Week 20

ICE continues not to make its numbers and thus continues to ramp up the drama. Citizens are starting to fight back, as in Los Angeles last night. Other cities have offered resistance. The facts are that 1) there are nowhere near as many criminal immigrants as Trump insisted on through the campaign; 2) the logistic support does not exist to move people in Trump’s promised numbers.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia was brought back from El Salvador’s CECOT prison, along with one or two others taken out of the country. There is movement in the lawsuits toward bringing the entire group that was removed with him. After much foot-draggins and perhaps contempt of court, it’s interesting to speculate why the administration caved on this.

We of course had the girls fighting this week.

It looks genuine to me, neither man sufficiently adult to hold in his bile. Both of them probably have more to lose from a break than taking some mild humiliation, so things will settle down. Musk seems persistent in his opposition to the Big Beautiful Bill, so that may continue. The thing is, he could make a difference in whether it passes.

The Big Beautiful Bill is horrifying. The Senate is arguing for various changes, but in general the Republicans want to take food from children to give Musk and friends their tax cut.

Science is badly damaged. Unfortunately, this week Marcia McNutt, president of the National Academy of Sciences, gave a “State of Science” speech. She failed to mention the enormous cuts and attacks on specific universities, though. Another cave, not quite as bad as the quisling law firms, but close.

Follow the court-watchers for the details of the lawsuits, now up to 269, including 10 closed.  Chris Geidner (LawDork, Bluesky), Roger Parloff (Lawfare, Bluesky), and the Just Security tracker.

As usual, keep it to things that have actually happened, not hypotheticals. What is actually happening is bad enough.

Caring for yourself and loved ones is resistance too. Post your pets.

Here’s what the Trump administration did this week

• ICE injured and arrested SEIU California president David Huerta .  https://bsky.app/profile/seiuca.bsky.social/post/3lqxuirtor32n
• I am starting to have trouble keeping up. Post the stuff that occurs to you in the comments.

Continuing

• Trump’s losses in the courts.
• Trump continues to monkey with tariffs. No deals have been made. Steel and aluminum up to 50% from 25%.
• “The administration has already shot its wad in going after Harvard and has very little left in its cupboard.”

Pushback

• People are fighting back against ICE raids. San Diego, New York, Minneapolis, Tucson, Tallahassee, Western Massachusetts.
• Every month there is a Moral Monday protest led by Bishop William Barber at the Capital.
• National Portrait Gallery director Kim Sajet continues to go to work after Trump “fired” her.
• Complaint against Pam Bondi lodged with Florida bar. A threat “to the rule of law and the administration of justice.”
• Kilmar Abrego Garcia brought back from CECOT.
• The Washington Post reports that people who were fired by Musk’s boys are being asked to come back. Some are doing that. A reminder that those Musk actions are probably illegal.

Splits in the Coalition

• HAHAHAHA

Lots of activity summarized in Heads Up News from Dan Froomkin.

188 more weeks to go. What are you doing?

Previous weeks: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8. Week 9, Week 10

Week 11, Week 12, Week 13, Week 14, Week 15, Week 16, Week 17, Week 18, Week 19