Has the United States become an autocracy? As Donald Trump marks his 100th day in office, Ellen Halliday and Alona Ferber are joined by Ruth Ben-Ghiat, scholar of authoritarianism and author of ‘Strongmen: from Mussolini to the present’ (2020).
On tyranny
https://youtube.com/watch?v=1GCp3Ki6umw&si=Q2d4-Jj8ivX-Ygqx
Ruth analyses the Trump administration’s rapid shift towards authoritarianism. She talks about Trump’s personality cult, how strongmen portray machismo and the potential for a female strongman figure. She also discusses how autocrats use corruption, violence and propaganda to stay in power, and how ICE roundups echo the past, resembling a “secret police force”.
Ruth answers: can the Democrats can learn anything from Trump? What’s the best way to challenge an illiberal president? And how does this end?
Carbon
Song by VNV Nation
https://youtube.com/watch?v=o2q6gQkYkaQ&si=OK4Fl6C5sCYA1Uzh
Doctor?
Song by Orbital
https://youtube.com/watch?v=-H_o6ncUz3g&si=7J5UYnv_M0MHmHfS
Xymox : love thrills
https://youtube.com/watch?v=nWxdwjm8iC8&si=g2LkPEN0ViGgGWEj
Album: headclouds
5 ai tools
https://youtu.be/sS5QDOJ3h_4?si=F56d5VyQGMizEeYH
“Woke” refers to being aware of the society around you and speaking up for needed change or against perceived injustice. The word suggests someone who has been oblivious to social issues, but then awakens to see the world differently. Tools to effect change would include the First Amendment freedoms of speech, press, petition and assembly.
While “woke” has origins in social awareness, in recent years it has also been adopted as a pejorative political term, often used in the same vein as “cancel culture” and “political correctness.”
A backlash to the "woke movement" began to emerge in 2021, with state laws to remove certain race-based information and ideas in education. And in 2025, President Donald Trump issued two executive orders directly attacking so-called diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, practices as discriminatory and ordering them stopped within the federal government.
A budget is a plan that outlines how you'll spend your money. It shows how much you make (income), how much you need to spend on different things (expenses), and how much you can save or use for other goals.
A budget can't be justly administered by a financial criminal effectively for a citizenry
Table of Contents of new social apps
There’s no shortage of new social media apps in 2025.
Just wow
Read "Episcopal Church refuses to resettle white Afrikaners, ends partnership with US government" on SmartNews: https://l.smartnews.com/p-kZNjvba/lfhVFf
citing moral opposition to resettling white Afrikaners from South Africa who have been classified as refugees by President Donald Trump’s administration.
Artists... You must create reality at a faster speed than the adversary
You must become a vélocipède of Creative consciousness
The area around you is yours. Transform it.
This is the resistance
It has been 100 days. If you are reading this, then you are the #resistance
| NTEU Legal Roundup — Week of May 5-9, 2025
We want you to remain informed about NTEU-related litigation challenging the administration's attacks on federal employees and the fight NTEU is bringing to defend our members from these attacks.
This week, we’re sharing an update posted by one of our partners, James & Hoffman, on developments related to the mass termination of probationary employees:
Stay strong and let's support one another as we battle for the future of the federal workforce!
Mass Firings of Probationary Employees & RIFs
NTEU's Challenge to Governmentwide Mass Firings & RIFs
Case name: NTEU et al. v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court
NO UPDATE THIS WEEK
AFGE’s Challenge to Mass Firings
Case name: AFGE, AFL-CIO et al. v. OPM et al.
Court(s): Northern District of California; 9th Circuit Court of Appeals; Supreme Court
NO UPDATE THIS WEEK
States’ Challenge to Mass Firings
Case name: State of Maryland et al. v. USDA et al.
Court(s): District of Maryland, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals
NO UPDATE THIS WEEK
AFGE’s Challenge to RIFs
Case name: AFGE, AFL-CIO et al. v. Trump et al.
Court(s): Northern District of California
UPDATE: On May 9, the district court granted a temporary stop to implementation of the EO, to include any RIFs. The unions must file a request for a preliminary injunction by May 14, with the government opposition due May 19. A hearing on the PI will be held on May 22.
States’ Challenge to Probationary Firings
Case name: State of Maryland et al. v. USDA et al.
Court(s): District of Maryland, 4th Circuit Court of Appeals
NO UPDATE THIS WEEK
Mass Exclusions Executive Order
NTEU’s Challenge to BU Exclusions
Case name: NTEU v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court, DC Circuit Court of Appeals
UPDATE: The government appealed the preliminary injunction granted by the district court and asked that it be paused (letting the Exclusion EO take effect) until its appeal is resolved. On May 6, NTEU filed a brief arguing that the injunction must be kept in place.
Treasury's Request to Void IRS CBA
Case name: Dept. of Treasury v. NTEU Ch. 73
Court: Eastern District of Kentucky
UPDATE: The first set of briefs from both parties was filed May 7. The second round, due May 14, consists of NTEU supporting its motion to dismiss and cross-motion for summary judgment and the government supporting its motion for summary judgment.
AFGE’s Challenge to BU Exclusions
Case name: AFGE, AFL-CIO et al. v. Trump et al.
Court: Northern District of California
UPDATE: AFGE filed its reply brief in support of a preliminary injunction to halt the effects of the Exclusion EO.
Government's Request to Void CBAs
Case name: Dept. of Defense et al. v. AFGE District 10 et al.
Court: Western District of Texas
UPDATE: The government filed a brief opposing AFGE’s motion to dismiss. AFGE’s reply is due May 12.
AFSA’s Challenge to BU Exclusions
Case name: American Foreign Service Association v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court
NEW TRACKED CASE: AFSA filed a complaint challenging the Exclusion EO and requested a preliminary injunction. Oral argument was on May 5.
FEA’s Challenge to BU Exclusions
Case name: Federal Education Association et al v. Trump et al.
Court: DC District Court
NEW CASE: On May 5, FEA became the latest union to challenge the Exclusion EO.
CFPB Dismantling
Case name: NTEU et al. v. Vought
Court: DC District Court, DC Circuit Court of Appeals
UPDATE: NTEU et al. filed a brief in the DC Circuit arguing to keep the preliminary injunction in place. Oral argument is May 16.
FMCS Dismantling
AFT’s Challenge to Dismantling FMCS
Case name: AFT, AFL-CIO et al. v. FMCS
Court: Southern District of New York
NO UPDATE THIS WEEK
States’ Challenge to Dismantling FMCS
Case name: State of Rhode Island et al. v. Trump et al.
Court: District of Rhode Island
NEW CASE: On May 6, the district court in Rhode Island granted the states’ request for a preliminary injunction, pausing the effects of an EO that called for several agencies, including FMCS, to be stripped down to the bare minimum staffing.
For more detailed information on these and other cases, see On the Docket. |
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