The Smile: 7/11

 

Hi friend, Happy Friday! Nearly 200 Democratic lawmakers are fighting Trump’s reckless tariff agenda in court. They’re taking a bold stand to defend Congress’s authority, protect small businesses, and stop skyrocketing costs for families. ✍️ Add your name to applaud these leaders for standing up to Trump’s abuse of power and fighting for economic fairness -  SUBSCRIBE TO RECEIVE CIVIC SHOUT'S SINCLE CLICK PETITION  & JOIN OTHERS TO SPEAK OUT! And in more headlines: Cory Booker sets a fundraising record after his marathon speech, Tennessee Democrats see a special election opening, and hundreds of animals were rescued after Texas storms. Let’s dive into the good news! 💛 Federal judge blocks Trump’s EO on birthright citizenship after SCOTUS ruling Judge orders Jan. 6 rally organizer to pay $2K daily until compliance with subpoena   excerpt:  A federal judge on Wednesday ordered an organizer of President Trump’s Jan. 6, 2021, rally at the Ellipse to pay $2,000 per day until she complies with a subpoena for records about her involvement in the event. U.S. District Judge Donald Middlebrooks said Republican fundraiser Caroline Wren’s “pattern of disregard and non-engagement” has unnecessarily delayed proceedings in a lawsuit brought by Capitol Police officers accusing Trump of spurring the Capitol attack. It’s blocked the officers from accessing discovery “to which they are entitled,” he said. “If these fines prove ineffective, I will consider additional steps to spur her compliance,” reads the order finding Wren in civil contempt. The judge wrote that additional sanctions, such as incarceration, were possible if the organizer does not comply with the subpoena. But at a hearing Wednesday, he said he would prefer not to “resort to incarceration,” Politico reported. The officers are seeking documents from Wren regarding the planning and fundraising for the event, in addition to communications about planning, security, encouraging attendance and the VIP section. Longtime Trump ally Rudy Giuliani has also so far defied a subpoena stemming from the lawsuit. In court filings last month, a lawyer for the officers asked a different federal judge to compel the former New York City mayor’s compliance. “Mr. Giuliani has failed to appear in this proceeding in any capacity,” lawyer Joshua Margolin wrote. The lawsuit against Trump and others involved in the riot, including the right-wing extremist Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, has been pending for four years. Thousands celebrate baby hippo Moo Deng’s first birthday at Thailand zoo As Trump tries to shut down Epstein questions, more Democrats starting asking them Watch: Steve Kornacki: Republicans face historical headwinds in 2026 midterms Cory Booker posts personal record fundraising haul after marathon speech Tennessee Democrats have a chance in a looming special congressional election Watch: Hundreds Of Animals Rescued After Texas Storms WOW! MUST WATCH VIDEO! THANK YOU TO ALL THE VOLUNTEERS! Donald Trump's Witness Move Fails in Gavin Newsom Case Trump emergency tariffs violate Constitution, Democrats argue in court case Today’s user-submitted photo comes from Nan E., who shared this adorable photo of their cats, Magic and Mandela! If you want the chance to have your photo featured, reply to this email 😄 Thank you for reading, and we hope these articles shine a light on your day. In solidarity, Emily from The Smile P.S. Know someone who could use a dose of good news? Forward this email and encourage them to subscribe to The Smile. Let’s spread the positivity together. 🌟

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LIVE FROM CAPITOL HILL SIT IN

A recording from Aaron Parnas's live video

Aaron Parnas Apr 27

Thank you to everyone who tuned into my live video! I’ll have a full news breakdown later tonight, but right now, I’m at the Capitol to cover the sit-in by Jeffries and Booker! Consider subscribing today to allow me to continue this work:

The Smile: 04/08/2025

 

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Hi friend, Democrats are stepping up to protect our courts from being weaponized — calling out Trump’s dangerous efforts to bend the justice system to his will. This fight is far from over, and your voice matters.  As pushback grows — even from billionaires and businesses once in Trump’s corner — we’re reminded that standing up for democracy is a collective effort. From protests to policy, people are speaking out, building power, and making change. Let’s keep that momentum going. 💛 Democrats target Trump’s effort to ‘bend our justice system to his will’ Billionaires are turning on Trump Businesses, conservative lawyers planning legal challenge to Trump's tariffs N.C. Supreme Court halts decision requiring verification of 65,000 votes in tight judicial race Mother and three children arrested by ICE in border czar's New York town released from detention THIS IS EGREGIOUS! HANDCUFFING CHILDREN? TOM HOMAN IS A LIAR & AN IRRATIONAL ZEALOT WHO DEFIED A COURT ORDER & SENT INNOCENT VICTIMS TO THE EL SALVADOR HELL HOLE! PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED THAT NO JUDGE WAS GOING TO TELL HIM WHAT TO DO! THESE LUNATICS ARE GRABBING PEOPLE AT AIRPORTS, ON THE STREET & IN  ONE LOCAL CASE, BROKE DOWN THE DOOR OF A HOME WITH CHILDREN, WITH NO WARRANT! NOTICE THE ICE GESTAPO HAVE NO IDENTIFICATION DISPLAYED!  THIS JEOPARDIZES ALL OF US! excerpt: In an open letter last week, Jaime Cook, principal of Sackets Harbor Central School, said the family "lived in a house on the same road as a home ICE had a warrant for. The fact that ICE went door to door is unfathomable." "The fact that our students were handcuffed and put into the same van as the alleged criminal from down the street is unconscionable," Cook's letter read. Hochul said Tuesday she “cannot think of any public safety justification for ICE agents to rip an innocent family, including a child in the third grade, from their Sackets Harbor home.” Cook said the children are in the third, 10th and 11th grades and had been at the school for three years. The mother and her three children were taken when immigration authorities were searching the Old McDonald's Farm for a South African immigrant, who has since been charged with distribution of child pornography. The South African immigrant's arrest was part of an "enhanced targeted operation" from Immigration and Customs Enforcement in western, central and northern New York from March 24 to 28. Homan had defended the operation and the family's arrest in an interview with WWNY-TV of Watertown last week. "ICE is doing everything by the book. Once the investigation gets to the point where we don’t have an interest in this family, then a decision will be made on release," Homan said. Cook said the family had long been part of the Sackets Harbor community, working at the farm for 15 years. She said that from showing up to their court hearings to declaring themselves to immigration judges, the mother and children had also been "doing everything right" to find a path to remain in the U.S. legally. Growing opposition from House conservatives threatens to derail Trump’s agenda 14 of the most eye-catching ‘Hands Off’ protest signs from anti-Trump demonstrations Black beauticians have always done more than style hair — they’ve built power Parkinson's patients rock climb at special event in Brookfield ‘This has got to be a moment in America,’ Cory Booker tells 1st town hall since record speech Today’s user-submitted photo was sent in by Paul C. who shared this cute photo of penguins! If you want the chance to have your photo featured, reply to this email 😄  Thank you for reading, and we hope these articles shine a light on your day. In solidarity, Emily from The Smile

 

Hands Off! Joyce Vance Apr 5 All across the country, people got out and protested today. Big rallies and small ones. In some places, people lined city streets and waved at passing cars. Elsewhere, people gathered in parks or in front of state office buildings. Birmingham, Alabama, was one of those cities. I was excited to see some friends who confided they had never been to a protest before, but thought it was important to be there today. Because we are a community where the economy is fueled by doctors and research done at the University, there were a lot of medical professionals in the crowd, protesting cuts in research work and in the provision of medical care. The LGBTQ community turned out even though they were fearful, as did people protesting Trump’s immigration policies. And there were some Trump voters there too, people who voted for a better economy and got this, whatever this is, instead. Like people across the country, we gathered. Some of my favorite signs were simple and elegant in expressing their message, like this one. My favorite sign was carried by some close friends. I feel the same way when I think about my Grandfather. It was a crowd full of angry people. We are southerners, so we were polite about it as we visited with neighbors and made new friends, but the anger was palpable. If Donald Trump thinks we’re going back quietly, he’s wrong. I ran into not one, but two people wearing the fabulous re-SIS-tence tee-shirts from the Sisters in Law podcast. There were some seriously artistic people in the crowd. It was a gorgeous day here and people enjoyed themselves, but it was also deadly serious. Friends tagged in from across the country. Americans understand what’s at stake. And, from Chattanooga. So many people referred to Cory Booker when they talked about why they were there, a reminder that our own acts can inspire other people to stand for democracy too. Booker told Aaron Parnas in an interview shortly after he finished his tremendous 25-hour filibuster on the Senate floor that we each have to be “little points of ignition” now. “Demanding more of ourselves,” that’s what Cory Booker says comes next. But for today, it was enough to march and to be with friends and fellow American. Courage is contagious. Marching provides encouragement for people who aren’t in the thick of things in Washington or New York. Big protests, little protests, it’s all part of the great cacophony of democracy and a reminder that we still have rights and power, if we are willing to exercise them. Today, Americans marched. We made it clear: We have no intention of sitting down and accepting the end of democracy. If you marched today, tell us about it. We’re in this together, Joyce