As I've written in the past, it remains unclear if the judiciary branch of the US government is willing to, or for that matter capable of stopping a fascist Trump regime that has to various degrees ignored court orders, argued that courts have no power to stop Der Führer's executive orders, and threatened to remove judges, or even dissolve courts that rule against the regime's authoritarian and often blatantly unconstitutional actions. As yesterday's tepid rulings in support of Trump's torturing of American law to justify fascist repression, by a 6-3 fascist high SCOTUS, makes clear - the regime still has an ace up its sleeve in court battles because it can use the Supreme Court to override all the other courts trying to stop it; assuming of course at least five judges in that body agree.

Despite this "trump" card however, the larger fascist GOP is rapidly beginning to coalesce around the idea that if the courts won't give Downmarket Mussolini what he wants, the solution is to limit the court's authority to rule on Trump's orders, remove judges who aren't ideologically aligned with the fascist regime's (often illegal) activities, or simply dissolve circuit courts that don't give them what they want without too much of a fuss. Why? Well, because they're fascists running a fascist party and they support the overwhelming majority of the Trump agenda; but also, Elon Musk's role as the new kingmaker of Republican politics means they'd much rather get funding from Musk to support the regime, than run against someone funded by Musk in Republican primaries to punish or remove politicians who don't toe the official white nationalist line.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/07/republicans-trump-musk-attacks-us-judges

Alarm as Republicans in Congress back Trump and Musk’s attacks on US judges

"As Donald Trump and Elon Musk widen their radical attacks on US judges who have stalled some of Trump’s executive orders and Musk’s slashing of federal agencies, they’re gaining backing from top House Republicans and other politicians, including some to whom the tech billionaire made big campaign donations.

The House speaker, Mike Johnson, and judiciary panel chairman Jim Jordan have echoed some of Trump’s attacks on judges, and a judiciary subcommittee hearing on 1 April explored “judicial overreach” and ways to curb judges who have stymied some Trump orders or Musk’s “department of government efficiency” (Doge) and its draconian cuts to the federal government."

At this point, we're mostly talking about words and committees, but I think it's important to understand that while many in corporate media and the political class are counting on public pressure to force the Republican Party to reign in Trump's most authoritarian instincts and intentions, GOP leaders are wrangling support to make Trump's dictator dreams a reality, regardless of what the courts say. While fundie fascist bootlickers like Mike Johnson and Jim Jordan are the face of these efforts, Musk's immense wealth and control of internal GOP primaries have created a core of support within elected Republicans operating in lockstep with the White House to implode judicial authority over the regime; and that core is growing.

"Despite such fears, many of Trump’s hardcore loyalists in Congress are jumping on board to further fuel Trump’s attacks on judges, while benefiting from Musk’s campaign largesse.

At least seven Republican members, including Andy Ogles of Tennessee and Brandon Gill of Texas, who echoed Trump’s call for impeaching Judge Boasberg, or advocated other “action” against judges who ruled against Trump orders, received checks from Musk for $6,600, the maximum he could donate.

Although Republican leaders have suggested that impeachment of judges won’t happen because they don’t have the votes, their public efforts to bolster Trump’s war on judicial independence has been accelerating, with allies exploring other avenues to curb judges."

I can't predict the future, but if you're asking me whether or not these GOP nazis are serious, I would strongly suggest that both their fascist ideological positions, and the incentive structure to support the regime against the judiciary, created by Musk's money and influence over the party, strongly suggests they are in fact dead serious about this. Is anyone in the opposition establishment even aware of this? Who knows, after all we've collectively spent the past nine or so years asking if Trump and the fascist GOP actually mean the things they say, when they promise to install the fascist regime we're watching them install right now. At this point I've been quoting the wisdom of Maya Angelou for so long I should have her on macro, but that repetition doesn't make her words any less true: "when someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time." The best time to take these nazis seriously was the day Trump came down that escalator; the second best time is now.