Another lawsuit filed today, this one Alliance for Retired Americans; American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO; Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO v. Scott Bessent, Secretary of Treasury; Department of the Treasury; and Bureau of the Fiscal Service in U.S. District Court, District of Columbia:

I’m so glad to see those with resources kicking in. No schedule yet, it’s early.

Here we go!!

YES, seeking asylum is a perfectly LEGAL means to enter the U.S., and a lawsuit challenging the way this administration is unreasonably and unlawfully treating asylum seekers, detaining and deporting with zero regard for their legal status:

The Trump administration has characterized refugees seeking asylum as an “invasion” of the U.S., and issued Proclamation 10888:

Guaranteeing The States Protection Against Invasion January 20, 2025

It was “refugee resettlement” in January 2020, and now it’s “asylum seekers.” Saying it’s an “invasion” doesn’t make it an invasion, but that’s a great way to get folks unnecessarily riled up.

Remember all the vile fomenting when local governments were required by Trump’s Executive Order 13888, issued September 26, 2019, which required prior consent to allow refugee resettlement:

Restricting refugees was a fundamental part of Trump’s prior administration’s “immigration” policy, which was more a “prohibition of immigration.” As the deadline approached, and Goodhue County’s consideration, it got seriously ugly here, with wild falsehoods about refugees, and odd, because in this county, refugee resettlement is essentially a non-issue.

Just after Goodhue County consented to acceptance of refugees, Executive Order 13888 was tossed out.

• Goodhue County consents to continue to accept refugees January 8th, 2020
• Goodhue County mtg in news January 11th, 2020
• E.O. 13888 INJUNCTION!!! January 15th, 2020

Now what are they doing wrong? Pretty much everything, going directly count to the black letter law:

What are the Plaintiffs seeking? It’s pretty simple:

This was just filed today, and there will be a response from Defendants and a hearing in the near future.

And gets classified intelligence information?!?!

USAID security leaders on leave after trying to keep Musk’s DOGE from classified info, officials say

And from the article:

It comes a day after DOGE carried out a similar operation at the Treasury Department, gaining access to sensitive information including the Social Security and Medicare customer payment systems. The Washington Post reported that a senior Treasury official had resigned over Musk’s team accessing sensitive information.

USAID, whose website vanished Saturday without explanation, has been one of the federal agencies most targeted by the Trump administration in an escalating crackdown on the federal government and many of its programs.

Same thing happened at OMB, the website disappeared, type in “www.omb.gov” and watch what you get.

What that AP article doesn’t state — PBS isn’t afraid to put it in writing:

USAID security chiefs put on leave after trying to stop Musk’s team from accessing classified info, officials say

Members of Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, eventually did gain access Saturday to the aid agency’s classified information, which includes intelligence reports, the former official said.

Oh, and this:

State Department suspends nearly all U.S. foreign aid for 3 months

As if getting into Treasury and stealing all of our private information isn’t enough.

WTAF??

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced an “investigation” of underwriting announcements by PBS and NPR. It’s agency “weaponizing” against public broadcasting and it’s mission of informing the public.

Call the FCC 888-225-5322; your Congresscritter (find my Rep); and send a postcard to White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, 20500.

Why?

Trump’s FCC chief opens investigation into NPR and PBS

From the link, here’s the short version, another attempt at opening the door to eliminate federal funding:

President Trump’s new head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has ordered an investigation of NPR and PBS, with an eye toward unraveling federal funding for all public broadcasting.

“I am concerned that NPR and PBS broadcasts could be violating federal law by airing commercials,” Chairman Brendan Carr wrote on Wednesday to the presidents and chief executives of NPR and
PBS, Katherine Maher and Paula A. Kerger, respectively. “In particular, it is possible that NPR and PBS member stations are broadcasting underwriting announcements that cross the line into prohibited
commercial advertisements.”

___________________________________________________

Really! Do they not know history of broadcasting underwriting? I’m remembering when Reagan’s admin cut funding to Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and they allowed underwriting, private and corporate funding on which broadcasters quickly became dependent. I also remember at that early time spending a week hustling the first underwriting at KFAI to fund a week’s long live broadcast of the 7th International Indian Treaty Council at White Earth (quite the adventure, for another day). That budget slash really hurt Community Radio stations like KFAI.org.

UNDERWRITING BEGAN WHEN OTHER FUNDING WAS CUT! And now this.

Even wiki acknowledges the relative importance of underwriting in public broadcasting budgets:

In the United States, public broadcasters may receive some funding from both federal and state sources, but generally most of their financial support comes from underwriting by foundations and businesses (ranging from small shops to corporations), along with audience contributions via pledge drives. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_broadcasting, emphasis added)

The rules for underwriting ID announcements are pretty clear (I remember when it first started, there was a specific limit of words, I think 7 or 11? So long ago, and it’s changed, errr, “enhanced.”)

Underwriting Identification for Licensed Noncommercial Broadcasters

See also:

Enhanced Underwriting for Non-Commercial Broadcast Stations

Public broadcasting has long been a “Conservative” target for elimination. From CIA (!) files made public:

Give Up on Public Broadcasting

And other articles with more history:

The Chilling Effect of Public Broadcasting Funding Cuts which has this background info:

• CPB historical budget data
• Timeline of key events

“Is there any justification for continuing to ask taxpayers to fund NPR and PBS?”

Again, call/write the FCC 888-225-5322 (closed Sunday); your Congresscritter (Find my Rep) and send a postcard to White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave, 20500. Tell them to back off, underwriting approved, promoted, and regulated by the FCC, and most importantly, that public broadcasting is a valuable American resource deserving of federal funding.