States and Cities Are Pushing Back Against ICE's Attempt to Build Detention Centers

Enough is enough.

Americans are fighting back against the Trump regime's attempts to convert warehouses into jails for immigrants. 

As part of the Trump regimes plan for mass deportations ICE has been attempting to buy warehouses across the country so that it can turn them into gulags for people of color.

The good news is there's been a substantial pushback against the detention centers by states and cities across America. Communities and city officials have protested - and successfully blocked - some of these purchases. But the fight goes on.

Some examples:

In Ashland, Virginia, protestors braved freezing temperatures to successfully lobby the local board of commissioners against the Department of Homeland Security's attempt to buy a warehouse to convert it into a prison. You'll notice I didn't say detention camp because people (men, women and children) have been held indefinitely in many cases. 

In January, residents of Oklahoma City packed a city council meeting to express their displeasure that DHS was interested in buying a local warehouse to turn into another hellhole for immigrants. The Republican mayor met with the owners of the facility and later announced that they had decided not to sell to the DHS.

In Durant, Oklahoma, the Choctaw Nation issued an ordinance banning the sale of an empty distribution center near tribal lands to the DHS.

In Kansas City, Missouri, the port authority moved to cut ties with a local company to discourage the city's plans to sell a warehouse to the DHS.

Resistance to ICE's attempts to expand its immigration prison system has been manifested in different tactics. One common strategy over the past year has been to identify local contacts with ICE - and to push elected officials and institutions to cut them.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car has been a common target for its partnership with ICE. City and state officials are starting to pay attention to the company's relationship with ICE. Last December, ICE agents were reported to be illegally swapping license plates on rental cars to make tracking them more difficult. 

Local officials are also targeting contracts for ICE's office spaces and parking garages.

And in Philadelphia, city councilors are pushing to end or restrict collaboration with the DHS in what they call their "ICE Out" package.

As proof how bad these immigrant detention facilities are, DHS is doing everything it can to keep members of Congress from visiting them despite their legal authority to conduct unannounced visits, or spot check, in person.

As it Stands, it's no wonder people are calling ICE agents the Gestapo. The Trump regime is doing its best to copy Hitler's tactics.

Troops Pressured to Attend Screenings of Melania Movie

In the ongoing saga of Trump politicalizing our military here's two recent examples that further the narrative.

One: Thousands of active-duty service members were reportedly "pressured" by commanding officers to attend screenings of "Melania" in cinemas.

The documentary received harsh criticism and was ridiculed for drawing nearly empty auditoriums. Critics also panned the film itself, with reviews being overwhelmingly negative. 

According to the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) a watchdog group, they received multiple complaints from U.S. military personnel stationed at no fewer than eight bases globally, that MAGA-aligned officers were "instructing" service members to attend the Melania movie.

MRFF founder and president Mikey Weinstein revealed to Business Insider that his organization has documentation proving military members were threatened if they didn't agree to see the movie.

"People are scared," Weinstein cautioned Business Insider. "They were pressured to see the movie. Your military superior, that's not your shift manager at Taco Bell or Starbucks. They have complete and total control of you."

There were reports of unit commanders occasional wearing MAGA hats and threatening disciplinary action against troops who didn't back the Trump administration. 

One service member who sent a letter to MRFF said that watching the documentary counted as one of three mandatory "unit activity events" that military personnel must participate in each month to strengthen bonds within their combat units and with their families.

The fact that military members are being groomed to be MAGA supporters is scary...and ongoing. 

 Two: While speaking at Ft. Bragg last week Trump told the troopers that they needed to VOTE REPUBLICAN if they wanted to keep the name of their fort. It was just another blatant misuse of presidential power and political bias. 

As it Stands, the MAGA cult has been like a cancer and unfortunately, we haven't found a cure for it yet.

ICE: Cruelty Domination Intimidation Across the Nation

Three words sum up the Trump regime in America today.

Cruelty. Domination. Intimidation.

Guilty of all three is ICE, an agency that's been turned into a private army for Trump. Those three words sum up ICE's mission under our rapidly spreading authoritarian government.

Examples of legal violations include:

* Violating Fourth Amendment Rights: Agents have been accused of entering private homes without consent using only administrative warrants rather than judicial warrants.

* Detaining U.S. Citizens: Instances have occurred where U.S. citizens were arrested or retained based upon their appearance or accent.

* Excessive Force and Reckless Tactics: Reports include the use of chokeholds, pepper spray balls, against protestors, and reckless vehicular pursuits.

* Questionable Arrest Locations: ICE has been accused of arresting individuals at sensitive locations, including schools, churches, and hospitals.

* Violation of Policies: Agents have sometimes employed tactics, such as smashing car windows, that violate Department of Homeland Security policy.

* Unlawful Detention: Reports indicate instances of, or threats of, unlawful detention of individuals, including legal observers.

By now the whole world has seen what ICE agents have done in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After surging 3,000 agents into the city streets there was complete chaos as thousands of protestors flooded the city (and across the state and several other states) demanding ICE go home.

After a month of terror and two American citizens being murdered by ICE agents the national (and international) outcry was so massive even Trump had to concede and promise to pull out his bully boys.

Meanwhile Congress is in the process of getting more funding for ICE. Under MAGA Mike, the House forwarded a bill to give Trump's private army more money. 

However, it doesn't look like the Senate will go along with the House for a couple of reasons. Foremost being the Republicans not having the supermajority to override the Democrats opposition.

If the funding bill hits a dead end in the Senate, then it'll get booted back to the House. The partial government shutdown is over getting reforms to federal immigration enforcement. 

The GOP doesn't think there should be reforms. The Democrats do. With more than 95% of the federal government now funded for the year, all attention is on DHS funding as the two party's remain at odds over specific reforms.

One thing is crystal clear: Americans aren't going to tolerate Trump's private army violating their rights and freedoms as ICE runs rampant throughout the nation.

 As it Stands, when the Democrats win back the House and Senate in November (odds are they will despite Trump's efforts to derail the midterms) agencies like ICE will be forced to follow the rules that they now ignore.

Coal Hard Facts: Don King Coal Gets Awarded Fake Trophy

Trump turned back the clock on science and safety once again when he declared coal is king in American energy. 

He signed an order directing the Pentagon to produce electricity from coal-fired power plants.

For his reversal of energy standards and safety he was awarded the "Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal" by Peabody Energy. He can now add that trophy to his growing collection of fake trophies created just for him. Like when FIFA  (of all things a soccer organization) awarded him the first annual Peace Prize Trophy.

Trump told the Energy Department to provide $175 million in federal funds for upgrades at several coal plants. In response, the Natural Resources Defense Council wrote, "While Americans are demanding clean, affordable energy, the Trump administration is using our tax dollars to prop up the nation's dirtiest, least efficient power plants. It's no wonder fossil fuel lobbyists are handing Trump an award."

In 1980 I was a regional editor for a national publication called The National Woodstove and Fireplace Journal. Just out of college I was thrilled to have such a well-paying journalistic job. So, I ended up doing a lot of research on the different types of coal.

I learned that Anthracite was the cleanest burning type of coal (containing 86%-97% carbon). It was heavily promoted by The Journal and at the time I was in favor of Anthracite coal. The only problem was a growing list of reasons why we weren't mining it. 

Today Anthracite constitutes less than 1% of U.S. coal. The major source for of coal production is subbituminous coal which accounts for about 46% of all U.S. coal production. It has a lower heating value and just contains 35%-45% carbon.

The dirtiest type of coal is Lignite (Brown coal). It only has 25%-45% carbon. It's high moisture and low energy content makes it less efficient. It's primarily used for, or near, power plants.

This coal legislation is part and parcel of Trump's plans to deregulate safety guidelines for our environment. 

He just signed the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history. In it he eliminated the Obama-era Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding and all subsequent federal emission standards for all vehicles and engines of model years 2012 to 2027 and beyond.

Trump has revoked the bedrock scientific determination that gives the government the ability to regulate climate-heating pollution. It was a gift to his billionaire polluter buddies.

The path to getting Trump's backing on something involves making up trophies or giving him golden gifts like a crown. As the most transactional president in our history continues to take away environmental safety nets there doesn't seem like a way to stop him.

As it Stands, Trump's legacy will continue to haunt future generations as gas masks become regular attire when people go outside.

It's Time to Give Credit to the Judges Who Are Protecting People Against MAGA

If we peel back Trump's daily distractions and look at the whole story, there's a silver-lining that many aren't aware of.

The good news is that the majority of judges in this country are defying Trump's lawless regime. Unless you follow court cases that fact is easily overlooked when compared to the daily assaults on our Democracy.

There's a website called the Trump Administration Litigation Tracker that follows legal challenges against the current regime. It's a bipartisan non-profit publication that tracks legal challenges to the Trump regime's executive actions that deal with national security issues, as well as cases on behalf of the Trump regime to enforce them.

The Lawfare Litigation Tracker includes:

- 238 active cases challenging the Trump regime's actions (this number considers a suit filed in district court and appeals that arise from the original suit as one case). 

- 21 suits by the Trump regime challenging state or local laws.

- 17 Supreme Court stays or orders to vacate lower court orders.

- 1 Supreme Court affirmation of a lower court order.

- 8 suits where judges ruled for the federal government in a summary judgement or by dismissing a suit.

- 9 suits where judges ruled against federal government in a summary judgement or permanent injunction.

- 6 criminal prosecutions by the Department of Justice (Rep. LaMonica Mclver, former FBI Director James Comey, former National Security Advisor John Bolton, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Congressional candidate Katherine Abughazaleh).

Editor's Note: the case against Comey was dropped by a judge today. After numerous appeals judges have ruled for Garcia and against the Trump regime. In addition, after several attempts the regime's case against Letitia James was dropped. It doesn't mean the government is done harassing them and I wouldn't be surprised to know their currently seeking appeals to those decisions.

It would only be fair to point out that the most important judges in the land have favored the Trump regime. Last year the Supreme Court overwhelmingly sided with Trump. There were at least 24 emergency docket rulings on Trump's action last year. The Supreme Court ruled in Trump's favor 20 times and against four times.

Never before has the court been asked to rule on the legality of so many presidential actions in such a short period of time. Then again, we never had a more corrupt president.

This year, the court will decide cases on the merits docket about the president's power to remove agency heads, the legality of Trump's tariffs, and the constitutionality of his executive order on birthright citizenship.

Based upon last year's preference for the Trump regime we can't expect a miracle coming from the justices this year. However, I must note that based upon some articles I read, where justices were expressing skeptical opinions on all three cases there's an outside chance they'll rule against the regime.

As it Stands, it's a pity that we can't trust the Supreme Court anymore. As for those state and federal judges that are protecting us, they deserve a big thank you.

Congressional Hearings Are Acts from the Theatre of the Absurd

Have you ever gone to a Congressional hearing or watched it online or on TV?

If you have, you can be excused if you thought that it was a staged performance, or an opening act straight out of the Theatre of the Absurd. 

Watching Attorney General Pam Bondi testify before the House Judiciary Committee today (Wednesday) was like watching an old West shootout. 

The Republican chairman, Jim Jordan, let Bondi run roughshod over every Democratic member of the committee, often letting her talk right over the person questioning her.

The hearing was a battle of truth versus lies. Bondi repeatedly lied, under oath, and was so defiant at times I thought she was going to fly out of her chair like the Wicked Witch of the East. When she didn't want to directly answer a question, she replied with personal attacks against the person and tried to flip the narrative.

Meanwhile chairman Jordan walked the fence trying to calm Bondi down at times, but he also gave her free reign again and again. Because the Republicans in the committee follow Trump's agenda they all acted like simpering little sycophants and heaped praise on Bondi who was acting like a spoiled child.

It's hard watching people lie, and even harder watching them get away with it because in the end of the day we all know Bondi will not be stopped despite the evidence of her crimes being revealed in an open hearing.

There was a time in our history when House and Senate hearings actually exposed corruption in a bipartisan way. Members didn't insult their colleagues throughout the proceedings and the person being interviewed wasn't allowed too defiantly lash out every time they were asked a simple question. 

Once upon a time Congressional committees didn't tolerate such defiance and actually held the person in criminal contempt for their actions. Those days are long gone.

Thanks to a Republican majority in the House and Senate all congressional hearings now are just acts from a scripted play by the director in the Oval Office.

Frankly I don't know why the Republican majority is even holding these hearings. Nothing is ever solved. Little, or no action, is ever taken. The whole exercise seems meaningless.

I watched the hearing live on the Associated Press platform online. There were 31,000 other viewers watching the play unfold. We only represented a tiny fraction of the entire population.

As for the rest of the country people will go to their silos and watch snippets of the hearing - each pushing a different interruption of what actually occurred.

The result? Chaos. Misinformation. Polarization. Nothing good for the nation. 

As it Stands, on the positive side if you like soap operas these hearings are for you.

Freedom Isn't Free: There's Always a Price Attached - In This Case it's Trump

Americans have fought for freedom ever since defeating England and forming a society guaranteeing every man has rights and freedoms.

Men and women have fought to preserve those freedoms in two world wars and other military actions defending our democracy. Those brave members of the military have sacrificed their lives to defend this country and preserve our freedoms.

Since the start of the 21st century we've seen a gradual erosion of our rights and freedoms. It's our own fault. We've let the wealthy elite take charge and slowly strip away our rights with elections that featured far-right actors.

When Trump slunk into office in 2016 the slow drip of rights being taken away turned into a river of revenge where Trump introduced his authoritarian tendencies into the government.

By the time Trump lost the 2020 election and managed to get re-elected four years later the damage from his first time in office was evident. He sold a Big Lie about being cheated in his 2020 loss. The lie continues today and has actually grown legs since last year.

The American's who voted for Trump both times don't care if he's a world-class liar bent upon being our first dictator. Their emotional connection to Trump's lies blinds them from reality and the truth about what Trump is doing. They smile and fawn over him even after losing their healthcare and numerous rights. 

The damage that Trump's done to our democracy is far-reaching. He set the standard for future MAGA politicians. He coopted the Republican party and turned it into Nazi brownshirts that willingly take our rights away.

Some pundits say we now live in two Americas. One is controlled by bad actors and the other is the victims of this lawless regime.

The average American - those that don't belong to the MAGA cult - are fighting to retain their freedoms in the courts and streets with massive protests. A price is being paid daily as government agencies like ICE kill Americans and terrify immigrants, while they roam through the streets like an occupying Army.

Standing up to this corrupt regime requires Americans turning out in massive numbers this November and voting Blue. Meanwhile we have to defend the whole election process (again) and make sure Trump doesn't get away with fixing the midterms where Democrats are heavily favored to win the House and even the Senate. 

Along the way average Americans will take the brunt of Trump's assault against our freedoms, and more may even die defending the Constitution. 

Americans have always known that the price of freedom would be high and people would have to die. It's in the country's DNA. Today we have come to a crossroad that demands attention to the growing fascism in high places. Rights are dying daily. 

As it Stands, we are all on the front lines of this war. United we stand, divided we fall.

Democracy's Dirty Little Secret: Charisma Over Competence

It was September 1960 when Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy debated about which one would be the best president if elected. It was the first time in history a live televised debate was shown.

Here's the takeaway; people who watched the debate thought Kennedy had won and Nixon looked terrible. But people who listened to the debate on radio thought Nixon had won.

Standing beside one another a tanned and fit Kennedy oozed charisma next to the sweating and pale Nixon. After Kennedy won the race political pundits pointed out that it was his charisma "that carried the day." 

Interestingly enough political pundits today say the same thing about Trump. His circus barker personality captured the attention of millions of Americans... despite his personal history. He's easily the worst president in American history but he got re-elected in 2024 - even after trying to steal the 2020 election.

Unfortunately, it often seems like the most qualified person running in an election doesn't get elected. Of course, when Nixon finally did get elected years later, he disgraced himself and the office and had to resign in shame.

It helps to understand that charismatic leaders leverage emotional connection to build trust and authority, which often blinds followers - as in Trump's case - to deficiencies in technical and strategic capabilities.

Political experts say there's a "Halo Effect" when a confident, magnetic personality creates a perception of competence even when it doesn't exist. People have a tendency to think a charming, articulate person is competent.

Fair warning. While effective in the short term, over-relying on charisma can lead to disastrous long-term results, including narcissistic leadership, poor decision-making, and organizational failures when the leader lacks the actual skills to back up their confidence. You know. Like Trump.

Relying solely on charisma can lead to "collective narcissism" and a culture where the appearance of success is more important than actual results. As in MAGA.

Charisma often overcomes competence because it targets emotional perception, which humans typically process faster and more intensely than rational evaluations of skill. It helps explain why Trump's followers blindly accept anything he says as the gospel.

Charisma is Democracy's dirty little secret where an idiot can get elected if he puts on a good enough show for the people.

As it Stands, finding someone with charisma, a sense of morality, and brains seems like an impossible task these days. All I can say is the Democrats better find someone like that in 2028.

Memories and Facts About the 1st Superbowl Game and Today's Game

                                        GAME DAY.

Millions of Americans will be watching today's Superbowl LX match between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks.

I'm rooting for the Seahawks who happen to be the favorites in today's game which is being held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. We'll see if Seattle can win a 2nd Superbowl.

Fun fact: A Houston furniture store owner, Jim "Mattress Mack" McIngvale, placed a $2 million bet on the Patriots to win today. Either he knows something everyone else doesn't or the guy is crazy.

The entertainment for Superbowl LX is Bad Bunny who is making history as the first artist to headline primarily in Spanish. He was a guest during the 2020 show with Shakira and Jennifer Lopez.

The first Superbowl was held on Jan.15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Coliseum between Green Bay and Kansas City. Green Bay dominated, winning 35 to 10. 

I was a junior in high school and lived in Azusa, California which was not that far from the Los Angeles Coliseum. Despite the close proximity I didn't go to the game. My reasoning was simple.

One, I hated both teams and was a Ram fan who was sorely disappointed that they didn't make it to the big game.

Two, I didn't have the money to go. The price of a ticket, gas to get there, parking fees, and any snacks, was just more than I could afford on my minimum wage part-time job.

The two quarterbacks that day were Bart Starr for the Green Bay Packers and Len Dawson for the Kansas City Chiefs. Both are now Hall of Famers. Starr was named the MVP, throwing 250 yards and two touchdowns against a tough Chief's defense.

The halftime show consisted of six white girls prancing around and waving pom poms. Compare that with what today's halftime Superbowl shows.

As it Stands, Superbowl's have been a good cultural lesson in America bridging sports with music.  

Olympic Embarrassment: America's Standing with World Community is Diminished

When was the last time an American vice president was booed by an Olympic crowd? If you said "never" you're right.

Our current vice president, J.D. Vance and his wife were roundly booed during the opening ceremonies of the 2026 Winter Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee media spokesperson requested that the audience not boo individuals and to be civil. But when they saw Vance, the boos reverberated around the venue. 

Just before the opening ceremonies skier, Gus Kenworthy, launched a blistering attack on US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers by urinating the words "Fuck Ice" on the snow just before the games kicked off.

Kenworthy's comments are particularly notable given that ICE agents were in Milan as part of the security detail for Vance. I don't know what's going on with using ICE for security when there's a special secret service detail protecting him everywhere he goes. 

Team USA freestyle skier Hunter Hess spoke out on ICE agents' actions during the games; "Just because I wear the flag doesn't mean I represent everything that's going on in the US," he told a panel of reporters.

There's been rallies recently against ICE in Milan and the Italian people are making it clear that ICE isn't wanted in their country. There's also been international protests against ICE and their presence during the Winter games.

Hundreds of protestors gathered in Milan to reject the presence of ICE in the city before the opening ceremony at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. The student-led demonstration featured banners reading "ICE should be in my drinks, not my city."

It's hard seeing Americans diminished in the eyes of the world community. Traditionally we've been viewed as the "good guys" and a beacon for Democracy.

More than 3,500 athletes from 93 countries are competing in this year's winter games, which is taking place over a large area of northern Italy spanning about 8,500 square miles.

As it Stands, there was a venue called the "ICE House" where Olympians and their families could hang out but the name was changed prior to opening day to the "Winter House." And there you have it.

Trump's Legacy of Being a Malicious Narcissist is Assured

The definition of a malicious narcissist combines intense narcissism with antisocial behavior, aggression, sadism, and paranoia.

In other words, Trump is a malicious narcissist. How do we know that? He actively seeks to cause pain and destroy others through manipulation, humiliation, and malicious smear campaigns to gain power and control.

Let's take a look at some examples.

Trump unlawfully froze $16 billion in funding for a major infrastructure project - a tunnel between New York and New Jersey. The price of unfreezing those funds is Senate Leader Chuck Schumer has to agree to rename New York's Penn Station and Washington's Dulles Airport after Trump.

It's blatant bribery and part of Trump's goal to name as many buildings, monuments, and products after himself as he can before leaving office. 

Officials in New York and New Jersey told ABC News that if Trump doesn't release the funds by today (Friday) the project would stop, leaving approximately 1,000 construction jobs in jeopardy.

Friday UPDATE 5:36 p.m. PST

US Judge unfreezes funding for $16 billion New York City tunnel project. A rare victory over Trump's corruption.

Over the past year, Trump has added his name on the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the U.S. Institute for Peace.

In December the U.S. Navy announced plans for "Trump Class" of battleships. And on Thursday Trump unveiled a new government website for prescription drugs called TrumpRx.

There's eight Trump Towers scattered around the world and four more are being developed as I write this.  There are eleven Trump golf courses from Scotland (Trump Turnberry) to Dubai's Trump International Golf Club.

In the United States there's a Donald J. Trump State Park in New York; a Trump Drive in Kalispell, Montana; a President Donald J. Trump Highway (a section of U.S. Route 287 in Oklahoma); The Donald J. Trump Justice Complex in Lyon County, Nevada; President Donald J. Trump, in Hialeah, Florida; and President Donald J. Trump Boulevard in Palm Beach, Florida.

There's a Trump Winery, a vineyard in Virginia, and a Bacardi-based cocktail called a Trumptini. Frankly, I could go on with more examples, but the complete list is too long to mention in this post.

As it Stands, when Trump's legacy is examined by future historians it's going to be a tale of the world's biggest malicious narcissist holding a nation (and world) hostage.