t0000 2.0, aka 47

[barnswallow]

Oh. Substack. I was so much better off not partaking in social media platforms. They're, oh, so tempting.

Someone posted this TikTok video. They recommend this person, Wayne Abeba. I'm posting it here because he makes a very good point. While all the pandemonium about the tariffs went on last week (+ SCOTUS decisions about Abrego Garcia's case and more), a lot of other important decisions were made under the radar. Here are some of those:

Yayne Abeba on Substack

While everyone was freaking out about the market and tariffs, here are some executive orders that Velveeta Voldemort signed This is on of my favorite TikTok creators because. 1. he is brilliant and 2. he keeps me informed m. He breaks down the issues in a way that makes me understand why I...

substack.com

 

[barnswallow]

Here are two reports on the same topic: Kilmar Abrego Garcia disappeared to El Salvador and a subsequent court case brought against the U.S. government to have him returned. The government is dragging its feet and making excuses for why they can’t bring him back. The SCOTUS ruled that the government must facilitate his return.

Both of the reports on this topic are good, with slightly different approaches. I like them both. Meidas Touch makes the point that this case is particularly important because it’s the first and will be precedent for whoever comes next.

Abrego Garcia had a long-standing protective order that he should not be deported to El Salvador. He is a father, living in the U.S. with no criminal record.


LIVE: Legal AF RESPONDS to BREAKING LEGAL NEWS - 4/12/25 | Legal AF [MTN;4.12.25]

Blurb: “Ben Meiselas and Michael Popok are back with the Top 10 ranked Legal AF podcast, and tonight debate: why the Trump Administration is refusing to abide by a Supreme Court ruling against them on deportation and what the courts can do about it; the Trump DOJ having to admit that they have had to dismiss the indictment against a purported MS-13 drug gang leader creating their own “fake news”; whether Justice Riggs will win her North Carolina Supreme Court seat and whether the military voters will have their votes tossed; and so much more at the intersection of law and politics.”

#^#^#^#^#*#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^#^

The second isn’t on YT. Here’s the link to the Apple option:

Blindingly Naive and Oblivious (feat. Steve Vladeck)

Podcast Episode · UnJustified · 04/13/2025 · 1h 23m

podcasts.apple.com

Blindingly Naive and Oblivious (feat. Steve Vladeck) [UnJustified;4.13.25]

Blurb: “The Supreme Court has ruled that individuals being deported under the alien enemies act proclamation are afforded due process, and that the courts can ask the government to facilitate the return of wrongfully deported detainees
The Department of Justice is seeking to drop the charges against the alleged MS-13 leader they held a press conference about arresting.
FBI Director Kash Patel has been quietly removed as the Acting Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives after he stopped showing up to work.

"The Department of Justice lawyer who argued on behalf of the government in the Abrego Garcia case has been benched because he expressed frustration with his clients during a hearing. His supervisor has also been sidelined.

"The DC Office of Disciplinary Counsel has declined to launch a probe of Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney, over an alleged ethics violation he committed when he sought to dismiss the criminal case of a January 6th defendant whom he previously represented.
Donald Trump signs an executive order opening investigations into Chris Krebs and Miles Taylor.”

This has content besides the Abrego Garcia case. The podcast features Alison Gil and Andrew McCabe (formerly FBI Director, as you may recall) discussing the issues.

 

[barnswallow]

Here’s one about the t0000 administration’s war on the Constitution, ignoring judicial orders in flagrant fashion. Two lawyers in conversation discuss this topic.

Popok and Agnifolo focus on the Abrego Garcia case, on the ‘deportation’ of two hundred some people to a prison in El Salvador case, and make passing mention of the Associated Press case (you know the one: the absurd attack on the First Amendment rights of the AP to continue to call the Gulf of Mexico by its name, instead of t0000’s petty absurd requirement that everyone call it the Gulf of America and using that charade to deny the AP access to the WH briefing/press room and Oval Office events, freedom of the press be damned). A judge ordered that the AP be given press access and the t0000 admin got all poofy for themselves when they devised some legal reason to defy the order.

Anyway. Essentially, they are thumbing their noses at the constitutional order and by their actions declaring they can do whatever they want and daring anyone to try to do anything about it. The courts are holding them to account, within the limits of the outrageous immunity decision, granting POTUS immunity from prosecution, made by SCOTUS last year. As is pointed out in the podcast, the courts can prosecute the Executive Branch's violations of the law but the President is immune and he can pardon all his stooges.


LIVE: Legal AF RESPONDS to BREAKING LEGAL NEWS - 4/16/25 | Legal AF [Meidas Touch Network;4.16.25]

Blurb: “Michael Popok and Karen Friedman Agnifilo, on the top-rated Legal AF podcast, debate a judge’s decision to hold the Trump Administration in contempt of court with a referral for prosecution imminent. They also break down another federal judge preparing to do the same over Trump’s refusal to secure the release of Armando Garcia, his losing legal battles against the media, and much more from the ever-tumultuous intersection of law and politics.”

 

[barnswallow]

I had heard that some protestors were removed from rep mtg’s town hall. I hadn’t seen this footage. I wish this clip had more footage on the front end so we could get more context.

Lincoln Square Media on Substack

Nothing says '“democracy” like electrocuting one of your constituents

substack.com

Also, I don’t have the exact date but I think it’s within the last week.

 

[barnswallow]

Here, similar to the previous post, I’ve n scrolling and reading, scrolling and watching and came upon this and thought, yeah, others might want to know this, too.

From Lincoln Square [date: 4.16.25], a new-to-me media space from The Lincoln Project:

Lincoln Square Media on Substack

Another Trump tactic to make you afraid to speak out against him: List you as 'dead.' Currently being used as a tactic to force immigrants to self-deport, this status can be used against Americans for any reason--virtually ending their ability to live in America. Being listed as 'dead' would...

substack.com

Blurb: “Another Trump tactic to make you afraid to speak out against him: List you as 'dead.'

“Currently being used as a tactic to force immigrants to self-deport, this status can be used against Americans for any reason--virtually ending their ability to live in America.

“Being listed as 'dead' would prevent you from getting and keeping a job, accessing credit, drawing social security benefits, getting a phone, turning on utilities, buying, selling or renting a home---financial murder, and to keep you in fear of opposing him.

“An easy punishment for any opposition.

“Are you going to stand for this, America?”

Hmmm. . . Not sure what they mean to suggest we do, or . . . ?

 

[barnswallow]

‘Alien Enemies’ or Innocent Men? Inside Trump’s Rushed Effort to Deport 238 Migrants

The Trump administration sent them to a prison in El Salvador under a wartime act, calling them members of a Venezuelan gang. But a New York Times investigation found little evidence of criminal backgrounds or links to the gang.

www.nytimes.com

‘Alien Enemies’ or Innocent Men? Inside Trump’s Rushed Effort to Deport 238 Migrants [NYTimes;4.16.25]

Sub-title: “The Trump administration sent them to a prison in El Salvador under a wartime act, calling them members of a Venezuelan gang. But a New York Times investigation found little evidence of criminal backgrounds or links to the gang.”

From the article: “The White House has said that 137 of the men were deported under the Alien Enemies Act, while 101 others were expelled under normal immigration proceedings. All are accused of being gang members, and all are in prison in El Salvador.
In recent weeks, Venezuela’s autocratic leader has accused the Trump administration of engaging in a violation with a long grim history in Latin America: a large-scale “forced disappearance.”

“The United Nations defines the practice as the deprivation of liberty “followed by a refusal to disclose the fate or whereabouts of the persons concerned.”

“In a rare moment of agreement, Human Rights Watch has come to the same conclusion as the Venezuelan leader.“

From earlier in the article: “Some of the prisoners do appear to have committed grave crimes. At least 32 of the men sent to El Salvador have faced serious criminal accusations or convictions in the United States or abroad, including a man accused of participating in an assault in Chicago, another convicted of trying to smuggle arms out of the United States and others accused of theft, strangulation, domestic battery or harboring undocumented immigrants.

“One has a homicide conviction in Venezuela, according to court documents. Another man was accused in Chile of kidnapping, drugging and raping a woman during a four-day rage.

“Chilean prosecutors also believe the man is a member of Tren de Aragua, according to court documents. Investigators say they found his name and messages in the phones of other gang members.

“Beyond that, The Times found that another two dozen of the men locked up in El Salvador had been accused or found guilty of lower-level offenses in the United States or elsewhere, including trespassing, speeding in a school zone and driving an improperly registered vehicle.

“But for the others, including Mr. Suárez, the musician, The Times found no evidence of a criminal background, beyond offenses related to being unauthorized migrants. Mr. Suárez’s family presented official certificates from Venezuela, Colombia and Chile — where he lived in the past — saying he had no convictions in those nations.”

 

[barnswallow]

Here’s another about the tariffs and the US economy.


Finance Bros got PLAYED By Trump! Wall Street Feeling MAJOR REGRETS! (w/ Stephanie Ruhle) [The Bulwark with host Tim Miller;4.16.25]

Blurb: “Manufacturing orders are down, stocks are down, and mortgage rates are up. But Trump and his family are wealthier than they've ever been. He's got his ponzi-like crypto scheme, his meme coin, and a boatload of big money types showing up at Mar-a-Lago trying to curry favors from him for some cold, hard cash. Meanwhile, Trump is play-acting like he has a strong hand, but he's begging China to make a deal. Plus, the administration is defunding science and our world-renowned medical centers to buy crypto. And the Abrego Garcia kidnapping and imprisonment has touched a nerve in surprising ways. Stephanie Ruhle joins Tim Miller.”

 

[barnswallow]

Here’s an analytical discussion about how the t0000 administration acts aggressively to actualize the idea of a unitary executive power. Douthat , the host, and Jack Goldsmith discuss possible checks and balances in the context of some of the recent actions of the executive branch.

Opinion | Which of Trump’s Moves Will Survive Legal Challenges?

And how this could all go down in the courts.

www.nytimes.com

What if There’s No Way to Stop Trump’s Approach to Power? [NYTimes Opinion: Interesting Times;4.17.25]

Sub-title: “And how this could all go down in the courts.”

Blurb: “President Trump may forever reshape the boundaries of executive power. This week on “Interesting Times,” Ross Douthat and Jack Goldsmith, who was the head of the White House’s Office of Legal Counsel under President George W. Bush, discuss which cases are most likely to win in the courts and permanently expand the executive branch — for better or worse.”

Both these guys speak from a republican viewpoint. In this case, I found the discussion digestible because they are similarly alarmed by some of the actions being taken.

 

[barnswallow]

Here’s a moderated discussion asking t0000 voters how they view these first months of the t0000 administration. The NYTimes has had this feature, tracking a group of 13 or so voters, since before the election. This one is an interesting snapshot in time. I had expected there to be some dissatisfaction but most have a favorable view. That surprised me, despite Faux News and the information silos that separate the population. I’m not sure if it’s the same group of voters in every installment.

Opinion | Tariffs, Elon Musk and Trump’s Term So Far: 13 Trump Voters Discuss

The participants discuss how they think Trump’s second term is going.

www.nytimes.com

How 13 Independent Voters Who Backed Trump Think He Is Doing So Far [Opinion:America in Focus;4.8.25]

 

[barnswallow]

Here Michael Steele, Republican from The Bulwark speaks with a new Congress person representing the 10th district in Virginia, what he’s seen in his first 3 months on the job and how he carries out his job as a member of the minority party. He’s got a unique perspective as you’ll hear. Earlier in his career he worked in some of the departments involving cybersecurity and IT in the government so he knows better than most what we are losing as DOGE runs through the halls with its rhinestone-covered chainsaw.


MAGA Turning On Elon And Doge? (With Rep. Suhas Subramanyam) [The Michael Steele Podcast;4.18.25]

Blurb: “Michael Steele is joined by Congressman Suhas Subramanyam. The pair discuss what DOGE cuts will mean for America’s future, and how even MAGA supporters are beginning to see the impact in their own communities. Plus, how these cuts are hurting America’s ability to be a global leader in tech, science, and innovation.
If you enjoyed this podcast, be sure to leave a review or share it with a friend!Follow Rep. Suhas Subramanyam @RepSuhasFollow Michael Steele @MichaelSteeleFollow the podcast @steele_podcastFollow The Bulwark @BulwarkOnline

 

[barnswallow]

Here’s another one from a former republican, now Independent commentator, Rick Wilson. From Wikipedia: “. . . an American political strategist, media consultant, and author based in Florida. A former member of the Republican Party, he has produced televised political commercials for governors, U.S. Senate candidates, Super PACs, and corporations.
. . . And from a little further on, “Since Trump's first election as president, Wilson has continued to be a conservative Trump critic, authoring two books: Everything Trump Touches Dies(2018) and Running Against the Devil (2020).”

Here he talks about the t0000 administration as ‘brittle’ and highly stressed. He speaks about tariffs and the imminent effects and pain we will begin to experience as China stops delivering goods to the port in Southern California.

He talks about Dems in Congress having more power than they recognize and suggests it’s no time to sit on their hands.

And how t0000 is the worst president in our history and his approval ratings are tanking. That within the Whitehouse the cabinet is devolving to infighting.

He suggests that everyone who opposes his policies needs to be active right now, calling their representatives in Congress, going to demonstrations.


Live Video: Hot Mess Hegseth. Trump's in Trouble Everywhere. [The Rick Wilson;4.21.25]

Blurb: “The infighting begins, and it's going to get bloody, fast. https://therickwilson....”