Episode 38 | We Are In A Bad Way

We address three topics this week: what we are learning about Venezuela, ICE actions against Renee Good in Minnesota, and voters’ privacy in the upcoming election cycle.

As crazy as it seems, there are parallels between what Trump says his purpose was in Venezuela and what occurred in Minnesota. The abduction of Maduro was not about holding him accountable or limiting his power; it was about mimicking it. Days after criticizing Maduro for actions against his own people as a way to justify actions taken by the US, Trump justified ICE’s killing of Renee Good. Get this through your heads — the president of the United States is justifying the killing of an unarmed civilian and citizen. The administration is denigrating the victim, calling her a left-wing terrorist, and protecting its paramilitary. Trump is not interested in removing a dictator from power. Just look who he instated as the substitute! He is interested in minimizing his competition and asserting his own authority.

As my friend Jimmy Patterson says in his Substack, “Some Grace Maybe,” our best recourse is to protest peacefully. This podcast is our form of peaceful protest. What is yours? The other recourse we have is to participate in elections and demand better. As we stand, our glorious state of Texas has handed over a complete list of registered voters to the DOJ. DNC litigators argue this violates federal election law and risks using the information to manipulate outcomes. Gov. Abbott is also trying to take control of Harris County elections — the largest Democratic stronghold in the state. All the more reason why we must vote and protest against the loss of freedoms.

Stay informed and stay engaged, y’all. We got work to do!

Resources:

1. https://www.democracydocket.com

2. https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/09/texas-voter-roll-trump-administration-justice-department-democrats-dnc/

3. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77krp7m362o

4. https://www.irishstar.com/culture/entertainment/fox-news-trump-ice-shooting-36528168

5. https://substack.com/@snyder?utm_source=global-search

Episode 37 | A Week in…

…and many are asking for a refund on 2026 already! Shortly after midnight on January 3, the Trump administration took military action against Venezuela, which resulted in the extradition of Maduro and his wife to the US to be accused and tried for drug trafficking. All of this was performed without congressional approval. Strangely, Trump let Fox and Friends know before informing our elected officials! While there is a precedent for not obtaining approval for military action, the event underscores the broadening authority modern presidents exercise over military force. The jury is out on whether the actions taken were illegal, though many say they were a violation of international law. We’ll see how the UN responds.

What a way to start the New Year. Trump continues to show that he is willing to exploit the law to achieve power and usurp constitutional law. Our civic leaders are violating the ethics of their professions to appease a feckless leader. This story is still unfolding, and we will continue to follow it.

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Resources:

1. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-trumps-claims-after-u-s-strike-on-venezuela-and-capture-of-maduro

2. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/making-sense-of-the-us-military-operation-in-venezuela/

3. https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-3-2026

Episode 36 | the Multi-Headed Hydra

One of the things we talk about in this episode is stamina - how do we keep pressing for the kind of change we need to see in this country? How do we swing back toward democracy? Many are turning a blind eye to the lack of legal processes in our country right now, not least of all the Supreme Court. They are playing to a bully, but they are also getting a taste of power. We are a split population, but there is evidence that the bullies are losing popularity. There is evidence that the hydra is being chipped away. Deep change ultimately calls for long game energy, where short-term wins are achieved bit by bit. It took almost 15 years to oust Ferdinand Marcos, Sr. from power in the Philippines, but it was the people on the ground who played the long game. This is what we need right now so that we do not casually and passively slide further away from a government for the people by the people. Do we have it in us?

Thanks for listening!

Episode 35 | The Christian Thing To Do?

Though it’s been a couple of weeks, the Trump administration keeps on providing plenty of fodder for podcasts. The whole “let’s strike every boat coming out of Venezuela” strategy seems a great distraction to Trump’s growing unpopularity. When six democratic lawmakers pleaded to the military to remain faithful to the Constitution rather than a despot, Trump called for these people to be executed. Ummmm, what do we call an act of sedition called for by the president himself?? This is from the playbook of Christian Nationalism, an underlying philosophy of Project 2025. They call for political violence in the name of religion and patriotism. Looks to me like idolatry.

The vast difference between the response of the Church - from idolatry and violence to resistance and protest - is amazing to me. Some clerics are upholding the golden rule of love the stranger and do unto others as you would have them do to you, while others openly preach against our immigrant population and for political violence. Both are expressions of Christianity, albeit they range from unhealthy to healthy. I’ll let you guess which one we think is healthy!

Episode 34 | The Saga Continues

Amidst a democratic victory in the special elections, the current elected Democrats joined with Republicans to reopen the government, with the promise of a vote on healthcare forthcoming. While SNAP benefits have been restored, the rollout is slow and varies by state. ICE continues to rampage cities and traumatize residents. Amidst all of this, a push to release the complete Epstein files continues. While we recorded, Trump issued a statement to the Republicans to release them, which implies that his name has been redacted by some of his cronies thumbing through them over the last months. This administration sows chaos as a distraction and then plays the hero by “rescuing” us from the chaos they created.

Trump is on the defensive, quite like a wounded animal. However, the wounded animal is sometimes the most dangerous. Stay alert, connected, and present to what is going on. Demand the release of the files to your reps and be an ally to those whose lives are shaken by this administration’s cruel policies.

Thanks for listening.

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1. https://www.theroot.com/telltale-signs-that-trump-is-quickly-running-out-of-tim-2000073298/slides/9

2. https://www.axios.com/2025/11/14/government-shutdown-snap-benefits-november-payments

3. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/17/trump-administration-news-updates-latest

Episode 33 | “The Cruelty is the Point”

“The cruelty is the point" was coined by Adam Serwer, a staff writer for The Atlantic Magazine, in his October 2018 essay of the same name. It became a widely used catchphrase to describe the Trump administration's political approach and policies. 

Defunding food programs for the poor, withholding pay from government employees, especially the ones the president doesn’t like, and limiting asylum to a few thousand people a year is cruel. There is a delight this administration takes in punishing its “enemies” as well as the poor and dispossessed. Sociologist Robert Bellah encouraged us to dig deep into shared cultural values beyond the self to create a moral society with a shared set of values. This is what he called a civic religion. Right now, however, it seems we are driven by capitalism and competition rather than collaboration. It is difficult for an individualistic society to make a shift toward collectivism. Still, I think a second music is playing, “one below the other…lower, steady, perhaps more faithful for being less heard yet always present” (Annie Lighthart). Let’s tune into it and beat our drums to the sounds of freedom and compassion.

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1. https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2018/10/the-cruelty-is-the-point/572104/

2. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/30/trump-refugee-restrictions-white-south-africans

3. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/28/texas-snap-food-stamps-federal-shutdown-explained-2/

Episode 32 | A Broken House

In the language of dreams, houses symbolize the dreamer’s psyche or inner world. The state of the house — be it chaotic, old, in disrepair, clean, bright, or dark — reflects what might be going on for the dreamer. If we externalize this symbol into the waking world, we might say our house is broken. Quite literally, the White House, a symbol of democracy, has been busted open, and its gilded power has been expanded without process or approval. Dump trucks are carrying debris from the grounds early or late in the day. The whole thing is happening without photos or reportage. A secret project we all know is happening.

The symbolism is not lost on me. What was covert — abuses of power and privilege — has been made overt. The grabs at power are not in the dark. Our house is broken. We’re past the point of being able to say, “Well, surely it’s not that bad.” We are witnessing a president who has no plans to leave his broken house. Wherever we are, we need to speak truth to power, to challenge and stand up for what is being lost. We want to remind you that we aren’t powerless — however small the action is. Your efforts matter whether you do something in your neighborhood, city, state, or country.

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1. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/10/east-wing-rubble/684703/

2. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2025/10/24/the-us-warships-off-venezuela-arent-there-to-fight-drugs

3. https://news.gallup.com/poll/696722/congress-job-rating-sinks-trump-steady.aspx

Episode 31 | No Kings

On Saturday, October 18, around 7 million (MILLION!) people marched around the country to support “No Kings Day.” Whether we realize it or not, the protests stretch all the way back to England circa 1215. King John signed the Magna Carta in Runnymede in support of the principle that everyone, including the king, was subject to the law. It introduced key concepts like the right to a fair trial, due process, and protection from arbitrary rule that would inform the US Constitution a few centuries later. Meanwhile, we’ve got a president who fancies himself above the law, so people took to the streets.

In this podcast, we talk about the ingredients of activism, from doing, to learning, to being. How do we live out our everyday lives in accordance with our values? How can we contribute to change in big and small ways? We can first look to our communities to take up the issues closest to home. Tiny movements ripple outward to create great change.

———

Learn more from the following links:

1. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/11/autocracy-resistance-social-movement/684336/

2. https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/texas-governor-calls-removal-rainbow-crosswalks-calling-safety-issue-rcna236929

3. https://youtu.be/1XyhGq2QUjE?si=zkloUzzr9xOgvR8e

4. https://www.npr.org/2025/10/19/nx-s1-5579042/no-kings-protests-takeaways

Episode 30 | “What’s Going On”

Somehow Marvin Gay’s epic song feels like an appropriate soundtrack to this week’s podcast. What’s going on in our country needs our attention. As ICE is being employed as Trump’s personal paramilitary, as recruitment for it increases and gets ever more lucrative, and as the Texas National Guard makes its way to Illinois, we ought to be singing along. We ought to be flooding the streets. We need to resist by staying informed, supporting causes for freedom, justice, and democracy, and documenting what’s happening around us.

We also need to find moments for connection, joy, and ease. This, too, is important.

The golden rule asks us to love our neighbor as ourselves, so now’s the time to ask ourselves how we are doing in that regard? Who do you consider your neighbor? We will need each other, for what affects one affects all.

Thanks for listening. Click on the following resources to learn more.

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1. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/05/greg-abbott-trump-texas-national-guard/

2. https://chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/2025/10/01/massive-immigration-raid-on-chicago-apartment-building-leaves-residents-reeling-i-feel-defeated

3. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/us/politics/trump-college-funding.html?unlocked_article_code=1.q08.gpFl.0d1qIz9Ca72H&smid=url-share

4. https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/texas-lawmaker-testifies-gop-used-minority-communities-as-pawns-in-new-map/?utm_campaign=13199957-Premium%20Content%20Emails&utm_medium=email&_hsmi=383600716&utm_content=383600716&utm_source=hs_email

5. https://www.ice.gov/join

Episode 29 | NSPM - 7

Amidst all else that is getting media attention, Trump and his team managed to sign a little-noticed national security directive intended to target “radical left violence” or anything that is anti-Trump. Both individuals and institutions can be targeted if you indicate any of the following behaviors now identified as “violent:”

• anti-American (what it means to be an American is not clearly defined)

• anti-Christian (read: anti-Christian Nationalism)

• anti-Capitalist

• support for the overthrow of the US government (um, January 6th anyone?)

• extremism on migration (wait, so mass deportation isn’t extreme?)

• extremism on race (can’t even define what this means, but my guess is if I say Black Lives Matter, I am an extremist.)

• extremism on gender (there are only two, y’all. Anything else is considered extreme.)

• hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on family

• hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on religion, and

• hostility towards those who hold traditional American views on morality (so “freedom and justice for all” might be viewed as hostile).

This memorandum should terrify us and wake us up. I emailed the article (linked below) to my dad, who is right of center, and he said, “Whelp, I qualify for about half.” The categories of violence have not clearly been defined, which is perhaps an even scarier notion because they are up for interpretation by the enforcer. These are designed to pit us against each other, to engage in policing each other’s freedoms and behaviors. What will you do to raise awareness and resist?

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1. To learn more about Trump’s NSPM-7 directive, click here.

2. Ezra Klein interviews Ta’Nehsisi Coates

Episode 28 | Free speech & Repsonsibility

It’s impossible to avoid talking about the ugliness of political violence in the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination. Whether we agree with him or not, there is no justification for shooting him. For us, as we are greeted with a barrage of responses to his death, the issue that rises to the top is around free speech. The First Amendment states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

However, free speech is not upheld if it incites violence, harassment, or contains threats. If one person’s freedom of expression harms another, is it still considered free? I think we ought to hold ourselves accountable for how our speech can harm others, and it ought to be applied ethically and responsibly.

Since recoding this podcast, free speech is being openly challenged - Jimmy Kimmel was canceled, journalists have been fired, and teachers have been let go for personal posts or “contradictory curriculum” in the state of Texas. We even waited almost a week to release this for fear of reprisals. However, saying something feels more important than silence. Now more than ever we must protect our freedoms and fight for a democracy.

Episode 27 | Facing Hopelessness

I know this episode's title is dire. The truth is that we are in a dire situation, we are facing hopelessness, and Josh and I believe we can’t go to sleep on it.

I know many of us want to go on about our day to avoid feeling perpetually stressed. To a degree, this is okay—take in what you can and stand in where you can. But going to sleep on what is happening may inadvertently cause harm. How can we attend to reality without being consumed by it?

Last week, Rep. Ann Johnson, who is living this every day, said repeatedly, “I know I sound crazy, but this is really happening.” I believe her. I am a person who wants to look reality in the face and decide to persist regardless of the outcome. Ultimately, we face hopelessness by letting it transform into hope and doing what we can. This podcast is part of our effort to do just that. Thanks for listening.

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1. Click to read about Stacy Abrams on 10 steps toward autocracy.

2. Click to read about Justice Sotomayor’s dissent.

3. Click to view Trump’s weird rant about farmworkers.

Episode 26 | Rep. Ann Johnson, Badass

This whole episode is embedded in good news—and if not overtly fluffy good news, it's inspired by a fierce and compassionate woman who is quickly becoming my local hero: Rep. Ann Johnson. She is in league with Abraham Lincoln, who jumped from a 2nd story window in 1840 to break quorum, and with Professor Dumbledore, who disapparated to protest the asinine Minister of Magic in Harry Potter 5: The Order of the Phoenix.

The quote from Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird came to mind as I listened to her on Sunday at St. Paul’s in Ordinary Life class. “Simply because we were licked a hundred years before we started is no reason for us not to try to win.” She and her colleagues knew they were licked when they left the state, but they did it anyway to draw attention to the unconstitutionality of gerrymandering in Texas. Make no mistake, Republicans are calling it “redistricting,” and while that may be the ultimate result, their move is designed to manipulate electoral boundaries in favor of one party over another. We cannot go to sleep on this.

We were talking about whether we should continue our podcast owing to several factors—one of which is my lame social media presence—but Rep. Johnson lit a fire in me. This is our protest song, this is our action, this is our way of connecting with even a few who want to protect our fragile democracy. I’m not giving up for a president with dictator dreams. I hope you don’t either.

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1. Go to https://annjohnson.com to find out more and donate.

Episode 25 | A Language Problem or a Moral One?

We spend a few moments updating voter redistricting, our numbness to violence, and the uptick in cities threatening to be taken over by the military.

We also discuss a conservative viewpoint expressed by David Brooks and others that the “nihilism” of the right is, in part, caused by highfalutin leftist language and ideas around equity and inclusion. While those accustomed to being unquestioningly included in systems likely do feel overwhelmed by the attention to DEI-related topics, it is childish to say that the nihilism of the radical right is the fault of the increase in “vaguely progressive agendas.”

It is dangerous to deny that the Republicans are at least partially personally responsible for the way Donald Trump has been allowed to overtake the party. I can empathize with the overwhelm, but I cannot give credence to not holding the right accountable for the destruction not only of their own party but of our fragile democracy. We’ll link a few articles in our notes…let us know what you think.

I hope the Trump opposition can get really clear on what they are for. Don’t dress it up in pretty language, just be bold and say what you care about, and then fight for it.

Thanks for listening!

One edit: I said the group that preceded Project 2025 was the Seven Storied Mountain. I got that wrong! Thomas Merton, a mystic and wonderful teacher wrote a book called The Seven Storied Mountain. The group I was trying to recall is called the Seven Mountain Mandate, or 7MM, for short. You can read more here.

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1. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/opinion/rufo-yarvin-trump-nihilism.html

2. https://abc7.com/post/trump-expands-cities-targeted-possible-military-deployment-baltimore-spat-governor/17636050/

3. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/aug/29/trump-project-2025-history

4. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/22/democrats-woke-language-blacklist-00519421?nid=0000018f-3124-de07-a98f-3be4d1400000&nname=politico-toplines&nrid=6766ab12-468a-43ce-a6f6-daeeb782d096

Episode 24 | Entering the Zone of Militarization

In this episode, we talk about the militarization of the D.C. area as Trump moves the National Guard in, voter redistricting in Texas, and the impact of White Christian Nationalism on our society. We wonder what rights to resist the military/law enforcement have if they perceive an injustice is occurring. We commend the dissent of the Texas Democrats. As of our recording, the vote in Texas had not been passed. As of this upload, the vote to reorganize voting districts has been passed. A lot can happen in a day.

We are reaching the enactment of what Timothy Snyder warned us about - the militarization of the police force working as a conglomerate with other government and military agencies. I cannot stress enough how dangerous this is. Employing the military against its own people…we got a problem, y’all. We have a problem when ICE is recruiting more heavily and offering larger incentive packages than public school districts are for teachers.

There are a few links we discussed in todays podcast, so please peruse.

1. On Project 2025 and its impact on your state.

2. A return to the nostalgia of Manifest Destiny as evidenced by the resurfacing of “American Progress”

3. The drama of the Epstein files continues and moves to Texas.

American philosophy and theology center around the individual rather than around the collective. As I’ve said before, when we cannot operate as if we are part of the large “we,” as if our actions don’t impact those around us, we lose sight of the purpose of democracy.

Thanks for listening, and stay strong, folks!

Episode 23 | Thinking with ‘We’ in Mind

One of my favorite psychologists, Fritz Kunkel, believes that crises and catastrophes can lead us toward a “We” culture, in which humans leanr to consider themselves as essentially connected. And that realization of connection is foundational to change.

Our aim here is to help us consider that what is happening in our country politically and socially impacts the whole project of democracy. Today, we talk through voter redistricting, the quieter, more sinister goings on based on the Epstein Files, and several institutions that continue to “obey in advance” in order to capitalize on federal funding. In return, the Trump administration is scrutinizing these institutions even more.

I think we must become conscious of the tendency to withdraw during times of stress, recognize when it is necessary and when it is harmful, and be decisive and conscious about how and where we show up and resist. thanks for being on the journey with us.

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1. John Sanford, Fritz Kunkel: Selected Writings

2. Pro Public, “The Men Trump Deported ro a Salvadoran Prison”

3. https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/04/texas-redistricting-democrats-quorum-break-what-need-know/

Episode 22 | The Stirring of a star

The title of this podcast comes from an 1893 Francis Thompson poem that reads, “Near or far, to each other linked are, that thou canst not stir a flower without troubling of a star. All things interconnected are.” The underlying message, then, is that we are all connected. Nothing that happens to one of us can occur without affecting all of us subtly and directly.

The three topics we cover this week are the ongoing dehumanizing treatment of our immigrant community, voting redistricting plans in our state, and the ongoing issue of the Epstein files. How might we view these issues through the lens of morality and compassion? And how can we keep tending to the smaller, quieter issues (redistricting) in the face of loud ones (immigration and unlawful deportation) that are commanding our attention?

Overall, we explore the issue of our treatment of the perceived outsider. As a nation, we are not doing so well on this front, raising questions about our national commitment to morality and justice. We cannot effectively impact wider society if we are unwilling to examine and locate our personal moral center. What do we believe about the outsider, and what is ours to do to impact the well-being and dignity of all humans? Find your place in the river to step in and create the world you want to live in, whether writing letters to lawmakers or running for office.

Thanks for listening!

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1. Summary of redistricting process in Texas

2. Jon Stewart’s commentary on cancelling Steven Colbert

3. Read about the dehumanization of immigrants here.

4. Take action with PAVE here.

Episode 21 | Flooded

We are in an era of feeling flooded - both literally and figuratively, emotionally and politically. We give time to talking about the flood along the Guadalupe River in Texas and the deep reality of grief that many are facing. We offer some resources to help those who might be suffering, like Bo’s Place in Houston.

Then we turn to an increase in ICE raids across the country. Congress just passed the “Big Beautiful Bill” which provides huge amounts of money for the war against immigration. Here is a quick breakdown of funds as it currently stands:

• $170 billion: for immigration and border enforcement. 

• $46.5 billion: for border wall construction and improvements. 

• $45 billion: for detention facilities, including family detention centers. 

• $29.9 billion: for hiring, training, and retention of ICE personnel, as well as technology and transportation upgrades. 

• $10 billion: grants for states to help with federal immigration enforcement. 

• $65 billion: for CBP, with a significant portion going towards border walls. 

• Increased fees: for asylum applications, work permits, and appeals. 

• New fees: for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applications.

It’s been said that history doesn’t so much repeat as it does rhyme, and this is one such moment. The Fugitive Slave Act of the 1850s influenced the development of policing in this country by capturing and returning those freed from slavery back to slave states. Now we see ICE agents partnering with law enforcement, exerting force on immigrants, treating them as less than human, and separating families to return people to their home countries, often ones left under duress.

We can resist unjust laws non-violently, a playbook that already exists. We can turn to the wisdom of those who have already lived through and written lines of this poem. We believe it is our duty to resist laws that work against justice and human dignity, and we hope you will consider joining up where you can!

———

1. Heather Cox Richardson, Letters from an American

2. Francis Weller, The Wild Edge of Sorrow

3. https://thekingcenter.org/about-tkc/the-king-philosophy/

Engaged Citizen 20 | Patriotism & Courage

We are at the end of Timothy Snyder’s book as a guide. Using the final chapters, we talk about the difference between patriotism and nationalism - an apt conversation as we engage in conflict in the Middle East and service members will surely have to ask themselves if they are enlisted for patriotic or nationalistic ideals. The highest ethic of their profession is rooted in patriotism - universal humanistic values guided by a longing to make the world and our country better. Nationalism, on the other hand, presumes superiority. So we are asked in this moment, what are we willing to stand for? Snyder ends with this simple, direct statement: “If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.”

A sobering thought for sure.

I guess where we land is to encourage each of us to ask what values we are willing to protect, and how are we best suited to do so? I really believe each of us has a unique superpower, a unique way of showing up in the world that fuels more justice, love, and mercy. When we fall away from those values, I don’t think we are acting from our superpowers, but rather from fear. Let us keep hold of the patriotic values of freedom and justice. Thanks for listening. We’ll be with you again the week of July 7th.

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1. Heather Cox Richardson, “Letters From An American,” June 21, 2025

2. Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny

3. James Baldwin, various

Episode 19 | Listen & Be Calm

In times of heightened social anxiety, it’s important to remember your strategies for self-care. First, learn to notice what triggers anxiety, then bring awareness ot the body and breath. Be sure to drink water and take breaks from social media and the news. When our nervous system is settled, we are better able to listen and respond calmly in chaos.

We need to listen for dangerous words and actions that promote extremism and put us on high alert. It may be tempting to submit to authority, but that is neither free nor safe. Protecting freedom can be uncomfortable, but it ultimately promotes more safety. As Fannie Lou Hamer reminds us, none of us is free until all of us are.

When we know what we are listening for, we are better prepared to remain calm when the unthinkable happens - say, activating the national guard against state wishes. Remaining calm allows us to act from a place of wisdom rather than reactivity, which often only inflames authoritarians. I think it’s good to remember the tenets of nonviolent action as they were employed by the Civil Rights activists in the 50s and 60s. Gather the facts, negotiate with leadership, prepare yourself mentally and physically, and participate in direct action. Of note are the thousands of peaceful protests that occurred across the country. We are the change we’ve been waiting for!

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1. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/15/how-many-people-attended-no-kings/84219725007/

2. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-alex-padilla-forcibly-removed-dhs-sec-kristi-noems-press-conferenc-rcna212688

3. https://time.com/7294521/us-trump-deportation-drive-democratic-cities/

4. On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder

5. “Letters from an American” by Heather Cox Richardson