SCOTUS Hits Back as Protests Spread & the Pentagon Sees Turmoil - Resistance Brief for 21 April 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 in the United States. In this issue, we discuss the widespread, powerful protests happening across the nation, featuring photo collections from major news outlets. We also detail the crucial legal battles where courts are pushing back against the Trump regime. As always, we highlight instances of international resistance efforts, including Canada's electoral response to trade hostilities and Europe's stance against authoritarian influence. Finally, we analyze emerging vulnerabilities within the current regime, particularly within the Pentagon as reports indicate Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth may soon be on his way out. But first…

Daily Inspiration

Take a look at these two collections of photos of the massive protests held all across the country this weekend. They come from the Associated Press and Mother Jones. More Americans are stepping up and stepping out of their comfort zones each day to engage in acts of resistance. These protests are the most overt signs, but resistance is everywhere, sometimes even in the smallest acts. Take a look at these folks protesting tyranny in America and recommit yourself to taking whatever action you can this week!

📸 Photo Collections from this Weekend’s Protests

• Powerful Scenes From This Weekend’s Anti-Trump Protests Reveal Resistance in Action – Mother Jones

• PHOTO COLLECTION: Anti-Trump "Hands Off" Protests | The Independent

Resistance Today

Civil Society & Publics

50501 & Earth Day Protests

The surge of nationwide protests tied to the 50501 movement and Earth Day represents a rapidly expanding resistance to the Trump regime, uniting climate, migrant justice, and pro-democracy causes into a mass-scale campaign of noncooperation. With over 700 coordinated actions over the weekend, demonstrators signaled their rejection of Trump’s policies and readiness to organize for long-term political disruption. The alignment of mutual aid, civic action, and environmental defense underscores a strategic evolution away from symbolic dissent toward sustainable resistance structures. The movement leverages broad-based participation and clear messaging to enhance its resilience and societal legitimacy.

Key Developments

• Over 700 coordinated protests took place in all 50 states as part of the 50501 movement's “National Day of Action,” blending rallies with mutual aid and teach-ins. (The Verge)

• Protesters across the nation linked Trump's deportations and environmental rollbacks to authoritarian overreach, using Revolutionary War imagery to frame the stakes. (NPR)

• Protesters in Milwaukee and Philadelphia used “No Kings” messaging to denounce GOP complicity and rally for a return to democratic norms. (NPR)

• Earth Day protests mobilized thousands nationwide to demand action against Trump’s climate and migration policies, with events targeting ICE, fossil fuel financiers, and Elon Musk’s role in government. (The Guardian)

University Protests

Student and faculty-led protests at universities mark a critical development in resistance to Trump’s authoritarian clampdown on education, speech, and immigrant rights, turning higher education into a new frontline of organized dissent. By rejecting government demands and rallying for academic freedom, and international student rights, universities are beginning to reassert their traditional role as democratic incubators. These acts of defiance, including Harvard’s refusal to comply with federal threats and Columbia’s reversal, signal potential institutional realignments away from accommodation and toward resistance. Such elite defections and institutional standoffs are essential for challenging the regime’s legitimacy and sustaining mass mobilization.

Key Developments

• Harvard and Columbia students and faculty led protests against cuts to research funding, speech restrictions, and the deportation of international students. (AP News)

• Organizers rallied across the U.S. on a Day of Action for Higher Education, resisting what they called Trump’s war on academic freedom and campus democracy. (AP News)

• Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich called on universities to resist appeasement of the regime, warning “you cannot appease a tyrant.” (AP News)

• Columbia walked back prior concessions to Trump after protests erupted over federal interference and ICE detentions. (AP News)

Holding GOP Politicians Accountable

Public confrontations with GOP leaders like Senator Chuck Grassley and Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene show a strategic shift in the resistance: targeting regime-aligned politicians directly for their complicity and illegal profiteering. Town halls show scenes of growing outrage over the regime's lawlessness, including defying the Supreme Court, and demands for GOP accountability. The spotlight on Greene's unethical profiteering from tariff changes is but one example. Putting pressure on regime pillars—especially through visible disruption and exposing contradictions—is vital for eroding elite cohesion and incentivizing defections.

Key Developments

• Senator Chuck Grassley was repeatedly challenged at town halls over his support for Trump’s deportation defiance and refusal to uphold court orders. (The Guardian)

• Grassley dismissed responsibility for Trump's failure to comply with Supreme Court deportation orders, sparking further outrage. (ABC News)

• Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene expelled multiple critics from her town hall, and police used force and tasers on attendees. (ABC News)

• Greene bought stocks ahead of Trump’s tariff reversal, profiting from the market rally, raising conflict-of-interest concerns. (New York Times)

Bureaucratic & Executive

Musk's "5 things" email mandate for federal workers has devolved into bureaucratic chaos as his government role ends. The Office of Personnel Management has undermined the initiative by telling agency leaders that compliance was voluntary, despite public threats from Musk and Trump. This resulted in inconsistent implementation across government agencies, with some abandoning the requirement while others maintained strict compliance, generating meaningless data. Federal workers resisted the authoritarian measure by submitting identical responses, using foreign languages, or submitting AI-generated content. The true purpose of the emails remains unclear, although a similar requirement was used for layoffs at Musk's private companies in the past.

Key Developments

• OPM privately informed agency leaders that Musk's email requirement was voluntary, contradicting public statements. (Washington Post)

• Some agencies, including EPA and NIH, have made weekly accomplishment emails optional or unnecessary. (Washington Post)

• Elon Musk is expected to exit government when his special government employee status expires at the end of May, reportedly due to what he views as "nasty and unethical attacks from the political left." (Washington Post)

• Federal employees have adapted to the mandate through various forms of resistance, including submitting identical weekly responses, using foreign languages, or generating AI content to submit. (Washington Post)

Legal & Judicial

Federal courts have dealt two major blows this week to the Trump regime’s efforts to erode legal protections. In a forceful rebuke, a panel of Republican-appointed appellate judges condemned the Trump regime’s use of the Alien Enemies Act to exile a Maryland resident to a hard-labor prison in El Salvador, warning that such actions threaten due process protections for all Americans. In another pivotal case, a federal judge blocked Trump’s attempt to dismantle the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau by firing 90% of its staff, citing irreparable harm to its core mission. Most importantly, the Supreme Court issued a late-night ruling preventing the Trump regime from sending more people to El Salvador in contravention of a lower court order. These rulings highlight the importance of judicial independence and the potential for courts to act as a bullwark against authoritarianism.

Key Developments

• The 4th Circuit condemned the Trump regime for unlawfully deporting Kilmar Abrego García, calling it an affront to due process. (Democracy Docket)

• The court dismissed the Trump administration's appeal and confirmed that the Supreme Court's order mandated the government to actively ensure Abrego García's release, rather than passively asserting its inability to do so. (Democracy Docket)

• Judge Amy Berman Jackson prevented mass layoffs at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. (Democracy Docket)

• The Trump regime sent layoff notices to over 1,500 CFPB employees, despite a prior court order to preserve the agency while litigation proceeds. (Democracy Docket)

• The Supreme Court temporarily blocked deportations of Venezuelan migrants from a Texas detention facility, pending further review of Trump’s sweeping use of the Alien Enemies Act. (PBS)

Congress & Lawmakers

House and Senate Democrats have escalated their resistance to Trump’s authoritarian rule by embracing direct action, shadow hearings, and legal challenges, but their efforts reflect both newfound resolve and ongoing strategic uncertainty. Members like Chris Van Hollen and Jamie Raskin are stepping into a leadership vacuum with bold symbolic moves, while factions within the party remain divided on the costs and efficacy of compromise with the regime. These developments underscore a critical phase where the resistance is experimenting with bolder action, but still struggles to transform protest energy into institutional checks on power. Successful resistance often requires mass participation, loyalty shifts among regime enforcers, and disciplined escalation—criteria only partially fulfilled here. Nonetheless, action by Democrats like Van Hollen are sparking courage from others within the party and giving him a national media platform to get the message out about the threat that Trump poses to all Americans.

Key Developments

• Senator Chris Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Ábrego García, challenging the Trump regime’s defiance of a Supreme Court order. (ABC News)

• House Democrats including Maxwell Frost and Yassamin Ansari joined Van Hollen’s push for Ábrego García’s return. (The Guardian)

• Despite criticism, Senate Democrats who previously voted to avoid a government shutdown now claim vindication. (NBC News)

• Activists and lawmakers critical of Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries have rallied around alternative leaders like Raskin, Booker, Van Hollen, and Ocasio-Cortez. (New York Times)

• Progressive leaders like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders are drawing tens of thousands to their “Fight Oligarchy” tour. (New York Times)

State & Local Governments

Democratic governors are sharpening their critiques of Trump’s authoritarian rule, with Maura Healey, JB Pritzker, and Katie Hobbs leveraging their state power to resist federal overreach, defend civil liberties, and block anti-immigrant measures. This rising state-level defiance matters because it reveals how decentralized resistance can blunt national authoritarian consolidation—especially when federal institutions falter. In line with research on resistance movements, such local initiatives can disrupt regime strategies, bolster movement participation, and strengthen democratic resilience by expanding the range of active opposition fronts.

Key Developments

• Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey condemned Trump’s attacks on Harvard and cuts to public health research. (MassLive)

• Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker intensified national opposition to Trump’s policies while spearheading progressive legislation at home and launching a national campaign to fund resistance ballot initiatives. (Politico)

• Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs vetoed the Arizona ICE Act, reaffirming her commitment to due process and local control. (AZMirror)

• California Gov. Gavin Newsom downplayed the constitutional crisis over Trump’s defiance of a Supreme Court ruling, drawing sharp intra-party backlash. (The Bulwark)

International Resistance

Canada

Canada’s political resistance to Trump’s authoritarianism has intensified ahead of its national elections, as trade hostilities from the Trump regime have shifted the electoral landscape and reignited nationalist sentiment. Liberal Prime Minister Mark Carney and his party, once seen as headed for defeat, now lead in polls by positioning themselves as defenders of Canadian sovereignty. The Trump regime’s overt hostility—including threats to annex Canada—has triggered a backlash against conservative candidate Pierre Poilievre, whose Trump-style populism is increasingly viewed as a liability.

Key Developments

• Trump’s economic aggression and rhetoric about making Canada the 51st state have fueled a surge in nationalism, helping the Liberal Party rebound in polls. (AP)

• Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, once the frontrunner, has seen his support drop sharply as his Trump-like persona draws increasing voter unease. (ABC News)

• Carney, a former central banker, now frames the election as a battle against populist authoritarianism and has vowed to renegotiate trade terms and restore bilateral respect. (AP)

Europe

European resistance to Trump is becoming increasingly institutional and public, as both leaders and citizens reject his authoritarian agenda and attempt to contain his influence. The UK’s invitation of Macron ahead of Trump and the threat of mass protests during Trump's planned September visit highlight both elite and grassroots opposition. Meanwhile, France is providing sanctuary to US academics fleeing repression, a development aligned with the fact that international solidarity can help protect and amplify resistance. Together, these moves illustrate Europe’s emerging role as a bastion for transatlantic democratic values.

Key Developments

• King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer invited French President Macron for a UK state visit ahead of Trump, aligning with EU efforts to decouple from Trump’s influence. (Politico EU)

• UK parliamentarians are campaigning to block Trump from addressing Parliament during his visit, citing his disrespect for democratic norms. (Independent)

• Mass protests are being planned for Trump’s September UK visit, with organizers vowing larger demonstrations than in 2019. (The Guardian)

• France’s Aix-Marseille University received nearly 300 applications from US-based researchers seeking “scientific asylum” in response to Trump’s crackdown on academia. (The Guardian)

Latin America

The Trump regime’s practice of outsourcing deportations to Latin America is generating international legal backlash and revealing the extraterritorial expansion of its authoritarian deportation regime. Legal groups have filed suit against Costa Rica for its treatment of child deportees, highlighting the regime’s disregard for human rights and international norms. These cases reflect the erosion of protections for vulnerable populations and the regime’s efforts to evade accountability by shifting repressive practices beyond US borders—a classic authoritarian strategy of concealment and diffusion that resistance movements are now challenging in international forums.

Key Developments

• Human rights lawyers filed suit against Costa Rica for detaining 81 deported children from the US in inhumane conditions, citing violations of international law. (ABC News)

• The Trump administration’s deportation tactics—using Panama and Costa Rica as de facto detention zones—have come under fire for stripping migrants of legal counsel, sanitation, and basic rights. (ABC News)

• Costa Rican President Rodrigo Chaves admitted the arrangement was about “helping the economically powerful brother to the north,” fueling criticism of regional complicity in Trump’s deportation machine. (ABC News)

Resistance Tomorrow

Vulnerabilities & Exposures

The collapse of order within the Trump regime’s Pentagon leadership has exposed a critical vulnerability in one of the most foundational pillars of authoritarian rule: the military. Amid allegations of leaking classified information, mass resignations, and growing internal factionalism, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth now presides over what insiders are calling a “full-blown meltdown.” This turmoil not only reflects the erosion of institutional loyalty but also signals potential elite defection, a key precondition for regime failure. When military leadership fractures, the regime’s ability to wield coercive power is undermined, opening space for civil resistance and institutional collapse.

Key Developments

• Early reporting indicates that the White House has initiated a search for a new Secretary of Defense amid allegations that Hegseth leaked strike details to family members over Signal. (NPR)

• Other reports, however, say Trump continues to back Hegseth despite the chaos, dismissing the crisis as “disgruntled employees.” (Politico)

• A former Pentagon spokesperson and longtime ally of Hegseth described a “month from hell” that included purges, leaks, and reckless endangerment of troops, and openly called for his firing. (Politico)

• The Pentagon’s leadership ranks have been gutted, with four top Hegseth aides—including his chief of staff—abruptly leaving or being fired, leaving key positions unfilled. (Politico)

• A second leak involving a private chat with Hegseth’s family has drawn bipartisan condemnation and demands for resignation, with senior military voices warning that the Pentagon has ceased to function as a credible warfighting institution. (The Guardian)

Actions This Week

📅 Join the movement on April 29, 2025 for nationwide Anti-MAGA protests and sit-ins across all 50 states to remove corruption, reverse the damage, and reclaim democracy. Make a plan to show up and be part of the 50 States, 1 Movement action!

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• Anti-MAGA Protests Hub

📊 The Big List of Protests (The BLOP) is tracking nationwide Anti-MAGA protests with real-time data, maps, and updates—stay informed and see the movement grow across all 50 states. Bookmark the site to follow turnout, trends, and ways to get involved.

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• The Big List of Protests