Milestones Toward an Authoritarian Government

[JFG]

@dr_t_non-fan

Is “treason” now defined as “saying mean things about me”?

That seems to be the current definition.

[now_samantha]

Congress: Let’s cede our power to end the tariffs to the President. Because why should the nation have checks and balances?

[ArthurItas]

Could also go in ironic news as the US state department is “alarmed” that an American might get deported from another country for criticizing the leader.

US ‘alarmed’ as American faces years in jail on charges of insulting Thai...

[Maphistos_Sidekick]

So…ICE is taking on the duties of Thought Police, too?

[NormalDan]

Ideas!?!?

[Cooke]

I will leave my ideas at home if I ever cross the US border again.

[dr_t_non-fan]

@Cooke

I will leave my ideas at home if I ever cross the US border again .

And your inklings and itches.

[Triweasel]

What’s the policy on yens and musings?
Asking for a friend.

[Cooke]

Only ideas coming in illegally seem to be a problem at the US border.

As an old timer, I am dismayed by all this nonsense.

[knoath]

“If you’re coming to the US, don’t get any ideas”

[ArthurItas]

Even worse perhaps than ideas, the admin argues you can be deported for “expected beliefs”

[EimonGnome]

If you come to America, leave your hopes and dreams behind

[An_actuary]

Ideas seems odd. They should have put ideologies.

[tommie.frazier]

@An_actuary

They should have put ideologies.

that’s an “elite” word. and not broad enough!

[Maphistos_Sidekick]

Under other administrations, I wouldn’t read this as a sign of authoritarianism. However, in the current environment…

The Trump administration is planning to pursue a legal arrangement that would put Columbia University into a consent decree, according to people familiar with the matter, an extraordinary step that could significantly escalate the pressure on the school as it battles for federal funding.

A consent decree, which can last for years, would give a federal judge responsibility for ensuring Columbia changes its practices along lines laid out by the federal government. If such a decree is in place, Columbia would have to comply with it. If a judge determines the school is out of compliance, it could be held in contempt of court, punishable by penalties including fines.

Columbia is negotiating with the Trump administration to reinstate federal funding. Last month, the government canceled $400 million in grants and contracts over antisemitism concerns. Columbia agreed to an initial set of demands and is in negotiations about the future of its federal funding.

WSJ gift link: https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/columbia-consent-decree-trump-federal-funding-2f4c4690?st=tEWe2J&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink

[The_Polymath]

This is the sort of insane stuff that would have been laughed out of court last year.

Rubio is doing immense damage to the US

Mahmoud Khalil can be expelled for his beliefs alone, US government argues

[Maphistos_Sidekick]

@The_Polymath

This is the sort of insane stuff that would have been laughed out of court last year.

Twenty-five years ago, perhaps.

Since 9/11, or up through the Regan era, however…

[The_Polymath]

These people are such a joke. They are so incredibly thin-skinned. Firing people simply because of very minor differences of opinion will not result in improved results in the long-run. Quite the opposite really.

Head of US military base in Greenland fired after JD Vance visit

[Rastiln]

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-09/trump-asks-supreme-court-to-let-him-fire-top-agency-officials

Paywall bypass: https://archive.is/20250411014404/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-04-09/us-chief-justice-lets-trump-remove-two-agency-leaders-for-now

US Chief Justice John Roberts let President Donald Trump temporarily oust top officials at two independent agencies while the Supreme Court decides how to handle a new showdown over presidential power.

The case is testing a 1935 Supreme Court ruling that let Congress shield high-ranking officials from being fired, paving the way for the independent agencies that now proliferate across the US government. The legal wrangling ultimately could affect whether Trump has the power to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Trump earlier Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to let him remove the two officials while a legal fight goes forward. He also said the justices should take the unusual step of granting full review without waiting for a final ruling from the appeals court.

[Indy]

@Rastiln

The legal wrangling ultimately could affect whether Trump has the power to fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell.

I’m sure that Trump wants to get rid of all “independent” agencies because he wants absolute power.

But, the Fed Chair is especially dangerous.