And so we have a coup, as predicted. As a criminal lawyer, my sense of it is that a record -- as detailed as possible -- needs to be made. It won't be easy but, in the hope that the day comes, years from now, when the Executive Branch is run in a sane and legal manner, we'll need to know who did what and precisely what they did. Those in a position to know and preserve this information should be encouraged to do so, asap.
Also, where are all of our other academics? Most politicians can be expected to cower out of craven self-protection, but what about all of those academics in Ivy League ivory towers who have spent careers studying American democracy or teaching it at law school? Why are the only academic voices we're hearing the courageous, persistent ones of Tim Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson? Is the great American academic brain trust just going to let American democracy slip away without a public word?
Don't overlook New York University's Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who has been doing an excellent job of commenting and offering guidance on the coup on her Lucid substack and elsewhere. But where are Harvard's Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt and others? This needs to be an all hands on deck battle for our democracy.
I have a better question. How much of that 290 million was spent on Facebook news feed ads targeted to the swing state in key purple districts "persuadables"?
What is a "persuadable" you ask?
"Its about the newsfeed stupid" ( not calling anyone stupid, just a reference to Bill Clinton defeating Bush)
The Great Hack, Netflix
Zucked by Roger McNamee
Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zubloff
Al Franken Podcast discusses election influence from Cambridge Analytica/ Brexit to the run-up to 2024, data mining, etc
Propublica published an article in the past few days about how Cambridge Analytica and gun lobbyists also hacked data from gun owners to influence elections. This might disturb certain people on the right if they find out.
But Dr. Snyder and other serious and smart influencers (hate to use that word but he does have standing) are the way to go to educating Americans about State Capture so they understand what Musk is doing and how bad it is and how much worse it will become.
If we widen our view to include academics who also have European and British homes and expertise, or from Israel and other parts of our world, there are other excellent public intellectuals speaking out wisely too about our current national and international situations. Anne Applebaum for one.
I can answer that one... if you haven't seen video of Vance's rants on how he plans to destroy the universities, do. Guessing it won't be too long before Musk and Vance team up to push Trump out - they don't really need him anymore, though he IS fantastic at distracting everyone (ie, Gaza, Greenland). Greenland is really about grabbing the huge mineral trove waiting under the water as the Arctic ice melts - currently rights are legally only with Denmark, Russia - sort of - and, wait for it....Canada. No idea what Panama's about beyond general bullying.
Every now and then I muse on how it is that Yale has given us Tim Snyder and Rev. Barber but also Vance and Vivek. And why is Vivek out? For objecting to the tech steal? Or maybe just for saying Americans are stupid and uncultured - pretty much true.
We’re all stupid and uncultured in our own way. We should never forget that. But we also have to be humble (which, of course is a paradox: knowing we are stupid and uncultured should keep us from feeling too superior to anyone else, but our own stupidity militates against that.)
Stupidity is not the absence of intelligence! It is actually the emotionally driven misuse of it. The more cultured and intelligent we are, the stupidity we are capable of. Trump’s stupidity is different from ours just as ours is different from those who applaud or ignore the peril of someone like Trump and how he is the pawn of people like Musk, Putin, and Netanyahu.
Another aspect of the humility we all should try to foster in ourselves is that while our stupidity must be acknowledged, we cannot indulge ourselves in wallowing too much in regret or self pity. That is a way of breeding hopelessness and contempt—which only fuels fascism.
thefuq? You're making assertions from another, very ancient reality. Lecturing non-fascists on TrueThought and proper comportment is ridiculous. Our own caution and introspection is what allowed the stupid, ignorant, and violent to blow right past us and our well-considered manners and seize control of our country and our lives. Don't tell us what we cannot do. That ship has sailed, Sparky.
This sparky never had a purely true thought in his ever loving life (or would recognize it if he had). But it’s interesting that you assert that there are many kinds of realities.
And was I “lecturing”???? Little ‘ol me? (Maybe… though I didn’t realize it at the time.)
Was I telling “YOU” what you cannot do? (Interesting idea…!) Was I telling you what you SHOUDN’T do? (I suppose so, and that’s why you received it as a “lecture”?) At the time of writing, I THOUGHT (serves me right and that will teach me not to be “thinking”?) I was telling you what I HOPED you (actually you and others) would not do.
Speaking of “others” … you refer to a first person PLURAL (“Don’t tell *us* what *we* cannot do!”) Well, I suppose you are the commanding officer of some squad or battalion? Maybe a semi-super secret underground cell - or network of cells?
There are plenty of understandable reasons why people contemplate street violence, crimes against property, assassination, or “civil war” (Go Atlanta!) that are not INTENTIONALLY doing the work of the fascists for them. Not all of them would agree that it takes stupidly, ignorance, and violence to counteract violence, ignorance, and stupidity… that is they might not agree with that if they caught a moment to think about it. But since you have such well-considered manners, you’ve probably been struck with momentously sublime reasons why decent and serious people (or rather people who sometimes TRY to be serious and decent) have NO OTHER CHOICE but to resort to violence. Please notice I did not say “mindless violence” because that would not even really be fair to self-identified fascists. If you are assuredly “the leader” of your pack, it’s assuredly because you balance passion for justice and revenge with a clear cut set of strategy and tactics that you share with your followers on a “need to know” basis.
Ite ad Victoriam, qui scintillas habet ab auribus eius
Who is the Ivan Ilyn for Silicon Valley? ( Just listen to the NYT intview with VC Marc Andreeseen to see how radicalization works). Prepare to be creeped out.
I am in the process of reading his "Dark Enlightenment" essay, thanks for the post. The concept of a "Dark Enlightenment" makes no sense to me. As if to add to the weirdness is this recent article in WaPo about a Thiel VC couple engaged in puritan cosplay--an IVF C/S momma who yearns for "a death in childbirth."
Yes - I forgot where I heard this Arctic scientist of some thirty years work - maybe the BBC? - explain that. Canada owns the rights off Ellesmere Island and Denmark owns the rights off Greenland, of course. I remember it being 200 miles, but that sounds like a lot. Anyway, they've both filed legal documents to assure those rights and I think Russia has as well, though he said the Russian claim is a bit murky. The Fentanyl Czar in Canada is hilarious, of course, though just the sort of thing Trump likes to hear. The troops had already been committed in December.
Trump is determined to get these rights, and actually it may save aid to Ukraine since Zelensky suggested Ukraine's rich store of minerals might be exchanged for Trump agreeing to deliver what's already been funded by Congress - so we're back to the very thing Trump got impeached for, but with the victim's collaboration.
At least we know Trump is a keen believer in climate change.
His diplomas are worthless at this point. Granted, he is smarter and savvier than the orange one, but he is just as evil and lacking in morals. Peter Thiel has been grooming Vance since they met at a talk when Vance was at Yale. A plan has been in the works for a long time.
Panama is about Musk’s fascist grandfather’s part during the 30’s and 40’s. The Candian Technolgist Party had their version of “Leibenstrom” (living space) make a pax/one North American Country ruled by the Candian techno crafts (wealthy white educated elites) who know what is best for everyone. When WW2 broke out, this party was outlawed, leaders jailed, and disbanded.
Morning to you, Barry, and to all my fellow Snyder-whiplash crew!!
I tip my hat (albeit I don't usually wear one) to Prof. Snyder yet again, for coalescing in prose what we all had germinating in our minds but were too incredulous to actually say aloud---The Coup has commenced.
I too am an attorney, and wonder if perhaps some enterprising and brave group of US Attorneys, probably in blue states, could commence to draw up arrest warrants for Musk and his critical X crew. As his blatantly illegal actions are at present seemingly solely federal crimes, the various State AGs offices would not have jurisdiction to prosecute. And while newly confirmed Pam "What Trump University?" Bondi would obviously put the kibosh on any such actions upon her learning of same, even the commencement of actions would be beneficial. We might have to suffer a cascade of "I'm Spartacus" type of US Attorneys falling on their swords of resignation or termination to get through it, but it may very well be necessary
States have standing to sue in federal court, correct? Could a state attorney general bring a federal suit arguing that the federal government (or Trump administration, Elon Musk, or whatever works, I guess) has unconstitutionally infringed on the Fourth Amendment rights of citizens of the state of________? (unreasonable search and seizure of their person, home, papers, and belongings)
Is personal data considered “papers” and/or “belongings”? Elon has seized stuff we used to keep solely in paper form and/or that people now make and keep paper copies of “just in case”; it seems reasonable that data fits the fourth amendment criteria.
Could a state claim legitimate standing with the claim that: Their citizens are fearful of the state of their personal information in light of the seizure by Musk, et al. Because of that, the state of ________now faces “the loss of public trust, increased administrative burdens to handle complaints and potential identity theft cases, potential legal liabilities, economic disruption due to fraud, and damage to the state's reputation; ultimately impacting their ability to effectively provide services to citizens and could lead to increased security measures being implemented across state government systems imposing massive costs.” (from Google AI overview)
Perhaps this could legally force the issue of defining Elon Musk as a government official or a private citizen?
Sarah, you can go to courtlistener. com to get more info. The following is a list of the cases against Trump or various federal agencies filed since Trump took office. Updated as of 2/5/2025 at 2:56 PM EST
From Court Watch. news:
Updated as of 2/5/2025 at 2:56 PM EST
* County of Santa Clara v. Trump (5:25-cv-00981), District Court, N.D. California
* OCA - ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ADVOCATES v. RUBIO (1:25-cv-00287), District Court, District of Columbia
* DOE v. MCHENRY (1:25-cv-00286), District Court, District of Columbia
* AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO v. TRUMP (1:25-cv-00264), District Court, District of Columbia
* NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS v. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (1:25-cv-00239), District Court, District of Columbia
* Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility v. Trump (8:25-cv-00260), District Court, D. Maryland
* TALBOTT v. TRUMP (1:25-cv-00240), District Court, District of Columbia
* DOE v. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (1:25-cv-00234), District Court, District of Columbia
* Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (8:25-cv-00243), District Court, D. Maryland
* Moe v. Trump (1:25-cv-10195), District Court, D. Massachusetts
* Organized Communities Against Deportations v. Donald Trump (1:25-cv-00868), District Court, N.D. Illinois
* Franco Aleman v. Trump (2:25-cv-00163), District Court, W.D. Washington
* Casa Inc. v. Trump (8:25-cv-00201), District Court, D. Maryland
* State of Washington v. Trump (2:25-cv-00127) District Court, W.D. Washington
* State of New Jersey v. Trump (1:25-cv-10139), District Court, D. Massachusetts
* New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (1:25-cv-00038), District Court, D. New Hampshire
* Thien Le v. Donald J. Trump (8:25-cv-00104), District Court, C.D. California
* State of New York v. Trump (1:25-cv-00039), District Court, D. Rhode Island
* NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS v. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (1:25-cv-00239), District Court, District of Columbia
* PUBLIC CITIZEN, INC. v. TRUMP (1:25-cv-00164), District Court, District of Columbia
* AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION v. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (1:25-cv-00167), District Court, District of Columbia
* AMICA CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (1:25-cv-00298), District Court, District of Columbia
* REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES vs NOEM (1:25-cv-00306), District Court, District of Columbia
* National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump (1:25-cv-00333) District Court, D. Maryland
* ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS v. BESSENT (1:25-cv-00313) District Court, District of Columbia
* DOCTORS FOR AMERICA v. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (1:25-cv-00322), District Court, District of Columbia
* Does 1-9 v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE(1:25-cv-00325) District Court, District of Columbia
* PFLAG, Inc. v. Donald J. Trump, in his official capacity as President of the United States (1:25-cv-00337) District Court, D. Maryland
* FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AGENTS
ASSOCIATION v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (1:25-cv-00328) District Court, District of Columbia
* American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Ezell (1:25-cv-10276) District Court, D. Massachusetts
* WILCOX v. TRUMP (1:25-cv-00334) District Court, District of Columbia
* AFL-CIO v. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR(1:25-cv-00339) District Court, District of Columbia
The academics living in 'ivory towers' are not able to see, hear, or live in the 'real' world. All is theoretical to them and, in their minds, they are safe.
I think we can say the same for our Dems in Congress save for a few; Gillibrand is an example of demonstrating what may be their narcissistic belief they should just stay the course. She defended what they are doing on Brian Lehrer's show yesterday. Defended voting for the nominees because she wants to be able to work with them. She's in denial, Congress will be irrelevant in a few months at this rate.
Actually, the US Congress has been irrelevant for quite some time. As has the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Whose portrait now hangs on the wall in the Oval Office? Andrew Jackson. When informed of a Supreme Court decision which was contrary to his wishes, Jackson thundered "Let Them enforce it". That picture screams a message at American society today. That message is why Jackson’s image now hangs in the Oval Office.
Sadly, the supreme court has not been irrelevant. They are corrupt, unethical by all ordinary standards, and they decline to follow the Constitution, the law or precedent. Amazing the rulings a panel of judges can come up with when, totally without shame, they are willing to make it up out of whole cloth to fit their Christianist ideology.
Fetterman is trying to show that he's a right-on white working-class bro so he's independent of those other "bougie" Democrats. Unfortunately the right-on white working-class bros seem reluctant to ally with working-class people of color.
Al has done a phenomenal job with his Podcast since his departure. To me, he has way redeemed himself and then some. Hopefully, the party learned something about real politick and forgiveness/reconciliation.
One of the things I've been thinking about over the last year or so is inviting ordinary people who have direct experience of dictatorship to speak to various groups, or invited to speak in podcasts. Last year when I was on Twitter/X I met a woman from Chile who lived through the Pinochet dictatorship. She wondered why Americans couldn't see what she so clearly saw. She wrote that it's so easy to get into a dictatorship, but very hard to get out of one. We exchanged a few posts. It's interesting that sometimes those looking in from the outside can see things more clearly than those who are on the inside. Americans would benefit from listening to ordinary people talking about their experiences in a dictatorship, especially what day-to-day life is like. There will be cultural differences, yes, but there are patterns that are common to all.
The question, of course, is how to reach the people who are most in need of hearing from people outside the US. And there is the chest-thumping attitude that many Americans have towards non-Americans--that they have nothing of value to offer us. I'm afraid I'm at a loss to address that problem.
Talking of learning from the experiences of other people: Americans should look to the example of Poland in 1989, when intellectuals like Jerzy Giedroyc and Juliusz Mieroszewski collaborated with Solidarity to bring an end to Soviet rule in Poland. To get Poland into the EU and NATO as fast as possible, Giedroyc and Mieroszewski took a pragmatic approach; by allying themselves with the working class, and promising Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus' that Poland no longer had imperialist aims and importantly, by being unwavering in their consistency, they succeeded.
There ARE intellectuals in the US who would be open to this.
That's what I've been saying for years: Listen to them without speaking a word, for as long as they want to speak. When it's over you may not say, "OK, we're done here. We can now get back to whatever we were doing." You must instead listen to them without speaking, again and again, without interrupting, except to ask them good-faith questions.
But I've been following right-wingers for decades. I know how they think, how they operate. I've been following their propaganda; sometimes I feel like I need a shower after a long session, other times like I'm losing my mind. They've been filled with propaganda for so many years, their minds are so polluted with the poison of racism and white victimhood, that they can't see past it. They live, like one of Nietzsche's cows, chewing their cud, in an eternal present, unable to think through the consequences of their own ideas.
So we must be pragmatic. I don't like it either, but we don't have any time to waste.
How does one teach a cow to think? Particularly if the cow's brain is stuck in the eternal present? Eternal Present. What an interesting concept. I may have to consider that concept. Thank you.
Prof. Snyder has used "eternal present" before, but I came up with it on my own, long before I even knew he existed, based on my own personal experiences of listening to and interacting with people on the far right, whenever I talk to them about politics. They tend to be walking collections of ready made phrases (to borrow Orwell's term) and ideas. I've found/still find, that whenever I would ask/ask them about a particular aspect of the phrase or idea they were repeating, they couldn't respond, meaning, they had simply committed the ready made phrases and ideas to memory, much like a talking bird. You can teach a parrot to say "фак off" or to recite Shakespeare; either way, the bird doesn't know what any of it means. It just memorizes a set of phonemes in a particular order, and repeats them. And I'm not the only person to have noticed that some of them string together wholly unrelated ready made phrases into a single, nonsensical sentence, in the same way that talking birds do.
I repeat myself when I use the example of Syme in ch.1 of 1984, who is responsible for putting together the 11th ed. of the Dictionary of Newspeak, and deliberately omits all words with nuanced differences in meaning: "It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words," he tells Winston. Human beings cannot think without language, and if language is continually impoverished by repetitive phrases; if people are led to believe that complex problems have simple causes and therefore simple solutions, their thinking will necessarily be impoverished, so that after a long period of listening to or reading nonsense for much of their day, and for years, they reach a point at which all nuance is lost. It's a sad thing because human beings are not "just" one of the animals. We possess consciousness of self, so have foreknowledge of our own death; we can analyze; we have language with a grammar and syntax. When we give that up, we're no longer free; we are not in possession of ourselves, but instead belong to others.
Prof. Snyder is right when he says that social media have made us stupider, but I would argue that right-wing radio and television gave us a decades-long head start. I've long referred to this as well as other aspects of American life as a "grand stupidification project." In retrospect, I see Rush Limbaugh's "liberal media bias" as an accelerator of post-factuality, for what else can "liberal media bias" mean save "I don't like it"? For nearly 40 years,rather than learning to evaluate each source, each article/opinion piece, each journalist, individually, separately, weak-minded people have instead been rejecting all of it. Several months ago the Washington Post reported on a study in which subjects were given newspaper articles and opinion pieces to read and were directed to identify them as articles or opinion pieces. A much too large number of Americans couldn't tell the difference because many of them thought that facts they don't like were opinions.
Susan, my understanding is that the current US crisis, withdrawal of the majority of people from the rule-of-law compact, stems from a (mostly unconscious) observation that rule-of-law works against racial privilege. I am afraid that at the core of the deal Trump offers is preservation of that privilege, through abolishing of rule-of-law.
There ARE lessons to be used against Trumpism in the "experiences of people of color in the U.S", but I would not count on empathy of people who voted for Trump.
The geographical closeness to the US probably isn't so important. There are differences in dictatorships, many of them cultural, others simply because of the fortuitousness of history, to borrow a phrase from Hannah Arendt. This means, for example, that scapegoats--"others"--can be different, but if we look instead at *patterns* we see that scapegoating is common to all.
A good source of these general patterns is Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny." One of the goals in reading history is to learn to take an individual case, or a particular, elevate it to the level of the general or universal, then apply it to another particular, either in history or in the present. So if you read a lot of history and you hear Putin complain about the "mistreatment" of Russian speakers in Ukraine, or when you read that Robert Fico and Viktor Orbán are complaining about the "mistreatment" of speakers of Slovak and Hungarian in Zakarpattia, those are *particulars* that should remind you of other particulars, for example Hitler's complaining about the "mistreatment" of German speakers in Czechoslovakia; or, during the wars of Italian unification, Italians complaining about the "mistreatment" of Italian speakers in the Habsburg lands. Then you watch what happens after the complaints are made: wars of annexation (the general, or a pattern). That neither Hungary nor Slovakia have tried to annex Zakarpattia is irrelevant, as both Zakarpattia and Slovakia, after 1919, were carved out of the Kingdom of Hungary, and Orbán and Fico are thinking of postwar spoils. Though I'm genuinely puzzled about what Fico thinks he's going to get if Russia wins, unless he's looking to be swallowed by Hungary again.
Nobody is “safe.” But some of us are more insulated. (And some of us are more oblivious.) What’s needed are ways for us to keep our balance with long term strategic thinking and support of key institutions while also doing as much as we can to support (and perhaps) protect the most vulnerable whether it be trans kids in Alabama or Palestinians in Gaza. None of us can do it all. Few of us can accomplish anything meaningful on our own.
Make a record???? First thanks for acknowledging real leadership. But second, you are giving up in Advance. You are a lawyer, DO SOMETHING. Criminal CHarges, whatever to stop that A-hole Musk. Why isn't anyone shooting the criminal as he commits crimes. I guess I just don't get it. WHERE IS THE POPO?
Barry, you wrote "... the day comes, years from now, when the Executive Branch is run in a sane and legal manner...". But at the moment the majority of voters CHOSE that the Executive Branch is run in a INsane and ILlegal manner. The question is whether the "sane and legal" will EVER return, if people only more or less passively wait until this SOMEHOW happens.
This goes to the root question - how did the rule-of-law system originally came into existence? Was it that the King and all the barons woke up some day, all with the same thought "let's meat at this Runnymede place in peace and good will to formalize and codify our relationship", this thought appearing unprompted by any pressures?
We have to ride out the consequences, but it may be heartening to remember that only about a third of eligible voters actually came out for Trump/Vance. Over a third did not bother to go to the polls. There are also large swaths of 2024 Trump voters who are persuadable — if only because they voted for Biden in 2020. (This is only a tiny fraction of the challenge ahead, but some whatnots are easier to turn around than others. Of course, we also need to support or encourage those who do support the work needed to keep election processes secure.)
Thank you, Mr Panzica, for this reminder. This is a vitally important reminder in our effort to both resist the destruction and our reconstruction efforts in the current environment.
The actual supportive functioning of our constitutional system depends largely on popular participation and, inclusively, respect for a rule of law that protects and obliges everyone. Voters who were 'silent', and voters who oppose, together, constitute our best allies in constituting a better and more effective resistance to restore constitutional governance and civil society institutions.
The common interests expressed by this large majority can be given political meaning and legislative form. This is where readers of this substack and related other substack authors can invite a more inclusive dialogue in order to tangibly bring legislative objectives along with specific, consciously pursued constitutional outcomes into focus and in explicit enough forms to serve as legislative agenda items and reason to oppose Trump et al.
Barbara, thank you for engaging. But I am afraid I did not convey my observation (below) intelligibly. I did not aim for a satire. My observation is that rule-of-law is a VOLUNTARY compact. You do not press other people into it. You do not argue to the goodness of their hearts that "it will be more wholesome that way". Parties join the rule-of-law compact because of the immediate alternative - a brutal all-out naked violence struggle to assert and defend one's rights and desires.
So when a LARGE swath of the society withdraws from the rule-of-law compact, as the Trump's voters did, the situation is dire and on the edge of unthinkable. Because you cannot convice them to rejoin, you cannot argue them to rejoin, they have to do it voluntarily, through THEIR calculation of losses and profits on this route of action.
Thank you, Ms Laman, there is the human history to explain this.
A useful presentation for us Americans is:
America’s Unwritten Constitution: The Precedents and Principles We Live By, by Akhil Reed Amar of Yale University [currently providing additional information at
I am replying to Piotr Szafranski, who questioned the origin of the rule of law, asking if the king and the barons just woke up some day and decided there should be a different organization of government. I was about to mention the American Revolution and the Founders, but then decided Piotr was a satirist.
Yes. Or else merely to delete 600-800 years of the history of Iceland, England, France, the Netherlands and then (very latterly) the 18th century framers of the United States and its Constitution and basis in Common Law. Nobody did it just because they woke up one morning and thought it might be a nice idea.
What are we, the people, supposed to do? This is the question I ask myself everyday. We are all so dispersed and our engagement disconnected from each other. Other than the substacks we are following for actual information how are we to impact a way to halt this coup. There have been warnings given about the possible danger of large protests that could give the orange Fuhrer an excuse to call martial law….What can I do to stop Musk? What can I do to get my democrats in my city, state, country to stop what is happening? Call their offices?!!! The feeling is futility and Dr. Snyder has warned us against that reaction.
Wealthy Magas have infiltrated the Boards at many universities & have been making large money donations in exchange for approval of the curriculum and approval over hiring.
Thank you, Barry, for asking "where are all of our other academics?"
The Powell memo took them out, systematically, beginning with Lewis Powell having written and sent it to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce August 23, 1971.
New, far-right foundations such as Heritage and ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), along with an expanded Hoover Institution organized to silence academe. And to have the monied classes and those of commerce rule the U.S. These business interests so hated the activism of the campuses through the 1960s.
You can read about part of this in Sheldon Whitehouse's "The Scheme" (though his emphasis there is on how the far right (and its Federalist Society) later took over the judiciary.
I am very much afraid that creating this record of lawlessness so that we can trust Merrick Garland to outline it for John Roberts and then ask "Whadda ya think?" seems futile.
An immediate formation of a People's Cabinet by the DNC is one important idea. Substack+Bluesky worked in tandem with such a thing would be one effective real-time communication tool to develop resistance events in quick fashion. Go here to see some ideas: https://dougshortridge.substack.com/p/peoples-cabinet-sandbox-1. There are three separate posts; each have information worth considering, Sandbox #1, Holding, and Formation.
Send Indivisible’s Procedural Warfare Handbook to your representatives, with and order that they put their boots on and act more like soldiers than senators.
Everyone should remember that the fascists WANT to provoke chaos and violence. That is their chosen battlefield where they believe they have the advantage — and if they control the military and the police, it’s hard to see how they are wrong. We need to stay balanced. (Some people may choose — or be forced — to make horrific sacrifices, but sacrifices are always symbolic in ways that transcend the fate of the victim/“hero”) The priorities should be reinforcing election procedures, supporting legal advocacy (ACLU and Ralph Nader groups come to mind), reinforcing Civil Society (not even necessarily political groups but where persuadable people can mingle to do “good”), local media (Check out WMNF in TAMPA online) and protecting the most vulnerable (AFSC, the Poor People’s Campaign, etc
It’s the most vulnerable who suffer first in environments profuse with chaos and violence.
Well Bruce, since murderous anarchy isn’t “on the table”, (a procedural term for what is being considered in a conversation or a vote), it’s probably best to keep the violent fantasies to oneself. Although, with so much great patriotism and thinking being expressed on this and other Substack sites, I do appreciate the heads up on who’s comment not to bother reading in the future.
But again, when the other "side," the fascists, have a mission to destroy democracy, using the tools of democracy won't stop them unless defying court orders and other illegal actions are met with enforcement - arrests, prison, trials
From this urgent article by Lawfare ME: “Finally, descriptions of state capture must speak directly to its victims: the American people. “If we are guilty of underdescribing state capture in the media, it is perhaps a guilt that lies in our failure to draw a blunt connection between political jargon and real human beings,” the South African political analyst Eusebius McKaiser wrote in 2017. “We need simpler and more visceral depictions of the meaning of corruption and the opportunities it costs, including the grandest scale of corruption, which is all that state capture picks out.”
So, when a shuttered health clinic in Virginia results in the death of a rural patient, or nursing home residents being set out on sidewalks because the home has no access to its funding, these things need to be made visible and told to the American people.
Yesterday, thousands of individuals rallied outside the Treasury Department to voice their outrage against Elon Musk being handed the keys to the Executive Branch. Jen Rubin speaks with Ezra Levin, the co-founder of the organization that planned the event, about the demands of the people.
Ezra Levin is the co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, a grassroots organization made up of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative, and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOPs agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies."
Parliamentary gridlock. It’s what Mitch McConnell was so good at and what Tommy Tuberville did so well went in the minority. I am a star believer in nonviolent protest.
Dear Dr. Snyder. I've heard questions by many who wonder when the Democratic leadership to take measures to stop the coup - it is time we start using this term. The response from the Democratic leadership that I've heard is we are taking them to court. The question in my mind is whether this is the same court system that granted Trump/Musk virtual immunity, slow walked the prosecutions of Trump, and has delayed judiciary actions until he is out of office.
It's time to smell the coffee and stop sniffing the roses. We are in a crisis. Waiting for actions by other institutions have failed and even accommodated the instigators we are facing. Take it upon yourself to initiate action. Boycott. Strike. Mobilize. Listen. And above all, accept the struggle.
There have been reports of immediate plans to bring lawsuits to friendly judges in friendly circuit court jurisdictions, just the way the right "judge-shops." These courts can stop illegal actions and then delay judgments. as has been done to us, and slow down the steal. Outside of mass demonstrations, mass strikes and civil disobedience, that seems to be the primary thing the Democrats can now. Note that at least two senators plan to place holds on all of Trump's lower level nominees in the Senate until certain conditions are met - this will greatly slow down the whole process of confirmations, preventing even greater mischief.
“I assumed that we would be prepared to meet the moment, and I was wrong,” Shannon Watts, the founder of the gun-control group Moms Demand Action, told me. “It’s like they’ve shown up to a knife fight with a cheese stick.”
We also, when we boycott places, need to let them know WHY we are boycotting them. Just not buying isn't enough. They may not see the pattern in a sales drop and their support of this regime. Write or call or send a Facbebook/ IG message to the company and tell them you will no longer shop with them because of their support for Trump or for their work with him.
I cancelled Amazon Prime and have found other places to find those items. Much can be found at Target. I do not shop at Sephora anymore or Kohls. I am about to get off Facebook---already downloaded my stuff but a course I am taking and paid for is on there. Will close down when it is over soon.
Once Elon is inside the Treasury Department or any other agency for that matter, what prevents him from putting lock codes on computer systems with access limited to him and his digital warriors?
I fear people are not thinking that once those orders are given, they will be ignored. The courts cannot stop Trump/Musk. They will not obey. That is the cold, hard truth.
From what I've read (Wired, etc.) the Treasury and others' codes have been rewritten and are in Musk's control.
I respectfully disagree. The courts have thus far, done their job and fulfilled their constitutional duties. The real question is, once the political pushback finally proceeds apace, and the Trump/Musk coup leaders still keep at it, what will the higher courts do? Specifically, if any of these cases get to the Supremes, we can rest unassured that Justices Alito and Thomas are ready votes to sustain the coup. What will Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett do??
I truly pray that you are right. It feels like a bulldozer has been taken to this country, and I don't see how anyone or any organization can move quickly enough to stop it.
"I don't see how anyone or any organization can move quickly enough to stop it." kdsherpa
Read the Declaration of Independence. We did that once. We can do it again. The sooner the better; while the enemy is still in a state of chaos and the king is halucinating.
Those three gave us a little bit of hope before. At the time, I thought that was nothing more than a ploy to make the public think all is not lost. Excuse my pessimism. I hope I’m wrong.
I'm more worried about the back doors and trojan horses he and his gang of incels has installed on the systems. These will allow him to do untold damage even if the courts stop the overt actions.
It's so frustrating. There are a lot of lawsuits going on right now, but the court system works so slowly. Meanwhile, seniors in my rural county in TN who depend on their already small social security check have no idea what is in store for them. They voted for Trump, and they trust him. They love Elon! I heard some old men rhapsodizing about Elon in the post office the other day. They think he's cool and smart. When he takes away their monthly check, they will probably justify it somehow. In my experience it takes a long time for Republican voters to turn against their leaders.
Yeah, I know. The quiet persuasion of the Second Armored Division rolling into Berlin over the powdered rubble of that mighty fortress is what really brought the Nazis to their knees.
They've delivered plenty of violence to us. We've responded with lawfulness and relative compassion. So we get more.
The institutions of civil society (volunteerism) offer plenty of opportunities for gentle persuasion while often offering other opportunities to protect the most vulnerable (or at least assuage the harm that has been done to them. Any one of us can only do so much. But if we all do a little (and then a little more) change can be brought about
Nor did quiet persuasion free the slaves or keep the Union together in the 1860s. And that would have been a better example since it refers to a Civil War which involved Americans slaughtering Americans and Sherman torching your city and scorching the earth from there to the sea. Trump now has legal control over not just the federal police but the armed forces of the United States.
Even talking of violence strengthens the support Trump would have to use deadly force against Americans. If you were paying attention during his first administration, much of what was done (including the family separations, a crime against humanity) was done to provoke hysteria and violence. Now there are even more people in his administration itching to invoke the Insurrection Acts and seize emergency powers. Fascism is very invested in states of emergency and states of exception where the rule of law can be “lawfully” set aside. Fascism is also very invested in creating climates of fear. (If you were captured and not killed in your war against the US, would you prefer a Federal prison, a POW camp in the Mojave, Gitmo, or El Salvador?)
Even talking about violence fuels a sense of fear that divides us and empowers the worst elements of MAGA. Remember that only about a third of the eligible electorate turned out for Trump. How many of them really thought that much about the consequences of their vote? I’ll be it was a lot less than the percentage of them who voted the way they did out of FEAR, and Trump needs to keep them afraid. We should not help him.
Non violence requires just as much courage and discipline (probably a lot more) than violence.
I'm just one little old lady, with a cat. But I'm a mother & a grandmother of a beautiful college freshman at one of our great universities here in California. I want a free life for my daughter & family.
So as an individual I can only do so much but I call my representative EVERY day. They know my name. I give them my run down of what is so abominable from the day before. They need that data. They need numbers when the representative goes by before Congress to address the crimes being committed. They need the data & I'm giving my few data points every day. They need the numbers to support the fight.
You can help, call your congressman & senators, make your voices heard. Right now this may be all that we can do until a more cohesive opposition can be formed. But it's something you can do NOW & tomorrow & the day after that & the day after that.
Like I said I'm a little old lady so I like snail mail as well as email. I write letters to not only my Senators & representatives but to those outside my state. We pay their salaries with our taxes we can & should tell them what we think. So do it. Take the time you would spend sitting here responding to this critical post & the information there in & contact your elected officials. It's our responsibility to be involved with our government & even if we go down & that has not yet been determined, we can at least say, "We tried!"
You might also call your regional FBI office & tell them that you support the FBI. That you are against what is happening. Sure, you can't do anything about it but you can tell the men & women that put their lives on the line for us that WE CARE! Moral is an important part of any job & if calling the FBI & saying good job helps it's the least we can do!
You call the FBI field office and who will pick up? A MAGA appointee making lists of people who are critical of the new regime. Stop with the Little Old Lady With A Cat routine. What you say you want matters not to JD Vance who declared long ago you are Public Enemy #1 and are to have no say at all in governing "this great nation".
Why does your comment bring to mind the “Arsenic and Old Lace” crazy uncle who thought he was TR? (Oops, he didn’t imagine he was charging up San Juan Hill. He thought he was digging the Panama Canal! But what was he actually digging?).
But I’m sure you’re not advocating physical violence. Resistance will not succeed with guns (not when Trump controls the military and police), but money and lawyers will be essential (though not enough).
As Heather Cox Richardson argues in her most recent conversation with Joanne B. Freeman, we are in a pre-constitution moment since the norms of the constitution have just been smashed. And the way Patriots rallied each other in that pre-constitution moment was to hold Townhall meetings… We need physical gathering spaces held by elected Dems to rally resistance.
I’m not surprised by her silence. After a few good years she became weak, relied on poles rather than her own smarts and then ruined Al Franken. I lost all respect for her, and she now runs the DSSS.
So, worse than silent, I think she’s up to no good. 1) She was one of the 22 Senators who voted for a trump appointee and, 2) A news clip from the trump prayer breakfast-what a sham- shows KG all in white, front row, a speaker!, (with no mention that Jesus would be furious at trumps actions), and 3) C-Span shows trump shaking hands with attendee after the “prayers” and he walks past KG but SHE PURSUES him, puts her hand out, smiles and chats and he takes her hand and chats back.
What the hell?!! Im going to keep an even closer eye on her, set up a meeting and give her a piece of my mind.
Any democrat who gets chummy with the traitorous felon in the White House
Going to head to Hartford today. I feel like I can’t say anything unless I also show up. Listening to The Habit of Freedom right now thank you. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CXZbdQpVSAk&pp=ygUOdGltb3RoeSBzbnlkZXI%3D. This conversation is inspiring. Going to listen to it while I drive. Thank you Tim
I am at a loss to understand why these actions are called on days and at times when people are working. I am grateful for those who are able to join, but what a demonstration of privilege.
Thank you for letting me know. Is 50501 the organization that wants to do monthly rallies? With the atomization of news outlets, I am hoping there is a way to disseminate that information widely. I think Indivisible will do so too. But I feel that finding effective ways to replace the national media is the most crucial task right now. In the absence of a leader with a national platform, we are really at a disadvantage.
Francoise I was happy to see a note about this. It takes a lot of searching to find information and verify it. I am going to keep following this and see if is going materialize.
It should materialize. I have seen it proposed by a few organizations. My favorite name for it is "Not My President 's Day." How well attended it will depends on a number of factors, including the ability to advertise it.
I woke up this morning thinking “We’ve been coup-ed”—-and in answer I get the notification “Of course it’s a coup” — I live in Tennessee, in Andy Ogles district 🤦♀️, I’m overwhelmed and befuddled.
The coup has been a slow-rolling one. It began with St. Ronnie Raygun and his merry band of thieves. Maybe Tricky Dick's southern strategy was a foreshadowing. The Louis Powell memo laid down the premise of the coup. We have ignored the signs for decades. I fear it is too late to stop this coup unless we have a revolution. But the armed forces are now under the command of the bad guys.
I urge Professor Snyder to submit this post as an op-ed to the Wall Street Journal, whose readers need to recognize what is happening. This message must reach as many Americans as possible. Americans should be in the streets NOW. There will no way back if the coup is allowed to succeed.
The court can't arrest anybody. The only mystery is why the Federal Marshals repelled Musk from trying to enter a SCIF. I thought the Justice Department was now under full MAGA control. Must just have been a random mistake.
Forcefully enforce the laws already on the books, especially the ones about treason. In the meantime, Indivisible, Hopium Chronicles, Chop Wood Carry Water, et al. Do it every day.
And so we have a coup, as predicted. As a criminal lawyer, my sense of it is that a record -- as detailed as possible -- needs to be made. It won't be easy but, in the hope that the day comes, years from now, when the Executive Branch is run in a sane and legal manner, we'll need to know who did what and precisely what they did. Those in a position to know and preserve this information should be encouraged to do so, asap.
Also, where are all of our other academics? Most politicians can be expected to cower out of craven self-protection, but what about all of those academics in Ivy League ivory towers who have spent careers studying American democracy or teaching it at law school? Why are the only academic voices we're hearing the courageous, persistent ones of Tim Snyder and Heather Cox Richardson? Is the great American academic brain trust just going to let American democracy slip away without a public word?
Don't overlook New York University's Professor Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who has been doing an excellent job of commenting and offering guidance on the coup on her Lucid substack and elsewhere. But where are Harvard's Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt and others? This needs to be an all hands on deck battle for our democracy.
She is brilliant and relevant. But how many MAGAs and Undecideds and Disengaged Democrats read substack?
I have a better question. How much of that 290 million was spent on Facebook news feed ads targeted to the swing state in key purple districts "persuadables"?
What is a "persuadable" you ask?
"Its about the newsfeed stupid" ( not calling anyone stupid, just a reference to Bill Clinton defeating Bush)
The Great Hack, Netflix
Zucked by Roger McNamee
Surveillance Capitalism by Shoshana Zubloff
Al Franken Podcast discusses election influence from Cambridge Analytica/ Brexit to the run-up to 2024, data mining, etc
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/shoshana-zuboff-roger-mcnamee-on-surveillance-capitalism/id1462195742?i=1000600365133
Have we reached a point where Meta can persuade people NOT to vote? Gauging the 2024 metrics, it appears so.
Propublica published an article in the past few days about how Cambridge Analytica and gun lobbyists also hacked data from gun owners to influence elections. This might disturb certain people on the right if they find out.
https://www.propublica.org/article/guns-lobbying-cambridge-analytica-nssf-privacy-elections
Why does that matter?
I guess it doesn’t matter if we want to continue preaching to the choir.
But Dr. Snyder and other serious and smart influencers (hate to use that word but he does have standing) are the way to go to educating Americans about State Capture so they understand what Musk is doing and how bad it is and how much worse it will become.
She is one of the few, stellar exceptions to the cloistered thinkers in the the ivory towers.
If we widen our view to include academics who also have European and British homes and expertise, or from Israel and other parts of our world, there are other excellent public intellectuals speaking out wisely too about our current national and international situations. Anne Applebaum for one.
I can answer that one... if you haven't seen video of Vance's rants on how he plans to destroy the universities, do. Guessing it won't be too long before Musk and Vance team up to push Trump out - they don't really need him anymore, though he IS fantastic at distracting everyone (ie, Gaza, Greenland). Greenland is really about grabbing the huge mineral trove waiting under the water as the Arctic ice melts - currently rights are legally only with Denmark, Russia - sort of - and, wait for it....Canada. No idea what Panama's about beyond general bullying.
Every now and then I muse on how it is that Yale has given us Tim Snyder and Rev. Barber but also Vance and Vivek. And why is Vivek out? For objecting to the tech steal? Or maybe just for saying Americans are stupid and uncultured - pretty much true.
Panama because two Trump hotel companies there were audited by the Panamanian government in 2019 for tax evasion.
The Trump business model.
We’re all stupid and uncultured in our own way. We should never forget that. But we also have to be humble (which, of course is a paradox: knowing we are stupid and uncultured should keep us from feeling too superior to anyone else, but our own stupidity militates against that.)
Stupidity is not the absence of intelligence! It is actually the emotionally driven misuse of it. The more cultured and intelligent we are, the stupidity we are capable of. Trump’s stupidity is different from ours just as ours is different from those who applaud or ignore the peril of someone like Trump and how he is the pawn of people like Musk, Putin, and Netanyahu.
Another aspect of the humility we all should try to foster in ourselves is that while our stupidity must be acknowledged, we cannot indulge ourselves in wallowing too much in regret or self pity. That is a way of breeding hopelessness and contempt—which only fuels fascism.
thefuq? You're making assertions from another, very ancient reality. Lecturing non-fascists on TrueThought and proper comportment is ridiculous. Our own caution and introspection is what allowed the stupid, ignorant, and violent to blow right past us and our well-considered manners and seize control of our country and our lives. Don't tell us what we cannot do. That ship has sailed, Sparky.
This sparky never had a purely true thought in his ever loving life (or would recognize it if he had). But it’s interesting that you assert that there are many kinds of realities.
And was I “lecturing”???? Little ‘ol me? (Maybe… though I didn’t realize it at the time.)
Was I telling “YOU” what you cannot do? (Interesting idea…!) Was I telling you what you SHOUDN’T do? (I suppose so, and that’s why you received it as a “lecture”?) At the time of writing, I THOUGHT (serves me right and that will teach me not to be “thinking”?) I was telling you what I HOPED you (actually you and others) would not do.
Speaking of “others” … you refer to a first person PLURAL (“Don’t tell *us* what *we* cannot do!”) Well, I suppose you are the commanding officer of some squad or battalion? Maybe a semi-super secret underground cell - or network of cells?
There are plenty of understandable reasons why people contemplate street violence, crimes against property, assassination, or “civil war” (Go Atlanta!) that are not INTENTIONALLY doing the work of the fascists for them. Not all of them would agree that it takes stupidly, ignorance, and violence to counteract violence, ignorance, and stupidity… that is they might not agree with that if they caught a moment to think about it. But since you have such well-considered manners, you’ve probably been struck with momentously sublime reasons why decent and serious people (or rather people who sometimes TRY to be serious and decent) have NO OTHER CHOICE but to resort to violence. Please notice I did not say “mindless violence” because that would not even really be fair to self-identified fascists. If you are assuredly “the leader” of your pack, it’s assuredly because you balance passion for justice and revenge with a clear cut set of strategy and tactics that you share with your followers on a “need to know” basis.
Ite ad Victoriam, qui scintillas habet ab auribus eius
Who is the Ivan Ilyn for Silicon Valley? ( Just listen to the NYT intview with VC Marc Andreeseen to see how radicalization works). Prepare to be creeped out.
Curtis Yarvin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Yarvin
Marc Andreeseen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZKS8sF8_Ic
And why did Elon’s Grandpa leave Canada for South Africa? Cuz he was a white supremest fascist just like Donnie’s Grandfather and father.
https://open.substack.com/pub/jimstewartson/p/technate-of-america-musks-game-of?r=44kjm&utm_medium=ios
I am in the process of reading his "Dark Enlightenment" essay, thanks for the post. The concept of a "Dark Enlightenment" makes no sense to me. As if to add to the weirdness is this recent article in WaPo about a Thiel VC couple engaged in puritan cosplay--an IVF C/S momma who yearns for "a death in childbirth."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/style/of-interest/2025/02/01/malcolm-and-simone-collins-pronatalism/
Thank you for this, Fran! I have read that Vance claims universities are evil, but never watched the rants.
I wonder if Trump heard that Canada has mineral leases (or whatever they should be called) and that is one of the reasons he wants to punish Canada.
Yes - I forgot where I heard this Arctic scientist of some thirty years work - maybe the BBC? - explain that. Canada owns the rights off Ellesmere Island and Denmark owns the rights off Greenland, of course. I remember it being 200 miles, but that sounds like a lot. Anyway, they've both filed legal documents to assure those rights and I think Russia has as well, though he said the Russian claim is a bit murky. The Fentanyl Czar in Canada is hilarious, of course, though just the sort of thing Trump likes to hear. The troops had already been committed in December.
Trump is determined to get these rights, and actually it may save aid to Ukraine since Zelensky suggested Ukraine's rich store of minerals might be exchanged for Trump agreeing to deliver what's already been funded by Congress - so we're back to the very thing Trump got impeached for, but with the victim's collaboration.
At least we know Trump is a keen believer in climate change.
His diplomas are worthless at this point. Granted, he is smarter and savvier than the orange one, but he is just as evil and lacking in morals. Peter Thiel has been grooming Vance since they met at a talk when Vance was at Yale. A plan has been in the works for a long time.
I would have left as soon as I realized the others
were talking about doing something criminal. I
assume that’s why Vivek left.
For being brown and praising the brown H1-B immigrant.
Panama is about Musk’s fascist grandfather’s part during the 30’s and 40’s. The Candian Technolgist Party had their version of “Leibenstrom” (living space) make a pax/one North American Country ruled by the Candian techno crafts (wealthy white educated elites) who know what is best for everyone. When WW2 broke out, this party was outlawed, leaders jailed, and disbanded.
Morning to you, Barry, and to all my fellow Snyder-whiplash crew!!
I tip my hat (albeit I don't usually wear one) to Prof. Snyder yet again, for coalescing in prose what we all had germinating in our minds but were too incredulous to actually say aloud---The Coup has commenced.
I too am an attorney, and wonder if perhaps some enterprising and brave group of US Attorneys, probably in blue states, could commence to draw up arrest warrants for Musk and his critical X crew. As his blatantly illegal actions are at present seemingly solely federal crimes, the various State AGs offices would not have jurisdiction to prosecute. And while newly confirmed Pam "What Trump University?" Bondi would obviously put the kibosh on any such actions upon her learning of same, even the commencement of actions would be beneficial. We might have to suffer a cascade of "I'm Spartacus" type of US Attorneys falling on their swords of resignation or termination to get through it, but it may very well be necessary
Elon should be arrested. He doesn’t have immunity,
much less authority to tamper with payment systems.
States have standing to sue in federal court, correct? Could a state attorney general bring a federal suit arguing that the federal government (or Trump administration, Elon Musk, or whatever works, I guess) has unconstitutionally infringed on the Fourth Amendment rights of citizens of the state of________? (unreasonable search and seizure of their person, home, papers, and belongings)
Is personal data considered “papers” and/or “belongings”? Elon has seized stuff we used to keep solely in paper form and/or that people now make and keep paper copies of “just in case”; it seems reasonable that data fits the fourth amendment criteria.
Could a state claim legitimate standing with the claim that: Their citizens are fearful of the state of their personal information in light of the seizure by Musk, et al. Because of that, the state of ________now faces “the loss of public trust, increased administrative burdens to handle complaints and potential identity theft cases, potential legal liabilities, economic disruption due to fraud, and damage to the state's reputation; ultimately impacting their ability to effectively provide services to citizens and could lead to increased security measures being implemented across state government systems imposing massive costs.” (from Google AI overview)
Perhaps this could legally force the issue of defining Elon Musk as a government official or a private citizen?
Sarah, you can go to courtlistener. com to get more info. The following is a list of the cases against Trump or various federal agencies filed since Trump took office. Updated as of 2/5/2025 at 2:56 PM EST
From Court Watch. news:
Updated as of 2/5/2025 at 2:56 PM EST
* County of Santa Clara v. Trump (5:25-cv-00981), District Court, N.D. California
* OCA - ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN ADVOCATES v. RUBIO (1:25-cv-00287), District Court, District of Columbia
* DOE v. MCHENRY (1:25-cv-00286), District Court, District of Columbia
* AMERICAN FEDERATION OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES, AFL-CIO v. TRUMP (1:25-cv-00264), District Court, District of Columbia
* NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS v. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (1:25-cv-00239), District Court, District of Columbia
* Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility v. Trump (8:25-cv-00260), District Court, D. Maryland
* TALBOTT v. TRUMP (1:25-cv-00240), District Court, District of Columbia
* DOE v. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (1:25-cv-00234), District Court, District of Columbia
* Philadelphia Yearly Meeting of the Religious Society of Friends v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (8:25-cv-00243), District Court, D. Maryland
* Moe v. Trump (1:25-cv-10195), District Court, D. Massachusetts
* Organized Communities Against Deportations v. Donald Trump (1:25-cv-00868), District Court, N.D. Illinois
* Franco Aleman v. Trump (2:25-cv-00163), District Court, W.D. Washington
* Casa Inc. v. Trump (8:25-cv-00201), District Court, D. Maryland
* State of Washington v. Trump (2:25-cv-00127) District Court, W.D. Washington
* State of New Jersey v. Trump (1:25-cv-10139), District Court, D. Massachusetts
* New Hampshire Indonesian Community Support v. Trump (1:25-cv-00038), District Court, D. New Hampshire
* Thien Le v. Donald J. Trump (8:25-cv-00104), District Court, C.D. California
* State of New York v. Trump (1:25-cv-00039), District Court, D. Rhode Island
* NATIONAL COUNCIL OF NONPROFITS v. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (1:25-cv-00239), District Court, District of Columbia
* PUBLIC CITIZEN, INC. v. TRUMP (1:25-cv-00164), District Court, District of Columbia
* AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION v. OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (1:25-cv-00167), District Court, District of Columbia
* AMICA CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS v. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (1:25-cv-00298), District Court, District of Columbia
* REFUGEE AND IMMIGRANT CENTER FOR EDUCATION AND LEGAL SERVICES vs NOEM (1:25-cv-00306), District Court, District of Columbia
* National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education v. Trump (1:25-cv-00333) District Court, D. Maryland
* ALLIANCE FOR RETIRED AMERICANS v. BESSENT (1:25-cv-00313) District Court, District of Columbia
* DOCTORS FOR AMERICA v. OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT (1:25-cv-00322), District Court, District of Columbia
* Does 1-9 v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE(1:25-cv-00325) District Court, District of Columbia
* PFLAG, Inc. v. Donald J. Trump, in his official capacity as President of the United States (1:25-cv-00337) District Court, D. Maryland
* FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION AGENTS
ASSOCIATION v. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (1:25-cv-00328) District Court, District of Columbia
* American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO v. Ezell (1:25-cv-10276) District Court, D. Massachusetts
* WILCOX v. TRUMP (1:25-cv-00334) District Court, District of Columbia
* AFL-CIO v. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR(1:25-cv-00339) District Court, District of Columbia
Thank you, Susan! :-D
The academics living in 'ivory towers' are not able to see, hear, or live in the 'real' world. All is theoretical to them and, in their minds, they are safe.
I think we can say the same for our Dems in Congress save for a few; Gillibrand is an example of demonstrating what may be their narcissistic belief they should just stay the course. She defended what they are doing on Brian Lehrer's show yesterday. Defended voting for the nominees because she wants to be able to work with them. She's in denial, Congress will be irrelevant in a few months at this rate.
Actually, the US Congress has been irrelevant for quite some time. As has the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Whose portrait now hangs on the wall in the Oval Office? Andrew Jackson. When informed of a Supreme Court decision which was contrary to his wishes, Jackson thundered "Let Them enforce it". That picture screams a message at American society today. That message is why Jackson’s image now hangs in the Oval Office.
Sadly, the supreme court has not been irrelevant. They are corrupt, unethical by all ordinary standards, and they decline to follow the Constitution, the law or precedent. Amazing the rulings a panel of judges can come up with when, totally without shame, they are willing to make it up out of whole cloth to fit their Christianist ideology.
And Fetterman voted for Pam for AG - WHY?
Because he's a dumbass tool. Duh.
Fetterman is trying to show that he's a right-on white working-class bro so he's independent of those other "bougie" Democrats. Unfortunately the right-on white working-class bros seem reluctant to ally with working-class people of color.
Me neither. I am very angry at Gillibrand & Schumer for that.
Al has done a phenomenal job with his Podcast since his departure. To me, he has way redeemed himself and then some. Hopefully, the party learned something about real politick and forgiveness/reconciliation.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-al-franken-podcast/id1462195742
Once again, the Dems shot themselves in the foot. I thought him presidential material!
One of the things I've been thinking about over the last year or so is inviting ordinary people who have direct experience of dictatorship to speak to various groups, or invited to speak in podcasts. Last year when I was on Twitter/X I met a woman from Chile who lived through the Pinochet dictatorship. She wondered why Americans couldn't see what she so clearly saw. She wrote that it's so easy to get into a dictatorship, but very hard to get out of one. We exchanged a few posts. It's interesting that sometimes those looking in from the outside can see things more clearly than those who are on the inside. Americans would benefit from listening to ordinary people talking about their experiences in a dictatorship, especially what day-to-day life is like. There will be cultural differences, yes, but there are patterns that are common to all.
The question, of course, is how to reach the people who are most in need of hearing from people outside the US. And there is the chest-thumping attitude that many Americans have towards non-Americans--that they have nothing of value to offer us. I'm afraid I'm at a loss to address that problem.
Talking of learning from the experiences of other people: Americans should look to the example of Poland in 1989, when intellectuals like Jerzy Giedroyc and Juliusz Mieroszewski collaborated with Solidarity to bring an end to Soviet rule in Poland. To get Poland into the EU and NATO as fast as possible, Giedroyc and Mieroszewski took a pragmatic approach; by allying themselves with the working class, and promising Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus' that Poland no longer had imperialist aims and importantly, by being unwavering in their consistency, they succeeded.
There ARE intellectuals in the US who would be open to this.
Maybe more white people could listen to the experiences of people of color in the U.S.?
That's what I've been saying for years: Listen to them without speaking a word, for as long as they want to speak. When it's over you may not say, "OK, we're done here. We can now get back to whatever we were doing." You must instead listen to them without speaking, again and again, without interrupting, except to ask them good-faith questions.
But I've been following right-wingers for decades. I know how they think, how they operate. I've been following their propaganda; sometimes I feel like I need a shower after a long session, other times like I'm losing my mind. They've been filled with propaganda for so many years, their minds are so polluted with the poison of racism and white victimhood, that they can't see past it. They live, like one of Nietzsche's cows, chewing their cud, in an eternal present, unable to think through the consequences of their own ideas.
So we must be pragmatic. I don't like it either, but we don't have any time to waste.
How does one teach a cow to think? Particularly if the cow's brain is stuck in the eternal present? Eternal Present. What an interesting concept. I may have to consider that concept. Thank you.
Prof. Snyder has used "eternal present" before, but I came up with it on my own, long before I even knew he existed, based on my own personal experiences of listening to and interacting with people on the far right, whenever I talk to them about politics. They tend to be walking collections of ready made phrases (to borrow Orwell's term) and ideas. I've found/still find, that whenever I would ask/ask them about a particular aspect of the phrase or idea they were repeating, they couldn't respond, meaning, they had simply committed the ready made phrases and ideas to memory, much like a talking bird. You can teach a parrot to say "фак off" or to recite Shakespeare; either way, the bird doesn't know what any of it means. It just memorizes a set of phonemes in a particular order, and repeats them. And I'm not the only person to have noticed that some of them string together wholly unrelated ready made phrases into a single, nonsensical sentence, in the same way that talking birds do.
I repeat myself when I use the example of Syme in ch.1 of 1984, who is responsible for putting together the 11th ed. of the Dictionary of Newspeak, and deliberately omits all words with nuanced differences in meaning: "It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words," he tells Winston. Human beings cannot think without language, and if language is continually impoverished by repetitive phrases; if people are led to believe that complex problems have simple causes and therefore simple solutions, their thinking will necessarily be impoverished, so that after a long period of listening to or reading nonsense for much of their day, and for years, they reach a point at which all nuance is lost. It's a sad thing because human beings are not "just" one of the animals. We possess consciousness of self, so have foreknowledge of our own death; we can analyze; we have language with a grammar and syntax. When we give that up, we're no longer free; we are not in possession of ourselves, but instead belong to others.
Prof. Snyder is right when he says that social media have made us stupider, but I would argue that right-wing radio and television gave us a decades-long head start. I've long referred to this as well as other aspects of American life as a "grand stupidification project." In retrospect, I see Rush Limbaugh's "liberal media bias" as an accelerator of post-factuality, for what else can "liberal media bias" mean save "I don't like it"? For nearly 40 years,rather than learning to evaluate each source, each article/opinion piece, each journalist, individually, separately, weak-minded people have instead been rejecting all of it. Several months ago the Washington Post reported on a study in which subjects were given newspaper articles and opinion pieces to read and were directed to identify them as articles or opinion pieces. A much too large number of Americans couldn't tell the difference because many of them thought that facts they don't like were opinions.
Race Matters, By Bell Hooks
Things that Make White People Uncomfortable, Michael Bennett
Susan, my understanding is that the current US crisis, withdrawal of the majority of people from the rule-of-law compact, stems from a (mostly unconscious) observation that rule-of-law works against racial privilege. I am afraid that at the core of the deal Trump offers is preservation of that privilege, through abolishing of rule-of-law.
There ARE lessons to be used against Trumpism in the "experiences of people of color in the U.S", but I would not count on empathy of people who voted for Trump.
People who endured both Fulgencio Bautista and Fidel Castro? A little closer to the United States, but still the same deal.
The geographical closeness to the US probably isn't so important. There are differences in dictatorships, many of them cultural, others simply because of the fortuitousness of history, to borrow a phrase from Hannah Arendt. This means, for example, that scapegoats--"others"--can be different, but if we look instead at *patterns* we see that scapegoating is common to all.
A good source of these general patterns is Timothy Snyder's "On Tyranny." One of the goals in reading history is to learn to take an individual case, or a particular, elevate it to the level of the general or universal, then apply it to another particular, either in history or in the present. So if you read a lot of history and you hear Putin complain about the "mistreatment" of Russian speakers in Ukraine, or when you read that Robert Fico and Viktor Orbán are complaining about the "mistreatment" of speakers of Slovak and Hungarian in Zakarpattia, those are *particulars* that should remind you of other particulars, for example Hitler's complaining about the "mistreatment" of German speakers in Czechoslovakia; or, during the wars of Italian unification, Italians complaining about the "mistreatment" of Italian speakers in the Habsburg lands. Then you watch what happens after the complaints are made: wars of annexation (the general, or a pattern). That neither Hungary nor Slovakia have tried to annex Zakarpattia is irrelevant, as both Zakarpattia and Slovakia, after 1919, were carved out of the Kingdom of Hungary, and Orbán and Fico are thinking of postwar spoils. Though I'm genuinely puzzled about what Fico thinks he's going to get if Russia wins, unless he's looking to be swallowed by Hungary again.
Nobody is “safe.” But some of us are more insulated. (And some of us are more oblivious.) What’s needed are ways for us to keep our balance with long term strategic thinking and support of key institutions while also doing as much as we can to support (and perhaps) protect the most vulnerable whether it be trans kids in Alabama or Palestinians in Gaza. None of us can do it all. Few of us can accomplish anything meaningful on our own.
Together, we are safe. We have the numbers.
"Practice corporeal politics and Protect institutions"
Not if "we" don't get down to it!
I spent many years teaching at a university. I would call the environment one of great removal.
That is not an accurate statement.
Are you talking about academics you know personally, or are you mainly repeating second- and third-hand things you've heard other people say?
Don't forget Robert Reich, who has a program to make American citizens aware of what is happening.
Make a record???? First thanks for acknowledging real leadership. But second, you are giving up in Advance. You are a lawyer, DO SOMETHING. Criminal CHarges, whatever to stop that A-hole Musk. Why isn't anyone shooting the criminal as he commits crimes. I guess I just don't get it. WHERE IS THE POPO?
Barry, you wrote "... the day comes, years from now, when the Executive Branch is run in a sane and legal manner...". But at the moment the majority of voters CHOSE that the Executive Branch is run in a INsane and ILlegal manner. The question is whether the "sane and legal" will EVER return, if people only more or less passively wait until this SOMEHOW happens.
This goes to the root question - how did the rule-of-law system originally came into existence? Was it that the King and all the barons woke up some day, all with the same thought "let's meat at this Runnymede place in peace and good will to formalize and codify our relationship", this thought appearing unprompted by any pressures?
We have to ride out the consequences, but it may be heartening to remember that only about a third of eligible voters actually came out for Trump/Vance. Over a third did not bother to go to the polls. There are also large swaths of 2024 Trump voters who are persuadable — if only because they voted for Biden in 2020. (This is only a tiny fraction of the challenge ahead, but some whatnots are easier to turn around than others. Of course, we also need to support or encourage those who do support the work needed to keep election processes secure.)
Thank you, Mr Panzica, for this reminder. This is a vitally important reminder in our effort to both resist the destruction and our reconstruction efforts in the current environment.
The actual supportive functioning of our constitutional system depends largely on popular participation and, inclusively, respect for a rule of law that protects and obliges everyone. Voters who were 'silent', and voters who oppose, together, constitute our best allies in constituting a better and more effective resistance to restore constitutional governance and civil society institutions.
The common interests expressed by this large majority can be given political meaning and legislative form. This is where readers of this substack and related other substack authors can invite a more inclusive dialogue in order to tangibly bring legislative objectives along with specific, consciously pursued constitutional outcomes into focus and in explicit enough forms to serve as legislative agenda items and reason to oppose Trump et al.
In general, dictators need only some 30% of voters, and probably only some 15% of population, to rule forever. Having power is an equalizer.
“This goes to the root question - how did the rule-of-law system originally came into existence? Was it that the King …”
You’re trying your hand at satire, yes?
Barbara, thank you for engaging. But I am afraid I did not convey my observation (below) intelligibly. I did not aim for a satire. My observation is that rule-of-law is a VOLUNTARY compact. You do not press other people into it. You do not argue to the goodness of their hearts that "it will be more wholesome that way". Parties join the rule-of-law compact because of the immediate alternative - a brutal all-out naked violence struggle to assert and defend one's rights and desires.
So when a LARGE swath of the society withdraws from the rule-of-law compact, as the Trump's voters did, the situation is dire and on the edge of unthinkable. Because you cannot convice them to rejoin, you cannot argue them to rejoin, they have to do it voluntarily, through THEIR calculation of losses and profits on this route of action.
Thank you, Ms Laman, there is the human history to explain this.
A useful presentation for us Americans is:
America’s Unwritten Constitution: The Precedents and Principles We Live By, by Akhil Reed Amar of Yale University [currently providing additional information at
https://akhilamar.com/
I am replying to Piotr Szafranski, who questioned the origin of the rule of law, asking if the king and the barons just woke up some day and decided there should be a different organization of government. I was about to mention the American Revolution and the Founders, but then decided Piotr was a satirist.
Yes. Or else merely to delete 600-800 years of the history of Iceland, England, France, the Netherlands and then (very latterly) the 18th century framers of the United States and its Constitution and basis in Common Law. Nobody did it just because they woke up one morning and thought it might be a nice idea.
What are we, the people, supposed to do? This is the question I ask myself everyday. We are all so dispersed and our engagement disconnected from each other. Other than the substacks we are following for actual information how are we to impact a way to halt this coup. There have been warnings given about the possible danger of large protests that could give the orange Fuhrer an excuse to call martial law….What can I do to stop Musk? What can I do to get my democrats in my city, state, country to stop what is happening? Call their offices?!!! The feeling is futility and Dr. Snyder has warned us against that reaction.
Where are the academics- Purposely kneecapped by the phony "antisemitism' canard by the protests against US/Zionist genocide in Gaza...
More outspoken at the private universities.
Wealthy Magas have infiltrated the Boards at many universities & have been making large money donations in exchange for approval of the curriculum and approval over hiring.
Marianne Williamson should have gotten attention. She calls for the world we want to be in.
Longtime journalist Gil Duran has been doing God's work re keeping record:
Overview of reporting from multiple journalists on technofascism going back to at least 2014:
https://www.thenerdreich.com/a-sudden-surge-of-interest/
Analysis comparing "new right" writer Curtis Yarvin's "butterfly revolution" plan to Musk's actions unfolding at lightning speed:
https://www.thenerdreich.com/reboot-elon-musk-ceo-dictator-doge
Thank you, Barry, for asking "where are all of our other academics?"
The Powell memo took them out, systematically, beginning with Lewis Powell having written and sent it to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce August 23, 1971.
New, far-right foundations such as Heritage and ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council), along with an expanded Hoover Institution organized to silence academe. And to have the monied classes and those of commerce rule the U.S. These business interests so hated the activism of the campuses through the 1960s.
You can read about part of this in Sheldon Whitehouse's "The Scheme" (though his emphasis there is on how the far right (and its Federalist Society) later took over the judiciary.
I am very much afraid that creating this record of lawlessness so that we can trust Merrick Garland to outline it for John Roberts and then ask "Whadda ya think?" seems futile.
i'm not slipping but i am limited in my possible moves, being 74 and partially disabled. there is little i can do physically.
Indeed, I have been saying this on every Substack I can.
1. The coup has mostly succeeded.
2. We are at war.
3. We must fight back in every strategic, disruptive, and useful away.
Indivisible is a start.https://indivisible.org/ That's how we get to those "elected officials" not themselves cowardly or corrupt.
An immediate formation of a People's Cabinet by the DNC is one important idea. Substack+Bluesky worked in tandem with such a thing would be one effective real-time communication tool to develop resistance events in quick fashion. Go here to see some ideas: https://dougshortridge.substack.com/p/peoples-cabinet-sandbox-1. There are three separate posts; each have information worth considering, Sandbox #1, Holding, and Formation.
Send Indivisible’s Procedural Warfare Handbook to your representatives, with and order that they put their boots on and act more like soldiers than senators.
What is that? Procedural warfare! Where is SWAT? Shoot the fuckers if they resist.
Everyone should remember that the fascists WANT to provoke chaos and violence. That is their chosen battlefield where they believe they have the advantage — and if they control the military and the police, it’s hard to see how they are wrong. We need to stay balanced. (Some people may choose — or be forced — to make horrific sacrifices, but sacrifices are always symbolic in ways that transcend the fate of the victim/“hero”) The priorities should be reinforcing election procedures, supporting legal advocacy (ACLU and Ralph Nader groups come to mind), reinforcing Civil Society (not even necessarily political groups but where persuadable people can mingle to do “good”), local media (Check out WMNF in TAMPA online) and protecting the most vulnerable (AFSC, the Poor People’s Campaign, etc
It’s the most vulnerable who suffer first in environments profuse with chaos and violence.
Just go to indivisible’s website and search for: Explainer: how senate Democrats can delay defy Trump‘s agenda with procedural hardball
Except
The logic of the coup is to destroy - the law, norms, accepted procedures.
https://www.thenerdreich.com/reboot-elon-musk-ceo-dictator-doge
A key step in Yarvin's plan -- which we're seeing play out now -- is
"IGNORE THE COURTS"
Well Bruce, since murderous anarchy isn’t “on the table”, (a procedural term for what is being considered in a conversation or a vote), it’s probably best to keep the violent fantasies to oneself. Although, with so much great patriotism and thinking being expressed on this and other Substack sites, I do appreciate the heads up on who’s comment not to bother reading in the future.
Procedural Warfare is Indivisible’s guide on how to create parliamentary
but if the fascists don't and won't be held by any law, any procedure, any court order -- which is what it appears they are dong
how can they be stopped without arrests, prison, and trial when they repeatedly violate the law?
legal maneuvers with no enforcement just give the fascists more time
Hitler ended Germany's democracy in 53 days, and he didn't have write access to the codebase for Treasury
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2025/01/hitler-germany-constitution-authoritarianism/681233/?gift=3H26L_XP4eSFyS17ijvoyrOGqujwp5miVJAdsPi18vU&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
https://indivisible.org/sites/default/files/resources/indivisible_on_offense_a_practical_guide_to_the_new_democratic_house.pdf
Is this what you're referring to?
this is from 2016;
I believe it might be this page
https://indivisible.org/resource/explainer-how-senate-democrats-can-delay-defy-trumps-agenda-procedural-hardball
But again, when the other "side," the fascists, have a mission to destroy democracy, using the tools of democracy won't stop them unless defying court orders and other illegal actions are met with enforcement - arrests, prison, trials
Thank you!
I'm not finding anything under the title you've given. LINK, PLEASE!
"What Is 'State Capture'? A Warning for Americans."
by Tyler McBrien, managing editor of Lawfare:
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/05/opinion/elon-musk-donald-trump-government.html
From this urgent article by Lawfare ME: “Finally, descriptions of state capture must speak directly to its victims: the American people. “If we are guilty of underdescribing state capture in the media, it is perhaps a guilt that lies in our failure to draw a blunt connection between political jargon and real human beings,” the South African political analyst Eusebius McKaiser wrote in 2017. “We need simpler and more visceral depictions of the meaning of corruption and the opportunities it costs, including the grandest scale of corruption, which is all that state capture picks out.”
So, when a shuttered health clinic in Virginia results in the death of a rural patient, or nursing home residents being set out on sidewalks because the home has no access to its funding, these things need to be made visible and told to the American people.
💯
Indivisible set up the rally!
Rally against Musk Urges Senate to Act
Jennifer Rubin
and Ezra Levin
Feb 05, 2025
Yesterday, thousands of individuals rallied outside the Treasury Department to voice their outrage against Elon Musk being handed the keys to the Executive Branch. Jen Rubin speaks with Ezra Levin, the co-founder of the organization that planned the event, about the demands of the people.
Ezra Levin is the co-founder and co-executive director of Indivisible, a grassroots organization made up of thousands of group leaders and more than a million members taking regular, iterative, and increasingly complex actions to resist the GOPs agenda, elect local champions, and fight for progressive policies."
https://contrarian.substack.com/p/rally-against-musk-urges-senate-to?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Parliamentary gridlock. It’s what Mitch McConnell was so good at and what Tommy Tuberville did so well went in the minority. I am a star believer in nonviolent protest.
It doesn't help that Big Media is sugarcoating all these crimes with fuzzy language and euphemisms.
When they even bother mentioning it.
Too tied up with tariffs, which I am beginning to think are nothing more than a smokescreen.
“Turn Gaza into a Mar a Lago” is an even bigger smokescreen.
How about the reverse...
When I go into a bank and rob it...SWAT is waiting when I come out. Where the F**k are the POPO?
The "justice" system is controlled by the perpetrators. Who is going to help us, Kash Patel?
I guess we need our own Popo then. Such a weird thought. 🤯
Another weird thought: Not only are there co-presidents, but both are criminals.
Tesla Shareholders and Board (good luck)need to sue Muskrat for all he's worth for criminally neglecting the Tesla business!
Dear Dr. Snyder. I've heard questions by many who wonder when the Democratic leadership to take measures to stop the coup - it is time we start using this term. The response from the Democratic leadership that I've heard is we are taking them to court. The question in my mind is whether this is the same court system that granted Trump/Musk virtual immunity, slow walked the prosecutions of Trump, and has delayed judiciary actions until he is out of office.
It's time to smell the coffee and stop sniffing the roses. We are in a crisis. Waiting for actions by other institutions have failed and even accommodated the instigators we are facing. Take it upon yourself to initiate action. Boycott. Strike. Mobilize. Listen. And above all, accept the struggle.
There have been reports of immediate plans to bring lawsuits to friendly judges in friendly circuit court jurisdictions, just the way the right "judge-shops." These courts can stop illegal actions and then delay judgments. as has been done to us, and slow down the steal. Outside of mass demonstrations, mass strikes and civil disobedience, that seems to be the primary thing the Democrats can now. Note that at least two senators plan to place holds on all of Trump's lower level nominees in the Senate until certain conditions are met - this will greatly slow down the whole process of confirmations, preventing even greater mischief.
One of the anchors or guests on MSNBC advised the Dems in Congress to ask themselves “what would Mitch McConnell do” and do that.
“I assumed that we would be prepared to meet the moment, and I was wrong,” Shannon Watts, the founder of the gun-control group Moms Demand Action, told me. “It’s like they’ve shown up to a knife fight with a cheese stick.”
– Elaine Godfrey,
"Democrats Wonder Where Their Leaders Are,"
The Atlantic
We also, when we boycott places, need to let them know WHY we are boycotting them. Just not buying isn't enough. They may not see the pattern in a sales drop and their support of this regime. Write or call or send a Facbebook/ IG message to the company and tell them you will no longer shop with them because of their support for Trump or for their work with him.
I cancelled Amazon Prime and have found other places to find those items. Much can be found at Target. I do not shop at Sephora anymore or Kohls. I am about to get off Facebook---already downloaded my stuff but a course I am taking and paid for is on there. Will close down when it is over soon.
Once Elon is inside the Treasury Department or any other agency for that matter, what prevents him from putting lock codes on computer systems with access limited to him and his digital warriors?
not much except restraining orders via lawsuits. Has to happen imeediately.
I fear people are not thinking that once those orders are given, they will be ignored. The courts cannot stop Trump/Musk. They will not obey. That is the cold, hard truth.
From what I've read (Wired, etc.) the Treasury and others' codes have been rewritten and are in Musk's control.
"The courts cannot stop Trump/Musk. They will not obey. That is the cold, hard truth." Anyone who thinks otherwise is living in la-la land.
I respectfully disagree. The courts have thus far, done their job and fulfilled their constitutional duties. The real question is, once the political pushback finally proceeds apace, and the Trump/Musk coup leaders still keep at it, what will the higher courts do? Specifically, if any of these cases get to the Supremes, we can rest unassured that Justices Alito and Thomas are ready votes to sustain the coup. What will Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett do??
I truly pray that you are right. It feels like a bulldozer has been taken to this country, and I don't see how anyone or any organization can move quickly enough to stop it.
"I don't see how anyone or any organization can move quickly enough to stop it." kdsherpa
Read the Declaration of Independence. We did that once. We can do it again. The sooner the better; while the enemy is still in a state of chaos and the king is halucinating.
Those three gave us a little bit of hope before. At the time, I thought that was nothing more than a ploy to make the public think all is not lost. Excuse my pessimism. I hope I’m wrong.
I'm more worried about the back doors and trojan horses he and his gang of incels has installed on the systems. These will allow him to do untold damage even if the courts stop the overt actions.
I'm going to guess the answer is "No One" but don't pay attention to me what I know about tech would fit in a thimble.
Where is the POPO with the guns. Quick to shoot black/brown dudes in their cars, but not Elon? What is this BS.
I thought he already had/is doing so.
It's so frustrating. There are a lot of lawsuits going on right now, but the court system works so slowly. Meanwhile, seniors in my rural county in TN who depend on their already small social security check have no idea what is in store for them. They voted for Trump, and they trust him. They love Elon! I heard some old men rhapsodizing about Elon in the post office the other day. They think he's cool and smart. When he takes away their monthly check, they will probably justify it somehow. In my experience it takes a long time for Republican voters to turn against their leaders.
If a court orders a cease and desist order, who believe they will follow it? Isn't our democracy dead at that point unless we take it back by force?
Violence and force are what fuels fascism.
Yeah, I know. The quiet persuasion of the Second Armored Division rolling into Berlin over the powdered rubble of that mighty fortress is what really brought the Nazis to their knees.
They've delivered plenty of violence to us. We've responded with lawfulness and relative compassion. So we get more.
He’ll blame it on Biden!
The institutions of civil society (volunteerism) offer plenty of opportunities for gentle persuasion while often offering other opportunities to protect the most vulnerable (or at least assuage the harm that has been done to them. Any one of us can only do so much. But if we all do a little (and then a little more) change can be brought about
Nor did quiet persuasion free the slaves or keep the Union together in the 1860s. And that would have been a better example since it refers to a Civil War which involved Americans slaughtering Americans and Sherman torching your city and scorching the earth from there to the sea. Trump now has legal control over not just the federal police but the armed forces of the United States.
Even talking of violence strengthens the support Trump would have to use deadly force against Americans. If you were paying attention during his first administration, much of what was done (including the family separations, a crime against humanity) was done to provoke hysteria and violence. Now there are even more people in his administration itching to invoke the Insurrection Acts and seize emergency powers. Fascism is very invested in states of emergency and states of exception where the rule of law can be “lawfully” set aside. Fascism is also very invested in creating climates of fear. (If you were captured and not killed in your war against the US, would you prefer a Federal prison, a POW camp in the Mojave, Gitmo, or El Salvador?)
Even talking about violence fuels a sense of fear that divides us and empowers the worst elements of MAGA. Remember that only about a third of the eligible electorate turned out for Trump. How many of them really thought that much about the consequences of their vote? I’ll be it was a lot less than the percentage of them who voted the way they did out of FEAR, and Trump needs to keep them afraid. We should not help him.
Non violence requires just as much courage and discipline (probably a lot more) than violence.
https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/the-machiavelli-of-nonviolence-gene-sharp-and-the-battle-against-corporate-rule/
Non violence requires just as much strategy and tactics as war.
https://commonslibrary.org/what-makes-nvda-effective/
There are many more resources.
I'm just one little old lady, with a cat. But I'm a mother & a grandmother of a beautiful college freshman at one of our great universities here in California. I want a free life for my daughter & family.
So as an individual I can only do so much but I call my representative EVERY day. They know my name. I give them my run down of what is so abominable from the day before. They need that data. They need numbers when the representative goes by before Congress to address the crimes being committed. They need the data & I'm giving my few data points every day. They need the numbers to support the fight.
You can help, call your congressman & senators, make your voices heard. Right now this may be all that we can do until a more cohesive opposition can be formed. But it's something you can do NOW & tomorrow & the day after that & the day after that.
Like I said I'm a little old lady so I like snail mail as well as email. I write letters to not only my Senators & representatives but to those outside my state. We pay their salaries with our taxes we can & should tell them what we think. So do it. Take the time you would spend sitting here responding to this critical post & the information there in & contact your elected officials. It's our responsibility to be involved with our government & even if we go down & that has not yet been determined, we can at least say, "We tried!"
You might also call your regional FBI office & tell them that you support the FBI. That you are against what is happening. Sure, you can't do anything about it but you can tell the men & women that put their lives on the line for us that WE CARE! Moral is an important part of any job & if calling the FBI & saying good job helps it's the least we can do!
You call the FBI field office and who will pick up? A MAGA appointee making lists of people who are critical of the new regime. Stop with the Little Old Lady With A Cat routine. What you say you want matters not to JD Vance who declared long ago you are Public Enemy #1 and are to have no say at all in governing "this great nation".
This is the Hill. We need to take it back. Full stop.
Why does your comment bring to mind the “Arsenic and Old Lace” crazy uncle who thought he was TR? (Oops, he didn’t imagine he was charging up San Juan Hill. He thought he was digging the Panama Canal! But what was he actually digging?).
But I’m sure you’re not advocating physical violence. Resistance will not succeed with guns (not when Trump controls the military and police), but money and lawyers will be essential (though not enough).
As Heather Cox Richardson argues in her most recent conversation with Joanne B. Freeman, we are in a pre-constitution moment since the norms of the constitution have just been smashed. And the way Patriots rallied each other in that pre-constitution moment was to hold Townhall meetings… We need physical gathering spaces held by elected Dems to rally resistance.
This is a really good idea.
Exactly right, this virtual “connecting” is ludicrous.
When are our elected officials going to put a stop to this?😰😰😰😰😰
Ask republcians
Sorry. Not giving Democrats a pass either - starting with my Congressman - Dan Goldman (New York).
Boy do I wish I had run against Gillibrand. What a sugar coated weak disaster.
Yes! Gilibrand has been strangely silent!😡
I’m not surprised by her silence. After a few good years she became weak, relied on poles rather than her own smarts and then ruined Al Franken. I lost all respect for her, and she now runs the DSSS.
So, worse than silent, I think she’s up to no good. 1) She was one of the 22 Senators who voted for a trump appointee and, 2) A news clip from the trump prayer breakfast-what a sham- shows KG all in white, front row, a speaker!, (with no mention that Jesus would be furious at trumps actions), and 3) C-Span shows trump shaking hands with attendee after the “prayers” and he walks past KG but SHE PURSUES him, puts her hand out, smiles and chats and he takes her hand and chats back.
What the hell?!! Im going to keep an even closer eye on her, set up a meeting and give her a piece of my mind.
Any democrat who gets chummy with the traitorous felon in the White House
should be fired.
Where is SWAT!!!!
Going to head to Hartford today. I feel like I can’t say anything unless I also show up. Listening to The Habit of Freedom right now thank you. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CXZbdQpVSAk&pp=ygUOdGltb3RoeSBzbnlkZXI%3D. This conversation is inspiring. Going to listen to it while I drive. Thank you Tim
I am at a loss to understand why these actions are called on days and at times when people are working. I am grateful for those who are able to join, but what a demonstration of privilege.
I saw that 50501 is calling for action on Feb 17, Presidents Day. they got your message.
Thank you for letting me know. Is 50501 the organization that wants to do monthly rallies? With the atomization of news outlets, I am hoping there is a way to disseminate that information widely. I think Indivisible will do so too. But I feel that finding effective ways to replace the national media is the most crucial task right now. In the absence of a leader with a national platform, we are really at a disadvantage.
Francoise I was happy to see a note about this. It takes a lot of searching to find information and verify it. I am going to keep following this and see if is going materialize.
It should materialize. I have seen it proposed by a few organizations. My favorite name for it is "Not My President 's Day." How well attended it will depends on a number of factors, including the ability to advertise it.
Thank you for what you are doing. Safe travels.
Thank you
send in the capitol police!!!
Yes, or the D.C. police. Whoever has jurisdiction.
Or do a SWAT attack. “We got a call about a burglary in progress.”
with big guns... Shoot the F***ks as they go home to their Cyberpad.
I woke up this morning thinking “We’ve been coup-ed”—-and in answer I get the notification “Of course it’s a coup” — I live in Tennessee, in Andy Ogles district 🤦♀️, I’m overwhelmed and befuddled.
The coup has been a slow-rolling one. It began with St. Ronnie Raygun and his merry band of thieves. Maybe Tricky Dick's southern strategy was a foreshadowing. The Louis Powell memo laid down the premise of the coup. We have ignored the signs for decades. I fear it is too late to stop this coup unless we have a revolution. But the armed forces are now under the command of the bad guys.
The groundwork has clearly been in place for a long time….
We’ll all feel paralyzed to the extent we feel alone. But we are not. We have resources even if they are only time and presence.
I urge Professor Snyder to submit this post as an op-ed to the Wall Street Journal, whose readers need to recognize what is happening. This message must reach as many Americans as possible. Americans should be in the streets NOW. There will no way back if the coup is allowed to succeed.
What Musk is doing is not in the presidents purview, Judge Roberts.
Arrest Apartheid Clyde and jail him. The court can do that.
The orange cocksplat can pardon him.
And we're fucked.
The court can't arrest anybody. The only mystery is why the Federal Marshals repelled Musk from trying to enter a SCIF. I thought the Justice Department was now under full MAGA control. Must just have been a random mistake.
Forcefully enforce the laws already on the books, especially the ones about treason. In the meantime, Indivisible, Hopium Chronicles, Chop Wood Carry Water, et al. Do it every day.