The Lincoln Logue — Week of May 5th
Your guide to life under Trump 2.0. Democracy’s on fire, but we break down the scary stories to keep you up at night.
If week one of this newsletter felt like a crash course in how democracies fall and propel into fascism, the second edition is where the syllabus expands: from headline chaos to tangible impact and erosion of our democracy.
For those just joining us: The Lincoln Logue is your weekly look at Trump’s second term, the Democratic response (or lack thereof), and the global ramifications. We read the executive orders so you don’t have to. We track the chaos.
At Lincoln Square, we believe that tracking and reacting to the news is not enough; It’s what we do with the information that matters. We want to pair our outrage with structure, our criticism with sources, and our warnings with a call to action.
In a time like this, shouting into the void about Trump and the fascist GOP is not enough. But mocking them, organizing around their chaos, and fighting against normalizing the abnormal? That’s a start. The Trump Presidency 2.0 does something every day that makes a week feel like a year. This past week was no exception.
From Trump admitting (with or without realizing it) that he has zero clue about what the Constitution has to say about due process, Trump watching the Clint Eastwood film Escape from Alcatraz and immediately talking about plans to reopen the infamous prison, or another Fox News host being picked for a government position under this administration, it has been a head-spinning week.
Let’s break it down.
Monday, May 5 – Due Process? TBD, Says Trump
This week began with the president of the United States questioning whether people in the U.S. should have rights, once again proving that he does not know anything about the Constitution or the rights it gives. He went even further and questioned whether he is obligated to uphold the Constitution.
This might sounds unfamiliar to Trump, but he’s now recited it twice:
I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.
Perhaps he’s just admitting that his “Ability” is pretty limited.
Trump also said he’s “unsure whether people in the U.S. are entitled to due process,” particularly when accused of “terrorism or insurrection.” Yes, that would be the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments. No, he doesn’t seem to be familiar with them.
Trump later walked it back (sort of) by claiming he was only talking about “non-citizens who hate this country.” According to Trump, there is a spectrum that we are all on, and it is the civil rights spectrum. It looks kind of like this:
What’s most interesting about Trump’s due process comments is that he himself has used the rights he is questioning. Let’s take a walk back in time, a long three years ago, the man himself invoked the Fifth Amendment almost 450 times in the N.Y. AG’s probe into his business practices.
Democrats issued sternly worded tweets, which may or may not be read by anyone outside of their interns. This isn’t the first time Trump has mused about ignoring constitutional protections. What’s different is the tone: this time, it’s not a suggestion. It’s a test.
Source: Reuters