March 6, 2025 Temperature: 97C

At this point I feel like every day should feature Mrs. Weasley’s clock that was always pointing to “Mortal Peril”.

The update

There have been very rapid moves to undermine or gut more agencies and parts of the government, and there has also been a great deal of pushback, much of it successful. There is growing agreement that all three wings of the resistance — congressional, legal and citizen demonstrations — are essential.

Today’s discussion

The Risks Part I was about an authoritarian takeover and suppression of dissent. Part II is about the damage that can be and is being done even if that never happens.

Even if Trump and his people are contained as far as US democracy goes, the damage they can do is still considerable.  The damage they have already done is considerable.  It is not enough to just save ourselves; we have to be aware of the rest of the world as well, and by “the rest of the world” I mean most immediately Ukraine, but then anywhere else that Trump’s eyes fall on.  Or that someone else’s eyes fall on, like Taiwan.

Since I started drafting this we have seen that Musk is going after Social Security, and Trump highlighted that in his feast of lies on March 5.  Millions of people who depend on Social Security and Medicaid are at risk.  They have forced out the head of the FBI New York office, one of their top positions, for having integrity.  That is regarded as a major blow.

They have ordered the blocking or dismantling of different counterintelligence units, including inside the FBI, that help to keep us safe(r) from Russian spying and interference — this is sort of like opening the door and inviting Putin in.  And it is now common knowledge and widely discussed that Trump and Vance are acting like Russian assets, with a chance that at least Trump could be an actual Russian agent, even if he is not aware of it.  A former member of Congress recently gave their opinion that other key Republicans have likely been touched by Russian money.  The same person stated that some Democratic inaction may reflect the fear of members for their own safety.

Today we learned that DC is going to paint over Black Lives Matter Plaza, bowing to Trump pressure without much of a fight.  And LGBTQ+ people are having a very hard time.

As this keeps up, there is going to be a tremendous loss of morale UNLESS we all raise our voices and let everyone else know that we are here and they have our support.