Protest Criminalization, Online Surveillance, and Threats to the Judiciary - The Threat Brief

Monitoring and exposing threats to democracy defenders in America

Mar 18, 2025

Welcome!

Welcome to The Resistance Sentinel, a publication dedicated to documenting and amplifying the movement to defend democracy against authoritarian rule. Today we are launching a new weekly publication, The Threat Brief. As we have been covering resistance wins, losses, and opportunities over the last several weeks in our Resistance Daily Brief, a new category of news item has emerged in our monitoring: threats to the resistance from the Trump regime and its supporters. So today we launch our first edition of The Threat Brief, which we expect to publish once a week to help keep you informed of ongoing and emerging threats to those engaged in defending democracy in America. As Trump and Musk continue to rapidly consolidate authoritarian control, it is almost certain that those engaged in resistance activities of all kinds will face various levels of repression from the state. Our goal is to monitor and expose those threats so that you can take action to protect yourself and others. Let’s get started…

Summary

The Trump administration is escalating efforts to suppress dissent and protest through a multi-pronged approach of criminalization, medicalization, lawfare, surveillance, speech restrictions, and threats of violence. These tactics aim to intimidate activists, chill free speech, and expand executive power to punish critics. From labeling protesters as terrorists to weaponizing immigration enforcement against student activists, the administration is pushing legal and ethical boundaries in ways that threaten core democratic freedoms and civil liberties.

Criminalizing Protest

Protest as Terrorism

President Trump and GOP lawmakers are pushing to classify protests against Tesla as "domestic terrorism," with Trump threatening severe consequences for demonstrators. This alarming attempt to criminalize dissent as terrorism poses a grave threat to First Amendment rights and could severely chill legitimate protest activities.

What happened: President Trump and Republican lawmakers are pushing to classify certain protests and acts of vandalism against Tesla vehicles as “domestic terrorism.” Trump said he would label anti-Tesla protesters as domestic terrorists and that they would "go through hell." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and other GOP members called for a domestic terrorism investigation into Tesla protests.
Why it matters: Labeling protest activities as terrorism dramatically escalates the potential consequences for demonstrators and could have a severe chilling effect on legitimate dissent. This blurs the line between peaceful protest and actual terrorism in ways that threaten First Amendment rights and expand the government's power to crack down on critics.
The Headlines

Information Control

Disinformation & Propaganda

Republican lawmakers in Minnesota are proposing legislation to classify criticism of Trump as a mental illness, labeling it "Trump Derangement Syndrome." This alarming attempt to pathologize political dissent represents a dangerous authoritarian tactic that could be used to silence opposition and potentially justify forced institutionalization of critics.

What happened: Five Republican Minnesota state senators are set to introduce a bill that would classify "Trump Derangement Syndrome" (TDS), which they define as an "acute onset of paranoia" regarding the presidencies of Donald Trump, as a mental illness.
Why it matters: Medicalizing political dissent is a classic authoritarian tactic to delegitimize opposition and potentially justify forced treatment or institutionalization of critics. This sets a dangerous precedent of using psychiatric diagnoses as a political weapon and could lead to abuse of mental health systems to silence dissent.
The Headlines

Republicans push to make "Trump Derangement Syndrome" a mental illness

Surveillance

A leaked list reveals ICE's contractor ShadowDragon surveils over 200 online sites and services, allowing easy searches and connections between individuals. This extensive surveillance capability poses significant privacy risks and could severely inhibit online free speech and association, potentially enabling targeted monitoring of activists and dissidents.

What happened: 404 Media has obtained a list of over 200 sites and services that ICE contractor ShadowDragon pulls data from to surveil individuals. This data is used by government analysts to easily search and draw connections between people.
Why it matters: The extensive surveillance capabilities revealed by this list raise serious privacy concerns and could have a chilling effect on online speech and association. The ability to easily connect data from hundreds of sources gives the government unprecedented power to monitor and profile individuals, potentially targeting activists and dissidents.
The Headlines

The 200+ Sites an ICE Surveillance Contractor is Monitoring

Silencing & Criminalizing Speech

The Trump administration arrested a pro-Palestinian activist using obscure laws, while Trump escalated attacks on prosecutors, revoked security clearances, and accused major media outlets of criminal activity. These actions silence dissent, undermine First Amendment protections, and intimidate both immigrant activists and smaller organizations into compliance through fear.

What happened: The Trump administration arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian student protest leader and green card holder, using obscure legal statutes. Trump has vowed to seek accountability for prosecutors and officials who pursued legal cases against him, has revoked security clearances of those involved in investigations of him, and has claimed that large news media organizations are “corrupt” and “illegal.”
Why it matters: Using immigration enforcement and obscure laws to target activists represents a dangerous escalation in efforts to silence dissent. This approach circumvents normal due process and First Amendment protections, creating a climate of fear among immigrant activists. Immigrants are not the only ones under threat. Trump extended efforts to chill dissenting speech to other groups when he accused news media organizations of being engaged in organized criminal activity. Going after large organizations with resources first is a way of scaring smaller actors, with less capability to fight back, into silence.
The Headlines

Lawfare

Lawfare involves the weaponization of the law, legal system, and bureaucracy against one’s opponents. In the Trump regime, we are seeing the weaponization of one branch of government against another, in this case the executive against the judicial branch through cuts to funding and staffing. The federal judiciary is now warning of potential disruptions to court operations due to DOGE's cuts, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of the Trump-Musk regime's assault on government institutions. This development underscores the urgent need for resistance to protect the independence and functioning of the judicial branch and to find avenues of resistance beyond legal remedies.

What happened: The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts issued a memo warning of "immediate and long-term effects on court operations" due to mass layoffs at the General Services Administration (GSA) orchestrated by DOGE. The cuts affect building services and maintenance for federal court buildings, potentially disrupting ongoing construction projects, including security system upgrades. Additionally, 69 judiciary-related properties were listed among 440 locations deemed non-essential by GSA, raising concerns about potential courthouse closures.
Why it matters: This situation demonstrates the erosion of separation of powers as DOGE's actions in the executive branch directly impact the judiciary's ability to function. It is the weaponization of one branch’s legal authorities and constitutional responsibilities against another. The courts have, so far, ruled often against the Trump regime, making the judicial branch a target for retaliation. This encroachment on judicial independence aligns with common tactics used by authoritarian regimes to consolidate power and weaken democratic institutions. Resistance from within the judiciary and public pressure to maintain its integrity are vital to defending democracy and preventing further authoritarian consolidation. What to watch for: Republican lawmakers threatening or introducing legislation to defund the courts in response to mounting losses for the Trump regime.
The Headlines

DOGE Rampage May Have 'Immediate,' 'Long-term' Effects For Courts, Judicial Branch Warns

Violence & Threats

President Trump has ended Secret Service protection for Hunter and Ashley Biden, citing cost concerns. This decision, while not directly threatening violence against former President Biden’s children, exposes them to increased risk of violence from Trump supporters who have long seen the two as bad actors. Hunter was been a long-time target of Republican smears and investigations. Removal of security opens him and his sister to vigilante violence from Trump’s base.

What happened: President Donald Trump announced the termination of Secret Service protection for Hunter Biden and Ashley Biden, the children of former President Joe Biden. Trump cited the cost to taxpayers as the primary reason for this decision, claiming that 18 agents were assigned to Hunter and 13 to Ashley. The move comes after the Bidens left office earlier this year, with Trump arguing that protection for adult children of former presidents typically ends when they leave office.
Why it matters: This decision potentially undermines established norms surrounding the protection of former presidents' families and could be seen as a politically motivated action targeting opponents. The move may expose Hunter and Ashley Biden to increased security risks, especially given the heightened political tensions and threats they have faced. This action demonstrates how executive power can be wielded to potentially intimidate or endanger political rivals, which could have a chilling effect on democratic participation and further polarize the political landscape.
The Headlines

Trump has vowed retribution against prosecutors who pursued legal cases against him, calling them "scum" and praising their firing, while Mike Flynn urged the President to declare a national emergency. This rhetoric undermines the rule of law, risks inciting violence, and raises serious concerns about authoritarian power grabs through martial law.

What happened: In a speech at the Department of Justice, Trump vowed to seek accountability for prosecutors and officials who pursued legal cases against him, calling them "bad people," “scum,” and promising to "expose their egregious crimes." He also praised the firing of Justice Department prosecutors involved in cases against him. At the same time, Trump’s former National Security Advisor and MAGA influencer, Lt. Gen. (retired) Mike Flynn, called for the President to declare a national emergency.
Why it matters: The President using his platform to threaten retribution against law enforcement officials and prosecutors undermines the rule of law and the independence of the justice system. This rhetoric could incite violence against government officials and creates a climate of fear that may deter people from serving in law enforcement or pursuing legitimate investigations. Flynn’s call for the declaration of a national emergency will almost certainly involve the invocation of the Insurrection Act, essentially a declaration of martial law that would make Trump a dictator.
The Headlines

The Resistance Sentinel

Discussion about this post

Ready for more?