Hi friends,
I was hoping for a happier post. That was before Brad Lander, the NYC Comptroller and one of the leading mayoral candidates was arrested by ICE for requesting to see a judicial warrant while observing immigration proceedings at 26 Federal Plaza.
There are so many things wrong with this picture. Among them, ICE does not have the authority to arrest a US citizen. Requesting a judicial warrant is not a crime. Like Senator Padilla, Lander was manhandled by federal authorities.
As far as I know, Lander is still in detention.
One of the things I love most about Brad Lander is that he always turns out for the people, even when no one is particularly paying attention. He is undaunted by the unending and unsexy work of standing up for us.
I can’t even comment on the international insanity, except to say that there is more evidence that Trump has a talent for worsening a bad situation.
Congressmen Tim Kaine (VA), Thomas Massie (KY), and Ro Khanna (CA) introduced a war powers resolution in the House. Massie is the only Republican to co-sponsor either of the bills.
The Senate bill would prevent the Trump administration from using federal funds for a military attack on Iran without explicit authorization from Congress.
Demand that Congress stop the US from being dragged into Netanyahu’s reckless and catastrophic war against Iran. This quick action is from Our Revolution.
Okay, friends, we need to breathe. In and out.
The love of country brought millions of us out into the streets on Saturday.
art by Lisa Wilde
It is predictable that Trump is trying to retake the spotlight today, with aggressive threats and posturing and federal overreach. We need to stop being surprised by the pattern.
His military parade was a bust and widespread protests reminded him of his diminishing hold on the public. Among my favorite commentary on the failed military parade was this, from Anand Giridharadas:
It’s hard to wring a military parade of the kind [Trump] dreamed of from a people free in their bones.
You see, it is a good thing not to be good at some things. The great beauty of his terrible parade is the reminder that Trump is waging a war against the American spirit, and this fight he is struggling to win.
No matter how much money and effort you throw at the parade, you cannot escape the fact that America is not the country of North Korean unity. We’re the country of Korean tacos.
The spirit matters. Charlotte Clymer, who served in the US Army from 2005–2012, noted the lack thereof and the sloppy marching that was on display.
“The glaring nature of the poor quality of the marching really kind of shook me. . . .I don't think this was a protest against Trump, or anything adjacent to anti-fascism or concern with how the government is operating. I think this is just because they were treated very poorly and they didn't care.
Part of the annoyance, Charlotte thinks, may have stemmed from many of the Army members likely having to travel from out of town, staying in not-great lodgings, waking up early, and then spending hours waiting for their turn to march — "their comfort and dignity really were an afterthought."
Clymer added that it was likely that soldiers would face disciplinary consequences for their failure to meet a basic standard.
It’s pretty clear that Trump does not care at all about members of the military and their families, and it is understandable that they may be resentful.
Tell Congress to support military families by protecting Medicaid! This quick action is from Moms Rising.
Bernie Sanders has endorsed Zohran Mamdani. Mamdani and Lander have cross-endorsed.
Politico recently published the results of an internal poll from the progressive Working Families Party that showed three head-to-head matchups between Cuomo, Adrienne Adams, Mamdani, and Lander. Cuomo beat Mamdani by 11, but Lander by just 3, and lost to Adams by 7.
There is a lack of independent polling for the mayoral primary, which leaves considerable mystery, since most poll results (including those above) are already stale.
I’m still ranking Zohran first. The Anybody-but-Cuomo logic demands that you rank the top three candidates who could knock out Cuomo with a late surge.
Please rank Mamdani, Lander, and Adrienne Adams among your top 3!
I’m going to request a raincheck on the promised good news. Tomorrow, I will try to post some good news that I’ve been collecting.
This is what I will leave you with: in times of trouble, people are still celebrating and holding on to dear ones. This story is about the dozens of couples who get married at the New York City Marriage Bureau on Worth Street every weekday.
They do so while protesters chant in nearby Foley Square and the press gather outside to report on “the high-stakes drama in the surrounding courthouses.”
Braulio Cuenca, an Ecuadorian immigrant, photographs couples outside for their special day.
“It’s emotional, because every person is their own world, with their own heart and way of being,” he said in Spanish. “Every couple is different.”
Cuenca likes to focus on these happy moments and keep his distance from the heavy news that surrounds him. He blesses the brides and grooms he photographs and warns them that their life together will pass by quickly.
“I always tell them to be happy and take good care of each other.”
As it happens, two members of the morning meditation group I attend married each other on Saturday. It was a beautiful reminder that we can always set aside the heavy news long enough to wrap our arms around each other.
with love,
L