Democrats in Congress are trying to find a unified message in opposition to President Donald Trump’s agenda, and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan said the focus should be on the economy. Howard Schweber, a UW-Madison professor emeritus of political science, said the arrest of a Milwaukee County judge was a political message to judges around the nation.
 

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan
D-2nd Congressional District

• As President Donald Trump’s second term in office passes the 100 days mark, Democrats in Congress are trying to respond to his flurry of executive orders, tariffs and cuts to the federal government. Asked what issue he would focus on the most, Rep. Pocan pointed to the economy and the uncertainties that tariffs are creating for businesses and consumers.
• Pocan: “I think we all should be focused on the economy, right? That was the number one issue for Donald Trump when he got elected. Half the people in exit polls said they voted on the economy. It’s also the number one issue hurting Donald Trump right now. Whether it be the indiscriminate use of tariffs that’s, you know, blowing the stock market up and causing prices to continue to rise, his inability to lower costs — he promised to do it day one. It’s been just the opposite in most areas. And, you know, the rule of law and the chaos and the flooding the zone of so much is really hard, and it’s kind of exhausting for people who are calling into the office trying to keep up with what’s going on.”

Howard Schweber
Professor emeritus, UW-Madison Department of Political Science

• The Wisconsin Supreme Court temporarily suspended Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Hannah Dugan after her arrest by federal agents and charging in federal court. Schweber said the arrest was a clear message from the Trump administration to judges across the country to stay out of the way of immigration officials.
• Schweber: “The Trump administration has been going after and trying to intimidate federal judges from the beginning with threats of impeachment and threats to shut down courthouses. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this week the Trump administration announced an executive order targeting state and local officials who interfere with deportation efforts. And the manner of the arrest was really egregious — handcuffs and photographs and publicity, you know, the perp walk element of the whole thing. That was very clearly an aesthetic intended to send a message that’s of a threat to judges everywhere, state and local judges everywhere. You know, ‘Don’t get in our way, it won’t end well for you.'”

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