What per week.
A U.S. citizen was shot and killed on Saturday by authorities brokers within the streets of America.
The federal company that killed Alex Pretti repeatedly lied in regards to the taking pictures, initially claiming that he approached brokers aspiring to slaughter them.
White House officers then managed to upset the National Rifle Association after the FBI director, the Treasury secretary, and Donald Trump himself urged that Pretti was shot 10 occasions as a result of he was legally carrying a gun.
By Monday, Trump backtracked within the face of widespread public outrage.
By Tuesday, U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino was out.
And on Wednesday, White House border czar Tom Homan introduced that officers could be disciplined in the event that they did not comply with protocol.
Soon after, the FBI raided a Georgia election heart close to Atlanta, with Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard personally overseeing the seizure of voter rolls.
That chilling act adopted two troubling developments. First got here final week’s revelations that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency operation had improperly taken voter info — together with Social Security numbers — whereas working with a political vendor. Soon after, Attorney General Pam Bondi moved to strong-arm Minnesota officers into handing over the state’s voter information.
Then right now got here the information that the Trump administration is arresting reporters for masking protests in Minnesota, together with former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
Another day, one other shock to our constitutional republic — and one other assault on constitutional norms.
And day by day, we now have to reply that lawless rage with our voices, our votes, and our humanity.
This requires good Americans to defend their constitutional rights, select compassion over violence, and work tirelessly to “make gentle the life of this world.”
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And as you go about making the world a greater place for you and me, you should definitely keep bundled up!
Monday is Groundhog Day, however earlier than Punxsutawney Phil weighs in on the destiny of spring, winter has extra to say. A frigid weekend lies forward, with a “bomb cyclone” anticipated to batter an already ice-locked East Coast.
Some tv occasions on the menu for these staying indoors embody the finals of this 12 months’s Australian Open (although the time distinction places the ladies’s and males’s finals at 3:30 a.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday, respectively). On Sunday night time, on the extra cheap begin time of 8 p.m. ET, is the 68th annual Grammy Awards, hosted for the fourth consecutive 12 months by comic Trevor Noah.
For these braving the arctic temperatures in New York City, the world-famous Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is underway at Madison Square Garden, and in nonetheless snowed-in Washington, D.C., you may benefit from the Washington DC Auto Show.
In hotter climates, Homestead, Florida, options the 77th Annual Homestead Championship Rodeo, whereas in Los Angeles all you punk rockers on the market can unleash your interior Joey Ramone tonight at Punk Rock karaoke on the Lodge Room.
Elsewhere throughout the nation: Beer drinkers can take a swig on the Big Barn Beer Fest in Hobart, Indiana; and followers of Elsa and Anna can let it go at Disney’s “Frozen” stage musical in Austin, Texas.
Now, on to your questions.
MAILBAG
Trump’s Department of Justice someway received a warrant to enter a Fulton County elections workplace to take away voter materials and ballots, with Tulsi main the cost. To me that is Trump laying extra groundwork for the 2026 elections. Am I unsuitable?
— Dave, Rio Vista, Calif.
No. You’re not unsuitable.
When you set every little thing in context, the unprecedented seizure of voting information in Georgia adopted Pam Bondi‘s weird demand for Minnesota voting information.
Americans ought to do not forget that Donald Trump repeatedly tried to overturn the outcomes of a presidential election he misplaced. In Georgia, all of us heard his voice on tape demanding that Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger “find” sufficient votes to declare him the winner.
Despite the blizzard of lies pushed by Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and a band of unethical attorneys, greater than 60 federal lawsuits introduced by Trump and his allies had been thrown out.
Now, with the president telling Republicans that he could be impeached a number of occasions in the event that they misplaced the midterm elections, Trump understands precisely how excessive the stakes are. And contemplating how badly his celebration is getting hammered in ballot after ballot, the White House has to know the reality: They doubtless can’t win — until they don’t play honest. The president even advised a reporter that America doesn’t want elections in 2026.
Let that be your warning. And let it’s mine.
When are we (i.e., the media) going to begin stating the plain … that the ICE charades don’t have anything to do with purely immigration enforcement, however reasonably the sharper sword of intimidation, instilling widespread worry, making state-sponsored blackmail authorized, and cultivating mistrust of every little thing that our Union is constructed on and provisioned for the final 250 years.
— Patrick P., Hobe Sound, Fla.
Donald Trump promised that his immigration raids would goal the worst of the worst. Instead, we’re seeing a 5-year-old baby being thrown in a detention heart. We are seeing a 37-year-old mom shot within the face whereas attempting to depart a protest space. And we’re seeing a VA nurse shot repeatedly within the again for appearing as a superb Samaritan after Border Patrol officers shoved a lady into the snow.
These raids will not be about eradicating harmful criminals from the streets. They are about driving up deportation numbers and sending a really clear message to states and cities: The federal authorities can are available in and crush them anytime it desires.
Obviously, the White House has overplayed its hand, and officers understand it. But anticipate continued Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids to happen throughout America — and the Trump administration to always push the boundaries of the chief department’s Article 2 powers. That is the White House’s said admission, and it’ll journey over any constitutional norm it will possibly as long as Congress and the Supreme Court refuse to push again.
Recommended
Joe, have you ever listened to the lyrics of “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield? This 1966 Vietnam anthem is much more related right now.
— Dale R., Venice, Fla.
The Buffalo Springfield basic feels all too related to occasions in America six a long time later.
Stephen Stills wrote the track in simply quarter-hour, after watching a riot on the Sunset Strip. He was disturbed by the unrest and feared for America’s future.
The track could be connected to the Vietnam War, civil rights protests, the National Guard taking pictures at Kent State, and a string of occasions over the following six a long time. And once more, right here we’re.
Step out of line, the person involves take you away …
Joe, now that we’re to the center of winter, it’s time to speak about summer time and boats. Please inform us about your lobster boat — as an actual workboat, what’s the make, size, and energy plant? What upgrades are you making for 2026?
— Jordan O., Traverse City, Mich.
Jordan, thanks for that great query. When the snow is piled excessive alongside the facet of the street and the temperature is properly under freezing, it’s a great escape to consider summer time — and getting again out on the water with my lobster boat.
Jewel is a 40-foot fiberglass magnificence named after my grandmom, who raised 4 kids in rural Georgia via the hardest years of the Great Depression. She was a mighty pressure — somebody who constructed her household on the values of religion, onerous work, and the hope of higher days forward.
My mom had only one gown when she was rising up. My grandmom would wash it outdoors and iron it each morning earlier than college. Because of Jewel’s energy of character, the youngsters by no means knew they had been poor. My grandmom additionally appeared to have a direct line to God — and that connection at all times made an ideal distinction in our lives.
The boat that bears her title is a 2001 RP lobster boat. A single-screw, diesel, fiberglass magnificence that will get the job finished.
When I first requested buddies the place I might discover a working lobster boat, they despatched hyperlinks for Hinckleys, yachts, and different high-end picnic boats. I’d right them politely and say, “I’d actually like a working lobster boat.“
Then got here photographs of lobster boats that had been painstakingly transformed into wood-paneled luxurious cruisers.
So I made it easy: Where can I discover an previous, 40-foot lobster boat — diesel, single-screw, fiberglass from bow to stern?
Just a few weeks later, Jewel got here into my life, and summers haven’t been the identical since!
After seeing me carry it into the dock, a ship captain laughed and stated, “That one will get heads turning at the yacht club.” I replied: “Well, since I’m not a member of any yacht club, I think I’ll be just fine.”
Now, after all, I take out buddies with bigger, extra “refined” yachts who love Jewel and are serious about making a rough-and-ready lobster boat their subsequent buy.
For my household, it’s been an ideal match — from Florida all the way in which up the East Coast!
NIGHTCAP
Joe will seem on “Real Time with Bill Maher” tonight! Don’t miss the present on HBO at 10 p.m. ET.
ONE MORE SHOT
Photo by Ian Dickson/Redferns Redferns
English singer, drummer, and artist Phil Collins turns 75 right now!
SPILL IT!
Next week, actor Ian McKellan will be part of us to debate his new play, “The Ark.”
Have a query? Ask right here, and we could characteristic your query on the present.
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Joe Scarborough
Former Rep. Joe Scarborough, R-Fla., is co-host of MS NOW’s “Morning Joe” alongside Mika Brzezinski — a present that Time journal calls “revolutionary.” In addition to his profession in tv, Joe is a two-time New York Times best-selling creator. His most up-to-date e book is “The Right Path: From Ike to Reagan, How Republicans Once Mastered Politics — and Can Again.”
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