It was Sunday evening, by California – again.
No, the federal judge ruled. At the request of California Atty. U.S. District Judge Karin, including Gen. Rob Bonta, expanded the temporary restraining order that prevented Oregon’s National Guard from being used by the federal government. Today, not only are the military in California, but also from every state. At least for the next two weeks.
That’s a legal loss that Trump should have been used to, especially before. Trump 2.0 has sued the White House this year, literally about once a week, and 42 times, since Project 2025 hit the White House.
While many of these cases are still pending, California has recovered more civil rights steam on issues including birthrights and immigration policies, and at least a series of slowing (and sometimes halted) victories.
“We won 80% of the cases,” Bonta told me. “Whether it’s an interim injunction or a temporary restraining order, and now it’s an increasingly permanent final injunction after the entire court case is completed.”
I’ll take it. We all need some positive news. I often don’t write about good things, but on these strange days it’s helpful to remind us that the fight is always worth having when it comes to protecting our rights. And the reason we still hold democracy despite the Partisan Supreme Court is that the system is still working despite the rusty doors like a ’78 Chevrolet.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has become the face of the fight against Trump in California, who is typical and bold, especially on social media, but daytime slugging in those fights is often carried out by Bonta and his team in courts around the country.
It’s hard to remember, but a few months ago, Newsom called for a special session of Congress to grant Bonta a $25 million allowance to protect not only California but democracy. And at a moment when many of us fear that the cheques and balances promised in the Constitution turn out to be nothing more than happy delusions, Bonta has a message.
“We can do things that the governor cannot,” Bonta said. “There’s no more important role or moment.”
Bonta often hears Trump ignores the courts, and says, “What is the point of the lawsuit? What is the point of the court order? He’s just going to ignore them.”
However, he said the administration has so far followed the judge’s ruling. For California, at least, Trump “is following all of our court orders,” Bonta said.
“We’re making a difference,” he said.
A few days ago, the U.S. Department of Education was forced to send final funds from the schools that it had attempted to withhold. Bonta successfully protected this money schools needed to help migrant children and English learners, purchase training, new skills and pay for school programs before and after in a multi-stage lawsuit.
It is a permanent final verdict – there are no appeals.
Another recent victory saw California land against the Fed when it came to stop paying for costs related to the state’s energy projects. The victory for both the climate and the consumer is that we benefit when we make our energy more efficient.
Last week, Bonta blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to tie homeland security-related grants to compliance with his immigration policies. In particular, in California, where our immigrants are overwhelmingly law-abiding community members, safety should not be linked to deportation.
These are just a few of Bonta’s victory. Of course, Trump and his minions are not happy about them. It appears Stephen Miller lost his marble, especially in the National Guard ruling. On social media, Miller appears to be attacking the justice system and attorney generals such as Bonta.
“There’s a massive, growing movement of left-wing terrorism in this country.” “It’s well organized and funded. And it’s protected by the generals of Democrat judges, prosecutors and lawyers on the far left. The only remedy is to use legal state power to dismantle terrorism and terror networks.”
Don’t worry about the Oregon judge who has issued the National Guard ruling is Trump’s appointee.
“Their goal is to cool down and pause the judges and worry. to cool down and pause the judges and worry.
Bonta hopes the administration will learn lessons and be self-reflected during this crazy dash towards dictatorship, and will continue to do full speed.
“We’re going to see more, and we’re going to see it faster, and we’re going to see it escalate,” he said. “It’s not a good thing to put your troops in American cities or to have Trump treat him like his royal guard in place of the National Guard.”
Even when the Trump administration loses, “they always have something like that they are always trying to move their agenda forward, even when they’re told they’re acting illegal or unconstitutional, even when they’re blocked by court,” he said.
A massive escalation of his efforts to militarize American cities on Monday to avoid a court ruling on the National Guard.
But California has been winning a lot over Trump’s disappointment.
It’s my bet that that streak will be held as long as our judges continue to respect the rule of law.
