In the U.S., federal law and most state laws prohibit armed federal forces and, in many states, armed local police from standing at polling places, except in narrow, legally defined situations.

Federal Law

Several federal statutes explicitly bar armed federal forces and law enforcement from polling places:

• 18 U.S.C. § 592 – Prohibits deploying federal troops or armed federal law enforcement agents to any polling place, except to repel armed enemies of the United States electiontaskforce.org+1.
• 18 U.S.C. § 594 – Makes it a federal crime to intimidate voters electiontaskforce.org.
• 42 U.S.C. § 1985 – Prohibits conspiracies to intimidate or injure voters in federal elections electiontaskforce.org.
• Voting Rights Act, § 11(b) – Bars intimidation of voters by public or private entities electiontaskforce.org.
• Posse Comitatus Act (1878) – Restricts the use of the U.S. Army and Air Force for domestic law enforcement, including election policing, unless Congress authorizes it electiondesk.org.

These laws mean that federal military or armed federal law enforcement cannot be stationed at polling places except in extremely narrow, historically rare circumstances Brennan Center for Justice+1.

State Law

While each state’s statutes differ, all states have restrictions on behavior at or near polling places to ensure voters can cast ballots without intimidation Katie Couric Media+1. Many states:

• Directly prohibit armed personnel (including police) from entering polling places except for specific purposes such as:
  • Casting their own ballot
  • Responding to an immediate emergency at the request of election officials electiondesk.org
• Ban firearms at or near polling locations for anyone, including law enforcement Katie Couric Media+1.

If you believe local police are violating these rules, you can document the incident and contact the Washington State Department of Elections or the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division.

one angle …

In this post, I’ll walk through the 11 pillars of fascism — as defined by historians and political theorists — and provide concrete proof points that show how each one is manifesting under the Trump administration.

These are not hypotheticals. These are happening now.

Let’s get into it.

1. Authoritarianism: Centralized Power and Suppression of Dissent

Fascist Pattern: Consolidation of power by a single leader or ruling party, often accompanied by the suppression of opposition and the erosion of checks and balances.

Proof Points:

• Retaliation Against Legal Professionals: The Trump administration has targeted law firms representing political opponents, revoking security clearances and initiating investigations, thereby undermining the independence of the legal system.1
• Utilization of the Alien Enemies Act: The administration invoked this rarely used act to deport individuals without due process, exemplifying authoritarian overreach.2
• Project 2025: A comprehensive plan by The Heritage Foundation aiming to consolidate executive power and replace civil servants with loyalists, effectively dismantling the administrative state.3

2. Ultra-nationalism: Elevating the Nation Above All

Fascist Pattern: Promoting a sense of national superiority, often at the expense of marginalized groups and international cooperation.

Proof Points:

• “America First” Policies: The administration’s rhetoric and policies prioritize national interests, leading to strained international relations and the alienation of allies.
• Immigration Crackdowns: Aggressive deportation strategies, including the deportation of individuals to countries where they face persecution, reflect a disregard for international human rights norms.

3. Militarism and Violence: Glorification of Strength and Force

Fascist Pattern: Emphasizing military power and the use of violence to achieve political ends.

Proof Points:

• Deployment of Federal Forces Against Protesters: The use of federal agencies to suppress domestic protests demonstrates a militaristic approach to civil dissent.
• Advocacy for Harsh Law Enforcement Measures: Endorsements of aggressive policing tactics and the pardoning of officials convicted of violent actions signal an acceptance of violence within governance.

4. Scapegoating and Propaganda: Blaming ‘The Other’

Fascist Pattern: Attributing national problems to specific groups, often minorities, to divert attention from governmental shortcomings.

Proof Points:

• Targeting of Immigrants: Labeling migrants as criminals or terrorists without substantial evidence, leading to policies like mass deportations to dangerous environments.4
• Discrediting of Media Outlets: Frequent accusations of “fake news” aimed at undermining the credibility of independent journalism.

5. Anti-democracy and Anti-liberalism: Undermining Democratic Institutions

Fascist Pattern: Erosion of democratic norms and institutions, often through the delegitimization of electoral processes and the judiciary.

Proof Points:

• Challenging Election Legitimacy: Persistent claims of electoral fraud without evidence, aiming to erode public trust in democratic processes.
• Defiance of Court Orders: Ignoring or circumventing judicial rulings, such as the refusal to comply with orders to return wrongfully deported individuals.5

6. Cult of Personality: Elevating the Leader

Fascist Pattern: Creating an idealized and heroic image of the leader, often demanding unwavering loyalty.

Proof Points:

• Personalization of Political Power: The leader’s name and image are prominently used in political campaigns and government communications, emphasizing personal loyalty over institutional allegiance.
• Attacks on Critics: Public denunciations and threats against political opponents, former allies, and dissenting voices within the administration.6

7. Control of Information: Censorship and Manipulation

Fascist Pattern: Manipulating or controlling media and information to suppress dissent and promote the regime’s narrative.

Proof Points:

• Defunding Independent Media: Cutting funds to organizations like Radio Free Asia and Voice of America, jeopardizing journalistic independence.7
• Surveillance of Journalists: Implementing measures that intimidate and suppress investigative journalism.

8. Suppression of Unions and Dissent: Silencing Opposition

Fascist Pattern: Cracking down on labor movements and any form of organized opposition.

Proof Points:

• Targeting Academic Institutions: Freezing federal funds to universities like Cornell and Northwestern under the guise of addressing campus protests, thereby stifling academic freedom.8
• Executive Orders Against Law Firms: Issuing directives that penalize law firms perceived as oppositional, undermining the right to legal representation.9

9. Corporatism / Crony Capitalism: Favoring Loyal Businesses

Fascist Pattern: Economic power is consolidated among favored corporations that align with the state, undermining fair competition.

Proof Points:

• Preferential Treatment for Allies: The administration has implemented policies that benefit certain businesses, often those with political connections, while sidelining competitors.
• Tariff Policies Impacting Small Businesses: The imposition of tariffs under the guise of national security has disproportionately affected small businesses, while larger corporations with government ties have navigated these challenges more effectively.10

10. Sexism and Gender Control: Enforcing Traditional Roles

Fascist Pattern: Traditional gender roles are aggressively enforced, with policies that marginalize women and LGBTQ+ individuals.

Proof Points:

• Executive Orders Limiting Gender Recognition: The administration has issued orders defining sex strictly as male or female based on biological characteristics, effectively erasing recognition of transgender and non-binary identities.11
• Restrictions on Gender-Affirming Care: Policies have been enacted to limit or prohibit gender-affirming care, particularly for minors, framing such care as harmful despite medical consensus on its benefits.12

11. Fear as a Tool: Maintaining Control Through Anxiety

Fascist Pattern: A constant state of crisis is maintained to justify authoritarian measures and suppress dissent.

Proof Points:

• Use of Emergency Powers for Trade Policies: The administration has invoked emergency powers to implement trade policies, such as tariffs, under the pretext of national security threats, fostering a climate of fear and uncertainty.13
• Rhetoric Targeting Marginalized Groups: Public statements and policies have often portrayed immigrants and LGBTQ+ individuals as threats to societal values, fueling fear and justifying restrictive measures.14

These examples, which don’t include any presidential actions, illustrate a troubling alignment with the core aspects of fascism.

It’s imperative to remain vigilant and advocate for democratic principles and human rights.

Source: pathfinderchronicles.com

OCT21

The Medicine Lodge Treaty is signed. The talks, attended by more than 5,000 prominent chiefs and warriors and one of the largest gatherings of Native American leaders for treaty negotiations in U.S. history.

Source: history.com for more info

Halloween, contraction of All Hallows’ Eve, a holiday observed on October 31, the evening before All Saints’ (or All Hallows’) Day.

The celebration marks the day before the Western Christian feast of All Saints and initiates the season of Allhallowtide, which lasts three days and concludes with All Souls’ Day. In much of Europe and most of North America, observance of Halloween is largely nonreligious.

Halloween is celebrated on, October 31.

1797 – “Old Ironsides,” the U.S. Navy frigate Constitution, was launched in Boston’s harbor.

1805 – The Battle of Trafalgar occurred off the coast of Spain. The British defeated the French and Spanish fleet.

1849 – The first tattooed man, James F. O’onnell, was put on exhibition at the Franklin Theatre in New York City, NY.

1865 – George William Gordon,a Jamaican national hero,is unfairly arrested and sentenced to death blackfacts.com

1872 – John H Conyers, The first African American to enter the US Naval Academy Blackfacts.com

1879 – Thomas Edison invented the electric incandescent lamp. It would last 13 1/2 hours before it would burn out.

1917 – The first U.S. soldiers entered combat during World War I near Nancy, France.

1918 – Margaret Owen set a typing speed record of 170 words per minute on a manual typewriter.

1925 – The photoelectric cell was first demonstrated at the Electric Show in New York City, NY.

1925 – The U.S. Treasury Department announced that it had fined 29,620 people for prohibition (of alcohol) violations.

1927 – In New York City, construction began on the George Washington Bridge.

1944 – During World War II, the German city of Aachen was captured by U.S. troops.

1945 – Women in France were allowed to vote for the first time.

1950 – Chinese forces invaded Tibet.

1959 – The Guggenheim Museum was opened to the public in New York. The building was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.

1967 – Thousands of demonstrators marched in Washington, DC, in opposition to the Vietnam War.

1980 – Valerie Thomas invented the illusion transmitter. BlackFacts.com

1983 – The Pentagon reported that 2,000 Marines were headed to Grenada to protect and evacuate Americans living there.

1986 – The U.S. ordered 55 Soviet diplomats to leave. The action was in reaction to the Soviet Union expelling five American diplomats

1989 – Bertram M. Lee and Peter C.B. Bynoe sign an agreement to purchase the National Basketball Association’s Denver Nuggets for $54 million. They become the first African American owners of a professional basketball team.  BlackFacts.com

1991 – Jesse Turner, an American hostage in Lebanon, was released after nearly five years of being imprisoned.

1993 – The play “The Twilight of the Golds” opened.

1994 – In 1960, Charles Edward Anderson earned a Ph.D. in Meteorology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. Charles Edward Anderson the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Meteorology; died today. blackfacts.com

1994 – North Korea and the U.S. signed an agreement requiring North Korea to halt its nuclear program and agree to inspections.

1998 – The New York Yankees set a major league baseball record of 125 victories for the regular and postseason combined.

1998 – Cancer specialist Dr. Jane Henney became the FDA’s first female commissioner.

2003 – The U.S. Senate voted to ban what was known as partial birth abortions.

2003 – North Korea rejected U.S. President George W. Bush‘s offer of a written pledge not to attack in exchange for the communist nation agreeing to end its nuclear weapons program.