Bring it to the peaceful souls. Go ahead, bring it. Screw with a 63-year-old woman standing peacefully by the side of the road; that is all I am going to do. I. Don't. Give. A. Damn. I have nothing to lose, because I will not live in that kind of America. I'm the ideal protester.
Trump's invasion of LA has ignited a surge of NO Kings rallies - over 1800 nationwide and growing! He hates protests, but this one especially, as he thinks it will crash his birthday bash. Find one. Be there if you can.
Actually Pope Leo XIV is counter-programming Trump's authoritarian military birthday party, that will cost $134 million, according to Hegseth.
Pope Leo XIV has a scheduled video message at the Chicago mass, his hometown, that is slotted for the same day and time as the Trump-promoted military parade and will be streamed online. The message is directed toward young people of the world and is almost entirely sold out, according to the page on Ticketmaster.
His most recent speech during a Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square criticized political nationalism as he urged for peace and the breaking down of barriers between neighbors.
“Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for ‘security’ zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms,” Leo said, according to reports by the Associated Press.
Wow, I didn't know that. Fantastic. Almost makes me want to be Catholic again. :) Now it's time to persuade cities like Philadelphia, Boston, NYC, etc. not to invite the fake president to any US July 4th 2026 events in their cities.
Maybe you could tell King Charles to cancel Mad King Donald's invitation for that state visit?? I can't believe the deference he's shown by foreign leaders who really should know better.
Thank you! I Professor Weissmann always reminds us of the respect for the rule of law that had been a core principal of the FBI and our honorable law enforcement public servants. He is one of the many contributors to The Contrarian whose opinions we trust and rely on.
My favorite quotes: “...tell me how what we are seeing in California is worse than what happened on January 6th, where you say that was not in any way a rebellion, right? I mean, that's supposed to be like this great event. That qualifies a whole lot more as some kind of insurrection or rebellion or invasion of the proud boys and the Oath Keepers.." "And relying on the discretion of Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth is, you know, cause for panic."
Thank you, Andrew! I really hope the L.A. "protestors" remain peaceful, so the focus becomes the massive waste of money and the questionable legality of these actions.
In theory, I agree with you. But, I live in Los Angeles, and you can't even imagine how terrible the Gestapo ICE agents have been to peaceful immigrants, many of whom have lived here for many years, work hard, pay their taxes, and contribute to our city.
If it were me and my loved ones, I'd hope that we wouldn't be abandoned. Even our Mayor doesn't know where they have been taken, and whether they are okay. She wants to make sure they aren't being mistreated, and get them legal representation.
It was mostly peaceful until the National Guard and Marines came. Now, people are terrified, and there are outside agitators within the crowds. It's not going to end well, but that's what Trump wanted.
I believe this is the second Insurrection for which Trump is responsible. Obviously, the first one occurred on January 6, 2021. He felt powerless because he lost the 2020 election, and it was his first overtly violent action against our government. Although it wasn’t successful, there ended up being no consequences, because Trump won the election.
Lately, Trump’s felt powerless again, because of his losses in the courts, the tanking of the economy, the Musk debacle, and the unpopularity of his brutal budget bill. To push it through Congress, I think Trump believes he needs another overtly violent action, which his voters and Congressional Republicans will respect. So, he and Stephen Miller (or someone else) planned this second Insurrection. Trump’s most popular campaign promise was his mass deportation plan. If he could achieve success with that, it would not only appeal to MAGAs, but to the domestic terrorists he pardoned, neo-Nazi's, Christian nationalists, and white evangelical Christians. At the same time, Trump could seek revenge against voters in Los Angeles and California, whom he hates because he lost both elections here. And, he could get rid of millions of Hispanics in the most cruel and violent way, personality traits that define him.
David Frum, writing in the Atlantic, believes it’s a bigger story than that. He wrote that Trump had wanted to try this strategy before the 2020 election, but Secretary of Defense Mark Esper wouldn’t approve it. Now, Trump has no restraints. The plan consists of three steps: 1. Use federal power to create a made-for-TV disturbance. 2. Evoke the disturbance to cause a state of emergency, and involve federal troops. 3. Seize control of the government policing in June 2025, for use in the 2026 midterms.
The Nazi's used the Reichstag fire in Germany to the same end by providing a pretext for suppressing political opposition and consolidating Hitler's control. The fire, which was blamed on communists by the Nazis, led to the enactment of emergency decrees that curtailed civil liberties, facilitated mass arrests of political opponents, and effectively dismantled democratic institutions. This allowed Hitler to ban the Communist Party, silence other political parties, and gain a majority in the Reichstag, paving the way for his dictatorship. Trump will try to set "Reichstag fires" whenever he can.
The Deployment of 700 Marines & 4000 National Guard Troops & the Broader Context;
1. Tonight. JEN PSAKI, called everyone attention to the fact that Trump's " ... underlying order does not even mention the state of California at all". The order is NOT limited by any state boundary certainly not California.
2. JEN PSAKI detailed the EXACT timing of Trump's various false statements & propaganda.
For example: at 2:41 am Trump trumpeted the "job well done" by Guardsmen when in the real world the guardsmen were NOT even deployed untie eight (8) hours LATER around 11:00 AM.
3. At 3:34 PM claimed 700 Marines from 29 Palms, CA had the "situation under control". But, desert based Marines were not even deployed to downtown "L.A." until another 30 minutes LATER. WTF?
4. What does Steve Miller ... er ... Trump does mean by the 'situation' is "under control". The major problem is whether to the Marines should sleep in the Lobby or the spacious basement of a downtown L.A. building.
***************************************
California files lather federal lawsuit lawsuit: Newsom et al vs.Trump & Clowns
The State of California has taken legal action filing a federal lawsuit a "DRA" which is just a remedy asking the Court to apply facts, real facts to the law, actual law & declare who, what, when & where and also get Injunctive Relief --- essentially STOP the Bad Guys permanently.
Now the Good Stuff:
********************
Where was the case filed? Rubin is correct. The case was NOT filed in the expected Central District of California but, up in San Francisco in Courtroom 6 on Floor 17, That makes this Californian & Commenter very happy because Judge CHARLES R. BREYER is the last federal Judge I appeared before in my last Northern District of California case.
Judge Breyer is a Judge's Judge and yes, he is in fact the brother of the retired SCOTUS Judge Breyer. The docket will move quickly, but move on a with a well briefed & adequate record.
I loved the descriptions of LA as being "on fire" while concurrent video clearly showed a relatively small group who for the most part were peaceful and the area of the protest encompassed just a few blocks. Watching 2000 national guard troops standing there with their thumbs up their asses was sad and pathetic. Trump tried to create a Tiananmen Square but to his chagrin, it was more like a church bingo game. The lesson: believe your eyes, not what you hear.
Thanks very much Jen and Andrew. Your analysis and review of the law, the circumstances and your insightful knowledge helps us/me navigate (with some sobriety) going forward. It's otherwise overwhelming to sort it all out. Sorting...
Andrew Weissmann is being rational. But when a question, based on our law, when you are in a discussion is posed to those who do not care about the law (or the Constitution for that matter) or even know what it is, how does one expect a rational answer? How do you communicate? Words, "invasion" "rebellion" are used to suit Trump to fit his rationale.
What is the definition of invasion, what is a rebellion? ( January 6th 2021 was an insurrection BTW no question.) If you have a judge that is similarly corrupt then you are all set. So it's important that the law is firm about definitions and not a partisan. SCOTUS is getting close to being so corrupt. But, that said, it's up to the Secretary of Defense to decide if the troops stay? My goodness!!
Off point but as Trump has said protesters at his birthday parade will be dealt with harshly I suggest people arrive en bloc and maintain total silence
We don't even need to be there. This is exactly why No Kings has organized protests nationwide EXCEPT for in DC. Let him call the marines to mobilize to over 1,800 street corners in hundreds of cities in every state while his big chest-thumping parade draws only puny crowds. Nothing could be a better "F YOU" to the mad king.
I agree with Jigz. I think the brilliance of the No Kings (and other Indivisible demonstrations) is that they were organized democratically right from the start. I live in a rather rural place and there are five of them within driving distance. Anyone can organize one (or two or three) demonstration on their own. You can stand at the end of your own driveway with a sign (though it's really a lift to the spirit to be with others). It all counts. I do believe that the widespread nature of these protests is driving Prez Fubar even more nuts than usual.
And yes, I concede that it doesn't take much.
Thank you Andrew and Jen for your words of wisdom. You both do a great job of cutting through the BS.
In 1970 my university quadrangle was surrounded by the national guard at University of Illinois. Maybe a hundred or more students were peacefully sitting on the lawn listening to speakers. Suddenly 8 or 9 people ran through the seated students up to the stage, maybe 200 feet and lit the U.S. flag on fire. These were not students, they were provocateurs. This was few days after the Kent State students were shot and killed in Ohio. So, not just Civil Rights but also university campuses are part of the story. Demonstrators at the Democratic Convention in Chicago were attacked as well. This may be the play book the far right likes because people were beat up at many of the demonstrations that year. FYI. Your piece is very informative but this detail is missing and it's BIG.
Bring it to the peaceful souls. Go ahead, bring it. Screw with a 63-year-old woman standing peacefully by the side of the road; that is all I am going to do. I. Don't. Give. A. Damn. I have nothing to lose, because I will not live in that kind of America. I'm the ideal protester.
Trump's invasion of LA has ignited a surge of NO Kings rallies - over 1800 nationwide and growing! He hates protests, but this one especially, as he thinks it will crash his birthday bash. Find one. Be there if you can.
Let's hope Americans tune in to the Trooping the Color in the UK replay instead of the pseudo-regal parade in DC.
Actually Pope Leo XIV is counter-programming Trump's authoritarian military birthday party, that will cost $134 million, according to Hegseth.
Pope Leo XIV has a scheduled video message at the Chicago mass, his hometown, that is slotted for the same day and time as the Trump-promoted military parade and will be streamed online. The message is directed toward young people of the world and is almost entirely sold out, according to the page on Ticketmaster.
His most recent speech during a Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square criticized political nationalism as he urged for peace and the breaking down of barriers between neighbors.
“Where there is love, there is no room for prejudice, for ‘security’ zones separating us from our neighbors, for the exclusionary mindset that, tragically, we now see emerging also in political nationalisms,” Leo said, according to reports by the Associated Press.
Wow, I didn't know that. Fantastic. Almost makes me want to be Catholic again. :) Now it's time to persuade cities like Philadelphia, Boston, NYC, etc. not to invite the fake president to any US July 4th 2026 events in their cities.
Made me smile!
I'll be in England and definitely will be supporting Trooping The Colors!
Maybe you could tell King Charles to cancel Mad King Donald's invitation for that state visit?? I can't believe the deference he's shown by foreign leaders who really should know better.
Thank you! I Professor Weissmann always reminds us of the respect for the rule of law that had been a core principal of the FBI and our honorable law enforcement public servants. He is one of the many contributors to The Contrarian whose opinions we trust and rely on.
My favorite quotes: “...tell me how what we are seeing in California is worse than what happened on January 6th, where you say that was not in any way a rebellion, right? I mean, that's supposed to be like this great event. That qualifies a whole lot more as some kind of insurrection or rebellion or invasion of the proud boys and the Oath Keepers.." "And relying on the discretion of Donald Trump and Pete Hegseth is, you know, cause for panic."
Thank you, Andrew! I really hope the L.A. "protestors" remain peaceful, so the focus becomes the massive waste of money and the questionable legality of these actions.
In theory, I agree with you. But, I live in Los Angeles, and you can't even imagine how terrible the Gestapo ICE agents have been to peaceful immigrants, many of whom have lived here for many years, work hard, pay their taxes, and contribute to our city.
If it were me and my loved ones, I'd hope that we wouldn't be abandoned. Even our Mayor doesn't know where they have been taken, and whether they are okay. She wants to make sure they aren't being mistreated, and get them legal representation.
It was mostly peaceful until the National Guard and Marines came. Now, people are terrified, and there are outside agitators within the crowds. It's not going to end well, but that's what Trump wanted.
Thank you for the update. I simply cannot image how terrifying it is to live there.
You're welcome!
I believe this is the second Insurrection for which Trump is responsible. Obviously, the first one occurred on January 6, 2021. He felt powerless because he lost the 2020 election, and it was his first overtly violent action against our government. Although it wasn’t successful, there ended up being no consequences, because Trump won the election.
Lately, Trump’s felt powerless again, because of his losses in the courts, the tanking of the economy, the Musk debacle, and the unpopularity of his brutal budget bill. To push it through Congress, I think Trump believes he needs another overtly violent action, which his voters and Congressional Republicans will respect. So, he and Stephen Miller (or someone else) planned this second Insurrection. Trump’s most popular campaign promise was his mass deportation plan. If he could achieve success with that, it would not only appeal to MAGAs, but to the domestic terrorists he pardoned, neo-Nazi's, Christian nationalists, and white evangelical Christians. At the same time, Trump could seek revenge against voters in Los Angeles and California, whom he hates because he lost both elections here. And, he could get rid of millions of Hispanics in the most cruel and violent way, personality traits that define him.
David Frum, writing in the Atlantic, believes it’s a bigger story than that. He wrote that Trump had wanted to try this strategy before the 2020 election, but Secretary of Defense Mark Esper wouldn’t approve it. Now, Trump has no restraints. The plan consists of three steps: 1. Use federal power to create a made-for-TV disturbance. 2. Evoke the disturbance to cause a state of emergency, and involve federal troops. 3. Seize control of the government policing in June 2025, for use in the 2026 midterms.
It remains to be seen how this will play out.
The Nazi's used the Reichstag fire in Germany to the same end by providing a pretext for suppressing political opposition and consolidating Hitler's control. The fire, which was blamed on communists by the Nazis, led to the enactment of emergency decrees that curtailed civil liberties, facilitated mass arrests of political opponents, and effectively dismantled democratic institutions. This allowed Hitler to ban the Communist Party, silence other political parties, and gain a majority in the Reichstag, paving the way for his dictatorship. Trump will try to set "Reichstag fires" whenever he can.
Thank you! I genuinely appreciate learning something I evidently don't remember, and is so important!
The Deployment of 700 Marines & 4000 National Guard Troops & the Broader Context;
1. Tonight. JEN PSAKI, called everyone attention to the fact that Trump's " ... underlying order does not even mention the state of California at all". The order is NOT limited by any state boundary certainly not California.
2. JEN PSAKI detailed the EXACT timing of Trump's various false statements & propaganda.
For example: at 2:41 am Trump trumpeted the "job well done" by Guardsmen when in the real world the guardsmen were NOT even deployed untie eight (8) hours LATER around 11:00 AM.
3. At 3:34 PM claimed 700 Marines from 29 Palms, CA had the "situation under control". But, desert based Marines were not even deployed to downtown "L.A." until another 30 minutes LATER. WTF?
4. What does Steve Miller ... er ... Trump does mean by the 'situation' is "under control". The major problem is whether to the Marines should sleep in the Lobby or the spacious basement of a downtown L.A. building.
***************************************
California files lather federal lawsuit lawsuit: Newsom et al vs.Trump & Clowns
The State of California has taken legal action filing a federal lawsuit a "DRA" which is just a remedy asking the Court to apply facts, real facts to the law, actual law & declare who, what, when & where and also get Injunctive Relief --- essentially STOP the Bad Guys permanently.
Now the Good Stuff:
********************
Where was the case filed? Rubin is correct. The case was NOT filed in the expected Central District of California but, up in San Francisco in Courtroom 6 on Floor 17, That makes this Californian & Commenter very happy because Judge CHARLES R. BREYER is the last federal Judge I appeared before in my last Northern District of California case.
Judge Breyer is a Judge's Judge and yes, he is in fact the brother of the retired SCOTUS Judge Breyer. The docket will move quickly, but move on a with a well briefed & adequate record.
Spoiler Alert: Injunction: GRANTED.
As always, Andrew Weissmann gives it to us straight! I appreciate his candor.
I loved the descriptions of LA as being "on fire" while concurrent video clearly showed a relatively small group who for the most part were peaceful and the area of the protest encompassed just a few blocks. Watching 2000 national guard troops standing there with their thumbs up their asses was sad and pathetic. Trump tried to create a Tiananmen Square but to his chagrin, it was more like a church bingo game. The lesson: believe your eyes, not what you hear.
Pretext for dampening June 14 protests, no doubt!
He will do anything for an audience.
Thanks very much Jen and Andrew. Your analysis and review of the law, the circumstances and your insightful knowledge helps us/me navigate (with some sobriety) going forward. It's otherwise overwhelming to sort it all out. Sorting...
Andrew Weissmann is being rational. But when a question, based on our law, when you are in a discussion is posed to those who do not care about the law (or the Constitution for that matter) or even know what it is, how does one expect a rational answer? How do you communicate? Words, "invasion" "rebellion" are used to suit Trump to fit his rationale.
What is the definition of invasion, what is a rebellion? ( January 6th 2021 was an insurrection BTW no question.) If you have a judge that is similarly corrupt then you are all set. So it's important that the law is firm about definitions and not a partisan. SCOTUS is getting close to being so corrupt. But, that said, it's up to the Secretary of Defense to decide if the troops stay? My goodness!!
Off point but as Trump has said protesters at his birthday parade will be dealt with harshly I suggest people arrive en bloc and maintain total silence
We don't even need to be there. This is exactly why No Kings has organized protests nationwide EXCEPT for in DC. Let him call the marines to mobilize to over 1,800 street corners in hundreds of cities in every state while his big chest-thumping parade draws only puny crowds. Nothing could be a better "F YOU" to the mad king.
I agree with Jigz. I think the brilliance of the No Kings (and other Indivisible demonstrations) is that they were organized democratically right from the start. I live in a rather rural place and there are five of them within driving distance. Anyone can organize one (or two or three) demonstration on their own. You can stand at the end of your own driveway with a sign (though it's really a lift to the spirit to be with others). It all counts. I do believe that the widespread nature of these protests is driving Prez Fubar even more nuts than usual.
And yes, I concede that it doesn't take much.
Thank you Andrew and Jen for your words of wisdom. You both do a great job of cutting through the BS.
Be safe everyone!!
In 1970 my university quadrangle was surrounded by the national guard at University of Illinois. Maybe a hundred or more students were peacefully sitting on the lawn listening to speakers. Suddenly 8 or 9 people ran through the seated students up to the stage, maybe 200 feet and lit the U.S. flag on fire. These were not students, they were provocateurs. This was few days after the Kent State students were shot and killed in Ohio. So, not just Civil Rights but also university campuses are part of the story. Demonstrators at the Democratic Convention in Chicago were attacked as well. This may be the play book the far right likes because people were beat up at many of the demonstrations that year. FYI. Your piece is very informative but this detail is missing and it's BIG.