensive evidence and testimony, with the second trial focusing solely on damages after Trump continued to defame Carroll even after the first verdict. Throughout the proceedings, Trump has treated the courtroom as a campaign stage, attacking Carroll, the judge, and the legal system itself—behavior that likely contributed to the massive damages award. Carroll, meanwhile, has become an unlikely symbol of resistance, using her platform to encourage other women to come forward about powerful men's misconduct.
Whether the Supreme Court will even agree to hear the case remains highly uncertain. The Court accepts only a small fraction of petitions, typically those involving significant constitutional questions or splits between lower courts. Trump's legal team will need to convince the justices that fundamental legal errors occurred—a high bar given that multiple courts have already reviewed and upheld the verdicts. If the Court declines to hear the case, the judgment becomes final and Trump will owe Carroll the full amount plus interest. For accountability advocates, this case represents a critical test of whether even a former president with significant resources and political power can be held responsible for sexual misconduct and defamation.
What to watch: The Supreme Court will likely decide within the next few months whether to take the case. If they decline, Carroll's legal team can begin collection efforts on the $83.3 million judgment. Meanwhile, Trump faces multiple other civil and criminal cases that could reach the high court, making this decision potentially precedent-setting for his broader legal strategy of appealing everything to the justices he helped install.
2. Trump grants pardons to Giuliani and other allies linked to 2020 election efforts
Trump Shields Allies from Accountability in Sweeping Election Interference Pardons
In a brazen move that underscores the enduring grip of 2020 election denialism on the Republican Party, President Trump has issued pardons to Rudy Giuliani and a slate of political allies who faced legal consequences for their roles in attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The pardons, while largely symbolic given that many cases were still in preliminary stages, represent a clear signal that Trump views loyalty to his election lies as worthy of protection from legal accountability.
The pardon list reads like a who's-who of the former president's inner circle during his most desperate attempts to cling to power. Giuliani, once celebrated as "America's Mayor," became the public face of increasingly bizarre conspiracy theories about voting machines and phantom ballots, leading legal challenges that were systematically rejected by courts across the country. These individuals weren't just expressing political opinions—many faced serious charges related to coordinated efforts to submit false electoral certificates, pressure state officials, and undermine democratic processes. By pardoning them, Trump is effectively declaring that attempting to subvert an election is acceptable conduct when done in his service.
The implications extend far beyond these individual cases. These pardons send an unmistakable message to future political operatives: if you're willing to break laws on behalf of Trump and his movement, you'll be protected. This creates a dangerous precedent where accountability for attacks on democratic institutions becomes contingent on political loyalty rather than the rule of law. For those concerned about democratic backsliding, this represents not just a failure to hold wrongdoers accountable for past actions, but an invitation for future misconduct.
What to watch: Monitor whether state-level charges remain viable against any of these individuals, as presidential pardons only apply to federal offenses. Additionally, track how these pardons influence ongoing investigations and whether they embolden similar conduct in future elections. The 2024 election cycle will test whether this erasure of accountability encourages more aggressive attempts to challenge legitimate results.
3. Trump Issues Fake Pardons For Fake Electors
Trump Issues Fake Pardons For Fake Electors
In a stunning move that erases accountability for one of the most serious threats to American democracy in modern history, Donald Trump has pardoned the architects and foot soldiers of his 2020 election subversion scheme. The pardons cover high-profile attorneys who orchestrated the fake elector plot alongside dozens of individuals who participated as fraudulent electors—people who signed false certificates claiming Trump had won states he actually lost. Ed Martin, Trump's pardon attorney, announced the sweeping clemency, which effectively shields participants in what prosecutors characterized as a conspiracy to overturn the legitimate results of a presidential election.
The fake elector scheme was central to Trump's multi-pronged effort to cling to power after losing the 2020 election. In seven battleground states, Trump allies organized slates of fake electors to sign certificates falsely declaring Trump the winner, creating confusion that could be exploited on January 6th or in subsequent legal challenges. Several prominent attorneys involved in coordinating this effort faced state and federal charges, while the individual electors—many of them local Republican officials and party activists—faced prosecution in states including Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada. Some had already pleaded guilty and were cooperating with investigators before these pardons wiped their legal jeopardy away.
The implications are chilling: Trump has now established that attempting to steal an election carries no consequences if you're on his team. This sends an unmistakable signal to future operatives that participating in election subversion schemes is risk-free, fundamentally undermining the deterrent effect of criminal prosecution. State-level cases may continue in some jurisdictions, but the federal investigations that consumed years of resources and represented the Justice Department's most significant accountability effort have been rendered meaningless. The pardons also represent a direct assault on the rule of law, with Trump using executive power to protect co-conspirators in his own alleged crimes.
What to watch: Monitor whether state prosecutors in Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, and Nevada continue their cases, though Trump may attempt to interfere with these as well. Pay attention to whether any pardoned individuals speak publicly about the scheme now that they face no legal consequences. Most importantly, track whether this emboldens similar election subversion efforts in 2026 and 2028—the pardons have effectively created a playbook with a promise of immunity.
4. Trump pardons Giuliani and dozens tied to 2020
Trump Shields 2020 Election Conspirators with Mass Pardons
In a sweeping display of executive power, President Trump issued "full, complete, and unconditional" federal pardons to approximately 77 political allies who participated in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The November proclamation, announced by DOJ pardon attorney Ed Martin, grants clemency to some of the most prominent architects of the election subversion scheme, including former personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, ex-chief of staff Mark Meadows, and lawyers Sidney Powell and John Eastman. The pardons also cover individuals involved in the "fake electors" plot—a coordinated effort to submit fraudulent electoral certificates in multiple states Biden won.
The political implications are staggering. Trump has effectively rewarded loyalty over legality, sending an unmistakable message that those who advance his interests—even through potentially criminal conduct—will face no federal consequences. Democratic Senator Andy Kim called out the pardons as favors "for his friends," while former DOJ officials warned the move signals to future supporters that election-related crimes may receive executive protection. The White House framed the action as ending a "grave national injustice" and promoting "national reconciliation," but critics across the political spectrum recognize it as naked cronyism that undermines the rule of law.
These pardons matter because they establish a dangerous precedent: attempting to overthrow an election carries no penalty if you're politically connected. While the pardons only apply at the federal level—leaving state prosecutions and civil suits intact—they eliminate the most serious legal jeopardy these individuals faced. This creates a permission structure for future election subversion, effectively telling operatives that loyalty to Trump provides immunity from federal accountability. The move also represents the completion of what some analysts are calling an "autocoup"—pardoning the very people who tried to illegally keep him in power after his 2020 defeat.
What to watch: Monitor whether state-level prosecutions, particularly in Georgia and other swing states, continue to move forward against pardoned individuals. Pay attention to whether this emboldens similar conduct in future elections, and track how Democratic officials and civil society organizations respond. The pardons may also face legal challenges on constitutional grounds, though their scope appears designed to withstand judicial scrutiny. Most critically, watch for signs that these same individuals are being reintegrated into Trump's political operation—a clear indicator that the 2020 playbook remains active for future use.
5. President Trump says Marjorie Taylor Greene lost her way
Trump Turns on MTG: A Fracture in the MAGA Coalition
In a striking Oval Office moment Monday, President Trump publicly rebuked Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, one of his most vocal former allies, telling reporters she "has lost her way" after she criticized his focus on foreign policy over domestic economic concerns. The rebuke came as Greene urged the president to prioritize inflation and everyday prices for Americans—a remarkable reversal for a congresswoman who once positioned herself as Trump's most loyal defender. Trump dismissed her concerns as performance art, accusing her of "putting on some kind of act" for Democrats and insisting the presidency requires a "worldwide" perspective to prevent wars from reaching American shores.
The public split reveals deepening fissures within the Republican Party's hard-right faction. Greene has increasingly broken with GOP orthodoxy in recent months, criticizing Israel's assault on Gaza, demanding release of Epstein-related files, and blaming what she views as misplaced priorities for recent Republican election losses. These positions have isolated her from party leadership even as an ongoing government shutdown intensifies intra-party tensions. Greene fired back quickly, insisting she remains "100% America first and only" and hasn't abandoned her principles—framing the dispute as a disagreement over priorities rather than loyalty.
For progressive observers, this fracture matters beyond palace intrigue. It signals potential instability in the far-right coalition that has driven Republican policy for years, with economic populism clashing against interventionist foreign policy. If Greene's criticism reflects broader frustration among the MAGA base about kitchen-table issues being ignored, Trump may face growing pressure from the right even as he pursues his international agenda. The dispute also highlights how figures once considered fringe extremists can become liabilities when they deviate from leadership—a dynamic that could reshape Republican power structures.
Watch for: Whether other hard-right House members join Greene's criticism or distance themselves from her; how this affects must-pass legislation amid the current shutdown; and whether Trump's willingness to publicly attack a former ally emboldens other Republicans to break ranks on policy disagreements. Greene's next moves—and Trump's response—will test whether the MAGA movement can tolerate internal dissent or demands absolute fealty.
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