Episode 6: Democracy Dies with Thunderous Applause

In this Episode of Transgenders At War, host Athena Hope, covers the potential danger of America falling into a dictatorship.

Sources/Reading Material: https://linktr.ee/TAWEpisode6

Chapters

• 0:15 Intro
• 1:11 Main Topic
• 4:44 Alien Enemies Act of 1798
• 11:55 Elon Musk's Good Karma
• 15:02 Outro

Transcript

Athena Hope: 0:15

Hello everyone, welcome to the Transgenders at War podcast, the show that focuses on transgender people, politics and how transgender people are affected by it. I'm your host, athena Hope. In this episode, we'll be discussing how Donald Trump and his administration are relentlessly attacking the judicial branch. They are doing this in an attempt to gain more power. Trump is not only challenging the laws that have guided our country for centuries, but he's also risking a major crisis that could change our political system for generations to come. Project 2025 is the blueprint for this nightmare scenario. It's a sinister plan to transform Trump into a dictator free from the constraints of judges and laws. Our democracy is hanging by a thread and the threat of dictatorship is closer than you think. Join me as we expose the chilling details and explore what this means for the future of our nation. America is on the brink of chaos. For the first time since the Civil War, a president has brazenly defied court orders, and that president is Donald Trump. Trump is testing the limits of our democracy, pushing against the rules that keep our government balanced.

Athena Hope: 1:26

After America became independent from Britain, our founders created a system to make sure no one part of the government got too powerful. They split the government into three parts the legislative branch, the executive branch and the judicial branch. The legislative branch, which is our Congress, is the only body that can create laws, control spending and declare war. The executive branch, led by the president, enforces these laws but cannot create new ones. That power belongs to Congress alone. The judicial branch, with the Supreme Court at its helm, interprets the laws and safeguards our constitutional rights. Each branch is designed to keep the others in check, ensuring that no one branch has too much power. For example, if Congress passes a bill, it must go to the president for approval or veto. Even if the president vetoes, congress can override it with the two-thirds majority. Then, ultimately, the Supreme Court can decide if the law is constitutional or not. Another example is that the president can nominate new judges, but only Congress can put them in power. Their president can also give executive orders, but the courts can cancel them if they break the rules of the Constitution.

Athena Hope: 2:32

But Donald Trump is relentlessly testing these limits. His strategy Do whatever he wants until the courts stop him. Since the start of 2025, judges have had to intervene over 15 times to halt Trump's illegal activities. That's more injunctions in three months than during the entire separate presidencies of both Barack Obama and Joe Biden. The courts have struck down many of Trump's audacious moves, like his attempt to end birthright citizenship and his plan to let Elon Musk doge program raid social security. They've even reinstated federal workers that Trump tried to fire, but Trump doesn't care. He's on a power trip seeing what he can get away with. This is all part of Project 2025, designed to overwhelm the courts with so many cases they can't keep up.

Athena Hope: 3:15

Trump and Musk have been so enraged by the courts blocking their schemes that they're now calling for the impeachment of federal judges, something a president has never done before. The highest-ranking Supreme Court judge, republican Chief Justice John Roberts, has condemned Donald Trump and his team for the crude attacks on his judges. A day after Chief Justice John Roberts condemned Trump, trump's team sent out a newsletter to all his followers titled Impeach, impeach, impeach. Donald Trump's administration is telling his followers that the judges are quote radical leftists in disguise and if they don't allow Trump to do what he wants, then the judges will allow violent criminals to roam free and put your families in grave danger. Trump is trying to scare his base into supporting the impeachment of his enemies. In reality, impeaching a judge is very difficult because it requires support from not just Republicans but also Democrats, making it very unlikely to happen. Vice President JD Vance has even suggested that the judicial branch is abusing its power. He is very eager to dismantle our checks and balances. These judges are our final protection against a complete dictatorship. The crazy thing about the judicial branch is that all the judges have are their own words, verbal or written. When they issue an order, presidents must follow it. If the president doesn't follow it, then something will happen that will be called a constitutional crisis. A president hasn't ignored a judge's orders since the Civil War, but Trump is pushing the boundaries of what he can get away with more and more. This is why he's kicking his legs and crying like a baby about the mean old judges.

Athena Hope: 4:45

Last week, trump's most alarming power grab yet occurred when he invoked an obscure law called the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. This act allows the president to detain or deport citizens of a nation we're at war with without any due process. Trump is using this law to bypass the courts and deport anyone he deems a threat. The Alien Enemies Act has only been used during times of actual war, and only Congress can declare war. Trump's use of this law is not only wrong, but it's illegal. The law clearly states it can only be used if a foreign government is invading our nation. Congress hasn't declared war on any nation since World War II. This law is meant to target foreign governments, not random gang members. Random drug cartels and gangs don't constitute as a government that's invading us. This means that the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is invalid and Trump is only using it as a means to gain more power by allowing him to bypass the courts. Donald Trump is trying to justify this use by saying that we are being invaded by a random Venezuelan gang. His advisors have even tried to suggest that it's really the drug cartels that are running their countries, which is blatantly false. Trump's advisors have said that this doesn't just apply to Venezuela, but to Mexico, el Salvador and any nation that just so happens to have a drug cartel inside the US. If the courts allow Trump to use this act against anyone he deems a quote invader, it will be catastrophic.

Athena Hope: 6:07

Imprisoning people without due process is a cruel and evil practice used by authoritarian states. If Trump gets away with it, he will only expand this practice, while Trump claims his current target for the Aliens Act is limited to the members of the Trenday Oagwa gang. If the Supreme Court allows it, it could be expanded to migrants from other countries and anyone else he claims is quote invading us. Not only that, but Trump has recently threatened on Twitter to deport not just immigrants, but any American citizen who dares damage a Tesla. With this law, trump could deport any American citizen, since they do not have to go to court first or have any due process. He can even make the claim that the quote crazy gender ideology is making an invasion against us and that he needs to protect the women and children, a claim that he has previously made multiple times. Through his executive orders, trump has paid the Venezuelan government $6 million to imprison those he deports using this law. The Venezuelan government gladly accepted it so they could gain favor with his administration.

Athena Hope: 7:05

Trump's administration has already illegally sent almost 300 people straight to Venezuelan prison under this Aliens Act. The prison he's sending them to is known to be one of the worst in the world, with horrific conditions and human rights violations. They are sent to prison while Trump acts as judge, jury and executioner. Usually, deportees have the right to a hearing, but under Trump, they're sent straight to prison without due process. The Trump administration has even admitted that many of those deported have no criminal history or gang involvement. Yet they are sending them to a place where they may be imprisoned for life. And now there are dozens of family members appearing on TV wondering where their loved ones are, because Trump took them in the middle of the night. The family members stated that their loved ones have never been involved in any such gang.

Athena Hope: 7:48

Trump refuses to release the names of those he's deported, fearing it would reveal his false accusations. He even deported a man known to be a professional soccer player for the only reason that he had a soccer tattoo that they mistook for a gang tattoo. That man is Jers Reyes Barrios, who came over to the US legally and was working to gain his citizenship. One night, trump's gang came and deported him without allowing him to contest Trump's decision. The only reason we know where Ders Berrios is now is because his mother recognized him in one of the many ISIS-style videos that the Trump administration is making. Trump is too scared to release any names or explain what his process is for choosing who he sends directly to prison, but he has no issues creating videos with dramatic music for his followers to cheer on.

Athena Hope: 8:31

Right now, the only person stopping Trump's latest power grab is federal judge James E Boasberg. Boasberg has temporarily blocked Trump's deportations under this Alien Enemies Act so that they're able to investigate more of what's going on. During Boasberg's hearing, he ordered the last plane Trump sent to a Venezuelan prison to be returned to the US. However, trump's administration has defied this order, claiming that the plane was already outside the US airspace and therefore outside the jurisdiction of US judges. The Trump administration has also stated that they couldn't return the plane due to privacy concerns, but his administration's logic doesn't make much sense. You're telling me that as long as you're outside the country, you can do whatever the hell you want and not have to listen to the judge's orders anymore. The potential abuse of that would be insane. If Trump was allowed to do this, he would be able to fly his political enemies out of the country to kill and get away with it, since, because they're outside of US airspace, they now magically don't have to abide by law and order anymore. Judge Boasberg is now investigating whether Trump's administration violated his order.

Athena Hope: 9:38

If found in contempt, trump officials could face fines or jail time. Everybody is worried of what will happen after a judge finds a Trump official in contempt of court. It is the US Marshals from the Department of Justice who carries out judges' orders for contempt. Recently, trump fired the head of the Justice Department and then stated his loyalist, pam Bondi. Pam Bondi is a known election denier and a diehard Donald Trump supporter. She has already expressed much outrage that the judges are treating Donald Trump so unfairly. It's very unlikely she will allow the US Marshals to enforce any punishment on Trump officials.

Athena Hope: 10:05

We're at a tipping point now. If Trump continues to defy the courts, we could face a constitutional crisis With Republicans controlling Congress. Impeachment is a distant dream. The world is watching, with many countries issuing travel warnings for the US. A president has never broken a judge's order since the Civil War. If Donald Trump and his loyalist Pam Bondi were to ignore the judicial branch completely, it would officially mean the start of Trump's dictatorship. Many countries like Canada, britain, germany, finland and Denmark are all warning their citizens to not visit the United States. Trump's strategic planner, steve Bannon, has stated that MAGA operatives are already working on a third term for Trump. The stage is set for a dictatorship by that point. If you don't align with the Republican Party's Christian nationalist values, you will be targeted. Trump has already fully embraced the idea of him running for a third term or more.

Athena Hope: 10:55

For all my transgender and LGBT plus people. The warning signs are clear and the writing is on the wall. I urge all of you to get your passports ready now. I'm in the middle of working on a survival guide for LGBT individuals who needs to escape a hostile country. I will have it linked in future. Episodes In the 1930s, nazi Germany, transgender and gay people were the first ones that were targeted. Things are more serious now than they've ever been. In the past week, almost a dozen countries have issued travel warnings against visiting the United States. They are receiving a lot of reports that not only is the US rejecting entry for valid visas, but they are also arresting and detaining citizens too. A scientist was denied entry just for being known to criticize Trump. The story about Trump submitting to Judge Boasberg's orders is still developing and I will continue to report on it.

Athena Hope: 11:41

Do not trust the mainstream media. They will sugarcoat the truth until it's too late. If Trump isn't impeached soon, the damage to our country will be irreparable. This podcast is always so gloomy when discussing the current events around us, but today I want to take a little time to end this episode with a little bit of good news. You've heard of Elon Musk right. The billionaire who spent nearly $50 billion to buy Twitter and gain influence in our government. The same Elon Musk who now receives secret briefings from the Pentagon about America's future, despite being an immigrant Pentagon about America's future, despite being an immigrant. The guy who uses his Twitter platform to spread transphobic hatred far and wide and regularly insults his transgender daughter for no reason that Elon?

Athena Hope: 12:27

Well, it's looking like things aren't going very well for Elon Musk. Before this month, tesla was his most valuable asset, but since Elon Musk became head of the Doge department, tesla's stocks and sales have been in freefall. Reports from Australia, china and across Europe indicate a dramatic drop in Tesla sales. This isn't a mere coincidence. Mass protests have erupted at Tesla dealerships worldwide condemning Elon's actions. In February, australian Tesla sales plummeted by nearly 80% compared to the previous month.

Athena Hope: 12:57

A recent survey of over 100,000 Germans revealed that 94% of Germans refused to buy a Tesla, and this isn't due to a lack of interest in electric vehicles either. German electric vehicle sales grew by 27%, while Tesla profits plunged by 47%. Consumers are choosing anything but Tesla. Germany is a country that takes its history a lot more seriously than Elon does. Who knew that performing Nazi salutes on TV and joking about it on Twitter would offend so many people? Elon Musk was recently spotted in Germany praising the far-right AFD party. He said quote only the AFD can save Germany, and Germany needs to overcome its past guilt. This attitude towards Elon and Tesla isn't just happening in Germany. Tesla sales worldwide are hitting record lows.

Athena Hope: 13:44

Here in the United States, tesla has gone from being the cool electric car to now being seen as nothing but a symbol of Nazism. Many Tesla owners have traded in their vehicles for something less controversial, while other ones have placed a sticker on their cars saying that they bought their Tesla before Elon went crazy. Tesla sales and stocks are falling so badly that Donald Trump himself is trying his hardest to get more people to buy Teslas. Last week, trump featured in a Tesla ad that was on the White House lawn, and after that he tweeted that he would deport anyone seen destroying a Tesla. It's pretty funny, because Republican leaders used to go on and on about how much they don't like electric cars. Now that Nazi Elon is on their side, they have an entirely opposite opinion. But sadly, that won't be enough, because it isn't right-wingers who buy electric cars. It's Democrats and liberals who buy them. Starting next year, tesla will be seen as nothing but a minor footnote in history. Elon Musk has brought this upon himself. He's now on Twitter blaming transgender people for the destruction of his dealerships. No one forced Elon to align himself with harmful ideologies. Elon's actions are the exact opposite of what an electric car company owner should represent, and now he is facing the consequences of his actions, consequences that mark the start of the end for Elon Musk.

Athena Hope: 15:02

I want to thank all of you for taking the time to listen to this episode. I'm sorry for the very erratic upload schedule. Dealing with discharging from the army has been very stressful for me. I took a small break, but we are back on schedule now. The good news is that I might be able to escape this fascist state, texas Once I'm out of the military. I should have a lot more time to focus on the podcast and do more activist things as well. I am really enjoying the support from our community so far. You guys inspire me to go out and create change every single day.

Athena Hope: 15:31

Many of our people are suffering and it breaks my heart what our government is allowing to happen. Let the destruction of Tesla be a symbol for all those who dare act as fascists. People want happiness and freedom, and that's what we deserve. As always, you can view all sources and reading material discussed in this episode inside the show notes. Make sure to click our link tree below so you can join our vibrant community. I ask all of you to leave this episode with peace and love. We will have justice. We demand it. I'm your host, athena Hope, and until next time. This has been Transgenders at War.