Respond to prefers-color-scheme dark in app web views

Follow section front redirects in Spectrum

Enable NLP source in PCS for load testing

Switch off the News Alerts Survey Widget when we have enough responses

Poll to determine if new LUF updates are available

Allows the winning A/B test variant to be turned on without Spectrum deployment

Show infinite scrolling sections in Assembler MultiView

Show option for NLP article summaries in Action Bar

Show NLP summaries collection recirc on article pages

A general feature flag for Recipe Features that aren't yet released

Feature flag for media team features that aren't yet released

Use new Orca video player for preroll plugin in Spectrum

Show the snow tracker (instead of the heat tracker) on Spectrum

Miss Manners: Journalist posts on social media about a typo at another outlet

Carolyn Hax: Why is he trying to sabotage his partner’s very public success?

Ask Amy: What do I say about my former walking buddy who yelled at me?

Malaysia’s appetite for oil and gas puts it on collision course with China

Horse’s rooftop rescue gives flood-hit Brazil ‘something we could root for’

Russia unleashes new attacks on Ukraine’s Kharkiv border region

Bishop vanished. His species can still be saved.

In photos: Extreme solar storm brings spectacular northern lights

What actually happens within your lawn when you don’t mow it

The urgent air defense lessons of April 16 

Are smartphones destroying childhood? It’s complicated.

In the campaign against Donald Trump, do the ends justify the means?

The case for eating at Italian gas stations

Cruise ship drags dead whale into New York, prompting investigation

5 big travel lessons from an accomplished conservationist

Kristi Noem’s dog killing is pure Southern gothic

Claire Messud turns her family’s history into a masterpiece

Joseph Epstein, conservative provocateur, tells his life story in full

Google’s new ‘Find My’ device network is useful but a stalking risk

Apple apologizes for iPad ad after blowback 

Hack targeting hospital chain Ascension is impacting patient care

Courtroom photo ban adds to hurdles for Trump trial journalists

Israel’s shameful ban on Al Jazeera

Checks, not sex, and other takeaways from Trump’s New York hush money trial

Nats win opener at Fenway behind Patrick Corbin and a lockdown bullpen

Jayden Daniels makes Commanders debut at rookie minicamp: ‘He’s a stud’

To get outs with his fastball, Trevor Williams put his ego aside

Narrative of Trump snoozing in court takes hold — much to his annoyance

Of course Trump intertwined the Trump Organization into his presidency

Trump might not go to jail, but this trial is a close second

I used to dismiss my mom’s advice. Then I found a note she wrote before she died.  

Photos of his mom at lunch are a balm people didn’t know they needed

Dog hit by car loses leg, is adopted by firefighter who helped her

US-POLITICS-BIDEN

Bill O'Leary

It’s almost too perfect that President Trump has now hinted at a pardon for Roger Stone far more explicitly than he ever has before — barely 12 hours after raging at Jim Mattis for <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/james-mattis-denounces-trump-protests-militarization/612640/">accusing him</a> of making “a mockery” of our founding ideals and the Constitution.

Because in so doing, Trump confirmed that Mattis is 100 percent correct.

This isn’t just to say Trump’s intimation of a pardon for his criminal crony itself confirmed Mattis to be right. It’s how Trump did this that’s so remarkable, when juxtaposed with the blistering new criticisms from Mattis, who resigned as defense secretary in 2018.

With no apparent self-awareness or shame of any kind, Trump erupted on Twitter with the words “<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1268497398239842307">LAW AND ORDER!</a>” literally minutes after tweeting out his message to Stone:

Whatever ends up happening, Trump is clearly suggesting Stone will never serve jail time, and that he can rest easy. That’s a strong hint at a pardon.

Which shows that “LAW &amp; ORDER!” has nothing to do with fealty to the rule of law or any of the ideals we associate with it, such as equality before the law or the notion that no one is above it.

Instead, “law and order,” as a justification for what Trump is actually doing, is a combination of racially coded political messaging and, when taken along with Trump’s hint at a corruptly conceived pardon, a stark betrayal of any such ideals.

It’s precisely because Trump is so unabashedly contemptuous of the rule of law that voters will, one hopes, understand it as such.

At the center of <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/06/james-mattis-denounces-trump-protests-militarization/612640/">Mattis’s denunciation of Trump</a> is the violent removal of peaceful protesters to clear the way for Trump’s authoritarian set-piece: his striding through a militarily pacified zone, against a backdrop of civil strife, to hold aloft a Bible. His advisers viewed this as a triumph, positioning him as the righteous conqueror of that disorder.

Mattis pointed out that the vast majority of protesters are simply demanding that we “live up to our values as people and our values as a nation,” which include “equal justice before the law.” He ripped into the clearing out of protesters as an “abuse of executive authority.”

Full coverage of the George Floyd protests

Mattis also placed his criticism of that abuse in the larger context of Trump’s effort to “militarize our response to protests.” Mattis noted that this “erodes the moral ground that ensures a trusted bond between men and women in uniform and the society they are sworn to protect.”

Importantly, this casts Trump’s militarization of the response as itself constituting a serious threat to “public order,” as Mattis put it, because it amounts to ordering troops “to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens.”

This appears to be a widespread worry inside the Pentagon. Whether driven by mere appearances or something more noble, there is “<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/despite-suggestions-from-trump-pentagon-chief-says-he-does-not-support-invoking-insurrection-act/2020/06/03/8e8dad2e-a59e-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html">extraordinary tension</a>” among Pentagon officials since Trump <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/02/trumps-threat-send-troops-just-got-more-ugly-dangerous/?itid=sf_plum-line" target="_blank">threatened</a> to invoke the Insurrection Act of 1807 to send troops into U.S. cities to quell unrest.

Those officials are <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/02/it-just-doesnt-seem-right-pentagon-officials-on-edge-over-military-leaders-dealings-with-trump-297820">worried</a> that this threat will aggravate civilian-military tensions, and they are <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/06/02/it-just-doesnt-seem-right-pentagon-officials-on-edge-over-military-leaders-dealings-with-trump-297820">on edge</a> over Trump’s broader politicization of the military, such as when he sent troops as political props to the border in 2018.

And so Defense Secretary Mark T. Esper has distanced himself from Trump’s threat, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/despite-suggestions-from-trump-pentagon-chief-says-he-does-not-support-invoking-insurrection-act/2020/06/03/8e8dad2e-a59e-11ea-8681-7d471bf20207_story.html">saying</a> the use of troops against civil disorder is unnecessary. This has left him <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/500975-mcenany-sidesteps-questions-about-trumps-confidence-in-pentagon-chief">on thin ice</a> with Trump.

Meanwhile, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Mark A. Milley released a <a href="https://int.nyt.com/data/documenthelper/6990-milley-memo/fc4fb1c4459fbdbc87a7/optimized/full.pdf#page=1">remarkable message</a> reminding everyone in the military to remain “committed to our national values and principles embedded in the Constitution,” which include “the right to freedom of speech and freedom of assembly.”

What’s important about this message is its subtext — that Trump has created an imperative that members of the military be reminded to remain faithful to our higher ideals:

There are reasonable grounds for cynicism about all this. The U.S. military obviously does not have an <a href="https://www.history.com/topics/vietnam-war/kent-state-shooting" target=_blank>unblemished history</a> of respecting civilians’ constitutional rights. Both Esper and Milley <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/500781-pentagon-esper-milley-not-aware-of-trumps-church-photo-op-ahead-of-time">participated</a> in that photo op, suggesting they are retroactively cleaning up their galling performance.

But nonetheless, having such prominent figures — particularly Mattis — affirming support for these ideals sends an important message to the country, that something is deeply wrong, that these values are under profound threat and must be defended vigilantly.

After Mattis’s statement broke, Trump <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1268347256748507136">raged</a> that he had pushed Mattis to resign (he <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/20/politics/james-mattis-resignation-letter-doc/index.html">quit in protest</a>), deriding him as the “world’s most overrated general” and a grandstander whose career Trump supposedly rescued.

Note that Trump’s only key in response to the accusation that he is betraying our ideals is belittlement and manufactured illusions of domination. Trump does not know how to defend himself against the substance of the accusation, by arguing over what our higher ideals actually are or should be, or by defending his own actions as serving higher ideals, because he doesn’t have any.

That’s precisely why he’s willing to use the military as he has threatened to, and why he is incapable of asking himself whether there might be any downsides for the country in making this threat, let alone in acting on it.

And it’s precisely why Trump is willing to make an utter mockery of the rule of law by dangling a pardon before Stone, only minutes after posing as a defender of law and order. Trump’s commitment to the rule of law is as empty as is the commitment to religious principles on display in his cheap stunt hoisting the Bible.

All of which is precisely why these warnings have become necessary in the first place. In his reaction to Mattis’s criticism and in his corrupt two-step on Stone, Trump confirmed Mattis to be right as forcefully as anyone could have asked for.

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/04/revolt-generals/" target=_blank>Jennifer Rubin: Revolt of the generals</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-military-officers-aiding-trumps-stunt-have-been-promoted-to-the-level-of-their-incompetence/2020/06/03/e73330ce-a5d6-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_27">George F. Will: The military officers aiding Trump’s stunt have been promoted to the level of their incompetence</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/why-mark-milley-striding-behind-trump-through-lafayette-square-was-so-troubling/2020/06/02/81ef5388-a503-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_29">Robert Kagan: The Battle of Lafayette Square and the undermining of American democracy</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/03/entire-republican-party-is-complicit-assault-against-protesters-lafayette-square/?itid=lk_inline_manual_30">Max Boot: The entire Republican Party is complicit in the assault on Lafayette Square</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-mass-nonviolent-uprising-reflects-the-life-of-our-democracy-not-its-death/2020/06/03/876d0056-a5cd-11ea-b473-04905b1af82b_story.html?itid=lk_inline_manual_31">E.J. Dionne Jr.: The mass nonviolent uprising reflects the life of our democracy, not its death</a>

<a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/06/03/salman-rushdie-ive-seen-dictators-rise-fall-beware-america/" target=_blank>Salman Rushdie: I’ve seen dictators rise and fall. Beware, America.</a>

An Uncivil War: Taking Back Our Democracy in an Age of Trumpian Disinformation and Thunderdome Politics

Hunter College, BA in English

Greg Sargent was a columnist. He joined The Washington Post in 2010, after stints at Talking Points Memo, New York Magazine and the New York Observer.

Greg Sargent

washpost

the-washington-post

President Trump makes remarks in the White House Rose Garden on June 01 in Washington, DC.

The Washington Post

staff

Editorials

Columns

Guest opinions

Cartoons

Submit a guest opinion

Today's Opinions newsletter

Opinions

iptc-media/society/values/ethics

iptc-media/society

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/justice_and_rights

iptc-media/politics

iptc-media/politics/government/defence

iptc-media/politics/political_process

iptc-media/politics/political_process/political_system/democracy

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice/law

iptc-media/politics/government/constitution_(law)

iptc-media/politics/political_process/political_system

iptc-media/conflict_war_and_peace

iptc-media/society/values

iptc-media/crime_law_and_justice

iptc-media/politics/government

iptc-media/conflict_war_and_peace/armed_conflict

client-blocklists/Client List: Morgan Stanley KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Amazon KWs - EXCLUDE ALL 

client-blocklists/Client List: Becton Dickinson KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/CLIENT LIST: Nomura KWs 2021 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Boeing KWs 2021- INCLUDE ANY

client-blocklists/Bed Bath & Beyond KWs - INCLUDE ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Exxon Mobil  - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: T. Rowe Price KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Microsoft KWs 2 - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/T. Rowe Price KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/HBO KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Ford/Lincoln KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Bank of America KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Diageo - Johnnie Walker KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/WaPo: Combined Disaster Keyword List - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/ExxonMobil 03312021 KWs - INCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/GEICO KWs - INCLUDES ANY_4.26.21

advertising/American History Content

client-blocklists/Client List: Apple TV+ KW – INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs 2 - EXCLUDES ALL - 12.23.20

client-blocklists/ CLIENT LIST: AT&T KWs 2021 - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Blockist: Capitol Building Mob

client-blocklists/Client List: Eli Lily KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Purina KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

advertising/Racing and Nascar Enthusiasts

client-blocklists/BP KWs - INCLUDES ANY

advertising/B2_Positive News_legacyaux_hlt

client-blocklists/Client List: Navy Federal Credit Union NFCU KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Verizon KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Novo Nordisk KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Siemens KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Cisco KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: AT&T ALT KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Mercedes KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/FX Excludes All Disney

client-blocklists/Client List: Inpixon KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Boeing KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: Aetna KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Google KWs - INCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Philip Morris KWs - INCLUDES ANY 

client-blocklists/Capital One KWs 2 - INCLUDES ANY - 1.4.21

client-blocklists/Bank of America Merrill Lynch KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Google PG KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Chase KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

client-blocklists/Client List: Office Depot KWs - INCLUDES ANY

client-blocklists/Client List: ETrade KWs - EXCLUDES ALL

prism://prism.query/site,/opinions/plum-line?limit=20

The Plum Line

Opinions from Greg Sargent and Paul Waldman.

Sign up for the Prompt 2024 newsletter for opinions on the biggest questions in politics

Washington Post Opinions

The Washington Post Opinions section features opinion articles, op-eds, editorials by the Editorial Board, global opinions and letters to the editor on the issues of the day. Offerings include columns by Washington Post opinion writers, political cartoons by editorial cartoonists Ann Telnaes and Michael de Adder and podcasts by Jonathan Capehart.