FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP (Gage Skidmore/Flickr).

Was former president Donald Trump making threats against people involved in his federal criminal case?

In a post on his Truth Social platform, he wrote, “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU,” according to the Associated Press.

In response, the Justice Department on Friday asked U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a “protective order” which would keep Trump and his lawyers from making public sensitive information that could intimidate witnesses and others.

A spokesperson for Trump called the message from the former president “is the definition of political speech” and was thus protected under the First Amendment.

Trump has been indicted on four Federal charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States and to obstruct Congress.

Ukraine waging war via diplomacy

RUSSIA VS. UKRAINE (Shutterstock).

Efforts to defeat Russian invaders of Ukraine are not limited to the battlefield. The New York Times is reporting that President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine’s meeting in Saudi Arabia this weekend with diplomats from around the world in an effort to isolate Russia.

Among those expected to attend are representatives from China, India, Brazil, South Africa and some Persian Gulf nations that produce and export petroleum products.

At the same time, Russia is waging a legal battle as a court on Thursday fined Apple a sum of $4,400 and Wikipedia $33,000 for not removing  “false information” and criticism of the Russian military, reports the AP.

Jobless rate declines to 3.5 percent

The Labor Department on Friday announced that the U.S. economy added 187,00 jobs in July, dropping the unemployment rate to 3.5 percent, according to United Press International.

Historically, 4 percent has been considered “full employment.”

However, UPI reports that wage growth is not keeping up with “core inflation” and that there may be some job losses soon as manufacturing demand weakens.

Weather: Hold on until Tuesday

If you’re craving some nice sunny weather in our West Orange County area, you may have to wait a few more days. The forecast calls for partly cloudy weather through Monday. Daytime highs will range from 87 to 85 with overnight lows from 64 to 65. Tuesday, however, should be mostly sunny with a high of 82 (65).