What if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act?

Trump May Invoke the 1807 Insurrection Act

On his first day in office last January, wannabe king Trump declared a national emergency on our southern border granting him broad powers to repel a non-existent "invasion." (In actual fact, the number of illegal border crossings is at an historic low.) Trump's declaration also gave the departments of Defense and Homeland Security 90 days to produce a report recommending that he invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807.

That report has now come due. Trump could invoke the Insurrection Act at any moment.

Deep Dive, News BriefAlex MApril 22, 2025Trump, Insurrection Act, Dissent, Immigration, police, military, oligarchy, May Day, Democracy

Trump’s Attorney General Pam Bondi is defunding the police

We were more than a little bit surprised to see Trump’s new attorney general, Pam Bondi, take action to defund local police this week, as part of the Administration’s ideological crusade against sanctuary cities like San Francisco. This isn’t quite what defunding proponents wanted, and we certainly won’t hail her as a racial-justice hero for an action motivated by anti-immigrant ideology. Nonetheless, her move to withhold federal funding for public safety in sanctuary cities does count as defunding local police—an interesting move from someone nominally in law enforcement.

Deep DiveKathy LassFebruary 11, 2025Justice in Policing, police, Trump

Deep dive on Proposition B (February 2024)

How many sworn officers should SFPD have? Currently, the Board decides, but the City doesn’t have the money to hire more. A proposition in February 2024 would change the process—but there are some wrinkles.

Deep DivePeter HJanuary 31, 2024SFPD, police, City Charter, Explainer

Deep Dive into AB 481 — The Police De-Militarization Bill

Our own Assemblymember David Chiu (AD17) co-authored AB 481, a police de-militarization bill. Here’s our deep dive into the bill.

Deep DiveKathy LassMarch 23, 2021state, police, Explainer

Deep dive on the SFPD mandatory staffing minimum (2020)

The City Charter requires SFPD to have 1,971 full-duty sworn officers at all times. Why, and how does that affect our City?

Deep DivePeter HJuly 10, 2020SFPD, police, City Charter