Fredonia Project Sitrep 13 Us Domestic
DATE-TIME GROUP:021800ZAUGUST25
FROM: EMBASSY OF FREDONIA, WASHINGTON, D.C.
TO: MFA NAGADOCHES
CLASSIFICATION: CONEOFSILENCE//FREDONIAN EYES ONLY
SUBJECT: SITREP 13: “ THE FREDONIA PROJECT” OBSERVATIONAL DISPATCHES FROM AMERICA IN CRISIS AUGUST 02 2025
SUMMARY:
IN ACCORDANCE WITH MFA DIRECTIVE 1826-APRIL-1, THIS EMBASSY HAS INITIATED A REGULAR SERIES OF ANALYTICAL DISPATCHES REGARDING THE INTERNAL DYNAMICS OF THE UNITED STATES. THE SERIES, DESIGNATED “THE FREDONIA PROJECT,” WILL BE CIRCULATED UNDER STANDARD SITREP PROTOCOL. UNAUTHORIZED PUBLICATION HAS BEEN OBSERVED VIA THIRD-PARTY ENTITY KNOWN AS “THE STEADY STATE.” PRESUMED LEAK. NO ACTION REQUIRED.
The period from July 21st through August 2nd, 2025, was dominated by the Trump administration’s aggressive pursuit of its core agenda, marked by escalating rhetoric against political opponents, intensified immigration enforcement, and ambitious plans for symbolic changes to federal institutions. These actions were met with resistance, stronger than much of what has previously been called resistance, from Democrats and civil rights groups, while creating fresh anxieties among U.S. allies.
I. Escalating Threats of Prosecution and “Treason”
President Trump and his allies continued their highly inflammatory rhetoric against former high-ranking officials and political rivals, explicitly calling for their arrest and prosecution.
Targeting Obama, Comey, Brennan, Clapper, Biden, and Clinton: On July 22nd, President Trump publicly demanded the arrest and imprisonment of former President Barack Obama, repeatedly accusing him of “treason” and being the “ringleader” of a “conspiracy” to undermine his 2016 election. He extended these accusations to include former FBI Director James Comey, former DNI James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, and his 2024 opponent, Joe Biden, and Hillary Clinton, often referencing a report by DNI Tulsi Gabbard as justification for alleged “treasonous conspiracy” and “manufactured intelligence.”
Trump’s Reinforcement: Trump reportedly reposted an AI-generated video depicting Obama in handcuffs, further emphasizing his desired outcome. (Ambassador Comments: Obama, specifically, and Democrats in general did not have to turn to AI for photos of Trump having been arrested or copies of his mug shot. Those are real and now part of history.)
Cabinet/Congressional Allies’ Stance: While explicit statements from Cabinet members or senior Congressional allies demanding immediate arrests were less frequent, their silence on the President’s incendiary remarks, or their echoing of the “conspiracy” narrative, was notable. DNI Tulsi Gabbard remained a key figure in pushing the narrative of alleged “criminal referrals” related to the Obama administration. (Ambassador Comments: There are no names on the roster of Cabinet officers that are synonymous with courage, solid judgment, or a fondness for the truth. It is interesting, however, that the best ally Trump could get was Tulsi Gabbard, whose relationship with objectivity and truth is, at best, distant and tenuous.)
II. Immigration Enforcement and Deportations
The administration significantly ramped up its immigration enforcement efforts, leading to visible actions and widespread protests.
Increased Raids and Round-ups: Federal immigration agencies, including ICE, conducted intensified raids and “round-ups” of individuals for deportation across the country. Reports from organizations like Human Rights Watch detailed increased overcrowding and “degrading conditions” in immigration detention centers, with some facilities exceeding twice their capacity. A special report released on July 23rd by the American Immigration Council detailed an “unprecedented transformation” of the U.S. immigration system, including the effective “end of asylum” at the southern border and mass revocation of legal statuses like Temporary Protected Status (TPS) from over a million people.
Expansion of 287(g) Program: As of August 1st, ICE had signed 882 Memorandums of Agreement for 287(g) programs, which delegate immigration enforcement authority to state and local law enforcement, spanning 40 states. This significantly expands the reach of federal immigration enforcement into local communities. (Ambassador Comment: Once again, the party formerly known as a States’ Rights party heaves states right under the ICE bus, and then repeatedly drives the bus back and forward over each state.)
Protests and Resistance: These aggressive enforcement tactics triggered widespread protests and civil disobedience:
Ongoing Los Angeles Protests: Protests against mass deportations continued in the Los Angeles metropolitan area, marking over a month and a half of sustained demonstrations, civil unrest, and clashes with law enforcement.
National Demonstrations: Large-scale protests against mass deportations were reported across multiple states including Alabama, California, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, and Texas. Methods included public demonstrations, traffic obstruction, and civil disobedience. Hundreds of arrests were reported in cities like Los Angeles and New York City.
Focus on Sanctuary Cities: The administration continued its pressure on “sanctuary jurisdictions” that limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, implicitly linking these actions to public safety and drug trafficking.(Ambassador Comments: Embassy Fredonia officers continue to be surprised that the best cover story the group using armed, masked enforcement officials to illegally round up any and everyone is that the people being rounded up are somehow a threat to public safety. We are foreigners, but the guns, the masks, the brute force; in our world, that looks like a threat to public safety.)
III. Proposed Symbolic Changes to Federal Institutions
The Trump administration unveiled plans for significant and highly symbolic changes to prominent federal sites, reflecting its desire to reshape the national landscape.
White House Grounds Renovation: On July 31st, the White House announced plans to construct a new $200 million ballroom adjacent to the mansion’s East Wing. This project, a long-term desire of President Trump, is expected to be approximately 90,000 square feet with a seating capacity of 650, a significant expansion over the current East Room’s capacity. The administration stated that the president and other donors would pay for the renovations, with construction expected to be completed “long before” the end of Trump’s term in 2029. This follows previous minor changes like paving over the Rose Garden and adding gold-filigree decorations to the Oval Office. (Ambassador Comments: We can only emphasize that this renovation and “design” effort proves that the spirits running the universe have superior senses of humor. No one, and we mean no one, can or will hold Donald Trump or his family members up as examples of interesting, innovative, or subtle design ideas or, for that matter, good taste. Going from a place which started with Jacqueline Kennedy’s leadership on design to one mimicking Trump Tower is going, rapidly, from the sublime to the ridiculous.)
Kennedy Center Renaming: On July 22nd, House Republicans, through the House Appropriations Committee, voted 33-25 to advance legislation that would make most of the Kennedy Center’s funding contingent on renaming the Kennedy Center’s opera house after First Lady Melania Trump. This move is part of an ongoing effort by the administration and its allies to reshape the Kennedy Center’s public face, following President Trump’s earlier takeover as chairman of the iconic theater’s board and the replacement of its long-time president and board members with key White House allies. (Ambassador Comments: The renaming of the Kennedy Center may face significant resistance. The renaming might be the easiest obstacle to overcome: the opposition to Trump and his administration has manifested in the attendance and revenues of the Kennedy Center since Trump took its leadership. Subscription revenues have fallen about 36% in 2025, compared to the same timeframe in 2024. Subscriptions for theater revenues have dropped 82%; subscriptions for dance revenues have dropped 57%. Total projected subscription revenues for the coming fiscal year is $2.7 million compared with $4.4 million compared for last year.)
Smithsonian Institution: While no specific new proposals for the Smithsonian Institution were widely reported during this exact week, the Interior-Environment spending bill, which included the Kennedy Center renaming, also provides funding for the Smithsonian. This indicates that the institution could be subject to similar political pressures and potential future renaming efforts or programmatic shifts under the administration’s broader cultural agenda. (Ambassador Comments: See above for likely drops in attendance and public support for the entirety of the Smithsonian Institution.)
IV. Resistance to the Trump Administration and Agenda
Opposition to the Trump administration’s agenda remained robust, manifesting in various forms.
Widespread Protests: As detailed above, the intensified immigration enforcement spurred large-scale demonstrations across the country, serving as a primary form of direct resistance to the administration’s policies.
Bipartisan Criticism (Limited): While most criticism came from Democrats, some specific actions, such as President Trump’s reported firing of the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics following a weaker-than-expected jobs report, drew bipartisan concern regarding the politicization of federal agencies. (Ambassador Comments: We have not focused closely on which elected Republicans have expressed concern over politicization of federal agencies. We are, however, interested in whether this “concern” will be both more active and more robust than the decades-long, frequently expressed, rarely if ever, acted upon, “concerns” of Maine Senator Susan Collins.)
“Project 2025” Opposition: Groups opposing the broader “Project 2025” agenda (which aims to reshape the federal government along conservative principles, including significant executive authority and deregulation) continued to voice concerns. Critics of this comprehensive plan have labeled it “authoritarian, Christian nationalist, and autocratic,” warning it would undermine the rule of law, separation of powers, and civil liberties. (Ambassador Comments: the labels, “authoritarian, Christian nationalist, and autocratic” perfectly fit the contents of the 2025 plan. And despite Trump’s continually having disavowed Project 2025 before the election, his administration, staffed by many of the authors of that “document” – has pushed ahead with its proposals.)
Legal Challenges: It is highly likely that many of the administration’s new executive actions, particularly those related to immigration and tariffs, would face immediate and ongoing legal challenges from civil rights organizations, advocacy groups, and affected industries.
V. Congressional Democratic Opposition
Congressional Democrats continued to actively oppose the Trump administration’s agenda, employing various strategies.
Condemnation of Trump’s Rhetoric: Democratic lawmakers universally condemned President Trump’s calls for the arrest and prosecution of former officials, labeling them as dangerous, unconstitutional, and authoritarian.
Opposition to Nominees: Democrats maintained strong opposition to Trump’s judicial and executive branch nominees. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) notably scolded fellow Democrats for not having enough “backbone” to resist President Trump more fiercely, particularly regarding judicial nominees, stating, “There’s a lot of us in this caucus that want to f—ing fight.”
“Red District Tours”: House and Senate progressives announced plans for August recess “red district tours.” They aimed to highlight the very likely negative impacts of Trump’s domestic policy “megabill” (which included tax cuts for the wealthy and cuts to health/social services) in competitive Republican districts, pushing a message of “repeal the bill.” This proactive messaging sought to turn public opinion against the administration’s legislative achievements. (Ambassador Comments: The Big, Beautiful, Bill is in fact, already pretty unpopular. As of July 27, 2025, a poll covered by Rolling Stone magazine, finds 52 percent of respondents do not favor the bill, while 42 percent do. And the most unpopular aspects of the bill have not yet taken effect.)
Strategic Obstruction (Nominations): Democrats explored options, including forcing roll call votes or withholding unanimous consent, to slow down the confirmation of dozens of Trump’s nominees, potentially keeping the Senate in session longer, as a tactic to exert leverage.
Focus on Constitutional Principles: Democrats consistently emphasized the defense of the Constitution, the rule of law, and democratic norms against what they describe as the Trump administration’s attacks. (Ambassador Comments: The proposals and actions that Democrats are calling attacks on the Constitution, the rule of law, and democratic norms ARE, in fact, attacks on the Constitution, rule of law and democratic norms. Each of those, the Constitution, rule of law, and democratic norms used to be supported by both parties. Now, not so much.)
In summary, the Trump administration actions during the period July 21st to August 2nd, 2025, underscored the Trump administration’s commitment to a radical dismantling of the instruments of U.S. domestic policy and its confrontational approach to political opponents. The escalating rhetoric, intensified enforcement, and symbolic changes signaled a continued push towards a highly personalized and centralized exercise of power, (Ambassador Comments: read autocracy) met significant resistance both on the streets and in the halls of Congress.
Founded in 2016, The Steady State is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization of more than 300 former senior national security professionals. Our membership includes former officials from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Drawing on deep expertise across national security disciplines including intelligence, diplomacy, military affairs and law, we advocate for constitutional democracy, the rule of law and the preservation of America’s national security institutions.