The Weakest Regime
As it consolidates power, the Trump Regime shows us its hand. Their cards aren’t good, and they know it.
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I can’t decide which of these news stories makes the Trump Regime seem more pathetic:
Pam Bondi claiming that Sandwich Guy, AKA Sean Charles Dunn, was part of the Deep State and holding a drunk guy who threw a sandwich up as some kind of force to be reckoned with.
Trump attempting to shake down Norway’s finance minister to award him the Nobel Peace Prize, seemingly in exchange for a better tariff deal.
The Trump Regime is so weak that they think Sandwich Guy, a career civil servant and Air Force Veteran, is somehow a significant threat to their rule. Donald Trump is so weak that he’s begging a cabinet minister in Norway to award him the Nobel Peace Prize because he’s insanely jealous that Barack Obama has one. These are not the actions of serious people.
And yet the Trump Regime continues to consolidate power and take over American institutions in rapid succession. Countless leaders have chosen to obey in advance, either because they think the path of least resistance will save them or because they support the Trump Regime and its actions. As I write this, the Trump Regime continues to occupy Washington D.C., our nation’s Capitol, using a combination of military and law enforcement. The same people who incited their base into an insurrection, as part of their broader coup attempt to hold onto power, have decided that Sandwich Guy and his fellow DC residents are some kind of Deep State insurgency.
A weak enemy when cornered is still incredibly dangerous, as DC residents have learned this week with their city under occupation. Per reporting from The Root, more than 100 arrests have been made, and as several online videos show, the harassment from authorities is common and frequently documented. DC residents are fighting back with both organized and organic resistance. But I expect the siege will continue, and the more desperate the Trump Regime becomes to hold onto power, the more depraved their acts of state-sponsored terror and violence will become. DC is a predominantly Black city, and as we’ve already seen, the vast majority of the harm will be towards its Black and Brown population.
The Trump Regime’s weakness was also on display in California, where Governor Gavin Newsom held a press conference yesterday to unveil his redistricting plan in response to the Regime’s attempts to deligitimize the midterm elections by redrawing the maps in Texas. The Trump Regime sent Border Control officers to patrol outside the presser and terrorize participants, reporters, and anyone who happened to be passing by.
Thankfully, Newsom isn’t intimidated. He’s been rock solid in his opposition to Trump’s electoral power grab, using every lever of his perch as the governor of California to fight back against it. Blue state governors have been stepping up in the way that I’d hoped, and this particular fight gives them an opportunity to flex their muscle and hold the line against fascism. Hopefully, it’s the first of many fights they’ll engage in.
Given how disappointed many of us are at institutions right now, seeing Democratic party leaders embrace the plight of Texas Legislators who fled the state has been a welcome change. Former President Obama lent his support this week, holding a call with these legislators and releasing a portion of his remarks to the press. These folks have put their lives on hold to fight for their constituents, and will face the wrath of the Trump Regime and its Greg Abbott-led satellite government now that they are returning home.
The Trump Regime might be in control, but we can see examples of its weakness all around us. And every day, there are more opportunities for us to engage in the fight. A few ways for you to plug in and get involved this right now:
DC Residents: Free DC has plenty of guidance for ways to resist and protest, including orientation calls and meetings. Locals I’ve talked to assure me that this is one of the easiest ways to get involved.
California Residents: California Democrats believe they have the votes needed to move forward with their own redistricting plan. Now is a good time to call your elected officials and thank them. Let them know you appreciate them holding the line and that you have their back. Help build their courage for the next inevitable fight.
Everyone else who wants to engage in redistricting resistance: Indivisible has suggestions on how to take action, no matter where you live. I’d also suggest looking for ways to create friction against the Trump regime in ways big and small. Or as I put it in a previous newsletter, find the marker and remove it.