The Morning Sixpack - April 8, 2025
The Trump tantrums are still going.
Supreme Court Orders Noncitizens to Challenge Detention and Removal in Texas
The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that noncitizens facing removal under President Trump's executive order must challenge their detention in Texas, not Washington, D.C.
Yes, the SCOTUS ruled that lives in imminent danger are subject to a legal technicality.
In a narrow 5-4 decision, the Court lifted a lower court's injunction that had temporarily halted the removal of individuals identified as members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. The decision emphasizes that while courts have limited roles in reviewing the legality of actions under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, detainees are entitled to notice and a chance to contest their removal.
Justice Sonia Sotomayor delivered a passionate dissent, criticizing the majority for enabling the deportation of noncitizens to foreign prisons, particularly in the case of El Salvador, where detainees are held in harsh conditions.
"Even when the government makes a mistake, it cannot retrieve individuals from these prisons," Sotomayor warned, highlighting the risk of unlawful detentions escalating.
You just know that the feds are going to keep doing this and then claim, “Ooopsie … too late,” as El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, said when the first few hundred alleged gang members entered his country. The US is paying him $6 million to keep these men in their shitty prison.
The Court's ruling focuses on the venue for legal challenges, with detainees required to file claims where they are held. Note: This doesn’t do JACKSHIT about the men already removed to El Salvador’s Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo or CECOT and held there with no contact with any legal representation. Hell, we don’t even know if they’re still alive.
This case stems from an executive order designed to target members of Tren de Aragua, a gang with growing influence in the U.S. and Latin America, which was designated a foreign terrorist organization by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The ruling provides a crucial framework for handling similar cases in the future.
Don’t forget: Executive Orders ARE NOT LAWS. I don’t remember a time, and I could be wrong, when belonging to a gang was illegal. DOING illegal things while in a gang is illegal, of course.
This whole thing is illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional. It’s proof we live in an authoritarian state.
Source: SCOTUSBlog
Trump Administration Continues Military Leadership Purge with Firing of Another Woman
The Trump administration has fired Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield, the U.S. representative to NATO’s military committee, marking the latest move in a broader purge of military leaders by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Chatfield, a trailblazer as the first woman to lead the U.S. Naval War College, joins a growing list of female leaders and people of color ousted from prominent military positions. This includes the removal of high-ranking officials like Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Adm. Lisa Franchetti, and Lt. Gen. Jennifer Short, further fueling controversy and criticism of the administration’s actions.
The firing comes after a conservative watchdog group labeled Chatfield a "woke ideologue," adding her to a list of officials targeted for their political leanings. The Pentagon has not commented on the firing, which was first reported by Reuters. This marks a continuing pattern of controversial leadership changes that have rattled lawmakers and drawn condemnation from former defense secretaries as “reckless.”
While it remains unclear whether President Trump or Hegseth directly ordered Chatfield’s removal, the purge has raised concerns over its potential impact on the military’s stability and effectiveness. The firings follow a trend of controversial oustings, such as that of Gen. Timothy D. Haugh, who was also dismissed under similar circumstances.
Source: NYT
I wonder what Admiral James G. Stavridis, Commander in Chief, Supreme Allied Commander Europe, 2009–2013, and graduate of the Naval War College, thinks about all this. Maybe somebody at CNN or MSNBC, where he is a regular contributor, should ask him.
U.S. Justice Department Sends Armed Marshals to Warn Fired Lawyer Over Testimony
In an unprecedented move, the U.S. Justice Department dispatched armed marshals to deliver a warning letter to Liz Oyer, a fired career pardon attorney, regarding her potential testimony before Congress.
Oyer's lawyer criticized the action as "completely inappropriate" and "unprecedented," especially since Oyer had not engaged in any criminal conduct. The marshals were called off after Oyer confirmed receipt of the letter via email.
This incident has sparked concerns over the department's use of law enforcement to intimidate former employees, with lawmakers calling it an attempt to "silence" Oyer.
Oyer, who was fired by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche in March, had previously declined to recommend restoring gun rights to actor Mel Gibson, a Trump supporter. She has since spoken out about the Justice Department's actions, particularly how they were aimed at suppressing her testimony about alleged corruption within the department.
Oyer, undeterred, stated, "I will not be bullied into concealing the ongoing corruption and abuse of power at the Department of Justice."
The Justice Department's letter to Oyer emphasized confidentiality concerns about clemency, pardons, and gun rights restoration, invoking executive privilege. However, Oyer's legal team called the department's claims "baseless," asserting that Oyer was entitled to whistleblower protections and should be allowed to testify freely.
Todd Blanche was Trump’s lawyer in the hush money case involving pornstar Stormy Daniels—he lost.
Bill Ackman Warns of ‘Economic Nuclear Winter’ if Trump’s Tariffs Persist
Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has issued a stark warning that the global economy is on the verge of a "self-induced economic nuclear winter" due to President Trump's sweeping tariffs.
Ackman, a known ally of the president, urged Trump to pause the tariffs and take 90 days to renegotiate what he described as "unfair" trade deals. Ackman argued that the growing uncertainty surrounding the tariff system is undermining business confidence and could lead to severe economic consequences, including halted investments, job losses, and a potential recession.
Ackman explained that while the country supports fixing the global tariff system, the administration’s approach risks destroying trust in the U.S. as a reliable business partner. He cautioned that an economic war against both allies and adversaries would ultimately harm small and medium-sized businesses, driving them to cut investments and lay off workers.
"What CEO and what board of directors will be comfortable making large, long-term, economic commitments in our country in the middle of an economic nuclear war?" Ackman asked.
The warning comes as Trump’s tariffs continue to impact global financial markets, with the president indicating that the levies could be permanent, further heightening fears of a full-blown trade war.
Source: New York Post
Canada’s Economy Faces Recession Threat Amid Trump’s Tariff War
Canada is teetering on the brink of a recession as President Trump’s tariffs continue to take a toll on its economy.
The imposition of 25% levies on cars, steel, aluminum, and other goods has led to job losses, reduced consumer demand, and heightened economic uncertainty. According to the Bank of Canada’s first-quarter survey, 32% of Canadian companies are now bracing for a recession, a sharp increase from just 15% in the latter half of 2024. As businesses curtail hiring and investment plans, Canadians are increasingly concerned about the long-term economic outlook.
“The tariff shock is hitting hard,” says economist Robert Embree, adding that the job market is already showing signs of strain, with 33,000 job losses reported in March.
The automobile sector, one of Canada’s largest exports to the U.S., has been especially affected, with some companies, like Stellantis, halting production and laying off workers due to the tariffs. The government is now considering measures to provide financial support to affected industries, including tax cuts and low-cost loans.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has warned that the U.S. risks driving itself into a recession, which could further damage Canadian exports. To counteract the effects, Canada has retaliated with its own tariffs, but the situation remains precarious for workers and businesses alike, particularly those in trade-exposed sectors.
Source: WSJ (gift article)
They say misery loves company, but that’s bullshit. Nobody wants to be miserable, but here we fucking are.
Trump Plans $100 Million Military Parade for His Birthday to Showcase U.S. Power
President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing a lavish $100 million military parade on his birthday, June 14, 2025, which coincides with the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army.
The parade, which will start at the Pentagon and snake through Washington D.C. to the White House, is expected to display U.S. military might with marching troops, battle tanks, military aircraft, and missiles. This spectacle, years in the making, aims to showcase America's military strength, an idea Trump has championed since his first term.
The plans for the military display, which Trump first envisioned after attending a French military parade, have raised concerns about public safety and the potential damage to roads from heavy military equipment. Despite criticism during his first term that led to the cancellation of a similar event, Trump is pushing forward with a larger, more expensive version. The parade is also set to coincide with the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Alongside the parade, Trump is planning a "Great American State Fair" for 2026, to celebrate the nation's 250th birthday. This year-long event is expected to feature monumental displays of U.S. history, including statues of American icons.
Source: The Sun
This sounds like the shit North Korea and the Soviet Union did (and still do). Believe your eyes and ears—they aren’t lying to you.
There is only one gang in America that should be deported to CECOT…you know the main characters so not worth repeating, but add the 5 judges who voted today (shame on Roberts, he is such a coward), Blondie Bondi, Lunatic Loomer, and Nasty Noem. While I am at it, let’s include the trump offspring and the malevolent musk family (including alt-right mama maye) kiddies fly free!