Scoop: Top House Dems plot first big battle with Trump
Source: Axios
11 hours ago
Leading House Democrats are weighing legal, investigative and legislative options to respond to President Trump's firing of at least a dozen agency inspectors general last week, Axios has learned.
Why it matters: The ousters — the legality of which have been questioned even by some Republicans — present the first major test of congressional Democrats' ability to counter Trump while in the minority.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has positioned himself as the new leader of the resistance, working with Trump to keep the government afloat while opposing what he sees as threats to democracy. A spokesperson for Jeffries, asked for comment on the firings, referred to a letter from his committee ranking members blasting them as illegal.
What they're saying: "We're exploring multiple avenues of action to defend the integrity of federal agencies ... everything is on the table at this point," House Judiciary Committee ranking member Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told Axios in a Monday interview.
Oversight Committee ranking member Gerry Connolly (D-Va.) told Axios, "We can have minority witnesses at hearings, we can have our own independent roundtables, we can have minority reports." "There are tools available to us, and we're going to use everything we've got. Don't forget, in Trump 1.0 we were in the minority too. We had some signal victories."
Driving the news: Trump on Friday reportedly fired at least 12 inspectors general — with some reports putting the number at 18 and Connolly telling Axios he believes it is actually 19.
IGs act as internal watchdogs within federal agencies charged with investigating corruption or misconduct. Trump often clashed with and ousted IGs during his first term, leading Congress to pass a law in 2022 requiring presidents to provide Congress with 30 days' notice and a "substantial rationale" for such firings. Trump has defended his actions, telling reporters Saturday, "Some people thought that some were unfair or some were not doing their job. And it's a very standard thing to do."
Read more: https://www.axios.com/2025/01/28/trump-fired-inspectors-general-raskin-connolly
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being in the minority, not much left as an option other than literal physical assault. 
Seriously.
Unfortunately all of our "firebrands" eventually get trashed. They were always going after Maxine Waters. They went after Charlie Rangel. They went after Alcee Hastings.
At least a younger group is stepping up like Jasmine Crockett! 
Despite her appearance on the House floor, 84-year-olds don't just snap right back after hip replacement surgery.
So what do you suggest? Go into the White House, push through the Secret Service and cap the bastard? Wouldn't break my heart. In fact, that would make us all feel pretty damn good. Hell, I'd start a gofundme to cover the perp's legal bills. But unless you've got some better pearls of wisdom, maybe you should stop with the "no one's doing anything" routine, like you're omniscient or something. No, they're not doing nothing. 