Fascism watch thread/news and discussions

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NYT- Judge Strikes Down California’s Ban on Masks for Federal Agents

https://archive.ph/qdVuf

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[caltrek]

“The Tide Is Turning”: Democratic Military Vets Respond to Trump’s Failure to Indict Them
By Katie Herchenroeder
JFebruary , 2026

Introduction:

(Mother Jones) In a critical loss for the Justice Department, a federal grand jury on Tuesday refused to indict Democratic lawmakers who made a video reminding members of the military and intelligence community that they can refuse to carry out illegal orders.

The six Democrats featured in the 90-second clip are Sens. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.) and Mark Kelly (Ariz.), and Reps. Jason Crow (Colo.), Chris Deluzio (Pa.), Maggie Goodlander (N.H.), and Chrissy Houlahan (Pa.)—and they all served in the military or intelligence agencies. The indictment was sought by DC US Attorney Jeanine Pirro, who is a longtime ally of President Donald Trump and a former Fox News host.

The video, which was posted back in November, was met with an avalanche of threats and attempted retaliation from President Donald Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and—now—Pirro and the DOJ.

Read more here: https://www.motherjones.com/author/kat ... enroeder/

caltrek’s comment: There is a concern that this forum is moving away from futuristic speculations and toward current news. Still, the United States, at least, is at a crucial inflection point. One which will determine the future concerning whether this country continues as a functioning democracy or slips under the control of an essentially fascist regime. A fascist-type regime that will be hostile to science and scientific research and certain types of scientific developments. This could shift the timeline for achieving many milestones farther into the future, assuming we even survive this nihilistic orientation.

Asserting the supremacy of the Constitution and of the rule of law over the whims and fascist longings of the present administration is thus of paramount importance. So, the legal victory described above could be an important one

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Homeland Security Hires Labor Dept. Aide Whose Posts Raised Alarms

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/us/p ... urity.html

The Department of Homeland Security has hired a social media manager from the Department of Labor for a key communications job, despite posts he made on Labor Department media accounts that raised internal alarms over possible white-nationalist messaging.

Peyton Rollins, 21, was hired this month to help run Homeland Security’s social media accounts, which have become public bullhorns for President Trump’s mass-deportation efforts and come under scrutiny of their own for appealing to right-wing extremists.

Tricia McLaughlin, the Homeland Security spokeswoman, said her public affairs office had “no personnel changes to announce at this time,” but Mr. Rollins has put his new position on his personal website. He is now digital communications director, according to screenshots of a Homeland Security staff directory reviewed by The New York Times. At the Labor Department, he was digital content manager.

Courtney Parella, a spokeswoman for the Labor Department, said only, “The department does not comment on internal or personnel matters.”

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A judge orders DHS to give Minnesota detainees swift access to lawyers before transfers

https://apnews.com/article/whipple-minn ... 4953c02a08

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https://www.nbcnews.com/business/media/ ... rcna259341

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