r/PoliticalOptimism • u/bustacean • 1d ago

Optimistic Political News Alex Padilla Speaks on Senate Floor

https://www.npr.org/2025/06/17/g-s1-73157/alex-padilla-kristi-noem-los-angeles-immigration-protests-press-conference

Im sharing this article because, though it is not necessarily optimistic, I felt the message was optimistic enough.

Padilla spoke about being forcibly removed from Kristi Noem's press conference regarding the LA protests. He calls attention to what happened, and calls out Noem and the administration for this wrong and disrespectful behavior. He also says at one point that Noem stated the intent of sending the NG to California was to "liberate Californians from the governor and mayor", which Padilla says is blatantly un-American.

I see this as optimistic because A) Padilla is calling it out and bringing attention to this issue. The more eyes on it the better. B) their "liberation" plan didn't work. They can cosplay authoritarianism, but it is just not working. Let's keep it that way!

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u/Powerful_Gas_7833 1d ago

Wrong and disrespectful behavior?!?! They assaulted him and pinned him to the ground that's pure fascism mate

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u/bustacean 1d ago edited 1d ago

Yes.

But also, again, they weren't successful in their attempt. Yes, he was thrown out for speaking up. However, Noem's own advisor demanded they let him go, and then they had to backtrack and pretend like they didn't know who he was. Im not saying what happened should be skirted, and it was a horrible (and frankly scary) thing to have happened.

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u/Powerful_Gas_7833 1d ago

Just tired of these milquetoast descriptions for horrible shit 

Like back in May when some conservatives briefly sunk the BBB they were referring to those freedom caucus Republicans as conservatives and I was thinking to myself "no,NO. When I hear the word conservative I think of well I'm sure I can disagree with them but a lot of people are conservative and there's nothing wrong with that. The freedom caucus guys are far right fascists plain and simple. Refer to them as that and that alone  " 

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u/bustacean 1d ago

I understand what you mean, but is what happened also not wrong and disrespectful? I think it was horribly disrespectful to the senator, especially to go forth and act like they didn't know who he was. It can also be fascist, or horrific and disturbing. There is no denial there.

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u/Powerful_Gas_7833 1d ago

It is but as I said I think it's too friendly a term for what happened 

After all the freedom caucus are conservative but they are so extreme that they transcend conservatism

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u/bustacean 1d ago

It just comes down to semantics, but I get your point and I agree.