Are y’all paying attention? Do you remember your Civics class? You know, the whole three co-equal branches of government thing—checks and balances and all that? It was the beauty of our Founding Fathers’ design—the antidote to the observed excesses of an errant King. If each of the branches exercised its powers, within the boundaries of their respective zones of authority, all would be well. But, if things got out of kilter—there were procedures and mechanisms to bring us back into balance. Well folks, things are out of kilter.

To refresh your recollection, Congress holds the power of the purse and the power to legislate. The Executive alone has the power to implement the laws passed by Congress—and to spend as Congress authorizes. The Courts and their orders uphold the laws. There are laws—both legislatively created and carved out by the courts, setting forth proper administrative procedures for everything government does. Powers of impeachment exist to ensure that neither the Courts nor the Executive exceed their authority. For it to work, everyone has to stay in their lane—and to make sure that the other branches of government don’t exceed their authority and usurp the powers of their co-equal branches.

That’s how it’s supposed to work.

Right now the Administration is breaking all the Rules. Trump and his DOGE band of technogeeks are taking a slash and burn approach to government, without respecting proper procedures or following the laws set forth by Congress. (I won’t even go into the unconstitutional configuration of DOGE and its dubious powers.) In so doing, it is dismantling government as we know it. Protections that we take for granted are on the chopping block—health and safety, equal rights before the law, regulations on foods, drugs, utilities, labor, medical services, and banking or investments. Just about everything. Even our Department of Justice is busy breaking the laws. Lookout to anyone who has ever ruffled Trump or Musk’s feathers because payback has become the spine of government control. The so-called ‘efficiencies’ being delivered strip us of our rights, and of the ordered system of government that protects us and has made this country the envy of the modern world. Meanwhile, Congress is sitting with its thumbs up its ass, failing to defend its territory as the sole holder of legislative and spending powers. It’s long established that the Executive branch does not have the power of Impoundment. It cannot pick and choose which of Congress’ laws it wants to implement or enforce. And yet, Congress does nothing. 

So it is left to the Courts. So far, the courts are upholding our constitutional structures—but that dam may be showing cracks. The President has declared himself above the law (he who “saves the country…”)—the Administration is hinting that it might not have to follow Court Orders it doesn’t like. One newly minted Cabinet official has described our current situation as a ‘post-constitutional’ order. (and that, after taking an oath to defend the constitution.) That, my friends, is the precipice of a constitutional crisis. It is the tipping point where democracy meets fascism. So, while you’re preoccupied with the price of eggs, we are slipping into the Drumpf Reich. The last holdout when the courts are not obeyed will be whether the population rebels. It’s up to us. There is no cavalry, no rescue. It’s up to us.

We’re only a month in, and already they’re setting up camps, changing the names of places and things, and undermining future voting rights. They’re threatening our allies—upending the financial markets and international trade with the arbitrary tariffs. They’re threatening long established international borders and sovereignty—because they want to. Are they serious, or is it a diversion to cover the crimes they’re committing every day? They’re creating chaos—and getting ready to line their pockets with the spoils from the the havoc they’ve created. 

It’s a little like the tourist maps pointing the way. The good news–if you’ve ever wondered what you’d do in the event of an existential crisis, now’s your chance to find out. Are you one of the good guys? The bad guys? Or the people who stand and watch when all hell breaks loose? You Are Here.