A More Perfect Union with Nii-Quartelai Trump, Protest, Power & MLK’s Legacy
Jan 19, 2026
Dr. Calvin John Smiley, an associate professor at Hunter College and author focusing on politics and democracy, shares insights on current political turmoil. He critiques a Venezuelan leader's praise for Trump and discusses the implications of invoking the Insurrection Act during protests. Smiley examines the militarization of policing, connections between ICE and far-right extremism, and the historical targeting of Minneapolis. He underscores the importance of organizing locally to resist authoritarianism while honoring Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy.
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Nobel Medal Photo Op Signals Imperial Optics
- Maria Corina Machado presented her 2025 Nobel medal to Donald Trump, creating a spectacle that fed his ego.
- Calvin John Smiley and Nii-Quartelai Quartey call it a choreographed photo op that normalizes imperialist optics.
Militarized Enforcement Creates Impunity
- Federal agents shot protesters in Minneapolis, including fatal and nonfatal incidents tied to ICE activities.
- Smiley argues these actions reflect growing impunity and a hardened militarized enforcement posture.
Push To End Qualified Immunity
- End qualified immunity and expand accountability for ICE agents as legislative remedies.
- The conversation highlights Representative Ayanna Pressley's bill and earlier House efforts like the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.
