The Resistance Is Strong & Growing
On the other side of President Donald Trump’s governing approach of doing whatever the hell he wants, are three potent forces pushing back: passionate citizens, courageous lawyers, and rule-of-law judges.
The Resistance is strong and growing.
When you ask, “What can be done?” look to these role models.
➡️ Passionate Citizens
Resistance to Trump’s authoritarian threats took a little time to ramp up, but citizen action is in full force today.
Hundreds of thousands are turning out to protest Trump’s governance. Last month some 1,300 pro-democracy, anti-Trump protests took place around the country. On May Day there were more than 1,000. Citizens are also protesting at local Town Hall meetings.
Trump is planning a military parade on June 14 at an estimated cost of up to $45 million that will celebrate his birthday, as well as the birthday of the U.S. Army. Citizens will counter with a No Kings National Day of Defiance, with organizing support provided by Indivisible, 50501, Public Citizen, and a number of other groups.
Many individuals deserve recognition for their leadership in giving citizens a voice, but here are two to represent the movement.
Ezra Levin and Leah Greenberg co-founded Indivisible soon after Trump’s first election and became leaders in organizing the resistance to the Trump presidency – work the married couple continue today.
Indivisible’s mission is a simple one: “We share a vision: a real democracy, of, by, and for everyone.” Today, Indivisible is a movement of thousands of groups throughout the country and more than a million members who care about their country and insist on being heard.
➡️ Courageous Lawyers
Trump has made harassment, intimidation, and bullying of attorneys an everyday occurrence. Among other motives, he’s out to stop them from challenging his illegal actions in court.
It’s not working.
Some 239 cases have been filed challenging the Trump Administration’s actions since January 20, with at least 155 court rulings that have temporarily or permanently paused these actions.
The law firms of Perkins Coie, WilmerHale, Jenner & Block, and Susman Godfrey refused to bend the knee and instead challenged in court Trump’s executive orders targeting them. An opinion in the Perkins Coie case found Trump’s executive order to be unconstitutional. The other cases are pending, but in each case the law firm has secured a court order temporarily blocking the executive order.
At the forefront of the challenges to Trump are a number of nonprofit groups as well as State Attorneys General from around the country. Many lawyers and groups deserve recognition for their courage and tenacity. Here is one to represent them.
Amb. Norman Eisen, ret., served as Ethics Czar in the Obama White House and Counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during Trump’s first impeachment. He is a co-founder of State Democracy Defenders Fund.
Eisen has spent many years challenging Trump’s abuse of power, and, despite the President’s public threats against him, Eisen has fearlessly challenged, among other things, Trump’s violation of the Emoluments Clause during his first term, his election subversion activities following the 2020 election, his second term executive orders, and the activities of DOGE.
➡️ Rule-of-Law Judges
President Trump has been issuing executive orders – 151 since January 20 – as if the Constitution and federal laws don’t apply to him.
Judges tell a different story.
At least 60 judges or appeals courts have slowed or blocked Trump efforts. These judges were appointed by Presidents of both parties, including Trump during his first term.
In return for adhering to the rule of law, many judges have been publicly attacked by the President and his cronies, and at least 11 have been targeted with threats of violence and harassment by Trump supporters.
There are many judges who deserve recognition for their commitment to the rule of law, but here is one to represent them.
In March, Chief Judge James Boasberg of the D.C. federal District Court ordered planes turned around that were carrying Venezuelans who were being deported, without due process, to a notorious prison in El Salvador.
Boasberg’s order was ignored by officials in the Trump Administration and he later found probable cause that the Administration acted in criminal contempt of court when they defied his order.
Trump has viciously attacked Boasberg, calling him “crooked” and a “troublemaker and agitator.” Trump’s call for impeaching Boasberg led to a rare rebuke from Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts.
Boasberg made several key rulings in the Jan. 6 case brought against Trump, and Trump’s current rage against the judge has the feel of revenge and retribution.
The citizens, lawyers, and judges who are standing strong against the actions of an authoritarian President show that the resistance is strong and growing. The battle to protect and preserve our democracy can and will be won.
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Fred’s Weekly Note appears on Thursdays in Wertheimer’s Political Report, a Democracy 21 newsletter. Read this week’s and other recent newsletters here. And, subscribe for free here and receive your copy each week via email.
