A Call to Arms

Hello Everyone,

I had been putting the final touches to a short blog post (shortake), titled Lasts and Forever’s. However, an event last night altered my priorities a bit.

I awoke around 1:30 AM, thoughts of the upcoming midterm elections racing around in my head. I wasn’t panicking, but deep concerns of “unpreparedness” took control and I began responding by creating a blog post featuring A Call to Action. Yeah, that will go well. I know from past experiences that most of the points I attempt to make in the middle of the night, mostly unconscious vanish in the morning. Hold off, hold off. I did the best I could.

One clear recall from that night was the uneasy realization, at least in my mind, that no one seems to be doing anything. Excepting of course the powers that be and those that oppose them on our behalf. But most of the action is taking place behind closed doors in faraway places. So, I felt the need to speak up. Inaction on my part, regardless of knowledge, experience, or ability, is not an option. Consequently, I offer up my thoughts if for no other reason than to clear my conscience and feel as though I did not sit idly by while our democracy is under threat.

TJ

I apologize in advance for any “issues” that may arise from this somewhat hurried production, including emotional outbursts.

A CALL TO ARMS

All Americans should be concerned about the systematic overreach of the Trump Administration. Institutional pressure that amounts to an ongoing assault on our constitution, the separation of powers it demands and our very democracy.  Trump, in concert with his advisors and cabinet leaders, has taken actions that weaken free elections, independent courts, a free press, political neutrality of law enforcement, and the ability to oppose the government without retaliation. There is a substantial list involving the second Trump administration.

While there are hundreds of instances of illegal, unethical or outright criminal behavior by many within the Trump administration ranging from insider stock trading to no-bid contracts and possibly murder on the part of ICE agents lets limit our focus for now.  For me this is a challenge. Although, we are all aware of the moves on the part of the Trump administration to consolidate power exclusively within the Oval Office the totality of their actions over the past few years, when gathered in one place is overwhelming. Also a timely reminder that must act.

Undermining the Rule of Law and the Courts-

• Ignoring Court Orders:The administration has repeatedly challenged or defied rulings by federal judges when actions are deemed unlawful.
• Threatening the Judiciary:The president has publicly attacked judges who issue unfavorable rulings, labeling them with derogatory terms and calling for political retaliation. 
• Targeting Legal Representation:Officials have stripped security clearances from attorneys and targeted law firms that challenge executive policies.
• Using governmental power against perceived political enemies. A Reuters investigation documented at least 470 people, organizations and institutions subjected to various forms of intimidation.
• Firing independent government watchdogs in violation of federal law, while attempting to bring traditionally independent agencies under direct presidential control.
• Using federal money to impose policies Congress did not enact: The administration froze or withheld billions in congressionally authorized spending and later attached ideological conditions to some grants.
• Testing whether the executive must obey federal courts. During the 2025 Alien Enemies Act deportations, Judge James Boasberg found probable cause that administration officials had shown “willful disregard” for his order stopping deportation flights.

Weaponizing Law Enforcement-

• Retaliatory Prosecutions:The Department of Justice has pursued high-profile arrests and investigations that depart from standard guidelines to intimidate critics.
• Targeting Civil Society:Nonprofits, student protestors, and local leaders have faced retaliatory criminal actions or inappropriate physical force. 

Attacking The Media and Suppressing the Free Speech-

• Attacks on Journalists: The White House has cut off access for journalists and excluded news organizations that do not conform to the administration’s messaging. Ex. The White House restricted Associated Press access after AP continued calling the Gulf of Mexico by that name rather than exclusively adopting Trump’s “Gulf of America.”
• Lawsuits and Censorship: The administration has filed multi-billion-dollar lawsuits against media outlets and defunded public broadcasting to punish critics.
• The administration revoked visas and pursued deportation of noncitizen students and activists over pro-Palestinian political advocacy.

Interfering with Elections-

• Hostility Toward Election Officials- Using federal prosecutorial power to pressure state election officials, cut funding for election-threat sharing, and weakened the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
• Federal Overreach: Federal agencies have threatened states with funding cuts or criminal charges over baseless claims of non-citizen voting, attempting to seize control of election processes reserved for states.
• Pardoning virtually everyone convicted in connection with January 6. On his first day back in office, Trump granted full pardons to nearly all January 6 defendants and commuted the sentences of several others, including people convicted of serious offenses connected with the effort to prevent certification of the 2020 election.

C’mon TJ you’re over reacting. Presidents have always pushed executive authority; presidents pardon controversial people; administrations fight with the press; DOJ investigates politicians.

Perhaps, but this administrations combination of assault tactics is staggering. Let’s do the math-

control elections + weaken watchdogs + intimidate lawyers + punish hostile media + pressure universities and speakers + politicize law enforcement + diminish independent agencies + challenge Congress’s spending power + test judicial authority = Nazi Germany   Dictatorship   Not the Executive Branch Americans want.

Those institutions are precisely the restraints that prevent an elected president from turning electoral victory into unrestrained personal power. The danger lies not in one executive order or one court battle, but in a sustained effort to weaken many of the independent institutions that make democratic government possible.

The last straw for me…

What really disturbs me is the administration’s most recent attempts to interfere with the upcoming midterm elections. They are positioning themselves to affect the outcomes of both Mail-In ballots and In-person voting.

A. Mail-in-Ballots– Under the administration’s new rule, states would have to provide USPS with a Mail-In and Absentee Participation List identifying each person receiving a federal mail ballot, including the person’s name, address and unique Intelligent Mail barcode numbers assigned to the outgoing and return ballot envelopes. The proposed USPS changes the Postal Service from essentially the carrier of election mail into a potential gatekeeper determining whether state-issued ballot mail may enter the mail system. What? Since when is the antiquated, bankrupt postal system allowed to have such power? Breathe TJ, Breathe.