Power Grab/Point the law at critics
A White House aide summons federal agencies to plan “immediate actions” against Colorado
— White House aide summons agencies to plan 'immediate actions' against Colorado.
The email went out at 2:43 a.m. on December 15, 2025 and surfaced at an August 11, 2026 hearing in Colorado’s retaliation lawsuit.
What happened
At 2:43 a.m. on December 15, 2025, White House deputy assistant Emily Underwood emailed chiefs of staff at several federal departments and the Office of Management and Budget, convening a call that afternoon. The subject line was “brainstorm call,” and the call was set for 2:30 p.m. the same day.
The email asked recipients to come prepared to discuss “immediate actions” their agency could take with respect to Colorado. Its stated purpose was to prioritize Colorado to ensure grants and federal support were in line with administration priorities.
It went out hours before Trump called Gov. Jared Polis weak and pathetic over Tina Peters’ imprisonment. The email surfaced at an August 11, 2026 hearing in Colorado’s retaliation lawsuit. The email surfaced at an August 11, 2026 hearing in Colorado’s retaliation lawsuit, where it was produced as evidence of what the White House asked agencies to do.
Who benefited
The White House gained an interagency channel to check Colorado’s grants and federal support against administration priorities. The call brought several departments and OMB together on one state within about twelve hours of the email.
Who wanted something
The White House wanted grants and federal support to Colorado brought in line with administration priorities. The email’s request was for immediate actions each agency could take, and it went out hours before Trump’s attack on Polis.
Who lost out
Colorado, whose grants and federal support were put on the table for “immediate actions” by several agencies, is suing for retaliation. The state’s lawsuit is where the email came out, at an August 11, 2026 hearing.
Why it matters
A 2:43 a.m. email, produced in court, shows the White House asking agencies what they could do to one state before the day was out. It was sent hours before Trump publicly attacked the state’s governor over Tina Peters.
Sources Denver PostCBS News Colorado (primary)Colorado Public RadioDenver7
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