Trump Begins His Tuesday with Threats Against Free Speech

In an unhinged Truth Social post, Trump declares Federal funding will cease for any school that allows protests, and that "agitators" should be imprisoned or deported.

At precisely 4:30am PT this morning, the dictator-tot who occupies the Oval Office declared via Truth Social that the First Amendment right to protest doesn't exist on college and university campuses. At the time of this posting, the anti-democratic statement has 37,700+ likes on the President's social media platform.

There are few things that need to be called out here, because I've only had one coffee, and I'm fed-up with this shit.

The First Amendment to the United States Constitution reads:

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Emphasis mine. Donald decided that Dictator on Day One was a bit too ambitious, so here we are at day 45, going full-on autocrat. Trump says he will end federal funding to any school that allows "illegal" protests. There are no illegal protests. The peaceful assembly of people protesting on campuses is an age-old and respected tradition of American democracy. Trump cannot unilaterally demand an end to peaceful assembly. Calling for the arrest and/or deportation of protestors is a suppression tactic, and I have no doubt it will have a chilling effect on many would-be demonstrators who are international students, or attending American colleges and universities on a foreign exchange programs. He also demands, in all-caps, as per usual, "NO MASKS!". It needs to be pointed out that not only are we still in a pandemic, albeit one nearing endemic stages, so people who want to protect their health will wear masks in large public gatherings. Masks are also a useful deterrent in the event of tear gas or pepper spray deployment on crowds. But most importantly, many protestors wear masks to avoid being doxxed online when filmed or photographed. They're protecting their identity, so that some dumbshit MAGA minion doesn't spread an image of their face all over the web to crowdsource their identity, then harass or harm them at their home, place of work or elsewhere.

This post comes on the heels of Trump instituting his 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada, which is causing a clusterfuck of its own. As I reported yesterday, the stock market has responded with a sharp decline, and as of today, the NASDAQ has fallen into correction territory. Ontario Premier Rob Ford has said he will cut off electricity to three American states in response to the tariffs. With the tariffs going into effect today, and Trump's joint address to congress happening tonight, it would be a real shame if the Premier of Ontario cut power to New York, Minnesota, and Michigan.

Forty-five days in, folks. We're forty-five days into this absolute disaster of an administration, and there's no end in sight. Buckle up, because it is only going to get worse from here on out.

I will do my best in the days to come to do some pieces on the resistance, and the positive things that are happening all across the nation, because I think it's important we not just focus on the terrible. There are beautiful acts of resistance at a local level in red and blue states alike that need to be elevated. I will be sure to bring that to you as it comes.