Ian Bassin

If a president wanted to become effectively a dictator, he’d likely:

1. Purge govt of non loyalists
2. Weaponize law against opponents
3. Use military to police opposition strongholds
4. Threaten media, schools, businesses w penalties to get them to heel
5. Change election rules in his favor.

The commander in chief telling troops who they have to vote for is itself a presidency ending impeachable scandal.

Lauren Harper @laurenleharper.bsky.social

"You have to vote for us.”

Trump tells soldiers to vote GOP in campaign-style rally at Fort Bragg

Army policy prohibits partisan displays, and most service members refrained from cheering.

For nearly eight years we have been warning about “autocratic capture,” the phenomenon by which aspiring autocrats threaten to wield the state against business leaders to coerce their loyalty. And here we are. More from @anneapplebaum.bsky.social here: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/how...

I was a White House ethics lawyer.

I used to advise people not to even accept a free cup of coffee from someone who had interests before them. And staff followed those rules.

I can’t even find the words to describe the scale of Trump’s corruption here.

Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov

Foreign countries are bribing our president to sell out the American people.   Trump family businesses made $187 MILLION from this deal, and just months later he gave the UAE some of our most top-secret AI tech.   They are selling our national security to the highest bidder.

In Hungary, a key Orbán tactic in dismantling their democracy was that his allies bought media outlets that were critical of the regime and turned them into loyal cheerleaders for the regime.

There seems to be a vast under-appreciation for the lines we’ve crossed and the world we’re in.

Trump’s win has basically put us in a post-rules world.

People in power don’t feel constrained by rules and any remaining checks don’t feel empowered to be checks.

This reality has not set in yet.

This is so true and has been for 10 years. Stop taking him on one at a time and join together to do it en masse. You’ll all be better off and so will the country.

Out of roughly 153 million votes cast in this election, the presidency was decided by 230k across the three states of Wisconsin (30k), Michigan (80k) and Pennsylvania (120k). That's 00.15%.

This remains an extremely closely divided nation. Any agenda viewed as extreme is likely to face backlash.

So Trump blew up Obama's deal with Iran, launched a new war, depleted our arsenal, cost us tens of billions, exposed the US as weaker to the world, and ended up just going back to a version of Obama's deal but worse? Do I have that right?

Declaring a fake emergency as an excuse to deploy the military to police civilians is one of the most canonical examples of authoritarian takeovers.

Overseas, people see clearly what Trump is doing. Here in America most people — especially those with power or influence — are in denial.

These are not “settlements” they are “bribes” and should be described accurately. The reporting even explains that CBS executives believe this payment will help avert Trump blocking their merger. Thats a bribe. www.nytimes.com/2025/01/30/b...

Paramount in Settlement Talks With Trump Over ‘60 Minutes’ Lawsuit

A settlement, if reached, would be an extraordinary concession by a major U.S. media company to a sitting president.

Hi Blueskyers. I run the organization @protectdemocracy.org which aims to do just that.

Over the past decade we’ve won countless cases to protect voters and truth, helped pass legislation, and unfortunately predicted much of what’s happened.

Follow and repost so we can keep doing that here.

Absolutely stunning. Trump to Chief Justice Roberts: "Thank you again. Thank you again. I won't forget."

Jordan (ThirdFounding) @jordanlowrance.bsky.social

Here’s the clip with audio

▶

Today:

Tanks are being moved en masse into DC.

Trump is deploying a state national guard over a governor’s objection to police protests.

Trump threatened a major donor with “severe consequences” if they support his political opponents.

If you’re still wondering what time it is, read this again

The second largest city in America is on fire as a political movement adamantly opposed to addressing climate change is about to take control of every aspect of the federal government.

Praying for the people in Los Angeles and that our nation awakens to rise to the task before us. I know we can.

“The main question I was looking to answer when I started reading Hegseth’s collected works was whether he would follow a Trump command to shoot peaceful protesters. After having read them, I don’t think he would even wait for the order.” www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Donald Trump’s Most Dangerous Cabinet Pick

Pete Hegseth considers himself to be at war with basically everybody to Trump’s left, and it is by no means clear that he means war metaphorically.

Trump declared himself above the law today. Literally announced it. Pinned it to his feed for emphasis. The White House reposted it. All to underscore it’s not some passing thought, which would be bad enough.

It’s not the top story on any news site that I can find.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just read this.

If he has nothing to hide he doesn’t need a House vote. He can just release everything.

Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social

Trump now says House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files “because we have nothing to hide”

Reply to @ianbassin.bsky.social

When I was a lawyer in the White House, I can’t stress enough how much we all cared about following the rules - the black letter law and the informal limits of tradition, morality and shame.

You really can’t fathom yet what it will mean for the most powerful actors to care about none of that.

"Biden should publish both volumes of Smith’s report before leaving office. Doing so would serve the public interest and—most importantly—would be legal. Because, as an official action of a sitting president, it falls under the Supreme Court’s blanket of immunity." www.thebulwark.com/p/biden-has-...

Biden Has Presidential Immunity. He Should Use It.

Merrick Garland still doesn't know what time it is.

Looks like Democrats and Republicans on the Hill had agreed on a deal to fund DHS and end the airport security madness and Trump rejected it.

Pretty clear now that Trump is the sole cause of all the chaos that is ensuing.

Revered producer at 60 Minutes resigns rather than cede editorial independence to corporate execs bowing to Trump.

Three career prosecutors resign rather than abdicate ethical duties in subservience to Trump.

Principled stands amid dangerous and darkening clouds. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/22/n...

3 Adams Case Prosecutors Resign Rather Than Express Regret to Justice Dept.

They had been placed on administrative leave after refusing to abandon the corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams. “We will not confess wrongdoing when there was none,” they wrote.

WSJ ed board warning Paramount not to pay Trump’s bribe!

“The better alternative for Paramount: Win the legal case, vindicate its CBS journalists and 1st Amend & trust FCC has enough integrity to operate as something more than the President’s personal protection racket.” www.wsj.com/opinion/para...

Opinion | The Paramount Risk in Settling Trump’s Lawsuit: ‘Bribery’?

Any settlement during merger review will be a Democratic target.