Signals

As part of an agreement with the tax administration following a complaint he had filed, Donald Trump created an "anti-weaponization fund" of 1.8 billion dollars to help those he believes have been, like him, deliberately targeted by the judicial system. This decision could in fact allow supporters of the American president to receive federal government tax revenues.

<h3>Good morning, Chicago. ✶</h3><p>🔎 <b>Below</b>: The "Broadview Six" defendants&nbsp;are thinking about tapping President Donald Trump's&nbsp;new $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization fund" as details from the case are surfacing in other Trump administration prosecutions nationwide.</p><p>🗞️ <b>Plus</b>: What Mayor Brandon Johnson plans to discuss with Pope Leo XIV, why a Michelin-starred restaurant abruptly closed and more news you need to know.</p><p>📝&nbsp;<b>Keeping score</b>:&nbsp;<a class="Link" href="https://newsletters.suntimes.com/t/t-l-whjiyhy-l-y/" target="_blank" >The Cubs bested the Pirates</a>, 10-4;&nbsp;<a class="Link" href="https://newsletters.suntimes.com/t/t-l-whjiyhy-l-j/" target="_blank" >the White Sox beat the Twins</a>, 15-2;&nbsp;<a class="Link" href="https://newsletters.suntimes.com/t/t-l-whjiyhy-l-t/" target="_blank" >the Sky fell to the Tempo</a>, 111-104.</p><p>📧 <b>Subscribe</b>: <a class="Link" href="https://newsletter-hub.suntimes.com/" target="_blank" ><i>Get this newsletter delivered to your inbox weekday mornings.</i></a></p><p>⏱️:&nbsp;<i>An 8-minute read</i></p><hr><p></p><h4>TODAY’S WEATHER ☀️</h4><p>Sunny with a high near 71.</p><hr><p></p><h4>TODAY’S TOP STORY 🔎</h4><div class="Enhancement" data-align-center> <div class="Enhancement-item" data-crop=""> <figure class="Figure"><a class="AnchorLink" id="image-2f0000" name="image-2f0000"></a> <picture data-crop="medium"> <source type="image/webp" width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/09055b4/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5428x3046+0+0/resize/490x275!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcb%2F98%2F701fccfe4f67b390ff8cd1d0fa0a%2Fbroadviewtranscripts-260522-19.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/fade1bb/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5428x3046+0+0/resize/980x550!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcb%2F98%2F701fccfe4f67b390ff8cd1d0fa0a%2Fbroadviewtranscripts-260522-19.jpg 2x" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <source width="490" height="275" data-srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/60f4d7e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5428x3046+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcb%2F98%2F701fccfe4f67b390ff8cd1d0fa0a%2Fbroadviewtranscripts-260522-19.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" srcset="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" /> <img class="Image" alt="The remaining four members of the so-called “Broadview Six&quot;: Kat Abughazaleh (from left), Michael Rabbitt, Andre Martin and Brian Straw stand together after their case was dropped during a hearing at the Dirksen Federal Courthouse, Thursday, May 21, 2026. | Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/60f4d7e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5428x3046+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcb%2F98%2F701fccfe4f67b390ff8cd1d0fa0a%2Fbroadviewtranscripts-260522-19.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8777de1/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5428x3046+0+0/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcb%2F98%2F701fccfe4f67b390ff8cd1d0fa0a%2Fbroadviewtranscripts-260522-19.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275" data-src="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/60f4d7e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5428x3046+0+0/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fchorus-production-cst-web.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com%2Fbrightspot%2Fcb%2F98%2F701fccfe4f67b390ff8cd1d0fa0a%2Fbroadviewtranscripts-260522-19.jpg" data-lazy-load="true" src="data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciIHZlcnNpb249IjEuMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIyNzVweCIgd2lkdGg9IjQ5MHB4Ij48L3N2Zz4=" > </picture> <div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>“Broadview Six” members Kat Abughazaleh, Michael Rabbitt, Andre Martin and Brian Straw.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times</p></div></div> </figure> </div> </div><p></p><h3><a class="Link" href="https://newsletters.suntimes.com/t/t-l-whjiyhy-l-d/" target="_blank" >‘Broadview 6' may tap Trump’s $1.8B ‘anti-weaponization fund’</a></h3><p></p><h5>By <a class="Link" href="https://newsletters.suntimes.com/t/t-l-whjiyhy-l-h/" target="_blank" >Sophie Sherry</a> and <a class="Link" href="https://newsletters.suntimes.com/t/t-l-whjiyhy-l-k/" target="_blank" >Jon Seidel</a></h5><p><b>'Lawfare' fund</b>: When announcing President Donald Trump’s new $1.776 billion fund for people targeted through "lawfare" in the nation’s courts, acting Attorney General Todd Blanche insisted "the machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American."&nbsp;Three days later, a federal judge in Chicago revealed an indictment against six Operation Midway Blitz protesters was the result of alleged misconduct by prosecutors that left her "incredibly shocked."</p><p><b>Test case?</b>: The defendants, known as the "Broadview Six," are largely involved in Democratic politics in Chicago.

<p>Last week, Republican senators grilled acting Attorney General Todd Blanche about the $1.8 billion "Anti-Weaponization Fund" created by President Donald Trump's <a class="Link" href="https://reason.com/2026/05/19/trump-settles-his-own-lawsuit-against-the-irs-for-1-8-billion-of-your-money/" target="_blank" >settlement</a> of his lawsuit against the IRS. About 45 senators attended the meeting, and "at least half of them were blasting the attorney general," Sen. Ted Cruz, R–Texas, <a class="Link" href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ted-cruz-senators-screaming-todd-blanche-trump-anti-weaponization-fund-rcna346599" target="_blank" >reported</a>.

<p>The Orwellian "Anti-Weaponization Fund" Donald Trump has created — the legal equivalent of twirling the combination lock on Fort Knox and driving off with gold bars — purports to be righting a wrong. The bogus (and badly written) "settlement agreement," which is laughable as there was no true lawsuit, claims to be compensating those who were victims of the "sustained use of the levers of government power by Democrat elected officials." It goes on like that, accusing Democrats of "lawfare" and "weaponization."</p><p>Even more than usual with Trump, this foul fund represents a total inversion of reality. It's as if he's trying to create a handy shorthand for projection.

The Justice Department announced the creation of an "Anti-Weaponization Fund" last week as part of an agreement to settle Trump's lawsuit against the IRS.

The U.S. interim Secretary of Justice announced that the Trump administration will not proceed with an $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' that had been proposed to compensate allies for alleged government abuses.

The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” was announced by the Justice Department on Monday as part of a deal to resolve President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns.

The “Anti-Weaponization Fund” was announced by the Justice Department as part of a deal to resolve President Donald Trump’s case over the leak of his tax returns.

The Treasury Department's top lawyer resigned Monday over creation of an $1.8 billion 'anti-weaponization fund' that could distribute payments to President Trump's political allies.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement under which President Donald Trump agreed to drop his lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of his tax returns, with the DOJ establishing a new anti-weaponization fund as part of the agreement.

The Elicker administration filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Justice challenging Trump's 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' arguing it will cause harm.

Thirty-five former federal judges filed a lawsuit in Florida's southern district on Wednesday to challenge Donald Trump's proposed $1.776 billion 'anti-weaponization fund,' alleging it would improperly direct taxpayer money to the president's political allies and constitutes 'fraud on the court.'

President Trump’s proposal for a <a href="https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2026/05/18/trump-moves-to-dismiss-10b-suit-against-irs-over-tax-returns-leak/" target="_blank" rel="" title="https://www.adn.com/nation-world/2026/05/18/trump-moves-to-dismiss-10b-suit-against-irs-over-tax-returns-leak/">$1.8 billion</a> “Anti-Weaponization Fund” is the most glaringly corrupt, unconstitutional, self-serving proposal I’ve ever seen in this country. And I’ve been paying attention for over 60 years. As I understand it, the fund is supposed to be distributed to those convicted felons and others Trump and his appointees feel have been unfairly punished.

<p>Announcing President Donald Trump’s new $1.776 billion<b> </b>fund<b> </b>for people targeted through “lawfare”<b> </b>in the nation’s courts, acting<b> </b>Attorney<b> </b>General<b> </b>Todd<b> </b>Blanche<b> </b>said “the machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American.”</p><p>Three days later,<b> </b>a federal judge in Chicago revealed that an indictment against six Operation Midway Blitz protesters was the result of alleged misconduct by prosecutors — conduct she said had left her “incredibly shocked.”</p><p>The defendants, known as the “Broadview Six,” are largely involved in Democratic politics in Chicago. But now their lawyers say they might apply for relief under Trump’s new “anti-weaponization fund” after <a class="Link" href="https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2026/05/21/broadview-ice-protest-grand-jury-transcript-kat-abughazaleh-trump" target="_blank" >the case was dismissed</a>.</p><p>“You want an example of weaponization?” Christopher<b> </b>Parente, one of their defense attorneys,<b> </b>told reporters after the charges were dropped on May 21. “You’ve got prosecutors going into the grand jury targeting political candidates and political figures improperly.

En føderal dommer i Virginia stanser midlertidig opprettelsen av det såkalte «anti-weaponization fund», som president Donald Trump har tatt initiativet til. Fondet skal være på 1,8 milliarder dollar. Alle som mener de har vært utsatt for urettmessig rettsforfølgelse under presidentperioden til Trumps forgjenger Joe Biden kan søke.

President Trump proposed a nearly $2 billion 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' to compensate people he claims were 'horribly treated' by the federal government, but subsequently backed away from the measure. The proposal inadvertently reopened discussions about reparations for Black Americans.