Saturday Covfefe: The System Isn’t Broken

It’s being used. And now you can see how.

This week, I did something I never thought I would do: I announced that I’m running for Congress. Because watching what’s happening to this country, and staying on the sidelines, was no longer an option. I’ve stood up before. I’ve taken the hits. And I’m not backing down now. But I didn’t get here alone. Thank you for standing with me, then and now.

Let’s get into some headlines you might have missed in another chaotic & anxiety-inducing week.

1. They’re Not Just Deporting People. They’re Disappearing Them.

🚨 Deported and Then Gone (NPR)

The U.S. is deporting migrants straight into a system where due process doesn’t exist, where legal rights and protections are stripped away, and in some cases, people simply disappear.

Under Nayib Bukele’s ongoing “state of exception,” people sent back to El Salvador are being detained without charges, cut off from families, and in some cases, never heard from again. Human rights groups report thousands imprisoned, hundreds dead, and many more effectively vanished.

Here’s the part that should stop you cold…the U.S. government knows what’s happening. We’re sharing data, coordinating, and sending people anyway.

This isn’t just immigration policy anymore. The U.S. is outsourcing detention to a system with no transparency and no accountability. And once they’re gone? No calls. No lawyers. No proof of life. They’re just gone.

2. The Music Industry Finally Got Its Day in Court—and Fans Won (Sort Of)

🎟️ Fans Were Right: Ticketmaster Was Rigged (CNN)

If you’ve ever rage-clicked through fees on Ticketmaster and wondered how this was even legal, a jury just answered that for you. It wasn’t. As a music lover and avid concertgoer, this one hits, and honestly, it’s about time.

A federal jury found that Live Nation Entertainment, Ticketmaster’s parent, illegally operated as a monopoly, overcharging fans and locking down the live music ecosystem for years.

Translation: the system wasn’t broken. It was built this way.

We’re talking about a company that controls ticketing, venues, promotion, and in many cases, the artists’ access to all of the above. That’s not competition. It’s control.

The jury even put a number on it. $1.72 in overcharges per ticket. Doesn’t sound like much until you multiply it by millions of tickets over the years. Suddenly, you’re looking at hundreds of millions back on the table. However, here’s the reality check, you’re not getting cheaper tickets tomorrow. The ruling opens the door, maybe, to more competition, possibly even breaking up parts of the company. But the system doesn’t unwind overnight, and Live Nation is already signaling it will fight this.

Still, this matters. Because for the first time, the industry’s worst-kept secret was proven in court. Fans weren’t imagining it. Artists weren’t exaggerating it. They were being squeezed. And if this actually leads to real competition? That could change everything, from prices to who gets on stage in the first place.

3. Prosecutor Said “No Case” Against Brennan. DOJ Pushed Ahead Anyway.

🧨 No Evidence, No Problem? (NY Times)

A career national security prosecutor looked at the evidence against John Brennan, a key figure behind the finding that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, and concluded it didn’t hold up. Then she was removed from the case.

Maria Medetis Long didn’t just quietly step aside; she raised concerns that the case itself wasn’t legally viable. And this wasn’t some low-level review. She oversees national security cases. This is her lane. At the same time, Trump-aligned officials are pushing to move fast, potentially toward a grand jury indictment in the coming weeks.

So look at what’s actually happening here:

– A political referral from allies like Jim Jordan
– A case targeting a longtime Trump critic
– A veteran prosecutor says the evidence isn’t there
– She’s out
– And the push to indict accelerates anyway

This isn’t about resolving facts. It’s about forcing an outcome. And it doesn’t stop with Brennan. This same playbook has already shown up in other cases—prosecutors pushed out, replaced with loyalists, charges filed anyway, and then thrown out in court. That’s the real risk here.

When the justice system starts working backward, starting with a target and then finding the charge… you’re not enforcing the law; you’re bending it.

4. Architect of the 2020 Election Plot Disbarred

⚖️ Eastman Disbarred (AP)

John Eastman, a central figure in efforts to overturn the 2020 election, has been permanently disbarred by the California Supreme Court after advancing false claims and promoting a fringe legal theory that sought to block certification of the results. His actions weren’t abstract; they were part of a coordinated attempt to pressure officials and upend a lawful election.

This accountability didn’t happen overnight. States United Democracy Center helped spark it, filing the original bipartisan ethics complaint in 2021 that set this process in motion. After years of investigations, hearings, and findings of intentional misconduct, the court made its final decision.

At a moment when the rule of law is being tested, this is a nice reminder that there are still consequences for those who try to break it.

5. The FBI Has a Leadership Problem—and It’s Not Quiet Anymore

👀 FBI Director MIA: Inside the Chaos Under Kash Patel (The Atlantic)

The person running the FBI is reportedly… missing in action.

According to multiple current and former officials, Kash Patel’s tenure has been marked by erratic behavior, unexplained absences, and serious concerns about judgment, including allegations of excessive drinking and being unreachable during critical moments.

And yes, this is the same Kash Patel who threatened to sue me for saying he was unfit to serve as FBI Director. I still showed up at his confirmation hearing, while Richard Grenell was suing me, and Patel was threatening me. You don’t back down. You face it head-on.

Now here we are.

The FBI is the agency responsible for counterterrorism, intelligence, and protecting the country. And inside the bureau, people are asking a basic question: Who’s actually in charge?

There are reports of:

• Missed briefings

• Delayed investigations

• Staff afraid to speak up

• Even discussions inside the administration about replacing him

At one point, Patel reportedly believed he’d been fired over a tech glitch, and panicked, calling allies to confirm. He hadn’t been. That moment isn’t just bizarre. It’s revealing. Because it points to something deeper happening inside federal law enforcement right now, instability at the top, and loyalty tests inside the ranks. It’s a shift toward using these institutions against perceived political enemies. That last part matters. Because when leadership becomes unpredictable, and the mission becomes political, you don’t just get dysfunction. You get risk. Real risk. Especially at a moment when the U.S. is facing global conflict, domestic threats, and rising extremism.

An FBI that’s distracted, hollowed out, or afraid internally? That’s not just a management issue. It’s a national security problem.

🇺🇸 One Thing For Your Soul: Becoming

In a week where so much feels like it’s breaking, 100 people stood in a courtroom and became Americans.

They waited years for that moment. Some weren’t even sure it would come. And when it did, they cried. They smiled. They held their families close.

It reminded me of my mom. A Mexican immigrant who became an American citizen, and still believes in the American Dream. Even now. Even through all of this. That belief isn’t naïve. It’s powerful. It’s what keeps people choosing this country—fighting for it, building it, believing in what it can still be.

🌱 After the Wait, A New Beginning (Sahan Journal)

I’m still here, and I’m still going to be writing, clearly, honestly, and passionately about the things that matter. The noise isn’t going anywhere. Neither am I. And neither is the truth.

Until next time,

Olivia