"The Trump administration literally tore down the White House yesterday. After lying that his golden imperial ballroom - a Versailles-powered-by-Home-Depot monstrosity - " won't interfere with the current building," crews destroyed the whole East Wing - all during a government shutdown that put essential government services on hold. This all-too-on-the-nose metaphor wasn't lost on the crowd gathered at the annual summit of the Society for the Rule of Law."
"A certain gallows humor over the prospect of democratic collapse loomed over the conference. It manifested right at the start. After being wanded and searched by the team of security guards whose presence never quite faded into the background in this cramped space, a staffer handing out badges asked if I was a Society member. "Press," I declared. Another swooped in. "Press? I'll take care of them." The table laughed and repeated "take care of them" in mock ominous tones."
The Trump administration demolished the White House East Wing during a government shutdown after falsely claiming a new golden ballroom "won't interfere with the current building." Crews destroyed the entire East Wing while essential government services were on hold. Attendees at the annual Society for the Rule of Law summit drew an explicit parallel between the physical destruction and fears about erosion of constitutional order. The Society comprises mostly conservative and libertarian lawyers formed during the first Trump administration. Conference atmosphere combined serious lament with gallows humor, visible in security procedures, staffer interactions, moderator instructions, and playful banter between George Conway and Norm Eisen.
Read at Above the Law
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