Thursday, April 10

When I started Democracy Docket in 2020 my theory was to create an outlet that obsessively focused on the threats to democracy and what was happening in court. No games, no lifestyle features, no false neutrality. When we launched premium content last year, I insisted that it be something extra — a unique perspective that cannot be found elsewhere. When we launched The Opposition last week, I felt like we really hit the mark. It is the exact type of exclusive premium content that I believe is desperately needed and worthy of paid content. I hope you give it a try and agree.

— Marc Elias, Democracy Docket Founder 

Welcome back to The Opposition. The Supreme Court over the past week paused or vacated several orders lower courts issued against President Donald Trump. In this edition, we look at how legal groups are responding to SCOTUS’s Alien Enemies Act ruling. 

Also, former Department of Justice officials publicly accused department leaders of abusing their power and assisting Trump’s assault on the rule of law.

I’m glad so many of you enjoyed the first edition. Like last week, you can email any feedback you have to me at knutson@democracydocket.com.

— Jacob Knutson, Reporter

Catch up quickly 

• The Supreme Court paused a lower-court order reinstating thousands of probationary federal workers fired by Trump earlier this year. The 4th Circuit also paused another order reinstating 25,000 federal workers across 19 states.
  
  
• Chief Justice John Roberts stayed an appeals court’s order requiring Trump to reinstate two members of independent federal boards he fired earlier this year just hours after the Trump administration said it intends to ask SCOTUS to overturn a 90-year-old ruling that allows certain federal agencies to operate without direct control from the White House.
  
  
• The White House said Trump is open to transferring U.S. citizens to a hard labor prison in El Salvador “if it’s legal.” Doing so would violate the Constitution, Supreme Court precedent and the bipartisan criminal-justice reform bill Trump signed in his first term, according to the Brennan Center for Justice.

To do list:

• Around 5.2 million people turned out last weekend…

You’re reading a preview of The Opposition, our weekly newsletter on the dozens of lawsuits filed against Trump’s executive orders. Along with the news you need and exclusive analysis is a to-do list, featuring opportunities for you to get involved and become a part of the opposition. Upgrade to Democracy Docket premium today and don’t miss a single issue of The Opposition!