If only we had this power! This is a follow-up to a column I posted 3 days ago. It made me laugh, so let’s share the fun! She’s definitely on the Badass Judges list now. If only the higher-ups would become bad-ass, too. We can dream. (I’m behind. Fell asleep in my office chair ahahahaha!) With appreciation to Raw Story yesterday:
A federal judge appeared to lose her patience after President Donald Trump’s administration did not follow an order to return a slavery exhibit to a Philadelphia museum. In her order on Monday, Judge Cynthia Rufe invoked George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” to order the return of a slavery exhibit to the museum on the site of former President George Washington’s home in Philadelphia. “As if the Ministry of Truth in George Orwell’s 1984 now existed, with its motto ‘Ignorance is Strength,’ this Court is now asked to determine whether the federal government has the power it claims—to dissemble and disassemble historical truths when it has some domain over historical facts. It does not,” Rufe said in her ruling.
Okay, everyone, are you caught up now? The Trump admin is not Big Brother and cannot universally tell us what to do, what to think, or not. Now, we can say he would certainly *like* to do so, but at least we’re not to the point right now. Given all the things that have come out of 1984 recently, we should pay a little more attention to it.
The Trump administration responded by appealing the order without returning the exhibit. In a late-Wednesday ruling, Rufe said she was giving Trump until Friday to restore the exhibit. “AND NOW, this 18th day of February 2026, upon consideration of Defendant’s failure to comply with this Court’s February 16, 2026 Order to FORTHWITH follow terms and conditions of the Order, it is hereby ORDERED that Defendants shall comply with the terms of this Court’s February 16, 2026 Order by restoring the President’s House site to its physical status as of January 21, 2026 by Friday, February 20, 2026 at 5:00 PM,” the judge ordered.
We can all be 99% sure that the exhibit will NOT be returned. That’s the Trump administration. Bluff, appeal, empty promises that never follow through. It should be quite something to see what she can do next. Is this going to end up in the Supreme Court? We can also bet that if it does, SCOTUS will not bother with it. It’s already been a waste of Judge Rufe’s time, and she is PISSED. It would be an even bigger waste of their time. Trump’s administration pays no attention to court cases where they are the “victim”. They won’t do what is decided, anyhow. Look at what that SOB did with the tariffs decision. We’re still screwed. Nothing changes.
Rufe noted that her court retained authority to enforce her orders despite the appeal. “The Court is enforcing the deadline for FORTHWITH action, and this order does not modify the February 16, 2026 Order. Absent a stay granted by this Court or the Third Circuit, this Court must enforce its own order,” she pointed out.
Oooo, can she please slap them around with the law? This is kinda minor, all things considered, but any time we “win” a blow against Trump’s administration, it counts for something. We will take any victory we get, however big or small. Even our writing and your commenting counts. The administration hasn’t seemed to notice that they are losing in the courts. They likely think it’s just little things here and there. They don’t look at the greater picture. Now, some of the cases that end up in court are ridiculous and a waste of people’s time and money. But a win is still a win. I hope we can keep it up and flip Congress, not just the House, in the midterms. Keep your fingers crossed and do what you can. See you soon!
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise that among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest-working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
The troubling precedent being set by this regime is that they can just ignore court rulings. There must come a time soon where Federal Marshals must bring senior regime members into court and discipline them.
Except of course that US Marshals are under the control of Trump’s tame Department of Justice. Would they be able to do their clearly defined jobs?
I have absolutely no idea. Maybe? That one is really difficult to call.
“The administration hasn’t seemed to notice that they are losing in the courts.” Trump doesn’t notice because he loses court cases all the time. Trump, the ‘Plaintiff in Chief’ (read the book) doesn’t sue to win. He’s just exercising his cruelty streak, in making the other side spend big money defending itself. Trump is cruel, like a kid who frys bugs on the sidewalk with a magnifying glass. Trump is truly a horrible person.
You said this better than I could.
I’d love it if the judge (any judge, for that matter) would, in their decree, include something along the lines of “If the administration continues to refuse by this court’s orders, I will issue a bench warrant for the arrest of ALL individuals who are responsible for the continued refusal to obey this court’s orders. It would not give the court any pleasure to see any member of the administration–including the President of the United States–responsible for the continued refusal behind bars for any length of time but if it comes to that, then the law will see to it that the law is followed.”
I know. I’m dreaming but it might finally get Drumpf to see his “limited immunity” (the Supreme Court unwisely granted) actually means LIMITED, not “absolute.”
Better a dream than a nightmare. It’s a great dream! I keep thinking there’s something that *can* be done, but I don’t know what it is.