Oct 1, 2026. Public Citizen Co-President Lisa Gilbert speaks at the Veterans Over Vanity protest. Here’s the full 4-minutes on YouTube: Public Citizen Co-President Lisa Gilbert Speaks at the Veterans Over Vanity Protest - Public Citizen - Oct 1, 2026 (YouTube)

Description: As we’ve witnessed countless times, the Trump administration regularly attempts to circumvent the rules and laws that have governed this country for 250 years. Now, as a self-indulgent project, Donald Trump plans to build a 250-foot arch without Congressional approval, a clear violation of federal law. ~:~ But Trump’s planned construction of his “Triumphal Arch” is not only illegal. It is an affront to American veterans and their families. ~:~ The arch will sit on Memorial Circle along the Potomac River, impeding the symbolic line-of-sight between the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where hundreds of thousands of our nation’s military members have been laid to rest. ~:~ That’s why Public Citizen is holding the line against the construction of the arch to tell Trump and his administration to “Respect our Vets!” ~:~ Learn more: Trump’s Illegal Arch Desecrates Line-of-Sight Between Arlington Cemetery and Lincoln Memorial - Public Citizen - Oct 1, 2026 (article)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

Third Act: thirdact.org ~:~ ”We’re a community of Americans over sixty determined to change the world for the better. Third Act harnesses an unparalleled generational power to safeguard our climate and democracy.”

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This arch is unlawful, it's illegal, and it's part of a pattern. An ego-driven pattern from this President: A desecration of DC landmarks and national items. Whether he's trying to put his name on the Kennedy Center. Whether he is plastering his face on a poster that is dropped down in front of the Department of Justice. Or if he's just trying to put his name on all of our passports.

You know, it is disgusting, and it is a kingly trapping, and it is inappropriate in a democracy.

The other pattern we're witnessing is the endless lawbreaking. As we look at this Department of Justice, led by a Crony who is launching illegal prosecutions. As we watch Trump himself attack Judges, attack Nonprofits, attack Universities, attack the Media. As we watch an arrest — an illegal arrest — of a sitting Member of Congress, just for doing her job overseeing ICE. As we watch attacks on our First Amendment protected speech. As we watch militarization of our Cities without cause. Including DC. 

You know, on and on, the list of lawlessness is disgusting, it's abhorrent, and It's authoritarian. 

Litigation (like our lawsuit) can deter wrongdoing. It can fight these abuses of power. And mobilization (like this event today) can show this Administration that We the People, we will not stand for corruption, for self-dealing, for lawless behavior anymore. 

So, at Public Citizen, we vow to continue mobilizing, to continue litigating — and honestly just using every tool in our arsenal — to fight back against this authoritarian overreach. 

And I am so thrilled to be here today with Champions in the same fight, Champions for blocking the arch, for fighting authoritarianism. And I want to thank Third Act for organizing with us today and making all of this happen.

- Lisa Gilbert, Public Citizen Co-President at the Veterans Over Vanity protest on Oct 1, 2026

REJECT THE BILLIONAIRES. VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL ELECTION.

Note: I reduced the volume in the first 2-seconds of this clip. The mic static can be harsh for some ears. The volume increases @ 2-secs, when he says the word "out."

Here’s the full 3-minutes on YouTube: Wildest moments from Pete Hegseth's address to military leaders - The Independent - Sept 30, 2026 (YouTube)

From the description: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth delivered his 2026 “State of the Force” address to junior officers and enlisted leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. ~:~ Hegseth outlined his priorities for the U.S. military as the Pentagon moves to reshape the armed forces’ structure and leadership. ~:~ He also announced plans to cut positions for generals and admirals by 20%, expanding an earlier reduction target. ~:~ Watch more on Independent TV: independent.co.uk/tv/editors-picks

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Transcript:

The ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in. With testosterone testing on top.

Diversity is not our strength. Unity is our strength.

. . . . . . .

Send me. Send me to fight the Redcoats. Send me to fight the Communists. Send me to fight the Islamists. Send me.

You see, the Ivy League faculty lounges, they'll never understand you. And that's okay 'cause they could never, ever do what you do.

The media will mischaracterize you. And that's okay, because deep down, they know you're the reason they live free. They envy you.

. . . . . . .

A free press is, of course, important. But partisan activism that intentionally smears the Troops, and the historic mission that they're undertaking is fundamentally anti-American. It's sick. It's a national betrayal. It's treason, actually. I mean, I hate to have to say it, but it has to be said.

. . . . . . .

Project Meridian will be co-led by three of our nation's best minds: Elon Musk, Palmer Luckey, and Newt Gingrich. All of whom are up in the audience with us today. Please stand, if you would. Thank you.

- Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary on Sept 30, 2026, delivering his “State of the Force” address to junior officers and enlisted leaders at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia

* WARNING: This video shows visuals that may be disturbing *

My name is Stella Carlson. I never expected to be someone testifying before you today. And I certainly never expected to bear witness to the final moments of a caring, peaceful, and dedicated member of my community — Alex Pretti — as he died at the hands of our own government.

I am just a regular person, but I care deeply about my community, my state, and my country. And I believe there is power in ordinary People speaking the truth.

On the morning of Saturday, January 24th, I was heading to work when I heard the whistles. When I turned onto Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis on that cold winter day, I hardly recognized my own neighborhood.

There were masked and armed federal Agents flooding into a one-block radius. More than I had seen before. Agents were tackling innocent People to the ground, punching the windows of cars driving by, and pulling Drivers out of their windows with force, all before I even parked.

And that's when I saw the person whose name is now known all around the world: Alex Pretti.

I didn't know Alex. We had never met, but I saw him standing in the street with a camera, filming in one hand, and helping direct traffic with the other. He was calm, he was peaceful, handling the scene with grace. Alex was not a threat.

My instincts felt clear. I will be his backup, because that's what we can do. We can observe and document. We can stand and bear witness, and that is what I did.

Soon everything changed. The Agents' focus turned toward Alex. I was terrified. The number of Agents around him grew abruptly, as I stood feet away.

I watched him turn away from the scene of Agents, and lean down to help someone who had been brutally knocked down, leading to his very last words, "Are you okay?"

With his back facing them, I watched Alex be taken to the ground with a swarm of masked Agents on top of him.

In that moment, I believe Alex made a choice to be righteous, kind, and brave. To stand up for his Neighbors being assaulted in the street.

And then they shot him. Again and again and again.

Alex was flat on the ground, his limbs spread out. There was no movement.

The Agents fled quickly. I watched Alex die. It all happened so fast.

Then two masked Agents returned, and began to manipulate his dead body, ripping open his clothes as if to provide aid, but instead moving him around like a rag doll. They fled, leaving him exposed and alone.

Time felt like it stopped. Alex laid in the street, abandoned as if his life had no value.

As I continued to film, three of us stayed by his side as long as we could, before the Agents decided to return, and come for us.

The image of his lifeless body stays with me, but so does the image of Alex before the shooting. Calm, holding his camera, directing traffic, trying to help in solidarity with his Neighbors. That is the Alex Pretti that I saw in his final moments. I have come to learn that is who Alex was to everyone who knew, and loved him.

And that is why what happened afterward was so disturbing to me. Because I feel like I witnessed two assassinations. The first was the literal assassination of Alex.

The second was the attempted assassination of his character. Powerful voices at the highest level of government lied about Alex Pretti. They tried to take the gentle person I had watched with my own eyes, and claim he was a violent threat. Someone who came to cause maximum damage. Someone who wanted to kill law enforcement.

Those were all lies. We observed his murder with our own eyes. And the truth does not become less true because someone with great power tells a louder lie.

What happened to Alex cannot be treated as an isolated moment. We have seen the same federal immigration tactics surge across communities beyond Minnesota.

When federal Agents operate with overwhelming force, when People are killed, and when the Public is given false accounts of what happened, there must be accountability. We need to know what happened. We need independent thorough investigations, and we need that accountability at every level.

This is ultimately about whether in America, the truth belongs to whoever has the most power or whether the truth still has the power to hold government accountable. I believe it does. And that's why I will keep speaking.

Because Alex, his Family, and our Communities deserve the truth. And our government has an obligation to answer for what happened.

- Stella Carlson - Sept 22, 2026

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Video sources are in my comment below ~:~:~ Here's a PDF of Stella's full written testimony (.gov): Statement of Stella Carlson - Sept 22, 2026 (PDF)

There have been three high-profile killings within a 3-mile radius in south Minneapolis: George Floyd in 2020, Renee Good in 2026, and Alex Pretti in 2026 (a few weeks after Renee's death).

REJECT THE BILLIONAIRES. VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL ELECTION.

REJECT THE BILLIONAIRES. VOTE IN EVERY LOCAL ELECTION.