This story appeared in log off, a A daily newsletter that will help you stay informed about the Trump administration without taking over your life in political news. Subscribe here.
Welcome to logoff: Today, I focus on the escalating battle with the judicial division over illegal deportation after an appeals judge (a stop before the Supreme Court) issued a harsh warning about the dangers violating the court's orders.
What is the context? Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia was sent to a prison in Salvador last month despite a court order, except for his deportation. Last week, the Supreme Court unanimously upheld a lower court that ruled that the administration must “promote” a return to the United States.
The administration has not complied, and instead argued that the court cannot force President Donald Trump to ask El Salvador to return Abrego Garcia. (The El Salvador president said this week that he would not send him back to unsolicited.) However, a judge in the lower court rejected that rationale and ordered civil servants to provide answers on what is being done to comply with the court – the administration appealed.
What's the latest? The Court of Appeals on Thursday flattened the administration's attempts to break free from providing more information on efforts to revive Abrego Garcia. The administration's claim in the case should “stimulate a sense of intuitive freedom not only for judges but also Americans far from the court.”
What's next? The administration was able to appeal the lawsuit again. This time, he was able to appeal the Supreme Court. This can make clear what the administration must do for Abrego Garcia.
What is the overall picture? The latest ruling reveals that without the Supreme Court change course, the administration has two options. It makes clear that more can be done to get Abrego Garcia back or that he can continue to violate the court's orders. It's pretty clear where we're heading. The White House posted to X today that Abrego Garcia “will never come back.”
And so, it's time to log off…
“Logoff” is a simple reminder that it doesn't mean adjusting or giving up on the world. It means you are intentional about where you place your focus, time and energy, and not abandoning to Doomscroll, who is witnessing all of them. I've done so much about the latter recently, so here's a short poem, “Hummingbird.” Thank you for reading. See you here next week.
