Although the news is commonly filled with scandalous headlines and dire warnings I found this last week trending towards the positive. Maybe it was the algorithms on my socials or perhaps Siri was listening in on my rants about wanting something besides doom and gloom in the news but almost every day I have found my feeds rather stuffed with optimistic signs.
Now, I am fully aware that any good news associated with the present authoritarian leaning administration is going to be approached with wariness or even cynicism. We have been hopeful, and we have been burned. But I would like to suggest that hope is not just the torturous state of mind we may associate with it. Rather it is fuel we need to keep up our motivation and win this fight. What do you think the other side is running on?
Hope without Apology
During the elections, I was so positive that Kamala would prevail. I even planned a celebration party for when she won. I had no doubts. I was hopeful. I was optimistic.
I was later crushed.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t regret my optimism at all. In fact, I think I lived through those months in the best possible way—with more hope than fear. I worked away on her campaign, my art, and my writing. I laughed a lot in those moments between watching her rallies and my almost obsessive scrutiny of the polls where I found affirmation for my hope. I was not fearful, depressed, pessimistic, or all doom and gloom. That allowed me to live my life as I wanted and needed. And I am grateful I did.
I know there is comfort in not finding oneself the fool, in anticipating the possibilities so you’re not surprised, but in certain cases, such fear ridden anticipation of the unthinkable can be nothing but detrimental to one’s mind, spirit, and energy.
Which is why I think we need to grab hope and optimism when we see it. It is not foolish. It is not illusory. It is practical. It is a better fuel for our fight than fear. It is also a much healthier way to live through these times. The possibility of that hope being crushed later on seems a small thing compared with living days, weeks, months, and maybe years with a desperate fear and intimidating pessimism.
You know that Trump, many of the Republicans, all the Christian Nationalists, and most of the big billionaires are flying high on hope and optimism. It is literally how they are doing as much damage as they are and so quickly. This administration not only hopes but BELIEVES they will be able to take full control and twist this country into their vision of an unforgiving, Christian-centric, white-washed fascist regime. If we are going to be effective, we need to fight back with a similar level of positive determination and ardor.
I, for one, will not just hope our fight succeeds. I truly BELIEVE we will get out from under this insanity and rebuild our nation into a stronger and safer democracy. I am not, however, under the illusion that it will be easy and being optimistic is not an excuse for complacency. We need to keep focused on the good signs while we protest, write, call, and post the messages that need to get out, and, in doing so, we may get there sooner than we think.
And so, to that end, I am going to make pointing out all the good news that can bolster our optimism part of this and all my future articles.
The good news has been a struggle this week but not because there wasn’t any. Every time I thought I was done with this article some other good news came up that I wanted to add. But, I finally narrowed it down and found a focus—the administration’s ineffectiveness.
Tariffs Blocked
This was the biggest, most positive news we've all had in a while. A bipartisan panel of judges at the U.S. International Court of Trade handed down a unanimous decision on Wednesday, saying that the president’s justification for the import taxes using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act wasn’t sufficient and he did not have the right to bypass Congress' typical control over economic policy and commerce.
Their opinion also called for levies to be “vacated” which seemed to indicate that tariffs paid under the illegal order should be returned. Clarification on that and how it might be done are yet to be determined.
The administration did immediately file with the Federal Court of Appeals which gave them a stay on these orders until June 9th. Yes, that sounds like a potential set back, but in filing this appeal Trump’s lawyers we're forced to include this in the filing:
“If tariffs imposed on plaintiffs during these appeals are ultimately held unlawful, then the government will issue refunds to plaintiffs, including any post judgment interest that accrues.”
In other words, Trump's lawyers just made him commit to returning all the tariffs collected in connection with his IEEPA justification, should that court find his actions unlawful. With a unanimous ruling on this lawlessness from the court specializing in trade policy, that seems pretty likely.
Harvard keeps Fighting. And Winning
On May 23rd, Harvard sued the Trump administration over its attempt to cancel its Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification, and a U.S. District judge immediately granted a temporary order blocking the move. Then just yesterday, the same judge sided with Harvard again, indefinitely extending the block until it can be replaced by a preliminary injunction that the University was requesting and which the judge said she plans to issue.
The extension will allow the university to continue enrolling international students while the case moves forward and the injunction will offer longer term protection.
The administration attempted to prevent this ruling by backpedaling on their visa revocations with a letter offering Harvard 30 days to explain or comply with Trump’s demands. The ruling went forward without consideration of the letter even after Trump’s lawyers tried to argue that it wasn’t needed. The judge didn’t fall for it, calling it out for the stall tactic it was.
Harvard has been repeatedly attacked by the Trump administration and has stood its ground every time. The courage and determination of Harvard has been an inspiration and assurance for other educational institutions fearful of the administration's attempt to infiltrate and control our institutions of higher learning.
Our citizenry cannot protect democracy without first being educated on what it is and how to protect it as well as how to question and find truth. Protecting our institutions of higher learning is a front line that must hold, and Harvard is out there in the vanguard with no hesitation.
Elon Gone from Government
As of Wednesday night, Elon Musk is officially on the way out. His departure from Federal government is supposedly because of the 130 day limit for his position as a Special Government Employee. However, his company is in serious trouble and investors are blaming Musk and his desertion of his company post.
Plummeting Tesla sales, a recall ridden Cybertruck, widespread X outages, and the third explosion of a SpaceX test Starship this year happening the day before Musk’s announced departure speaks to other motivations. It is especially telling that Mush had previously said he would be continuing in his capacity at DOGE one day a week but that seems not to be the case now.
It is obvious that his exit has a more to do with his failing brand than his or the Trump administration’s adherence to mandated limits. It is also obvious that Musk’s troubles are rooted in the concerted effort of the American people and their foreign allies to chase him out through financial and corporate ruination.
This success in running Musk out is a grand testament to the power the people have. We should celebrate it. Maybe with tacos. (Yes, that hints at other news you probably have run into but which I won’t get into just yet.)
Ban on DOGE RIFs Are Extended
Here's a news item that has flown a bit below the radar of late. I guess it’s not as sensational or hilarious as other headlines but it’s still very important and positive.
A week ago, a U.S. District Court indefinitely extended an earlier two-week pause against the administration and DOGE’s efforts to carry out an executive order to cut federal employment and to abolish or nearly abolish various individual agencies.
“Congress creates federal agencies, funds them, and gives them duties that—by statute—they must carry out. Agencies may not conduct large-scale reorganizations and reductions in force in blatant disregard of Congress’s mandates, and a President may not initiate large-scale executive branch reorganization without partnering with Congress,” the judge wrote.
This latest injunction also requires a reversal of these firings although, in some situations, there may simply be a pause while the case is being appealed. But the bleeding has been staunched, and some healing may get a chance to take hold.
This Week’s Optimistic Takeaway
These news stories highlight the pervasive ineffectiveness of Trump’s efforts. That is not to say that what he has been doing hasn’t caused damage, some of which may not be reversible, but damage itself hasn’t been the administration’s goal. Taking control has been the objective and this week’s headlines show a distinct loss of control. That has actually been highlighted by a bit of news I’m saving for the centerpiece of my next article—the TACO Trade debacle and the role of mockery in activism.
But if you haven’t seen the meme’s and headlines about tacos and Trump, indulge. Laughter, as well as optimism, is much needed in this fight.
Awesome! Totally speaking my language! If the Mush typo wasn’t intentional…it should have been ;)