A new message from your friends at People For the American Way.
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Friend,

Donald Trump is testing the limits of executive power – and ignoring the
courts when they push back. He’s not just undermining our legal system;
he’s actively dismantling the very idea that any branch of government can
serve as a check on his authority.

The result? A growing constitutional crisis that threatens the foundations
of our democracy – and if we don’t act now, we may lose one of the last
meaningful restraints on Trump’s power to hurt all of us.

[ [link removed] ]Chip in now to help protect our courts and defend the system of checks
and balances. >>

Since his inauguration, Trump has escalated his attacks on the judicial
branch. When federal judges rule against him, he and his allies threaten
them. When courts issue orders, his administration delays, distorts – or
openly ignores them.

Just last week, a federal judge issued an emergency restraining order
halting the deportation of several Venezuelan nationals without due
process under Trump’s illegitimate use of a law that applies only in
wartime. Instead of complying, the Trump administration went ahead with
the deportations anyway.^[1] The judge was reportedly “furious.” But
Trump’s message was clear: What are you going to do about it?

This isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a broader effort to sideline
the judiciary. Trump publicly called for that judge to be impeached.^[ [link removed] ]
He’s suggested that judges who defy him are “dangerous” or “corrupt,”
attempting to chill independent rulings through intimidation. And his
crony in the House – Speaker Mike Johnson – has suggested that Congress
can simply eliminate courts when they rule against Trump.^[ [link removed] ]

[2]If we let this stand, we lose one of the last real checks on Trump’s
power. Donate now to defend the courts before it’s too late. >>

Even more troubling: Congressional Republicans are lining up behind him.
Several new proposals in Congress aim to sharply limit the power of
federal courts to review executive actions. For instance, Rep. Darrell
Issa introduced the No Rogue Rulings Act (NORRA) to limit federal judges'
ability to issue nationwide injunctions blocking clearly illegal actions
by the administration.^[ [link removed] ] And as noted above, House Speaker Mike Johnson
has even suggested that Congress could eliminate entire district courts or
use funding as leverage over the judiciary. Legal scholars warn that such
changes would cripple the judiciary’s ability to act as a meaningful check
on executive power.

Let’s be clear: if the courts are stripped of their ability to stop abuses
of power – and if the president simply ignores the rulings that do get
through – we are no longer living under a functioning system of checks and
balances. We’re living under the rule of an authoritarian.

[3]Help us hold the line while we still can. Your donation supports
activist mobilization, advocacy, and rapid response efforts to defend the
rule of law. >>

Throughout our history, the courts have often been the last line of
defense – blocking unconstitutional attempts to overturn election results,
protecting voting rights, and challenging abuses of executive power. That
vital safeguard is now under direct assault, and unless we speak out and
organize to defend it, we may lose it for good.

The Constitution was designed with checks and balances for a reason: to
prevent exactly this kind of consolidation of power by someone who thinks
he’s king. But that system only works if we, the people, refuse to let it
collapse under pressure.

Thanks for standing with us in this fight.

In solidarity,

Zach VanHouten
People For the American Way

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[4]DONATE NOW

Sources:

[1] [ [link removed] ]"Trump admin ignores judge’s order, deports Venezuelan nationals
anyway," ABC News, March 22, 2025.

[2] [ [link removed] ]"Trump escalates attacks on judges, floats impeachment after asylum
ruling," AP News, March 19, 2025.

[3] [ [link removed] ]"Republicans consider action against judges as Trump rails against
court rulings," PBS NewsHour, March 25, 2025.

[4] [ [link removed] ]"Trump wants to rein in federal judges. California Republican is on
it," Los Angeles Times, March 24, 2025.


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