#judge coughenour

[saywhat-politics]

A judge has temporarily blocked President Trump’s order to end birthright citizenship.

Judge Coughenour, a Reagan appointee, said:

“I've been on the bench for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.”

[uss-edsall]

“I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” Coughenour, an appointee of Ronald Reagan, said from the bench. “There are other times in world history where we look back and people of goodwill can say where were the judges, where were the lawyers?” Coughenour, speaking to a packed, standing-room-only courtroom in downtown Seattle, interrupted before Brett Shumate, a Justice Department attorney, could even complete his first sentence. “In your opinion is this executive order constitutional?” he asked. Said Shumate, “It absolutely is.” “Frankly, I have difficulty understanding how a member of the Bar could state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order,” Coughenour said. “It just boggles my mind.” The executive order will remain blocked for at least 14 days while lawsuits in Washington and elsewhere proceed.

His ruling also was reminiscent of the earliest days of Trump’s first presidency, when a federal judge in Seattle blocked Trump’s executive order banning travel from a group of seven predominantly Muslim countries. That ruling was appealed, but courts ultimately blocked the order and a subsequent one, before the Supreme Court allowed a third, slightly narrower order to take effect.

[urialnathanonwright]

Tiny Hands’s Petty & Dangerous Vendetta: A Threat to American Values and Lives

Fat Orange Hitler has proven himself to be uninformed to the foundational principles of the United States. His executive order attempting to revoke birthright citizenship—guaranteed under the Fourteenth Amendment—is unconstitutional and a direct attack on the very ideals of equality and justice upon which this nation was built. Thankfully, the judiciary is holding the line against this reckless authoritarianism.

Senior District Judge John Coughenour, a Reagan appointee no less, delivered a scathing rebuke, calling the order "blatantly unconstitutional" and lambasting his lawyers for acting in bad faith. When even a conservative judge who has served for decades finds your actions indefensible, it should be a wake-up call. But with Mango Mussolini, there’s no limit to his disregard for the rule of law or his willingness to pander to xenophobic fearmongering to score cheap political points.

The outpouring of support for this judicial decision speaks volumes. This is a win for democracy, for decency, and for the Constitution itself. From historians to attorneys to everyday citizens, the message is clear: Hair Führer’s attempts to shred the fabric of American law will not stand.

But still Spray Tan Stalin has demonstrated that his pettiness knows no bounds, and it’s not just embarrassing—it’s potentially deadly. The decision to strip security protection from John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and Brian Hook, all of whom face credible threats to their lives, is a disgrace. It’s a chilling example of how Twitter Twit’s ego and spite override any semblance of responsibility or decency.

This isn’t policy; it’s pure retribution. Bolton is the target of Iranian assassination plots, and yet King Baby is treating his personal grudges like a justification to gamble with lives. This is unpresidential, it’s inhumane, and the Wall Street Journal pointed out, decisions about security are supposed to be based on neutral assessments of danger, not on the whims of an ex-president still seething over criticism and the WSJ warned that Mar-a-Lardo’s vindictiveness could end in tragedy.

If something happens to Bolton, Pompeo, or Hook, Cheddar Bozo wouldn’t just bear moral responsibility—he’d be complicit. Do not forget, President Biden extended protection to Bolton when it was clear his life was at risk. That’s the difference between a leader and a narcissist.

Americans deserve a leader who prioritizes national security over personal vendettas. Pumpkin Spice Pol Pot’s disgraces make it clearer than ever: he’s not that leader.

[follow-up-news]

A federal district court judge on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at limiting birthright citizenship �� the first skirmish in what promises to be a protracted legal battle over the new administration’s agenda. Senior U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour heard 25 minutes of arguments and then issued an order from the bench blocking the policy from taking effect for 14 days. There will be a further briefing on a preliminary injunction to permanently block the executive order while the case proceeds. "I’ve been on the bench for over four decades," Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee, said. "I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order." The case comes as four states (Washington, Arizona, Illinois and Oregon) sought to block the order before it is supposed to take effect in late February. It's one of five lawsuits filed by Democratic attorneys general and immigrant rights organizations challenging the order — which seeks to limit automatic birthright citizenship to children of U.S. citizens and green card holders — as unconstitutional.

[justinspoliticalcorner]

Aaron Parnas for MeidasTouch:

A federal judge in Seattle has officially blocked a recent executive order signed by Donald Trump which would remove birthright citizenship from Americans who were born to undocumented parents. The order today is a temporary ruling but underscores the constitutional issues posed by Trump's executive order. Judge Coughenour, an appointee of Ronald Reagan, scolded government attorneys, telling them: “I've been on the bench for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.” This is officially the first loss for the new Trump Administration in court, just days after Trump initially signed the order. The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution guarantees the right of citizenship to those born on American soil. Trump has tried to modify that guarantee to be able to deport families together, with their American born children.

Reagan-appointed Judge John C. Coughenour blocks Donald Trump’s unconstitutional executive order ending birthright citizenship. The issue will inevitably end up in the Supreme Court.

See Also:

Democracy Docket: Federal Judge Temporarily Blocks Trump’s Order Restricting Birthright Citizenship

[usgovsummary]

January 23, 2025

POTUS:

The President spoke at the World Economic Forum. Major points from it included calling the Green New Deal the Green New Scam, calling the previous administration inept, talking about the national emergency that was declared in order to begin more oil drilling in the US, and promote manufacturing in the US. Full remarks here

Establish official federal recognition of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina

Made an executive order to declassify the files on the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK

Called with Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and President Nayib Bukele of the Republic of El Salvador

Published five fact sheets on previous actions. Most involve AI and technology use. One regards the declassification of JFK, RFK, and MLK assassination files

More details and the actual policies can be found here

SCOTUS:

The Supreme Court did not hear any arguments or issue any decisions

U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour blocked the birthright citizenship executive order

More information here

Congress:

47 bills and resolutions were introduced in the Senate. Several deal with abortion and immigration. Full list here

One resolution, to congratulate the Washington University in St. Louis Bears women's soccer team for winning the 2024 NCAA Division III Women's Soccer Championship, was passed by the Senate

87 bills and resolutions were introduced in the House of Representatives. Full list here

Three bills were passed in the house. The Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, Continued Rapid Ohia Death Response Act of 2025, and Fix Our Forests Act. All still need to be passed by the Senate. More information here

The Laken Riley Act has been passed by all of Congress and will be signed by the president soon. It requires the Department of Homeland Security to jail illegal immigrants charged with theft-related crimes, assaulting law enforcement, or a crime that results in death or serious bodily injury. More information here

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

* * * * *

“Blatantly unconstitutional.”

January 24, 2025

Robert B. Hubbell

Trump's imaginary dictatorial powers ran into a judicial wall on Thursday. Judge John Coughenour temporarily blocked implementation of Trump's birthright citizenship executive order, and took the opportunity to excoriate the DOJ lawyer defending the order. In unusually blunt language, the judge said:

I’ve been on the bench for over four decades, I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order. There are other times in world history where we look back and people of goodwill can say where were the judges, where were the lawyers?“

The judge continued with sharp questioning the DOJ attorney, :

Judge Coughenour: “In your opinion Is this executive order constitutional?” [DOJ Attorney] Brett Shumate: “[I]t absolutely is.” Judge Coughenour: “Frankly, I have difficulty understanding how a member of the Bar could state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order. It just boggles my mind.”

As Ian Millhhiser noted in Vox,

Coughenour is correct. There isn’t even a plausible argument that Trump’s order is constitutional. The Constitution is absolutely clear that all people born in the United States and subject to its laws are citizens, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. The Supreme Court recognized this principle more than 125 years ago.

But Secretary of State Marco Rubio wasted no time in ordering the State Department to cease accepting passport applications marked with a “X” in the “Gender” box. See The Intercept, Rubio Orders State Department to Stop Issuing Accurate Passports to Trans People

Although predicting the behavior of the reactionary majority on the Supreme Court is a tricky business, the Republican justices should have no trouble applying the plain words of the Constitution to strike down Trump's unconstitutional order. After all, they claim to be “textualists” and “originalists.”

Judge Coughenour’s action was unremarkable because it was a straightforward application of the law, but his comments from the bench should provide us with a sense of relief. We are not caught in a “Through the Looking Glass” world in which “up is down” and “right is wrong.”

True, Trump has assaulted and weakened judicial guardrails, but some remain in effect. Judge Coughenour’s ruling illustrates why we must continue to resist. Do not surrender to the cynical viewpoint that says that resistance is futile.

Trump was undoubtedly told by aides that the Supreme Court would strike down the birthright executive order, but he issued it nonetheless for its in terrorem in effect. The point of the order was to confuse and frighten Americans citizens and undocumented immigrants alike.

So, take heart! The spirit of democracy has seeped into to the bones of America and its people. It will outlast Trump—as long as we keep the faith!

Trump's decision to grant a mass pardon for J6 was an impetuous, last-minute decision

Trump's apologists claimed that he would grant pardons to January 6 insurrectionists on a “case-by-case” basis. We were told so by AG Pam Bondi, Vice President JD Vance, Senator Ted Cruz, and Fox personality Sean Hannity. Despite those assurances, Trump granted mass pardons to every January 6 insurrectionist without regard to the severity of their crimes.

Trump is famously impatient, unfocused, undisciplined, and lazy. Wading through 1,600 pardon cases is far beyond his short attention span and his feeble powers of concentration. So, it is no surprise that Trump granted the mass pardons out of sense of exasperation and laziness. See Axios, "F--k it: Release 'em all": Why Trump embraced broad Jan. 6 pardons.

A key point in the Axios article is that JD Vance always favored a blanket pardon, consistent with the Trump team’s view that “all prosecutions were tainted.” (The article does not explain why prosecuting violent criminals suggests “taint.”)

The Axios article also makes the point that Trump and his advisers did not believe that a mass pardon would hurt Trump politically. They were wrong—and undoubtedly regret their miscalculation (though they will never admit that fact).

Here’s the point: While other presidents make decisions by careful weighing of the alternatives based on a risk-benefit analysis, Trump is flying by the seat of his pants. We knew that already, but the mass pardons remind once again that Trump makes decisions in an impetuous, mercurial, unguided, and reckless manner.

Musk doubles down on Nazi-themed symbolism

Earlier this week, when Elon Musk used a hand gesture that mimicked the Nazi salute, many commentators and politicians went out of their way to claim that Musk made an involuntary, “awkward” gesture that should not be interpreted as a Nazi salute.

But Musk never denied that the gesture was a Nazi salute—something he could have and should have done if his gesture was innocent. He did no such thing.

Instead, on Thursday, Musk posted a series of Nazi-themed jokes on Twitter that mocked the critics who claimed he gave a Nazi salute. For example, Musk wrote, “Bet you did Nazi see that coming.” Other jokes referenced Himmler, Goebbels and Hess—each an infamous senior member of the Nazi party and advisor to Hitler.

The Anti-Defamation League initially defended Musk after he gave his salute, but the ADL switched positions to condemn Musk after the tasteless and offensive Nazi-themed jokes. See Axios, ADL condemns Musk's Nazi "jokes" after salute controversy

Let’s hope that everyone who criticized Musk’s critics for “being too quick to judge” has learned their lesson. There is nothing innocent or unintentional about Trump and Musk’s race-baiting and white supremacist flirtations. They know exactly what they are doing, what dog-whistles to blow, and which code words to say. We are long past “giving them the benefit of the doubt.”

Is DOGE faltering before it achieves lift off?

Vivek Ramaswamy apparently left the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) because of conflicts with Musk over the objectives of DOGE. See WSJ, Inside the Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy DOGE Divorce. Ramaswamy wanted to cut regulations, while Musk was interested only in cutting spending.

Another point of tension was the nature of DOGE itself. Ramaswamy wanted it to be an outside think tank. But Trump signed an executive order that renamed an existing executive branch office as the United States DOGE Service. The executive order requires every government agency to appoint a “DOGE” sleeper cell within the agency, consisting of an attorney, engineer, and HR specialist.

But there are rumors that Musk will not be long for DOGE. Musk is now becoming a headache for the Trump administration. As noted by Robert Reich, Musk has disagreed with Trump on investments in artificial intelligence and is drawing unwanted attention over Nazi salutes. Robert Reich is predicting that Musk will be gone in a week. See Robert Reich on Substack, The Muskrat Strikes Back.

We can only hope!

Trump blathers at Davos, Putin yawns at Trump's threat of sanctions, and a timid press corps fails us (again)

We are already 48-hours past the deadline Trump set for settling Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and there is no settlement in sight. Yesterday, Trump came up with the unoriginal idea of imposing sanctions on Russia if Putin does not agree to a cease-fire. Putin’s spokesperson responded by saying that Trump's threats introduced “no new elements” and that Russia was accustomed to threats of sanctions from Trump. See CNN, Video: The Kremlin responds to Trump calling on Putin to make a ‘deal’ with Ukraine.

Trump renewed his calls for peace in Ukraine at the Davos conference. In a speech that screamed “cognitive decline,” Trump repeatedly said that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had resulted in “millions and millions” of soldiers being killed on both sides.

While the war is tragic and hundreds of thousands have died (combined), the exaggeration is symptomatic of cognitive decline. Per the NYTimes, best estimates suggest that 62,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed, and 150,000 Russian soldiers have died. See NYTimes, Ukraine Is Losing Fewer Soldiers Than Russia — but It’s Still Losing the War

At the very least, an attentive press corps should have called out Trump for the wild exaggeration of “millions and millions” of death. Instead, there is only the sound of crickets from the pathetic, obedient, cowed Washington press pool reporters.

At least Business Insider made an effort at noting the bewilderment that Trump's speech caused among the Davos attendees. See Business Insider, I was in the packed hall at Davos to hear Trump speak. The audience went from laughter to silence in seconds. After describing Trump’s desultory responses to questions from panelists and the puzzled reaction of the audience, the Business Insider article concludes with a cup of lukewarm milk. The author of the article writes:

Trump's speech reminded me how different his style is from the measured, diplomatic tone that usually defines Davos. Whether his message landed the way he intended, however, is another question.

Oh, come on! Just say that Trump's speech was a train wreck—which is precisely what everyone was thinking.

Raw Story summarized the reaction on social media in its article entitled, 'Blathering in Davos': Trump mocked for 'lies and moronic claims' in big economic speech.

Trump is a laughingstock on the international stage. No surprise there. He was last term, as well.

The hypocrisy of the “party of family values”

It appears that the Senate will confirm the nomination of Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense. Hegseth’s nomination has so many red flags it should have been withdrawn. Particularly troubling are allegations of repeated instances of abuse and assaults against women. The latest revelations—by Hegeseth’s former sister-in-law- were enough to give two Republican Senators grounds to vote against Hegseth—Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins. See The Hill, Senate advances Pete Hegseth nomination, two GOP senators vote no.

But Hegseth’s nomination will likely pass on a 51-49 vote, or a 50-50 vote with JD Vance as tiebreaker. It is truly shocking to see Republican men and women in the Senate ignore serious allegations of domestic abuse and sexual assault. But, having excused and ignored those same traits in their president, it is unsurprising that the GOP caucus in the Senate will confirm Hegseth.

In a disturbing report that contextualizes the GOP’s acceptance of sexual abuse and assault, Speaker Mike Johnson’s plan to jump start an investigation of the January 6 insurrection hit a bump in the road. Eager investigators planned to subpoena Cassidy Hutchinson’s text messages.

And then Republicans in the House begged Mike Johnson not to issue the subpoena because—wait for it—of the sexually explicit text messages that Republicans in the House had sent to Cassidy Hutchinson. See Anchorage Daily News, Aide to House Speaker Johnson advised against subpoena of Jan. 6 witness over concerns about ‘sexual texts’ from lawmakers.

Per the Alaska Daily News story (sourced to WaPo),

[An aide to Speaker] Johnson told [Rep.] Loudermilk’s staff that multiple colleagues had raised concerns with the speaker’s office about the potential for public disclosure of “sexual texts from members who were trying to engage in sexual favors” with Hutchinson

There is no suggestion that Hutchinson did anything inappropriate. Rather, the strong implication is that she was sexually harassed by Republican representatives in the House who sent sexually explicit requests to Hutchinson. To avoid revealing those texts, GOP Rep. Loudermilk has concluded that the J6 Revenge Committee does not need Hutchinson’s texts after all.

The behavior of the GOP representatives in the House is disgusting—both because it occurred and because it is being covered up with the cooperation of Speaker Mike Johnson. The obvious response of a Speaker with any sense of decency and ethics would be to commence an investigation to see which members of the House were harassing a young White House staffer. But no, as with the Matt Gaetz investigation files, Johnson wants to pretend that the conduct did not happen.

Here's the point: It is a consistent pattern with Republican members of Congress that they accept, excuse, and commit sexual harassment, abuse, and assault. The GOP congressional caucus is like a middle school locker room.

[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]

[panicinthestudio]

U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour issued a ruling on Thursday temporarily blocking President Trump's executive order that aimed to end birthright citizenship for children born to migrants in the U.S. temporarily or without legal status. Coughenour issued the temporary restraining order after a hearing in Seattle. The judge signed the temporary restraining order in response to a lawsuit brought by Oregon, Arizona, Illinois and Washington state, one of several suits opposing the administration's effort to curb the right of citizenship for anyone born on U.S. soil.

[collapsedsquid]

Senior U.S. District Judge John Coughenour on Thursday was blistering in his criticism of Trump’s action as he granted a temporary restraining order that blocks Trump’s [birthright citizenship] executive order from taking effect nationwide. [...] “In your opinion is this executive order constitutional?” he asked. Said Shumate, “It absolutely is.” “Frankly, I have difficulty understanding how a member of the Bar could state unequivocally that this is a constitutional order,” Coughenour said. “It just boggles my mind.”

Get these sort of awkward moments in adversarial legalism

[on-stolen-sunbeams]

thank you to Judge Coughenour for having knowledge of the Constitution and a brain, and using both.

(Temporary restraining order on the Birthright executive order)

[saywhat-politics]

A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.

U.S. District Court Judge John Coughenour’s ruling in a case brought by Arizona and three other states is the first in what is sure to be a long legal fight over the order’s constitutionality.

Coughenour called the order “blatantly unconstitutional.”

“I have difficulty understanding how a member of the bar could state unequivocally that is a constitutional order,” the judge told the Trump administration’s attorney. “It boggles my mind.”

[kittie2cut3]

A federal judge in Seattle issued a temporary restraining order Thursday to block the administration from carrying out President Trump’s plan to deny automatic citizenship to children of illegal immigrants. “I’ve been on the bench for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one is. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order,” Judge Coughenour said, according to The Seattle Times. The way a judge of 40 YEARS can see what Trump wants to do is WRONG. Let this be a reminder to anyone who isn't Rich and white who voted for trump. Let's not forget the civil rights act of 1964(it stops discrimination towards black, Mexican, Indian, Asian, LGBTQ transgender people Jewish people and Buddhist and any other religions besides Christianity along with having equal pay with minorities and women.)and everything it has done they are trying to reverse. This isn't black vs white or red vs blue this is now the 1% vs the 99%, history always repeats itself at least once. Never forget "Whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying it's foundation on such principles". WE. WILL. NOT. GO. BACK. IN. TIME.

[macwantspeace]

Idiocracy trump did his EO banning birthright citizenship. Per AP: “I’ve been on the bench for over four decades. I can’t remember another case where the question presented was as clear as this one is,” U.S. District Judge John Coughenour told a Justice Department attorney. “This is a blatantly unconstitutional order.” EO blocked. Mouthbreathers: The sponsor of the House bill, H.R. 569, GOP Texas Rep. Brian Babin, said he welcomed the legal challenges to Trump’s executive order and to his bill.

“We appreciate and wanted the challenges to this,” he said. “So we can get it into the Supreme Court of the United States. This thing could take up to three years before it winds up on the high court and let’s see how they (rule).”

Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs, who was also at the press conference, said that despite a Supreme Court case in 1898 that upheld birthright citizenship as written in the 14th Amendment, he thinks the GOP bill will be upheld in the courts. Me: but why?

[el-ffej]

And it's probably not going to be temporary restraining order. The purpose of the temporary injunction is to allow the judge who issued it enough time to consider a permanent injunction.

The judge who issued the hold -- John C. Coughenour, who was appointed to the bench by Ronald Reagan, and so is not exactly known as a bleeding-heart liberal -- said the following after the oral arguments had been made that preceded his temporary hold:

"I've been on the bench for over four decades. I can't remember another case where the question presented is as clear as this one. This is a blatantly unconstitutional order."

And in his restraining order, he wrote:

"There is a strong likelihood that Plaintiffs will succeed on the merits of their claims that the Executive Order violates the Fourteenth Amendment and Immigration and Nationality Act."

Doesn't sound like he's going to change his mind.

Worth noting that a federal judge has already put one of Trump's dumbass executive orders (the revocation of birthright citizenship one) on temporary hold. Yes etc, temporary, but 21 states sued the instant it was enacted and it's already been enjoined. Etc etc., evil not unstoppable, stupid EOs quickly blocked, small bits of hope in terrible timeline, so forth and etcetera.

[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

By Mattathias Schwartz and Benjamin Oreskes Jan. 28, 2025

A federal judge in the District of Columbia on Tuesday temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s effort to freeze as much as $3 trillion in federal grants and loans, siding for now with activists who said the order was illegal.

Judge Loren AliKhan’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by the activist group Democracy Forward. The group argued that the order, issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget, violated the First Amendment and the Administrative Procedures Act, a law that governs the executive branch’s rule-making authorities. The judge said she would render a more permanent decision on Feb. 3.

The suit was separate from a pending action by attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia, which was also expected to seek to thwart Mr. Trump’s effort to freeze funding pending his administration’s review of whether the spending comported with his priorities.

Skye Perryman, Democracy Forward’s president and chief executive, praised the initial ruling. “We are grateful for this administrative stay to allow our clients time to sort through the chaos created by the Trump administration’s hasty and ill-advised actions” she said in a statement.

The White House press office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This ruling marks the second time that a federal judge has intervened to pause Mr. Trump’s expansive interpretation of his own powers in order to let a legal challenge proceed. On Thursday, Judge John C. Coughenour of the Western District of Washington issued a temporary restraining order that blocked an attempt by Mr. Trump to end automatic citizenship for babies born on American soil.

The funding freeze, announced on Monday night in a two-page memo from Matthew J. Vaeth, the acting director of the Office of Management and Budget, directs federal agencies to “temporarily pause all activities related to obligation or disbursement of all federal financial assistance,” specifically citing “D.E.I., woke gender ideology and the Green New Deal.” The meaning of the directive was unclear, and plunged state agencies, city governments and nonprofit organizations into confusion.

Judge AliKhan’s stay came as access to federal money for programs large and small was interrupted, causing chaos across the country. State health agencies said they had been locked out of their Medicaid reimbursement portals. State officials said funding for preschools, community health centers, food for low-income families, housing assistance and disaster relief was at risk. Universities were freezing new research grants.

With even Republican states pleading for guidance, the White House and its budget office tried on Tuesday afternoon to dial backperceptions about the order’s scope, saying the funding pause did “not apply across-the-board” and was limited to programs implicated by the president’s executive orders, including those on D.E.I. efforts and funding for nongovernmental organizations “that undermine the national interest.”

A question-and-answer document released by the budget office as a follow-up said that “mandatory programs like Medicaid” would “continue without pause.”

[jkanelis]

Legal scholars got this one right

A federal judge in Washington state has become the latest Man in the Moment by issuing a temporary halt to Donald Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship for anyone born in the United States of America. I agree with U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, appointed to the federal bench by President Reagan. He called Trump’s order “blatantly unconstititutional.”  But hold on! He’s getting…