Trump’s invasion of Portland isn’t “law and order.” It’s prerogative power in its rawest form: a president defying a federal court and deploying troops across state lines against the will of both governors. That’s not federalism, it’s the logic of occupation.
As I’ve written in past pieces on institutional drift and cruelty‑as‑operating‑system, this is how authoritarian systems normalize themselves. Procedure becomes theater, legality becomes camouflage, and precedent is discarded whenever it obstructs raw executive will.
In foreign policy, I saw this pattern abroad: Russia, Turkey, China; where the extraordinary is routinized until citizens forget it was ever extraordinary. Now we are watching it play out at home.
The question isn’t “what stage of fascism” this is. The question is whether any institution will resist before the performance of power becomes the only law left standing.
I’ve written before about cruelty as an operating system and propaganda as exhaustion. This narrative is part of that same architecture, diverting anger away from real mechanisms of power.
My focus is behavioral and how law, power, and human behavior converge.
The right wing is at the point of telling the courts, “You and what army?” And SCOTUS —will it be content as Trump’s rubber stamp? Interesting times ahead.
The issue here is that the military is preparing for a civil war and this administration is looking for an excuse for it, they are actually trying to provoke it .
It seems to me that the administration is preparing (and hoping) for a civil war but at the moment the military doesn't seem all that interested. It's horrible that a once successful and leading democracy is dependent on the good behaviour/values of the military but I'm hopeful that this will hold.
No , I didn’t, and I assume they will follow the law, I trust them , they didn’t look happy last week when they heard the speech, there might be one or two who will obey this administration but I know they are professionals , so let’s see , project 2025 includes deployment of troops in the cities , so they had planned this in advance, I just hope they follow the law .
I admit I know nothing about the military. I was/am wholly impressed by retired generals - like Milley - but I don’t know if their remarks reflect a majority or minority opinion.
It’s a conundrum: As I understand stand it, the National Guard can be directed by Trump (or that state’s governor); and if so, are its commanding officers bound by that military code … or by that state’s biases?
I don’t know if you read about the judge last night, she was clear , I understood it after I read it , the national guard is supposed to act within the borders of a state , and can assist other states in disasters and things like that , but nit situations like this one .
Have you noticed that of all the agencies, FBI, etc involved in this coup/deportation scheme there has been zero mention of the CIA? Why is that? I don't even know who the "leader" is of that agency.
CIA is legally barred from operating within the U.S. But I wouldn’t put it past Trump and Director Ratcliffe to break the law on the flimsiest pretense.
You’re welcome. While there are CIA researchers working within the US, what they can do is limited to interpreting what’s happening outside the country. It’s up to the FBI to counter terrorism in the US. Of course, Kash and Karry has gutted the counterterrorism unit and he’s providing agents to Secretary Puppy Snuffer’s goon squads.
The next step is to impeach the president. Evading court orders by forcing troops from one state to attack another state sure seems grounds to me. Plus if we reconvene the House they can force a vote to release the Epstein files
I think it would be a good symbolic action to impeach Trump but it won't achieve anything - they'll never be enough gutsy and principled Republican Senators to get 67% of the votes. It also occurs to me that President Vance may be no impovement. He's nowhere near as big a fool as Trump and I fear he harbours dreams of becoming a dictator too.
Impeach? The Party of White WANTS dominion, it obviously will look the other way about such minor concerns … as the groping and rape of women and girls. The little stuff.
This is truly terrible though I take some comfort that the National Guardsmen (as far as I can tell from here in Australia) haven't actually done anything that could be called partisan or politically oppressive. I know it's a low bar but they're behaving far better that ICE and I'm not aware of the protests actually meaningfully stopping ICE very much. So providing the anti-ICE people don't get sucked in by violent protests (Trump would love that) this could all end up as empty grandstanding with the National Guardsmen pissed off at being dragged from home for no good reason....That said the whole exercise is DISGRACEFUL.
With the shutdown, the guard isn't being paid nor even fit drill weekends. Still weekends represent a mortgage, car, boat payment, etc....
With the mobilizations, who is paying for food and shelter? Will they have to pay out of pocket fir basic needs? Will the guard be sleeping on a gym floor for no compensation anytime soon? How long does anyone follow orders with no compensation and left to fend for themselves? I suspect not long.
I am concerned about what information Trump is getting from Miller, Vought, et al. Are they feeding him misinformation in order to manipulate and control him? How much is he in charge, and how much are the people around him playing kowtow but conniving and deceiving in order to implement their own agendas?
I feel Miller and Vought are running the show but don't belittle Trump's malevolence - he loves this, even if they're the ones turning the screws. As for Trump, it's become clear he's governing based on what he sees on Fox News, the best source of misinformation possible.
Abbott is the real villain here, gleefully green lighting the use of Texas National Guard troops in another state. He's an odious partisan hack (see the redistricting at Trump's bequest) but this seems a real escalation, even for him. I know it's a tired game at this point but please try to imagine the Texas reaction if Illinois Guard units were deployed to Houston against Abbott's wishes - although given Abbott's hatred of any blue city in Texas it's possible he'd cheer it on.
If our institutions and rules are all disregarded and undermined and rule of law is weakening by the day, what are we fighting to preserve? I don't care to be part of a vestigial country with Trump, Miller and Vought at the helm. Democratic governors and elected officials should be coordinating closely on how to respond to this un-American assault on democracy and rights. Those are the leaders that might direct us into the new world that's coming.
A new twist on the War Between the States—Trump orders one blue state to invade another blue state. The old Confederacy would not have been so bold. Same desired outcome, though.
Conspiracy is the game, cruelty is the system.
Trump’s invasion of Portland isn’t “law and order.” It’s prerogative power in its rawest form: a president defying a federal court and deploying troops across state lines against the will of both governors. That’s not federalism, it’s the logic of occupation.
As I’ve written in past pieces on institutional drift and cruelty‑as‑operating‑system, this is how authoritarian systems normalize themselves. Procedure becomes theater, legality becomes camouflage, and precedent is discarded whenever it obstructs raw executive will.
In foreign policy, I saw this pattern abroad: Russia, Turkey, China; where the extraordinary is routinized until citizens forget it was ever extraordinary. Now we are watching it play out at home.
The question isn’t “what stage of fascism” this is. The question is whether any institution will resist before the performance of power becomes the only law left standing.
I’ve written before about cruelty as an operating system and propaganda as exhaustion. This narrative is part of that same architecture, diverting anger away from real mechanisms of power.
My focus is behavioral and how law, power, and human behavior converge.
—Johan
Former Foreign Service Officer
The right wing is at the point of telling the courts, “You and what army?” And SCOTUS —will it be content as Trump’s rubber stamp? Interesting times ahead.
I live in Metro Portland. I was born here. Need the facts which our AG has been great in getting out.
FACT: 1 block of ICE facility. Looks to be in good shape. God knows what’s going on inside.
Would be better if the very small protests quit while the Gov Mayor and AG work on baseless lies.
The issue here is that the military is preparing for a civil war and this administration is looking for an excuse for it, they are actually trying to provoke it .
It seems to me that the administration is preparing (and hoping) for a civil war but at the moment the military doesn't seem all that interested. It's horrible that a once successful and leading democracy is dependent on the good behaviour/values of the military but I'm hopeful that this will hold.
I totally agree with you.
But which military? ICE is not “the military” … and the National Guard only a part of it.
If you have friends in the military ask them , I did .
The troops may be Trumpish … but did you ask any upper officers? (The only member of the armed forces I ever knew was a c.o. during Vietnam.)
No , I didn’t, and I assume they will follow the law, I trust them , they didn’t look happy last week when they heard the speech, there might be one or two who will obey this administration but I know they are professionals , so let’s see , project 2025 includes deployment of troops in the cities , so they had planned this in advance, I just hope they follow the law .
I admit I know nothing about the military. I was/am wholly impressed by retired generals - like Milley - but I don’t know if their remarks reflect a majority or minority opinion.
I saw him !! He made a good point!!!
It’s a conundrum: As I understand stand it, the National Guard can be directed by Trump (or that state’s governor); and if so, are its commanding officers bound by that military code … or by that state’s biases?
I don’t know if you read about the judge last night, she was clear , I understood it after I read it , the national guard is supposed to act within the borders of a state , and can assist other states in disasters and things like that , but nit situations like this one .
It’s totally wrong because the fact set is 100% made up.
Portland is my home and it’s been just fine. Huge shout out to AG Rayfield, extremely smart and great leadership
Have you noticed that of all the agencies, FBI, etc involved in this coup/deportation scheme there has been zero mention of the CIA? Why is that? I don't even know who the "leader" is of that agency.
CIA is legally barred from operating within the U.S. But I wouldn’t put it past Trump and Director Ratcliffe to break the law on the flimsiest pretense.
Thank you for the info.
You’re welcome. While there are CIA researchers working within the US, what they can do is limited to interpreting what’s happening outside the country. It’s up to the FBI to counter terrorism in the US. Of course, Kash and Karry has gutted the counterterrorism unit and he’s providing agents to Secretary Puppy Snuffer’s goon squads.
The next step is to impeach the president. Evading court orders by forcing troops from one state to attack another state sure seems grounds to me. Plus if we reconvene the House they can force a vote to release the Epstein files
I think it would be a good symbolic action to impeach Trump but it won't achieve anything - they'll never be enough gutsy and principled Republican Senators to get 67% of the votes. It also occurs to me that President Vance may be no impovement. He's nowhere near as big a fool as Trump and I fear he harbours dreams of becoming a dictator too.
Impeach? The Party of White WANTS dominion, it obviously will look the other way about such minor concerns … as the groping and rape of women and girls. The little stuff.
This is truly terrible though I take some comfort that the National Guardsmen (as far as I can tell from here in Australia) haven't actually done anything that could be called partisan or politically oppressive. I know it's a low bar but they're behaving far better that ICE and I'm not aware of the protests actually meaningfully stopping ICE very much. So providing the anti-ICE people don't get sucked in by violent protests (Trump would love that) this could all end up as empty grandstanding with the National Guardsmen pissed off at being dragged from home for no good reason....That said the whole exercise is DISGRACEFUL.
With the shutdown, the guard isn't being paid nor even fit drill weekends. Still weekends represent a mortgage, car, boat payment, etc....
With the mobilizations, who is paying for food and shelter? Will they have to pay out of pocket fir basic needs? Will the guard be sleeping on a gym floor for no compensation anytime soon? How long does anyone follow orders with no compensation and left to fend for themselves? I suspect not long.
Interesting point! Thank you.
I am concerned about what information Trump is getting from Miller, Vought, et al. Are they feeding him misinformation in order to manipulate and control him? How much is he in charge, and how much are the people around him playing kowtow but conniving and deceiving in order to implement their own agendas?
I feel Miller and Vought are running the show but don't belittle Trump's malevolence - he loves this, even if they're the ones turning the screws. As for Trump, it's become clear he's governing based on what he sees on Fox News, the best source of misinformation possible.
Hmm, Miller provides the mouth (and only Trump listens) but Vought tugs the reins.
Abbott is the real villain here, gleefully green lighting the use of Texas National Guard troops in another state. He's an odious partisan hack (see the redistricting at Trump's bequest) but this seems a real escalation, even for him. I know it's a tired game at this point but please try to imagine the Texas reaction if Illinois Guard units were deployed to Houston against Abbott's wishes - although given Abbott's hatred of any blue city in Texas it's possible he'd cheer it on.
If our institutions and rules are all disregarded and undermined and rule of law is weakening by the day, what are we fighting to preserve? I don't care to be part of a vestigial country with Trump, Miller and Vought at the helm. Democratic governors and elected officials should be coordinating closely on how to respond to this un-American assault on democracy and rights. Those are the leaders that might direct us into the new world that's coming.
A new twist on the War Between the States—Trump orders one blue state to invade another blue state. The old Confederacy would not have been so bold. Same desired outcome, though.
Court orders? Laws? Decency? This is war, man—hurled sandwiches are dangerous! And all those sleeping brown children may be harboring AR-15s! Eeek …
America's Nazis lash out.