Before Our Very Eyes

We’re watching this administration throw sand in the gears of democracy.

Federal Judge Patrick Schiltz canceled a hearing that would have held ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons in contempt for not complying with Schiltz’s order to either release an immigrant held in limbo, or hold a bond hearing in the case of Juan, T.R. v Noem. Lyons had stonewalled the judge, and finally released the person in question rather than appearing in court as a defendant himself.

Judge Schiltz, upon canceling the hearing said, “Attached to this order is an appendix that identifies 96 court orders that ICE has violated in 74 cases. The extent of ICE’s noncompliance is almost certainly substantially understated. This list is confined to orders issued since January 1, 2026, and the list was hurriedly compiled by extraordinarily busy judges. Undoubtedly, mistakes were made, and orders that should have appeared on this list were omitted. This list should give pause to anyone—no matter his or her political beliefs—who cares about the rule of law. ICE has likely violated more court orders in January 2026 than some federal agencies have violated in their entire existence…ICE is not a law unto itself. ICE has every right to challenge the orders of this Court, but, like any litigant, ICE must follow those orders unless and until they are overturned or vacated.”

As if that were not enough, DOJ, now the President’s personal law firm, replete with the power to indict and try Trump’s perceived enemies, raided the Fulton County Georgia Election Headquarters. (Yes, that’s a first.) They seized 2020 election data, and experts agree there can be only one reason for doing so, since multiple independent investigations found no election tampering or fraud. Yet, the president continues to insist upon The Big Lie.

Instead of looking to America’s future, he’s busy using the power of the federal government to relitigate an election held years ago. He embarrassed himself, and us, by extension, with his rambling, laconic accusations of election theft in front of the Davos crowd.

But, as Thom Hartmann points out, “This is all about 2026 and 2028. Look at a map. Fulton County is the heart of “Blacklanta.” And Atlanta is the electoral heart of Georgia. And Georgia is the swingiest of swing states. If Republicans don’t cut down the Black vote in Atlanta, they lose the crucial seat now held by Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff. And in 2028, the GOP, if they don’t suppress the vote in Fulton, they lose the White House.

“So, how exactly do you stop Fulton County Black folk (and the LGBTQ community and the hipsters who left rural Georgia because they hate their parents) from voting? The answer is in one word: DROP-BOX.”

Or, as former appellate litigator Jay Kuo said, “An FBI raid yesterday in Fulton County is a dark harbinger of what’s to come.”

And what business Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, had there is a frightening and unanswered question.

Here is what a judge wrote when he ordered the release of a 5 year-old boy. You know, Liam, the one they snatched and used as bait to entice others in the family home to come out and get deported—never mind that, like so many others, they are here legally, awaiting permanent status: “Apparent also is the government’s ignorance of an American historical document called the Declaration of Independence. Observing human behavior confirms that for some among us, the perfidious lust for unbridled power and the imposition of cruelty in its quest know no bounds and are bereft of human decency. And the rule of law be damned.…With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike, it is so ORDERED.”

Perhaps we are nearing a tipping point. Texas voters easily flipped a Republican district that Trump won by 17 points. It’s been more than 40 years since a Democrat has won Tarrant County (Fort Worth+), the third most populous in Texas.

Now we learn that in a clumsy, face-saving move, the Trump administration is closing the Kennedy Center for two years “for renovations.” In truth, artist cancellations started when Trump big-footed his way in, and now no one with scruples will play there. Rather than having the stream of cancellations continue, they’re just pretending the place needs to close while they fit it for gold leaf.

Meanwhile, the grifting continues unabated. From The New Yorker: “Trump’s profiteering hits $4 Billion.” Followed by this Wall Street Journal exclusive headlined “‘Spy Sheikh’ Bought Secret Stake in Trump Company: $500 million investment for 49% of World Liberty came months before U.A.E. won access to tightly guarded American AI chips.”

I’d go on about the shocking and unprecedented nature of these things, but the shocking thing is that nothing is shocking anymore.

©2026 Jon Sinton