Federal courts: the only forces left to stop pretender dictator Trump updated 5/29/25

1.  Update June 18, 2025 Obama expanded the forces able to stop a Trump autocracy to those within those who swore to uphold he constitution...within government or in elected office.  https://www.msn.com/eus/news/politics/barack-obama-warns-the-u-s-is-dangerously-close-to-slipping-into-autocracy-under-trump/ar-AA1GYrce?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=HCTS&cvid=f0ba112311f7477e8c4a385fe3e8e8ba&ei=24 

The rule of law enforced through federal courts is the only power left to stop pretender dictator Trump and save our democracy. Even that is in jeopardy.  Congress has a clause in the Big Beautiful Bill that would remove the only court enforcement tool of any ruling: doing away with federal courts' ability to issue criminal contempt, resulting in fines and jail time.  The Trump DOJ is attempting to halt the ability of federal courts to issue temporary restraining orders nationwide while gathering more information to inform its ruling. Courts with any power to enforce the rule of law are now an endangered species..   Democracy is on life support if any of these anti-judiciary measures are allowed to stand.  MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Keeping track of Trump court cases: updated continuously to 5/29/25

Every other way to block Trump's ascendency to full dictatorship is virtually defanged or, as an institution, has shot itself in the foot...some within five months of taking office, including the Supreme Court, Congress, the Democratic Party, the executive branch, internal watchdogs, and whistleblowers.

In the meantime, people in the streets need to educate and demand. That is a saving grace if it moves public opinion. Cudos to 50501 and Indivisible. Also flexing their muscles are Democrats who are state attorneys general, who have filed numerous cases to protect the separation of powers when they claim Trump oversteps his authority. The recent one on tariffs is one example. https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-trump-regime-plot-to-break-rule-of.html  How Trump plans to break the rule of law.  Act like a dictator until the Supreme Court okays his acts

 In the meantime, Trump acts like a dictator and dares the judicial branch to stop him. He continues to issue edicts, threats, and executive orders that are either blatantly or arguably unconstitutional. His DOJ arrests judges and directs Congress to impeach those who dare rule against him, testing the ultimate will of the Supreme Court, the majority he appointed, and even to defend what is left of the power of the judiciary.  His strategy: he wins by losing in the courts so he can tell his MAGA crowd he tried and got stopped by liberal, woke judges he himself appointed or some GOP president before him did. If he wins a few in court, he, of course, shouts to the heavens that he is a winner.  

The Constitutional crisis will happen when the Trump regime is ordered to bring back those wrongfully sent to the El Salvaor prison. There are now two cases where the Trump regime admits they were deported by administrative error: the Abrego Garcia case and one more: Trump Admin Blames 'Administrative Errors' After ICE Deports Wrong Man - Newsweek  Jordin Melgar Salmeron

Remember when the MAGA movement demanded we have a "strong leader" for a president and Trump was the one? Trump has spent the first 5 months of his presidency defying the courts and the Constitution. There is evidence that even some of his voters believe he is a "dangerous dictator".  The term "king" was not used in a recent poll, but the term "dictator" was. https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-poll-dangerous-dictator-2066852  The majority of those surveyed agreed Trump is a dangerous dictator, but even his base think so as well: "Among voters who once supported Trump but say they now regret it, 55 percent said they view him a dangerous dictator. That number climbs to 68 percent among nonvoters who regret not participating in the election. " 

The big one happened 5/28/ 25  when the international trade court on a 3-0 decisions (including a Reagan and a Trump appointee) stopped Trump's tarffs on the basis that he did not have the power to do it because there was no national emergency under the war powers act that he claimed there was.  The Trump regime immediately filed an appeal, which will end up in the Supreme Court.  Trump had been counting on "his judges" putting gratitude to being appointed to their positions by him to hand down decisions favorable to him. His mob mentality has been in for a shock. Judges have been more loyal to the Constitution than to him.  https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-trade-court-0392dbd59f548e49ad4f64254ae3f94a

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Every other way to block Trump's ascendency to full dictatorship is virtually defanged or has shot itself in the foot...some within five months of taking office.

At the top of the list: the Supreme Court issued a ruling that Trump is immune from criminal prosecution while performing his official duties (undefined).  Free at last, Trump and his venture into cryptocurrency, accepting a $400 million gift from a king, among recent developments, can disregard the immorality clauses and charges of bribery, and then boast that they are legal because they are transparent. No wonder he can be so arrogant. He can get away with it. This one act, granting Trump immunity, has also laid the demise of the rule of law and the federal judiciary itself. The Supreme Court may be the only ones who can save themselves and the judiciary, as well,by drawing lines in the sand dictators cannot cross in future rulings.. Supreme Court 'distraught' as Trump uses ruling to emasculate justices: expert

Trump doesn't just think of himself as the president | Opinion

Impeachment will not result in Trump's removal, even if the House turns blue in 2026. The Senate is in no danger of turning blue. Even if the balance changes a bit and the House impeaches, the supermajority of 2/3 of the senators is required to remove Trump so that is still a pipe dream, since only a third of the Senate is up for election at a time.

The cabinet, which could remove a disabled president, determining he is a mental case, is filled with loyal billionaire sycophants.

GOP House members, up for election every two years, are either scared to death of being primaried in their gerrymandered safe districts or live in Trump's thrall to ever be a profile in courage. The only tool left for Democrats is to win the House back in the midterms so they can hold hearings and expose the corruption that is in the open or hidden. Impeachment? Another vehicle, since it only requires a simple majority vote, will follow the same path as the other two impeachments. What Democrats could do if they gained a majority or persuaded enough GOP moderates in both houses in 2026 is pass laws that codify protections for elections, the rule of law, and the separation of powers.

The Democratic Party is in the midst of a civil war between the upstart youngsters and the geriatric leaders. No grand orator has emerged from any corner of the party except for AOC and Pete Buttigieg, which may not be easy for whatever is left of swing voters to swallow.  It cannot even come up with a decent campaign slogan that says why Democrats are better, other than just being anti-Trump.

Trump's loyal base is cast in the cement of agreeing with whatever racist dogwhistles Trump utters, or are self-interested business people looking for low taxes and less regulations, or billionaires and oligarchs able to buy whatever election suits them, or the unconscious and ignorant low information voter of what it is like to lose a democracy.

Our democracy is hanging by a thread and the only hope in sight is to stop the attempts to cripple the jddicial system or a deep recession which wakes up even MAGA.  Thankfully, Trump will be done and gone by 2028 unless he can finagle a destruction of the term limit clause in the Constitution or use the DOJ to manipulate election results and claims he won a losing election.

Past postings that give details to some comments above:

https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-gops-sneak-attack-on-our-democracy.html  The Big Beautiful Bill clause that would do away with federal courts issuing criminal contempt.  This we should fear the most: https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/what-those-who-support-rule-of-law.html  

https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/04/trumps-power-grab-includes-federalizing.html  The attempt to defederalize "national" temporary restraining orders

https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/how-trump-administration-is-clearing.html  Through administrative how Trump has done away with independent oversight in agencies and by executive order and cleared the way to be overtly corrupt

https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/03/whats-big-deal-about-democracy-who-cares.html   Why the Rule of law anyway?

https://mufticforumblog.blogspot.com/2025/02/the-only-whistleblowers-left-is-free.html

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Here is AI  Google answer to my inquiry if Trump is attempting to cripple federal courts issuing temporary restraining orders: Yes, the Trump administration and its Department of Justice are actively working to address and potentially limit the issuance of nationwide injunctions and temporary restraining orders (TROs) against federal policies. 

Here's a breakdown of their actions and arguments:

1. Challenging Injunctions in Court:

• The DOJ has actively appealed and challenged nationwide injunctions and TROs in various federal courts, including circuit courts and the Supreme Court.
• They argue that these injunctions are overly broad, inappropriate for temporary measures, and may exceed the authority of district judges.
• For example, the administration appealed a TRO that temporarily halted planned reductions-in-force (RIFs) within the federal government, arguing the plaintiffs' delay in bringing the case made the TRO inappropriate. 

2. Advocating for Supreme Court Intervention:

• The Trump administration is seeking the Supreme Court to take action and clarify the scope of nationwide injunctions, urging the court to limit their use.
• They contend that such injunctions, especially those issued by district judges, can be seen as "judicial overreach" and impede the executive branch's ability to implement policies.
• Arguments include that the current situation with nationwide injunctions is "toxic and unprecedented". 

3. Implementing Policies to Counter Injunctions:

• President Trump signed a memorandum instructing federal agencies to enforce Rule 65(c) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
• This rule mandates that parties seeking injunctions or TROs provide financial guarantees (security) to cover potential costs and losses if the court later deems the injunction wrongly issued.
• The administration believes this will deter "frivolous lawsuits" and hold litigants accountable. 

4. Public Statements and Calls to Action:

• Both President Trump and other administration officials have publicly criticized nationwide injunctions and called on Congress and the Supreme Court to take action.
• They view these injunctions as frustrating the implementation of policies supported by voters and disrupting the balance of powers. 

Context:

• The number of nationwide injunctions issued against the Trump administration has been significantly higher compared to previous administrations, according to analyses.
• This trend has intensified the debate about the use of nationwide injunctions and the appropriate role of the judiciary in reviewing executive actions.
• The Trump administration's efforts to address this issue are ongoing, with lawsuits and legislative proposals currently being considered.