Friday, September 26, 2025

Donald Trump's enemies list

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This is America

Stories of justice and action across America

Fri Sep 26 2025

President Donald Trump didn't hide his wishes for the U.S. Department of Justice to prosecute longtime foes, and almost a week after demanding that his attorney general go after them the agency moved on a big fish this week.

Hi, This is America readers, Phillip M. Bailey, chief political correspondent for USA TODAY.

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted Sept. 25 by a federal grand jury on charges of obstruction and lying to Congress after a bitter feud with Trump, who fired Comey for investigating his 2016 campaign's contacts with Russia.

Comey, who was a registered Republican for most of his life, has already proclaimed his innocence and wants a public trial. But a larger battle and debate lies ahead for the country in the aftermath of this action as many Democrats say this crosses a critical line as the president cheers the indictment on social media.

"Time for leaders – political leaders, business leaders, civic leaders – to pick a side: democracy or autocracy," Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., posted on X.

But the administration is defending the indictment, saying "no one is above the law" and allies, such as Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who heads the Senate Judiciary Committee, saying the former FBI director "ought to be held accountable" if evidence shows he lied to Congress and obstructed their work.

In this Jan. 22, 2017, file photo, President Trump shakes hands with James Comey during an Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House.

Andrew Harrer, Pool/Getty Images

For more on what's happening with the Comey and other Trump foes facing prosecution, check out USA TODAY Network's coverage:

•	What to know: The indictment is connected to Comey's Sept. 30, 2020 testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
•	Who else is Trump targeting for criminal prosecution? Other rivals think New York Attorney General Letitia James; Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; or Democratic mega-donor George Soros -- are either already facing facing potential charges, under investigation or have been charged, such as Trump's former national security adviser, John Bolton, who is charged with unlawfully retaining classified documents after leaving office.
•	Fed Reserve governor fighting back: Many of Trump's targets are resisting, however, such as Lisa Cook, a board member for the nation's policy-making central bank who the president is trying to ouster. She is taking her cause to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Tylenol and autism debate adding 'more mom guilt' expert says

Speaking from the White House this week, Trump and others claimed using Tylenol during pregnancy could contribute to autism in children, which has caused an uproar among medical experts.

Trump went further, telling pregnant women to "tough it out" before taking the fever and pain drug, which current medical guidelines have said is safe to use. Experts tell USA TODAY this is dangerous advice that could lead to negative health outcomes before a child is even born.

Laurel Gabard-Durnam, assistant professor and associate director of the Institute for Cognitive and Brain Health at Northeastern University, for instance, points out that fevers, especially in early pregnancy, carry "really significant" risks for the mother and the infant.

Dr. Caitlin Baptiste, a maternal-fetal medicine physician who is also an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University, said the president's comments also add more anxiety for women who took Tylenol during their pregnancy.

"This is not the time to look backwards and have any more mom guilt than we already often have. This is not the moment to regurgitate the tired story of blaming the mom," she said.

Baptiste also advises concerned parents visit their child's pediatrician to discuss potential testing, but that Tylenol remains the best medical option to treat fevers and headache.

Thanks for reading! See you back next week with more stories of justice from across the country.