How You Fight a Fascist: File Lawsuits Until Their Empire Cracks
A $20 Million Warning Shot... and a Roadmap for the Rest of Us
How You Fight a Fascist: File Lawsuits Until Their Empire Cracks
A $20 Million Warning Shot... and a Roadmap for the Rest of Us
The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #415
Let me tell you something nobody wants to say out loud:
You don’t stop fascists by fact-checking their press conferences.
You bury them in lawsuits.
You grind their gears to a halt with legal hellfire.
You weaponize the system they abused—against them.
And that’s exactly what just happened.
The $20 Million Lawsuit That Should Have Trump Losing Sleep
Mahmoud Khalil is not a household name. Yet.
But he might become one—because he just lit the match.
Khalil, a Palestinian-American activist and legal U.S. resident…was swept up in the chaos at Columbia University during pro-Palestinian protests. But this wasn’t your average arrest.
He says he was held—without trial—for over three months.
He says he was targeted…falsely charged…and silenced.
He says this wasn’t law enforcement.
It was political retribution.
And now…he’s suing the Trump administration for $20 million in damages.
Let that sink in. This isn’t just about a protest.
This is about using the legal system to call out and confront the architecture of political abuse before it’s baked into the system permanently.
Want to Know How Fascism Grows?
Fascism doesn’t always show up with tanks and banners.
It seeps in through paperwork and procedure.
Through detention forms and trumped-up charges.
Through DHS memos and weaponized executive power.
If Khalil’s allegations are true…and a court may soon decide…then what happened to him wasn’t an accident.
It was a test run.
A beta version of authoritarian control wrapped in bureaucratic language and national security theater.
The Secret Service Wore Suits. DHS Wore Badges. Fascism Wears the Law.
The Trump administration, and likely Trump himself…wants the public to think “fighting fascism” means some messy war in the streets.
He wants you scared of “radicals” on the left…while quietly using every lever of government to smash dissent under the weight of legality.
But here’s the twist: the law cuts both ways.
And what Khalil just did should be a call to arms—a blueprint for activists…corporate leaders…legal defense funds…and Democratic strategists alike.
A Civil Lawsuit Is a Trojan Horse
Because here’s what lawsuits do:
They force depositions. Real people have to answer real questions under oath.
They demand evidence. No more hiding behind press releases.
They make headlines. Not soundbites, but court records—searchable, permanent, credible.
They cost money. Trumpworld bleeds cash with every court date.
They tie up time. The more legal chaos they’re juggling, the less damage they can do elsewhere.
Stop Whining. Start Suing.
While Democrats send tweets and “urge calm,” the far-right is stacking courts… rewriting maps…and targeting activists like Khalil with cold precision.
But lawsuits?
They put the fear of God—and bankruptcy—into the autocratic machine.
So here’s the playbook:
If you’re a Democratic state AG—HAMMER HIM.
If you’re a corporation who’s been threatened—SUE.
If you’re an activist with standing—FIND COUNSEL.
If you’re a billionaire donor—FUND A LEGAL WAR CHEST.
Don’t wait for “the moment.”
Create it in court.
Why This Khalil Case Matters—Even If He Loses
Even if Mahmoud Khalil never sees a dime…the damage is done.
He’s dragged dark behavior into daylight.
He’s forced a response.
He’s set the stage for copycat suits across the country.
And he’s reminded all of us: fascism thrives in silence and fear—but dies in discovery and deposition.
Final Thought
If you're reading this and thinking, “We need heroes,”
you’re missing the point.
We don’t need martyrs.
We need plaintiffs.
We need attorneys who treat courtrooms like war rooms. (Think Marc Elias)
We need money—not for rallies…but for litigation.
And we need to stop waiting for permission to act.
You want to fight fascism?
Here’s How You “Resist.”
You sue the bastards blind.
Be tough. Stay tough. Use it for the benefit of freedom and democracy.
Warmly,
Jack