These cases tell me that in truth, we are living under authoritarianism. Pure and simple. In my blog I have called for massive gerrymandering as a response to MAGA gerrymandering. California and New York could twist out up to 12-15 republican districts and it doesn’t matter anymore if it’s fair policy. There is no fairness. So let’s get on with it Democrats.
Why not break the A.B.A wire transfer funds in the blue states subsidizing the M.A.G.A. states to impound tax monies to take care of programs blighted by the D.O.G.E.-bags? Then remand the balance to D.C.?
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
I read '1984' a few months and 'Fahrenheit 451' a month later; the preceded and influenced the latter. One deals with totalitarianism in practice and the other with totalitarianism in its consequences culturally.
Another book, recently recommended by an acquaintance, is 'The Feast of the Goat' by Nobel prize winner, Mario Vargas Llosa. That examines the mind and structure of a dictator and his dictatorship (i.e., that of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic).
Not only a very informative historical narrative, but also brutal. One, particularly a woman, need not read the last quarter of the book; it was hard for me as a guy to read..
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
By all accounts, we are living under authoritarianism. In my opinion, now is the time for democratic majority states to enact massive gerrymandering efforts. Both California and New York have perhaps 12-15 republican districts that could be twisted and made democratic. Trump is urging Texas to gerrymander even more and well, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
It doesn’t seem so, does it? Every time something is pointed out about a republican action, attention is always diverted. Memory is faulty. The “but what about “people are always quick too.
The book 1984 has always been about at the top of my reading list since it came out, have reread much of it. Read about Germany in 1933.
To me it's vital to have 2 strong parties. Eisenhower said you can't tell someone on the far right from the far left - they both spit on you when they talk.
Press coverage of these decisions is appalling. DC district judge Sullivan last week ordered OMB to restore the appropriations webpage it wrongfully took down in March. Nary a peep from any paper. Thank you for everything you do, Joyce. 🙏
🏛️ Congress.gov Appropriations Resources: Offers detailed status tables and search tools for appropriations bills by fiscal year. Great for tracking legislation and budget measures.
📊 OpenOMB: A user-friendly database maintained by Protect Democracy that tracks apportionments — the plans OMB uses to release appropriated funds to agencies. It’s not affiliated with the government, but it’s built on OMB’s data.
🧭 OMB’s Apportionment Website: This is the official site OMB launched to meet transparency requirements. It includes downloadable apportionment documents and guidance on how to read them.
The courts have tried their best, but the DOJ just simply overrides them most of the time. The target to stop this criminal administration is to take down the DOJ, and illegal Bondi with it. She is doing all of Trump's dirty work, with a smile on her war torn, warty face. Without her and her crimes, he could not fight, disregard and neuter the Federal judges. And I thought Barr was bad under the first Trump debacle. Wow, was I wrong. Barr looks like George Washington compared to this hellish bitch.
No, you were right. William Barr was, and remains, an utter scumball and is probably feeling grateful and astonished that for some unknown and unknowable reason Merrick Garland did not call even for his disbarment, let alone his amply merited prosecution for any number of criminal offenses.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it Bill Barr’s father who hired Jeff Epstein to teach math while he (Barr, Sr.) was the Headmaster at the Dalton School (a fancy prep school in Manhattan)?
You are correct. There's so much sickness associated with this creature trump it's hard to comprehend. They seek each other out. Maybe there really is a cabal of pedophiles trying to run the country. In the White House, in congress in Gym Jordan, in the courts. And they're Republicans
And what always amazed about fat Bill is that he was a respected attorney before he decided to whore himself to Trump in 2016. Couldn't understand any of that. He partially redeemed himself, a bit, when he didn't go along with the bullshit of 1/6 at the Capitol, then quit.
Ain't that the truth?? I think she whores herself to Trump every day, figuratively and literally, then does his horrible bidding: firing competent Fed prosecutors because they don't bend the knee, and/or tell the truth in court (what an idea!), blocking judges who attempt to dismiss orders for deportation, reinstating the incompetent Alina (no criminal prosecutorial experience at all) as Federal "prosecutor" in NJ, (another whore who wouldn't know the criminal code if it bit her in the ass), turning her staff into loyalists only or they get canned, lying her ass off about the Epstein files, as well as setting up a potential pardon for Maxwell, as we all know she will get. Guess Bondi bitch thinks it was just fine to abuse young girls as her master and his other johns willed it, as long as she got a very large paycheck and her ugly face in the news, as well as pats on the back and in her groin from DT. She needs to be booted out of the legal profession, as so many of her fellow Floridian jurists have said repeatedly. They would know, as they've seen her in action, or inaction, for years, and are not impressed one twit. She is as sickening as they come, and cannot wait until the handcuffs close on her wrists, the jailcell closes on her person, and the courts do THEIR bidding, not hers.
It seems so, yet I’m beginning to see that SCOTUS is not the court that matters most. I’m no lawyer or legal scholar, but as I read these Civil Discourse entries, I see that much is decided by what the “lower court” judges write in their decisions. What’s said and how it’s said is mighty. I see hope in that, though, to be clear, I am sickened by the whole affair.
Thank you for encapsulatin̈g into palateable chunks the straightforward explantions so that we the public can comprehend the dirty dancing of these nasty bads at work. Thanks to you they sre unmasked and exposed for cowardice and sniveling evil intent.
"but is nervous about 'poking the bear.'” WHEW! If that doesn't perfectly describe the depths to which this nation has fallen, I don't know what does. This U.S. citizen was: held illegally; lied to; and threatened -- but he's afraid of antagonizing his aggressors by reporting them.
Now is the time for courage. Easy enough for me to say, I'm not likely to be detained at the border, but in all things, whether it's protesting and carrying a sign or speaking up among family and friends or writing a blog. Thank you to all who are not ducking out.
Seems to me that the Trumpish tactic of delay-delay - appeal the rules, not the substance - defeats the bogus DOGE initiative to pare waste—all these ridiculous lawsuits cost money and, for their sheer frivolity, should be monetarily penalized.
The money he’s spent in law suits in his private life is astonishing. His money and money “friends” are buying a deluge of frivolous to win the war of power to rule absolute.
It’s an evil scheme to tear down USA from inside. Putin couldn’t be happier for us to implode like USSR.
The money benefactors want to be a super-override vote of Congress to buy their policies of hate of the common people.
Our Constitution is our firewall. A majority of MAGA ignorance of its power to prevent this is being subsumed by a compliant gop Congress.
I never thought it was a country for the self benighted only over “E Pluribus Unum”.
don-old trying to delay and distract doesn’t seem to be working as well for him. It is another busy week. Thanks Joyce for bringing all the cases together and explaining what is happening now and what we can expect.
The continuation of a significant case occurs this coming Thursday (31) when The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit hears oral arguments on whether Demento has the unlimited authority he claims under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs. The thing to keep in mind is the performative "deals" like those announced by Demento with the E.U. and Japan have no bearing on the legality of his tariffs, and especially those imposed under his claimed IEEPA authority. Congress has the final say on trade agreements. But the significance goes beyond the Federal Circuit effectively determining the extent of that authority in V.O.S. Selections v. Trump and generally, whether he can usurp congressional prerogatives.
The Federal Circuit is unlikely to have the final word; almost certainly that will come from the Imperial Court which will be presented with a number of procedural issues beyond the facts of the case at hand. The Federal Circuit could issue an injunction on the tariffs imposed under the IEEPA for which the government would inevitably ask for a stay from the Court via its "shadow docket." Or, assuming the appeals court doesn't (wrongly) uphold the tariffs, and instead strikes them down with no injunction, the Court would likely have to put the matter on its normal merits docket. At a minimum, the Federal Circuit’s decision is significantly likely to decide how quickly the Court must take up this case, and whether it needs to explain its ultimate decision to support or oppose the tariffs. And moreover --- come face to face with its own Frankenstein's monster, the “major questions doctrine.” This doctrine requires Congress to “speak clearly” before it can give the executive branch the power to make decisions of “vast economic and political significance.’” Like tariffs.
just asked about this, thanks for some further info. I'm keen to see how this plays out, the stock market is desperately avoiding the potential problems these tariffs will create. It would be nice to get some clarity.
My friend gave me a copy of 1984 she got from a second hand store.it has type written questions and answers taped throughout. I took them out but kept them just Incase.
Good evening. I know it is barely Monday, but at any rate, Alina Habba??? Please!!! No way is she qualified for the job; she was a nothing burger on the trump team of attorneys, who was basically eye candy for the Donald, at best. That's all I have to say on the matter, except that DJT's granting jobs to people who were loyal to him, when they are in NO WAY qualified for the position given to them ONLY HURTS AMERICA & AMERICANS of all colors, shapes, & sizes. That is only ONE reason why his Presidency is so lame as his bath water must be (I only assume he bathes, though with his stench, how could one tell). WORST administration choices EVER will be one of the few accolades one might choose to crown trump with. I yield back my time.
Alina Habba is “special” because her dad is Grand Knight of Malta which DJT thinks makes his daughter a “princess” to be rewarded.
He doesn’t think any of these jobs require skills. He has always just wanted loyal troops to do his bidding and they can’t see how servile that is. They love the fame and fortune for their souls.
“This administration doesn’t know when to take the loss”. And that’s trump’s major character flaw. When he’s wrong (which is often) he never admits it. trump just doubles down on the lies and vitriol in the hopes that his opponent will back down.
As time goes on, we’re learning when to anticipate his tricks and how to forcibly repel them. Example? The Epstein files.
His wins are personal for him to validate his f’cked-up theories of power to rule. He needs to win as a loss means he is not the special one to “only I can save” blah blah BS. Megalomaniac
Thank you for the above. Had read about the Chavarria case and was stunned. The attitude and power of those who held him captive as he validated his status and confronted the power-driven men who questioned him while being emotionally overtaken by the situation, unbeknownst to him, about the condition of his husband. The angst of not knowing and not being answered there and then. No law there, just chance. I wish you and yours a happy vacation and to you a belated happy birthday.
There’s no penalties for FILING a frivolous lawsuit? Isn’t that also a waste of judicial time? (Monies to file the litigation, time spent reviewing and considering the motions, all that.)
The court system doesn’t just reach in to pull and penalize a filing that’s frivolous. A lawyer for the side that was sued frivolously needs to ask the court to take action and that’s done by alleging the frivolous nature of the original lawsuit . If it’s egregious enough and obvious enough, a judge can act on the pleadings fairly . But there still has to be the court filing.
A lawyer more experience than I has written to me separately to say that it is certainly possible for a court to act unilaterally. But I guess my point is somebody has to complain about it in some fashion. And it’s a high bar to achieve a successful result. You only have to look at the notorious examples of Rudy Giuliani and Ken Cheeseboro and the rest to see how difficult it is to get there.That’s the trouble with commenting on these sites, even if you know something about the law, somebody will know something more!
Unfortunately, practically EVERY body knows more than I! But ask your friend whether the court itself can initiate an action? At least one disbarment has been initiated by the court … I think.
1984 will be a re-read for me, and looking forward to the bookclub discussion!
Thanks so much for your consistently comprehensible analyses of the court cases - you are a national treasure. Stay safe.
These cases tell me that in truth, we are living under authoritarianism. Pure and simple. In my blog I have called for massive gerrymandering as a response to MAGA gerrymandering. California and New York could twist out up to 12-15 republican districts and it doesn’t matter anymore if it’s fair policy. There is no fairness. So let’s get on with it Democrats.
Why not break the A.B.A wire transfer funds in the blue states subsidizing the M.A.G.A. states to impound tax monies to take care of programs blighted by the D.O.G.E.-bags? Then remand the balance to D.C.?
Indeed. Well Newsom has made the threat. I have heard rumors that re-gerrymandering could backfire though.
Thank you, Megan Rothery!
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
Protests, lawsuits and the media. Has been working, and it's the only way.
I read '1984' a few months and 'Fahrenheit 451' a month later; the preceded and influenced the latter. One deals with totalitarianism in practice and the other with totalitarianism in its consequences culturally.
Another book, recently recommended by an acquaintance, is 'The Feast of the Goat' by Nobel prize winner, Mario Vargas Llosa. That examines the mind and structure of a dictator and his dictatorship (i.e., that of Rafael Trujillo in the Dominican Republic).
Not only a very informative historical narrative, but also brutal. One, particularly a woman, need not read the last quarter of the book; it was hard for me as a guy to read..
Thank you. As always!
And my normal -
Use/share this spreadsheet (bit.ly/Goodtrouble) as a resource to call/email/write members of Congress, the Cabinet and news organizations. Reach out to those in your own state, and those in a committee that fits your topic. Call. Write. Email. Protest. Unrelentingly. We deserve better ❤️🩹🤍💙
By all accounts, we are living under authoritarianism. In my opinion, now is the time for democratic majority states to enact massive gerrymandering efforts. Both California and New York have perhaps 12-15 republican districts that could be twisted and made democratic. Trump is urging Texas to gerrymander even more and well, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
It doesn’t seem so, does it? Every time something is pointed out about a republican action, attention is always diverted. Memory is faulty. The “but what about “people are always quick too.
The book 1984 has always been about at the top of my reading list since it came out, have reread much of it. Read about Germany in 1933.
To me it's vital to have 2 strong parties. Eisenhower said you can't tell someone on the far right from the far left - they both spit on you when they talk.
Press coverage of these decisions is appalling. DC district judge Sullivan last week ordered OMB to restore the appropriations webpage it wrongfully took down in March. Nary a peep from any paper. Thank you for everything you do, Joyce. 🙏
So much gratitude for the courts that help me sleep at night....
🏛️ Congress.gov Appropriations Resources: Offers detailed status tables and search tools for appropriations bills by fiscal year. Great for tracking legislation and budget measures.
📊 OpenOMB: A user-friendly database maintained by Protect Democracy that tracks apportionments — the plans OMB uses to release appropriated funds to agencies. It’s not affiliated with the government, but it’s built on OMB’s data.
🧭 OMB’s Apportionment Website: This is the official site OMB launched to meet transparency requirements. It includes downloadable apportionment documents and guidance on how to read them.
The courts have tried their best, but the DOJ just simply overrides them most of the time. The target to stop this criminal administration is to take down the DOJ, and illegal Bondi with it. She is doing all of Trump's dirty work, with a smile on her war torn, warty face. Without her and her crimes, he could not fight, disregard and neuter the Federal judges. And I thought Barr was bad under the first Trump debacle. Wow, was I wrong. Barr looks like George Washington compared to this hellish bitch.
No, you were right. William Barr was, and remains, an utter scumball and is probably feeling grateful and astonished that for some unknown and unknowable reason Merrick Garland did not call even for his disbarment, let alone his amply merited prosecution for any number of criminal offenses.
Please correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t it Bill Barr’s father who hired Jeff Epstein to teach math while he (Barr, Sr.) was the Headmaster at the Dalton School (a fancy prep school in Manhattan)?
You are correct. There's so much sickness associated with this creature trump it's hard to comprehend. They seek each other out. Maybe there really is a cabal of pedophiles trying to run the country. In the White House, in congress in Gym Jordan, in the courts. And they're Republicans
And what always amazed about fat Bill is that he was a respected attorney before he decided to whore himself to Trump in 2016. Couldn't understand any of that. He partially redeemed himself, a bit, when he didn't go along with the bullshit of 1/6 at the Capitol, then quit.
Barr was an ideologue. Bondi is a whore, with her being a woman only coincidental to that sad fact.
Ain't that the truth?? I think she whores herself to Trump every day, figuratively and literally, then does his horrible bidding: firing competent Fed prosecutors because they don't bend the knee, and/or tell the truth in court (what an idea!), blocking judges who attempt to dismiss orders for deportation, reinstating the incompetent Alina (no criminal prosecutorial experience at all) as Federal "prosecutor" in NJ, (another whore who wouldn't know the criminal code if it bit her in the ass), turning her staff into loyalists only or they get canned, lying her ass off about the Epstein files, as well as setting up a potential pardon for Maxwell, as we all know she will get. Guess Bondi bitch thinks it was just fine to abuse young girls as her master and his other johns willed it, as long as she got a very large paycheck and her ugly face in the news, as well as pats on the back and in her groin from DT. She needs to be booted out of the legal profession, as so many of her fellow Floridian jurists have said repeatedly. They would know, as they've seen her in action, or inaction, for years, and are not impressed one twit. She is as sickening as they come, and cannot wait until the handcuffs close on her wrists, the jailcell closes on her person, and the courts do THEIR bidding, not hers.
RR just call her BonDEI.
The court that matters most, SCOTUS, has definitely NOT tried its best, in my opinion.
It seems so, yet I’m beginning to see that SCOTUS is not the court that matters most. I’m no lawyer or legal scholar, but as I read these Civil Discourse entries, I see that much is decided by what the “lower court” judges write in their decisions. What’s said and how it’s said is mighty. I see hope in that, though, to be clear, I am sickened by the whole affair.
Thank you for encapsulatin̈g into palateable chunks the straightforward explantions so that we the public can comprehend the dirty dancing of these nasty bads at work. Thanks to you they sre unmasked and exposed for cowardice and sniveling evil intent.
"but is nervous about 'poking the bear.'” WHEW! If that doesn't perfectly describe the depths to which this nation has fallen, I don't know what does. This U.S. citizen was: held illegally; lied to; and threatened -- but he's afraid of antagonizing his aggressors by reporting them.
Now is the time for courage. Easy enough for me to say, I'm not likely to be detained at the border, but in all things, whether it's protesting and carrying a sign or speaking up among family and friends or writing a blog. Thank you to all who are not ducking out.
Yes, terrifying for those who are somehow brave enough to stand up to evil.
Seems to me that the Trumpish tactic of delay-delay - appeal the rules, not the substance - defeats the bogus DOGE initiative to pare waste—all these ridiculous lawsuits cost money and, for their sheer frivolity, should be monetarily penalized.
Absolutely agree.
The money he’s spent in law suits in his private life is astonishing. His money and money “friends” are buying a deluge of frivolous to win the war of power to rule absolute.
It’s an evil scheme to tear down USA from inside. Putin couldn’t be happier for us to implode like USSR.
The money benefactors want to be a super-override vote of Congress to buy their policies of hate of the common people.
Our Constitution is our firewall. A majority of MAGA ignorance of its power to prevent this is being subsumed by a compliant gop Congress.
I never thought it was a country for the self benighted only over “E Pluribus Unum”.
Pissed.
Important to remember that “(t)he money he’s spent” is never his own money … but cash he conned out of MAGA with The Big Lie.
don-old trying to delay and distract doesn’t seem to be working as well for him. It is another busy week. Thanks Joyce for bringing all the cases together and explaining what is happening now and what we can expect.
The continuation of a significant case occurs this coming Thursday (31) when The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit hears oral arguments on whether Demento has the unlimited authority he claims under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose tariffs. The thing to keep in mind is the performative "deals" like those announced by Demento with the E.U. and Japan have no bearing on the legality of his tariffs, and especially those imposed under his claimed IEEPA authority. Congress has the final say on trade agreements. But the significance goes beyond the Federal Circuit effectively determining the extent of that authority in V.O.S. Selections v. Trump and generally, whether he can usurp congressional prerogatives.
The Federal Circuit is unlikely to have the final word; almost certainly that will come from the Imperial Court which will be presented with a number of procedural issues beyond the facts of the case at hand. The Federal Circuit could issue an injunction on the tariffs imposed under the IEEPA for which the government would inevitably ask for a stay from the Court via its "shadow docket." Or, assuming the appeals court doesn't (wrongly) uphold the tariffs, and instead strikes them down with no injunction, the Court would likely have to put the matter on its normal merits docket. At a minimum, the Federal Circuit’s decision is significantly likely to decide how quickly the Court must take up this case, and whether it needs to explain its ultimate decision to support or oppose the tariffs. And moreover --- come face to face with its own Frankenstein's monster, the “major questions doctrine.” This doctrine requires Congress to “speak clearly” before it can give the executive branch the power to make decisions of “vast economic and political significance.’” Like tariffs.
just asked about this, thanks for some further info. I'm keen to see how this plays out, the stock market is desperately avoiding the potential problems these tariffs will create. It would be nice to get some clarity.
Thanks for this preview of the week's cases.
My friend gave me a copy of 1984 she got from a second hand store.it has type written questions and answers taped throughout. I took them out but kept them just Incase.
Good evening. I know it is barely Monday, but at any rate, Alina Habba??? Please!!! No way is she qualified for the job; she was a nothing burger on the trump team of attorneys, who was basically eye candy for the Donald, at best. That's all I have to say on the matter, except that DJT's granting jobs to people who were loyal to him, when they are in NO WAY qualified for the position given to them ONLY HURTS AMERICA & AMERICANS of all colors, shapes, & sizes. That is only ONE reason why his Presidency is so lame as his bath water must be (I only assume he bathes, though with his stench, how could one tell). WORST administration choices EVER will be one of the few accolades one might choose to crown trump with. I yield back my time.
Alina Habba is “special” because her dad is Grand Knight of Malta which DJT thinks makes his daughter a “princess” to be rewarded.
He doesn’t think any of these jobs require skills. He has always just wanted loyal troops to do his bidding and they can’t see how servile that is. They love the fame and fortune for their souls.
didn't remember about her dad & you are 100% correct on the balance of your remark. Kudos.
“This administration doesn’t know when to take the loss”. And that’s trump’s major character flaw. When he’s wrong (which is often) he never admits it. trump just doubles down on the lies and vitriol in the hopes that his opponent will back down.
As time goes on, we’re learning when to anticipate his tricks and how to forcibly repel them. Example? The Epstein files.
His wins are personal for him to validate his f’cked-up theories of power to rule. He needs to win as a loss means he is not the special one to “only I can save” blah blah BS. Megalomaniac
Somehow this book wasn’t assigned in class so this will be a first read for me. Looking forward to it.
I can’t believe the audacity of ICE and border patrol. Thank you Joyce for keeping me up to date on these cases.
Thank you for the above. Had read about the Chavarria case and was stunned. The attitude and power of those who held him captive as he validated his status and confronted the power-driven men who questioned him while being emotionally overtaken by the situation, unbeknownst to him, about the condition of his husband. The angst of not knowing and not being answered there and then. No law there, just chance. I wish you and yours a happy vacation and to you a belated happy birthday.
This flurry of DoJ cases smell more like politics than law—aren’t there penalties for frivolous litigation? (A variation on my comment above.)
Yes, but one has to bring a lawsuit alleging that to get the penalty for frivolous litigation, and its not as easy to prove as you would think.
There’s no penalties for FILING a frivolous lawsuit? Isn’t that also a waste of judicial time? (Monies to file the litigation, time spent reviewing and considering the motions, all that.)
The court system doesn’t just reach in to pull and penalize a filing that’s frivolous. A lawyer for the side that was sued frivolously needs to ask the court to take action and that’s done by alleging the frivolous nature of the original lawsuit . If it’s egregious enough and obvious enough, a judge can act on the pleadings fairly . But there still has to be the court filing.
Aha! Thanks for the info!
A lawyer more experience than I has written to me separately to say that it is certainly possible for a court to act unilaterally. But I guess my point is somebody has to complain about it in some fashion. And it’s a high bar to achieve a successful result. You only have to look at the notorious examples of Rudy Giuliani and Ken Cheeseboro and the rest to see how difficult it is to get there.That’s the trouble with commenting on these sites, even if you know something about the law, somebody will know something more!
Unfortunately, practically EVERY body knows more than I! But ask your friend whether the court itself can initiate an action? At least one disbarment has been initiated by the court … I think.