In the face of tik tok curtailing our speech and google and apple cutting off our means to organize we should add the call to regulate social media companies to our demands. And find secure venues with which to conduct the business of saving democracy.
I am a proud liberal but I find the left’s obsession and faith in court rulings to be naive. Trump et al will continue to defy the courts and ignore their judgments. In the spirit of full disclosure, Simon, how about a full description of what you think will happen if/when the courts assign the U.S. Marshals to enforce their orders, and the Marshals have to face down the FBI, the National Guard and, perhaps the military? No one seems to want to address the inevitable showdown or, worse, no showdown.
The left doesn't have an obsession or faith in court rulings. Although we know they are unlikely to solve the problems, it is very important that we keep pursuing court rulings, because they do accomplish a bunch of things we need:
1. They keep the administration on the defensive.
2. They give us legitimacy in making demands to stop unlawful behavior.
3. They rob the administration of legitimacy when they ignore court rulings.
4. They provide pushback on Republicans.
5. They provide a rationale for Republicans to oppose Trump's un-Constitutional behavior.
6. They are part of the democratic process, which strengthens democracy.
7. They provide an historical record of what happened.
8. They keep the administration's unlawful behavior in the news.
9. Stopping our legal actions would make the administration look like they won.
10. We don't have so many tools at our disposal that we can discard any of them.
And we've won in 70 - 80% of the lawsuits we've filed against the administration. Just yesterday a man was released from federal custody because the judge had ordered Lyons to appear before him Friday unless the detainee was released immediately. He was released. So they are following court orders when it benefits them or there is enough public pressure on them. It's one of the important tools we have.
Simon, thank you for sharing Klobuchar's video; she'll be a great governor.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about ICE and about the president's being insane and unfit for office. I'm continuing to write postcards to NC voters.
I wish Amy Klobuchar well in her run. I won't be surprised if our party gains strength from a number of new, female governors protecting their states and showing the national party how it's done.
Following up on my post yesterday about increased participation by Gen Z. My daughter reported calling her PA representatives and then texting her friends with suggestions to do the same. One of her friends contacted me, reporting she wrote and called her representatives. Other, Gen X family members and Gen Z friends of my daughter are posting about Minneapolis on social media. Appreciate it’s anecdotal but I think it’s HUGE to see them engaging. In the spring 2025, I was concerned that everyone I saw protesting was gray haired like me.
I don’t understand why the House can’t be called back into session. Chip Roy and the other lunatics are MAGA Mike’s self inflicted problem. Cut a deal with Democrats.
There ought to be a mechanism where the House is automatically called back into session, if demanded by a certain number of representatives. I am quite stunned that this does not seem to be the case.
Doesn't this make these five states more purple? (Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina) All the more reason to donate to the audacious expansion fund, Roy Cooper, Jon Ossoff, and the NC Dems!
Unfortunately, ICE has already been allocated several years of funding. That was an integral part of Trump’s perversely-named "One Big Beautiful Bill", which was passed by Congress last year.
A consequence of this is that ICE cannot be easily defunded.
I called Sen. Padilla and spoke with an aide in the DC office and was very passionate. She was kind enough to listen to my entire monologue. Padilla was on Lawrence O’Donnell last night. I’ve always been proud to have Padilla as my senator, and I was so disappointed in the completely unacceptable “compromises” he described for DHS funding. I’ll be calling Schiff next. I also sent both of them an email, as follows.
“Thank you for standing firm on separating the DHS spending plan from the other funding bills, and calling for reforms of ICE and CBP. But conversations focused on requiring judicial warrants; mandating body cameras, identification and no masks; and requiring independent investigations is so insufficient it makes me livid. Such measures do not even begin to reign in the terror that ICE has unleashed on the American people. All funding for ICE needs to stop.
“There is no value in ‘reaching across the aisle’ or agreeing to ‘common sense changes’ if doing so is in service of a great evil. Let the Republicans pass the bill on their own. I need you to fight for our liberty and freedom.
“No more money should be allocated to DHS. Period. Full stop.
“Asking for promises of reforms that only amount to requiring ICE and CBP to follow the Constitution and adhere to the minimum standard of police practices is an ocean away from what Democrats should be fighting for.
“For starters, Democrats should drastically cut the obscene increase in ICE’s budget. Every ICE officer who skipped the security clearances and received the shortened 47-day training should be fired and forced to reapply. Kristi Noem should be fired. The lawyers who drafted a memo saying that ICE could break into homes without a judicial warrant should be fired. Investigations into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti should be referred to an independent special counsel. The state of Minnesota should be given complete access to all evidence relating to the killings. If Republicans won’t agree to these measures - and many more - then abolish DHS. DHS was created after the 9/11 terror attacks and has outlived its usefulness in a democracy governed by the Constitution and the rule of law.
“Every Democrat in Congress should be frequently and repeatedly calling for DHS and ICE to be withdrawn from Minneapolis and every other location where state and local officials oppose their presence. And to demand NO more funding for the third largest army in the world.
“There is no state in the country where it is legal to kidnap, human traffic, and murder, which is what ICE and CBP are doing in our states. These are organized death squads. The ICE and CBP employees who have committed crimes in our states need to be prosecuted. Democrats in Congress need to be working with a coalition of state AGs to move forward with issuing arrest warrants and prosecuting these criminals.
“Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Greg Bovino and JD Vance should be indicted as co-conspirators in murder. Kristi Noem, Kash Patel and Greg Bovino should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. Every lawyer who advised ICE that agents could ignore the 4th Amendment’s prohibition against searches without a warrant should be disbarred. Democratic leaders cannot flinch at this. And we have to accept the fact that it will be called partisan. It is essential that we approach things differently.
“The Republican “party” is no longer an American political party; it is an extremist movement. What do we know about extremist movements? They become more extreme. This Republican “party” will only become more extreme with more and more purity tests. First it was Hispanics are rapists. Then it was defending nazis. And now if you have a badge you can go out and shoot people in the face, and execute them on the ground by emptying your gun into their back.
“These federal criminals need to be held accountable and it has to go to the very top.”
Self reporting: While not as eloquent as your script, I called Senators Schiff and Padilla with very similar requests. Will send emails later, on my lunch break.
Thank you for this terrific letter. I hope it's okay that I cribbed and sent to my two purple dem senators. Trying to turn them blue. Or at least show them how blue I am. My rep is next, but she's under siege from being in that great ad with Slotkin and Kelly, so she's cool. I just don't think the majority of dems in office understand what they're dealing with. But that's why we need to be loud, as Simon says. Thanks again for sharing.
In the face of tik tok curtailing our speech and google and apple cutting off our means to organize we should add the call to regulate social media companies to our demands. And find secure venues with which to conduct the business of saving democracy.
Calling Schumer and Jeffries this AM.
Me too, and my reps👍
Communicated my thoughts to Schumer pre-dawn, in line with what he has publicly disclosed he will work towards today.
Waiting for Homan to begin his press conference from MN this a.m.: I guess someone is looking for an ATM first.
I am a proud liberal but I find the left’s obsession and faith in court rulings to be naive. Trump et al will continue to defy the courts and ignore their judgments. In the spirit of full disclosure, Simon, how about a full description of what you think will happen if/when the courts assign the U.S. Marshals to enforce their orders, and the Marshals have to face down the FBI, the National Guard and, perhaps the military? No one seems to want to address the inevitable showdown or, worse, no showdown.
The left doesn't have an obsession or faith in court rulings. Although we know they are unlikely to solve the problems, it is very important that we keep pursuing court rulings, because they do accomplish a bunch of things we need:
1. They keep the administration on the defensive.
2. They give us legitimacy in making demands to stop unlawful behavior.
3. They rob the administration of legitimacy when they ignore court rulings.
4. They provide pushback on Republicans.
5. They provide a rationale for Republicans to oppose Trump's un-Constitutional behavior.
6. They are part of the democratic process, which strengthens democracy.
7. They provide an historical record of what happened.
8. They keep the administration's unlawful behavior in the news.
9. Stopping our legal actions would make the administration look like they won.
10. We don't have so many tools at our disposal that we can discard any of them.
11. Sometimes they do work.
And we've won in 70 - 80% of the lawsuits we've filed against the administration. Just yesterday a man was released from federal custody because the judge had ordered Lyons to appear before him Friday unless the detainee was released immediately. He was released. So they are following court orders when it benefits them or there is enough public pressure on them. It's one of the important tools we have.
Simon, thank you for sharing Klobuchar's video; she'll be a great governor.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about ICE and about the president's being insane and unfit for office. I'm continuing to write postcards to NC voters.
I wish Amy Klobuchar well in her run. I won't be surprised if our party gains strength from a number of new, female governors protecting their states and showing the national party how it's done.
Hi Barry - More women in our government would be a very positive conclusion! All this testosterone is killing us literally.
Am glad Josh Shapiro is running again. Pa has a Rep. AG. He will keep tight oversight over elections.
Mush-Mouth's gonna try to speak to us.
Following up on my post yesterday about increased participation by Gen Z. My daughter reported calling her PA representatives and then texting her friends with suggestions to do the same. One of her friends contacted me, reporting she wrote and called her representatives. Other, Gen X family members and Gen Z friends of my daughter are posting about Minneapolis on social media. Appreciate it’s anecdotal but I think it’s HUGE to see them engaging. In the spring 2025, I was concerned that everyone I saw protesting was gray haired like me.
I don’t understand why the House can’t be called back into session. Chip Roy and the other lunatics are MAGA Mike’s self inflicted problem. Cut a deal with Democrats.
I have called. Solicited the hubby to do so, too.
There ought to be a mechanism where the House is automatically called back into session, if demanded by a certain number of representatives. I am quite stunned that this does not seem to be the case.
My question really is directed to MAGA Mike: if he was serious about keeping the government open (big if), couldn’t he call them back?
They could make a rule for that, but that would mean they were actually abiding by procedure. SIGH
My ResistBot letter for Jan 29: Split DHS funding. ICE must not survive this budget. Use this link to send letters to your members of Congress.
Text SIGN SIGN PRBJXH to 50409 or go to: https://resist.bot/petitions/PRBJXH
I have gotten Peter to use your scripts and am nagging him to get his friends to do the same! Thanks, Coleman!
I love hearing this!
IMMIGRATION | LABOR
Immigration drops shift population, political power to Texas and Florida
BY: TIM HENDERSON - JANUARY 29, 2026 4:20 AM
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/01/29/repub/immigration-drops-shift-population-political-power-to-texas-and-florida/
Huh I thought Texas and Florida were gaining political power because of immigration… interesting counter point
Doesn't this make these five states more purple? (Texas, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and South Carolina) All the more reason to donate to the audacious expansion fund, Roy Cooper, Jon Ossoff, and the NC Dems!
contacted my reps. messages: Rein in ICE. Stephen Miller must go.
NO MONEY for ICE!!!!!
Unfortunately, ICE has already been allocated several years of funding. That was an integral part of Trump’s perversely-named "One Big Beautiful Bill", which was passed by Congress last year.
A consequence of this is that ICE cannot be easily defunded.
Emailed my senators, will call rep in business hours. ICE is on the ropes-kill it.
I left voicemails for TX Senators Cruz and Cornyn, recommending they fire Noem and reform ICE.
I called Sen. Padilla and spoke with an aide in the DC office and was very passionate. She was kind enough to listen to my entire monologue. Padilla was on Lawrence O’Donnell last night. I’ve always been proud to have Padilla as my senator, and I was so disappointed in the completely unacceptable “compromises” he described for DHS funding. I’ll be calling Schiff next. I also sent both of them an email, as follows.
“Thank you for standing firm on separating the DHS spending plan from the other funding bills, and calling for reforms of ICE and CBP. But conversations focused on requiring judicial warrants; mandating body cameras, identification and no masks; and requiring independent investigations is so insufficient it makes me livid. Such measures do not even begin to reign in the terror that ICE has unleashed on the American people. All funding for ICE needs to stop.
“There is no value in ‘reaching across the aisle’ or agreeing to ‘common sense changes’ if doing so is in service of a great evil. Let the Republicans pass the bill on their own. I need you to fight for our liberty and freedom.
“No more money should be allocated to DHS. Period. Full stop.
“Asking for promises of reforms that only amount to requiring ICE and CBP to follow the Constitution and adhere to the minimum standard of police practices is an ocean away from what Democrats should be fighting for.
“For starters, Democrats should drastically cut the obscene increase in ICE’s budget. Every ICE officer who skipped the security clearances and received the shortened 47-day training should be fired and forced to reapply. Kristi Noem should be fired. The lawyers who drafted a memo saying that ICE could break into homes without a judicial warrant should be fired. Investigations into the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti should be referred to an independent special counsel. The state of Minnesota should be given complete access to all evidence relating to the killings. If Republicans won’t agree to these measures - and many more - then abolish DHS. DHS was created after the 9/11 terror attacks and has outlived its usefulness in a democracy governed by the Constitution and the rule of law.
“Every Democrat in Congress should be frequently and repeatedly calling for DHS and ICE to be withdrawn from Minneapolis and every other location where state and local officials oppose their presence. And to demand NO more funding for the third largest army in the world.
“There is no state in the country where it is legal to kidnap, human traffic, and murder, which is what ICE and CBP are doing in our states. These are organized death squads. The ICE and CBP employees who have committed crimes in our states need to be prosecuted. Democrats in Congress need to be working with a coalition of state AGs to move forward with issuing arrest warrants and prosecuting these criminals.
“Stephen Miller, Kristi Noem, Greg Bovino and JD Vance should be indicted as co-conspirators in murder. Kristi Noem, Kash Patel and Greg Bovino should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice. Every lawyer who advised ICE that agents could ignore the 4th Amendment’s prohibition against searches without a warrant should be disbarred. Democratic leaders cannot flinch at this. And we have to accept the fact that it will be called partisan. It is essential that we approach things differently.
“The Republican “party” is no longer an American political party; it is an extremist movement. What do we know about extremist movements? They become more extreme. This Republican “party” will only become more extreme with more and more purity tests. First it was Hispanics are rapists. Then it was defending nazis. And now if you have a badge you can go out and shoot people in the face, and execute them on the ground by emptying your gun into their back.
“These federal criminals need to be held accountable and it has to go to the very top.”
Self reporting: While not as eloquent as your script, I called Senators Schiff and Padilla with very similar requests. Will send emails later, on my lunch break.
Thank you for this terrific letter. I hope it's okay that I cribbed and sent to my two purple dem senators. Trying to turn them blue. Or at least show them how blue I am. My rep is next, but she's under siege from being in that great ad with Slotkin and Kelly, so she's cool. I just don't think the majority of dems in office understand what they're dealing with. But that's why we need to be loud, as Simon says. Thanks again for sharing.
It sounds like Democrats are merely asking for ICE to follow already established laws.