Benchmarks of Democratic Backsliding and Erosion

Every Saturday I will post a cumulative update on the democratic health of our country. This update consists of what I consider critical benchmarks of our democracy. These include, Civil Society, the Constitution, Rule of Law, Voting and Civil Rights, Separation of Church and State/religious freedom. These broad themes are further reduced to smaller categories. Under each category are examples or either erosion or pushback against the erosion, for instance court rulings.

The benchmarks are more like a thermostat than a blood test, measuring the temperature of our democracy. More art than science. I try to get a broad reading of what is happening in our country by using media outlets like the New York Times, Politico, BBC, Mother Jones, NPR/PBS, Reuters, or the Wall Street Journal. Not the opinion sections, but the news sections. Facts –the who, what, where, when — not opinions, are what counts. Bolded text are new additions this week.

As of June 28, 2025

It was a bad week for Supremes.  Both Iran and the Supreme Court capitulated to Trump in all but name. With an absent Congress, a crippled civil and foreign service, an executive branch stuffed with Trump’s willing destroyers, and a military increasingly politicized, the last bastion of non-violent resistance to Trump’s autocratic dictates was crippled by the Supreme Court.   The Court ruled 6 to 3 that universal injunctions were not permitted to be issued by lower federal courts and judges.  This will make stopping Trump’s barrage of illegal and unconstitutional executive orders much more difficult, perhaps fatally so.

Justice Barrett argued in the Court’s opinion that the Federal Judicial Act of 1789 did not authorize such nationwide injunctions, that “complete relief’ is not synonymous with “universal relief.”  Hmmm, complete means ‘total’ and universal means ‘all.’  Pretty damn close to me, but I digress.  Nor did English Common law permit such injunctions in Great Britian in the late 18th century at the time of our founding, she pointed out.  Thank God we are using 18th century jurisprudence in a 21st century era of mass communication.  She acknowledged, however, that universal injunctions were first used in 1962 – that is 63 years of precedence she dismissed with a swish of her judicial pen — concluding: “When a court concludes that the Executive Branch has acted unlawfully, the answer is not for the court to exceed its power, too.”  Naïve and dangerous.  

The timing of this ruling is suspect.  After 63 years of ignoring or permitting universal injunctions, the Supreme decided now, with Trump as president, to slam shut that door.  One would think after 63 years, lower court universal injections would become part of our common law heritage.  Why not when Biden was president and numerous universal injunctions were issued against executive orders for student loan relief? This ruling follows a broader pattern of the high court being, in my opinion, overly deferential to Trump and his notion of a powerful executive branch.  This ruling in conjunction with a previous Roberts ruling that Trump has immunity from criminal acts for official acts, basically makes Trump an autocrat in waiting.  And he won’t wait long.

Now what Amy?  What happens if Trump declares that Brown v. Board of education was wrongly decided and issues an executive order segregating federal government offices and military academies (and those with business with federal contracts or funding) by race? Are we to wait six months to a year for the court cases to meander their way to the Supreme Court while government offices around the nation put up ‘white only’ signs?  When an executive order is so patently unconstitutional their must be a quick remedy.  Legal brains but no common sense.

I can imagine the screams if a Democrat president on day one of their administration through executive order immediately bans the manufacture, sale, and distribution of AR-15 type weapons, high-capacity magazines, ammunition, bump stocks, and other weapons deemed to be military grade.  No universal injunction, just a patch work of local injunctions.  The right would have a meltdown.  

In short, this ban on universal injunctions invites the executive branch to rewrite the Constitution at will and overturn Supreme Court decisions, inundating the lower federal courts, to the point they cease to function.  It will become a shit show of unintended consequences, further fracturing and dividing this country.  The judicial branch surrendered the executive branch, or as Trump would say, “unconditional surrender.”

This ruling will create a nation splintered by different rulings and thereby laws.  Uncertainty would reign supreme for nationwide businesses: can’t do that in California, but legal in Texas. As for the issue of birthright citizenship, after Barretts’ 30-day delay, some kids born in Texas won’t be US citizens, but if they were born in New York, would be.  Tens of thousands of stateless kids.  What a mess.

Friday Follies:

  • Week of Jun 4. Trump and Musk engage in heated public threats.  Trump threatening Musk’s government contracts and ‘consequences’ if he donates to democratic candidates, while Musk levels pedophilia charges at Trump, insinuating that Trump is in the Epstein files.  
    • House passes bill to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America.  This comes after Trump decided to rename the Persian Gulf to Gulf of Arabia. 
    • On January 23, several representatives introduced a bill to rename Dulles International Airport after Trump.  As of today, the bill status is still “introduced.”
    • Marjorie Taylor Green introduced a bill in Congress to codify into law Trump’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.
    • Five Minnesota state legislators introduce bill to label criticism of Trump as a mental illness: “Trump Derangement Syndrome.”  One of the state lawmakers, Justin Eichorn, was arrest Mar 18 for allegedly soliciting a minor for prostitution, per the Guardian and multiple other news outlets. 
    • Rep. Earl “Buddy” Carter (GA) introduces bill to rename Greenland “Red, White, and Blueland.
    • Rep. Brandon Gill (tX) introduces the Golden Age Act 2025.  The bill would require Trump’s face on the $100 bill.  The bill was sponsored by another Texas Rep. Troy Nehls.
    • Rep. Ann Luna (FL) introduced legislation to carve Trump’s face onto Mount Rushmore.
    • Rep. Andy Ogles (TN) introduces bill to amend the Constitution to permit Trump run for a third term on January 23.  The amendment would prohibit other living presidents from running for a third term.  Ogles was being criminally investigated by the US attorney’s office from the Middle District of Tennessee (a phone was seized by the FBI along with his email account) but career prosecutors withdrew from the case February 3 without explanation. The case, according to news reports, is now being run out of DOJ in Washington DC.  Hmmm. Quid Pro Quo?

Civil Society:

  • Us verse Them
    • Trump issued a proclamation prohibiting entry of citizens from 12 countries, predominantly African the week of June 4.
    • The Department of State tell employees to report “any practices involving anti-religious bias during the last administration.”  The memo/cable references a Trump executive order regarding ending “anti-Christian weaponization of government.”  Essentially, the request is a request to go after perceived anti-Christian bias.  The reports can be anonymous. 
    • Update:  The US Air Force Academy has been directed to remove all books on topics such as race, racism, American history, gender, gender identity, LGBTQ, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  List of 318 books removed from US Naval Academy library released.  Banned books topics include race, racism, American history, gender, gender identity, LGBTQ, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.  My goodness, they are being trained to be warriors, but they have to be protected from, God forbid, books and ideas.  Hitler’s “Mein Kampf” stayed on the shelves.
    •  and Trump administration threatens to withhold funding of public schools if not in compliance with his DEI executive orders.
    • Vigilante surveillance of pro-Palestinian activists on university campus(es).  Pro-Israeli activists are using AI facial recognition to identify and report pro -Palestinian activists/protestors to ICE for deportation, per NBC reporting.  The AI facial recognition was developed for this purpose.  A far-right group — Betar USA –claimed credit for one arrest, per WGBH reporting.
    • UPDATE:  Judge orders release of Rumeysa Öztürk. ICE detains a Tuft’s University PhD student of Turkish origin.
    • ICE detained Georgetown University researcher Badar Khan Sunri, an Indian national, for allegedly “spreading Hamas propaganda.” 
    • Trump fires Democratic members of the Federal Trade Commission.
    • Trump Administration denies Asheville, NC access to hurricane relief aid until it removes DEI language from the funding request about minority and women-owned businesses.
    • South African Ambassador to US declared persona non grata by Marco Rubio after the Ambassador said MAGA was motivated by fear that America will become a majority non-white country.  Previous to the Ambassador’s comments, Trump targeted South Africa for AID funding freezes and offered “refuge” to white Afrikaners in the US. 
    • DOD purges DEI related words from all current and previous website posts.  Words such as Gay were removed, to include reference to the Enola Gay, the B-29 bomber that carried he atomic bomb over Hiroshima.
    • Federal government bans a long list of words that cannot be used in official correspondence, documents, websites, etc.  
    • Republicans in the House of representatives threatened to withhold federal funding if the District of Columbia did not paint over a Black Lives Matters mural. DC obliged.
    • Musk and Shapiro lobby Trump to pardon Derick Chauvin for federal convictions for violating George Floyd’s civil rights when he murdered Floyd.
    • Trump offers expedited citizenship to white south African farmers.
    • Attacks on DEI.  Recent threat to investigate Georgetown University law school and not hire graduates who apply for federal jobs.
    • Over 50 schools under investigation by DOE’s office of civil rights.  45 schools under federal investigation over a small diversity project called The PhD Project, a non-profit.
    • Attacks on Trans people
    • Increasing number of book bans.
    • Prohibiting teaching African American studies, curriculum
    • Mass deportations
    • Trump requests Supreme Court overturn lower courts decisions to stay the birthright citizenship executive order.  Birthright citizenship executive order.
    • DOGE attacks on career civil service
    • Political attacks on European Allies in particular
    • Tariffs on trade allies 
    • Executive Order stating English is official language
    • Threats to seize Greenland, Panama Canal, Canada
  • Legislative Attacks on Minorities
    • Update:  On June 27, Supreme Court approves Texas law permitting parents to remove kids from lessons containing LGBTQ issues in public schools for religious reasons.  
    • Texas legislature bill to ban LGBTQ clubs at schools.
    • A bill was introduced in Texas by Tom Oliverton to make identifying as a trans person on a government form a felony.  Two years in jail.  
    • Criminalizing or limiting Trans gender care in states (26 states)
    • Attacks on DEI 
    • Laws restricting trans athletes (23 states)
    • Executive Orders targeting LGBTQ persons in general and the military in particular.
    • As of November 1, 2022, 16 states had passed laws restricting the ability of educators to talk about race and racism in the curriculum. In 2019, only one state had such law. All 16 states provide details of the specific concepts that cannot be taught; five states explicitly prohibit teaching “critical race theory.”
    • Seven states impose penalties for discussing race and racism in the classroom. Two of those states name specific penalties for teachers (Arizona and New Hampshire) and principals (New Hampshire).
  • Political/Military Relations
    • More book bans at American military academies.
    • Trump fires General Timothy Haugh and Wendy Noble, Chief and Deputy Chief of the National Security Agency, America’s top signal intelligence agency.  He was fired at the request of right-wing pundit Laura Loomer for not being sufficiently loyal to Trump.  Trump in a statement on AF1 heading to Florida, people will be fired because we don’t like them or “people that may have loyalties to someone else.”  The NSA is forbidden by law from technical eaves dropping on American citizens.   This comes after the firing of National Security Council Staff, also at the behest of Laura Loomer.  Loomer posted on X they were fired for being disloyal to Trump.  Press reports indicate Haugh testified in a closed hearing recently and was asked about the Signal scandal.  
    • Signalgate Scandal.
    • Trump stacks military academy boards with Trump loyalists.
    • Trump loyalist and right-wing TV broadcaster as SecDef
    • Firing of Chairman and Joint Chiefs
    • Trump loyalist Chairman Joint Chiefs pick
    • Firing of Senior Military Service JAGs
    • Firing of women leadership
    • Purging DEI related words from DOD websites
  • Attacks on liberal democratic Institutions and values
    • Trump fires Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden at the insistence of ultra conservative right wing group American Accountability Foundation.  She too ‘woke’ apparently.  She had completed 9 of a 10 year appointment.
    • Department of State budget proposal cuts $30 billion in spending and list of embassies and consulates to close.  This cuts the Department’s annual budget half.  
    • In a new executive order, President Trump targeted the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the federal agency charged with distributing Congressionally approved funds to state libraries and to library, museum, and archives program grant recipients. All employees placed on leave.  In addition to IMLS the following were also targeted for closure by the executive order
    • (i)    the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service;
      (ii)   the United States Agency for Global Media;
      (iii)  the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in the Smithsonian Institution;
      (iv)   the Institute of Museum and Library Services;
      (v)    the United States Interagency Council on Homelessness;
      (vi)   the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund; and
      (vii)  the Minority Business Development Agency.
    • Trump signs executive order targeting “improper partisan ideologies.”  The executive order, “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” includes directing the Secretary of the Interior to study replacing confederate statutes or monuments or markers removed since 2020 on government properties under DOI jurisdiction:  “determine whether, since January 1, 2020, public monuments, memorials, statues, markers, or similar properties within the Department of the Interior’s jurisdiction have been removed or changed to perpetuate a false reconstruction of American history, inappropriately minimize the value of certain historical events or figures, or include any other improper partisan ideology;”
    • Trump dismantles Voice of America via executive order.  Chinese Communist government praises the move, gloating “now [VOA] have been discarded by its own government like a dirty rag.”  The role of VOA was to champion democracy and press freedom abroad to counter communism.  It also ended funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and Middle East Broadcasting Networks.
    • Political attacks on US Ally values
    • NATO membership in doubt
    • UN (e.g., recent vote with North Korea, Russia, and Belarus to against resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine)
    • WHO withdrawal
    • Dismantling of USAID
    • Attacks on Press and First Amendment
  • Attacks on career civil service 
    • Update:  Department of State announces 2000 layoffs, June 26.
    • Update:  DOJ fires three prosecutors who worked on Jan 6 cases, June 26.
    • A DOJ attorney who argued the government’s case regarding the illegal arrest and deportation of a Maryland man to El Salvadorian prison was placed on indefinite paid leave by the White House for not being sufficiently “zealous” in defending the abduction.
    • Tens of thousands of additional federal employee layoffs announced.
    • Per CBS, senior officials at NIH terminated or reassigned:  “Senior leaders at multiple agencies were removed, multiple health officials said, including Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo. Marrazzo replaced Dr. Anthony Fauci as the head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. At the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior officials put on leave and reassigned to the Indian Health Service include Dr. Karen Hacker, head of the agency’s chronic disease teams, Kayla Laserson, head of its global health center and Dr. Jonathan Mermin, director of the CDC’s STD and HIV/AIDS center.”
    • Trump bans federal government unions to collectively bargaining. Agencies included in the ban are the Departments of State, Defense, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Health and Human Services, Treasury, Justice and Commerce and the part of Homeland Security responsible for border security. Police and firefighters will continue to collectively bargain. 
    • HHS fires 10,000 health agency employees Mar 27.
    • Department of Education gutted.
    • DOGE.  UPDATE:  A federal judge in San Francisco orders the reinstatement of probationary employees fired in mass layoff.  The District Judge deemed the firings “unlawful.”   
    • House Oversight Chair seeks investigation to “root out partisan staff who joined the executive branch” at the end of the Biden Administration.  Requesting names of all employees hired between Jan 1, 2024 and Jan 20, 2025.
  • Manufactured political, social, economic crises
    • “Liberation Day.”  Trump’s plan to tariff the world.
    • Greenland:  Trump continues to make statements threatening Greenland’s sovereignty, to include the use of military force.
    • Tariff War
    • DOGE
    • 2020 election result denial
    • Jan 6 insurrection and coup based on stop the steal lies
    • Trans in sports
    • DEI in government, academic institutes
    • Zelenskyy/Ukraine White House televised meeting
    • Redo: Trade wars/Tariffs
  • Control/Manipulate media platforms
    • FCC opens investigation of Disney, the parent company of ABC
    • Trump continues to use social media to troll judges
    • Trump trolls judge, calls for his impeachment.
    • Social media companies X and Truth Social have become de facto government communications, issuing government wide edicts. 
    • X (Musk)
    • Truth Social (Trump)
    • Facebook (Zuckerburg Coopted by Trump)
    • Instagram (Zuckerburg Coopted by Trump)
  • Physical, economic, psychological coercion (trolls, social media, etc)
    • X
    • Truth Social
    • Facebook
    • Instagram 
  • Attacks on Science/Academics
    • Update:   Week of June 22,  DOJ forces resignation of UVA president.
    • NIH has canceled $31 million in Autism research in 2025.
    • Additional universities and colleges have had funds suspended. Northwestern ($790 million) and Cornell ($1 billion).  Columbia had additional funds frozen as well.
    • Kennedy shutters some Freedom of Information offices at HHS.  These offices process Freedom of Information Act requests.  A blow to government transparency.
    • Trump administration to pause $510 million in funding to Brown University.
    • Update:  Harvard fights back after threats from Trump administration to withhold $2 billion in funding, revoke student visas for all foreign students attending Harvard.  Trump administration indicates possible pause on funding to Harvard University.
    • University of Michigan halts DEI program.
    • HHS fires 10,000 health agency employees. (March 27)
    • Trump signs order unilaterally dismantling the Department of Education without Congressional authorization, continuing his campaign to crush the constitutional principle of separation of powers.
    • Trump suspends $175 million in finding to University of Pennsylvania Trump over trans athlete.
    • Oklahoma Board of Education proposes teaching 2020 election ‘discrepancies’ in US History.
    • Citing waste, fraud, and abuse, the EPA administrator canceled $20 Billion in Biden-era climate change grants. A federal judge ordered the EPA to provide an affidavit documenting evidence of waste, fraud, and abuse by Monday, March 17.  Stay tuned.
    • Trump stops $400 million in federal funding to Columbia University for allegedly not protecting Jewish students.  Additional schools on target list.
    • Trump calls for congress to “get rid” of the CHIPS and Science Act, $52 billion for increasing domestic capacity to manufacture computer chips. 
    • Trump on social media threatens to halt funding of universities or colleges that don’t expel students that protest. Threatens to deport foreign students.
    • Attacks on DEI at Universities, Research Institutions, 
    • DOGE mass firings NIH, NOAA, FDA, USDA, National Weather Service
    • WHO withdrawal
    • Eliminating science grants

Constitution:

  • 6th Amendments: Speech and Right to Counsel 
    • UPDATE:  Courts have pretty much ruled that the EOs threatening law firms are illegal.  However, some of the law firms are losing partners over the firms early and easy capitulation to Trump.
    • The capitulations continue. Trump announced this week that five more law firms have come to agreements with the White House.  In total law firms have pledged $600 million dollars in pro bono work for Trump projects or initiatives.
    • Several more law firms reached agreements with the White House, to include the law firm Wilkie Farr and Gallagher that Kamal Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, works for. They offered up $100 million in pro bono work for Trump priorities to avoid executive order sanctions.  Dang, almost half a billion dollars in free legal work Trump has managed to extort.  
    • A second law firm capitulates to Trump:  President Trump announced Friday that the law firm Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom agreed to provide more than $100 million in pro bono work for initiatives backed by his administration (CBS)
    • More Trump executive orders targeting law firms are coming.
    • Trumps signs another executive order against another law firm Jenner and Block, a law firm with clients litigating Trump administration actions. The law firm also has some connection to Robert Muller.  
    • According to NBC, Trump issued a new memorandum March 22 titled “Preventing the Abuses of the Legal System and the Federal Court.”  The memo gives AG Bondi the power to revoke security clearances of attorneys and terminate federal contracts of law firms if she deems their lawsuits against the administration are “unreasonable” or “vexatious.”
    • Capitulation of law firm further undermines 6th Amendment.  The law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP bowed to Trump at a White House meeting following a Trump Executive Order targeting the law firm’s business.  They admitted wrongdoing of a former partner who left the law firm in 2021 to work the New York City’s District Attorney’s Office which prosecuted Trump’s Porn Star payoff case;  offered $40 million in free pro bono legal work supporting Trump administration initiatives; change their DEI hiring practices. Who would want to hire a law firm like that?  
    • There is a February 25 memorandum also targeting the law firm Covington & Burling who assisted former Special Counsel Jack Smith during his time as the Special Counsel pending a review.  This included suspending the security clearance of Peter Koski.
    • Trump signs a new executive order suspending security clearance of another law firm, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP on Friday.  The order contained similar language of one targeting Perkins Coie (below).  Of note, this Order was issued after a Judge issued a restraining order on the Perkins Coie Order. A slap at the Courts?  
    • UPDATE:  Judge strikes down executive order as unconstitutional. Trump signs Executive Order suspending security clearances of law firm Perkins Coie, a Seattle-based firm, that has long provided legal work for the DNC and other democratic and liberal groups. In an updated, a judge has issued a temporary restraining order on the executive order, comparing the Order to a “Bill of Attainder.” The judge wrote that EO sent “chills down her spine.”
  • Habeas Corpus:  Alien Enemies Act 1798
    • UPDATE (June 4):  in a surprise, Garcia returned to US, but to stand trial for allegations of alien smuggling and conspiracy in Tennessee. 
    • Update (May 16):  Supreme Court extended its block on the ability to immediately deport migrants in Texas under the alien, returning the case to the lower court for further litigation.
    • This week (May 5) White House (Stephen Miller) floats suspending Habeas Corpus for ‘migrants’ after release of jailed Turkish PhD student Rumeysa Öztürk.
    • Federal judge bars deportation flight to Libya.  
    • Late Friday (Apr 18) evening the Supreme Court temporarily halted deportations that rely on the Alien Enemies Act.  
    • Garcia still in El Salvador custody.  Trump admin lawyers invoke state’s secret privilege when judge requests details of efforts to return Garcia to US (week of May 5).
    • The week of Apr 14, the Trump administration, in collusion with the President of El Salvador, defies a supreme court order to ‘facilitate’ the return of Mr. Garcia to the U.S.  A lower court judge started probable cause to hold government in criminal contempt for stonewalling return of Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador prison.  
    • On April 7, the Supreme Court sided with Trump regarding the constitutionality of using the Enemies Alien Act to deport Venezuelans associated with a criminal gang designated a foreign terrorist organization by, guess who, Trump.  Incredibly, the Court basically held that government acts under the Alien Enemies Act are largely not subject to judicial review.  
    • Update:   The. Supreme Court ruled that the government must return the Maryland man to the U.S.  The following day the Government defied a lower court’s order to provide updates on the government’s action to return the Maryland man.  ICE admits wrongfully detaining Maryland man, says they can’t return him to US from El Salvador prison.  This man from Maryland — married to an American, and father of a 5-year old autistic child — was rounded up as part of the Trump’s press event, AKA the mass deportation of Venezuelan gang members.  He was deported back to El Salvador, a country he fled because of gang threats without due process.
    • Trump government lawyers believe that the Alien Enemies Act permits agents to enter homes without warrants.  Whether that legal determination will be used to enter homes to execute illegal seizures and searches contrary to the 4th Amendment is unknown.  
    • On Sunday, March 15, Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to target a criminal gang made up mostly of Venezuelan migrants.  To invoke the Act Congress must have declared war on a foreign power.  Basically suspending Habeas Corpus.  Trump unilaterally declared his authority as commander and chief to invoke the Act.  An illegal act that clearly breaches the Constitution’s separations of powers.  A federal district judge placed an injunction on Trump’s declaration of the Act.  A judge ordering the return of deportees on flights enroute El Salvador were ignored.
  • Insurrection Act
    • Trump issued executive order Jan 20 requiring the Secretaries of defense and DHS to complete a report in 90-days on whether to declare a national emergency at the southern border, invoke the Insurrection Act and other measures.
  • Bills of Attainder
    • More executive orders targeting law firms.
    • Trump Executive Order punishing a law firm that represents Democratic Party clients was rejected in part by a federal judge, who compared the executive order to a ‘Bill of Attainder,’ which is a legislative act by congress that punishes a person without a trial. Bills of attainder are banned by the Constitution (Article 1, section 8).  The judge issued a partial restraining order on the EO, writing the order ‘sent chills down her spine.’
  • Birthright Citizenship 
    • Update:  June 27, Supreme Court rules that lower courts cannot issue universal injunctions.  The ruling removed the pause on the  executive order banning birthright citizenship after 30 days.
    • Court heard arguments about the birthright citizenship, but arguments focused on whether federal district courts can issue nationwide injunctions.  
    • Court will hear arguments Mid-May.  Supreme Court considers request to lift pause.  Wants responses by early April.
    • Executive Order that bans birthright citizenship, counter to the 14th Amendment and Supreme Court precedence.  Three district judges stayed the order and this week Trump asked the Supreme Court to overturn the stays.  A ruling in favor of Trump would effectively nullify the 14th Amendment and throw the country in chaos.
  • Presidential Term limits
    • Trump on Sunday Mar 30 he did not rule out a third term, “not joking’ he said.  Claims there are methods to get him more terms.
    • Trump openly discusses multiple terms. 
    • Some in Congress drafting constitutional amendment to do such
  • Erode separation of powers
    • Trump angry at Fed Reserve Chair for floats idea of firing him. The Chair can only be fired for “cause.”  Trump is angry that the Fed won’t lower interest rates and was blunt about the impacts of Trump’s tariffs on the economy
    • Senate confirms unqualified nominees to all cabinet positions. 
    • DOGE, Congress surrender power of the purse
    • Congress acquiescing to Trump (executive aggrandizement)
    • Centralizing executive power (Unitary theory of executive power).
    • Executive Order for President to assume supervision over independent agencies.
    • Judge permits DOGE to take over the US African Development Foundation, an independent Agency created by Congress.  The Foundation’s mission, according to it’s website, is to “invest in African grassroots organizations, entrepreneurs and small and medium sized businesses to promote local economic development.
  • Independent Judiciary: Attacks on judiciary/court rulings
    • Montana lawmakers introduce legislation to change how state judges are elected, complaining of too many state laws being struck down as unconstitutional.
    • Trump continues to rail on social media against lunatic left judges.
    • Rep. Issa (CA) introduces the “No Rogue Rulings Act 2025” which basically will ban limits federal judges to issue injunctions.  The language is so nonsense I have included: “Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no United States district court shall issue any order providing for injunctive relief, except in the case of such an order that is applicable only to limit the actions of a party to the case before such district court with respect to the party seeking injunctive relief from such district court.” WTF does that mean. During Biden’s term there were over 133 injunctions.
    • Trump calls for judge overseeing Alien Enemies Act deportation case to be impeached.  Chief Justice Roberts admonishes Trump in response. Rep. Jim Jordan promises hearings into judge’s who rule against Trump.  Musk donates money to house members who favor impeaching judges.
    • Repeatedly regarding deportations, the Trump administration has violated court orders not to deport people.  Additionally, another federal judge ordered the halt to the deportation of approximately 200 persons after trump issued an executive order illegally invoking the Aliens Enemies Act of 1798.  The judge ordered the planes enroute to El Salvador to return.  They did not.  Then bragged about it online.  The White House claimed the Judge’s order was no lawful.  The Judge has ordered another hearing for Monday (Mar 17).  For a fee, El Salvador is housing them in their new max security prison. 
    • Vance and Musk call for impeachment of judges who rule against Trump initiatives.  
    • Conservative Super Majority on SCOTUS.  Mitchell rule about nominating supreme court justices in election years.  One rule for Democrats another for Republicans.
    • While lower courts are ruling against Trumps recent executive orders, it remains unclear whether the Supreme Court will sustain these rulings. Positive news:  Supreme Court upheld decision to restore USAID funds.
    •  Additionally, Supreme Court’s last term decision to grant Trump unlimited immunity from criminal prosecution for illegal acts done as official acts.
  • 1st Amendment: Attacks on press independence  
    • In an act cowardice and self-censorship, the White House Correspondents Association cancelled comedian Amber Ruffin’s appearance at the White House Correspondent’s Dinner, stating that they had “unanimously decided we are no longer featuring a comedic performance this year.”  This ends a 42-year history.
    • The FCC began an investigation into Disney, the parent company of ABC, citing DEI practices.
    • Signalgate Scandal.  Attacks on the journalist who reported on a national security team group chat on the Signal App.  NSA Walz is now suggesting that the journalist was added to his phone contact list by bad actors.  HAHAHAHAHA.  Sadly, it’s true.
    • Trump’s speech at the Department of Justice repeatedly attacked the press calling their activities illegal, calling them scum. Specifically referencing CNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal.
    • Amazon Prime, owned by Bezos, paid Trump’s wife $40 million for a biopic.  Amazon Prime recently added reruns of the TV show The Apprentice to Prime TV.
    • Bezos changing opinion section in Post.  
    • Lawsuits against ABC, CBS, and Des Moines Register.  
    • FCC investigation of NPR and PBS.
    • AP Ban at White House
    • Pentagon kicking out some press agencies
    • White House controlling of who in Press Pool
  • New Unaccountable Institutions (DOGE)
    • UPDATE;  Federal judge in San Francisco issues temporary hold on DOGE, saying the cuts and dismantling of agencies must be done through Congressional action.
    •  US district judge orders DOGE to turn over documents in a ‘discovery request’ from several States AGs, citing DOGE’s “unprecedented power” and “unusual secrecy.”
    • Social media companies X and Truth Social have become de facto government communications, issuing government wide edicts. 
  • Impeachment effectiveness
    • Impeachment failed to remove Trump during his first term.  
    • Calls to impeach judges who issue rulings counter to Trump (Musk/Vance)
  • Amend constitution
    • Update:  Supreme Court to hear arguments Mid-May. Trump requests Supreme Court overturn lower court stays on implementing birthright citizenship Executive Order.  Birthright citizenship is major test of Supreme Court independence
    • Change presidential term limits
  • Executive aggrandizement
    • Every day

Rule of Law:

  • Investigations/arrests
    • A US citizen was arrested in Florida on a state law that makes it a criminal offense to travel into Florida if one is in the country without authorization.  He was placed in ICE custody it appears.  Even after the man showed the was aa US citizen in court, ICE continued to detain him.  He was released after the detention was reported by the media. 
    • In unprecedented actions, Trump signs two executive orders targeting private citizens for investigation by the DOJ and DHS.  The two targets are former federal employees who contradicted Trump in his first term.
    • FCC opens investigation of Disney targeting ABC.
    • Secstate Rubio announces over 300 student visas have been revoked in apparent retaliation for protected political speech.
    • A Tufts University PhD student of Turkish origin was arrested by ICE in Massachusetts. A judge ordered ICE to keep the student in state, but ICE moved the student to a detention facility in Louisiana.  ICE appeared to engage in a hide-and-seek game with the judge. Another Habeas Corpus violation.
    • Attorney General labels Tesla (or is that Tesler) attacks “domestic terrorism.’
    • French researcher/academic entering US stopped at border, deported for having text messages critical of Trump, per French government.
    • Trump declares Pardons issued by President Biden — to protect those targeted by Trump for potential criminal charges — void because they were signed by Autopen. 
    • Trump delivers partisan speech to Department of Justice employees (March 14).  Attacks rule of law, independent judiciary, and the Press (“scum”). 
    • University of Minnesota under federal scrutiny.
    • A second person arrested a Columbia University.
    • Update:  An immigration judge in Louisiana rules that Khalil can be deported. Palestinian activist and Columbia graduate Mahmoud Khalil, permanent resident/green card holder, arrested and threatened with deportation as a national security risk. Removed to a detention facility on Louisiana, although arrested in NYC.  Access to lawyers denied. Trump administration said more such arrests were coming.  Judge blocks deportation.  Two additional search warrants were executed at Columbia student residences by DHS agents. No arrests.
    • UPDATE;  Acting DC US Attorney replaced with another acting US Attorney, Fox TV Host Jeannie Pirro.  Acting US Attorney District of Columbia sends target letter to Georgetown University law school regarding DEI. Threatens to not hire applicant from GT Law school for internships, etc.
    • In a setback to Trump, a court ruled that the firing of the head of the Federal Employee Labor Board, ruling the firing was unlawful.
    • Trump threatens to jail people on “domestic terrorism” charges for vandalizing Tesla cars at a White House garage sale of Tesla vehicles.
    • NY Times reports that Senator Chuck Schumer is target of DOJ investigation. 
    • Operation Whirlwind, threat to investigate those that oppose DOGE by acting US Attorney District of Columbia Ed Martin.
    • NYC Mayor quid pro quo:  Drop federal corruption charges in exchange for political fealty.
    • Trump pauses enforcement of law prohibiting US businesses from bribing overseas companies, governments.
    • Trump on social truth threatens to cut funding for universities and colleges that don’t crack down on protests/free speech.  $400 million Columbia university.
    • Bank accounts frozen by DOJ of NGOs receiving funds from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction fund at the request of EPA admin who labeled these groups as “left wing.”  Eight recipients bank accounts frozen.  A Fed prosecutor resigned, saying she has been pressured to launch a criminal investigation despite a lack of evidence of wrongdoing.
    • Request by border Czar to DOJ to target Rep. Ocasio-Cortez
    • Threat to prosecute “sanctuary cities.”
    • Trump pardons all Jan 6 convicted felons.  Some of whom assaulted police officers.
    • Repeated threats to jail political opponents by Trump
    • Firing and investigation of federal prosecutors who participated in crimes committed by Trump (Jan 6, classified doc case)
    • Fire, demote, and investigate FBI agents
  • Creation of Paramilitaries
    • A company formerly known as Blackwater (Erik Prince owner)  submitted a proposal to the White House proposing to set up a prisons in El Salvador to house deportees.  The proposal suggests that the prisons be designated American territory, per Politico reporting.
    • White Papers submitted to White House to create paramilitary forces to round up undocumented immigrants by multiple groups.  
    • This would circumvent posse comitatus (no use of military in Law enforcement)
  • Armed civilians/Hate Groups
    • Southern Poverty Law Center’s Hatewatch Intelligence Project reports alarming shifts in rhetoric and organizing.  This includes anti-immigrant activity:  Border Czar meet with Proud Boys; Trinity White Knights expanded activities in TN, KY, and VA; Patriot Front held four rallies; Proud Boys marched in Trump’s inaugural parade; Neo-Nazi Group Hate Club held an armed rally outside a predominantly black town near Cincinnati Feb 7; three Montana Tactical Civics folks testified before a Montana House Committee in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment to create “citizen grand juries;” Anti-LGBTQ group MassResistance drafted a text for a resolution to overturn same sex marriage. The resolution has been introduced in Idaho, North and South Dakota, Michigan, Wyoming, Montana, and Oklahoma.
    • While the overall number of hate groups has dropped since 2018, the number of white supremacist groups had risen to an all-time high according the Southern Poverty Law Center.  
    • The number of reported incidents has risen, despite an overall drop in total group numbers. 
    • Pardoning of Proud Boys convicted of insurrection.
  • Mass incarcerations
    • Trump invokes Aliens Enemies Act of 1789
    • Undocumented immigrants
    • Off-shore prison (Guantanamo)
    • Trump state willing to deport American criminals to foreign prisons

Voting Rights/Civil Rights:

  • Title IX
    • Per, BostonLawyerblog.com, “On January 31, 2025, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague Letter on Title IX enforcement that was riddled with factually incorrect information about the state of legal challenges to the Biden regulations. The letter stated that the Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will enforce Title IX under the 2020 Title IX Rule, and will apply that rule to cases currently pending in its offices. The letter cited the Kentucky court decision and the president’s executive order as reasons why the 2024 regulations were incorrect, and falsely stated that every court to consider challenges to the 2024 regulations found them “unlawful.” (As we discussed last year, a Trump-appointed federal judge in Alabama rejected that state’s challenge to the regulations). In a bold statement about the President’s role in interpreting the Constitution, the Dear Colleague Letter stated, “As a constitutional matter, the President’s interpretation of the law governs because he alone controls and supervises subordinate officers who exercise discretionary executive power on his behalf. That unified control extends to ED and OCR; therefore, Title IX must be enforced consistent with President Trump’s order.”  On Feb 4, the letter was rescinded, and a more toned-down letter was released, to include removing Trump’s claim to have sole power to interpret the Constitution. (citation: BostonLawyerblog.com. Zalkind, Duncan, Bernstein)
  • Protecting elections from cyber attacks
    • The acting director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency paused “all election security activities” pending the results of an internal investigation (?).  All funding to the Election Infrastructure Information Sharing and Analysis center was cut.  This center helps state and local officials monitor, analyze, and respond to cyber-attacks targeting the nation’s election hardware and software.  Critical CISA election protection staff targeted for termination.
  • Attacks on Suffrage:
    • Birthright citizenship executive order would impact suffrage
  • Attacks on Voting (state/federal laws)
    • Trump signs executive order requiring proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.  Authorizes DOGE to check voter rolls for eligibility.
    • UPDATE:  Republican concedes race to Democrat.  North Carolina Supreme Court judge election:  Riggs, a Democratic justice defeated Republican challenger by 734 votes, a vote tally confirmed by two separate recounts.  Republican Griffin filed numerous legal challenges seeking to throw out more than 60,000 ballots. 
    • Trump attempt to take control of FEC and other independent agencies
    • Birthright citizenship would throw voter rolls into chaos and reduce voting rolls by tens of millions.  
    • Federal bill to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote and updating voter registration reintroduced 2025.  Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act or the SAVE Act.
    • Shortened window to apply for mail-in or absentee voting (10 states since 2020)
    • Shortened window to deliver mail-in or absentee ballots (5 states since 2020)
    • New restrictive voter ID requirements (15 states since 2020)
    • Expanded laws to purge voter rolls (13 states since 2020)
    • Laws that limit number, location, and availability of ballot drop boxes (8 states since 2020)
    • Move US Postal System to Commerce Department open potential to manipulate absentee voting.
  • Gerrymandering
    • Creating safe districts where there are no challengers from opposing party. See incumbency rates above.
  • incumbency (win/loss)
    • Too many safe districts.  
    • Incumbent wins reelection 95 percent.  
    • At the state level runs about 94 percent.  A number of states had 100 percent incumbent win.
  • Women’s Health and Reproductive Rights
    • Dobbs decision overturning Roe.  
    • 12 states banned abortions
    • 6 states no women’s health exceptions.

Separation of Church and State, Religious Freedom

  • The Supreme Court hears three cases testing the boundaries of the separation of church and state in April:  Catholic Charities Bureau v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, Mahmoud v. Taylor, Oklahoma Statewide Charter Schoolboard v. Drummond. This first case is about tax exemption, the second is about public school curricula that parents may find “offensive, and the third case, is funding of religious schools with government funds.
  • State Governments establishing Christian studies, symbols, and objects at Public Schools to the exclusion of other religions 
    • Oklahoma: incorporate bible into the curriculum but no other religions’ texts.
    • Louisianna requires public schools display the ten commandments but no other religions’ tenets. 
  • Supreme Court said States that provide taxpayer funded vouchers to private schools must also provide said vouchers to religious school students (2020).  In 2022 the Court again ruled in another case that the State could not restrict such funds within the school, that is fence off the voucher money to pay for religious instruction and worship.