There's so much about "Turnabout Intruder" that's, uh, bad (though I think mostly for different reasons than people usually bring up), but nobody will ever make me hate it for many reasons. And a really big one is how much I enjoy both Sandra Smith's Kirk and William Shatner's Janice when the writing for both doesn't completely suck.
Both get scenes I'll probably think about until the end of time. A really obvious one, for instance, is the scene between Janice and Dr. Coleman where she's clearly seducing him, whispering into his ear, etc as she lures him into further evildoing (does Shatner playing Janice make the vibe more "evil woman" or "evil gay"? you decide!). Meanwhile, Smith's Kirk sweet-talking Chapel while strapped in Sickbay is a delight:
KIRK: I must've sounded quite mad to you before.
CHAPEL: What you've been through would've completely broken most of us.
KIRK: Well, I'll be all right now. Could I see your Dr. McCoy?
CHAPEL: I'm afraid that's against Dr. Coleman's orders.
KIRK: Oh. Is a visit by that very kind Mr. Spock to be allowed?
CHAPEL: Perhaps that can be arranged before we reach the Benecia colony.
KIRK: The Benecia colony? But isn't the Enterprise going to rendezvous with the Potemkin at Beta Aurigae?
CHAPEL: Well, first we have to let you recuperate at Benecia. [Hands her a drink] You'll feel better if you have a little.
KIRK: Well, I'll try. Thank you. Oh, it is good. Thank you. Could I finish it slowly, Nurse Chapel?
CHAPEL: Well—
KIRK, radiating innocence: I promise I'll be good.
CHAPEL: Well, I'll be right back. I'm glad you're feeling so much better.
[As soon as Chapel leaves, Kirk pours out the drink, breaks the glass, and uses the shards to cut the strap holding him in place.]
President Donald Trump has deported at least 261 migrants to the CECOT prison in El Salvador, alleging that many of them are connected to th
Chloe Simon at MMFA:
President Donald Trump has deported at least 261 migrants to the CECOT prison in El Salvador, alleging that many of them are connected to the gang Tren de Aragua. However, the lack of due process for these deportees and the flimsy evidence of gang affiliation has raised serious concerns. Many family members of those who were deported to the prison have claimed that their relative has no criminal background and their tattoos were unrelated to any gang.
But Fox News and Fox Business personalities and guests have continued to claim that those in the prison are “terrorists,” the “worst of the worst,” and “criminal aliens.” In one instance, after co-host Jessica Tarlov mentioned the “numerous examples” of people reportedly without criminal histories getting deported, co-hosts Jesse Watters and Greg Gutfeld attacked her for “showing more sympathy to these illegal alien gangbangers than you showed to American citizens.” Some Fox figures have also celebrated the conditions at CECOT, calling it “hard-core” and comparing the prison to “a scene out of a Mad Max movie.”
Trump has deported at least 261 migrants to El Salvador’s CECOT prison
The Trump administration has deported over 260 individuals to El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT, invoking the 1798 Alien Enemies Act and alleging without clear evidence that deportees are members of Tren de Aragua and other gangs. According to ICE's “Alien Enemies Act Validation Guide” published by the ACLU, “having a tattoo an ICE officer says is a ‘gang tattoo’ and “displaying ‘logos,’ ‘symbols’ or clothes an ICE officer says are gang signs” are reasons for deportation to the prison. Mother Jones noted, “Robert Cerna, an acting field office director for ICE’s removal operations branch, said the agency ‘did not simply rely on social media posts, photographs of the alien displaying gang-related hand gestures, or tattoos alone.’ But Cerna also acknowledged that many of the Venezuelans deported under the Alien Enemies Act had no criminal history in the United States.” CNN has also reported that some of the tattoos used to identify TdA members are common, including “stars on the shoulder, royal crowns, firearms, trains, dice, roses, tigers and jaguars.” [The Associated Press, 3/21/25; CNN, 3/17/25, 3/25/25; Mother Jones, 3/26/25, Bluesky, 3/30/25]
Critics of Trump’s policy have argued that he violated the deportees’ rights to due process, as many were removed without proper hearings or substantial evidence. A federal appeals court upheld a district judge’s March 15 order blocking the administration's attempt to continue these deportations, emphasizing the necessity for individuals to have the opportunity to contest their alleged gang affiliations. In response to concerns over due process, Trump “border czar” Tom Homan said, “What were all these young women that were killed and raped by members of (Tren de Aragua) – what was their due process?” Fox News hosts have also defended the Trump administration’s denial of due process for migrants, with Brian Kilmeade arguing that it’s “not practical” to give them due process and Lawrence Jones claiming the U.S. should “revisit” the rights of migrants. [The Associated Press, 3/26/25, 3/25/25; CNN, 3/25/25; Media Matters, 3/28/25]
[...]
CECOT has a reputation for inhumane treatment and violence
Migrants deported to CECOT face inhumane conditions, including being confined to overcrowded cells for 23 1/2 hours a day. Upon arrival, deportees were immediately subjected to harsh treatment, including being forced to kneel while shackled and being forcibly shaved. Inmates reportedly sleep on metal bunks without mattresses or pillows, have inadequate access to food and health care, and are allowed to leave their cell for only 30 minutes per day. [Mother Jones, 3/26/25; USA Today, 3/22/25; Human Rights Center, 3/25/25]
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently visited the prison and recorded a video in front of a crowded cell, warning that migrants who are deported from the U.S. could get jailed there. Her visit drew criticism from human rights organizations, which labeled the visit as “political theater” and accused the administration of using fear tactics against immigrant communities. [The Guardian, 3/27/25; The New York Times, 3/28/25]
Right-wing media outlet Fox “News” baselessly calls the migrants sent to the CECOT concentration camp in El Salvador without due process “criminals” and “terrorists” despite most of these being sent there based on very flimsy evidence of “gang affiliation”.
After three seasons, the last episode of Star Trek (TOS) aired on June 3, 1969. The series ran for 80 episodes. The episode was originally meant to air on March 28, but was pushed back due to coverage of the death of Dwight D Eisenhower. In the episode, Captain Kirk's (William Shatner) ex-lover Doctor Janice Lester (Sandra Smith) not only took over control of the USS Enterprise but took over his body as well. The events took place in the year 2269. In 2016, fans of the show voted it the 4th worst episode of the entire franchise. ("Turnabout Intruder", Star Trek TOS, TV, Event)
Happy birthday to Sandra Smith who, through no fault of her own, has the dubious honor of portraying the antagonist, Dr. Janice Lester, in the final episode of Star Trek TOS, “Turnabout Intruder”.
While she turned in an excellently villainous performance as well as doing a fine job of portraying the mind of Captain Kirk trapped in Janice Lester’s body, the unmitigated sexism of the plot makes “Turnabout Intruder” one of the most reviled entries in Trek canon. Subsequent Trek episodes set prior to this episode’s stardate 5928.5 (2269), such as the series “Star Trek: Enterprise,” brazenly ignored “Turnabout Intruder’s” implication that women cannot be starship captains.
Sandra Smith has long since retired from acting and was born on this day in 1938.
