No. of Recommendations: 10
The “enemy from within” is Donald Trump. The “violent extremists” are Trump lackeys who have turned ICE into fascistic shock troops. This is not business as usual, or “Trump being Trump.” In response to Trump’s brutal, racist, and unconstitutional campaign of terror designed to desensitize Americans to police state tactics, the country must mobilize collectively.
Lawyers can sue to protect victims and stop the invasion of our cities. Judges can block violent ICE raids lacking probable cause and—as Immergut did in Portland—halt military invasions that unconstitutionally supplant domestic police, refusing to defer when Trump’s actions are “untethered to facts.” (Long ago, courts should have refused to grant deference to a president who perpetually acts in bad faith.) Congressional Democrats can demand oversight hearings and deny votes to fund egregious ICE conduct and misuse of National Guard forces. Legacy media outlets could even renounce the sane-washing of Trump and phony equivalence (i.e., cover Trump as they would a foreign autocrat).
All Americans can respond with peaceful, robust protest. As the ACLU suggests, you can take action such as “going to a No Kings protest, filming ICE activity, taking a Know Your Rights training, or simply helping your neighbors’ children get safely to school, …. [to] help protect not just our loved ones, but our communities.”
This will not end until voters boot out MAGA lawmakers who refuse to rein in Trump. We will not be safe from a dictatorial presidency as long as the Supreme Court refuses to check executive overreach. Court expansion and repeal of its appellate jurisdiction must be on the table.
Meanwhile, all Americans must defend our neighbors, our deepest-held values, and what is left of our democracy.
——Jennifer Rubin
