On one hand, I don’t care whether Trump ordered a military takeover of D.C. as a “distraction” or whether he is simply asserting authoritarianism. Either way it is dangerous, wrong, and to be fought. On the other hand Will Bunch is totally correct. 1/
“While some deflection from Epstein news might be a side effect, it's silly to claim that a military occupation on a major American city heavily populated by Democrats is any kind of distraction. It's arguably been the plan for a
Trump presidency all along.” https://archive.ph/2025.08.12-174516/https://www.inquirer.com/columnists/attytood/trump-police-takeover-washington-dc-cdc-shooter-20250812.html 2/2
On one hand, I don’t care whether Trump ordered a military takeover of D.C. as a “distraction” or whether he is simply asserting authoritarianism. Either way it is dangerous, wrong, and to be fought. On the other hand Will Bunch is totally correct. 1/
Reporting from M Kabas on the National Guard invasion of the District of Columbia, originally on bluesky, posted this evening.
Watching scenes of the FBI staking out D.C. As soon as I thought Trump had a real shot at taking office in 2025, I deliberately left, after living there for 30 years. I saw how he militarized the city between 2016 and 2020. In the run up to Jan. 6, I saw his goons ride into town in panel tracks with confederate flags all over them. So no, there is nothing surprising about what he is doing to the District now. But it is still utterly sickening.
Trump unleashes rampant, unadulterated Republican Party Fascism in the District of Columbia. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/11/trump-washington-dc-crime
Ahead of Trial, Attorney General Bonta Lays Out Case Against the Trump Administration’s Unlawful Use of Military in Violation of the Posse Comitatus A... https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/ahead-trial-attorney-general-bonta-lays-out-case-against-trump-administration%E2%80%99s
One important thing we who are dedicated to the long haul can do for each other is to cheer each other on as we engage in the small skirmishes. We can boost each other’s morale and resilience by noting that these skirmishes, whether we win them or not, are all contributing to the larger project. 6/
Rarely are we going to see big wins. And as I said, those of us fighting today for pluralistic constitutional democracy in the U.S. today are not likely to live to see our side prevail. So we aren’t going to be energized and refreshed by big victories. We therefore have to energize and refresh one another by constantly noting who is doing the work and thanking and congratulating them. 7/7
But most, maybe even all, of these actions are likely to be, for many years to come, comparatively small skirmishes with limited success. The reason to persist in such actions is that they contribute to the larger project — maintaining the ideas of pluralistic constitutional democracy and rule of law and keeping these ideas in public consciousness. 5/
One important thing we who are dedicated to the long haul can do for each other is to cheer each other on as we engage in the small skirmishes. We can boost each other’s morale and resilience by noting that these skirmishes, whether we win them or not, are all contributing to the larger project. 6/
I’m not suggesting that we just sit around and theorize. We should engage in tactical and strategic actions to fight Republican Fascism, to protect ourselves and others from it, and to push for democratic government and rule of law wherever and whenever we can. 4/
But most, maybe even all, of these actions are likely to be, for many years to come, comparatively small skirmishes with limited success. The reason to persist in such actions is that they contribute to the larger project — maintaining the ideas of pluralistic constitutional democracy and rule of law and keeping these ideas in public consciousness. 5/
We have to radically reorient our motivation and our expectations. Our task is to keep the IDEA of pluralistic constitutional democracy in the United States alive even as the REALITY of it fades. By keeping the idea and aspiration alive we maintain a framework for the next generations to implement. 3/
I’m not suggesting that we just sit around and theorize. We should engage in tactical and strategic actions to fight Republican Fascism, to protect ourselves and others from it, and to push for democratic government and rule of law wherever and whenever we can. 4/
Heidi Li Feldman