100 Days of Chaos: Protests Surge, Courts Strike Back, and the World Rejects Trumpism – Resistance Brief for 1 May 2025

Information, insight, and inspiration for resisting tyranny in America

Welcome!

Welcome to The Resistance Sentinel, a publication dedicated to documenting and amplifying the movement to defend democracy against authoritarian rule. On May Day 2025, from 1,000 U.S. cities to international rallies, citizens are uniting to denounce Trump’s authoritarian rule, corporate takeover, and anti-immigrant agenda. Meanwhile, fractures widened in the regime: Trump’s national security team is crumbling, courts are striking down key policies, and at least some Democrats are escalating their resistance—despite internal division. Abroad, Trumpism is being decisively rejected as Canada, Europe, and Australia push back. The tide can turn against oligarchy and fascism, but only if we keep pushing. But first…

Daily Inspiration

A group of detainees in Texas’ now-notorious Bluebonnet detention facility spelled out SOS with their bodies to a drone flying overhead. If these men can stand up and resist after having been disappeared by Trump's gestapo, what can you do to resist today?

Resistance Today

Civil Society & Publics

A wave of grassroots and institutional resistance is emerging across sectors in response to Trump’s authoritarian rule, including public boycotts, campus organizing, and symbolic protest actions by detained migrants. This multifaceted pushback, ranging from economic boycotts to institutional defiance by universities, signals a growing determination by civil society to reassert democratic values. Even limited policy reversals—such as the reinstated Women’s Health Initiative funding—appear to reflect success placed on strategic pressure points. The development aligns with proven resistance strategies outlined by scholars of civil resistance: decentralized disruption, regime legitimacy erosion, and activation of diverse social pillars.

Key Developments

• A grassroots boycott campaign targeting MAGA-aligned businesses used PublicSquare—a directory meant to promote “anti-woke” companies—as a reverse tool to identify and avoid pro-Trump firms. (HuffPost)

• More than 400 university leaders signed a public statement opposing Trump’s interference in academia, marking a shift from prior institutional silence and suggesting growing academic mobilization. (New York Times)

• Migrants detained in a Texas ICE facility formed a human “SOS” visible by drone, protesting forced deportations to El Salvador under Trump’s revived Alien Enemies Act. (HuffPost)

• The Trump regime reversed its defunding of the Women’s Health Initiative after outcry from scientists and media pressure, suggesting vulnerability to coordinated, public-facing campaigns. (NPR)

• McDonald’s and other major companies reported sharp sales declines linked to “uncertainty” under Trump’s economic agenda, suggesting early signs of economic disruption that could undermine regime stability. (Newsweek)

May Day 2025 is shaping up to be the most expansive day of coordinated resistance to date under Trump’s second term, as hundreds of thousands across the U.S. and internationally mobilized against the regime’s authoritarian consolidation and far-right economic agenda. Organizers in more than 1,000 U.S. cities led mass protests denouncing Trump’s cuts to education, crackdowns on immigrants, and corporate domination, while global demonstrations turned May Day into an international rebuke of fascism, economic injustice, and Trumpism. Notably, the breadth and depth of grassroots engagement—from immigrant rights and labor to environmental and educational sectors—signal the emergence of a decentralized but converging resistance front, just as one would expect theories of civil resistance success. The protests show a movement evolving from reactive outrage to strategic mass disruption.

Key Developments

• May Day protests took place in over 1,000 U.S. cities, led by coalition group 50501, targeting Trump’s labor rollbacks, education cuts, and mass deportation plans. (New York Times)

• International Workers’ Day rallies around the globe featured effigies, signs, and mass mobilizations condemning Trump’s agenda, from France and Germany to the Philippines and Japan. (CBS News)

• At a protest-organizing roundtable on Democracy Now!, frontline leaders from Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles detailed multi-sector plans for May Day actions and denounced Trump’s latest anti-immigrant executive orders. (Democracy Now)

• Ms. Magazine documented a surge in protests and civic organizing across 50 states, highlighting the rapid growth of 50501 and increasing institutional resistance among unions, educators, and civil society groups. (Ms. Magazine)

• Greenpeace staged a large-scale aerial protest near Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, projecting “Time to Resist – Fight the Billionaire Takeover” into the sand to mark Trump’s first 100 days. (Independent)

Bureaucratic & Executive

The resignation of Mike Waltz as Trump’s National Security Advisor following the Signal chat scandal marks a significant fracture within the Trump regime’s inner circle, revealing both the dangers of internal incompetence and the potential for pressure-induced shakeups that weaken authoritarian consolidation. Although Trump initially defended Waltz, the accumulation of public embarrassment, internal distrust, and mounting scrutiny over unauthorized disclosure of war plans catalyzed Waltz’s departure—a development that erodes regime cohesion and exposes vulnerabilities ripe for civil resistance exploitation. For the pro-democracy movement, this is a crucial moment to spotlight regime instability and amplify calls for transparency and accountability, leveraging this breach in elite unity to drive further defections from within.

Key Developments

• Mike Waltz resigned as Trump’s national security advisor following backlash over a botched Signal group chat in which he accidentally invited a journalist into discussions about Yemen airstrikes. (USA Today)

• The chat, which included top officials like Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, and JD Vance, revealed detailed military strike plans and was publicized by journalist Jeffrey Goldberg in a major exposé. (USA Today)

• Despite Trump’s initial defense, behind-the-scenes tensions mounted as additional Signal leaks showed Hegseth sharing classified military information with family members. (USA Today)

• Congressional intelligence committees intensified scrutiny of the regime’s handling of sensitive communications, raising pressure on Trump’s national security infrastructure. (USA Today)

• Waltz's resignation was joined by that of deputy advisor Alex Wong, signaling broader instability within Trump’s security apparatus. (USA Today)

Legal & Judicial

A cascade of legal defeats this week dealt a powerful blow to the Trump regime’s efforts to consolidate authoritarian control through executive overreach, illegal deportations, and violations of civil liberties. Courts across the country have ruled against Trump’s attempts to weaponize the Alien Enemies Act for mass deportations, bypass data protections in Social Security systems, and retaliate against student protestors, while also halting enforcement of sweeping federal workforce purges and exposing regime lawyers’ incompetence. These rulings collectively affirm the judiciary’s role as a crucial barrier against Trump’s efforts to erode constitutional governance and democratic norms. Each decision chips away at the regime’s claims to unchecked executive power and strengthens the legal terrain for resistance actors to press forward.

Key Developments

• A Trump-appointed federal judge blocked the administration’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan migrants, ruling the statute was misapplied and allowing a class action lawsuit to proceed.

https://x.com/kyledcheney/status/1917961084776091978

• The U.S. Supreme Court issued an order halting deportations under the Alien Enemies Act pending review, with Justice Alito warning Trump must be reminded to follow the law. (USA Today)

• A federal appeals court refused to lift restrictions on Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency from accessing sensitive Social Security data, citing massive privacy risks. (ABC News)

• Courts have repeatedly rejected Trump administration arguments in key cases, citing lack of due process in deportations and unsubstantiated legal claims, contributing to at least 64 blocked executive actions. (Associated Press)

• A federal judge ordered the release of Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi, comparing Trump’s crackdown on student protesters to the Red Scare and emphasizing First Amendment protections. (All Rise News)

• A federal lawsuit by unions and local governments challenged the Trump regime’s unilateral federal workforce cuts, arguing they violate constitutional separation of powers. (Washington Post)

• The Atlantic documented how hundreds of detainees deported to El Salvador are being held without legal process, as the administration manipulates agency custody to evade court orders. (The Atlantic)

Congress & Lawmakers

Democratic lawmakers intensified efforts this week to resist the Trump regime’s authoritarian policies through legislative tools, public messaging, and investigatory actions—marking a significant escalation in resistance from within Congress. Senate and House Democrats challenged executive overreach through symbolic floor speeches, public resolutions, and investigative demands, especially over deportations and ethics violations. These moves reflect growing alignment with public pressure for accountability and demonstrate how minority-party legislators can leverage procedural mechanisms to expose and slow authoritarian consolidation, even while out of power.

Key Developments

• Senate Democrats announced a resolution demanding transparency around Trump’s deportations to El Salvador and El Salvador’s human rights record, highlighting misuse of executive power. (Associated Press)

• Democrats marked Trump’s “100 days from hell” with marathon floor speeches, framing his administration as a dictatorial threat dismantling U.S. institutions. (The Guardian)

• Senate Democrats requested a GAO probe into FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal use of government aircraft, signaling growing concern over Trump regime corruption. (CBS News)

• Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries delivered a scathing critique of Trump’s first 100 days, calling it “chaos, cruelty, and corruption” and vowing organized resistance. (Associated Press)

• A House Judiciary Committee amendment to block Trump from deporting U.S. citizens failed along party lines, underlining the GOP’s complicity in legal abuses. (YouTube)

Nonetheless, a schism remains within the Democratic Party over how to respond to Trump’s authoritarian agenda, as progressive leaders like Sanders and AOC rally public support while establishment figures hesitate to act decisively. The divide reflects tensions between bold confrontation and cautious pragmatism—exemplified by Hakeem Jeffries' reported frustration with members visiting El Salvador. Meanwhile, Trump himself revealed agitation over the popularity of the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, demonstrating the effectiveness of mass mobilization and symbolic dissent in provoking regime anxiety.

Key Developments

• Bernie Sanders called out Democratic leaders for lacking a clear anti-oligarchy agenda and demanded a bolder challenge to billionaire control of politics. (HuffPost)

• Trump lashed out at Sanders and AOC’s “Fighting Oligarchy” tour, revealing concern over its mass appeal amid his own dwindling crowds. (The New Republic)

• Reporting revealed Hakeem Jeffries is pressuring Democrats to halt their high-profile visits to El Salvador, frustrating progressives pushing for accountability. (The New Republic)

State & Local Governments

Local governments and state officials escalated their legal resistance this week against the Trump regime's sweeping purges of federal workers and dismantling of AmeriCorps, framing these moves as unconstitutional power grabs that bypass Congress and sabotage critical public services. Lawsuits filed by states like California and cities like San Francisco argue that the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, is violating the separation of powers and endangering disaster response, public health, and community support structures. These developments signal a growing front of decentralized institutional pushback at the state and municipal level—precisely the kind of legal and civic infrastructure civil resistance movements must leverage to slow authoritarian consolidation.

Key Developments

• California and 23 other states sued the Trump administration over the mass termination of AmeriCorps grants and workers, calling it an illegal dismantling of a congressionally mandated service program. (Reuters)

• San Francisco and Santa Clara joined a coalition lawsuit alleging Trump’s DOGE-led workforce cuts violate constitutional limits by bypassing Congress and sabotaging critical local services. (San Francisco Chronicle)

• Governor Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta condemned DOGE's actions as illegal, stating AmeriCorps cuts undermine wildfire response, food aid, education, and climate efforts across California. (Sierra Sun Times)

Nonetheless, state Democratic leaders exhibit the same disunity as congressional Democrats. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer's public collaboration with Donald Trump during his visit to the state—culminating in an embrace and shared praise—sparked concern about Democratic officials legitimizing authoritarian rule for short-term gains. While Whitmer claimed the encounter was necessary to secure jobs and military investment, her actions risk demoralizing the resistance and legitimizing the very regime targeting civil society and constitutional norms. This highlights a broader challenge for pro-democracy movements: some state leaders are choosing cooperation over confrontation in the face of rising authoritarianism.

Key Developments

• Whitmer publicly embraced Trump during his Michigan visit and praised his role in securing a fighter jet mission, sparking backlash from Democrats who see it as legitimizing authoritarian rule. (CBC)

• Whitmer defended her appearance, saying she was acting in the state’s interest and would continue to “fight” Trump on issues she opposes, despite working with him on others. (PBS NewsHour)

• Trump praised Whitmer as “very effective” during their joint appearance, indicating a strategic effort to divide opposition by rewarding cooperative Democrats. (CNN)

Media & Tech

This week’s media and entertainment landscape offered scathing critiques of Trump regime disinformation, authoritarian restructuring, and Silicon Valley complicity, illustrating how satire, commentary, and opinion journalism continue to function as vital resistance tools. From Jimmy Kimmel’s skewering of Trump’s use of a photoshopped gang tattoo as deportation evidence, to The Daily Show’s lampooning of Elon Musk’s “efficiency” firings and Stephen Miller’s authoritarian scheming, entertainers and commentators framed the regime’s collapse of public trust and institutional integrity in ways that mobilize outrage and sharpen democratic counter-narratives. Meanwhile, a New York Times op-ed condemned the tech elite's silence amid the Trump administration’s assault on research universities, warning that these very policies undermine the innovation ecosystem that built their fortunes. In a political environment saturated with propaganda, the role of cultural platforms in shaping resistance narratives is more essential than ever.

Key Developments

• Jimmy Kimmel called Trump’s use of a photoshopped MS-13 tattoo to justify deportation “the most disturbing moment yet,” mocking the president for treating Facebook memes as credible evidence. (HuffPost)

• The Daily Show profiled federal workers laid off under Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative, exposing the human cost of “efficiency” rhetoric and suggesting Musk himself is the real waste. (The Daily Show)

• In a scathing op-ed, a biotech investor criticized venture capitalists’ silence as Trump and Musk dismantle the public university research engine that enabled their success, calling it a textbook case of self-destructive elite complicity. (New York Times)

• The Daily Show portrayed Stephen Miller as a vampire draining democracy, highlighting his central role in mass deportations and authoritarian legal manipulation. (The Daily Show)

International Resistance

In a sweeping repudiation of Trump-aligned politics, Canadian voters handed Prime Minister Mark Carney a resounding mandate to oppose U.S. aggression and defend national sovereignty. The election crushed Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre’s "Maple MAGA" movement, which collapsed under the weight of Trump’s belligerent rhetoric about annexation and punitive tariffs. Carney capitalized on rising nationalism and economic anxiety, framing his Liberal leadership as a bulwark against U.S. bullying. His post-election speeches marked a definitive rupture with decades of U.S.-Canada integration and signaled a broader democratic backlash against authoritarian influence. Canada's pivot sets a precedent for resisting U.S. pressure and reasserting democratic agency at the national level.

Key Developments

• Prime Minister Mark Carney declared Canada would only engage the Trump regime “on our terms,” firmly rejecting threats of annexation and calling for a sovereign partnership. (BBC News)

• Carney celebrated his win by declaring “the old relationship with the United States is over,” denouncing Trump’s betrayal and pledging a new era of Canadian independence. (New Republic)

• Voters turned against Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, whose Trump-style rhetoric and ties to far-right movements alienated the electorate. (NBC News)

Across Europe, democratic forces are pushing back against authoritarianism and neoliberal austerity, with Finland’s red wave and the EU’s trade defiance marking parallel tracks of resistance. Finnish voters delivered a dramatic rejection of the far-right Finns Party, empowering social democrats and left greens. Simultaneously, EU leaders, alongside the UK, are preparing coordinated responses to Trump’s tariffs, asserting a renewed commitment to multilateralism and democratic norms. The shift reflects both grassroots backlash against domestic austerity and elite coordination to shield Europe from Trump’s economic coercion, creating a continental front of resistance.

Key Developments

• The far-right Finns Party collapsed to 7.6% in local elections, while the Social Democrats surged by framing the vote as a referendum on austerity. (The Guardian)

• EU and UK officials plan to sign a “free and open trade” declaration as a show of unity against Trump’s tariff agenda. (Politico)

• The European Commission unveiled both incentives and retaliatory tariffs in a dual-track negotiation strategy with the Trump regime. (Politico)

• French officials called for deploying the EU’s “anti-coercion instrument” against Trump’s economic aggression. (Politico)

The global democratic backlash to the Trump regime has reached Australia, where voters and political leaders are reacting to U.S. authoritarianism with increasing alarm. Informed by the dramatic political realignment in Canada and the weaponization of economic policy under Trump, Australian officials are bracing for similar coercive tactics. Public opinion is shifting against alignment with Trump, and political discourse is beginning to mirror the defiance seen in Canada and Europe. Australia’s emerging resistance adds geographic breadth to the international anti-authoritarian movement and underscores the growing global cost of Trump’s presidency.

Key Developments

• The Washington Post reported that the anti-Trump backlash seen in Canada is “moving to Australia,” where democratic forces are beginning to coalesce. (Washington Post)

Resistance Tomorrow

Vulnerabilities & Exposures

The Trump regime’s first 100 days have unleashed political, economic, and institutional instability, fueling deepening public disapproval and widespread perception of failure. Despite Trump’s delusional insistence that he has made no mistakes, his administration faces plummeting approval ratings, investor backlash, and mass legal challenges. Efforts to centralize executive power, including unconstitutional third-term ambitions and mass deportation threats, are generating broad public alarm. Meanwhile, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk, has failed to demonstrate measurable reductions in waste and has become a flashpoint for growing distrust in regime claims. The data points to a weakening hold on public legitimacy amid intensifying authoritarian behavior.

Key Developments

• Trump claimed he’s made “no mistakes” during a town hall, despite facing over 200 lawsuits and growing public perception of cognitive decline. (New Republic)

• Approval ratings on Trump’s immigration policies have turned negative, with a majority of Americans disapproving of his handling of one of his core issues. (Washington Post)

• Trump’s first 100 days delivered the worst stock market performance since Nixon, with investor volatility and skepticism about U.S. stability rising sharply. (Reuters)

• National polls show Trump’s approval below 40%, with majorities viewing his term as “chaotic” and “scary”; most Americans reject his threats but believe he’s serious. (USA Today)

• A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll revealed most Americans believe Trump is serious about unconstitutional power grabs and deporting citizens—but strongly oppose those actions. (Independent)

• A majority of Americans say DOGE, Trump’s agency for “efficiency,” has failed to cut government waste or fraud, and Elon Musk’s approval rating is underwater. (Business Insider)

Actions This Week

✅ TODAY - Find a May Day Protest to Attend

📣 May Day 2025 has sparked coordinated protests across the U.S. and around the world, with workers, immigrants, and students uniting to resist Trump’s anti-labor, anti-immigrant agenda and the billionaire takeover of government. From New York to Los Angeles, thousands are rallying to defend rights, reject privatization, and call for bold pro-democracy action.

Find out more & join the resistance:

• Thousands to rally against Trump, Musk in nationwide May Day protests – USA Today

• Workers Defy the Billionaire Takeover on May Day – In These Times

• What to know about May Day and how it has grown over the years – AP News

📚 Read & Share: Historians Speak Out on Trump

📘 A new survey of 35 historians shows overwhelming concern that Trump’s return to power represents a fundamental break with democratic norms. The article details how scholars compare Trump’s authoritarian consolidation to past U.S. presidents and why many consider the current moment unprecedented in its danger.

Read and reflect:

• Are Trump’s Actions Truly Unprecedented? We Asked 35 Historians – New York Times