Pentagon Press Policy Ruled Unconstitutional

by Rod Williams, March 23, 2026- As we watch President Trump trample all over the Constitution, it is easy to get discouraged, and I do. However, it seems our institutions are still strong, and Trump loses his skirmishes to remake our democratic republic into an authoritarian strongman state more often than he wins.

One recent win for democracy and constitutional governance was realized when a court ruled that the Pentagon’s restrictions on reporters were unconstitutional in a case brought by New York Times. The policy stated that the Pentagon could revoke the credentials of any journalist who solicited information that the department did not explicitly authorize for release — even if that information was unclassified. A federal judge found that it violated the First and Fifth Amendments. 

All is not lost. I suspect that as Trump's popularity drops, more Republican members of Congress will rediscover some backbone and will dust off some discarded values and principles. Also, the clock is ticking down to the mid-term, and it looks like Democrats may retake the House, in which case Trump will be trumped. 

Be of good cheer. Keep the faith. All is not lost.

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ICE Insists Liberia Is the Only Place It Can Deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia

The administration insists it can only deport him to Africa. It's not clear why, other than to be vindictive.

by Joe Lancaster, Reason, March 23, 2026 - One year after it improperly arrested and deported a Salvadoran man, the Trump administration is in court trying to remove him again—not to his home country, this time, but to a completely separate continent. It's not clear why, other than simply to be vindictive.

In March 2025, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) agents arrested Kilmar Abrego Garcia and deported him back to El Salvador. The problem was that although he had entered the country illegally, an immigration judge had previously granted him "withholding of removal" to El Salvador, meaning that was the only country where he couldn't be sent. ...

According to Abrego Garcia's attorneys, the government offered to send him to Costa Rica, but if he declined, he would instead be sent somewhere in Africa, like Uganda, Ghana, or Eswatini. As it turns out, none of those three African countries agreed to take him, but Costa Rica did, and he agreed to go.

But the Trump administration then refused, arguing he should instead be sent to Liberia. (read more)

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Why I Would Shake Hands With Donald Trump?

by Rod Williams, March 23, 2026 - I am going to surprise some people. If you know how much I detest Donald Trump and how I view him as an authoritarian committed to destroying our democracy, and what a disgusting human being I think he is, you may be surprised to hear that if I met Donald Trump in person, I would shake his hand. 

On my Facebook feed, the meme on this page has appeared, and a lot of people have been opining as to whether or not they would shake Donald Trump's hand. 

I view shaking hands as a formality and simple politeness. I think it is beneficial to be polite up until the point you exchange blows. 

In a council race many years ago, my opponent ran a very dirty campaign and engaged in a campaign of smears and lies.  Nevertheless, when I encountered him at a later date, we shook hands.  I went through a very bitter divorce once upon a time, but when I met my wife's lawyer, I shook his hand. I don't understand not shaking hands.  I don't understand not being polite. It is just what civilized people do. It seems people have been shaking hands since about the 9th century, and it developed as a way to prove one was not holding weapons and as a symbolic gesture of trust and sealing agreements. I see it simply as being polite and don't attach too much meaning to it. 

I doubt I would ever be in a situation where I would be faced with the dilemma of whether or not to shake Donald Trump's hand. I don't travel in the circles where I would be introduced to him. I might attend a Trump rally if Donald Trump appeared in my hometown.  I am a student of politics and would like to experience a Trump rally in the flesh to observe. Attending a rally would not indicate an endorsement. If he were shaking hands on the way to the podium, I would not be one pushing my way to the aisle to shake his hand, so I would not be faced with the dilemma of shaking his hand. I would not seek him out to shake his hand. If, however, I found myself somehow at a Trump reception rather than creating an awkward moment, I would shake his hand and mumble something pleasant like, "Nice to meet you, Mr. President." Does that make me a hypocrite? 

I have not fully developed it, but I have this thesis in mind called, The virtue of Hypocrisy. Good manners and civility toward someone you do not like is hypocritical, but I think it a virtue. Good manners keep us from hitting people we don’t like. Good manners mean less violence. It is not that I am always opposed to violence; violence often solves problems and violence has its place but good manners keeps us from engaging in unnecessary nonproductive violence. In addition to reducing violence, good manners just makes life more pleasant, if not for you then for those around you. In Congress, people of opposing views often address each other as, “the distinguished gentleman from the great state of …” That is much better than saying, the SOB from ….”

Below are pictures of some famous people who probably don't like each other, shaking hands. I approve.

President Ronald Reagan shakes hands with Soviet General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev

Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat

President Richard M Nixon shakes hand with Chairman Mao Zedong

 Neville Chamberlain shakes hands with Adolf Hitler


General Robert E. Lee shakes hands with General Ulysses S. Grant

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Nashville Journalist Released on Bond from ICE Custody; a Legal Challenge to Her Arrest Continues

by Anita Wadhwani, Tennessee Lookout, March 23, 2026 - Estefany Rodríguez, a Nashville journalist who reported on local immigration enforcement arrests before she herself was detained, was released Thursday from a Louisiana detention center, according to the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition, which is providing legal representation.

Rodríguez spent 16 days in detention, where she was subject to “inhumane and difficult treatment,” her attorneys wrote in court filings earlier this week. 

A legal challenge to Rodríguez’ March 4 arrest remains ongoing in federal court. Her attorneys allege Rodríguez was detained without a warrant and in retaliation for her reporting on local Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests for the Spanish-language news outlet Nashville Noticias. 

“We are grateful that Estefany is able to walk away with her freedom to be with her family as she continues to fight for her right to remain in her community and in the US,” read a statement Thursday by Mike Holley, an attorney with the Tennessee Immigrant & Refugee Rights Coalition who is representing Rodríguez in federal court. Rodríguez is married and has a seven-year-old daughter.

“Through that petition, we are seeking not only her complete release, but an order prohibiting ICE from mistreating her in a similar way in the future,” the statement said. 

Government attorneys allege Rodríguez, 35, overstayed a tourist visa five years ago and has remained in the country illegally since.

Rodríguez flew to Miami from her native Colombia on a tourist visa in 2021, then petitioned for political asylum before the visa expired, her attorneys wrote in court filings. 

Rodríguez’ asylum petition is based on threats she experienced in Colombia reporting on political corruption, her attorneys said. Separately, Rodríguez in January applied for legal permanent residency through her marriage to a U.S. citizen. 

Rodríguez was released on $10,000 bond Thursday. 

Information on other conditions of her’ release, such as whether she is required to wear an ankle monitor or report to immigration officials, wasn’t immediately available Thursday. 

On Tuesday, national and international media groups filed a legal brief in support of Rodríguez, writing the detention of a journalist who had reported critically on ICE activities had a chilling effect on free expression.

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