Grand Jury Rejects DOJ's Attempt to Indict Democratic Lawmakers
In a stunning rebuke of prosecutorial overreach, a federal grand jury in Washington refused to indict six Democratic lawmakers who urged military service members to refuse illegal orders. The Justice Department, led by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, attempted to bring criminal charges against Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Mark Kelly of Arizona, along with Representatives Jason Crow, Chris Deluzio, Chrissy Houlahan, and Maggie Goodlander—all military or intelligence veterans.
The case centered on a 90-second video the lawmakers posted in November urging troops to uphold their constitutional duty to disobey unlawful commands. President Trump had previously called their actions "seditious behavior" and suggested they should face execution, later walking back that statement. The failed indictment is exceedingly rare—federal grand juries typically reject fewer than a handful of cases per year across the entire judicial system. Not a single one of the 16-23 grand jurors found probable cause to indict.
The lawmakers remained defiant. "This is the master alarm flashing for our democracy," Kelly said at a press conference. "They tried to have us charged and thrown into jail because we said something they didn't like." Senator Slotkin called it "another sad day for our country," adding that Trump "continues to weaponize our justice system against his perceived enemies." Even some Republicans broke ranks. Senator Thom Tillis condemned the attempt as "political lawfare" that "needs to stop," while Speaker Mike Johnson doubled down, saying the lawmakers "probably should be indicted."
The attempted prosecution marks an escalation in the administration's targeting of critics, following previous indictments of former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Prosecutors technically retain the option to present the case to another grand jury, though legal experts note steep obstacles including Speech and Debate Clause protections for lawmakers.
Quick Hits
- ubio Reassures European Allies at Munich Conference — Secretary of State Marco Rubio's speech at the Munich Security Conference offered reassurance amid turbulent U.S.-Europe relations, a marked shift from VP JD Vance's scolding tone last year. EU diplomat Kaja Kallas noted that while differences remain, "the message was that we are together strong." [Source]
- Winter Olympics Underway in Italy — The 2026 Winter Olympics officially opened in Milan-Cortina with celebrations of Italian culture and international unity. American Jordan Stolz won gold in the 1000-meter speedskating with an Olympic-record time. The Games have been marked by political tensions, with Ukraine's delegation receiving raucous support while Israel's team faced boos. [Source]
- Ghana to Seek UN Recognition of Slave Trade as Crime Against Humanity — President John Dramani Mahama announced he will present an African Union-backed resolution to the UN General Assembly in March calling for global recognition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade as the gravest crime against humanity. [Source]
- Thailand's Constitutional Referendum Passes — Thai voters approved beginning a multi-stage process to replace the current constitution while electing the conservative Bhumjaithai Party to the most seats in the House of Representatives. [Source]
By The Numbers
U.S. unemployment rate as of December 2025, down from 4.5% in November but up from 4.1% at the start of 2025. The Fed paused rate cuts in January due to lingering inflation concerns and data disruptions from the government shutdown. Economists expect only three rate cuts in 2026, starting in June.
The Consumer Price Index increase from December 2023 to December 2024, showing continued disinflation but still above the Federal Reserve's 2% target. Core inflation is expected to crest slightly above 3% before easing later this year, partly due to tariff-related impacts.
Number of journalists laid off by the Washington Post in early February, representing close to half of its newsroom. The cuts included entire departments and foreign bureaus, marking one of the most devastating single-day losses of journalism jobs in modern history.
People killed over three days by Sudan's Rapid Support Forces in Darfur in late October 2025, according to UN reports, making it one of the deadliest massacres in the ongoing Sudanese civil war.
Jobs added in the U.S. in December 2025, one of the weakest monthly gains in years. Annual job growth came in at about 584,000, one of the slowest growth years in over a decade, though layoff rates remain historically low.
Quote of the Day
"This is the master alarm flashing for our democracy. It is threatening the very foundation of our system—that we have a right to free speech, to lawfully speak out and protest our government without fear of retaliation."
— Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), responding to the Justice Department's failed attempt to indict him and five other Democratic lawmakers for urging military members to refuse illegal orders.
Bottom Line
Today's news reveals democracy under stress both at home and abroad. A federal grand jury's rejection of politically motivated indictments shows that some institutional guardrails still hold, but the very attempt to criminalize lawmakers' speech represents a dangerous escalation in the weaponization of the Justice Department. Meanwhile, the decimation of the Washington Post's newsroom—at a moment when government accountability reporting is more critical than ever—underscores how concentrated wealth can dismantle the fourth estate regardless of profitability or public interest. As political scientists sound alarms about democratic backsliding and authoritarian tactics become normalized, the question isn't whether we're seeing the erosion of democratic norms—it's how far it will go before enough people push back.