Early on in Donald Trump’s second term, I predicted that he would deploy the military and federal law enforcement in our nation’s largest cities. Trump specializes in harassing and intimidating immigrants, minorities and Democrats. Militarizing cities allows him to do all three.

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August 18, 2025

Early on in Donald Trump’s second term, I predicted that he would deploy the military and federal law enforcement in our nation’s largest cities. Trump specializes in harassing and intimidating immigrants, minorities and Democrats. Militarizing cities allows him to do all three.

Trump also has a broader plan. He’s stationing the military and other federal law enforcement in blue areas so — when the time comes — he can pivot their mission to suppressing voting rights and undermining free and fair elections. Absent a significant opposition movement, I fear he will be able to achieve this.

So far, that opposition movement has not materialized in sufficient numbers and seriousness to combat the threat being posed.

Even as this weekend saw a shocking escalation in Trump’s attacks on home rule in the District of Columbia, too many people — including some Democrats — seemed unconcerned. Videos posted online showed disturbing scenes of masked agents manhandling, handcuffing and taking people away in unmarked vehicles.

In one instance...

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