Intimidation and Democracy
The insight for today is that intimidation can kill democracy
I haven’t watched the South Park episode focusing on Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem yet, but I plan to. Cameron Adams of The Daily Beast tells us:
South Park’s Wednesday episode was a take-no-prisoners comic attack on ICE immigration raids, and featured a cartoon version of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem going on a dog shooting spree. At one point, the South Park ICE agents relocate their raids to heaven, where the Noem character says, “Only detain the brown ones.”
Unfortunately, ICE is not funny. Human and civil rights have been violated—things like people being deported with no due process or being arrested on soccer fields. People of color, whether undocumented or not, have reason to fear the government. One example this week was a rental truck being used as a “Trojan Horse” to attract and arrest people suspected of being undocumented. The truck was driven to a Home Depot parking lot where Latinos seek day jobs.
It is becoming dangeous to seek day work to put food on the table. Will DHS initiate a major action target to arrest people attending Spanish language masses and services?
Republicans know they are in trouble as the 2026 elections approach. That may or may not be true, but the President and other MAGA “leaders” are taking no chances. Texas Governor Abbott is attempting to implement a redistricting plan to gain five House seats for the GOP. Other Republican-controlled governors likely will follow.
Texas state legislators fled the state to prevent the plan from being approved. Governor Abbott is seeking to forcibly return the legislators to Austin. Apparently, the FBI has offered to help.
Unfortunately, much of America is shrugging its shoulders as this blatant attempt to retain control of the House unfolds. The Republican argument that “Democrats do the same thing” is accepted by too many people. Yes, it’s the old “two wrongs make a right” argument.
Democracy is in real trouble if Republicans “steal” dozens of House seats that otherwise would be won by Democrats next November. I put “steal” in quotes because it is unclear whether courts, especially the Supreme Court, would rule that Governor Abbott’s and other states had broken the law.
But democracy may still be undermined or lost even if the redistricting scheme fails. Millions of people of color who are U.S. citizens may be afraid to vote. That is one goal, I fear, of the Trump administration using fear and intimidation to discourage citizens (and non-citizens) from standing up for their rights.
A part-time president hailed as the “most influential” in recent history.
CNN’s Harry Enten said something this week that may others, including Democrats, are thinking:
Love it, like it, lump it — Trump’s remaking the United States of America,” Enten said as he began a weekend segment on the cable news network. “I can’t think of a more influential president during this century.
My blood boils when I hear people say this, even if they add, “just like Adolf Hitler.” But, unfortunately, Trump is proving to be an influential president. And he’s doing it despite spending much of this term to date on the golf course or writing hate-posts on Truth Social.
Trump’s tariff policies have not yet precipitated a recession or ended civilization as we know it. Thus, many deem them a success. The stock market continues to thrive, and there are no (or very few) protests against the tariffs. And as American CEOs make pilgrimages to the White House to kiss Trump’s ring, the public is giving him credit. Apple is going to make iPhones in the U.S. (I read that news this week on my iPhone.)
Trump also gets credit for “closing the border.” Very few people stand up and say “sealing” the border is a bad thing. “Illegals” were free-loading, sucking up government resources that should have gone to citizens. That’s what I hear some people say. But I believe there is a racist sentiment also involved. The “Illegals” kept out of the U.S. are not Swedes, Swiss, or even Germans. They are non-white. Enough said.
So, the issue of the week is Trump’s growing boldness in maintaining the momentum of his MAGA movement. The 79-year-old Trump wants a legacy and, one way or another, he plans on getting it. As Susan Page put it this week, Democrats may be able to repeal Trump policies if they ever regain power, but things like the $200 million White House ballroom—over 90,000 square feet—will live on long after Trump is gone. Future Democratic Presidents will dance in the Donald J. Trump Presidential Ballroom, whether they like it or not.
But will there be a future Democratic President? That question is prompted by Trump’s use of fear and “electioneering” to keep Republicans in power, notwithstanding opinion polls that suggest the GOP has already worn out its welcome.
Thank You.
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Enjoy your weekend.
Loved this!!
Thank you. Much appreciated.