In The Atlantic, Adrienne LaFrance compares our experience with that of Russia and the Philippines. Her conclusions ought to alarm us.

Fourth Circuit Appeals Court Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, an old-line staunch conservative and a Reagan nominee, defends the rule of law against our lawless, mendacious President in the Kilmar Abrego case. An opinion for the ages, people.

With the Insurrection Act looming, now is the time to learn how it might unfold and the strategic ways to respond — including the power of ridicule.

(From Daniel Hunter in Waging Nonviolence, April 4, 2025.)

(From xaxnar on Daily Kos, April 17, 2025.)

Dear Democratic Party

I need more from you.

You keep sending emails begging for $15, while we’re watching fascism consolidate power in real time.

Among many, the two most currently harmful ones are these: first, that the US cannot compel El Salvador to return Kilmar Abrego; and second, that Ukraine started the war with Russia.

While a lot of what Norton says applies best to really big and diverse protest events, it’s still worth reflecting on what works best politically, and in terms of personal safety, for people who just want to exercise their free speech rights and aren’t looking for a confrontation with the police.

https://x.com/ChrisMurphyCT/status/1912177316353970419

Meanwhile, this happened in New Bedford.

In a stinging, heartfelt column, conservative Andrew Sullivan calls out the Trump administration for its cruelty, ignorance, and anti-American actions.

In Vox, Eric Levitz interviews David Shor about his analysis of a massive sample of election data from last November. His conclusions differ from those you’ve probably read in the last few months, based as they were on exit-poll data,

The always-valuable Marcy Wheeler surveys the many acts of legal and political resistance beneath the noise. Take heart, people!

(Letter to the Editor by Jim Mahon, Berkshire Eagle, March 6, 2025)

A lot of people are shocked and bewildered by the chaos in Washington.  Musk and Trump are acting like thoughtless vandals.  Nobody voted in November to end medical research or undermine the VA.  So what’s up? 

The fightback is gathering steam and even our more cautious Democratic leaders, Jeffries and Schumer, are finding their backbones. Our champions are our firebrands: Senators Warren, Markey, Chris Van Hollen, Brian Schatz, Sheldon Whitehouse and, of course, Bernie; members of Congress Jamie Raskin, Jim McGovern, AOC, and Melanie Stansbury, among others.

The Wall Street Journal editorial board, a traditional voice of mainstream Republicans, rips Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine. Meanwhile, as the New York Times reports, Republicans in Congress are silent as their President undermines their own foreign policy principles.

Anne Applebaum reminds us of the stakes in modern public administration—and what Trump and Musk are destroying—in The Atlantic (Feb. 13, 2025). (Text below.)

Danielle Sassoon (a Trump appointee who clerked for Antonin Scalia) and Hagan Scotten, US Attorney and AUSA in the Southern District of New York, chose to resign rather than implement a corrupt deal to dismiss charges against the Mayor of New York, Eric Adams, in exchange for his obedience to Trump. Read their inspiring resignation letters: Sassoon; Scotten.

 Here’s some research to identify vulnerable House Republicans, in an attempt to predict who is most likely to get uncomfortable with the chaos in DC.  Please encourage family and friends in these places to call in to their vulnerable member of Congress, to write LTE's, to circulate memes on FB, and to demand that their member hold a town hall to face constituents.

(Letter to The Berkshire Eagle by Marietta Rapetti Cawse, Feb. 4, 2025)

During the last two weeks we have seen our president surround himself with billionaires who are removing accountability structures. We voters seek democratic values: Facts. Integrity. Decency. Responsible Leadership. Opportunity. We must hold MAGA accountable for their efforts to destroy our government following the plans in Project 2025.