most democratic way submit to the people of our state the ability to determine their own maps. That simply has not been done. But I want to first just briefly back up and pick up a little bit on what the speaker and the prom said uh and just remind everybody what they reminded you that need to be reminded all of us again of how we got here.We got here because the president of the United States is struggling. We got here because the president of the United States is one of the most unpopular presidents in US ...

This is how the authoritarians operate. They declare an emergency and then they think that the rule of law doesn't govern anymore. The constitution is irrelevant. Well, our constitution doesn't work like that. We've got the fourth amendment for regular times and for emergency times. We've got the fifth amendment for regular and emergency times. We got the first amendment, the second amendment, the sixth amendment. >> Who's going to force them to follow them? Congressman, you know, we have the amendments are ...

-I think some of what we're seeing are basically pushing power and pushing authority in directions that we haven't gone before. -We're at a moment now where we have a president who feels unusually unconstrained. -I think we have to be concerned because this administration is pressing boundaries every day.Westin: And some of what President Trump has had to say about the courts and their rulings has not always been reassuring. -Judges are trying to take away the power given to the president to keep our countr ...

But then there's the law firms that President Trump has been pushing around. Nine big law firms struck deals with Trump after he started issuing these bogus executive orders targeting certain law firms. Nine firms did deals. Four firms refused to do deals. They fought back against him in court and all four of those firms won their cases in court. Trump didn't even bother appealing them. But new reporting from Reuters finds that Trump's assault on law firms has nevertheless had what was presumably its desire ...

RT Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, & Labor (DRL) (@StateDRL)In support of @POTUS Executive Orders, DRL just returned from a trip to South Africa to learn more about rural farm attacks and the breakdown of rule of law. Here’s what we found🧵[1/6] ...

Executive Power and Legislation - The analysis indicates a significant increase in the use of executive orders by the current administration compared to previous administrations, including its own first term, suggesting a shift in governance strategy [11] - The report highlights that the current administration has signed over 35 times as many executive orders as new laws, indicating a preference for executive action over legislative collaboration [15] - The analysis contrasts the current approach with that of past presidents like FDR, who balanced executive orders with legislative action, passing approximately 80-90 laws alongside executive orders during a pivotal period [14] - The report points out that the current administration's approach deviates from historical norms, with concerns raised about potential autocratic tendencies due to the heavy reliance on executive orders [16] Constitutional and Legal Concerns - The analysis suggests that the administration's actions, particularly the issuance of executive orders, are facing legal challenges and are often being struck down in court [17][18] - The report raises concerns about the administration's interpretation of Article Two of the Constitution, with claims that it is being used to justify an expansion of presidential power beyond established limits [4][5] - The analysis emphasizes that the administration's pursuit of policy goals through executive orders, bypassing Congress, is seen as an effort to change the government's structure and potentially undermine democratic checks and balances [9][18] Political Context and Opposition - The report notes a shift in the Republican party's dynamics, with congressional leaders now more aligned with the administration's agenda compared to the first term [1] - The analysis mentions the emergence of a "Trump resistance" and public backlash against the administration's actions, indicating opposition to the perceived expansion of executive power [6]

[Music] thank you today I'm going to tell you that what most people think about democracy is wrong the prevailing folk theory of democracy goes something like this in a democracy the people are always right the majority determines what's right and wrong and politicians should always just carry out the will of the people and I think we've all been brought up with this very simplistic notion about how our democracy is supposed to work um and the problem it's not true we're about to discuss whether democracies ...

Political Climate & National Sentiment - A new poll indicates that 34% of Americans believe democracy is under serious threat and view politically motivated violence as a major problem [1] - There is a rising distrust in democracy, with concerns about the rule of law and the Constitution [3] - The nation faces a test of citizenship, questioning the willingness to call issues fairly [4] - Polling suggests that one in five Americans are open to replacing Donald Trump with the king of England [5] Historical & Philosophical Perspectives - The United States is founded on an ideal, not ethnicity [5] - Democracy is hard because it requires participation and responsibility from everyone [6] - Democracy is meant to protect against the rule of the strong [7] - The American experiment requires continuous effort to live up to the declaration that all are created equal [8] Future Outlook - The country may be moving away from its founding ideals [9] - There is optimism that the nation can change course if enough people decide to do the right thing [9]

But it carries costs for the rule of law https://t.co/stpZg50i0c ...

Civil Rights Enforcement - The Justice Department showed a lack of interest in enforcing civil rights laws, with approximately 70% of colleagues feeling this way [1] - The administration allegedly weaponized civil rights laws against the people they were designed to protect [1] - The department is accused of using Title Six to act on reverse discrimination cases with thin evidence [1] - The department is accused of engaging in pressure campaigns without thorough investigation [1] Investigation of Minneapolis Police Department - An investigation into the Minneapolis Police Department after George Floyd's murder revealed systemic violations in use of force and first amendment rights [1] - The new administration rescinded the investigative findings related to the Minneapolis Police Department and a troubling pattern of excessive force in Memphis [1] Integrity and Non-Partisanship - The administration prioritized loyalty over the oath to the Constitution [9][10] - The administration sought pathways to achieve desired outcomes regardless of legality [10]