Today's News: updates on Trump's Gestapo plans and Gavin Newsom's trolling, plus Marc Elias writes about Hope

You know, if I lived in the United States now, I might think twice about blogging. 

I know my little blog would never be considered to be a marshalling point for the Resistance anyway. 

But the way things are going down south, anyone who speaks out may find themselves at risk. The Department of Justice has been weaponized against anyone Trump considers to be an "enemy" and on Tuesday three dozen national security leaders who worked for the Obama administration lost their security clearances.

Its scary.  Trump's Gestapo plans are scary too:

Exclusive: An internal planning road map obtained by The Post shows the strategy behind ICE’s breakneck expansion, a chaotic effort that has already triggered lawsuits and accusations of cruelty. wapo.st/41FWkck

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— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) August 17, 2025 at 11:03 AM

You realize, don’t you, that this era will be remembered as the time when the country with the world’s strongest economy and largest military rapidly went insane.

— Mark Jacob (@markjacob.bsky.social) August 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM

Trump thinks the National Guard belongs to him.  And many of the Democratic leadership in Washington don't seem to get it yet:

It is mind blowing to hear Democratic politicians talking about the president sending the military into American cities as a “distraction.” Actually you are all now one degree away from being violently removed from power. The fact that this may not happen does not erase the fact that it may happen.

— Hamilton Nolan (@hamiltonnolan.bsky.social) August 18, 2025 at 8:12 PM

The ICE Gestapo are out of control:

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— George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 (@gtconway.bsky.social) August 19, 2025 at 6:49 PM

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— George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 (@gtconway.bsky.social) August 19, 2025 at 6:40 PM

I love to show up every day for my job, which is standing around holding the front of my tactical vest and getting told to choke to death by thousands of passers-by while 11 of my coworkers handcuff a roofer on his way to work. Every night I drive 80 minutes home, thinking about nothing at all.

— David_j_roth (@davidjroth.bsky.social) August 18, 2025 at 9:16 PM

This song is terrific:

we can sneak around town / hunting working folks down / I hear they got a great benefit plan join ICE boy ain’t it nice / join ICE take my advice www.tiktok.com/@jessewelles...

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— Matt Novak (@paleofuture.bsky.social) August 7, 2025 at 9:04 PM

At least some people are still brave enough to protest:

- Ellen Mitchell

Read on Substack

It is becoming clear now that Trump and the Republicans won't be leaving office willingly in 2026 and 2028. As Heather Cox Richardson writes tonight:

..These obvious lies [about vote fraud] make it seem crystal clear that Trump and his loyalists are preparing to reject any election results that they don’t like.
Trump’s panic about facing voters is increasingly evident. His job approval ratings are already abysmal, and the fallout from his tariffs and deportations is only now beginning to show....

If republicans lose the house trump will claim mail in voter fraud and declare martial law. He already has the natl guard positioned in the cities to quell the unrest. And the red states will be fine with it. As will scotus. @stephaniemiller.bsky.social

— JustJoe2024 (@justjoe2024.bsky.social) August 19, 2025 at 6:51 PM

California governor Gavin Newsom is trolling Trump just about every day now - he has a great social media team

Don’t worry, Gavin is just paying Donald a condiment.

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— George Takei (@georgetakei.bsky.social) August 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM

Whoever is running Gavin Newsom‘s social media deserves a raise. 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

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— 💙❤️💙Mia💙❤️💙 (@mommamia.bsky.social) August 19, 2025 at 4:40 PM

No words 🤣🤣🤣💙💙💙

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— Julie (@julie3500.bsky.social) August 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM

Oh my God

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— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen.bsky.social) August 17, 2025 at 1:15 PM

MELTDOWN: Fox News finally LOSE IT over Newsom | Another Day youtu.be/MetueJ_uelQ

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— Sal Vadacchino 🇨🇦 (@sal-vadacchino.bsky.social) August 20, 2025 at 12:14 AM

This is the woman who is leading Newsom's social media team:

This is the Social Media Manager for Gavin Newsom. www.comstocksmag.com/article/youn...

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— Child of the 1960s (@childofthe1960s.bsky.social) August 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM

Here's what Newsom says. He knows what is at stake:

@gavinnewsom.bsky.social: "Wake the fuck up to what's going on in this country... We're going to put everything on the damn line... People haven't given up yet. We're going to do this. We can win this November. We can win next November, and then we can get this country back on track."

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— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen.bsky.social) August 17, 2025 at 10:56 AM

And I thought this was an interesting question:

View on Threads

Trump is obsessed with getting a Nobel Peace Prize and boasting about the 6 or 7 wars he supposedly resolved. So he isn't thinking about anything else right now except wrapping up the Ukraine-Russia War. He's likely to be disappointed:

Putin will not stop fighting until he thinks he might lose. Prolonged, vague, “peace neogtiations” help him to continue the war

- Anne Applebaum

Read on Substack

Plenty of time yet for Trump to get back to trying to crush Canada, I guess.
When he does, I need to remember this short essay by Marc Elias, a lawyer who has been fighting Trump every day:
Marc Elias / Democracy Docket

What Gives Me Hope
...hope is not a naïve emotion. It is a sober responsibility. Hope is what we do when the odds are long and the options limited. It is the stubborn act of trying when despair feels easier....
...Each obstruction slows the march toward authoritarianism. Each act of courage buys time for others to organize, resist, and fight back.
...when people ask me what gives me hope, my answer is simple: you do. Every person who refuses to look away. Every lawyer who files a brief. Every protester who shows up. Every voter who refuses to quietly surrender their rights. Each of you gives me hope — not because victory is certain, but precisely because it is not.
Hope is not a promise. It is not a guarantee of success. It is the courage to act in the face of uncertainty. And right now, in this fragile moment for our democracy, it is the most important responsibility we share.