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Hello friends,
It’s been a hell of a year for all of us, but federal employees have been hit especially hard. First, “DOGE” told thousands [ [link removed] ] of them to take a walk back in the spring (though hundreds [ [link removed] ] were later brought back because, duh, vital government functions were left undone). Now, Project 2025 mastermind and current Office of Management and Budget Director Russ Vought [ [link removed] ] is using the government shutdown as a pretext to lay off thousands more.
But it gets worse—because everything gets worse in the Trump era. Donald Trump says the layoffs will be “Democrat-oriented [ [link removed] ],” and further, for the furloughed employees still left with a job, he’s not guaranteeing back pay [ [link removed] ] to all of them. ​​“There are some people that don’t deserve to be taken care of,” Trump said. “And we’ll take care of them in a different way.” Whatever that means.
As David Pakman [ [link removed] ] writes, this could well be a violation of “the First and Fifth Amendments, by punishing political beliefs and denying equal treatment; the Civil Service Reform Act and Hatch Act, which forbid political discrimination in federal employment; and criminal laws against misuse of public funds and abuse of power.” That certainly tracks for a lifelong criminal and fascist leader who doesn’t give a shit about the rule of law.
Joe
In Today's Issue
The Social Briefing: Heroes of the Week
Good Reads for This Week
The Social Share
The Social Soundboard
This Past Week
SUBSTACK LIVE: Open to all subscribers, unless noted. Don’t miss it!
Tuesday with Rev. Benjamin Cremer [ [link removed] ] (click if you missed it)
Wednesday with April Ajoy [ [link removed] ] (click if you missed it)
Friday with Mike Nellis [ [link removed] ] (click if you missed it)
Amid all the bad [ [link removed] ], awful [ [link removed] ], dumb [ [link removed] ], stupid [ [link removed] ], absurd [ [link removed] ], insane [ [link removed] ], sickening [ [link removed] ], despicable [ [link removed] ], cruel [ [link removed] ], sad [ [link removed] ], pathetic [ [link removed] ], embarrassing [ [link removed] ], irresponsible [ [link removed] ], demoralizing [ [link removed] ], deplorable [ [link removed] ], infuriating [ [link removed] ], outrageous [ [link removed] ], terrible [ [link removed] ], horrible [ [link removed] ], Constitution-defying [ [link removed] ], fascist [ [link removed] ] news of the past week, we have to acknowledge the TOP FIVE HEROES among us. The list is growing, as more and more of us are standing up to the tyrant. Courage is infectious. Be brave!
FIGHTERS IN CHICAGO. My hometown isn’t backing down to ICE’s occupation. The state and city [ [link removed] ] have sued the Trump Administration over the National Guard deployment in Chicago. Journalists [ [link removed] ] are suing over violence against the press. And protesters [ [link removed] ] are suing for First Amendment violations. Thanks to District Judge April Perry [ [link removed] ] for issuing a temporary restraining order against the deployment, and to District Judge Sara Ellis [ [link removed] ] for limiting the use of certain riot control weapons and requiring federal agents to have visible ID.
JUDICIARY & HOMELAND SECURITY DEMOCRATS. Democrats on the House Committees [ [link removed] ] on the Judiciary and Homeland Security launched an investigation into the September 30th immigration raid in Chicago that terrorized residents of a South Shore apartment building. “Treating a U.S. city like a war zone is intolerable,” they wrote. Indeed.
ALAN GRONEWOLD. The Oregon National Guard’s Adjutant General, Brigadier Gen. Gronewold [ [link removed] ] says if they are federalized, he will advise the Title 10 commander to utilize National Guard troops to protect protesters at ICE facilities. Gives us some hope for the military!
RANDY ERWIN. The National Federation of Federal Employees President Randy Erwin [ [link removed] ] has a message for Trump in the wake of another round of mass firings of federal workers: “You better start following the Constitution like you took an oath to do.” Damn straight, Randy.
USC FACULTY MEMBERS. During a 500-person virtual meeting of the Academic Senate at the University of Southern California [ [link removed] ], members strongly denounced and rejected a Trump Administration offer to give the university federal funding preference in exchange for rightward policy shifts. In speeches by department chairs, professors, researchers, and others, the proposed compact was called “egregiously invalid,” “probably unconstitutional,” “antithetical to principles of academic freedom,” and “a Trojan horse.” Well said. Smart move, USC.
Did we miss anyone? Send your heroes our way [ mailto:[email protected] ]!
Good Reads for This Week
Trump Is Destroying the U.S. Constitution and Amassing Unprecedented Powers by Sending Federal Troops to Invade American Cities [ [link removed] ] —The UnPopulist
War on America, Chicago Theater of Operations [ [link removed] ] —Lucid
Dishonoring the Badge [ [link removed] ] —Uncompromised with Tara Setmayer
Trump’s Plan for Us [ [link removed] ] —Salty Politics with Julie Roginsky
American vs. American: The End State of Trumpism [ [link removed] ] —The Dispatch
I Was a Stranger: A Christian Response to the Raids in Chicago [ [link removed] ] —Into the Gray
The Sociopaths Are Shocked that Most People Aren’t Sociopaths [ [link removed] ] —Notes from the Circus
The Collapse of Competence: What Happens When a Government Stops Governing [ [link removed] ] —Light Against Empire
October 7 Exposed an Authoritarian Axis [ [link removed] ] —The Next Move
Amy Stevens Doesn’t Sleep [ [link removed] ] —The Truth OC
I continue to believe the cruelty of the Trump Administration will ultimately help defeat MAGA. Most Americans are not cruel. Keep spreading the word. And share [ mailto:[email protected] ] the stories and videos you find with us.
Hey Joe,
I thought I would send you and your team an article [ [link removed] ] I just came across. This is very scary shit. Perhaps you guys have already seen it. Thanks for what you guys do! —Jason
Border Patrol Shoots Woman on Southwest Side [ [link removed] ] —WBEZ Chicago
Video Shows Federal Agent Shoot Chicago Pastor in Head with Pepper Ball During Broadview ICE Protest [ [link removed] ] —FOX 32 Chicago
Federal Agents Knock Down Elderly Couple During Portland Protest [ [link removed] ] —The Oregonian
ICE Held Man in L.A. Hospital, at Times Cuffed to Bed, Over a Month Without Charges [ [link removed] [link removed] ] —KTLA
FIGHTING BACK
Here’s what some of you are thinking about this week…
Joe, can you envision the military stepping in to arrest Trump, Hegseth, Miller, and Bondi if the Insurrection Act were used by Trump? After the Nazi-like speeches by Trump and Hegseth to disbelieving high-level military who were brought in, seems to me the military must be thinking about it, especially if the Insurrection Act is utilized. —Jeff R.
I really feel like the Democrats are fighting the wrong battle. I appreciate that they’re going to bat for the ACA subsidies, but this Administration has shown such bad faith by doing recisions of past spending that I feel like the Republicans can’t be trusted even if they do agree to it.
Meanwhile the Republican Party’s minister of propaganda Stephen Miller is pressing the case for a civil war against those who do not support Donald Trump really really really hard. He is emboldened to do this because the Democrats aren’t fighting his battle. They’re still pretending that it’s 1996, fighting a process battle. So the Trump machinery just feels like they may as well go for everything they want right now, since the Democrats aren’t really fighting back on the democracy front. —Mark B.
Dear Joe,
I cannot thank you enough for all your courage and for all that you are doing for all of us.
And thank you hugely for reminding me to be brave! —Chris S.
Hey, I want to hear from you! Want to send us a 600-word op-ed or video clip on how we can mend our frayed social contract and rebuild an America that works? Want to appear with Joe on Substack Live? Just need to vent? Send it our way!
Tell us your story and share your feedback about our Substack community by emailing our editor at [email protected] [ mailto:[email protected] ]. We look forward to hearing from you!
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