Donald Trump is issuing illegal orders to the military Article 92 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) addresses the failure to obey orders, stating that service members must obey lawful orders. An order is considered unlawful if it requires a service member to commit a crime, violates the Constitution, or is otherwise illegal. Service members have a duty to refuse … [Read more...] about Legal Orders
Law
Democrats’ Message on Illegal Orders Is Clear, Timely and Targeted
The legal and ethical duty of military members to refuse to obey orders that are manifestly unlawful has been a topic of debate for many decades. Perhaps the most famous example, and legal precedent, was set during the Nuremberg Trials after World War II. Trials that “established the global legal principle that ‘just following orders’ is not a valid defense for war crimes.” … [Read more...] about Democrats’ Message on Illegal Orders Is Clear, Timely and Targeted
Just follow orders or obey the law? What US troops told us about refusing illegal commands
There are certain situations in which the military should not fall in line. Bo Zaunders/Corbis Documentary via Getty Images Charli Carpenter, UMass Amherst and Geraldine Santoso, UMass Amherst As the Trump administration carries out what many observers say are illegal military strikes against vessels in the Caribbean allegedly smuggling … [Read more...] about Just follow orders or obey the law? What US troops told us about refusing illegal commands
Senators Launch Inquiry After a White House Official Intervened on Behalf of Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Senators Launch Inquiry After a White House Official Intervened on Behalf of Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation Two key Senate Democrats have launched an inquiry after a ProPublica investigation revealed this week that a White House official had intervened on behalf of his former legal clients — pro-Trump influencer Andrew Tate and his brother — during a federal … [Read more...] about Senators Launch Inquiry After a White House Official Intervened on Behalf of Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
‘Jeffrey Epstein is not unique’: What his case reveals about the realities of child sex trafficking
Jeffrey Epstein abuse survivor Lisa Phillips speaks during the press conference on the Epstein Files Transparency Act in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 18, 2025. Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images Kate Price, Wellesley College Congress on Nov. 18, 2025, passed legislation that calls on the Justice Department to release records related to … [Read more...] about ‘Jeffrey Epstein is not unique’: What his case reveals about the realities of child sex trafficking
Congress has been dodging responsibility for tariffs for decades — now the Supreme Court will decide how far presidents can go alone
Bedassa Tadesse, University of Minnesota Duluth On Nov. 5, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear one of the most consequential trade cases in decades. The justices will decide whether a president can rely on a Cold War–era emergency law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, to impose sweeping import duties on a vast share of what the United States buys from … [Read more...] about Congress has been dodging responsibility for tariffs for decades — now the Supreme Court will decide how far presidents can go alone
Demolishing the White House East Wing to build a ballroom embodies Trump’s heritage politics
Demolition in process on the East Wing of the White House, Oct. 23, 2025. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin R. Grant Gilmore III, College of Charleston From ancient Egypt to Washington, D.C., rulers have long used architecture and associated stories to project power, control memory and shape national identity. As 17th-century French statesman … [Read more...] about Demolishing the White House East Wing to build a ballroom embodies Trump’s heritage politics
Trump found his replacement for Roy Cohn
When Trump ran into trouble during his first term, he reportedly cried out, “Where’s my Roy Cohn?!” Alas, his favorite thug-fixer-lawyer had been dead since 1986 (having perished just six weeks after he was disbarred for fraud). Nobody in Trump’s embattled orbit was qualified to pick up the torch and run with Cohn’s credo, which, was quite simple: If they hit ya hard, hit … [Read more...] about Trump found his replacement for Roy Cohn
Supreme Court redistricting ruling could upend decades of voting rights law — and tilt the balance of power in Washington
Black Louisiana voters and civil rights advocates ask U.S. Supreme Court justices to uphold a fair and representative congressional map in Louisiana v. Callais on March 24, 2025. Jemal Countess/Getty Images Sam D. Hayes, Simmons University On Oct. 15, 2025, the Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in one of the most anticipated cases of … [Read more...] about Supreme Court redistricting ruling could upend decades of voting rights law — and tilt the balance of power in Washington
Supreme Court opens with cases on voting rights, tariffs, gender identity and campaign finance to test the limits of a constitutional revolution
The U.S. Supreme Court building at dawn in Washington, D.C. Samuel Corum/Bloomberg via Getty Images Morgan Marietta, University of Tennessee The most influential cases before the U.S. Supreme Court this term, which begins on Oct. 6, 2025, reflect the cultural and partisan clashes of American politics. The major cases in October and … [Read more...] about Supreme Court opens with cases on voting rights, tariffs, gender identity and campaign finance to test the limits of a constitutional revolution
Treasury Plans to Mint (Illegal?) $1 Commemorative Trump Coin
The U.S. Treasury plans to mint a $1 Donald Trump coin. And -- you guessed it -- it may be against the law. These days the reaction is: law, schmaw. Who cares? But these plans are reportedly serious: The Treasury Department is developing a one-dollar commemorative coin in celebration of the nation’s 250th birthday bearing the image of President Trump. According … [Read more...] about Treasury Plans to Mint (Illegal?) $1 Commemorative Trump Coin
Pam Bondi’s authoritarian outburst defies the constitution
by Elwood Watson The horrific assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk has unleashed all sorts of cascading emotions, and has apparently resulted in Attorney General Pam Bondi having a mental meltdown. Earlier this week, she appeared on the Katie Miller Podcast and declared federal law enforcement will “go after” Americans for hate speech. Visibly and … [Read more...] about Pam Bondi’s authoritarian outburst defies the constitution
Trump Is Accusing Foes With Multiple Mortgages of Fraud. Records Show 3 of His Cabinet Members Have Them.
Trump Is Accusing Foes With Multiple Mortgages of Fraud. Records Show 3 of His Cabinet Members Have Them.by Robert Faturechi, Justin Elliott and Alex MierjeskiProPublica is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative newsroom. Sign up for The Big Story newsletter to receive stories like this one in your inbox.The Trump administration has vowed to go after anyone who got lower … [Read more...] about Trump Is Accusing Foes With Multiple Mortgages of Fraud. Records Show 3 of His Cabinet Members Have Them.
National Guard to fight crime blurs the legal distinction between the police and the military
California National Guard troops stand in front of a federal building in Los Angeles on June 10, 2025. AP Photo/Eric Thayer Luke William Hunt, University of Alabama A federal judge ruled on Sept. 2, 2025, that the Trump administration broke federal law by sending National Guard troops to Los Angeles in June in response to protests over … [Read more...] about National Guard to fight crime blurs the legal distinction between the police and the military
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT WEAPONIZED BY TRUMP
Reverse Justice
Trump is changing the name of the Department of Justice to the Department of Revenge. First, he granted pardons to all the criminals who had been found guilty or pled guilty to invading the halls of Congress on January 6th, 2020. They were protesting the outcome of the presidential election and trying to overturn the results in favor of Trump. These were people who assaulted … [Read more...] about Reverse Justice
Stash in the Stache
Trump is going after his enemies The FBI raided John Bolton’s home and office today as part of a criminal investigation into the potential mishandling of classified information. Bolton served 17 months as Donald Trump’s National Security Adviser in his first term, and has been a harsh critic of his ever since. A lot of people who worked for Trump are now critics. Remember, … [Read more...] about Stash in the Stache
FBI RAIDS JOHN BOLTON’S HOME: (MORE)TRUMP RETRIBUTION?
The FBI raided Trump nemesis and former Trump national security advisor John Bolton's home this morning. Is it part of what many critics consider Donald Trump's retribution campaign? It certainly sounds that way. Trump's comments on the raid sound like he's all but coming out and saying he ordered it and said he's the country's "chief law enforcement officer. The New York … [Read more...] about FBI RAIDS JOHN BOLTON’S HOME: (MORE)TRUMP RETRIBUTION?
ROOF TOP FELON
DC is so crime-ridden, that the top federal official is a 34-count felon Despite the nation’s capital being at a 30-year low in crime, Donald Trump has now federalized it, installing 800 National Guard troops to patrol the city because a former DOGE guy (white dude) got slapped around by some kids. Fun fact: National Guardsmen are NOT cops. They have not been trained in … [Read more...] about ROOF TOP FELON
3 reasons Republicans’ redistricting power grab might backfire
Texas state lawmakers board a bus following a press conference at the DuPage County Democratic Party headquarters in Carol Stream, Ill., on Aug. 3, 2025. Scott Olson/Getty Images Charlie Hunt, Boise State University The gerrymandering drama in Texas – and beyond – has continued to unfold after Democratic state legislators fled the state. The … [Read more...] about 3 reasons Republicans’ redistricting power grab might backfire