Donald Trump’s latest authoritarian moves signal weakness, not strength Publisher's Roundup 39 Norman Eisen Oct 11 It can be hard to make sense of how American democracy is doing given the incessant stream of autocratic actions by Donald Trump and the over 100 hundred court rulings against him and other pushback. My view is that Trump has been frustrated in the pursuit of his dictatorial ambitions through the use of the ordinary powers of the presidency, including by all of those court orders, and so he has turned to his extraordinary powers. They include improperly pushing his cronies to bring criminal prosecutions of his perceived enemies and deploying the National Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to crack down on peaceful protest–also wrongly. These dual policing initiatives represent an outrageous overreach—the besetting sin of dictators, and one that often leads to their ouster. Make no mistake, Trump’s abuse of power is a sign of his insecurity and weakness, and it is setting up massive, peaceful, lawful opposition. That includes more problems for Trump in litigation, recently recognized by The Atlantic as “the anti-Trump strategy that’s actually working”. That article reported on the success of my and my colleagues’ democracy litigation–the over 150 legal cases and matters that you Contrarians make possible through your paid subscriptions. On the legal front, I wrote with Richard Painter and Virginia Canter this week about Trump’s push to indict New York Attorney General Letitia James with unmerited charges that match the similarly baseless indictment last week of James Comey. Team Trump is, in our view, headed for bumpy judicial waters in both cases, and the three of us have already lodged multiple ethics complaints, with more on the way. We also analyzed Trump’s deployment of the National Guard and his use of ICE and the legal opposition that has occasioned—including no fewer than three court orders stopping various aspects of Trump’s Chicago activities this week. Dr But his obstacles are deeper than the courts. As readers of this column know, most backsliding democracies make U-turns. The Trump regime is facing mounting opposition in all of the main dimensions that determine whether autocracy becomes permanently entrenched or whether democracy is poised to make a comeback. I don’t want to sugarcoat the tremendous damage Trump is doing domestically and internationally and the lives that are being destroyed and even lost as a result. And not every backsliding democracy makes a U-turn. But when you look objectively at the landscape, there are ample reasons to believe Trump is not succeeding in his dictatorial ambitions. That goes well beyond the challenges that he is facing in court. Trump’s Standing in and at the Polls A majority of the American people do not like the prosecution of Trump’s adversaries, his deployment of the National Guard, his aggressive immigration processes, his role in shutting down the government to tear health care from millions and the rest of the chaos. No wonder Trump is at historic lows in popularity at this early point in his term. The results at the polls this year have been similarly devastating. Democrats have won or outperformed in 42 of 43 elections this year. That is a reflection, in part, on Trump’s unpopularity–and augurs ill for the future for Trump’s party. Public Protest The size, number, and geographic distribution of protests against the Trump regime in 2025 have been off the charts. We have not seen anything like it in decades. Now, we will have the second iteration of the No Kings protests on Saturday, Oct. 18. The No Kings protests in June saw a massive coast-to-coast turnout, driven by Trump’s initial National Guard and military deployments in Los Angeles. With Trump’s planned deployments in Portland and Chicago and the deployment in Memphis that started Friday, expect millions of Americans to show up, stand up, and speak out. Political scientist Erica Chenoweth famously found that when 3.5% of the population stands against a tyrannical regime, it cannot continue (Contrarian Editor-in-Chief Jen Rubin argues it would take much less). We are well on our way to that number of peaceful, lawful protesters. Press Pressure In this category, I include both old and new media, including independent outlets like The Contrarian. We, of course, saw this coming from Day One and have been outspoken, but, in recent weeks, we have increasingly been joined by traditional media. That includes perhaps the single most authoritative source in theUnited States, The New York Times, which has broken with its more careful neutrality in recent weeks. A case in point is its banner headline on the James prosecution: “Letitia James Indicted After Trump’s Pressure Campaign.” Political Leadership Experts also look at whether there is unified political opposition to a would-be dictator. The strong example initially set by state attorneys general has been followed in recent months by governors stepping up—and now national political leaders are succeeding in doing the same. In this column last week, I noted that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and national Democrats were winning the shutdown messaging war by making clear that their votes were not available to strip health care from millions of Americans or make it prohibitively expensive. Another week has gone by, and their success has now become evident—recognized in poll after poll and in Republican disarray. When you add all that up, there is cause for hope. Obviously, it’s too soon to say which path the United States will take and whether we will follow the majority of other democracies that have executed a U-turn following democratic backsliding. Trump and his enablers certainly are not slowing down, and the damage is vast and growing every day. But if they are not stopping, neither must the friends of democracy—including you, Contrarians. Our rundown of all the week’s stories here at The Contrarian shows that Trump’s “flood the zone” continues to meet “rule of law shock and awe.” See for yourself… Shutdown & Congress How long can this last? April Ryan & Paul Osadebe on the true cost of the government shutdown On a special edition of The Tea, April Ryan sat down with federal worker and organizer Paul Osadebe to talk about the real and worsening harms of the government shutdown. “This is crisis moment, guys.” Democrats must stay on message with the shutdown Norman Ornstein examined how congressional Democrats’ undisciplined messaging has hindered their impact in the past — and how the ongoing shutdown offers an opportunity to realign and strengthen their communication strategy. “When the shutdown ends, the responsibility for the healthcare catastrophe will be clear.” Is Trump’s Overreach Starting to Fail? Senator Mark Warner with Jen Rubin Sen. Mark Warner joined Jen to unpack the latest on the MAGA government shutdown, Trump’s notice of “armed conflict” to Congress, and the constitutional strength of our military. “The briefings we’ve got from the administration so far are not satisfying.” Militarization, ICE and Chicago We Found the ‘Enemy from Within’ Jen Rubin unpacked the unchecked cruelty of Trump’s troop deployments and ICE overreach, which prove daily that the “enemy within” is him and his lackeys. “ICE’s raid on a Chicago apartment building and the ensuing ICE violence against civilians make clear that Trump has initiated an unconstitutional, brutal war against ordinary Americans.” Trump’s Fundamentally Anti-Democratic Immigration Strategy On the Contrarian Podcast this week, Rep. Daniel Goldman (D-N.Y.) and immigration expert Aaron Reichlin-Melnick explained why Stephen Miller and ICE are doing anything but making Americans safer. Dispatch from Chicago: This is not a ‘war zone’ Lorraine Forte shared her time with a local activist in Chicago fighting to restore her city after last week’s shocking military-style apartment raid and offered a look at the mood on the ground as the city braces for a National Guard deployment. “The city is still reeling.” The Contrarian covers the Democracy Movement This week we saw courageous, resilient, mad-as-hell anti-ICE protests in Chicago, Portland and more. Nationwide protests are planned for next Saturday, Oct. 18; find one near you here. The Global View Jen Rubin and Ilan Goldenberg on the Hamas-Israel ceasefire deal Ilan Goldenberg joined Jen Rubin on Thursday for a live discussion of the Gaza ceasefire deal—what’s in it, what’s not in it, and what’s likely to unfold next, along with the case for optimism. “Now is an opportunity.” The UN and the Peril of Passivity Roberto Valadéz wrote on the existential crossroads faced by the United Nations as the Trump administration demeans and defunds its vital work. Part of the way forward, he argued, is a stronger PR strategy. “The United Nations is not a failed project; it is an unfinished one.” The Nobel Prize is about character, not headlines Brian O’Neill analyzed Trump’s Peace Prize fixation, which reveals far more about him than about peace, and put forward far more deserving (and likely) candidates for this year’s honor. “Facts matter. So do deliverables.” The Movie Iran Doesn’t Want You to See Culture columnist Meredith Blake wrote on Jafar Panahi’s It Was Just an Accident, a film inspired by Panahi’s experiences as a political prisoner that began as secret iPhone footage and has since won the Palme d’Or at Cannes. “With the movie arriving stateside next week and the Iranian regime no doubt closely monitoring its reception overseas, we can only hope the acclaim becomes truly deafening.” Will the ceasefire hold? Steven Cook on the feasibility of the Hamas-Israel peace deal Middle East expert Steven Cook joins Jen to discuss the hopeful end of hostilities in a region that hasn’t seen peace in decades. Who knew it would take a transactional, American bully like Trump to convince Netanyahu to finally accept a deal? Behind the Curtain The REAL state of the economy & America’s future as an economic powerhouse with Justin Wolfers Justin Wolfers joined Jen for a must-watch breakdown of the actual health of the economy under Trump—something the administration is doing its best to obfuscate. “We are flying blind right now.” Trump’s blueprint for tyranny Austin Sarat analyzed Trump’s “Compact for Excellence in Higher Education” as a blatant attempt to further control universities across the country—and a precedent for further attacks on freedoms far outside academia. “Think what I think. Do what I do. Or, else.” DOJ & SCOTUS Cold comfort: The DOJ says it stands with survivors, but words aren’t enough Jacqueline Kelly and Mimi Rocah wrote on the DOJ’s hollow commitments to anti-trafficking efforts and victims of sexual crimes. By prioritizing political interests over justice, they argued, the Justice Department is jeopardizing the work of law enforcement to protect survivors. If this isn’t vindictive prosecution, what is? Andrew Weissmann on James Comey criminal charges Andrew Weissmann joined Jen to break down James Comey’s specious indictment, what his defense team may be planning, and Pam Bondi’s bizarre behavior. “This could blow up.” Can our courts be reformed? Lisa Graves, author of Without Precedent, joined Jen for an exposé on Chief Justice Roberts’ Supreme Court and its impact on law, policy, and democracy at large. “If you view this as a hyper-partisan court engaged in hyper-partisan activity for a hyper-partisan president, that’s what’s happening.” Cartoons & Fun Stuff This week, our cartoonists took on “the enemy within” (Cold as ICE by Michael de Adder, Standing ground by Nick Anderson), the nihilistic chaos of Republican leadership (Driving blind by Calder Robinson, All on board by Michael de Adder, The Reaper by RJ Matson), and the AG who sadly isn’t Elle Woods (Legally Bondi by RJ Matson). Cinnamon Nut Roll Coffee Cake Jamie Schler graced us with an object lesson in pastry baking. Her cinnamon nut roll coffee cake teaches us a lesson in perseverance, and how to overcome exhaustion, frustration, and despair. With time, order and organization, precision and persistence, we can—and will—finally succeed. Dolly Parton ‘ain’t dead yet,’ and a weary nation breathes a sigh of relief Despite rumors to the contrary, Dolly Parton is still alive. As Meredith Blake wrote, the country music icon may be the last thing we can all agree on. Contrarian Pet of the Week This week’s pet of the week is the lovely Fettuccine! Fettuccine is a 6-year-old Flame point Siamese who had a proclivity towards WWE fighting her brother, napping on fresh, clean laundry, and begging for wet food like it’s her birthday every day. That’s it for now, Contrarians—another amazing week of content. We will see you at 9:15 a.m. ET on Monday for Coffee with the Contrarians on Substack. In the meantime, have a wonderful weekend. Warmly, Norm

What To Do About the Tinpot Dictator He can be stopped only with people power Robert Reich Jul 8 Credit: MacKaycaartoon Friends, Never before in American history, not even in wartime, has one man exercised such unbridled discretion affecting the lives of so many of us, while simultaneously preventing others — Congress, the courts, the American people — from having a say or even knowing what he’s going to do next. Yesterday he sent ICE agents and National Guard troops into Los Angeles, over the objections of the governor of California and the mayor of Los Angeles. He is also sending 200 Marines to Florida to aid ICE. Where will he next direct ICE, National Guard, and active duty military? He isn’t saying. But it’s our country. He has targeted undocumented agricultural and hospitality workers for arrest and deportation, after saying he would not do so. What’s the policy here? He isn’t telling us. But it’s our country. Meanwhile, he said yesterday that he’d subject imports from Japan, South Korea, and a dozen other nations to new 25 percent tariffs — which will, of course, translate into additional taxes on American consumers — effective August 1. He threatened to impose even higher tariff-taxes on countries that align with BRIC nations (Brazil, Russia, India, and China) after that group expressed “serious concerns” over any country imposing unilateral tariffs. I remember a time when American presidents had to go to Congress to impose tariffs. How can he tax us without our consent? It’s our country. He is consulting with Benjamin Netanyahu about the next stage of the war with Iran, but not consulting Congress, yet it’s our country. He is targeting universities that he believes haven’t adequately eliminated DEI, or have allowed transgender athletes to compete, or failed to stop demonstrations against Israel’s war in Gaza. Last week, his regime forced a major university president to resign. Which universities are next, and for what reason? He isn’t saying, even though it’s our country. He intends to go after more law firms and media companies that have crossed him. But which, and why? Will he let TikTok continue to function in the United States even though Congress has passed a law prohibiting it? He hasn’t said. He says it’s all a “bargaining strategy” to make better deals. But deals for whom? Rubbish. It’s not a bargaining strategy. He doing all this because he loves to display his power. He relishes it when powerful people plead with him, prostrate themselves before him, beg him, and submit to his whims. He delights in changing his mind and keeping everyone else guessing. Some who seek his favor are pouring money into TV ads for his eyes only in West Palm Beach, where he resides at Mar-a-Lago (according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of advertising data). Some who seek his favor are buying his crypto coins. Some are sending him lavish jet airplanes. Some who seek his favor are speaking publicly of his brilliance, his insight, his daring. They talk of putting his face on Mount Rushmore. Many are afraid to criticize him. This, my friends, is called a dictatorship. The chief executive of a democracy doesn’t say — as Trump did recently — “I may or may not, nobody knows what I’ll do.” The chief executive of a democracy doesn’t say this because power in a democracy belongs to the people. This is why Congress enacted a War Powers Act, so presidents have to gain Congress’s consent before sending the United States to war. It’s why the Constitution gives Congress the power to set the terms of international trade, including tariffs. Why the Constitution gives Congress the power to appropriate funds. Why laws bar a president from sending active military troops into a state without the permission of the state’s governor. And why there’s no basis in law or the Constitution for a president to single out specific law firms, universities, or media companies for penalties because they have angered him. So how do we take our democracy back? The federal courts are playing a crucial role. Across America, judges — appointed by both Democratic and Republican presidents — are stopping the tinpot dictator from taking over entirely. They deserve our gratitude. But you and and I are playing the most critical roles — marching, organizing, demonstrating, boycotting, demanding, supporting leaders who stand up to him and criticizing those who won’t. It may seem like months ago, but on June 14, some 6 million of us protested against him — the largest civil demonstration in American history. It showed the power of the people. It gave many of us hope. We must follow that extraordinary event by an even larger nationwide demonstration on July 17, Good Trouble Lives On Day. On July 17, five years since the passing of Congressman John Lewis, communities across the country will take to the streets, courthouses, and community spaces to carry forward his fight for justice, voting rights, and dignity for all. On July 17, we must DOUBLE the number of us who turned out June 14. Because it’s our country. And we must also appear in town halls that any Republican senators and representatives are holding, to tell them we refuse to live in a dictatorship. And tell them that we’re going to make sure they aren’t reelected. Democracy is not a spectator sport.

 

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California Fights Back Against Trump's Illegal Military Power Grab

As Trump sends in troops to suppress protestors, Governor Newsom calls his actions unlawful—and I break down why he's absolutely right.

Ben Meiselas and MeidasTouch Network Jun 9

By Ben Meiselas

California Governor Gavin Newsom just issued a powerful response to Trump’s military operation in Los Angeles—and if you watched my report last night, you know this was coming. I told you this was illegal. I walked you through the statute myself. And now, Governor Gavin Newsom’s legal team is echoing that exact legal analysis in a scathing official letter to Trump’s Defense Secretary—former Fox News host turned wannabe warlord, Pete Hegseth.

Let’s be clear: Trump’s decision to federalize 2,000 members of the California National Guard—without the governor’s consent and in violation of federal law—is not just an overreach. It’s an unconstitutional authoritarian stunt. This isn’t about law and order. This is about power and control. This is about Trump trying to crush dissent and stoke chaos in the most dangerous and militarized way possible.

Newsom’s letter lays it out: Trump’s use of 10 U.S.C. §12406 to justify this move is patently unlawful. The statute allows federalization of state National Guards only to repel an invasion, suppress a rebellion, or execute laws if the president can’t do so with regular forces. None of those conditions are remotely met here. Instead, Trump skipped over the governor entirely—another violation of the law—and unleashed chaos on the streets of Los Angeles.

We’re already seeing the results on the ground: protestors tear-gassed, flashbangs deployed, people dragged through the streets. This isn’t peacekeeping. It’s provocation. Trump and Hegseth want the chaos. They’re intentionally escalating it. And they’re threatening to go even further—with Trump literally saying, “We’re going to have troops everywhere.”

That’s not leadership. That’s dictatorship. And even Newsom is calling it exactly that.

Newsom isn’t alone. Every Democratic governor in America just issued a joint statement condemning Trump’s actions as a dangerous abuse of power. They’re standing united with California—and so should we. Because this isn’t just about one state. This is about whether we still live in a democracy or under the boots of a regime that answers protest with military force.

Make no mistake: lawsuits are coming. California will challenge this in court. And we’ll cover every moment of it here. But while the lawyers gear up, we need to stay vigilant, informed, and loud. Trump is testing the limits of what he can get away with. It’s on us to say: enough.

Watch my latest report about what’s going on in Los Angeles above. Remember to add the MeidasTouch Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify and continue to spread the word.

Meidas+ is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

FOCUS | 'This Is How I'm Going to Die': Police Swarm Activists Protesting 'Cop City' in 'Week of Action'

 

 

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FOCUS | 'This Is How I'm Going to Die': Police Swarm Activists Protesting 'Cop City' in 'Week of Action'
Timothy Pratt, Guardian UK
Pratt writes: "Dozens of law enforcement officers, many with automatic weapons, swarmed into a forest of hundreds of acres, seeking to find any of the 200 or so activists who had set fire to a bulldozer, trailer and other infrastructure used for construction on 'Cop City,' a $90m, 85-acre police and fire department training center, about an hour earlier."  

Hours of chaos as officers descended upon forest, seeking activists protesting $90m police and fire department training center

"Check their shoes and look for mud!” shouted one Atlanta police department officer to another.

The sun was setting against a tree line growing greener daily due to recent balmy, spring-like weather in Atlanta, but the bucolic setting of a Sunday in the sun at a free music festival abruptly became panic and chaos.

Dozens of law enforcement officers, many with automatic weapons, swarmed into a forest of hundreds of acres, seeking to find any of the 200 or so activists who had set fire to a bulldozer, trailer and other infrastructure used for construction on “Cop City”, a $90m, 85-acre police and fire department training center, about an hour earlier.

The clash was just the latest dramatic chapter to hit the Cop City project, which has already seen one environmental activist shot dead by police – the first incident of its kind in the US – and drawn national and international attention to the fight to save the Georgia forest where the giant project is planned.

The one officer’s frenzied order about dirty footwear seemed as absurd as any part of the Sunday night operation, since Georgia rains had left muddy patches all over the forest, and at least 600 people were lying on the grass, or camped among the trees, or entering the forest to catch an evening’s music under the stars or leaving – thus many had mud on their shoes.

But such was the situation on Sunday night, on the second night of the fifth “week of action” by activists over the last year dedicated to protecting the land called South River forest on municipal maps and Weelaunee forest by activists – using the Muscogee (Creek) word for “brown water”.

The scene included police running through trees, arresting a legal observer from the National Lawyers Guild, sending a negotiator to agree on terms with five randomly chosen individuals for letting about a hundred music festival audience members safely leave the forest, and detaining journalists for questioning on “what they were there to cover”.

The first two days had included free music, herbal workshops and a peaceful march through neighborhoods surrounding the forest south-east of Atlanta. Then, around 5.30 on Sunday evening, about 200 activists, most in balaclavas and camouflage clothing, began lining up to the right of the stage. They marched around three sides of the audience, chanting “Viva Tortuguita” – a reference to Manuel Paez Terán, a 26-year-old activist who was camping several hundred feet away from that spot on 18 January when police shot and killed him in another raid. It was the first time police killed an environmental activist while protesting in US history. Authorities said that Paez Terán fired first.

After several hours of chaos on Sunday night, 23 people – including a legal observer with the National Lawyers Guild – had been arrested and charged with “domestic terrorism” under state law, adding to the 18 defendants facing the same unprecedented charges who have been arrested in recent months.

Police officers had also threatened to arrest the hundred or so people who were lolling about in the field and listening to music only hours earlier if some agreement couldn’t be reached for their evacuation, said Jeff Simms, a retired federal endangered species biologist who was there.

Simms – who had come to the forest from Tucson, Arizona, to spend the week camping in the forest with his 21-year-old daughter, Alyssa – found the two of them thrust into unexpected positions as members of a five-person negotiating team on Sunday night.

Simms had watched dozens of police officers entering the forest from various sides and thought: “We’re all going to jail.”

He had spent one night camped in what is technically called Intrenchment Creek park. At least 85 acres of the forest is under threat from the construction of Cop City and another 40 acres is under threat from Ryan Millsap, former owner of Blackhall Studios, who made a deal with DeKalb county in 2020 to swap the land, in use as a public park, for another piece of land nearby. That deal is on hold due to a local environmental group’s lawsuit, and residents of surrounding neighborhoods continue to use the park for recreation.

The two parts of the forest are divided by a stream, Intrenchment Creek. The pair of threats to the forest led dozens of “forest defenders” to camp in the woods on both sides of the creek starting in late 2021. After Tortuguita’s death, hundreds recently began camping on the park side again – where all the arrests on Sunday were made.

On Sunday night, even as music continued on stage – mostly soft folk tunes, Simms said – police formed a line on the field. One had an AR-15 assault-type rifle, he said. Another announced on a bullhorn that they had a negotiator, and asked for five people to step forward.

“My daughter and I went, along with three others, and we all took turns speaking,” the 61-year-old said. The officer assured the team that they weren’t setting a trap, and said the crowd, which included at least one elementary school-aged child, would have 10 minutes to clear the field – or “we will arrest you for domestic terrorism”, Simms said the police told him.

“We told them the musicians had equipment, people had gear and bags, and we’d need at least 15 minutes,” Simms said. Then “I went back and told them, ‘We’re not gonna make it in 15.’”

The group of five spoke to the crowd and helped arrange transportation out of the forest for those who hadn’t arrived in their own cars. Organizers on stage urged them to “stay together. They can’t arrest us all,” Alyssa said.

Eventually, the crowd was able to leave – even as officers in other parts of the forest were attempting to find, and arrest, anyone who had participated in vandalizing the construction equipment.

Simms and his daughter returned to the forest on Monday, to camp for the rest of the week. “I want to take notes about the biology of this forest,” he said. “I came here to do that.” The Center for Biological Diversity, a national organization, recently issued a statement calling for protecting the forest due to its biological and ecological importance.

Mariah Parker, a union organizer, rapper and former Athens-Clarke county commissioner, went to the forest for the first time on Sunday. She had already been public in her opposition to the Cop City project for months, based on concerns about the increasing militarization of police and mass incarceration, particularly in Black communities.

After spending an afternoon in the forest and at the music festival, she said: “It was so beautiful – seeing people building community. I was feeling excited for what this space could be, what kind of a world we could really have.” Parker, who is Black, had met a Black mother and her two children who lives near the forest, other rap artists, and local community gardeners and teachers.

She left at about 5.30pm – right before activists entered the training center construction site. Several hours later, friends in the forest texted her, frightened. “People were hiding in the woods, and not sure how to get out – and they weren’t even involved [in the vandalism],” she said.

Several of Parker’s friends were Black. For them, she said, “it must have been one of the worst moments of their lives, not being able to leave, or know what would happen. Particularly for Black folks, it must have felt like, ‘This is how I’m going to die.’”

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