Is Martial Law coming on April 20th? Be warned.

[LymphocyteLover]

I wish I could laugh this off but it seems way too likely.

It sounds wild. Maybe even crazy. But every step is already in motion. I’d be happy to be wrong. But if this is correct… you’ll be ready.
On April 20, 2025, the United States may initiate its final steps into authoritarian rule.

That’s the day Donald Trump’s advisory committee is expected to release its findings on whether he should invoke the Insurrection Act — a move that would allow him to deploy the military domestically and allow Trump to impose martial law. (San Francisco Chronicle). Given Hegseth and Noem are the main “advisors”, the conclusion is foregone.

And as his two months in office has already shown, he won’t stop at just a legal opinion.

Expect an executive order even that same day or the next, officially declaring the Insurrection Act, restricting freedoms in the name of restoring control of the border and perhaps in blue-state cities, and setting the larger plan in motion.

Of course, this won’t be framed as an attack on democracy. It will be packaged as a necessary response to crisis — as authoritarian takeovers always are.

But once it happens, there’s no going back.

This will be the point of no return.

The roadmap for overthrowing a democratic government isn’t new or theoretical — it’s a well-worn playbook, tested and repeated across history by those who crave power more than liberty. After rejecting it initially, being incredulous, I have realized there is too much evidence suggesting this may be what’s happening now to remain silent.

Telling other people what may be happening, so they can recognize it and maybe together we can stop it, is my entire purpose here.

This is Part 1 of what has turned into a series: Their Coup Playbook: How They Quietly Kill the Constitution in the Coming Weeks and Months

https://medium.com/@aletheisthenes/on-april-20th-2025-the-united-states-will-cross-the-point-of-no-return-0aecac04cfc3

[WmChris]

1. Atrocities yet to come

That there is some scary shit.

[no_hypocrisy]

2. Martial Law declared on EASTER SUNDAY???

Have they looked at a calendar?

[Midnight Writer]

31. Martial Law declared on HITLER'S BIRTHDAY???

I suspect they have looked at a calendar.

[EndlessWire]

36. OMG, you're right.

April 20, 1889.

[Polybius]

76. It's also 4-20

The biggest pot-smoking day of the year.

For the record, I don't smoke. I'd sooner enjoy a drink.

[Dave Bowman]

81. I prefer by far the date April 30, 1945 when he died miserably like the coward that he was.

[mucholderthandirt]

115. My father's 15th birthday! If not for Hitler's death, he might have been a WWII vet.

Instead, he got to wait a few years, to get drafted for Korea. Yay! His brother didn't want Daddy to go to war. He was in WWII, won a Purple Heart (for something no one ever knew about, not even his wife), and spent the rest of his working life at the USPS.

[Dem4life1970]

87. I was going to post this but you beat me to it.

[Silent Type]

3. He'll put it off for 90 days.

[rzemanfl]

101. LOL

[onenote]

4. Before "journalists" or posters refer to martial law, they should learn what it is and isn't

The Supreme Court long ago explained what martial law is and the limits of its implementation under the Constitution:

Ex parte Milligan, 71 U.S. (4 Wall.) 2 (1866)

"If, in foreign invasion or civil war, the courts are actually closed, and it is impossible to administer criminal justice according to law, then, on the theatre of active military operations, where war really prevails, there is a necessity to furnish a substitute for the civil authority, thus overthrown, to preserve the safety of the army and society; and as no power is left but the military, it is allowed to govern by martial rule until the laws can have their free course. As necessity creates the rule, so it limits its duration; for, if this government is continued after the courts are reinstated, it is a gross usurpation of power. Martial rule can never exist where the courts are open, and in the proper and unobstructed exercise of their jurisdiction. It is also confined to the locality of actual war."

[LymphocyteLover]

11. because trump and his cronies are known for adhering to the letter of the law?

[onenote]

85. No they're not. But what they do won't be "martial law.'

What they are more likely to do is use the Insurrection Act to override the Posse Comatatus Act in order use the police for civil law enforcement. But that's different from using the military to run the judicial system.

[Kid Berwyn]

12. Going by his record, John Roberts isn't much on precedent.

Guy thinks “Insurrection” and any law don’t apply to King Trump der First.

Hope you’re right, though. Hope the Constitution holds.

[PortTack]

23. Thank you...I have posted the laws regarding the use of martial law, and get the same push back.

Yes, these are a bunch of lawless idiots, but the military isn’t!

Secondly, how would a military of 1.2 million even if they went along with a purely illegal order contain a country of 340+ million ppl? Is he going to fly home all the military overseas? Stupidly upon stupidly!

3. If he does try it…it will fail!

[Dulcinea]

46. I think it'll go badly for him if he tries it.

No scientific proof, just a hunch.

[jalan48]

61. I'm not sure, they've been setting this up for awhile.

[onenote]

86. They may have been setting up overriding the Posse Comitatus law

But that's not the same as declaring martial law.

[jalan48]

91. It may be too soon but Trump has shown us he's not afraid to go lawless.

[bluestarone]

97. The problem i see coming is, HE"LL DO martial law and hell, it will be tied up for MONTHS) in the courts we have today

THEY will not give a shit what courts do or say!! I think we have witnessed that already.

[Mike 03]

148. Exactly. "Tied up in the courts" is the latest euphemism for

Trump proceeds with his plans, unobstructed.

[CrispyQ]

59. Also, those red state/blue state maps are deceiving & feed their overconfidence that they're the majority.

Here's one of those "land doesn't vote" maps with the 2020 presidential results by population.

on edit: My right wing relatives absolutely HATE this map.

[Polybius]

77. From what I'm seeing, the two biggest Red circles are in the Northeast

That appears to be Maine (possibly NH or MA). Very odd.

[CrispyQ]

79. Isn't that where all those elitist libs live?

This is why this is such a great map & the dems should plaster social media with one after EVERY election. Where the hell is our marketing dept?

[Polybius]

82. Lol, I'm not far away (NY here!)

I guess there are some really Red cities/towns in those states. I'm in my 50's and still learning new things daily.

[Captain Zero]

137. No look again, it's Ohio, Indiana, KY, WV

New England is blue.

[Polybius]

138. I think you misread what I said

I said the "two biggest circles." Focus on those two large Red circles in the Blue area.

[Abolishinist]

144. I'm thinking more like Long Island?

Interesting website, if you click the arrow on the right you get one similar to the one pictured above, while the one following this breaks the circles into the percentage vote, which is even better. However, this one is from 2016 and I believe the one above is 2020, so there's that as well.

https://try-to-impeach-this.jetpack.ai/

[PortTack]

84. Yup!👍😉

[JustAnotherGen]

68. We won't know

That there aren't a lot of lawless idiots in the military - until they are called to defend our country against a tyranny.

People have anxiety, and based upon how things have happened that some folks said would *never happen* because of xyz guard rail being in place . . .

Anything can happen.

[AntiFascist]

100. This is the point where governors could take action under the 2nd Amendment...

in order to maintain "the security of a free State."

[Autumn]

38. And of course Trump and this corrupt supreme court will abide by that.

Democrats, the base and the elected really need to change their way of thinking because that was then, this is now.

These people do not abide by laws and the constitution. Who will enforce that shit? Republicans? that's a fucking joke. The courts? Another fucking joke, a shitload of them are fucking partisan republicans. Democrats? Not going to happen, they are stuck in the past and are only interested in protecting the status quo and getting themselves elected. We see that over and over. The Military? Nope they won't protect the citizens , they will enforce what the party in power wants. .

Thinking that this administration will follow the law will only get people dead and dying.

[stillcool]

52. I like to learn from the past

but not when the past is limited to the last 250 years and this particular geographic location. My elected officials are no more responsible for what is happening then I am. We are all Democrats. They have been speaking out about this shit for years.

[Autumn]

74. The problem is the past doesn't exist for these fuckers.The law doesn't exist for those fuckers.

i disagree about elected Democrats bearing no responsibility for what is going on. That bullshit one sided bipartisan shit on EVERYTHING is what has us where we are. The lack of leadership is what has us where we are.

[stillcool]

111. you can blame whoever you want

but to my mind the 1% puppet masters have had this game rigged for a very long time. The Republican Party having aligned itself to big business is just a fact, and they've earned their keep, and keep on earning it . Every person elected anywhere to any position is a human being and capable of all things human, but those that pull those puppet strings are another story altogether. I do not think there is any solution when the problem is not even realized.

[EndlessWire]

39. Maybe in the old days

before the USSC gave rump King powers. He doesn't have to adhere to the Constitution any more. He's proving it in so many ways.

For instance, he's building up Troop strength at the Southern border. I guess he can garrison troops anywhere, but this has a stated purpose. And it's not for any feigned "emergency." The only emergency is rump himself.

[Attilatheblond]

67. Here in 'I can see Mexico' AZ, sounds of many heavy transport planes in our sky

Thinking this doesn't bode well for the Borderlands which have been pretty peaceful and quiet for some time now. Seems the local white guy miltitia wanna-bee types are bored and looking for trouble just to justify their racist paranoia.

There is an annual cross-border concert & cultural celebration coming up soon here. It is a peaceful, loving good neigbor celebration of friendship, family connetions and music. I fear trouble this year as the xenophobic jerks have been getting restless.

[EndlessWire]

45. Oh, by the way.

He is setting up to have an actual war with Mexico. That would qualify as an "actual war." Hence, Martial Law.

[BonnieJW]

62. Wouldn't Mexico have to invade the US?

If we invade Mexico, WE'RE the threat.

[erronis]

83. All there has to be is a single shot fired across the border from Mexico.

That'll backup his desire to use force.

[dchill]

55. "...it is impossible to administer criminal justice according to law..."

Aren't we already there? Asking for friend.

[onenote]

131. "the courts are actually closed"

Are the courts "actually" closed?

Asking for a friend.

[dchill]

132. It's why they want to invoke the ...

... Insurrection Act. Then the "President" has the authority to close (bypass?) the courts. That is my understanding.

[onenote]

133. As I have said, repeatedly, I won't be surprised if he invokes the insurrection act

as a means of getting around the Posse Camitatus Act, which would prevent him from using military for domestic law enforcement. But that is different from invoking martial law, which provides for military tribunals to be used when the civilian courts are not "actually" open.

The Insurrection Act has been invoked numerous times, including by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson and most recently in response to the LA riots following the beating of Rodney King. Insurrection Act. Not martial law.

[malaise]

102. Thanks as always

Rec

[MichMan]

128. You expect too much

Hell, half the posters can't even spell it correctly

[GreenWave]

5. MARTIAL LAW DECLARED ON HITLER'S BIRTHDAY?

Why that would mean he really was reading Hitler's speeches before beddie bye!

[obamanut2012]

22. And Easter Sunday

[JCMach1]

90. Sunday, so declaration from golf course

Dont forget that part!

[Kaleva]

6. And yet people go about their daily lives like everything is normal

[LymphocyteLover]

9. in some ways it is understandable but people do need to know what could be coming

and how bad it could get

[Kaleva]

17. If a hurricane is approaching, most people take action

Evacuate, stock up on supplies, board up windows and such.

One doesn't see any type of activity in preparation for a supposed military takeover

Thus it is my opinion that very few people believe this will happen .

[Sympthsical]

35. One of my creeds in life

Particularly in political life. "I will believe there is an emergency when the people who keep telling me it's an emergency start acting like it's an emergency."

I understand we're in a time where people are leaping at shadows because they're justifiably on edge. But there's now an online cottage industry of people seeking out shadows to be leapt at and, if incentivized enough via traffic or money, actively grabbing a flashlight and using their hands to cast entirely new shadows upon the wall to terrify and amaze.

This martial law stuff is definitely in that third category for me. It's just unhelpful.

[regnaD kciN]

104. Well, what about the two top scholars on authoritarianism...

…deciding to leave the U.S. for new teaching position in Canadian universities? On the same day?

That sure sounds like “acting like it’s an emergency” to me.

[CTyankee]

106. Yup. That happened here at Yale recently. It is a sign that we are approaching a dictatorship, a WARNING.

[Sympthsical]

109. One guy, oh noes

Not exactly harming his career with that one, is he?

Think about it. This is supposed to be the worst thing happening in the history of ever. And so far it's, "What if I shopped on Tuesday instead of Wednesday . . ."

And that's the people at the highest level of ostensible alarm.

Seriously.

And here's a question, if people literally believe a second Holocaust is imminent or another Dirty War or something akin to the Troubles is incoming, and their response is, "What if I posted online more in between White Lotus episodes?" what does that say about them? If humanity is at an inflection point moments from disaster, and the response is "Look, I've increased my cable news viewing. There's nothing more I can do!" I think we're done as a species.

At that point, just have that last party, because there's no saving us.

[Chasstev365]

7. What about the Military and the American People?

Aren't there still some in the military who know they took an oath to the Constitution and no one else?

What about a General Strike?

Will a nation of 320 million people just roll over and allow this?

[LymphocyteLover]

8. All good questions... doesn't mean they won't try

[Celerity]

21. almost 347 million atm, and also 10 million plus undocumented

https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/us-population/

[bdamomma]

30. I will

NOT ROLL OVER.

There are more of us than them.

The felon is a vindictive little weak prick. He wants revenge and retribution. Even towards our allies.

Our credibility is gone on the world stage because of this one prick, UNLESS WE ALL GET INTO GOOD TROUBLE!!!!

[OhioTim]

33. Well, Half Already

believe in him

[johnnyfins]

44. Half of the "Voters"

Not half of the country. Comes out to about 30% of the population.

[EndlessWire]

43. We seem to have rolled over

for black hooded anonymous police to snatch law abiding people off the streets and disappear them.

We rolled over for a foreign nation to receive just about anyone into the bowels of hell.

We rolled over for the pRes of the United States to ignore court orders.

We rolled over for an unelected crony of the "pres" to dismantle our education system.

We allow bonefide lawyers to be threatened with retribution of they don't come under the umbrella of the Hellbeast's regime...

Etc. We are just beginning to stir. It still seems slow.

[Magoo48]

69. Will the US population allow themselves to be inconvenienced enough to save their own freedom?

[snowybirdie]

10. Saw on news this morning

US troops are being deployed to the border with Mexico to enforce immigration laws.

[LymphocyteLover]

14. they've been doing that for a while, haven't they?

seems like they report that every month or so when Dumpo is in office

[DENVERPOPS]

56. You are correct LL

There are already THOUSANDS of active U.S. Soldiers on the border, along with all the Border Patrol despicable degenerates.
And he keeps adding to the total every so often.........by summer they should all be sweltering in the heat.....ready to over-react at the slightest annoyance.......
I can only envision where there will be a soldier, 24/7, positioned along the entire length of the border, every 100 yds, with orders to just shoot anyone approaching the border from the Mexico side of the border.

I can only imagine that Trump would have no problem finding all the Trumphumpers he needs in our military to volunteer for that duty assignment.......and THAT is what makes Trump and his Massive CABAL so frightening.......

AND, if you wonder where he would get the soldiers, look at the number of U.S. Military at bases in every NATO country and Trump/Putin would love nothing better than to utilize these members of the the U.S. Military, by closing/abandoning the bases in NATO countries and bringing the soldiers back to the U.S.A, and put them on the border........
On a much smaller scale, Trump, during his first occupation of the White House, pulled our soldiers out of a base in Syria to aid Assad and Putin. He pulled the entire base's soldiers out in one day, telling them to "bug out" and leave everything behind, intact, for Assad and his military.

[stillcool]

112. emptying out the 'empire of bases'

sounds like the coup de gras.

[DENVERPOPS]

114. I think

his real Coup de Gras will be the crashing of the stock market, wiping out the retired and retirement funds of those youngers...
and forever establishing a top 1% and the remaining 99% crowded into the bottom 1% with nothing in-between...........

[TommyT139]

126. This is very different than before - bypassing Posse Comitatus

He is not just sending troops to the border. He is taking federal land and having it declared military property.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, a senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, said it appeared the administration was trying to find a way around restrictions on the use of the U.S. military for civilian border enforcement.

"[Trump is] giving the military ‘jurisdiction’ over a 60-foot-wide stretch of land from CA to AZ and then claim that migrants are being arrested for ‘trespassing on military property’ thus trying to bypass the Posse Commitatus Act...."

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/11/trump-grants-military-control-over-strip-of-federal-land-along-us-southern-border-00287606

[DENVERPOPS]

127. Cute trick

using that to circumvent the Posse Comitatus Act....

Thank you for your comment.........

The USSC probably suggested that "manipulation" of the border to him, so they could justify ruling in his favor once again.....

[Diraven]

129. This also gives him the authority

To order "trespassers" on the border "military base" to be shot on sight.

[PortTack]

24. It's all from show...to convince ppl there's a mass of immigrants coming across when crossings are at an all time low

He lies!

[barbtries]

13. that's the moment

we hit the streets in overwhelming numbers. The way they did in Seoul and other places. We the People must be brave.

I'm not going quietly. My children, grandchildren, their grandchildren and theirs deserve that much.

[Chasstev365]

15. How Do We Organize for a General Strike ASAP?

If this is a real possibility, left leaning Social Media and groups like Move On etc. need to start spreading the word and getting a plan together now!

[OldBaldy1701E]

19. They are already on it.

https://www.newsweek.com/nationwide-trump-protest-april19-50501-handsoff-2056119

[NickB79]

16. He's already positioning the military

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-authorizes-military-control-souther-border/

President Trump on Friday night authorized the military to take control of a strip of public land along the southern border.

The president justified the use of the military by saying the United States is "under attack from a variety of threats."

"The complexity of the current situation requires that our military take a more direct role in securing our southern border than in the recent past," the order reads.

Now the US military can arrest migrants for trespassing on US military bases 🤦

[PortTack]

25. There's little of no one to arrest! Crossings are at an all time low.

[OhioTim]

34. Trump Said That!

[oldmanlynn]

28. The military can arrest any person, including US citizens

The military can arrest anybody that trespasses on a military base. It doesn’t make a difference whether it’s an immigrant or an American you can’t do that.

[NickB79]

88. The difference is that illegally crossing the border is a misdemeanor

While illegally entering a military base can be a felony.

That's the reason why they're giving the military control over the land, as opposed to just having them patrol the same land.

[Nittersing]

116. This makes (horrible) sense. nt

[The Madcap]

40. He is the threat

Without him, the world would be a much calmer place.

[Traildogbob]

18. Lots of people

Will be high on 4/20. Yea, they looked at the calendar.

[OldBaldy1701E]

20. I don't know... some people don't take too kindly to having their buzz 'harshed'.

https://www.warhistoryonline.com/instant-articles/peter-lemon-marijuana.html

(Not at all.)
( Sgt. Peter Lemon.)

[oldmanlynn]

26. I think if Trump did this, he would be completely losing the midterms

To see military people out there trying to round up protesters just because they don’t like it and the protesters aren’t violent. I think this would be another bad move for Trump and make the midterms pretty much done deal and maybe even the Senate.

[the_liberal_grandpa]

50. If he does do this there will be no mid-terms

[elocs]

53. Why would you think there will be midterms when Trump has alienated millions who voted for him?

Trump or whoever is pulling his strings because he is not smart enough for all of this already knows that he will lose the midterms. Yes, there may be elections in '26 but will they be free and fair elections. I don't think there will be.

[Frasier Balzov]

65. The concept of midterms would probably be obsolete.

[jalan48]

27. He will need some type of event to justify it.

[the_liberal_grandpa]

49. the scheduled protests on 4/19 will likely serve as the excuse

[jalan48]

73. That's what I was thinking. Perfect opportunity for a set up.

[Cirsium]

63. He'll make something up

He always does.

He can just make up some type of event to justify it.

[elocs]

29. Thank you. That's why I come to DU...for this kind of news that confirms our hopelessness.

But there's no sense in worrying because nothing is going to turn out alright.

[samplegirl]

32. Hitlers birthday

April 20

[AverageOldGuy]

37. Thanks for the warning

I'm headed out to grocery and hardware. Will add gun shop to my list, get more AR-15, shotgun, and pistol ammo. Just in case, you understand.

[S/V Loner]

41. They don't have to...

The Insurrection Act would set the stage for them to do what they wish.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

42. Gun humpers, beware.

With Martial Law comes NO GUN OWNERSHIP.

Dud they think thst through?

[lindysalsagal]

96. LOL. They always claimed that's why the deserve to have gunz. Ironic it might be their own party

imprisoning them and taking their gunz.

[TommyT139]

113. They're expecting to be deputized.

The essays are really worth a read.

[AltairIV]

47. dreams

You are pre-supposing the armed forces don't launch air strikes on the White House, Congressional offices and selected targets in Florida, and New Jersey.

[the_liberal_grandpa]

48. Hands Off Protests on 4/19 Could be the excuse

Especially if, as pointed out, infiltrators turn them into violent protests

[Warpy]

51. While the crypto bro billionaires and tech dudes led by Thiel and Musk

dream of it nightly as they go beddy-bye, it would be too tough a sell at this point, the country is simply not lawless enough at the bottom to justify it, it would backfire completely.

[elocs]

54. Who is the evil mastermind behind all that Trump does or intends to do?

Because Trump is simply not smart enough to plan and do all of this. And it's all not just happening these past few months but has been planned for years.

[Cirsium]

66. There is no mastermind

What Trump is doing doesn't require any great intelligence.

People made the same mistake with the Nazis, assuming that there must be some grand and sane plan behind it all. Yes, there is a convergence of interests and it has been developing for years, and people have written up various plans - from the the Powell memo to the Project for the New American Century to Project 2025.

Wild barbaric forces have been unleashed, and Trump is channeling that energy and feeding off of it while he incites it. But there is no plan and no one is in charge. There is cunning, yes, and grifts and schemes, theft on a grand scale, and opportunism, yes. But mostly it is now just as it was with the Nazis, mass insanity and total chaos.

[California Kid]

57. When does the Trumpstapo* show up?

*Secret state police....

[DownriverDem]

58. I don't care

We have Deep Throat 2.0 and am counting on them.

[Blue Full Moon]

60. You have to protest anyway.

[Balatro]

64. The date is a bit on the nose..

especially when considering his *ahem* secret adoration of a man whose name I won't mention.

[Chasstev365]

70. NONE of this could happen without the Support of the Republican Party!

They ALL need to be held accountable for allowing this to happen to the USA. Profiles in Cowardice!

The MAGA/Tea Party wing needs to be destroyed for good.

[HereForTheParty]

71. Stuff like this makes us look like idiots

nm

[Tickle]

72. when April 21st comes around

and there was no Martial law, then what?

[onenote]

117. Nothing will change. Some folks will still fear monger for clicks.

Trump is a nightmare, without question. And he might well invoke the insurrection act. But fear mongering by suggesting he will invoke "martial law" without knowing or explaining what that actually is and which will not happen doesn't help anything.

[Tickle]

118. What concerns me the most

is the boy who cried wolf syndrome .
If someone repeatily raises alarms that turn out to be false or exaggerated , people may eventually ignore them.

[mr715]

75. Better stock up on 420

Do you really think martial law is coming on Hitler's bday? Isn't that a little on the nose

[Polybius]

78. How many Presidents have ever used it?

I'll assume Lincoln, since it was during the Civil War.

[onenote]

93. Examples of the Insurrection Act being invoked:

The act has been invoked at least 30 times throughout history, with the most recent occurrence being in 1992 when George H. W. Bush used it in response to the Rodney King protests and riots in Los Angeles. JFK invoked it 3 times as did LBJ.

[Polybius]

98. Wow, thank you for the info

I had no idea that it was used so much.

[onenote]

99. It's used to override the Posse Comitatus Act so as to allow the military to perform domestic law enforcement.

If Trump invokes it, he'll be breaking new ground since it won't be in response to a riot or violent lawless actions. But it still won't be '"martial law" which is when the military replaces the judiciary

[misanthrope]

145. Weren't those in limited geographic areas?

I think exercising nationwide martial law would be logistically problematic.

[onenote]

150. It won't be "martial law" just as it wasn't martial law in those cases.

It will be the insurrection act invoked to get around posse comitatus. And I wouldn't be at all surprised if he seeks to use it in situations that go beyond the precedents set by other presidents.

But, as repeatedly pointed out, invoking the insurrection act is not the same as martial law.

[PATRICK]

80. Putin is Trump's control

The control is very careful when it comes to Putin's Russian goals, totally off the hook(in other policy). Trump is is easy, even predictable so long as the "krasnov file" is never mentioned. Sweet talk and patience, small suggestions rather than am ordered plan. The emotional dependency is very careful and very played. The parallel is the movement of chaos everywhere else and the gradual swallowing of Ukraine(and everything else to be added to Russian Empire) the destruction of NATO. THAT will be careful and steady, though occasionally block-headed when Trump performs his service. Stalin was said to have been a German agent in WWI which may have moved him to that geopolitical deal with his "pal" Hitler, who he trusted until the Germans were way within his borders. The American non-democratic Empire sphere of influence and the Russian. By his emotional responses during the final weeks of the campaign it seems the election was assuredly fixed, but no is even in a position to investigate- other than vote suppression, threatened violence and heavy propaganda to anyone wildly resentful of just about anything.

Both "empires" are doomed to melt down as is most of the planet in the foulest handling of a global crisis since WWII- which it dwarfs in consequence. Nor will Trumperika succeed even as much as the impotent Russian military.

This is kind of obvious, to everyone's dismay, because it seems moral cowardice infests and borders the entire system. The inability to protect elections, to root out corruption, even traitors who are also buffoons has been played. WE are at war with Russia. Our weapons that have slain countless draftees can be turned against us, as has all the other blowback from previous administrations.

No elections unless largely played. No, they will not depend upon Democratic Party predictable weakness, such as targeting only 50 seats and expecting a win. Probably a suspension of elections and Trump doesn't care so long as he dies unaccountable. Probably doesn't even care what ultimately happens to his crooked family. This an ultimate shame for all the people who should have stopped him from even running for anything in the first place, a very very easy Manchurian Candidate. A sucker in fact who need never think of the blackmail in the velvet glove.

Personally, I find that every single concrete aspect of my life, including family is mortally threatened by this pathetic example for homo sapiens, even more so by the systemic obeisance he gets from a shit-upon-throne. Every penny, every freedom, every part of the eco-system. And it's all a black joke because mankind goes nuts when the cronies of the money god go mad with power, especially if they started out warped to begin with.

[Ritabert]

89. I'm skipping the protests on Apr. 19

After the peaceful protests of Apr. 5 I'm worried the militia types will show up to cause violence thus giving him an excuse to implement martial law on the 20th or on Monday when he's back from Florida.

[onenote]

92. No, "martial law" is not coming on April 20 or any time after.

What might happen is the invocation of the Insurrection Act which would then allow Trump to override the Posse Comitatus Act which otherwise prevents use the military to act as domestic law enforcement. However, it will not be used to replace the nation's judiciary with military tribunals, which is what "martial law" is.

I'll give $100 to DU if I'm wrong and he declares "martial law." Does anyone who thinks he will want to offer to donate $1 if I'm right?

[Kaleva]

105. Your post reminds me to donate $25 soon

Not as part of any bet but to help support my go to site for news and commentary.

I do agree that "martial law" isn't going to be declared.

[usonian]

94. But LAW DOESN'T MATTER

Unless it's enforced.

Period.

[Doodley]

103. It would absolutely kill the US economy. Nobody will choose to come here or do business with us.

[Duncan Grant]

107. Can I kick this thread a few times on 4/20? In case it's a conspiracy theory?

Besides, everyone knows that tech will martyr him and it will be Vance who executes the long-term plan. It’s obvious.

[BlueTsunami2018]

108. 99.9% No.

Nothing is for sure with these people but this is highly, highly improbable.

What would be the purpose? What would be the reason?

Yeah, this is a wannabe authoritarian regime but I think this kind of scare tactic makes us look ridiculous.

[AntiFascist]

110. Please don't intimidate people for coming out to protest peacefully...

this could be our last chance to make our voices heard before Trump does something really stupid.

[GreatGazoo]

119. I don't understand the appeal of hyping fear about things that might happen instead of

focusing on the things that HAVE.

This ADHD + CT stuff isn't productive. People only have so much energy and the more of it that goes into fear the less there is for countering. We would do well to organize around specific issues and start pushing back.

[LymphocyteLover]

120. I get that, but I also think it's just important to be aware of the possibility so you can

prepare yourself and not be surprised. And while this can be viewed as CT, it's hardly out of the realm of possibility at this point with this fascist regime.

[onenote]

121. "Possibility"? Not if you know what "martial law" is.

Is it possible, maybe even likely, that Trump will invoke the insurrection act to override the Posse Comitatus act and allow him to use military for domestic law enforcement? Absolutely. But using the military for law enforcement isn't "martial law."

But saying "martial law" is scary and gets more clicks.

[LymphocyteLover]

122. Why is martial law so hard to imagine?

[onenote]

125. Do you know what "martial law" is?

[LymphocyteLover]

135. more or less, yes. I think the most worrisome part would be suspension of elections

and take over of civilian control of local govt by the military.

It is a bit hard seeing it happen in this huge country but I don't think we can rule it out either, with this insane regime.

[onenote]

136. Here is how martial law is defined:

he Supreme Court long ago explained what martial law is and the limits of its implementation under the Constitution:

Ex parte Milligan, 71 U.S. (4 Wall.) 2 (1866)

"If, in foreign invasion or civil war, the courts are actually closed, and it is impossible to administer criminal justice according to law, then, on the theatre of active military operations, where war really prevails, there is a necessity to furnish a substitute for the civil authority, thus overthrown, to preserve the safety of the army and society; and as no power is left but the military, it is allowed to govern by martial rule until the laws can have their free course. As necessity creates the rule, so it limits its duration; for, if this government is continued after the courts are reinstated, it is a gross usurpation of power. Martial rule can never exist where the courts are open, and in the proper and unobstructed exercise of their jurisdiction. It is also confined to the locality of actual war."

The Insurrection Act is invoked when the military is needed to assist local law enforcement -- as in the numerous instances when it has been invoked, such as by LBJ to assist in responding to riots following the assassination of Dr. King and most recently by GWBush in response to riots following the beating of Rodney King. Invoking the Insurrection Act was needed to override the Posse Comitatus Act with otherwise limits the use of the military for law enforcement. But martial law wasn't invoked because the courts were not "actually closed" requiring military tribunals to conduct judicial business. And they're not "actually closed" now.

[LymphocyteLover]

140. OK, thanks. But I'm sure you know this administration has been attacking the Federal courts and

it's not hard to see them wanting to put the courts out of business.

I mean, I'm not saying it's going to happen for sure, but can we rule it out???

The media seems intent STILL on normalizing this fascist POS POTUS

[Elessar Zappa]

123. I doubt it.

I do picture him invoking the Insurrection Act.

[LymphocyteLover]

124. and then do what with it?

He seems to want to do this
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-el-salvador-us-citizens-denaturalization-1235315975/

[onenote]

143. He wants to do with it what other presidents have done with it:

Use the invocation of the Insurrection Act to trigger an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act so he can use the military for domestic law enforcement. It has been done quite a few times by presidents of both parties, most recently GWBush, who invoked the Insurrection Act in order to use the military to assist in suppressing riots that occurred after the Rodney King beating.

What is troubling is that in the past, the invocation of the insurrection act has been in response to violent riots and looting. As usual, Trump seeks to expand its use to situations where it hasn't been used before.

[LymphocyteLover]

146. Thanks... what are the odds that he won't push it further than the precious POTUSes?

[onenote]

149. He'll push it as far as he can, but I doubt he'll claim the courts aren't open

and seek to replace them with military tribunals.

[Initech]

130. I flat out fucking refuse to live in an authoritarian regime.

And definitely not under that piece of shit. I want to live in a free country. Not one ruled by fear and Fox News.

[dchill]

134. No. I don't think it is.

That's just my feeling.

[Torchlight]

139. Given his prior power grabs and endless hunger

I'm not going to put anything past the guy anymore. I'll let Statler and Waldorf minimize it to a point of irrelevant and convenient absolutism. But as for me, I'll take the wait and see approach, and rule nothing out until it's already past due.

[LymphocyteLover]

141. exactly-- plus he's assmbled an administration of complete sychophants

[MorbidButterflyTat]

142. You seem determined

to convince us.

What do you suggest we do? Stock up on TP? Guns? Ammo? Shoot our neighbors?

If the military storms in your front door, what's the plan? Shoot them and then they either shoot you or drag you off or both.

These fantasies do nothing but stoke egos and spread fear.

[sabbat hunter]

147. IMHO

If martial law is declared, it will be on June 14th when he has his big military parade to celebrate his birthday.