January 6, 2021, is a date that will forever live in infamy . . . and in the memories of those members of Congress who were present in the U.S. Capitol when Donald Trump’s fanatic right-wing followers attacked, beating police officers, breaking down doors, and screaming to kill then Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Members of Congress barricaded themselves in locked rooms, hiding as best they could from the uncontrollable, violent mob until police were finally able to quell the riot.

Trump — having just lost an election that he said (and still says) had been “stolen” from him — called that day a show of patriotism. What it was, was an insurrection, designed to nullify the election and overthrow the democratic government of the United States.

During the ensuing four years, he built a base of followers and managed to be elected for a second term in 2024. You already know the rest of the story: With a loyal Republican majority in both the Senate and the House, sycophants installed in every Cabinet post, and a Supreme Court with a majority of six ultra-conservative justices more interested in serving their lord and master than upholding their oaths of office, he has run rough-shod over our laws, our Constitution, and international law since re-entering the White House on January 20, 2025.

But when he recently sued his own Internal Revenue Service for $10 billion of taxpayer money for releasing information that should have been made public long ago, and then “settled” for $1.8 billion as it became apparent that the case would be thrown out of court, he may have gone one giant step too far. Because the $1.8 billion was earmarked as an “anti-weaponization” slush fund to be used for the benefit of people he deems to have been wronged by the previous administration — likely including those same felons who attacked the Capitol five years ago, were convicted or pled guilty, and have since been pardoned by . . .

Well, you know whom.

For some reason Trump will never understand, the members of Congress who were there that day in 2021, or who have every reason to fear a possible repeat of that incident, found his illegal attempt to reward his criminal followers . . . shall we say . . . somewhat distasteful.

His “settlement” had been included in a broader bill that would provide funding for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol. And he had demanded that that legislative package be presented to him for signature by June 1st.

But even some Republicans in the Senate said they were blindsided by the inclusion of the slush fund, and did not believe that the bill as written would garner the necessary votes for passage. So they all packed up and left for their ten-day Memorial Day vacations.

Somewhere, perhaps buried deep inside their subconscious minds, the memory of that January 6th seems to have resonated with some of the Republicans who usually blindly follow wherever Trump leads. Maybe they came to see this latest abomination for what it really is: another unconstitutional move by a fascist dictator who, in whatever delusional world he occupies, truly believes he is anointed by God.

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On the House side, as it also became apparent that Democrats were about to push through a vote on a bipartisan resolution to limit Trump’s war powers in Iran, House Republican leaders abruptly cancelled the vote without explanation. In a joint statement, top House Democratic leaders said that “the Republican-controlled House continues to behave like a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Trump administration.” [Manu Raju, Camila DeChalus and Morgan Rimmer, CNN, May 21, 2026.]

And House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar issued the following statement:

“Republicans cowardly pulled a scheduled vote on a War Powers Resolution — legislation that would have passed with bipartisan support and required the President to end the conflict in the Middle East.“ [Id.]

Representative Gregory Meeks (D.-NY) added this:

“Here we are on the eve of Memorial Day, with prices for gasoline going up, prices for food going up. We had a vote because of this president’s war of choice that was going to pass, we had the votes without question, and they [Republicans loyal to Trump] knew it, and as a result they’re playing a political game, they’re cheating and have delayed the vote until we get back.” [Id.]

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So, the good news seems to be that more and more Republican legislators are beginning to see the light, either because they have actually grown consciences, or simply because they realize that tying their professional futures to Donald Trump’s wagon may turn out to have been a huge mistake. But, whether theirs has been a moral choice or a pragmatic one, those of us who love our country can begin to hope the tide is turning in favor of the principles of the Founding Fathers.

The not-so-good news is that change won’t happen overnight. But if we keep up the good fight, it will happen.

In the meantime, have a safe and memorable holiday weekend.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
5/22/26