March 17, 2025 - Trump Now Openly Defying Court Orders
Demanding action from our elected officials, preventing devastating budget cuts for DC, joining #TeslaTakedown for its next steps, and more
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TRUMP DEFIES MULTIPLE COURT ORDERS TO CONTINUE DEPORTATIONS
As anticipated, the Trump Administration has invoked the Alien Enemies Act to detain and deport immigrants without due process. And as predicted, their use of this wartime authority during peacetime drew immediate legal challenge and a temporary restraining order from a federal judge on Saturday, who instructed them to turn all deportation flights already in the air around. Trump's thugs ignored them, and are bragging about it. Nor was this the only example of Trump's deportation machine defying judges – they also deported a kidney transplant specialist and medical school professor in the United States on a valid visa despite a court order blocking her expulsion this weekend. This is a collapse of checks and balances in real time, one that is putting innocent people through hell. And it demands a response. Let’s reach out to our members of Congress and demand to know what they're planning on doing about it - we can find scripts and language here, and send this message directly to our reps by texting SIGN PJINMP to 50409. Let's also take this moment to ensure we know where to find out about protests being called in our area, whether through our networks, through collections like the Big List of Protests, or through our friends at . Finally, let and recommit ourselves to existing the deportation machine – check out multiple ways to help in Friday’s List.
TRUMP GETS HIS BLANK CHECK – WITH DEMOCRATIC VOTES
The appropriations deadline was as much leverage as Democrats will have in Congress this year. Instead of using the moment to push back against the shredding of our basic rights, the attacks on marginalized communities, the destruction of our public services and the looting of our government by Trump and Musk, our Senate leadership caved to an entirely GOP-written bill that gives MAGA a blank check to continue the coup - and did so hours after claiming they were unified for a fight. In the process they exposed divides between House and Senate Dems and made swing seat members vulnerable to the GOP for zero policy gain.
The stakes for our future are too high for weakness, preemptive surrender and the sort of directionless opposition we just saw. If we have Democratic senators, especially those who voted for cloture for Trump's power grab, let's let them know we are deeply unhappy with how the caucus dealt with the government funding deadline and demand to know what their strategy is for stopping Trump's damage if using this moment wasn't it – because waiting for the next election isn’t going to cut it. If we have Republican senators, let’s tell them we are going to hold them responsible for all the cuts to vital services and billionaire looting they’re enabling Trump on.
WILL DC LOSE TEACHERS, FIREFIGHTERS TO GOP CUTS?
Even as key Senate Democrats folded on stopping the Trump blank check last week, they did make progress in one crucial area: passing a standalone bill that would reverse the devastating budget cuts the continuing resolution includes for Washington, D.C. As it currently stands, D.C. would have to revert to last year’s budget in the middle of the fiscal year, effectively costing the city a billion dollars in teachers, emergency services and support for public transportation. But the district is not out of the woods yet – there are no guarantees the House will take up this measure, although it is endorsed by both Trump and the House Appropriations Chair. Let’s reach out to our representatives, especially if they’re Republicans, and tell them they need to support stopping the cuts for DC – and demand the legislation be taken up as soon as the House goes back into session.
TELL STATE DEPARTMENT TO LET TRANS AND INTERSEX PEOPLE KEEP ACCURATE PASSPORTS
The Trump State Department is set to deny accurate passports to trans and intersex people, revoking a right we’ve had for over 30 years. This will create dangerous barriers to travel. Moreover, forcing people to use incorrect IDs outs them every time they show identification, increasing their risk of discrimination and violence and making it harder to exist safely in public life. They are accepting public comments on three subsets of proposed rollbacks right now and must review every submission before making changes, but the deadline to submit for one is TODAY and Thursday for the other two. Let’s use the Federal Register website to object to these changes and support the right to accurate identification. We can find links to submit our comments and templates for sample comments from Advocates For Trans Equality here.
#TESLATAKEDOWN MASS MOBILIZATION CALL WEDNESDAY
Tesla stocks are now down 36% in 2025, and sales are at the point where Musk now has Donald Trump trying to sell electric vehicles to right wingers who hate them to stop the bleeding. And it’s not just Sheryl Crow and Senator Mark Kelly – so many Tesla owners are moving on we’re starting to see significant price drops on the used car market. Even more are debadging their cars. The Tesla Takedown is well on its way, and organizers are ready to take it to the next level. They’re holding a mass mobilizing call on WEDNESDAY at 8:30 PM Eastern to discuss our next steps. Let’s sign up to join the call here. And in the meantime, we can work on making sure our investments match our democratic values – we can find a list of all the funds that include Tesla stock so we know where not to put our money here.
JOIN SISTER DISTRICT’S 2025-2026 STRATEGY CALL TOMORROW
Sister District, formed in the aftermath of Trump’s 2016 election, focuses on building Democratic majorities in swing states. This organization does excellent work, as you can see from their 2024 Impact Report. TOMORROW at 8PM Eastern, they’re hosting a virtual event to unveil its electoral strategy for 2025 and 2026—and to describe how we can help. Let’s sign up here.
KEEPING AN EYE ON…
15 days until the April elections, here’s all the ways we can help win the Wisconsin Supreme Court and compete for House seats in Florida
Working Families Party phonebank against Medicaid cuts at 2PM Eastern
Save The Post Office Coalition Mass Call Wednesday, American Post Workers Union U.S. Mail Not For Sale Day of Action Thursday
Hands Off National Day of Action April 5th, find a protest near you here or organize one here
Target Fast boycott in effect through April 17th, Latino Freeze boycotts on resegregation supporters continuing
Keep up the pressure to release Mahmoud Khalil - House members who have signed demand letters listed here, 5Calls script here
Join the federal workers #SaveOurServices rapid response network here
Don't forget the Special Election in Florida on April 1st.
Here's the chance to tie the House with good candidates:
Gay VALIMONT and Josh WEIL.
Support them with donations, and vote!