DL Open Thread: Thursday, October 30, 2025

‘Time To Break Out The Nukes’:

President Donald Trump on Thursday morning said he directed the Pentagon to begin testing nuclear weapons “on an equal basis” with Russia and China, an apparent attempt to flex the United States’ military might ahead of a high-stakes trade meeting here with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping.

Trump’s announcement on Truth Social signaled a reversal of decades of United States nuclear policy that could have far-reaching consequences for relations with U.S. adversaries, though his post included very few details about what the tests would entail. The last nuclear weapon test in the United States was held in 1992, before President George H.W. Bush implemented a moratorium on such exercises at the conclusion of the Cold War.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed shock at Trump’s statements, noting the worldwide moratorium on nuclear testing. “President Trump mentioned that other countries are allegedly conducting nuclear weapons tests, but we were not aware that anyone was conducting tests until now,” he said.

White House officials did not respond to requests for comment about what the United States’ nuclear weapons testing would involve, and Trump told reporters after his meeting with Xi that details would be forthcoming: “It’ll be announced. We have test sites,” Trump said. “It’ll be announced.”

Supreme Court Draws Line At National Guard Incursion?  Looks like it:

The U.S. Supreme Court put off ruling on the Trump administration’s request for an order that would allow President Donald Trump to send National Guard troops into Chicago — likely meaning that troops will be blocked from being deployed in Illinois at least through November 17.

The Supreme Court’s order, issued for the full court, did not rule on the Justice Department’s October 17 requests for an “immediate” administrative stay or for a stay pending appeal of U.S. District Judge April Perry’s temporary restraining order blocking deployment of National Guard troops in Illinois.

Instead, the court called for additional briefing about the meaning of two words — “regular forces” — in the law Trump is relying upon to federalize and deploy the National Guard.

While that legal issue gets complicated, the big news here is that the court has essentially said that it is not planning to issue an order responding to DOJ’s “emergency” request for at least a full month after DOJ filed the request.

Although it is not a ruling, it is, by implication, a pretty clear statement that there is not a majority of the court ready and willing to side with Trump on this issue at this time.

But Will They Draw The Line At Blatantly Political Prosecutions?  I’m guessing no:

Progressive House congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh has been indicted on federal charges stemming from protests outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility outside Chicago.

The former journalist now running as a Democrat in Illinois’ 9th District was charged with two counts: conspiracy to impede or injure an ICE officer, and assaulting or impeding that officer while he was engaged in his official duties.

The indictment specifically accuses Abughazaleh, among others, of banging aggressively on the windows, hood and other areas of the agent’s car, pushing against it to “hinder and impede its movement” and etching the word “PIG” on the car.

The indictment names five other defendants, most of whom appear to be involved in progressive politics in Chicago. They include Cook County Democratic Committee member Michael Rabbitt and Cat Sharp, who’s a candidate for Cook County Board of Commissioners and chief of staff to Alderperson Andre Vasquez.

Over the past month, as videos of protests, arrests and aggressive immigration enforcement raids have gone viral — and as right-wing politicians and influencers have beaten the drum for an even more aggressive response — federal law enforcement officials have prioritized the arrest and prosecution of individuals they claim are interfering with the crackdown.

Abughazaleh, a 26-year-old Palestinian American seen as a rising star in progressive politics, has been one of hundreds of protesters regularly gathered outside the Broadview ICE detention facility since ICE ramped up enforcement efforts in Chicago. Protesters there are calling for ICE to stop raids, release detainees and close the facility. The protests have become a central focus of Abughazaleh’s campaign.

Abughazaleh called the charges “political prosecution” and a “gross attempt to silence dissent, a right protected under the First Amendment,” themes that Sharp echoed in her own statement.

Call it by its name: Fascism.

Court Rules Against Trump In Portland:

The full 9th Circuit Court of Appeals voted Tuesday night to vacate a panel’s decision allowing the National Guard to deploy to Portland, and will rehear the case.

The ICE-stapo Continues Its Reign Of Lawlessness:

Immigration officials have been increasingly detaining people in small, secretive holding facilities for days or even weeks at a time in violation of federal policy, a Guardian investigation has found.

These holding facilities – located at ICE offices, in federal buildings and other locations around the country – are typically used to detain people after they have been arrested but before they are transferred or released. In many cases, they consist of small concrete rooms with no beds and are designed to only be used for a few hours.

Previously, ICE was prohibited by its own internal policies from detaining people for longer than 12 hours in these holding facilities. But in a June memo, the agency waived the 12-hour rule, saying people recently arrested by ICE can be detained in the holding rooms for up to three days.

Across the country, ICE has been criticized for its use of holding facilities, which are not subjected to traditional audits, inspections and general oversight that larger Ice detention centers are required to face.

Now, advocates and former ICE officials are sounding the alarm that their extended use puts people in unsafe conditions, raises the risk of abuse and medical neglect, and violates due process rights. The facilities are secretive and face minimal oversight, and detainees have very little contact with family members or attorneys.

I’m sure Chris Coons would respond, but he’s probably otherwise occupied polishing up a speech to give to Big Pharma.  Or something.

Delaware Prepares Emergency Fix For SNAP Recipients:

Delaware will cover food stamp benefits for more than 100,000 Delawareans on a weekly basis through November.

Gov. Matt Meyer announced a state of emergency to address the needs on Wednesday. He is also calling for a special session for state lawmakers to consider tax code changes to address a projected $400 million shortfall in the state’s next budget.

Delawareans with little or no income will be among the millions around the U.S. who will start feeling the pinch starting Nov. 1. Around 42 million Americans across the country receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. President Donald Trump’s administration is withholding funding for the program, arguing that it lacks the necessary authority to use contingency dollars due to the government shutdown.

Funding for SNAP has never before been cut during a government shutdown.

Meyer announced the state’s move to help SNAP recipients a day after state lawmakers from both parties asked him to use his authority to make up the $21 million a month shortfall left by the void of federal funding.

Carney Does As Little As He Can Get Away With On Homelessness:

As the city deals with a growing number of homeless people, Wilmington will restrict encampments to an Eastside park that has long been home to one while opening a day center to provide social services to the population, Mayor John Carney announced Wednesday.

A new 24-hour restroom facility with clean water will also be installed in the park for public use. Carney added that the city is exploring options to connect a shower unit to the portable restroom.

He also noted there will be some form of security present to monitor the park.

The city has decided to ban camping in other public areas, but city officials say that they will “evaluate whether an additional unhoused site is necessary to meet community needs.”

For the second initiative, the city will partner with the Wilmington Housing Authority and the Ministry of Caring to open a dining hall for the homeless at the WHA’s former operations center.

The property, which is located at 600 E. 4th St., sits about a block from Christina Park.

The dining hall will offer daytime services to the homeless, as many emergency shelters in the city only allow individuals to come in the evening for a meal and stay until early morning.

You didn’t think Carney would allow homeless people anywhere near Buccini-Pollinville, didja?

What do you want to talk about?