Experts are warning that the Trump administration’s ongoing crackdown in Minnesota could quickly get out of hand and could even result in a second US civil war.

Claire Finkelstein, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, wrote in a Wednesday column published by the Guardian that she and her colleagues at the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL) conducted a tabletop exercise in October 2024 that simulated potential outcomes if a US president were to carry out law enforcement operations similar to the ones being conducted by the Trump administration with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Minnesota.

“In that exercise, a president carried out a highly unpopular law-enforcement operation in Philadelphia and attempted to federalize the Pennsylvania’s National Guard,” Finkelstein explained. “When the governor resisted and the guard remained loyal to the state, the president deployed active-duty troops, resulting in an armed conflict between state and federal forces.”

  • ameancow@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    civil wars take many forms

    Definitionally it’s when two internal armies clash on a large scale. Everything else is considered civil instability, armed rebellions or coups or insurrections, there IS a difference and words have meaning. Because the outcomes of each can have profound consequences.

    The better question we should be asking is why do you want it to be a civil war?

    • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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      1 day ago

      Because I’m a Californian Nationalist and want to see the United States reduced to the historical record, mostly because I think the feds do way more bad than good and I don’t see a path forward that doesn’t end result with the destruction of the United states.

      • ameancow@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        Honest. Points for not trying to paint it with some kind of liberal aesthetic like most people.

        Understand though that if the USA dissolves, and the Cascadian states form their own power bloc, which may well likely happen, it most likely won’t be in your lifetime.

        • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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          1 day ago

          Couldn’t give less of a fuck about the Cascadian region joining or not, I’m from SoCal my interests are firmly Eastward not northward. Namely removing that blight apon North America known as the Mormon corridor.

          But besides my genocidal ideations, I think the dissolving of the United States would overall be better in the long term within and without its territory. It’ll just suck liquid ass for a decade or two while shit stabilizes into a new status quo. I want to see the various cultures under the United States flourish but that ain’t happening with the continued existence of an American identity.

          But also the rabid nationalism on my side of things that has me barely caring if I’m right or not.

          • ameancow@lemmy.world
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            1 day ago

            It kinda sounds like roleplay but at least you have passion. Get involved in your community, you wont get that NC Ranger Armor outfit in your lifetime but you can make a world of difference understanding the current politics and supporting people who actually represent values for better outcomes. Less fun, a lot more realistic.

            • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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              1 day ago

              If you know of any California focused organizations in the IE then let me hear them. But the closest thing to an organization who at least as of now matches with me is the DSA, and even they are too focused on federal level shit.

              • ameancow@lemmy.world
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                1 day ago

                Progressive Victory is a national organization but they are a very strong presence for endorsing and organizing oppositional efforts on a political, and helped get socialist and progressive candidates elected in places like Seattle and New York. I know for a fact they have a very strong California presence and can help get you lined up to support those candidates in a variety of ways.

                You might not get your glorious Californian empire, unless the San Andreas fault does something wacky and the whole state ends up in international waters, but you can help keep a lot of people from suffering needlessly under authoritarianism in the immediate coming decades. I hope you make good choices and find your calling and reach out to others to build community.