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Tuesday, March 4

Musk and Trump allies use impeachment threats to intimidate federal judges

* Billionaire Elon Musk in recent weeks has raged in a blizzard of social media posts at federal judges who have ruled against his efforts to disembowel the government and executive orders issued by President Donald Trump, calling for impeachment. Trump allies in Congress have followed his lead.

* Since the country’s founding, 15 federal judges have been impeached, and only eight have been convicted and removed. Notably, none of them were based on a disagreement with how a judge ruled. But experts warn Musk’s threats could still have an impact by intimidating judges. Here’s ([link removed]) what you need to know.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR
* The Trump administration is giving DOGE unrestricted access to Americans’
personal data, including our finances, health records, and social security data.
* This leaves every one of us vulnerable to data breaches, mass
surveillance, politically motivated attacks, and worse. Join the ACLU in demanding that Congress act now to stop DOGE from violating our privacy. ([link removed])

Judge says Trump illegally fired chair of federal workers protections board

* A federal judge ruled ([link removed]) that Trump violated federal law and exceeded his authority by firing without reason Cathy Harris, chair of a board that protects the rights of federal employees. The Trump admin appealed ([link removed]) the ruling to the D.C. Circuit.
* By not stating a cause for Harris’ dismissal, the judge said Trump specifically violated the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act, which states the board members can be removed by the president “only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office.”

22 Democratic states request court force FEMA to release federal funds

* In the federal funding freeze challenge from 22 Democratic states, the states requested ([link removed]) a federal court force Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to release millions of dollars from over 140 federal grants that the states claim have been frozen since Feb. 7.
* The freeze ([link removed]) on an enormous swath of federal spending set off mass confusion, frustration and uncertainty amongst millions of Americans that rely on federally funded child care, food assistance and housing programs and hundreds of nonprofits that depend on governmental grants.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR SPONSOR
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The so called Department of Government Efficiency is composed of unvetted outsiders who have forced their way into the government’s most protected systems without care or consideration for the safeguards created by Congress to keep our data safe. Join the ACLU in calling on Congress to step up and check the president’s violations of our rights. ([link removed])

Speaking of FEMA…

* The former top financial officer for FEMA, Mary Comans, sued ([link removed]) the Trump administration, claiming she was unlawfully terminated without cause last month. Comans said Trump officials defamed her by stating she was fired for helping disperse federal funds to house migrants in New York City.

Overturning Roe was never just about sending abortion back to the states

* As we brace for federal restrictions, state lawmakers are moving to hamper future abortion ballot campaigns, and are even attacking amendments that have already passed. Contributor Susan Rinkunas explained ([link removed]) some of the GOP's most recent attacks on abortion.

Hearing coming up tomorrow

* A hearing will be held at 10 a.m. EST in a lawsuit ([link removed]) from Gwynne Wilcox challenging her removal from the National Labor Relations Board. Wilcox claimed that Trump fired her without cause, violating federal law, and asked to be reinstated.

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