1. United States
2. Texas
3. Letter

The Trump administration’s big talk on solving hot button issues throughout the world has turned into limp actions. We’ve given up on definitively assisting Ukraine in its fight for democracy after Russian invasion. Assistance now seems predicated on the president’s mood at the moment. This, combined with tacitly loosening economic sanctions by turning a blind eye to Russian workarounds, has allowed Russia to rebuild its economy. While no doubt assuring Putin that all he needs to do to win his war of aggression is wait out America’s resolve. Which is squishy these days. In addition, the Trump administration has stopped countering Russian disinformation around the world, while Trump appointees, including Trump’s main negotiator with Russia, Steve Witkoff, regularly parrot Russian propaganda. Russia seems to have won its war against America as well. Trump’s claim he had “totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program turned out to be exaggerated. But in true double-down fashion has not ruled out further attacks. Merited or not. It is what we say it is. Israel/Gaza. More diplomatic inefficacy. The final solution seems to be to watch Israel obliterate Palestine. While we stand and watch. But there is one area the president excels at. Attacking and subduing his own country. Yesterday heavily armed masked agents in trucks, armored vehicles, a helicopter, on foot, and on horseback, accompanied by a gun mounted on a truck raided the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles. Agents from CBP, the National Guard, and ICE brought a massive federal presence. Fox News personnel were embedded with the raiders, broadcasting throughout the operation, proving that it was an event designed for the media. A staged show of force and intimidation. CBP brought its own press team, and its people were also taking photos of bystanders. After mayor Karen Bass arrived and spoke with Border Patrol Chief Gregory Bovino, the agents left. A performative farce paid for by we the people. Later, Bovino told Fox, “I don’t work for Karen Bass. Better get used to us now, cause this is going to be normal very soon. We will go anywhere, anytime we want in Los Angeles.” No decent American should fail to be horrified and deeply ashamed that our government is complicit in terrorizing our own people. Donald Trump, DHS officials, and every Republican lawmaker who condones, empowers, funds, and whitewashes DHS’s despicable operations are now complicit in a mammoth, militarized machine that has systematized suffering, fear, and terror. This now obscenely funded operation potentially dwarfs previous American human rights abuses, including the internment of Japanese during WWII and political prisoners during the Red Scare of Joseph McCarthy. This is quite a legacy you’re working on.