There was major controversy within the regime this week over the “Epstein files” (including whether such files exist), which we cover here. At the same time, the Trump fascist regime moved on all cylinders to further hammer down the fascist transformation of society.

Colbert’s Late-Night Show Canceled—Days After He Satirized CBS’s Surrender to Trump

On July 17, CBS made a shocking announcement, canceling the long-running Late Show with Stephen Colbert, one of the highest-rated late-night programs on broadcast TV. 

Colbert is known for his comedic skewering of politicians, especially Trump and other MAGA fascists. The next day, Trump posted, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired.” 

As RefuseFascism.org noted, “CBS/Paramount’s cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert comes in the wake of Paramount paying a $16 million settlement to Trump for a bogus lawsuit against 60 Minutes, and Colbert speaking out against it. This has the pungent odor of appeasement to fascism. Their claim that the cancellation was purely for economic reasons is also unconscionable. In the face of advancing fascism, even if there are financial considerations—this is a time to support dissenting voices, not to cancel them.”

Refuse Fascism has called for a demonstration on Monday, July 21, at the Ed Sullivan Theater, where the Late Show is broadcast from.

Columbia University Defines Opposition to the U.S./Israel Genocide in Gaza as “Anti-Semitism”

Last week, Columbia University president Claire Shipman announced that Columbia will adopt the false and unscientific definition of anti-Semitism that Trump, the State Department and Israel’s Netanyahu (aka Netan-Nazi) are forcing down the throats of people in the U.S. and around the world. 

Actual anti-Semitism—bias against the Jewish people and/or religion—is real, wrong, dangerous and must be combated. But the U.S./Netan-Nazi definition¹ claims that opposition to the State of Israel and its genocide against Palestine is also “anti-Semitic.” 

Under this twisted definition, thousands of students—including courageous Jewish activists and organizations (like Jewish Voice for Peace)—that have played a big role in protests against the slaughter of Palestinians in Gaza are now branded as anti-Semites, and subject to academic punishment for standing up against genocide! 

The shameful adoption of this definition by a prestigious university like Columbia is a serious attack on pro-Palestinian student protesters and on universities as centers of knowledge and critical thinking. It is further consolidating stifling fascist authority throughout the U.S.

At Trump’s Insistence, Congress “Claws Back” Money It Had Designated for Public Broadcasting and Foreign Aid

This week, the House and Senate voted by slim majorities to “rescind” money they had previously appropriated.

They stripped away $1.1 billion—its entire two-year budget—from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB). CPB supports PBS television and NPR radio and about 1,500 local affiliates that will be hard hit by these cuts. In many rural areas and tribal areas, these are the only stations carrying local news and weather, covering local events, and providing crucial emergency alerts for storms, earthquakes, floods and fires. These cuts will deepen rural isolation and potentially jeopardize millions of lives.

The cuts to foreign aid—already a tiny portion of the U.S. budget—are even more cruel and heartless, halting funds to provide water, food and shelter for starving refugees from violence or natural disasters.

But the biggest problem is the “rescission” itself—an almost unprecedented measure. Congress has the constitutional role of appropriating funds so laws and programs that it votes through can actually take effect. 

But in the fascist order springing up before our eyes, it is the Fuehrer Trump who makes the real decisions, using his control of the slavish Republican congressional majority. Even after Congress makes a decision, Trump can just come in and “rescind” it.

And Russell Vought (a high Trump official) has already promised that more rescissions are “likely to come soon”!

Supreme Court Green-Lights Trump’s Dismantling of the Education Department

On July 14, the Supreme Court issued a “shadow docket” decision² green-lighting Trump’s slashing of more than 1,000 workers from the Education Department, a major step towards the regime’s open objective of abolishing it. (Trump said in March, “We’re going to shut it down, and shut it down as quickly as possible.”)

Besides the devastation this will wreak in the lives of those fired, Trump is targeting the department’s Office of Civil Rights. This office has responsibility to protect the rights of Black and Brown youth, LGBT youth, girls and disabled students, in all states. Already, seven of the 12 civil rights offices have been shuttered! These closings are opening the door to subjecting millions of youths to openly white supremacist, male supremacist, anti-science domination of their education, lives, futures—especially in the MAGA-controlled states.

This decision also legitimizes Trump’s drive for absolute power over the legislative branch (Congress), which is supposedly co-equal. Congress established the Education Department and its role; Trump’s job under the Constitution is to make sure it runs according to that congressionally established role. So his determination to abolish it is off-the-map unconstitutional. As White House spokeswoman Liz Huston boasted, the Court had “recognized that … President Trump, as head of the executive branch, has absolute constitutional authority to direct and manage its agencies and officers.”

LAPD Denies Refuse Fascism—and Everyone Else—Permit for Protest

Los Angeles, a city under brutal federal occupation. ICE squads running amok, and the terrorizing and kidnapping of immigrants and Latino people generally.

On July 6, Refuse Fascism applied for a First Amendment Special Event Permit for a July 17 event at the LA Federal Building, artistically protesting the abductions.

The LAPD said “No”!—claiming they lacked personnel and resources, and that therefore they were denying all First Amendment permits for any group. First Amendment? Canceled.

As RefuseFascism.org pointed out, LAPD had no problem providing 

personnel and resources, alongside the National Guard and Marines, when ICE and DHS carry out illegal and unconstitutional raids across Los Angeles, terrorizing and kidnapping immigrants, while suppressing people asserting their First Amendment right to protest…

But to facilitate people’s most fundamental right in time of emergency, no way.

Of course, people can—and should—protest, but without the legal authorization of a permit, the risk of being attacked by the police is ever present.

Refuse Fascism called for people to step up to oppose this. The LA ACLU sent a demand letter to the LAPD saying that their reasoning “appeared to be unconstitutional.” L.A. Taco covered the denial closely. 

Still without the permit, Refuse Fascism successfully carried out their event.