And some good news today! The Ole Mike Lindell, "My Pillow Guy," who basically shot his own nuts off, and then cries on zoom how devastated he is, is getting his. He had it comin.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/im-ruins-teary-mike-lindell-tells-judge-smartmatic/story?id=120887538

'I'm in ruins,' teary Mike Lindell tells judge in Smartmatic sanctions hearing
The MyPillow CEO and Trump ally says he has no money after legal battles.

BySoo Rin Kim
April 16, 2025, 4:27 PM

Election denier and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell continues to refuse to pay more than $50,000 in sanctions he has been ordered to pay to voting software company Smartmatic over "frivolous" election claims -- alleging he's left with no money after numerous legal battles.

"I'm in ruins," a teary Lindell said through a Zoom screen during a motion hearing in the U.S. District Court in Washington on Wednesday, pleading to Judge Carl Nichols to allow him to wait until after the final judgement comes out to make any payment in the case, which he has already lost.

Last month, Smartmatic filed a motion to hold Lindell in contempt, alleging the MyPillow CEO has been dodging his court-ordered payment of $56,369 to Smartmatic for months.

Lindell, however, insisted that he does not have the means to pay the amount due to various financial difficulties he has suffered over the last few years due to what he again claimed was "lawfare" waged against him for trying to "secure the election."

"I borrowed everything I can. Nobody will lend me any money anymore," Lindell claimed. "I can't turn back time ... but I will tell you, I don't have any money."

Lindell claimed he was recently forced to lay off hundreds of MyPillow employees, lost multiple MyPillow warehouse units over the past two years and even owes millions of dollars to the IRS for what he described as a COVID-era employee retention credit.

He claimed he has "nothing" except for two houses, which he claimed are in the process of being liquidated, and a truck.

He even claimed he can no longer adhere to a previously proposed plan of making monthly installments of $5,000.

After listening through Lindell's plight, Nichols acknowledged that these claims are "non-verifiable representation" at the moment and gave Lindell until Friday to file under seal financial statements and other documents to prove his claims.

"I have nothing to hide," Lindell said as he agreed to do so and added he wants Smartmatic to see the financial situation he's in as well.

Smartmatic's attorney said his client would prefer to see the payment made in a lump sum as soon as possible but acknowledged he would respect the judge's ruling.

This I found a good summary of the 20 lessons from the book I just read, "On Tyranny." It is basically a book to deal with modern day Trumpism, and the heading into faschism, and how regular folks can stop it (hopefully):

https://www.attackofthebooks.com/summary-on-tyranny-twenty-lessons-from-the-twentieth-century-by-timothy-snyder/

Summary | On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder
2022-04-28 · by Daniel ·

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder



In George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel 1984, “thought crime”—a person’s politically unorthodox thoughts, such as unspoken beliefs and doubts that contradict the tenets of the ruling party—is an even more serious offense than committing an actual crime. In other words, even allowing yourself to have a thought that does not conform to what the ruling elite has decreed is dangerous.

 
In reading Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, I often felt like Snyder is channeling his inner Orwell. Instead of predicting what might happen, he is warning us of what will happen again if we do not learn from the history, wars, dictatorships, and tragedies of the whole 20th century since. Orwell was predicting the future, a future where the state was supreme and dominated by one party, where thought was a crime and love was illicit. Snyder is proclaiming that the danger of tyranny has not passed, and may not pass unless we learn lessons from our history. Big Brother still looms large.
 
Here below are his lessons, and they’re largely as important to us in a liberal democracy as they are anywhere else in the world—maybe more so as populist elements in our politics provide openings for demagogues with a penchant for self-aggrandizement instead of civic virtue or public good.
 
1. Do not obey in advance. Think about Hitler’s Germany, where power was gained democratically (mostly). Most of the power of authoritarianism is freely given by the people. In times like these, individuals think ahead about what a more repressive government will want, and then offer themselves without being asked.
 
2. Defend institutions. Institutions are not platforms for individuals, but tent-poles that hold up our liberal republic. But if we abuse them, they will fall. So they need our help. Do not speak of “our institutions” unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. So choose an institution you care about and take its side.
 
3. Beware the one-party state. This seems obvious, but all too often we blink at the dominance of one party. And remember that parties that remade states—the Nazis or the Communists, most obviously—and suppressed rivals were not omnipotent from the start. They exploited a historic moment to make political life impossible for their opponents. Support the multi-party system and defend the rules of democratic elections. We don’t always recognize when we are living in a historic moment, but constant vigilance keeps us safe.
 
4. Take responsibility for the face of the world. I love this one. The symbols of today enable the reality of tomorrow. Notice the swastikas and other signs of hate. And watch for new signs of hate. Does it divide? Does it create an “other”? Does it push a wedge? Do not look away, and do not get used to them. Remove them yourself and set an example for others to do so.
 
5. Remember professional ethics. Institutions are not found solely in government, but also in the professional groups we belong to, be it the law, medicine, accounting, business, or any other. Snyder says that when political leaders set a negative example, professional commitments to just practice become important. It is hard to subvert a rule-of-law state without lawyers or to hold show trials without judges. Authoritarians need obedient civil servants, and concentration camp directors seek businessmen interested in cheap labor.

6. Be wary of paramilitaries. I struggle with this one because it touches so close to the Second Amendment, the right to defend one’s self, one’s state, and resist the government’s overreach. If we give up our guns, who is to give the military pause when an unjust or illegal order is given from above? Snyder argues that when the men with guns who have always claimed to be against the system start wearing uniforms and marching around with torches and pictures of a Leader, the end is nigh. When the pro-leader paramilitary and the official police and military intermingle, the end has come. I think that it’s a salient argument, but one that needs more depth. Uniformed militia under the state is one thing; uniformed militia blindly (or not blindly, I suppose) following The Leader is another.
 
7. Be reflective if you must be armed. If you carry a weapon in public service, God bless you and keep you. But know that evils of the past involved policemen and soldiers finding themselves, one day, doing irregular things. Be ready to say no. I would add to Snyder’s point—because, again, he doesn’t seem to be completely okay with the paradigm of private individuals going about armed, which I think is a critical right in our democracy—that being reflective applies to all armed individuals. Showboating your AR-15 in a crowd or in the mall does nothing to build trust and confidence.

8. Stand out. This speaks to the need to be more than just what I call a lurker online. No, you don’t need to engage in every argument on the internet—that’s akin to casting your pearls before swine. But it is easy to follow along, and research shows that all too often people follow because they are under the impression that everyone else feels the same way. It can feel strange to do or say something different. Without occasional unease, there is no freedom. Remember Rosa Parks. The moment you set an example, the spell of the status quo is broken, and others will follow.
 
9. Be kind to our language. AMEN. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books.
 
10. Believe in truth. Snyder says that to abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is a spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights. Everything is relative. And that’s just hogwash.

11. Investigate. I feel like this one is becoming harder each day. But Snyder says it is important to figure things out for yourself, to spend more time with long articles. He suggests paying for investigative journalism by subscribing to print media (I choose the WSJ for my reading, though I read others when I can). A lot of what is on the internet is there to mislead or harm. Learn about sites that investigate propaganda campaigns (some of which come from abroad). Take responsibility for what you communicate to others, and try to be accurate.
 
12. Make eye contact and small talk. More than being polite, this is part of what it means to be a neighbor, a citizen, and a responsible member of society. It is also a way to stay in touch with your surroundings, break down social barriers, and understand whom you should and should not trust. If we enter a culture of denunciation, you will want to know the psychological landscape of your daily life. Snyder doesn’t say it, but maybe we should recognize that cancel culture is an extension of this theme, no matter whether it comes from the Left or the Right.
 
13. Practice corporeal politics. Power wants your body softening in your chair and your emotions dissipating on the screen. Get outside. Put your body in unfamiliar places with unfamiliar people. Make new friends and support them in their trials and struggles.
 
14. Establish a private life. Remember that what you put online is permanent (or pretty close to it). Nastier rulers will use what they know about you to push you around. Scrub your computer of malware. Remember that email is skywriting. Consider using alternative forms of the Internet, or simply using it less. Have personal exchanges in person. For the same reason, resolve any legal trouble because it can be used against you.
 
15. Contribute to good causes. Be active in organizations, political or not, that express your own view of life. Pick a charity or two and set up autopay. If you’re religious, be actively involved and engaged. Be a good neighbor. See also #12 above.
 
16. Learn from peers in other countries. Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends abroad. Snyder is far more international in his thinking than I am, but perhaps he’s not wrong. If America is to be a light on a hill, then we must also be willing to be humble and willing to go and learn and build friendships beyond our shores. Make sure you and your family have passports.

17. Listen for dangerous words. Be alert to the use of the words extremism and terrorism. They have been used regularly over the last century as excuses to take power and expand the state. Be alive to the fatal notions of emergency and exception. Be angry about the treacherous use of patriotic vocabulary.
 
18. Be calm when the unthinkable arrives. Modern tyranny is terror management (see #17). When the terrorist attack comes, remember that authoritarians exploit such events in order to consolidate power. Do not fall for it. In the days of the Roman republic, in moments of crisis, the Senate would appoint a dictator to address the threat, but that dictator was limited to just the year to protect the nation—and yet, Caesar still rose to become Emperor. Should we be any less surprised when one man attempts to take greater power for himself in the wake of a crisis?
 
19. Be a patriot. Set a good example of what America means for the generations to come. Patriotism is a good thing, but it doesn’t spring fully grown as from Zeus’s head, but in the lessons we pass on to our children.
 
20. Be as courageous as you can. If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.

'This month, Indiana University’s Bloomington faculty council followed in the footsteps of Rutgers University in passing a resolution to establish a pact with all 18 universities under the Big 10 academic alliance to defend academic freedoms.

The resolution comes as a result of “recent and escalating politically motivated actions by governmental bodies [which] pose a significant threat to the foundational principles of American higher education including the autonomy of university governance, the integrity of scientific research, and the protection of free speech”.

The 18 universities part of the Big 10 academic alliance include the University of Illinois, Indiana University, University of Iowa, University of Maryland, University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Minnesota, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Northwestern University, Ohio State University, University of Oregon, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University, Rutgers University-New Brunswick, University of California Los Angeles, University of Southern California, University of Washington and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

The resolution says the “preservation of one institution’s integrity is the concern of all and an infringement against one member university of the Big Ten shall be considered an infringement against all”.'

Yes this is huge! The power of Unity.

This is big. See how this goes.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/judge-finds-probable-cause-hold-trump-administration-contempt-deportat-rcna201569

Judge finds cause to hold Trump administration in criminal contempt over deportation flights
The Trump administration used a rarely used wartime law to deport people the administration claimed were members of a Venezuelan gang.




April 16, 2025, 9:30 AM PDT / Updated April 16, 2025, 9:49 AM PDT
By Chloe Atkins and Rebecca Shabad
WASHINGTON — A federal judge said in an order Wednesday that he has found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt over the deportation flights that it sent to El Salvador.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg found "the Government’s actions on that day demonstrate a willful disregard for its Order, sufficient for the Court to conclude that probable cause exists to find the Government in criminal contempt.”

 “The Court does not reach such conclusion lightly or hastily; indeed, it has given Defendants ample opportunity to rectify or explain their actions. None of their responses has been satisfactory,” the judge wrote.

Boasberg ordered any planes that were in the air to be turned around during an emergency hearing on Saturday, March 15, shortly after the White House made public that President Donald Trump had signed an executive order invoking the Alien Enemies Act — a rarely used wartime power — in order to deport alleged members of a Venezuelan gang.

Lawyers for the plaintiff in the case said their five clients were not members of the Tren de Aragua gang, and were being sent to a prison in El Salvador without any due process.

He added that, “If Defendants opt to purge their contempt, they shall file by April 23, 2025, a declaration explaining the steps they have taken and will take to do so."

The White House did not immediately comment on the ruling.

All the universities will need to join together in this resistance. One of the problems is that federal funding tends to be general, while private donations (of which they have a lot) tends to be program targeted.

Looks like it is happening!

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2025/apr/15/obama-yale-harvard-trump-cuts


Obama and Yale faculty back Harvard as Trump cuts $2bn in federal grants
Harvard faces a funding freeze as elite universities warn of growing threats to free inquiry and civil rights




Obama and Yale faculty back Harvard as Trump cuts $2bn in federal grants
Harvard faces a funding freeze as elite universities warn of growing threats to free inquiry and civil rights

US politics live – latest updates
Edward Helmore
Tue 15 Apr 2025 11.11 EDT
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Barack Obama, Yale and other academic institutions have come out in support of Harvard after the Trump administration elected to cut $2bn of its federal grants after the Ivy League school in Massachusetts rejected what it said was an attempt at “government regulation” of the university.

“Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions – rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking concrete steps to make sure all students at Harvard can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect,” said a statement from Obama, the US president from 2009 to 2017. “Let’s hope other institutions follow suit.”

The standoff between some of the US’s most prestigious universities and the federal government deepened overnight on Monday after Harvard rejected elevated demands by Donald Trump’s administration, which the president has called an effort to curb antisemitism on campus. Many educators, however, see the demands as a thinly veiled effort to more broadly curb academic freedoms.

“No government – regardless of which party is in power – should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue,” Harvard’s president, Alan Garber, said.

The Trump administration, through the multi-federal agency joint task force to combat anti-semitism, responded by freezing $2.2bn in multi-year grants and $60m in multi-year contract value to Harvard.

On Tuesday, Trump himself published a post on his Truth Social platform saying “perhaps Harvard should lose its Tax Exempt Status and be Taxed as a Political Entity”.

The intervention by Obama came after 876 faculty members at Yale University, Harvard’s fellow Ivy League institution, published a letter to their leadership expressing support for standing up to the Trump administration.

“We stand together at a crossroads,” the letter read. “American universities are facing extraordinary attacks that threaten the bedrock principles of a democratic society, including rights of free expression, association, and academic freedom. We write as one faculty, to ask you to stand with us now.”

Columbia University in New York, the site of pro-Palestinian protests in 2024, has agreed to partly comply with a series of demands from the Trump administration about how it will handle such demonstrations, academic departments and antisemitism after it received warnings it would lose federal funding, but also defended academic freedoms.


Princeton in New Jersey has said it has not received a specific list of demands from the government. The university’s president, Christopher Eisgruber, said in an email to the community earlier in April that while the rationale for the administration’s threat to withhold funding was not yet clear, the university “will comply with the law”.

“We are committed to fighting antisemitism and all forms of discrimination, and we will cooperate with the government in combating antisemitism,” Eisgruber added. “Princeton will also vigorously defend academic freedom and the due process rights of this university.”

“The Trump administration is using the threat of funding cuts as a tactic to force universities to yield to government control over research, teaching, and speech on private campuses. It is flagrantly unlawful,” said a statement from Rachel Goodman, counsel of the American Association of University Professors.

Columbia agreed to a ban on face masks for the purposes of concealing one’s identity, to bar protests inside academic buildings and to review how regional Middle East studies programs are administered. It also acquiesced to expanding “intellectual diversity”, including by appointing new faculty members to its Institute for Israel and Jewish Studies department.

The stated goal of the Trump administration’s antisemitism taskforce is to “root out antisemitic harassment in schools and on college campuses”. But many believe that is a cover for a range of conservative goals, including eliminating racial quotas in admissions – and resetting what the administration sees as a far-left bias in academia.

“We are going to choke off the money to schools that aid the Marxist assault on our American heritage and on western civilization itself,” Trump said in 2023. “The days of subsidizing communist indoctrination in our colleges will soon be over.”

In March, the taskforce leader, Leo Terrell, a former Fox News commentator, said: “We’re going to bankrupt these universities” if they do not “play ball”.

The administration, in total, has frozen or canceled more than $11bn in funding from at least seven universities as part of its effort to end what it calls “ideological capture”. At least 300 students, recent graduates and postdoctoral students have had their visas and legal immigration statuses revoked as part of the crackdown.

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology president, Sally Kornbluth, said on Monday that nine MIT students had seen their visas revoked over the previous week – revocations that she said would have a chilling effect on “top talent” worldwide and would “damage American competitiveness and scientific leadership for years to come”.

But Trump’s education secretary, Linda McMahon, told the Wall Street Journal that it was within the federal government’s power to ask universities to make changes to campus policies.


“If you’re taking federal funds, then we want to make sure that you’re abiding by federal law,” McMahon said, though she rejected that the administration was attempting to curb academic freedom and the right to peacefully protest or disagree.

A White House spokesperson, Kush Desai, told the outlet that the taskforce “is motivated by one thing and one thing only: tackling antisemitism”.

Desai said: “Antisemitic protesters inflicting violence and taking over entire college campus buildings is not only a crude display of bigotry against Jewish Americans, but entirely disruptive to the intellectual inquiry and research that federal funding of colleges is meant to support.”

 This article was amended on 15 April 2025. An earlier version stated that Princeton University had complied with demands from the Trump administration; however, the school says it has not yet received a specific list of demands.