Sam Halpert
@samhalpert.bsky.social
Views are solely my own.
Also, remember this: www.latinojustice.org/en/news/immi...
November 24, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Also, remember this: www.latinojustice.org/en/news/immi...
It’ll be the way they handled public outcry during the Biden administration: “We see you’re angry about border patrol on horseback whipping Haitian migrants. We hear you, loud and clear: no more horses.”
They think everything is about the optics. They’re fine with the policies.
They think everything is about the optics. They’re fine with the policies.
November 24, 2025 at 3:38 PM
It’ll be the way they handled public outcry during the Biden administration: “We see you’re angry about border patrol on horseback whipping Haitian migrants. We hear you, loud and clear: no more horses.”
They think everything is about the optics. They’re fine with the policies.
They think everything is about the optics. They’re fine with the policies.
Fun fact: for a little over 100 years, much of Congress’ work began as constituent petitions—including disenfranchised constituents. Congress had a formal process for considering petitions that it considered a kind of “legislative due process” protected by the Petition Clause of the 1st Amendment.
November 22, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Fun fact: for a little over 100 years, much of Congress’ work began as constituent petitions—including disenfranchised constituents. Congress had a formal process for considering petitions that it considered a kind of “legislative due process” protected by the Petition Clause of the 1st Amendment.
Some text I’m currently refining with @citizensimpeachment.com :
![commander. He has not tried to establish a working relationship with the city; he has tried to dominate it." [22] The purpose of these forces is clear: Donald Trump has sent them into a "war" (by his own words) on Democrat-led U.S. cities to suppress legitimate opposition to the radical political changes his government is imposing. The message of these militarized sorties by federal agents into high-visibility areas of our cities, as they target the press, the clergy, and unarmed protesters, is clear: the new federal order is not a matter for civil debate.
Trump's war is a revolution of our government, by force.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qcdkgsv4ancml4yt5bde7fwi/bafkreigy3gybes47ahebkkp3tihr3fzadcyc5ecskwfgyaja6zb3yiolhq@jpeg)
November 22, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Some text I’m currently refining with @citizensimpeachment.com :
The thing is, there’s one additional clause I didn’t discuss, which is where the powers of the U.S. government are grounded by the duties of the people who exercise them. Article VI: 4/
November 20, 2025 at 9:57 PM
The thing is, there’s one additional clause I didn’t discuss, which is where the powers of the U.S. government are grounded by the duties of the people who exercise them. Article VI: 4/
The most common theory I’ve seen is that it lies in Congress’ power to define the terms of “high crimes and misdemeanors” for itself. (A la Gerald Ford.) I’ve also seen some ppl talk about how the text says “the power of impeachment” —not “the duty of impeachment” 3/
November 20, 2025 at 9:57 PM
The most common theory I’ve seen is that it lies in Congress’ power to define the terms of “high crimes and misdemeanors” for itself. (A la Gerald Ford.) I’ve also seen some ppl talk about how the text says “the power of impeachment” —not “the duty of impeachment” 3/
One precedent for this approach is John Q Adams’ epic fight against the “gag rule” which said members couldn’t discuss petitions about abolishing slavery on the floor.
![In 1836, partially in response to Adams's consistent presentation of citizen petitions
requesting the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia, the U.S. House of Representatives imposed a gag rule that immediately tabled any petitions about slavery.
Democrats and Southern Whigs favored the rule, but Northern Whigs, like Adams, opposed it. 2031 In late 1836, Adams began a campaign to ridicule slave owners and the gag rule. He frequently attempted to present anti-slavery petitions, often in ways that provoked strong reactions from Southern representatives. [204]
Though the gag rule remained in place, 205, the discussion ignited by his actions and the attempts of others to quiet him raised questions of the right to petition, the right to legislative debate, and the morality of slavery.
Adams fought actively against the gag rule for another seven years, eventually moving the resolution that led to its repeal in 1844.2061
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Quincy_Adams](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qcdkgsv4ancml4yt5bde7fwi/bafkreic6ryltqlwsx2g4mfig2t6th2t4fr5pjfpxknukj3aemtpsazlm4e@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
One precedent for this approach is John Q Adams’ epic fight against the “gag rule” which said members couldn’t discuss petitions about abolishing slavery on the floor.
History tells us it is easy to doubt ourselves, in such moments:
www.law.georgetown.edu/legal-ethics... 5/
www.law.georgetown.edu/legal-ethics... 5/
![“[Early in the Third Reich], Germans reinforced in each other the sense that nothing too outrageous was taking place. They mutually normalized the abnormal…facing an ambiguously alarming situation, we check whether others are alarmed. We look up and look around. They do the same. The result: everyone goes on about their business, halfway reassured that things aren’t as bad as they appeared at first glance.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qcdkgsv4ancml4yt5bde7fwi/bafkreictz6tv7dk56nxr2fk3eqxjw2ubhbs4bf4kprf45x2kqqvn6mfidq@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 7:07 PM
History tells us it is easy to doubt ourselves, in such moments:
www.law.georgetown.edu/legal-ethics... 5/
www.law.georgetown.edu/legal-ethics... 5/
November 16, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I would suggest instead of or alongside #4: an aggressive attitude toward impeachment. If the President is violating the Constitution brazenly, he should be impeached. Congress should jealously guard its power & be willing to launch impeachment inquiries often as necessary to recover its status.
November 14, 2025 at 12:31 AM
I would suggest instead of or alongside #4: an aggressive attitude toward impeachment. If the President is violating the Constitution brazenly, he should be impeached. Congress should jealously guard its power & be willing to launch impeachment inquiries often as necessary to recover its status.
November 13, 2025 at 10:28 PM
10/ Now, mere months later, we see US forces deployed against "Democrat-led" cities; the force behind these changes are out in the open. Trump argues in court his agents enforce immigration law, but he told generals they are at war. Their actions demonstrate their role is to suppress opposition
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
10/ Now, mere months later, we see US forces deployed against "Democrat-led" cities; the force behind these changes are out in the open. Trump argues in court his agents enforce immigration law, but he told generals they are at war. Their actions demonstrate their role is to suppress opposition
9/ Force undergirds this revolutionary project. Early on, this was most visible when semi-independent agencies chose to resist their destruction at the hands of DOGE: https://bsky.app/profile/samhalpert.bsky.social/post/3lkqylak7ss2x
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
9/ Force undergirds this revolutionary project. Early on, this was most visible when semi-independent agencies chose to resist their destruction at the hands of DOGE: https://bsky.app/profile/samhalpert.bsky.social/post/3lkqylak7ss2x
4/ Third, we can consider the lived experience of residents of cities under Trump's military occupation:
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
4/ Third, we can consider the lived experience of residents of cities under Trump's military occupation:
3/ Second, we can consider the similarities between Trump's war on US cities and the experiences of combat vets who served as occupiers abroad:
![Truthout 11/11/25:
ICE Is Functioning Like an Occupying Army. I Know Because I Served in One.
Veteran-led protests against Trump's National Guard deployments encourage soldiers to resist Trump's illegal orders.
Image: Anti-ICE protesters clash with federal agents at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon, on October 18, 2025. [Militarized federal agents loom through a thick cloud of tear gas, armed and wearing gas masks.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qcdkgsv4ancml4yt5bde7fwi/bafkreibrw7ajr3kn22zeffzaypxrthbwfpgg4iqohynuvv2v4ix3ntdhfi@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
3/ Second, we can consider the similarities between Trump's war on US cities and the experiences of combat vets who served as occupiers abroad:
🧵 Trump is committing treason by levying war on the United States (specifically, Democrat-led cities).
November 12, 2025 at 8:13 PM
🧵 Trump is committing treason by levying war on the United States (specifically, Democrat-led cities).
Politicians in opposition see Trump’s war on US cities as a “political stunt”. Combat vets who served as occupiers—and people living under Trump’s military rule—see it profoundly differently. It’s a *war*, @warren.senate.gov. He’s levying war on the United States, by his own admission to generals.
November 12, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Politicians in opposition see Trump’s war on US cities as a “political stunt”. Combat vets who served as occupiers—and people living under Trump’s military rule—see it profoundly differently. It’s a *war*, @warren.senate.gov. He’s levying war on the United States, by his own admission to generals.
The conclusion we must draw is that we cannot wait for electoral outcomes to change our circumstances. You are likely surrounded by people in action, who are not waiting for a chance to vote for change. Please find them, if you haven’t already.
November 12, 2025 at 1:18 AM
The conclusion we must draw is that we cannot wait for electoral outcomes to change our circumstances. You are likely surrounded by people in action, who are not waiting for a chance to vote for change. Please find them, if you haven’t already.
The Battle of Chicago
November 11, 2025 at 12:11 AM
The Battle of Chicago
November 10, 2025 at 5:55 PM
November 10, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Example: An excerpt from Gov Hogan (MD)’s 2020 order. Change “substantial loss of income” to “loss of federal benefits”, print & sign. web.archive.org/web/20200430...
November 9, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Example: An excerpt from Gov Hogan (MD)’s 2020 order. Change “substantial loss of income” to “loss of federal benefits”, print & sign. web.archive.org/web/20200430...
Star Wars is dogfights in space. Star Trek (esp. TOS) is submarine warfare in space.
![STAR TREK [The original series]
AIRDATE:
DEGEMBER 15, 1966
Stardate: 1709.1
EPISODE 9
Balance Of Terror
A wedding on the Enterprise™ is interrupted by news of attacks on Federation outposts along the Neutral Zone. Kirk must prevent the Romulan ship responsible for the attacks from reaching home, and is forced into a game of cat and mouse with its commander (Mark Lenard), who has the advantage of a cloaking device which renders his ship invisible to the Enterprise's sensors.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qcdkgsv4ancml4yt5bde7fwi/bafkreihyrizby2fp4ve7pep5omq5aeoar6bb7l4zst3uex4xtvzoaud6xu@jpeg)
November 8, 2025 at 10:19 PM
Star Wars is dogfights in space. Star Trek (esp. TOS) is submarine warfare in space.
This power also exists at the local level. This anecdote (thanks for your reporting!) is from LA. The county board of supervisors prohibited evictions against tenants w/lost income from wildfires last Feb. Why not prohibit evictions against tenants w/lost benefits now? caanet.org/l-a-county-a...
November 8, 2025 at 5:52 AM
This power also exists at the local level. This anecdote (thanks for your reporting!) is from LA. The county board of supervisors prohibited evictions against tenants w/lost income from wildfires last Feb. Why not prohibit evictions against tenants w/lost benefits now? caanet.org/l-a-county-a...
The COVID crisis established: state emergency powers can pause evictions & foreclosures for impacted ppl. Some states have declared emergencies for SNAP crisis already. Govs should let ppl divert rent $$ to groceries. Faster relief & draws landlords & lenders into the coalition against this outrage.
November 8, 2025 at 5:46 AM
The COVID crisis established: state emergency powers can pause evictions & foreclosures for impacted ppl. Some states have declared emergencies for SNAP crisis already. Govs should let ppl divert rent $$ to groceries. Faster relief & draws landlords & lenders into the coalition against this outrage.