I mean, today a federal judge ruled that Trump's decision to deploy military troops into the streets of Los Angeles was completely illegal. In an absolutely blistering 52-page ruling, the judge wrote that Trump violated the Posi Kamatus Act in what he called a quote top-down systemic effort to use military troops to execute various sectors of federal law. He accused the Trump administration of quote creating a national police force with the president as its chief. That stinging rebuke comes just days after ...

Legal & Judicial Analysis - A federal judge ruled President Trump's deployment of troops to patrol Americans is illegal, resembling an illicit bid to create a national police force [2] - The ruling is based on a 19th-century law, the Posse Comitatus Act (PCA), forbidding the president from using the army for general law enforcement unless expressly authorized by the Constitution or an act of Congress [4][5] - The judge found Trump appeared to have an illicit purpose of creating a national police force with the president as its chief, raising concerns about autocratic national police forces [6] - The judge noted that Trump's DOJ's argument is so extreme that the President could assert he's unable to enforce obscure tax laws and then use the federalized National Guard to execute a range of laws, including election laws [11] - Judges are sounding the alarm and trimming Trump's powers, as he vows to appeal the case [14] Political & Governmental Implications - The concern is that Trump would use military powers to interfere in the election itself or in the vote counting if he thinks he might lose [12] - Trump's effort to explore getting the military to seize voting machines was abandoned when Giuliani said it went too far [13][14] - The administration's approach of seizing powers, threatening to defy courts, and trying to run out the clock resulted in months of troops in the streets of LA before the setback [15] - Trump is threatening to send troops to other places like Chicago, indicating a goal of a personalized police state which other leaders have used to try to steal elections and end democracy [20] Societal Impact & Response - The Democratic governor of Illinois responded to the president's remarks, refusing to call him and asking him to send troops to Chicago [23] - The governor urges citizens to know their rights, film things that they see happening in their neighborhoods, and be loud, as authoritarians thrive on silence [23][24]

Legal & Political Landscape - The rule of law in America is facing its biggest test in decades [1] - Court battles over Trump's use of executive power are exposing limits on how much judges can constrain the presidency [1]

Political Landscape & Democratic Erosion - The report suggests a real-time erosion of democratic values and institutions in the US, with concerns that the rule of law is being replaced by authoritarian tendencies [1][3] - The analysis highlights perceived power grabs by the Trump administration, including the deployment of armed National Guard troops in the nation's capital [4] - The report mentions concerns about potential voter suppression tactics, such as hindering voting by mail and the use of voting machines [6] - The report points out a rise in opposition to perceived anti-democratic steps, both on the grassroots level and from state governors [7][8] Key Figures & Resistance - California Governor Gavin Newsom is portrayed as a leading figure in challenging Donald Trump's policies and rhetoric [2][3] - Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Maryland Governor Wes Moore are also mentioned as standing up against Trump's policies [8] - The report references a Quinnipiac poll indicating that only 37% of Americans approve of the job Donald Trump is doing [11] Societal Impact & Future Concerns - The report expresses concern about the potential for a violent conflict involving American troops and civilians [19] - The analysis suggests that the current political climate is creating a "combustible situation" with potentially severe consequences [20] - The report conveys a sense of urgency, with the idea that the foundations of the country are crumbling [23]

Eswar Prasad of Cornell writing the following The president has now declared open war on the US institutional framework, which underpins the dollar's dominance in global finance, as well as other aspects of US financial supremacy. Each word joins us now for more Asia. Welcome back to the program, sir.Let's just take your line of thinking. If we have declared open war on US institutions, why are you seeing signs of damage. So if one thinks about what are the key elements of the institutional framework that, ...

Political Retribution and Weaponization of Justice Department - The report highlights concerns about the potential weaponization of the Justice Department for political retribution, particularly against those who have investigated or opposed Donald Trump [1][7][12] - The Justice Department has opened investigations into New York Attorney General Leticia James, who secured a $500 million+ civil penalty against the Trump Organization for fraudulent business practices [1] - A special attorney has been assigned to investigate mortgage fraud allegations against Leticia James and US Senator Adam Schiff [1][18] - The appointment of Ed Martin, who couldn't get confirmed as US attorney, as a special attorney raises concerns about the motives behind the investigation [11][17] - Selective enforcement is alleged, with scrutiny primarily targeting Democrats while Republicans potentially receive a free pass [20] Erosion of Justice System Independence - The report suggests a departure from the traditional separation between the White House and the Department of Justice [1][10] - The current administration is accused of manipulating language and engaging in "double speak," reminiscent of George Orwell's "1984," to justify actions [3][4][12] - The administration's actions are compared to authoritarian regimes in Hungary, Turkey, and India, where political opponents are targeted [7] Legal and Ethical Concerns - The breadth of the request for documents from Leticia James' office is described as unprecedented [6] - The report questions the validity of the mortgage fraud allegations against Leticia James, suggesting they may be based on minor clerical errors [16] - The difficulty in finding legal representation for those targeted by the administration is noted, highlighting potential intimidation of law firms [21][22] - The role of lawyers in challenging government overreach, regardless of political affiliation, is emphasized [24][25]

Welcome back. The US Mar US Marshall Service reports that serious threats to federal judges judges have spiked since President Trump took office back in January. The Marshall Service says the rise in threats coinciding with criticism from the White House as they get more attention following rulings in cases that involve President Trump.Joining us now, Judge John C. Kunau, senior judge in the US District Court for the Western District of Washington. He will be speaking at the Speak Up for Justice virtual for ...

Tonight, there's new evidence of Trump's disregard for the rule of law. The Washington Post analyzed 160 court cases against the administration so far, and they found that Trump officials are accused of defying one in three judges who ruled against them. The Post reports that Trump officials have been quote snubbing rulings, providing false information, failing to turn over evidence, quietly working around court orders, and inventing pretexts to carry out actions that have been blocked.Meanwhile, Trump is a ...

Government Overreach & Abuse of Power - The Department of Justice (DOJ) fired over 20 employees who worked on cases involving January 6th and Trump's classified documents case [1] - The FBI is reportedly using polygraphs to test officials' loyalties, questioning whether they've spoken negatively about FBI Director Cash Patel [2] - The former president threatened to revoke a private citizen's citizenship, highlighting a willingness to target individuals [2][9][10] - Government actions are perceived as veering towards a "police state," where citizens are treated as potential suspects [14] Erosion of Democratic Norms & Institutions - Normal guardrails of democracy are disappearing, with Congress abdicating oversight and courts under siege [17] - Internal watchdogs face pressure from the White House, compromising their independence [17] - There's a concern that the American people may lose trust in law enforcement's apolitical application of force [8][9] Impact on Law Enforcement & Public Servants - Subject matter expertise and operational competence are being sacrificed for ideological purity within the FBI [5] - FBI agents and analysts are reportedly keeping their heads down, focusing on their constitutional oath amidst the turmoil [21] - Senior executives within the FBI are allegedly compromising their integrity to advance under the current leadership [22] - Federal law enforcement is undergoing a massive change, potentially impacting various areas beyond immigration [23] Retribution & Intimidation Tactics - Individuals who speak out against the administration face potential persecution and professional repercussions [18][31] - A fund has been launched to support the legal defense of those targeted for presidential revenge [19] - Speaking out against the administration can lead to isolation, financial threats, and threats to family safety [31][32]

From @WSJopinion: Ending the free-for-all at the border, which Trump has done, was a priority for national security and the rule of law. The question now, though, is how high Trump wants to crank the economic losses by mass deporting. https://t.co/cVkgZaEkj9 ...