All we want is life beyond the thunderdome

In a post last week, we discussed a recent Anne Applebaum column on revolutionary logic. In her piece in The Atlantic, Applebaum observes that sputtering revolutionary regimes tend to escalate violence to consolidate power. She cites the depredations of the faltering Bolshevik and Maoist regimes as historical precedents, linking them to the flailing Trump regime’s violent assault on Los Angeles.

Now Trump faces the same choice as his revolutionary predecessors: Give up—or radicalize. Find compromises—or polarize society further. Slow down—or use violence. Like his revolutionary predecessors, Trump has chosen radicalization and polarization, and he is openly seeking to provoke violence.

The regime seeks to appease its base by carrying out Trump’s mass deportation threats, but it’s coming up against the hard fact that the economy depends on immigrant labor. Last week, Trump announced policy “changes” at DHS: (WSJ)

The Trump administration said it has directed immigration officers to pause arrests at farms, restaurants and hotels, stressing that sweeps should focus on people in the U.S. illegally who have criminal backgrounds.

The new guidance by the Department of Homeland Security comes after raids in Los Angeles sparked protests in the city that have spread across the country and led to the Trump administration sending in the National Guard and Marines.

“We will follow the President’s direction and continue to work to get the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens off of America’s streets,” said DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin.

At first, I figured this announcement of a partial walk-back was a lie to placate worried business interests, and immigration raids at worksites would continue. Immigrants commit fewer crimes than U.S. citizens, so if the regime truly focused on “the worst of the worst,” deportations would drop to Obama and Biden-era levels, and that would constitute a de-escalation.

But last night, after marinating in the humiliation of his flop of a birthday parade contrasted with the millions of Americans who turned out Saturday to oppose his authoritarian power grab, Trump issued a preview of coming horrors in a truly insane and spittle-flecked Truth Social post.

Our Nation’s ICE Officers have shown incredible strength, determination, and courage as they facilitate a very important mission, the largest Mass Deportation Operation of Illegal Aliens in History. Every day, the Brave Men and Women of ICE are subjected to violence, harassment, and even threats from Radical Democrat Politicians, but nothing will stop us from executing our mission, and fulfilling our Mandate to the American People. ICE Officers are herewith ordered, by notice of this TRUTH, to do all in their power to achieve the very important goal of delivering the single largest Mass Deportation Program in History.

In order to achieve this, we must expand efforts to detain and deport Illegal Aliens in America’s largest Cities, such as Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, where Millions upon Millions of Illegal Aliens reside. These, and other such Cities, are the core of the Democrat Power Center, where they use Illegal Aliens to expand their Voter Base, cheat in Elections, and grow the Welfare State, robbing good paying Jobs and Benefits from Hardworking American Citizens. These Radical Left Democrats are sick of mind, hate our Country, and actually want to destroy our Inner Cities — And they are doing a good job of it! There is something wrong with them. That is why they believe in Open Borders, Transgender for Everybody, and Men playing in Women’s Sports — And that is why I want ICE, Border Patrol, and our Great and Patriotic Law Enforcement Officers, to FOCUS on our crime ridden and deadly Inner Cities, and those places where Sanctuary Cities play such a big role. You don’t hear about Sanctuary Cities in our Heartland!

I want our Brave ICE Officers to know that REAL Americans are cheering you on every day. The American People want our Cities, Schools, and Communities to be SAFE and FREE from Illegal Alien Crime, Conflict, and Chaos. That’s why I have directed my entire Administration to put every resource possible behind this effort, and reverse the tide of Mass Destruction Migration that has turned once Idyllic Towns into scenes of Third World Dystopia. Our Federal Government will continue to be focused on the REMIGRATION of Aliens to the places from where they came, and preventing the admission of ANYONE who undermines the domestic tranquility of the United States.

To ICE, FBI, DEA, ATF, the Patriots at Pentagon and the State Department, you have my unwavering support. Now go, GET THE JOB DONE! DJT

This is, of course, fucking nuts. All of it. And keep in mind the context in which Trump issued this authoritarian decree: One of his supporters was then still at large after assassinating Democrats in the state governed by the Democrat who was the VP nominee last year.

So, it appears this is the form the escalation will take: an all-out assault on our cities carried out by federal law enforcement and probably the U.S. military. It’s going to be a long, hot summer.

Open thread.

The Coming Assault On Our CitiesPost + Comments (369)