kjd

[Save East Po @SaveEastPo]

Not that it’ll change the outcome, but there are two lines of legal thinking circulating that are badly wrong. Worth addressing both and hopefully starting a more productive discussion.

1. “This judge has no jurisdiction over a golf course.”

Not sure where this started, but it’s clearly wrong, and people sharing it should know better. Judicial review of executive action is a basic, well established part of our system of checks and balances. East Potomac sits on NPS land, and NPS is an executive sub-agency. Any action it takes, presidentially directed or not, is subject to challenge under the Administrative Procedure Act. That’s not a loophole. It’s what checks and balances are.

2. “This weekend was just the fulfillment of a decade-old Cultural Landscape Report that was overdue anyway.”

We’re not litigating the merits of the CLR here, that’s a separate conversation. The CLR is real. But the legal issue is more nuanced than people are giving it credit for.

If the CLR had been carried out independent of the Washington National Plan, fine, no legal problem. But it wasn’t independent. It’s being used as cover to start construction without going through the review the Washington National Plan would actually require. It’s like finding an old inspection report recommending roof repairs, and using it as your permit to demolish and rebuild the entire house.

These protections exist for a reason. We don’t get to decide they stop mattering because we’re inconvenienced by them this time. A healthy republic depends on exactly these checks, for everyone, regardless of who’s in office.

[Tammy Duckworth @SenDuckworth]

Putin told Iran the locations of our warships.

Today, Trump rewarded him by lifting sanctions and allowing American dollars to fuel Russia’s war machine.

Our troops are in harm’s way, and the President cut a deal with the adversary putting a target on their backs.

[Roddy 🇨🇦 @RodKahx]

Hey America.

Canada has a diesel surplus. We export more than we use domestically. Most of it to the United States.

Trump bought you 12 days worth from Russia for double what Canada charges everyday to you.

Choke on that.

[MeidasTouch @MeidasTouch]

Scott Bessent is the walking embodiment of the Dunning-Kruger effect. Borrowing costs are surging, and his response to a senator asking why is a "For Dummies" insult. Has any Treasury Secretary ever been this wrong, this smug, and this much of a failure?

[Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) @adamscochran]

As a reminder, this is already illegal.

The Senate voted 100-0 to ban it.

We sanction other countries for it.

It’s literally an impeachable offence.

Congress MUST enforce.

[Canada Hates Trump @AntiTrumpCanada]

What kind of dystopian shithole government authorizes the televised execution of a human being but blocks the broadcast of a James Talarico interview with Jimmy Kimmel?

[Brims @UTDbrims]

ZELENSKYY FIRES BACK AT DONALD TRUMP 🇺🇦🇺🇸

“I have no words for Donald Trump. I was a fool to believe him all along. He promised to help Ukraine and claimed the war would be over if he won the election. More than a year has passed since he took office, yet he has failed to fulfil his promises. Instead, he has chosen to align himself with my enemy. And as the saying goes, the enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend.

Donald Trump has no power to remove me from office. I believe many people in the United States still stand with Ukraine, and I will fight until the end, until the Ukrainian people, whom I love so deeply, finally see victory.

We have lost countless lives. Children and adults have died, and countless families have been torn apart. Their sacrifices must not be in vain. We are fighting for our country’s survival, freedom, and dignity.

Ukraine will not surrender its future to the demands of the American president. I will not bow to Donald Trump or allow anyone to intimidate us into abandoning our fight.

Trump has shown himself to be a cunning and deceitful politician, and I will no longer place my trust in his promises.” 🇺🇦

[Rep. Don Beyer @RepDonBeyer]

Trump’s chainsaw attack on the trees of East Potomac Park today is emblematic of his presidency: wanton destruction of beautiful things, done with lightning speed to bypass local and legal opposition, as the administration lies about what they are doing.

This isn’t “maintenance,” it’s another attempt to appease the whims and ego of the narcissist in chief, and it’s heartbreaking for many local residents who love this outdoor space. I will keep pressing my colleagues in Congress to stand up to Trump’s assault on our region.

[Save East Po @SaveEastPo]

For the people paying attention, 529 trees represents ~15% of the trees on the peninsula.

This is a shameless gambit to start enacting their Washington National Plan without having to follow the law.

Stealing a park in broad daylight. We will remember you as a traitor @SecretaryBurgum

[Save East Po @SaveEastPo]

What happened today was a blitzkrieg on a public park. A cherished DMV space. If you are not livid about the circumstances that led up to this and what exactly the Federal government did in the past 24 hours I don’t know what to tell you.

Let’s do a quick timeline:

1. Last night, a Friday before a long weekend, at 5PM, government lawyers filed a notice that tree cutting would begin in earnest today. The stated reason was a pretext - apparently fulfilling a 2019 Cultural Landscape Review on East Potomac. This was clearly an excuse to bring the gangs in.

For months the government has stated there is no plan, nothing has been decided, going to follow the law. Ya, right.

2. At 5:30AM this morning, 3-4 dozen workers assembled at East Potomac Park. The blitzkrieg began shortly thereafter. They were given clear orders to fell as many trees as possible.

3. For hours, from 6AM until 4PM today, nothing but chainsaws. Healthy trees, old trees, all would come down. No clear estimate for the extent but at least 100 trees came down.

The devastation is apparent. Entire groves cleared. Not a single animal on the peninsula. Not a sound aside from the roar of chainsaws. Earth ripped to pieces.

Anybody that thinks it is acceptable to shred public lands to appeal to the vanity of the President of the United States needs their head examined.

We have been sounding the alarm on this for months. For months we knew this day would come. Where the President would, under dubious legal pretexts, sic his goons on a beloved public space.

This is not a local issue. This is fundamentally a question of if we the people own our public lands or the temporary resident of the White House does.

@jamie_raskin @JaredHuffman @DonBeyerVA @glenniveymd @MarkWarner @AlsobrooksForMD @timkaine @ChrisVanHollen

[Protect Kamala Harris ✊ @DisavowTrump20]

RETWEET if you stand with President Zelensky against Donald Trump!

[Rick Maese @RickMaese]

Lots of activity at East Potomac today. Trees are falling. Check out this video I just received

[Mark Satter @marksatter]

What looks like hundreds of trees being cut down at East Potomac golf course right now, as it’s packed with golfers on a Saturday morning.

[Jake Tapper 🦅 @jaketapper]

Trump on Russian diesel &
Zelensky response

[kjd @kjdmcf]

@Olaszn_ B

Bb

[Nancy Pelosi @SpeakerPelosi]

Freedom of the press is a right guaranteed by the First Amendment—not granted at the pleasure of the President.

The free press represents the people, and Trump doesn’t get to decide that they can’t cover his presidency because he doesn’t approve of their reporting.

[Kaitlan Collins @kaitlancollins]

CNN: “Early today, CNN journalists were denied access to the White House grounds. CNN’s mission to report on the U.S. government will continue regardless of any attempts to restrict physical access to the White House and other government buildings, or any other attempts to impede our journalism. We have a right under the U.S. Constitution to do our reporting without hindrance or interference from the government and this ban is an illegal assault on this fundamental right.” https://t.co/35YeJIlzRN

[jamie @gnuman1979]

No.

[Rep. Jamie Raskin @RepRaskin]

What kind of AG would Todd Blanche be? Here’s a clue: he created Trump’s $1.8 billion political slush fund to allow Trump to pay off his pardoned street-fighting MAGA foot soldiers. He threw in a “family plan” total self-pardon for Trump, his sons and relatives and businesses against any and all criminal, civil and tax investigations and prosecutions. He should just continue to work as Trump’s lawyer.

[Harry Sisson @harryjsisson]

Boom. Governor Gavin Newsom calls for the 25th Amendment to be invoked after Trump’s unhinged speech tonight. He’s right! Trump is mentally deranged and unfit to be president.