{"text":[[{"start":12.7,"text":"Donald Trump suffered two legal setbacks on Friday after federal judges ordered him to remove his name from Washington’s Kennedy Center arts venue and blocked a $1.8bn legal fund to help his political allies."}],[{"start":25.9,"text":"In the first blow to the president, district judge Leonie Brinkema in Virginia said his administration must temporarily stop taking any actions linked to its so-called anti-weaponisation legal fund, which opponents have dubbed a “slush fund” for Trump’s allies."}],[{"start":40.9,"text":"Later in the day, Judge Christopher Cooper of the District of Columbia blocked Trump’s efforts to shut down the Kennedy Center concert hall for a two-year renovation due to start in July, a cornerstone of his plans to put his stamp on Washington’s architecture. "}],[{"start":56.65,"text":"The court also ordered Trump to remove his name from the building honouring the late president John F Kennedy within two weeks. “Congress gave the Kennedy Center its name and only Congress can change it,” Cooper wrote."}],[{"start":70.25,"text":"Trump later blasted the order, saying on his Truth Social platform that no president had been “treated so unfairly by the Courts” and adding he had “no interest” anymore in “a hopeless journey” to overhaul the concert venue."}],[{"start":83.5,"text":"“I have instructed the Department of Commerce to make all necessary arrangements with Congress to allow a full and complete transfer of this Institution, giving them the responsibility for its Operation, Maintenance, and Management,” Trump wrote. "}],[{"start":97,"text":"The two orders highlight the legal hurdles the president continues to face in his attempts to pursue projects designed to enhance his personal legacy and protect his most loyal followers."}],[{"start":107.05,"text":"In the case of the $1.8bn legal fund, the court’s order bars transferring money to or from it or considering any claims submitted to it, and pauses its operations following a lawsuit that said the fund was unlawful and should be dismantled. "}],[{"start":121.7,"text":"The lawsuit was filed last week by a group of people including some who said they had been “targeted by the Trump-[JD] Vance administration as ideological or political opponents”. It alleges that money from the fund was unlikely to be made available to those who say they were victims of improper use of power by the Trump administration."}],[{"start":141.3,"text":"It “rewards and incentivises unlawful behaviour and facilitates an astounding abuse of taxpayer funds”, plaintiffs said. "}],[{"start":150.25,"text":"The $1.8bn fund is for those who claim to have been unfairly targeted by US authorities. It was created as part of a settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. "}],[{"start":162.5,"text":"It also granted the president, his sons Donald Trump Jr and Eric and the Trump Organization immunity from existing IRS tax audits. In a further legal setback on Friday, a federal judge in Florida reopened the president’s case against the IRS, challenging the settlement that is the foundation for the $1.8bn fund. "}],[{"start":183.05,"text":"The fund, which if enacted could divert taxpayers’ cash to Trump’s allies, has led to a backlash from Democrats and some Republicans, stoking tensions with the White House. "}],[{"start":193.75,"text":"Senate Republican leader John Thune last week said “a lot of members” were concerned about the fund."}],[{"start":199.9,"text":"Not only are some lawmakers unhappy that the money could be directed to the president’s political allies, but they are also displeased that Trump is focusing on retribution for prosecutions that occurred during former president Joe Biden’s administration. Instead, they would like Trump to concentrate on cost-of-living issues that are most important to US voters and that could endanger Republicans’ control of Congress in November’s midterm elections."}],[{"start":225.70000000000002,"text":"Democrats cheered the court ruling. “Of all Trump’s corrupt schemes, his insurrectionist slush fund is one of the most depraved,” Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, wrote on X. "}],[{"start":237.70000000000002,"text":"“This ruling is an important win — but the fight is far from over. Democrats will keep fighting in the courts and in Congress to make sure this $2bn giveaway to cop beaters, criminals and Maga cronies never sees the light of day,” he said."}],[{"start":263.25,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1780269277_4957.mp3"}