But overall, the country’s district courts have performed commendably, rising to the challenge of pushing back against Trump’s outlandish power grabs. With the Republicans in Congress browbeaten and indolent, and at least many in the legacy media cowed by Trump’s thuggish tactics, we have to look to the courts to hold the line.
And they have, by and large. In just the last few days, trial-level federal courts have blocked Trump’s federal funding freeze, immigration raids at certain houses of worship, withdrawal of support for certain diversity, equity, and inclusion programs, and more.
Those heartening rulings have to stand up on appeal, including potentially to the U.S. Supreme Court, to effectively repulse Trump’s breathtaking self-aggrandizement. That doesn’t mean that we can look to the district courts to always get it right. There will be judges who issue wacky rulings and others, far fewer fortunately, who will issue tendentious pro-Trump decisions.
