January 31, 2026
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On a day of many consequential developments, the most important was the ongoing resistance to Trump’s increasingly dictatorial regime. There were large demonstrations in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Manhattan (NY), Phoenix, Burlington (VT), Bellingham (WA), Chicago, Denver, Houston, Atlanta, and Philadelphia. And there were hundreds of smaller demonstrations and “stand-outs” in towns across America. See The Independent, (1/30/26), Anti-ICE protests erupt nationwide over fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
There were also more than 300 coordinated economic actions to shut down businesses as part of the first significant general strike of Trump’s second term. See the chart below from National Shutdown showing the geographic reach of the coordinated action:
Indivisible and other grassroots groups announced the next “No Kings Day”—March 28, 2026. Sign up here, No Kings, to receive updates on joining or sponsoring an event.
But there is no need to wait for the next No Kings Day to join the millions of Americans who are standing as the last line of defense for democracy. Friday brought fresh insults to the rule of law and assaults on the Constitution. We must respond now!
Trump and his minions are losing patience with their pretense that they are “de-escalating” the ICE assault on peaceful cities. See NYTimes, Trump Called for ‘De-Escalation’ in Minneapolis. It Didn’t Last Long. Trump smeared Alex Pretti as “an agitator” and “possible insurrectionist,” and said, “No, not at all” when asked if he would reduce the presence of federal agents in Minneapolis.
Multiple outlets are reporting that ICE is headed for Ohio to target the Haitian community in Springfield, many of whom just lost their temporary protected status today. See WCMH, Springfield braces for possible ICE operation targeting Haitian immigrants.
The “de-escalation” rhetoric from Trump is a tactical retreat designed to reduce pressure from protesters. It won’t work. We won’t let up. In the end, we will prevail because the people took personal responsibility for defending democracy by showing up in the streets and at the voting booth.
There is more to discuss, but the most important point is this: So long as we, the people, refuse to quit, we will prevail. It will get worse before it gets better, but we have seized the momentum and won the hearts and minds of most Americans. We will win, if we do not relent.
Senate passes five spending bills and 2-week extension of DHS funding
As expected, the Senate passed the five appropriate bills that make up the annual budget, which requires 12 appropriations bills to fund the entire government. That leaves the bill funding the Department of Homeland Security, which was given a two-week stop-gap extension. See CNN, Trump-backed funding bill clears the Senate, putting pressure on House to quickly end shutdown.
The five appropriations bills were passed in the Senate on Friday with the support of 23 members of the Democratic caucus.1
Most of the Senators who voted to approve the five bills and the 2-week extension on DHS funding say that they will hold the line on DHS funding until Republicans agree to Democratic demands for reform of ICE. Let’s hope so. Democrats just gave away a massive amount of leverage over DHS funding and reform.
Although the Senate Democrats undoubtedly have the best of intentions, the DHS funding bill also covers other agencies such as TSA, FEMA, Coast Guard, and Border Patrol. A lapse in funding for those agencies will put pressure on Democrats to end a DHS shutdown early.
I am prepared to be disappointed by Senate Democrats again. If we want to protect the American people from ICE, it will come from mass demonstrations and general strikes that will make it impossible for “business as usual” to continue so long as ICE continues to operate as a free-floating paramilitary organization beholden to no one except Trump.
DOJ continues the cover-up of the Epstein co-conspirators and perpetrators
The DOJ released three million pages of documents on Friday, claiming that the production completes its obligations under the Epstein Files Transparency Act. See The Guardian, US justice department releases more than 3 million new pages of Epstein files | Jeffrey Epstein.
The production is patently insufficient. It contains glaring omissions of known documents. Deputy AG Todd Blanche said that the DOJ withheld 3 million pages of documents, including video and photos.
Todd Blanche also asserted defenses and privileges that are not recognized grounds for withholding production under the EFTA.
Moreover, specific documents that were required to be produced—like prosecution recommendation memos—have not been identified in preliminary searches by news media and congressional staff. CBS News, Massive trove of Epstein files released by DOJ, including 3 million documents and photos.
The documents that were included a number of allegations against Trump involving sex with underage girls. The DOJ issued a statement saying the documents contained numerous false allegations that are not credible.
Although many sources have refrained from republishing the allegations against Trump, the entertainment magazine TMZ did not hold back. See TMZ, Trump Accused In Epstein Files of Forcing Underage Girl To Perform Oral Sex.
In addition, there is one particularly disturbing allegation described in the TMZ article, so be forewarned.
It is now up to congressional staffers and the media to dig through the production to see if there is corroborating evidence. They must also determine what information about Trump the DOJ reviewers withheld.
This production isn’t going to make the Epstein scandal go away for Trump. Despite the deficient production, the materials raise serious allegations about Trump’s conduct that must be investigated.
Is there a civil rights investigation into the execution of Alex Pretti?
During Todd Blanche’s explanation of what was included in the Epstein production, a reporter asked whether there was a civil rights investigation into the public execution of Alex Pretti.
Blanche gave a defensive, meandering explanation that some have interpreted as a statement that the DOJ has opened a civil rights investigation into the murder of Pretti. See New York Times, Justice Dept. Opens Civil Rights Inquiry Into Minneapolis Killing.
I listened to the news conference live, and it did not seem to me that Blanche confirmed that there was a civil rights investigation. He said,
I don’t want the takeaway to be there is some massive civil rights investigation. I would describe it as a standard investigation by the F.B.I.
We already know that a senior prosecutor in the Minnesota US attorney’s office quit because Trump wanted the office to investigate Renee Good instead of the ICE Officer who killed her. The same may be true of the “standard FBI investigation” Todd Blanche referred to in his answer.
Also, recall that the federal government has continued to block state officials from participating in the investigation of the murder of Alex Pretti. That fact alone suggests that the DOJ has NOT opened a civil rights investigation into whether Alex Pretti’s rights were violated by his public execution.
An app to help “unsubscribe” from corporations that are supporting Trump.
The tech world has become one of Trump’s key allies. Tech companies are providing Trump with money and logistical support to oppress Trump’s perceived enemies. Trying to “unsubscribe” from those companies can be very difficult.
Several readers recommended a web-based application that makes “unsubscribing” from Amazon, Apple, Netflix, Facebook, etc., easy. See Resist and Unsubscribe. Check it out!
Concluding Thoughts
The indictments of journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort for reporting on a protest in a church where the pastor is also an ICE field officer are the next steps in Trump’s attempt to establish himself as a dictator. See WaPo, Don Lemon arrested by federal officials in connection with church protest.
The cases against both Lemon and Fort are extraordinarily weak and will likely be dismissed before trial. That is not the point of the indictment. Trump is using the DOJ to harass his political enemies in a manner that is antithetical to the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of the press as well as the due process and equal protection clauses of the 5th Amendment.
The indictments are notable because they serve as a warning to other members of the media reporting on protest activities. And it is no coincidence that Lemon and Fort are both Black journalists covering the administration’s efforts to “make America white again.”
Members of the media are understandably outraged, as they should be. This is a five-alarm fire. But it is one that has been burning for eight years. Trump attacked, mocked, and sued journalists in his first term. But the media continued to report on Trump as if he were a “normal” president who deserved to be treated with a presumption of regularity and respect. Everything Trump says is a lie, but the media dutifully repeats Trump’s lies as if they deserve equal dignity with truthful statements by Democrats.
In the last few weeks, Trump’s private paramilitary has executed two citizens in public. Trump then referred to them as domestic terrorists and insurrectionists. He seized the ballots and backup tapes from Fulton County, GA. He has started wars without congressional approval. He has seized the profits from Venezuelan oil and deposited the funds in an offshore account under his control. He has torn down 1/3 of the White House without congressional approval. He has renamed and defaced the memorial to JFK. He has caused his Attorney General to indict his “enemies,” including former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
I could go on, but you get the point. For the last eight years, we have known that Trump is an aspiring dictator—nothing more, nothing less. But the media has treated him with the veneer of respectability and legitimacy.
In the face of the arrest of Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, every news agency with a White House pool reporter should recall the reporter from the assignment and turn in their White House credentials. Every reference to Trump should include the fact that he is a twice-impeached, convicted felon who lies whenever he speaks. The press has bowed before Trump for eight years. He learned from their subservience and took the next logical step. It is time for the mainstream media to become part of the resistance. Better late than never! And we should welcome them with open arms!
[Robert B. Hubbell Newsletter]
