On February 5th the President of El Salvador Bukele has offered to house US Citizens within the prison system for a fee. The Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been noncommittal in going along with this scheme. Feigning checks about the legality of doing such a thing.
Only hours after failing to place his hand on the Bible for his swearing-in, Trump has pushed forward an attempt to rewrite the Constitution with his own interpretation. This is a direct attempt to change the 14th Amendment without congressional approval. The order attempts to reinterpret the language of the amendment, effectively altering its meaning without the formal process of amendment.
“All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.”
The phrase in question is “subject to the jurisdiction thereof.” Historically, this part of the amendment has been interpreted to exclude children of foreign diplomats born in the United States, as they are considered under the jurisdiction of their parents’ home country and thus have diplomatic immunity.
The Decision in, United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), further clarified the interpretation of the 14th Amendment. In this case, the Court ruled that a child born in the United States to non-citizen parents who were legally domiciled and not employed in any official diplomatic capacity was indeed a U.S. citizen under the 14th Amendment. This decision has been a cornerstone of birthright citizenship and firmly established the principle that nearly all individuals born on U.S. soil are granted citizenship, regardless of their parents’ immigration status.
Trump’s reinterpretation seeks to expand this exception, targeting children of undocumented immigrants. The goal appears to be to strip these children of their citizenship, which would then remove a key obstacle to deporting their families. By arguing that these children are not “subject to the jurisdiction” of the United States, this reinterpretation aims to deny them the constitutional rights granted by birthright citizenship.
This maneuver raises significant legal and procedural questions. The language of the 14th Amendment is explicit, and altering its meaning through executive order circumvents the constitutional amendment process, which requires congressional approval and ratification by the states. Such an act undermines the checks and balances integral to the U.S. democratic system.
The broader implications of this reinterpretation highlight ongoing tensions in U.S. immigration policy and constitutional interpretation. While there may be concerns about immigration enforcement, any attempt to modify constitutional rights should follow the proper legal channels to preserve the integrity of the democratic process.
January 4th a Former Wagner Mercenary Group member illegally crossed the boarder in Roma, TX. Timur Praliev, 31, was detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents and claimed to be from Kazakhstan. They carried with them $4,000 USD and 60,000 Pesos along with 2 Passports Russian/Kazakhstan along with a drone in his backpack. They admitted to being a Former Member of the Wagner Group.
January 7th he was Sentenced to time served but Remanded to Federal Custody due to Concerns for the Safety of the community. Timur is Remain in US custody while the nature of his visit is determined.
The metaphor of how to boil a frog. Tossing a frog into a boil pot of water the Frog will immediately jump up due to the sudden change in temperature. Instead you place the frog in the pot then apply the heat. The frog will sit comfortable in the water as it cooks to death in its complacency.
Trump’s rhetoric on NATO, immigration, and election integrity shifted the Overton Window dramatically. Ideas once relegated to the political fringe were brought into mainstream discourse through repetition, framing, and incremental normalization. The annexation efforts follow a similar trajectory: by presenting them as solutions to economic and security challenges, opposition is softened, and the public acclimates to what would once have been inconceivable.
Trump has pushed narratives and policies that aim to extend U.S. territorial control in Greenland, Canada and Panama. These moves are an attempt to flood the zone with shit with its headline-grabbing takeovers which are disguising calculated efforts designed to acclimate the public and erode resistance incrementally. Ask for more then you want in hopes to make a deal for what you really want. What is Trump really after with these threats to allies?
A critical enabler of these shifts is the evolving role of social media. Platforms like Twitter and Facebook shape public opinion, often amplifying divisive narratives and silencing dissent. These platforms’ incremental changes in content moderation, algorithmic bias, and control over information flow mirror the boiling frog effect. By the time the implications are fully recognized, it may be too late to reverse their impact.
This interplay highlights the need for vigilance. Without recognizing these shifts, societies risk passively accepting policies that undermine sovereignty, democracy, and international norms. The boiling frog may not leap out, but the public must as the Free Press will not save us either.
Traditional media outlets match pace with social media in it attempts to boil the public. The Washington Post, owned by Jeff Bezos, has aligned with the next administration. While maintaining a façade of journalistic integrity, Subtle shifts in narrative framing to align with powerful interests reflect the same gradual normalization seen in other domains. WAPO has silence their own political cartoonist along with overriding their own editorial staff during this election.
History is replete with examples of authoritarian regimes incrementally eroding freedoms under the guise of national security or economic necessity. By the time the public recognizes the threat, resistance mechanisms have often been dismantled. Trump’s ability to shift the Overton Window demonstrates how this strategy can be employed to normalize radical changes, including territorial expansion.
The annexation of Canada, Greenland, and Panama is no longer a wild hypothetical but a real and unfolding strategy. The boiling frog metaphor underscores the importance of vigilance in recognizing and resisting incremental threats. It’s a warning against complacency in the face of gradual changes that threaten sovereignty and democracy.
In an era of rapid geopolitical shifts, social media monopolies, and traditional media alignments, the metaphor reminds us to stay alert to seemingly minor changes that can lead to irreversible consequences. The frog doesn’t have to boil—but it takes awareness and action to leap out in time.
image provided by Skeptical Science Graphics by Skeptical Science is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Today is 4 Years since the Elected President sent his goons to try and get electors thrown out and fully subvert the will of the people. As we stand on the precipice of putting him back into the office and the chaos that his next administration is set to sow.
Hopefully someone is planning on Dusting off the 2nd Impeachment of Trump and allows the Senate to re-decide on the outcome of the Impeachment. The Senate artificially delayed the Impeachment decision to allow the Republicans to weasel out of convicting him as a technicality.
Mitch McConnell is a disgrace to this country for being spineless and failing to hold feet to fire when it truly matter.
