Pushing through challenging times . . .

January 7, 2026

On Tuesday, I received an unusually high volume of emails from readers that contained charged emotional expressions like “insane,” “scary,” “bonkers,” “deeply troubled,” “exhausted,” “bewildered,” “disgusted,’ “repulsed,” and “helpless.” If you feel that way, you are not alone. Indeed, if you share those feelings, it shows you are human and have a firm grasp of the political dysfunction that has seized our nation over the past several weeks.

It has been a rough eight years, but the confluence of the US war on Venezuela, the fifth anniversary of January 6, and the wildly irresponsible, lawless proclamations by Trump, Miller, Rubio, Hegseth, and Leavitt has pushed many readers to the breaking point.

The most common source of frustration and outrage is that Congress is both unable and unwilling to stop the obviously unconstitutional, dictatorial actions by Trump that reduce the legislative branch to a ceremonial appendage. Rather than acting as a check on a rogue president, the legislative branch—the repository of the people’s power—is nothing more than a backdrop for cable news interviews.

The situation is maddening and disgraceful. As with every situation where injustice goes unchecked, it feels unbearable.

That, dear readers, is Trump’s point. His feral mind understands that chaos, confusion, and rage-inducing insanity work in his favor by causing people to look away and withdraw into themselves.

The truth is that Trump is running scared. He understands that Democrats can take control of the House (and possibly the Senate) in November. Trump fears another series of impeachments that will confirm and cement his status as the most corrupt president in our nation’s history by a wide margin.

Trump also knows his window of opportunity to shape his imaginary legacy is closing in 2026. Whatever delusional plans he has for being remembered as a “war president,” a president who expanded the territory of the US, or the president who toppled “Castro’s Cuba,” he must act before he loses control of Congress and faces accountability for his actions.

So, Trump is working with frenetic urgency to do his worst in the shortest time possible. He is doing so because he fears us and knows that his unlawful reign depends on a corrupt, complicit, cowardly GOP that has control of Congress. Once that advantage disappears, he will be diminished and weakened.

With the midterms ten months away, the wait to restore balance to the system of checks and balances feels bad. Very. But any objective observer should conclude that Democrats have seized both the political momentum and public sentiment. Every election result over the last six months has demonstrated that Trump’s grasp on power is tenuous and dissipating. His only recourse is to act in an extra-constitutional manner for as long as he can get away with it.

During periods between elections, it is difficult to measure our progress. Several readers expressed the notion that protesting does not seem to make any difference. While that feeling is understandable, the tremendous Democratic victories in November and December 2025 were, in part, due to the passion and dedication of millions of Americans who protested nearly every day for the first eight months of Trump’s second term.

When you stand on a street corner, roadside, or freeway overpass to challenge Trump’s illegal actions, you inspire and sustain others in ways that you will never know. Tens of millions of Americans are angry and motivated to act, but are holding two jobs or caring for young children or elderly parents. They may be struggling with health issues or crushing debt. When you protest, you speak for those whose circumstances preclude them from doing so.

Most importantly, when they see you taking action, they know that Americans have not given up. Your persistence in the face of exhaustion and bewilderment is a blessing to others. Someone who “honks” at “bridge brigade” protesters may be motivated to show up at the polls in November despite their own weariness and feelings of helplessness because you inspired them by saying, “I will not quit. I am here in 14-degree cold and will be here in 95-degree heat. Follow me!”

For those who are feeling particularly exhausted or disillusioned by the events of the past several weeks, your task is simple: First, take care of yourself. Second, do not quit. Take a break, but come back soon. We are winning. Every objective measurement event tells us so. We should believe the evidence.

Stay strong, friends. Together, there is nothing we cannot do.

Looking at the news.

Given the reader reactions described above, I will follow the maxim that “less is more” in reporting on Tuesday’s news. Dozens of Tuesday’s stories deserve extended comment and analysis, but I fear that such commentary will only exacerbate the feeling that we are being overwhelmed by the Trump administration’s insane, lawless conduct.

DOJ has produced about 1% of Epstein files

In a court filing on Tuesday, the DOJ admitted to a federal judge that it has produced only about 1% of the Epstein files required to be released by the Epstein Files Transparency Act. See Time Magazine, Less Than 1% of the Epstein Files Released So Far, DOJ Says.

Per Times, the DOJ filing said it has produced 12,285 documents, but that 2 million documents “remain in various phases of review and redaction.”

White House posts January 6 website that seeks to revise history

See The Hill, White House unveils Jan. 6 website criticizing Capitol Police, blaming Democrats,

The new website blames Democrats for “certifying a fraud-ridden election” and fumes over the work of the House Jan. 6 committee. It also accuses U.S. Capitol Police of escalating tensions.

Astoundingly, a senior aide in the White House press office suggested that the website was designed to “troll” the media. Per The Hill,

White House aide Stephen Cheung suggested the site was made as a trolling effort, writing he couldn’t believe media outlets “actually fell for our trap.”

Even if the website was intended as a big joke to “own the libs,” it will be amplified by right-wing conspiracy sites. It is an insult to all Americans, the Constitution, and the brave law enforcement officers who saved democracy on January 6, 2021.

White House Press Secretary says US reserves right to use military force to seize Greenland.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on Tuesday that the US reserves the right to use military force to seize Greenland.

Denmark replied that if the US used military force to take Greenland, that action would be the end of NATO.

Several Republican Senators dismissed Trump’s talk of invading Greenland as a fantasy that would not happen.

Lawrence O’Donnell says that the talk of invading Greenland is a cover for plans to topple the government in Cuba.

Sen. Ruben Gallego said he will introduce a war powers resolution to forestall a U.S. invasion of the Danish territory.

Developments in Venezuela

On Tuesday evening, I interviewed Adelys Ferro, the Executive Director of the Venezuelan American Caucus. The interview is here: Today’s Edition (1/6/26), Hubbell and Ade Ferro interview re Venezuela. During the interview, Ade discusses the contradictory feelings being experienced by the Venezuelan community in the US: Happiness that Maduro’s long reign of terror is over; disillusionment that Maduro’s vice president is continuing his dictatorial regime; and concern that Trump violated the US Constitution to seize Maduro.

Ade also discusses the feelings of citizens “on the ground” in Venezuela. She noted the following:

• There is pervasive fear as acting President Delcy Rodriquez is rounding up Venezuelans who cooperated in the capture of Maduro. [See, e.g., The Telegraph, Maduro’s motorcycle thugs go door to door to hunt Trump supporters.]

• The crackdown by Delcy Rodriguez is targeting journalists and democratic activists in the opposition. [See WaPo, Fear grips Caracas as a new wave of repression is unleashed in Venezuela.]

• Russia and Cuba are actively spreading disinformation and propaganda about the situation on the ground in Venezuela.

(You can follow Ade Ferro through the Latino Victory Substack, or on the Venezuelan American Caucus on Instagram.)

Speaking of disinformation, Trump said on Tuesday that Venezuela would “give” the US $2 billion in oil. Trump went on to say,

This Oil will be sold at its Market Price, and that money will be controlled by me, as President of the United States of America, to ensure it is used to benefit the people of Venezuela and the United States!”

Trump’s statement is wrong on so many levels that it is difficult to know where to start. But any money collected by the US is paid into the US Treasury. Congress appropriates money in the Treasury. The president does not have any independent ability to raise revenue or appropriate funds. Trump would flunk a sixth-grade civics class on the US government.

Finally, the DOJ apparently wrote a legal memo justifying the military invasion of Venezuela to kidnap Maduro (an operation that killed 80 people). See NYTimes, Justice Dept. Memo Approved Military Incursion Into Venezuela as Lawful, (Gift article accessible to all.)

As explained by the Times, the conclusion by the DOJ that the US could legally invade Venezuela is rejected by legal scholars:

In particular, legal scholars say, it [the invasion] appears to have violated international law. Under the United Nations Charter, a treaty ratified by the U.S. Senate, a nation cannot use force inside the sovereign territory of another country without its consent, a self-defense rationale or the permission of the U.N. Security Council.

The DOJ memo justifying the invasion of Venezuela was issued by the same lawyer who issued the memo saying the US could kill civilians on alleged drug boats in international waters—T. Eliot Gaiser. Gaiser graduated from Hillsdale College (2012) and Chicago Law School in 2016. He interned for the Heritage Foundation and Ginni Thomas’s Liberty Central. He clerked for Justice Alito.

After being groomed by Ginni Thomas, Justice Alito, and the Heritage Foundation, Gaiser is now issuing memos asserting that the US can use lethal force inside a sovereign nation despite the express prohibition on such conduct by the United Nations’ Charter—a treaty ratified by the Senate and signed by the president; as such, the UN Charter is “the supreme law of the land” according to the US Constitution.

Opportunities for Reader Engagement

I will be interviewed by Susan Wagner on the Grassroots Connector livestream on January 8. See the announcement below:

Join us for the first episode of It Needs to Be Said in 2026, Thursday, January 8 at 8:00pm ET/5pm PT). Susan Wagner will be in conversation with Robert Hubbell, author of the Substack publication, Today’s Edition.

Susan and Robert will discuss the Grassroots Movement with a look ahead to where the grassroots groups will have a decisive impact in the 2026 midterms. Robert will discuss breaking news, including the Venezuelan invasion, the case against Maduro, and how these events will play out in upcoming elections.

Instructions on how to join the livestream are here: It Needs to Be Said with Robert Hubbell - by Susan Wagner

Join Force Multiplier for a fundraiser for Sherrod Brown

Join our friends at Force Multiplier to Zoom with Senator Sherrod Brown, Democratic candidate for the Senate from Ohio on Thursday, January 8, 2026 from 7-8:00 pm ET. Please register and donate here.

We need to pick up at least three seats to tie for control of the Senate, four to regain control. We cannot do this without the Ohio Senate seat, and Senator Brown can win. Sherrod Brown has served Ohio for 48 years, including three terms as a Senator and seven as a Representative.

Sherrod Brown is running for the seat currently occupied for the past year by Jon Husted who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by J.D. Vance. This will be a very hotly contested and expensive race and Senator Brown needs our support Please register and donate here, and tell your friends!

Concluding Thoughts

I wrote my Concluding Thoughts as the newsletter introduction. With the benefit of 3 hours of hindsight, the opening comments still hold up. I recommend them for a second (or first) read.

My wife’s blog offers a few moments of respite, courtesy of our improbable Iris blooms during “winter” in Los Angeles. Enjoy! See Every Day with Jill, Irises in January!

Pro-democracy protest photos

Indvisible, San Jose, CA

We had 27 on the freeway today, the largest crowd today since we started on the overpass. I am glad that this was a peaceful day for all.

Vallejo Overpass Visibility Brigade. Vallejo, Ca.

Hartford, CT

New Bedford, MA

26 degrees!

Washington, DC

Third Act DMV organized a vigil at the Capitol to mark the 5-year anniversary of the Insurrection. The DC Rapid Response Choir joined us and we had a slide show featuring photos from that wretched day which we must never forget.

North Country Resilience, NH

On this 5th anniversary of the horrendous assault on our Capitol, our North Country Resilience Visibility Brigade went to the northernmost I-93 overpass in Franconia Notch to display our messages. The actions of the current US regime has horrified and angered us. We the people will not be silent. We will continue to stand against tyranny.

Cocoa, FL

A small but mighty J6 protest in Cocoa, FL, today in our Republican-dominated district. I was privileged to meet a retired educator and Stop Moms for Liberty founder. Her story of strength and resilience was empowering here, where Moms For Liberty was founded. Great example of never giving up.

Orlando Visibility Brigade

Hatfield, MA

Here we are, ten of us in the center of Hatfield, MA, waving our signs. Cars and trucks honked and waved as they drove by.

Kalamazoo, MI

Bangor, ME

Bangor, ME celebrated its one-year anniversary of its Tuesday protests in front of the Federal Building. Today is actually our 53rd week out there. It was a chilly and damp today, but in total we had about 38 protesters. Some new faces too!!

Pasadena, CA

We are Rooted in Resistance San Gabriel Valley on the Wilson Ave overpass in Pasadena, January 6, 2025.

Springfield, MA