Dear Friends,
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Minnesota attorney Zach Laskaris.
(01:53) US invades Minnesota – LISTEN
(25:57) Buddhist monks walk for peace – LISTEN
(42:05) Donald Trump vs the rule of law – LISTEN
(51:39) New food pyramid flips the triangle – LISTEN
So many New Year’s resolutions, so little time. Here’s one: I’ll try to include at least one good-news segment in each week’s radio show/podcast.
But before I get to that…
MINNEAPOLIS
There’s continued really bad news out of Minnesota. Much of what the Trump administration is doing is in blatant violation of the US Constitution.
Zach Laskaris joins me to share his on-the-ground perspective. Zach’s an attorney and lifelong resident of the Twin Cities. He’s been active with ICE Watch and has witnessed numerous ICE enforcement actions over the past month. Zach has also represented local residents who’ve been nabbed by ICE.
No doubt about it, what’s happening in Minneapolis right now is horrifying and unprecedented. Zach and I talk about the unified response from local officials opposed to ICE’s activity, the three members of Congress who were prevented from touring a detention facility, and the troves of video footage showing ICE agents acting irresponsibly and dangerously. And then there’s the community response, with neighbors standing up for their neighbors being targeted by ICE.
The invasion of “Democratic” cities by what many of us see as an illegitimate federal police force is probably going to get worse before it gets better.
MONKS MARCH FOR PEACE
The pilgrimage of Buddhist monks walking from Texas to Washington, DC, continues to inspire thousands of people to turn out to hear their message. The Walk for Peace is a spiritual practice, not a protest. The monks hope to spread peace, compassion, and kindness through silent footsteps. They’re walking an average of 20 miles a day, sometimes as much as 30.
All kinds of stories are emerging about the positive impact the monks are having. Audrie Pearce drove four hours to meet them and said, “There’s something traumatic and heart-wrenching happening in our country every day. I looked into [the monks’] eyes and I saw peace. They’re putting their bodies through such physical torture and yet they radiate peace.”
A United Methodist pastor, Patrick Hitchman-Craig, in Opelika, Alabama, hosted the monks on Christmas night. He was shocked that around 1,000 people showed up to greet the monks, and said, “Anyone who is working for peace in the world in a way that is public and sacrificial is standing close to the heart of Jesus, whether or not they share our tradition. I was blown away by the number of people and the diversity of who showed up.”
There has been some opposition to the monks along the way, which they have handled with grace and dignity. I’ll be interested to see if President Trump has anything to say about the monks, or what kind of reception they receive when they arrive in Washington.
TRUMP VS THE COURTS
Federal officials are detaining immigrants and even US citizens caught up in the deportation dragnet despite rulings from the courts that they must be released from county jails on bail. More than 300 federal judges, including appointees of every president since Ronald Reagan, have ruled against the Trump administration in over 1,600 such cases.
In response, many inmates are suing ICE and the local jail where they’re held. Beyond the injustice of being incarcerated despite the law disallowing indefinite detention while one’s immigration case proceeds, what is this practice costing taxpayers?
THE FOOD PYRAMID
Kathy and I discuss the new food pyramid … or food triangle, whatever it is. It’s not all bad, though it’s also a clear wet-kiss from the Trump administration to his biggest agricultural buddies.
If you guessed that meat is now top of the heap, you’d be correct. If you further guessed that beef is now the meat of choice, you’d be right again.
But beef tallow is the preferred fat? Bet you didn’t see that coming. Step aside, avocado. You too, butter.
Thanks for reading, listening, and taking action.
Ed Fallon
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