It always starts with the immigrants. They’re “not us.”

Extreme measures and abuses become OK. Because “they” are “not us.”

Bradley Balko, writing in ‘Trump’s Immigration Nightmare: It Is Happening Here‘ at The New Republic,

We’ve seen rapid normalization of abuses we once associated with authoritarian regimes or the old Iron Curtain countries. It’s now routine for masked, unidentifiable government agents to sweep people off the street and whisk them away in unmarked vehicles. Some of those arrested have been quickly shuttled off to detention facilities in other parts of the country without any notification to their families or attorneys. Others have been sent to a third country, often a country in the developing world to which they have no connection. Still others have been explicitly targeted for their political opinions, their activism, or their journalism.

Then it moves to the minorities – as the definition of “us” is whittled down. “We” don’t want “them” making demands, getting benefits, etc.

Then the opposition is targeted because they’re in the way. Of course the activists and unions are targets. And YOU certainly don’t want to become a target by being opposition.

What Stage Is The US In?

The US is at the targeting-minorities stage already. I mean more than the usual persecution and discrimination. Now, if you “look like” you “might be” an “illegal” then it is accepted that you should be stopped and checked, and taken away if you can’t “prove” you are a “citizen.” The Republican Supreme Court already OK’d this. This is already happening all the time. “DEI” – which just means employing women and minorities – is considered criminal and the unemployment rate for non-whites is already almost double that for whites.

They have started on the opposition. Opponents are being “investigated” and prosecuted. For the rest they are sending a message.

What About You?

So do YOU want to be opposed to them? It’s time to decide if you are going to let them go any further down this path. They can be stopped if enough people stand up and refuse to go along with it.

I suspect 2026 might be the year the shit hits the fan for the US. It’s clear their grip on power is threatened. The coming election will bring in the Dems if it is allowed to be free and fair. And that will mean some amount of accountability. The resistance is finding its voice. AND the economy is faltering. So they will feel threatened.

I think they will feel it is take it or lose it time. They’ll want a real clampdown to get things under control. Send dissenters to camps. Shoot protesters. Turn your neighbor in.  A war could give them legal powers for that.

I really do suspect Putin advised not to move too fast and be too public about the takeover by the Putin/MBS/Oligarchs etc. cartel because of the resistance that would bring, but now that MAGA is dividing it’s maybe time to advance the project.

They don’t have the machine built up yet for mass detention of people (immigrants are a cover story). They’re hiring and buying equipment. So I wonder if they have the ability to make people afraid enough. There is a tradition of resisting this stuff in the US… On the other hand, if they just go for it and start shooting and rounding people up for disloyalty, all bets are off.

That’s my year-end look back at 2025. Have a Happy Holiday!