Stand Out.
History is shaped by those who, against all odds, spoke truth to power—often at great personal cost—until society could no longer ignore their heroism: Rosa Parks. Harriet Tubman. Susan B. Anthony. Frederick Douglass.
Their journeys began with small, quiet acts that unknowingly sparked movements, inspiring others to fight for the liberty that is their birthright.
Their legacies remind us that progress is often ignited by individuals who reject the gaslighting of authority, trusting their own moral compass, even when dismissed as naïve, simple, or uneducated.
These icons have shown us that the most powerful force for change doesn’t reside in institutions or political maneuvering, but in the unwavering conviction of those who recognize injustice and boldly call it by its name. It lives in those who resist oppression—not just for themselves, but for others.
And they understood a crucial truth: those who seek to silence dissent aren’t defending democracy—they’re afraid of it, and of all those who fight for it.
And, with that...
THE CURIOUS CASE OF MAHMOUD KHALIL
ICE arrested Mahmoud Khalil, a Columbia University graduate student, last weekend and is now threatening him with deportation. The agency cites State Department orders to revoke his green card, stripping him of his legal permanent residency. ICE agents also threatened to arrest Khalil’s wife, a U.S. citizen who is eight months pregnant.
The Trump administration claims Khalil—a Syrian-born Palestinian—took part in “pro-Hamas” protests at Columbia last spring that some Jewish students said made them feel unsafe on campus. In reality, students were demonstrating against their tuition dollars funding Israeli entities involved in the war and were calling for a ceasefire. Jewish students also participated.
Khalil played a key role as a mediator for pro-Palestinian activists and Muslim students concerned about their safety. Initially, the government framed him as a criminal. When no crime could be identified, they pivoted to calling him a "national security threat"—a broad and often-abused justification for deportation that does not afford the person any rights.
Khalil has been transferred to Louisiana—far from his family and attorney—an intimidation tactic often used to hinder legal defense. ICE initially refused to grant him a private phone call with his lawyer until March 30, but a federal judge ruled Wednesday that he must be allowed at least two private calls this week.
This is the first known attempt to deport someone linked to campus protests. It's probably not the last: The White House has signaled that it will continue to target non-citizens simply for expressing views they don’t like, a direct violation of the Constitution and betrayal of core American values.
Meanwhile, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the move, citing Khalil’s attendance at an event where "pro-Hamas" flyers were distributed—something that is not a crime. (But also, what is their definition of "pro-Hamas?")
Related: On March 7, the Trump administration pulled $400 million in federal funding from Columbia University, citing its “continued inaction in the face of persistent harassment of Jewish students.” Now the White House is calling on the school to make sweeping changes in admissions practices for the chance of restoring the funding.
Trump's DOJ Victory Speech
Trump visited the Department of Justice on Friday and gave a speech that was part campaign rally, part authoritarian warning. The phrase “the inmates have taken over the asylum” comes to mind.
Alien Enemies Act: Mass Deportation Tool
A federal judge blocked the Trump administration from deporting five Venezuelan men accused—without evidence—of gang ties. The ACLU, which filed the lawsuit, says the men have no gang affiliation.
This legal battle is just the beginning. Trump is getting ready to deport untold number of people using the Alien Enemies Act, a 227-year-old law granting him unilateral, unchecked power to deport any non-citizen, anytime, for any reason.
Trump claims his use of the act is about protecting the U.S. from criminals, but its real purpose is silencing dissent, targeting specific groups, and consolidating power.
The Alien Enemies Act predates the 14th Amendment and allows deportations without due process. Historically, it has only been used during wartime (1812, WWI, WWII)—though war is not a requirement.
- The act laid the groundwork for Executive Order 9066, which led to the internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans – most of whom were citizens – during WWII.
- In 1988, the U.S. formally apologized for internment, acknowledging it was based on racial prejudice, wartime hysteria, and political malfeasance.
Department of Education Targets Universities
The Department of Education is investigating 50 universities over "race-based" admissions and scholarships.
- 45 of the schools participate in the "PhD Project", which helps underrepresented students earn business degrees to diversify the corporate world.
- The department claims the program excludes white students and violates federal law.
- Schools under investigation include Arizona State, Rutgers, Yale, Cornell, Duke, and MIT.
Tariff Turkey: EU vs. Trump
On Wednesday, the EU announced 25% tariffs on more than $24 billion in U.S. goods in response to Trump’s 25% steel and aluminum tariffs.
- Trump retaliated, saying he’s considering a 200% tax on European wine and champagne.
- The U.S. imports $6.7 billion in wine annually, with two-thirds coming from Italy and France. Technically, “champagne” can only come from France.
- The EU tariffs will impact: Whiskey (Kentucky & Louisiana), Harley Davidson motorcycles (Wisconsin), beef and soybeans (Nebraska & Kansas), and textiles, poultry, and white chocolate.
- After Ontario announced it would tax electricity it provides to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York, Trump backed down from raising steel and aluminum tariffs from 50% to 25%. And then so did Ontario.
📌 More from the Wall Street Journal
QUICK-ISH
📌 Trump and Musk staged a tone-deaf Tesla car show at the White House on Tuesday, even as tariff-induced recession fears sent the stock market plummeting and battered Americans’ 401(k)s. Trump—who has long criticized electric vehicles—told Musk he would buy one in cash for his staff. Tesla stock has nearly halved since Trump’s election, mirroring Musk’s crumbling popularity as the face of DOGE.
📌 Inflation rose 2.8% in February, the lowest increase since 2021. But these numbers predate tariff threats, meaning the worst may be ahead.
📌 Mark Carney is Canada’s new Prime Minister. The Harvard grad and former Goldman Sachs official called Trump’s tariff war “dark days brought on by a country we can no longer trust.”
📌 Egg prices fell in March but are still 170% higher than a year ago.
📌 USAID officials were ordered to shred all documents, an unusual move as the agency faces lawsuits over its dismantling by DOGE.
📌 The Education Department will lay off half its workforce.
📌 Ukraine has agreed to a 30-day ceasefire brokered by the U.S. Putin says he agrees “in theory” but demands guarantees that Ukraine won’t use the pause to regroup.
📌 The Trump administration is drafting plans to limit China’s influence in the Panama Canal over concerns it could restrict U.S. access.
CONGRESS
Budget Passes, but It’s No Victory
Congress averted a shutdown Friday, passing a budget just before the midnight deadline. But there’s no happy ending here.
- House Democrats opposed the bill, saying it guts healthcare, food assistance, and education while prioritizing border security and defense. It passed in the House with only one Democrat voting in favor.
- On it went to the Senate where Democrats were conflicted about whether to support the budget or vote against it – which would have triggered a government shutdown.
- Critics say Schumer caved, first opposing the bill, then reversing course to support it—angering colleagues who saw it as surrendering to Trump and Musk without a fight. Nine other Democrats joined Schumer in passing the bill.
- The debacle highlights Democratic weakness—a lack of unity and grit against the Trump-Musk political machine.
📌 More deets from The Washington Post
Republicans Shield Musk
Republicans blocked a request to have DOGE head Elon Musk testify before Congress on his plans for Social Security. Musk has called Social Security a “Ponzi scheme and Trump has called it a “scam.” Both say they want to privatize it under the pretext of eliminating “fraud, waste, and abuse”—a term the administration weaponizes to justify government cuts. This is the second time Republicans have blocked Musk from testifying in front of Congress. House Democrats are furious. Rep. John Larson (D-CT) called it an "unprecedented abdication of congressional oversight."
IN THE COURTS
⚖️ “It sends little chills down my spine,” said one federal judge after ruling that the White House violated the First Amendment by banning federal agencies from hiring or working with a law firm that represented Trump’s political opponents—including Hillary Clinton and the DNC in 2016. - The Washington Post
⚖️ The White House is asking the Supreme Court to lift a lower court ruling that blocked Trump’s executive order eliminating birthright citizenship. - NPR
⚖️ Two federal judges ordered the White House to re-hire thousands of probationary government employees fired en masse under the guise of “poor performance.” One judge called the move a “sham” designed to deny workers unemployment benefits, which aren’t available to those fired for performance reasons. - NBC News
⚖️ The judiciary remains the last standing check on Trump’s power—but it’s under attack. The sister of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett received a bomb threat, and judges who blocked Trump’s efforts to dismantle agencies are facing online harassment and impeachment threats from GOP lawmakers. - NPR
HEADLINES
📌 Israel killed at least 11 people, including three journalists and several aid workers, in Gaza on Saturday. - Guardian
📌 UN report accuses Israel of systematic gender-based violence against Palestinians. - AP
📌 The measles outbreak is now the worst since 2019—with nearly 90% of the 300 nationwide cases tied to an under-vaccinated Texas town. - The Hill
📌 Inflation rose just 2.8% in February—the lowest increase since 2021.
- The Labor Department
📌 Pope Francis is out of danger and feeling better after a long bout of pneumonia, according to the Vatican. - Vatican News
