While America obsesses over viral distractions, the Supreme Court quietly hands Trump the legal blueprint to permanently reshape immigration, executive power, and constitutional norms forever.
"Just understand that while America entertains itself with Political theater ,the stage itself is being rebuilt." I have to disagree with you Michael. Both of those things are important. The Reflecting Pool is a symbol of all that is ugly and wrong about Trump . That he doesn't care what is said about him and his destruction of the country doesn't ring true for me. If he doesn't care why is the tarp still up on the John F Kennedy Center? Those of us who are horrified by Trump are also horrified by SCOTUS. One of the most corrupt racist courts since Taney. Trump has appointed three of them.. All six of them said that president matters. They said it is settled law until they had the power to change it . Hence Roe v. Wade overturned ..The thing is the court doesn't care about public opinion no matter what the talking heads might say .Those of us who care, are so power less over what and who they are. One can only hope that focusing on the Reflection Pool wakes up these Republicans and gets them to stay home or change there vote. If we can get a humane person into the White House after this malevolent animal is out maybe something can be done in a humane way about immigration. Sad,Angry and Lost in America
I find it offensive that Michael seems to assume that we are all sitting on our hands in front of one faux news channel or another. Actually, many of us are, and have been, working very hard to prevent these abuses of power. I write to my two idiot R senators most days of the week, voicing my opposition to these racist and xenophobic policies. But they do nothing. Is that evidence of MY being “distracted” by the minutia of the “magician”? I think not. Many Americans are doing their best out here; we are not the ignorant masses who are entertained by UFC fights and prefer to bury our heads in the sand. Think MInnesota. Think resistance. That is what is happening before your very eyes.
I don’t think Michael was singling us out, per se, I think he means the ones who bitch and moan but do nothing, unlike yourself - and me, for that matter! I call my reps and other states’ reps reminding them who they work for, etc. Your analogy of the Reflecting Pool is spot on! His insecurities stem from his POS father who humiliated him on a basketball court in Queens because he lost, despite having paid the kids $20 each begging them “let me win…” I know someone who grew up with him and was there, so it’s not a BS story. And there’s plenty more. In any event, he needs to be removed despite what anyone else says.
I agree Barbara. Michael's article speaks to a greater audience. If someone reading it takes it personally, that is their choice to be offended. I am certain that those of us who read and comment here are most definitely not the focus of his comments.
Michael only plays to an audience of one person. If you’ve been here for a few months, you will notice the trend of coddling his “boss,” and making excuses for him. I watch Al Jazeera news and BBC News. They don’t play into making excuses for Trump.
Yeah, I also don't buy that Trump doesn't care about his image. His whole life has been spent trying to make himself look amazing to everyone in the world. He is all about appearances, and your point about the tarp still being up proves that. Michael would have been more correct if he had said something like watch what Trump's minions are doing while he is obsessed with appearances. That is a way more accurate statement. His goons like Stephen Miller let grandpa go play with his reflecting pool and ballroom while they pull the strings behind the curtain. At this point, I'm sure Trump would sign anything they put in front of him. His comment about loving inflation proves that.
Thank You Jennifer.. I was thinking along those lines myself. You are right his minions are doing so much .. Although I believe that Dumpty does and would approve all of there moves even if he isn't aware of them all . Because he is a filthy psychopath through and through.
Anyone who pays attention to the news knew that yesterday’s two Supreme Court decisions regarding immigration were huge! And those of us who respect the words from the poem written on the Statue of Liberty beginning with “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” — we were all shocked and angered by yesterday’s decisions. Frankly, it’s nothing but racism. The diversity in the United States is one of our main strengths. This decision will weaken us even more than this racist administration already has— an administration that is already housing people of color, Americans and Americans-to-be, in warehouses which are actually concentration camps. Many of the detainees have committed no crimes whatsoever. Most of them are innocent citizens or legal society members working to earn their citizenship. Have we learned nothing from history? Even our own history when we locked up the Japanese in internment camps. No, apparently not. We’ve learned nothing. These SCOTUS rulings on immigration will go down in history as white nationalist legislation and will hurt our country big time. It’s a shame. To say people aren’t paying attention is the opposite of what I experienced yesterday. It was the topic of the day and I suspect it will continue being discussed widely by many concerned citizens. I’m too wordy today. I should have simply written “Shameful.”
For how many years has the US tried and failed to create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants that will be affected by this? No political will. Scapegoats are an unfortunate part of human failure to take responsibililty.
Barb, it's true the US has many failed attempts as a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. There has always existed the quandary of "letting in vs over run population". Sadly, the attempts have often been established with ulterior motives. There has to be "someone" with the greater good in mind to create a pathway that can be successful for immigrants. Fundamentally, our entire nation are immigrants and the powers that be never seem to remember that. I hope that we can be more successful in elections to bring in such "people".
This period of time shall truly be the darkest ever recorded. Not just for the US but for the world. We just need to make sure history has at least this version recorded.
"If you cheer because your political team holds the White House today, ask yourself how comfortable you’ll feel when your opponents eventually possess the exact same authority."
Trump won't take any chances on that happening. The campaign to rig our elections is well underway. Trump said he would not sign the Housing bill until Congress passed the SAVE America Act, which has stalled in the Senate. Trump is using the Housing bill as leverage. It'’s election subversion, not cancellation, that is the real authoritarian move. The goal is to keep elections going but without unseating those in power. 21 million eligible American citizens don't have ready access to those documents. Roughly half of Americans don't even have a passport. Many of us don't even know where our birth certificate is. The SAVE Act would really upend elections...
Suzanne, if trump does nothing with the Housing Bill within 10 days Congress who have already approved it can make it a law. That said I don't believe his "ear whispering" advisors will let that happen. The problem for him with that, is there's way too much momentum with All Americans that it for sure will adversely affect the outcome of both the midterms and '28 elections. But then again, maybe he just doesn't give a shit.
What will it take for all americans to act? Will it be when their love ones have no one to take care of them in rehab, nursing homes, home health facilities? Will it be when contractors no longer have a pool of construction or laborer personnel to hire from (individuals that are willing and able to do this kind of labor that americans prefer not to have any part of) or worse yet, lose their current employees because they've been deported? Will it be when american manufacturers lose their employed and trained workers and families to deportation? When will it be?
They will act when they have an idividual who can lead, providing a solid realistic strategy and a tacticle plan that will allow us to create a rhythm to take back our country - not just back to where we were - but to a place better than where we were. Will that be you Michael? You build it, they will come. So build it, take it to the over 57% of dissatisfied Americans who are listening, then god damit lead them (us) out of this wilderness trump and his henchmen (miller et al) have driven us to.
Michael, thank you for exposing Trump's slight of hand. Trump is insidious in his erosion of democracy. It's scary how effectively he is transforming our political infrastructure right under our noses!
Many of us who follow LegalAF know that lots of judicial rulings are taking place weekly and daily. The fixation with the SC is unfortunate, but they are 9. Many more below them doing the right thing. Big fixes can and will happen once the power pendulum swings back from the right.
That's true, Barbara, of the Courts, those just below the Supreme Court. They were the ones who questioned absolute immunity for a president if he/ she appeared to be doing anything within the realm of their job.
Another topic flying under the radar. Another brick in the wall. Stephen Miller is planning to punish Americans with disabilities. I am beyond words...
Yes, so devastating for those people. Such shocking cruelty. This administration plus this Supreme Court, 6-3. How can they live with themselves.
"That’s how democracies evolve, not always through dramatic revolutions, but through incremental court opinions that eventually redefine the baseline." Michael Cohen
But US is no longer a "democracy". It's been taken over by people who have the money for persuasion. Bribes. Corrupting the system. Ironically,just the same format that the founders originally protested against. A slow slide downwards for decades now, one ruling after another.
The ever increasing executive power isn't happening because I am distracted by all the drama. It's happening because the Supreme Court and the Republican controlled congress are making it happen, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. We are all seeing it happen and we are helpless to stop it. Our only power, our only hope is to vote in the necessary democratic representatives who can actually do something. I'm mad as hell and I don't like being portrayed as being obsessed over viral distractions. Thank you.
"Just understand that while America entertains itself with Political theater ,the stage itself is being rebuilt." I have to disagree with you Michael. Both of those things are important. The Reflecting Pool is a symbol of all that is ugly and wrong about Trump . That he doesn't care what is said about him and his destruction of the country doesn't ring true for me. If he doesn't care why is the tarp still up on the John F Kennedy Center? Those of us who are horrified by Trump are also horrified by SCOTUS. One of the most corrupt racist courts since Taney. Trump has appointed three of them.. All six of them said that president matters. They said it is settled law until they had the power to change it . Hence Roe v. Wade overturned ..The thing is the court doesn't care about public opinion no matter what the talking heads might say .Those of us who care, are so power less over what and who they are. One can only hope that focusing on the Reflection Pool wakes up these Republicans and gets them to stay home or change there vote. If we can get a humane person into the White House after this malevolent animal is out maybe something can be done in a humane way about immigration. Sad,Angry and Lost in America
I find it offensive that Michael seems to assume that we are all sitting on our hands in front of one faux news channel or another. Actually, many of us are, and have been, working very hard to prevent these abuses of power. I write to my two idiot R senators most days of the week, voicing my opposition to these racist and xenophobic policies. But they do nothing. Is that evidence of MY being “distracted” by the minutia of the “magician”? I think not. Many Americans are doing their best out here; we are not the ignorant masses who are entertained by UFC fights and prefer to bury our heads in the sand. Think MInnesota. Think resistance. That is what is happening before your very eyes.
I don’t think Michael was singling us out, per se, I think he means the ones who bitch and moan but do nothing, unlike yourself - and me, for that matter! I call my reps and other states’ reps reminding them who they work for, etc. Your analogy of the Reflecting Pool is spot on! His insecurities stem from his POS father who humiliated him on a basketball court in Queens because he lost, despite having paid the kids $20 each begging them “let me win…” I know someone who grew up with him and was there, so it’s not a BS story. And there’s plenty more. In any event, he needs to be removed despite what anyone else says.
Agree. People are taking this personally and missing the point.
I agree Barbara. Michael's article speaks to a greater audience. If someone reading it takes it personally, that is their choice to be offended. I am certain that those of us who read and comment here are most definitely not the focus of his comments.
Michael only plays to an audience of one person. If you’ve been here for a few months, you will notice the trend of coddling his “boss,” and making excuses for him. I watch Al Jazeera news and BBC News. They don’t play into making excuses for Trump.
Interesting and sad.
Sounds like we are being gaslighted. We are paying attention
Excellent point Howard ..
I agree just because we don’t have a platform does not mean where not doing are best changing things in the way we can
I love it ! Thank You Signe K.
Yeah, I also don't buy that Trump doesn't care about his image. His whole life has been spent trying to make himself look amazing to everyone in the world. He is all about appearances, and your point about the tarp still being up proves that. Michael would have been more correct if he had said something like watch what Trump's minions are doing while he is obsessed with appearances. That is a way more accurate statement. His goons like Stephen Miller let grandpa go play with his reflecting pool and ballroom while they pull the strings behind the curtain. At this point, I'm sure Trump would sign anything they put in front of him. His comment about loving inflation proves that.
Thank You Jennifer.. I was thinking along those lines myself. You are right his minions are doing so much .. Although I believe that Dumpty does and would approve all of there moves even if he isn't aware of them all . Because he is a filthy psychopath through and through.
The statue of liberty needs to be dismantled and melted down. She has served her time, she has no purpose. FUCK trump. Fuck SCOTUS. Fuck the haters.
Neil Sedaka:
The Immigrant
Harbors opened their arms to the young searching foreigner
Come to live in the light of the beacon of liberty
Planes and open skies, billboards would advertise
Was it anything like that when you arrived
Dreamboats carry the future to the heart of America
People were waiting in line for a place by the river
It was a time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room that people could come from everywhere
Now he arrives with his hopes and his heart set on miracles
Come to marry his fortune with a hand full of promises
To find they've closed the door, they don't want him anymore
Isn't anymore to go around
Turning away he remembers he once heard
A legend that spoke of a mystical magical land called America
There was a time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear
It was a sweeter tune and there was so much room that people could come from everywhere
There was a time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear
There was a time when strangers were welcome here
Music would play, they tell me the days were sweet and clear
Sadly, most people aren't even paying attention
Anyone who pays attention to the news knew that yesterday’s two Supreme Court decisions regarding immigration were huge! And those of us who respect the words from the poem written on the Statue of Liberty beginning with “Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free” — we were all shocked and angered by yesterday’s decisions. Frankly, it’s nothing but racism. The diversity in the United States is one of our main strengths. This decision will weaken us even more than this racist administration already has— an administration that is already housing people of color, Americans and Americans-to-be, in warehouses which are actually concentration camps. Many of the detainees have committed no crimes whatsoever. Most of them are innocent citizens or legal society members working to earn their citizenship. Have we learned nothing from history? Even our own history when we locked up the Japanese in internment camps. No, apparently not. We’ve learned nothing. These SCOTUS rulings on immigration will go down in history as white nationalist legislation and will hurt our country big time. It’s a shame. To say people aren’t paying attention is the opposite of what I experienced yesterday. It was the topic of the day and I suspect it will continue being discussed widely by many concerned citizens. I’m too wordy today. I should have simply written “Shameful.”
For how many years has the US tried and failed to create a pathway to citizenship for immigrants that will be affected by this? No political will. Scapegoats are an unfortunate part of human failure to take responsibililty.
I agree, Doreen. Shocking, and a replay of the intolerance of the past.
I hope this will be recorded as a time of darkness. It depends on who writes the history.
I hope those with insight,wisdom, and integrity are the " winners", the ones who record this time.
Barb, it's true the US has many failed attempts as a pathway to citizenship for immigrants. There has always existed the quandary of "letting in vs over run population". Sadly, the attempts have often been established with ulterior motives. There has to be "someone" with the greater good in mind to create a pathway that can be successful for immigrants. Fundamentally, our entire nation are immigrants and the powers that be never seem to remember that. I hope that we can be more successful in elections to bring in such "people".
This period of time shall truly be the darkest ever recorded. Not just for the US but for the world. We just need to make sure history has at least this version recorded.
"If you cheer because your political team holds the White House today, ask yourself how comfortable you’ll feel when your opponents eventually possess the exact same authority."
Trump won't take any chances on that happening. The campaign to rig our elections is well underway. Trump said he would not sign the Housing bill until Congress passed the SAVE America Act, which has stalled in the Senate. Trump is using the Housing bill as leverage. It'’s election subversion, not cancellation, that is the real authoritarian move. The goal is to keep elections going but without unseating those in power. 21 million eligible American citizens don't have ready access to those documents. Roughly half of Americans don't even have a passport. Many of us don't even know where our birth certificate is. The SAVE Act would really upend elections...
Suzanne, if trump does nothing with the Housing Bill within 10 days Congress who have already approved it can make it a law. That said I don't believe his "ear whispering" advisors will let that happen. The problem for him with that, is there's way too much momentum with All Americans that it for sure will adversely affect the outcome of both the midterms and '28 elections. But then again, maybe he just doesn't give a shit.
Well written
What will it take for all americans to act? Will it be when their love ones have no one to take care of them in rehab, nursing homes, home health facilities? Will it be when contractors no longer have a pool of construction or laborer personnel to hire from (individuals that are willing and able to do this kind of labor that americans prefer not to have any part of) or worse yet, lose their current employees because they've been deported? Will it be when american manufacturers lose their employed and trained workers and families to deportation? When will it be?
They will act when they have an idividual who can lead, providing a solid realistic strategy and a tacticle plan that will allow us to create a rhythm to take back our country - not just back to where we were - but to a place better than where we were. Will that be you Michael? You build it, they will come. So build it, take it to the over 57% of dissatisfied Americans who are listening, then god damit lead them (us) out of this wilderness trump and his henchmen (miller et al) have driven us to.
...ra
Sounds like you are going to be working for the asshole again. Truly sad
He wants a pardon. That’s why any disparaging remarks against “the boss,” are hidden.
Michael, thank you for exposing Trump's slight of hand. Trump is insidious in his erosion of democracy. It's scary how effectively he is transforming our political infrastructure right under our noses!
Yes, Suzanne. It's also the Supreme Court that seems shadier than I ever realized. Partisan, biased.
Many of us who follow LegalAF know that lots of judicial rulings are taking place weekly and daily. The fixation with the SC is unfortunate, but they are 9. Many more below them doing the right thing. Big fixes can and will happen once the power pendulum swings back from the right.
That's true, Barbara, of the Courts, those just below the Supreme Court. They were the ones who questioned absolute immunity for a president if he/ she appeared to be doing anything within the realm of their job.
Another topic flying under the radar. Another brick in the wall. Stephen Miller is planning to punish Americans with disabilities. I am beyond words...
https://youtu.be/YuwUQpaTjCM?is=m1z_5IC7zZrNO2So
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thanks to you and Aaron, we ARE paying attention!
Money, Cruelty, Power, Racism, Misogyny and Religion (White Christian Nationalism) are the motivating reasons it seems.
But remember, that is the Minority. Except perhaps Racism.
Americans can bring back a better Democracy.
Character matters-actually it is everything......
Americans deserve better.
Yes, so devastating for those people. Such shocking cruelty. This administration plus this Supreme Court, 6-3. How can they live with themselves.
"That’s how democracies evolve, not always through dramatic revolutions, but through incremental court opinions that eventually redefine the baseline." Michael Cohen
But US is no longer a "democracy". It's been taken over by people who have the money for persuasion. Bribes. Corrupting the system. Ironically,just the same format that the founders originally protested against. A slow slide downwards for decades now, one ruling after another.
The ever increasing executive power isn't happening because I am distracted by all the drama. It's happening because the Supreme Court and the Republican controlled congress are making it happen, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. We are all seeing it happen and we are helpless to stop it. Our only power, our only hope is to vote in the necessary democratic representatives who can actually do something. I'm mad as hell and I don't like being portrayed as being obsessed over viral distractions. Thank you.