Republicans Snuck a Provision Into Their Megabill That Would Let Trump Defy the Courts

[justaprogressive]

This week saw yet another federal judge run out of patience when the Trump administration attempted to deport a group of migrants to South Sudan—in express violation of a court order prohibiting them from doing so without notice and an opportunity to contest their removal. At a series of hearings, Judge Brian E. Murphy furiously rebuked the administration for ignoring his instructions, evading his questions, and generally conducting immigration policy as though it is the world’s biggest game of whack-a-mole. Murphy also raised the prospect of holding officials in contempt for defying his orders. Less than a day after he did so, however, House Republicans passed a bill that would gut federal judges’ authority to enforce contempt orders—an obvious effort to stop the judiciary from punishing administration officials who disobey the courts.

On this week’s Slate Plus bonus episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed the government’s latest flouting of a court order as well as the GOP’s effort to insulate defiant officials from consequence. A preview of their conversation, below, has been edited for length and clarity.

Dahlia Lithwick: Some of the most stunning news of the week involved this hearing in a federal court about deportation to South Sudan. There were so many layers, but it seems to include the overt violation of a court order, an insane performance by Trump’s Justice Department, and the renditioning of people into a country that is deemed too dangerous for Americans to travel to. What exactly did the Trump administration try to do this week?

Mark Joseph Stern: The Trump administration tried to deport about half a dozen immigrants to South Sudan, a country so riven by a violent civil war that the U.S. government has warned travelers not to even step foot there. And none of these individuals were even from South Sudan—it was a so-called third country, not their country of origin. The federal government said: We know it’s too dangerous for American travelers, but it’s not too dangerous to serve as our dumping ground for immigrants who we don’t want in America anymore. And immigration officials reportedly gave these immigrants less than 24 hours’ notice before putting them on this plane headed to Africa.

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/05/big-beautiful-bill-donald-trump-judges-courts-contempt.html

[BOSSHOG]

1. Trump And members of his party

Enjoy hurting people. With a modicum of power and a wink to Jesus they devastate as many humans as possible.

With a modicum of power THEY have no idea or desire or wherewithal to help people. Those who want to put the 10 commandments in public school rooms have no relationship with Christianity and would crap their pants if Christ came back to earth and insisted that all elected republicans at the state and fed level join in him in a mandatory come to Jesus meeting.

[RandomNumbers]

5. There is at least one more, insidious motivation

(I personally know some wrong-wing "Christians" )

They don't want the government helping people. They want people to come crawling to the church - preferably THEIR churches - out of desperation. Then they will be able to "help" them while indoctrinating them.

Or to put it another way - removing government assistance increases their supply of recruits into their cult.

[BOSSHOG]

6. You are Right My Friend

Republicans helping out “The Church” while “The Church” maintains “their” tax exempt status. I’d like to see Jesus knocking on Mike Johnson’s door. I quit going to church years ago. I discovered you don’t have to go to church to be a good Christian.

[RandomNumbers]

7. They aren't helping "The Church" to help any religious objective

It is to solidify the republican base by roping desperate people into an organization that will politically indoctrinate them to support the end goals of helping the rich get richer. Even abortion isn't a real issue for them - it is just a tool for them to craft an emotionally laden message to keep their sheep voting for republicans.

[Kaleva]

2. It'll probably be challenged in court

[patphil]

3. According to the House Committee on the Budget...

https://democrats-budget.house.gov/resources/fact-sheet/budget-reconciliation-explainer

Only things related to the budget can be included in the bill.
This latest attempt to expand Presidential power can't be part of that bill.

[Buckeyeblue]

4. So the bill is unconstitutional

You would need an amendment to change what the courts can review.

[republianmushroom]

8. Sneaky little bastards aren't they.