Courtesy of wikipedia.org
Chief Justice John Roberts recently overruled lower-court decisions that said President Donald Trump had no authority to tear down the East Wing of the White House. To build a ballroom, he needed Congressional approval. The full Court will review Roberts’s decision at a later date. By that time, the question may be moot. Trump will have completed his construction project.
The President makes a habit of legal appeals to thwart justice rather than to facilitate it. We all know the saying: Justice delayed is Justice denied.
E Jean Caroll filed a civil suit against Trump in 2019 for defamation of character. The case dragged through the courts for 7 years while Trump challenged each decision that went against him. Caroll won on final appeal in 2026, no doubt at great cost and mental anguish to herself. When she finally received the $5.6 million owed to her, Trump surprised everyone by filing another appeal. This time, the Court rejected him. It ruled the matter was settled.
With Trump continuing his shenanigans, the justice system has foundered. In normal times, Congress would provide the necessary checks and balances. But these are not normal times, and Congress has failed in its duty. As a result, we no longer live in a 250-year-old democracy. We live in a soft autocracy.
Because the transition is upon us, this blog will offer occasional survival skills for living with instability. They will appear under the banner, Practical Magic. No one should expect to read stirring calls for heroism. I’m not capable of it. I turn 90 in a few days and continue to struggle with the impairments of a fractured knee.
Nonetheless, as courses on how to defend yourself in the midst of chaos aren’t taught in public schools, I will provide a beginner’s curriculum. Readers who live in other countries might also take note, as the times they are a ‘Changin’.
For Americans, the midterm elections are less than 75 days away. If Trump and his cohorts prevail, he promises we will not need future elections. I believe him. If the idea is repugnant to anyone else, here are steps to take to defend yourself and your neighbors.
PRACTICAL MAGIC: How to begin:
* Bookmark this email address: https://www.vote.org/ The site will tell you about your voting status, precinct polling place, hours of operation, what you need for identification at the polls, how to vote by mail, early voting, etc. Check your registration from time to time. Election offices cull their files periodically, and the rules keep changing.
* Vote early, if possible. Avoid the lines. Avoid ICE.
* Keep an eye on your postal service. The rules about mail-in ballots are in flux. Stay alert.
*Keep personal identification handy. If you have a passport, know where it is. If you have a birth certificate, know where it is. If your legal name fails to match what appears on either document, get it corrected. (Women who altered their names when they married are vulnerable.) If you can’t find either document, apply for a duplicate. If time is of the essence, ask your Elections office if another document will suffice.
* November 3 is Election Day. A large voter turnout is critical. Share the information in “Practical Magic” with family and friends. Help them prepare for November 3rd. In 2024, 9 million people failed to show up at the polls. That can’t happen in 2026.
BOYCOTT: Tesla, Apple, Amazon. Target
Image: Wikipedia.org
