Green Shoots
Only 1,384 days to go...
“If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?” ~ Percy Shelley
I can never forget May, 1970.
A nationwide and massive outpouring of anti-Vietnam War protests erupted in response to the expansion of the war into neighboring Cambodia. A student strike began on May 1 with walk-outs from college and high school classrooms on nearly 900 campuses across the United States.
I remember it well, as I was a freshman in college when it took place. My brother’s school went on strike, so he came down to see me in Maryland and rally my school. It was a bit of a lost cause. Many of our students were dating or engaged to midshipmen at Annapolis and soldiers at neighboring Ft. Detrick, so my classmates weren’t a particularly enthusiastic crowd.
In any case, that Monday I went with my brother and canvased the halls of Congress trying to speak to our representatives and encourage them to put a halt to the war in Vietnam. When I got back to campus, I learned about the shootings at Kent State University.
The Kent State shootings were the killing of four and wounding of nine unarmed college students by the Ohio National Guard on the Kent State University campus. The shootings took place on May 4, 1970, during a rally opposing Cambodia invasion as well as protesting the National Guard presence on campus and the draft. Twenty-eight National Guard soldiers fired about 67 rounds over 13 seconds, killing four students and wounding nine others, one of whom suffered permanent paralysis.
In these days of frequent school shootings, it’s hard to fully appreciate how shocking this event was at the time. Personally, I was utterly stunned. How could unarmed students be killed by our own guards?
The shootings triggered immediate and massive outrage on campuses around the country. It increased participation in the student strike that began on May 1. Ultimately, more than 4 million students participated in organized walk-outs at hundreds of universities, colleges, and high schools. The shootings and the strike affected public opinion at an already socially contentious time over the role of the United States in the Vietnam War.
My mother was very conflicted about the Vietnam War. She had been taught to be fully on board based on her experience of WWII, when you stood by your government and the war effort. But after the Cambodian invasion and the subsequent protests, I could see a change in the way she perceived the war. The last thing she wanted was to have her son being drafted into this unpopular war. She didn’t become an anti-war activist or anything like that, but she wasn’t on board with it either.
Over 280,000 American soldiers died in this senseless war. I believe that without the American people standing up and saying NO, it might have gone on even longer than it did and even more lives would have been lost.
“I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve.”
Just as the Cambodian Invasion and the Kent State Massacre enraged and motivated the American people in 1970, this administration’s utter contempt for the rule of law, their destruction of trusted relationships, their utter disrespect for the military, veterans and federal workers, their irresponsibly moronic handling of national security and the economy, their dismantling of scientific institutions, and their trampling of our civil rights is beginning to motivate countless Americans. We are seeing green shoots springing up around the country.
According to the Crowd Counting Consortium, a Harvard-UCONN research project, resistance is alive and growing in the United States. In February, the effort counted 2,085 protests with more than 3,000 protests in March.
The protests are taking the form of boycotts, strikes, and withholding of labor and purchasing power. During the February 28 Economic Blackout, a nationwide boycott, Target experienced a 9% drop in in-store traffic and a 14% drop on its website, according to Similarweb.
No retailer has been harder hit than Tesla dealerships because the DOGEfather’s chainsaw methods of dismantling our institutions and influencing our elections. Once a symbol of liberal virtue, Teslas are loosing their value. The car maker was the target of its own protest day last month at hundreds of dealerships and charging stations all over the country and in Europe. (Elon Musk Backlash Turns Into Global Sales Slump for Tesla.) Who knows - maybe there will be a stock-holder lawsuit against Musk since Tesla’s stock price has plummeted. According to the car sales information company Edmunds, the number of Tesla trade-ins is at an all-time high, and online interest in buying a Tesla is at its lowest point in three years.
Trump’s chaotic approach to destroying America’s government has brought about an unintended consequence. He makes a lot of different people angry, because no one is exempt from these questionable and far-reaching policies. Trump has created coalitions where none existed before. For example, farmers and automakers hit hard by cuts in federal spending and tariffs; federal workers and veterans, many of whom have lost their jobs; Social Security recipients; as well as Wall Street investors and those of us living on fixed incomes.
As we experienced in Asheville, town hall meetings with congressmen are packed with disgruntled citizens. The chair of the House GOP’s campaign arm told Republican lawmakers to stop holding in-person town halls amid a wave of angry backlash over the cuts undertaken by the administration.
And voters are turning out to reject the policies of Trump and Musk.
Democrat Notches an Upset in Pennsylvania State Senate Race
A Democrat won a surprise victory in a special election for the Pennsylvania State Senate, narrowly prevailing in a district that Donald Trump won by 15 points last fall.
Last Tuesday, Wisconsin voters elected Susan Crawford in rebuke of Trump, Musk.
Crawford rode massive turnout in Dane and Milwaukee counties and outperformed Kamala Harris’ effort last year in a number of other parts of the state to defeat her opponent, Waukesha County Judge Brad Schimel by about 11 points.
Schimel’s loss is an embarrassment for Trump – and an even costlier one for Musk.
Republican candidates in Florida won by about 14 points in each of two U.S. House races, but just five months ago, Republicans won those seats by 30 and 37 points. It appears that voters are angry at the Republican Party. For GOP incumbents in battleground seats seeking reelection next year, the narrow margins in these deep-red Florida districts could serve as a potential warning sign of a tough midterm environment, if voters are able to sustain their enthusiasm in opposition to Trump, Musk and the administration’s agenda.
“On March 28, 2025, Jenner & Block filed a lawsuit to stop an unconstitutional executive order that has already been declared unlawful by a federal court. We expect to prevail quickly. For more than 100 years, Jenner has stood firm and tirelessly advocated for our clients against all adversaries, including against unlawful government action. We once again go to court to do just that. To do otherwise would mean compromising our ability to zealously advocate for all of our clients and capitulating to unconstitutional government coercion, which is simply not in our DNA.” (from Jenner Stands Firm)
On Saturday, opponents of Trump and Musk rallied across the world to protest the administration and its actions that they call an all out assault on democracy. More than 1,200 "Hands Off!" demonstrations were held by more than 150 groups, including senior organizations, veterans and election activists across the country. Hundreds of protesters turn out in European cities against Trump. Over 100,000 participated in the Washington DC protest.
They protested the administration's efforts to downsize the government, roll back civil and human rights and starting a trade war that is destroying our economy.
In photos: "Hands Off!" protesters rally against Trump
In my hometown of Chicago, organizers estimated that about 30,000 people gathered and packed Daley Plaza. The crowd couldn't fit, so hundreds had to stand in the middle of neighboring Loop streets, as they protested Trump and Musk.
An estimate 7,500 protesters in Asheville as Thousands crowd into Asheville’s Pack Square to protest President Trump’s policies as part of the nationwide “Hands Off!” movement. Here are some pictures a friend took of the protests here in Asheville:
There were several protests in the Phoenix area. These are some pictures my sister took at the location she went to:
“These are not normal times in America, and they should not be treated as such. This is our moral moment. This is when the most precious ideas of our country are being tested…. Where does the Constitution live, on paper or in our hearts? My voice is inadequate. My efforts today are inadequate to stop what they’re trying to do. But we the people are powerful.” ~Cory Booker
People are saying NO to this administration. Enough is enough.
Green shoots are springing up everywhere!
Thought for the day in honor of his birthday…
“Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future.”
~ William Wordsworth
Must Read Article:
The Character Test of Our Time
Like the American Revolution and the Civil War, the Trump Assault is more than an ordeal for the country; it’s a character test for every citizen. And the test is pass/fail. Did we try to do our small part to protect this fragile democracy? Yes or no. We’re all going to have to explain to our grandchildren whether we devoted at least a little bit of time to standing up to Trump — or just watched in horror from the sidelines…
Capitulating when you’ve done nothing wrong is always the reprehensible approach — like advising a criminal defendant to confess to a murder you’re certain he did not commit with the hope that the police don’t torture him.
Quotes of the day:
“Democracy is alive and roaring in the Badger State. In a moment of national darkness, Wisconsin voters lit a candle. Let the lesson of Wisconsin’s election ring out across the country.”
~ Ben Wikler
What I’m reading today…
Four Republicans Defy Trump Even After His Late-Night Threats
Democrats were able to pass a resolution repealing President Donald Trump’s tariffs on Canada Wednesday thanks to the help of four Republican senators. Led by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), the resolution aimed to rescind the emergency declaration the White House issued in February to place tariffs on Canada… The vote Wednesday ended up passing 51-48, with Republican senators Susan Collins, Mitch McConnell, Lisa Murkowski, and Rand Paul crossing the bipartisan line despite the president’s angry rant earlier that day.
By the COB Friday — after the worst 2-day wipeout in history — the stock market had lost $11 trillion since Inauguration Day. Despite all the Baghdad Bob happy talk from the MAGA crowd, this is a dumpster fire of hubris, incompetence, delusion, recklessness, and political malpractice.
It was, in other words, Trump 2.0 in Full; and it’s impossible to ignore. After Trump’s bizarre tariff hikes, JP Morgan now estimates that there is a 60 percent chance the economy will be plunged into a recession.
Nate Silver: “It’s hard to think of any occasion when America dealt itself such a self-inflicted economic wound.”
Not Tired of Winning Against Trump
That barrage can feel overwhelming. It is overwhelming. It’s shameful. But we must not let the graceless, inhumane antics of Trump and his overlord Elon Musk dominate an encouraging reality: in court, they are losing far more than they are winning.
Our Law Firm Won’t Cave to Trump. Who Will Join Us?
We take seriously our obligations to our clients, our associates, our staff and their families. But at this crucial moment, clients need to find their courage, too. And partners at big firms — who often earn millions a year — must be willing to take financial risks when the fate of our nation, the future of our profession and the rule of law itself is at stake.
By inserting himself into the Wisconsin race, Musk, the billionaire who has become a top adviser to President Donald Trump, had hoped to cement his status as MAGA enforcer and kingmaker. Instead, he provided Republicans with graphic evidence that he has become a political boat anchor. Late last night, The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board fretted: “The MAGA majority may have a shorter run than advertised.” …the election wasn’t close. In a state where many elections are decided by razor-thin margins and where Trump won only narrowly in November, Musk’s conservative candidate was shellacked. Democrats turned out in massive numbers, and Schimel failed to hit the targets he needed. The suburban vote continued a leftward shift.
Judge Orders Return of Man Who Was Mistakenly Deported
A federal judge gave the Trump administration until the end of Monday to return to the United States a Maryland man who was inadvertently deported to El Salvador last month despite a court order allowing him stay in the country.
In a ruling from the bench on Friday, the judge, Paula Xinis, said that administration officials had acted without “legal basis” last month when they arrested the man, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, and put him on a plane — with no due process — to a notorious Salvadoran prison.
GOP Senator Warns Trump Tariffs Could Spell Electoral Disaster for Republicans
“When Smoot and Hawley put on their tariff in the early 1930s, we lost the House and the Senate for 60 years. So they’re not only bad economically, they’re bad politically…We know by looking at the history of the last—at least 70 years or so in this country, that as international trade has increased, so has the prosperity of our country.”
Louisiana voters reject constitutional amendments championed by Republican governor
Louisiana voters soundly rejected four constitutional amendments championed by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry related to crime, courts and finances. Voters said no to each amendment by margins exceeding 60%, according to preliminary results the secretary of state’s office released after voting concluded.
The One Question Everyone in D.C. Is Asking After Trump’s Election Meltdown
Who is next out of the door?
Trump Suffers Day of Losses in His Retribution Campaign Against Law Firms
Federal judges dealt twin blows to President Trump’s retaliation campaign by issuing temporary restraining orders blocking much of his executive orders targeting two major law firms that participated in investigations of him, Jenner & Block and WilmerHale. The rulings barred the administration from carrying out punishments described in the executive orders, like banning their lawyers from government buildings, meetings, or jobs.
AFR, feds investigate 'arson' after part of GOP NM headquarters set on fire
The Republican Party of New Mexico’s entryway was destroyed… The fire was brought under control within five minutes, but not before the entryway was destroyed and the building sustained smoke damage, according to AFR. Along with fire and smoke damage, someone painted “ICE=KKK” on the side of the building.
What Rusting Russian Tanks Can Teach Us About the Pete Hegseth Group Chat
A military and intelligence apparatus organized around pleasing the boss is ripe for catastrophic failure. As a 2023 analysis in Foreign Policy found, President Vladimir Putin “sits atop an intelligence and policy machinery that tells him only what he wants to hear.”
…when a national security establishment prioritizes political loyalty over professional excellence — armies fail and many, many people die.
It’s a mistake to think of the Trump administration’s Signal scandal — in which top officials discussed sensitive military plans on an unsecured civilian messaging app — as merely a problem of competence or even a problem of corruption. It’s much worse than that.
National Poll: At 50 Days, Trump’s Honeymoon Fades as Economy Becomes Key Vulnerability
Voters are most supportive of Trump’s immigration policy, but they disapprove of his handling of the economy, believe tariffs will hurt economic growth, and are skeptical of his cryptocurrency policy.
As Helene 'upended' WNC Pisgah-Nantahala plan, conservation groups sue the Forest Service
A coalition of conservation organizations sued the U.S. Forest Service alleging the agency violated federal law when developing the Pisgah-Nantahala National Forest 2023 land management plan that has been "upended" by Tropical Storm Helene.
WHCA rejects Trump administration’s plan to take over briefing room seating chart
The White House Correspondents’ Association on Monday pushed back against the White House’s plans to exert control over the briefing room seating assignments for journalists.
“If the White House pushes forward, it will become even more clear that the administration is seeking to cynically seize control of the system through which the independent press organizes itself, so that it is easier to exact punishment on outlets over their coverage,” the board wrote.
Poll: Majority unhappy with Trump's appointees as some face heat over group chat with military plans
Before the issue of Trump officials' handling of sensitive information became public, voters had concerns about the people Trump was putting into his second administration. Earlier in March, 52% of those polled said they were generally disappointed with the people Trump had appointed to lead federal agencies and departments, while 45% said they were generally pleased with his selections.
Pro-democracy momentum is real!
Past political history does not guarantee future results. However, pro-democracy forces are laying the building blocks brick by brick to halt and dislodge the MAGA menace. It will be up to Democrats and their allies to continue the momentum if we are to oust Trump and his authoritarian cohorts.
What I am listening to…
“At some point, they’re going to have to take the keys away from Grandpa…”
What I am watching…
“… it's going to be a turning point for the Trump administration. You can cut foreign aid, and voters don't really notice. You can gut the Department of Education or whatever, and voters shrug. But if you mess with their prices, add $4,000 to the price of a car, if you're an electrician and you have got all these contracts, big contracts out, you have now got to go back to the people you signed the contract with and try to renegotiate, because all your supplies costs are going up. So it's — the inflation rate, some economists think it's 3 to 5 percent. It'll add — that would put us up to 8, and then the disruption, the increased risk of a recession. So people will definitely notice that, and they will absolutely take it out on the Trump administration.”
